Measuring 3D shape in orthodontics through geometric morphometrics

Abstract Background Geometric morphometrics (GMM) has been traditionally applied to the field of biology to study developmental differentiations between species. Orthodontics deals with the shape and size of the face and its components. While several tools have been used to measure size, proportions, and relations between anatomical components, shape has been mainly described by esthetic criteria. The purpose of this paper is to present methods to measure shape of 3D orthodontic data, beyond the conventional tools that have been traditionally used in cephalometrics and in facial and dental cast analysis. Findings The authors showcase an example of applying geometric morphometrics to measure palates from scanned dental casts. GMM can be used as a useful tool to describe the three-dimensional shape of surfaces of orthodontic interest. A general introduction to the theoretical principles of how to apply GMM is provided. Conclusions Variability can be measured through the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and can lead to the identification of shape patterns and sources of variability of the shape, independently from changes in size

Anti-tumor activity of the methanolic extracts of Salvia menthifolia

In the present research we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of Salvia menthifolia Ten. (formerly Salvia menthaefolia), Lamiaceae, on a glioblastoma cell line, since up to date poor therapeutic results have been reported for treatment of malignant glioblastoma. Methanol extracts from different anatomical parts of S. menthifolia were tested on DBTRG-05MG cell line by MTT assay. The most active primary stems extract was also evaluated for apoptosis induction. Results confirmed the anti-tumor property of all the organs and demonstrated that the primary stems extract induced apoptosis after 4 h with the highest values of DNA fragmentation after 6 to 24 h. Some extracts were also HPLC analyzed for polyphenols, althought activities could be due also to other constituents and to synergistic interactions. Rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin-7-O-glucosyde and quercitrin were found in all the extracts. The good performance revealed for S. menthifolia towards this extremely aggressive human glioblastoma cell line confirms that the genus Salvia is a natural source of anti-tumor agents though there are great differences among the various species

Early treatment of Class III malocclusion with RME and facial mask: evaluation of dentoalveolar effects on digital dental casts

Aim: To analyse the dental effects on digital dental casts in subjects with Class III malocclusion treated with bonded Rapid Maxillary Expansion and Facial Mask (RME/FM). Materials and methods: A study group sample (SG) of 29 subjects (13 females and 16 males) and mean age of 7.4 years (SD 1.2 years) was selected. A bonded RME was placed and activated 1/4 of a turn per day until overcorrection of the transverse width. At the end of expansion, patients were given FMs and treated at least to a positive overjet. The SG was compared with a control group (CG) of 21 prepubertal subjects (9 females; 12 males) presenting with normal occlusion and mean age of 7.9 years (SD 1.6 years). For each subject of the SG and CG initial (pretreatment, T1) and final (post-treatment, T2) digital dental casts were available. Significant in between-group differences were tested with the Student's t-test. Results: The transverse dimension of the upper arch was significantly greater in SG vs. CG (IMAW: +2.6 mm; ICAW: +3.1 mm). Anterior arch length and arch depth were significantly smaller in SG when compared with CG (AAL: -3.2 mm, AD: -3.4 mm) at the end of therapy. Conclusion: The orthopaedic treatment with bonded RME/FM produced in subjects treated in the deciduous or early mixed dentition a significant expansion of the maxillary arch and mesialisation of the posterior teeth with a reduction of the arch depth

Nimesulide in painful OA of the knee

Summary Objective:  This study was designed to investigate the analgesic effects of nimesulide and celecoxib in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). In patients with joint effusion, the effects of these non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on synovial fluid concentrations of substance P (SP), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 also were evaluated. Methods:  Patients were randomly assigned either nimesulide (100 mg twice a day) or celecoxib (200 mg once a day) for 2 weeks. The intensity of joint pain was assessed with a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Furthermore, patients completed questions about analgesic efficacy and overall tolerability of the treatments on a five-point categorial scale. Synovial fluid samples were drawn at baseline, 30 min after the first drug intake (day 1), and 30 min after the last drug intake (day 14). Results:  We enrolled 44 patients, 20 of whom had a joint effusion. In this group, the effects of nimesulide were more marked than for celecoxib, with evidence of a faster onset of the analgesic action. Both after a single or repeated administration, nimesulide significantly reduced the synovial fluid concentrations of SP and IL-6. Celecoxib, on the other hand, did not change the concentrations of SP and significantly reduced the levels of IL-6 only on day 14. None of the drugs affected IL-8. Both drugs were generally well tolerated. Conclusions:  These results provide evidence that nimesulide is an effective agent for the symptomatic treatment of OA. The effect on inflammatory pain mediators is consistent with the fast analgesic action of this NSAID

Peperoni dolci: storia, proprietà nutrizionali e salutistiche

Come quelli piccanti, i peperoni dolci appartengono al genere Capsicum e sono originari del continente americano, dove erano coltivati ben prima dell’arrivo di Cristoforo Colombo, a cui si deve l’importazione in Europa. Sono ricchi di vitamine, carotenoidi, composti fenolici e hanno un basso contenuto calorico, caratteristiche che ne fanno un ottimo alimento salutistico

Optical pumping of charged excitons in unintentionally doped InAs quantum dots

As an alternative to commonly used electrical methods, we have investigated the optical pumping of charged exciton complexes addressing impurity related transitions with photons of the appropriate energy. Under these conditions, we demonstrate that the pumping fidelity can be very high while still maintaining a switching behavior between the different excitonic species. This mechanism has been investigated for single quantum dots of different size present in the same sample and compared with the direct injection of spectator electrons from nearby donors.Comment: 4 pages and 3 figures submitted to AP

Spotting local environments in self-assembled monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles

Organic-inorganic (O-I) nanomaterials are versatile platforms for an incredible high number of applications, ranging from heterogeneous catalysis, molecular sensing, cell targeting, imaging, cancer diagnosis and therapy, just to name a few. Much of their potential stems from the unique control of organic environments around inorganic sites within a single O-I nanomaterial, which allows for new properties inaccessible using purely organic or inorganic materials. Structural and mechanistic characterization plays a key role in understanding and rationally designing such hybrid nanoconstructs. Here, we introduce a general methodology to identify and classify local (supra)molecular environments in an archetypal class of O-I nanomaterials, i.e. self-assembled monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles (SAM-AuNPs). By using an atomistic machine-learning guided workflow based on the Smooth Overlap of Atomic Positions (SOAP) descriptor, we analyze a collection of chemically different SAM-AuNPs, and detect and compare local environments in a way that is agnostic and automated, i.e. with no need of a-priori information and minimal user intervention. In addition, the computational results coupled with experimental electron spin resonance measurements prove that is possible to have more than one local environment inside SAMs, being thickness of the organic shell and solvation primary factors in determining number and nature of multiple co-existing environments. These indications are extended to complex mixed hydrophilic-hydrophobic SAMs. This work demonstrates that it is possible to spot out and compare local molecular environments in SAM-AuNPs exploiting atomistic machine-learning approaches, establishes ground rules to control them, and holds the potential for rational design of O-I nanomaterials instructed from data

Water-Soluble Gold Nanoparticles Protected by Fluorinated Amphiphilic Thiolates

The preparation and the properties of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) protected by perfluorinated amphiphiles are described. The thiols were devised to form a perfluorinated region close to the gold surface and to have a hydrophilic portion in contact with the bulk solvent to impart solubility in water. The monolayer protected clusters were prepared, in an homogeneous phase using sodium thiolates because of the low nucleophilicity of the alpha-perfluorinated thiols, and fully characterized with 1H, 19F NMR spectrometry, IR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopies, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Au NPs with core diameters ranging from 1.6 to 2.9 nm, depending on the reaction conditions, were obtained. Water-soluble NPs (MPC-F8-PEGs) were obtained with the thiol HS-F8-PEG ending with a short poly(ethylene glycol) unit (PEG-OMe 550), whereas thiols with shorter PEG chains give rise to NPs insoluble in water. MPC-F8-PEGs undergo an exchange reaction with amphiphilic alkyl thiols. ESR investigations, using a hydrophobic radical probe, indicate that the MPC-F8-PEG monolayer shows a greater hydrophobicity compared to the analogous hydrogenated monolayer.