Lingual frenectomy: a comparison between the conventional surgical and laser procedure

AIM

Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is a congenital oral anomaly characterized by a short lingual frenulum that may contribute to feeding, speech and mechanical problems. The purpose of this study is to compare the advantages of laser vis-à-vis conventional frenectomy in both intra- and post-surgical phases.

METHODS

This study took into consideration two patients, who were respectively 9 and 10-year-old. The first one underwent a common surgical procedure. A Nd:Yap laser device with a micropulsed wavelength of 1340 nm and power of 8 watts was used for the second. The postsurgical discomfort and healing characteristics were evaluated.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the Nd:Yap laser has the following advantages when compared to the conventional frenectomy: 1) soft tissue cutting was efficient, with no bleeding, giving a clear operative field; 2) there was no need to use sutures; 3) the surgery was less time-consuming; 4) there was no postsurgical infection and no need for analgesics or antibiotics; 5) wound contraction and scarring were decreased or eliminated; 6) despite the initial slowness of the healing process, the complete and final recovery was faster.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the above elements, it is possible to assert that the laser frenectomy has a series of unquestionable advantages if compared to the conventional surgical technique.

Reduction of precocious peri-implant resorption cone

AIM

After implant-insertion, bone tissue, newly-formed on peri-implant crest, undergoes to a mild marginal osseous readjustment due to build-up of inflammatory cell tissue (ICT). The present study verifies the possibility to limit bone resorption by placing implant fixtures 0.5 mm outside cortical bone edge.

METHODS

A clinically-controlled randomized study on 100 implants has been performed to compare early resorption process of implant fixtures placed 0.5 mm outside cortical bone edge with implant-fixtures inserted according to juxtacortical bone conventional protocols.

RESULTS

After 6 months, bone implant level was higher with emersion approach (-1.01±0.54 mm, mean±SD) than with submerged treatment (-1.56±0.5 mm) (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Factors to achieve an excellent result at mean-long term seem to be very good, even though the latter have to be confirmed by follow-up.

Nd-YAP laser assisted frenulectomy: a case series on 23 patients

Abnormal frenula may require treatment by frenulectomy. Several techniques are available, but using a laser for this purpose represents an innovative technology that may provide more efficient, more comfortable and more predictable treatment outcomes for both patient and surgeon. On this respect, Nd-YAP laser treatment is very useful allowing for excellent clinical outcomes with low morbidity. This case series reports on the use of Nd-YAP laser for a labial frenulectomy. Twenty-three patients were treated and afterward controlled. Laser treatment, above all Nd-YAP, appears to be the gold standard technique.

Experimental analysis about the evaluation of tungsten carbide-bur, piezoelectric and laser osteotomies

AIM

Osteotomies are performed in oral surgery with five kinds of cutting instruments: 1) burs (Tungsten carbide cylindric burs), 2-3) ultrasound Piezosurgery (type I and II), 4-5) and lasers (Er:YAG; Er,Cr:YSGG). This study compares the quality of cutting of every single instruments, evaluating accuracy (length, thickness, depth and morphology), velocity (number of passages and time) and entity of damage.

METHODS

In vitro experiments with ten osteotomies were performed on one-hundred of cow ribs with each instrument. In vivo surgery was performed on New Zealand white rabbit: two osteotomies are made with all instruments on the mandible and on the shinbone, totalizing four osteotomies for each instrument. Samples are processed to be evaluated through histological exam at stereo microscopy.

DISCUSSION

Results show a statistically significant variability on "thickness" (p value=0.001), "time" (p value=0.001), "depth" and penetration speed (p-value=0.001; p-value=0.001) and the "number of passages" (p-value=0.001). No differences have been observed in "length" (p-value=0.078). Histological analysis reveals that osteotomy performed with laser and Piezosurgery II generates major damage to osteocytes near cutting surfaces.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, purchase and management elevated costs, minor versatility of use, and long training times for equipments such as Piezosurgery and laser limit their general use, but remain advantageous in case of risky interventions near noble structures. Choice of device depends on experience maturated by operator in time, characteristics of operation and patient's clinical conditions.

NobelGuide™ influence in the perception of postoperative pain

AIM

The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of pain after Computer-aided-implantology Implant Surgery (NobelGuideTM, Nobel Biocare, Göteborg, Sweden) compared to the conventional implant surgery.

METHODS

Eighteen patients from dental and maxillo-facial clinic of Policlinico G. B. Rossi (Verona, Italy) have been recruited: 9 were treated with the NobelGuide™ Technique, and 9 with the conventional one (approved by Local Ethical Committee) After the operation, painkillers (Ibuprofene tablets of 400 mg) were prescribed to the patients. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire during the postoperative days and to report on the Visual Analogue Scale form (VAS), the intensity of pain and the number of painkillers used.

RESULTS

The VAS mean one day after the operation (peak of maximum pain) was 47.22 for the conventional technique, and 12.77 for the NobelGuide™ technique, and also the number of painkillers assumed is smaller for the NobelGuide™ technique. The 5th day after the operation all the patients treated with the NobelGuide™ Technique stopped painkillers and nobody felt pain, while the patients treated with the conventional technique felt more pain and for a longer period. They also took painkillers until the 7th day.

CONCLUSIONS

Pain is minor and disappears more quickly with the Nobelguide™ Implant Surgery compared with the conventional surgical technique. Nobelguide™ Implant Surgery can reduce hospitalization improving the compliance of odontophobic patients towards implant therapy.

Helicobacter Pylori HP0175 Promotes the Production of IL-23, IL-6, IL-1β and TGF-β

Helicobacter pylori infection induces a chronic gastric inflammatory infiltrate. This study was undertaken to evaluate the type of the innate immune responses elicited by the secreted peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase of H. pylori (HP0175). The cytokine production induced by HP0175 in neutrophils, and monocytes was evaluated. HP0175 was able to induce the expression of IL-23 in neutrophils, and monocytes, and IL-6, IL-1beta and TGF-beta in monocytes. These findings indicate that HP0175 is able to promote the activation of innate cells and the production of a cytokine milieu that may favour the development of Th17 response.

ATP site-directed inhibitors of protein kinase CK2: an update

CK2 denotes a pleiotropic, constitutively active protein kinase whose abnormally high level in many cancer cells is held as an example of "non oncogene addiction". A wide spectrum of cell permeable, fairly specific ATP site-directed CK2 inhibitors are currently available which are proving useful to dissect its biological functions and which share the property of inducing apoptosis of cancer cells with no comparable effect on their "normal" counterparts. One of these, CX-4945, has recently entered clinical trials for the treatment of advanced solid tumors, Castelman's disease and multiple myeloma. The solution of a wide range of 3D structures of inhibitors bound to the catalytic subunits of CK2 reveals that their efficacy substantially relies on hydrophobic interactions within a cavity which is smaller than in other protein kinases. Accordingly the potency of tetra-halogenated benzimidazoles increases upon replacement of chlorine by bromine and, even more, by iodine, and decreases if two unique bulky side chains on CK2 (Val66 and Ile174) are mutated to alanines. Many CK2 inhibitors have been tested on a panel of more than 60 kinases providing Promiscuity Scores useful to evaluate their selectivity, the lowest value (9.47), denoting highest selectivity, being displayed by quinalizarin. The observation that CK2 inhibitors with medium/high promiscuity scores share the ability to inhibit a group of protein kinases as effectively as CK2 discloses the possibility of using their scaffolds for the rational development of selective inhibitors of these kinases, with special reference to PIMs, DYRKs, HIPK2, PKD and ERK8.

Novel critical role of Toll-like receptor 4 in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury and edema

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) of the innate immune system contribute to noninfectious inflammatory processes. We employed a murine model of hilar clamping (1 h) with reperfusion times between 15 min and 3 h in TLR4-sufficient (C3H/OuJ) and TLR4-deficient (C3H/HeJ) anesthetized mice with additional studies in chimeric and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)- and TLR4-deficient mice to determine the role of TLR4 in lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. Human pulmonary microvascular endothelial monolayers were subjected to simulated warm ischemia and reperfusion with and without CRX-526, a competitive TLR4 inhibitor. Functional TLR4 solely on pulmonary parenchymal cells, not bone marrow-derived cells, mediates early lung edema following ischemia-reperfusion independent of MyD88. Activation of MAPKs and NF-kappaB was significantly blunted and/or delayed in lungs of TLR4-deficient mice as a consequence of ischemia-reperfusion injury, but edema development appeared to be independent of activation of these signaling pathways. Pretreatment with a competitive TLR4 inhibitor prevented edema in vivo and reduced actin cytoskeletal rearrangement and gap formation in pulmonary microvascular endothelial monolayers subjected to simulated warm ischemia and reperfusion. In addition to its well-accepted role to alter gene transcription, functioning TLR4 on pulmonary parenchymal cells plays a key role in very early and profound pulmonary edema in murine lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. This may be due to a novel mechanism: regulation of endothelial cell cytoskeleton affecting microvascular endothelial cell permeability.

Successful surgical management of invasive aspergillosis of the pulmonary arteries

We describe an 11-year-old girl with severe obstruction of the main pulmonary arteries caused by invasive aspergillosis and managed with combined pulmonary endarterectomy and antimycotic treatment.

Thoracic aortic aneurysm syndrome in children

In contrast with adults, thoracic aortic aneurysms in children are usually associated with connective tissue defect syndromes. As such, there are phenotypic clues to identify patients at risk. Marfan syndrome, Loeys-Dietz syndrome, and bicuspid aortic valve syndrome account for the majority of these aneurysms. Indications for surgery as well as surgical options differ according to diagnosis and are reviewed herein.

Reverse right ventricular remodeling after pulmonary endarterectomy

OBJECTIVES

We sought to evaluate the capability of the right ventricle to regain normal morphology and function after pulmonary endarterectomy, to correlate right ventricular reverse remodeling with functional status, and to identify independent predictors of clinical failure after surgical intervention.

METHODS

From December 2000 through August 2003, 45 patients underwent isolated pulmonary endarterectomy. Morphology and function of the right ventricle were studied by using a combination of right heart catheterization, cardiac magnetic resonance, and transthoracic echocardiography. Functional status was evaluated by using New York Heart Association class. Full preoperative data were available for 37 candidates. All patients were evaluated before discharge, at 3 months, and at 1, 2, and 3 years postoperatively using the same modalities.

RESULTS

Immediately after surgical intervention, right ventricular cavitary dimensions decreased significantly, and tricuspid regurgitation radically improved. Right ventricular ejection fraction and functional status improved and right ventricular hypertrophy reversed over a longer time period. Higher ventricular dimensions and lower ejection fraction of the right ventricle were associated with poorer functional status at any time postoperatively. At discharge, pulmonary vascular resistance of greater than 509 dyne x sec x cm(-5) and right ventricular ejection fraction of 24% or less predicted clinical failure at 12 months' follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

After pulmonary endarterectomy, the right ventricle recovers and maintains normal architecture and function over time, regardless of the severity of preoperative disease. Accurate preoperative evaluation of the hemodynamics and anatomy of the thromboembolic lesions are mandatory. If pulmonary endarterectomy is not expected to decrease pulmonary vascular resistance to less than 509 dyne x sec x cm(-5), indication for surgical intervention needs to be carefully evaluated.

[Surgical treatment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension with pulmonary endarterectomy]

Acute pulmonary embolism is the third most common cardiovascular disease in Italy with approximately 65 000 new cases a year. Appropriate medical therapy does not necessarily prevent evolution of acute pulmonary embolism into chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), which occurs in 0.1-4.0% of cases. In our country, there are approximately up to 2600 new CTEPH patients a year. CTEPH is a progressive and potentially lethal disease. Medical therapy is palliative and only surgery can modify its natural history. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice and lung transplantation should be considered only when PEA is contraindicated. Currently, nearly 4000 PEAs have been performed worldwide. Approximately ten centers are able to carry out this intervention with excellent and permanent results. Solid experience and close multidisciplinary collaboration allow appropriate patient selection, rigorous surgical technique, and adequate postoperative management. All these aspects represent the key to the success in the treatment of CTEPH. After PEA, quality and expected length of life are similar to the age-matched general population and the only therapy required is oral anticoagulation.

Pulmonary endarterectomy: the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

A percentage ranging from 0.1 to 4.0 of patients recovering from acute pulmonary embolism develop chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Without intervention, CTEPH is a progressive and lethal disease for which there is no effective medical therapy. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice. Lung transplantation is indicated only in few cases when PEA is not feasible. Since 1994 at the IRCCS San Matteo Hospital - University of Pavia (Italy), 134 PEAs have been performed. Preoperatively, NYHA class distribution was respectively 3-II, 56-III, and 75-IV; mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistances were 47 +/- 13 mmHg and 1149 +/- 535 dynes*s*cm(-5) respectively. The overall operative mortality has been 9.7% (4.5% in 2004). Survival at 3-month, 1-year, and 3-year follow-up was 89.5 +/- 2.6, 87.8 +/- 2.9, and 83.3 +/- 3.5% respectively; this last rate was unchanged up to 10 years. After PEA, mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistances were 25 +/- 9 mmHg and 322 +/- 229 dynes*s*cm(-5) respectively and these results were stable over time. At the 3-year follow-up, 94% of patients were in NYHA class I or II and the only therapy is anticoagulation.