Use of fractal analysis in dental images for osteoporosis detection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fractal dimension (FD) calculated on oral radiographs has been proposed as a useful tool to screen for osteoporosis. This systematic review and meta-analysis firstly aimed at assessing the reliability of FD measures in distinguishing osteoporotic patients (OP) from healthy controls (HC), and secondly, to identify a standardized procedure of FD calculation in dental radiographs for the possible use as a surrogate measure of osteoporosis. A comprehensive search was conducted up to September 2020 using PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was followed. Meta-analysis was performed on FD values calculated for HC and OP. Overall, 293 articles were identified. After a three steps screening, 19 studies were included in the qualitative appraisal and 12 were considered for meta-analysis. The methodological quality of the retrieved studies was generally low. Most of the studies included used White and Rudolph and box counting to process the images and to calculate FD, respectively. Overall, 51% of the studies found a meaningful difference between HC and OP groups. Meta-analyses showed that to date, FD measures on dental radiographs are not able to distinguish the OP from HC group significantly. From the current evidence, the use of FD for the identification of OP is not reliable, and no clear conclusion can be drawn due to the heterogeneity of studies. The present review revealed the need for further studies and provided the fundamentals to design them in order to find a standardized procedure for FD calculation (regions for FD assessment; images processing technique; methods for FD measurement). More effort should be made to identify osteoporosis using dental images which are cheap and routinely taken during periodic dental examinations.

UAV prototype for localization and identification of radioactive contamination and emitters

The Dragon (Drone for RAdiation detection of Gammas and Neutrons) prototype aims at designing and developing an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with a detection system able to identify radioactive materials, spread over an area or located in a specific position. The system is focused on the localization of the unknown emitter and its subsequently identification.

The proposed prototype is made up of two easily interchangeable detection systems, one will be used as a counter while the second will be aimed to perform goodresolution gamma spectroscopy. Both solutions have neutron gamma discrimination capability in order to be suitable for special nuclear materials (SNM) detection in gamma contamination background.

The data acquisition module is made up of a compact digitizer board (RedPitaya, sampling rate of 125 MHz and 14 bits of resolution.), a mini computer (Raspberry, for example). This combination allows to install an embedded operating system (e.g. Linux) that can run the necessary software for the Data Acquisition (DAQ), like the ABCD distributed DAQ.

Our contribution will be aimed to show a comprehensive characterization of the two detection systems, a medium size CLLB scintillation detector, and a large plastic scintillator, EJ-276, in order to assess their potential use in a UAV-based radiation monitoring system.

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease: The call for interprofessional education and interprofessional collaborative care - A systematic review of the literature

Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are among the most frequently occurring conditions that have a substantial effect on the global health economy. The literature regarding medical professionals' knowledge of the bidirectional link between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease has not been analyzed systematically. The review aimed to investigate the knowledge and understanding of physicians and specialists regarding the two-way relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease and their approach to referring their patients for a dental consultation. An electronic search of PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted to review the studies that assessed knowledge and understanding of medical professionals regarding the relationship between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease. Data from 13 included studies involved 4,027 participants: 3,256 primary care physicians and 771 medical specialists. Just over 50% of the medical professionals had an understanding of oral health and/or periodontal disease. Over one-third of medical professionals were ignorant of the relationship between oral health and diabetes mellitus. Only 30% reported ever referring their patients for an oral health assessment. Another key finding of the investigation was the absence of interprofessional collaborative care between medical and dental professionals while managing patients with diabetes mellitus. Medical professionals with an integrated knowledge of elementary oral health education and training could play a central role in the timely diagnosis and management of periodontal disease in patients living with diabetes mellitus.

Effect of Flap Design for Enamel Matrix Derivative Application in Intraosseous Defects

Objective:

To systematically review the literature addressing the focused question: What is the effectiveness of different surgical and nonsurgical procedures combined with enamel matrix derivative (EMD) on clinical, radiographic, and patient-centered outcomes in intraosseous defects?

Methods:

Electronic (Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) and hand literature searches were performed for studies including at least 1 treatment arm where EMD had been applied according to 1 of the following procedures: modified Widman flap; papilla preservation variants (PPVs), including papilla preservation technique, modified papilla preservation technique, and simplified papilla preservation technique; minimally invasive variants, including minimally invasive surgical approach and minimally invasive surgical technique; single-flap variants (SFVs), including single-flap approach and modified minimally invasive surgical technique; or nonsurgical application (flapless approach). Data from 42 selected articles were used to perform a network meta-analysis, and a hierarchy of surgical and nonsurgical applications of EMD was built separately for EMD and EMD + graft based on 6- to 12-mo clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Results:

Among surgical approaches, EMD was associated with best regenerative outcomes when applied through SFVs, with a mean clinical attachment level gain of 3.93 mm and a reduction in the intrabony component of the defect of 3.35 mm. For EMD + graft, limited differences in regenerative outcomes were observed among surgical procedures. PPVs were associated with the highest residual probing depth for EMD (4.08 mm) and EMD + graft (4.32 mm).

Conclusions:

In the treatment of periodontal intraosseous defects, 1) SFVs appear to optimize the regenerative outcomes of EMD; 2) substantial regenerative outcomes can be obtained with SFVs and conservative double flaps (i.e., PPVs and minimally invasive variants) when EMD is combined with a graft; and 3) residual probing depth was higher following PPVs for EMD and EMD + graft.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of the present systematic review and meta-analysis can be used by clinicians to identify the most effective surgical or nonsurgical procedure to treat an intraosseous defect with EMD or EMD + graft. The main findings indicate that when EMD application is indicated, surgical access based on a single flap seems the most appropriate to optimize clinical outcomes. The application of EMD + graft can be effectively combined with single flaps and conservative double flaps.

Diabetic patients' knowledge of the bidirectional link: are dental health care professionals effectively conveying the message?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) has emerged as a global public health concern with significant upshots due to its high prevalence, severity and associated complications. The present review aims to evaluate the literature that has investigated the awareness and attitude of diabetic patients about their oral/periodontal health to identify gaps in the dissemination of this critical information. Literature addressing diabetic patient's awareness/knowledge, response to their periodontal health needs, and the source of oral health education was investigated using a computer search of electronic databases. Twenty-six papers were included in the systematic review for analysis. The studies reported data from 13 different countries involving 10 550 participants, 9843 patients with DM and 974 healthy controls. The overall analysis of the studies showed that approximately 73% of the diabetic patients were unaware of the link between their systemic condition (DM) and periodontal health. The results of the study show that a large number of diabetic patients are unaware of the link between oral/periodontal health and DM. There is a strong need to implement the recent guidelines established by the IDF/EFP concerning mutual care of diabetic patients by the medical and dental health care professionals. This will result in improved general and oral health of our diabetic patients.

Photoinduced electron transfer in a molecular dyad by nanosecond pump-pump-probe spectroscopy

The design of robust and inexpensive molecular photocatalysts for the conversion of abundant stable molecules like H2O and CO2 into an energetic carrier is one of the major fundamental questions for scientists nowadays. The outstanding challenge is to couple single photoinduced charge separation events with the sequential accumulation of redox equivalents at the catalytic unit for performing multielectronic catalytic reactions. Herein, double excitation by nanosecond pump-pump-probe experiments was used to interrogate the photoinduced charge transfer and charge accumulation on a molecular dyad composed of a porphyrin chromophore and a ruthenium-based catalyst in the presence of a reversible electron acceptor. An accumulative charge transfer state is unattainable because of rapid reverse electron transfer to the photosensitizer upon the second excitation and the low driving force of the forward photodriven electron transfer reaction. Such a method allows the fundamental understanding of the relaxation mechanism after two sequential photon absorptions, deciphering the undesired electron transfer reactions that limit the charge accumulation efficiency. This study is a step toward the improvement of synthetic strategies of molecular photocatalysts for light-induced charge accumulation and more generally, for solar energy conversion.

Removal Torque Values of Titanium Implants Inserted into Bone Defects Filled with Hydroxyapatite: A Histologic and Histomorphometric Analysis in Rabbit

The successful clinical use of implants with microrough titanium surfaces has paved the way for the further development of surface topographies to promote enhanced peri-implant bone apposition during the early stages of bone regeneration. The aim of this study is to determine the torque resistance of the implant-bone interface of plasma sprayed titanium endosseous implants placed in the rabbit tibia in three different situations. Hydroxyapatite (HA) particles with a size ranging from 250 to 450 microm were used in the present study to fill out 6 mm bony defects created in rabbit tibia. Fourteen mature New Zealand white male rabbits, weighing about 2.5 Kg., were used in this study. The test sites were filled with HA and the non-grafted sites were used as control. A total of 28 bone defects (14 without HA and 14 with HA.) were created. Implants with plasma-spray surface were subsequently inserted. Six additional rabbits were used; in these animals no bone defects were created. The implant sites were divided into three groups: 1) implants inserted in the tibia without bone defects; 2) implants inserted in the tibia with bone defects not filled with HA; 3) implants inserted in the tibia with bone defects filled with HA particles. The purpose of this study is to measure reverse-torque in three different situations of clinically similar implant geometry in the articulation of rabbits. The null hypothesis stated that there is a difference in reversal torque between the bone regeneration with HA, native bone and bone defect without bone regeneration. Additionally, comparison between these 6-month data and the 3-month data from a previous study led to the following conclusions: a significant difference exists in the removed torque for the TPS implants in the bone regenerated by HA and native bone; increase in removal torque values was seen for the implant inserted in bone regenerated by HA compared to the implant nated in bone without biomaterials. In conclusion, bone regenerated with biomaterials possesses different mechanical characteristics to native bone.

Correlation between Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) with Clinical and Histological Aspects of Dental Implants Removed for Mobility

Dental implants are a successful treatment modality for missing teeth; however, failures do occur. These failures can occur early in the healing process after primary stability has been achieved at the time of implant placement, or after initial bone remodeling and new bone growth have taken place. The ability to detect implants that are failing or will fail is still not possible. The aim of the present study is to see if correlations exist between RFA values and histologic and histochemical evaluation of the human retrieved implants for failure. In a 5 year period, 37 root form implants were retrieved because of mobility and underwent histological examination. Thin ground sections were obtained from each implant. All the implants had been removed with a 5 mm trephine. In all cases a peri-implant radiolucency was present. Before implant retrieval, the implant stability was evaluated with Osstell (Integration Diagnostics AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). All the implants were not osseointegrated clinically and mobility was present. Radiographically, bone loss was observed around the implants and the mean ISQ values was 37 (+/- 2.7). A scarce inflammatory cell infiltrate was present in the connective tissue of some specimens. In about 10 percent of specimens, the epithelium tended to surround the total perimeter of the implant. These data suggest that implants with an ISQ<40 are irretrievably lost and there is no possibility to save them. A statistically significant correlation was found between an ISQ<36 and irretrievably failed implants.

PARAFAC analysis of IBIL spectra from silver ion exchanged glasses

In this work we present for the first time an application of PARAllel FACtor (PARAFAC) analysis to the investigation of Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL) spectra of Ag⁺↔Na⁺ ion exchanged silicate glasses, in order to check the possibility to obtain additional information on the formation of silver aggregates under ion irradiation by a proper statistical rearrangement of experimental spectra. We decomposed the data by PARAFAC taking into account both IBIL emission features and their evolution as a function of the time. Shape and trend under irradiation of the extracted components were correlated to silver concentration and aggregates in the investigated systems. Strength and weakness of this statistical approach applied to IBIL spectra recorded as a function of time were evidenced and discussed.

Knowledge, attitudes, and behavior concerning dental trauma among parents of children attending primary school

BACKGROUND

Traumatic dental injuries occur frequently in children and adolescents. The purpose of the present study is to examine the levels of knowledge and behaviors regarding dental trauma among parents of children attending primary schools in the Apulia region of Italy.

METHODS

The study was carried out using an anonymous questionnaire with closed answers distributed to 2,775 parents who were enrolled based on the entire regional school population. Analyses were conducted using the PROC CORRESP (procedure to perform multiple correspondence analysis) and PROC FASTCLUS (procedure to perform cluster analysis). Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05.

RESULTS

A total 15.5% of the sample reported that their children had experienced dental trauma. Overall, 53.8% of respondents stated that they knew what to do in cases of dental injury. Regarding the time limit within which it is possible to usefully intervene for dental trauma, 56.8% of respondents indicated "within 30 minutes". Of the total sample, 56.5% knew how to preserve a displaced tooth. A total 62.9% of parents felt it was appropriate for their children to use dental guards during sports activities. The multivariate analysis showed that wrong knowledge are distributed among all kinds of subject. Parents with previous experience of dental trauma referred right behaviours, instead weak knowledge and wrong behaviours are associated with parents that easily worried for dental events.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that most parents reported no experience of dental trauma in their children, and half of them did not know what to do in case of traumatic dental injury and they would intervene within 30 minutes, suggesting that dental trauma may trigger panic. However, they did not have the information needed to best assist the affected child. Motivating parents to assume a preventive approach towards dental trauma may produce positive changes that would result an increase of long-term health benefits among both parents and children.

Dental Implant Sites in Healthy versus Diabetic Subjects: A Two-Year Clinical and Bacteriological Assessment

The aim of this study was to analyze by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) possible differences in periimplant microbiota of patients without significant systemic diseases versus patients affected by non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), both treated with dental implants with the same implant-abutment system. Patients suffering from NIDDM, and those with no history of major systemic diseases, treated with dental implants at the Prosthodontics Operative Unit of “Sapienza” University of Rome in the period February 2009 - March 2010 were considered. Clinical parameters as well as microbiological profile were evaluated for each implant site at 3, 6,12, and 24 month follow-up. Crevicular fluid was collected for microbial sampling and analyzed by Real-Time PCR in order to identify the possible presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia. Eight patients suffering from NIDDM and 22 with no history of major systemic diseases were included in the present investigation, each having received one to three dental implants. All the implants had been loaded 3 months after surgery, and the average follow-up after implant placement was 26.37±3.86. Clinical parameters showed no noticeable difference between the two groups, except for the Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) that showed significantly lower values in NIDDM patients. A slightly higher amount of the considered pathogenic bacteria were retrieved in samples collected from patients with NIDDM (7.38×105) in comparison with those of healthy subjects (6.78×105), though the differences were below statistical significance. Within the limitations of the present study, a slight correlation was empirically detected between gene expression profiles of microbial populations and history of NIDDM, which however remained below the statistical significance. Further well-designed clinical studies may be useful to conclusively clarify the impact of subgingival microflora on the increased susceptibility of diabetic patients to periimplantitis.

Factors influencing groundwater quality: towards an integrated management approach

The safety of groundwater resources is a serious issue, particularly when these resources are the main source of water for drinking, irrigation and industrial use in coastal areas. In Italy, 85% of the water used by the public is of underground origin. The aim of this report is to analyze the main factors that make groundwater vulnerable. Soil characteristics and filtration capacity can promote or hinder the diffusion of environmental contaminants. Global climate change influences the prevalence and degree of groundwater contamination. Anthropic pressure causes considerable exploitation of water resources, leading to reduced water availability and the progressive deterioration of water quality. Management of water quality will require a multidisciplinary, dynamic and practical approach focused on identifying the measures necessary to reduce contamination and mitigate the risks associated with the use of contaminated water resources.

Mineral water or tap water? An endless debate

The consumption of mineral water has been increasing because of the frequent and unjustified reports of the water supply contamination. However some authors have shown that bottled waters are not always better than tap water. Mineral waters are more palatable for organoleptic characteristic because, being pure at source, they do not undergo disinfection treatments and are sometimes enriched with CO2. In fact, they are characterized by their microbial facies subject to changes during the production cycle which can contribute to their contamination. It is necessary to provide people with the tools necessary to operate a critical choice of the type of water to be consumed not exclusively for their organoleptic characteristics or marketing strategies.

Concerning the role of cell lysis-cryptic growth in anaerobic side-stream reactors: the single-cell analysis of viable, dead and lysed bacteria

In the Anaerobic Side-Stream Reactor (ASSR), part of the return sludge undergoes alternating aerobic and anaerobic conditions with the aim of reducing sludge production. In this paper, viability, enzymatic activity, death and lysis of bacterial cells exposed to aerobic and anaerobic conditions for 16 d were investigated at single-cell level by flow cytometry, with the objective of contributing to the understanding of the mechanisms of sludge reduction in the ASSR systems. Results indicated that total and viable bacteria did not decrease during the anaerobic phase, indicating that anaerobiosis at ambient temperature does not produce a significant cell lysis. Bacteria decay and lysis occurred principally under aerobic conditions. The aerobic decay rate of total bacteria (bTB) was considered as the rate of generation of lysed bacteria. Values of bTB of 0.07-0.11 d(-1) were measured in anaerobic + aerobic sequence. The enzymatic activity was not particularly affected by the transition from anaerobiosis to aerobiosis. Large solubilisation of COD and NH4(+) was observed only under anaerobic conditions, as a consequence of hydrolysis of organic matter, but not due to cell lysis. The observations supported the proposal of two independent mechanisms contributing equally to sludge reduction: (1) under anaerobic conditions: sludge hydrolysis of non-bacterial material, (2) under aerobic conditions: bacterial cell lysis and oxidation of released biodegradable compounds.

What do parents know about dental trauma among school-age children? A pilot study

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Health published in November 2012 the "National guidelines for the prevention and clinical management of dental trauma in individuals during their developmental age". The aim of this study is to verify the knowledge among parents of children of primary schools to plan corrective actions.

METHODS

The study was carried out filling in an anonymous questionnaire distributed to parents enrolled in three primary schools.

RESULTS

Despite the publication of the National guidelines, the survey results confirm parents' lack of awareness, knowledge and skills in relation to dental trauma.

CONCLUSIONS

This survey will allow to plan a training on interventions aimed at the protection of oral health.

Is the left forelimb preference indicative of a stressful situation in horses?

Evidence for behavioural and brain lateralisation is now widespread among the animal kingdom; lateralisation of limb use (pawedness) occurs in several mammals including both feral and domestic horses. We investigated limb preferences in 14 Quarter Horse during different motor tasks (walking, stepping on and off a step, truck loading and unloading). Population lateralisation was observed in two tasks: horses preferentially used their left forelimb during truck loading and stepping off a step. The results also revealed that horses showed higher scores for anxious behaviours during truck loading suggesting that the use of the left forelimb in this task may reflect the main role of the right hemisphere in control of behaviour during stressful situation.

Performances of heated humidifiers in mechanical ventilation: a preliminary intra-breath analysis

A correct humidification of gases delivered to mechanically ventilated patients is essential to avoid some complications. Heated Humidifiers (HHs) are widely used in long lasting ventilation to treat gases delivered to patients. Their performances depend on some parameters, such as environmental conditions and ventilatory settings. The aim of this work is to experimentally assess the influence of minute volume (MV), respiratory frequency (f) and the ratio between duration of inspiration and expiration (I:E) on HHs performances in terms of relative humidity (RH) at the humidification chamber outlet. The main novelty of this work is the assessment of RH oscillations during artificial ventilation. Results show marked oscillations of RH during a single breath (ripple of 20% in the worst case); oscillations decrease if f and I:E increase, on the other hand they increase with MV. Since the variation of gas temperature during a respiratory act can be neglected, the RH oscillations are related to the vapour content in the delivered gases. These results further support the hypothesis which asserts that HHs performances could be improved by using a control strategy taking into account ventilatory settings.

Ion Beam Induced Luminescence capabilities for the analysis of coarse-grained river sediments

In this work the Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL) capabilities for the analysis of geological mobile sediment samples from the beds of three major rivers flowing in the Veneto Region (North-Eastern Italy) is presented in the first application of this technique to characterize such samples. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) spectra were also measured and discussed to give indications for the identification of the main luminescence features. The evolution of the different IBIL components with the irradiation dose was studied and their correlation to matrix defects outlined. Finally, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the IBIL evolving spectra was performed to verify the capability of this approach to discriminate among the different samples.

Prevention of foodborne diseases and home safety

Injuries and infectious diseases show high levels of morbidity at home. It is known that diseases associated with the consumption of contaminated or poorly preserved food, can be significantly reduced if proper hygiene practices are observed. This article analyzes the main risks associated with household food consumption and aims to highlight some of the recommendations that are still widely disregarded. In particular, we highlight the issues concerning the management of food (especially cooking and storage) and water (mineral and tap water), as well as good manufacturing practices that the consumer have to take to avoid food contamination. For this purpose, a detailed information on prevention would provide people with a greater awareness of risk and, therefore, a improved perception to the real dangers.

The effect of alpha-lipoic acid on temporary threshold shift in humans: a preliminary study

Noise-induced hearing loss (NHIL) is a significant source of hearing loss in industrialized countries. Recent research on the cellular bases of NIHL has led to new avenues for protection through prophylactic drugs. Although in experimental animal models several compounds have shown a protective effect in NIHL, limited data are available in humans. Many authors are focusing their attention on the role of antioxidant on hearing protection. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), an essential cofactor in mitochondrial enzymes, is a novel biological antioxidant and a potent free radical scavenger and, in animal models, it has been shown to protect from age-induced and cisplatin-induced hearing loss. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on temporary threshold shift measured 2 minutes after the end of exposure (TTS(2)) induced by a 3 kHz tone in young normally hearing subjects. Thirty young normal hearing volunteers served as control subjects. Individuals were randomly assigned to three groups. Group A (10 subjects) subjects were exposed to a 90 dB HL 3 kHz pure tone for 10 min. Group B (10 subjects) subjects were exposed to a 90 dB HL 3 kHz pure tone one hour after oral ingestion of 600 mg of ALA. Group C (10 subjects) were exposed to a 90 dB HL 3 kHz pure tone after 10 days of oral ingestion of 600 mg of ALA. Statistical analysis showed that prior to the exposure the hearing thresholds did not differ significantly among the three groups. TTS(2) of group C was significantly lower that TTS2 of Groups A and B at 6 kHz (p 0.03), and TEOAEs amplitude change after noise exposure was lower for group C compared to Groups A (p = 0.089) and B (p = 0.03). ALA is a powerful lipophilic antioxidant and free radical scavenger currently used in clinical practice. A single dose of 600 mg of dose ALA did not induce any protection on the TTS(2) induced by a 90 dB HL 3 kHz tone, while 10 days of therapeutic dosage assumption of ALA was associated with significant protection at 6 kHz. The results of this study show that a short course of ALA protects from TTS(2) in humans, and therefore further studies are needed to better define the role of ALA in the prevention of noise induced hearing loss.

Raman microspectroscopy investigation of Ag ion-exchanged glass layers

The ion-exchange process is widely used to dope silicate glass layers with silver, aimed at controlling the Ag state in view of possible applications, ranging from light waveguide fabrication to nanostructured composite glass synthesis. The silver doped glass structure as well as its prescribed properties depend on both the preparation parameters and the subsequent treatments. Several structural aspects are still open with regard either to the modification of the glass incorporating the dopant, or to clustering phenomena silver undergoes as a function of its local concentration and state, which are in turn strongly dependent on the preparation route. Systematic characterizations of these systems are mandatory to address the role of the various synthesis parameters in giving rise to the observed features, thus pointing out the effective methodologies for the fabrication of silicate glass layers with the desired properties. In this work, the results of micro-Raman, optical absorption and photoluminescence characterizations are presented for soda-lime glass slides doped with silver by Ag(+)-Na+ exchange and subsequent thermal treatments in air. In particular, a cross-section profiling analysis by Raman micro-spectroscopy was performed on Ag ion-exchanged samples after treatment at some different temperatures. The experimental findings allow to elucidate the role of the treatment temperature in the clustering process related to the local Ag concentration inside the exchanged glass layer.

Body art practices and health risks: young adults' knowledge in two regions of southern Italy

BACKGROUND

In the past several decades the number of individuals, particularly young adults, acquiring body art has increased very seriously in occidental society. In order to verify young adults' practices and knowledge of the risks related to body art, an investigation was conducted among university freshmen in Bari (Apulia Region) and Naples (Campania Region), both in Southern Italy.

METHODS

The study was carried out during the period 2008-2010 through an anonymous questionnaire distributed to 3,868 people selected among 26 Degree Courses of the University of Bari and Naples Parthenope. The two regional samples were matched for age and sex.

RESULTS

On the whole, 84.4% declare to know the infectious risks associated with body art practices, but only 4.1% of them correctly identified the infectious diseases which can be transmitted through these procedures; while 59.2% of the sample declared that non-infectious diseases can occur after a tattoo or a piercing, but only 5.4% of them correctly identified allergies, cysts, bleeding and scars. The possible occurrence of infectious and non-infectious diseases has been acknowledged by most students in Apulia region (89.7 versus 79.1% and 64.8 versus 53.6% respectively). In this Region, of the 1,001 (32.4%) pierced and 597 (19.8%) tattooed youths 23.4% reported complications. Campania region youths reported a greater number of complications than Apulia did (30.3 versus 13.1%) and they also purchased more frequently their tattoos or piercings in unauthorized facilities (35.3% versus 15.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

With regard to the knowledge of health risks associated to body art, it has been registered a higher awareness of infectious than non-infectious diseases. Information about freshmen's knowledge and practices could help in effective planning of health promotion strategies.

Crestal Bone Remodeling around Platform Switched, Immediately Loaded Implants Placed in Sites of Previous Failures

The possibility to insert immediately-loaded implants in post-extraction sites where previously inserted implants had failed and had never received a prosthesis has not been sufficiently studied to the present day. Only few articles in the literature address this problem. The aim of the present study was to evaluate crestal bone remodeling around implants with a platform-switched design inserted and loaded immediately after the failure of the previous implants. This study has a follow-up of 36 months. Failed implants that had never received a prosthesis have been removed in 68 patients. In the present study 10 patients, whose bone crest measured at least 8 mm in width, were selected and 16 immediately loaded implants with a platform-switched design and a sandblasted and acid etched SLA surface, (Winsix®, Biosaf srl, Italy) were placed. Statistically significant differences were observed in crestal bone remodeling between 12 and 36 months (p<0.05) and between 24 and 36 months (p<0.001), although no statistically significant differences were found between 12 and 24 months (p>0.05). The values of periodontal indices have sometimes been borderline, although they returned normal later on. The cumulative success-rate of all the 16 implants inserted was of 93.75%, while the survival rate was 100%. Results show that immediately loaded platform-switched implants are a practicable solution for the rehabilitation of sites of early failed implants.

Effects of Mechanical versus Manual Non Surgical Periodontal Therapy on Patient Comfort and Periodontal Healing: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Few studies have focused on the problem of pain and discomfort experienced during and after periodontal debridment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of manual versus hand driven non surgical periodontal instrumentation on the patient's comfort, perception of pain and dental hypersensitivity during and after the instrumentation. Moreover, the influence of the treatment modality on the healing of slight to moderate periodontitis was assessed with careful attention to indices of periodontal inflammation. 22 subjects with a minimum of 4≥6mm periodontal pockets with 3 to 4mm attachment loss in different quadrants, the presence of ≥20 teeth with a minimum of four molars were enrolled. PD (probing depth, 6 sites per tooth), number of sites with PD> 6mm, buccal and lingual recessions were collected. Two quadrants Mouth Bleeding and Plaque Scores (T.M.P.S, T.M.B.S.) were assessed as the presence or absence of bleeding on probing and plaque following disclosing in quadrants 1–4 and 2–3. Non surgical periodontal treatment was delivered in two appointments performed within one week. In the first appointment the first and the fourth quadrants (patient's right side) were completely treated by mechanical or manual devices according to the randomization codes. In the second appointment the remaining two quadrants (patient's left side) were instrumented with the other therapeutical approach. The duration of each session, need for local anesthesia and additional information were recorded during the instrumentation appointments. All the patients were requested to fill in a form regarding pain, hypersensitivity, and need for painkillers following the two debridment appointments. Two drop outs were observed. Mean pain scores after treatment were higher in manual than in machine driven side (3.11±1.40 vs 2.33±1.41), whereas mean dentine hypersensitivity scores were slightly higher in mechanical side (4.40±1.56 vs 3.77±1.11). The need for painkillers after both treatment approaches was minimal. 6 out of 20 patients asked for local anesthesia and clustering regarding the request for both treated sides was observed. The mean instrumentation time was significantly lower for mechanical versus manual instrumentation (84.57±12.92 vs 119.25±13.50, p<0.001). Periodontal healing was similar in both the hand and machine driven instrumented sides. TMPS and TMBS were significantly lower at baseline compared to re-evaluation visits and the within group changes were significant lower at re-evaluation. Most of patients well tolerated non surgical periodontal treatment despite the type of instruments that are chosen by the clinician. Pain is infrequently reported and is more common after manual instrumentation compared to machine driven one. The need for local anesthesia is quite uncommon and is surely subject-dependent. Temporary, slight dentine hypersensitivity is a common adverse effect reported by most of patients after subgingival debridment. Machine driven debridment shows a dramatic advantage compared to manual treatment due to the lower amount of time needed to complete the instrumentation.

Cortisol levels in hair reflect behavioural reactivity of dogs to acoustic stimuli

Cortisol levels in hair samples were examined in fourteen domestic dogs and related to the dogs' responses to different acoustic stimuli. Stimuli were playbacks of species-typical vocalizations recorded during three different situations ("disturbance", "isolation" and "play" barks) and the sounds of a thunderstorm. Hair samples were collected at 9:00 h and 17:00 h two weeks after the behavioural tests. Results showed that behavioural reactivity to playback of the various stimuli correlates with cortisol levels in hair samples collected at 9:00 h, and the same was the case for the separate measures of behaviour (i.e. hiding, running away, seeking attention from the tester, panting and lowering of the body posture). Hence, levels of cortisol in hair appear to reflect the dog's chronic state of emotional reactivity, or temperament.

Histological Evaluation of Peri-Implant Soft Tissues in Immediately Loaded Implants Featuring Different Implant-Abutment Connections: A Preliminary Study

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the peri-implant soft tissues and the amount of inflammatory cells around two different implant-abutment connections (self-locking conical connection with platform switching and screwed connection with standard abutment and internal anti-rotational system). Histological analysis was made of 14 implants, 7 with self-locking Morse tapered connection (experimental group A) and 7 with screw-retained anti-rotational connection (control group B). Sixty days after non-functional immediate loading, peri-implant tissue biopsies were performed. In the samples taken from the experimental group the peri-implant connective tissue consisted of a greater density of collagen and fibroblasts compared to the connective tissue of the control group. The experimental group specimens showed less inflammatory infiltrate close to the self-locking tapered connection compared to the tissues around the screw-retained connection. The SEM observations showed less microgap in the self-locking conical connection than in the screw connections with standard abutment and internal anti-rotational system. The presence of connective tissue with few inflammatory cells and the absence of inflammatory infiltrate, in self-locking conical connection implants is due to the minimal size of the implant-abutment microgap that does not allow the passage of fluids and bacteria from the oral cavity to the implant thus preventing tissue inflammation.

Bisphosphonate and Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: The Oral Surgeon's Perspective

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are an important class of drugs, useful in the treatment of some metabolic and oncologic skeletal diseases. BPs have shown a sure effectiveness in the treatment and in the palliative care of such pathologies; on the other hand, an avascular osteonecrosis of the jaws (B-ONJ = Bisphosphonate OsteoNecrosis of the Jaw) has recently been reported as an adverse effect not only of BP intravenous infusions, but also of their prolonged oral administration. B-ONJ normally follows a dental extraction or other surgical procedure in the oral cavity, but it also can develop spontaneously. In the latter case, some systemic risk factors, such as comorbidities and co-therapies or jaw anatomical conditions, can play a leading role in the onset of this pathologic condition. B-ONJ is an uncommon but potentially serious complication of BP therapy that can gravely affect the patient's quality of life, producing significant morbidity. To date, no therapies are completely effective and predictable in the treatment of B-ONJ, therefore prevention should be strongly promoted by sharing knowledge in the involved medical community.

Multivariate analysis as a tool for Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL) spectra interpretation

Multivariate analysis is used to identify the number and wavelength position of components evolving during irradiation with different rates in Ion Beam Induced Luminescence (IBIL) spectra. The method, based on the study of the eigenvectors of the matrix whose elements are the luminescence intensity values for different wavelengths and fluences, is tested on two different simulated cases and on experimental IBIL spectra collected from a polysiloxane scintillators.

A registry for the collection of data in cochlear implant patients

The need to optimize the use of all the information that modern technological tools have made available to the physician ENT/audiologist has increasingly emerged within the Italian scientific community. Towards this purpose, it is necessary to create a registry of the patients using cochlear implants (CIs). This registry will include a homogeneous summary of the information deriving from multiple sources related to daily clinical practice, in order to assess auditory benefits, safety and reliability in patients with cochlear implants, and organization over the national territory. The primary objectives relative to the above-mentioned analysis are to assess the impact of the use of cochlear implants on patient health, to ensure traceability of the devices currently used, monitoring their safety and reliability over time, to guarantee access of the technique in clinical and organizational conditions that can allow the best possible benefits. The aspects concerning implementation of the registry were discussed extensively during the first meetings of the Working Group (WG). In particular, owing to the complexity and high costs related mainly to the development of the technological aspects and the need to involve technological partners external to the WG, and to respect current privacy laws, the WG members decided that the project should be limited to proposal of a paper registry to be implemented at a later stage, possibly within the framework of successive research projects. During meetings, the WG members discussed various aspects of implementation of the registry, and in particular the scientific features connected to objectives, inclusion criteria, and structure of the forms needed for data collection and organizational aspects. A registry is proposed herein.

Patients with Peri-Implantitis, unlike Those with a Healthy Peri-Implant Microenvironment, Display Antibodies to More Than One Heat Shock Protein (HSP 27, HSP 65 and HSP 90) Linear Epitope

The success of a dental implant treatment requires hard and soft tissue integration and osseointegration, mechanisms that entail a direct anchorage of the implant in the bone without interposition of soft tissue. Peri-implantitis is defined as an inflammatory reaction of the tissues surrounding a functioning dental implant. During inflammation, a high incidence of autoantibodies has been reported. The hypothesis of the present study is that the occurrence of autoantibodies to self-antigens including extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules and heat shock proteins (HSPs) might affect the dental implant outcome. Therefore, we evaluated the occurrence of antibodies to ECM molecules (Collagen (C) I, III, IV, V, fibronectin, laminin) and HSPs (HSP 27, HSP 65, HSP 90) in subjects with a healthy peri-implant microenvironment (n=29) as compared to patients with peri-implantitis (n=13). We also evaluated the HSP 27 expression in gingival fibroblasts grown in an inflammatory microenvironment. Antibodies to conformational ECM epitopes of CI, CIII and laminin were observed both in subjects with healthy peri-implant conditions and peri-implantitis. Antibodies to more than one HSP linear epitope were found in patients with peri-implantitis but not with healthy peri-implant conditions (p=0.024). Gingival fibroblasts grown in an inflammatory microenvironment showed increased HSP 27 cytoplasmic and plasma membrane expression as compared to fibroblasts grown in normal conditions. Immunity to multiple linear HSPs epitopes in patients with peri-implantitis and not in patients with a healthy peri-implant microenvironment might be relevant for monitoring the implant outcome and help to understand the role of subsets of autoantibodies in implant osseointegration.