ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Aim of the present work is to assess the effectiveness of a scientific protocol built up to relieve pain in chronic temporo-mandibular disorders (TMD) using Michigan splint together with a pharmacological therapy compared to the traditional occlusal therapy by Michigan splint alone. PATIENTS: 35 adult patients, with signs and symptoms of TMD lasting more than 6 months, were enrolled into this study and divided into two groups: the first receiving occlusal therapy by Michigan splint and pharmacological therapy with Delorazepam and Thiocolchicoside, while the second receiving occlusal therapy by Michigan splint and "placebo" administration. The comparisons between the two experimental groups were assessed using a 5 steps visual-analogue scale (V.A.S.). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes from the experimental groups were statistically compared resulting significantly different with an improvement or disappearance of signs and symptoms in the treated group with respect to the placebo group at 12 and 18 months from the beginning of the experiment (p < 0.001).
Subject(s)
Occlusal Splints , Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/drug therapy , Temporomandibular Joint Disorders/therapy , Adult , Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use , Chronic Disease , Colchicine/analogs & derivatives , Colchicine/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle Relaxants, Central/therapeutic use , Nordazepam/analogs & derivatives , Nordazepam/therapeutic use , Pain/drug therapy , Pain/etiology , Pain Measurement/drug effects , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The 810 nm diode laser, due to its high affinity with haemoglobin (elective chromatophore) revealed, by itself, as elective instrument for surgical excision of the tongue, an organ highly vascularized and sensitive to the laser cutting action. The advantages for its use, with respect to the traditional cold blade surgery, are its haemostatic effect (which avoids to close wounds by stitches) and, not less important, the decontaminant effect of the laser ray, due to either the thermal raising created on cutting line and/or the specific selective action exerted on the bacterial membrane by its wavelength. Finally, the analgesic effect of the diode laser contributes to consider this kind of procedure more comfortable for the patient who often roundly requires its use.
Subject(s)
Lasers, Semiconductor/therapeutic use , Low-Level Light Therapy , Tongue Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Anesthetics, Local/administration & dosage , Epithelium/pathology , Gels , Humans , Hyperplasia , Lidocaine/administration & dosage , Lidocaine, Prilocaine Drug Combination , Male , Prilocaine/administration & dosage , Tongue Neoplasms/pathologyABSTRACT
The genotoxic action of copper (Cu) on the polytene chromosomes of Chironomus riparius was investigated by analysing structural and functional chromosome aberrations of fourth instars larvae hatched from eggs subject to acute (48 h) exposure with three environmentally relevant concentrations of aqueous Cu (0.005, 0.01, 0.05 mg/l). A dose dependent relationship was observed between Cu concentration and frequency of chromosomal aberrations. A significantly higher frequency of functional alterations, specifically decondensed centromeres and telomeres, and reduction in activity of Balbiani rings, was observed in treated material compared to control. A comparison of breakpoints resulting from treatment with chromium and lead from earlier studies with those Cu-induced identified a series of chromosomal weak points particularly vulnerable to trace metals. We also show that the appearance of structural and functional chromosome aberrations are more sensitive indicators of acute Cu toxicity in chironomid larvae than changes in external morphology.
