[Electromyographic and electrognathographic analysis of patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis]. / Analisi electtromiografica ed elettrognatografica in soggetti affetti da artrite reumatoide giovanile.

Seven patients, affected by JRA, underwent an examination by electromyography and electrognathography, to judge variations in the activity of some masticatory muscles and in the movements of the jaw. The muscular activity and masticatory mechanics show a reduction in the freedom of movement. The system cannot work in all the positions allowed by the physiological mobility of the TMJ.

[Hemorrhagic diathesis and oral surgery]. / Diatesi emorragiche e chirurgia odontostomatologica.

Dental and/or periodontal diseases are an important clinical and social problem in patients with hemorrhagic diathesis. The possibility to overcome it successfully depends on the type of hemorrhagic disease and on the organization of hematological and odontostomatological centres: in fact, the best results in the surgery of these patients are obtained through the balanced combination of general and local treatments. The right diagnosis of coagulopathy is the first important goal: it can be obtained through the screening tests of hemostasis and, when necessary, through additional tests. Therapeutic protocols are available for each congenital or acquired hemorrhagic diathesis to prepare the patient for surgery; by so doing the risk of hemorrhagic complications is negligible. A better homogeneity in the approach to these patients in the different centres is highly desirable: the present review can offer a contribute in this respect.

[Computerized occlusal verification in denture frames]. / Verifica occlusale computerizzata in protesi scheletrata.

Partial removable prosthesis must foresee masticatory force distribution on all dental arch, with occlusal contacts uniformly distributed on natural and artificial teeth. These dental contacts must have the same intensity and they must happen in the same time, rispetting the gnathology laws. In this work it is investigated the possible utilization in partial removable prosthesis of T-Scan.

[T-Scan tracing of the arches. Computerized analysis]. / T-Scan disegno delle arcate. Analisi al computer.

This work deals with a quality control of the dental arch reconstructing software developed for T-Scan. We have developed an original system that employs computer controlled optical acquisition of data. This system behaves satisfactorily following our metodology.

Comparative efficacy of cyclandelate versus flunarizine in the prophylactic treatment of migraine.

In a double-blind, parallel-group randomised trial of 3 months' duration, the efficacy of cyclandelate 800 mg twice daily in migraine prophylaxis was compared with that of flunarizine 5mg daily in 40 patients. In comparison with placebo and baseline values, both drugs significantly relieved symptoms of migraine as assessed by indices of pain total index, headache index, analgesic consumption and number of migraine days. Patients taking flunarizine experienced side effects such as drowsiness, weight gain and asthenia, while the most common complaint reported with cyclandelate was gastric upset. These results suggest that cyclandelate may be a useful alternative in migraine prophylaxis.

Evidence for serotonin-S2 receptor involvement in analgesia in humans.

The possible analgesic activity of ritanserin (a new very selective and potent serotonin-S2 antagonist) was studied (double-blind) in humans. A significant increase in nociceptive flexion reflex threshold and subjective pain threshold was observed after five days of treatment, while treatment with placebo did not induce any change. The effects of ritanserin were not reversed by either naloxone or saline (double-blind) administration. Our data suggest a possible role of serotonin-S2 receptors in analgesia.

Alterations due to ampicillin and rifampicin in S. sanguis and S. aureus isolated from dental plaque. An electron microscopic study.

In this work we analysed the ultrastructural changes in S. aureus and S. sanguis after exposure to rifampicin and ampicillin respectively. S. aureus grown in the presence of rifampicin showed ultrastructural changes that can be summarized as follows: the peripheral cell-wall increased to three to five times the normal thickness; the cross-walls were considerably (two to ten times) thicker than normal; after 8 h of exposure a complete lysis occurred. S. sanguis grown in the presence of ampicillin showed ultrastructural changes that can be summarized as follows: aggregation and condensation of ribosomes; alterations of division with the presence of asynchronous septa; in some bacterial cells a prominent bulge was observed at one pole of the cell; after 8 h of exposure a complete lysis occurred.