The Eulerian buckling test for orthodontic wires.

Orthodontic treatment is mainly dependent on the loads developed by metal wires. The load developed by a buckled orthodontic wire is of great concern for molar distalization and cannot be simply derived from mechanical properties measured through classical tests (i.e. tensile, torsion, and bending). A novel testing method, based on the Eulerian approach of a simple supported beam, has been developed in order to measure the load due to buckling of orthodontic wires. Elastic titanium molybdenum alloy (TMA; SDS Ormco) and superelastic Nitinol (3M Unitek) and copper nickel-titanium (NiTi; SDS Ormco) wires, each having a rectangular cross section of 0.016 x 0.022 square inches (0.41 x 0.56 mm(2)), were used. The wires were activated and deactivated by loading and unloading. In order to analyse thermo-mechanical properties in buckling, mechanical tests were assisted by calorimetric measurements through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Statistical analysis to determine differences between the samples was undertaken using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's post hoc test, and one-way ANOVA to assess differences between the tested wires under similar conditions and different materials. The results suggest that the load due to buckling depends on material composition, wire length, the amount of activation, temperature, and deformation rate. The results can be considered as the lower bound for the loads experienced by teeth as far as a buckled wire is concerned. At a temperature higher than the austenite finish transition temperature, superelastic wires were strongly dependent on temperature and deformation rate. The effect due to an increase of deformation rate was similar to that of a decrease of temperature. Load variations due to temperature of a superelastic wire with a length of 20 mm were estimated to be approximately 4 g/degrees C. The high performance of an applied superelastic wire may be related to the high dynamics of the load in relation to temperature.

Factors associated with climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain data on correlates of climacteric symptoms in women around menopause attending menopause clinics in Italy. METHODS: Since 1997 a large cross sectional study has been conducted on the characteristics of women around menopause attending a network of first level menopause outpatient's clinics in Italy. A total of 66,501 (mean age 54.4 years) women are considered in the present paper. RESULTS: The odds ratios of moderate and severe hot flashes/night sweats were lower in more educated women and (for severe symptoms only) in women reporting regular physical activity. Depression, difficulty to sleep, forgetfulness and irritability tended to be less frequent in more educated women and (depression only) in women reporting regular physical activity. Parous women reported more frequently these symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This large study confirms in Southern European population that low education, body mass index and low physical activity are associated with climacteric symptoms. Parous women are at greater risk of psychological symptoms.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes in women attending menopause clinics in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze risk factors for type 2 diabetes among women attending menopause clinics in Italy for counselling about the menopause. SUBJECTS: Women attending a network of first-level outpatient menopause clinics in Italy for general counselling about menopause or treatment of menopausal symptoms. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with no exclusion criteria. Type 2 diabetes was defined according to National Diabetes Data Groups Indications and the fasting blood glucose at an oral glucose tolerance test within the previous year. RESULTS: Out of the 44 694 considered in this analysis, 808 had a diagnosis of diabetes type 2 (1.8%). In comparison with women aged < 50 years, the multivariate odds ratios (OR) of type 2 diabetes were 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.99-1.74) for women aged 50-52 years, 1.66 (95% CI, 1.27-2.17) at 53-56 years and 2.84 (95% CI, 2.20-3.67) in women aged > or = 57 years. Type 2 diabetes was less frequently reported in more educated women (OR high school/university vs. primary school = 0.44 (95% CI, 0.36-0.55)). Being overweight was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In comparison with women reporting a low level of physical activity, the multivariate OR of type 2 diabetes was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.54-0.84) for women reporting regular physical activity. In comparison with premenopausal women, the multivariate OR of type 2 diabetes was 1.38 (95% CI, 1.03-1.84) in women with natural menopause. This finding was present also after allowing for the potential confounding effect of age. The multivariate OR of diabetes for users of hormonal replacement therapy was 0.58 (95% CI, 0.46-0.73). CONCLUSIONS: This large cross-sectional study suggests that postmenopausal women are at higher risk of type 2 diabetes after allowance for the effect of age. Other main determinants of risk of type 2 diabetes in women around menopause were low socioeconomic status and being overweight. Diabetes was found less frequently in those taking hormone replacement therapy.

[Diagnosis and treatment of a case of adenocarcinoma of the cervix in pregnancy]. / Diagnosi e trattamento di un caso di adenocarcinoma del canale cervicale in gravidanza.

The authors report a case of mucinous-papilliferous adenocarcinoma of the cervical canal in a pregnant woman. After performing three Pap tests which demonstrated the presence of normoconformate endometrial cells partly with a normal conformation and partly with nuclear atypia, the patient was monitored with periodical obstetric examinations. A neoformation of the portio was observed at week 28: differential diagnosis was made between a hypertrophic benign tumour and a well differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient was monitored until birth and colposcopy was then performed with biopsy about one month later. Histological tests were positive for mucinous papilliferous adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent conisation with rotating loop and subsequently Piver 2 surgery owing to the suspected spread of the neoplasm beyond the margin of resection. The operative finding was negative and the patient is now free of disease.

[Treatment of dentin sensitivity with stannous fluoride gel. Electron microscopic study and evaluation of dentin permeability]. / Trattamento della sensibilità dentinale con fluoruro stannoso in gel. Studio al microscopio elettronico e valutazione della permeabilità dentinale.

Dentine hypersensitivity still represent a major clinical problem only partially solved. The presence of exposed opened dentinal tubules has been demonstrated increase the dentine permeability and it is the responsible for pain and sensitivity. Stannous fluoride solution has been recently proposed to reduce dentine hypersensitivity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dentinal permeability of a new stannous fluoride gel proposed for the therapy of dentine hypersensitivity. Human extracted teeth have been used and mounted and connected with a hydraulic pressure apparatus working at 1 psi (70 cm of water pressure). It was calculated the permeability of untreated smear layer, treated smear layer (after gel application) and after acidic treatment. It was observed that gel treatment was able to reduce dentine permeability. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of a homogeneous smear layer after treatment with gel. This in vitro study confirms that stannous fluoride treatment has the capacity to modify dentine permeability of sensitive dentine.