Short term dentoskeletal effects of mandibular advancement clear aligners in Class II growing patients. A prospective controlled study according to STROBE Guidelines.

AIM: To evaluate the dentoskeletal effects of the Invisalign® Mandibular Advancement (MA) (Align Technology, San José, CA, USA) feature in skeletal Class II growing patients with mandibular retrusion, at pre-pubertal and pubertal stages. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study design: Forty skeletal Class II patients were prospectively recruited and treated with Invisalign® MA. They were divided into two subgroups according to the CVM stage of growth (CVM2 and CVM3) at the beginning of treatment (T0). For each patient, lateral radiographs were collected at the beginning (T0) and at the end of the mandibular advancement treatment (T1) and their measurements were compared with those obtained by an untreated control group of 32 subjects, matched for growth stage and malocclusion. RESULTS: Patients in CVM2 showed significant reduction of ANB angle, A:Po, Wits index, 11^Spp angle and significant increase of 11^41 and B Downs point. In CVM3 significant reduction of the Wits index and of 41^GoGn angle, and significant increase of the linear Co-Gn measurement, were revealed. STATISTICS: The STROBE guidelines were followed. Linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the differences of ? (T1 - T0) means between group (control was used as reference) stratifying by CVM levels. CONCLUSION: The use of Invisalign® MA is effective in treating Class II growing patient with retrognathic mandible in the short term period. While treatment at prepubertal stage of growth results in dentoalveolar rather than skeletal effects, treatment during the pubertal spurt produces skeletal effects with an annual rate of change of 5.8 mm.

Long-term follow-up of cystic thyroid nodules treated with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) using two different approaches.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Cystic thyroid nodules (CNs), although generally benign, can cause compressive or aesthetic problems. Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) can represent an alternative to surgery. The present retrospective study evaluates: (i) the long-term outcome of CNs after PEI; (ii) the differences between two different PEI protocols; (iii) the CNs response according to the liquid component. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study comprises 358 nodules post-PEI followed for at least 2 years. PEI was performed according to two different treatment protocols with a single (Foggia) or double (Turin) alcohol injection. CNs were divided according to their composition: cystic (CYS) >90%, mainly cystic (M-CYS) 75-90%, mixed (MIX) 50-75%, solid-mixed (S-MIX) 35-50%. The volume reduction rate (VRR) was defined as nodule volume (mL) after PEI/nodule volume (mL) before PEI x 100. RESULTS: The 1-year VRR was significantly higher than that at 6 months (89.5% vs 72.9%, P = 0.0005), no differences were observed after 1 year. A significant difference between Turin and Foggia was observed only in VRR at early visit (79% vs 86%, respectively, P = 0.002) and recurrence rate (14% vs 24%, respectively, P = 0.001). Minor side-effects were infrequent. In 192 nodules with a 10-year follow-up CYS showed higher VRR than MIX and S-MIX nodules (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our study reported that the long-term outcome of CNs treated with PEI is excellent regardless of the PEI technique utilized; the larger the cystic amount, the higher the VRR. Based on present results, PEI can be considered as the first-line choice for treating thyroid CNs.

Integrated assessment of biomarker responses and microbiological analysis of oysters from São Luís Island, Brazil.

This study was conducted to evaluate the use of biochemical biomarkers and microbiological analysis to identify levels of oyster contamination at different ports in São Luís Island (Maranhão), Brazil. Oysters were analyzed for total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli and Aeromonas spp. In addition, tissue was removed from the digestive gland to determine the glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activity. The highest percentage of microbiological contamination of oyster samples occurred during the rainy season. The activity of GST and catalase in oysters was also higher in the rainy season, coinciding with the greatest abundance of total and thermotolerant coliforms. Among the prospective biomarkers, GST showed the best results for identification of areas with higher levels of contamination.

Nasal and cutaneous aspergillosis in a goat.

Nasal and cutaneous aspergillosis is reported in an adult goat. The clinical signs were severe respiratory distress due to partial nasal obstruction, bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge, skin nodules on the ears and dorsal nasal region and focal depigmentation of the ventral commissure of the right nostril. At necropsy examination, sagittal sectioning of the head revealed a yellow irregular mass extending from the nasal vestibule to the frontal portion of the nasal cavity. Microscopically, there was pyogranulomatous rhinitis and dermatitis, with numerous intralesional periodic acid-Schiff-positive fungal hyphae morphologically suggestive of Aspergillus spp. Aspergillus niger was isolated by microbiological examination.

The role of mandibular repositioning splint in the orthodontic treatment of patients with TMJ dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the effectiveness of mandibular repositioning splints in the young and adult patients with TMJ dysfunction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 23 adult and 14 adolescent patients with TMJ dysfunction selected by Helkimo's index and the criteria of the American Academy of Craniomandibular disorders. RESULTS: upon anamnestic follow up, almost a total disappearance of the functional pain was reported by all patients, while for the headache, a cyclic onset was present, but with an uncertain etiology. Patients had a complete control of the mandibular movements with some articular sounds. But a modicum of muscular tenderness remained possibly due to the psyche of the patient. DISCUSSION: the prevalence of dysfunction in the growing patients was an intriguing observation. Not Angle's classification, but the presence of open bite, deep bite, or unilateral cross was the significant etiological factors.

Orthodontic composite resin bond strength with conventional light and Power Slot curing.

OBJECTIVES: the purpose of this clinical trial was to compare the clinical performance of a new composite resin using two different kind of light curing systems, one conventional and one turbo boosted in a split-mouth design, by using both systems for direct bonding of orthodontic stainless steel brackets in every patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: fifty patients, 32 females and 18 males, of which 13 were adults (> 18 years of age) with fixed appliances were followed for a mean period of 12 months (range 6-16 months). The performance of 1200 steel brackets was evaluated: 600 were bonded with a conventional light curing (Kulzer light curing machine), curing every bracket for 20 seconds using Quick Cure Composite resin (Reliance Orthodontics), 600 were bonded with a new curing light machine (Reliance Ortho 2000 curing light with Power slot), curing every bracket for 6 seconds. Brackets were bonded both on permanent and on deciduous teeth, since many of these patients were growing patients. RESULTS: the conventional light curing recorded an overall failure rate (26 brackets - 4,3%) significantly higher (p< 0.0360) than Power Slot light curing (13 brackets -2,3%). There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.07) between the failure rates in the upper and lower arches with either light curing systems and also in between anterior and posterior areas. A significant difference was evident, however, among the failure rate of upper total and lower total (p<0.0463) brackets bonded with both systems and was more evident in upper arches bonded with conventional curing system (p<0.0170). It was evident also a higher failure rate in the upper arch compared to the lower arch bonded with conventional light (p<0.0269). CONCLUSIONS: the Power Slot light curing was more effective. But both bonding systems failed mainly at the enamel-adhesive interface, without causing damage to the enamel.