Immediate effect of an elastomeric oral appliance on the neuromuscular coordination of masticatory muscles: a pilot study in healthy subjects.

To compare the electromyographic characteristics of masticatory muscles with and without a new elastomeric oral device proposed for masticatory muscle training, 10 healthy subjects aged 23 to 32 were examined. Surface electromyography of masseter and temporal muscles was performed during maximum teeth clenching without and with the device and during unilateral chewing with either gum or the device. During clenching, a significant increment of the overall muscular activity was promoted by the occlusal device in comparison with the intercuspal teeth clenching (P=0·05). Muscular standardised activity during device chewing was significantly higher than that during gum chewing (P=0·005), and it was more evenly distributed between working and balancing sides (P=0·023 right side, P=0·039 left side), and between masseter and temporal muscles (right side test, P=0·014). No significant differences were found for the global neuromuscular co-ordination, the masticatory symmetry and the chewing frequency. Clenching and chewing with the analysed occlusal prostheses was performed with a relative increment of muscular activity. These findings may be the basis for the training effect proposed for this device.

An automatic quantification and registration strategy to create a gene expression atlas of zebrafish embryogenesis.

In order to properly understand and model the gene regulatory networks in animals development, it is crucial to obtain detailed measurements, both in time and space, about their gene expression domains. In this paper, we propose a complete computational framework to fulfill this task and create a 3D Atlas of the early zebrafish embryogenesis annotated with both the cellular localizations and the level of expression of different genes at different developmental stages. The strategy to construct such an Atlas is described here with the expression pattern of 5 different genes at 6 hours of development post fertilization.

The peopling of modern Bosnia-Herzegovina: Y-chromosome haplogroups in the three main ethnic groups.

The variation at 28 Y-chromosome biallelic markers was analysed in 256 males (90 Croats, 81 Serbs and 85 Bosniacs) from Bosnia-Herzegovina. An important shared feature between the three ethnic groups is the high frequency of the "Palaeolithic" European-specific haplogroup (Hg) I, a likely signature of a Balkan population re-expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum. This haplogroup is almost completely represented by the sub-haplogroup I-P37 whose frequency is, however, higher in the Croats (approximately 71%) than in Bosniacs (approximately 44%) and Serbs (approximately 31%). Other rather frequent haplogroups are E (approximately 15%) and J (approximately 7%), which are considered to have arrived from the Middle East in Neolithic and post-Neolithic times, and R-M17 (approximately 14%), which probably marked several arrivals, at different times, from eastern Eurasia. Hg E, almost exclusively represented by its subclade E-M78, is more common in the Serbs (approximately 20%) than in Bosniacs (approximately 13%) and Croats (approximately 9%), and Hg J, observed in only one Croat, encompasses approximately 9% of the Serbs and approximately 12% of the Bosniacs, where it shows its highest diversification. By contrast, Hg R-M17 displays similar frequencies in all three groups. On the whole, the three main groups of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in spite of some quantitative differences, share a large fraction of the same ancient gene pool distinctive for the Balkan area.

[Echographic follow-up after laparoscopic enucleation of endometrioma]. / Follow-up ecografico dopo enucleazione laparoscopica di endometriomi.

The authors report their experience of the ultrasonic follow-up of endometriomas after laparoscopic enucleation. Fifty women with sixty-six endometriomas were treated: the average diameter of the endometriomas is 4.2 cm. The clinical and ultrasonic follow-up of 21 months shows: -the disappearance of the ovary's solution of continuity after laparoscopic enucleation of the endometriomas; -the persistence of deep endometriomas; -the presence of residual fragments of the endometrioma's capsule; -the appearance of relapsing endometriomas.

[Endometrial ablation with the resectoscope. The authors' experience]. / L'ablazione endometriale con resettoscopio. Esperienza personale.

The authors report their experience in endometrial ablation, a new hysteroscopic surgery technique, which is now proposed as an alternative to hysterectomy in cases of persistent uterine bleeding like meno-metrorrhagia not supported by myoma or endometrial atypia. The clinical indications and the resectoscopic technique are treated. From 1-1-1992 to 31-10-1993 14 women were treated with partial endometrial ablation and the result was good (shorter menstruation) in 80% and amenorrhea took place in 20%. The authors carried out an hysteroscopic follow-up in seven women which showed smaller uterine cavity with some adhesion and in all cases it was possible to perform biopsy with Novak cannula.

[Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome: a simplified method]. / Screening prenatale per la sindrome di Down: un metodo semplificato.

Prenatal screening for Down's syndrome (DS) can be achieved by combining maternal age risks and maternal serum additional parameters (AFP, HCG, uE3) by computer assisted statistical analysis. Nevertheless this measure of risk is far from broad and practical application in Italy, due to cultural and organization difficulties. So we suggest a different technical approach, the age specific risk being multiplied by the HCG/AFP likelihood ratio. HCG and AFP can be tested by an automated Elisa assay, and calculations performed by a simple method, excluding computer and software package use. About 100 pregnancies were evaluated both by a modified version of the Wald test and the method described hereafter. Using the automated HCG and AFP Elisa Testing and Crossley statistical calculation a higher False Positive Rate was observed. On the other hand no different Detection Rate was observed for the two tests. On a retrospective study we found that 5 sera from affected pregnancies were correctly identified both by the modified Wald test and the other method. It is concluded that, despite different False Positive Rates, the choice of which test to use depends on evaluation of local resources, one test being easier-to-perform and more sensitive, the other one probably being more specific but more difficult to perform.

[Endometrial ablation. A review of the technics and results]. / L'ablazione endometriale. Revisione delle tecniche e risultati.

The authors make a careful examination of a very new surgical hysteroscopic technique, endometrial ablation, which is proposed as an alternative to hysterectomy in cases of persistent uterine bleeding not supported by endometrial atypia or adenocarcinoma. In addition to examining the indications for this type of surgery the authors also assess the state of the art of two techniques currently used: the laser technique and the method based on electroresection. The risks, benefits, collateral effects and results are evaluated for each method.

[Echography in the diagnosis of postoperative complication in gynecology]. / L'ecografia nella diagnostica delle complicanze post-chirurgiche in ginecologia.

The authors report their experience regarding the use of ultrasonic instruments to control the postoperative iter of gynecological, oncological or urological surgery. These types of surgery may be complicated by urethral lesions, retroperitoneal or subfascial sero-hematic stasis, lymphocele, urethrohydronephrosis or vescical dysfunctions with urinary stasis which, if identified at an early stage, can be resolved by surgery. Out of 88 cases of gynecological surgery with a high risk of complications which were followed using ultrasound during the postoperative period, complications occurred in 11 cases (12.5%): their early identification also enabled adequate treatment to be performed using an echo-guided aspirated needle technique or using the application of drainage catheters.

[Cleidocranial dysostosis. Presentation of a clinical case]. / Disostosi cleido-cranica. Presentazione di un caso clinico.

After presenting the aetiopathogenetic, clinical, radiological and therapeutic aspects of cleidocranial dysostosis syndrome, a case is reported. The patient, a boy of 14, was the subject of examination since birth.

[Electromyographic evaluation of silent periods in the elevator muscles of the mandible in dysfunctional pathology of the temporo-mandibular joint]. / Valutazione elettromiografica dei periodi inibitori nei muscoli elevatori della mandibola in corso di patologia disfunzionale dell'articolazione temporo-mandibolare.

After a brief review of the features and physiology of the silent period, its modifications in painful temporomandibular dysfunction are assessed with particular reference to their reliability in practical diagnosis. Six patients with the classic signs and symptoms as well as 7 healthy volunteers acting as controls were examined. In view of the results obtained as well as the discrepancies reported in the literature and the numerous variations in the methods used in stimulating, recording and measuring the silent period, it is concluded that this study can play no more than a supporting role in the diagnosis of the syndrome despite its value in experimental research.

[Clinico-diagnostic evaluation of craniomandibular disorders]. / La valutazione clinico-diagnostica dei disordini craniomandibolari.

Diagnostic setting of patients with craniomandibular disorders, imposes a careful valuation of the single components of the stomatognathic system (articular, occlusal, neuromuscular) to identify the etiologic factors which have led to the pathology. The Authors illustrate a clinic standardized procedure evaluating the different aspects and punctualizing the importance of the anamnestic investigation to define the psycho-emotional component of the patient. Only a careful clinic valuation permits a therapeutic programme to obtain a stable result without any relapse.

[Clinical indications of echographic study during the use of intrauterine devices (IUD)]. / Indicazioni cliniche all'esame ecografico nell'uso dei dispositivi intrauterini (DIU).

The women who using intrauterine devices (IUD) for contraception are more and more, and the accidents and complications for this are topical. Frequently these situations aren't easily resolved, and the ultrasonography usually brings a true complete information. The Authors have marked a fashionable review on the use of ultrasonography in the control of IUD, specifying an important utilization of this technique.

[Predictive value of biometry in early pregnancy in comparison with birth weight]. / Predittività della biometria della gravidanza iniziale nei confronti del peso alla nascita.

The authors have compared the biometric measurement of the first trimester of gestation (CRL, gestation sac volume, GS vol./CRL ratio) with the respective weights at birth, in order to determine possible correlations. The result have showed no newborns SGA with biometric measurement greater than the 90 degrees percentile in the first trimester of pregnancy, and also no newborns LGA with biometric measurements smaller than the 10 degrees percentile. The authors nevertheless conclude for an insufficient prediction of the parameters considered, cause the high percentage of false positives and false negatives.