Treatment of Class II malocclusion with 2-maxillary premolar extractions: Monthly vs biweekly appointments, which is more efficient?

INTRODUCTION: This study compared whether there is a difference in treatment time (TT) and efficiency when appointments are held once a month or at 2-week intervals in patients with Class II malocclusion treated with 2-premolar extractions METHODS: The patients of this retrospective sample were treated with the same orthodontic mechanics and divided into 2 groups according to frequencies of orthodontic appointments. Group 1 consisted of 18 patients (10 males, 8 females), with an initial mean age of 14.38 ± 1.38 years and appointments once a month. Group 2 consisted of 19 patients (9 males, 10 females), with an initial mean age of 14.12 ± 1.38 years and biweekly appointments. Edgewise fixed appliances with a slot size of 0.022 × 0.028 mm were used, and the anterior teeth were retracted en-masse with a rectangular wire and elastic chains. The Peer Assessment Rating and Objective Grading System indexes were measured in the dental models at the beginning and the end of treatment. Efficiency was assessed by dividing the percentage of improvement of each occlusal index concerning the multiplication of TT and the number of appointments. RESULTS: Both groups presented similar Peer Assessment Rating and Objective Grading System indexes at the end of treatment. Groups 1 and 2 presented different TTs (28.06 and 22.05 months, respectively); however, there were no differences regarding the efficiency of both protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Class II malocclusion treated with 2-maxillary premolars had significantly shorter treatment times when seen on biweekly appointments than those with monthly appointments; however, there was no difference in efficiency between protocols.

Long term follow-up of a multicentre cohort of COVID-19 patients with pulmonary embolism: Anticoagulation management and outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequent complication in COVID19 hospitalized patients. Inflammatory storm and endothelial dysfunction due to the virus seem to be the two major risk factors for PE. Consequently, PE related to COVID19 could be consider as triggered by a transient inflammatory acute phase and treated for no longer than 3 months. However, few data are available on management of anticoagulation and risk of venous thromboembolic (VTE) recurrences in these patients and guidelines are still undefined. Aim of the present study is to evaluate the long-term follow-up of a cohort of covid-19 patients with PE. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study in four Italian hospitals between March 1st, 2020, and May 31st, 2021 in patients who experienced a PE during hospitalization for a COVID-19 pneumonia, excluding patients who died during hospitalization. Baseline characteristics were collected and patients were grouped according to duration of anticoagulant treatment (< 3 months or > 3 months). The primary outcome was incidence of VTE recurrence while secondary outcome was the composite of deaths, major hemorrhages and VTE recurrence during follow-up. RESULTS: 106 patients with PE were discharged, of these 95 (89.6 %) had follow up longer than 3 months (seven patients were lost to follow up and four died within three months). The median follow-up was 13 months (IQR 1-19). Overall, 23 % of subjects (22/95) were treated for 3 months or less and 76.8 % (73/95) received anticoagulation for >3 months. Of patients in the short treatment group, 4.5 % died, compared with 5.5 % of those in the longer treatment group (p = NS); no difference was shown in risk of VTE recurrence (0 % vs 4.1 %, p = NS), major bleeding (4.5 % vs 4.1 %, p = NS) or in composite outcome (9.1 % vs 11 %, p = NS). No difference was found between the two treatment groups for composite outcome using the Kaplan-Meier analysis (Log Rank Test p = 0.387). CONCLUSION: In our retrospective multi-center cohort, prolongation of duration of anticoagulation seems not to affect risk of VTE recurrences, deaths and bleeding after a PE related to COVID-19.

Upper extremity deep vein thrombosis treated with direct oral anticoagulants: a multi-center real world experience.

Upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) accounts for about 5-10% of all cases of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). It is often associated with cancer and/or presence of a central venous catheter (CVC), but it may also occur in the absence of these favoring conditions. The safety and efficacy of using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in subjects with UEDVT has not been systematically evaluated and the only data available in the literature derive from anecdotal evidence, analysis of registries, and small single-centre studies. In addition, a specific analysis of UEDVT not associated with cancer and/or CVC has never been made. In this study, we specifically focused on patients with no cancer and without a CVC who were diagnosed with a first episode of UEDVT and were treated with a DOAC. We studied 61 patients, treated in six Italian centres between January 2014 and December 2018. Treatment lasted at least 3 months in all patients. In terms of efficacy, no recurrence of thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were recorded, while Doppler ultrasonography, performed after at least three months of treatment, documented in all cases either partial or complete recanalization of obstructed veins. In terms of safety, no cases of major bleedings were recorded. This is the only series available in the literature of patients treated with DOACs for UEDVT not associated with cancer and/or CVC. This small multicenter real world experience supports the concept that DOACs might be safe and effective for treating UEDTV. Further studies are required to better understand the role of DOACs in these patients.

Influence of the growth pattern on cortical bone thickness and mini-implant stability.

INTRODUCTION: Controversial reports suggest a relationship between growth pattern and cortical alveolar bone thickness, and its effect in the use of mini-implants. OBJECTIVE: The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the growth pattern on the cortical alveolar bone thickness and on the stability and success rate of mini-implants. METHODS: Fifty-six mini-implants were inserted in the buccal region of the maxilla of 30 patients. These patients were allocated into two groups, based on their growth pattern (horizontal group [HG] and vertical group [VG]). Cortical thickness was measured using Cone Beam Computed Tomography. Stability of mini-implants, soft tissue in the insertion site, sensitivity during loading and plaque around the mini-implants were evaluated once a month. Intergroup comparisons were performed using t tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and Fisher exact tests. Correlations were evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The cortical bone thickness was significantly greater in the HG at the maxillary labial anterior region and at the mandibular buccal posterior and labial anterior regions. There was a significant negative correlation between Frankfort-mandibular plane angle (FMA) and the labial cortical thickness of the maxilla, and with the labial and lingual cortical bone thicknesses of the mandible. No significant intergroup difference was found for mini-implant mobility and success rate. No associated factor influenced stability of the mini-implants. CONCLUSIONS: Growth pattern affects the alveolar bone cortical thickness in specific areas of the maxilla and mandible, with horizontal patients presenting greater cortical bone thickness. However, this fact may have no influence on the stability and success rate of mini-implants in the maxillary buccal posterior region.

Microparticles Carrying Sonic Hedgehog Are Increased in Humans with Peripheral Artery Disease.

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a prototypical angiogenic agent with a crucial role in the regulation of angiogenesis. Experimental studies have shown that Shh is upregulated in response to ischemia. Also, Shh may be found on the surface of circulating microparticles (MPs) and MPs bearing Shh (Shh + MPs) have shown the ability to contribute to reparative neovascularization after ischemic injury in mice. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in humans with peripheral artery disease (PAD), there is increased number of circulating Shh + MPs. This was done by assessing the number of Shh + MPs in plasma of patients with PAD and control subjects without PAD. We found significantly higher number of Shh + MPs in plasma of subjects with PAD, compared to controls, while the global number of MPs-produced either by endothelial cells, platelets, leukocytes, and erythrocytes-was not different between PAD patients and controls. We also found a significant association between the number of Shh + MPs and the number of collateral vessels in the ischemic limbs of PAD patients. Interestingly, the concentration of Shh protein unbound to MPs-which was measured in MP-depleted plasma-was not different between subjects with PAD and the controls, indicating that, in the setting of PAD, the call for Shh recapitulation does not lead to secretion of protein into the blood but to binding of the protein to the membrane of MPs. These findings provide novel information on Shh signaling during ischemia in humans, with potentially important biological and clinical implications.

Midpalatal suture maturation in 11- to 15-year-olds: A cone-beam computed tomographic study.

INTRODUCTION: We used cone-beam computed tomography to evaluate the maturation stages of the midpalatal sutures in children aged 11 to 15 years old. Maxillary expansion is successful for most patients in this age group, so we sought to identify the status of suture maturation in these subjects to use as a comparison for the prognosis of rapid maxillary expansion in older patients. METHODS: Tomographic images in axial sections of the midpalatal sutures from 84 children (40 boys, 44 girls; ages, 11-15 years) were classified using a scale denoting the maturation stage of the midpalatal suture (A, B, C, D, and E). The chi-square test was applied to evaluate suture stages by sex and age groups. RESULTS: Stage A was observed in only one 11-year-old girl. Stage B was present at all ages but was more prevalent in those less than 13 years of age. Stage C was the most prevalent in all evaluated ages. Stages D and E showed low prevalence rates. There were higher prevalences of the early stages of maturation in boys. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study, which showed dominant prevalence of stage C, suggest that conventional, nonsurgical rapid maxillary expansion performed in patients over 15 years old is justified by a satisfactory prognosis when assessment of the sutural status indicates stage C.

The efficacy of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes and concomitant carotid disease.

BACKGROUND: Statins prevent recurrent ischemic coronary events after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and improve cardiovascular outcome of patients with peripheral artery disease. AIM: We sought to evaluate the interrelationship between statin use, phenotype of carotid plaques as assessed by ultrasound, and outcome of patients with ACS and concomitant carotid disease. METHODS: A total of 337 consecutive patients with ACS were assessed by coronary angiography and Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries and followed up for a median period of 19 months. RESULTS: Carotid plaques were detected in 144 (42%) patients. Of these patients, 99 (69%) had echogenic carotid plaques and 45 (31%) had echolucent plaques. The groups did not differ significantly with regard to the lipid profiles, the prevalence of risk factors, and 1-vessel, 2-vessel, or 3-vessel coronary artery disease. During follow-up, 227 (67%) patients were receiving statins. We observed 14 cardiac deaths and 17 myocardial infarctions. After adjustment for treatment strategy (medical therapy or myocardial revascularization), patients with echolucent carotid plaques receiving statin therapy (n = 32, 71%) showed a better event-free survival than did patients with echolucent plaques not treated with statins (log-rank P = .038). In patients with echogenic carotid plaques, the benefit of statin therapy on event-free survival was less evident (log-rank P = .56). CONCLUSION: In patients with ACS and echolucent carotid plaques, statin therapy is associated with better event-free survival, while in patients with ACS and echogenic carotid plaques no clear benefit of statins is observed.

Early mobilization after percutaneous catheterization and vascular closure with a novel device (Star-Close).

Arteriotomy closure devices used to obtain hemostasis at the end of cardiac catheterization represent a valid alternative to manual compression. We are the first to report on a series of 60 patients in whom a novel system was used, Star-Close, which obtains vessel closure by deployment of a clip at the puncture site. Subsequent early (2 hours) mobilization was obtained in 55 patients (92%). Unsuccessful device deployment occurred in 5 patients. We conclude that Star-Close is a novel arteriotomy closure device that, in selected patients, is safe and allows early deambulation after diagnostic cardiac catheterization.

Predictive value of associations between carotid and coronary artery disease in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

The present study evaluated the association among sonographic characteristics of carotid plaques, angiographic morphology of coronary lesions, and outcomes of patients who had acute coronary syndromes. In treatment-stratified Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis, hard carotid plaques and coronary lesions of complex morphology were found to be independent predictors of future cardiac events.