Reliability of quantitative ultrasound measurement of flexor digitorum superficialis and profundus muscles in stroke.

Aim: This study aims to investigate reliability of quantitative ultrasound measurement of the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) muscles in stroke. Materials & methods: Patients with a history of stroke were recruited. FDP and FDS muscles on both upper extremities were investigated with ultrasound. Two independent assessors acquired images and analyzed them using a program and Heckmatt scale. Results: Forty-eight patients were included. The inter-rater intraclass correlation coefficient for echo intensities was calculated as 0.91 while intrarater intraclass correlation coefficient as 0.80. For Heckmatt scale, the inter-rater reliability for FDS was Kw = 0.74 (p < 0.0005) and for FDP it was Kw = 0.73 (p < 0.0005). Mean echo intensity values showed significant strong correlations with Heckmatt scores (r = 0.663 and r = 0.633 with both p values <0.001). Conclusion: Quantitative ultrasound imaging of FDS and FDP is a reliable method to demonstrate echo intensity changes of muscles in stroke.

Flies as pollinators of melittophilous Salvia species (Lamiaceae).

UNLABELLED: • PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Floral adaptation to a functional pollinator group does not necessarily mean close specialization to a few pollinator species. For the more than 950 species of Salvia, only bee and bird pollinations are known. Restriction to these pollinators is mainly due to the specific flower construction (lever mechanism). Nevertheless, it has been repeatedly suggested that Salvia flowers might also be pollinated by flies. Are flies able to handle the lever mechanism? Are they functionally equivalent pollinators? In this study, we compared and quantified pollen transfer by bees and flies to test whether flies are true pollinators in Salvia.• METHODS: We identified pollinators using field observations and photos. Video documentation of the visitation rate and the site of pollen placement on the pollinator body, morphometric measurements, quantification of pollen placement, pollen load, handling time, and stigma contact ratio were analyzed.• KEY RESULTS: Field investigations revealed that 19 insect species pollinated S. virgata and four pollinated S. verticillata, including 16 bee species from seven genera of the Apidae and three fly species from three genera of the Nemestrinidae and Tabanidae.• CONCLUSIONS: Flies have been found to be pollinators in primarily bee-pollinated Salvia species. This result demonstrates the potential of a given "melittoid" flower construction to broaden the range of pollinators to guarantee successful pollination and seed production. Though bees, particularly Bombus terrestris, were more efficient than flies, the study shows that flies significantly contribute to pollen transfer in Salvia.

Forced eruption and implant site development in the aesthetic zone: A case report.

A multidisciplinary approach to develop the future implant site in the aesthetic zone was illustrated. A patient with perio-endo combined lesion at her upper central incisors was treated. Before extraction, forced eruption was performed and 12 months later, satisfactory amount of bone apposition was detected. At 2 weeks after atraumatic extraction, implants were placed and loaded with implant-supported restorations following osseous healing. Variables related to crown dimensions, periodontal/peri-implanter soft-tissue health and patient's aesthetic satisfaction were recorded at baseline, before extraction and after prosthetic treatment. At 12-month control, crown dimensions in the implant site were identical to the baseline and in addition to the healthy peri-implant tissues, successful aesthetics were obtained. Forced eruption is a successful non-invasive method to develop the aesthetics of the peri-implant tissues and implant-supported restorations.

Modified tandem traction bow appliance compared with facemask therapy in treating Class III malocclusions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of the modified tandem traction bow appliance (MTTBA) and the facemask in treating patients with Class III malocclusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The material consisted of the pre-post treatment\pre-post observation lateral cephalograms of 65 subjects with skeletal and dental Class III malocclusion. In the first group 21 patients (mean age: 10 years, 6 months) were treated with a Delaire-type facemask (FM). In the second group 22 patients treated (mean age: 10 years) with MTTBA. The remaining 22 children (mean age: 9 years, 7 months) were observed without treatment for 11 months. RESULTS: Increase in SNA, N-FH ⊥ A, and ANB angles were significantly greater in the treatment groups compared to the control group. However, ANB angle showed a significantly greater increase in the FM group (2.8 ± 0.30°) than in the MTTBA group (2.0 ± 0.18°). The overjet and molar relation increased significantly in both treatment groups, but in the FM group (5.2 ± 0.40 mm) increase in overjet was significantly greater than in the MTTBA group (4.0 ± 0.27 mm). Mesial movement of upper molar and incisor were found to be greater in the FM group compared to the modified TTBA group. CONCLUSIONS: Both appliances were found to be effective in the treatment of Class III malocclusion. Their skeletal and dental effects showed differences due to their design.

Dentofacial effects of a modified tandem traction bow appliance.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the dentofacial effects of a modified tandem traction bow appliance (modified TTBA) in skeletal Class III subjects, and the effect of age on treatment response. The material consisted of the pre-treatment/pre-observation and post-treatment/post-observation lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist films of 45 children with skeletal and dental Class III malocclusions. Thirty patients were treated with a modified TTBA. Two treatment groups of 15 patients each were formed: an early (nine girls, six boys; mean skeletal age: 8.18 ± 0.50 years) and a late treatment (5 girls, 10 boys; mean skeletal age: 11.75 ± 1.00 years) group. The remaining 15 children (5 girls, 10 boys; mean skeletal age: 7.90 ± 0.62 years) were observed without treatment for 8 months and served as a control for the early treatment group. Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney U-tests were used for statistical analysis. Significant forward maxillary movement was determined in both treatment groups (P < 0.01) while the decrease in SNB was significantly greater in the early treatment group compared with the control (P < 0.01). Upper molar tipping and sagittal displacement of point A (point A-T, N(⊥)FH-A) was found to be significantly greater in the late treatment group compared with the early treatment group (P < 0.05). In both treatment groups, dental and skeletal correction of the Class III malocclusion was achieved.