Influence of the type of breastfeeding as a risk or protective factor for the onset of malocclusions: a systematic review.

AIM: The correlation between malocclusions in deciduous dentition and type of breastfeeding has been described by many authors in numerous articles. The aim of this article is to investigate the literature about this important topic. MATERIALS: The research was conducted by querying the following databases: PubMed, EBMR, Cochrane Library, Web of Sciences, Medline, Web of Sciences, Ovid and Embase. The key words were: "infant" OR "baby", AND "breastfeeding" AND "malocclusion". As with similar literature review papers, the PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews Protocols) was used. The examined articles were of the following types: randomised controlled trials (RCTs), case-control studies and cohort studies. For the qualitative analysis of the selected studies, it was employed the NOS scale (Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale). CONCLUSION: Two hundred and fifty articles were selected. After filtering out the articles deemed irrelevant or with obvious bias, only 16 articles were left. From our results, it can be concluded that breastfeeding seems to play a decisive role in preventing the onset of posterior cross-bites and Class II malocclusions, and that this protective effect appears to be time-dependent.

SALIVA-based diagnostic approach for diabetes mellitus: a step towards non-invasive detection - a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease whose main feature is chronic hyperglycemia. The causes of DM are impaired insulin secretion, impaired insulin action, or both. Saliva is a biofluid that can be considered as a "mirror" reflecting our body's health status; with the rapid advancement in salivaomics, saliva, being a non-invasive and safe source, could be a substitute for blood in the diagnosis and prognosis of diseases. As there are no precise guidelines about the salivary biomarkers correlated with the diagnosis of diabetes, a review was conducted to verify whether saliva analysis can be feasible and which biomarkers are more reliable, for the diagnosis of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed through PubMed, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, Open Grey, and Cochrane Library databases. The "PRISMA" guidelines were used for the following review, and thirty-three studies were analyzed. RESULTS: Almost all salivary glucose studies suggest that the estimation of this biomarker can be used as a potential indicator. Furthermore, studies that considered other biomarkers such as 1,5-anhydroglucitol, alpha-amylase, N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase, asprosin, resistin, and fructosamine reported that these biomarkers resulted to be potentially useful for diabetes screening and diagnosis, with the exception of the cystatin SA. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, several salivary biomarkers could be useful for monitoring DM, but it would be necessary to further expand the research and define precise values for each marker in order to predict with reasonable confidence if an individual is healthy or suffering from diabetes. Finally, standardized saliva collection and processing techniques are key to minimizing interindividual variability in saliva composition.

Unconventional T cells in chronic hepatitis B patients on long-term suppressive therapy with tenofovir followed by a Peg-IFN add-on strategy: A randomized study.

HBV eradication in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) subjects is rarely achieved with either nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA) or pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN), which both have a limited effect in restoring immune responses. Thirty CHB subjects on long-term treatment with tenofovir (TDF) and HBV suppression were enrolled and randomized 1:2 to either receive Peg-IFN-α-2a add-on therapy or continue TDF alone. We studied γδ T and iNKT frequency and function (by flow cytometry) at baseline, at 12 weeks and 12 weeks after the end of treatment. A higher reduction in qHBsAg occurred in the add-on group compared with the NA group at W12 (P = .016) and at W24 (P = .012). A decline of qHBsAg ≥0.5 log10 at week 24 occurred in 4 of 10 patients in the add-on arm and 1 of 20 in the NA arm, respectively (P = .03). HBsAg loss was seen in 20% of subjects in the add-on group and in none of the NA group. Compared to HBV negative, CHB on TDF showed lower frequency of iNKT (P = .03) and γδ T cells (P = .03) as well as fewer γδ T cells expressing Vδ2 T-cell receptors (P = .005). No changes in unconventional T-cell frequency and function were shown in both add-on and NA patients nor were differences detected between the two treatment groups. We report persistent impairment of unconventional T cells in CHB. Despite a greater qHBsAg decline of add-on patients, our data failed to detect any effect of Peg-IFN treatment on unconventional T cells.

Contrast improvement in a new radiotherapy imaging system.

PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to compare the EC-L Kodak system for radiation therapy beam localization with a conventional one that could be daily employed in a radiotherapy department. BACKGROUND: The main purpose of portal images is to verify the treatment volume in actual clinical conditions. Low contrast is the main constraint affecting portal film image. METHODS: Kodak proposes a new imaging system (film and cassette) characterized by contrast enhancement as imaging standard for radiotherapy. The evaluation of system contrast was carried out by using a step-wedge consisting in 4 60 x 60 mm plexiglas steps and an anthropomorphic phantom. Portal films were exposed to a 6 MV photon beam by a linear accelerator (Varian Clinac 1800) with a 250 x 340 mm field size at the 1000 mm source film distance. The 2 imaging system performances were evaluated analyzing the image optical density. RESULTS: The use of the Kodak system results in a real contrast improvement, so it is satisfactory to describe the field placement as to the region of interest. CONCLUSIONS: The most critical characteristic attaining this method regards low contrast, i. e. the small optical density difference existing between different anatomical regions on the film. Since radiographic techniques can significantly influence quality of portal films, the adequate choice of film and screen combination, as well as the exposure technique is particularly useful in a radiotherapy quality assurance program.

[Comparison of transcutaneous radiotherapy and cordectomy in the treatment of T1a glottic carcinoma]. / Confronto tra radioterapia transcutanea e cordectomia nel trattamento del carcinoma glottico T1a.

770 patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords, classified as T1a (U.I.C.C. TNM - P978) were studied retrospectively by the Head and Neck Oncology Cooperative Group. Several such studies have demonstrated the substantial equality of results, in terms of survival, obtained by the two common therapeutic approaches (radiotherapy and cordectomy). On the other hand, from a functional point of view, radiotherapy undoubtedly offers the best outcome. Site of origin has never been considered a possible prognostic factor for such cordal neoplasms; such factors could possibly make the choice between treatments significant. Therefore, the present study evaluated tumors, separating them by the anterior, middle and posterior third of the vocal cord and taking into consideration local check-up as a function of therapy. Local check-up, in terms of Relapse Free Survival (R.F.S.) was 83% at 10 years and no significant difference was observed between the different treatment modalities. Moreover, the site of origin did not appear relevant to prognosis. More accurate and prospective studies should be encouraged so as to assess the value of such data.

Flunoxaprofen, a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, does not interfere with prostaglandin synthesis in rat gastric mucosa.

The anti-inflammatory activity and the eicosanoid generation in rat gastric mucosa after a single oral dose of S-(+)-2(4-fluorophenyl)-alpha-methyl-5-benzoxazolacetic acid (flunoxaprofen, 10 mg/kg) or indomethacin (5 mg/kg) were compared. The two compounds, at the dose used, show a similar degree of anti-inflammatory activity (50% inhibition of carrageenan-induced oedema in rat paw). Moreover flunoxaprofen does not modify the formation of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha by rat gastric mucosa in vitro while indomethacin causes 50% inhibition of gastric cyclooxygenase activity. This biochemical change induced by indomethacin is associated with gastric lesions. Chronic treatment of rats with flunoxaprofen (5 or 50 mg/kg p.o. for 15 days) shows an anti-inflammatory activity in the range of 60-70% inhibition in the rat paw oedema test without gastric mucosa damages and prostaglandin synthesis inhibition.

[Results of radiotherapy of supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas observed at the Division of Radiotherapy of the District Hospital of Varese]. / Risultati della radioterapia dei carcinomi laringei sovraglottici osservati presso la Divisione di Radioterapia dell'Ospedale di Circolo di Varese.

The authors review the supraglottic laryngeal carcinomas examined in the Radiotherapy Department of the "Ospedale Regionale" of Varese, Italy, from 1979 to 1984. 255 patients have been monitored: 80 considered for radiotherapy alone and 77 for postoperatory radiotherapy treatment. The cumulative actuarial survival (pcs) after 60 months, for patients treated only with radiotherapy, is 0.66 +/- e.s. 0.07; for patients treated with post-operatory radiotherapy the cumulative actuarial survival (pcs) after 60 months is 0.49 +/- e.s. 0.11. The irradiation techniques are described and the results achieved fully discussed.

[Initial therapeutic evaluations of 141 patients with carcinoma of the breast under 40 years of age]. / Prime valutazioni terapeutiche su 141 pazienti affette da carcinoma della mammella con età inferiore a 40 anni.

The Authors, considering 141 cases of patient women under 40, suffering from breast cancer, analyse the prognostic factors in relation to the different therapeutical approach, histologic type, dimensions of T, and presence or absence of metastases at the axillary lymph nodes. They, moreover, appraise the actuarial global survival with no disease (NED) of this group of patients as compared with the survival of women in more advanced age.