Diffusion tensor imaging reveals morphological alterations of the lateral pterygoid muscle in patients with mandibular asymmetry.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate non-invasively the morphological features of both lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM) and masseter muscle by using diffusion tensor Imaging on two patients affected by mandibular asymmetry. METHODS: Two female patients with mandibular excess and asymmetry who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split osteotomy were recruited for this study. Morphological (T1 weighted) and diffusion weighted images were acquired with a 3T scanner 1 week before (T0) and 1 month after the surgery (T1). Probabilistic tensor-based tractography reconstruction of bilateral masseters and LPMs was performed and mean fractional anisotropy (FA) values for both muscles were extracted. RESULTS: Diffusion tensor imaging was able to identify the muscle geometrical morphology and diffusion microstructural changes. Both at T0 and T1, mean FA values had no significant differences between the right and left side of masseter (at T0: p = 0.91; at T1: p = 0.54) and LPM (at T0: p = 0.92; at T1: p = 0.43), respectively. Both patients reported a significant improvement in FA mean values of the left LPM (p = 0.03) between T0 and T1, whereas no diffusion parameters' changes were observed for the bilateral masseter muscles and right LPM. CONCLUSIONS: We found that after the surgery the LPM ipsilateral to the deviation side showed a significant increase of FA compared to the baseline. Although preliminary, our findings suggest that diffusion tensor imaging may represent a promising tool to investigate non-invasively the masticatory muscles in temporomandibular joint disorders.

Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life After Surgical Treatment of Osteonecrosis of the Jaws.

The aim of this study is to analyze the clinical outcome and the change in oral-health-related quality of life (QoL) of osteoporotic patients affected by medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Forty-one patients, consecutively treated for a 10-year period, were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients underwent a marginal osseous resective jaw surgery. A clinical 12 months postoperative evaluation has been performed and the complete mucosal healing, the absence of swelling and suppuration, and no signs of disease recurrence were defined like success parameters. Quality-of-life surveys tests like EORTC QQ-C30 and QLQ-HN35 appendices in conjunction with a perceived oral health visual analog scale (VAS) were administered before (time of diagnosis of MRONJ) and after surgery (at least 6 months) in order to record the different oral health status of the treated patients. The majority of MRONJ-diagnosed patients complained symptoms like pain, eating discomfort, and sense problems, with occasional involvement of the social dimension. There was a prevalence of troubles with social eating and social contact.The complete mucosal healing was achieved in 100% of the patients and the administered survey tests reported a significant improvement in all the investigated spheres. Similarly, an increased mean score of perceived oral health VAS was reported.Marginal-resective surgery of the necrotic jaw bone can be an effective treatment of osteoporotic patients affected by localized MRONJ. Quality-of-life parameters are demonstrated to be useful for recording the patient-centered outcome of MRONJ treatment.

Facial and Orbital Fractures: A Fifteen Years Retrospective Evaluation of North East Sicily Treated Patients.

BACKGROUND: Orbital fractures are classified as diseases usually related to common midface trauma. It represents the most challenging treatment due to the complex anatomy, physiology, and aesthetic role. A midface trauma involves also the zygomatic complex and the nose, however the orbit fracture seems to be a more frequent disease due to its anatomical features. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work is to retrospectively evaluate and record the frequency of the midfacial traumas and orbital fractures observed in the North Eastern Sicily. The results of the present data may be useful for the clinicians in order to recognize the kind of fracture just from the first general visit having a quick diagnosis and management. METHODS: In the years between 2001 and 2016, about 1200 patients with midfacial trauma and about 100 patients involving the orbital floor have been evaluated. All those patients underwent the surgical fracture reduction and a CT scan follow up control at one month, three months, six months and one year. RESULTS: Data showed high percentage of orbital floor, nose and mandibular body and ramus fractures; moreover the most frequent causes of fractures seem to be related to motor vehicle accident, followed by assaults, work and fall. CONCLUSION: The results have highlighted the changing trends in the causes of facial injuries, particularly the increasing incidence of assaults and the falling incidence of motor vehicle accidents in developed countries. The quick diagnosis and management proved fundamental for the successful treatment. Clinicians should be able to recognize the first symptoms in order to avoid possible complications.

Histomorhological and clinical evaluation of maxillary alveolar ridge reconstruction after craniofacial trauma by applying combination of allogeneic and autogenous bone graft.

A variety of techniques and materials for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of traumatized maxillary ridges prior to dental implants placement have been described in literature. Autogenous bone grafting is considered ideal by many researchers and it still remains the most predictable and documented method. The aim of this report is to underline the effectiveness of using allogeneic bone graft for managing maxillofacial trauma. A case of a 30-year-old male with severely atrophic maxillary ridge as a consequence of complex craniofacial injury is presented here. Augmentation procedure in two stages was performed using allogeneic and autogenous bone grafts in different areas of the osseous defect. Four months after grafting, during the implants placement surgery, samples of both sectors were withdrawn and submitted to histological evaluation. On the examination of the specimens, treated by hematoxylin and eosin staining, the morphology of integrated allogeneic bone grafts was revealed to be similar to the autologous bone. Our clinical experience shows how the allogeneic bone graft presented normal bone tissue architecture and is highly vascularized, and it can be used for reconstruction of severe trauma of the maxilla.

The Effect of Different Cleaning Protocols on Post Space: A SEM Study.

Aim. Purpose of the present paper is to analyze the efficiency of different post-space irrigation protocols. Methods. 28 single rooted teeth were endodontically treated. After post-space preparation every sample was assigned to one of three experimental groups and to one control group. In each group different irrigation protocols were performed as follows: EDTA (Group A), 37% orthophosphoric acid (Group B), and EDTA + 37% orthophosphoric acid with ultrasounds activation (Group C). In the control group (Group D) the irrigate association was not activated by ultrasounds. Three zones (coronal, middle, and apical) of each sample were analyzed by using Scan Electron Microscopy (SEM) without any metallization procedures. The presence of smear layer on the canal surface was qualitatively evaluated by applying Serafino's score with values included between 0 and 2. Results. The results of the research showed how Group C recorded the better results (0.81 ± 0.72). Group A and Group B showed lower mean scores (1.06 ± 0.69 and 1.08 ± 0.77); Group D showed the lowest mean score of 1.30 ± 0.69. The SEM observation analysis demonstrated how the smear layer presence decreased in the crown-apical direction. Conclusions. The different post-space treatments statistically determine significant differences on the dentinal surfaces cleansing. The absence of ultrasonic activation lowers the cleansing efficacy of endocanalar irrigants, showing sensible differences among each post-space zone.

Three-dimensional evaluation of different prosthesis retention systems using finite element analysis and the Von Mises stress test.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this paper is to underline the prosthodontics components features of two different overdenture retention systems on dental implants. The use of titanium, dental implants for replacing missing teeth is today considered to be a predictable procedure giving the patients esthetic and function for long time. METHODS: Finite element analysis (FEA) and tests based on the Von Mises criterion have been applied in order to evaluate the stress distribution over two different prosthodontics retention systems. Two models with the ball attachment and with the Locator® systems have been created and put on simulated chewing stresses. RESULTS: The two systems were subjected to axial and oblique forces and both guaranteed good results over simulated masticatory cycle. However, the Locator system seemed to better respond to the overall load distributions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should choose the better prosthetic solution for the ridge they want to restore. Both retention systems offer long-term success if applied following the manufacture guide limitations and suggestions.

Effect of bisphosphonates on the mandibular bone and gingival epithelium of rats without tooth extraction.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is an adverse effect of bisphosphonate treatment that has become the subject of increasing investigations, in particular due to its poorly understood pathogenesis. Several experimental studies on animal models have been conducted; however, the majority of these replicate human ONJ following tooth extraction, and describe alterations in the bone and gingival epithelium when necrosis is manifested. The aim of the present study was to analyze the rat mandibular bone and gingival epithelium during 45 days of zoledronate treatment (which is a bisphosphonate agent), without tooth extraction. Intraperitoneal injections of zoledronate acid (0.1 mg/kg) were performed three times a week in normal male Wistar rats (n=20), while a control group of rats (n=20) was treated with saline solution for 45 days. After 7, 15, 30 and 45 days of drug treatment, all rats were sacrificed and hematoxilin and eosin staining, immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy analyses were performed. The results of the analyses after 7 and 15 days of treatment were similar in the treatment and control group. After 30 and 45 days of treatment, structural alterations were observed in the bone. No structural alterations to the gingival epithelium were observed. Based on these results, it was hypothesized that low doses of zoledronate act directly on the bone tissues to induce morphological alterations from bone to necrotic tissue following surgical procedures, although no cytotoxic effects were detected in the gingival epithelium.

Sarcoglycans and integrins in bisphosphonate treatment: immunohistochemical and scanning electron microscopy study.

Osteonecrosis of the jaw is an adverse outcome associated with bisphosphonate treatment. Bisphosphonates are used in conjunction with antineoplastic chemotherapy for the treatment of hypercalcaemia associated with malignancy, lytic bone metastasis and multiple myeloma. However, it is not known if the osteonecrosis of the jaw lesion originates in the bone or whether it initiates in the gingival epithelium. Two bisphosphonates are commonly used in cancer treatment. One of these is pamidronate disodium, a second-generation bisphosphonate that differs from the first-generation drug because it inhibits bone resorption at a dose that does not affect bone mineralization. The other widely used BP, zoledronate, is a third-generation drug that is the most potent bisphosphonate in clinical use, showing strong anti-osteoclastic activity, similar to pamidronate. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the modifications of human oral mucosa and underlying bone in patients after treatment with these nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates for 24 and 36 months. We analyzed the structural damage of the oral mucosa and damage of the perilesional mandibular bone observing possible correlations from them. Our results allow to express two hypotheses about the mechanism responsible for these results relating to mandible matrix necrosis; first, an increased skeletal microdamage associated with turnover suppression occurred early in treatment and progress with longer treatment duration, second, opening damage in osteonecrosis of the jaw modifies structural morphology of gingival epithelium.

Preliminary study on sarcoglycan sub-complex in rat cerebral and cerebellar cortex.

The sarcoglycan sub-complex is a protein system which plays a key role in sarcolemma stabilization during muscle activity. Although numerous studies have been conducted on this system, there are few data about its localization in non-muscular tissues. On this basis we carried out an indirect immunofluorescence study on normal rat cerebral and cerebellar cortex. In particular, we carried out single localization reactions to analyze if these proteins are present in brain and double localization reactions between sarcoglycans and either SMI-32 or GFAP to verify if they are expressed both in neurons and glial cells. We found that all tested sarcoglycans are present both in cerebral and cerebellar cortex and that they are expressed both in neurons and glial cells. The typical staining pattern of all sarcoglycans is represented by "spot-like" fluorescence, with spots of 0.5-2 microm average diameter laid out mainly around the soma of the cells. The main difference about sarcoglycans expression between cerebral and cerebellar cortex is that in the cerebellar cortex the sarcoglycans positivity is detectable only in an area which is likely to correspond to Purkinje cells layer. The presence of sarcoglycans in cerebral and cerebellar cortex and their disposition mainly around the soma of the cells suggest a role of these proteins in cellular signalling and in regulating postsynaptic receptor assembly mainly in axo-somatic synapses.

Distribution of costameric proteins in normal human ventricular and atrial cardiac muscle.

In the mature heart, the intercalated disc and costameres provide the cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions respectively. Intercalated disc is situated at the bipolar ends of the cardiomyocytes and the myofibrils are anchored at this structure. The costameres mediate integration with the extracellular matrix that covers individual cardiomyocytes laterally. Costameres are considered as "proteic machinery" that appears to comprise two protein complexes: the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and the vinculin-talin-integrin system. There are structural differences between atrial and ventricular myocytes, but there have been relatively few studies that have analyzed costameres and focal adhesion function in cardiac cells. Our previous study carried out only on atrial myocytes, demonstrated that the DGC and talin-vinculin-integrin complexes had a costameric distribution that, unlike skeletal muscle, it localized only on the I band. We performed a further immunohistochemical analysis extending also the evaluation to the normal human cardiac muscle fibers obtained from ventricle and interventricular septum, in order to define the distribution and the spatial relationship between the proteins of the two complexes also in the other heart districts. Immunoconfocal microscopy of cardiac tissue revealed the costameric distribution of DGC and of vinculin-talin-integrin system, the association of all tested proteins in intercalated disks, in disagreement with other Authors, and in T-tubule with irregular spokelike extensions penetrating toward the center of the cell. Moreover, our data showed that all tested proteins colocalize between each other.