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Objective: The purpose of this research is to assess the analgesic efficiency of Photobiomodu-lation (PBM) in pain reduction in young patients during rapid maxillary expansion therapy. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were included and allocated to an experimental group [Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) and PBM] and a control group (RPE only) at random. Inclusion criteria were skeletal age from CVS1 to CVS3, examined on the cephalometric lateral teleradiography, with cervical vertebra staging and completed eruption of upper first molar. Exclusion criteria were previous orthodontic treatment, bone disease, disability, or skeletal age from CVS4. Patients referred the pain they felt using a Numerical scale rate (NRS), ranging from 0 to 10, with specific intervals of time: 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and from days 2 to 7. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate differences in NRS reported values between the two groups. Results: The final sample included 30 patients, 14 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 7.8 ± 1.2 years. The pain that was felt at each time interval and the maximum score of pain were significantly lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05) and decreased faster in the experimental group, with a score test near to 0 after 2/3 days. Conclusions: PBM is efficient in reducing the intensity and the time of pain felt by young patients that undergo rapid maxillary expansion.

Objective: The purpose of this research is to assess the analgesic efficiency of Photobiomodu-lation (PBM) in pain reduction in young patients during rapid maxillary expansion therapy. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were included and allocated to an experimental group [Rapid Palatal Expansion (RPE) and PBM] and a control group (RPE only) at random. Inclusion criteria were skeletal age from CVS1 to CVS3, examined on the cephalometric lateral teleradiography, with cervical vertebra staging and completed eruption of upper first molar. Exclusion criteria were previous orthodontic treatment, bone disease, disability, or skeletal age from CVS4. Patients referred the pain they felt using a Numerical scale rate (NRS), ranging from 0 to 10, with specific intervals of time: 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and from days 2 to 7. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate differences in NRS reported values between the two groups. Results: The final sample included 30 patients, 14 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 7.8 ± 1.2 years. The pain that was felt at each time interval and the maximum score of pain were significantly lower in the experimental group (p < 0.05) and decreased faster in the experimental group, with a score test near to 0 after 2/3 days. Conclusions: PBM is efficient in reducing the intensity and the time of pain felt by young patients that undergo rapid maxillary expansion.

The Rapid Acquisition Atmospheric Detector (RAAD), onboard the LIGHT-1 3U CubeSat, detects photons between hard X-rays and soft gamma-rays, in order to identify and characterize Terrestrial Gamma Ray Flashes (TGFs). Three detector configurations are tested, making use of Cerium Bromide and Lanthanum BromoChloride scintillating crystals coupled to photomultiplier tubes or Multi-Pixel Photon Counters, in order to identify the optimal combination for TGF detection. High timing resolution, a short trigger window, and the short decay time of its electronics allow RAAD to perform accurate measurements of prompt, transient events. Here we describe the overview of the detection concept, the development of the front-end acquisition electronics, as well as the ground testing and simulation the payload underwent prior to its launch on December 21st, 2021. We further present an analysis of the detector's in-orbit system behavior and some preliminary results., Comment: 19 pages, 15 figures

Background: To assess if photobiostimulation (PBS) alleviates pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery. Material and Methods: Sixty subjects (27 male and 33 female, with a mean age of 47,13 ± 8.05 years) were included and randomly assigned to experimental group (implant surgery and photobiostimulation), placebo group (implant surgery and simulated photobiostimulation) and control group (implant surgery only). Inclusion criteria: subjects older than 20 years, with a healthy oral mucosa and requiring implant surgery. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy, history of implant failure, light sensitivity, metabolic deseases, consumption of antibiotics or corticosteroids in the last two weeks, smokers and alcohol drinkers. Patients reported the pain experienced by using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and from day 2 to 7. Swelling score was assessed by linear measurements and type and number of analgesic drugs within each time-point were recorded on a spreadsheet. Data of pain and amount of swelling were compared among the three groups by using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test and post-hoc comparisons tests. Results: Pain in the experimental group was less compared to controls and placebo group, at each time intervals (p < 0.001) as well as the maximum pain score (experimental group: median = 2, interquartile range 2-3; control group: median = 8, interquartile range 3,75-9; placebo group: median = 8, interquartile range 6,25-9). Swelling was almost insignificant in the experimental group (maximum value = 1, interquartile range 0-2,75, at 24 hours) compared with control (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8,75, at 24 hours) and placebo (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8, at 24 hours). Subjects in the experimental group assumed less analgesics compared to both controls and placebo groups. Conclusions: Photobiostimulation is an effective method to reduce pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery.

Background: To assess if photobiostimulation (PBS) alleviates pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery. Material and Methods: Sixty subjects (27 male and 33 female, with a mean age of 47,13 ± 8.05 years) were included and randomly assigned to experimental group (implant surgery and photobiostimulation), placebo group (implant surgery and simulated photobiostimulation) and control group (implant surgery only). Inclusion criteria: subjects older than 20 years, with a healthy oral mucosa and requiring implant surgery. Exclusion criteria: pregnancy, history of implant failure, light sensitivity, metabolic deseases, consumption of antibiotics or corticosteroids in the last two weeks, smokers and alcohol drinkers. Patients reported the pain experienced by using a numeric rating scale (NRS) at 2 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and from day 2 to 7. Swelling score was assessed by linear measurements and type and number of analgesic drugs within each time-point were recorded on a spreadsheet. Data of pain and amount of swelling were compared among the three groups by using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test and post-hoc comparisons tests. Results: Pain in the experimental group was less compared to controls and placebo group, at each time intervals (p < 0.001) as well as the maximum pain score (experimental group: median = 2, interquartile range 2-3; control group: median = 8, interquartile range 3,75-9; placebo group: median = 8, interquartile range 6,25-9). Swelling was almost insignificant in the experimental group (maximum value = 1, interquartile range 0-2,75, at 24 hours) compared with control (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8,75, at 24 hours) and placebo (maximum value = 6, interquartile range 5-8, at 24 hours). Subjects in the experimental group assumed less analgesics compared to both controls and placebo groups. Conclusions: Photobiostimulation is an effective method to reduce pain intensity/duration and swelling after implant surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) alleviates pain after the placement of orthodontic alignment archwire and if there could be a specific indication for the usage of LLLT according to the amount of dental crowding. Materials and Methods: Ninety subjects were included and randomly assigned to the tested group (orthodontic treatment and LLLT), placebo group (orthodontic treatment and simulated LLLT), and control group (orthodontic treatment only). Inclusion criteria are age between 13 and 30 years, completely erupted mandibular teeth, and lower crowding of ≥3 mm. Exclusion criteria are spaces or diastema in the lower arch, ectopic teeth, treatment plan including extractions or the use of auxiliary devices, and previous orthodontic treatment. Patients reported the pain experienced by using a numeric rating scale, ranging from 0 to 10, at specific time intervals, that is, 2 hours, 6 hours, 24 hours, and from day 2 to 7. Kruskal–Wallis H Test was used to assess differences in the maximum pain and pain experienced at each time interval among the three groups and in the maximum pain reported among subjects with different degree of crowding. Results: The final sample consisted of 84 patients, 41 male and 43 female patients, with a mean age of 16.5 ± 2.8 years. The pain experienced at each time interval and the maximum pain score were significantly lower in the tested group, whereas no differences were found between control and placebo groups. Moreover, no differences were found in the pain experienced among subjects with mild, moderate, and severe incisor crowding in all groups. Conclusions: LLLT is effective in alleviating the intensity and duration of pain experienced by patients after the engagement of alignment archwire. However, there is no specific indication for the usage of LLLT according to the amount of crowding.

Objective: To assess if low-level laser therapy (LLLT) enhances the efficiency of orthodontic dental alignment. Background: There is no evidence of the effect of LLLT on the orthodontic treatment time from randomized clinical trials. Methods: Thirty-six subjects were included in this interventional pilot study and randomly assigned for treatment with fixed appliance and LLLT (test group) or with fixed appliance only (control group). A single monthly administration of LLLT was performed intraorally using a Diode laser (980 nm, 1 W, continuous wave, total energy density = 150 J/cm2; Doctor Smile-Lambda Spa). The date of brackets bonding (T1) and the date of complete resolution of dental crowding (T2) were recorded. The alignment treatment time was defined in days as T2 - T1. The number of monthly scheduled control visits was also recorded. Treatment time duration was assessed in both groups with the log-rank (Mantel-Cox) Test for survival analysis. Mann-Whitney U tests was used to compare the number of control visits from T1 to T2 between the two groups. Results: Patients' age, sex, and amount of crowding were equally distributed between the two groups. The alignment treatment time was significantly shorter (p < 0.001) in the tested group (211.8 days) compared to the control (284.1 days). Consequently, control visits (p < 0.001) were lower in the test group (7 visits, median value) compared to the control group (9.5 visits, median value). Conclusions: The results of this pilot study suggest that the administration of LLLT might significantly increase the efficiency of orthodontic treatment during dental alignment.

The enamel defects (EDs) may present with a variety of clinical manifestations with increasing severity from the sole appearance of pale discoloration to remarkable structural alterations. EDs are responsible for higher caries receptivity. In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) allows to image in vivo at microscopic resolution of the dental surface, thus avoiding the tooth extraction and the sample preparation because of its ability to optically scan living tissues along their depth. Aim of this study is the in vivo assessment at microscopic resolution of dental surfaces affected by EDs without resorting to invasive methods such as teeth extractions, to define histological findings occurring in chromatic and/or structural EDs. For the purpose, 15 children, referring at the Dental Clinic of the Second University of Naples, affected by several degrees of EDs, were enrolled and underwent in vivo RCM imaging to microscopically define the ED confocal features using a commercially available hand-held reflectance confocal microscope with neither injuries nor discomfort. Totally, 29 teeth were imaged. Results demonstrated images good in quality and the capability to detect EDs such as unevenness, grooves, and lack of mineralization according to their clinical degree of disarray. The present in vivo microscopic study on EDs allowed to highlight structural changes in dental enamel at microscopic resolution in real-time and in a non-invasive way, with no need for extraction or processing the samples. Further experiments could define the responsiveness to remineralizing procedures as therapeutic treatments.

A wide range of diseases may present with radiographic features of osteolysis. Periapical inflammation, cysts and benign tumours, bone malignancies, all of these conditions may show bone resorption on radiograph. Features of the surrounding bone, margins of the lesion, and biological behaviour including tendency to infiltration and root resorption, may represent important criteria for distinguishing benign tumours from their malign counterpart, although the radiographic aspect of the lesion is not always predictive. Therefore a critical differential diagnosis has to be reached to choose the best management. Here, we report a case of giant cell tumour (GCT) whose radiological features by computed tomography (CT) suggested the presence of bone malignancy, whereas the evaluation of a routine OPT scan comforted us about the benign nature of the lesion. A brief review of the literature on such a benign but locally aggressive neoplasm is also provided.