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Background and Objectives: To achieve success in endodontic treatment, it is essential to properly perform the steps of shaping, cleansing and obturation. Determining the working length of the canal is, therefore, a process that must be precise and accurate. Electronic apex locators are a useful tool for the clinician to best perform this step of endodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: The purpose of the following umbrella review is to evaluate, through data in the literature, the degree of accuracy of apex locators. Results: Seven systematic reviews were included in the following umbrella review. Five compare the accuracy of apex locators versus radiographic techniques, two compare different types of electronic apex locators, and two analyze the determination of working length in primary teeth. Conclusions: From the results obtained from the following umbrella review, albeit at low levels of evidence, the methods for determining working length using electronic apex locators and other methods, particularly using radiographic evaluation, are equally valid.

Introduction: Modern endodontics aims to decrease the bacterial load from the complex endodontic space. Over the years, improvements in the operative phases have led to a considerable increase in the success rate of endodontic treatments. The shaping phase has seen the development of new techniques supported by technological innovations that have led to higher treatment predictability. Endodontic instruments have experienced a series of changes that have led to modifications in their design, surface treatments, and heat treatments. The clinical use of rotating nickel-titanium instruments has become widespread and consolidated, a success due primarily to the alloy's mechanical characteristics, which are superior to steel ones, but also to innovations in instrument design. The advent of the Ni-Ti alloy has kept the concepts and requirements of shaping the same but has modified its implementation in endodontics., Aim: The following review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The research question focused on Ni-Ti endodontic instruments whose cyclic fatigue was evaluated by analyzing cyclic fatigue strength and the incidence of fracture., Results: At the end of the research, 10 systematic reviews and 1 randomized controlled trial were included in this comprehensive review. The most frequently analysed alloys were M-wire, conventional Ni-Ti, and CM-wire. In seven articles, instruments made of M-wire alloy were used; in eight articles, instruments made of conventional Ni-Ti; and in seven articles, instruments made of CM-wire alloy., Conclusions: The technological evolution of Ni-Ti alloys has led to the development of increasingly high-performance endodontic files that are resistant to cyclic fatigue during clinical practice and have greater resistance to sterilisation practices, making treatment easier and more predictable over time. In particular, heat-treated nickel-titanium root canal instruments present greater resistance to cyclic fatigue than untreated ones and those used with reciprocating kinematics concerning continuous rotation.

The present paper describes some training experiences for improving intersectoral collaboration in the public health sector, between Medical and Veterinary personnel, working at the same level, local or regional, but in different preventive Services. It stresses that intersectoral collaboration is an important resource in public health planning and in developing health system as well as a real tool for health personnel development.

A control programme for brucellosis in Campania was started in 1988, in the province of Caserta, and implied different actions at the regional and provincial levels. The section of the work described here regards the updating of the results obtained during the third year of the project activity. The action performed included experimentation of data sheets in the province of Caserta to gain information on the factors conditioning brucellosis, gathering and analysis of ISTAT data on the size of livestock population as an actual or potential source of infection for man, epidemiological surveillance of human cases, census of dairies, and public health measures taken by the Regional Council. The results show that improvement of human brucellosis surveillance is in progress, whereas the programme implementation has provided a clearer picture of the situation with better understanding of the factors affecting the disease occurrence. Such problems posed by the project management as difficult maintenance of sufficient collaboration between veterinarians and physicians, scarce participation of local and regional administrations, resistance opposed by some categories, and reduced availability of financial resources are also discussed.