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Aim: The aim of this study was to determine if stomatognathic functions correlate with alterations in walking function, that are detectable through the analysis of walking., Methods: The study enrolled 24 Caucasian adult females (mean age 27.9+/-4.5), asymptomatic for temporomandibular and muscular disorders and 20 Caucasian adult females with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs). The analysis of walking was performed under three different experimental conditions: 1) mandibular rest position (RP); 2) habitual dental occlusion (DO); 3) cotton rolls between the upper and the lower dental arches (CRs)., Results: The mean pressure during walking, measured as g/cm(2), on the theoretical barycentre, the percentage of loading on the left and the right feet (measured as %) and the loading surface, measured as mm(2), under the right and the left feet, were recorded as posturographic parameters. Generally, no difference was found in any of these parameters in the mean pressure during walking in the different considered conditions; only when two cotton rolls were positioned between the dental arches the load pressure was found to be significantly higher in the TMD patients than in the control subjects (P<0.05). In addition, in the same condition, TMD subjects showed a significantly smaller loading surface than control subjects, both under the right and the left feet., Conclusion: TMDs seem to be associated to detectable alterations of the walking function.

Background: This study evaluates the role of bcl-2 protein, as well as, of apoptotic bodies in the topical treatment of oral leucoplakia with 13-cis-retinoic acid (isotretinoin). To test this role, a clinical, histological and immunohistochemical study of the treated lesions was carried out, so as to verify the role of apoptosis and its genetic control mechanism of the development, progression and therapy of preneoplastic lesions., Methods: A Double-blind study was carried out on 15 patients afflicted with oral leukoplakia. They were treated daily (3 topical applications) with 0.1% isotretinoin gel or a placebo for 4 months. Afterwards, the patients treated with placebo were administered the active medication for an additional 4 month period., Results: All the patients, with the exception of one patient who was lost to follow-up, who finished the treatment, showed a marked improvement of the dimension and the clinical aspect of the lesions (3 total remission, 11 improvement of the size and clinical appearance of the lesion of 50% or more). The immunohistochemical analysis for bcl-2 protein showed a weak positive reaction of the level in the basal membrane of the specimens collected before the pharmacological treatment; after the pharmacological treatment almost all the specimens with the exception of one, tested completely negative for bcl-2 protein. In the specimens collected before the pharmacological treatment only a few apoptotic bodies were observed, while after treatment the samples showed a noticeable increase of apoptotic bodies., Conclusions: A statistical analysis showed that the difference in the positive reaction to bcl-2 protein between the 2 groups is not statistically significant (p = 0.132). On the other hand, the difference in the count of apoptotic bodies between the 2 groups is statistically significant (p = 0.0193).

Background: In this study an immunohistochemical analysis of both normal and pathological tissues was made to investigate the expression of some factors involved in genic regulation mechanisms of apoptosis., Methods: In normal mucosa, in leukoplakia, in mild and severe dysplasia and in high, mild and low grade cancer a bcl-2, p53, and Ki 67 evaluation was made using immunostaining techniques; also an evaluation of apoptotic index was carried out. Seventy-two biopsies were made in 12 patients with normal mucosa, 12 affected by leukoplakia, 12 by dysplasia (6 mild, 6 severe), 12 by low grade, 12 by mild grade and 12 by high grade cancer. > t, Results: The immunohistochemical analysis pointed out that there was weak bcl-2 expression in normal mucosa and in preneoplastic lesions and less more in severe dysplasia while bcl-2 was discreetly detectable in oral tumors. P53 was not detectable in normal mucosa and weakly expressed in preneoplastic lesions, presenting a peak in severe dysplasia. These results showed an interesting inverse relation between bcl-2 and p53 expression in severe dysplasia. Ki 67 expression results to be weak in normal mucosa, in preneoplastic lesions and in mild dysplasia, while it reaches the maximum level in severe dysplasia and in tumors., Conclusions: In all the samples the apoptotic index expression showed the same features of the Ki 67 protein. These results were achieved through statistically analysis carried out with the U Mann Whitney test.

Conflicting reports exist in dental literature on the relationship of diabetes mellitus to periodontal disease. Among the controversies about this relation, the role played by the age of patient has been widely investigated. Some authors, in fact, reported an increased prevalence and severity of gingivitis and periodontitis in children and young individuals with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in comparison to healthy subjects, while other researchers were not able to confirm this finding. In particular some authors postulated the hypothesis that the diabetic state could influence periodontal conditions just after the age of 30-35. The aim of the present study has been to verify this hypothesis. One hundred thirty-two subjects participated in this study; among them 66 were IDDM patients and 66 were healthy controls comparable to the diabetics for the main epidemiological features. In particular, control subjects were similar to the diabetics for oral hygiene level in order not to attribute eventually occurring differences by mistake to the diabetic state instead of to a not comparable amount of bacterial plaque present on the teeth. Among 66 IDDM patients 33 were younger than 30 (medium age = 14; extremes: 6-22) and were indicated as DG (young diabetics) group; others 33 were older than 30 (medium age = 45.1; extremes: 31-66) and were indicated as DA (adult diabetics) group. A similar differentiation was made in the control group obtaining, in this way, two subgroups (CG = young controls and CA = adult controls). In the diabetic groups males were 53% while among controls they represented 58%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The authors compared through the most common clinical indexes the periodontal conditions of a group of type I and type II diabetic patients with those of a group of healthy control subjects. Results showed the existence of statistically significant differences for each parameter considered (plaque index, gingival index, bleeding index, attachment loss). Also with comparable oral hygiene diabetics showed a worse periodontal condition in comparison with controls. In absolute terms type II diabetics presented worse clinical index scores compared to type I diabetics even if not at a statistically significant level.

The hypnosis present various applications in the therapy of different oral pathologies. The hypnosis is helpful whether how assistance to the local anesthesia in anxious patients, or in the patients with cardiovascular disease, or in the patients with allergic symptom to anaesthetic drugs or in other various conditions. The present work shows the factors that are important for a adequate hypnotic methodology combined with local anesthesia in oral pathology; for this we have execute a clinical work with forty patients treating with various therapeutic treatment.

A study was carried out in vitro to assess the inhibitory activity on the growth of Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides intermedius using two oral cephalosporins (Cephalexin and Cephradine) in comparison to two parenteral cephalosporins (Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxon) and the classic Tetracycline HCl. The results of the study show that the inhibitory activity on the growth of the two periodontopathogenic bacteria produced by the oral cephalosporins is comparable to that of other antibiotics studied, and that in comparison to parenteral cephalosporins the former have the advantage of being better accepted and more economic.

Following a general discussion of the pathological and clinical aspects of recurring oral ulcerative lesions most frequently observed in dentistry, the paper illustrates a few typical and atypical clinical cases. In conclusion, the authors make a few comments on the differential diagnosis and therapy of these diseases.

Comparative assessment on the capability of two bleeding indexes to measure the concentration of thromboxane B2 in periodontal tissues. The aim of the study was to compare two bleeding indexes, the Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI) and the Gingival Bleeding Time Index (BTI) in evaluating the intensity of inflammation in deep periodontal tissues measured by the level of thromboxane B2 in the tissues themselves. Results showed that both bleeding indexes were closely correlated to tissue inflammation but that of the two, BTI is more significantly correlated. On the basis of these findings, the authors hope to see the application of bleeding indexes in clinical and research studies which can offer a graduated assessment of bleeding, thus increasing the specificity of this important diagnostic sign.

A study was carried out to assess the in vitro sensitivity of Bacteroides gingivalis and Bacteroides intermedius to various classes of chemio-antibiotic molecules. The activities of two cephalosporins (cefuroxime and cefotaxime), which have never previously been used for periodontal therapy, were also evaluated. Results showed that the cephalosporins possessed an equal or greater inhibitory activity against the bacteria studied than traditional tetracyclines, and a greater inhibitory activity than other antibiotics studied (metronidazole, ampicillin, piperacillin). Further studies are required to assess in vivo efficacy of cephalosporin therapy in severe periodontal diseases.

Considering the role played by some metabolites of Arachidonic Acid in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, the Authors have investigated on the existence of a relation between the Thromboxane B2 concentration in gingival tissues and the principal clinical Indices of periodontal health: Gingival Index, Plaque Index, pocket depth, and Bleeding Time Index. The results showed that just the bleeding Index resulted to be well related to the Thromboxane B2 tissue concentration and then to the level of inflammation of deep periodontal tissues. On the ground of these data the Authors underline the importance held by the bleeding index in the showing to the Clinician the therapy necessity of a periodontal site in order to prevent a possible future attachment loss.