Skeletal features in patient affected by maxillary canine impaction

Objective: To analyze the skeletal features of patients with maxillary canine impaction. Material and Methods: The complete pre-treatment records of 1674 orthodontic patients were examined. From the subjects with maxillary impacted canine 12 patients were excluded , remaining 108. The subjects with maxillary impacted canine were divided into two study groups: a palatally displaced canine group (PDCG) (77 patients) and a buccally displaced canine group (BDCG) (31 patients). The values of the skeletal features measured on the lateral cephalometric radiograph were compared with a control group (CG) of 121 subjects randomly selected from the initial sample without maxillary canine impaction. The statistical analysis of the difference between the study groups and the CG was tested using X2 test and Fisher's exact test. The level of significance was set at P <=0.05. Results: The CG was characterized by increased values of A point-Nasion-B point angle (ANB) and by a retropositioned or smaller lower jaw. PDCG patients showed normal skeletal features compared to the CG, presenting mainly I class and lower rank of II and III sagittal skeletal features. PDCG subjects presented also normal values of the Steiner vertical skeletal relationship angles with normal facial divergence compared to the CG. PDCG cases were also characterized by horizontal and prognathic growth. BDCG did not present significant differences in skeletal features compared to the CG, except for an increased ANB. Conclusions: Palatally displaced canine (PDC) was frequently the only orthodontic problem of patients and was not associated whit altered skeletal features. The frequent absence of malocclusion in PDC patients explains the delayed identification of this problem. BDCG patients did not present significant differences in skeletal features with respect to the orthodontic population. The presence of both buccally displaced canine (BDC) and malocclusion makes the patient with BDC both aware of the need for, and motivated to undergo, orthodontic treatment

Sleep Fragmentation and Sleep-Wake Cycle Dysregulation Are Associated with Cerebral Tau Burden in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Series

Background: Although disturbed sleep is frequent in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD), the association between sleep and tau pathology is unclear. Objective: This case series focused on measuring the sleep-wake rhythm over 7 days through actigraphy in patients diagnosed with MCI due to AD. Further, the association between sleep-wake cycle and tau deposition measured through positron emission tomography (PET) was explored. Methods: This case series included 6 MCI due to AD patients (2 women and 4 men, mean age 73.17 +/- 5.53 years), who completed neuropsychological testing, 7-day actigraphy, and tau PET imaging with radiolabeled compounds aimed to estimate the density and distribution of aggregated tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Results: The case series indicated that patients with MCI due to AD who exhibited greater tau deposition in the frontal, parietal, and limbic regions, as well as in the precuneus and olfactory regions, also showed increased sleep fragmentation, as measured through actigraphy. Conclusion: The findings from this case series suggest a potential link between tau deposition in key brain regions associated with AD and both sleep fragmentation and sleep-wake cycle dysregulation in a small sample of patients with MCI due to AD. These preliminary results warrant further investigation in larger, more comprehensive studies to confirm and expand upon these findings

Ceruloplasmin/Transferrin Ratio Changes in Alzheimer's Disease

The link between iron and Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been mainly investigated with a focus on the local accumulation of this metal in specific areas of the brain that are critical for AD. In the present study, we have instead looked at systemic variations of markers of iron metabolism. We measured serum levels of iron, ceruloplasmin, and transferrin and calculated the transferrin saturation and the ceruloplasmin to transferrin ratio (Cp/Tf). Cp/Tf and transferrin saturation increased in AD patients. Cp/Tf ratios also correlated positively with peroxide levels and negatively with serum iron concentrations. Elevated values of ceruloplasmin, peroxides, and Cp/Tf inversely correlated with MMSE scores. Isolated medial temporal lobe atrophy positively correlated with Cp/Tf and negatively with serum iron. All these findings indicate that the local iron accumulation found in brain areas critical for AD should be viewed in the frame of iron systemic alterations

Viscosity, Boson Peak and Elastic Moduli in the Na2O-SiO2 System

The temperature and chemical dependence of the melt viscosity are ubiquitous in the model development of the volcanic dynamics, as well as in the glass production and design. We focussed on the yet-explored relationship between the bulk and shear moduli ratio and boson peak with the melt fragility of their parental glasses. Here, we explored the extension of the observed trend by testing the conventional binary system Na2O-SiO2, thus providing new evidence supporting the link between the flow of melts and supercooled liquids and the vibrational dynamics of their parental glasses. This was accomplished by integrating new low-frequency Raman measurements and integrating data from the literature on Brillouin light scattering and viscometry. This approach allows us to feed the MYEGA equation with reliable input parameters to quantitatively predict the viscosity of the Na2O-SiO2 system from the liquid up to the glass transition

Development of a prediction model of conversion to Alzheimer’s disease in people with mild cognitive impairment: the statistical analysis plan of the INTERCEPTOR project

Background In recent years, signifcant eforts have been directed towards the research and development of disease-modifying therapies for dementia. These drugs focus on prodromal (mild cognitive impairment, MCI) and/ or early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Literature evidence indicates that a considerable proportion of individuals with MCI do not progress to dementia. Identifying individuals at higher risk of developing dementia is essential for appropriate management, including the prescription of new disease-modifying therapies expected to become available in clinical practice in the near future. Methods The ongoing INTERCEPTOR study is a multicenter, longitudinal, interventional, non-therapeutic cohort study designed to enroll 500 individuals with MCI aged 50–85 years. The primary aim is to identify a biomarker or a set of biomarkers able to accurately predict the conversion from MCI to AD dementia within 3 years of follow-up. The biomarkers investigated in this study are neuropsychological tests (mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and delayed free recall), brain glucose metabolism ([18F]FDG-PET), MRI volumetry of the hippocampus, EEG brain connectivity, cerebrospinal fuid (CSF) markers (p-tau, t-tau, Aβ1-42, Aβ1-42/1–40 ratio, Aβ1-42/p-Tau ratio) and APOE genotype. The baseline visit includes a full cognitive and neuropsychological evaluation, as well as the collection of clinical and socio-demographic information. Prognostic models will be developed using Cox regression, incorporating individual characteristics and biomarkers through stepwise selection. Model performance will be evaluated in terms of discrimination and calibration and subjected to internal validation using the bootstrapping procedure. The fnal model will be visually represented as a nomogram. Discussion This paper contains a detailed description of the statistical analysis plan to ensure the reproducibility and transparency of the analysis. The prognostic model developed in this study aims to identify the populatio

Randomized split-mouth study on postoperative effects of palmitoylethanolamide for impacted lower third molar surgery

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Normast 300\u2009mg in reducing swelling and pain after the surgical extraction of impacted lower third molars. Materials and Methods. A randomized, split-mouth, single-blind study was conducted on 30 patients between 18 and 30 years of age requiring lower third molar extraction. Patients underwent bilateral extractions in a randomized sequence, one extraction being performed under Normast treatment. The Normast treatment involved 2 tablets a day for 15 days. The parameters assessed at each procedure were trismus, swelling, pain, NSAID consumption, postoperative complications, drug tolerability, and safety. The results obtained were processed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results. Perceived postoperative pain was reportedly significantly milder on Normast treatment than control. The trend of the means differed over time (P < .0001) and between the two extraction groups (P < .0221). On the other hand, for edema and trismus, the trend differed over time for both groups but did not differ between the two groups. Discussion. Our analyses indicate that patients experienced significantly less postoperative pain when they were treated with Normast. Conclusions. Administering Normast improves the postoperative course-in terms of pain-after lower third molar extraction