Skeletal and dental effects of serial extractions performed with or without maxillary expansion-A retrospective controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to compare severe crowding treatment's skeletal and dental effects by serial extractions or maxillary expansion and serial extractions in the mixed dentition phase. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: The retrospective controlled study included lateral cephalograms of 78 subjects aged 8.5 ± 1.4 years, 52 consecutively treated because of severe crowding, and 26 untreated controls matched for baseline age and observational period. METHODS: Subjects were clustered according to the treatment modality, either serial extraction (EX) or expansion and extraction (EXP-EX) group. Sagittal and vertical skeletal as well as dental cephalometric parameters were assessed at baseline and after the eruption of all permanent posterior teeth, and group comparisons were performed. RESULTS: Both treatment modalities significantly affected the vertical skeletal parameters in terms of decreasing the mandibular and occlusal plane inclination and increasing the facial height index. A distinct treatment effect on the gonial angle was observed, with a significant decrease in its superior part observed in both extraction groups. The annualized changes in the superior part of the gonial angle significantly differ (P = .036) between the Control (-0.04 ± 0.6), EX (-0.44 ± 0.6) and EXP-EX (-0.34 ± 0.5) groups. Upper and lower incisor inclination did not change significantly in any of the groups; however, the interincisal angle at follow-up was significantly smaller in the Control compared with both treated groups. CONCLUSIONS: Serial extractions and a combination of maxillary expansion and serial extractions have similar significant skeletal effects, mainly affecting vertical cephalometric parameters if performed during the pre-pubertal growth phase.

Functionality Assessment of Patients With Cleft Hands.

BACKGROUND: Ectrodactyly, commonly referred to as cleft hand, is a rare pathology characterized by a deficiency and/or complete absence of the central ray in each hand. In order to customize treatment and improve the patient's quality of life, a more detailed functional evaluation is required. Although several studies evaluate functionality in different types of cleft hands, there are only a few studies that show self-reported evaluations. The objective of this study is to assess the hand function of cleft hand patients. METHODS: An observational retrospective study was performed on 12 cleft hand patients who were treated between 2008 and 2018. There were 8 male patients and 4 female patients. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to their ages: (Group 1) 6 patients between 1 and 7 years of age, and (Group 2) 6 patients between 8 and 18 years of age, respectively. Each group was sub-stratified into 5 subgroups according to the classification system created by Manske and Halikis. RESULTS: Regardless of age, intragroup hand type comparisons within Groups 1 and 2 did not demonstrate statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between hand outcomes according to Manske and Halikis classification. Comparison between cleft hand patients and their age matched controls demonstrated statistically significant differences (P < 0.05), as the patients in the control group had higher outcome scores. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of cleft hand type and patient age, patients with cleft hands experience impaired hand function and present lower outcome scores in comparison to their age matched controls.

Characterization and evaluation of the influence of an alginate, cocoa and a bilayer alginate-cocoa coating on the quality of fresh-cut oranges during storage.

BACKGROUND: Fresh-cut products are ready-to-use goods which retain the fresh characteristics of raw produce. However, numerous factors restrict the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut products. One of the most promising, convenient and safe technologies to preserve the quality and to prolong the shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables is the application of edible coatings. RESULTS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different coatings (alginate-based, cocoa-based and a combination of them) on physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of fresh-cut oranges during storage. Preliminary rheological analyses were performed on coatings in order to characterize them. The three different coated orange samples were packaged in polyethylene terephthalate trays under atmospheric conditions and stored for 9 days at 6 °C. During storage, all samples were analysed for water activity, moisture, colour, texture, microbiological analyses and sensory quality. Orange samples coated with sodium alginate maintained the highest quality characteristics in terms of texture and microbiological properties, but not from a sensory point of view. Samples coated only with cocoa presented very high sensory attributes, but the lowest microbiological and textural quality. Samples covered in both alginate and cocoa demonstrated the best quality parameters throughout the whole storage period, including high sensory characteristics and the lowest microbiological cell loads (yeast and mesophilic aerobic bacteria under the threshold limit of 6.0 log cfu g-1 ). CONCLUSION: The bilayer coating represented the best solution in order to develop new ready to-eat-fresh oranges with both high textural and sensory attributes and prolonged shelf-life. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Factors related to maxillary expander loss due to anchoring deciduous molars exfoliation during treatment in the mixed dentition phase.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to identify factors associated with maxillary expander loss due to anchoring deciduous molars exfoliation and assess the diagnostic accuracy of the upper second premolar cusp position as a prognostic factor for the exfoliation of its corresponding deciduous molar. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ninety-two subjects aged 8.4 ± 1.1 years, treated with a Haas or hyrax expander, and using the same expansion protocol and deciduous teeth as anchorage were included. The position of the upper second premolar cusp, according to the half pulp chamber (HPC) line of the ipsilateral upper first permanent molar, was assessed on pre-treatment panoramic radiographs. RESULTS: A significant association between anchoring deciduous molar exfoliation and the position of the upper second premolar cusp according to the HPC line (P = 0.002; odds ratio = 5.7) was seen, while there was no association with gender, age, treatment duration, and type of expander. The median survival time for an anchoring deciduous molar, when the underlying premolar cusp was touching/crossing the HPC line, was 13.0 (11.7; 14.2) months. The upper second premolar cusp position to the HPC line showed high accuracy (at least 76.11 per cent) and substantial repeatability (at least 0.7) as a prognostic factor for the corresponding second deciduous molar exfoliation. LIMITATIONS: Applicability in the mixed dentition phase with fully erupted upper first permanent molars. CONCLUSIONS: The probability of a second deciduous molar to be successfully used as maxillary expander anchorage for at least 16 months is above 94 per cent; when at baseline, the corresponding premolar cusp is apical to the HPC line.

Design of Healthy Snack Based on Kiwifruit.

Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and other bioactive compounds, which contribute to its high antioxidant activity. However, the fruits with small size and low weight are considered waste and are unprofitable; therefore, the production of healthy kiwifruit-based dried snacks, which contain a lot of health-beneficial ingredients, could be a viable alternative for their use. The aim of this study was to develop formulations and methods to produce attractive and nutritionally valuable dried snacks based on yellow kiwifruit. Three different puree formulations (kiwifruit; fennel; and strawberry, lemon, or spinach) with or without addition of sugar were subjected to two drying methods: freeze-drying (fruit bars) and conventional hot air drying (fruit leathers). The obtained products were analysed for their content of total polyphenols (TPs), flavonoids, and vitamin C, as well as their antioxidant activity. The results showed that snacks prepared by freeze-drying (fruit bars) presented higher TP, vitamin C, and flavonoids content than those prepared by convective drying; however, the antioxidant activity did not always follow this trend. The amount of bioactive compounds depended on the formulation used for the preparation of snacks. The effect of the sugar addition seems to be strictly related to the mix used and specific bioactive compound investigated.

Impact of processing on the nutritional and functional value of mandarin juice.

BACKGROUND: Although phenolic compounds have a role in the health benefits of fruit juice consumption, little is known about the effect of processing on their bioaccessibility. The release of phenolic compounds from the food matrix during digestion is an important pre-requisite for their effectiveness within the human body, and so it is fundamental to identify technological treatments able to preserve not only the concentration of phytochemicals, but also their bioaccessibility. In the present study, we investigated the impact of high-pressure homogenization (HPH), alone and in the presence of 100 g kg-1 trehalose or Lactobacillus salivarius, on the bioaccessibility of flavonoids in mandarin juice. In addition, digested mandarin juices were supplemented to liver cultured cells in basal and stressed conditions to evaluate their protective effect in a biological system. RESULTS: HPH reduced the concentration of total phenolics and main flavonoids but increased their bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion (P < 0.001). In the basal condition, supplementation with all digested juices significantly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration (P < 0.001). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances concentration in the medium was also reduced by supplementation with HPH-treated juices. Although pre-treatment with juices did not completely counteract the applied oxidative stress, it preserved cell viability, and cells pre-treated with juices submitted to HPH in the presence of probiotics showed the lowest ROS concentration. CONCLUSION: The present study represents an important step ahead in the evaluation of the impact of processing on the nutritional and functional value of food, which cannot simply be assessed based on chemical composition. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Parser to Support the Definition of Access Control Policies and Rules Using Natural Languages.

As a consequence of the epidemiological transition towards non-communicable diseases, integrated care approaches are required, not solely focused on medical purposes, but also on a range of essential activities for the maintenance of the individuals' quality of life. In order to allow the exchange of information, these integrated approaches might be supported by digital platforms, which need to provide trustful environments and to guarantee the integrity of the information exchanged. Therefore, together with mechanisms such as authentication, logging or auditing, the definition of access control policies assumes a paramount importance. This article focuses on the development of a parser as a component of a platform to support the care of community-dwelling older adults, the SOCIAL platform, to allow the definition of access control policies and rules using natural languages.

Chemical and physical changes during storage of differently packed biscuits formulated with sunflower oil.

Various innovative materials are already present on the market, but there is scarce knowledge on their performances when used in real food system. In this study, two innovative packaging materials were investigated for the evaluation during storage of biscuits formulated with sunflower oil and compared to a traditional one. To this aim, three different flexible and composite film containing a metalized plastic layer and a paper layer were used. The control included orientated polypropylene (OPP), while the innovative materials contained poly-lactic acid or OPP with a pro-oxidant additive, ethylene vinyl acetate. The physical (moisture, water activity, hardness/crispness) and chemical (peroxide value, conjugated dienes and trienes, and hexanal and nonanal formation) changes of biscuits were monitored during accelerated storage (35 °C and 50% of relative humidity for 105 days). Packaging materials did not have significant impact on textural quality of biscuits. Instead remarkable differences were observed during storage in the evolution of different lipid oxidation compounds, moisture content and water activity among differently packed biscuits. A new ecofriendly packaging showed the best performances in terms of physico-chemical quality of biscuits. The obtained results provide useful information for industrial application.

Influence of Innovative Processing on γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Contents in Plant Food Materials.

Over the last several decades, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has attracted much attention due to its diverse physiological implications in plants, animals, and microorganisms. GABA naturally occurs in plant materials and its concentrations may vary considerably, from traces up to µmol/g (dry basis) depending on plant matrix, germination stage, and processing conditions, among other factors. However, due to its important biological activities, considerable interest has been shown by both food and pharmaceutical industries to improve its concentration in plants. Natural and conventional treatments such as mechanical and cold stimulation, anoxia, germination, enzyme treatment, adding exogenous glutamic acid (Glu) or gibberellins, and bacterial fermentation have been shown effective to increase the GABA concentration in several plant materials. However, some of these treatments can modify the nutritional, organoleptic, and/or functional properties of plants. Recent consumer demand for food products which are "healthy," safe and, having added benefits (nutraceuticals/functional components) has led to explore new ways to improve the content of bioactive compounds while maintaining desirable organoleptic and physicochemical properties. Along this line, nonthermal processing technologies (such as high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, and ultrasound, among others) have been shown as means to induce the biosynthesis and accumulation of GABA in plant foods; and the main findings so far reported are presented in this review. Moreover, the most novel tools for the identification of metabolic response in plant materials based on GABA analysis will be also described.

Congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors: Long-term periodontal and functional evaluation after orthodontic space closure with first premolar intrusion and canine extrusion.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this investigation were to evaluate associations between orthodontic space closure (including first premolar intrusion and canine extrusion for esthetic reasons) and periodontal tissue deterioration over a 10-year period in subjects with one or both missing maxillary lateral incisors and to investigate the occurrence of signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study comprising patients treated by the same orthodontist. The agenesis group included 26 consecutive adolescent and young adult patients (9 male, 17 female) treated with space closure. The control group consisted of 32 orthodontic patients (12 male, 20 female) with no missing teeth and no need for extractions. In the agenesis group, full-mouth probing pocket depths and bleeding on probing were recorded at 6 locations for each of 657 teeth (3942 periodontal sites). In the control group, comparative data were collected for the maxillary first molars, premolars, canines, and lateral incisors, a total of 264 teeth (1584 periodontal sites). Mobility and gingival recession were also evaluated. Patients in both groups completed questionnaires concerning symptoms related to TMD. RESULTS: The full-mouth assessments in the agenesis group generally demonstrated periodontally healthy conditions, with probing depths below 4 mm and few bleeding sites. Some slight recessions were found, mostly on molars and second premolars, and there was normal mobility of first premolars that substituted for canines. Comparisons between the agenesis and control groups showed no statistically significant differences for the maxillary teeth regarding increased pocket depth (≥4 mm) or increased mobility. Interproximal sites in the agenesis group showed less bleeding on probing than in the control group; this was statistically significant. Anterior teeth in the agenesis group did not show any more recession than in the controls. In addition, we observed no difference in signs or symptoms between the 2 groups; this might be due to the limited sample size or the drawbacks of the surveys of TMD through subjects' recall. Thus, the long-term periodontal tissue health and the incidence of dysfunction or TMD signs were similar in the space-closure agenesis group and in the control group of nonextraction orthodontic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic space closure including first premolar intrusion and canine extrusion in patients with missing lateral incisors does not incur risks for periodontal tissue deterioration or TMD in the long term.

Effect of different new packaging materials on biscuit quality during accelerated storage.

BACKGROUND: The effect of innovative multilayer packaging materials versus a standard one on biscuit quality was studied during accelerated storage at 25, 35, 45 °C and 50% relative humidity for 92 days. Three different packaging materials were used: metalized orientated polypropylene (OPP)/paper (control); metalized poly-lactic acid (PLA)/paper; metalized OPP with ethylene vinyl acetate pro-oxidant additive (EVA-POA)/paper. EVA-POA additive is used to make the plastic layer biodegradable. Various quality sample parameters (moisture, water activity (aw ), texture, peroxide value (PV), hexanal) were analysed during storage. Rate constants (k) and activation energies (Ea ) of hydration reactions and hexanal formation were calculated. RESULTS: No remarkable differences in the evolution of primary and secondary lipid oxidation were observed among differently packed biscuits during storage. All samples maintained PV levels between 4 and 14 meq O2 kg(-1) oil. The product in flexible packaging with PLA reached the highest moisture and aw levels, but they did not significantly and adversely affect the other quality characteristics. CONCLUSION: The obtained results demonstrate that the new tested packaging materials were suitable for commercial biscuit storage, having similar performance and preservation effects on the overall product quality to those of the standard one. Furthermore, these results could make a contribution to the food industry, encouraging the use of packaging materials with a negligible environmental impact as an alternative to petroleum-based ones.

Dietary treatment of urinary risk factors for renal stone formation. A review of CLU Working Group.

OBJECTIVE: Diet interventions may reduce the risk of urinary stone formation and its recurrence, but there is no conclusive consensus in the literature regarding the effectiveness of dietary interventions and recommendations about specific diets for patients with urinary calculi. The aim of this study was to review the studies reporting the effects of different dietary interventions for the modification of urinary risk factors in patients with urinary stone disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of the Pubmed database literature up to July 1, 2014 for studies on dietary treatment of urinary risk factors for urinary stone formation was conducted according to a methodology developed a priori. Studies were screened by titles and abstracts for eligibility. Data were extracted using a standardized form and the quality of evidence was assessed. RESULTS: Evidence from the selected studies were used to form evidence-based guideline statements. In the absence of sufficient evidence, additional statements were developed as expert opinions. CONCLUSIONS: General measures: Each patient with nephrolithiasis should undertake appropriate evaluation according to the knowledge of the calculus composition. Regardless of the underlying cause of the stone disease, a mainstay of conservative management is the forced increase in fluid intake to achieve a daily urine output of 2 liters. HYPERCALCIURIA: Dietary calcium restriction is not recommended for stone formers with nephrolithiasis. Diets with a calcium content ≥ 1 g/day (and low protein-low sodium) could be protective against the risk of stone formation in hypercalciuric stone forming adults. Moderate dietary salt restriction is useful in limiting urinary calcium excretion and thus may be helpful for primary and secondary prevention of nephrolithiasis. A low-normal protein intake decrease calciuria and could be useful in stone prevention and preservation of bone mass. Omega-3 fatty acids and bran of different origin decreases calciuria, but their impact on the urinary stone risk profile is uncertain. Sports beverage do not affect the urinary stone risk profile. HYPEROXALURIA: A diet low in oxalate and/or a calcium intake normal to high (800-1200 mg/day for adults) reduce the urinary excretion of oxalate, conversely a diet rich in oxalates and/or a diet low in calcium increase urinary oxalate. A restriction in protein intake may reduce the urinary excretion of oxalate although a vegetarian diet may lead to an increase in urinary oxalate. Adding bran to a diet low in oxalate cancels its effect of reducing urinary oxalate. Conversely, the addition of supplements of fruit and vegetables to a mixed diet does not involve an increased excretion of oxalate in the urine. The intake of pyridoxine reduces the excretion of oxalate. HYPERURICOSURIA: In patients with renal calcium stones the decrease of the urinary excretion of uric acid after restriction of dietary protein and purine is suggested although not clearly demonstrated. HYPOCITRATURIA: The administration of alkaline-citrates salts is recommended for the medical treatment of renal stone-formers with hypocitraturia, although compliance to this treatment is limited by gastrointestinal side effects and costs. Increased intake of fruit and vegetables (excluding those with high oxalate content) increases citrate excretion and involves a significant protection against the risk of stone formation. Citrus (lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and lime) and non citrus fruits (melon) are natural sources of dietary citrate, and several studies have shown the potential of these fruits and/or their juices in raising urine citrate levels. CHILDREN: There are enought basis to advice an adequate fluid intake also in children. Moderate dietary salt restriction and implementation of potassium intake are useful in limiting urinary calcium excretion whereas dietary calcium restriction is not recommended for children with nephrolithiasis. It seems reasonable to advice a balanced consumption of fruit and vegetables and a low consumption of chocolate and cola according to general nutritional guidelines, although no studies have assessed in pediatric stone formers the effect of fruit and vegetables supplementation on urinary citrate and the effects of chocolate and cola restriction on urinary oxalate in pediatric stone formers. Despite the low level of scientific evidence, a low-protein (< 20 g/day) low-salt (< 2 g/day) diet with high hydration (> 3 liters/day) is strongly advised in children with cystinuria. ELDERLY: In older patients dietary counseling for renal stone prevention has to consider some particular aspects of aging. A restriction of sodium intake in association with a higher intake of potassium, magnesium and citrate is advisable in order to reduce urinary risk factors for stone formation but also to prevent the loss of bone mass and the incidence of hypertension, although more hemodynamic sensitivity to sodium intake and decreased renal function of the elderly have to be considered. A diet rich in calcium (1200 mg/day) is useful to maintain skeletal wellness and to prevent kidney stones although an higher supplementation could involve an increase of risk for both the formation of kidney stones and cardiovascular diseases. A lower content of animal protein in association to an higher intake of plant products decrease the acid load and the excretion of uric acid has no particular contraindications in the elderly patients, although overall nutritional status has to be preserved.

Response of Pink Lady® apples to post-harvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene as a function of applied dose, maturity at harvest, storage time and controlled atmosphere storage.

BACKGROUND: 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an inhibitor of ethylene reception used in post-harvest treatments to delay fruit ripening. Several factors affect the efficacy of 1-MCP treatments. The effect of a post-harvest treatment with 1-MCP on the quality of Pink Lady® apples as a function of 1-MCP dose, storage time and maturity at harvest was investigated. 1-MCP treatment was further tested in combination with controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. RESULTS: 1-MCP limited fruit respiration and softening during storage and was more effective on partially matured fruits and at prolonged storage times. The delaying of 1-MCP on the increase of ripening index was greater on matured fruits at prolonged storage times. The combination of 1-MCP and CA treatments positively affected quality indices of mature apples during 6 months of storage and 7 days of commercial life, with 1-MCP being more effective than CA. 1-MCP and CA showed positive combined effects on firmness and ripening index after 6 months of storage, and on firmness and CO2 production after a further 7 days of commercial life. CONCLUSION: By knowing fruit maturity at harvest and expected storage time it is possible to choose the most suitable 1-MCP dose to meet the market requirements by applying a simple polynomial model.

Clinical outcomes of cases with missing lateral incisors treated with the 'T'-Mesialslider.

The objective of this article is to review the fabrication and activation procedures of the 'T'-Mesialslider and to present the clinical outcomes in cases where canine substitution is the treatment of choice for missing maxillary lateral incisors. The 'T'-Mesialslider allows for effective mesial translation of the canines and the posterior dentition, without significant loss of anterior anchorage and with good vertical control. Possible adverse effects of the appliance and clinical recommendations for their management are also discussed. In canine substitution cases with high anchorage demands, the 'T'-Mesialslider provides an effective treatment option.

Effect of plasma-activated water (PAW) soaking on the lipid oxidation of sardine (Sardina pilchardus) fillets.

The efficacy of plasma-activated water (PAW) as a chemical-free and environmentally friendly preservative has been documented for a variety of foods, but the onset of lipid oxidation induced by plasma-reactive species has been less extensively studied. In this work, global indices (peroxide value, UV specific absorbance) and direct analytical determinations of volatile and non-volatile oxidation products were performed on sardine lipids extracted from fish fillets immersed in PAW (treatments) and distilled water (controls) for 10-30 min. Evidence of PAW-induced lipid oxidation was provided by higher UV specific absorbances and higher levels of C5-C9 secondary volatile oxidation products in the treated samples. However, the degree of fatty acid oxidation was not sufficient to cause a significant reduction in nutritionally valuable eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Twelve cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) were identified in the sardine lipids, but no significant differences in total COPs content were found between PAW processed and control samples.

Recent finding and new technologies in nephrolitiasis: a review of the recent literature.

This review summarizes recent literature on advances regarding renal and ureteral calculi, with particular focus in areas of recent advances in the overall field of urolithiasis. Clinical management in everyday practice requires a complete understanding of the issues regarding metabolic evaluation and subgrouping of stone-forming patients, diagnostic procedures, effective treatment regime in acute stone colic, medical expulsive therapy, and active stone removal. In this review we focus on new perspectives in managing nephrolitihiasis and discuss recentadvances, including medical expulsive therapy, new technologies, and refinements of classical therapy such as shock wave lithotripsy, give a fundamental modification of nephrolithiasis management. Overall, this field appears to be the most promising, capable of new developments in ureterorenoscopy and percutaneous approaches. Further improvements are expected from robotic-assisted procedures, such as flexible robotics in ureterorenoscopy.

Does food use disorder exist? Item response theory analyses of a food use disorder adapted from the DSM-5 substance use disorder criteria in a treatment seeking clinical sample.

BACKGROUND: Increased consumption of food that are high in energy and sugar have been pointed as a major factor in the obesity epidemic. Impaired control of food intake and the concept of food addiction has been developed as a potential contributor. Our objective was to evaluate the dimensionality and psychometric validity of diagnostic criteria for food addiction adapted from the 11 DSM-5 substance use disorder (SUD) criteria (i.e.: Food Use Disorder (FUD) criteria), and to evaluate the influence of age, gender, and body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study including 508 participants (56.1% male; mean age 42.2) from outpatient treatment clinics for obesity or addiction disorders at time of admission. FUD diagnostic criteria were analyzed using confirmatory factor and 2-parameter item response theory analyses. Differential Item and Test Functioning analyses were performed across age, gender, and BMI. RESULTS: We demonstrated the one-factor dimensionality of the criteria set. The criterion "craving" presented the strongest factor loading and discrimination parameter and the second-lowest difficulty. We found some significant uniform differential item functioning for body mass index. We found some differential test functioning for gender and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports, for the first time, the validity of a potential Food Use Disorder (derived from the 11 DSM-5 SUD criteria adapted to food) in a sample of treatment seeking adults. This has great implications both at the clinical level and in terms of public health policy in the context of the global obesity epidemic.

Analysis of crown widths in subjects with congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisors.

The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that the gene defect causing congenital absence of maxillary lateral incisors also causes narrowing of the dentition. A total of 81 patients with one or two congenitally missing lateral incisors were retrieved; 52 (64.2 per cent) patients presented bilateral agenesis, whereas 29 (35.8 per cent) had unilateral agenesis. The control group consisted of 90 consecutively treated patients. The largest mesiodistal crown dimension for all teeth, except for the maxillary second and third molars, was measured on plaster casts using a digital caliper to the nearest 10th of a millimetre. Statistical testing was performed using the analysis of variance model (P < 0.05) to test for differences in the mesiodistal dimension between the sample and the control group. Significance has been assessed using a P-value threshold level of 5 per cent. Agenesis of maxillary lateral incisors was found to be a significant predictor of tooth size. Patients who were missing maxillary lateral incisors had smaller teeth compared to control subjects, except for the maxillary right and left first molars. This finding was true for both unilateral and bilateral lateral incisor agenesis. Interaction between maxillary lateral incisor agenesis and gender was not significant. Patients with congenitally missing lateral incisors have narrower teeth than patients without any dental anomalies, except for maxillary first molars. A higher prevalence of microdontic contralateral incisors was found in patients with unilateral agenesis with respect to the control group.

Difference in Using Protrusion Face Mask before or after Rapid Palatal Expansion in Skeletal Class III Children: A Preliminary Study.

Treatment of third-class malocclusions often presents a challenge for orthodontists. Skeletal disharmony is often associated with dental malposition. There are several therapeutic choices, including the use in combination of transverse expansion of the maxilla with rapid palatal expander (RPE) and posterior-anterior traction with a Delaire face mask (FM). The purpose of the study is to verify whether there are significant differences in the treatment outcome in the case of use of a face mask followed by a palatal expander or with the sequence of these auxiliaries reversed. Subject and Methods: The two groups were both made up of 13 patients, subdivided into group A, i.e., those whose sequence involved the use of extraoral traction first and then the disjunctor, and those with an inverted sequence in group B. Some cephalometric parameters and dento-skeletal characteristics were evaluated pre-treatment (t0) and at the end of therapy (t1). Results: Considering the T1-T0 of group A (Delaire + rapid palatal expander), the evaluation of the results obtained in this work allows us to observe how within group A there is a significant improvement in the Witts and Nanda indices and facial convexity. Group B (treated with the palate disjunctor sequence followed by traction with Delaire's mask) showed a significant improvement in ANB, in AoBo, and AppBpp values and in convexity. The two groups were comparable, and no statistically significant difference was highlighted. Discussion: The early therapy of the third skeletal classes by means of a rapid palate expander and face mask is effective. There is no statistically significant difference in the two groups who performed the therapy in reverse mode. This suggests that the clinician should choose the treatment sequence based on the skeletal and occlusal conditions of their patients at the start of treatment. Conclusion: Early therapy of third skeletal classes with sagittal expansion using a rapid palate expander can be performed earlier or later than posterior-anterior traction with a Delaire mask.

Impact of Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) Treatments on the Oxidation of Pistachio Kernel Lipids.

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a non-thermal technology that could be applied for food decontamination from both biological (microorganisms) and chemical (pesticides, food allergens, mycotoxins) contaminants, thanks to the production of reactive species (RS). However, RS could also promote the onset and the progress of food lipid oxidation, which may limit the quality and acceptability of the final products. The aim of this work was to assess the oxidation degree of pistachio kernels after treatment in a surface dielectric barrier discharge (SDBD). Two different operative conditions for CAP generation were investigated, resulting in the production of high (800 ppm) or low (300 ppm) concentrations of ozone. Limited amounts of hydroperoxides (3.00-4.22 mEq O2/kg), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, 0.072-0.600 mg TEP/g oil), and phytosterol oxidation products (POPs, 14.43-17.20 µg/g) were observed in lipids of both control and plasma processed pistachios. Plasma treatments did not significantly affect the total fatty acid composition and the amounts of identified unsaponifiable matter constituents (4-desmethylsterols, 4,4-dimethylsterols, 4-methylsterols), except for an unexpected significant increase of γ-tocopherol content in extracted oils. These findings contribute to gaining further knowledge for the scale-up of CAP technology to industrial processing.