Oral complications of head and neck radiotherapy: prevalence and management.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the short-term and long-term toxicity caused by radiation treatment in the head and neck with the technique of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: We selected 20 patients, 18 men and 2 women aged between 21 and 71 years, undergoing radiation therapy (IMRT) in head and neck. Patients were visited during radiotherapy and followed for six months after the end of the therapy. We assessed the presence of: mucositis, xerostomia, dysgeusia, dysphagia, pain, trismus and, in the case of late-onset complications, radiation cavities. RESULTS: Acute toxicity: in 20 patients, 18 reported mucositis, 19 xerostomia, 17, dysgeusia, 15 dysphagia, 18 had pain and 3 patients had trismus. Tardive toxicity: in 14 patients, 5 reported mucositis, 11 xerostomia, 6 dysgeusia, 2 dysphagia, 3 had pain, 4 trismus and in 4 patients were found radiation cavities. CONCLUSION: Acute complications with higher prevalence were xerostomia (19 of 20 patients), dysgeusia of 2nd grade (11 patients of 20), mucositis of 1st grade and pain of 1st grade (10 patients of 20). Among the late complications it was noted a maintenance of the high prevalence of xerostomia (11 patients of 14) and an increase in prevalence of trismus (4 patients of 14) against a reduction of all other complications. The presence of radiation cavities in 4 patients of 14 was also recorded.

Clinical assessment of submerged vs non-submerged implants placed in pristine bone.

The medium-long term success of osseointegrated dental implants is evaluated on the basis of the degree of osseointegration over time, assessed by radiographic or instrumental analysis (ISQ). Over the years, the question has always been which surgical technique can provide a better performance in the medium-long term and, thanks to literature studies, it has been evidenced that there are no differences between "one stage" and "two stage" interventions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate clinical and radiographic parameters, referring to interventions for the insertion of dental implants characterized by a new kind of implant surface (Synthegra® GEASS, Udine). The prospective study, not randomized and controlled, referred to the insertion of 18 implants on 9 patients with mono or bilateral edentulism, with measurements at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and an overall follow-up at 3 years, in order to evaluate the different degree of crestal bone resorption using the submerged and transmucosal surgical technique. The results of our study show that there are no differences in the resorption of the two surgical techniques, with an average bone resorption of 2,05±0,16 mm, comparable with values reported in literature.

Supposing it hurt me too? Abortion: the anguish experienced by men.

PIP: A questionnaire was devised to determine whether abortion is a matter which affects men. 104 men were interviewed, almost all resident in Genoa, a few in Venice and Milan, Italy, aged 19-67 years. The best represented group was the 30-40 age group with 42 men (40.38%). There were only 4 men under 20 and only 2 over age 60. Clerical workers and civil servants were the dominant group (34.6%), followed by the professional and managerial class (23%) and workers (21%); there were fewer craftsmen, traders, and students. 61.5% indicated they had a "direct" experience of abortion (of their women partners). 43.7% stated that the choice was made by both partners; the initiative was the couple's. In 34.3% of the cases, the woman took the initiative on her own. If there were quite a few men who still spoke with resentment of this imposition, the silence of most of them in this regard is thought to be because the woman's decision also could have been a painful necessity dictated by the man's absence. The situation is reversed in the 21.8% cases where the man made the decision. Among these cases there emerged a sort of counterdecision, that of 1 man who forbade his wife absolutely to proceed with an abortion which she wanted, and conquently the abortion did not occur. According to the men, they accompanied their wives or companions, encourage them, and helped them with the housework. 59.3% of the 64 men who indicated they had this experience stated that they played an active role; 31.2% felt that the abortion was something totally to do with the woman, and they let her do everthing. Almost all men reported fear, anxiety, and tension. 9.3% indicated that the matter did not affect them. That abortion leaves a long-lasting memory was confirmed by 17.8% of those men who had experienced it. In 46.8% of the cases, the relationship suffered serious aftereffects, and in a further 15.6% of cases the final breakup was attributed to the abortion itself.^ieng