Selective excavation and ozone therapy: new frontier of mini-invasive caries treatment in MIH paediatric patients. A case report.

BACKGROUND: The term hypomineralisation of molars and incisors (MIH), introduced in 2001 by Weerheijm et al., describes a clinical state of hypomineralisation of permanent molars with frequent involvement of the incisors. MIH is considered a global dental problem with a prevalence ranging from 2.4% to 40.2% in the entire world paediatric population. The continuous increase in the prevalence of enamel anomalies, including MIH, indicates the need to define new intervention protocols based on the technological advances that are revolutionising paediatric dentistry. The use of ozone associated with the selective and minimally invasive excavation of the dental tissue combines the antibacterial properties of the gas with an ultra-conservative approach aimed at the maximum conservation of the dental tissue. The operative protocol described can be an important tool in the prevention and treatment of MIH. The aim of this work is to illustrate an operative clinical protocol based on the combined use of selective excavation and ozone for the treatment of carious lesions in paediatric patients with MIH.

Treatment with plasma exchange of a pregnant woman with anti-PP1Pk alloimmunization: A case report.

The histo-blood group antigens P, P1 and Pk are a closely related set of glycosphingolipid structures expressed by red blood cells and other tissues. None of these three characters is expressed on p cells, a null phenotype that arises in the context of homozygous mutation of the A4GALT gene. Subjects with p phenotype spontaneously develop a natural alloantibody named anti-PP1Pk, which is a mixture of IgG and IgM against P1, P and Pk. While anti-P1 is a weak cold antibody with poor clinical significance, anti-P and anti-Pk antibodies are potent haemolysins responsible for severe hemolytic transfusion reactions. The rare anti-PP1Pk alloantibodies are associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion in the first trimester of gestation. P and Pk antigens are expressed at high levels on the placenta and antibodies directed against both these structures are deleterious to placental trophoblasts. Here we describe the use of plasma exchange (PEX) in a nulliparous 39-year-old woman with anti-PP1Pk antibodies and a history of repeated spontaneous early abortions and hypofertility. The patient underwent apheresis starting from the third week throughout the pregnancy and a healthy child was delivered by cesarean section at 35 WG. The newborn required only phototherapy within a few days of life. We can state that an early treatment with the only PEX has proven to be effective and safe in the management of a fetomaternal P-incompatibility caused by a high anti-PP1Pk titer (256).

Tongue rehabilitation through the froggy mouth device: case series.

Based on the knowledge supporting the position of the tongue in relation to the palate to be the guiding factor of oro-dental growth and the key factor in long-term orthodontic stability after treatment, 6 different case reports show how the Froggy Mouth device changes treatment strategy in rehabilitation of dysfunctional swallowing by relying on the subcortical process, following the principles established by pioneering studies on memorization mechanisms conducted by Eric Kandel (year 2000 Nobel Prize winner in medical field for his research on memorization process).

Effects of nutraceuticals on quality of life and sexual function of perimenopausal women.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of nutraceuticals containing Equol, Resveratrol, Quecitine and Passiflora (Zemiar®, Avantgarde, Pomezia, Rome, Italy) on quality of life (QoL) and sexual function in perimenopausal women. METHODS: Sixty perimenopausal women having vasomotor symptoms and being in the -1, +1a of the STRAW system (amenorrhea for longer than 60 days and FSH < 20 UI/L) were enrolled. The modified Kupperman Index (KI) was used to evaluate menopause symptoms. The Short Form-36 (SF-36), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Female Sexual Distress Scale (FSDS) were used to assess QoL, sexual function and sexual distress, respectively. The study had two follow-ups at 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: The women reported an improvement in the KI total score from the baseline (35 ± 4) to the 1st (21 ± 3, p < 0.05) and the 2nd (18 ± 2, p < 0.01) follow-ups. At the 1st follow-up, the women reported QoL improvements in some functions (p < 0.05); at the 2nd follow-up, they reported improvements in all categories (p < 0.001). At baseline, the total FSFI score was 23.1 ± 1.2 and the FSDS score was 18.1 ± 1.4, both indicating sexual dysfunction with sexual distress. FSFI and FSDS total scores did not change at the 1st follow-up (p = NS). On the contrary, at the 2nd follow-up, the FSFI score had risen to (27.6 ± 1.5) (p < 0.001) and the FSDS score had dropped to (11.3 ± 1.2) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nutraceuticals can be effective in modulating the perimenopausal symptoms in women. The progressive reduction of the vasomotor symptoms reported by women over the nutraceutical usage could contribute to improve their QoL and sexual life.

Treatment and prevention of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer by cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy: overview and rationale.

Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) from gastric cancer is a condition with a very bleak prognosis. Most authors consider it to be a terminal disease and recommend palliative therapy only. Multimodal therapeutic approaches to PC have emerged in the last decades, combining cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and peritonectomy procedures with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPEC), including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and/or early postoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy (EPIC). We reviewed the pertinent literature concerning the HIPEC modality both for the treatment of established PC and the prevention of peritoneal recurrence after potentially curative gastric cancer (GC) surgery. Basically, the two procedures relate to different aspects of GC and they are not comparable, since the latter has been used as an adjuvant when PC is still not macroscopically evident and the former has been exclusively used in advanced gastric cancer stages with peritoneal dissemination. Data supporting beneficial effects once gastric PC is already manifest is scarce and limited to few centres with specific experience in this field. Conversely, with regards to the peritoneal perfusion for preventing PC in high risk gastric cancer patients, there are phase III trials and meta-analysis which support beneficial effects resulting from the HIPEC procedure. To offer a baseline guide, we summarized the actual status and general outcome obtained by this multimodal technique, in association or not with CRS as treatment of advanced GC.

[Treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy]. / Trattamento della carcinosi peritoneale mediante citoriduzione chirurgica e chemioipertermia intraperitoneale.

Pinto Peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) had for long been regarded as a terminal disease, characterized by a very poor survival and worthy of being treated with palliative therapy only. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) provide a promising additional treatment option for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, resulting in recently published series enable to obtain long-term survival. In spite of the need for more high quality studies, there is now a consensus among many international experts about the use of this new strategy as gold standard for treating with intent of cure selected patients with PC. We summarized the present status and possible future progress of this treatment modality, in particular outlining its rationale, current practice and general outcomes.

[Recent advances in the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease: role of anemia, hyperparathyroidism and calcifications]. / Recenti progressi nella prevenzione di morbilità e mortalità cardiovascolari nell'uremico: ruolo dell'anemia, iperparatiroidismo e calcificazioni.

The mortality rate in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is extremely high, mainly because of the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. In addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, other factors peculiar to chronic kidney disease play a role. Anemia and calcium-phosphate disorders are of particular interest, not only because they have been related to an increased risk of death but, more importantly, because they can be reversed by treatment, thereby providing the opportunity to prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular disease. Despite a clear association between higher hemoglobin levels and better survival, data from interventional trials do not seem to show a significant positive effect of hemoglobin normalization with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on survival and left ventricular mass in ESRD patients. Nevertheless, partial correction of anemia is still an important goal to be reached, as is also suggested by international guidelines. Disorders of calcium-phosphate metabolism have also been clearly related to increased mortality. Unlike anemia, which can be easily corrected by treatment in most cases, mineral metabolism is much less effectively treated. New agents, such as phosphate binders not containing calcium and aluminum, vitamin D analogs with lower calcemic activity, and calcimimetics, are becoming increasingly available in everyday clinical practice and are likely to allow a higher percentage of patients to achieve the recommended targets for calcium-phosphate and parathyroid hormone. Given that these molecules have only been introduced recently, clear data from interventional studies showing improved survival after adequate correction of mineral metabolism parameters are still lacking.

[A microbiological evaluation of the use of roxithromycin in oral odontogenic infections]. / Valutazione microbiologica dell'uso di roxitromicina in infezioni orali odontogeniche.

Odontogenic infections are the primary infections caused by indigenous oral bacteria, when a factor changes their perfect equilibrium. We studied 30 samples from patients with odontogenic infections that were submitted to therapy with roxithromycin. Our results showed that 79% of aerobic and 71% of anaerobic bacteria, responsible for odontogenic infections, were sensitive to roxithromycin.