The cranial analysis of eight skulls from collective grave of the Early Bronze Age Vucedol site (East Slavonia, Croatia).

The collective grave of the Vucedol culture signed as "grave 3/1985" with skeletons of eight persons, represents the most important burial of this culture on the eponimic site in East Croatia, with several indications of human sacrifice. Anthropological and radiological analysis were performed on crania remains of the individuals, specifically on the skulls of one male and seven females. Nondestructive methods embraced craniometrical analysis, analysis of cranial non-metric traits and multivariate distance analysis, with a help of radiological methods, to detect every distinct anatomical characteristic of the skulls. All methods used in this work tried to present similarities and a possible homogeneity of the analysed individuals.

Clinical aspects and management of bisphosphonates-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing incidence of osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) in patients treated with intravenous bisphosphonates has been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical aspects, diagnostic investigations, and management of ONJ associated with bisphosphonates in a series of 12 patients. METHOD: Our patients included 1 asymptomatic and 11 symptomatic subjects. For the symptomatic patients, the osteonecrosis was diagnosed through histological investigations of exposed bone that showed avascular and necrotic tissue with inflammatory infiltrate. The patients were complaining of swelling, fever, and bone exposure involving the jaws. The asymptomatic patient presented as an occasional finding during a routine dental examination and the necrosis was confirmed on the basis of imaging investigations. Radiographic, scintigraphic, and microbiological examinations were carried out for all patients. Treatment included antibiotics, minor surgical interventions, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. RESULTS: The radiological investigations revealed osteolytic areas and the scintigraphy demonstrated increased bone metabolism. The microbiological analysis showed pathogenic micro-organisms in the majority of patients. Therapy was useful in obtaining short-term symptomatic relief. CONCLUSIONS: Histological, radiological, nuclear medicine, and microbiological investigations are important diagnostic tools for patients with bisphosphonates-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws. However, a long-term follow-up is necessary if we are to better understand the treatment outcome.