Upper Jaw Development After Lingual Laser Frenectomy and Myofuntional Therapy.

AIM: Over the years, the role of the lingual frenulum in the development of skeletal structures has been evaluated. However, the effect of short lingual frenulum treatment on bone structures is unclear. We need to investigate the effect of surgery and myofunctional therapy on maxillary development. This could be the rationale to establish an orthodontic interception protocol. METHODS: The case-control study was carried out in the Operative Unit of Pedodontics of the University Dental Clinic, at the Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences of the University of "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara. The study population consisted in thirty children. The data were collected through anamnesis carried out by qualified health personnel before dental examination. Photos, frenulum length and cast measurements were taken. Student's t-test statistical analysis was used. Significance was ascertained based on the obtained P value of less than 0.01. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed the benefit of laser surgical treatment. The change in parameters related to the anterior palate region showed the power of frenectomy and myofunctional therapy in restoring the tongue's ability to stimulate bone development. The protocol adopted in the following study could be used in interceptive orthodontics. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the effects on the upper jaw over the long term that have higher sample numbers.

AMASI epidemiological study on children living in L'Aquila.

AIM: The aim of the study is to observe the statistical relationship between children's habits, oral heath, pregnancy history and breastfeeding. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the pupils of the first and second grades of the primary schools of the "Silvestro" and "Amiternum" school districts of L'Aquila (Italy). The study population consisted of 496 (244 females and 252 males) students. The data were collected through anamnesis carried out by qualified health personnel before dental examination. According to the WHO criteria clinical teething examination standard, the presence of caries was determined by the dmft index (decayed-filled-missing deciduous teeth). Shapiro-Wilk test, Chi-square test and t test used. P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. CONCLUSION: There is not enough evidence to advise against breastfeeding lasting more than one year due to the risk of tooth decay. Supportive practices need to be implemented to counteract risk factors. A larger sample is needed to study the role of human milk.

Blood flow distribution in sorbent beds: analysis of a new sorbent device for hemoperfusion.

A new polymer-based sorbent cartridge has been recently developed for enhancing middle molecule removal during hemodialysis. The cartridge (Betasorb, Renaltech, New York, USA) has been designed to be placed in series with the dialyzer in the blood circuit. It is therefore important to evaluate the distribution of flow into the blood compartment of the device in order to assess if the surface of the sorbent is utilized to the best. For this purpose, a special imaging technique was utilized. Cartridges were analyzed during a simulated in vitro circulation at 250 and 350 ml/min of blood flow and 25% and 40% hematocrit. Cartridges were placed in vertical position and a cross longitudinal section 1 cm thick was analyzed in sequence by a helical scanner. Dye was injected into the arterial inlet and the progressive distribution was evaluated by sequential densitometrical measures carried out automatically by the machine. The sequential images analyzed by the scanner demonstrated excellent distribution of the flow in the blood compartment with minimal difference between the central and the peripheral regions of the compartment. In particular the following flow velocity pattern could be observed under the different experimental conditions tested. We may conclude that the cartridge design is adequate and no channelling effects could be detected in the blood compartment. The flow distribution is slightly affected by changes in flow rate and hematocrit showing an optimal utilization of the available surface for molecule adsorption.