Surgical Management of Myofibroma of the Gengiva.

The purpose of this paper is to report a rare patient of oral myofibroma in a 12-year old patient and to describe its clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical features to establish the correct diagnosis and surgical management.Pathological and immunohistochemical examination is a mandatory method for establishing a definitive diagnosis of this lesion avoiding unnecessary treatment. Surgical excision and careful postoperative observation should be a treatment option.

[Continuing medical education (Cme/Ecm) on medical devices in Italy: a review for the 2019-2021 period.] / Offerta formativa Ecm in materia di dispositivi medici: una ricognizione nazionale per il triennio 2019-2021.

INTRODUCTION: Health technology assessment (Hta) is a multidisciplinary process that uses explicit methods to determine the value of a health technology across various domains. It aims at supporting decision-makers in promoting an equitable, efficient, and high-quality healthcare system. During 2023, the Italian Minister of Health officially endorsed the National program for Hta on medical devices 2023-2025 (Pnhta), aligning with EU Regulation 2017/745 and EU Regulation 2017/746. A key objective of Pnhta is to launch a continuous training initiative targeting all professionals within the Italian Health Service to enhance their knowledge and usability of Hta. To support this effort, a national analysis of educational offerings on medical devices (MD) during the 2019-2021 triennium was undertaken. METHODS: The Italian database of accredited Continuing medical education (Cme/Ecm) events was queried using relevant keywords. A descriptive analysis of the educational offerings was conducted based on variables already provided by the database. The analysis was structured according to pre-identified categories related to the courses' objectives ("correct use", "appropriate use", "procurement", "expert patient") and clinical-care areas of interest. RESULTS: Overall, 1,450 training events were included in the analysis. Courses specifically focused on MD were less than 2% of all Cme/Ecm events. The number of participants trained in MD-related topics decreased in 2020 compared to 2019 (14,787 vs 32,784). However, the average number of credits per course and per participant increased in both 2020 and 2021. Distance learning showed an upward trajectory, rising from 16 events in 2019 to 132 in 2021. Regarding the courses' objectives, 73.2% of events concerned the "proper use" of MD, 31.9% focused on their "appropriateness", 14.7% on "updates", 1.2% on "procurement", while no course was specifically dedicated to the "expert patient". Most of the events were related to dentistry/orthodontics (50.4%), followed by orthopedics (8.1%), laparoscopic, general, and plastic surgery (7%). The telemedicine sector has grown, almost quadrupling the number of educational events offered in 2021 compared to 2019 (12 vs 46). CONCLUSIONS: Future Hta training should encompass a diverse range of thematic areas and should place particular emphasis on procurement issues, as well as the involvement of adequately trained patients and caregivers. Finally, the increase in telemedicine-focused courses during the triennium suggests the need for further reflection on this topic. KEY WORDS: Continuing medical education, Hta, medical devices, telemedicine.

Remineralization and repair of enamel surface by biomimetic Zn-carbonate hydroxyapatite containing toothpaste: a comparative in vivo study.

Consumption of acidic foods and drinks and other factors that cause enamel wear are responsible for the daily enamel loss and degradation. Use of some toothpastes that have been showed to possess different properties of remineralisation and/or repair of the enamel surface may help to protect tooth enamel. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of toothpaste containing Zn-carbonate hydroxyapatite (CHA) nanostructured microcrystals may exert remineralization/repair effects of the enamel surface. Two groups of patients, aged between 18 and 75 years, used a Zn-CHA nanocrystals-based toothpaste (experimental group) and a potassium nitrate/sodium fluoride toothpaste (active control group) for 8 weeks. At the end of this period, extractions were performed in five subjects per study group. Negative controls consisted of two subjects treated with non-specified fluoride toothpaste. Teeth were processed for morphological and chemical-physic superficial characterizations by means of Scanning Electronic Microscopy with Elementary analysis, X-Ray Diffraction analysis and Infrared analysis. In this study, the use of a Zn-CHA nanocrystals toothpaste led to a remineralization/repair of the enamel surface, by deposition of a hydroxyapatite-rich coating. On the other hand, the use of both a nitrate potassium/sodium fluoride and non-specified fluoride toothpastes did not appreciably change the enamel surface. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the toothpaste containing Zn-CHA nanostructured microcrystals, differently from nitrate potassium/sodium fluoride and non-specified fluoride toothpastes, may promote enamel superficial repair by means of the formation of a protective biomimetic CHA coating.

Randomized trial - oxybutynin for treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis in women after sympathectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperhidrosis is a common disease, and thoracoscopic sympathectomy improves its symptoms in up to 95% of cases. Unfortunately, after surgery, plantar hyperhidrosis may remain in 50% of patients, and compensatory sweating may be observed in 70%. This clinical scenario remains a challenge. Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of oxybutynin in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis and compensatory sweating and its effects on quality of life in women after thoracoscopic sympathectomy. METHOD: We conducted a prospective, randomized study to compare the effects of oxybutynin at 10 mg daily and placebo in women with persistent plantar hyperhidrosis. The assessment was performed using a quality-of-life questionnaire for hyperhidrosis and sweating measurement with a device for quantifying transepidermal water loss. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01328015. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were included in each group (placebo and oxybutynin). There were no significant differences between the groups prior to treatment. After oxybutynin treatment, there was a decrease in symptoms and clinical improvement based on the quality-of-life questionnaire (before treatment, 40.4 vs. after treatment, 17.5; p=0.001). The placebo group showed modest improvement (p=0.09). The outcomes of the transepidermal water loss measurements in the placebo group showed no differences (p=0.95), whereas the oxybutynin group revealed a significant decrease (p=0.001). The most common side effect was dry mouth (100% in the oxybutynin group vs. 43.8% in the placebo group; p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Oxybutynin was effective in the treatment of persistent plantar hyperhidrosis, resulting in a better quality of life in women who had undergone thoracoscopic sympathectomy.