The Use of Titanium Mesh in Guided Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review.

Several techniques have been proposed for bone regeneration in patients with atrophic ridges. Nowadays, GBR represents the gold standard, and it allows obtaining sufficient bone volumes for a correct implant-prosthetic rehabilitation. Our goal is to perform a systematic review of the literature on the use of titanium meshes in GBR in order to evaluate the reliability of the procedure, the regeneration obtained, and the failures. Furthermore, we will evaluate the success and survival rate of the inserted implants. The selected articles concern vertical and/or horizontal regeneration of the alveolar ridge using titanium grids, in association or not with biomaterials, before and simultaneously with implant placement. Six articles were selected for the present review, including a total of 139 patients, 156 sites, and 303 implants. Titanium grids in combination with autogenous bone were used in 2 cases, 5 in combination with a mixture of autogenous bone and bone substitutes. The overall survival and success rates of implants were 98.3% and 85.25%, respectively. In conclusion, our review shows how the use of titanium mesh represented a predictable method for the rehabilitation of complex atrophic sites.

Effects of rapid vs slow maxillary expansion on nasal cavity dimensions in growing subjects: a methodological and reproducibility study.

AIM: To evaluate the methodological feasibility of a RCT comparing skeletal changes of nasal cavity size obtained with RME and SME, assessed via CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty Caucasian children with a mean age of 10.4 years were recruited and allocated to receive RME (10 subjects, mean age 10.4 years) or SME (10 subjects, mean age 10.5 years). INCLUSION CRITERIA: constricted maxillary arch, upper and lower first molars erupted, unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: age above 15 years, history of previous orthodontic treatment, periodontal disease, systemic disease affecting craniofacial growth, or craniofacial congenital syndrome. CBCT examinations were performed before treatment (T0) and 7 months after expander removal (T1). Changes of nasal width (NW), palatal width (PW) and total nasal volume (TNV) were assessed; palatal and nasal expansion was also calculated as a percentage of the increase of intermolar width IMW (PW% and NW%). RESULTS: The correlation between the first and the second readings ranged from 0.991 to 0.995 for linear measurements and was of 0.915 for volumetric measurements. The method error, as described by the value of ?, was in general less than 0.3 mm for linear measurements and 0.372 cm³ for volumetric measurements. All linear transverse skeletal and dental measurements and the nasal volume increased with both RME and SME protocols. CONCLUSION: The reported methodology can be reasonably used to investigate the transverse dimension of nasal cavity. The PW% and NW% parameters more accurately described the efficacy of the two expansion protocols as compared to their corresponding absolute measurement (PW and NW).

Sub-micrometric liposomes as drug delivery systems in the treatment of periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a complex disease and bacterial infection is one of the most common factors involved in this disease. Current strategies for the local delivery of antibiotics do not allow a complete clearance of bacteria filling dentinal tubules and this limits their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, there is a strong need for the development of new delivery strategies aimed at improving the efficacy of antibiotic therapy for periodontitis with special reference to their ability to penetrate into the tubules. The aim of the present study is to develop liposome-based delivery systems of sub-micron dimension, able to diffuse into the dentinal tubules. A further aim of the research is to develop a protocol for enhanced diffusion based on the use of magnetic liposomes and magnetic fields. Liposomes were produced by hydration of a pre-liposomal formulation. The vesicles were stabilised with PEG and their re-sizing was achieved by extrusion. Magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized inside the vesicles, i.e., the chemical reaction involving FeCl2, FeCl3 and NH3 occurred within the core of the newly formed liposomes. Dynamic light scattering analysis was performed for size characterization. A mathematical model was implemented to predict the diffusion of the liposomes in dentinal tubules. Ex-vivo validation was performed on extracted human teeth. We produced PEG-ylated liposomes (average size 204.3 nm) and PEG-ylated magnetic liposomes (average size 286 nm) and an iron content of 4.2 µg/ml. Through mathematical modelling, we deduced that sub-micrometer vesicles are able to penetrate into dentinal tubules. This penetration is considerably more effective when the vesicles are magnetized and subjected to an external magnetic field which accelerates their movement within the tubules. The liposome-based delivery systems developed by the present study are able to penetrate deeply into the tubules, sometimes reaching their terminal ends.

Hard and soft tissue augmentation in implant surgery: a case report.

Correct pre- and postimplant hard and soft tissue management is prerequisite to achieving optimal esthetic and functional outcomes after implant-prosthesis treatment. Various different methods for preimplant hard tissue augmentation in alveolus maxillary atrophy are described. In some cases, non-resorbable titanium-reinforced membranes are employed for vertical augmentation of the edentulous crest. Also well documented is soft tissue management through mucus-gingival surgery techniques that increase the thickness of peri-implant keratinized gingiva, enhancing soft tissue esthetic and health. These methods also include the use of epithelial-connectival grafts collected from the palate. Here we present a clinical case of severe bone vertical resorption in edentulous areas treated with two vertical ridge augmentations by means of non-resorbable membranes in the retromandibular area and deferred insertion of six implants. Peri-implant plastic surgery techniques to improve the quantity of keratinized mucosa during the second surgery phase are also discussed. Combination of the two techniques resulted in harmonic tissue architecture and adequate presence of keratinized gingiva.

[Buflomedil and the speed of glycolysis. Note I]. / Buflomedil e velocità di glicolisi. Nota I.

An in vitro study was conducted into the speed of glycolysis is human erythrocytes. Incubation with Buflomedil does not change the speed of glycolysis.

[Changes in erythrocyte ATP after the oral administration of buflomedil hydrochloride]. / Modificazioni dell'ATP eritrocitario dopo somministrazione orale di buflomedil cloridrato.

Variations in erythrocyte ATP content were studied after the oral administration of 600 mg Buflomedil a day for seven days in ten vasculopathy patients. In all patients the drug increased erythrocyte ATP.

[Protective effect of buflomedil hydrochloride on erythrocyte sickling. In vitro study]. / Effetto "protettivo" del buflomedil cloridrato sulla falcizzazione delle emazie. Studio in vitro.

Previous workers found that Buflomedil Hydrochloride increases erythrocyte potential energy and consequently improves membrane plasticity. It was therefore decided to check whether the same molecule was capable of exerting an effect in certain congenital or acquired disease conditions affecting the red cell when increased fragility and early haemolysis are certainly in part by changes in the membrane skeleton and thus to reduced deformability. Sickle cell anaemia is one of these diseases. The surprising, lasting and almost total "protective" action of buflomedil hydrochloride observed in the sickling test is reported. Some explanations are suggested for this effect.

Effects of buflomedil hydrochloride in occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs stage IV.

Ten patients affected by occlusive arterial disease and presenting with skin lesions of the limbs were treated with buflomedil first i.v. and then orally, at a dosage of 600 mg/day. After a treatment period of 30 to 60 days, eight patients showed lesion regression with complete recovery; the remaining two patients dropped out of the study. The mechanism of action of buflomedil in healing skin lesions is also discussed.

A drug used in traditional medicine: Harpagophytum procumbens DC. II. Cardiovascular activity.

In conscious normotensive rats the dried crude methanolic extract of Harpagophytum procumbens secondary roots caused a significant dose-dependent reduction of arterial blood pressure. The decrease was significant only at higher doses given by gavage (dried extract = 400 mg/kg). At the same time a decrease of heart rate was observed. In the same experimental conditions, harpagoside presented an activity lower than doses of Harpagophytum procumbens extract containing corresponding quantities of harpagoside. In spontaneously beating Langendorff preparations of rabbit heart, the Harpagophytum procumbens methanolic extract caused a mild decrease in the heart rate with a concomitant mild positive inotropic effect at lower doses but a marked negative inotropic effect at higher doses. The coronary flow decreased at higher doses only. The negative chronotropic and positive inotropic effects of harpagoside were comparatively higher with respect to that of the extract, whereas harpagide had only a slight negative chronotropic effect and a considerable negative inotropic one. Both in experiments on intact rats and on isolated rabbit heart, the Harpagophytum procumbens extract also demonstrated a protective action with regard to arrhythmias induced by aconitine, and particularly to those provoked by calcium chloride and epinephrine--chloroform.

[Prognostic and therapeutic considerations in intraventricular blocks in acute myocardial infarct]. / Considerazioni prognostiche e terapeutiche sui blocchi intraventricolari in corso d'infarto miocardico acuto.

Intraventricular blocks were observed in 26% of 122 cases of acute myocardial infarction in the Medical Division "S. Angelo Hospital", Messina. Mortality in hospital, which was higher in cases with RBBB + LBBB, LBBB + BAV, above all was caused by myocardial insufficiency. It's Authors' opinion that temporary electrical stimulation is useless in cases with myocardial insufficiency and useful in cases with hemodynamic compensation or with slight decompensation.

[5 years of activity in a small coronary unit. Experiences and considerations]. / 5 anni di attività in una piccola unità coronarica. Esperienze e considerazioni.

Five years' experience at the coronary unit of the S. Angelo Hospital medical division is described. Practical considerations are offered with regard to the management of arrhythmia with drugs, electroconversion and electrostimulation.