Search

To evaluate the accuracy of the Invisalign appliance in correcting an anterior deep bite in adults and to compare different mechanisms of bite opening.

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe neurological signs, affecting the peripheral and central nervous system, caused by reduced frataxin protein (FXN) levels. Although several studies have highlighted cellular dysfunctions in neurons, there is limited information on the effects of FXN depletion in astrocytes and on the potential non-cell autonomous mechanisms affecting neurons in FRDA. In this study, we generated a model of FRDA cerebellar astrocytes to unveil phenotypic alterations that might contribute to cerebellar atrophy. We treated primary cerebellar astrocytes with an RNA interference-based approach, to achieve a reduction of FXN comparable to that observed in individuals with FRDA. These FRDA-like astrocytes display some typical features of the disease, such as an increase of oxidative stress and a depletion of glutathione content. Moreover, FRDA-like astrocytes exhibit decreased Ca2+ responses to purinergic stimuli. Our findings shed light on cellular changes caused by FXN downregulation in cerebellar astrocytes, likely impairing their complex interaction with neurons. The potentially impaired ability to provide neuronal cells with glutathione orto release neuromodulators in a Ca2+-dependent manner could affect neuronal function, contributing to neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of dental rotational movements using clear aligners with different attachment configurations. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analysed 212 teeth from 89 patients undergoing Invisalign treatment. Digital models were analysed after the virtual treatment plan (ST1) and after the first treatment phase (ET1) to evaluate the effective clinical rotational movement. The rotational movements of incisors, canines, and bicuspids were measured using data from the Clincheck Movements Table. ST1 and ET1 were compared to determine the actual rotational movement achieved (ST1‐ET1). The presence or absence of attachments (rectangular or optimized) on teeth was analysed. The accuracy of rotational movements among attachment types was compared using the Kruskal‐Wallis test. Multiple linear regressions were conducted with accuracy as the dependent variable and tooth type, gender, and age as predictors. Results: Optimized attachments had the highest median accuracy (70%), followed by rectangular (65%), and without attachment (63%), with no significant differences (p =.5). There were no significant differences across age groups, genders, or tooth types. Baseline accuracy was 68.62% (95% CI: 56.03–81.20, p <.001). Age was a significant predictor (estimate = −0.30, 95% CI: −0.58 – −0.03, p =.032), indicating decreased accuracy with increasing age. The model's R2 was 0.046, with an adjusted R2 of 0.003, indicating minimal variance explained. Conclusion: The addition of attachment configurations to clear aligners improves rotational accuracy, but not significantly. Further advancements in these configurations are needed to enhance the performance of the aligners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic disease that can affect placental villous maturation and villous vascularity. The main effects of GDM on placental growth are a delay of villous maturation (DVM) and decreased formation of vasculo-syncytial membranes (VSM). Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) is an adenosine transporter expressed in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human placental microvascular endothelium cells (hPMEC). Its role is crucial in maintaining physiological fetal adenosine levels during pregnancy, and its reduction has been described in GDM. Twenty-four placentas from pregnancies with a confirmed diagnosis of GDMd and twenty-four matched non-GDM placentas (controls) were retrospectively analyzed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of hENT1 in HUVEC and hPMEC. The study included the quantitative evaluation of VSM/mm2 in placental tissue and the immunohistochemical quantitative evaluation of Ki-67, PHH3, and p57 in villous trophoblast. hENT1 expression was higher in all the vascular districts of the control cases compared to the GDMd placentas (p < 0.0001). The VSM/mm2 were lower in the GDMd cases, while the Ki-67, PHH3, and p57 were higher when compared to the control cases. To our knowledge, this is the first report of hENT1 expression in the human placentas of GDM patients. The absence/low expression of hENT1 in all the GDMd patients may indicate a potential role in microvascular adaptative mechanisms. The trophoblasts' proliferative/antiapoptotic pattern (high Ki-67, high PHH3, and high p57 count) may explain the statistically significant lower number of VSM/mm2 found in the GDMd cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has revealed a surprising number of extrapulmonary manifestations of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. There have been emerging reports related to COVID-19 infection and disease course including myositis, neuropathy, arthropathy, and soft tissue abnormalities in lower and upper limb too. NMES can be used to induce a muscle contraction when it is difficult or impossible for the person to achieve this voluntarily thereby allowing effective exercise and the strengthening of muscles observed that usual programs for amyotrophy couldn't provide any muscular contraction. So we propose specific neuro muscular electrostimulation (NMES) parameters at low frequency to increase upper limb muscles strength. We studied 10 patients who developed diffuse and symmetrical muscle weakness after a long stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). We applied 30 minutes a day for two months three different frequency electrostimulation to: 1. Arm extensor muscles because they provide help to the control of the trunk in sitting and standing position 2. Intrinsic muscles because of their severe ipotrophy. We applied the following parameters of frequency: 1. Amyotrophy frequency 30-40 hz, 250 µs 2. Study frequency 1-2 hz, 250 µs 3. Triangular stimulation 0,2 hz, 250 µs Muscle contractions have been detected by visualization and a biofeedback EMG device. In the arm extensor at the beginning only low Frequency and high intensive stimulation could provide muscle contraction. After two months of high intensive stimulation, and physiotherapy, muscle normal excitability seemed to be restored. About hand intrinsic muscle, triangle impulse resulted the best parameters. We treated very severe weak muscle in patient after long covid. In conclusion, to reanimate muscular function of arm extensor muscles, hypotrophy muscle stimulation tetanic parameters have not provide any muscular activity. Only low frequency (1-2 hz) high intensity stimulation (80-120 mAmp) could achieve muscular contraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Early brain injury is a major determinant of clinical outcome in poor-grade (World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies [WFNS] IV-V) aneurysmal SAH and is radiologically defined by global cerebral edema. Little is known, though, about the effect of global intracranial hemorrhage volume on early brain injury development and clinical outcome., Materials and Methods: Data from the multicentric prospective Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (POGASH) Registry of consecutive patients with poor-grade aneurysmal SAH admitted from January 1, 2015, to August 31, 2022, was retrospectively evaluated. Poor grade was defined according to the worst-pretreatment WFNS grade. Global intracranial hemorrhage volume as well as the volumes of intracerebral hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and SAH were calculated by means of analytic software in a semiautomated setting. Outcomes included severe global cerebral edema (defined by Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Early Brain Edema Score grades 3-4), in-hospital mortality (mRS 6), and functional independence (mRS 0-2) at follow-up., Results: Among 400 patients (median global intracranial hemorrhage volume of 91 mL; interquartile range, 59-128), severe global cerebral edema was detected in 218/400 (54.5%) patients. One hundred twenty-three (30.8%) patients died during the acute phase of hospitalization. One hundred fifty-five (38.8%) patients achieved mRS 0-2 at a median of 13 (interquartile range, 3-26) months of follow-up. Multivariable analyses showed global intracranial hemorrhage volume as independently associated with severe global cerebral edema (adjusted OR, 1.009; 95% CI, 1.004-1.014; P < .001), mortality (adjusted OR, 1.006; 95% CI, 1.001-1.01; P = .018) and worse clinical outcome (adjusted OR, 0.992; 95% CI, 0.98-0.996; P < .010). The effect of global intracranial hemorrhage volume on clinical-radiologic outcomes changed significantly according to different age groups (younger than 50, 50-70, older than 70 year of age). Volumes of intracerebral hemorrhage, intraventricular hemorrhage, and SAH affected the 3 predefined outcomes differently. Intracerebral hemorrhage volume independently predicted global cerebral edema and long-term outcome, intraventricular hemorrhage volume predicted mortality and long-term outcome, and SAH volume predicted long-term clinical outcome., Conclusions: Global intracranial hemorrhage volume plays a pivotal role in global cerebral edema development and emerged as an independent predictor of both mortality and long-term clinical outcome. Aging emerged as a reducing predictor in the relationship between global intracranial hemorrhage volume and global cerebral edema., (© 2024 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.)

Background: Scarce data are available regarding rebleeding predictors in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH)., Objectives: To investigate predictors and clinical impact of rebleeding in a national multicentric poor-grade aSAH., Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the multicentric Poor Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Study Group (POGASH) registry of consecutive patients treated from January 1, 2015, to June 30th, 2021. Grading was defined as pretreatment World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grading scale IV-V. Ultra-early vasospasm (UEV) was defined as luminal narrowing of intracranial arteries not due to intrinsic disease. Rebleeding was defined as clinical deterioration with evidence of increased hemorrhage on subsequent computed tomography scans, fresh blood from the external ventricular drain, or deterioration before neuroradiological evaluation. Outcome was assessed by the modified Rankin Scale., Results: Among 443 consecutive World Federation of Neurological Surgeons grades IV-V patients with aSAH treated within a median of 5 (IQR 4-9) hours since onset, rebleeding occurred in 78 (17.6%). UEV (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 6.8, 95% CI 3.2-14.4; P < .001) and presence of dissecting aneurysm (adjusted OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.3; P = .011) independently predicted rebleeding while history of hypertension (adjusted OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8; P = .011) independently reduced its chances. 143 (32.3) patients died during hospitalization. Rebleeding emerged, among others, as an independent predictor of intrahospital mortality (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.1; P = .009)., Conclusion: UEV and presence of dissecting aneurysms are the strongest predictors of aneurysmal rebleeding. Their presence should be carefully evaluated in the acute management of poor-grade aSAH., (Copyright © Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2023. All rights reserved.)