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Among different malocclusions, posterior cross-bite is thought to have a strong impact on the correct functioning of the masticatory system. The association between unilateral posterior cross-bite (UPCB) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) clicking, however, remains still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of UCPB during early adolescence increases the risk of reporting TMJ clicking after a long-term follow-up. A longitudinal survey design was carried out in a group of 12-year-old young adolescents, who were examined at baseline for TMJ clicking sounds and unilateral posterior cross-bite. After 10 years, 519 subjects could be reached by a telephone survey. Standardised questions were used to collect self-reported TMJ sounds and to determine whether participants had received an orthodontic treatment. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between unilateral posterior cross-bite and subjectively reported TMJ clicking (odds ratio = 6·0; 95% confidence limits = 3·4-10·8; P < 0·0001). The incidence of TMJ clicking was 12%. At a ten-year follow-up, self-reports of TMJ clicking were significantly associated with the presence of UPCB at baseline, but not with the report of having received an orthodontic treatment. Within the limitation of this study, the presence of unilateral posterior cross-bite in young adolescents may increase the risk of reporting TMJ sounds at a 10-year follow-up. The provision of an orthodontic treatment, however, does not appear to reduce the risk of reporting TMJ sounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is the main cause of pain of non-dental origin in the oro-facial region including head, face and related structures. The aetiology and the pathophysiology of TMD is poorly understood. It is generally accepted that the aetiology is multifactorial, involving a large number of direct and indirect causal factors. Among such factors, occlusion is frequently cited as one of the major aetiological factors causing TMD. It is well known from epidemiologic studies that TMD-related signs and symptoms, particularly temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, are frequently found in children and adolescents and show increased prevalence among subjects between 15 and 45 years old. Aesthetic awareness, the development of new aesthetic orthodontic techniques and the possibility of improving prosthetic rehabilitation has increased the number of adults seeking orthodontic treatment. The shift in patient age also has increased the likelihood of patients presenting with signs and symptoms of TMD. Because orthodontic treatment lasts around 2 years, orthodontic patients may complain about TMD during or after treatment and orthodontists may be blamed for causing TMD by unsatisfied patients. This hypothesis of causality has led to legal problems for dentists and orthodontists. For these reasons, the interest in the relationship between occlusal factors, orthodontic treatment and TMD has grown and many studies have been conducted. Indeed, claims that orthodontic treatment may cause or cure TMD should be supported by good evidence. Hence, the aim of this article is to critically review evidence for a possible association between malocclusion, orthodontic treatment and TMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital insensitivity to pain is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by dramatic impairment of pain perception since birth and is generally caused by a hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy with loss of the small-calibre, nociceptive nerve fibres. We report a 9-year-old case, with a generalized congenital insensitivity to pain. The patient was referred to our Department by a private orthodontist for severe limited mouth opening and multiple oral ulcers which greatly worsened after starting the orthodontic treatment. The management of his oral lesions of the limited mouth opening and of the orthodontic treatment are described. The management approach aimed to improve mandibular range of motion and associated stretching and a self-modeling mouthguard to avoid cheek self-biting. This protocol allowed continuing the orthodontic treatment to restore the occlusion. Finally, good occlusion, normal function and better quality of patient’s life were achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to investigate the relationship between the vertical craniofacial morphology and the sagittal path of mandibular movements. The study was carried out in 40 subjects who were free of temporo-mandibular disorders. Mandibular movements and maximal jaw opening (MO) were recorded by means of a jaw tracking device. The opening–closing angle (OCA) was defined as the angle between the horizontal plane and the opening–closing path of movements. Vertical craniofacial morphology was assessed on prophile cephalograms by means of the Frankfort Mandibular Plane Angle (MP). The OCA did not differ between males and females ( P > 0·05). OCA and MP were negatively correlated ( r = −0·62; P < 0·001). MO was significantly greater in males that in females ( P < 0·05). MO was negatively correlated to MP (−0·44 < r < −0·49; P < 0·05). The findings suggest that the low-angle subjects exhibit a more vertical path of the mandibular movements than that of high-angle subjects. Differences in the sagittal path of jaw movements may be partly ascribed to anatomical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From January 2007 to December 2011, a total of 106 Haemophilus parasuis strains isolated from pigs were serotyped by agar gel diffusion test (DG). Serovar 4 was the most prevalent (24.5%), followed by serovar 13 (19.8%) and serovar 5 (11.3%). Twenty-nine strains were non-typeable (27.3%). The strains were divided into two groups, depending on whether they were isolated from specific pathological lesions of systemic disease such as polyserositis, arthritis or meningitis (73 cases of 106) or from the lower respiratory tract of pigs suffering from bronchopneumonia (33 cases of 106). Serovars 4 and 13 had a higher prevalence in systemic infection (polyserositis) than in respiratory disease only. Pasteurella multocida (14/106), Streptococcus suis (7/106), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (4/106), Bordetella bronchiseptica (3/106) and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (3/106) were isolated in association with H. parasuis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow plasma cells and stromal cells in multiple myeloma (MM) have been shown to be capable of releasing cytokines with angiogenic properties. Plasma cells can also express adhesion molecules controlling their adhesive interactions with endothelial cells. In the present study, we have evaluated by immunohistochemistry the extent of angiogenesis in the bone marrow of: a) 51 patients with active and non-active MM; b) 25 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Plasma cells were investigated by flow cytometry for the expression of the adhesion molecules LFA-1, VLA-4, LAM-1, and CD44. The results showed that, while angiogenesis was very low or absent in patients with MGUS and non-active MM, it increased markedly in those with active MM. The highest detectability of plasma cell adhesion molecules, except LAM-1, was also found in these patients. The functional significance of these findings is unknown. Their consistent occurrence in the bone marrow of active myeloma patients, however, strongly suggests that more frequent adhesive interactions between plasma cells and their microvasculature underlie tumor dissemination.