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This study is focused on cave bears from the Grotta del Bandito (Cuneo Province, Piedmont Region, Northern Italy), especially their teeth. The morphodynamic analyses have been elaborated and compared with other cave bears from Northern Italy, and other cave bear taxa from particular European sites. The Grotta del Bandito bears are similar in size to other cave bears from Italy, and no differences were observed with the other cave bear species or subspecies (e.g. U. ingressus, U. s. ladinicus, U. s. eremus). Thus their inclusion in the U. gr. spelaeus is the most appropriate classification, and they show a simpler dental surface than the "modern" cave bears (i.e. ingressus). The question of whether a single species of spelaeus lived in North Italy, is also introduced. In fact, the differences in size are probably the result of population variability, and no clear evidence of other spelaeoid species and/or subspecies, i.e. ingressus, s. ladinicus and s. eremus, was discovered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine, in vitro, cytotoxicity and cell adhesion on 3 different implant surfaces. Materials and Methods: All samples had machined surfaces, but they were subjected to different cleaning procedures, which produced 3 different surface chemistries. One of the samples was "as-produced" from the machining tools. The other samples were subjected to partial and total cleaning routines. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using mouse fibroblast cultures, and cell adhesion was evaluated with osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells. Results: The "as-produced" sample showed a pronounced surface contamination by lubricating oils. For partially and totally cleaned samples, an increasing amount of titanium and a decreasing carbon/titanium ratio was observed as cleaning became more complete. Discussion: Differences in surface chemistry such as those normally found on titanium implant surfaces (see part 1 of this series) can lead to those same effects which, in in vitro experiments, are normally accounted for in terms of surface topography alone. Conclusion: Effects related to surface chemistry can operate over and above surface topography, making it impossible, without proper characterization, to make definite statements about the role of topography alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze the surface composition of 34 different commercially available titanium dental implants. Materials and Methods: Surface composition was evaluated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Samples were divided into 4 groups, depending on their surface topography (machined, sandblasted, acid etched, or plasma sprayed). Results: Statistical analysis of the data showed a clear relationship between surface composition and topography, which can be easily accounted for by the chemical effects of the surface treatment performed. On average, acid-etched and plasma-sprayed surfaces had higher titanium and lower carbon concentration than machined surfaces. Discussion and Conclusion: Current studies aimed at the evaluation of implants with different topography should not implicitly assume that topography is the only variable controlling the biologic response. Rather, when comparing different topographies, it should be taken into account that surface chemistry may be a variable as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ichniotherium Pohlig, 1892 is a principal morphotype of Carboniferous-Permian tetrapod footprints referred to diadectomorphs. Though these tracks are relatively abundant in paleoequatorial regions of Pangea, the Cisuralian Bromacker locality in central Germany, is the only known place with co-occurring Ichniotherium ichnospecies. Ichniotherium cottae Pohlig, 1885 and Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum Pabst, 1895 are well studied from the German fossil site but tracks of the two ichnospecies have reported to be almost exclusively preserved on separate specimens. Here, we describe two rare cases where I. cottae and I. sphaerodactylum tracks occur close each other on the same slab coming from the Bromacker quarry. In order to explain the exceptional occurrence of the two Ichniotherium ichnospecies and the higher relative abundance of I. sphaerodactylum at the Bromacker site, various reasons are discussed, from which the paleoecological ones linked to the time of impression (Hypothesis A) or to the trackmaker areal distribution (Hypothesis B) seem to be the most likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, numerous ichnites belonging to Camunipes cassinisi (Ceoloni et al., 1987) were discovered in Lower Permian strata cropping out in the South-Alpine region (Northern Italy). However, in North America, morphologically similar footprints are classified as Erpetopus willistoni Moodie 1929. On the basis of documented cases and newly accepted taxonomies, the possibility that the ichnotaxa could be synonyms but that the ichnospecies C. cassinisi ("E." cassinisi) and E. willistoni should be considered different entities is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ten patients requiring the extraction of a severely-deteriorated molar or premolar before placement of a dental implant for prosthodontic rehabilitation were selected (6 women; 4 men). The sockets were curetted and decontaminated with an 810 nm wavelength diode laser using a 400 micron fiber at close distance (1 mm) from the target area, power setting 2.5 W, pulsed mode (10 msec t-on, 10 msec t-off for five seconds, three repetitions for each bone wall, 30 seconds pause between each irradiation). The socket filled with beta-TCP plus Tissucol and primary closure was attempted. In addition all patients were treated with a 810 nm GaAlAs laser, in continuous wave mode, defocused hand-piece, 50 J\cm2 ( 1W for 50 seconds) after surgery and on days 3, 5, 7 postoperatively. At 18 months after prosthodontic treatment and loading, the implant was stable. Laser therapy, combined with a graft of biomaterial composed of beta-TCP and tissucol, prevented alveolar crest resorption following tooth extraction. Formation of new bone of acceptable quality and quantity permitted placement of osseointegrated dental implants.

The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic appendectomy, as performed by experienced and trainee surgeons in a Unit of General Surgery. From June 1997 to May 2002, 172 patients underwent laparoscopic appendectomy. Age below 13 years was an exclusion criterion. There was no single protocol for the diagnosis and surgical technique adopted by the different surgeons. The average operating time was 65.3 min (range: 41-106 min). There were 9 conversions to open surgery (5.2%) and 9 postoperative complications (5.5%) out of a total of 162 patients undergoing the laparoscopic procedure. Oral intake was resumed on post-operative day 2 and the average hospital stay was 3.4 days (range: 3-5 days). In conclusion, laparoscopic appendectomy proved to be safe and effective, even when performed by surgeons with only limited experience of minimally invasive surgery.