Biomedical subjects

M R Giuca

Publications and source records attributed to M R Giuca.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Prevalence and pathogenesis of dental and periodontal lesions in children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.

AIM: To assess the prevalence and to investigate the pathogenetic mechanisms of dental and periodontal lesions in children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) examined at diagnosis or during treatment. METHODS: Nine children with XLH (age 7.2 +/- 3.3 years) were enrolled in the study (at diagnosis, n = 2; during treatment with oral inorganic phosphate salts combined with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, n = 7). Oral examination was performed according to the evidence of carious and gingival lesions. Decayed or filled teeth (dft) index for primary teeth, and the decayed, missing, or filled teeth (DMFT) index for permanent teeth was assessed. All patients with a history of spontaneous dental abscesses underwent orthopantomography examination. RESULTS: d/D ranged from 0 to 9 and f/F from 0 to 3. DMFT/dft index was 0 in the three youngest patients. One patient had enamel hypoplasia and two had enamel dyschromic alterations. Six out of nine patients (67%) had a history of spontaneous fistulae as a consequence of periapical abscesses occurring in the absence of dental decay or history of injury. In these patients, orthopantomographies showed enlarged pulp chambers associated with prominent pulp horns extending up to the dentino-enamel junction in both primary and permanent dentition. CONCLUSION: XLH patients show some peculiar dentinal abnormalities. Treatment prevents only in part dental and periodontal lesions. Genetic mechanisms have a main role in causing defective dentin mineralisation.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Ankyloglossia: a morphofunctional investigation in children.

OBJECTIVES: To provide diagnostic criteria for ankyloglossia in children by anatomical measurements; to investigate the correlation between severity of ankyloglossia and a series of morphofunctional findings; to evaluate the potential mismatch between a clinical suspect of ankyloglossia and the authentic anatomical diagnosis. DESIGN: Two different techniques of anatomical measurements and a clinical evaluation of a series of morphofunctional findings were performed. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 200 children referred for evaluation and treatment of tongue-tie, the length of the frenulum and the interincisal distance were measured in maximum opening of the mouth and with the tip of the tongue touching the palatal papilla. Occlusion, type of bite, tongue resting position, swallowing mechanism, oral floor mobility, frenulum insertion modality and speech were investigated. Any correlation between these morphofunctional findings and anatomical measures was investigated. RESULTS: Children with a frenulum length more than 2 cm and an interincisal distance of more than 2.3 cm were normal. In both measurements, significant correlations among mean values and other variables were observed. Moreover, three levels -- mild, moderate and severe -- of ankyloglossia were assessed. CONCLUSIONS: Length of frenulum and interincisal distance allow an assessment of severity of ankyloglossia in children. Ankyloglossia was not associated with infantile swallowing.

Anthropometry↗

PubMed2002

A comparison between radiographic and sonographic assessment of hand and wrist bones for the estimation of skeletal age in the child patient.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine, with a sonographic investigation, the hand and wrist bones of a group of young patients and to compare the results with those obtained with a classical radiographic assessment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Some 25 subjects, 9-18 years of age, who presented problems concerning their short stature or precocious puberty, were evaluated. Each subject was examined by a standard radiographic assessment and by a sonographic investigation with real-time imaging. Sonographic examination was performed on the metacarpus-phalanx articulation of the first finger in order to locate the sesamoid bone. Sonographic examination was also performed on the second and third phalanxes of the third finger and on the distal portion of the radius to evaluate the characteristics of growth cartilage in the area. RESULTS AND STATISTICS: In all the cases where a sesamoid bone was present, this was correctly identified by the sonogram, even up to the initial appearance of its ossification nucleus. Sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were all 100%. The capping phenomenon seen in radiographs was not detected by sonographic investigation in any of the cases. Sonographic evaluation of the fertile cartilage of the third finger distal phalanx demonstrated a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 100% and a diagnostic accuracy of 92%. Sonographic evaluation of the radius cartilage showed a sensitivity of 95%, a specificity of 100% and a diagnostic accuracy of 96%. CONCLUSION: Sonographic evaluation of hand and wrist bones cannot accurately reproduce the results of the classical radiographic evaluation. However, the sonographic investigation may be useful, when integrated in a radiographic investigation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Effect of removable orthodontic appliances on oral colonisation by mutans streptococci in children.

Little is known about the effect of removable orthodontic appliances on oral colonisation by mutans streptococci (MS). In the present study, the frequency of isolation and serotype distribution of MS were evaluated in two groups of children, one undergoing therapy with removable appliances and the other not subjected to any kind of orthodontic treatment, respectively. Streptococci isolated from dental plaque samples from both groups of children were identified as mutans streptococci on the basis of their morphological and biochemical properties and were then serotyped in an enzyme immuno-assay using monoclonal antibodies. The number of subjects harbouring MS in their dental plaque was statistically higher in the group of orthodontic children without caries experience (CF) in comparison with CF children of the control group (10/12, 83.3% vs. 15/44, 34%). No clear difference was observed in the distribution of the different MS serotypes between the experimental and control group: S. mutans c,f serotype was the most frequently isolated in both groups of children followed by S. mutans serotype e and S. sobrinus serotype g. Such results suggest that the use of removable appliances may lead to the creation of new retentive areas and surfaces, which favour the local adherence and growth of MS. The data obtained stress the importance of a careful monitoring of patients treated orthodontically for risk of caries development.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed1999

Periodontal tissue disposition of azithromycin in patients affected by chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases.

BACKGROUND: The recognition that periodontal diseases are associated with specific pathogens has led to interest in the use of antibacterial drugs for inhibition of these microorganisms. On these bases, the present study was aimed at evaluating the tissue distribution of the new macrolide antibiotic azithromycin in patients subjected to oral surgery for chronic inflammatory diseases of both marginal and periapical periodontium. METHODS: Thirty-two patients were treated with azithromycin 500 mg/day orally for 3 consecutive days, and drug concentrations in plasma, saliva, normal gingiva, and pathological periodontal tissues were evaluated. For this purpose, samples of blood, saliva, normal gingiva, granulation tissue, and radicular granuloma or cyst wall (from dentigerous cyst) were collected during oral surgery or 0.5, 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5 days after the end of pharmacological treatment; then, azithromycin levels were measured by a microbiological plate assay, using Micrococcus luteus NCTC 8440 as the indicator organism. RESULTS: The concentrations of azithromycin in plasma, saliva, normal gingiva, and pathological tissues reached the highest values 12 hours after the last dose (0.37+/-0.05 mg/l, 2.12+/-0.30 mg/l, 6.30+/-0.68 mg/kg, and 11.60+/-1.50 mg/kg, respectively) and then declined gradually. Consistent levels of the drug in normal gingiva and pathological tissues could be detected, however, up to 6.5 days, indicating that azithromycin was retained in target tissues for a long time after the end of treatment. Moreover, azithromycin levels in both normal gingiva and pathological tissues exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations of most pathogens involved in the pathophysiology of chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases. Notably, azithromycin levels in pathological tissues were significantly higher than those in normal gingiva 0.5, 2.5, and 4.5 days after the last dose. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate a marked penetration of azithromycin into both normal and pathological periodontal tissues, suggesting that azithromycin represents a promising option in both adjunctive and prophylactic treatments of chronic inflammatory periodontal diseases.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Periodontal tissue disposition of azithromycin.

The tissue penetration of azithromycin, the prototype of a new class of macrolide antibiotics named azalides, was studied in patients undergoing surgery for third-molar removal. Drug concentrations in plasma, saliva, and periodontal tissues were evaluated in 28 patients treated with azithromycin 500 mg/day per os for 3 consecutive days. Samples of blood, saliva, gingiva, and alveolar bone were collected during oral surgery, 12 hours, and 2.5, 4.5, and 6.5 days after the last dosing, and the azithromycin concentration was measured microbiologically by using Micrococcus luteus NCTC 8440 as the reference organism. The highest concentrations of azithromycin were observed 12 hours after the last dose in plasma, saliva, gingiva, and bone (0.33 +/- 0.04 mg/l, 2.14 +/- 0.30 mg/l, 6.47 +/- 0.57 mg/kg, and 1.86 +/- 0.15 mg/kg, respectively) and then declined gradually. However, consistent levels of the drug in saliva and periodontal tissues could be detected up to 6.5 days, indicating that azithromycin was retained in target tissues and fluids for a long time after the end of treatment. Among the samples examined, the highest concentration of azithromycin was found in the gingiva at each time studied. Moreover, the ratios of salivary or periodontal tissue levels versus plasma concentrations remained nearly unmodified from 12 hours up to 6.5 days. Overall, these results indicate a favorable disposition of azithromycin into saliva and periodontal tissues and suggest that this macrolide antibiotic represents a valuable option in the pharmacologic treatment of odontogenic infections.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Stomatological problems related to pregnancy. A statistical study].

Pregnancy is related to particular dental issues, such as the increased incidence of diseases( gingivitis, caries, epulis), the fluoride supplementation, and the limits of diagnostics and therapy. Moreover, the mysterious halo surrounding pregnancy often makes the dentist uneasy. In order to objectively evaluate the implications of pregnancy in dentistry, we distributed a form to 100 pregnant women. The results of the form showed that 53 of them had gingival bleeding, 22 had toothache, 19 had caries but that just 12 of them had gone to the dentist because of dental troubles while 54 had not gone at all. Among the pluri-gravidae, all the women with dental diseases in their previous pregnancies had them again in their current pregnancy but nonetheless only some had undergone a dental check-up. The dentists did not show any uneasiness, as they performed tooth extractions in 5 women, endodontics in 2 women and fillings in 11 women. Just 4 out of 100 women had taken a fluoride supplementation. We deem advisable a stronger collaboration between physician, gynecologist and dentist in order to resolve specialist problems and to make pregnant women more aware of the need for dental follow-ups and fluoride supplementations.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro effects of different concentration of PRP on primary bone and gingival cell lines. Preliminary results.

AIM: Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is utilized in oral surgery to enhance bone healing and it has been suggested to accelerate soft tissue healing. Nevertheless, there is no evidence on biological concentration of platelets needed to determine the higher biological response. Therefore, aim of this study is to evaluate the action of PRP in vitro on osteoblasts and fibroblasts and to evaluate which is the most effective concentration of PRP. METHODS: PRP was obtained from volunteers donors by standard apheresis. Osteoblasts were growth for 72 hours in a medium added with platelet concentration of 230%. Fibroblasts were treated with different platelet density for 24 hours and 72 hours. Platelet density was increased of 230%, 350%, 460% and 700% the normal blood count. Cell proliferation was evaluated with MTT test. ANOVA test was used to assess cells proliferation data. RESULTS: Osteoblasts proliferation, at 72 hours, showed an increase of proliferation in PRP group compared to plasma (P < 0.001). Fibroblast proliferation after 24 hours increases when PRP is added (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were detected among the various concentration of PRP. Yet, at 72 hours, MTT values increases when platelet concentrate is 230% and 350%. At 700% platelet density MTT values were lower than control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that PRP has an enhancing effect on osteoblasts and fibroblasts proliferation when it is prepared only within certain ranges of concentrations. However, further experimental studies are needed to confirm our hypothesis.

Adult↗