Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

F Cairo

Publications and source records attributed to F Cairo.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Periodontal pathogens in atheromatous plaques. A controlled clinical and laboratory trial.

OBJECTIVE: A possible relationship between periodontitis and cardiovascular disease has been suggested. The aims of this controlled clinical study were: (i) to ascertain the presence of periodontal bacteria DNA [Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis (formerly Bacteroides forsythus)] in carotid atheromatous plaques and (ii) to assess the concomitant presence of the same periodontal bacteria DNA, if any, in periodontal pockets and in carotid atheroma in the same patient. METHODS: A total of 52 patients scheduled for carotid endarderectomy were enrolled in this study. The test group consisted of 26 dentate patients; the control group included 26 edentulous patients. A complete periodontal examination, including radiographic orthopanoramic and subgingival plaque sample, was performed in the test population. Oral and X-ray examinations were performed in the control group. Atheromatous plaques were harvested during surgical procedure for each dentate and edentulous patient and then sent to the microbiological laboratory. Subgingival plaque samples and carotid specimens were examined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique by means of specific primers for periodontal bacteria. Amplification of extracted DNA was tested using human beta-globin specific-primers. RESULTS: Out of 52 endarterectomy samples, 12 (seven dentate, five edentulous patients) were excluded as negative to DNA amplification. In subgingival plaque samples of 19 test patients, T. forsythensis (79%), F. nucleatum (63%), P. intermedia (53%), P. gingivalis (37%) and A. actinomycetemcomitans (5%) were found. No periodontal bacteria DNA was detected by PCR in any of the carotid samples in either patient group. CONCLUSION: The presence of periodontal bacteria DNA in atheromatous plaques could not be confirmed by this study and thus no correlation could be established between species associated with periodontal disease and putative bacteria contributing to atheromatous plaques.

Aged↗

Oral Acanthosis nigricans as a marker of internal malignancy. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Acanthosis nigricans (AN) is a rare mucocutaneous condition that can involve the oral tissues. There are 2 clinical forms of AN: benign and malignant. Benign AN is related to systemic diseases such as diabetes and obesity or can be induced by drugs such as systemic corticosteroids, nicotinic acid, estrogens, insulin, and fusidic acid. Malignant AN appears in association with tumors such as lung, ovarian, breast, and gastric carcinoma. METHODS: A rare case of malignant AN that initially manifested in the oral cavity of a 73-year-old patient is reported. RESULTS: A bladder and lung carcinoma were detected following the diagnosis of AN. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic importance of oral AN is emphasized because, in our patient, its recognition led to the detection of 2 occult malignant tumors.

Acanthosis Nigricans↗

Retrospective evaluation of the influence of the interleukin-1 genotype on radiographic bone levels in treated periodontal patients over 10 years.

BACKGROUND: A difference in genetic susceptibility to plaque accumulation has been advocated to explain different responses to periodontal therapy. The purpose of this study is to assess the role of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) polymorphism on the rate of bone and tooth loss in non-smoking periodontally treated patients during maintenance. METHODS: Sixty consecutive non-smoking patients (mean age 46.8 +/- 5.0) with moderate to severe periodontitis, treated and maintained for over 10 years were selected. At baseline (T0), radiographic evaluation (cemento-enamel junction [CEJ]-root apex, CEJ-bottom of defect mesial and distal, CEJ-bone crest mesial and distal, crown-root ratio) was performed. All patients received scaling and root planing; 36 patients then underwent surgical therapy. Subsequently, all patients were enrolled in a periodontal maintenance program with recall visits every 3.4 +/- 1.0 months for at least 10 years. At the latest recall visit (T2) the same radiographic measurements evaluated at baseline were taken and a DNA sample for IL-1 genetic susceptibility testing was collected and sent for analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three of the 60 patients (38.3%) were IL-1 genotype positive. A total of 52 teeth (3.3%) out of 1,566 were lost due to periodontitis between T0 and T2; 28 of 957 (2.9%) in the IL-1 genotype negative group and 24 of 609 (3.9%) in IL-1 genotype positive group. The mean variation in bone defect level (DeltaBD) averaged -0.04 mm in IL-1 genotype negative patients and 0.01 mm in IL-1 genotype positive patients. The mean variation in bone crest level (DeltaBC) averaged -0.24 mm in IL-1 genotype negative patients and -0.28 mm in IL-1 genotype positive patients. However, a few patients showed significant differences in response to therapy based on initial bone levels and genotype. IL-1 negative patients who showed minimal initial bone loss responded to the therapy better than the IL-1 positive patients. IL-1 positive patients with severe initial bone loss showed a better response to the therapy than IL-1 negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: On average, there were no significant differences related to IL-1 genotype in tooth loss after 10 years in a non-smoking, well-maintained periodontal population. On an individual patient basis, the IL-1 genotype, in combination with the initial bone level, seems useful at the beginning of therapy for predicting bone level variation.

Adult↗

Nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) in polar stratospheric clouds.

A comprehensive investigation of polar stratospheric clouds was performed on 25 January 2000 with instruments onboard a balloon gondola flown from Kiruna, Sweden. Cloud layers were repeatedly encountered at altitudes between 20 and 24 kilometers over a wide range of atmospheric temperatures (185 to 197 kelvin). Particle composition analysis showed that a large fraction of the cloud layers was composed of nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) particles, containing water and nitric acid at a molar ratio of 3:1; this confirmed that these long-sought solid crystals exist well above ice formation temperatures. The presence of NAT particles enhances the potential for chlorine activation with subsequent ozone destruction in polar regions, particularly in early and late winter.

Journal Article↗

Coronally advanced flap procedure for root coverage. Flap with tension versus flap without tension: a randomized controlled clinical study.

BACKGROUND: This clinical controlled study was designed to measure the tension of coronally advanced flaps (CAF) performed to treat shallow gingival recessions and to compare the recession reduction (Rec Red) achieved in a test group (flaps with tension) and in a control group (flaps without tension) 3 months after surgery. METHODS: Eleven patients, aged 22 to 41 years, with high levels of oral hygiene (full mouth plaque score <20%) were selected for the study. Each patient showed 2 bilateral Miller Class I maxillary or mandibular gingival recessions located on homologous teeth. A total of 22 recessions were treated. The recession depth at the right site was similar to that at the left site (difference < or =1 mm). For each patient, the 2 recessions underwent CAF procedure in the same surgical session. Before suturing, the residual tension (FTens) of both right and left flaps was measured with a dynamometer. Then, one site was randomly assigned to the test group and the contralateral site to the control group. In the test site the flap was sutured. In the control site the flap was further relaxed, the tension was measured again, and the flap was sutured. RESULTS: In the test group (with tension) the initial mean recession depth was 2.82 +/- 0.64 mm and mean FTens was 6.5 g, while in the control group (without tension) the initial mean recession depth was 2.68 +/- 0.81 mm and mean FTens was 0.4 g. Three months later, the test group showed a mean recession reduction of 2.18 +/- 0.60 mm, a mean percent root coverage of 78 +/- 15%, and complete root coverage was achieved on 2 teeth (18%). In the control group the mean recession reduction was 2.32 +/- 0.81 mm and mean percent root coverage was 87 +/- 13%. Complete root coverage was obtained on 5 teeth (45%). The difference of recession reduction between the test and control group was not statistically significant (P = 0.3911). In the test group, linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between recession reduction and both recession depth at baseline (P= 0.0001) and mean of the 3 tensions recorded on the test side (MFTens) (P = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that minimal flap tension does not influence recession reduction after 3 months when shallow recessions are treated by means of CAF. In the test group (with tension), the statistical analysis suggests that the higher the flap tension, the lower the recession reduction.

Adult↗

[Quantitative scintigraphic detection of 111In sources].

This paper reports on a quantitative scintigraphic method for 111In sources using counts from isoboundary regions of interest of source images. Accordingly, total counts from regions of the image excluding the counts below a given percentage of the maximum are recorded and attenuation correction is implemented using the Depth Independent Buildup Factor method which corrects the effects of Compton scattering on the transmission function of the photon flux leaving the source. The transmission function of both the 172 and the 247 keV photons of 111In was determined for a set of circular flat sources of varying diameter (33 to 111 mm), using counts recorded in isoboundary regions of interest of images of the sources placed in air and at various depths in water. The images were acquired using a gamma camera equipped with a parallel hole medium energy collimator. The influence of the isoboundary value on the shape of the transmission function was investigated, and thus the chosen isoboundary value was set to no more than 20% of the maximum count on the image. Two parallel and dimetrically opposed views were acquired to determine the unknown activity of the sources placed in a water phantom. This counting geometry was chosen to operate in conditions of depth independent of the source in the phantom. Our results show a high degree of accuracy, the experimental estimate of the activity obtained by using the counts in the regions of interest with the lowest isoboundary value exhibiting 4% error rate. The error rate increases with the increase in the isoboundary values. The method proved to be simple, practical and accurate. Moreover, it overcomes the problem of accurate estimation of sources size, a variable usually not known with sufficient accuracy in clinical scintigraphic studies.

Indium Radioisotopes↗

[Echocardiographic gating in non-cardiac digital angiography].

This paper reports the results of the ECG-gating in non-cardiac digital subtraction angiography (DSA). One hundred and fifteen patients underwent DSA (126 examinations); ECG-gating was applied in 66/126 examinations: images recorded at 70% of R wave were subtracted. Artifacts produced by vascular movements were evaluated in all patients: only 40 examinations, carried out without ECG-gating, showed vascular artifacts. The major advantage of the ECG-gated DSA is the more efficient subtraction because of the better images superimposition: therefore, ECG-gating can be clinically helpful. On the contrary, it could be a problem in arrhythmic or bradycardic patients. ECG-gating is helpful in DSA imaging of the thoracic and abdominal aorta and of the cervical and renal arteries. In the examinations of peripheral vessels of the limbs it is not so efficient as in the trunk or in the neck.

Adult↗

[Modern technics of intracavitary curietherapy of cervical carcinoma].

The authors set out the technical innovations which are being used to comply with the three classical aims of endocavitary curietherapy for cervical cancer: the personalization of the irradiation device, protection of staff against exposure risks due to ionizing radiations, planning and control of the irradiation conditions. The personalization of the irradiation device is achieved by preparing a specially shaped vaginal applicator for each patient, and staff protection is ensured by the use of remote-loading techniques and closed circuit television control for in-patients. The planning of the treatments answers to the logic of reproducing the usual curie therapy method with conventional radium-226 sources. In order to control the irradiation conditions, at least the essential part of the treatments must be recognized and expressed: equivalent radium milligrams per hour (MRA h), dose rate (Gy h-1), dimensions of the treated volume and space distribution of the dose.

Brachytherapy↗

[Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for periodontitis].

Diabetes mellitus is an important disease of the endocrine system. Many studies have associated this disease to the pathogenesis and the severity of periodontal disease. The aim of this article is to illustrate the relation between diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease. Many studies show an important association between diabetes and the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. Vascular changes caused by hyperglycemia are associated to the development of periodontal pathogens species. Moreover diabetics show an exacerbate host response with hyperproduction of inflammatory mediators and polymorphonuclear dysfunction. Diabetics with good metabolic control and patients with good oral hygiene show a reduced risk of periodontitis. In conclusion, diabetes mellitus (IDDM and NIDDM) is an important risk factor for periodontitis. Odds Ratio is 3. Diabetes mellitus determines changes in bacterial population and production of inflammatory mediators, and reduces the efficacy of the host response. Good controlled diabetes do not cause a major risk of periodontitis and improve the results of the periodontal therapy. Moreover periodontal therapy may reduce the request of insulin in diabetics. It is reasonable a two-ways relation between diabetes and periodontal disease.

Diabetes Complications↗

[Periodontic-endodontic lesions: diagnostic and therapeutic indications].

The presence of connections between periodontium and endodontium can lead to the diffusion of an infection from one apparatus to another. The involvement of both periodontium and endodontium is defined as Combined Periodontic-Endodontic lesions. This definition is not based on the initial etiology of the lesion and either the endodontic or periodontal lesion may be the cause or the result of the other or both may develop independently. The lesions must be correctly diagnosed for the best therapeutic approach. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and radiographic analysis; clinical signs must show the presence of periodontal probing and pulpal necrosis. Radiographic examination can confirm the involvement of both periodontium and endodontium only if the lesion is present on the mesial and distal part of the diseased tooth; in the case of a palatal/lingual or vestibular lesion such evidence will not be detectable. The therapeutic approach is always based on an initial endodontic treatment followed, if needed, by the proper periodontal treatment.

Dental Pulp Diseases↗