Search Results (73)

Digital dentistry is undergoing rapid evolution, with three-dimensional imaging technologies increasingly integrated into routine clinical workflows. Originally developed for accurate dental arch reconstruction, modern intraoral scanners have demonstrated expanding versatility in capturing intraoral mucosal as well as perioral cutaneous structures. Concurrently, photogrammetry has emerged as a powerful method for full-face digital reconstruction, particularly valuable in orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment planning. These advances offer promising applications in forensic sciences, where high-resolution, three-dimensional documentation of anatomical details such as palatal rugae, lip prints, and bite marks can provide objective and enduring records for legal and investigative purposes. This study explores the forensic potential of two digital acquisition techniques by presenting two cadaveric cases of animal bite injuries. In the first case, an intraoral scanner (Dexis 3600) was used in an unconventional extraoral application to directly scan skin lesions. In the second case, photogrammetry was employed using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera and Agisoft Metashape, with standardized lighting and metric scale references to generate accurate 3D models. Both methods produced analyzable digital reconstructions suitable for forensic archiving. The intraoral scanner yielded dimensionally accurate models, with strong agreement with manual measurements, though limited by difficulties in capturing complex surface morphology. Photogrammetry, meanwhile, allowed for broader contextual reconstruction with high texture fidelity, albeit requiring more extensive processing and scale calibration. A notable advantage common to both techniques is the avoidance of physical contact and impression materials, which can compress and distort soft tissues, an especially relevant concern when documenting transient evidence like bite marks. These results suggest that both technologies, despite their different origins and operational workflows, can contribute meaningfully to forensic documentation of bite-related injuries. While constrained by the exploratory nature and small sample size of this study, the findings support the viability of digitized, non-destructive evidence preservation. Future perspectives may include the integration of artificial intelligence to assist with morphological matching and the establishment of digital forensic databases for pattern comparison and expert review. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the concordance of automated 3D superimposition methods applied to digital models, with a focus on methods that consider stable palatal regions as geometric reference landmarks versus those that do not. Design and setting: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study using digital model files of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment in a university clinical setting. Participants: Sixty-one patients were prospectively enrolled and divided into three groups based on the type of orthodontic treatment they received: (20) non-extractive orthodontic treatment without intermaxillary elastics, (21) intermaxillary elastics, and (20) control subjects with no orthodontic movement. The inclusion criteria included the availability of complete pre- and post-treatment digital casts and the absence of significant craniofacial anomalies. Methods: Three superimposition methods were tested: (1) superimposition according to palate and palatal ridges, (2) best-fit superimposition of arches in occlusion, and (3) best-fit superimposition of individual arches. Discrepancies were identified by comparing the spatial positions derived from each method. Within three spatial axes, deviations of ±0.5 mm and ±1.15° were not considered significant. Bland–Altman plots were used to quantify palatal rugae based and non-based spatial differences between methods. Differences in the superimposition results between the three patient groups were evaluated using ANOVA tests. Results: Differences in spatial position between the superimposition methods often exceeded the acceptable range. The results were compared between the three patient groups with a statistical significance of α = 0.05. In the present study, the high reliability of the superimposition method based on the palate and palatal ridges was observed. Conclusion: Superimposition methods based on the palate and palatal rugae provide superior accuracy in determining treatment-related changes in upper arch digital models. These findings illustrate the need for appropriate selection of superimposition techniques based on the study objective of using clinically relevant techniques. Full article

Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) is an aggressive malignancy with poor prognosis despite initial responsiveness to chemotherapy. Platinum-based chemotherapy with etoposide has long been the standard first-line treatment, but recent advances in immunotherapy have improved outcomes. Phase III trials, including IMpower133 and CASPIAN, demonstrated that adding immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as atezolizumab and durvalumab, to chemotherapy significantly enhances overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). This case report describes a 76-year-old former smoker diagnosed with extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) following the detection of a left lower lung mass. The patient underwent combination therapy with carboplatin, etoposide, and atezolizumab, followed by maintenance atezolizumab. The patient demonstrated a sustained response to treatment, with significant tumor regression and no evidence of disease progression. Despite advanced age and comorbidities, treatment was well-tolerated, with no severe adverse events. Serial imaging over 24 months confirmed sustained disease stability, with regression of mediastinal lymphadenopathy and no new lesions. This case highlights the potential for prolonged disease control in select SCLC patients treated with chemo-immunotherapy. The absence of significant toxicities underscores the feasibility of immunotherapy even in elderly patients with comorbidities. These findings support the role of atezolizumab as a key component of ES-SCLC treatment and suggest the need for further research on predictors of durable response. Full article

Background: The segmentation of individual teeth in three-dimensional (3D) dental models is a key step in orthodontic computer-aided design systems. Traditional methods lack robustness when handling challenging cases such as missing or misaligned teeth. Objectives: to semantically segment maxillary teeth and palatal rugae in 3D textured scans using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and assess tooth movement after orthodontic treatment using stable rugae references. Methods: Building on the robustness of two-dimensional image semantic segmentation, we developed a method to convert 3D textured palate scans into two-dimensional images for segmentation, then back projected them onto the original 3D meshes. A dataset of 100 textured scans from 100 patients seeking orthodontic treatment was manually segmented by orthodontic experts. The proposed 3D segmentation method was applied to these scans. Finally, each pair of segmented 3D scans from the same patient, before and after treatment, was aligned by superimposing them on the stable rugae region. Results: The 3D segmentation method achieved an accuracy of 98.69% and an average Intersection over Union (IoU) of 84.5%. The common stable coordinate frame for both scans using the rugae area as a stable reference enabled the computation of the 3D translational and rotational motions of each maxillary tooth. Neither pre- nor post-processing of the data was required to enhance segmentation. Conclusions: The proposed method enabled successful motion measurement of teeth using the rugal area as a stable reference and providing rotation and translational measurements of the maxillary teeth. Full article

Varroa destructor is an ectoparasitic mite that causes a true syndrome with complex symptoms in honeybees. For mite control, several synthetic active principles are commercially available. However, these formulations are proving less effective due to the acquisition of resistance mechanisms by the parasite. Naturally derived compounds, such as essential oils, are less prone to generating resistance mechanisms in mite populations and have been proven effective in numerous independent laboratory investigations. In this study, semi-field and field tests were conducted to evaluate the acaricidal efficacy of two essential oils (Citrus bergamia and Citrus limon), which, in our previous residual contact toxicity tests, showed efficacy against Varroa mites. For semi-field cage tests, two-level cages were set up. Filter paper soaked with different concentrations of essential oils was placed in the lower compartment of the cage; 20 honeybees and 10 Varroa mites were allocated in the upper level. Mite detachment from the honeybees was evaluated after 24 and 48 h. For field tests, cardboard strips soaked with solutions of essential oils at different concentrations were inserted in the experimental hives. Weekly, the strips were replaced, and the fall of parasites on the diagnostic bottom board was assessed. Semi-field tests showed that the essential oils, at the concentrations used, were not toxic to bees. In the semi-field tests, an average acaricidal efficacy of 33% and 60% was obtained, at the highest concentration used, for bergamot and lemon essential oils, respectively. During the 4 weeks of exposure to 600 mL of BEO, the average mite mortality was 28.5%. In the experimental group treated with the intermediate concentration of 1200 mL, the average mite mortality at the end of four weeks was 30.2%, while with the highest concentration of 1800 mL, it was 40.3%. During the four weeks of exposure to 600 mL of LEO, the average mite mortality was 34.1%. In the experimental group treated with the 1200 mL concentration, the average mite mortality at the end of the four weeks was 46.6%, while with the highest concentration, it was 50.7%. This study shows that the acaricidal efficacy observed in field tests differs from that in laboratory tests. Innovative formulations are needed that allow the time-controlled and gradual release of essential oil in the field. Full article

Background and Objectives: The palate’s morphological characteristics are of great importance, especially in periodontology, where the palatine tissue represents a source of tissue graft for multiple mucogingival surgeries. This study aimed to estimate the amount of donor tissue available through the average palatal height and average location of the greater palatine artery in the Saudi population according to age and gender. Materials and Methods: Digital casts for adult Saudi patients at the age of 18–60 years old with a mean age of 37.76 ± 12.68 years were collected and analyzed using EXOCAD software. The digital casts were evaluated, and measurements of arch width at molars and canines, palatal vault height (PVH), palatal height index (PHI), and extension of the palatal rugae were registered. Finally, the amount available for soft tissue graft harvesting was calculated. Results: Overall, 109 maxillary casts for Saudi patients, 52 (47.7%) males and 57 (52.3%) females, were analyzed. The maxillary inter-molar arch width, inter-canine width, and palatal vault height significantly differed between males and females (p < 0.05). The mean PHI was 45.51% ± 8.12%, and 27.5% were classified as orthostaphyline, while 72.5% were categorized as hypsistaphyline, with no significant difference between the genders. The mean maximum graft width was 11.45 mm, and the graft width was significantly different between males and females (p < 0.005), while the mean maximum graft length was 17.78 mm, and the graft length showed no significant difference. Conclusions: The results of this study provide specific clinical guidelines for periodontal procedures by emphasizing the importance of gender-specific anatomical considerations. Data on graft dimensions and palatal measurements will enable the exact planning of soft tissue harvesting to minimize surgical risks and optimize mucogingival surgery outcomes in the Saudi population. Full article

Background: The treatment of psoriasis has made considerable progress with biologicals, including tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and recently, monoclonal antibodies inhibiting directly interleukin (IL) 17, IL-23, or both IL-12/23. Newer biologicals are directed to the interleukin pathway and appear to improve complete or near-complete clearance. The newer biologicals have also been shown to have an excellent safety profile. However, despite experience with patients having confirmed the results obtained in clinical trials, there are still few data on using the newer biologicals. Methods: The present active study aimed to prospectively evaluate safety profiles and persistence of some biologicals in a multicenter pharmacovigilance study, that enrolled 733 patients treated with a biologic drug in five Calabrian hospital units. Informative and treatment persistence evaluations with predictors for suspension and occurrence of adverse events (AEs) were executed. In particular, reasons for treatment discontinuation in our program take account of primary/secondary failure or development of an AE. Results: AEs occurred in 187/733 patients and serious AEs (SAEs) were identified in 5/733 patients. An number of 182/733 patients showed a primary/secondary inefficacy. The AEs and SAEs were described with adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept but not with abatacept, brodalumab, tildrakizumab, golinumab, ixekizumab, guselkumab, risankizumab, secukinumab, and ustekinumab. Conclusions: Our analysis, although limited by a small sample size and a short-term follow-up period, offers suitable data on commonly used biological agents and their safety, interruption rate, and the attendance of SAEs. Real-world studies should be carried out to evaluate other safety interests. Full article

The science of dental tissue grafting is evolving, with an increased understanding of factors influencing graft behavior. Despite the widespread clinical use of soft tissue grafts, the histological characteristics of different gingival harvesting sites are still underexplored. This study aimed to fill this gap by analyzing 50 tissue samples harvested from 25 patients across three sites: the hard palate, maxillary tuberosity, and palatal rugae. Each sample underwent thorough histological and histomorphometric analysis. Conventional statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, while predictive modeling was conducted with RapidMiner Studio. The study identified significant histological differences among the graft sites, with notable variations in total graft height, epithelial height, and interdigitation perimeter. These findings underscore the importance of donor site selection in influencing graft success. Pair plots and principal component analysis (PCA) further highlighted the distinct histological features of each tissue type. The random forest classifier identified total graft height, epithelial height, and perimeter as the most influential factors in predicting graft site behavior. This study offers valuable insights into the histological characteristics of soft tissue grafts, potentially leading to more predictable clinical outcomes. Full article

Morphine is an important pain reliever employed in pain management, its extended utilize is hindered by the onset of analgesic tolerance and oxidative stress. Long-term morphine administration causes elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), disrupting mitochondrial function and inducing oxidation. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a mitochondrial protein, is essential in modulating ROS levels by regulating mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes as manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD). Our investigation focused on the impact of SIRT3 on hyperalgesia and morphine tolerance in mice, as evaluating the antioxidant effect of the polyphenolic fraction of bergamot (BPF). Mice were administered morphine twice daily for four consecutive days (20 mg/kg). On the fifth day, mice received an acute dose of morphine (3 mg/kg), either alone or in conjunction with BPF or Mn (III)tetrakis (4-benzoic acid) porphyrin (MnTBAP). We evaluated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitration, and the activity of SIRT3, MnSOD, glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamate 1 transporter (GLT1) in the spinal cord. Our findings demonstrate that administering repeated doses of morphine led to the development of antinociceptive tolerance in mice, accompanied by increased superoxide production, nitration, and inactivation of mitochondrial SIRT3, MnSOD, GS, and GLT1. The combined administration of morphine with either BPF or MnTBAP prevented these effects. Full article

The gut microbiota is a diverse bacterial community consisting of approximately 2000 species, predominantly from five phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. The microbiota’s bacterial species create distinct compounds that impact the host’s health, including well-known short-chain fatty acids. These are produced through the breakdown of dietary fibers and fermentation of undigested carbohydrates by the intestinal microbiota. The main short-chain fatty acids consist of acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The concentration of butyrate in mammalian intestines varies depending on the diet. Its main functions are use as an energy source, cell differentiation, reduction in the inflammatory process in the intestine, and defense against oxidative stress. It also plays an epigenetic role in histone deacetylases, thus helping to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Finally, butyrate affects the gut–brain axis by crossing the brain–blood barrier, making it crucial to determine the right concentrations for both local and peripheral effects. In recent years, there has been a significant amount of attention given to the role of dietary polyphenols and fibers in promoting human health. Polyphenols and dietary fibers both play crucial roles in protecting human health and can produce butyrate through gut microbiota fermentation. This paper aims to summarize information on the key summits related to the negative correlation between intestinal microbiota diversity and chronic diseases to guide future research on determining the specific activity of butyrate from polyphenols and dietary fibers that can carry out these vital functions. Full article

Anthelmintic resistance in small ruminants is a serious worldwide problem. To reduce their spread, it is essential to know the prevalence of helminths on farms and the control practices adopted. As these studies in the Calabria region of southern Italy are fragmentary and outdated, a study on the prevalence of helminths in small ruminant holdings in this area has been conducted. The measures implemented to control helminths were also evaluated through questionnaires administered to farmers. In particular, on 90 farms (45 sheep and 45 goats), 1800 faecal samples from 900 sheep and 900 goats were collected in the spring. Using the FLOTAC dual technique, parasitological examinations demonstrated the presence of gastrointestinal nematodes in 100% of sheep and goat farms, followed by Nematodirus spp. (84.44% sheep and 48.89% goats), Moniezia spp. (73.33% sheep and 35.56% goats), Trichuris ovis (48.89% sheep and 42.22% goats), lungworms (28.89% sheep and 42.22% goats), Strongyloides papillosus (40% sheep and 26.67% goats), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (13.33% sheep and 26.67% goats), Calicophoron daubneyi (6.67% sheep and 31.11% goats), Fasciola hepatica (6.67% sheep and 4.44% goats), and Skrjabinema ovis (4.44% sheep and goats). The questionnaires showed that 82% and 85% of the farmers had applied pasture rotation, and that 93.3% and 86.6% had used anthelmintics in the previous year for sheep and goats, respectively. Only 24.4% of sheep farmers and 11.3% of goat farmers had carried out parasitological tests prior to treatments. The most used classes of anthelmintics were macrocyclic lactones and benzimidazoles, and only in 21.6% and 15.6%, for sheep and goats, respectively, was drug rotation carried out. These results denote that helminths represent a health problem for small ruminants and highlight a lack of knowledge of parasite control strategies among farmers. In these conditions, anthelmintic resistance phenomena could develop over time. Therefore, it is necessary to implement all possible strategies for the control of helminths, and to prevent the spread of anthelmintic resistance phenomena on farms in southern Italy. Full article

Bettelmatt cheese, a cherished Italian culinary gem hailing from the picturesque Val d’Ossola region, is deeply intertwined with its natural environment. This article explores the intricate relationship between the organoleptic attributes of Bettelmatt cheese and the challenges posed by climate change. The sensory qualities of this cheese, including its flavor profile, texture, and aroma, are profoundly influenced by the alpine pastures where the cows graze, the unique terroir, and the traditional production methods. However, as climate change continues to impact ecosystems and weather patterns, it raises questions about the resilience and adaptability of this traditional cheese. In addition to these challenges, the article studies, also through producers’ testimonies, the rules in order to protect this cheese, which is crucial for food and gastronomic sciences. Full article

Heavy metals are environmental contaminants and can easily accumulate and biomagnify in various marine species (fishes and mammalians) at the top of the aquatic food chain. Among marine mammalians, the striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) is the most abundant cetacean in the Mediterranean Sea and is considered to be a sentinel species to monitor the environmental marine pollution. In this study, the contents of toxic metals and metalloids (Cd, Pb, Hg, and As), micro-elements (Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Se and Zn) and macro-elements (Na, Ca, K, Mg and P) were evaluated by ICP-MS analysis in several organs/tissues (lung, skin, muscle and liver) of Stenella coeruleoalba. The assessment of marine environmental pollution and dolphins health status was carried out through further analysis of the same specific parameters such as the metal pollution index (MPI) and coefficient of condition (K). Finally, the correlation between toxic metals and metalloids and essential micro-elements, expressed as molar ratios, was analyzed to evaluate the detoxifying ability (effectiveness) of Zn, Se and Cu. Data obtained showed the presence of toxic metals and metalloids analyzed in the Stenella coeruleoalba samples but the MPI values suggested a low environmental contamination of the Mediterranean Sea where dolphins lived. The content of micro- and macro-elements was found to be in a normal range for this species and predictive of dolphins good health status, as confirmed by the coefficient of condition K. However, the correlation between toxic and essential metals, expressed as molar ratios, showed that the following toxic metals cannot be detoxified by the essential metals: ⁶⁶Zn/²⁰¹Hg, ⁸²Se/²⁰¹Hg, ⁶³Cu/²⁰¹Hg and ⁶⁶Zn/⁵²Cr, ⁸²Se/⁵²Cr, ⁶³Cu/⁵²Cr. Therefore, this study highlights the key role of dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba to assess marine pollution and the importance of analyzing the complete mineral profile to evaluate the animal health status. Full article

Mitigating the negative impacts of climate change in urban areas has recently become essential to improving citizens’ living conditions. Trees are one of the most effective ways to attenuate the Heat Island phenomenon in cities, and numerous projects have been carried out to calculate tree ecosystem services (ES) provisioning. Among these, the Clivut European project (LIFE 18 GIC/IT/001217) developed a web app to allow citizens and the public administration to quantify the ES provided by the most common tree species. The present study aims to consider a new model to calculate the tree evapotranspiration cooling effect in the urban environment in terms of CO₂-compensated emissions. The model directly converts the surface temperature change produced by tree evapotranspiration into the corresponding CO₂ offset in four urban parks in two Italian cities (Bologna and Perugia). The considered parks stored 1100 t of CO₂ at the time of the study, while the CO₂ compensated is 860 t, showing the significance of this interpretation. As a result of the study, it can be concluded that the presented model will allow a better estimation of the potential trees’ climate change compensation and also add further functionality to the web app. Full article

Nowadays, old-generation pesticides are released into ecosystems alongside new formulations, giving rise to pharmacological interactions (additive, synergistic, and antagonistic effects). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact that simultaneous exposure to DMT and FLU doses has on bee health. Groups of twenty honeybees were housed in cages to compose six macro-groups. One group consisted of experimental replicates treated orally with a toxic dose of deltamenthrin (DMT 21.6 mg/L); two other groups were subjected to the oral administration of two toxic doses of flupyradifurone (FLU 50 mg/L and FLU 100 mg/L); and two other groups were intoxicated with a combination of the two pesticides (DMT 21.6 + FLU 50 and DMT 21.6 + FLU 100). The consequences of the pesticides’ interactions were highlighted by measuring and comparing data on survival, food consumption, and abnormal behavior. Generally speaking, antagonism between the two pesticides has been demonstrated. The bees were able to survive for up to three days at the lowest dosage of FLU (50 mg/L), with 46% of the subjects still alive; however, the maximum dose (100 mg/L) caused all treated animals to die as early as the second day. When DMT and FLU 50 were administered together, the group that received DMT alone had a lower survival rate. When comparing the survival rates produced by the DMT and FLU 50 combination to those of the group receiving FLU 50 alone, the same was clearly visible. While there was no statistically significant improvement observed when the survival indices of the DMT and FLU 100 combination were compared to those of the group intoxicated with DMT alone, an improvement in survival indices was observed when these were compared with the group intoxicated with FLU 100 alone. Full article