The present study aimed to evaluate longitudinally the oral conditions of athletes with intellectual disabilities who participated in at least 2 Italian editions of Special Olympics with a minimum follow-up of 5 (to 10) years. Data concerning home oral hygiene, oral signs and symptoms were recorded, and oral hygiene instructions were provided. The data of the first timepoint (t0) were compared with those from the second one (t1). Out of 2081 visits, 114 athletes met the inclusion criteria (mean age 26.8 years at t0 and 33.4 at t1). Toothbrushing once or more a day was reported by 83.3% of the sample at t0 and 95.6% at t1 (p < 0.05), while gingival signs in 47.5% at t0 and 52.5% at t1, respectively. The % of subjects with decayed, missing, filled and sealed teeth increased between t0 and t1. Oral lesions were observed more frequently at t1 (p < 0.05). A significant difference emerged for the mean missing (1.7 at t0 vs. 2.9 at t1) and filled teeth (2.9 at t0 vs. 3.7 at t1) values and DMFT index (5.7 at t0 vs. 7.6 at t1). A substantial stability/improvement concerning some indicators of general, oral, and dental health was observed in the studied population.
Teeth and the periodontal tissues represent a highly specialized functional system. When periodontal disease occurs, the periodontal complex, composed by alveolar bone, root cementum, periodontal ligament, and gingiva, can be lost. Periodontal regenerative medicine aims at recovering damaged periodontal tissues and their functions by different means, including the interaction of bioactive molecules, cells, and scaffolds. The application of growth factors, in particular, into periodontal defects has shown encouraging effects, driving the wound healing toward the full, multi-tissue periodontal regeneration, in a precise temporal and spatial order. The aim of the present comprehensive review is to update the state of the art concerning tissue engineering in periodontology, focusing on biological mediators and gene therapy.
A large part of the Italian population doesn't receive adequate information and support on how to maintain oral health. In this observational, cross-sectional, pilot study, we investigated how some lifestyle-related variables affect oral diseases and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children attending public-school summer services in Milan. A survey that included questions on children's oral disease, OHRQoL and lifestyle-related factors (feeding habits, oral hygiene protective behaviors, dental coaching and socio-economic and educational status), was administered to the children's caregivers. Data from 296 surveys were analyzed to assess the protective/negative effect of each variable on oral disease and OHRQoL. With respect to disease, the "never" consumption of fruit juice, the use of fluoride toothpaste, higher educational qualification and ISEE (equivalent family income) of those who filled out the form, resulted protective factors. Regarding OHRQoL, the "never" assumption/use of tea bottle, sugared pacifier and fruit juice as well as the use of fluoride toothpaste, a higher educational qualification and ISEE of those who filled out the form, resulted to have protective effects. In conclusion, protective behaviors and socio-economic status affect oral disease and OHRQoL in children of Milan.
Mitochondria and myosin were isolated from a muscle biopsy of a 9-year-old boy with an unusual congenital myopathy characterized by type I fiber uniformity, jagged Z-line, and tranverse network hypertrophy of mitochondria. Biochemical examination of isolated mitochondria showed that only citrate synthase activity was significantly reduced. Electro-phoresis of myosin heavy chains and immunoenzymatic analysis of myosin heavy and light chains with antibodies specific to either fast or slow myosins showed that only the slow-type isoform of myosin was detectable. Indirect immunofluorescence of muscle biopsy showed that all muscle fibers homogeneously expressed only the slow type of myosin.
