The pharmaceutical distributors' efficiency in Italy: an assessment of the impact of the 2010 reimbursable drug pricing reform.

To assess the impact on pharmaceutical wholesalers' financial viability and efficiency of the reform of the wholesalers' and pharmacies' margins on reimbursable drugs enacted in 2010 that halved the distributors' margins. We perform a stochastic frontier analysis on a large original dataset comprising financial and production data from 2009, a year prior to the reform, to 2019 gathered in order to assess the impact of the reform on firms' profitability and efficiency. The implemented policies have not been successful in fostering the development of a more efficient market that would ultimately benefit social welfare.

Enhancing early-stage healing responses through the modified "Poncho" technique in customized titanium mesh-mediated bone regeneration: A soft tissue management approach-case series.

Rationale: Soft tissue management is critical in bone augmentation surgery to prevent wound dehiscence. Several strategies for passive tissue primary closure have been explored. This article introduces a flap design known as the modified "Poncho" technique (MPT), integrated with customized titanium mesh-mediated bone regeneration, and investigates the healing quality during the initial stages of an incision.

[Second Report on Italian Sea Workers: Activities and risk factors].

This is a summary of the results of a research work, born from a collaboration between multiple Italian bodies and published by the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (Inail) in March 2024: Second report on maritime workers. Activities and risk factors of sea workers.To disseminate the contents, the work offers a global overview of safety and health in the sector: with an analysis of accidents in the sector (which also involves some remarks on the event reporting form), workers' risk perception is examined and occupational diseases monitored through the MalProf system, managed by the Inail Research Sector and the local health authorities.

A Retrospective Multicentric Study of 52 Nasal and Trans-nasal Implants in 31 Severe Atrophic Patients to Reduce Anterior Cantilever Bending in Full Arch Implant-supported Fixed Rehabilitation.

Purpose: Severe anterior maxillary atrophy offers few implant-supported rehabilitation solutions to Quad Zygoma characterized by a wide anterior cantilever. One of the possible alternatives to consider before the quad zygoma is the extra-long nasal/trans-nasal implant placement. This retrospective multicentric study shows the predictability of nasal/transnasal implant placement in patients affected by severe anterior maxilla atrophy, with residual anatomical features that indicate this surgery.

High-Density Dermal Matrix for Soft Tissue Augmentation Using a Matrix Tissue Graft Technique-A Comprehensive Multicenter Analysis of 20 Implants: A 1-Year Follow-Up Retrospective Study.

: In this multicenter case series analysis, the authors present successful instances of 20 single-screw-retained and implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation samples. : A high-density heterologous dermal matrix (Derma Osteobiol by Tecnoss, Torino, Italy) was employed with a specific technique named the matrix tissue graft (MTG) in all these cases characterized by an inadequate initial supra-crestal tissue height (thin if 1 mm or medium if 2 mm) to enhance the peri-implant soft tissues both vertically and horizontally. : The implants were deemed successful in all cases, yielding a success proportion of 100% (one-sided 97.

Combining antibiotic-loaded bone cement-based free vastus lateralis muscle-sparing flap with split-thickness skin grafts: A reliable strategy for reconstructing diabetic foot ulcers at non-weight-bearing areas.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) present significant challenges due to their associated amputation rates, mortality, treatment complexity and excessive costs. Our earlier work introduced a wound surgical integrated treatment (WSIT) for DFUs, yielding promising outcomes. This study focuses on a specific WSIT protocol employing antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) in the first Stage, and free vastus lateralis muscle-sparing (VLMS) flaps and split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) in the second stage to repair non-weight-bearing DFUs.

Anti-CGRP and Anti-CGRP Receptor Monoclonal Antibodies for Migraine Prophylaxis: Retrospective Observational Study on 209 Patients.

Background: Migraine is a neurological disorder characterized by attacks of head pain with prevalent unilateral localization, moderate to high intensity and specifically associated accompanying symptoms.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed data regarding 209 patients who had previously been diagnosed with migraine and who were prescribed, between 2019 and 2022, subcutaneous injections of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) fremanezumab or galcanezumab or anti-CGRP receptors mAb erenumab regardless of the concomitant assumption of any other acute-phase or prophylactic migraine medication.

Results: Regarding efficacy, in the 205 analyzed patients, the change from baseline in terms of MIDAS, HIT-6, MMDs and MAD scores was statistically significant for erenumab and galcanezumab, while for fremanezumab a statistical significance was not achieved likely due to the small sample size.

Exploring the potential of calcium-based biomaterials for bone regeneration in dentistry: a systematic review.

Introduction: Regenerative medicine emerged as a promising strategy for addressing bone defects, with several bone grafts currently being used, including autografts, allografts, xenografts and alloplasts. Calcium-based biomaterials (CaXs), a well-known class of synthetic materials, have demonstrated good biological properties and are being investigated for their potential to facilitate bone regeneration. This systematic review evaluates the current clinical applications of CaXs in dentistry for bone regeneration.

Repurposing Tamoxifen for Tumor Microenvironment Priming and Enhanced Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery.

The dense stromal matrix in fibrotic tumors hinders tumor-targeted drug delivery. Tamoxifen (TMX), an estrogen receptor modulator that is clinically used for the treatment of breast cancer, has been shown to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) and to alleviate desmoplasia. We here investigated if TMX, administered in free and nano-formulated form, can be repurposed as a TME remodeling agent to improve tumor accumulation of nano-formulations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and triple-negative breast cancer mouse models, evaluated using clinical-stage Cy7-labeled core-crosslinked polymeric micelles (CCPM).

Accuracy of Computer-Guided Implantology with Pilot Drill Surgical Guide: Retrospective 3D Radiologic Investigation in Partially Edentulous Patients.

: Implant placement with static navigation enables the reaching of a correct position of implants from an anatomical and prosthetic point of view. Different approaches of static navigation are described in the scientific literature, and the pilot-guided approach is one of the least investigated. The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the accuracy of implant insertion using a pilot drill template.

Enigmatic Formations Found in Routine Orthopantomography (OPG) Examinations: A Case Report.

We describe two clinical cases of occasional radiographic findings on orthopantomography (OPG) that were performed routinely, for which the definitive diagnosis may be uncertain. After an accurate remote and recent anamnesis, for reasons of exclusion, we hypothesize a rare case of the retention of a contrast medium in the parenchyma of the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual) and their excretory ducts as a consequence of sialography examination. In the first case we analyzed, we found it difficult to classify the radiographic signs on the sublingual glands, left parotid, and submandibular, while in the second case, only the right parotid was involved.

A Novel Muco-Gingival Approach for Immediate Implant Placement to Obtain Soft- and Hard-Tissue Augmentation.

The aim of this article is to describe a novel approach combining muco-gingival, regenerative and prosthetics concepts for immediate implant insertion that overcomes the limits traditionally considered as contraindications for Type 1 flapless implant positioning, simultaneously obtaining soft- and hard-tissue augmentation. After pre-surgical CBCT evaluation, the surgical technique consisted in the execution of a lateral-approach coronally advanced envelope flap, with oblique submarginal interproximal incisions directed towards the flap's center of rotation (the tooth to be extracted); after buccal-flap elevation, the atraumatic extraction of the tooth was performed. Following guided implant insertion, a mixture of biomaterial and autologous bone was placed, stabilized by a pericardium membrane and a connective-tissue graft sutured in the inner aspect of the buccal flap.

Custom Bone Regeneration (CBR): An Alternative Method of Bone Augmentation-A Case Series Study.

Unlabelled: We performed this clinical study in order to evaluate the reliability of the Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) surgical technique through the use of customized CAD CAM titanium meshes (Yxoss CBR Reoss) in order to show an alternative method of bone augmentation.

Materials And Methods: Nine patients presenting 10 bone defects were referred to solve oral dysfunction due to edentulous atrophic ridges. Guided bone regeneration was performed with titanium meshes combined with autogenous bone grafting and heterologous bovine bone mineral grafting, and exclusively a "poncho technique" soft tissue approach for all the cases.

A New Matrix for Soft Tissue Management.

Gingival recession is a mucogingival defect defined as the apical shifting of the gingival margin in relation to the CEJ. The use of connective tissue autografts allows for the obtention of very satisfactory results but is associated with undoubted disadvantages. The aim of the present work is to carry out a systematic review of the literature using a meta-analysis to investigate the clinical efficacy of xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM) in the treatment of gingival recessions.

Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain (PIFP) in Patients Referred to a Multidisciplinary Centre in Italy: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain (PIFP), previously named Atypical Facial Pain (AFP) is a poorly understood condition, often diagnosed after several inconclusive investigations. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PIFP referred to a Facial Pain Center.

Methods: Between May 2011 and September 2014, data on 41 PIFP patients were analyzed regarding temporal, topographical and descriptive pain features, including onset, localization, pain descriptors and intensity.

Microleakage of Direct Restorations-Comparisonbetween Bulk-Fill and Traditional Composite Resins:Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Since the bulk-fill composites were produced, there was a progressive diffusion of their use for direct conservative treatment in posterior teeth. Their chemical structure increases the depth of cure and decreases the polymerization contraction; in this manner, bulk-fill composites can be placed in 4 mm single layers and the treatment times are considerably reduced. However, aesthetic and mechanical properties and impact on microleakage of bulk-fill resins are still unclear.

Digital Customized Titanium Mesh for Bone Regeneration of Vertical, Horizontal and Combined Defects: A Case Series.

Guided bone regeneration allows new bone formation in anatomical sites showing defects preventing implant rehabilitation. The present case series reported the outcomes of five patients treated with customized titanium meshes manufactured with a digital workflow for achieving bone regeneration at future implant sites. A significant gain in both width and thickness was achieved for all patients.

Clinical and Esthetical Evaluation of 79 Lithium Disilicate Multilayered Anterior Veneers with a Medium Follow-Up of 3 Years.

Objectives:  Primary aim of this study was to evaluate survival rate of lithium disilicate veneers in upper and lower anterior teeth. Secondary aims were to evaluate changing in proportions of teeth before and after restorations and to assess mean thickness of the veneers.

Materials And Methods:  Seventy-nine upper and lower lithium disilicate veneers were made in 13 patients with worn teeth.

Short-term "in vivo" study on cellular DNA damage induced by acrylic Andresen activator in oral mucosa cells.

Objectives: To analyse through comet assay and micronucleus test the viability and DNA damage occurred in buccal mucosa epithelial cells after a short-term exposure to Andresen activator resin monomers.

Setting And Sample Population: Test group consisting of 26 subjects was treated with Andresen activator; 16 subjects who had never undergone orthodontic treatment were enrolled in the control group.

Material & Methods: Buccal mucosa samples were collected before treatment and after 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days.

Oral mucosal complications in orthodontic treatment.

Background: Orthodontic therapy is used to solve numerous oral problems, but the use of fixed oral devices can also impact negatively the oral cavity, if the treatment is not steadily under control. The aim of this study is to evaluate tooth, bone and soft tissues lesions due to the presence of fixed orthodontic appliances.

Methods: One hundred patients with fixed orthodontic appliances were included in the study.

Clinical Success of Dental Implants Placed in Posterior Mandible Augmented With Interpositional Block Graft: 3-Year Results From a Prospective Cohort Clinical Study.

Purpose: The purpose of the present cohort study was to investigate the 3-year efficacy and clinical performance of implant-supported rehabilitations in posterior mandibles augmented with the sandwich osteotomy technique.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three partially edentulous patients who developed atrophy of the posterior mandible (residual ridge height, 3 to 7 mm) were treated (32 surgical sites) with vertical bone augmentation using interpositional equine cancellous bone blocks and porcine corticocancellous bone particulate. All implants were placed 4 months after augmentation and were loaded with fixed dental prostheses.

Alveolar splitting with Piezosurgery®, bone bank grafts and NobelActive implants as an alternative to major bone grafting for maxillary reconstruction.

Background: Piezosurgery® represents a novel alternative technique. The Piezosurgery® is well tolerated and permits a large number of applications in described literature. The principle of Piezosurgery® consists into inducing micro-vibrations to a metallic insert with a particular custom.

Cone-beam volumetric imaging in craniofacial medicine.

With the development of X-ray computed tomography (CT) in the 1960s and its first use for clinical studies in 1972 by Sir Godfrey Hounsfield, radiological tomography attained widespread use and today is one of the essential imaging techniques in medical radiology. It is a technically mature and clinically widely accepted method and complements classical X-ray panoramic radiography in many areas. The technology is frequently used in craniofacial radiology, because of its characteristic low radiation dose, high spatial resolution and lower cost compared with CT.