Publications by authors named "Efisio Defraia"

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been an overwhelming challenge for worldwide health systems. Since the beginning of year 2020, COVID-19 has represented a potential harm for cancer patients and has often hindered oncology care. The Collegio Italiano dei Primari Oncologi Medici (CIPOMO) is an Italian association of head physicians in oncology departments, which promotes working and research activities in oncology on a national basis.

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Objectives: To compare the three-dimensional maxillary dentoskeletal effects of a modified alternate rapid maxillary expansion and constriction facemask protocol (Alt-RAMEC/FM) with the traditional rapid maxillary expansion facemask protocol (RME/FM) performed in deciduous or early mixed dentition Class III patients.

Setting And Sample Population: Orthodontic Clinic of the Section of Dentistry of the Department of Surgery and Translational Medicine of the University of Florence. Thirty-four Class III patients were enrolled and allocated by alternating assignment to either Alt-RAMEC/FM or RME/FM therapy.

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Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to compare the presence of enamel defects and aphthous stomatitis between celiac patients and healthy controls.

Data Sources: A systematic review of articles selected from MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar was performed by two independent operators. Additional studies hand-searched and found in the principal dental and gastroenterology journals were included.

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Purpose Considering promising results in phase II studies, a randomized phase III trial was designed to assess the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to first-line cisplatin plus etoposide for treatment of extensive-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Patients and Methods Treatment-naive patients with ED-SCLC were randomly assigned to receive either cisplatin plus etoposide (arm A) or the same regimen with bevacizumab (arm B) for a maximum of six courses. In the absence of progression, patients in arm B continued bevacizumab alone until disease progression or for a maximum of 18 courses.

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Objective: To evaluate the transverse relationships of the first permanent molars after the correction of posterior crossbite performed during the deciduous dentition with two different treatment protocols.

Materials/methods: Ninety patients (40 males and 50 females) with posterior crossbite were treated during the deciduous dentition with either a removable expansion plate (RP group, 60 patients) or rapid maxillary expander (RME group, 30 patients). The dental casts before treatment (T0, mean age 5.

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Background: Activation of oncogenes downstream the EGFR gene contributes to colorectal tumorigenesis and determines the sensitivity to anti-EGFR treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of KRAS, BRAF, NRAS and PIK3CA mutations in a large collection of CRC patients from genetically-homogeneous Sardinian population.

Methods: A total of 1284 Sardinian patients with histologically-proven diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and presenting with metastatic disease were included into the study.

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Aim: To investigate any advantages of low friction biomechanics in orthodontic patients with fixed appliances without producing metal artifacts during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials And Methods: Frictional resistance generated by bracket-wire-ligature systems was analyzed via an experimental model that reproduced upper canine misalignment. Each sample was tested 10 consecutive times in a dry state; a total of 160 tests were carried out.

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Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the dentoskeletal effects produced by a modified Jasper Jumper with an anterior bite plane for the correction of Class II division 1 malocclusion.

Materials And Methods: A sample of 32 growing patients (mean age  =  11.9 ± 1.

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Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is the initial step in the development of atherosclerosis, leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been suggested that periodontal disease (PD) could be associated to pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, since it is able to trigger a host response with systemic inflammation. Although a number of epidemiological studies have shown that periodontitis could be associated with ED, it is still unclear whether periodontal treatment could improve ED and therefore cardiovascular outcomes.

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Objectives: To compare the dental effects produced by a bonded versus a banded expander combined with facial mask (FM) in patients with Class III malocclusion by means of digital dental casts.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of patients with Class III malocclusion and maxillary transverse deficiency in the deciduous or early mixed dentition were selected. The first group consisted of 25 subjects (12 females; 13 males) with a mean age of 7.

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Objective: To compare the dentoskeletal changes produced by the Twin-block appliance (TB) followed by fixed appliances vs the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FRD) in combination with fixed appliances in growing patients having Class II division 1 malocclusion.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-eight Class II patients (19 females and 9 males; mean age, 12.4 years) treated consecutively with the TB followed by fixed appliances were compared with a group of 36 patients (16 females and 20 males; mean age, 12.

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Assessment of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutational status has become crucial in recent years in the molecular classification of patients with lung cancer. The impact of the type and quantity of malignant cells of the neoplastic specimen on the quality of mutation analysis remains to be elucidated, and only empirical and sporadic data are available. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of tissue type and content of neoplastic cells in the specimen on the quality of EGFR mutation analysis among patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

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The lack of the left first molar maxillary and the left second molar maxillary, caused respectively by impaction and agenesis is a very rare case, which determines an important occlusal imbalance and asymmetrical mandible movement. A gnatologic and functional orthodontic approach were planned to improve the retrognathic mandible and the muscular activity using kinesiograph and electromyography.

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Background: Neoangiogenesis is particularly abundant in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and is associated with poor prognosis. As a result of the promising nature of phase II studies, a randomized phase III trial was designed to assess the efficacy of adding bevacizumab to first-line chemotherapy with cisplatin-etoposide for treatment of extensive disease SCLC. We present the treatment rationale and study design of GOIRC trial (FARM6PMFJM study), a multicenter randomized phase III study, supported by AIFA (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco).

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Purpose: The purpose of this clinical guidelines project was to determine the most appropriate surgical techniques, in terms of efficacy, complications, and patient opinions, for the treatment of buccal single gingival recessions without loss of interproximal soft and hard tissues.

Methods: Literature searches were performed (electronically and manually) for entries up to 28 February, 2013 concerning the surgical approaches for the treatment of gingival recessions. Systematic reviews (SRs) of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and individual RCTs that reported at least 6 months of follow-up of surgical treatment of single gingival recessions were included.

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Objective: To evaluate the active-treatment effects of the Forsus fatigue resistant device (Forsus) during comprehensive correction of Class II malocclusion in growing patients.

Methods: Fifty-four patients (mean age, 12.5 ± 1.

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Background: The aim of this in vitro study was the evaluation of the mechanical properties the screws for rapid maxillary expansion (RME).

Methods: Three commercially available screws for RME were tested: Leone A2620; Dentaurum Hyrax; Forestadent Palatal Split Screw. All expansion screws were 10 mm in size.

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Background: The objective of this study was to compare the frictional forces generated by three types of monocrystalline ceramic brackets coupled with conventional elastomeric ligatures (CEL) and nonconventional elastomeric ligatures (NCEL) during the alignment of apically displaced teeth at the maxillary arch.

Methods: All tests (a total of 480 tests) were carried out in a dry state on a universal testing machine with a testing model consisting of three 0.022-in.

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Aim: To develop a mathematical model that adequately represented the pattern of craniofacial growth in class III subject consistently, with the goal of using this information to make growth predictions that could be amenable to longitudinal verification and clinical use.

Materials And Methods: A combination of computational techniques (i.e.

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Introduction: The purpose of this study was to analyze the skeletal and dentoalveolar changes induced by the Fast-Back appliance followed by fixed appliances when compared with untreated Class II controls.

Materials And Methods: The treated and untreated samples consisted of 27 subjects each (16 girls and 11 boys in the Fast-Back Group, FBG; 15 girls and 12 boys in the control Group, CG) with mean ages at the start of treatment of 13 years 3 months in the FBG and 13 years 2 months in the CG. Subjects of the FBG were treated during either the pubertal or postpubertal periods.

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Altered passive eruption/gummy smile is a common challenge in patients requiring aesthetic treatment. A specific surgical protocol was designed and tested in patients with altered passive eruption. Standardized preoperative X-rays were used to assess crown length at baseline and to place submarginal incisions.

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Introduction: The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to compare the outcomes of prepubertal vs pubertal treatment of deepbite patients with a protocol including biteplane and fixed appliances.

Methods: A sample of 58 subjects with deepbite completed the study. A total of 34 subjects received treatment with removable biteplane appliances in the mixed dentition at a prepubertal stage of skeletal maturation (early treatment group), and 24 subjects were treated at a pubertal stage of skeletal maturation in the permanent dentition (late treatment group).

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The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of timing on Mandibular Anterior Repositioning Appliance (MARA) and fixed appliance treatment of Class II malocclusion in a prospective clinical trial. The treated sample consisted of 51 consecutively treated patients at prepubertal (n = 21), pubertal (n = 15), and postpubertal (n = 15) stages of development. Control groups for the three treated groups were generated from growth data of untreated Class II subjects.

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