Post-mortem changes of the vascular system-a thanatological study using multidetector computed tomography.

Forensic pathologists have to deal with post-mortem changes of the human body. Those post-mortem phenomena are familiar and largely described in thanatology. However, knowledge about the influence of post-mortem phenomena on the vascular system is more limited, except for the apparition and development of cadaveric lividity.

Functional assessment of the stomatognathic system. Part 1: The role of static elements of analysis.

Objectives: To review the elements of static analysis in the functional assessment of the stomatognathic system, as promoted for more than a century by gnathologists, and summarize the available scientific evidence, including anthropologic observations.

Method And Materials: A thorough search was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library database, and Google Scholar. From peer-reviewed articles and other scientific literature, up-to-date information addressing three topics was identified: (a) the anthropologic perspective with particular consideration for the role of progressive dental wear over time, (b) descriptions of gnathologic principles and evidence on their scientific validity, and (c) the methodologic inaccuracies introduced by seeking to correlate variables directly rather than allowing for causal inference.

Functional assessment of the stomatognathic system. Part 2: The role of dynamic elements of analysis.

Objectives: To review the dynamic analytical elements used in the functional assessment of the stomatognathic system, summarize the available scientific evidence, and consider interrelations with body posture and cognition.

Method And Materials: A thorough literature search was conducted using PubMed, the Cochrane Library database, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles and literature reviews provided up-to-date information addressing three topics: (a) the available knowledge and recent evidence on the relationship between the morphologic aspects of dental/craniofacial anatomy and oral function/dysfunction, (b) mandibular dynamics, considering mobility, functional activity, and existing methodologies of analysis, and (c) a possible correlation between the stomatognathic system, body posture, and cognition.