As stated by the Goal Orientation Theory, students want to achieve a goal for multiple reasons, with each having a different impact on academic performance. This framework encompasses a three-factor model of goal achievement: a mastery goal, a performance-avoidance (PAv) goal, and a performance-approach (PAp) goal. Students may experience elevated stress levels and burnout due to adopting an ineffective approach to goal achievement. This can lead to a loss of interest in studies and even physical and psychological exhaustion. In severe cases, this may result in students abandoning their studies early. This study aims to integrate these factors into a comprehensive model. A cross-sectional study comprising 1497 Italian university students examined the mediating role of academic burnout (professional efficacy, cynicism, and emotional exhaustion) in the association between achievement goals (mastery, PAv, and PAp goals) and the intention to drop out (ID). The questionnaires were administered from October 2022 to September 2023. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the association between variables. The results of the mediation analysis indicate that cynicism and professional efficacy fully mediate the association between mastery and dropout. Cynicism (β = −0.28, p < 0.001) and professional efficacy (β = −0.17, p < 0.001) were both negatively associated with ID, while they partially mediate the association between PAv goals and ID (cynicism: β = 0.21, p ≤ 0.001; professional efficacy: β = 0.05, p ≤ 0.001), and between PAp goals and ID via professional efficacy (β = −0.04, p ≤ 0.001). This study contributes to the currently limited literature on the relationship between achievement goals, burnout, and ID in a sample of university students. The findings of this study may have useful implications for the application of interventions that impact students’ well-being and academic success, potentially limiting their possible dropout.

Orthodontic treatment demand has surged due to heightened aesthetic concerns and the increased recognition of oral health’s role in overall well-being. This systematic review was conducted by searching across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar) for observational studies published between January 2000 and April 2024 that assessed personality traits using validated instruments, with inclusion criteria focused on outcomes such as pain perception, treatment attitude, compliance, satisfaction, and quality of life. The results consistently indicate that negative personality traits, particularly high neuroticism, are associated with increased pain perception, lower satisfaction, and reduced compliance. In contrast, positive traits, including extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness, were correlated with improved orthodontic outcomes and more favorable treatment attitudes. Additionally, extraversion and openness were observed to moderate the negative impact of malocclusion severity on oral health-related quality of life. When examining gender, overall differences were minimal; however, some studies indicated that females reported slightly higher pain scores. These findings underscore the multifaceted role of personality by suggesting that psychological profiling should be incorporated into clinical practice. By recognizing individual personality profiles, clinicians can tailor treatment approaches to foster patient-centered care, optimizing orthodontic outcomes and enhancing overall patient satisfaction.

Discomalleolar ligament represents the vestiges of the primitive lateral pterygoid muscle which penetrates in the caudal end of Meckel's cartilage; during the development of newborn, the petrotympanic fissure close almost completely leaving inside the discomalleolar ligament. After entering in tympanic cavity, some fibers of the discomalleolar ligament insert to walls of cavity, other fibers continue with the lateral margin of the anterior ligament and insert in the neck of malleus; in contrast, other Authors demonstrated that discomalleolar ligament is an independent structure inserted in proximity of the neck of the malleus. Although the discomalleolar ligament can be considered as a structure of clinical importance, it is not described by anatomy textbooks. Moreover, it is likely that important correlations between temporomandibular diseases and otological symptoms exist. We have studied discomalleolar ligament submitting the specimens to the 3D volume rendering technique, light microscopy, reconstructing a wide light microscopic fields to analyze the real connection between retrodiscal connective tissue and middle ear, and immunofluorescence methods in order to analyze the consistence of ligament. We have shown two types of connections between TMJ and ear: first, with external acoustic meatus and, second, with middle ear through discomalleolar ligament. The different insertion represents a strong support in order to demonstrate that the TMJ disorders can determine variations of tension that are transmitted on the tympanic membrane provoking tinnitus in according to clinical features. Then, we propose that it is necessary to mention, also in anatomy textbook, the discomalleolar ligament as ligament distance of TMJ.

The aesthetics of clear aligners is a critical factor that can influence patient satisfaction and psychological and social well-being. However, their transparency can be compromised by exposure to staining agents. This study aimed to evaluate the color stability of PET-G aligners following prolonged exposure to common daily substances, including food, tobacco products, and cleaning agents. Flat samples of PET-G (n = 220) were immersed in various solutions, including coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, red wine, a colloidal silver-based disinfectant, nicotine, artificial saliva, cigarette smoke, and mixtures of saliva with smooth, coffee, and nicotine. Immersion times of 10 (n = 110) and 15 days (n = 110) were randomly assigned. Colorimetric assessments were conducted by measuring L*a*b* parameters before and after immersion, and total color change (ΔE) was calculated. Non-parametric statistical tests revealed significant color changes in PET-G samples after both immersion durations, with pairwise comparisons indicating notable differences in ΔE values among groups exposed to different substances, particularly coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola. The findings highlight the psychological and social impact of aligner staining on patient confidence and compliance. Understanding these effects highlights the need for enhanced patient education to improve aligner aesthetics and satisfaction.