Peptides in Dentistry: A Scoping Review.

Currently, it remains unclear which specific peptides could be appropriate for applications in different fields of dentistry. The aim of this scoping review was to scan the contemporary scientific papers related to the types, uses and applications of peptides in dentistry at the moment. Literature database searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and Scielo. A total of 133 articles involving the use of peptides in dentistry-related applications were included. The studies involved experimental designs in animals, microorganisms, or cells; clinical trials were also identified within this review. Most of the applications of peptides included caries management, implant osseointegration, guided tissue regeneration, vital pulp therapy, antimicrobial activity, enamel remineralization, periodontal therapy, the surface modification of tooth implants, and the modification of other restorative materials such as dental adhesives and denture base resins. The in vitro and in vivo studies included in this review suggested that peptides may have beneficial effects for treating early carious lesions, promoting cell adhesion, enhancing the adhesion strength of dental implants, and in tissue engineering as healthy promotors of the periodontium and antimicrobial agents. The lack of clinical trials should be highlighted, leaving a wide space available for the investigation of peptides in dentistry.

The Catestatin-Derived Peptides Are New Actors to Fight the Development of Oral Candidosis.

Resistance to antifungal therapy of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida strains, frequently associated with oral candidosis, is on the rise. In this context, host-defense peptides have emerged as new promising candidates to overcome antifungal resistance. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness against Candida species of different Catestatin-derived peptides, as well as the combined effect with serum albumin. Among Catestatin-derived peptides, the most active against sensitive and resistant strains of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata was the D-isomer of Cateslytin (D-bCtl) whereas the efficiency of the L-isomer (L-bCtl) significantly decreases against C. glabrata strains. Images obtained by transmission electron microscopy clearly demonstrated fungal membrane lysis and the leakage of the intracellular material induced by the L-bCtl and D-bCtl peptides. The possible synergistic effect of albumin on Catestatin-derived peptides activity was investigated too. Our finding showed that bovine serum albumin (BSA) when combined with the L- isomer of Catestatin (L-bCts) had a synergistic effect against Candida albicans especially at low concentrations of BSA; however, no synergistic effect was detected when BSA interacted with L-bCtl, suggesting the importance of the C-terminal end of L-bCts (GPGLQL) for the interaction with BSA. In this context in vitro D-bCtl, as well as the combination of BSA with L-bCts are potential candidates for the development of new antifungal drugs for the treatment of oral candidosis due to Candida and non-Candida albicans, without detrimental side effects.

COVID-19 and Alzheimer's Disease: A Literature Review.

There are a number of potential implications for the field of Alzheimer's disease (AD) stemming from the global spread of "SARS-COV-2". Many studies that were conducted by Cleveland Clinic researchers identified a link between COVID-19 infection and brain abnormalities seen in people with AD. This article explains the association between COVID-19 and AD and how people with AD are affected by COVID-19, whether directly or indirectly. First, this article begins by explaining AD and its types, then giving an overview about COVID-19, its symptoms and the associated complications. Then, direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19 on people experiencing AD are discussed briefly. Some management strategies are recommended at the end of this article in addition to a future perspective on this topic. This article concludes by summarizing the main points mentioned about the association between COVID-19 and AD.