Enhanced Bioactive Potential of Functionalized Injectable Platelet-Rich Plasma.

Injectable platelet-rich fibrin (iPRF) is a frequently used platelet concentrate used for various medical purposes both in veterinary and human medicine due to the regenerative potential of hard and soft tissues, and also because of its antimicrobial effectiveness. This in vitro study was carried out to assess the cumulative antimicrobial and antibiofilm effect of iPRF functionalized with a multifunctional glycoprotein, human lactoferrin (Lf). Thus, the ability to potentiate cell proliferation was tested on keratinocytes and evaluated by the CCK8 test. The combinations of iPRF and Lf induced an increase in the proliferation rate after 24 h. The average cell viability of treated cultures (all nine variants) was 102.87% ± 1.00, and the growth tendency was maintained even at 48 h. The highest proliferation rate was observed in cultures treated with 7% iPRF in combination with 50 µg/mL of Lf, with an average viability of 102.40% ± 0.80. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of iPRF, of human lactoferrin and their combination were tested by agar-well diffusion (Kirby-Bauer assay), broth microdilution, and crystal violet assay against five reference bacterial strains. iPRF showed antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential, but with variations depending on the tested bacterial strain. The global analysis of the results indicates an increased antimicrobial potential at the highest concentration of Lf mixed with iPRF. The study findings confirmed the hypothesized enhanced bioactive properties of functionalized iPRF against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative biofilm-producing bacteria. These findings could be further applied, but additional studies are needed to evaluate the mechanisms that are involved in these specific bioactive properties.

New Approaches on Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential of Pharmacological and Beekeeping Activities: Challenges and Future Directions.

Known especially for its negative ecological impact, Fallopia japonica (Japanese knotweed) is now considered one of the most invasive species. Nevertheless, its chemical composition has shown, beyond doubt, some high biological active compounds that can be a source of valuable pharmacological potential for the enhancement of human health. In this direction, resveratrol, emodin or polydatin, to name a few, have been extensively studied to demonstrate the beneficial effects on animals and humans. Thus, by taking into consideration the recent advances in the study of Japanese knotweed and its phytochemical constituents, the aim of this article is to provide an overview on the high therapeutic potential, underlining its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects, among the most important ones. Moreover, we describe some future directions for reducing the negative impact of Fallopia japonica by using the plant for its beekeeping properties in providing a distinct honey type that incorporates most of its bioactive compounds, with the same health-promoting properties.

The impact of two-socket preservation approaches on the soft and hard tissue healing: a short-term study in dogs.

The present study was designed in the context of the uncertain circumstances related to the best therapeutic option for ridge preservation. The research aimed to investigate the quality of early healing processes developed in the former sockets preserved with a collagen matrix alone or associated with a bone substitute in comparison with naturally-healed sockets, using an animal model previously validated. In both quadrants of the mandible of two dogs, the distal sockets of the second and fourth premolars served as experimental sites. Two sockets healed naturally, three sockets were preserved with the collagen matrix and three sockets were preserved with the collagen matrix plus a bone substitute. After one month of healing, the samples were harvested and histologically processed. The soft tissue covering the preserved ridges displayed an obviously thicker epithelial layer containing mostly areas of parakeratinized epithelium alternating with keratinized ones in comparison with naturally-healed sockets. In the apical third of the sockets, a mature bone structure was recorded for all three types of post-extraction approaches. While in naturally-healed and collagen matrix-preserved specimens the central third of the sockets contained bone with a mature aspect, in collagen matrix plus bone substitute-preserved sockets an immature appearance was observed. In the external third of the sockets, only in matrix-preserved alveoli a well-developed cancellous bone was present. The bovine bone substitute seemed to delay hard tissue development. The use of the collagen matrix could be a clinical option to preserve post-extraction ridges especially when an improvement in soft tissue quality is desired.