Comparative Evaluation of Two Hyaluronic Acid Gel Products for the Treatment of Interdental Papillary Defects.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate the efficacy of single injections of two different hyaluronic acid products, Flex Barrier and Revident, in reducing the size of black triangles to treat Nordland-Tarnow Class I and II recessions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty adult patients were recruited with at least two upper and two lower interdental papilla defects in the front region between canine teeth. According to the Nordland-Tarnow classification of papillary defects, both Class I and Class II recessions were included in the investigation. Patients were randomly assigned to experimental groups to receive single injections of two different hyaluronic acid products, either Flex Barrier or Revident. The untreated sites served as controls. Photographs were taken before and immediately after the treatment, and again after one week and one month. To determine the size of the black triangles, Image J software was used. For statistical analysis, a mixed-design ANOVA was applied. RESULTS: Both Flex Barrier and Revident significantly decreased the size of the treated defects immediately after the treatment and also one week later (p<0.001). The beneficial effect of Revident lasted longer than Flex Barrier as it remained significant even after one month in Revident-treated patients, however, not in the Flex Barrier-treated group. Furthermore, Nordland-Tarnow Class I lesions generally showed a greater improvement than Class II lesions. CONCLUSION: In this proof-of-concept, randomized clinical trial we have demonstrated the clinical applicability of both Flex Barrier and Revident, although Revident gave longer-lasting improvements than Flex Barrier. Further trials are needed to optimize multiple-application protocols for treating gingival black triangles.

[Classical and modern methods for the assessment of skeletal maturation and pubertal growth spurt]. / Klasszikus és modern vizsgálómódszerek a csontérettségi kor és a pubertáskori növekedési csúcs meghatározására.

The assessment of skeletal age is of utmost importance not only in the field of anthropology, forensic medicine, pediatrics, endocrinology but also in orthodontics and jaw orthopedics. Bone age refers to the individual's biological development which can differ within a relatively wide range for the same chronological age. Therefore, accurate assessment of skeletal maturity and pubertal growth plays an important role in establishing a diagnosis for certain diseases. In addition, it is essential for proper timing and success of treatments in many cases. Currently, there are many methods available to determine skeletal age and pubertal growth spurt. During growth, bones undergo significant changes, the sequence of which is strongly determined. These changes can be measured by various methods including radiological examinations. More specifically, these classical methods are often based on the radiological evaluation of morphological changes in the hand bones and cervical vertebrae. Methods based on dental development also exist to assess the biologic maturity of an individual. However, thanks to three-dimensional imaging techniques and molecular diagnostic methods, even more accurate tests can be performed to determine biological maturity. These modern methods rely on the information obtained from the cone-beam computer tomograph records and on the measurements of biomarkers present in different circulatory or other body fluids. The purpose of this summary is to provide an overview of the various classical and modern methods for the assessment of skeletal age that could aid us in many fields of science. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(35): 1423-1432.

Bicarbonate transport by the human pancreatic ductal cell line HPAF.

OBJECTIVES: The human pancreatic duct cell line, HPAF, has been shown previously to secrete Cl(-) in response to Ca(2+)-mobilizing stimuli. Our aim was to assess the capacity of HPAF cells to transport and secrete HCO3(-). METHODS: HPAF cells were grown as confluent monolayers on permeable supports. Short-circuit current was measured by voltage clamp. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured by microfluorometry in cells loaded with 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF). RESULTS: In HCO3(-)-free solutions, ATP-evoked changes in short-circuit current were inhibited by bumetanide, and the recovery of pHi from acid loading was abolished by 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride (EIPA). In the presence of HCO3(-), ATP-evoked secretion was no longer inhibited by bumetanide, and there was a strong EIPA-insensitive recovery from acid loading, which was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonate (H2DIDS). ATP, but not forskolin, stimulated HCO3(-) efflux from the cells. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of HCO3(-), ATP-evoked Cl(-) secretion is driven by a basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter, and pH(i) is regulated by apical and basolateral Na(+)/H(+) exchangers. In the presence of HCO3(-), ATP-evoked secretion is sustained in the absence of Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) cotransporter activity and is probably driven by basolateral Na(+)-HCO3(-) cotransport.