Therapeutic Strategies and Genetic Implications for Periodontal Disease Management: A Systematic Review.

The objective of this review is to identify the microbiological alterations caused by various therapy modalities by critically analyzing the current findings. We limited our search to English-language papers published between 1 January 2004 and 7 May 2024 in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science that were relevant to our topic. In the search approach, the Boolean keywords "microbio*" AND "periodontitis" were used. A total of 5152 papers were obtained from the databases Web of Science (2205), PubMed (1793), and Scopus (1154). This resulted in 3266 articles after eliminating duplicates (1886), and 1411 entries were eliminated after their titles and abstracts were examined. The qualitative analysis of the 22 final articles is included in this study. Research on periodontal disease shows that periodontitis alters the oral microbiome and increases antibiotic resistance. Treatments like scaling and root planing (SRP), especially when combined with minocycline, improve clinical outcomes by reducing harmful bacteria. Comprehensive mechanical debridement with antibiotics, probiotics, EMD with bone grafts, and other adjunctive therapies enhances periodontal health. Personalized treatment strategies and advanced microbial analyses are crucial for effective periodontal management and antibiotic resistance control.

Safety, metabolic and psychological outcomes of Medtronic MiniMed 670G in children, adolescents and young adults: a systematic review.

Hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems are the combination of a pump for insulin delivery and a glucose sensor for continuous glucose monitoring. These systems are managed by an algorithm, which delivers insulin on the basis of the interstitial glucose levels. The MiniMed™ 670G system was the first HCL system available for clinical purpose. In this paper, we reviewed the literature about metabolic and psychological outcomes in children, adolescents and young adults with type 1 diabetes treated with MiniMed™ 670G. Only 30 papers responded to the inclusion criteria and thus were considered. All the papers show that the system is safe and effective in managing glucose control. Metabolic outcomes are available up to 12 months of follow-up; longer study period are lacking. This HCL system may improve HbA1c up to 7.1% and time in range up to 73%. The time spent in hypoglycaemia is almost neglectable. Better improvement in blood glucose control is observed in patients with higher HbA1c at HCL system start and larger daily use of auto-mode functionality.     Conclusion: The Medtronic MiniMed™ 670G is safe and well accepted, without any increase in the burden for patients. Some papers report an improvement in the psychological outcomes, but other papers do not confirm this finding. So far, it significantly improves the management of diabetes mellitus in children, adolescents and young adults. Proper training and support by the diabetes team are mandatory. Studies for a period longer than 1 year would be appreciated to better understand the potentiality of this system. What is Known: • The Medtronic MiniMedTM 670G is a hybrid closed loop system which combines a continuous glucose monitoring sensor with an insulin pump. • It has been the first hybrid closed loop system available for clinical purpose. Adequate training and patients support play a key role in diabetes management. What is New: • The Medtronic MiniMedTM 670G may improve HbA1c and CGM metrics up to 1-year of follow-up, but the improvement appears lower than advanced hybrid closed loop systems. This system is effective to prevent hypoglycaemia. • The psychosocial effects remain less understood in terms of improvement of psychosocial outcomes. The system has been considered to provide flexibility and independence by the patients and their caregivers. The workload required to use this system is perceived as a burden by the patients who decrease the use of auto-mode functionality over time.

Cannabidiol for Oral Health: A New Promising Therapeutical Tool in Dentistry.

The medical use of cannabis has a very long history. Although many substances called cannabinoids are present in cannabis, Δ9tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are the three main cannabinoids that are most present and described. CBD itself is not responsible for the psychotropic effects of cannabis, since it does not produce the typical behavioral effects associated with the consumption of this drug. CBD has recently gained growing attention in modern society and seems to be increasingly explored in dentistry. Several subjective findings suggest some therapeutic effects of CBD that are strongly supported by research evidence. However, there is a plethora of data regarding CBD's mechanism of action and therapeutic potential, which are in many cases contradictory. We will first provide an overview of the scientific evidence on the molecular mechanism of CBD's action. Furthermore, we will map the recent developments regarding the possible oral benefits of CBD. In summary, we will highlight CBD's promising biological features for its application in dentistry, despite exiting patents that suggest the current compositions for oral care as the main interest of the industry.

Research efficacy of gaseous ozone therapy as an adjuvant to periodontal treatment on oxidative stress mediators in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and cumulative oxidative stress have been theorized as two common pathways of the interconnection between periodontitis and diabetes. Improvement in oxidizing status has been demonstrated in periodontal patients with diabetes treated with proper non-surgical periodontal treatment. In addition to periodontal treatment, Gaseous ozone therapy has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to stimulate the endogenous antioxidant defence mechanism. To date, the antioxidant effect of gaseous ozone, in addition with periodontal treatment in diabetic patients, has been examined in only one study. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of gaseous ozone therapy as an alternative approach to supporting non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT), aimed at improving antioxidant machinery and interfering with ROS production on plasma levels in diabetic individuals diagnosed with moderate or severe periodontitis. METHODS: One hundred and eighty patients with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly assigned to receive non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) plus gaseous ozone therapy (A) NSPT alone (B). Clinical and periodontal parameters -Bleeding on probing (BOP), Periodontal pocket depth (PPD), and Clinical attachment Level (CAL)- and plasma levels of oxidant-antioxidant (TOS- TAOS) levels, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were recorded at baseline and at 3- (T1) and at 6-months (T2) after treatment. RESULTS: Both treatments were efficacious in reducing clinical parameters. However, there were no significant differences regarding oxidative stress parameters in group A compared to group B. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, gaseous ozone therapy did not enhance the effect of periodontal treatment in reducing oxidative stress in plasma levels of periodontitis patients with type II diabetes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered with ISRCTN1728169 (23/07/2022).

Are Whiplash-Associated Disorders and Temporomandibular Disorders in a Trauma Related Cause and Effect Relationship? A Review.

Background: Whiplash is associated with a wide variety of clinical manifestations, including headache, neck pain, cervical rigidity, shoulder and back pain, paresthesia, vertigo, and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). Previous studies reported that TMDs are more common in individuals with chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) than in the general population; however, the pathophysiology and mechanism of this relationship are still not well understood. Methods: A PubMed and Ovid EMBASE review was performed to identify all studies addressing the trauma related cause and effect relationship between WAD and TMDs from January 2003 to March 2023. Results: After screening for eligibility and inclusion criteria, a total of 16 articles met the selection criteria. The various included studies discussed different aspects of the association between WDA and TMDs, including changes in the coordination and amplitude of jaw opening, the severity of the associated symptoms/signs in cases of WAD, the degree of fatigue and psychological stress, difficulty in feeding, cervical and myofascial pain, changes in the MRI signal at various muscle points, muscle tenderness, and quality of life. Conclusions: In this review, we summarized the clinical evidence of any trauma related cause and effect relationship between whiplash and TMDs. An accurate screening of the previous literature showed that, in conclusion, the relationship between whiplash and TMDs is still unclear.

Hemp Seed Oil in Association with ß-Caryophyllene, Myrcene and Ginger Extract as a Nutraceutical Integration in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind Prospective Case-Control Study.

Background and Objectives: Nutraceuticals are gaining more and more importance as a knee osteoarthritis (KOA) complementary treatment. Among nutraceuticals, hemp seed oil and terpenes are proving to be very useful as therapeutic support for many chronic diseases, but there are still few studies regarding their effectiveness for treating KOA, both in combination and separately. The aim of this study is thus to compare the effect of two dietary supplements, both containing hemp seed oil, but of which only one also contains terpenes, in relieving pain and improving joint function in patients suffering from KOA. Materials and Methods: Thirty-eight patients were recruited and divided into two groups. The control group underwent a 45 day treatment with a hemp seed oil-based dietary supplement, while the treatment group assumed a hemp seed oil and terpenes dietary supplement for the same period. Patients were evaluated at the enrollment (T0) and at the end of treatment (T1). Outcome measures were: Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Short-Form-12 (SF-12), Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Oxford Knee Score (OKS). Results: All outcome measures improved at T1 in both groups, but NRS, KOOS and OKS had a greater significant improvement in the treatment group only. Conclusions: Hemp seed oil and terpenes resulted a more effective integrative treatment option in KOA, improving joint pain and function and representing a good complementary option for patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Enriched with Glycine and Proline in Eyebrow Augmentation Procedure.

BACKGROUND: The eyebrow area is a clinically critical district due to the anatomical complexity and the propensity to aging-related atrophy. Hyaluronic acid fillers have been proposed to recover the dermal volume of the facial and lips regions. AIM: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate hyaluronic acid fillers enriched with glycine and proline for the treatment of eyebrow augmentation. METHODS: A total of 15 healthy patients were treated with eyebrow augmentation procedure. The distance between mid-bipupil to lateral eyebrow and mid-eyebrow to the medial eyebrow was measured before, immediately after treatment and at follow-up of 6 months. RESULTS: The healing period was uneventful, and no evidence of inflammation or swelling associated with the treatment was reported. No macroscopical alteration was reported in the surrounding tissues with no evidences of visible wheals or lumps in the treated sites at the follow-up. Before treatment, the angle was equal to 9.32 ± 0.2°, while after treatment it was 11.21 ± 0.4° (p < 0.01); after three and 6 weeks, it was, respectively, 10.66 ± 0.2° (p<0.05) and 10.02 ± 0.3°(p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The study results suggest that the hyaluronic acid fillers enriched with glycine and proline treatment resulted as being a useful procedure for augmentation, contour and volume definition and elevation of the eyebrow region with a high-level aesthetic result. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Use of CGF in Oral and Implant Surgery: From Laboratory Evidence to Clinical Evaluation.

Edentulism is the condition of having lost natural teeth, and has serious social, psychological, and emotional consequences. The need for implant services in edentulous patients has dramatically increased during the last decades. In this study, the effects of concentrated growth factor (CGF), an autologous blood-derived biomaterial, in improving the process of osseointegration of dental implants have been evaluated. Here, permeation of dental implants with CGF has been obtained by using a Round up device. These CGF-coated dental implants retained a complex internal structure capable of releasing growth factors (VEGF, TGF-ß1, and BMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) over time. The CGF-permeated implants induced the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSC) as confirmed by matrix mineralization and the expression of osteogenic differentiation markers. Moreover, CGF provided dental implants with a biocompatible and biologically active surface that significantly improved adhesion of endothelial cells on CGF-coated implants compared to control implants (without CGF). Finally, data obtained from surgical interventions with CGF-permeated dental implants presented better results in terms of optimal osseointegration and reduced post-surgical complications. These data, taken together, highlight new and interesting perspectives in the use of CGF in the dental implantology field to improve osseointegration and promote the healing process.

Benefits and Implications of Resveratrol Supplementation on Microbiota Modulations: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Resveratrol is a polyphenol that has been shown to possess many applications in different fields of medicine. This systematic review has drawn attention to the axis between resveratrol and human microbiota, which plays a key role in maintaining an adequate immune response that can lead to different diseases when compromised. Resveratrol can also be an asset in new technologies, such as gene therapy. PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched to find papers that matched our topic dating from 1 January 2017 up to 18 January 2022, with English-language restriction using the following Boolean keywords: ("resveratrol" AND "microbio*"). Eighteen studies were included as relevant papers matching the purpose of our investigation. Immune response, prevention of thrombotic complications, microbiota, gene therapy, and bone regeneration were retrieved as the main topics. The analyzed studies mostly involved resveratrol supplementation and its effects on human microbiota by trials in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo. The beneficial activity of resveratrol is evident by analyzing the changes in the host's genetic expression and the gastrointestinal microbial community with its administration. The possibility of identifying individual microbial families may allow to tailor therapeutic plans with targeted polyphenolic diets when associated with microbial dysbiosis, such as inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, degenerative diseases, tumors, obesity, diabetes, bone tissue regeneration, and metabolic syndrome.

Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines for Short- and Long-Term Immunity: A General Overview for the Pandemic Contrast.

BACKGROUND: The recent COVID-19 pandemic produced a significant increase in cases and an emergency state was induced worldwide. The current knowledge about the COVID-19 disease concerning diagnoses, patient tracking, the treatment protocol, and vaccines provides a consistent contribution for the primary prevention of the viral infection and decreasing the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 disease. The aim of the present investigation was to produce a general overview about the current findings for the COVID-19 disease, SARS-CoV-2 interaction mechanisms with the host, therapies and vaccines' immunization findings. METHODS: A literature overview was produced in order to evaluate the state-of-art in SARS-CoV-2 diagnoses, prognoses, therapies, and prevention. RESULTS: Concerning to the interaction mechanisms with the host, the virus binds to target with its Spike proteins on its surface and uses it as an anchor. The Spike protein targets the ACE2 cell receptor and enters into the cells by using a special enzyme (TMPRSS2). Once the virion is quietly accommodated, it releases its RNA. Proteins and RNA are used in the Golgi apparatus to produce more viruses that are released. Concerning the therapies, different protocols have been developed in observance of the disease severity and comorbidity with a consistent reduction in the mortality rate. Currently, different vaccines are currently in phase IV but a remarkable difference in efficiency has been detected concerning the more recent SARS-CoV-2 variants. CONCLUSIONS: Among the many questions in this pandemic state, the one that recurs most is knowing why some people become more seriously ill than others who instead contract the infection as if it was a trivial flu. More studies are necessary to investigate the efficiency of the treatment protocols and vaccines for the more recent detected SARS-CoV-2 variant.

Treatment of Class III Malocclusion and Anterior Crossbite with Aligners: A Case Report.

The article describes the orthodontically treated case of a 25-year-old patient with skeletal and dental class III malocclusion, anterior crossbite, which caused functional and aesthetic problems, occlusal trauma, and incisor wear. Treatment with transparent aligners was proposed to meet the patient's needs, using the sequential distalization protocol. While sequential distalization is well documented for class II malocclusion treatment in maxillary arch teeth, further investigations are necessary for class III malocclusions. In fact, lower teeth movements are more complex due to mandibular bone density and the presence of the third molars, which are often extracted to perform distalization. In addition, the use of intermaxillary elastics helps control the proclination of the anterior teeth as a reaction to distalizing forces. At the end of the treatment, the patient reached molar and canine class I and positive overjet and overbite. The inclination of lower incisors and the interincisal angle have improved, resulting in aesthetic and functional enhancement.

Zygomatic implant penetration to the central portion of orbit: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Zygomatic implants have been proposed in literature for atrophic maxillary fixed oral rehabilitations. The aim of the present research was to evaluate, by a clinical and tomography assessment, a surgical complication of a zygomatic implant penetration to the orbit. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56 year-old female patient was visited for pain and swelling in the left orbit after a zygomatic implant protocol. The orbit invasion of the zygomatic implant screw was confirmed by the CBCT scan. The patient was treated for surgical implant removal and the peri- and post-operative symptoms were assessed. No neurological complications were reported at the follow-up. The ocular motility and the visual acuity were well maintained. No purulent secretion or inflammatory evidence were reported in the post-operative healing phases. CONCLUSION: The penetration of the orbit during a zygomatic implant positioning is a surgical complication that could compromise the sight and movements of the eye. In the present case report, a zygomatic implant removal resulted in an uneventful healing phase with recovery of the eye functions.

Dimensional changes of buccal bone plate in immediate implants inserted through open flap, open flap and bone grafting and flapless techniques: A cone-beam computed tomography randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To assess through cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) buccal alveolar bone alterations after immediate implant placement using the following techniques: open flap and grafting (flap-graft), open flap and no grafting (flap-nograft) and flapless and no grafting (noflap-nograft). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a three-armed parallel group randomized clinical trial with allocation ratio 1:1:1. Patients were eligible in case they needed immediate implant replacing teeth in maxillary premolar area, with sufficient buccal bone support. CBCT was performed immediately after the intervention and 6 months later. The main outcomes were CBCT measurements performed at apical (A-EA), medial (M-EM) and external and internal implant bevel level (B-EB, B-IB) and vertical defect depth (DP). Pain and discomfort, time of surgery and complications were recorded. Differences between groups were estimated through ANOVA tests and post-hoc Scheffe's analysis for pairwise comparisons. Multiple regressions were conducted to estimate influence of gingival biotype and baseline marginal gap dimension. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were recruited and randomized to treatments with one lost to follow-up. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of treatment technique was not relevant for all horizontal and vertical outcomes. The three techniques exhibited almost complete fill of marginal gap, with a mean residual vertical gap of 0.27 mm and horizontal gap of 0.5 mm. Regression models indicated a positive effect of thick biotype on gap filling and dimensional bone reduction. The noflap-nograft technique resulted less painful. CONCLUSIONS: The option of noflap-nograft surgery in post-extraction implants allows for minimal surgical intervention with comparable buccal bone changes and gap filling after a follow-up of 6 months in sites with sufficient buccal bone support.

Clinical Outcomes of Monolithic Zirconia Crowns on Posterior Natural Abutments Performed by Final Year Dental Medicine Students: A Prospective Study with a 5-Year Follow-Up.

The conventional metal-ceramic is still considered the gold standard in fixed prosthetics especially in terms of longevity. Among alternative materials used, Monolithic Zirconia has shown the capability to reconcile excellent biomechanical properties with acceptable aesthetic performance and to overcome several inconveniences related to veneer restorations. This study aims to clinically evaluate Monolithic Zirconia prosthetic crowns on natural abutments in the posterior sectors, performed by final-year dental medicine students (undoubtedly with less experience in the management of such material) by the standardized California Dental Association score system evaluation, to better understand the viability of Monolithic Zirconia. This prospective study was carried out at the Dental School of the University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Italy. Prosthetic rehabilitation included single crowns or a short pontic prosthesis with maximum one intermediate. Final-year dental students performed tooth reduction under the supervision of three expert tutors. The California Dental Association systematics (based on color, surface, anatomical shape, and marginal integrity) were adopted to evaluate the prosthetic maintenance status over time. Annual follow-up visits were re-evaluated by the same parameters each year. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate outcomes and the Kaplan-Meier plot to report survival. The sample consists of 40 crowns performed on 31 patients, 15 males (48.4%) and 16 females (51.6%) with an average age of 59.3 years. The clinical cases subjected to experimental study were found to be "Excellent" (1a/2a/3a/4a) in 34 cases (85%), "Acceptable" in 4 cases (10%), and "To be re-done" in 2 cases (failures) (5%). Our conclusive data support the predictability of Monolithic Zirconia restorations on natural posterior abutments at a long-term follow-up of five years, even when performed by less-experienced clinicians.

Effects of Terpenes on the Osteoarthritis Cytokine Profile by Modulation of IL-6: Double Face versus Dark Knight?

BACKGROUND: Hemp seed oil and terpenes are emerging as a dietary supplement and complementary therapy for patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis (KOA). However, the mechanisms and effects induced by these molecules on inflammatory cytokines are not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the cytokine IL-1ß, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α levels from two oral hemp seed oil-based dietary supplements, of which only one included the addition of terpenes, in a population of KOA patients. METHODS: Sera from venous blood samples were collected from thirty-eight patients who were divided into two subgroups. The control group underwent a 45-day treatment with a dietary supplement containing only hemp seed oil, while the treatment group assumed a hemp seed oil and terpene-based dietary supplement for the same number of days. A Bio-Plex Human Cytokine assay was performed by a customized human cytokine five-plex panel for IL-1ß, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α. Patients were evaluated before the beginning of the treatment (T0) and soon after it (T1). RESULTS: No measurable levels of IL-2 and TNF-α were found in any of the subjects. Low levels of IL-1ß were found, which were significantly decreased in the treatment group. No change in IL-1α levels was observed, while treated patients had a significant increase in IL-6 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Hemp seed oil and terpene treatment modified the IL-1ß and IL-6 levels, counteracting KOA inflammation in this way. In this study, IL-6 revealed its new and alternative action, since it is traditionally known as a pro-inflammatory factor, but it recently has been found to have anti-inflammatory activity in the muscle-derived form, which is the one it assumes as a myokine when activated by terpenes.

Socket Preservation Using Dentin Mixed with Xenograft Materials: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: The use of human dentin matrix could serve as an alternative to autologous, allogenic, and xenogeneic bone grafts due to its osteoinductive characteristics. The limitations of its use is tooth availability and that it is often necessary to mix it with a biomaterial. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze a mix of two different graft materials with different reabsorption ranges when the dentin graft material was not sufficient for full socket preservation. METHODS: Seven socket preservation surgeries were carried out employing a mixed graft material containing 50% dentin and 50% xenograft. After four months of recovery, the implants were positioned. At the time of the prosthesis placement and implant surgery, bone samples were collected. RESULTS: The histologic analysis revealed no inflammatory or infective reaction against the seven biopsies. The histomorphometric graft analysis revealed an amount of New Bone of 29.03 ± 6.57% after 4 months and 34.11 ± 5.02% after 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: The two graft materials had a different volume reabsorption rate: 71% after 4 months and 90% after 8 months for dentin, and 6% after 4 months and 26% after 8 months for the xenograft. The space created by the dentin reabsorption increased the quantity of new bone.

Therapeutic Strategies of Primary Molar Infraocclusion: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Infraocclusion of deciduous molars is a clinical disturbance that occurs during primary and mixed dentition and has some orthodontic implications. Infraoccluded teeth are believed to be potential sites of malocclusion, with a risk of tipping neighbouring teeth and losing space. This systematic review aims to analyse the management of primary molars infraocclusion and to provide updated guidelines. METHODS: A literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases from 1 January 2017 to 28 November 2022. The inclusion criteria were: studies only on human subjects, open access studies, case reports, randomised trials, retrospective, observational studies, and English language. RESULTS: A total of 372 publications were identified from the databases and a final number of nine studies were included in the review for qualitative analysis. CONCLUSION: Management of patients suffering from infraocclusion depends on the severity, age at diagnosis, and presence of succeeded premolars. Early diagnosis of infraoccluded primary elements is fundamental and cannot be postponed. Preservation of the primary molars may be a valid option with long-term stability if there is no or moderate primary molar infraocclusion, root resorption of less than half of the root, and no decay or restoration.

Inflammation as Prognostic Hallmark of Clinical Outcome in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is often characterized by a life-threatening interstitial pneumonia requiring hospitalization. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to identify hallmarks of in-hospital mortality in patients affected by Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). A total of 150 patients admitted for COVID-19 from March to June 2021 to "F. Perinei" Murgia Hospital in Altamura, Italy, were divided into survivors (n = 100) and non-survivors groups (n = 50). Blood counts, inflammation-related biomarkers and lymphocyte subsets were analyzed into two groups in the first 24 h after admission and compared by Student's t-test. A multivariable logistic analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Total lymphocyte count and CD3+ and CD4+ CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets were significantly lower in non-survivors. Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in non-survivors. Age > 65 years and presence of comorbidities were identified as independent risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality, while IL-6 and LDH showed a borderline significance. According to our results, markers of inflammation and lymphocytopenia predict in-hospital mortality in COVID-19.

Autologous Tooth Graft: Innovative Biomaterial for Bone Regeneration. Tooth Transformer® and the Role of Microbiota in Regenerative Dentistry. A Systematic Review.

Different biomaterials, from synthetic products to autologous or heterologous grafts, have been suggested for the preservation and regeneration of bone. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of autologous tooth as a grafting material and examine the properties of this material and its interactions with bone metabolism. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched to find articles addressing our topic published from 1 January 2012 up to 22 November 2022, and a total of 1516 studies were identified. Eighteen papers in all were considered in this review for qualitative analysis. Demineralized dentin can be used as a graft material, since it shows high cell compatibility and promotes rapid bone regeneration by striking an ideal balance between bone resorption and production; it also has several benefits, such as quick recovery times, high-quality newly formed bone, low costs, no risk of disease transmission, the ability to be performed as an outpatient procedure, and no donor-related postoperative complications. Demineralization is a crucial step in the tooth treatment process, which includes cleaning, grinding, and demineralization. Since the presence of hydroxyapatite crystals prevents the release of growth factors, demineralization is essential for effective regenerative surgery. Even though the relationship between the bone system and dysbiosis has not yet been fully explored, this study highlights an association between bone and gut microbes. The creation of additional scientific studies to build upon and enhance the findings of this study should be a future objective of scientific research.

Laser Surgical Approach of Upper Labial Frenulum: A Systematic Review.

An abnormal and hypertrophied upper labial frenulum (ULF) can cause diastemas, gingival recession, eruption abnormalities, and the onset of carious and periodontal problems in the upper central incisors, as well as aesthetic and functional disorders of the upper lip. The goal of this investigation is to review the evidence on the surgical techniques that are currently available for treating ULF in order to identify the best approach. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched for papers that matched our topic from 13 November 2012 up to 22 November 2022 using the following Boolean keywords: "frenulum" and "surgery*". A total of eight articles were selected for the purpose of the review. ULF can be surgically treated using either traditional scalpel surgery or laser surgery. The latter is the better option due to its intra- and post-operative benefits for both the patients and the clinicians, in terms of faster healing, fewer side effects and discomfort, and greater patient compliance. However, a higher learning curve is required for this technique, especially to calibrate the appropriate power of the laser. To date, it is not possible to identify which type of laser achieves the best clinical results for the treatment of ULF.