Radiological Study on the Evolution of the Biomaterial's Image (Shape, Density, Vertical Dimensions) after the Lateral Sinus Lift.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term changes of sinus lift material. Materials and methods: We included a total number of 35 patients (20 men and 15 women), between 32 and 80 years old, evaluated on a timeframe of up to 11.6 years. Diverse biomaterials were used (allograft, xenograft, alloplastic, combinations of them), with autologous bone in some cases. Results: The appearance of the top plane of the bone over time took a large dome shape (36% of cases), a linear shape (32% of cases), an irregular shape (23% of cases), or had micro domes above the implants (7%). No significant differences were found between the groups regarding age. The radiological density of the biomaterial tended to equalize that of the native bone. The final vertical dimensions seemed to be independent of the initial native bone height but seemed to be correlated with the amount of applied biomaterial. For the study group, the biomaterial contracted on average by 10% for the maximum height (H max) and 20% for the minimum height (H min), which can explain the tendency of the upper border of the biomaterial to curve. The annual H max contraction ranged from -0.09 to +0.18 with a mean value of 2.67% (SD = 0.04, CI: [0.011, 0.041]). The median value was 1.8%. The annual H min contraction ranged from -0.24 to +0.24, with a mean value of 4.33% (SD = 0.07, CI: [0.021, 0.065]). The median value was 3.59%. There were no statistically significant gender differences (Mann-Whitney U, p = 0.483, p = 0.642). The additional application of biomaterial together with the implants seemed to have a beneficial effect on the final vertical dimension of the bio-transformed material.

Immunogenicity evaluation after BNT162b2 booster vaccination in healthcare workers.

Waning of the immune response upon vaccination in SARS-CoV-2 infection is an important subject of evaluation in this pandemic, mostly in healthcare workers (HCW) that are constantly in contact with infected samples and patients. Therefore, our study aimed to establish the specific humoral response of specific IgG and IgA antibodies upon vaccination, during the second year of pandemic and evaluating the booster shot with the same vaccine type. A group of 103 HCW with documented exposure to the virus were monitored for specific IgG and IgA levels prior to vaccination, after the first vaccination round, during the following 8 months and after the booster shot with the same vaccine type. After 8 months post-vaccination the humoral response in both IgG and IgA decreased, 2.4 times for IgG, and 2.7 times for IgA. Although the antibodies levels significantly decreased, no documented infection was registered in the group. After the booster shot, the entire group, displayed IgG increased levels, immediately after booster followed by the increase in specific IgA. IgG levels post-second round of vaccination are statistically higher compared to the first round, while IgA is restored at the same levels. Within the vaccination or booster routine for a multiple waves' pandemic that is generating new virus variants, populational immunity remains an important issue for future implementation of prevention/control measures.

Salivary Assessments in Post-Liver Transplantation Patients.

Saliva is in the first line of the body's defense mechanism. In order to better understand how liver transplantation impacts salivary biochemistry, the aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore variations of salivary markers for oral health in post-liver transplantation patients, as compared with systemically healthy dental outpatients (controls). In this case, 26 patients were enrolled in each group, with similar socio-demographic characteristics. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected; total protease activity and total protein content were measured. The oral health in both groups was assessed using a self-report oral health questionnaire. Data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric tests. Comparable results were recorded in terms of salivary protein and protease activity assessments. In post-liver transplantation group, positive correlation was found between the salivary pH level and the salivary secretion rate (r = 0.39; p = 0.04). With respect to self-reported oral health, there were no significant differences between the two groups, except for dental and oral care habits, the controls reporting more frequently use of dental floss and mouthwash (p = 0.02, and p = 0.003, respectively). Considering the high risk for developing systemic complications after liver transplantation, oral health care is an important issue to be addressed, salivary investigations representing powerful tool for disease changes monitoring.

The Effects of Prednisone/Ketoprofen Administration in Association with Amoxicillin Clavulanate Following Periodontal Surgical Therapy in Patients with Severe Chronic Periodontitis.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of two different anti-inflammatory drugs (ketoprofen and prednisone) combined with an antibiotic (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid) and periodontal surgery on dental and periodontal parameters in patients with severe chronic periodontitis. In addition, salivary stress expressed by cortisol levels was assessed. Materials and Methods: An interventional study was performed on 22 periodontal subjects and 19 clinical healthy controls. The patients were divided in four groups, depending on treatment planning, as follows: eight patients received prednisone and antibiotherapy, associated with surgical periodontal therapy; seven patients received ketoprofen and antibiotherapy, associated with surgical periodontal therapy (group II); seven patients received only prednisone. Periodontal healthy patients underwent routine scaling and polishing. Bleeding on probing (BOP), dental mobility and salivary cortisol (ng/mL) were assessed before and after treatment. The means and standard deviations for the salivary cortisol levels (SCLs), dental and periodontal parameters were calculated for all groups using each patient as a unit of analysis. Results: Data analyses showed that the two different anti-inflammatory drugs associated with or without surgical therapy were efficient on inflammation periodontal parameters (BOP, dental mobility). Prednisone treatment alone was associated with a significant decrease of SCLs between pretreatment and post-treatment. Conclusions: In the present study, the effects of either of the anti-inflammatory drugs on inflammation evolution and salivary stress were comparable in patients undergoing antibiotherapy and surgical periodontal therapy.

Alveolar blood clots and platelet-rich fibrin induce in vitro fibroblast proliferation and migration.

Wound healing process comprises a complex network of cells and molecules that are regulated in order to pursue tissue regeneration. Our study focused on the capacity of alveolar blood clots (ABCs), platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) to induce in vitro fibroblasts proliferation and migration as a measure of alveolar regeneration. Using cellular impedance with xCELLigence technology we quantified the proliferation and the migration capacity of L929 fibroblast standard cell line in the presence of 4 different ABCs and 3 different PRFs harvested from healthy individuals during standard tooth extraction. We obtained a clear cellular proliferation induced by the compounds mainly after 24 h of cultivation, in a dose-dependent manner. After 48 h of cultivation we registered activated proliferation, but slightly decreased compared to the 24 h profile. Our data confirm that the presence of the blood clot is involved in the regenerative processes. The migratory capacity of fibroblasts was statistically activated by the PL compounds while not affected by the tested PRFs. The chemical mediators present within the blood clot, either produced by inflammatory cells captive within, or by endothelial or mesenchymal cells induced fibroblastic proliferation and subsequent collagen deposition.

Inflammatory-Driven Angiogenesis in Bone Augmentation with Bovine Hydroxyapatite, B-Tricalcium Phosphate, and Bioglasses: A Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical use of bioactive materials for bone augmentation has remained a challenge because of predictability and effectiveness concerns, as well as increased costs. The purpose of this study was to analyse the ability to integrate bone substitutes by evaluating the immunohistochemical expression of the platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecules, vascular endothelial growth factor, collagen IV, laminin, and osteonectin, in the vicinity of bone grafts, enabling tissue revascularization and appearance of bone lamellae. There is a lack of in vivo studies of inflammatory-driven angiogenesis in bone engineering using various grafts. METHODS: The study was performed in animal experimental model on the standardized monocortical defects in the tibia of 20 New Zealand rabbits. The defects were augmented with three types of bone substituents. The used bone substituents were beta-tricalcium phosphate, bovine hydroxyapatite, and bioactive glasses. After a period of 6 months, bone fragments were harvested for histopathologic examination. Endothelial cell analysis was done by analysing vascularization with PECAM/CD31 and VEGF and fibrosis with collagen IV, laminin, and osteonectin stains. Statistical analysis was realized by descriptive analysis which was completed with the kurtosis and skewness as well as the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. RESULTS: The discoveries show that the amount of bone that is formed around beta-tricalcium phosphate and bovine hydroxyapatite is clearly superior to the bioactive glasses. Both the lumen diameter and the number of vessels were slightly increased in favor of beta-tricalcium phosphate. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that bone substitutes as bovine bone and beta-tricalcium phosphate have significant increased angiogenesis (and subsequent improved osteogenesis) compared to the bioactive glass. In our study, significant angiogenesis is linked with a greater tissue formation, indicating that in bone engineering with the allografts we used, inflammation has more benefic effects, the catabolic action being exceeded by the tissue formation.

Variation in Expression of Inflammation-Related Signaling Molecules with Profibrotic and Antifibrotic Effects in Cutaneous and Oral Mucosa Scars.

Wound healing is a complex biologic process evolving in three phases: inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling controlled by numerous growth factors and cytokines. Oral mucosa wounds heal with significantly less important scars with less numerous macrophages and mast cells and more numerous myofibroblasts than cutaneous counterparts. We analyzed 32 cutaneous and 32 oral mucosa scars for TGFbeta1, TGFbeta2, TGFbeta3, TNFalpha, PDGF BB and FGF1 expression in mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells, macrophages, and multinucleated giant cells. We identified differences in the expression of profibrotic and antifibrotic factors in oral mucosa and skin scars; TGFbeta2 was positive in cutaneous multinucleated giant cells, TNFalpha was positive in cutaneous macrophages, and both were negative in oral mucosa while TGFbeta3 was positive in oral macrophages and mostly negative in cutaneous ones. PDGF BB and FGF1 were positive in oral endothelial cells and oral macrophages and negative in macrophages with opposite positivity pattern in cutaneous scars. Based on these findings, macrophage seems to be the key player in modulating pro- and antifibrotic processes in wound regeneration.

Clinical and histopathological studies using fibrin-rich plasma in the treatment of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

The authors report their experience using platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) therapy for the treatment of ten patients presenting bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of this therapy on recurrent BRONJ and to describe the clinical and histopathological/immunohistochemical staining features of PRF treatment. As such, we describe the method we used and report the results observed in the areas treated as well as side effects. The reported results recommend the safety and efficacy of PRF in treatment of BRONJ.

Cherubism: a case report.

Cherubism is a familial benign fibro-osseous disease of the jaws. On radiography, the lesions exhibit bilateral multinuclear radiolucent areas. Histopathology reveals multinucleated giant cells in the background of proliferating fibrous connective tissue. Mutations in the SH3BP2 gene are identified as the cause of cherubism. A 12-year-old girl with prominence of the lower face was investigated. Her chief complaint was her facial appearance with asymmetrical swelling of the cheeks. Clinical and radiographic examinations, and biopsy, biochemical analysis and genetic investigations were performed.