Azithromycin with scaling and root planing versus scaling and root planing alone in the treatment of periodontitis: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: The growing interest in the possibilities of macrophages modulation with therapeutic purposes promotes new approaches for periodontitis treatment. Aim: The aim of this randomized controlled open clinical study was to evaluate the early clinical and immunological effects of the long-course azithromycin as an adjunct to scaling and root planing in periodontitis. Methods: 50 patients (with stage I-III, grade A/B periodontitis) and 22 periodontally healthy volunteers as the reference group were recruited. Following scaling and root planing (SRP), the patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment modalities: SRP only (n = 25) and adjunct azithromycin (Az) treatment (n = 25). The patients were monitored at baseline, and 30 ± 5 days after therapy. Clinical attachment loss (CAL), periodontal probing depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BoP) were evaluated. Secondary outcome measures included mean changes in single-positive CD68 + and CD163 + macrophages (Mφs) density and ratio, evaluated by immunohistochemistry, and IL1-ß, IL-6, IL-10, TGF-ß levels, detected by ELISA. Results: At 1 month both groups showed significant improvements of CAL, PPD and BoP, without significant added benefit in terms of CAL, PPD and BoP of Az. But Az increased the density of CD68 + and CD163 + Mφs (P < 0.0001), decreased the CD68+/CD163 + ratio (P = 0.043), decreased IL-1ß (P < 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.001) levels, and increased IL-10 (P < 0.0001) and TGF-ß (P < 0.001) levels compared to SRP and periodontitis at baseline. Conclusion: The long course of Az demonstrated modulation of CD68 + and CD163 + Mφs towards M2 polarization, which may play a significant role in achieving favorable long-term treatment outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov.

IMPACT OF VACCINATION ON THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC:BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AND CROSS COUNTRY FORECASTING BY FOURIER SERIES.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Is to build a forecast of the COVID-19 disease course, considering the vaccination of the population from particular countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: Based on the analysis of statistical data, the article deals with the topical issue of the impact made by vaccination on the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic. The time series, showing the dynamics of changes in the number of infected in Chile, Latvia, Japan, Israel, Australia, Finland, India, United States of America, New Zealand, Czech Republic, Venezuela, Poland, Ukraine, Brazil, Georgia for the period 07.08. 2020-09.09.2021, are analyzed. Trend-cyclic models of time series are obtained using fast Fourier transform. The predicted values of the COVID-19 incidence rate for different countries in the period from September 10, 2021 to February 2, 2022 were calculated using the constructed models. RESULTS: Results and conclusions: The results of the study show that vaccination of the population is one of the most effective methods to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposed method of modeling the dynamics of the incidence rate based on statistical data can be used to build further predictions of the incidence rate dynamics. The study of behavioral aspects of trust in vaccination is proposed to be conducted within the theory regarding the self-organization of complex systems.

Effects of l-arginine and l-ornithine supplementations on the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A preliminary randomized short-term clinical trial.

The growing interest in the possibilities of modulating macrophages in inflammatory diseases with therapeutic purpose has prompted the development of new approaches for the treatment of periodontitis. This randomized add-on open preliminary clinical study evaluated the short-term effects of L-arginine or L-ornithine as an adjuvant to scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five periodontitis patients were recruited and monitored clinically and immunologically at baseline (before SRP) and 30 ± 5 days after SRP. All patients were assigned by stratified randomization to SRP (SRP only, n = 25), Arg (SRP + L-arginine, n = 25) or Control (SRP + L-ornithine, n = 25) Group. The medicines were used according to available instructions for 10 and 15 days, respectively. During the study, all patients were on a stable diet, without changing their rations and regiments. As immunological monitoring immunohistochemical study of CD68+ and CD163 + single positive gingival macrophages for 5 patients per group in the same time-point was conducted. The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Reduction of periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BoP) was observed in all groups, with significant between-group differences for BoP in the Arg Group (p < 0.0001) at 30 days. The SRP and Arg groups demonstrated nonsignificantly increased density of CD68+ and CD163 + cells. The Orn Group showed an increase in the density of CD68+ and CD163 + macrophages at intragroup (p = 0.0066 and p < 0.0001) and between-group levels (p = 0.001 and p < 0.0001), and these changes corresponded to clinical PPD and BoP reduction. In the Arg and Orn groups at 30 days, CD163 + macrophages significantly predominated over CD68+ (p = 0.013, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The use of L-arginine and L-ornithine as an adjunct to SRP promotes additional limited immunological benefit in the treatment of periodontitis. Metabolic stimulation with L-ornithine, but not L-arginine, is preferable for CD163+ Mφs subpopulation in periodontitis-affected gingiva.