Possible Uses of Plants of the Genus Asphodelus in Oral Medicine.

Among the many plants used in traditional medicine we have the plants of the genus Asphodelus, which are present in the Mediterranean area in North Africa and South East Asia, and have been used by indigenous peoples until recently for various pathologies, including: Psoriasis, alopecia areata, acne, burns, nephrolithiasis, toothache, and local inflammation. The scientific literature over the last five years has investigated the various effects of the metabolites extracted from plants of the genus Asphodelus, paying attention to the diuretic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, and it also has begun to investigate the antitumor properties on tumor cell lines. Studies have been identified through bibliographic research on electronic databases. A total of 574 records were identified on the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. After having proceeded to the screening of the articles with the application of the eligibility criteria (all the articles pertaining to the issue Asphodelus), we arrived at a number of 163 articles, and then after the elimination of overlaps, to 82 articles. There are 11 articles which investigate the possible uses of plants of the genus Asphodelus in oral medicine. In oral medicine, the possible uses investigated by the scientific literature are for the treatment of neoplastic (melanoma and oral cancer), viral (herpetic viruses), and microbial diseases (candida, bacteriosis, leishmaniasis), and in the affection of the skin.

Endodontic irrigants: Different methods to improve efficacy and related problems.

Shaping and cleaning a root canal system along with the preservation of the surrounding periodontal tissues are the principal goals of an endodontic treatment. While most of the attention is paid to the mechanical aspects of a root canal treatment, an essential feature of it is the irrigation. All over the years, many materials have been used to clean the root canal of a tooth, and certainly, the sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solutions are the most used and most reliable ones. Putting them inside of a canal is mostly done using a normal syringe, but many techniques have been involved in this process, including the use of sonic/ultrasonic instruments, the use of shaping files, and even laser, to increase the efficacy of irrigant solutions, especially of NaOCl one. Each one of this technique faces some disadvantages, just as the vapor lock effect and the apical extrusion, and has a different action on features such as the reaction rate and the shear stress of an endodontic irrigant solution. In this narrative review, we describe the different features of many irrigant solutions and the different ways of upgrading their efficacy in the cleaning of a root canal system, with the use of tables to summarize the entire description, and drawing the readers' attention to a photographic illustration for a better understanding of the topic.

Increase in [corrected] the glyde path diameter improves the centering ability of F6 Skytaper.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of glide path preparation, performed with PathGlider 0.15 (Komet Brasseler GmbH & Co., Lemgo, Germany) and PathGlider 0.20 (Komet Brasseler GmbH & Co., Lemgo, Germany), on the centering ability of 25-size F6 Skytaper in J-shape simulated root canals, compared with no glide path executed. Materials and Methods: Sixty J-shaped ISO 15 0.02 taper endo training blocks (Dentsply Maillefer) were assigned to three groups (n = 20 for each group). Photographic images were taken on endoblocks before and after shaping procedures. After superimposition, the software AutoCAD 2013 (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, USA) was used for record the centering and shaping ability at 9 different levels from the apex. Results: Shaping procedures including the using of PathGlider 0.20 resulted in a lower amount of resin removed and in a clear improvement of centering ability of the Skytaper 0.25 at almost all reference point levels. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it could be concluded that the glide path procedure, performed with the PathGlider 0.20 before the shaping with 25-size F6 Skytaper, might determine a lower amount of resin removed and a better centering ability compared with the groups without glide path procedure and those treated with PathGlider 0.15.

In vitro study on anti-cancer properties of genistein in tongue cancer.

PURPOSE: Tongue cancer is an extremely aggressive disease and is characterized by a poor prognosis. It is a complex disease to treat and current therapies have produced mediocre results with many side effects. Some facts suggest that natural essences can support traditional cancer therapy by carrying out a synergistic function with chemotherapy. Therefore, we evaluated the antitumor effects of genistein on tongue carcinoma cells. METHODS: Genistein 20, 50 and 100 µM were used for 24, 48 and 72 hours on 3 tongue carcinoma cell lines. xCELLigence system was used to evaluate the effects on cell adhesion, proliferation and to calculate IC50 values. Both MTT assay and Trypan blue assay were used to evaluate alterations in cell viability, scratch assay for cell migration and Western blot analysis for expression of some proteins. RESULTS: Cell adhesion was inhibited especially between 20 and 50 µM of genistein treatment. Proliferation was reduced by 50% for treatments with 20 µM at 24 hours, with 20 or 50 µM at 48 and 50 µM at 72 hours (P<0.0001). Viability tests confirmed a proportional reduction in concentration of genistein and duration of treatments. Even cell migration was reduced significantly (P<0.001). Genistein down-regulates vitronectin, OCT4 and survivin. CONCLUSION: This in vitro study clarifies the anti-tumor effect of genistein on tongue carcinoma. In vivo studies are needed to confirm these data and develop a suitable delivery system that is capable of acting directly on tumor.

Conservative vs Radical Approach for the Treatment of Solid/Multicystic Ameloblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Last Decade.

PURPOSE: To examine whether a difference exists in the relapse rate between the conservative and radical approaches after the treatment of solid/multicystic ameloblastoma (SMA), a systematic review of the literature based on evidence of the last decade was performed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The search strategy incorporated examinations of electronic databases, supplemented by hand searches. A search of four electronic databases, including Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science, was carried out for relevant studies published in the English language from January 2005 to September 2015. Cross referencing and hand research was used to identify further articles. Relative Risk (RR) as effect estimates was calculated in both fixed and random effects models. RESULTS: Of 4234 abstracts screened, only 26 articles met the inclusion criteria and were screened in full text. Of these, only 4 were included in the final meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: The inverse of variance test revealed a statistical difference in the relapse rate for SMA treatment with the conservative vs radical approach. The higher recurrence rate after a conservative approach compared to the surgical approach is significant. However, this review cannot give any recommendation due to the lack of clinical evidence.

Influence of Operator's Experience on the Shaping Ability of Protaper Universal and Waveone Systems: A Comparative Study on Simulated Root Canals.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of operator experience on: shaping and centering ability, mean preparation time and presence of canal aberrations of ProTaper Universal and WaveOne systems on simulated root canals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty S-shaped canals in resin blocks were assigned to four groups (n=15 for each group). Group1 (Experienced operator, ProTaper), Group2 (Experienced operator, WaveOne), Group3 (Inexperienced operator, ProTaper), Group4 (Inexperienced operator, WaveOne). Photographic method was used to record pre- and post-instrumentations images. After superimposition, it has been evaluated presence of canal aberrations and differences in shaping and centering ability between groups. RESULTS: WaveOne system produced a lower amount of canal aberrations both in the hand of expert than inexpert operators. However, a WaveOne instrument breakage occurred in the hands of an inexperienced operator. No differences have been found in the evaluation of shaping ability with both systematics. Operator's experience doesn't influence the shaping ability of ProTaper and WaveOne systems. CONCLUSION: Experience factor could influence the centering ability in the use of both the systematics. However, WaveOne Primary reduce the mean preparation time and the presence of canal aberrations.

Centering Ability of ProTaper Next and WaveOne Classic in J-Shape Simulated Root Canals.

Introduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the shaping and centering ability of ProTaper Next (PTN; Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) and WaveOne Classic systems (Dentsply Maillefer) in simulated root canals. Methods. Forty J-shaped canals in resin blocks were assigned to two groups (n = 20 for each group). Photographic method was used to record pre- and postinstrumentation images. After superimposition, centering and shaping ability were recorded at 9 different levels from the apex using the software Autocad 2013 (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, USA). Results. Shaping procedures with ProTaper Next resulted in a lower amount of resin removed at each reference point level. In addition, the pattern of centering ability improved after the use of ProTaper Next in 8 of 9 measurement points. Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, shaping procedures with ProTaper Next instruments demonstrated a lower amount of resin removed and a better centering ability than WaveOne Classic system.