Daily Intake of Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 Decreases the Probing Depth in Patients Undergoing Supportive Periodontal Therapy.

PURPOSE: Heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L-137 (HK L-137) has been shown to activate innate and acquired immunity in humans. The aim of this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was to examine the effects of the oral administration of HK L-137 on the outcome of periodontal therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were randomly assigned to receive a capsule containing 10 mg of HK L-137 or a placebo capsule daily for 12 weeks. Nineteen patients in the experimental group and 17 patients in the control group were followed-up. Clinical parameters, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were scored at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12 prior to prophylaxis in conjunction with regular SPT visits. RESULTS: BOP and the number of teeth or sites with PD ≥ 4 mm were significantly reduced in both groups by a successive SPT programme, while there was significantly greater PD reduction (p < 0.05) at teeth with site(s) with PD ≥ 4 mm at baseline in the experimental group than in the control group at week 12. CONCLUSION: These clinical findings suggest that daily HK L-137 intake can decrease the depth of periodontal pockets in patients undergoing supportive periodontal therapy.

The influence of ß-tricalcium phosphate blocks containing extracellular matrix on osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to assess the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (RBMCs) in ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP) blocks containing extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by human alveolar bone periosteal cells (HABPCs). METHODS: HABPCs were cultured in ß-TCP blocks for 1 week (group 1) and 2 weeks (group 2). ß-TCP blocks containing ECM were then created by drying the blocks for 3 days. RBMCs were cultured in the blocks containing ECM for 2 weeks. In the control group, RBMCs were cultured in ß-TCP blocks alone for 2 weeks. HABPCs and RBMCs in the blocks were examined by histologic and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS: Histology revealed a significantly higher number of HABPCs in the group 2 blocks than in the group 1 blocks. HABPCs produced several bone matrix proteins in the blocks, and these positive reactions in group 2 were significantly higher than in group 1. Both groups showed a significantly higher number of RBMCs than the control group. RBMCs produced osteopontin and osteocalcin in the blocks, and these positive reactions were significantly higher in both test groups than in the control group. The number of osteocalcin-positive reactions was higher in group 2 than in group 1. CONCLUSION: Osteogenic differentiation of RBMCs cultured for 2 weeks in ß-TCP blocks containing ECM was significantly higher than that of cells cultured for 1 week or without ECM.