The current study aimed at investigating the long-term biological mechanisms governing bone regeneration in osseous defects filled with bovine bone (BB). Tooth extraction sockets were filled with BB or left unfilled for natural healing in a C57BL/6 mouse alveolar regeneration bone model ( n = 12). Seven weeks later, the alveolar bone samples were analyzed histologically with hematoxylin/eosin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. A separate group ( n = 10) was used for RNA sequencing. Osteoclast inhibition was induced by zoledronic acid (ZA) administration at 2 wk postextraction in a third group ( n = 28) for examination of osseous changes and cellular functions with micro–computed tomography and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Histological and radiological osseous healing was observed in both BB-filled and normal-healing sockets. However, BB regenerated bone showed significant robust expression of genes associated with bone homeostasis and osteoclasts’ function. Osteoclasts’ inhibition in BB-filled sockets led to decreased bone resorption markers and reduced bone formation to a greater extent than that observed in osteoclasts’ inhibition with natural healing. BB displays long-term biologically active properties, despite a naive osseous histological appearance. These include activation of osteoclasts, which in turn promotes osseous remodeling and maturation of ossified bone.

Objective: Laser technologies have many different applications in medical, agricultural, and industrial fields. Studies have shown several effects of laser energy on different bacterial species, in a wide variety of settings. Recent reports have found that one of the unique features of bacteria is their ability to communicate among themselves (quorum sensing). We sought to investigate whether low-energy laser irradiation affects bacterial behavior, which is regulated by quorum sensing. Methods: Laser irradiations were performed using Er:YAG laser (2940nm wavelength) at output powers of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, and 4W on wild-type Vibrio harveyi. Bioluminescence, motility, and biofilm forming capability were assessed on the bacteria after irradiation. Results: After irradiation of bacteria, positive dose/output power dependencies were found in the bioluminescence omitted from tested experimental groups. Motility of colonies on semi-solid media was inhibited as irradiation output power was increased. However, after irradiation, biomass analysis of biofilm samples showed negligible differences between the irradiated samples and controls. Conclusions: Results indicate the impact of low-energy laser irradiation on bacterial behavior such as quorum sensing and motility, without affecting bacterial growth patterns.

Although the interest in clinical use of laser systems for endodontic procedures is increasing there are still some concerns associated with their use, mainly, lack of sufficient well-designed clinical studies, which clearly demonstrate the advantage of lasers over currently used conventional methods and techniques. Bacterial contamination of the root canal system is considered the principle etiologic factor for the development of pulpal and periapical lesions. Obtaining a root canal system free of irritants is a major goal of root canal therapy. Biomechanical instrumentation of the root canal system has been suggested to achieve this task. However, because of the complexity of the root canal system, it has been shown that the complete elimination of debris and achievement of a sterile root canal system is very difficult and a smear layer, which covers the instrumented walls of the root canal, is formed. The task of cleaning and disinfecting a root canal system which contains microorganisms gathered in a biofilm became very difficult; certain bacterial species become more virulent when harbored in biofilm, demonstrating stronger pathogenic potential and increased resistance to antimicrobial agents since Biofilm has the ability to prevent the entry and action of such agents. Bergmans et al, tried to define the role of laser as a disinfection tool by using Nd:YAG laser irradiation on some endodontic pathogens ex vivo. The apparent consensus is that laser irradiation emitted from laser systems utilized in dentistry has the potential to kill microorganisms. In most cases the effect is directly related to the amount of irradiation and to its energy level.

INTRODUCTION:The alterations in dentin tissue depending on increasing age might cause different adhesion capability of bacteria, yielding differences in clinical approaches regarding root canal irrigation. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm growth in root canal dentin of young and old individuals. METHODS:The root canals of extracted young (<30 years) and old (>60 years) single-rooted human teeth were sectioned at the crown and the apical parts. The root canals of the mid-root sections were enlarged with #2 Gates-Glidden burs. After treatment with 17% EDTA + 2.5% NaOCl, 17% EDTA alone, 2.5% NaOCl alone, or saline, the samples were incubated in E. faecalis suspension for 24 hours. Thereafter, root canal samples were enlarged again with #3 Gates-Glidden burs, and the removed dentin chips were collected. Bacteria were dispersed by using sonication, serially diluted, and then plated for counting on agar plates as colony-forming units. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy investigations were also carried out to examine the biofilm formation on the dentin. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni adjustment. RESULTS:Combination of EDTA and NaOCl significantly reduced the amount of intracanal biofilm in both age groups (P < .01). However, the bacterial counts of E. faecalis in the old group were still higher (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS:It might be suggested that root canals from elderly population are more susceptible to canal infection. However, combined application of EDTA and NaOCl significantly reduces the amount of intracanal biofilm.

The burdensome process of collecting, analysing and reporting pressure ulcer outcome data has changed very little since its introduction some years ago; simply growing in complexity and frequency. Typically, prevalence audit has focused on the scale of negative outcomes i.e. number, severity, size, location and origin of the wound, while missing the opportunity to measure other critical metrics such as concordance with key measures within preventative care protocols. As a result, pressure ulcer assessment remains largely disconnected from patient safety or quality improvement programmes and thus may have little impact on overall outcomes.The data itself is also problematic, with healthcare providers increasingly expected to publish performance against healthcare targets. It is necessary to consider the ramifications of reporting outcome data which has not been normalised against important variations in risk exposure, particularly when more than half of all wounds may be occurring during an episode of supervised care. It is recommended that outcome measures are mathematically adjusted in order to account for population differences over time and between facilities; this will enable accurate trend analysis, ‘hot spot’ identification and reliable comparison.If pressure ulcer data collection is to have a place in contemporary healthcare systems it must meet the robust standards required for clinical benchmarking. There will be a need to refocus the assessment process to reflect upon the quality of the preventative care delivered in order to improve patient safety.

The traditional importance–performance analysis (IPA) uses the mean ratings of importance and performance to construct a two-dimensional grid by identifying improvement opportunities and guiding strategic planning efforts. The point estimates of importance and performance vary from sample to sample such that the numerical analyses are different based upon different samples. Thus, using point estimates for items might lead the management to make false decisions. This study integrates confidence intervals and IPA to reduce the variability which enables the decision maker much easier to identify the strengths and weaknesses based upon the sample of size used. Moreover, the assumptions of equal and unequal population variances for constructing confidence intervals are discussed.

This chapter examines the rapidly evolving field of neuroepigenetics and the role of these processes in addiction. Although the cellular and neurophysiological processes underlying the addictive properties of drugs have been studied for decades, more recent research has demonstrated that drugs of abuse can also induce alterations in the epigenome which are critically involved in addiction and substance use disorders (SUDs). First, we provide a brief overview of the neural circuits involved in drug addiction and synaptic plasticity processes. With respect to drug-induced alterations to the epigenome, we will describe various works which have uncovered how drugs of abuse recruit epigenetic mechanisms to modify reward circuitry in addiction both using animal models and in clinical observations. We conclude the chapter by discussing future research directions for studying epigenetics in drug addiction, as well as therapeutic options that can potentially be developed by targeting these processes.

BACKGROUND: Current methods for determining salivary antibodies are cumbersome for large-scale screenings.OBJECTIVES: To test checkerboard immunodetection for monitoring salivary antibodies and to profile them in diabetic individuals with periodontitis.METHODS: Salivary anti-Porphyromonas gingivalis, anti-Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and total IgA levels of 10 individuals were compared using checkerboard immunoblotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).RESULTS: Close correlation between both methods was found in anti-P. gingivalis IgA and total IgA, but not in anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgA, because of high background levels in ELISA. Thereafter, checkerboard immunodetection was used to compare salivary antibodies of 20 adult type II diabetic with 32 non-diabetic individuals with (n = 22) or without (n = 10) periodontitis. Patients with periodontitis (regardless of their diabetic condition) expressed increased levels of total IgA in both whole and parotid saliva, but reduced levels of anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgA in whole saliva. Consequently, the proportion of anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans IgA in the total IgA was lower in saliva of patients with periodontitis compared with healthy controls.CONCLUSIONS: Checkerboard immunodetection was reliable and economical for screening saliva samples for multiple antibody reactions. Our results support previous reports which suggested that patients with periodontitis are able to secrete high levels of salivary Ig, but are hampered in targeting their salivary response toward A. actinomycetemcomitans.