Subgingival Irrigation with a Solution of 20% Propolis Extract as an Adjunct to Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment: A Preliminary Study.

Natural products, including propolis, are now frequently used to treat periodontal disease, but there are a few clinical studies in this area. The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of subgingival irrigation of periodontal pockets with a hydroalcoholic solution of propolis extract 20% (w/v) as an adjunct to periodontal therapy. Sixteen individuals were divided into a test group (TG), comprised 65 teeth (scaling and root planing + irrigation with propolis solution), and a control group (CG), comprised 62 teeth (scaling and root planing + irrigation with saline solution). Clinical data such as probing depth, plaque index, gingival index and oral hygiene index were collected at baseline (T0) and after 45 (T1), 75 (T2) and 90 (T3) days. Both groups showed significant differences among the evaluated periods. The TG presented more reduction (p < 0.05) of probing depth than CG at T1 and T3. Within the limits of this short-term study, these data suggest that irrigation with a hydroalcoholic solution of propolis extract 20% (w/v) as an adjunct in periodontal treatment was more effective than the mechanical treatment with saline solution in terms of reducing probing depth for up to 90 days from the beginning of treatment.

High doses of alcohol during pregnancy cause DNA damages in osteoblasts of newborns rats.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol exerts teratogenic effects and its consumption during pregnancy can cause deficit of bone development. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of prenatal exposure to ethanol on newborn rat osteoblasts. METHODS: Wistar rats were initially divided into two groups: Ethanol group which received Ethanol 20% V/V in liquid diet and solid diet ad libitum, and Control group, which received solid diet and water ad libitum. Each group received a specific diet for 8 weeks before breeding and throughout three weeks of gestation and the treatment was finished on the day the pups were killed. On the fifth day of life, the pups from each group were killed for removal of the calvaria and isolation of osteogenic cells by sequential enzymatic digestion. The cells were cultured for a maximum period of 14 days. The detection of genotoxic effects of alcohol was investigated by the comet and the micronucleus assay. RESULTS: Micronucleus and comet assay showed significant increases in DNA damage at 7 days in Ethanol group (p = 0.0302, p = 0.0446, respectively). However, at 14 days both assay showed no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.6194, p = 0.8326, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that prenatal exposure to ethanol induced DNA damage in osteoblasts, as shown by micronucleus formation and higher percentage of DNA in the comet tail. It can be concluded that prenatal exposure to ethanol damages osteoblast DNA in newborns exposed to high doses of ethanol during pregnancy, suggesting that prenatal ethanol consumption has a direct effect on fetal osteoblasts.

Biocompatibilidade in vitro em amostras porosas de titânio-35nióbio submetidas a tratamento biomimético / In vitro biocompatibility of dense and porous titanium-35 niobium specimens submitted to biomimetic treatment

Titânio (Ti) é um dos melhores biomateriais para a confecção de implantes cirúrgicos, porém, estudos com novas ligas de Ti e variações da topografia visam otimizar os resultados da osseointegração. O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi avaliar a biocompatibilidade de amostras densas e porosas da liga titânio-35nióbio submetidas ou não ao tratamento biomimético, comparadas a amostras de Ti puro grau 2. As amostras foram divididas em 6 grupos (G): a) G1- Ti denso; b) G2 - Ti poroso; c) G3 – Ti poroso tratado; d) G4 - Ti-35Nb denso; e) G5 - Ti-35Nb poroso; f) G6 - Ti-35Nb poroso tratado. Células osteogênicas obtidas da calvária de ratos recém nascidos foram plaqueadas sobre as amostras e a adesão celular foi avaliada após 4 e 24 horas, enquanto a proliferação celular foi avaliada em 1, 3, 7 e 10 dias. A viabilidade foi avaliada em 1, 3, 7 e 10 dias. Para os demais testes as células foram cultivadas por 7, 10 e 14 dias. Após 14 dias, as culturas foram coradas com vermelho de Alizarina S para detecção dos nódulos de mineralização. As amostras foram caracterizadas por espectroscopia por dispersão de energia (EDS), difração de raio X (DRX), análise metalográfica e de rugosidade. Os dados da análise metalográfica foram submetidos ao teste de Kruskal Wallis e os dados das análises celulares foram comparados pelos testes Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney e T-Student, (p<0,05). O EDS demonstrou a presença de íons sódio, fósforo, magnésio e cálcio nas amostras tratadas de ambos os grupos. O DRX demonstrou a presença dos metais titânio e nióbio na liga teste. A análise metalográfica demonstrou que as amostras porosas apresentavam poros interligados, com morfologia variada e a análise pelo rugosímetro demonstrou maior rugosidade das amostras densas 17 da liga. Os testes in vitro mostraram que a liga Ti-35Nb apresenta biocompatibilidade semelhante ao Ti puro grau 2. A porosidade não interferiu nessa propriedade e, em algumas situações...

Titanium (Ti) is one of the best biomaterials for surgical implants fabrication. Studies with new titanium alloys and varied surface topographies seek for improved osseointegration results. The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate dense and porous titanium-35 niobium alloys, submitted or not to biomimetic treatment in comparison to degree 2 pure titanium specimens. Specimens were divided into 6 groups (G): a) G1 – dense Ti; b) G2 – porous Ti; c) G3– treated porous Ti; d) G4 – dense Ti-35Nb; e) G5 – porous Ti-35Nb and f) G6 – treated porous Ti-35Nb. Osteogenic cells from newborn rats calvarium were plated over the samples and cell adhesion assessed after 4 and 24 hours. Cell proliferation and viability were assessed at 1, 3, 7 and 10 days. Cells were cultured for 7, 10 and 14 days for further testings. Cell cultures were stained with Alizarin Red S after 14 days for mineralization nodules detection. Specimens were characterized by means of Energy Dispersion Spectrophotometry(EDS), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), metallographic and profilometer analyses. Metallographic data were submitted to Kruskal Wallis, while cell analyses were assessed with Kruskal Wallis, Mann-Whitney and T-Student tests (P<0.05). EDS results detected the presence of sodium, phosphor, magnesium and calcium ions in treated specimens from both groups. XRD showed the presence of titanium and niobium for the test alloy. Metallographic analysis revealed interconnected pores and varied morphology within the porous specimens. Greater rugosity was detected by the profilometer analysis within the dense alloy specimens. In vitro tests revealed similar biocompatibility of Ti-35Nb and degree 2 pure Ti. Porosity did not interfere, but in some 19 scenarios improved alloy biocompatibility.Titanium (Ti) is one of the best biomaterials for surgical implants fabrication. Studies with new titanium alloys and varied surface topographies seek for improved osseointegration results...