Impact of glutaraldehyde cross-linking on the advanced platelet-rich fibrin membrane: Macroscopic, conventional light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) is a biopolymer that releases growth factors to facilitate healing. Along with other barrier membranes, the A-PRF membrane has proven to be beneficial in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) treatment. The cross-linking of the A-PRF membrane with glutaraldehyde (GLUT) has been attempted previously, and has been shown to prolong its degradation time and improve its mechanical properties. In the present study, the effects of GLUT cross-linking on macroscopic changes in the A-PRF membrane were assessed, and microscopic features were analyzed using a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the effects of GLUT cross-linking on the A-PRF membrane through the macroscopic, microscopic and SEM examinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 18 human A-PRF membrane samples were prepared, half of which were treated with 0.1% GLUT, and the remaining were left untreated. The macroscopic measurements of the samples included weight, length and thickness, while specimen slides were prepared for light microscopic evaluation and SEM analysis. RESULTS: The GLUT cross-linked membranes weighed more and were thicker than the non-cross-linked membranes, but there was no change in length. Light microscopic images showed fewer cells at the head and tail, though cells were abundant in the body of the A-PRF membrane. The images acquired using SEM showed fibrin strands of greater thickness, but fewer interspersed cell bodies in the cross-linked membranes. CONCLUSIONS: This in vitro study revealed an increase in thickness and cross-linking fiber density along with the presence of viable cells in the GLUT-treated A-PRF membrane, which may prove its effectiveness in healing or serving as a barrier membrane in clinical trials.

Effect of 1.2% of simvastatin gel as a local drug delivery system on Gingival Crevicular Fluid interleukin-6 & interleukin-8 levels in non surgical treatment of chronic periodontitis patients.

AIM: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of 1.2% simvastatin gel as local drug delivery (LDD) system on Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) Interleukin -6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in chronic periodontitis patients, in addition to scaling and root planing (SRP). METHODS: A total of 46 chronic periodontitis patients were equally divided into two groups. Group I patients were treated by SRP; Group II patients were treated by SRP followed by LDD of 1.2% simvastatin (SMV) gel. Plaque index (PI), Gingival index(GI), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), Probing pocket depth (PPD) and Relative clinical attachment level (CAL) were recorded & GCF samples were collected at baseline (0day) and at 45th day from both the groups. The collected GCF samples were analysed for IL-6 and IL-8 levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Both the groups showed significant reduction in all the clinical parameters scores and IL-6 and IL-8 levels after non-surgical periodontal therapy (SRP for group I/SRP+1.2% SMV gel for group II) in contrast to baseline values. However, a greater reduction was observed in group II. A non-significant positive correlation was observed between clinical parameters and IL-6 and IL-8 levels except at baseline, a significant correlation was observed between PPD &IL 6 levels in group II. CONCLUSIONS: In adjunct to SRP, 1.2% Simvastatin gel acts as an effective local drug delivery agent for the management of chronic periodontitis.

Effects of scaling and root planing with or without a local drug delivery system on the gingival crevicular fluid leptin level in chronic periodontitis patients: a clinico-biochemical study

PURPOSE: The present split mouth study evaluates the effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) leptin level in chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Ninety sites from 30 nonobese chronic periodontitis patients were selected and divided as follows: group I, 30 healthy sites receiving no treatment; group II, 30 periodontitis sites receiving scaling and root planing (SRP); and group III, 30 periodontitis sites receiving SRP with tetracycline local drug delivery. At baseline, after GCF sampling and clinical parameter recording, the assigned treatment was performed for the study groups. During recall visits, GCF sampling followed by clinical parameter recording was done for groups II and III. RESULTS: Reductions in the probing depth and the clinical attachment level (CAL) were highly significant at different time intervals (except between day 0 and 45) in both groups II and III. Upon comparison, group III showed significant gain in CAL between day 0 and 15 and between day 0 and 45. After treatment, the reduction in the GCF leptin level was more significant in group III than in group II at day 15 but re-elevated almost to the pretreatment levels at day 45. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsurgical periodontal therapies were not effective in maintaining stable reduction in the GCF leptin level during the study period.