ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the anti-microbial effect of gaseous and aqueous ozone on biofilms of caries pathogen microorganisms with regard to concentration and time dependency. METHODS: Biofilm cultures of Actinomyces naeslundii, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus paracasei were grown on nitro-cellulose-membranes for 48 hours. The membranes were cut into equal-sized pieces and exposed to chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) (positive control; 0.1-20%), gaseous (1-64 g m3) and aqueous ozone (1.25-20 microg ml(-1)) for 60 seconds. The influence of exposure time (30-120 seconds) was tested for exemplary concentrations of the three agents. Colony forming units of bacteria were counted. The bacteria survival rate was given as percentage of the negative control (PBS for CHX/aqueous ozone, ambient air for gaseous ozone). RESULTS: There was no difference in bacterial reduction of different species with general reduction close to zero for high concentrations of all agents. Univariate ANOVA with partial eta-squared (Eta2) statistics showed major effects for concentration/contact time of the agent on bacteria survival. High concentrated gaseous and aqueous ozone seem to be potential alternatives to CHX with equivalent antimicrobial activity.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Biofilms/drug effects , Dental Caries/microbiology , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Ozone/pharmacology , Actinomyces/drug effects , Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/administration & dosage , Anti-Infective Agents, Local/pharmacology , Bacterial Load/drug effects , Chlorhexidine/administration & dosage , Chlorhexidine/analogs & derivatives , Chlorhexidine/pharmacology , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Gases , Gram-Positive Bacteria/physiology , Lactobacillus/drug effects , Ozone/administration & dosage , Solutions , Streptococcus mutans/drug effects , Time FactorsABSTRACT
There are discordant opinions about the influence of subclinical hypothyroidism to the fertility of the women. No unequivocal opinion has been presented concerning the purposefulness of the diagnostics process and treatment of the pregnant women with subclinical hypothyroidism. Few clinical studies suggest that there is a connection between thyroid antibodies and infertility, spontaneous miscarriages, implantation failures and fetal malformations.
Subject(s)
Abortion, Spontaneous/immunology , Hypothyroidism/complications , Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating/immunology , Infertility, Female/immunology , Adult , Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Young AdultABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the plaque removal efficacy of four toothbrushes: the Philips Sonicare Elite with medium and mini brush heads, the Elmex Sensitive, and the American Dental Association (ADA) reference toothbrush. This study was a randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded, four-brush crossover design study, which examined plaque removal following a consecutive repeated use. All brushes were used on each participant in a randomly assigned quadrant of the mouth. A total of 90 subjects participated in the study. Prior to the experiment, they received a professional prophylaxis and were requested to refrain from toothbrushing for 48 h. Teeth were professionally brushed consecutively for 10 to 90 s per quadrant. A Turesky-modified Quigley Hein Index score was assessed at baseline and after each brushing interval by one blinded investigator. Results showed reduction of mean plaque scores for all brushes with time from 10 to 90 s. After 30 s (2-min whole mouth equivalent) of brushing, the Sonicare brushes cleaned 19, the ADA brush 16, and the Elmex Sensitive 10 of in average 28 tooth surfaces. With time, the number of additional cleaned surfaces decreased. Time is an important variable in the evaluation of plaque-removing efficacy since absolute efficacy increases with time and differs per toothbrush. No differences could be found between the two brush heads of the Sonicare.
