Oral Hygiene With Neutral Electrolyzed Water and Systemic Therapy Increases Gastric Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Reduces Recurrence.

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori gastric infection strongly correlates with gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and complications such as peptic ulcers and gastric cancer. In developing countries, systemic therapies are not usually successful due to elevated antibiotic resistance. Additionally, oral H. pylori infection and periodontal disease correlate with gastric treatment failures. This study aimed to explore the effect of an integral therapy, comprising oral hygiene and concomitant systemic treatment, to increase the eradication of gastric infection and recurrences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, randomized, four-arm, parallel-group, open-label clinical trial was conducted to investigate the efficacy of integral therapy to eradicate gastric H. pylori infection and avoid recurrences in double-positive (real-time PCR oral and gastric infection) patients. Oral hygiene involved mouthwash with neutral electrolyzed water (NEW), with or without periodontal treatment. One hundred patients were equally distributed into four groups: NS, NS-PT, NEW, and NEW-PT. All patients had concomitant systemic therapy and additionally, the following oral treatments: mouthwash with normal saline (NS), periodontal treatment and mouthwash with normal saline (NS-PT), mouthwash with NEW (NEW), and periodontal treatment and mouthwash with NEW (NEW-PT). Gastric and oral infection and symptoms were evaluated one and four months after treatments. RESULTS: Integral therapy with NEW-PT increased gastric eradication rates compared with NS or NS-PT (84%-96% vs. 20%-56%; p < 0.001). Even more, a protective effect of 81.2% (RR = 0.1877; 95% CI: 0.0658-0.5355; p = 0.0018) against recurrences and 76.6% (RR = 0.2439; 95% CI: 0.1380-0.4310; p < 0.001) against treatment failure (eradication of infection and associated symptoms) was observed in patients from the NEW and NEW-PT groups. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of oral hygiene and systemic treatment can increase the eradication of gastric infection, associated symptoms, and recurrences. NEW is recommended as an antiseptic mouthwash due to its efficacy and short- and long-term safety.

An in vitro evaluation of endodontic sealers and an antibiotic to assess their antimicrobial effect against Enterococcus faecalis.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the antimicrobial effect of three endodontic sealers (AH Plus, Mineral trioxide aggregate [MTA] Fillapex, and BioRoot RCS) with and without amoxicillin against E. faecalis. Methodology: Amoxicillin, equivalent to 10% of the sealers' total weight, was mixed with the sealers. Another batch was prepared without amoxicillin. The direct contact test (DCT) and the agar diffusion test were used to assess the antibacterial effect. Results were analysed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the F-test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: AH Plus significantly suppressed E. faecalis without the addition of amoxicillin in the DCT (p = 0.011), while in the agar diffusion test, BioRoot RCS had a larger inhibition zone than the control (p < 0.001). When amoxicillin was added to the sealers, AH Plus (p = 0.003) and MTA Fillapex (p = 0.042) reduced E. faecalis growth. In contrast, all three sealers showed larger inhibition zones than the control (p = 0.001), with AH Plus displaying a larger inhibition zone than MTA Fillapex (p = 0.042) and BioRoot RCS (p = 0.032). Conclusions: It was thus concluded that the addition of amoxicillin to endodontic sealers enhances their antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis.

Application of Robotics in Orthodontics: A Systematic Review.

Robotics has various applications in dentistry, particularly in orthodontics, although the potential use of these technologies is not yet clear. This review aims to summarize the application of robotics in orthodontics and clarify its function and scope in clinical practice. Original articles addressing the application of robotics in any area of orthodontic practice were included, and review articles were excluded. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and DOAJ were searched from June to August 2023. The risk of bias was established using the risk of bias in non-randomized studies (ROBINS) and certainty assessment tools following the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) guidelines. A narrative synthesis of the data was generated and presented according to its application in surgical and non-surgical orthodontics. The search retrieved 2,106 articles, of which 16 articles were selected for final data synthesis of research conducted between 2011 and 2023 in Asia, Europe, and North America. The application of robotics in surgical orthodontics helps guide orthognathic surgeries by reducing the margin of error, but it does not replace the work of a clinician. In non-surgical orthodontics, robotics assists in performing customized bending of orthodontic wires and simulating orthodontic movements, but its application is expensive. The articles collected for this synthesis exhibited a low risk of bias and high certainty, and the results indicated that the advantages of the application of robotics in orthodontics outweigh the disadvantages. This project was self-financed, and a previous protocol was registered at the PROSPERO site (registration number: CRD42023463531).

Lenvatinib-Loaded Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) Nanoparticles with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antibody Conjugation as a Preclinical Approach to Therapeutically Improve Thyroid Cancer with Aggressive Behavior.

BACKGROUND: Lenvatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of progressive and radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), is associated with significant adverse effects that can be partially mitigated through the development of novel drug formulations. The utilization of nanoparticles presents a viable option, as it allows for targeted drug delivery, reducing certain side effects and enhancing the overall quality of life for patients. This study aimed to produce and assess, both in vitro and in vivo, the cytotoxicity, biodistribution, and therapeutic efficacy of lenvatinib-loaded PLGA nanoparticles (NPs), both with and without decoration using antibody conjugation (cetuximab), as a novel therapeutic approach for managing aggressive thyroid tumors. METHODS: Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs), decorated with or without anti-EGFR, were employed as a lenvatinib delivery system. These NPs were characterized for size distribution, surface morphology, surface charge, and drug encapsulation efficiency. Cytotoxicity was evaluated through MTT assays using two cellular models, one representing normal thyroid cells (Nthy-ori 3-1) and the other representing anaplastic thyroid cells (CAL-62). Additionally, an in vivo xenograft mouse model was established to investigate biodistribution and therapeutic efficacy following intragastric administration. RESULTS: The NPs demonstrated success in terms of particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, and cetuximab distribution across the surface. In vitro analysis revealed cytotoxicity in both cellular models with both formulations, but only the decorated NPs achieved an ID50 value in CAL-62 cells. Biodistribution analysis following intragastric administration in xenografted thyroid mice demonstrated good stability in terms of intestinal barrier function and tumor accumulation. Both formulations were generally well tolerated without inducing pathological effects in the examined organs. Importantly, both formulations increased tumor necrosis; however, decorated NPs exhibited enhanced parameters related to apoptotic/karyolytic forms, mitotic index, and vascularization compared with NPs without decoration. CONCLUSIONS: These proof-of-concept findings suggest a promising strategy for administering TKIs in a more targeted and effective manner.

Food Insecurity and Dental Caries in Rural Mexican Populations.

Objective: Food insecurity (FI) is a priority for government and health organizations. Over 95% of the world's population has a carious lesion or will develop one before death. This study evaluated the association between FI and oral health in two rural communities in Chiapas, Mexico. Methods: The study was conducted with patients attending an oral health campaign for dental checkups. Data were collected between April and August 2017 using the Latin-American and Caribbean Scale of Food Security (ELCSA) and the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). We included 209 participants from Siltepec and Huehuetan, Mexico; 67% were women. Results: The results of the ELCSA were mild FI in 43% (n = 91), moderate FI in 22% (n = 45), and severe FI (n = 6) in 3%; 32% had food security. The ICDAS results were initial decay with a mean of 6.22, moderate decay with a mean of 1.81, and extensive decay with a mean of 1.77. Conclusions: FI is associated with dental caries, and food-insecure individuals have a higher probability of severe dental caries. In this study, the FI level was lower than in other rural populations in Mexico. Identifying these individuals and addressing the factors related to FI can be useful in the rural communities.

Prevalence of Oral Helicobacter pylori Infection in an Indigenous Community in Southwest Mexico.

Purpose: Epidemiological studies have been conducted to improve the health and economic quality of life of indigenous communities in Mexico. These studies have found that infections cause frequent health problems. Helicobacter pylori are responsible for conditions ranging from gastritis to stomach cancer. This study determined the prevalence of H. pylori in families from Siltepec, Chiapas, Mexico. Patient and Methods: Ninety-nine dental plaque samples from 36 families were studied. Real-time PCR was performed to detect H. pylori using previously reported primers. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used for the statistical analysis. According to the family role of H. pylori-positive individuals, the VacA s1/m1 genotype and CagA gene correlated. Results: The mother had the highest expression of VacA s1/m1-/cagA- with 19% (8/42), followed by the first child with 14.3% (6/42). The major roles for the vacA s1/m1+/cagA- were the mother and first child with 9.5% (4/42), followed by the remaining children with 4.8% (2/42). The vacA s1/m1-/cagA+ genotype was 7.1% (3/42) for the mother and 4.8% (2/42) for the father. Finally, the vacA s1/m1+/cagA+ genotype only appeared in the mother, son I, and son III with 2.4% (1/42). Conclusion: The vacA s1/m1/cagA genotypes predominated in the mother, suggesting potential transmission between the mother and child during the first years of life.

Stability of Monoclonal Antibodies as Solid Formulation for Auto-Injectors: A Pilot Study.

Drug adherence is a significant medical issue, often responsible for sub-optimal outcomes during the treatment of chronic diseases such as rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis. Monoclonal antibodies (which are exclusively given parenterally) have been proven to be an effective treatment in these cases. The use of auto-injectors is an effective strategy to improve drug adherence in parenteral treatments since these pen-like devices offer less discomfort and increased user-friendliness over conventional syringe-based delivery. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of including a monoclonal antibody as a solid formulation inside an auto-injector pen. Specifically, the objective was to evaluate the drug stability after a concentration (to reduce the amount of solvent and space needed) and freeze-drying procedure. A preliminary screening of excipients to improve stability was also performed. The nano-DSC results showed that mannitol improved the stability of the concentrated, freeze-dried antibody in comparison to its counterpart without it. However, a small instability of the CH2 domain was still found for mannitol samples, which will warrant further investigation. The present results serve as a stepping stone towards advancing future drug delivery systems that will ultimately improve the patient experience and associated drug adherence.

Assessment of Different Niosome Formulations for Optogenetic Applications: Morphological and Electrophysiological Effects.

Gene therapy and optogenetics are becoming promising tools for treating several nervous system pathologies. Currently, most of these approaches use viral vectors to transport the genetic material inside the cells, but viruses present some potential risks, such as marked immunogenicity, insertional mutagenesis, and limited insert gene size. In this framework, non-viral nanoparticles, such as niosomes, are emerging as possible alternative tools to deliver genetic material, avoiding the aforementioned problems. To determine their suitability as vectors for optogenetic therapies in this work, we tested three different niosome formulations combined with three optogenetic plasmids in rat cortical neurons in vitro. All niosomes tested successfully expressed optogenetic channels, which were dependent on the ratio of niosome to plasmid, with higher concentrations yielding higher expression rates. However, we found changes in the dendritic morphology and electrophysiological properties of transfected cells, especially when we used higher concentrations of niosomes. Our results highlight the potential use of niosomes for optogenetic applications and suggest that special care must be taken to achieve an optimal balance of niosomes and nucleic acids to achieve the therapeutic effects envisioned by these technologies.

Long-term biophysical stability of nanodiamonds combined with lipid nanocarriers for non-viral gene delivery to the retina.

Nanodiamonds were combined with niosome, and resulting formulations were named as nanodiasomes, which were evaluated in terms of physicochemical features, cellular internalization, cell viability and transfection efficiency both in in vitro and in in vivo conditions. Such parameters were analyzed at 4 and 25 °C, and at 15 and 30 days after their elaboration. Nanodiasomes showed a particle size of 128 nm that was maintained over time inside the ± 10% of deviation, unless after 30 days of storage at 25 °C. Something similar occurred with the initial zeta potential value, 35.2 mV, being both formulations more stable at 4 °C. The incorporation of nanodiamonds into niosomes resulted in a 4-fold increase of transfection efficiency that was maintained over time at 4 and 25 °C. In vivo studies reported high transgene expression of nanodiasomes after subretinal and intravitreal administration in mice, when injected freshly prepared and after 30 days of storage at 4 °C.

Effect of Culture Conditions of Lophocereus marginatus Endophytic Fungi on Yield and Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities.

Culture conditions affect the production of secondary metabolites in endophytic fungi. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the yield and anticancer and antioxidant activity of endophytic fungi extracts from the cactus Lophocereus marginatus, under different culture conditions. The strains Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus versicolor, Metarhizium anisopliae, and Cladosporium sp. were fermented in different culture media (potato dextrose agar, Czapeck broth, and malt broth), types of inoculums (spore or mycelium), and shaking conditions (150 rpm or static) for one week. Methanol extracts were obtained from mycelia, which was followed by determining their yields and evaluating their effect on L5178Y-R murine lymphoma cells growth and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) viability, using the 3-[4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl]2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide reduction colorimetric assay. In addition, antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test. We determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of tumor cell growth inhibition, the selectivity index (SI), and the antioxidant activity, as compared with the healthy cells control. The best yields were obtained with the Czapeck broth medium in all the evaluated strains, reaching values of 50.3%. Of the 48 extracts evaluated, only seven significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited tumor cell growth (IC50 < 250 µg/mL). A. versicolor extract showed the highest anticancer activity, after culturing spores (IC50 = 49.62 µg/mL; SI = 15.8) or mycelium (IC50 = 69.67 µg/mL; SI = 12.2) in malt broth, under static conditions. Extracts did not present significant antioxidant activity. In conclusion, we showed that culture conditions influenced the anticancer activity of L. marginatus endophytic fungi.

Cytotoxicity of Peruvian propolis and Psidium guajava on human gingival fibroblasts, PBMCs and HeLa cells.

It is indisputable that every day it is demonstrated that natural products present diverse therapeutic benefits, which has boosted their incorporation within various products for clinical use. However, this must be accompanied by knowledge of their effect on cell lines to ensure their use is safe. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of two ethanolic extracts based on Peruvian natural products, on three human cell lines. Cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa), human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1 - ATCC CRL-2014) (HGF-1) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured and subsequently treated with preparations of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) and Psidium guajava (EEG) from a concentration of 50 mg/mL to 0.024 mg/mL, by the 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazole bromide reduction assay. At a concentration of 0.24 mg/mL EEG, viability of 99.7±1.24%, 99.8±2.2% and 99.7±2.7% was observed in HeLa, HGF-1 and PBMCs, respectively; >90% cell viability values were observed with EPP at 0.024 mg/mL, with HGF-1 showing the highest viability (96.9±1.15%). A dose-dependent effect was observed for both extracts with a decrease in cell viability as concentrations increased (up to 50 mg/mL). EEP and EEG extracts at low concentrations do not show cytotoxicity in human cell lines, these findings are an advance in the preclinical evaluation on their safety and open a continuity to further studies for their potential applications in dentistry and medicine.

Multicomponent Synthesis of Unsaturated γ-Lactam Derivatives. Applications as Antiproliferative Agents through the Bioisosterism Approach: Carbonyl vs. Phosphoryl Group.

We report efficient synthetic methodologies for the preparation of 3-amino and 3-hydroxy 3-pyrrolin-2-ones (unsaturated γ-lactams) through a multicomponent reaction of amines, aldehydes and acetylene or pyruvate derivatives. The densely substituted γ-lactam substrates show in vitro cytotoxicity, inhibiting the growth of the carcinoma human tumor cell lines RKO (human colon epithelial carcinoma), SKOV3 (human ovarian carcinoma) and A549 (carcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cell). In view of the possibilities for the diversity of the substituents that offer a multicomponent, synthetic methodology, an extensive structure-activity profile is presented. In addition, the bioisosteric replacement of the flat ester group by a tetrahedral phosphonate or phosphine oxide moiety in γ-lactam substrates leads to increased growth inhibition activity. Cell morphology analysis and flow cytometry assays indicate that the main pathway by which our compounds induce cytotoxicity is based on the activation of the intracellular apoptotic mechanism.

Antimicrobial effectiveness of root canal sealers against Enterococcus faecalis.

We evaluated four root canal sealers to determine their antimicrobial effectiveness against E. faecalis. The direct contact test was used to measure the effectiveness of the study materials and close contact between bacteria on the kinetics of bacterial growth. The agar diffusion test (ADT) was also performed for comparison. Using one-way ANOVA and the F-test, significant differences between the sealers were confirmed. Whereas BioRoot endodontic sealer had an antimicrobial effect statistically similar to the zinc oxide-eugenol control (p=.99), EndoSequence sealer and AH Plus sealer both had a significantly lower antimicrobial effect than the control (p=.0000266 and p=.0000068, respectively).

SSEA-4 positive dental pulp stem cells from deciduous teeth and their induction to neural precursor cells.

BACKGROUND: Stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4) is a marker for the identification of multipotent embryonic cells. It is also positive in neuroepithelial cells, precursor neural cells (NPC), and human dental pulp cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential morphodifferentiation and histodifferentiation to NPC of SSEA-4 positive stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). METHODS: A SHED population in culture, positive to SSEA-4, was obtained by magnetic cell separation. The cells were characterized by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Subsequently, a neurosphere assay was performed in a medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF); afterward, cells were neurodifferenciated with a neurobasal medium. Finally, indirect immunohistochemistry was performed to identify neuronal markers. RESULTS: The morphological and histological changes in the SSEA-4 positive SHEDs were observed after induction with epidermal and fibroblast growth factors in neurobasal culture medium. At the end of induction, the markers Nestin, TuJ-1, and GFAP were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that SSEA-4 positive SHEDs have a behavior similar to neuronal precursor cells. Our findings indicate that the dental pulp of deciduous teeth is a promising source for regeneration therapies associated with neurodegenerative diseases or peripheral nerve alterations.

Nanodiamond Integration into Niosomes as an Emerging and Efficient Gene Therapy Nanoplatform for Central Nervous System Diseases.

Nanodiamonds (NDs) are promising materials for gene delivery because of their unique physicochemical and biological features, along with their possibility of combination with other nonviral systems. Our aim was to evaluate the biophysical performance of NDs as helper components of niosomes, named nanodiasomes, to address a potential nonviral gene delivery nanoplatform for therapeutic applications in central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Nanodiasomes, niosomes, and their corresponding complexes, obtained after genetic material addition at different ratios (w/w), were evaluated in terms of physicochemical properties, cellular uptake, intracellular disposition, biocompatibility, and transfection efficiency in HEK-293 cells. Nanodiasomes, niosomes, and complexes fulfilled the physicochemical features for gene therapy applications. Biologically, the incorporation of NDs into niosomes enhanced 75% transfection efficiency (p < 0.001) and biocompatibility (p < 0.05) to values over 90%, accompanied by a higher cellular uptake (p < 0.05). Intracellular trafficking analysis showed higher endocytosis via clathrins (p < 0.05) in nanodiaplexes compared with nioplexes, followed by higher lysosomal colocalization (p < 0.05), that coexisted with endosomal escape properties, whereas endocytosis mediated by caveolae was the most efficient pathway in the case of nanodiaplexes. Moreover, studies in CNS primary cells revealed that nanodiaplexes successfully transfected neuronal and retinal cells. This proof-of-concept study points out that ND integration into niosomes represents an encouraging nonviral nanoplatform strategy for the treatment of CNS diseases by gene therapy.

Antibacterial efficacy of a pH-neutral electrolyzed super-oxidized solution for nonsurgical periodontal treatment.

Objective: Mouthwash is effective in maintaining oral hygiene in patients; however, there is concern that it may adversely affect human oral mucosa. We evaluated a pH-neutral electrolyzed super-oxidized solution (ESS, tradename OxOral®) combined with dental scaling in periodontitis patients. This longitudinal study was conducted with 34 patients divided into three groups. The control group treated with scaling plus saline, the second with scaling plus ESS mouthwash, and another with scaling plus ESS mouthwash and gel. The plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and probing depth (PD) were determined before and after periodontal treatment. Results: The final PI and GI decreased compared with the initial measurements in the three treatment groups (p < 0.05). Scaling plus ESS mouthwash and gel significantly reduced the final PI, GI, and DP compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows the antiseptic properties of ESS with mouthwash and gel. Further studies are needed to verify the results.

Nivel de higiene y prevalencia de Porphyromona gingivalis y Fusobacterium nucleatum en pacientes recuperados de SARS-CoV-2 / Hygiene level and prevalence of Porphyromona gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in recovered SARS-CoV-2 patients

Introducción: El SARS-CoV-2 afecta el sistema respiratorio en diferentes grados. La cavidad oral es el lugar más colonizado por bacterias, por lo tanto, al no tener una adecuada higiene pueden presentarse diferentes enfermedades secundarias, lo que ha causado alerta en el gremio odontológico, ya que puede contribuir a complicaciones posteriores en los pacientes. Material y métodos: El estudio fue conformado por 47 pacientes voluntarios recuperados de SARS-CoV-2, residentes de Montemorelos, Nuevo León, México, donde fueron atendidos en Bucalia Dent, consultorio dental. Después del consentimiento informado de cada paciente, se realizó una historia clínica para conocer los síntomas, enfermedades sistémicas, ausencia de dientes y nivel de inflamación gingival de acuerdo al índice de Loe y Silness. A continuación, se tomó una muestra de biofilm microbiano (placa dentobacteriana), la cual se suspendió en una solución buffer de fosfato, posteriormente fue llevada al Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias de la Salud (CIDICS), Monterrey, N.L, México. Se extrajo DNA y se purificó, después se realizó PCR para detectar los patógenos orales; la PCR se visualizó en gel de agarosa (1.5%) por tinción de bromuro de etidio. Resultados: Se detectó 80.85% Porphyromona gingivalis y 68.09% Fusobacterium nucleatum en pacientes recuperados de SARS-CoV-2; 23.4% presentaron inflamación leve de acuerdo al índice de Loe y Silness, 54.5% fueron masculinos y 45.5% femeninos. Por otro lado, 36.4% de los pacientes con inflamación leve tenían de cuatro a seis dientes ausentes. En estos pacientes se detectó 18.18% únicamente con Fusobacterium nucleatum y 27.27% sólo con Porphyromona gingivalis; el sexo masculino tuvo predisposición en 66.6% y el femenino en 33.33%. Se observó infección con los dos patógenos presentes en 45.45%; y 60% de estos pacientes fueron masculinos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes recuperados de SARSCoV- 2 analizados en esta investigación mostraron mala higiene oral y alta prevalencia de los patógenos mencionados altamente relacionados a inflamación gingival o enfermedad periodontal, lo que nos indica que es indispensable la intervención del odontólogo al finalizar el periodo de infección de cada paciente (AU)

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 affects the respiratory system to different degrees. The oral cavity is a colonized place by bacterias, therefore, by not having good hygiene, different secondary diseases can occur; this has caused an alert in the dental industry, since it can contribute to later complications in patients. Material and methods: The study was conducted in 47 SARS-CoV-2 recovered volunteers from the Montemorelos city of the Nuevo León state, Mexico, who were attended at the Bucalia Dent dental clinic. An informed consent was obtained from each of the patients, then their clinical history was documented in order to know the symptoms, previous systemic diseases, absence of teeth and degree of gingival inflammation, as suggested by Loe and Silness. Subsequently, a dental plaque sample was taken from all patients, which was suspended in a phosphate buffered solution and shipped to The Center for Research and Development in Health Sciences (CIDICS), Monterrey, NL, Mexico for storage. DNA extraction and purification was performed and PCR was carried out for the oral pathogens detection. All PCR products were visualized on 1.5% agarose gel by ethidium bromide staining. Results: Porphyromona gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum were detected in 80.85% and 68.09% of SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients, respectively. 23.4% showed mild inflammation based on the Loe and Silness criteria, 54.5% were male and 45.5% female. On the other hand, 36.4% of patients with mild inflammation had between 4 to 6 missing teeth. A single infection by Fusobacterium nucleatum was detected in 18.18% and by Porphyromona gingivalis in 27.27%; the male sex had a predisposition with 66.66% and 33.33% female; coinfection of both pathogens was observed in 45.45% where 60% were male. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 recovered patients show poor oral hygiene and a high prevalence of oral pathogens related to the development of inflammatory gingival or periodontal disease, this suggests the need for an odontological clinical intervention at the end of the course of infection or disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (AU)

Correlation between Biophysical Properties of Niosomes Elaborated with Chloroquine and Different Tensioactives and Their Transfection Efficiency.

Lipid nanocarriers, such as niosomes, are considered attractive candidates for non-viral gene delivery due to their suitable biocompatibility and high versatility. In this work, we studied the influence of incorporating chloroquine in niosomes biophysical performance, as well as the effect of non-ionic surfactant composition and protocol of incorporation in their biophysical performance. An exhaustive comparative evaluation of three niosome formulations differing in these parameters was performed, which included the analysis of their thermal stability, rheological behavior, mean particle size, dispersity, zeta potential, morphology, membrane packing capacity, affinity to bind DNA, ability to release and protect the genetic material, buffering capacity and ability to escape from artificially synthesized lysosomes. Finally, in vitro biological studies were, also, performed in order to determine the compatibility of the formulations with biological systems, their transfection efficiency and transgene expression. Results revealed that the incorporation of chloroquine in niosome formulations improved their biophysical properties and the transfection efficiency, while the substitution of one of the non-ionic surfactants and the phase of addition resulted in less biophysical variations. Of note, the present work provides several biophysical parameters and characterization strategies that could be used as gold standard for gene therapy nanosystems evaluation.

Clay Minerals as Bioink Ingredients for 3D Printing and 3D Bioprinting: Application in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine.

The adaptation and progress of 3D printing technology toward 3D bioprinting (specifically adapted to biomedical purposes) has opened the door to a world of new opportunities and possibilities in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this regard, 3D bioprinting allows for the production of tailor-made constructs and organs as well as the production of custom implants and medical devices. As it is a growing field of study, currently, the attention is heeded on the optimization and improvement of the mechanical and biological properties of the so-called bioinks/biomaterial inks. One of the strategies proposed is the use of inorganic ingredients (clays, hydroxyapatite, graphene, carbon nanotubes and other silicate nanoparticles). Clays have proven to be useful as rheological and mechanical reinforcement in a wide range of fields, from the building industry to pharmacy. Moreover, they are naturally occurring materials with recognized biocompatibility and bioactivity, revealing them as optimal candidates for this cutting-edge technology. This review deals with the use of clays (both natural and synthetic) for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine through 3D printing and bioprinting. Despite the limited number of studies, it is possible to conclude that clays play a fundamental role in the formulation and optimization of bioinks and biomaterial inks since they are able to improve their rheology and mechanical properties, thus improving printability and construct resistance. Additionally, they have also proven to be exceptionally functional ingredients (enhancing cellular proliferation, adhesion, differentiation and alignment), controlling biodegradation and carrying/releasing actives with tissue regeneration therapeutic activities.