Hyaluronic acid on collagen membranes: An experimental study in rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the structure and degradation patterns of BioGide® and OsseoGuard™ collagen membranes. HA mediates inflammation and acts in cell migration, adhesion, and differentiation, benefitting tissue remodeling and vascularization. These are desirable effects in guided regeneration procedures, but it is still unknown whether HA alters the barrier properties of absorbable membranes. DESIGN: Bone defects were created in the calvaria of rats, which were treated with HA gel 1% (HA group) or simply filled with blood clot (control group), and covered with BioGide® or OsseoGuard™. The animals were euthanized after 1, 30, and 60days, and their calvarias were processed for histological analysis. RESULTS: BioGide®, in both HA and control groups, showed vascularization, intense cell colonization, bone formation, and tissue integration at 30 and 60days. In contrast, Osseoguard™ presented minimal cellular colonization, and inflammatory reaction associated to foreign body reaction in both time points and groups. The HA group of BioGide® showed higher cell colonization (574.9±137.6) than the control group (269.1±70.83) at 60days (p<0.05). Despite this finding, the structure and degradation pattern were similar for BioGide® and Osseoguard™ in the HA and control groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that HA did not interfere with tissue integration and structural degradation of BioGide® and Osseoguard™ membranes.

Periodontal therapy and risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Periodontitis has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Results from intervention studies are few and controversial. The present study assessed the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment in the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Two hundred forty-six eligible women were randomly divided into two groups: periodontitis intervention (n = 122; undergoing non-surgical treatment during gestation) and periodontitis control (n = 124; not treated during gestation). Univariate analysis was performed and estimates of relative risk were reported. Data from 225 women were analyzed. No differences for preterm birth (p = 0.721), low birth weight (p = 0.198), and preterm low birth weight (p = 0.732) rates were observed. Relative risk estimates for preterm birth, low birth weight, and preterm low birth weight in the periodontitis intervention group were 0.915 (95% CI 0.561-1.493), 0.735 (95% CI 0.459-1.179), and 0.927 (0.601-1.431), respectively. Non-surgical periodontal treatment during the second semester of gestation did not reduce the risk for preterm birth, low birth weight, and preterm low birth weight.