[Neutrophil function and microbial associations in rapidly progressing periodontitis and chronic periodontitis in the adult]. / Funzionalità dei neutrofili e associazioni microbiche nella parodontite rapidamente progressiva e nella parodontite cronica dell'adulto.

Our study was focused on the functional characteristics of neutrophil leukocytes (PMN) and the subgingival microflora in two different forms of periodontal disease: 1) adult periodontitis (AP); 2) rapidly progressive periodontitis (RPP). Our study dealt with the functional characteristics of neutrophil leukocytes in the gingival fluid and in the peripheral blood. These were found markedly reduced in the RPP group, while, in the AP group, they were comparable to those of a healthy control group. No difference between local and systemic values was detected. Moreover, some samples of subgingival plaque were taken from two groups of patients, affected by AP and RPP respectively. The above samples showed a predominance of Gram-negative flora over Gram-positive flora, and of anaerobic flora over the aerobic one, and the predominance of specific pathogens in each of the two forms of periodontal disease. The subgingival plaque samples taken at the end of the periodontal treatment from five out of ten patients affected by RPP showed inverse ratios, as well as the absence of the previously detected pathogens. The findings underline the relevance of tests of leukocytes functionality and that of microbiological analysis to allow correct diagnosis of dubious forms of periodontal disease and the checking of the posttreatment results.

[Laser in periodontology: theoretical-experimental approach. 2. The laser and biostimulation: hypothesis of the physico-biological mechanism of action]. / Il laser in parodontologia: approccio teorico-sperimentale. Nota II--Laser e biostimolazione: iptesi sul meccanismo d'azione fisico-biologico.

The Authors describe the physical principles regulating interaction between laser beam and living matter. Then they review the biological assumptions that explain the clinical effects on latest experimental data.

[Laser in periodontology: theoretical-experimental approach. 3. Experimental study of the effects of He-Ne (638 nm) and infrared diodic (904 nm) lasers on the gingival mucosa of rats]. / Il laser in parodontologia: approccio teorico-sperimentale. Nota III--Studio sperimentale sugli effetti dei lasers He-Ne (638 nm) e infrarosso diodico (904 nm) sulla mucosa gengivale di ratto.

Medical and surgical laser-therapy is becoming more and more important in various branches of Medicine, however independently from clinical results still very little is known about physical-biological interaction between laser beam and living matter. The aim of this study is of finding tissutal and cellular effects of stimulation with soft and mid laser. The study started from an original work carried out at the Institute of Biology of the 1st Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Naples University from which appears the possibility of visualizing the stage of nuclear active synthesis of the cell, simply by Maloory tricromic colouring. By this method the cellular nucleuses take, usually, a red colour, however in presence of an increase of the RNA nuclear synthesis the nucleuses take a typical blue colour. The importance of the study induced us to research the presence in the oral mucose of the rat after radiation as an effect of biostimulation. The results of this study showed and increase of the epithelial cheratine and a variation of the disposition and of the number of the precheratine grains in treated site. The blue nucleuses have been found at the basal level without any difference between treated and control site. On the other hand their presence is the normal consequence of the epithelial evolution which starts from the basal level which is the most active in the stage of nuclear synthesis.

[Chlorhexidine gel for control of subgingival bacterial plaque: experimental microbiological evaluation]. / Il gel di clorexidina nel controllo della placca batterica subgengivale: valutazione sperimentale microbiologica.

The Authors studies effects of chlorexidine gel 1% on subgingival microbial flora in a group of periodontal patients. Microbial findings appear to demonstrate some activity of chlorexidine gel 1%.

[Role of the PMN in periodontal disease. Study of a clinical case]. / Il ruolo dei PMN nella malattia parodontale. Studio di un caso clinico.

The Authors examine PMN's morphofunctional characteristic and show PMN's role in establishing periodontal disease. Then they show a clinical case of Rapidly Progressive Periodontitis in a patient with neutrophil function alteration.

[Diagnosis of the active phase of periodontal disease. 2. Non-clinical parameters]. / Diagnosi di fase attiva della malattia parodontale. Nota II: Parametri non clinici.

A review of the Literature shows that a lat of (non-clinical) umoral markers have been suggested as indicators of periodontal disease activity. The advantage of simultaneous evaluation of different markers to obtain a profile of local disease activity has been highlighted in this work as an approach that may provide an usefull picture of the local destructive disease.

[Diagnosis of the active phase of periodontal disease. 1. Clinical parameters]. / Diagnosi di fase attiva della malattia parodontale. Nota I: Parametri clinici.

Review of the literature shows that the common clinical parameters used in practice are inaccurate in assessing periodontal disease activity. Radiographs and probings are, instead, relatively accurate in retrospectively assessing periodontal disease activity. Currently more sophisticated radiographic techniques are being developed to diagnose ongoing periodontal disease activity.