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Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Controlled prospective studies and randomized clinical studies have shown that inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, and that a chronic inflammatory systemic reaction increases the risk of cardiovascular, and cerebrovascular attacks. In recent years, many researchers have focused on defining a correlation between cardiovascular and periodontal diseases. The aim of the present study was to observe the effects of periodontal causal therapy on the level of specific inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and interIeukin-6 (IL-6) levels, before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy. A total of 64 patients were enrolled in the present study. Among these, 26 patients were affected by cardiovascular disease and periodontal disease, (MCV-Perio test group), whereas 38 patients were only affected by cardiovascular disease, without periodontal disease, (MCV control group). The MCV-Perio group was then sub-divided into two additional groups: Treated MCV-Perio test group, treated with non-surgical phase I periodontal therapy; Not-Treated MCV-Perio test group, not treated with any periodontal therapy. A comprehensive periodontal treatment was carried out at baseline. The non-surgical therapy treatment was conceived according to Full Mouth Therapy (FMT) treatment protocol, consisting of various phases delivered in a very short time. Blood samples were collected at baseline and re-evaluated in order to assess periodontal and inflammation marker changes. All values were registered as an average ± standard deviation (x ± SD) and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used. It is interesting to observe that the serum concentrations of IL-6 and hs-CRP were higher in the group with cardiovascular and periodontal disease compared to the group with cardiovascular disease alone. Non-surgical periodontal treatment determined a dramatic improvement in the levels of the systemic inflammatory markers. The results of the present study show that non-surgical periodontal therapy performed according to the Full Mouth Therapy protocol may prove beneficial in reducing the levels of inflammatory markers typically associated with heart disease. Because the two pathologies share a certain number of common risk factors, this may be a hindrance in the correct interpretation of the results. Therefore, further evidence, represented preferably with a randomized controlled clinical design is necessary to interpret the results correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somma F, Castagnola R, Lajolo C, Paternò Holtzman L, Marigo L. In vivo accuracy of three electronic root canal length measurement devices: Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex II. International Endodontic Journal, 45, 552-556, 2012. Abstract Aim To compare in vivo three different electronic root canal length measurement devices: Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex II. Methodology Thirty single-rooted permanent teeth scheduled for extraction because of periodontal disease were selected from 10 adult patients (ranging from 45 to 67 years) and divided into three groups of 10 teeth. Before the extraction, an access cavity was prepared and the crown was adjusted to establish a stable reference point for all measurements. The working length in Group 1 was determined using the Dentaport ZX apex locator. A K-file with the largest diameter that could reach the last green bar on the screen was stabilized in the canal using a dual-curable flow resin composite. The same procedure was used for the Raypex 5 (the file reached the last yellow bar) and Propex II (0.0 orange bar) apex locators. The teeth were then extracted and cleared. The distance between the tip of the file and the major foramen was then calculated for each tooth using digital photography according to Axiovision AC software (Carl Zeiss). Positive values were assigned when the file tip passed beyond the major foramen, negative values when the tip was short of the foramen and zero value when the file tip and the foramen coincided. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test ( P ≤ 0.05). Results Dentaport ZX, Raypex 5 and ProPex ΙΙ produced, respectively, 6, 2 and 4 out of 10 correct measurements, 0, 6 and 5 long measurements and 4, 2, and 1 short measurements. The differences between the three electronic root canal length measurement devices were not significant ( P = 0.507). Conclusions Under the in vivo conditions of this study, the three electronic root canal length measurement devices were not significantly different in terms of locating the major foramen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]