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Purpose. To identify potential antigenic targets for Porphyromonas gingivalis vaccine development. Materials and methods. In the present study, we analyzed the Porphyromonas gingivalis, fimA type II primary amino acid sequence and characterized the similarity to the human proteome at the pentapeptide level. Results. We found that exact peptide-peptide profiling of the fimbrial antigen versus the human proteome shows that only 19 out of 344 fimA type II pentapeptides are uniquely owned by the bacterial protein. Conclusions. The concept that protein immunogenicity is allocated in rare peptide sequences and the search the Porphyromonas gingivalis fimA type II sequence for peptides unique to the bacterial protein and absent in the human host, might be used in new therapeutical approaches as a significant adjunct to current periodontal therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease of skin and mucous membranes. Approximately 20% of women with oral lichen planus develops lesions in the genital mucosa. In 1982, Pelisse described a special form of lichen planus (LP), which consists of a triad of symptoms: vulval, vaginal and gingival (VVG)-LP lesions. Aim of the present report is to report two new cases and review the international literature. Material and methods. Two cases of VVG-LP are reported and a review of recent literature is performed. Results. The onset of erosive or ulcerative mouth lesions may precede or follow by months or even years the onset of vulvovaginal lesions. Vaginal agglutination is associated with the postmenopausal state in conjunction with a dermatologic condition. Intra-lesional corticosteroids have a role in localized chronic ulceration, while systemic therapies such as corticosteroids, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, hydroxychloroquine, ciclosporin, methotrexate, retinoids, thalidomide and photo chemotherapy have been used in more severe cases with varying success. Conclusions. VVG-LP is rather a rare condition and has been documented in the literature mainly in the form of case reports. Lack of a precise diagnostic criteria of VVG-LP depends on the specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Rebuilding atrophied alveolar ridges can present a significant challenge. There is a multitude of treatment options including guided bone regeneration, onlay block grafting, and distraction osteogenesis. Positioning of dental implants can be placed in an immediate or delayed fashion. An advantage of placing implants immediately is that the patient's treatment course is shortened as well as the potential for maintaining soft tissue is present. Methods. The recent FDA approval of recombinant human bone morphogenic protein (rhBMP-2) has given clinicians an added treatment option for reconstructing localized alveolar defects. Several patients have been treated with dental implant and rhBMP-2 and the results were recorded by clinical and radiological exams. Results. The potential to reconstruct these challenging defects with a growth factor thus limiting or even avoiding a secondary harvest site is exciting. We describe our experience with the use of implants and bone morphogenic protein together. This study presents excellent results about the combination of using dental implants and growth factor for treating substantial bone defects. Conclusion. Our goal was to clinically evaluate the potential of a purpose designed titanium porous-oxide dental implant surface combined with rhBMP-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Aim of this work is to show the effectiveness of a protocol involving the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a grafting material in bone regeneration before dental implant rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 127 patients, requiring maxillary sinus lift, were enrolled in a follow- up study plan, which established clinical and radiological examinations on the day after surgery and six months later. PRP, in combination with autogenous bone, anorganic bone material and organic bone substitutes, was used before implant-prosthetic rehabilitation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: After implant placement, 63 patients, previously treated with PRP, reached a statistically significant improvement in implant-prosthetic rehabilitation, established by primary stability and radiographic integration criteria, in comparison with the other 64 patients receiving implant-prosthetic rehabilitation without PRP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]