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Simona Santonocito, Alessandro Polizzi, Giuseppe Palazzo, Francesco Indelicato, Gaetano Isola Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Catania, ItalyCorrespondence: Gaetano IsolaUnit of Periodontology, Department of General Surgery and Surgical-Medical Specialties, School of Dentistry, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 78, Catania, 95123, ItalyTel/Fax +390953782453Email gaetano.isola@unict.itAbstract: In the last few decades, growing evidence have shown a possible impact of diet and nutrients on oral health. This review aims to describe, in the light of current knowledge, the role of diet, nutrients, and micronutrients in periodontal health and periodontal diseases. A variety of macronutrients and micronutrients could have an impact on periodontal health. The balanced intake of unprocessed complex carbohydrates, vegetable proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins positively affects periodontal inflammation. On the other way, refined carbohydrates, non-vegetable proteins, proinflammatory saturated fatty acids and an unbalanced supply of vitamins and minerals may increase periodontal inflammation. This review will discuss the current evidence that shows how a healthy and balanced diet has anti-inflammatory and protective effects on periodontal health. Therefore, it appears that adopting a correct lifestyle and diet should be encouraged in patients with oral and periodontal disease.Keywords: periodontitis, nutrition, diet, macronutrients, micronutrients, oral health

This narrative review aims to update the current evidence and offer insight into the new non-invasive ultrasound techniques used to early identify degenerative vascular changes in subjects with periodontitis and to investigate if these methodologies could be useful to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) dysfunction in periodontitis patients and to monitor changes in CVD risk after periodontal treatment.

Objective: To examine the impact of fluocinonide 0.05% gel formulation for the topical treatment of oral lichen planus (OLP)., Methods: Through an RCT design, 47 patients with OLP were randomly allocated for topical OLP treatment with fluocinonide 0.05% (n = 23) or placebo (n = 24). Patients were examined for OLP symptoms, signs, disease severity, and extension score changes over 6-month follow-up., Results: After 6 months, in comparison with placebo, patients treated with fluocinonide experienced a significant reduction of OLP symptoms (p = 0.024), signs (p = 0.014), and OLP extension score (p = 0.028). The two-way ANOVA estimation models revealed that treatment with fluocinonide determined, at 6 months, a positive significant effect on the reduced OLP signs (p = 0.017), OLP symptoms (p = 0.026), and OLP extension score (p = 0.028). The multivariate regression analysis highlighted that anxiety, stress, and depression were significant predictors of every analyzed OLP outcome (p < 0.05 for each parameter) and that patients who had baseline anxiety, depression, and stress gained more benefits from fluocinonide at 6-month follow-up., Conclusions: Topical fluocinonide 0.05% was more efficacious compared to placebo in reducing OLP outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Anxiety, depression, and stress were significant predictors of OLP outcomes and positively impacted the treatment with fluocinonide at 6 months., (© 2024 The Author(s). Oral Diseases published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aim: This study evaluated the efficacy of quadrantwise subgingival instrumentation (Q-SI) versus one-stage full-mouth subgingival instrumentation (FM-SI) on probing depth and periodontal pathogen reduction over a 6-month follow-up period, as well as whether baseline periodontal pathogens influenced the impact of periodontal treatment protocols on outcomes., Methods: Patients with periodontitis were randomized to receive Q-SI (n = 43) or FM-SI (n = 45). Patients were instructed and motivated to maintain optimal oral hygiene during the treatment sessions. Clinical (probing pocket depth [PPD], clinical attachment loss [CAL], and bleeding on probing [BOP]) and periodontal pathogens were assessed at baseline and after 30, 90, and 180 days. Total bacterial load and periodontal pathogens were analysed via real-time PCR., Results: At the 6-month follow-up, the median PPD decreased from 4.8 mm (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.3-5.2) to 2.6 mm (IQR: 2.3-2.9) in FM-SI patients and from 4.7 mm (IQR: 4.1-5.2) to 3.2 mm (IQR: 2.4-3.5) in Q-SI patients (p < .001). At 6 months, FM-SI was more effective at reducing the median proportions of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinocomyctemcomitans, and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) (p < .001 for each value). Multilevel linear regression analysis demonstrated that high baseline PPD (p = .029), Pg (p = .014), and Tf (p < .001) levels and the FM-SI protocol (p < .001) were statistically significant predictors of PPD reduction at 6 months. Furthermore, PPD reduction was significantly greater in the FM-SI group when lower baseline Pg levels were detected., Conclusion: The FM-SI was more effective than the Q-SI in reducing the mean PPD and number of periodontal pathogens in periodontitis patients over a 6-month follow-up period. Higher baseline PPD and Pg levels had a negative impact on PPD reduction at 6 months after FM-SI., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: The present study evaluated the oral tissue expression of micro-RNA (miRNAs) linked to the potential malignant evolution of oral lichen planus (OLP). Furthermore, the correlation between OLP severity and miRNAs expression was assessed, and possible predictors of miRNAs in OLP patients were identified., Methods: The present study enrolled 41 patients with OLP (median age 58 years) and 42 healthy controls (median age 59 years). In each patient, miRNA levels (miR-7a-3p,-7a2-3p,-7a-5p,-21-3p,-21-5p,-100-3p,-100-5p,-125b-2-3p,-125b-5p,-200b-3p,-200b-5p) were assessed and analyzed through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical parameters and the eventual presence of OLP symptoms, signs, and disease severity scores in each patient were reported using an anamnestic questionnaire., Results: In comparison with healthy controls, OLP patients showed significantly higher miR-7a-3p,-7a-2-3p,-21-3p, miR-21-5p and miR-100-5p levels (p < 0.05) and significantly lower miR-125b-2-3p,-125b-5p,-200b-3p, and -200b-5p levels (p < 0.05). Furthermore, OLP symptoms and signs and disease severity scores were significantly correlated and were also predictors of all analyzed miRNAs (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: In comparison with healthy subjects, OLP patients exhibited unbalanced oral miRNAs expression linked to the risk of potential malignant evolution of OLP. Furthermore, some miRNAs were correlated with OLP extent and were significant predictors of OLP symptoms, signs, and disease severity scores., (© 2023 The Authors. Oral Diseases published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease that affects the periodontium and overall oral health and is primarily caused by a dysbiotic gingival biofilm, which includes, among others, Gram-negative bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis , Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans , and Tannerella forsythensis that colonize gingival tissues and that can lead, if not properly treated, to periodontal tissue destruction and tooth loss. In the last few decades, several large-scale epidemiological studies have evidenced that mild and severe forms of periodontitis are strictly bilaterally associated with several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), stroke, and endothelial dysfunction. Specifically, it is hypothesized that patients with severe periodontitis would have compromised endothelial function, a crucial step in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and several CVD forms. In this regard, it was postulated that periodontal treatment would ameliorate endothelial dysfunction, hence bolstering the notion that therapeutic approaches targeted at diminishing cardiovascular risk factors and different forms of periodontal treatment could improve several CVD biomarker outcomes in the short- and long-term in CVD patients. The aim of this review is to update and analyze the link between periodontitis and CVD, focusing on the inflammatory nature of periodontitis and its correlation with CVD, the effects of periodontal therapy on endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress, and the impact of such therapy on CVD biomarkers and outcomes. The article also discusses future research directions in this field., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is considered one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the cervix and head and neck. Manifestations of HPV infections can be manifold, ranging from asymptomatic infections to benign or potentially malignant lesions to intraepithelial neoplasms and invasive carcinomas. The heterogeneity of clinical manifestations from HPV infection depends on the interactions between the viral agent and the host, a direct consequence of the ability on the part of HPV is to remain silent and to evade and convey the action of the host immune system. The oral mucosa represents one of the tissues for which HPV has a distinct tropism and is frequently affected by infection. While much information is available on the role that HPV infection plays in the development of SCC in the oral cavity, there is less information on asymptomatic infections and benign HPV-induced oral lesions. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to analyze, in light of current knowledge, the early clinical and bio-humoral prognostic features related to the risk of HPV malignant transformation, focusing on subclinical conditions, benign lesions, and the correlation between oral infection and infection in other districts. The data show that the main risk associated with HPV infection is related to malignant transformation of lesions. Although HPV-driven OPSCC is associated with a better prognosis than non-HPV-driven OPSCC, primary prevention and early detection of the infection and affected genotype are essential to reduce the risk of malignant neoplastic complications and improve the prognosis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

The regeneration of periodontal bone defects continues to be an essential therapeutic concern in dental biomaterials. Numerous biomaterials have been utilized in this sector so far. However, the immune response and vascularity in defect regions may be disregarded when evaluating the effectiveness of biomaterials for bone repair. Among several regenerative treatments, the most recent technique of in situ tissue engineering stands out for its ability to replicate endogenous restorative processes by combining scaffold with particular growth factors. Regenerative medicine solutions that combine biomaterials/scaffolds, cells, and bioactive substances have attracted significant interest, particularly for bone repair and regeneration. Dental stem cells (DSCs) share the same progenitor and immunomodulatory properties as other types of MSCs, and because they are easily isolable, they are regarded as desirable therapeutic agents in regenerative dentistry. Recent research has demonstrated that DSCs sown on newly designed synthetic bio-material scaffolds preserve their proliferative capacity while exhibiting increased differentiation and immuno-suppressive capabilities. As researchers discovered how short peptide sequences modify the adhesion and proliferative capacities of scaffolds by activating or inhibiting conventional osteogenic pathways, the scaffolds became more effective at priming MSCs. In this review, the many components of tissue engineering applied to bone engineering will be examined, and the impact of biomaterials on periodontal regeneration and bone cellular biology/molecular genetics will be addressed and updated.

Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune-based bullous disease affecting the mucous membranes, mainly oral and ocular. One of the most common clinical manifestations is desquamative gingivitis (DG), characterized by intense symptoms and functional limitations. The dentist is among the first specialists to observe DG and, therefore, must be able to diagnose it. In this regard, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a clinical protocol for the topical management of patients with DG and MMP buccal lesions. Thirteen patients with clinical and histologic diagnoses of MMP-localized DG in the oral cavity were retrospectively enrolled. Each patient received topical treatment with clobetasol propionate oral gel 0.05%; nicotinamide; oral probiotic (contains Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 , Kluyveromyces marxianus fragilis B0399 , colostrum, and biotin); and doxycycline. Before and after 3 months of therapy, clinic records were collected for each patient. Seven patients (53.8%) had a complete response to treatment; four patients (30.8%) had a partial response to treatment; and, finally, two patients (15.4%) had no benefit from therapy. Dental management of patients presenting solely with oral manifestations of MMP may involve the use of topical corticosteroids, doxycycline, vitamin supplements, and probiotics and associating professional oral hygiene procedures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests with regard to authorship and/or publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Simona Santonocito et al.)

Background: CVCs are defined 'complex' when they are inserted through non-conventional accesses or positioned in non-usual sites or substituted by IR endovascular procedures. We report our experience in using diagnostic and interventional radiology techniques for complex CVC insertion and management; we recommend some precautions and techniques that could lead to long-term availability of central venous access and to avoid non-conventional sites CVC insertion., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 617 patients, between January 2010 and December 2019, (mean age 71 ± 13; male 448/617), treated in our department for insertion of tunnelled CVC for haemodialysis., Results: Among 617 patients, 241 cases (39%) are considered 'complex' because they required either a PTA with or without stenting to restore/maintain venous access or had an unusual positioning site or required unconventional access. A direct correlation between CT angiography and PTA ( r = 0.95; p -value <0.001) and an inverse correlation between CT angiography and unconventional 'rescue' access ( r = -0.92; p -value <0.001) were found., Conclusions: Precise pre-operative planning of treatment in a multidisciplinary setting and diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures knowledge allows reducing complex catheterisms in haemodialysis patient., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: N-terminal portion of the B-type natriuretic propeptide (NT-proBNP) has potentially been shown to play an important role in the development of periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated the efficacy of periodontal treatment on NT-proBNP and related CVD biomarkers and explored whether subjects harboring high NT-proBNP at baseline showed increased clinical benefits with the non-surgical periodontal treatment performed with full-mouth scaling and root planing (FM-SRP) at 6-month follow-up., Methods: Forty-eight patients with stage III periodontitis were randomized to receive minimal standard oral care (SOC) (n = 24) or FM-SRP (n = 24) protocol. Clinical periodontal parameters (probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing), serum NT-proBNP, α1-antitrypsin, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ECM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations were assessed at baseline and at 1-, 3-, and 6- month follow-up., Results: At 6 months, FM-SRP was more effective than SOC in reducing periodontal parameters and mean proportions of NT-proBNP (p = 0.004), hs-CRP (p = 0.003), α1-antitrypsin (p = 0.012), ECM-1 (p = 0.014), and NGAL (p = 0.045). At 6-month follow-up, the reduced NT-proBNP, α1-antitrypsin, hs-CRP, ECM-1, and NGAL levels were significantly correlated with the extent of periodontitis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the analysis of variance analysis evidenced that, at 6-month follow-up, FM-SRP significantly impacted the reduction of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, ECM-1, and NGAL. Moreover, high levels of NT-proBNP, hs-CRP, ECM-1, and NGAL at baseline significantly influenced the efficacy of periodontal treatment positively., Conclusion: In this study, FM-SRP was more effective than SOC in reducing clinical variables and NT-proBNP levels, although subjects who harbored high NT-proBNP concentrations at baseline showed greater clinical benefits of periodontal treatment at 6-month follow-up., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Periodontology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Academy of Periodontology.)

Objectives: The present study aims to assess the serum circulating cell-free (cfDNA) concentrations in patients with periodontitis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to evaluate the impact of periodontitis on circulating cfDNA levels and the confounding factors that might mediated the possible relationship., Materials and Methods: Healthy controls (n=30) and patients with CVD (n=31), periodontitis (n=31), and periodontitis + CVD (n=30) were enrolled in the present study. All subjects underwent regular periodontal examination and blood sampling and cfDNA evaluation. The analysis of the plasma cfDNA concentrations was performed using a dsDNA Assay Kit., Results: In comparison with healthy controls and CVD patients, periodontitis and periodontitis+CVD exhibited significantly higher expression of circulating cfDNA (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation among plasma cfDNA and clinical attachment loss (CAL) (p=0.019), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (p=0.027), and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) (p=0.003). Furthermore, the multivariate regression analysis evidenced that PISA (p<0.001), hs-CRP (p=0.014), and full-mouth bleeding score (FMBS) (p=0.004) were significant predictors of circulating cfDNA concentrations., Conclusions: The results of the study highlighted that the periodontitis and periodontitis + CVD group showed higher circulating cfDNA expression in comparison with healthy controls and CVD patients. Moreover, the extent of periodontitis was correlated with the increased cfDNA levels and represented a significant predictor of the increased circulating cfDNA concentrations., Clinical Relevance: Unbalanced circulating cfDNA concentrations have been indicated to represent a possible risk of CVD and endothelial dysfunction. Periodontitis and periodontitis + CVD patients showed higher circulating cfDNA expression; moreover, the extent of periodontitis significantly predicted higher circulating cfDNA concentrations, suggesting the potential increased risk of developing CVD in periodontitis patients., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Oral leukoplakia is a predominantly white lesion of the oral mucosa that cannot be classified as any other definable lesion with the risk of progressing into malignancy. Despite the advancements in conventional therapy, the rates of malignant transformation remain notably high, affecting 4.11% of adults, due to the difficulty of accurate diagnosis and indistinct treatment. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), being a minimally invasive surgical intervention, employs a variety of factors, including light, nano-photosensitizers (PSs) and oxygen in the management of precancerous lesions. PDT faces limitations in administering photosensitizers (PSs) because of their low water solubility. However, these challenges could be effectively resolved through the incorporation of PSs in nanostructured drug delivery systems, such as gold nanoparticles, micelles, liposomes, metal nanoparticles, dendrimers and quantum dots. This review will give an overview of the different innovative PS approaches in the management of premalignant lesions, highlighting the most recent advancements. From a clinical perspective, it is expected that nanotechnology will overcome barriers faced by traditional therapeutics and will address critical gaps in clinical cancer care.

Cardiovascular diseases represent the primary worldwide cause of mortality, and periodontitis is the main cause of tooth loss. The incidence of atherosclerotic disease has been reported to be higher in individuals affected by periodontitis than in individuals without, regardless of many common risk factors are present. Various pathogenetic models have been presented to clarify the close correlation between these two diseases. First, periodontal bacteria and their toxins can enter the circulation both during dental procedures and normal activities such as eating and teeth brushing. Periodontal bacteria may indirectly contribute to coronary artery disease (e.g., by causing immunological reactions) or directly by damaging coronary arteries. Periodontal treatment significantly reduces periodontal pathogens such as Porphyromonas gingivalis ( Pg ) or Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans ( Aa ) in deep periodontal pockets. Moreover, periodontal treatment may lower blood inflammatory mediators, enhance the lipid profile, and cause favourable changes in various surrogate markers for cardiovascular disease. The way in which oral bacteremia and periodontal inflammation cause atherosclerosis is still unclear and needs further studies. The real effectiveness of periodontal treatment in preventing cardiovascular events is a topic of current interest. In this regard, this review article explores new insights and provides an indication of future directions on the function of periodontal inflammation and oral bacteria in the incidence and progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, with the main focus on assessing the impact of periodontal treatment on cardiovascular disease outcome biomarkers., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Alessandro Polizzi, Simona Santonocito and Gaetano Isola are serving as the Guest editors of this journal. We declare that Alessandro Polizzi, Simona Santonocito and Gaetano Isola had no involvement in the peer review of this article and have no access to information regarding its peer review. Full responsibility for the editorial process for this article was delegated to Vincent Figueredo., (Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Periodontitis is a persistent inflammation of the soft tissue around the teeth that affects 60% of the population in the globe. The self-maintenance of the inflammatory process can cause periodontal damage from the alveolar bone resorption to tooth loss in order to contrast the effects of periodontitis, the main therapy used is scaling and root planing (SRP). At the same time, studying the physiopathology of periodontitis has shown the possibility of using a local drug delivery system as an adjunctive therapy. Using local drug delivery devices in conjunction with SRP therapy for periodontitis is a potential tool since it increases drug efficacy and minimizes negative effects by managing drug release. This review emphasized how the use of local drug delivery agents and natural agents could be promising adjuvants for the treatment of periodontitis patients affected or not by cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other system problems. Moreover, the review evidences the current issues and new ideas that can inspire potential later study for both basic research and clinical practice for a tailored approach., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s), 2023.)

Background: During the last decades, in patients with periodontitis, periodontal treatment has been shown to reduce the potential release of local and systemic biomarkers linked to an early risk of systemic inflammatory disorders. This study evaluated the efficacy of non-surgical-periodontal treatment (NSPT) on growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) and related circulating biomarkers such as glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx-1), c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and surfactant protein D (SP-D) in periodontal patients and explored whether subjects who had high GDF-15 levels at baseline showed increased clinical benefits following NSPT at 6-months follow-up., Methods: For this two-arm, parallel randomized clinical trial, patients with periodontitis were randomly allocated to receive quadrant scaling and root-planing (Q-SRP, n = 23, median age 51 years old) or full-mouth disinfection (FMD, n = 23, median age 50 years old) treatment. Clinical and periodontal parameters were recorded in all enrolled patients. The primary outcome was to analyse serum concentrations changes of GDF-15 and of GPx-1, hs-CRP, and SP-D at baseline and at 30, 90, and 180-days follow-up after NSPT through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nephelometric assay techniques., Results: In comparison with FMD, patients of the Q-SRP group showed a significant improvement in clinical periodontal parameters (p < 0.05) and a reduction in the mean levels of GDF-15 (p = 0.005), hs-CRP (p < 0.001), and SP-D (p = 0.042) and an increase of GPx-1 (p = 0.025) concentrations after 6 months of treatment. At 6 months of treatment, there was a significant association between several periodontal parameters and the mean concentrations of GDF-15, GPx-1, hs-CRP, and SP-D (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Finally, the ANOVA analysis revealed that, at 6 months after treatment, the Q-SRP treatment significantly impacted the reduction of GDF-15 (p = 0.015), SP-D (p = 0.026) and the upregulation of GPx-1 (p = 0.045)., Conclusion: The results evidenced that, after 6 months of treatment, both NSPT protocols improved the periodontal parameters and analyzed biomarkers, but Q-SRP was more efficacious than the FMD approach. Moreover, patients who presented high baseline GDF-15 and SP-D levels benefited more from NSPT at 6-month follow-up., Trial Registration: NCT05720481., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: To describe the current state of the art regarding technological advances in full-automatic tooth segmentation approaches from 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images., Materials and Methods: In March 2023, a search strategy without a timeline setting was carried out through a combination of MeSH terms and free text words pooled through Boolean operators ('AND', 'OR') on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and IEEE Explore. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional and retrospective studies in the English language only were included., Results: The search strategy identified 541 articles, of which 23 have been selected. The most employed segmentation methods were based on deep learning approaches. One article exposed an automatic approach for tooth segmentation based on a watershed algorithm and another article used an improved level set method. Four studies presented classical machine learning and thresholding approaches. The most employed metric for evaluating segmentation performance was the Dice similarity index which ranged from 90 ± 3% to 97.9 ± 1.5%., Conclusions: Thresholding appeared not reliable for tooth segmentation from CBCT images, whereas convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been demonstrated as the most promising approach. CNNs could help overcome tooth segmentation's main limitations from CBCT images related to root anatomy, heavy scattering, immature teeth, metal artifacts and time consumption. New studies with uniform protocols and evaluation metrics with random sampling and blinding for data analysis are encouraged to objectively compare the different deep learning architectures' reliability., Clinical Relevance: Automatic tooth segmentation's best performance has been obtained through CNNs for the different ambits of digital dentistry., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In the last few decades, circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been shown to have an important role in cell apoptosis or necrosis, including in the development and evolution of several tumors and inflammatory diseases in humans. In this regard, periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that can induce the destruction of supporting components of the teeth, could represent a chronic inflammatory stimulus linked to a various range of systemic inflammatory diseases. Recently, a possible correlation between periodontal disease and cfDNA has been shown, representing new important diagnostic-therapeutic perspectives. During the development of periodontitis, cfDNA is released in biological fluids such as blood, saliva, urine and other body fluids and represents an important index of inflammation. Due to the possibility of withdrawing some of these liquids in a non-invasive way, cfDNA could be used as a possible biomarker for periodontal disease. In addition, discovering a proportional relationship between cfDNA levels and the severity of periodontitis, expressed through the disease extent, could open the prospect of using cfDNA as a possible therapeutic target. The aim of this article is to report what researchers have discovered in recent years about circulating cfDNA in the development, evolution and therapy of periodontitis. The analyzed literature review shows that cfDNA has considerable potential as a diagnostic, therapeutic biomarker and therapeutic target in periodontal disease; however, further studies are needed for cfDNA to be used in clinical practice.

During recent years, considerable progress has been made in understanding the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis in its various forms and their interactions with the host. Furthermore, a number of reports have highlighted the importance of oral health and disease in systemic conditions, especially cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In this regard, research has attempted to explain the role of periodontitis in promoting alteration in distant sites and organs. Recently, DNA sequencing studies have revealed how oral infections can occur in distant sites such as the colon, reproductive tissues, metabolic diseases, and atheromas. The objective of this review is to describe and update the emerging evidence and knowledge regarding the association between periodontitis and systemic disease and to analyse the evidence that has reported periodontitis as a risk factor for the development of various forms of systemic diseases in order to provide a better understanding of the possible shared etiopathogenetic pathways between periodontitis and the different forms of systemic diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Gaetano Isola et al.)

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the gums characterized by the degeneration of periodontal ligaments, the formation of periodontal pockets, and the resorption of the alveolar bone, which results in the destruction of the teeth's supporting structure. Periodontitis is caused by the growth of diverse microflora (particularly anaerobes) in the pockets, releasing toxins and enzymes and stimulating the immune system. Various approaches, both local and systemic, have been used to treat periodontitis effectively. Successful treatment depends on reducing bacterial biofilm, bleeding on probing (BOP), and reducing or eliminating pockets. Currently, the use of local drug delivery systems (LDDSs) as an adjunctive therapy to scaling and root planing (SRP) in periodontitis is a promising strategy, resulting in greater efficacy and fewer adverse effects by controlling drug release. Selecting an appropriate bioactive agent and route of administration is the cornerstone of a successful periodontitis treatment plan. In this context, this review focuses on applications of LDDSs with varying properties in treating periodontitis with or without systemic diseases to identify current challenges and future research directions.

Pain is the most common symptom that dentists are confronted with, whether acute (pulpitis, acute periodontitis, post-surgery, etc.) or chronic diseases, such as periodontitis, muscle pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, burning mouth syndrome (BMS), oral lichen planus (OLP) and others. The success of therapy depends on the reduction in and management of pain through specific drugs, hence the need to analyze new pain medications with specific activity, which are suitable for long-term use, with a low risk of side effects and interactions with other drugs, and capable of leading to a reduction in orofacial pain. Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a bioactive lipid mediator, which is synthesized in all tissues of the body as a protective pro-homeostatic response to tissue damage and has aroused considerable interest in the dental field due to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiepileptic, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective activities. It has been observed that PEA could play a role in the management of the pain of orofacial origin, including BMS, OLP, periodontal disease, tongue a la carte and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), as well as in the treatment of postoperative pain. However, actual clinical data on the use of PEA in the clinical management of patients with orofacial pain are still lacking. Therefore, the main objective of the present study is to provide an overview of orofacial pain in its many manifestations and an updated analysis of the molecular pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of PEA to understand its beneficial effects in the management of patients with orofacial pain, both neuropathic and nociceptive in nature. The aim is also to direct research toward the testing and use of other natural agents that have already been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and pain-relieving actions and could offer important support in the treatment of orofacial pain.

Non-surgical approaches have been proposed in the management of mandibular fractures, especially in children, but there is a lack of clear guidelines on the clinical indications of conservative approaches. The aim of this scoping review is to provide the available evidence of the role of the orthodontist in the management of mandibular fractures. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed to select eligible articles from the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases according to precise inclusion criteria. The research questions were formulated as follows: "what is the scientific evidence concerning the rule of orthodontists in the management of mandibular fractures" and "the preferential use of the direct bonding technique with orthodontic brackets rather than rigid arch bars"? Seventeen articles were included. Five articles presented the use of removable acrylic splints or functional appliances, six articles concerned the employment of cemented acrylic or rigid splints, and six articles described the management of mandibular fractures in adults and children using orthodontic brackets or mini-screws. Most of these techniques have been employed in children and growing subjects, while fewer data were available regarding conservative treatments in adults. Preliminary evidence suggests that condylar and some minor parasymphyseal fractures in children may be managed with conservative approaches. In adults, minor condylar and stable body mandibular fractures with minimal displacement have been reduced similarly. However, there are no sufficient elements that could suggest the preferential use of orthodontic brackets over rigid arch bars in adults. Further randomized and non-randomized clinical trials with long follow-ups will be needed to better define the clinical indications of the orthodontic approaches in the management of mandibular fractures based on severity, location, and age.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of two different therapies on oral lichen planus (OLP) treatment through the analysis of OLP symptoms and signs and to analyze the risk of side effects related to the adopted protocols., Methods: Thirty-eight patients with OLP were selected according to van der Meij and van der Waal clinical and histopathological criteria. Through a randomized design, 19 patients received Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment (T group) and 19 an anti-inflammatory mouthwash (M group) composed of calcium hydroxide 10%, hyaluronic acid 0.3%, umbelliferone, and oligomeric proanthocyanidins. The patients were examined on a regular basis for OLP symptoms, signs, and disease severity score changes over a 3-month follow-up period., Results: Both treatments were effective in the reduction of OLP signs and symptoms. However, at 3 months (T3), in comparison with the M group, T group patients showed significantly lower mean values of OLP signs (p = 0.035), symptoms (p = 0.045), and disease severity scores (p = 0.041). Moreover, the Spearman test showed that there was a significant correlation between OLP signs and symptoms at each follow-up session in all patients., Conclusions: Both treatments demonstrated a significant approach to control OLP. However, tacrolimus determined a more effective improvement in OLP signs and symptoms compared to anti-inflammatory mouthwash at 3-month follow-up., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background and Objective: Recent emerging evidence has shown that microRNA (miRNAs) is involved in several epigenetic processes linked with periodontitis, increased oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present study aimed to assess the impact of periodontitis on gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) miRNAs expression associated with CVD risk and to evaluate possible confounders that influenced this association., Materials and Methods: For the present study, healthy controls (n = 28) and subjects with CVD (n = 28), periodontitis (n = 30) and periodontitis + CVD (n = 29) were enrolled. All subjects underwent regular periodontal examinations and blood sampling. In addition, GCF sampling was performed, and miRNAs 7a-5p, 21-3p, 21-5p, 100-5p, 125-5p, 200b-3p, and 200b-5p expression was analyzed using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)., Results: The results showed that periodontitis and periodontitis + CVD subjects presented significantly different GCF miRNAs expression compared to healthy controls and CVD subjects. More specifically, compared to healthy controls and CVD, subjects with periodontitis and periodontitis + CVD showed higher GCF miRNA 7a-5p, miRNA 21-3p, miRNA 21-5p, miRNA 200b-3p, and miRNA 200b-5p (p < .05) and lower miRNA 100-5p, miRNA 125-5p levels (p < .05). Furthermore, the multivariate regression analysis evidenced that periodontitis (miRNA 21-3p, 100-5p) and periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) (miRNA 7a-5p, 21-3p, 21-5p, 100-5p, 125-5p, 200b-3p) were significant predictors of GCF miRNAs concentration (p < .05)., Conclusion: The results of the study highlighted that the periodontitis and periodontitis + CVD group showed higher GCF miRNAs expression than healthy controls and CVD subjects. Furthermore, periodontitis and its extent (PISA) were revealed as significant predictors of GCF miRNAs associated with CVD risk., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Periodontitis is a multifactorial and infective oral disease that leads to the destruction of periodontal tissues and tooth loss. Although the treatment of periodontitis has improved recently, the effective treatment of periodontitis and the periodontitis-affected periodontal tissues is still a challenge. Therefore, exploring new therapeutic strategies for a personalized approach is urgent. For this reason, the aim of this study is to summarize recent advances and the potential of oxidative stress biomarkers in the early diagnosis and personalized therapeutic approaches in periodontitis. Recently, ROS metabolisms (ROMs) have been studied in the physiopathology of periodontitis. Different studies show that ROS plays a crucial role in periodontitis. In this regard, the reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) started to be searched for the measures of the oxidizing capacity of the plasma understood as the total content of oxygen free radicals (ROS). The oxidizing capacity of plasma is a significant indicator of the body's oxidant state as well as homocysteine (Hcy), sulfur amino acid, which has pro-oxidant effects as it favors the production of superoxide anion. More specifically, the thioredoxin (TRX) and peroxiredoxin (PRX) systems control reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide and hydroxyl species, to transduce redox signals and change the activities of antioxidant enzymes to remove free radicals. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), among other antioxidant enzymes, change their activity when ROS are produced in order to neutralize free radicals. The TRX system is triggered and transduces redox signals to do this.

Human body is colonized by a florid microbial community of bacteria, archaea, fungi, protists, helminths, and viruses, known as microbiota, which co-evolves with the host and influences its health through all stages of its life. It is well known that oral microorganisms form highly structurally and functionally organized multi-species biofilms and establish a network of complex mutual inter-species interactions having a primary function in synergy, signaling, or antagonism. This ecological model allows the microorganisms to increase their resistance to antimicrobial agents and settle a balanced microbes-host symbiotic relationship that ensures oral and global health status in humans. The host-associated microbiome is an important factor in human health and disease. Therefore, to develop novel diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive strategies, microbiome's functions and the reciprocal interactions every microbiome entertains with other microbial communities in the human body are being investigated. This review provides an analysis of the literature about the close connection between the two largest microbial communities in humans: the oral and the gut microbiomes. Furthermore, it focuses on how the alteration of their microbial and functional characteristics can lead to and reciprocally influence the onset of both oral and intestinal microbiome-associated illness, along with the potential role of probiotics in ameliorating inflammation and microbial dysbiosis.

Chemical molecules are used by microorganisms to communicate with each other. Quorum sensing is the mechanism through which microorganisms regulate their population density and activity with chemical signaling. The inhibition of quorum sensing, called quorum quenching, may disrupt oral biofilm formation, which is the main etiological factor of oral diseases, including periodontitis. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of infectious etiology involving the hard and soft periodontal tissues and which is related to various systemic disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity. The employment of adjuvant therapies to traditional scaling and root planing is currently being studied to further reduce the impact of periodontitis. In this sense, using antibiotics and antiseptics involves non-negligible risks, such as antibiotic resistance phenomena and hinders the re-establishment of eubiosis. Different quorum sensing signal molecules have been identified in periodontal pathogenic oral bacteria. In this regard, quorum sensing inhibitors are emerging as some interesting solutions for the management of periodontitis. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the mechanisms of quorum sensing signal molecules produced by oral biofilm and to analyze the potential of quorum sensing inhibitors for the management of periodontitis.

The Orthodontic Tooth Movement (OTM) is allowed through a mediated cell/tissue mechanism performed by applying a force or a pair of forces on the dental elements, and the tooth movement is a fundamental requirement during any orthodontic treatment. In this regard, it has been widely shown that each orthodontic treatment has a minimum duration required concerning numerous factors (age, patient compliance, type of technique used, etc.). In this regard, the aim of the following revision of the literature is to give readers a global vision of principal microRNAs (miRNAs) that are most frequently associated with OTM and their possible roles. Previously published studies of the last 15 years have been considered in the PubMed search using "OTM" and "miRNA" keywords for the present review article. In vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials were mainly explored. Correlation between OTM and modulation of several miRNAs acting through post-transcriptional regulation on target genes was observed in the majority of previous studied. The expression analysis of miRNAs in biological samples, such as gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), can be considered a useful tool for novel diagnostic and/or prognostic approaches and for new personalized orthodontic treatments able to achieve a better clinical response rate. Although only a few studies have been published, the data obtained until now encourage further investigation of the role of miRNA modulation during orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study is to update the insights into the role and impact of principal micro-RNAs (miRNAs) that are most frequently associated during OTM.

Aim: The aim of the present prospective study was to evaluate the effectiveness of elastodontic appliance (EAs) in the treatment of subjects presenting Class II sagittal discrepancy in mixed dentition, and to evaluate palatal morphological development during treatment., Materials: The study group, composed of 19 subjects, received treatment with EA for 1 year. The control group consisted of 17 untreated subjects., Inclusion Criteria: age between 6 and 11 years, mixed deciduous dentition and skeletal and/or dental Class II malocclusion., Exclusion Criteria: previous orthodontic therapy, systemic diseases and signs of temporal dysfunction. Skeletal and dentoalveolar parameters were compared between T0 and T1. A 3D imaging technology was used to compare palatal morphology obtained from intra-oral digital scans between T0 (pre-treatment) and T1 (post-treatment)., Conclusion: EAs can successfully mitigate early signs of malocclusion in Class II subjects as well as contribute to the harmonious development of the palate.

The principles of periodontal therapy are based on the control of microbial pathogens and host factors that contribute to biofilm dysbiosis, with the aim of modulating the progression of periodontitis and periodontal tissue destruction. It is currently known how differently each individual responds to periodontal treatment, depending on both the bacterial subtypes that make up the dysbiotic biofilm and interindividual variations in the host inflammatory response. This has allowed the current variety of approaches for the management of periodontitis to be updated by defining the goals of target strategies, which consist of reducing the periodontopathogenic microbial flora and/or modulating the host-mediated response. Therefore, this review aims to update the current variety of approaches for the management of periodontitis based on recent target therapies. Recently, encouraging results have been obtained from several studies exploring the effects of some targeted therapies in the medium- and long-term. Among the most promising target therapies analyzed and explored in this review include: cell-based periodontal regeneration, mediators against bone resorption, emdogain (EMD), platelet-rich plasma, and growth factors. The reviewed evidence supports the hypothesis that the therapeutic combination of epigenetic modifications of periodontal tissues, interacting with the dysbiotic biofilm, is a key step in significantly reducing the development and progression of disease in periodontal patients and improving the therapeutic response of periodontal patients. However, although studies indicate promising results, these need to be further expanded and studied to truly realize the benefits that targeted therapies could bring in the treatment of periodontitis.

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting about 20-50% of people, worldwide, and manifesting clinically through the detection of gingival inflammation, clinical attachment loss, radiographically assessed resorption of alveolar bone, gingival bleeding upon probing, teeth mobility and their potential loss at advanced stages. It is characterized by a multifactorial etiology, including an imbalance of the oral microbiota, mechanical stress and systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. The current standard treatments for periodontitis include eliminating the microbial pathogens and applying biomaterials to treat the bone defects. However, periodontal tissue regeneration via a process consistent with the natural tissue formation process has not yet been achieved. Developmental biology studies state that periodontal tissue is composed of neural crest-derived ectomesenchyme. The aim of this review is to discuss the clinical utility of stem cells in periodontal regeneration by reviewing the relevant literature that assesses the periodontal-regenerative potential of stem cells.

The aim of the study was to systematically review and compare the accuracy of smartphone scanners versus stereophotogrammetry technology for facial digitization in children. A systematic literature search strategy of articles published from 1 January 2010 to 30 August 2022 was adopted through a combination of Mesh terms and free text words pooled through boolean operators on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, LILACS, and OpenGrey. Twenty-three articles met the inclusion criteria. Stationary stereophotogrammetry devices showed a mean accuracy that ranged from 0.087 to 0.860 mm, portable stereophotogrammetry scanners from 0.150 to 0.849 mm, and smartphones from 0.460 to 1.400 mm. Regarding the risk of bias assessment, fourteen papers showed an overall low risk, three articles had unclear risk and four articles had high risk. Although smartphones showed less performance on deep and irregular surfaces, all the analyzed devices were sufficiently accurate for clinical application. Internal depth-sensing cameras or external infrared structured-light depth-sensing cameras plugged into smartphones/tablets increased the accuracy. These devices are portable and inexpensive but require greater operator experience and patient compliance for the incremented time of acquisition. Stationary stereophotogrammetry is the gold standard for greater accuracy and shorter acquisition time, avoiding motion artifacts.

Diabetes mellitus and periodontitis are two of the most common chronic diseases affecting the world's population, and they are intimately linked. For several years, in fact, it has been known that there is an interdependent relationship between the two diseases: Diabetes promotes the destruction of periodontal tissues, and periodontal disease negatively affects glycemic control. In relation to the control of dental plaque and oral dysbiosis responsible for periodontal disease, both nonsurgical and surgical therapy associated with proper home hygiene procedures have emerged as essential for good glycemic control. Moreover, several evidences suggest the essential role played by the control of periodontal disease in preventing the onset of the most common complications of diabetes: cardiovascular diseases, retinopathies, and other systemic diseases. The aim of this study is to update the current knowledge on the bi-univocal relationship between diabetes and periodontitis and the impact of therapy in the optimal management of these two disorders. From the information found in the literature, it has emerged that the correct treatment of periodontal disease in diabetic patients represents one of the main mechanisms and means currently established and valid to control periodontal disease and glucose metabolism and prevent the onset or development of diabetic complications., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Simona Santonocito et al.)

Nowadays, with the development of new and highly sensitive, blood is not the only medium of choice for the diagnosis of several diseases and pathological conditions. Saliva is now considered a safe and non-invasive sample to study oral and systemic diseases, showing great diagnostic potential. According to several recent studies, saliva has emerged as an emerging biofluid for the early diagnosis of several diseases, indicated as a mirror of oral and systemic health and a valuable source of clinically relevant information. Indeed, several studies have observed that saliva is useful for detecting and diagnosing malignant tumours, human immunodeficiency virus, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases. The growing realisation that saliva is an inexhaustible source of information has led to the coining of the term 'Salivaomics', which includes five "omics" in connection with the main constituents of saliva: genome and epigenome, transcriptomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics and microbiota. All those may be changed by disease state, so they offer significant advantages in the early diagnosis and prognosis of oral diseases. The aim of the present review isto update and highlight the new frontiers of salivaomics in diagnosing and managing oral disorders, such as periodontitis, premalignant disorders, and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

This study clinically and histologically evaluated the new bone formation and soft tissue changes when an autogenous tooth-derived mineralized dentin matrix (DDM) graft covered with a free gingival graft (FGG) was used for alveolar ridge preservation, as compared to spontaneous healing. Using a split-mouth protocol, 14 consecutive patients who required two extractions of a single-rooted tooth in the maxillary arch were enrolled. In each patient, one extraction site was treated with DDM and FGG (test group), while the other extraction site was covered with FGG and healed spontaneously (control group). In both test and control sites, implant placement was performed after a 16-week healing period. Compared to baseline (immediately after tooth extraction), both treatments yielded statistically significant differences in some clinical parameters and in the bone micro-architecture within the augmented sites. However, the use of DDM with the FGG created greater new vital bone formation, more newly formed bone, and fewer dimensional tissue changes than spontaneous healing with FGG.

Objective: In the last few decades, lasers in dentistry have encompassed all branches in dentistry, with more focus in periodontology. In recent years, the use of lasers against periodontitis and peri-implantitis has undergone a decisive development that has involved various operational areas. The broadest applications were probably found in the clinical approach to soft tissues. Methods: Laser therapy is a novel technique that may provide further beneficial effects to conventional periodontal and peri-implant therapies. However, clinical evidence for the improvement of periodontal wound healing and tissue regeneration through laser treatment is still limited. Results: This review is aimed at assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the use of lasers in dental procedures and pathologies, focusing more on protocols for the management of periodontal and peri-implant diseases. Conclusions: The adjuvant action of laser therapy, in addition to conventional therapies for the management of periodontal and peri-implant disease, could induce benefits, but further investigation would be necessary to standardize better the protocols applied and to understand the actual tissue response to laser therapy.

Over the last few decades, studies on the oral microbiome have increased awareness that the balance between the host and the microbial species that coexist in it is essential for oral health at all stages of life. However, this balance is extremely difficult to maintain, and many factors can disrupt it: general eating habits, sugar consumption, tobacco smoking, oral hygiene, and use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials. It is now known that alterations in the oral microbiota are responsible for developing and promoting many oral diseases, including periodontal disease. In this context, diet is an area for further investigation as it has been observed that the intake of particular foods, such as farmed animal meat, dairy products, refined vegetable oils, and processed cereals, affects the composition of the microbiota, leading to an increased representation of acid-producing and acid-tolerant organisms and periodontal pathogens. However, little is known about the influence of diet on the oral microbiome and the creation of a suitable microenvironment for the development of periodontal disease. The aim of the present study is to evaluate current knowledge on the role of diet in the oral dysbiosis underlying periodontal disease.

May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) is a congenital vascular alteration that is part of a restricted category of very rare vascular syndromes that have in common the compression of an arterial or venous vessel. MTS, first described in 1957, is due to compression of the left common iliac vein against the lumbar spine by the adjacent common iliac artery. It can cause chronic thrombosis of the left lower limb and can give edema, pain, claudication, thrombophlebitis, and, in severe cases, pulmonary embolism. Color Doppler and duplex Doppler ultrasound allow us to easily locate the deep vein thrombosis, to measure its extension, and to highlight the vascular changes typical of MTS: compression and consequent hypertension of the left common iliac vein. The therapy depends on the degree of venous stasis and on the presence of venous thrombosis; generally, it consists of the administration of short- or long-term anticoagulant and thrombolytic drugs. In cases of severe stenosis of the left common iliac vein, the first-choice treatment consists of positioning a vascular stent, which resolves compression and significantly reduces chronic thrombotic episodes. We describe a case of MTS with an unusual clinical onset with pulmonary embolism., (© 2020. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).)

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of skin disorders with skin fragility characterized by blistering from minimal mechanical trauma with rupture at the dermoepidermal junction. There are four major classical heritable EB types, due to mutations in as many as 20 distinct genes: EB simplex (EBS), junctional EB (JEB), dystrophic EB (DEB), and Kindler EB (KEB). This study is aimed at reporting case series on patients ( N = 8; males, n = 5 and females, n = 3, age range 12-68 years) affected by EB and performs a review of the literature on this topic. This group of disorders can affect oral soft and hard tissues in various ways, resulting in various effects including enamel hypoplasia, dental caries, microstomia, ankyloglossia, oral blistering, and ulcerations early-onset periodontal disease. From the sample results, it can be concluded that the clinical manifestation of EB patients is highly variable and very different in prognosis. Oral health deeply influences the quality of life of EB patients. Dental management is essential to prevent the aggravation of soft tissue damage and tooth loss and to improve the quality of life through prosthetic and restorative therapies. Dentists should consider the oral alterations of EB subtypes to perform a personalized approach to the patients' needs in a preventive and therapeutic point of view., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Alessandro Polizzi et al.)

The skin, oral cavity, digestive and reproductive tracts of the human body harbor symbiotic and commensal microorganisms living harmoniously with the host. The oral cavity houses one of the most heterogeneous microbial communities found in the human organism, ranking second in terms of species diversity and complexity only to the gastrointestinal microbiota and including bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses. The accumulation of microbial plaque in the oral cavity may lead, in susceptible individuals, to a complex host-mediated inflammatory and immune response representing the primary etiological factor of periodontal damage that occurs in periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting about 20-50% of people worldwide and manifesting clinically through the detection of gingival inflammation, clinical attachment loss (CAL), radiographic assessed resorption of alveolar bone, periodontal pockets, gingival bleeding upon probing, teeth mobility and their potential loss in advanced stages. This review will evaluate the changes characterizing the oral microbiota in healthy periodontal tissues and those affected by periodontal disease through the evidence present in the literature. An important focus will be placed on the immediate and future impact of these changes on the modulation of the dysbiotic oral microbiome and clinical management of periodontal disease.

Background: Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein-3 (NLRP3) complex inflammasome has potentially been shown to play an important role in the development of periodontitis and diabetes. The objective of this study was to analyze the association between serum and salivary NLRP3 concentrations in patients with periodontitis and type-II diabetes mellitus (DM) and to evaluate whether this association was influenced by potential confounders., Methods: For the present study, a cohort of healthy controls (n = 32), and patients with periodontitis (n = 34), type-II DM (n = 33), and a combination of periodontitis + type-II DM (n = 34) were enrolled. Patients were characterized on the basis of their periodontal status and analyzed for demographic characteristics, serum mediators, and for serum and salivary concentrations of NLRP3. A uni- and multivariate model was established to analyze whether periodontitis, type-II DM, and CRP influenced serum and salivary NLRP3 concentrations., Results: In comparison to type-II DM patients and healthy controls, patients with periodontitis (serum, P = 0.003; saliva P = 0.012) and periodontitis + type-II DM (serum, P = 0.028; saliva, P = 0.003) had elevated serum and salivary NLRP3 concentrations. The multivariate regression model showed that periodontitis (P = 0.029) and HDL-cholesterol (P = 0.012) were significant predictors of serum NLRP3 concentrations whereas periodontitis (P = 0.036) and CRP (P = 0.012) were significant predictors of salivary NLRP3., Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that periodontitis and periodontitis + type-II DM patients had higher serum and salivary NLRP3 concentrations in comparison to healthy controls and patients with type-II DM. Periodontitis was demonstrated to be a significant predictor of both serum and salivary NLRP3 concentrations., (© 2021 American Academy of Periodontology.)

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a rare neurovascular disorder generally caused by the presence of a cervical rib or hypertrophic scalene anterior muscle that can compress the brachial plexus and/or subclavian vessels. In the vascular form, the symptoms are caused by the compression of the artery and/or the subclavian vein. In the first case, the compression is caused by the cervical rib and leads to hypo-perfusion with cooling and cyanosis of the upper limb, while in the second case, the compression is caused by the anterior scalene muscle and leads to congestion, cyanosis, swelling and pain in the higher limb. In this paper, we describe a case with the simultaneous presence of a bilateral cervical rib and bilateral hypertrophy of the anterior scalene muscle. TOS diagnosis is based on neurological, clinical and instrumental tests, such as chest radiography and color Doppler ultrasonography. The treatment of these patients can be surgical or conservative., (© 2019. Società Italiana di Ultrasonologia in Medicina e Biologia (SIUMB).)

The aim of this study was to analyse the structural characteristics of the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) and the dysfunctional consequences induced by disease in subjects with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The study was conducted in 25 patients with JIA (median age (IQR), 13.9 (10.9-15.3)) and 26 healthy controls (median age (IQR), 14.3 (11.6-17.2)) years. All enrolled patients were subjected to anamnestic evaluation, laboratory parameters, JIA subclass, and type of therapy for the disease. A clinical-gnathological evaluation, anamnestic and dysfunctional index (Ai and Di), and magnetic resonance imaging of TMJs were performed in all patients. The test group showed a significant reduction ( p < 0.001) regarding the clinical findings such as maximal mouth opening, left and rightward laterotrusion and protrusion, and a significant difference in the reported symptoms (TMJ sounds, reduced mouth opening and pain), and Ai and Di ( p < 0.001) compared to healthy patients. Correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between the median duration of disease and the maximum mouth opening and between visual analogue scale (VAS) score and maximum mouth opening, leftward laterotrusion, rightward laterotrusion, and protrusion. The results obtained in this study suggest that patients with JIA presented a cohort of symptoms in TMJs in comparison with healthy controls. Moreover, a careful TMJs evaluation and an early diagnosis of TMJs dysfunction and regular follow-ups are recommended in order to prevent and reduce functional and chewing problems in patients with JIA.