Notes: Abstract. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical, radiographical and microbiological outcome after using guided tissue regeneration (GTR) with a bioabsorbable membrance, Resolut$$. Subjects with bilateral infrabony defects at single rooted teeth were selected. A total of 22 teeth, 2 in each 1 of 7 patients and 4 in 2 patients, with probing pocket depth ≥5 mm, 3 months after scaling, participated. At baseline, assessments of plaque and gingival indices, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and probing attachment level were recorded and reproducible radiographs for computer-based bone level measurements were taken. Bacterial samples were collected to investigate the presence of periodontitts-assoctated bacteria, e.g., Porphyrnmonas$$Prevotella-and Fusobactrium-like micro-organisms. One tooth was randomly treated with GTR and the contralateral With an open debridement procedure as a control. Clinical, radiographical and microbiological examinations were repeated 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Both procedures demonstrated a siatistically significant improvement of gingival conditions, reduction of pocket depths and gain of attachment. When evaluating the differences between test and control teeth, none of the clinical parameters yielded statistical differerence. Computer-based bone-level measurements showed only small differences in the majority of both test and control sites. The differences were not significant. Periodontitis-associated bacteria were present at baseline, but the appearance was not related to any specific site or patient and did not demonstrate and unwanted change in the 6- and 12- month samples. The findings suggest that the clinical, radiographical and microbiological improvements were not significantly enhanced with the GTR therapy.

Notes: Background:  It is important to clarify the biological function of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in periodontal ligament cells, as these hormones may affect periodontal health. We have previously shown that human periodontal ligament cells express estrogen receptor β (ERβ) but not ERα, whereas human breast cancer cells (MCF7) express both ERα and ERβ. Data on progesterone receptor (PgR) expression in human periodontal ligament cells have not been reported.Objectives:  Determine PgR expression in human periodontal ligament and MCF7 cells and to investigate how estrogen affects DNA and collagen synthesis in these two cell types showing different pattern of expression for ERα and β.Methods:  Periodontal ligament cells were obtained from the periodontal ligament of premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons and MCF7 cells from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC). PgR expression was determined by immunocytochemistry. DNA and collagen synthesis was determined by [3H]thymidine and l-[3H]proline incorporation, respectively.Results:  PgR immunoreactivity was observed in nuclei of MCF7 but not periodontal ligament cells. Treatment with estrogen (17β-estradiol, E2) at physiological concentrations for 24 h stimulated DNA synthesis by more than two times in MCF7 cells, whereas there was no effect on periodontal ligament cell DNA synthesis. The ER blocker ICI 182780 fully reversed the stimulatory effect of E2. Not only short-term (24 h) but also long-term (5 days) treatment with E2 lacked effect on DNA synthesis in periodontal ligament cells. Neither periodontal ligament cell viability nor collagen synthesis was affected by E2 treatment. Identical results were observed in periodontal ligament cells from male and female subjects.Conclusions:  Human MCF7 but not periodontal ligament cells express PgR, suggesting that progesterone via PgR affects MCF7 but not periodontal ligament cells. Further, estrogen stimulates breast cancer MCF7 cell proliferation, whereas it has no effect on proliferation of periodontal ligament cells, probably reflecting cell type specific ER expression pattern in these two cell types.

Notes: Abstract Samples of apical plaque were taken by means of an anaerobic gas-flushed syringe from 21 sites in eight patients, The samples were anaerobically dispersed, diluted and plated and incubated in an atmosphere of 80% N2, 10% H2 and 10% CO2 for 7–21 days. All colonies on plates containing 20–50 isolates were picked, repeatedly restreaked, characterized and identified where possible by a probabilistic computer identification program. The sites were divided into four groups on the basis of clinical features. The significance of differences between bacterial populations in the groups was determined by the Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, while the Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to determine the rank correlation of clinical features of disease and micro-bial species.The subgingival microbiota in advanced destructive sites was predominated by Gram-negative rods. The microbiota of two young adult patients with generalized extensive bone loss, extensive clinical inflammation and suppuration was dominated by Bacteroides asaccharolyticus and an organism with characteristics consistent with Actinobacillus actino-mycetemcomitans. The predominant cultivable microbiota in two patients with extensive bone loss but minimal clinical inflammation was predominated by Bacteroides melaninogenicus ss intermedius and Eikenella corrodens in one patient and E. corrodens and a slow growing fusiform-shaped Bacteroides in a second patient. A third group of four patients demonstrated moderate levels of clinical inflammation and evidence of continued bone loss in the last year. Predominant organisms in this group were more heterogeneous and included B. asaccharolyticus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, the “fusiform”Bacteroides and anaerobic vibrios. Sites with minimal disease in the patients revealed higher proportions of Gram-positive organisms including Rothia dentocariosa, Actinomyces naeslundii and Actinomyces viscosus.A positive rank correlation could be detected between clinical inflammation including suppuration and B. asaccharolyticus and a negative rank correlation between inflammation and E. corrodens.

Notes: Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the relative intra- and inter-examiner reproducibility of 4 different periodontal probes. (1) The Hu-Friedy LL 20 Probe, a manual probe. (2) The Vivacare TPS Probe, a plastic manual probe with a standardised pressure of 0.20 N. (3) The Vine Valley Probe, an electronic probe using a standardised pressure of 0.25 N. 4. The Peri Probe Comp, a computerised electronic probe with a controlled pressure of 0.45 N in 2 mm pockets to 0.25 N in 13 mm pockets. Duplicate probing measurements were taken by 2 examiners in 10 patients on 3 index teeth, 1 molar, 1 premolar and i incisor at 6 sites per tooth. Teeth were selected to incorporate both shallow (〈5 mm) and deeper (〉5 mm) periodontal sites. The order of probes and examiners were changed in a systematic manner and measurements were repeated 1 week later to avoid bias due to examiner memory. Results show that the manual probe had the lowest degree of variation, with a correlation coefficient of 0.83. The manual and Peri Probe Comp frequently recorded deeper probing pocket depths compared to the TPS and Vine Valley probes. The results may have been influenced by the lack of familiarity with the automated probes.

Notes: Objectives: The aim of this multicenter trial was to compare the clinical and radiographical outcome of a ready-to-use Emdogain®-gel (test) with the marketed Emdogain® (control).Methods: Subjects with bilateral infrabony defects 〈inlineGraphic alt="geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted" extraInfo="nonStandardEntity" href="urn:x-wiley:03036979:JCPE281005:ges" location="ges.gif"/〉4 mm deep and 〈inlineGraphic alt="geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted" extraInfo="nonStandardEntity" href="urn:x-wiley:03036979:JCPE281005:ges" location="ges.gif"/〉2 mm wide according to radiographs were selected. 88 subjects with probing pocket depth (PPD) 〈inlineGraphic alt="geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted" extraInfo="nonStandardEntity" href="urn:x-wiley:03036979:JCPE281005:ges" location="ges.gif"/〉6 mm 〈inlineGraphic alt="geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted" extraInfo="nonStandardEntity" href="urn:x-wiley:03036979:JCPE281005:ges" location="ges.gif"/〉1 month after supervised oral hygiene and scaling participated. At baseline plaque index, bleeding on probing, PPD and probing attachment level were recorded and reproducible radiographs for computer-based bone level measurements were taken. In each subject, 1 tooth was randomly treated with the test and 1 tooth with the control gel. Examinations were repeated 8 and 16 months post-operatively.Results: After 16 months, the mean test PPD was 4.1 mm and the mean control PPD 4.2 mm. The mean gain of attachment was 2.7 mm for test and 2.9 mm for the control sites, and the radiographic measurements demonstrated a mean gain of 1 mm for both test and control sites.Conclusion: This series of cases demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of pocket depths and gain of attachment and bone after 8 and 16 months with no difference between the 2 preparations.

Notes: Abstract. The aim of this controlled, clinical study was to evaluate guided tissue regeneration using a bioabsorbable membrane in periodontal intraosscous defects. Forty patients, each contributing one defect ≥4 mm in depth participated. The control group (18 individuals) received conventional flap therapy, while the test group (22 individuals) was treated using the bioabsorbable membrane, Guidor®. Clinical assessments were made by one examiner, blinded with respect to treatment group, at baseline. 6 and 12 months following surgery. Baseline probing pocket depths of 7.7±1.4 mm in the membrane group and 7.6±1.9 mm in the control group were measured. Twelve month results showed a significant clinical attachment level gain in both control (1.1 ± 1.8 mm), and membrane group (1.3±2.1 mm). Probing pocket depth reduction of 2. 6±1.9 mm and 2.7±1.9 mm was observed in the respective groups. Bone sounding showed a non-significant gain of 0. 4±1.8 mm and 0.6±1.4 mm at membrane and control sites, respectively. Radiographic evaluation confirmed these results. There were no significant differences found between treatment groups for any of the tested variables. Smoking had a negative effect on healing in both groups. In conclusion, clinical and radiographic results indicate that guided tissue regeneration using a bioabsorbable membrane at intraosseous defects did not predictably achieve greater clinical attachment level gain nor bone gain when compared to conventional flap therapy.