Effect of a sugar-free chewing gum containing Magnolia bark extract on the development of caries lesions in healthy adult volunteers: a randomized controlled intervention trial

Aim: The effect of magnolia bark extract (MBE) on the development of caries lesions administered daily through sugar-free chewing gum was evaluated. A randomized double-blind intervention trial was performed. Methods: 480 subjects (mean age±40.72) were examined using ICDAS index. A self-compiled questionnaire was submitted. A caries risk profile was generated for each subject using Cariogram software. 271 subjects, presenting inclusion criteria, were enrolled and divided into three groups (blue, yellow and green): one using chewing gum containing MBE and xylitol, another group using chewing gum with xylitol but free of MBE and finally, a control group using a sugar-free chewing gum. Each subject was instructed to chew one pellet for 5 min 3 times a day for 12 months. Plaque-pH using the strip method, a clinical examination using ICDAS scores and a microbiological evaluation (CRT Bacteria) were assessed at baseline(t0), after 6 months(t1) and 12 months(t2) of chewing gum use. Data were analysed for statistically significant differences using repeated measures of ANOVA. Results: Data on 193 subjects were calculated and the total sample showed a plaque acidogenicity and salivary concentration of bacteria at t2 significantly lower compared to baseline. Conclusion: The Cariogram model was able to identify the caries-related factors in adults. Twelve-month use of sugar-free chewing gum showed beneficial effects on oral health, controlling plaque acidogenicity to reduce caries risk.</br

Effect of a daily dose of <i>Lactobacillus brevis</i> CD2 lozenges in high caries risk schoolchildren

Objectives A double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed to validate the hypothesis that the use of lozenges containing Lactobacillus brevis CD2 (Inersan®, CD Investments srl) may reduce plaque pH, salivary mutans streptococci (ms) and bleeding on probing, during a 6-week period, in a sample of high caries risk schoolchildren. Methods A total of 191 children (aged 6–8 years), presenting two to three carious lesions and a salivary ms concentration of ≥105 CFU/ml, were enrolled and divided into two groups, an L. brevis CD2 lozenge group and a no L. brevis lozenge group, and examined at baseline (t0), after 3 weeks (t1), after 6 weeks of lozenge use (t2) and 2 weeks after the cessation of lozenge use (t3). Plaque pH was assessed using the microtouch technique following a sucrose challenge. The area under the curve (AUC5.7 and AUC6.2) was recorded. Salivary ms were counted, and bleeding on probing was assessed. Results At t0, the plaque-pH and ms concentration values were similar in both groups. Mean areas (AUC5.7 and AUC6.2) were significantly greater in the control group at t1, t2 and t3. L. brevis CD2 lozenges significantly reduced salivary ms concentrations and bleeding. The subjects from the test group showed a statistically significant decrease (p=0.01)in salivary ms concentration. At t2, a statistically significantly lower bleeding value was recorded in the test group compared with the control group (p=0.02). Conclusions Six weeks’ use of lozenges containing L. brevis CD2 had a beneficial effect on some important variables related to oral health, including a reduction in plaque acidogenicity, salivary ms and bleeding on probing.</br

Chemically modified β-cyclodextrins useful in developing biosensors of agricultural and food relevance

β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), a natural, non-toxic cycloeptaamilose macrocycle, is a useful biomatrix for immobilizing enzymes on a biosensor surface because of the affinity of its cavity for hydrophobic guest molecules (e.g., aminoacids). In this work β-CD has been successfully modified with different poly-carboxylic acids (PCAs) including 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid. Time activation, pH, pressure and stoichiometry were optimized in order to achieve selected substitutions on the macrocycle hydroxy groups. The modified β-CDs, prepared under mild conditions, are completely water-soluble and could be grafted on a biosensor surface

Does a social/behavioural gradient in dental health exist among adults? A cross-sectional study

Objective To explore the potential presence of a social/behavioural gradient in dental health among Italian adults using a cross-sectional study. Methods Caries indices were recorded among 480 subjects (52.9% men, 47.1% women) who also completed a structured self-administered social and behavioural questionnaire. A social/behavioural gradient was generated as the sum of the worst circumstances recorded on the questionnaire (cariogenic diet, smoking, lowest occupational profile, brushing teeth < twice daily, lowest educational level, uneven dental examination attendance). Results Caries figures (DMFT) and the number of filled sound teeth (FS-T) were statistically significantly linked to the social/behavioural gradient (DMFT: χ(2)(9) = 20.17 p = 0.02, Z = 0.02 p = 0.99; FS-T: χ(2)(9) = 25.68 p < 0.01, Z = -4.31 p < 0.01). DMFT was statistically significantly associated with gender and with social and behavioural variables. FS-T was higher in women (p = 0.03) and was linked to smoking ( p < 0.01). Conclusions The proposed social/behavioural gradient demonstrated how subjects reporting the worst circumstances on the questionnaire exhibited the worst dental health. The use of the gradient demonstrates that health promotion and prevention cannot be compartmentalized

Straightforward preparation of biologically active dimers of ferulic acid

Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxycinnamic acid) is an ubiquitous phenolic compound in plant tissues, and it constitutes a naturally occurring antioxidant compound found in many foods. Here we present different convenient ways to obtain five naturally occurring DiFAs via peroxidase-mediated oxidative coupling reactions or classic cross-coupling oxidations through a sustainable, safe and inexpensive chemistry. Such compounds arise from 5-5’, 8-8’, 8-5’ and 8-O-4’ coupling and some of them have been tested as potential inhibitors of micotoxin production in vitro

Sintesi e valutazione biologica di nuovi "lead compounds" per la terapia antitubercolare. Derivati del 2-(benzotriazol-1(2)-il)-3- acrilonitrile e delle chinossaline 1,4-diossido

L'insorgenza sempre più elevata di ceppi di M. tuberculosis chemioresistenti ai farmaci abitualmente impiegati in terapia (MDR) ha spronato la ricerca di nuovi "lead compounds" per lo sviluppo di molecole che, agendo con meccanismo diverso da quello dei farmaci attualmente impiegati in terapia, possano contribuire a superare il problema della farmacoresistenza. In quest'ambito le nostre ricerche si sono orientate verso due differenti direzioni. La prima prende lo spunto dai risultati ottenuti in passato da vari gruppi di ricerca con alcuni derivati di sintesi di sistemi eterociclici aromatici quali benzimidazolo, benzotiazolo, benzoisotiazolo e benzofurano, che avevano dimostrato attività  antimicobatterica in vitro soprattutto nei confronti di ceppi MDR. La seconda linea di ricerca si è basata sulla nota attività  antibatterica e soprattutto antimicotica della chinossalina 1,4-diossido, con la consapevolezza che spesso l'attività  antimicobatterica è associata a quella antifungina

Honokiol, magnolol and its monoacetyl derivative show strong anti-fungal effect on Fusarium isolates of clinical relevance

The antifungal activity of magnolol and honokiol, two naturally occurring hydroxylated biphenyls, and of their synthetic derivatives was evaluated on a collection of representative isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and F. verticillioides of clinical and ecological concern. The tested compounds were proposed as a ‘natural’ alternative to conventional fungicides, even though a larger range of concentrations (5–400 μg/ml) was applied. The activity of magnolol and honokiol was compared with that of terbinafine (0.1–10 μg/ml), and fluconazole (1–50 μg/ml), two fungicides widely used in treating fungal infections on humans. Magnolol showed similar fungicidal activity compared to fluconazole, whereas honokiol was more effective in inhibiting mycelium growth compared to this fungicide on all tested clinical Fusarium spp. isolates. Compared to terbinafine, honokiol showed similar antifungal activity when tested on clinical F. solani isolates, whereas magnolol was less effective at all selected concentrations (5–400 μg/ml). The different position of the phenol-OH group, as well as its protection, explain different in vitro activities between magnolol, honokiol, and their derivatives. Furthermore, magnolol showed mycelium dry weight reduction at a concentration of 0.5 mM when tested on a set of agricultural isolates of Fusaria, leading to complete inhibition of some of them. Magnolol and honokiol are proposed as efficient and safe candidates for treating clinically relevant Fusaria.Fil: Oufensou, Safa. Università Degli Studi Di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Scherm, Barbara. Università Degli Studi Di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Pani, Giovanna. Università Degli Studi Di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Balmas, Virgilio. Università Degli Studi Di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Fabbri, Davide. Istituto Di Chimica Biomolecolare; ItaliaFil: Dettori, Maria Antonietta. Istituto Di Chimica Biomolecolare; ItaliaFil: Carta, Paola. Istituto Di Chimica Biomolecolare; ItaliaFil: Malbrán, Ismael. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigaciones de Fitopatología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Migheli, Quirico. Università Degli Studi Di Sassari; ItaliaFil: Delogu, Giovanna. Istituto Di Chimica Biomolecolare; Itali

Natural and natural-like polyphenol compounds: in vitro antioxidant activity and potential for therapeutic application

Introduction: Phenols are a large family of natural and synthetic compounds with known antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to perform in vitro screening of natural and natural-like phenol monomers and their C2-symmetric dimers (hydroxylated biphenyls) in order to identify those representatives whose pharmacophores have the strongest antioxidant and the lowest prooxidant activity. Material and methods: Antioxidative properties of 36 compounds (monomers and their C2-symmetric dimers) were evaluated in vitro. Different (red/ ox) assays were used to measure their total oxidative potential (TOP), their total antioxidative capacity (TAC), the pro-oxidative-antioxidant balance (PAB) and total SH-group content (SHG) in a biologically relevant environment. The Pro-oxidative Score, Antioxidative Score and the Oxy Score were also calculated. Trolox, a water soluble analogue of α-tocopherol, was used as a positive control. Results: In an assay consisting of pooled human serum, 6 of the 36 compounds showed significant antioxidant activity (compounds 6, 7, 12, 13, 26, and 27), whereas 4 showed extremely weak antioxidant activity (compounds 2, 29, 30, and 31). Within the 36 compounds comprising zingerone, dehydrozingerone, aurone, chalcone, and magnolol derivatives, in both monomeric and dimeric forms, the 2 compounds that indicated the highest antioxidant activity were dehydrozingerone derivatives (compounds 6 and 12). Trolox’s activity was found between the strong and weak antioxidant compounds analysed in our study. Conclusions: In this study selected dehydrozingerones were identified as good candidates for in-depth testing of their biological behaviour and for possible precursors for synthesis of novel polyphenolic molecules with potential therapeutic applications

LTalpha and LTbeta gene expression in organs of sheep showing different lymphoproliferative changes induced by maedi-visna virus

In lung and mammary gland of sheep, Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) causes lymphoproliferative inflammation often with follicular structures (lymphofollicular inflammation). The aim of this work was to define whether Limphotoxin α and β (LTα, LTβ) play a role in the formation of these peculiar lesions in sheep experimentally infected with MVV