Increased fluoride uptake and acid resistance by CO2 laser-irradiation through topically applied fluoride on human enamel in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of CO(2)-laser treatment immediately after applying amine fluoride solution on enamel. It was hypothesized that such a treatment would increase enamel fluoride uptake, and reduce dissolution rate and thermal surface alterations. METHODS: Fluoride uptake was determined in 40 human enamel sections randomly assigned to four groups (n=10), which were either left untreated (1), exposed to a 1% amine fluoride solution for 15s without irradiation (2), irradiated for 15s with a continuous-wave carbon dioxide laser (3), or laser-treated for 15s through the amine fluoride solution applied immediately beforehand (4). Fluoride uptake was determined with an ion selective electrode after acid dissolution of the specimens (surface and subsurface layers). For the determination of acid resistance, another 40 enamel sections were treated according to the above protocol. Acid resistance was determined in surface and subsurface layers by measuring eluted calcium upon 3% lactic acid exposure with atomic absorption spectrometry. Enamel surface alterations after laser irradiation were monitored using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Laser irradiation through the fluoride solution led to significantly higher fluoride contents in the surface enamel layer compared to fluoride treatment alone or laser treatment alone (p=0.002). Laser treatment with or without fluoride resulted in an increased acid resistance of enamel specimens. Fewer surface alterations were observed upon SEM examination of specimens irradiated through the amine fluoride solution compared to counterparts treated with laser only. CONCLUSIONS: CO(2) laser light application through an amine fluoride solution may be useful and effective in the prevention of caries

Influence of different post-interventional maintenance concepts on periodontal outcomes: an evaluation of three systematic reviews

BACKGROUND To selectively review the existing literature on post-interventional maintenance protocols in patients with periodontal disease receiving either non-surgical or surgical periodontal treatment. METHODS Three systematic reviews with different periodontal interventions, i.e. scaling and root planing (SRP), SRP with adjunctive antibiotics or regenerative periodontal surgery were evaluated focusing on their post-interventional maintenance care. Due to the early publication of one review an additional literature search update was undertaken. The search was executed for studies published from January 2001 till March 2015 through an electronic database to ensure the inclusion of resent studies on SRP. Two reviewers guided the study selection and assessed the validity of the three reviews found. RESULTS Within the group of scaling and root planing alone there have been nine studies with more than three appointments for maintenance care and five studies with more than two appointments in the first 2 months after the intervention. Chlorhexidine was the most frequently used antiseptic agent used for 2 weeks after non-surgical intervention. Scaling and root planing with adjunctive antibiotics showed a similar number of visits with professional biofilm debridement, whereas regenerative studies displayed more studies with more than three visits in the intervention group. In addition, the use of antiseptics was longer and lasted 4 to 8 weeks after the regenerative intervention. The latter studies also showed more stringent maintenance protocols. CONCLUSIONS With increased interventional effort there was a greater tendency to increase frequency and duration of the maintenance care program and antiseptic agents

DARPin-targeting of measles virus: unique bispecificity, effective oncolysis, and enhanced safety

Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging treatment modality that uses replication-competent viruses to destroy cancers. Many naturally occurring viruses have a preferential, although nonexclusive, tropism for tumors and tumor cells. In addition, specific targeting of cancer cells can be achieved at the virus entry level. We optimized retargeting of cell entry by elongating the measles virus attachment protein with designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins), while simultaneously ablating entry through the natural receptors. DARPin-targeted viruses were strongly attenuated in off-target tissue, thereby enhancing safety, but completely eliminated tumor xenografts. Taking advantage of the unique properties of DARPins of being fused without generating folding problems, we generated a virus simultaneous targeting two different tumor markers. The bispecific virus retained the original oncolytic efficacy, while providing proof of concept for a strategy to counteract issues of resistance development. Thus, DARPin-targeting opens new prospects for the development of personalized, targeted therapeutics