High-energy lasers: principles, types, indications in periodontial practices

Investigations in the area of laser application in dental practices date back to 1964. Shortly after lasers came to being, they were introduced both in medicine and in dental medicine where they were successfully used for the diagnostics and treatment of a number of diseases. The current literature review presents the nature and properties of lasers and laser beams. Their biological and healing action is discussed. The most common lasers that are employed in dental practices are indicated. The accent is on high-energy lasers used in operative dentistry and periodontology, namely the Er:Cr:YSGG и Er:YAG lasers, and their emission characteristics. The focus in this literature review is on laser application in periodontal practices. The properties and indications of the most frequently applied lasers are indicated and their advantages are outlined. The latter are due to their specific biological and therapeutic effects both on healthy and on pathologically altered periodontal tissues.The paper also comprises clinical reports by renowned experts in periodontology about laser application in the treatment of different periodontial diseases. Twenty-seven articles are cited.Scripta Scientifica Medica 2011;43(2): 87-9

Spectrum of Genetic Changes in Patients with Non-Syndromic Hearing Impairment and Extremely High Carrier Frequency of 35delG GJB2 Mutation in Belarus

The genetic nature of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) has so far been studied for many ethnic groups in various parts of the world. The single-nucleotide guanine deletion (35delG) of the GJB2 gene coding for connexin 26 was shown to be the main genetic cause of autosomal recessive deafness among Europeans. Here we present the results of the first study of GJB2 and three mitochondrial mutations among two groups of Belarusian inhabitants: native people with normal hearing (757 persons) and 391 young patients with non-syndromic SNHL. We have found an extremely high carrier frequency of 35delG GJB2 mutation in Belarus −5.7%. This point deletion has also been detected in 53% of the patients with SNHL. The 312del14 GJB2 was the second most common mutation in the Belarus patient cohort. Mitochondrial A1555G mt-RNR1 substitution was found in two SNHL patients (0.55%) but none were found in the population cohort. No individuals carried the A7445G mutation of mitochondrial mt-TS1. G7444A as well as T961G substitutions were detected in mitochondrial mt-RNR1 at a rate of about 1% both in the patient and population cohorts. A possible reason for Belarusians having the highest mutation carrier frequency in Europe 35delG is discussed