Biofilm formation on dental implant surface treated by implantoplasty : an in situ study

Peri-implantitis is a biofilm-related disease whose characteristics are peri-implant tissues inflammation and bone resorption. Some clinical trials report beneficial effects after implantoplasty, namely the surgical smoothening of the implant surface, but there is a lack of data about the development of the bacterial biofilm on those smoothened surfaces. The aim of this study is to evaluate how implantoplasty influences biofilm formation. Three implants with moderately rough surfaces (control) and three implants treated with implantoplasty (test) were set on a tray reproducing the supra- and sub-gingival environment. One volunteer wore this tray for five days. Every 24 h, plaque coverage was measured and, at the end of the period of observartion, the implant surfaces were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The proportion of implant surface covered with plaque was 65% (SD = 7.07) of the control implants and 16% (SD = 0) of the test implants. Untreated surfaces showed mature, complex biofilm structures with wide morphological diversity, and treated surfaces did not show the formation of mature biofilm structures. This study supports the efficacy of implantoplasty in reducing plaque adhesion and influencing biofilm formation. These results can be considered a preliminary proof of concept, but they may encourage further studies about the effects of implantoplasty on biofilm formation

Laser microtextured titanium implant surfaces reduce in vitro and in situ oral biofilm formation

Introduction Micro- or nano-topography can both provide antimicrobial properties and improve osseointegration of dental implant titanium surfaces. Laser treatment is one of the best surface microtexturing techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro and in situ biofilm formation on a laser-treated titanium surface, comparing it with two conventional surfaces, machined and grit-blasted. Methods For the in vitro experiment, an oral microcosm biofilm model was developed on the surface of titanium disks and reference human enamel using a bioreactor for 48 h. For the in situ experiment, titanium implants with laser-treated, machined and grit-blasted surfaces were mounted on intraoral trays and worn by ten volunteers for 48 h. Biofilm formation was quantitatively evaluated, and surfaces were analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results\u2013in vitro study Biofilm structures with a prevalence of viable cells covered most of the machined, grit-blasted and human enamel surfaces, whereas less dense biofilm structures with non-confluent microcolonies were observed on the laser-treated titanium. Laser-treated titanium showed the lowest biofilm formation, where microorganisms colonized the edges of the laser-created pits, with very few or no biofilm formation observed inside the pits. Results\u2013in situ study The biofilm formation pattern observed was similar to that in the in vitro experiment. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed complete coverage of the implant threads, with mostly viable cells in grit-blasted and machined specimens. Unexpectedly, laser-treated specimens showed few dead microbial cells colonizing the bottom of the threads, while an intense colonization was found on the threading sides. Conclusion This data suggests that laser-created microtopography can reduce biofilm formation, with a maximum effect when the surface is blasted orthogonally by the laser beam. In this sense the orientation of the laser beam seems to be relevant for the biological interaction with biofilms

Tilted implants for full-arch rehabilitations in completely edentulous maxilla : a retrospective study

Purpose. The aims of this study were to assess the treatment outcome of immediately loaded full-arch fixed bridges anchored to both tilted and axially placed implants in the edentulous maxilla and to evaluate the incidence of biological and prosthetic complications. Materials and Methods. Thirty-four patients (18 women and 16 men) were included in the study. Each patient received a maxillary full-arch fixed bridge supported by two axial implants and two distal tilted implants. A total of 136 implants were inserted. Loading was applied within 48 hours of surgery and definitive restorations were placed 4 to 6 months later. Patients were scheduled for followup at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months and annually up to 5 years. At each followup plaque level and bleeding scores were assessed and every complication was recorded. Results. The overall follow-up range was 12 to 73 months (mean 38.8 months). No implant failures were recorded to date, leading to a cumulative implant survival rate of 100. Biological complications were recorded such as alveolar mucositis (11.8 patients), peri-implantitis (5.9 patients), and temporomandibular joint pain (5.9 patients). The most common prosthetic complications were the fracture or detachment of one or multiple acrylic teeth in both the temporary (20.6 patients) and definitive (17.7 patients) prosthesis and the minor acrylic fractures in the temporary (14.7 patients) and definitive (2.9 patients) prosthesis. Hygienic complications occurred in 38.2 patients. No patients' dissatisfactions were recorded. Conclusions. The high cumulative implant survival rate indicates that this technique could be considered a viable treatment option. An effective recall program is important to early intercept and correct prosthetic and biologic complications in order to avoid implant and prosthetic failures

Consequences of the marine climate and ecosystem shift of the 1980-90s on the Ligurian Sea biodiversity (NW Mediterranean Sea)

A rapid temperature increase in the 1980-90s has been accompanied by dramatic and unprecedented changes in the biota and communities of the Ligurian Sea. This review uses existing historical series (a few of which have been purposely updated) to assess extent and consequences of such changes. A number of warm-water species, previously absent or occasional in the comparatively cold Ligurian Sea, has recently established thanks to warmer winters. Occurrence among them of invasive alien species is causing concern because of their capacity of outcompeting autochthonous species. Summer heatwaves, on the other hand, caused mass mortalities in marine organisms, some of which found refuge at depth. New marine diseases appeared, as well as other dysfunctions such as the formation of mucilage aggregates that suffocated and entangled benthic organisms. Human pressures have combined with climate change to cause phase shifts (i.e., abrupt variations in species composition and community structure) in different habitats, such as the pelagic environment, seagrass meadows, rocky reefs, and marine caves. These phase shifts implied biotic homogenization, reduction of diversity, and dominance by invasive aliens, and may be detrimental to the resilience of Ligurian Sea ecosystems. Another phase of rapid warming has possibly started in the 2010s and there are clues pointing to a further series of biological changes, but data are too scarce to date for proper assessment. Only well addressed long-term studies will help understanding the future dynamics of Ligurian Sea ecosystems and their possibilities of recovery

Partnership Encounters in Literature(s), Poetry and Voices from Other Worlds

The academic bulk of this year’s Blue Gum contains texts in both English and Italian. Out of fourteen articles, seven are in Italian and seven in English. They all scrutinise and illuminate a diversity of relevant literary works under the lens of the biocultural partnership-domination theory (Eisler 1987). The literary texts in this issue range from the ancient to the contemporary, from ‘canon’ to post-decolonial literature, in a joyful variety of interrelated recurrences, connections and encounters. William Shakespeare, Walter Scott, Doris Lessing, Ursula Le Guin, Bram Stoker, David Malouf and Jean Rhys are just few of the many writers tackled by our invited authors

Unpublished Mediterranean and Black Sea records of marine alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia)

Piezoelectric surgery: twenty years of use

The use of ultrasonic vibrations for the cutting of bone was first introduced two decades ago. Piezoelectric surgery is a minimally invasive technique that lessens the risk of damage to surrounding soft tissues and important structures such as nerves, vessels, and mucosa. It also reduces damage to osteocytes and permits good survival of bony cells during harvesting of bone. Piezoelectric surgery was first used by oral and maxillofacial surgeons for osteotomies, but recently some specific applications in neurosurgery and orthopaedics have been proposed. We review the different applications of piezoelectric surgery

Modern Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension.

Since 1998 pulmonary hypertension has been clinically classified into five well-defined, distinct categories. A definitive diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension requires the invasive confirmation of an elevated mean pulmonary artery pressure of 25 mm Hg or above during a right heart catheterization. From a hemodynamic point of view, pulmonary hypertension is classified into precapillary and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension on the basis of a pulmonary artery wedge pressure threshold value of 15 mm Hg. Pulmonary vascular resistance is better characterized by multi-point pressure/flow measurements than by single-point determination. Multi-point pulmonary vascular resistance calculation could be useful for early disease identification as well as for treatment response assessment. Occlusion analysis of the pulmonary artery pressure decay curve after balloon inflation at the tip of the pulmonary artery catheter permits locating the site of predominantly increased resistance and could be useful in differentiating proximal from distal vasculopathy, especially in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The pulsatile hydraulic load of the pulmonary circulation can be better appreciated by pulmonary vascular impedance or via the resistance-compliance relationship than by means of pulmonary vascular resistance. Determination of right ventriculo-arterial coupling permits assessing the impact of an elevated afterload on right ventricular function, which ultimately determines the symptoms and prognosis of patients with pulmonary hypertension. The clinical utility of combining different invasive hemodynamic approaches is still uncertain and remains to be determined