Direct measurement of ultrasonic activity on microbial metabolism and analysis of related uncertainty

The scope of this work is to identify the relation that exists between the alterations of the bacterial metabolism and the exposition to an ultrasonic field (O'Leary et al. 1997, Piyasena et al. 2003, Brujan2004). To made this relation quantifiable they will be used repeatable and reproducible metrological methods. To obtain this result the research will be centred on 3 specific goal: 1. To realise a measurement of the ultrasonic field, generated by an ultrasonic bath, using an hydrophone calibrated specifically with the wavelengths applied (Canney et al. 2008). 2. To choose a method, through uncertainty evaluation, to expose microbes to the ultrasonic field without an excessive alteration of the generated acoustic pressure. 3. To find a method to measure bacterial viability, represented by the planktonic growth and the biofilm development, after exposure to the ultrasounds. Studying the relationship between the bacteria metabolism and ultrasonic exposure it will be possible to identify novels and more precise methods to treat bacterial colonizations. This result will be in fact useful in various fields where the bacterial presence, and in particular biofilm development, is today an unresolved problem. At the same time this research will put the basis for many further studies that will be realized applying the same methods with different bacterial species, ultrasounds exposition conditions or ultrasonic devices

Direct measurement of ultrasonic activity on microbial metabolism and analysis of related uncertainty

The scope of this work is to identify the relation that exists between the alterations of the bacterial metabolism and the exposition to an ultrasonic field (O'Leary et al. 1997, Piyasena et al. 2003, Brujan2004). To made this relation quantifiable they will be used repeatable and reproducible metrological methods. To obtain this result the research will be centred on 3 specific goal: 1. To realise a measurement of the ultrasonic field, generated by an ultrasonic bath, using an hydrophone calibrated specifically with the wavelengths applied (Canney et al. 2008). 2. To choose a method, through uncertainty evaluation, to expose microbes to the ultrasonic field without an excessive alteration of the generated acoustic pressure. 3. To find a method to measure bacterial viability, represented by the planktonic growth and the biofilm development, after exposure to the ultrasounds. Studying the relationship between the bacteria metabolism and ultrasonic exposure it will be possible to identify novels and more precise methods to treat bacterial colonizations. This result will be in fact useful in various fields where the bacterial presence, and in particular biofilm development, is today an unresolved problem. At the same time this research will put the basis for many further studies that will be realized applying the same methods with different bacterial species, ultrasounds exposition conditions or ultrasonic device

Idiopathic atrophic glossitis as the only clinical sign for celiac disease diagnosis: a case report

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this case report is to show how an oral condition, such as atrophic glossitis, can be the only clinical sign that allows an early diagnosis of celiac disease. CASE PRESENTATION: Atrophic glossitis was detected by a dentist during a first routine examination of the oral cavity of a 17-year-old Sardinian young woman and then differential diagnosis was carried out to identify the etiology of her tongue condition. Considering the high prevalence of celiac disease in the patient’s birth area, the clinician took a blood sample to search for vitamin deficiency and immunological anomalies typically linked to celiac disease. Positive blood sample results allowed the patient to be referred to a gastroenterologist in order to perform a small intestine biopsy. The biopsy showed a strong atrophy of the intestinal villus so that it was possible to make a sure diagnosis of celiac disease. After five months on a gluten-free diet, the oral clinician was not able to find any signs of atrophic glossitis. CONCLUSIONS: Two important conclusions can be reached from this case report; first, the fundamental role played by the oral condition alone in finding and highlighting atypical forms of celiac disease and second, the importance of investigating systemic anomalies, in cases where there is a tongue condition such as atrophic glossitis and when it is impossible to identify local causes

Oil Essential Mouthwashes Antibacterial Activity against Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans: A Comparison between Antibiofilm and Antiplanktonic Effects

The aim of this work is to determine the antibacterial activity of three marketed mouthwashes on suspended and sessile states of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The efficacy of two commonly used products in clinical practice, containing essential oils as active ingredients (menthol, thymol, methyl salicylate, and eucalyptol) in association with or without alcohol, has been evaluated in comparison with a chlorhexidine-based mouthwash. The microtiter plate assay, in order to obtain a spectrophotometric measurement of bacterial responses at growing dilutions of each antiseptic, was used for the study. The analysis revealed that a good antibacterial activity is reached when the abovementioned mouthwashes were used at concentration over a 1/24 dilution and after an exposure time of 30 seconds at least. In conclusion, the alcoholic mouthwash appears to have a better biofilm inhibition than its antiplanktonic activity while the nonalcoholic product demonstrates an opposite effect with a better antiplanktonic behavior

In Vitro Evaluation of Enterococcus faecalis Adhesion on Various Endodontic Medicaments

E. faecalis in endodontic infection represents a biofilm type of disease, which explains the bacteria’s resistance to various antimicrobial compounds and the subsequent failure after endodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to compare antimicrobial activities and bacteria kinetic adhesion in vitro for three endodontic medicaments with a clinical isolate of E. faecalis. We devised a shake culture which contained the following intracanalar preparations: CPD, Endoidrox (EIX), PulpCanalSealer (PCS); these were immersed in a liquid culture medium inoculated with the microorganism. The shake system velocity was able to prevent non-specific bacteria adhesion and simulated the salivary flow. Specimens were collected daily (from both the medium and medicaments) for 10 days; the viable cells were counted by plate count, while the adhesion index AI° [E. faecalis fg DNA] /mm2 was evaluated in the pastes after DNA extraction, by quantitative real time PCR for the 16S rRNA gene. A partial growth inhibition, during the first 24 hours, was observed in the liquid medium and on the medicaments for EIX and subsequently for CPD (six logs). EIX showed the lowest adhesion coefficient (5*102 [fg DNA]/mm2) for nine days and was similar to the control. PCS showed no antimicrobial/antibiofilm properties. This showed that “calcium oxide” base compounds could be active against biofilm progression and at least in the short term (2-4 days) on E. faecalis cells growing in planktonic cultures

Probing depth in periodontal pockets: In vitro evaluation of contributions to variability due to probe type and operator skill

Periodontal probing aims at detecting the presence, type and gravity of periodontal diseases influencing distance between gingival margin and connective ligament. Measurements in vivo are affected by substantial uncertainty, owing, for example, to probe features, anatomic variations and operator’s skill. Inadequate reproducibility in periodontal probing may lead to diagnostic mistakes and inappropriate therapeutic decisions. In vitro evaluation of reproducibility of measurements of periodontal pockets was aimed at while developing a Periodontal Calibration Box designed to calibrate periodontal probe operators, catering also for simulating contraction observed in vivo. Probe type and clinical experience of operators were found to affect substantially probing errors