Volumetric Soft Tissue Changes After Using Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin (I-PRF) Versus Subepithelial Connective Tissue Graft in Interdental Papillae Defects: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Study

Background: Lost interdental papillae in the esthetic region are of great concern from the esthetic and functional point of view. We elicit a clinical study of papillary reconstruction in this article using injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) as a nonsurgical procedure and compare its results to those of the subepithelial connective tissue graft (SECTG), being considered the gold standard method used to reconstruct interdental papillae. Methods: Twenty-four patients seeking treatment for black triangles were randomized into two groups: group A patients were treated with the SECTG technique, and group B patients were treated with I-PRF. Four injections were given at each papilla site at baseline, two-, four-, and six-week intervals to ensure optimal esthetics. Pain, clinical, and volumetric assessments were done. Volumetric assessment was completed through intraoral scanning of the papilla site at baseline and after six months, after which the results were obtained by superimposition of both scans. Results: Group A (5.08 ±2.15) had a significantly higher mean pain score value than group B (1.17 ±0.94) (p < 0.001). Group B (0.31 ±0.21) had a higher mean value of volumetric changes at the interdental papillae than group A (0.25 ±0.17), yet the difference was not significant (p = 0.517). Conclusion: Injectable platelet-rich fibrin gave comparable results to SECTG in Nordland Class I defects only, provided that the injection protocol was once every 15 days for a two-month period. Patients treated with I-PRF were more satisfied with the procedure and the results than patients who were treated with SECTG

A New Combination Formula for Treatment of Fungal Keratitis: An Experimental Study

Objective. To formulate and evaluate slow release ketoconazole and ketorolac to treat fungal keratitis and associated inflammation. Methods. Experimental study with the following outcome measures. Pharmaceutical Evaluation. Mucoadhesive gels containing ketoconazole and ketorolac were used. Microbiological in vitro evaluation was performed using cup method. In vivo evaluation was performed on 24 rabbits divided into 2 groups, 12 rabbits each, group A (fast release formula; 6 times daily) and group B (slow release formula; 3 times daily). Each group was divided into two subgroups (6 rabbits each). Both eyes of rabbits were inoculated with Candida albicans. The left eye of all rabbits received the combination formulae. The right eye for one subgroup received ketoconazole as control 1 while the other subgroup received placebo as control 2. Clinical follow-up was done and, finally, the corneas were used for microbiological and pathological evaluation. Results. Gels containing high polymer concentration showed both high viscosity and mucoadhesion properties with slower drug release. The infected eyes treated with slow release formula containing both drugs showed better curing of the cornea and pathologically less inflammation than eyes treated with fast release formula. Conclusion. Slow release formula containing ketoconazole and ketorolac showed higher activity than fast release formula against fungal keratitis and associated inflammation

Influence of Different Decontamination Approaches on Bone Substitute Adhesion to Peri-Implantitis Affected Implant Surfaces: An SEM Proof of Principle Study

Background: During healing, clot blended graft materials may retract away from implant surfaces creating microgaps that compromise re-osseointegration. The present study aimed to evaluate different surface decontamination materials’ effect on adhesion of the graft materials to peri-implantitis affected parts, a factor that can resist clot blended graft retraction improving re-osseointegration. Methods: Eighteen peri-implantitis affected implants diagnosed as hopeless and designated for removal contributed in this prospective, masked trial. Samples were randomly distributed into three groups, each of six implants. Group one (G1) was coated with hydroxyapatite of a micro particle size of 250 to 1000 µm after saline surface decontamination for two minutes. Group two (G2) peri-implantitis affected parts were treated with the graft material following two minutes of chlorhexidine gluconate 0.12% (CHX) surface treatment. Group three (G3) implants were coated with the graft material after citric acid (CA) (pH = 1) surface conditioning for two minutes. Implants in all groups were agitated in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) by using an automatic tissue processor agitator for three minutes. Implants were prepared for surface scanning evaluation. Results: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation of G1 saline treated control implants were devoid of bone particles adherent to peri-implantitis affected surfaces. The surface area covered by grafted particles in G2 was statistically higher than that of G1 (P<0.01). Group three (CA-treated) showed nearly complete coverage of peri-implantitis affected parts by the graft material covering 88.8% of examined surface areas which was statistically higher than that of G2 (P<0.05). Conclusion: Citric acid implant surface conditioning could improve implant re-osseointegration through enhancement of the graft adhesion to the implant surface. Smear layer barrier effect seemed to be the most important factor that compromised graft adhesion to preri-implantitis affected parts of the implant surfaces

A Perspective on the Use of NB-UVB Phototherapy vs. PUVA Photochemotherapy

Narrowband UVB (NB-UVB) phototherapy and psoralen-UVA (PUVA) photochemotherapy are widely used phototherapeutic modalities for a range of skin diseases. The main indication for NB-UVB and PUVA therapies is psoriasis, and other key diagnoses include atopic eczema, vitiligo, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and the photodermatoses. The decision on choice of phototherapy is important and NB-UVB is usually the primary choice. NB-UVB phototherapy is a safe and effective therapy which is usually considered when topical agents have failed. PUVA requires prior psoralen sensitization but remains a highly effective mainstay therapy, often used when NB-UVB fails, there is rapid relapse following NB-UVB or in specific indications, such as pustular or erythrodermic psoriasis. This review will provide a perspective on the main indications for use of NB-UVB and PUVA therapies and provide comparative information on these important dermatological treatments

Health and Its Effect on the Household Nonmarket Production and Consumption

167 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1983.The main objectives of the study are: (a) to survey critically the progress that has been made by current research in measuring the monetary and non-monetary returns to investment in health; and (b) to develop a conceptual framework for measuring empirically the effect of non-monetary returns on the consumption and production behaviors of households.The theoretical model employs the concept of household production function. The household is viewed as a small multiproduct firm in which members' nonmarket time is combined with purchased market goods and services to produce commodities (z(,j)'s). The household consumes all its own production of these commodities and thereby derives its utility.Three hypotheses are derived from the model: (1) the efficiency effect hypothesis suggests that households substitute away market goods and services and toward nonmarket time due to an increase in human efficiency; (2) the substitution effect hypothesis suggests that households substitute away nonmarket time and toward market goods and services due to an increase in the value of a unit of time; and (3) the expenditure (income) effect hypothesis suggests that as health capital increases, the productivity per unit of market time increases. Therefore, smaller amounts of market time are needed to finance the current level of expenditures. As a result, more time may be available for market production and thus more income for the household to spend.The empirical analysis was done using a sample from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Expenditure Survey of 1973. The primary empirical work involved multiple regression analysis for estimating Engel curves for various expenditure items of market goods and services.There is enough evidence in this study to support the notion that health capital does influence the consumption patterns of the households through the change in the input ratio of the household production function. Hence, investment in health has both monetary and non-monetary returns that variably influence the consumption and the production behaviors of households.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD