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Background: Titanium is the gold standard among materials used for prosthetic devices because of its good mechanical and chemical properties. When exposed to oxygen, titanium becomes an oxide, anatase that is biocompatible and able to induce osseointegration., Materials and Methods: IN THIS STUDY WE COMPARED THE EXPRESSION PROFILING OF STEM CELLS CULTIVATED ON TWO TYPES OF SURFACE: Pure titanium disk and nanotube titanium disk in order to detect if nanotube titanium instead (NTD) surface stimulates stem cells towards osteoblast differentiation., Results: Stem cells cultivated on nanotube titanium disks showed the upregulation of bone-related genes RUNX2, FOSL1 and SPP1., Conclusions: Results demonstrated that nanotube titanium disk surface is more osteo-induced surface compared to titanium disk, promoting the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells in osteoblasts.

Background: The concept of osseointegration, i.e., the direct anchorage of endosseous implants made of commercially pure or titanium alloy to the bone caused a breakthrough in oral rehabilitation. The identification of factors for long-term survival and success rate are the main goal of the recent literature. Several variables can influence the final result, and in general they are grouped in surgery-, host-, implant-, and occlusion-related factors., Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis on a large series of dental implants was performed to detect those variables influencing the clinical outcome. In the period between January 2007 and December 2009, 157 patients were operated. A total of 429 implants were inserted. Dental implants are reliable devices to be used in oral rehabilitation., Results: Globally, very few implants were lost at the end of the follow-up period. Slight but significant differences existed among different implants types with regard to peri-implant bone resorption., Conclusion: A better clinical outcome was revealed for Sweden and Martina global implant.

Background: Periodontitis is a disease that affects and destroys the tissues that support teeth. Tissue damage results from a prolonged inflammatory response to an ecological shift in the composition of subgingival biofilms. Three bacterial species that constitute the red complex group, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola, are considered the main pathogens involved in periodontitis., Materials and Methods: In the present study, a real-time polymerase chain reaction bases assay was designed to detect and quantify red complex species, then used to investigate 307 periodontal pocket samples from 127 periodontitis patients and 180 controls., Results: Significant higher prevalence of red complex species and increased amount of P. gingivalis and T. denticola were detected in periodontal pocket of periodontitis patients., Conclusions: Results demonstrated that the test is a valuable tool to improve diagnosis of periodontal disease.

Background: Titanium dioxide exists in three different crystal lattices, anatase, rutile, and brookite. Anatase coating releases, under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, free radicals such as ·OH, O2 (-), HO2 (-), and H2O2. This potent oxidizing power characteristically results in the lysis of bacteria and other organic substances. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bone response to implants made of titanium alloy or coated with a new combination of anatase and Bactercline(®) product., Materials and Methods: In the period between July 2009 and June 2010, 26 patients (10 females and 16 males; median age 51 ± 11 years, min. 27 years, max. 72 years) were operated and 62 implants were inserted. Lost fixtures and peri-implant bone resorption were considered as predictors of clinical outcomes. Pearson χ(2)-test was used. Prosthesis and implant failures, any complications after loading, and peri-implant marginal bone-level changes were assessed by a masked assessor. All patients were followed up to 1 year after loading., Results: No implant was lost. Average bone resorption around implant was 0.33 mm (both for 25 standard and 37 Bactercline-coated implants), and thus no statistical difference was detected., Conclusion: These results shown that no adverse effects on osseo-integration were present.

Background: Picibanil (OK-432) is a lyophilized mixture of group A Streptococcus pyogenes with antineoplastic activity. Because of its capacity to produce a selective fibrosis of lymphangiomas (LMs), it has been approved by Japanese administration in 1995 for the treatment of LMs., Materials and Methods: We treated 15 children (age range: 6-60 months) affected by head and neck macrocystic LMs with intracystic injections (single dose of 0.2 mL) of Picibanil (1-3 injections)., Results: Complete disappearance of the lesion was noticed in eight (53.33%) cases, a marked (>50%) reduction of LMs was found five (33.33%) cases, while a moderate (<50%) response was recorded in two (13.33%) cases. Picibanil side effects included fever, local inflammation, and transitory increase of blood platelets' concentration; a single case of anemia was resolved with concentrated red blood cells transfusion., Conclusions: Intracystic injection of Picibanil is an effective and safe treatment for macrocystic LMs in pediatric patients and may represent the treatment of choice in such cases, especially where surgical excision is associated with the risk of functional/cosmetic side effects.

Background: Titanium is used worldwide to make osseointegrable devices, thanks to its favorable characteristics as mechanical proprieties and biocompatibility, demonstrated by in vivo studies with animal models and clinical trials over a forty-year period. However, the exact genetic effect of the titanium layer on cells is still not well characterized., Materials and Methods: To investigate how titanium nanotubes stimulate osteoblasts differentiation and proliferation, some osteoblast genes (SP7, RUNX2, COL3A1, COL1A1, ALPL, SPP1 and FOSL1) were analyzed by quantitative Real Time RT- PCR., Results: After 15 days, osteoblasts cultivated on titanium naotube showed the up-regulation of bone related genes SP7, ENG, FOSL1 and SPP1 and the down-regulation of RUNX2, COL3A1, COL1A1, and ALPL. After 30 days of treatment, the bone related genes SP7, ENG, FOSL1 and RUNX2 were up-regulated while COL3A1, COL1A1, ALPL and SPP1 were down-regulated., Conclusions: Our results, demonstrates that titanium nanotubes can lead to osteoblast differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization in dental pulp stem cells by the activation of osteoblast related genes SPP1, FOSL1 and RUNX2.

Background: Recently, the use of one-piece implants (OPI) has become more popular. Since no reports specifically focus on OPIs inserted in molar areas, a retrospective study has been performed., Materials and Methods: A series of 36 OPIs (Diamond; BIOIMPLANT, Milan, Italy) were inserted into the molar area of patients admitted at the Dental Clinic, University of Chieti, Italy, for oral rehabilitation between January and December 2010., Results: In our series survival rate (SVR) and success rate (SCR) were 91.7% and 97%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that no studied variable has an impact on survival (i.e., lost implants) as well as on clinical success (i.e., crestal bone resorption)., Conclusion: OPIs are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation in the molar areas.

Background: Osseointegration is essential for a long-term successful and inflammation-free dental implant. Such a result depends on osteoblastic cells growth and differentiation at the tissue-implant interface. The aim of this study was to compare two different AoN titanium layers (GR4 and GR5) to investigate which one had a greater osteoconductive power using human osteoblasts (HOb) culture at two different time-points., Materials and Methods: The expression levels of some bone-related (ALPL, COL1A1, COL3A1, SPP1, RUNX2, and SPARC) were analyzed using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR)., Results: Real-time RT-PCR data showed that after 3 days of treatment with TiA4GR, the genes up-regulated were COL3A1, ALPL, SPP1, and RUNX2. Moreover, no difference in gene expression was noticed 4 days later. On the other hand, the genes that overexpressed after 3 days of treatment with AoN5GR were ALPL, SPP1, and RUNX2. In both cases, the expression of COL1A1 and SPARC was negatively regulated., Conclusion: Our data showed that both titanium surfaces led to osteoblasts recruitment, maturation, and differentiation, thus promoting osseointegration at the tissue-implant interface.

Background: The main requirements for a good material are its ability to promote attraction and adhesion of bone precursor cells and their proliferation and differentiation. Different biocompatible materials are currently employed as scaffold. Among these, titanium is considered a gold standard because of its biocompatibility and good corrosion resistance., Materials and Methods: The aim of this work was to compare two different AoN titanium layers (GR4 and GR5) to investigate which one had a greater osteoconductive power using human fibroblasts (HFb) culture at two different time-points. The expression levels of some adhesion and traction-resistance related genes (COL11A1, COL2A1, COL9A1, DSP, ELN, HAS1, and TFRC) were analyzed using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction., Results: After 7 days of treatment with TiA 4GR, the only two up-regulated genes were COL2A1 and DSP. After 15 days of treatment, none of genes over expressed., Conclusion: Our preliminary results suggest that neither AoN 4GR nor AoN 5GR are able to promote the production of protein involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion and in stress-resistance, required for a good outcome in dental implantology.

Dental caries is one of the most common infectious ultifactorial diseases worldwide, characterized by the progressive demineralization of the tooth, following the action of bacterial acid metabolism. The main factors predisposing the onset of the carious process are: 1) the presence of bacterial species able to lower the pH until critical values of 5.5, 2) the absence of adequate oral hygiene, 3) an inefficient immune response anti-caries, 4) the type of alimentary diet and 5) the structure of the teeth. Among the 200 bacterial species isolated from dental plaque the most pathogenic for dental caries are: Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Actinomices viscusus and Bifidobacterium dentium. Our laboratory (LAB(®) s.r.l., Codigoro, Ferrara, Italy) has developed a test for absolute and relative quantification of the most common oral cariogenic bacteria. The test uses specific primers and probes for the amplification of bacteria genome sequences in Polymerase Chain Reaction Real Time. The results provide a profile of patient infection, helpful for improving the diagnosis and planning of preventive treatment to reduce the bacterial load.

Background: One-piece implants (OPIs) incorporate the trans-mucosal abutment facing the soft tissues as an integral part of the implant. OPIs are usually welded together and loaded immediately. Since no report focuses specifically on OPIs inserted in cuspid sites, a retrospective study is performed., Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (10 females and 9 males) with a median age of 62 years (range, 43-80) were admitted at the Dental Clinic, University of Chieti (Italy), for evaluation and implant treatment, by one surgeon between January and December 2010., Results: In our series, the survival rate (SVR) and success rate (SCR) were 96.8% and 100%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that no studied variable had an impact on the survival (i.e., lost implants) and clinical success (i.e., crestal bone resorption)., Conclusion: OPIs are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation in the cuspid sites.

Background: Recently, various biostimulation's effects of low energy laser irradiation have been reported. The present study was designed to examine the effects of low-energy laser irradiation on alveolar bone remodelling during orthodontic tooth movement and finally on formation of new keratinized gingiva., Materials and Methods: 22 patients and 27 teeth in vestibular mucosal without keratinized gingiva were selected. Every patient was treated with self ligating appliances. In every orthodontic session the patient was treated with Diode laser biostimulation. At the moment of debonding, 27 teeth involved in the research were evaluated in terms of quality and quantity of attached gingiva. BOP and CAL loss were investigated., Results: EVERY TOOTH CONSIDERED AT THE END OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT SHOWED AN ATTACHED GINGIVA AROUND THE CROWN: The average of keratinized gingiva at the end of the study was 3.10 mm and the mean increasing at each month was 0,49 mm., Conclusions: The combination between self ligating appliances and laser's biostimulation could improve the differentiation of periodontal ligaments stem cells in fibroblasts, able to promote attached gingiva around the crown of the teeth erupted in oral vestibular mucosa.

Background: Periodontitis is a disease mainly caused by a chronic infection of tissues that support the teeth. Several factors, such as diabetes, smoking and oral care, as well as genetic susceptibility can influence both the risk to develop periodontitis and its progression. The aim of the investigation was to test whether alleles of candidate genes were associated with periodontitis., Materials and Methods: A case control study was performed with a cohort of 184 patients with chronic periodontitis and 231 healthy controls from the Italian population. A total of six single nucleotide polymorphisms from five candidate genes, i.e., IL1A, IL1B, IL6, IL10 and vitamin D receptor, were investigated., Results: Evidence of association were obtained for rs1800795 mapping in IL6 (P value = 0.01) as well as for the rs1800872 mapping in IL10 (P = 0.04). The rarer variant allele lowered the risk to develop periodontitis at IL6 (Odds Ratio [OR] = 0.69 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.51-0.93]) and increased the risk at IL10 (OR = 1.38 [95% CI 1.01-1.86])., Conclusions: The present investigation indicated that polymorphisms of IL6 and IL10 constitute risk factors for chronic periodontitis, while there was no evidence implicating a specific IL1A or IL1B genotype.

Background: One-piece implants (OPIs) incorporate the trans-mucosal abutment facing the soft tissues as an integral part of the implant. Since OPIs become more and more popular and no report specifically focuses on OPIs inserted in incisors' area, a retrospective study is performed., Materials and Methods: Fifty-five OPIs were inserted in incisors' area in a series of patients admitted at the Dental Clinic, University of Chieti (Italy), for evaluation and implant treatment between January and December 2010., Results: In our study, the survival rate and success rate were 96.2% and 96.1%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that no studied variable had an impact on the survival (i.e., lost implants) and clinical success (i.e., crestal bone resorption)., Conclusions: OPIs are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation in the incisors' area.

Background: The routine and frequent use of dental implants to replace missing teeth is accompanied by high expectations from patients. These expectations are not limited to function and esthetics but extends to patient comfort and time spent in receiving treatment. Replacement of an unrestorable maxillary premolar can be challenging when considering the concerns of patients. A one-piece implant (OPI) incorporates the trans-mucosal abutment facing the soft tissues as an integral part of the implant. Since no report specifically focused on OPIs inserted in premolar areas, a retrospective study was carried out., Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients (10 females and 9 males) with a median age of 62 years (43-80) were enrolled and a total of 176 OPIs (Diamond, BIOIMPLANT, Milan, Italy) were inserted., Results: In our series survival rate (SVR) and success rates (SCR) were 90.6% and 97.9%, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that no studied variable had an impact on survival (i.e., lost implants) as well as on clinical success (i.e., crestal bone resorption)., Conclusion: OPIs are reliable devices for oral rehabilitation in the premolar areas.

Background: PerioGlas® (PG) is an alloplastic material used for grafting periodontal osseous defects since 1995. In animal models, it has been proven that PG achieves histologically good repair of sur-gically created defects. In clinical trials, PG was effective as an adjunct to conventional surgery in the treatment of intrabony defects. Because the molecular events due to PG that are able to alter osteob-last activity to promote bone formation are poorly understood, we investigated the expression of os-teoblastic related genes in mesenchymal stem cells exposed to PG., Methods: The expression levels of bone related genes like RUNX2, SP7, SPP1, COL1A1, COL3A1, BGLAP, ALPL, and FOSL1 and mesenchymal stem cells marker (CD105) were analyzed, using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Pearson's chi-square (χ(2)) test was used to detect markers with significant differences in gene expression., Results: PG caused induction of osteoblast transcriptional factor (like RUNX2), bone related genes osteopontin (SPP1), osteocalcin (BGLAP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALPL). All had statistical sig-nificant P values (< 0.05)., Conclusion: PG has a differentiation effect on mesenchymal stem cells derived from peripheral blood. The obtained results can be relevant to better understanding of the molecular mechanism of bone regeneration and as a model for comparing other materials with similar clinical effects.

Background: The aim of research was to study spiral family implant by finite element analysis (FEA) inserted in different bone qualities connected with abutments of different angulations., Methods: The biomechanical behaviour of 4.2 × 13 mm dental implants, connecting screw, straight and 15° and 25° angulated abutments subjected to static loads, in contact with high and poor bone qualities was evaluated by FEA., Results: The lowest stress value was found in the system composed by implants and straight abut-ments loaded with a vertical force, while the highest stress value was found in implants with 15° angulated abutment loaded with an angulated force. In addition, we found the lower the bone quality, the higher the distribution of the stress within the bone., Conclusion: Spiral family implants can be used successfully in low bone quality but applying a straight force is recommended.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most frequent malignant bone tumor occurring in young patients in the first two decades of life. Metastases are the cause of 90% of cancer deaths for patients with OS. OS of the jaw is rare and aggressive malignancy constitutes approximately 5-13% of all cases of skeletal OS. Chemotherapy plus surgery are the first choice for treatment., Aims: Because OS cell lines (OCLs) should share a common pathway with primary OS and new drugs are screened in in vitro systems, new insight about the genetic profiling of OCLs is of paramount importance to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of this rare tumor and detecting a potential target for specific therapy., Materials and Methods: The SAOS2 and TE85 cell lines were analysed using DNA microarrays containing 19,000 genes. Several genes in which expression was significantly differentially expressed in OCLs vs. normal osteoblast (NO) were detected., Results: The differentially expressed genes cover a broad range of functional activities: (a) cell cycle regulation, (b) cell differentiation, (c) apoptosis, and (d) immunity., Conclusion: The reported data can be relevant to a better understanding of the biology of OS and as a model for comparing the effect of drugs used in OS treatment.