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Aim: In order to enhance clinical improvement of intrabony defects, the addition of enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) to bone substitues (BS) has been investigated. The aim of this systematic review is to figure out whether such a combination, in comparison to the treatment with BS alone has beneficial effects on the following outcomes: clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing depth (PD) reduction and recession (REC). Methods: Electronic databases (PUBMED, SCOPUS, EBSCO Host Research Databases and Web of Knowledge) were searched for randomized controlled trials in humans addressing the use of a combination of BS and EMD versus a control group with BS alone for the treatment of intrabony defects, with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up; meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were then performed. Results: From a total of 1,197 records screened by title and abstract, nine studies were read full-text and five out of them included in the meta-analysis. No significant differences have been demonstrated both for CAL gain, PD reduction and REC between test and control groups. Conclusions: In the treatment of intrabony defects, the addition of EMD to BS seems to be not beneficial in terms of CAL gain, PD reduction and REC changes. However, such results should be considered with caution because of the small number of studies included in the meta-analysis and their heterogeneity. Aim: In order to enhance clinical improvement of intrabony defects, the addition of enamel matrix derivatives (EMD) to bone substitues (BS) has been investigated. The aim of this systematic review is to figure out whether such a combination, in comparison to the treatment with BS alone has beneficial effects on the following outcomes: clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing depth (PD) reduction and recession (REC). Methods: Electronic databases (PUBMED, SCOPUS, EBSCO Host Research Databases and Web of Knowledge) were searched for randomized controlled trials in humans addressing the use of a combination of BS and EMD versus a control group with BS alone for the treatment of intrabony defects, with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up; meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis were then performed. Results: From a total of 1,197 records screened by title and abstract, nine studies were read full-text and five out of them included in the meta-analysis. No significant differences have been demonstrated both for CAL gain, PD reduction and REC between test and control groups. Conclusions: In the treatment of intrabony defects, the addition of EMD to BS seems to be not beneficial in terms of CAL gain, PD reduction and REC changes. However, such results should be considered with caution because of the small number of studies included in the meta-analysis and their heterogeneity.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy of the oral cavity; its incidence is increasing and latestage presentation is common. It is usually predated by oral premalignant disorders. For this reason, early diagnosis is fundamental to reduce the malignant transformation of oral premalignant disorders and for increase the survival rate for oral cancer. Scraping the surface of the lesion is useful for having cytological features of the investigated tissue. The features of smears of oral premalignant lesions are the keratinization growth (red, orange, brown), the increased nuclear area and so the nuclear hyperchromatism, the nuclear pleomorphism, and the chromatin clumping. All those features are essential for doing the right diagnosis. However, the oral disease should be recognized at the first view by the clinical investigation without touching the lesions avoiding possible alteration in the cells of the tissue. The current standard of incisional biopsy with histology is painful for patients and involves a delay, although histology is completed. The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of other available tests that are unobtrusive and provide immediate results like the tissue fluorescence imaging. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy of the oral cavity; its incidence is increasing and late-stage presentation is common. It is usually predated by oral premalignant disorders. For this reason, early diagnosis is fundamental to reduce the malignant transformation of oral premalignant disorders and for increase the survival rate for oral cancer. Scraping the surface of the lesion is useful for having cytological features of the investigated tissue. The features of smears of oral premalignant lesions are the keratinization growth (red, orange, brown), the increased nuclear area and so the nuclear hyperchromatism, the nuclear pleomorphism, and the chromatin clumping. All those features are essential for doing the right diagnosis. However, the oral disease should be recognized at the first view by the clinical investigation without touching the lesions avoiding possible alteration in the cells of the tissue. The current standard of incisional biopsy with histology is painful for patients and involves a delay, although histology is completed. The aim of this article is to evaluate the effectiveness of other available tests that are unobtrusive and provide immediate results like the tissue fluorescence imaging.

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic disease, with a central role to cell-mediated autoimmunity. Osteopontin promotes migration and recruitment of immune cells, CD44 is its receptor, and Survivin seems to be important in skin/mucosa homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate their expression in biopsy specimens of patients with different OLP clinical types and healthy controls. Biopsy specimens from 30 patients with OLP (15 atrophic and 15 hyperplastic) and 15 healthy controls were subjected to immune-histochemical analysis, to detect the expression of osteopontin, CD44, and Survivin in oral epithelia. The distributions of positively stained cells were evaluated with a quantitative method, while the inflammation degree was evaluated with a semi-quantitative one. Expression of osteopontin and CD44 was higher in OLP than controls, while Survivin expression was lower in OLP patients. There was a greater reduction of Survivin expression in atrophic OLP than hyperplastic OLP. A correlation between osteopontin expression and a high degree of inflammation was found. Furthermore, Survivin expression was higher in cases with low intensity of inflammation. Osteopontin, CD44, and Survivin seem to be involved in OLP pathogenesis, and further investigations are needed for clarifying their role in this oral disease.

The aim of the present study is to compare the histological aspects of bone formation in atrophic posterior mandibles augmented by autologous bone block from chin area with corticocancellous bone block allograft used as inlays with the sandwich technique.Materials and Methods. Sixteen patients with bilateral partial edentulism in the posterior mandible were selected. The residual bone height, preliminarily measured by computed tomography scans, ranged between 5 and 7 mm from the inferior alveolar nerve. All patients required regeneration procedure with autologous bone block from chin area (control group) versus bone block allograft Puros (Zimmer Dental, 1900 Aston Avenue, Carlsbad, CA, USA) (test group). Histological and histomorphometric samples were collected at the time of implant positioning in order to analyze the percentage of newly formed bone, the residual graft material, and marrow spaces/soft tissue.Results. No statistically significant differences between the two groups were found regarding the percentage of newly formed bone. The percentage of residual grafted material was significantly higher in the test group, whilst the percentage of marrow spaces was higher in control group.Conclusions. In conclusion, both procedures supported good results, although the use of bone blocks allograft was less invasive and preferable than harvesting bone from the mental symphysis.