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Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Croatica is the property of Acta Stomatologica Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: The aim of the present pilot- study was to evaluate the influence of oral intake of Ekolostrum (bovine colostrum) on concentration of salivary IgA( sIgA) in saliva. Materials and Methods: Twenty healthy participants between 23 and 54 years of age were randomly selected for the test and control group (n= 10). The test group took 60 capsules of Ecolostrum. The entire amount of the unstimulated saliva was collected before treatment from all participants. The procedure was repeated after 30 days at the end of the experiment. The concentration of sIgA in saliva was determined using ELISA (enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay). Intra- group comparisons were performed by paired sample T-test and inter- group differences were compared by ANOVA (p= 0.05) Results: Participants who were taking Ecolostrum had statistically significant (p=0.026) lower concentrations of sIgA after the treatment than before. The control group showed no statistically significant difference. There were statistically significant differences ( p=0.047) of mean concentrations of sIgA between the test group and control group at the end of the experiment (464 ±59.89µg/mL and 620.16± 42.26µg/mL). Conclusions: The results of this pilot- study show that after one month of orally administrated Ekolostrum, the amount of sIgA was lower than before treatment. Some more extensive and detailed studies are needed to obtain more reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Croatica is the property of Acta Stomatologica Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of root-end filling materials, MTA and amalgam, by agar diffusion test. Materials and methods: Blood agar plates were inoculated with bacteria Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Staph-ylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis each, and a polymicrobial suspension consisting of all the tested bacteria. Material samples were divided among the inoculated plates, and after 48 hours of incubation, the diameters of the inhibition zone (IZ) were recorded. Results: The strongest antibacterial effect of MTA was against Streptococcus mutans (IZ = 7.6 mm, sd 1.0), followed by Streptococcus mitis and Lactobacillus acidophilus (IZ = 7.3 mm, sd 0.5). The inhibition zone (IZ) for Enterococcus faecalis was 5.6 mm (sd 0.7), and for the polymicrobial suspension 5.3 mm (sd 1.0). Staphylococcus aureus was the only bacteria MTA did not show any antibacterial effect against. Amalgam showed no antibacterial effect against any of the bacteria tested. Conclusion: MTA showed antibacterial effect against 4 of 5 tested bacteria and the polymicrobial suspension, while amalgam did not inhibit the growth of any of the bacteria tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Stomatologica Croatica is the property of Acta Stomatologica Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of 0.2% polyhexamethilene biguanide (PHMB) in root canal models infected with Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus epidermidis. PHMB was compared in these tests with 2.5% NaOCl and 0.2% CHX. Methods Prepared models of 50 human root canals (n=50) were immerged in mixed, four-weeks old culture that consisted of E .faecalis, S. epidermidis and C. albicans. Roots were randomly divided into three groups: one with 30 (n=30) and two with 10 (n=10) samples. Samples were treated with polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) (0.2%), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) (2.5%) and chlorhexidine (CHX) (0.2%), respectively. Root dentin was sampled before and after the tretment with these solutions. Colony-forming units (CFU) were counted to asses the antimicrobial effects of three solutions on viability of selected microrganisms in specimens before and after the treatment. T-test was used for comparison of results between specimens before and after the treatment, while Newman-Keuls test was used for pairwise comparison at p=0.05. Results The PHMB was significantly more efficient in reducing the number of all three tested microorganisms. NaOCl and CHX made only statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in case of E. faecalis and S. epidermidis. In the case of C. albicans, this difference was not statistically significant due to the small number of positive samples and high initial dispersion of results. Conclusion Both solutions PHMB and NaOCl were successful in eliminating E. faecalis and S. epidermidis from the mature dentin biofilm, CHX was not successful enough. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To determine the prevalence of apical periodontitis and assess the quality of endodontic fillings in the population of the city of Zagreb, Croatia. Methods A total of 1462 orthopantomograms from new patients at 6 different dental practices was analyzed during 2006 and 2007. The presence of periapical lesions was determined by using the periapical index score (PAI). The quality of endodontic fillings was assessed according to the filling length and homogeinicity. Data were analyzed using t test and ANOVA with Scheffe post-hoc test. Results There were 75.9% of participants with endodontically treated teeth and 8.5% of all teeth were endodontically treated. Only 34.2% of endodontically treated roots had adequate root canal filling length, while 36.2% of root canal fillings had homogenous appearance. From the total number of teeth with intracanal post, 17.5% had no visible root canal filling. Using PAI 3 as a threshold value for apical periodontitis, periapical lesions were detected in 8.5% of teeth. Adequate quality of root canal fillings was associated with a lower prevalence of periapical lesions. Conclusion We found a large proportion of endodontically treated teeth with apical periodontitis and a correlation between the quality of endodontic filling and the prevalence of periapical lesions. This all suggests that it is necessary to improve the quality of endodontic treatment in order to reduce the incidence and prevalence of apical periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bacterial resistance is considered a consequence of misuse or overuse of antibiotics. Dentistry significantly contributes to this increasing public health problem. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the pattern of antibiotics prescribed by Croatian dentists in Zagreb area.Methods: Out of 220 Doctors of Dental Medicine (DMDs) from Zagreb 110 responded to survey. Prior to the research an ethical approval was obtained. Participants were directly contacted. The questionnaire consisted of two parts: general data on DMDs and the part concerning indications, duration, type and dosage of antibiotic therapy. Data were processed using MS Excel and SPSS for Windows, Version 17.0. Statistical significance was tested by Fisher's exact test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation at the level of statistical significance p<0.05.Results: During the period of two months, the doctors prescribed antibiotics to 1,500 patients, 690 (46%) were men and 810 (54%) women. The most often prescribed antibiotics were penicillin (72.5% of patients), represented mostly by amoxicillin in combination with clavulanic acid (57.6%). The most common indication for the prescribed antibiotics was periapical or periodontal abscess (44%). Definite clinical indication (71.2%) was stated as the most common reason for antibiotic prescription. Antibiotic therapy usually lasted 7 days (62.9%). The doctors prescribed daily doses of antibiotics according to the instructions for the use of specific drugs.Conclusion: The examined subjects prescribe antibiotics according to the curriculum taught at the School of Dental Medicine for majority of types, doses and duration of the treatments, although antibiotics over-prescription in cases without medical indication was observed. The national guidelines on antibiotic regimens are required in order to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enamel hypoplasias are considered useful indicators of exposure to a health disturbances and stress at the time of the enamel formation. In a historic sample, they may provide a relative measure of that exposure stress. A sample of 104 sculls from an 18th century Požega cathedral crypt was examined for the frequency and distribution of enamel defects ranging from surface pits to linear enamel hypoplastic changes. Data were analyzed by means of descriptive and non-parametric statistical methods. The percentage of enamel hypoplasias was 11.14 % if total possible number of teeth was taken into consideration. However, when only present teeth were accounted for, the percentage of hypoplasias was 22,61 %. The most frequently affected maxillary teeth were canines (left 32,0%, right 35,9%), upper lateral incisives (left 23,3%, right 29,1%), and upper central incisives (left 16,5%, right 20,4%). The most frequently affected mandibular teeth were canines (both left and right 17,5%) and right first lower molar (10,7%). Significant differences in the distribution of hypoplasias between males and females were found for upper premolars (Mann Whitney U test, Z=-2,408, p=0,016), upper canines (Mann Whitney U test, Z= -3,073, p=0,002), upper incisives (Mann Whitney U test, Z= -2,158, p=0,031) as well as total number of hypoplastic teeth in the maxilla (Mann Whitney U test, Z= -3,059, p=0,002) and the mandible (Mann Whitney U test, Z= -2,192, p=0,028). No differences in hypoplasia distribution was found between age groups (Kruskal Wallis test, p>0,05). The high level of stress in this skeletal sample may indicate the susceptibility of children to diseases and systemic disturbances during growth in the early and mid childhood. A big plague epidemic in 1739 in Slavonia region as well as epidemics of chickenpocks, typhus, malaria and dyphteria throughout 18th century could have contributed to a hypoplastic changes observed in presented population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thickness and shape of cortical mandible on orthopantompographs can be expressed using radiomorphometric indices, which reliably reflect the systemic condition associated with sex or age related bone mass loss. The aim of this study was to estimate four radiomorphometric indices of mandible in an 18th century population sample. Thirty six skulls (31m, 5f), recovered from the crypt of Požega Cathedral were chosen for radiomorphometric analysis. Sex was determined based on the shape of osseus structures, and age on abrasion patterns (<25, 25-34, 35-44, 45+). Vertical and horizontal dimensions were reproducible (Eichner classes I and II). The parameters in recording analogue dental orthopantompographs were set to constant current of 16mA, exposure time of 14.1sec, and voltage between 62-78 kV (Sirona model no. 5968573 D3 200; Siemens, Munich, Germany). Radiographic films (ORTHO CP-G PLUS Agfa; Agfa-Gevaert Group, Mortsel, Belgium) were processed in an automatic dark chamber processor (XR 24 Nova; Dürr Dental GmbH u. Co KG, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany) for 12 minutes, scanned at 8-bit, 300 DPI, and analysed for: MI-thickness of the mandibular cortex below the mental foramen; AI- thickness at antegonion; GI- thickness at gonion; MCI- mandibular cortex index (1=sharp endosteal margin of the inferior cortex; 2=semilunar defects; 3=thick cortical residues on endosteal margin). Average values of MI, AI and GI were 3.97±0.94 mm, 2.98±0.56 mm, and 1.99±0.55mm, respectievly. Statistically significant differences between males and females were found for AI right (t=2.601,df=34,p=0.014), GI left (t=2.714,df=34,p=0.010) and GI avearge (t=2.963,df=34,p=0.006), and were in all cases higher in males.There were no statistically significant differences between age groups for either index. Considering MCI, the differences were not significant between males and females (×2=2.54,df=2,p=0.281) and age groups (×2=4.306,df=6,p=0.635). Considering Eichner classification the differences were not significant for MI (×2=36,df=35,p=0.422), AI (×2=31.02,df=32,p=0.516), and GI (×2=33.5,df=33,p=0.443), but in Eichner classes II, MCI was significantly higher (×2=7.845,df=2,p=0.02). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]