Marco Lombardini

Protective effect on enamel demineralization of a CPP-ACP paste: an AFM in vitro study

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of a CPP-ACP paste (Tooth Mousse) on preventing dental erosion produced by a soft drink (Coca Cola), using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). METHODS Thirty extracted human central incisors free of caries were selected and divided in a treatment and a control half. The treatment halves were divided in three groups-group 1: demineralization with soft drink (4 intervals of 2 min); group 2: demineralization with soft drink (4 intervals of 2 min) plus Tooth Mousse; group 3: intact enamel plus Tooth Mousse. In groups 2 and 3 Tooth Mousse was applied for 3 min at 0, 8, 24 and 36 h. The surface of each specimen was imaged by AFM and R(rms) values were registered. RESULTS Among treatment specimens of groups 1 and 2, a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in R(rms) values was registered: treatment of the specimens with CPP-ACP paste had a protective effect on enamel demineralization. In group 3 no statistically significant difference was registered between exposed and not exposed halves of the specimens. CONCLUSIONS The use of a CPP-ACP paste had a protective effect on enamel demineralization in an in vitro model.

Impact of two toothpastes on repairing enamel erosion produced by a soft drink: An AFM in vitro study

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of two toothpastes (Sensodyne Pronamel and Biorepair Plus on repairing enamel erosion produced by a soft drink (Coca Cola), using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). METHODS Fifty extracted human central incisors free of caries were selected and divided in a treatment and a control half; they were kept in artificial saliva during whole experimentation. The treatment halves were divided into five groups; group 1: demineralization with soft drink; group 2: demineralization with soft drink + Pronamel; group 3: demineralization with soft drink + Biorepair Plus; group 4: intact enamel + Pronamel; group 5: intact enamel + Biorepair Plus. Specimen demineralization was carried on in 4 intervals of 2 min. In groups 2, 3, 4, and 5 the toothpastes were applied for 3 min at 0, 8, 24 and 36 h. The surface of each specimen was imaged by AFM and R(rms), root-mean-square roughness, and Maximum Depth of the cavities were registered. RESULTS Amongst treatment specimens of groups 1, 2, and 3 a statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in R(rms) and Maximum Depth values was registered: the toothpastes reduced enamel demineralization. No statistical differences in R(rms) values were registered between the two toothpastes. CONCLUSIONS The toothpastes tested (Pronamel and BioRepair Plus) offer a degree of protection from erosive drinks.

Analysis of dentin/enamel remineralization by a CPP‐ACP paste: AFM and SEM study

The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of a CPP-ACP paste on preventing dentin/enamel erosion produced by a soft drink; Atomic Force Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used. Eighty extracted human incisors free of caries were selected and divided into four groups (each divided in two subgroups); group 1a: intact dentin; group 1b: dentin + soft drink; group 2a: intact dentin + CCP-ACP paste; group 2b: dentin + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste; group 3a: intact enamel; group 3b: enamel + soft drink; group 4a: intact enamel + CCP-ACP paste; group 4b: enamel + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste. The CPP-ACP paste was applied for 3 min at 0, 8, 24, and 36 h. The surface of each dentin/enamel specimen was imaged by AFM (Rrms values were registered) and SEM. A statistical significant difference was recorded between groups 1b (dentin + soft drink) and 2b (dentin + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste) and between groups 3b (enamel + soft drink) and 4b (enamel + soft drink + CCP-ACP paste), suggesting that treatment of the specimens with the CPP-ACP paste had a protective effect on enamel demineralization, which was more evident for enamel specimens. Under the limitations of the present in vitro study, it can be concluded that the application of a CPP-ACP paste is effective on preventing dentin/enamel erosion produced by a soft drink.

Evaluation of Vickers hardness and depth of cure of six composite resins photo-activated with different polymerization modes.

Aim: The current in vitro study evaluated Vickers hardness (VK) and depth of cure (hardness ratio) of six resin composites, polymerized with a light-emitting diode (LED) curing unit by different polymerization modes: Standard 20 s, Standard 40 s, Soft-start 40 s. Materials and Methods: Six resin composites were selected for the present study: three microhybrid (Esthet.X HD, Amaris, Filtek Silorane), two nanohybrid (Grandio, Ceram.X mono) and one nanofilled (Filtek Supreme XT). The VK of the surface was determined with a microhardness tester using a Vickers diamond indenter and a 200 g load applied for 15 seconds. The mean VK and hardness ratio of the specimens were calculated using the formula: hardness ratio = VK of bottom surface / VK of top surface. Results: For all the materials tested and with all the polymerization modes, hardness ratio was higher than the minimum value indicated in literature in order to consider the bottom surface as adequately cured (0.80). Curing time did not affect hardness ratio values for Filtek Silorane, Grandio and Filtek Supreme XT. Conclusion: The effectiveness of cure at the top and bottom surface was not affected by Soft-start polymerization mode.

Cytocompatibility and Antibacterial Properties of Capping Materials

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the antimicrobial activity and cytocompatibility of six different pulp-capping materials: Dycal (Dentsply), Calcicur (Voco), Calcimol LC (Voco), TheraCal LC (Bisco), MTA Angelus (Angelus), and Biodentine (Septodont). To evaluate antimicrobial activity, materials were challenged in vitro with Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus salivarius, and Streptococcus sanguis in the agar disc diffusion test. Cytocompatibility of the assayed materials towards rat MDPC-23 cells was evaluated at different times by both MTT and apoptosis assays. Results significantly differed among the different materials tested. Both bacterial growth inhibition halos and cytocompatibility performances were significantly different among materials with different composition. MTA-based products showed lower cytotoxicity and valuable antibacterial activity, different from calcium hydroxide-based materials, which exhibited not only higher antibacterial activity but also higher cytotoxicity.

Surface kinetic roughening caused by dental erosion: An atomic force microscopy study

Surface kinetic roughening takes place both in case of growth and erosion processes. Teeth surfaces are eroded by contact with acid drinks, such as those used to supplement mineral salts during sporting activities. Calcium-phosphate based (CPP-ACP) pastes are known to reduce the erosion process, and to favour the enamel remineralization. In this study we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the surface roughening during dental erosion, and the mechanisms at the basis of the protection role exerted by a commercial CPP-ACP paste. We found a statistically significant difference (p<0.01) in the roughness of surfaces exposed and not exposed to the acid solutions. The treatment with the CPP-ACP paste determined a statistically significant reduction of the roughness values. By interpreting the AFM results in terms of fractal scaling concepts and continuum stochastic equations, we showed that the protection mechanism of the paste depends on the chemical properties of the acid solution.

Habitat requirements of Eurasian pine marten Martes martes in a Mediterranean environment

Evaluating presence and habitat requirements of small carnivores is essential for their conservation. The Eurasian pine marten Martes martes, often described as a habitat specialist associated primarily with forest habitats, has been recently found to live even in patchily wooded country and in shrublands. We evaluated the environmental factors that determine the distribution of the pine marten in a Mediterranean landscape on the island of Sardinia (central Italy). Camera trapping sessions and scat surveys were carried out to assess the presence of the species, then a potential distribution model was developed using ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA), which requires only presence data. The pine marten selected highest altitudes, shrublands, rocky areas, and woodlands, and avoided urban areas and arable lands. Our results indicate that pine marten distribution in our study area is constrained by these variables. The ENFA analysis provided important clues about the distribution range of M. martes and its preferential environmental conditions, updating knowledge of its ecological requirements in Italy.

Preventive effect of different toothpastes on enamel erosion: AFM and SEM studies

UNLABELLED The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of new formulation toothpastes on preventing enamel erosion produced by a soft drink (Coca Cola), using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fifty enamel specimens were assigned to 10 groups of 5 specimens each. 1: intact enamel, 2: enamel + soft drink, 3: intact enamel + BioRepair Plus-Sensitive Teeth, 4: enamel + soft drink + BioRepair Plus-Sensitive Teeth, 5: intact enamel + BioRepair Plus-Total Protection, 6: enamel + soft drink + BioRepair Plus-Total Protection, group 7: intact enamel + Sensodyne Repair & Protect, 8: dentin + soft drink + Sensodyne Repair & Protect, 9: intact dentin + Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief, 10: dentin + soft drink + Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief. The surface of each specimen was imaged by AFM and SEM. The root mean-square roughness (Rrms ) was obtained from the AFM images and the differences in the averaged values among the groups were analyzed by ANOVA test. Comparing groups 4, 6, 8, 10 (soft drink + toothpastes) Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief promoted enamel remineralization, while BioRepair Plus-Sensitive Teeth, Biorepair Plus-Total Protection and Sensodyne Repair & Protect provided lower effectiveness in protecting enamel against erosion. SIGNIFICANCE the use of new formulation toothpastes can prevent enamel demineralization.

The role of different toothpastes on preventing dentin erosion: An SEM and AFM study®

The aim of the present in vitro study was the evaluation of new formulation toothpastes on preventing dentin erosion produced by a soft drink (Coca Cola®), using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fifty dentin specimens were divided in treatment and control halves and were than assigned to 5 groups of 10 specimens each: group 1a: intact dentin, group 1b: dentin + soft drink, group 2a: intact dentin + Biorepair Plus-Sensitive Teeth®, group 2b: dentin + soft drink + Biorepair Plus-Sensitive Teeth®, group 3a: intact dentin + Biorepair Plus-Total Protection®, group 3b: dentin + soft drink + Biorepair Plus-Total Protection®, group 4a: intact dentin + Sensodyne Repair & Protect®, group 4b: dentin + soft drink + Sensodyne Repair & Protect®, group 5a: intact dentin + Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief®, group 5b: dentin + soft drink + Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief®. The surface of each specimen was imaged by AFM and SEM. Comparing specimens of group a and b (no demineralization and demineralization), a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01) in Rrms values was registered. Comparing b groups, all the analyzed toothpastes tended to remineralize the dentine surface in different extent. Biorepair Plus-Total Protection® and Sensodyne Repair & Protect® provided higher protective effect against dentin demineralization.

Short-term responses of wolf feeding habits to changes of wild and domestic ungulate abundance in Northern Italy

Long-term changes of wolf feeding habits have been recorded in several parts of its European range and were related to the increase of wild ungulate populations. An increased use of wild prey often is linked to a decrease of predation on livestock, and consequently it can reduce wolf–human conflict and make for easier predator conservation. We analysed wolf diet from scats collected from 2007 to 2012 in a 927.3-km2 area of the Northern Apennines (Northern Italy) to compare the present diet to that recorded in the late 1980s when the area was colonised by wolves, and to examine short-term changes of wolf feeding habits together with annual and seasonal variations of wild and domestic ungulate selection, possibly related to the increase of wild ungulate abundance. We calculated the availability proportions of wild ungulate species from the presence signs recorded on itineraries and those of livestock species from the data on farms of veterinary services. We identified 17 kinds of prey, pooled into six categories, of which wild ungulates (70%) and livestock (20%) were the most important. During the study period, we observed a reduction in the diet breadth of wolves, to a greater use of wild ungulates, depending on the increase in the availability of wild prey species. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the trophic habits of the wolf, but generally there was a wide use of wild ungulates, especially wild boars. Livestock was mainly used in summer, which corresponds to the period of greatest presence of domestic ungulates on the pastures. Considering the study period, a fast response of wolf feeding habits to the increase of wild ungulate species resulted, together with changes in selection patterns. The change in diet towards a greater use of wild ungulates is an important step in the recovery and conservation of the wolf.