Sandra Sato

Bacterial survival rate on toothbrushes and their decontamination with antimicrobial solutions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate bacterial survival rate on toothbrushes after brushing and the efficacy of their decontamination by spraying antimicrobial solutions. Thirty subjects were instructed to spray the solutions on toothbrush bristles after brushing. Each volunteer tested three sprays, one solution per week; the sprays were labeled spray 1 (cetylpyridinium chloride - CPC - and basic formulation), 2 (basic formulation only) and 3 (control - sterile tap water). At the end of each week, the brushes were collected and sonicated in Letheen Broth®; the suspensions were ten-fold diluted and the dilutions were plated on various culture media. Anaerobic bacteria, evaluated by colony count of black pigment producing organisms on Ask medium, were recovered from 83.3% of the samples, Streptococci from 80% and aerobic Gram-negative bacilli from 46.7% of them in the control tests. There was a significant decrease in toothbrush contamination with antimicrobial sprays 1 and 2, the first showing the greatest decrease on bacterial counts.

Metronidazole-containing gel for the treatment of periodontitis: an in vivo evaluation

The aim of this investigation was to monitor metronidazole concentrations in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected from periodontal pockets of dogs after treatment with an experimental 15% metronidazole gel. Five dogs had periodontitis induced by cotton ligatures placed subgingivally and maintained for a 30-day period. After the induction period, only pockets with 4 mm or deeper received the gel. Each pocket was filled up to the gingival margin by means of a syringe with a blunt-end needle. GCF was collected in paper strips and quantified in an electronic device before and after 15 minutes, 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 48 h of gel administration. The GCF samples were assayed for metronidazole content by means of a high performance liquid chromatography method. Concentrations of metronidazole in the GCF of the 5 dogs (mean +/- SD, in microg/mL) were 0 +/- 0 before gel application and 47,185.75 +/- 24,874.35 after 15 minutes, 26,457.34 +/- 25,516.91 after 1 h, 24.18 +/- 23.11 after 6 h, 3.78 +/- 3.45 after 24 h and 3.34 +/- 5.54 after 48 h. A single administration of the 15% metronidazole gel released the drug in the GCF of dogs in levels several-fold higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration for some periodontopathogens grown in subgingival biofilms for up to one hour, but metronidazole could be detected in the GCF at least 48 hours after the gel application.

How to deal with morning bad breath: A randomized, crossover clinical trial

Context: The absence of a protocol for the treatment of halitosis has led us to compare mouthrinses with mechanical oral hygiene procedures for treating morning breath by employing a hand-held sulfide monitor. Aims: To compare the efficacy of five modalities of treatment for controlling morning halitosis in subjects with no dental or periodontal disease. Settings and Design: This is a five-period, randomized, crossover clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Twenty volunteers were randomly assigned to the trial. Testing involved the use of a conventional tongue scraper, a tongue scraper joined to the back of a toothbrushs head, two mouthrinses (0.05% cetylpyridinium chloride and 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate) and a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste for practicing oral hygiene. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17 for Windows and NCSS 2007 software (P < 0.05). The products and the periods were compared with each other using the Friedmans test. When significant differences (P < 0.05) were determined, the products and periods were compared in pairs by using the Wilcoxons test and by adjusting the original significance level (0.05) for multiple comparisons by using the Bonferronis method. Results: The toothbrushs tongue scraper was able to significantly reduce bad breath for up to 2 h. Chlorhexidine reduced bad breath only at the end of the second hour, an effect that lasted for 3 h. Conclusions: Mechanical tongue cleaning was able to immediately reduce bad breath for a short period, whereas chlorhexidine and mechanical oral hygiene reduced bad breath for longer periods, achieving the best results against morning breath.

Herbal mouthwash containing extracts of Baccharis dracunculifolia as agent for the control of biofilm: clinical evaluation in humans.

Baccharis dracunculifolia DC (Asteraceae), popularly known as “alecrim-do-campo,” is largely distributed in South America, is shown to exhibit protective actions against gastric ulcers, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is hepatoprotective. Several essential oils obtained from Baccharis species possess biological activities, such as antimicrobial and antivirus activities. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of B. dracunculifolia in the reduction of dental biofilm, comparing this natural product with other mouthwashes already known in the dental market. In measuring the time after use of mouthwash (t = 1), there was no difference between products (P = 0.602); that is, subjects in the study had a similar PI after the first use. After one week (t = 2), there was no difference between the four products evaluated (P = 0.674), so, all research individuals completed the study with a similar reduction in dental biofilm between themselves but it was different from initial state (Friedman test). It is possible to conclude that B. dracunculifolia had the same efficiency of the materials used to oral hygiene in reduction of dental plaque and, consequently, prevention of dental caries. Thus, we can consider B. dracunculifolia as a good candidate for new material to be implemented in dental care.

Modeling residual thermal stress-induced integrated optical waveguides on Bi 12 GeO 20 substrate for electrooptic modulation application

The residual thermal stress study of an optical waveguide based on isotropic material (bismuth germanate, BGO), the Pockels eletro-optic effect and the modal optical analyses were investigated for the optical modulation purpose. The analyses were performed by a full vector finite element based program. The optical propagation characteristics of the stress-induced waveguides and the main electro-optic parameters were evaluated considering different geometrical design.

Corrigendum to “Herbal Mouthwash Containing Extracts of Baccharis dracunculifolia as Agent for the Control of Biofilm: Clinical Evaluation in Humans”

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2015/712683.].

Chronic Temporomandibular Pain Treatment Using Sodium Diclofenac

Este estudio evaluo el dolor espontaneo antes y despues de la administracion de diclofenaco sodico, aislado o asociado a carisoprodol, paracetamol y cafeina, en pacientes con trastornos temporomandibulares cronicos (TTM). Se seleccionaron dieciocho voluntarios, hombres y mujeres, entre 35-70 anos de edad (edad media 50 anos). Los criterios de inclusion fueron dolor muscular masticatorio, y los criterios diagnosticos para trastornos temporomandibulares (RDC / TMD) como diagnostico. La seleccion del tratamiento para cada individuo se llevo a cabo mediante una metodologia de cruce triple ciego completo al azar. Por lo tanto, todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a todos los tratamientos en diferentes momentos, en una secuencia no estandarizada, evitando los resultados tendenciosos. Los tratamientos fueron: A (diclofenaco sodico + carisoprodol + acetaminofen + cafeina), B (diclofenaco sodico) y C (placebo), todos asociados a una ferula oclusal. Cada periodo de tratamiento fue seguido por once dias. No se encontraron diferencias entre los valores inicial y final de los tratamientos. Sin embargo, hubo diferencias estadisticamente significativas en los grupos de evaluacion sensorial y despues del tratamiento B, y en los grupos de calificacion sensorial, afectivo, y el total despues de los tratamientos B y C. Dentro de las limitaciones de esta investigacion, se concluye que el tratamiento con diclofenaco sodico aislado en pacientes con TTM musculares promueve una mayor analgesia que el tratamiento con diclofenaco sodico mas asociaciones o placebo, cuando se asocia a una ferula oclusal.

Residual thermal stress-induced integrated optical waveguides on Bi12GeO20 substrate

The formation of an optical waveguide based on residual thermal stress in bismuth germanate (BGO) substrate, the Pockels electro-optic effect and the modal optical analyses were investigated for optical modulation purpose. A full vector finite element based program was used to perform the analyses. The optical propagation characteristics of stress-induced waveguides and main electro-optic parameters were evaluated considering different geometrical designs.

Estudio Densitométrico del Tejido Óseo Neoformado por el Uso de rhBMP-2 en Mandíbulas de Ratas Wistar

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la eficiencia del gel de monoolein como portador de la rhBMP-2 en el proceso de recuperacion de la osificacion en defectos osteos creados en mandibulas de ratos Wistar, por medio de radiografias digitalizadas como metodo de analisis. En el grupo 1, la rhBMP-2 fue disuelta en solucion acuosa y en el grupo 2, la rhBMP-2 fue combinada al gel de monoolein como portador. Los resultados mostraron que los dos grupos presentaron un eficiente reparo osteo, con mayor densidad optica en el grupo en que la rhBMP-2 fue combinada con el gel de monoolein, pero sin diferencia estadistica significante entre ellos