Effectiveness of the Lorodent Probiotic Lozenge in Reducing Plaque and Levels in Orthodontic Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial.

Orthodontic patients are at a significant risk for oral diseases due to increased plaque accumulation and oral bacterial dysbiosis. We aimed to determine the efficacy of the commercially available Lorodent Probiotic Complex at reducing plaque accumulation and bacterial levels in adolescent orthodontic patients. Sixty adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment for a minimum of 6 months were recruited in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial.

Streptococcus salivarius inhibits immune activation by periodontal disease pathogens.

Background: Periodontal disease represents a major health concern. The administration of beneficial microbes has been increasing in popularity over efforts to manipulate the microbes using antimicrobial agents. This study determined the ability of Streptococcus salivarius to inhibit IL-6 and IL-8 production by gingival fibroblasts when activated by periodontal pathogens and their effect on the salivary microbiome.

Evaluation of Polyethylene Glycol-Based Antimicrobial Coatings on Urinary Catheters in the Prevention of Infections in a Rabbit Model.

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections are a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. Despite many attempts to design biomaterials that might reduce the risk, none has had a profound impact on reducing the incidence of this most common nosocomial infection. Recent work, however, has shown promise for a silver-based biomaterial coating composed of methoxylated polyethylene glycol 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (mPEG-DOPA) in reducing uropathogen attachment and biofilm formation.

Application of Novel 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine-Containing Antimicrobial Polymers for the Prevention of Uropathogen Attachment to Urinary Biomaterials.

Urinary catheters and stents are frequently prone to catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) through biofilm formation. Several strategies have been evaluated in search of a stent coating to reliably prevent adherence of bacteria and biofilm. Previous and research with methoxylated polyethylene glycol 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) copolymer as a candidate coating showed promising results to reduce the bacterial attachment.

Efficacy of Dentaq® Oral and ENT Health Probiotic Complex on Clinical Parameters of Gingivitis in Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: Probiotics act as a unique approach to maintaining oral health by supplementing the endogenous oral bacteria with additional naturally occurring beneficial microbes to provide defense against pathogens harmful to teeth and gingiva. The aim of this pilot study was to clinically evaluate the effects of probiotics on plaque accumulation and gingival inflammation in subjects with fixed orthodontics.

Methods: The pilot study was comprised of 15 healthy patients, aged 11 to 18 years, undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment.

Inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm formation and modulation of gene expression by probiotic cells and supernatant.

Oral candidiasis is a disease caused by opportunistic species of Candida that normally reside on human mucosal surfaces. The transition of Candida from budding yeast to filamentous hyphae allows for covalent attachment to oral epithelial cells, followed by biofilm formation, invasion and tissue damage. In this study, combinations of Lactobacillus plantarum SD5870, Lactobacillus helveticus CBS N116411 and Streptococcus salivarius DSM 14685 were assessed for their ability to inhibit the formation of and disrupt Candida albicans biofilms.

Ureteral stent technology: Drug-eluting stents and stent coatings.

Ureteral stents are commonly used following urological procedures to maintain ureteral patency. However, alongside the benefits of the device, indwelling stents frequently cause significant patient discomfort (pain, urgency, frequency) and can become encrusted and infected. The importance of these sequelae is that they are not only bothersome to the patient but can lead to significant morbidity, urinary retention, ureteral damage, recurrent infections, pyelonephritis and sepsis.

The Effect of Renal Cysts on the Fragmentation of Renal Stones During Shockwave Lithotripsy: A Comparative In Vitro Study.

Purpose: To assess the potential effect of simple renal cysts (SRC) on stone fragmentation during shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) in an in vitro model.

Materials And Methods: The in vitro model was constructed using 10% ordnance gelatin (OG). Models were created to mimic four scenarios: Model A-with an air-filled cavity (suboptimal for stone fragmentation); model B-without a cavity (normal anatomy); model C-with a 3-cm serum filled cavity (to represent a small SRC); model D-with a 4-cm serum filled cavity (to represent a larger SRC).

Endogenous biotin expression in renal and testicular tumours and literature review.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine endogenous biotin levels in tumour specimens collected from patients with renal and testicular tumours and compare them to the surrounding non-neoplastic surgical margin.

Methods: Frozen samples were obtained from the Ontario Tumour Bank. Renal and testicular tumour tissue were included in this study.

The influence of urinary pH on antibiotic efficacy against bacterial uropathogens.

Objective: To determine the effects of pH on the activity of clinically relevant antibiotics against bacterial uropathogens. Numerous factors affect antibiotic efficacy within the urinary tract including pH. Because human urine can substantially vary from acidic (pH 4.

Ochratoxin A is not detectable in renal and testicular tumours.

Introduction: Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, known for its nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, gonadotoxicity, teratogenicity, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis. OTA has been linked to several genitourinary pathologies, including Balkan nephropathy and genitourinary malignancies. We examine OTA levels in serum samples and tumour specimens collected from patients with renal and testicular tumours.

Selective target inactivation rather than global metabolic dormancy causes antibiotic tolerance in uropathogens.

Persister cells represent a multidrug-tolerant (MDT), physiologically distinct subpopulation of bacteria. The ability of these organisms to survive lethal antibiotic doses raises concern over their potential role in chronic disease, such as recurrent urinary tract infection (RUTI). Persistence is believed to be conveyed through global metabolic dormancy, which yields organisms unresponsive to external stimuli.

Urinary expression of novel tissue markers of kidney injury after ureteroscopy, shockwave lithotripsy, and in normal healthy controls.

Background And Purpose: Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) and ureteroscopy (URS) are minimally invasive treatment alternatives for kidney stones. Although less invasive, SWL subjects the renal parenchyma to a high level of energy and the potential to cause renal injury. The ability to detect renal injury post-SWL in a reliable and noninvasive way would be clinically beneficial.

The use of triclosan eluting stents effectively reduces ureteral stent symptoms: a prospective randomized trial.

Unlabelled: What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Infection, encrustation and ureteral-stent-related symptoms (USRS) including pain, urgency and frequency are all major problems associated with stent use. No current ureteral stent or exogenously applied therapy adequately deals with these problems and antibiotic use is ineffective once a bacterial biofilm forms on the device. Triclosan is a broad spectrum antibacterial agent widely used in numerous healthcare products and has been previously shown to reduce inflammation on the skin and in the oral cavity.

Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin on Staphylococcus saprophyticus adherence and virulence in urinary tract infections.

Background And Purpose: Staphylococcus saprophyticus is a frequent cause of both uncomplicated and complicated urinary tract infections (UTI) in young females and has recently been established as the most prominent gram-positive uropathogen. Although the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of antimicrobials on numerous other pathogenic bacteria have been studied, little is known regarding how S saprophyticus responds under such conditions.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we investigated the effects of subminimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ciprofloxacin (CIP) on S saprophyticus attachment to glass microscope slides, ureteral stent material, and T24 bladder cells, as well as its effects on S saprophyticus-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression in bladder cells.

Beneficial microbes for the oral cavity: time to harness the oral streptococci?

Indigenous microbes are known to influence human health outcomes and various approaches are now being made to positively modulate these microbe-induced outcomes via the administration of probiotics. The application of probiotics that are specific to the oral cavity is a relatively undeveloped field, and their emergence has largely occurred as a reasoned follow-up to initial studies in which probiotics that had already been developed and obtained regulatory approval for intestinal applications were then also evaluated for their putative influence on oral microbiota functionality. These attempts to extend the application of existing probiotics were probably at least in part motivated by recognition of the substantial safety and regulatory hurdles that must be overcome prior to the introduction of a novel probiotic agent.

Third prize: the impact of fluid environment manipulation on shockwave lithotripsy artificial calculi fragmentation rates.

Background And Purpose: Studies have suggested that shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) stone fragmentation rates can be affected by characteristics of the fluid media surrounding the stone, although evidence to implicate the impact of urine specific gravity (SG) is limited and inconclusive. Our aim is to further explore the impact fluid media and SGs have on stone fragmentation using a variable focus lithotripter.

Materials And Methods: Artificial stones were presoaked for 24 hours in urine and then shocked in various fluid media including artificial urine (SG 1.

Ordnance gelatine as an in vitro tissue simulation scaffold for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

In vitro shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) research is typically performed utilizing wet coupling lithotriptors with a mesh basket model. This model does not take into account shock wave energy attenuation through tissue. Models using dry coupling lithotriptors rely on immersion chambers and face similar limitations.

Lactobacillus by-products inhibit the growth and virulence of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (UPEC) can colonize the vagina and cause infections within the entire urogenital tract, including those associated with urinary tract devices. Lactobacilli typically dominate the vaginal microbiota in healthy women, and studies have shown that they can inhibit UPEC growth and vaginal colonization. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms behind these effects.

Novel in vitro model for studying ureteric stent-induced cell injury.

Objective: To develop a novel in vitro model for the study of bladder and kidney epithelial cell injury akin to stent movement, as ureteric stents are associated with urinary tract complications that can significantly add to patient morbidity. These sequelae may be linked to inflammation triggered by stent-mediated mechanical injury to the urinary tract.

Materials And Methods: T24 bladder and A498 kidney cell line monolayers were damaged mechanically by segments of either Percuflex Plus (PP) or Triumph (triclosan-eluting) stents (both from Boston Scientific Corporation Inc.

Anti-adhesive coating and clearance of device associated uropathogenic Escherichia coli cystitis.

Purpose: A previous study showed decreased uropathogen adherence using a novel anti-fouling coating consisting of mussel adhesive protein mimics conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol). We assessed the ability of methoxy polyethylene glycol-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Nerites Corp. Ltd.

Use of triclosan-eluting ureteral stents in patients with long-term stents.

Background And Purpose: Long-term use of ureteral stents is prevented by biofilm-related infection and encrustation mandating stent changes every few months. Triclosan is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial in numerous consumer and medical products and has been incorporated into a ureteral stent. We sought to determine the clinical effects of the triclosan-eluting stent in patients who needed long-term ureteral stenting.

Eliminating biofilm from ureteral stents: the Holy Grail.

Purpose Of Review: Biofilms continue to be a major limiting factor in the long-term use of ureteral stents, promoting the development of chronic infections and antibiotic resistance and encrustation. Apart from stent removal in conjunction with antibiotic therapy, there is currently no treatment proven successful for completely eradicating a biofilm-related infection, highlighting the need for continued research in this area.

Recent Findings: Research continues to focus mainly on biofilm prevention, specifically the development of novel coatings comprising antibacterial, antifouling or bacterial signalling compounds.

The effects of triclosan on uropathogen susceptibility to clinically relevant antibiotics.

Introduction: Triclosan is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent currently used in numerous products including surgical scrubs and ureteral stents. Unfortunately, studies have shown triclosan resistance among several bacterial species. Our objective was to characterize resistance patterns of common uropathogens to triclosan and determine whether triclosan exposure would alter their susceptibility to common antibiotics.