Biofilm viability checker: An open-source tool for automated biofilm viability analysis from confocal microscopy images.

Quantifying biofilm formation on surfaces is challenging because traditional microbiological methods, such as total colony-forming units (CFUs), often rely on manual counting. These are laborious, resource intensive techniques, more susceptible to human error. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a high-resolution technique that allows 3D visualisation of biofilm architecture.

A review of co-culture models to study the oral microenvironment and disease.

Co-cultures allow for the study of cell-cell interactions between different eukaryotic species or with bacteria. Such an approach has enabled researchers to more closely mimic complex tissue structures. This review is focused on co-culture systems modelling the oral cavity, which have been used to evaluate this unique cellular environment and understand disease progression.

High speed imaging of biofilm removal from a dental implant model using ultrasonic cavitation.

Objectives: Current instruments cannot clean in between dental implant threads and effectively remove biofilm from the rough implant surface without damaging it. Cavitation bubbles have the potential to disrupt biofilms. The aim of this study was to see how biofilms can be disrupted using non-contact cavitation from an ultrasonic scaler, imaged inside a restricted implant pocket model using high speed imaging.

Which Parameters Affect Biofilm Removal with Acoustic Cavitation? A Review.

Bacterial biofilms are a cause of contamination in a wide range of medical and biological areas. Ultrasound is a mechanical energy that can remove these biofilms using cavitation and acoustic streaming, which generate shear forces to disrupt biofilm from a surface. The aim of this narrative review is to investigate the literature on the mechanical removal of biofilm using acoustic cavitation to identify the different operating parameters affecting its removal using this method.

Human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells adhere to and inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

We have cultured and phenotyped human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (AT MSCs) and inoculated these cultures with bacteria common to infected skin wounds, i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Backscattered electron imaging and electron backscattered diffraction in the study of bacterial attachment to titanium alloy structure.

The application of secondary electron (SE) imaging, backscattered electron imaging (BSE) and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was investigated in this work to study the bacterial adhesion and proliferation on a commercially pure titanium (cp Ti) and a Ti6Al4V alloy (Ti 64) with respect to substrate microstructure and chemical composition. Adherence of Gram-positive Staphylococcus epidermidis 11047 and Streptococcus sanguinis GW2, and Gram-negative Serratia sp. NCIMB 40259 and Escherichia coli 10418 was compared on cp Ti, Ti 64, pure aluminium (Al) and vanadium (V).

High Speed Imaging of Cavitation around Dental Ultrasonic Scaler Tips.

Cavitation occurs around dental ultrasonic scalers, which are used clinically for removing dental biofilm and calculus. However it is not known if this contributes to the cleaning process. Characterisation of the cavitation around ultrasonic scalers will assist in assessing its contribution and in developing new clinical devices for removing biofilm with cavitation.

An In Vitro Comparison of the Incorporation, Growth, and Chondrogenic Potential of Human Bone Marrow versus Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Clinically Relevant Cell Scaffolds Used for Cartilage Repair.

Aim: To compare the incorporation, growth, and chondrogenic potential of bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AT) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in scaffolds used for cartilage repair.

Methods: Human BM and AT MSCs were isolated, culture expanded, and characterised using standard protocols, then seeded into 2 different scaffolds, Chondro-Gide or Alpha Chondro Shield. Cell adhesion, incorporation, and viable cell growth were assessed microscopically and following calcein AM/ethidium homodimer (Live/Dead) staining.

Survival and complication rates of fixed restorations supported by locking-taper implants: a prospective study with 1 to 10 years of follow-up.

Purpose: The aim of this 10-year follow-up study was to evaluate the implant survival and complication rates of fixed restorations supported by locking-taper implants.

Materials And Methods: Over a 10-year period (January 2002 to December 2011) all patients referred to a single private practice for treatment with fixed restorations (single crowns, SCs; fixed partial prostheses, FPPs; fixed full arches, FFAs) supported by dental implants were considered for inclusion in the study. At each annual follow-up session, clinical, radiographic, and prosthetic parameters were assessed.

Clinical outcome of narrow-diameter (3.3-mm) locking-taper implants: a prospective study with 1 to 10 years of follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcome of narrow-diameter (3.3-mm) locking-taper implants used in the rehabilitation of partially and fully edentulous patients over a 10-year period.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2002 and December 2011, all patients referred to a private dental clinic for treatment with narrow-diameter implants were enrolled in this study.

Immediate restoration of fixed partial prostheses supported by one-piece narrow-diameter selective laser sintering implants: a 2-year prospective study in the posterior jaws of 16 patients.

Purpose: Selective laser sintering (SLS) is a new technique that allows implants to be produced by annealing titanium powder microparticles in a focused laser beam, according to a computer-generated model. The aim of this study was to evaluate the survival and success rate of immediately restored 1-piece narrow-diameter SLS implants, placed in the posterior jaws, after 2 years of functional loading.

Materials And Methods: At the 2-year follow-up examination, several parameters were assessed.

Short (8-mm) locking-taper implants supporting single crowns in posterior region: a prospective clinical study with 1-to 10-years of follow-up.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of short (8-mm) locking-taper implants supporting single crowns in the posterior regions and to analyze the influence of different factors on implant survival and implant-crown success rates.

Materials And Methods: Between June 2002 and September 2011, all patients referred to two private practices for treatment with short (8-mm) implants supporting single tooth restorations in posterior areas of both jaws were considered for inclusion in this study. At each annual follow-up session, clinical and radiographic parameters were assessed.

Maxillary sinus augmentation with adult mesenchymal stem cells: a review of the current literature.

Purpose: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been applied in maxillary sinus augmentation (MSA) with clinically successful results. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the systematically acquired evidence for the effectiveness of cell-based approaches in MSA with various scaffolds, and to narratively assess evidence from additional articles that report effectiveness of cell-based approaches in MSA.

Materials And Methods: Electronic database searches were performed.

Custom-made, root-analogue direct laser metal forming implant: a case report.

In the last few years, the application of digital technology in dentistry has become widespread with the introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan technology, and considerable progress has been made in the development of computer-aided design/ computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques, including direct laser metal forming (DLMF). DLMF is a technology which allows solids with complex geometry to be produced by annealing metal powder microparticles in a focused laser beam, according to a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) model. For dental implants, the fabrication process involves the laser-induced fusion of titanium microparticles, in order to build, layer by layer, the desired object.

Three-dimensional geometry of honeycomb collagen promotes higher beating rate of myocardial cells in culture.

Myocardial cells were isolated from newborn rats, cultured on a novel three-dimensional (3-D) honeycomb collagen scaffold (HC) and their morphology and beating rates compared with ones on conventional plastic dishes. On the first day, the cells attached to HC had already started beating. As time went on, the rate of beating increased as the pores of HC gradually filled with the cells, which integrated to form the cell-matrix complex.

Active screen plasma surface modification of polycaprolactone to improve cell attachment.

To tailor polycaprolactone (PCL) surface properties for biomedical applications, film samples of PCL were surface modified by the active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) technique. The chemical composition and structure were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The wettability of the surface modified polymers was investigated by contact angle and surface energy methods.

Esthetic evaluation of single-tooth Morse taper connection implants placed in fresh extraction sockets or healed sites.

The aim of this study was to compare the esthetic outcome of single implants placed in fresh extraction sockets with those placed in fully healed sites of the anterior maxilla. This retrospective study was based on data from patients treated with single-tooth Morse taper connection implants placed in fresh extraction sockets and in fully healed sites of the anterior maxilla. Only single implant treatments were considered with both neighboring teeth present.

Single-tooth Morse taper connection implants placed in fresh extraction sockets of the anterior maxilla: an aesthetic evaluation.

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the aesthetic outcome of single-tooth Morse taper connection implants placed in fresh extraction sockets of the anterior maxilla, by means of the pink aesthetic/white aesthetic score (PES/WES) index.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six adult patients (18 men, 8 women, aged between 20 and 62 years; average: 48.7 years) who were treated with an immediate, single-tooth Morse taper connection implant (Leone Implant System(R) , Florence, Italy) in the aesthetic area of the anterior maxilla, were enrolled in this retrospective study.

Morse taper connection implants supporting "planned" maxillary and mandibular bar-retained overdentures: a 5-year prospective multicenter study.

Objectives: In contrast to the excellent long-term outcomes described for implant-supported mandibular overdentures, less favorable long-term survival and success rates have been reported for maxillary implants supporting overdentures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment outcome of "planned" bar-retained maxillary and mandibular overdentures supported by Morse taper connection implants, investigating implant survival, peri-implant tissue health, marginal bone resorption and prosthetic complications.

Material And Methods: Over a 2-year period, 60 patients were enrolled in this study, in four different clinical centers.

Prospective evaluation of 2,549 Morse taper connection implants: 1- to 6-year data.

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the implant survival, the implant-crown success, and the prosthetic complications of 2,549 Morse taper interference-fit connection implants.

Methods: A total of 2,549 Morse taper connection implants were inserted in 893 patients from January 2003 until December 2008. At each annual recall, clinical, radiographic, and prosthetic parameters were assessed.

Fluid exudates from inflamed bone-anchored hearing aids demonstrate elevated levels of cytokines and biomarkers of tissue and bone metabolism.

Objective: The purpose of the current study was to determine the presence of biomarkers of tissue and bone metabolism and 10 cytokines within the fluid exudate from around bone anchored hearing aids (BAHAs), with a view to understanding the mechanisms of peri-BAHA inflammation.

Study Design: Fluid exudate from around BAHAs was collected from volunteers (n = 10) with inflammation and controls (n = 10) without inflammation around the BAHA.

Setting: Studies of periodontitis and dental peri-implantitis have demonstrated that fluid exudate, arising from the hard tissue-soft tissue junction, is increased during disease; this fluid contains biomarkers of tissue metabolism, bone metabolism and inflammation.

Microstructure and composition of biosynthetically synthesised hydroxyapatite.

Biosynthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) manufactured utilising the bacterium Serratia sp. NCIMB40259 was characterised using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction (ED). SEM/EDX showed that the non-sintered material consisted mainly of calcium-deficient HA (CDHA) with a Ca/P ratio of 1.

Polyhydroxybutyrate accumulation by a Serratia sp.

A strain of Serratia sp. showed intracellular electron-transparent inclusion bodies when incubated in the presence of citrate and glycerol 2-phosphate without nitrogen source following pre-growth under carbon-limitation in continuous culture. About 1.

Comparison of osteoblast spreading on microstructured dental implant surfaces and cell behaviour in an explant model of osseointegration. A scanning electron microscopic study.

Objectives: To compare interactions between rat calvarial osteoblasts and titanium dental implants with different microstructured surfaces.

Material And Methods: Seven commercially available implants were used. Surfaces included plasma-sprayed, grit-blasted and/or acid-etched, smooth-machined and anodised titanium.

A novel non line-of-sight method for coating hydroxyapatite onto the surfaces of support materials by biomineralization.

A novel method is described for the non line-of-sight coating of hydroxyapatite onto polyurethane reticulated foam and titanium discs. This utilises a biofilm of Serratia sp. NCIMB 40259 which, when challenged with a solution containing calcium chloride and phosphatase substrate, manufactures biofilm-bound material identified as hydroxyapatite by X-ray powder diffraction analysis.