OBJECTIVE: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) or ubiquinone is one of a cell\'s most important electron carriers during oxidative phosphorylation and many other cellular processes. As a strong anti-oxidant with further anti-inflammatory effects CoQ10 is of potential therapeutical value. The aim of this randomized controlled clinical trial was to investigate the effect of topical CoQ10 on early wound healing after recession coverage surgery using the modified coronally advanced tunnel (MCAT) and palatal connective tissue graft (CTG).
METHODS: Thirty patients with buccal gingival recessions were evaluated after being randomly allocated to: 1) MCAT and CTG with topical application of a coenzyme Q10 spray for 21 days or 2) MCAT and CTG with placebo spray. Wound healing was evaluated by the early wound healing index (EHI). Patient-reported pain was analyzed by a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) at day 2, 7, 14 and 21 post-surgically. Mean recession coverage, gain of keratinized tissue and esthetic outcomes were assessed at 6 months.
RESULTS: EHI and pain scores showed no significant differences. Time to recovery defined as VAS<10 mm was shorter in the test group. Mean root coverage after 6 months was 84.62 ± 26.57% and 72.19 ± 26.30% for test and placebo, p=0.052. Complete root coverage was obtained in 9 (60%) test and in 2 (13.3%) placebo patients. Increase in keratinized tissue width and esthetical outcomes were similar for both groups.
CONCLUSIONS: CoQ10 had no significant effect on early wound healing and on mean root coverage after 6 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Early wound healing: in young healthy patients with no inflammatory oral conditions topical CoQ10 does not improve early healing.

UNASSIGNED: Spontaneous cervical artery dissection (sCAD) is a rare vasculopathy whose trigger is still unknown. We hypothesized that autoimmunity against components of the vascular wall might play a critical role in sCAD and examined anti-collagen type I antibodies in patients with sCAD, acute ischemic stroke, patients with thromboendarterectomy, and controls.
UNASSIGNED: Fifty-seven patients with sCAD (age 45.7 ± 10.2 years, female 18 (31.6%)) were prospectively enrolled in four German stroke centers. Blood samples were collected at baseline, at day 10 ± 3, and after 6 ± 1 months. Patients with ischemic stroke not related to CAD (n=54, age 56.7 ± 13.7 years, female 15 (27.8%)), healthy probands (n=80, age 57.4 ± 12.9 years, female 56 (70%)), and patients undergoing thromboendarterectomy of the carotid artery (n=9, age 70.7 ± 9.3 years, female 2 (22.2%)) served as controls. Anti-collagen type I antibodies were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).
UNASSIGNED: Patients with acute sCAD had higher serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies (33.9 ± 24.6 µg/ml) than probands (18.5 ± 11.0 µg/ml; p <0.001) but lower levels than patients with ischemic stroke not related to sCAD (47.8 ± 28.4 µg/ml; p=0.003). In patients with sCAD, serum levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies were similar in the acute, subacute, and chronic phase. Levels of anti-collagen type I antibodies significantly correlated with circulating collagen type I (rho=0.207, p=0.003).
UNASSIGNED: Anti-collagen type I antibodies seem not to represent a trigger for acute sCAD or ischemic stroke but may rather be linked to the metabolism and turnover of collagen type I.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to compare the histological outcomes of three distinct de-epithelialization methods used in (connective tissue grafts) CTG harvested from the palate.
METHODS: An experimental study using nine cadaver head specimens was carried out to compare 3 different de-epithelialization techniques for CTG. Eighteen samples were randomly allocated to three study groups: bone scraper, diamond bur and extraoral removal with a scalpel. The main outcome variable was the graft surface percentage without epithelium remains. Additionally, the time employed, and the graft thickness were also measured.
RESULTS: Sixteen CTGs were analyzed. The extraoral scalpel group presented a total surface area with no epithelium of 58.84% (22.68) and a mean de-epithelialization time of 3.7 min; the intraoral diamond bur group had 88.24% (41.3) of the surface with no epithelium and took 1.455 min, and the intraoral bone scraper showed 97.98% (5.99) of surface without epithelium and a mean time of 0.815 min (P < 0.05). Histological analysis showed significant differences between the bone scraper and the extraoral group (P = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS: The de-epithelialization technique with a bone scraper seems to be the most effective and fastest de-epithelialization technique for CTG. These findings need to be confirmed in future clinical studies with larger samples.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of bone scrapers, could be a simple, effective and fast technique to de-epithelialize connective tissue grafts harvested from the palatal area for both novice and experienced surgeons.

OBJECTIVE: This retrospective cohort study evaluates the influence of connective tissue grafts (CTG) on bone regeneration at implant sites with total loss of the buccal bone wall treated with flapless immediate implant placement (IIP) and reconstruction with autogenous bone chips (AB) within a follow-up of up to 13 years.
METHODS: Sixty implants were inserted in 55 patients in sites with total loss of the buccal bone wall between 2008 and 2021. The implants were inserted and the buccal gaps were grafted by AB. A subgroup of 34 sites was grafted additionally with CTG using tunnel technique. Primary outcome was the vertical bone regeneration in height and thickness. Secondary outcome parameters were interproximal marginal bone level, recession, soft tissue esthetics (PES), width of keratinized mucosa (KMW) and probing depths (PPD).
RESULTS: Mean follow-up period was 60.8 months. In 55 sites a complete vertical bone regeneration was documented. The mean buccal bone level increased by 10.6 mm significantly. The thickness of the buccal bone wall ranged between 1.7 and 1.9 mm, and was significantly thicker in sites without CTG. Interproximal marginal bone level was at implant shoulder level. The mean recession improved significantly by 1.2 mm. In sites with CTG, recessions and PES improved significantly more.
CONCLUSIONS: Additional CTG in extraction sites with total buccal bone loss followed by IIP with simultaneous AB grafting led to improved PES and recession, but also to a thinner buccal bone wall compared to sites grafted just with AB.

OBJECTIVE: This split-mouth randomized study aimed to assess efficacy of leucocyte-platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) versus connective tissue graft (CTG) in achieving root coverage (RC) for multiple adjacent gingival recessions (MAGRs) throughout 12-month period.
METHODS: The study enrolled 59 teeth from 12 patients with Miller Class I MAGRs ≥ 2 mm on bilateral or contralateral sides. Patients were randomly assigned to receive coronally advanced flap (CAF) with either CTG (control) or L-PRF (test) treatment. Various parameters, including plaque and gingival index, clinical attachment level, recession depth, probing depth, recession width (RW), papilla width (PW), keratinized tissue width (KTW), gingival thickness (GT), percentage of RC, complete root coverage (CRC), and location of the relative gingival margin concerning the cemento-enamel junctions (GMCEJ) after CAF, were recorded at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-surgery. On June 29, 2021 the study was registred to ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04942821).
RESULTS: Except KTW and GT gain, all clinical parameters, RC, and CRC were similar between the groups at all follow-up periods (p > 0.05). The higher GT and KTW gains were detected in the control group compared to test group at 12 months (p < 0.05). Both RC and CRC were positively associated with initial PW and GMCEJ, but negatively with initial RW (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The current study concludes that L-PRF were equally effective as CTG in treating MAGRs in terms of RC and CRC. Additionally, RC and CRC outcomes appeared to be influenced by GMCEJ, PW, and RW.
CONCLUSIONS: L-PRF could represent a feasible substitute for CTG in treating MAGRs.

OBJECTIVE: Previous stretching studies mostly investigated effects on the skeletal muscle but comprehensive explorations regarding the role of the connective tissue are scarce. Since the deep fascia has been demonstrated to be sensitive to mechanical tension, it was hypothesized that the fascia would also respond to stretching, contributing to enhanced range of motion (ROM).
METHODS: Forty (40) recreationally active participants (male: n = 25, female: n = 15) were included in the randomized controlled cross-over trial and allocated to different groups performing 5 min static (STAT) or dynamic (DYN) plantar flexor stretching or control condition (CC) in a random order. Pre- and immediately post-intervention, muscle and fascia stiffness, as well as muscle and fascia thickness were measured using high-resolution ultrasound and strain elastography. ROM was assessed in the ankle joint via the knee to wall test (KtW) and goniometer.
RESULTS: STAT reduced both, muscle and fascia stiffness (d = 0.78 and 0.42, p < 0.001, respectively), while DYN did not reduce stiffness compared to the control condition (p = 0.11-0.41). While both conditions showed significant increases in the KtW (d = 0.43-0.46, p = 0.02-0.04), no significant differences to the CC were observed for the isolated ROM testing (p = 0.09 and 0.77). There was a small correlation between fascia stiffness decreases and ROM increases (r = - 0.25, p = 0.006) but no association was found between muscle stiffness decreases and ROM increases (p = 0.13-0.40).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study is the first to reveal stretch-induced changes in fascia stiffness. Changes of fascia`s but not muscle`s mechanical properties may contribute to increased ROM following stretching.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared a dual-wavelength diode laser and an Er, Cr:YSGG laser in oral soft tissue incisions to determine the most effective and safest laser system at the histopathological level.
METHODS: The (810 and 980 nm) dual-wavelength diode laser was used at 1.5 W and 2.5 W (CW) power settings, and the (2780 nm) Er, Cr:YSGG laser was used at 2.5 W and 3.5 W (PW) power settings. Both laser systems were used to incise the tissues of freshly dissected sheep tongue pieces to obtain the following histopathological criteria: epithelial tissue changes, connective tissue changes, and lateral thermal damage extent by optical microscopy.
RESULTS: The epithelial and connective tissue damage scores were significantly higher in the dual-wavelength diode laser groups than in the Er, Cr:YSGG laser groups (P<0.001), and there was a significant difference between some groups. The extent of lateral thermal damage was also significantly higher in the diode laser groups than in the Er, Cr: YSGG laser groups (P<0.001), and there was a significant difference between groups. Group 2 (2.5 W) of the diode laser was the highest for all three criteria, while group 3 (2.5 W) of the Er, Cr:YSGG laser was the lowest.
CONCLUSIONS: The Er, Cr:YSGG laser with an output power of 2.5 W is, histologically, the most effective and safest laser for oral soft tissue incision. The dual-wavelength diode laser causes more damage than the Er, Cr:YSGG laser, but it can be used with a low output power and 1 mm safety distance in excisional biopsy.

UNASSIGNED: Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a rare connective tissue disorder with a high risk for arterial, bowel, and uterine rupture, caused by heterozygous pathogenic variants in COL3A1. The aim of this cohort study is to provide further insights into the natural history of vEDS and describe genotype-phenotype correlations in a Dutch multicenter cohort to optimize patient care and increase awareness of the disease.
UNASSIGNED: Individuals with vEDS throughout the Netherlands were included. The phenotype was charted by retrospective analysis of molecular and clinical data, combined with a one-time physical examination.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 142 individuals (50% female) participated the study, including 46 index patients (32%). The overall median age at genetic diagnosis was 41.0 years. More than half of the index patients (54.3%) and relatives (53.1%) had a physical appearance highly suggestive of vEDS. In these individuals, major events were not more frequent (P=0.90), but occurred at a younger age (P=0.01). A major event occurred more often and at a younger age in men compared with women (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). Aortic aneurysms (P=0.003) and pneumothoraces (P=0.029) were more frequent in men. Aortic dissection was more frequent in individuals with a COL3A1 variant in the first quarter of the collagen helical domain (P=0.03).
UNASSIGNED: Male sex, type and location of the COL3A1 variant, and physical appearance highly suggestive of vEDS are risk factors for the occurrence and early age of onset of major events. This national multicenter cohort study of Dutch individuals with vEDS provides a valuable basis for improving guidelines for the diagnosing, follow-up, and treatment of individuals with vEDS.

BACKGROUND: Tongue is complex muscular organ that may be affected by recurrent or chronic ulcerations and malignances that require effective treatment to enhance healing and tissue regeneration. So, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of erythropoietin (EPO) hydrogel as an anti-inflammatory and an inducer of neovascularization during healing of induced rats\' tongue defects.
METHODS: Thirty six rats were divided into three groups; Group I (negative control): tongues were left without ulceration and received no treatment, Group II (positive control): tongue defects were prepared on the tongues\' dorsal surfaces, measuring (5 mm × 2 mm) using a tissue punch rotary drill for standardization, and left untreated, Group III (EPO group): tongue defects were prepared as in group II, then injected circumferentially around wound margins with a single high dose of EPO hydrogel of 5000 U/kg on the day of defect preparation. Animals were euthanized on seventh and fourteenth days after treatment, tongue specimens were collected, and paraffin blocks were prepared and processed for histological assessment by hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemical evaluation of anti-iNOS and anti-VEGF followed by histomorphometrical analysis and the relevant statistical tests.
RESULTS: At both time points, the EPO treated group showed significantly enhanced tissue regeneration marked by the histologically better regenerated tissue with well developed, thick walled and well-organized blood vessels and significant reduction in defect depth compared to positive control group. EPO group also showed significant decrease in iNOS and significant increase in VEGF antibodies indicating its anti-inflammatory and neovascularization effects respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: EPO treatment can significantly accelerate regeneration and filling of tongue defects by reducing tissue inflammation and enhancing neovascularization. Therefore, EPO could be a potential therapeutic strategy for accelerating healing of tongue ulcers. However, further investigations are required to optimize the dose and unravel any potential side effects before its clinical application.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the profilometric, esthetic, and patient-reported outcomes of peri-implant tissues in the maxillary anterior esthetic zone following guided bone regeneration (GBR) using the L-shape technique combined with delayed connective tissue grafting (CTG).
METHODS: Profilometric and pink esthetic score (PES) measurements were performed at the time of implant surgery with GBR (T0) and at the 1- (T1), 2- (T2), and 3-year (T3) follow-up. Patient-reported outcomes were also assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Statistical analysis over 3 years of follow-up assessed changes at time points (T0, T1, T2, and T3) and time periods (T0-T1, T0-T2, and T0-T3) using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
RESULTS: A total of 12 patients (57.5 ± 12.3 years) were included in this study. The mean profilometric change in peri-implant tissues over the 3-year follow-up period was 3.49 ± 1.11 mm, and the buccal contours were not significantly different between the comparison periods. The PES remained stable, while all OHIP-14 domain scores improved significantly.
CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous implant placement and GBR using the L-shape technique combined with delayed CTG in the maxillary anterior region provides stable buccal profiles and consistent esthetics and improves patient-reported quality of life over a 3-year period.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that GBR using the L-shape technique combined with delayed CTG in the maxillary anterior region improved the buccal profile, esthetics, and patient-reported quality of life.