OBJECTIVE: We evaluated bacterial endotoxin adhesion, superficial micromorphology and mechanical properties of latex and non-latex intermaxillary orthodontic elastics.
METHODS: To quantify the adhered bacterial endotoxin, elastics were divided into 5 groups: experimental (n = 12) latex and non-latex elastics, previously contaminated by an endotoxin solution, negative control (n = 6) latex and non-latex elastics without contamination, and positive control (n = 6) stainless steel specimens (metallic replicas), contaminated by an endotoxin solution. In parallel, the structural micromorphology (n = 6) and surface roughness of latex and non-latex intermaxillary orthodontic elastics were assessed using confocal laser microscopy. Force degradation (g) and deformation of the internal diameter change (mm) were also evaluated. Structural micromorphology, surface roughness (µm), force degradation (g) and internal diameter (mm) change were evaluated at time 0 and after 24 and 72 h in a deformation test. Data were analyzed by the Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn, ANOVA and Bonferroni tests (α = 5%).
RESULTS: Endotoxin adhered similarly to both types of elastics with scores of 3 (> 1.0 EU/mL). The surface microstructure of both types of elastics showed irregularities and porosities at all times. Initially, the latex elastics had a higher surface roughness (p < 0.001) than the non-latex ones. After 24 h loading, surface roughness of the latex elastics was significantly reduced (p < 0.001), while after 72 h, the values were similar for both types (p > 0.05). The non-latex elastics had significantly higher force generation values (p < 0.05) at 0, 24 and 72 h compared with the latex elastics, although there was a significant reduction (p < 0.001) in force over time for both elastics. Despite similar initial values, non-latex elastics had a significantly larger internal diameter (p < 0.001) after the loading periods of 24 and 72 h compared with the latex elastics.
CONCLUSIONS: Both elastics showed high affinity with endotoxin and microstructural irregularities of their surface. The non-latex elastics generated higher force values but demonstrated greater deformation of the internal diameter after loading.
UNASSIGNED: ZIELSETZUNG: Wir untersuchten die bakterielle Endotoxinadhäsion, die oberflächliche Mikromorphologie und die mechanischen Eigenschaften von latexhaltigen und nicht-latexhaltigen intermaxillären kieferorthopädischen Elastics.
METHODS: Zur Quantifizierung des anhaftenden bakteriellen Endotoxins wurden die Elastics in 5 Gruppen eingeteilt: experimentelle (n = 12) Latex- und Nicht-Latex-Elastics, die zuvor mit einer Endotoxinlösung kontaminiert worden waren, Negativkontrolle (n = 6) Latex- und Nicht-Latex-Elastics ohne Kontamination und Positivkontrolle (n = 6) Edelstahlproben (metallische Nachbildungen), die mit einer Endotoxinlösung kontaminiert waren. Parallel dazu wurden die strukturelle Mikromorphologie (n =6 ) und die Oberflächenrauheit von intermaxillären Elastics aus Latex und aus Nicht-Latex mittels konfokaler Lasermikroskopie untersucht. Ebenfalls bewertet wurden der Kraftabbau (g) und die Verformung des Innendurchmessers (mm). Die strukturelle Mikromorphologie, die Oberflächenrauheit (µm), der Kraftabbau (g) und die Änderung des Innendurchmessers (mm) wurden zum Zeitpunkt 0 sowie nach 24 und 72 h in einem Verformungstest bewertet. Die Daten wurden mit den Tests Shapiro-Wilk, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn, ANOVA und Bonferroni (α = 5%) analysiert.
UNASSIGNED: Das Endotoxin haftete an beiden Arten von Elastics in ähnlicher Weise mit Scores von 3 (> 1,0 EU/ml). Die Oberflächenmikrostruktur beider Arten von Elastics zeigte zu jedem Zeitpunkt Unregelmäßigkeiten und Porositäten. Zu Beginn wiesen die Latex-Elastics eine höhere Oberflächenrauheit auf (p < 0,001) als die Nicht-Latex-Elastics. Nach 24 h Belastung war die Oberflächenrauheit der Latex-Elastics deutlich geringer (p < 0,001), während nach 72 h die Werte für beide Typen ähnlich waren (p < 0,05). Die Nicht-Latex-Elastics wiesen nach 0, 24 und 72 h signifikant höhere Werte für die Krafterzeugung auf (p < 0,05) als die Latex-Elastics, auch wenn die Kraft bei beiden Elastics im Laufe der Zeit signifikant abnahm (p < 0,001). Trotz ähnlicher Ausgangswerte wiesen die Nicht-Latex-Elastics nach den Belastungszeiten von 24 und 72 h einen signifikant größeren Innendurchmesser (p < 0,001) auf als die Latex-Elastics.
UNASSIGNED: Beide Elastics zeigten eine hohe Affinität zu Endotoxin und mikrostrukturelle Unregelmäßigkeiten auf ihrer Oberfläche. Die latexfreien Elastics erzeugten höhere Kraftwerte, wiesen aber nach der Belastung eine größere Verformung des Innendurchmessers auf.

Background and aims: Periodontitis is an inflammatory-infectious disease. Identifying markers of systemic exposure of periodontitis might be of interest to study its interaction with other conditions. Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (sTREM-1) is upregulated during bacterial infections. Our aim was therefore to investigate whether periodontitis and its treatment are associated with bacterial endotoxin and sTREM-1. Methods: Fifty patients with severe periodontitis and 50 age-matched controls were included in a case-control study (all never smokers). A secondary analysis of a previously published intervention study was performed, in which included 69 patients with severe periodontitis were randomized to receive either intensive (IPT) or control periodontal therapy (CPT) and monitored over 6 months. Serum levels of bacterial endotoxin and sTREM-1 were determined at one time point (case-control study) and at baseline, 1 day, 1 and 6 months after periodontal treatment (intervention study). Results: Severe periodontitis was associated with elevated circulating endotoxin levels when cases (22.9 ± 2.2 EU/ml) were compared to controls (3.6 ± 0.5 EU/ml, p < 0.001) and with sTREM-1 levels (1302.6 ± 47.8 vs. 870.6 ± 62.0 pg/ml, p < 0.001). A positive correlation was observed between sTREM-1 and endotoxin levels (r = 0.4, p < 0.001). At 6 months after treatment, IPT significantly decreased serum levels of sTREM-1 compared to CPT (adjusted mean difference of 500.2 pg/ml, 95% CI: 18.9-981.4; p = 0.042). No substantial differences were noted in endotoxin levels at any time point after treatment between groups. Conclusions: Severe periodontitis is linked to increased circulating endotoxin and sTREM-1 levels and following IPT a reduction in sTREM-1 levels is observed.