A randomized comparative study of platelet-rich fibrin along with hydroxyapatite graft for the treatment of 3-walled defects in chronic periodontitis

Background. Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF) is a concentrate of leucocyte and platelets that contains various polypeptide growth factors. It has immense potential for use as a periodontal regenerative material in periodontal defects. Porous hydroxyapatite (HA) has long been used as bone grafting material. Recently it has been reported that when PRF is used in combination with HA, itgives a synergistic effect and results in a better periodontal regeneration. The present study aims to explore the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of autologous PRF versus PRF+HA in the regenerative treatment of intrabony defects (IBD) in patients with chronic periodontitis. Methods. Sixty patients with IBDs were divided into test and control groups. The test group patients were treated with autologous PRF, whereas the control group patients were treated with PRF+HA. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline, three months, six months and nine months’ time interval. Radiographic measurements were recorded at baseline and nine months. Results. A reduction in PI, MGI, PPD, RAL, and IBD was observed in both the groups at nine months. Mean IBD reduction in the control group was 3.70 ± 1.16 mm, whereas, the mean reduction in the test group was 4.80 ± 1.03 mm, showing a significant reduction in IBDs. Similarly, the percentage of bone fill in the test group was 65% ± 3.67%, whereas bone fill in controls was 56.7% ± 3.56%, showing a significant bone fill in the study group. Conclusion. Treatment of IBDs with PRF+HA showed a significant improvement in all the clinical and radiographic parameters. When HA was added to PRF, it increased the regenerative effect in the treatment of 3 wall IBDs.

Growth factors and associated signalling pathways in tumour progression and in cancer treatment

To gain increased proliferation, blood supply, invasiveness, and resistance to cytotoxic treatments, cancer cells continuously secrete polypeptide growth factors, or they utilize factors produced by the associated normal tissue and the immunological microenvironment. The growth factors relay biochemical messages by binding with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) located at the cell surface. In response to activation and receptor auto-phosphorylation, RTKs mobilize diverse signalling pathways, which culminate in cytoplasmic and nuclear alterations, including activation of gene expression programmes. This chapter describes several well-characterized growth factors, highlights the cognate receptors and downstream signalling pathways, and exemplifies involvement of specific growth factors in maintenance of the hallmarks of cancer. An account of clinically approved drugs able to intercept growth factor signalling closes this chapter.

Growth factors and associated signalling pathways in tumour progression and in cancer treatment

To gain increased proliferation, blood supply, invasiveness, and resistance to cytotoxic treatments, cancer cells continuously secrete polypeptide growth factors, or they utilize factors produced by the associated normal tissue and the immunological microenvironment. The growth factors relay biochemical messages by binding with receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) located at the cell surface. In response to activation and receptor auto-phosphorylation, RTKs mobilize diverse signalling pathways, which culminate in cytoplasmic and nuclear alterations, including activation of gene expression programmes. This chapter describes several well-characterized growth factors, highlights the cognate receptors and downstream signalling pathways, and exemplifies involvement of specific growth factors in maintenance of the hallmarks of cancer. An account of clinically approved drugs able to intercept growth factor signalling closes this chapter.

Platelet Rich Fibrin and Bone Graft in the Treatment of Intrabony Defect in Periodontitis Patients

Background: Porous hydroxyapatite and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP + HA) bone grafting material has resulted in clinically acceptable responses when used to fill the periodontal intrabony defects. PRF is an autologous leukocyte and platelet preparation that concentrates various polypeptide growth factors which therefore holds potential to be used as regenerative treatment for periodontal defects. Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical and radiographic outcomes in periodontal intrabony defects treated with platelet rich fibrin compared to alloplastic bone graft material. Materials and Methods: Twenty subjects (10 subject per group, one site/subject) were treated either with platelet rich fibrin or alloplastic bone graft (30% β-TCP+ 70% HA). Primary clinical parameters: PD, CAL were taken at baseline, three months, six months and nine months post-operatively. Standardised radiographic data were collected at baseline, six months and nine months postoperatively. Results: Preoperative parameters were similar for both groups. Postsurgical measurements revealed a greater reduction in pocket depth in bone graft group (2.5 mm), greater CAL gain (2.2 mm) and greater defect fill (1.30 mm) as compared to platelet rich fibrin group (1.50 mm, 1.6 mm and 0.80 mm respectively ) at nine months. Conclusion: Treatment of intrabony defects with alloplast (30% β TCP+ 70% HA) or platelet rich fibrin both resulted in a significant probing depth reduction, CAL gain and bone depth reduction, with significantly better improvement in bone graft group.

Recent Trends in Non-Surgical Periodontal Care for the General Dentist - A Review

The management of periodontal defects has been an ongoing challenge in clinical periodontics. In the recent past, attention has been focused more on regenerative and reconstructive therapies i.e. bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration, root conditioning, polypeptide growth factors, rather than on respective therapies. These therapeutic measures are shown to be limited in the predictability of healing and regenerative response in the modem clinical practice because oral environment presents several complicating factors that border regeneration. The 21st century appears to represent a time in history when there is a convergence between clinical dentistry and medicine, human genetics, developmental and molecular biology, biotechnology, bioengineering, and bioinformatics, resulting in the emergence of novel regenerative therapeutic approaches and focusing mainly on non surgical modalities. The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the various non surgical therapies in use today. Future direction in this ever-changing field is also discussed. Techniques currently in use are reviewed and evaluated. They include Probiotics, Ozone therapy, Photodynamic therapy, Gene therapy, RNA interference, Nanotechnology, Perioprotect, TIPS & BOST. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjdre.v4i2.20254 Bangladesh Journal of Dental Research and Education Vol.4(2) 2014: 78-82

Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF): A Review

In order for periodontal regeneration to occur, progenitor cells must migrate to the denuded root surface, attach to it, proliferate and mature into an organized and functional fibrous attachment apparatus. Significant advances have been made during the last decade in understanding the factors controlling the migration, attachment and proliferation of cells. A group of naturally occurring molecules known as polypeptide growth factors in conjunction with certain matrix proteins, are key regulators of these biological events. Of these, the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) appear to have an important role in periodontal wound healing. The purpose of this review is to summarize current information on these growth factors with emphasis on their potential implications in periodontal wound healing and regeneration.

The potential roles of neurotrophins in male reproduction

Neurotrophins are a family of polypeptide growth factors that are required for the proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death of neuronal cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that they may have broader physiological roles in various non-neuronal tissues. The testicles are complex non-neuronal organs in which diverse cell types interact to achieve correct spermatogenesis. Both neurotrophins and their receptors have been detected in various cell types from mammalian testes, suggesting that neurotrophins may regulate or mediate intercellular communication within this organ. This review summarizes the existing data on the cellular distribution and possible biological roles of neurotrophins in the testes. The data reported in the literature indicate that neurotrophins affect somatic cell growth and spermatogenesis and imply that they play a role in regulating testicular development and male reproduction.

Periodontal Regeneration Using Platelet-Derived Growth Factor in Infrabony Defects: A Series of Three Cases

The periodontal researchers and clinicians, in an effort to develop effective regenerative therapies, have sought to understand key events involved in the regeneration of periodontium. Polypeptide growth factors are a class of natural biological mediators which regulate key cellular events in tissue repair. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is the most thoroughly studied growth factor in periodontal regeneration. The present case series evaluate the effectiveness of platelet-derived growth factor (rh-PDGF-BB) in combination with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) to achieve periodontal regeneration in 3 infrabony defects.