Clinical and microbiological effects of levofloxacin in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Nitrocellulose for Prolonged Permeation of Levofloxacin HCl-Salicylic Acid In Situ Gel

Currently, the application of solvent exchange-induced in situ gel is underway for drug delivery to the body target site. Nitrocellulose was attempted in this research as the matrix-forming agent in solvent exchange-induced in situ gel for acne and periodontitis treatments. The gel incorporated a combination of 1% w/w levofloxacin HCl and 2% w/w salicylic acid as the active compounds. In order to facilitate formulation development, the study explored the matrix-forming behavior of different concentrations of nitrocellulose in N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). Consequently, their physicochemical properties and matrix-forming behavior, as well as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, were evaluated using the agar cup diffusion method and thermal inhibition of protein denaturation in the egg albumin technique, respectively. All prepared formulations presented as clear solutions with Newtonian flow. Their contact angles on agarose gel were higher than on a glass slide due to matrix formation upon exposure to the aqueous phase of agarose, with an angle of less than 60° indicating good spreadability. Nitrocellulose concentrations exceeding 20% initiated stable opaque matrix formation upon contact with phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The high hardness and remaining force of the transformed gel indicated their robustness after solvent exchange. Fluorescence tracking using sodium fluorescein and Nile red confirmed the retardation of NMP and water diffusion by the nitrocellulose matrix. From the Franz cell permeation study, these drugs could permeate through neonate porcine skin and tissue of porcine buccal from the nitrocellulose in situ forming gel. Their accumulation in these tissues might enable the inhibition of the invading bacterial pathogens. The developed in situ gels effectively inhibited Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium acnes, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Furthermore, the formulations demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect. The low viscosity of LvSa25Nc makes it appropriate for injectable treatments targeting periodontitis, while the higher viscosity of LvSa40Nc renders it appropriate for topical applications in acne treatment. Therefore, the nitrocellulose in situ gel loaded with combined levofloxacin HCl and salicylic acid emerges as a promising dosage form for treating acne and periodontitis.

Osthole Inhibits M1 Macrophage Polarization and Attenuates Osteolysis in a Mouse Skull Model

Excessive bone resorption due to increased inflammatory factors is a common feature of inflammatory lytic bone diseases. This group of diseases is effectively treated with drugs. In recent years, many studies have reported that traditional Chinese medicine herbs have substantial effects on inflammation, osteoclast differentiation and maturation, and bone destruction. Herein, we investigated the effects of osthole (OST) on lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced macrophage polarization, inflammatory responses, and osteolysis. In vitro, we used immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assays to confirm whether bone marrow-derived macrophages showed an increased expression of inflammatory factors, such as interleukin-6, iNOS, CCR7, and CD86, in the presence of LPS. However, we found that such expression was suppressed and that the M2 macrophage expression increased in the presence of OST. OST reduced LPS- and RANKL-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production in the bone marrow-derived macrophages. Further, it potently suppressed osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-specific gene expression by suppressing the P38/MAPK and NF-κB pathways. Consistent with the in vitro observations, OST greatly ameliorated LPS-induced bone resorption and modulated the ratio of macrophages at the site of osteolysis. Taken together, OST has great potential for use in the management of osteolytic diseases.

Combination of levofloxacin and cisplatin enhances anticancer efficacy via co-regulation of eight cancer-associated genes

Chemosensitizer or combined chemotherapy can sensitize cancer cells to therapy and minimize drug resistance. We reveal that levofloxacin has broad-spectrum anticancer activity. Here we report that combination of levofloxacin and cisplatin further enhanced cytotoxicity in cancer cells by further promotion of apoptosis. Levofloxacin concentration-dependently promoted the inhibition of clone formation in cancer cells treated by cisplatin, and their combination further suppressed the tumor growth in mice. Levofloxacin and cisplatin co-regulated genes in directions supporting the enhancement of anticancer efficacy, of which, THBS1, TNFAIP3, LAPTM5, PI3 and IL24 were further upregulated, NCOA5, SRSF6 and SFPQ were further downregulated. Out of the 24 apoptotic pathways significantly enriched in the combination group, TNFAIP3, THBS1, SRSF6 and SFPQ overlapped in 14, 13, 3 and 1 pathway respectively. Jak-STAT/Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway network and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway were significantly enriched in levofloxacin group, cisplatin group and combination group. Jak-STAT/Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction/Focal adhesion/EMC-receptor interaction pathway network was significantly enriched in the combination group, and IL24 and THBS1 were the overlapped genes. In conclusion, enhancement of anticancer efficacy in combination group was associated with the further regulation of THBS1, TNFAIP3, LAPTM5, PI3, IL24 and NCOA5, SFPQ, SRSF6. Targeting of Jak-STAT/Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction/Focal adhesion/EMC-receptor interaction pathway network was correlated to the enhancement. With additional benefit to cancer patients for treatment or prophylaxis of an infectious syndrome, levofloxacin can benefit cancer chemotherapy no matter it is used independently or used with other chemotherapeutic drugs.

Clinical and Microbiological Efficacy of Adjunctive Systemic Quinolones to Mechanical Therapy in Periodontitis: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Objectives

To assess the clinical and microbiological efficacy of systemic quinolones adjunctive to mechanical therapy in periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods. A systematic review of the scientific literature was carried out. The search scheme comprised the Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, SCIELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), and LILACS (Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en Ciencias de la Salud) databases, together with the gray literature. MeSH terms and keywords were utilized to explore publications in all idioms. Only randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that met the selection criteria were included.

Results

A total of 4 RCTs were selected. These RCTs found superior clinical and microbiological efficacy of adjunctive systemic moxifloxacin (MOX) and levofloxacin (LV) compared to subgingival debridement plus placebo. Improvements in PD and CAL were 2.4 ± 0.8 mm and 2.7 ± 0.9 mm for LV, and 1.5 ± 0.5 mm and 1.8 ± 0.5 mm for MOX, respectively. After six months of follow-up, adjunctive MOX reduced the presence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans to imperceptible levels, while LV markedly reduced this microorganism. Some adverse events were reported in the LV group and none in the MOX group.

Conclusions

Adjunctive MOX and LV improve probing depth and clinical attachment level compared with subgingival debridement alone in patients with periodontitis. The efficacy of these quinolones against A. actinomycetemcomitans was also superior.

Unusual Findings in Trials Evaluating Adjuncts to Scaling and Root Planing: Meta-analysis (Part 1)

BACKGROUND

A number of studies in patients with periodontitis have compared scaling and root planning (SRP) combined with an adjunctive treatment to SRP alone. Within that literature, an array of studies with overlapping investigators has consistently yielded substantially greater effects of adjunctive treatments than had been previously noted. This report investigates discrepancies between that cluster of research and the most recent American Dental Association (ADA) systematic review.

METHODS

This review was preregistered at https://osf.io/4meyd/. A search using the Scopus platform identified 32 articles published from 2010 to 2017 by investigators affiliated with the Government Dental College and Research Institute (GDCRI) in Bangalore, India. The primary outcome used in this meta-analysis was the change in clinical attachment level (CAL) after 6 mo. Effect sizes were estimated using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software after categorizing agents into groups based on pharmacologic similarity.

RESULTS

The search identified 32 studies encompassing 5 sets of adjunctive agents. Across the GDCRI studies, the CAL averaged 1.67 mm (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.43-1.91 mm), substantially exceeding values reported in the ADA review (mean: 0.39 mm, 95% CI: 0.27-0.51 mm). For categories of studies in which comparable subgroup estimates were available, the evaluations yielded overlapping estimates of SRP alone, but CAL estimates were discrepant for both locally delivered antimicrobials (GDCRI studies: mean: 1.45 mm, 95% CI: 0.63-2.27 mm; ADA review: mean: 0.38 mm, 95% CI: 0.16 -0.60 mm) and systemic antibiotics (GDCRI studies: mean: 1.35 mm, 95% CI: 0.97-1.73 mm; ADA review: mean: 0.39 mm, 95% CI: 0.21-0.57 mm).

CONCLUSION

In the literature on adjunctive agents supplementing SRP, findings from investigators linked to GDCRI stand out as having significantly more favorable estimated effects. Meanwhile, some agents studied by GDCRI-linked investigators have not been investigated by other researchers. In the absence of a clear explanation for discrepant results, it is recommended that unusually favorable reported effects of adjunctive agents be viewed with caution.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The present meta-analysis observed an unusually large effect size of adjunctive agents to scaling and root planning in studies conducted by the same research group. These results were not consistent with trials on adjunctive agents and previous reports. As this research group has exclusively tested most of the agents, their results must be viewed with caution until other independent groups replicate the studies and reproduce the effect size.

Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials in the treatment of chronic periodontitis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobials adjunctive to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. The study was conducted according to the PRISMA statement. The protocol (CRD42020178621) was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO). The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched up to March 2020; furthermore, a manual search of relevant periodontal journals was conducted. Mean differences (MD) and standard deviations were calculated for clinical attachment level (CAL) gain and probing depth (PD) reduction at 6 and 12 months. A network meta-analysis was performed to assess direct and indirect comparisons and to establish a ranking of treatments. A total of 21 randomized clinical trials (RCTs) were included in the systematic review. Network meta-analysis showed that SRP + amoxicillin (AMX) + metronidazole (MTZ), as compared to SRP, reached the highest PD reduction at 6 [MD = 0.47; 95% CI (0.3; 0.64)] and 12 months [MD = 0.51; 95% CI (0.25; 0.78)], and CAL gain at 6 [MD = 0.54; 95% CI (0.27; 0.8)] and 12 months [MD = 0.37; 95% CI (0.05; 0.69)]. Network meta-analysis indicated that AMX + MTZ adjunctive to SRP provided the best improvement in clinical parameters, followed by SRP + MTZ.

Adjunctive systemic antimicrobials for the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Systemic antimicrobials can be used as an adjunct to mechanical debridement (scaling and root planing (SRP)) as a non-surgical treatment approach to manage periodontitis. A range of antibiotics with different dosage and combinations are documented in the literature. The review follows the previous classification of periodontitis as all included studies used this classification.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of systemic antimicrobials as an adjunct to SRP for the non-surgical treatment of patients with periodontitis.

SEARCH METHODS

Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist searched the following databases to 9 March 2020: Cochrane Oral Health's Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase. The US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched for ongoing trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which involved individuals with clinically diagnosed untreated periodontitis. Trials compared SRP with systemic antibiotics versus SRP alone/placebo, or with other systemic antibiotics.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We selected trials, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias in duplicate. We estimated mean differences (MDs) for continuous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We assessed the certainty of the evidence using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 45 trials conducted worldwide involving 2664 adult participants. 14 studies were at low, 8 at high, and the remaining 23 at unclear overall risk of bias. Seven trials did not contribute data to the analysis. We assessed the certainty of the evidence for the 10 comparisons which reported long-term follow-up (≥ 1 year). None of the studies reported data on antimicrobial resistance and patient-reported quality of life changes. Amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP versus SRP in chronic/aggressive periodontitis: the evidence for percentage of closed pockets (MD -16.20%, 95% CI -25.87 to -6.53; 1 study, 44 participants); clinical attachment level (CAL) (MD -0.47 mm, 95% CI -0.90 to -0.05; 2 studies, 389 participants); probing pocket depth (PD) (MD -0.30 mm, 95% CI -0.42 to -0.18; 2 studies, 389 participants); and percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP) (MD -8.06%, 95% CI -14.26 to -1.85; 2 studies, 389 participants) was of very low certainty. Only the results for closed pockets and BOP showed a minimally important clinical difference (MICD) favouring amoxicillin + metronidazole + SRP. Metronidazole + SRP versus SRP in chronic/aggressive periodontitis: the evidence for percentage of closed pockets (MD -12.20%, 95% CI -29.23 to 4.83; 1 study, 22 participants); CAL (MD -1.12 mm, 95% CI -2.24 to 0; 3 studies, 71 participants); PD (MD -1.11 mm, 95% CI -2.84 to 0.61; 2 studies, 47 participants); and percentage of BOP (MD -6.90%, 95% CI -22.10 to 8.30; 1 study, 22 participants) was of very low certainty. Only the results for CAL and PD showed an MICD favouring the MTZ + SRP group. Azithromycin + SRP versus SRP for chronic/aggressive periodontitis: we found no evidence of a difference in percentage of closed pockets (MD 2.50%, 95% CI -10.19 to 15.19; 1 study, 40 participants); CAL (MD -0.59 mm, 95% CI -1.27 to 0.08; 2 studies, 110 participants); PD (MD -0.77 mm, 95% CI -2.33 to 0.79; 2 studies, 110 participants); and percentage of BOP (MD -1.28%, 95% CI -4.32 to 1.76; 2 studies, 110 participants) (very low-certainty evidence for all outcomes). Amoxicillin + clavulanate + SRP versus SRP for chronic periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 21 participants for CAL (MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI -0.51 to 0.71); PD (MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.37); and BOP (MD 0%, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.09) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Doxycycline + SRP versus SRP in aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 22 participants for CAL (MD -0.80 mm, 95% CI -1.49 to -0.11); and PD (MD -1.00 mm, 95% CI -1.78 to -0.22) was of very low certainty, with the doxycycline + SRP group showing an MICD in PD only. Tetracycline + SRP versus SRP for aggressive periodontitis: we found very low-certainty evidence of a difference in long-term improvement in CAL for the tetracycline group (MD -2.30 mm, 95% CI -2.50 to -2.10; 1 study, 26 participants). Clindamycin + SRP versus SRP in aggressive periodontitis: we found very low-certainty evidence from 1 study, 21 participants of a difference in long-term improvement in CAL (MD -1.70 mm, 95% CI -2.40 to -1.00); and PD (MD -1.80 mm, 95% CI -2.47 to -1.13) favouring clindamycin + SRP. Doxycycline + SRP versus metronidazole + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: there was very low-certainty evidence from 1 study, 27 participants of a difference in long-term CAL (MD 1.10 mm, 95% CI 0.36 to 1.84); and PD (MD 1.00 mm, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.70) favouring metronidazole + SRP. Clindamycin + SRP versus metronidazole + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 26 participants for CAL (MD 0.20 mm, 95% CI -0.55 to 0.95); and PD (MD 0.20 mm, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.78) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Clindamycin + SRP versus doxycycline + SRP for aggressive periodontitis: the evidence from 1 study, 23 participants for CAL (MD -0.90 mm, 95% CI -1.62 to -0.18); and PD (MD -0.80 mm, 95% CI -1.58 to -0.02) was of very low certainty and did not show a difference between the groups. Most trials testing amoxicillin, metronidazole, and azithromycin reported adverse events such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, mild gastrointestinal disturbances, and metallic taste. No serious adverse events were reported.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is very low-certainty evidence (for long-term follow-up) to inform clinicians and patients if adjunctive systemic antimicrobials are of any help for the non-surgical treatment of periodontitis. There is insufficient evidence to decide whether some antibiotics are better than others when used alongside SRP. None of the trials reported serious adverse events but patients should be made aware of the common adverse events related to these drugs. Well-planned RCTs need to be conducted clearly defining the minimally important clinical difference for the outcomes closed pockets, CAL, PD, and BOP.

Palladium-Catalyzed Amination/Dearomatization Reaction of Indoles and Benzofurans

This report describes a palladium-catalyzed dearomatization and amination tandem reaction of 2,3-disubstituted indoles and benzofurans via the Catellani strategy. This reaction provides a new method for the construction of amino-substituted indoline-fused cyclic and benzofuran spiro compounds in good yields. The reaction has broad functional group compatibility and substrate scope.

Expression of IL-10 in A.actinomycetemcomitans Induced Rat Treated by Purple Miana Leaves

Periodontitis therapy originating from local natural resources is still lacking so it needs to be researched and developed, one of the natural resources from Soppeng Regency in South Sulawesi, Indonesia is the purple miana leaf. It has not been reported before about the effect of purple miana leaf extract on periodontitis related to IL-10 mRNA expression. This study aims to determine the effect of purple miana leaf extract on IL-10 mRNA expression in rat induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Rats were divided into three groups, purple miana leaf extract (PMLE), negative control (aquades), antibiotic (levofloxacin nine mg/kg body weight) as positive control. Rat blood was drawn before (H1) and after induction of 3x108 cfu/ml Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the gingival sulcus of the mandibular anterior teeth/after periodontitis (H8) and seven days after intervention (H15). IL 10 mRNA expression was measured by Real-time PCR. The results obtained are processed using SPSS. There were no significant differences in H1-H8 in all groups. IL-10 mRNA expression on H8-H15 has a different pattern between PMLE, negative control and positive control. In the negative control, there was a decrease in IL-10 mRNA expression in H8-H15. In PMLE and positive control, an increase in IL-10 mRNA expression. The treatment of purple miana leaf extract in rat induced with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans significantly had the same effect as levofloxacin on IL-10 mRNA expression.

Administration of systemic antibiotics during non-surgical periodontal therapy-a consensus report

AIM

The aim of this meta-review was to evaluate whether there is a meaningful clinical benefit regarding the use of systemic adjunctive antibiotics in the treatment of patients with periodontitis. Additionally, a consensus regarding possible recommendations for future administration of antibiotics should be reached.

METHODS

A structured literature search was performed by two independent investigators focusing on systematic reviews (SR) covering adjunctive systemic antibiosis during non-surgical periodontal therapy. Additionally, recent randomized clinical trials (RCT, July 2015 to July 2017) were searched systematically to update the latest SR. Results were summarized and discussed in a plenary to reach a consensus.

RESULTS

Mostly, systematic reviews and RCTs showed a significant positive effect of adjunctive systematic antibiosis compared to controls. These positive effects gain clinical relevance in patients with severe periodontal disease aged 55 years and younger.

CONCLUSION

Systemic antibiotics as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal therapy should be sensibly administered and restrictively used. Only certain groups of periodontitis patients show a significant and clinically relevant benefit after intake of systemic antibiosis during periodontal therapy.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Avoiding antibiotic resistance and possible side effects on the human microbiome should be a focus of dentists and physicians. Thus, a sensible administration of antibiotics is mandatory. This manuscript suggests guidelines for a reasonable use.

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of oral Treponema species

Treponemes occur in the microflora of the dental plaque. Certain Treponema species that are frequently isolated from chronic periodontitis lesions are involved in its initiation and progression. In addition to mechanical instrumentation, antimicrobial agents are used as an adjunctive treatment modality for periodontitis. Despite its importance for successful antimicrobial treatment, information about susceptibility is limited for Treponema species. The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility of Treponema denticola strains, Treponema socranskii, and Treponema vincentii to eleven antimicrobial agents. The minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of these antimicrobial agents revealed strain-specific variation. Doxycycline, minocycline, azithromycin, and erythromycin were effective against all Treponema species tested in this study, whereas fluoroquinolones only exhibited an equivalent effectiveness on T. socranskii. The susceptibility of one T. denticola strain, T. socranskii, and T. vincentii to kanamycin was influenced by prior exposure to aerobic conditions. The susceptibility to quinolone drugs varied among strains of T. denticola, although they share an amino acid sequence identity of greater than 99% for DNA gyrase (type II topoisomerase) subunit A. In addition, an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter inhibitor assay for T. denticola indicated that the transport of quinolone drugs is partially related to this transporter, although there may be parallel transport mechanisms. Our results provide important insights into antimicrobial agent-Treponema dynamics and establish a basis for developing an appropriate adjunctive therapy for periodontal disease.