The present studies evaluated the efficacy of a controlled-release biodegradable chlorhexidine (CHX) (2.5 mg) chip when used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing on reducing probing depth (PD) and improving clinical attachment level (CAL) in adult periodontitis. Two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trials (5 centers each) were conducted; pooled data are reported from all 10 centers (447 patients). At baseline, following 1 hour of scaling and root planing (SRP) in patients free of supragingival calculus, the chip was placed in target sites with PD 5 to 8 mm which bled on probing. Chip placement was repeated at 3 and/or 6 months if PD remained > or = 5 mm. Study sites in active chip subjects received either CHX chip plus SRP or SRP alone (to maintain study blind). Sites in placebo chip subjects received either placebo chip plus SRP or SRP alone. Examinations were performed at baseline; 7 days; 6 weeks; and 3, 6, and 9 months. At 9 months significant reductions from baseline favoring the chlorhexidine chip compared with both control treatments were observed with respect to PD (chlorhexidine chip plus SRP, 0.95 +/- 0.05 mm; SRP alone, 0.65 +/- 0.05 mm, P < 0.001; placebo chip plus SRP, 0.69 +/- 0.05 mm, P < 0.001) and CAL (chlorhexidine chip plus SRP, 0.75 +/- 0.06 mm; SRP alone, 0.58 +/- 0.06 mm, P < 0.05; placebo chip plus SRP, 0.55 +/- 0.06 mm, P < 0.05). The proportion of patients who evidenced a PD reduction from baseline of 2 mm or more at 9 months was significantly greater in the chlorhexidine chip group (19%) compared with SRP controls (8%) (P < 0.05). Adverse effects were minor and transient toothache, including pain, tenderness, aching, throbbing, soreness, discomfort, or sensitivity was the only adverse effect that was higher in the chlorhexidine group as compared to placebo (P = 0.042). These data demonstrate that the adjunctive use of the chlorhexidine chip results in a significant reduction of PD when compared with both SRP alone or the adjunctive use of a placebo chip. These multi-center randomized control trials suggest that the chlorhexidine chip is a safe and effective adjunctive chemotherapy for the treatment of adult periodontitis.

The temperature dependence of the principal photovoltaic parameters of perovskite photovoltaics is studied. The recombination activation energy is in good agreement with the perovskite's bandgap energy, thereby placing an upper bound on the open-circuit voltage. The photocurrent increases moderately with temperature and remains high at low temperature, reinforcing that the cells are not hindered by insufficient thermally activated mobility or carrier trapping by deep defects.

The quantum-mechanical and thermodynamic properties of a 3-level molecular cooling cycle are derived. An inadequacy of earlier models is rectified in accounting for the spontaneous emission and absorption associated with the coupling to the coherent driving field via an environmental reservoir.This additional coupling need not be dissipative, and can provide a thermal driving force -the quantum analog of classical absorption chillers. The dependence of the maximum attainable cooling rate on temperature, at ultra-low temperatures, is determined and shown to respect the recently-established fundamental bound based on the second and third laws of thermodynamics. PACS number(s): 05.70.Ln, 32.80.Pj

Using a reproducible approach to collection, processing and analysis of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF), this study examined 284 fluid samples from individual crevicular sites for the presence of the enzymes lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), B-glucuronidase (BG) and arylsulfatase (AS). 88 of the sites were from periodontally healthy individuals (probing depth 1-3 mm), while 98 sites from patients with periodontitis were examined before and 2 weeks after scaling and root planing (probing depths 1-3 mm, 4-6 mm and 7-10 mm). This study demonstrated the sensitivity of the enzyme assays. When GCF was collected with a 30-s insertion of the filter strip, 90% of the sites from the control subjects demonstrated LDH activity, 85% demonstrated BG activity and 73% demonstrated AS activity. For the 1-3 mm sites from the patients with periodontitis, 100% of sites from which fluid was collected demonstrated LDH and BG activity, and 90% of sites had AS activity before therapy. After therapy, 100% of sites demonstrated LDH activity, 90% had BG activity and 83% had AS activity. All sites in the 4-6 mm and 7-10 mm categories demonstrated activity of all 3 enzymes. The data were analyzed in terms of enzyme activity/30-s sample and as concentration of enzyme in a standard volume of GCF. Enzyme activity/30-s sample was a different and possibly more sensitive indicator of periodontal pathology than standard clinical parameters. There was a disassociation between clinical parameters and the data for enzyme analysis when it was reported as concentration.

A 9-month double-blind controlled clinical study was conducted on adult subjects using either Listerine antiseptic, its vehicle control, or a water control in order to determine the efficacy of the antiseptic mouthrinse in inhibiting the development of plaque and gingivitis. Following screening examinations for minimal entry levels of plaque and gingivitis, all subjects received a complete prophylaxis. Subjects then continued their usual oral hygiene habits for a 3-week normalization period and were examined for soft tissue abnormalities and baseline measurements of plaque, gingivitis, and tooth stain. 2 additional prophylaxes were then performed, followed by a second baseline gingival examination. Zero plaque was re-established by rubber cup polishing and twice daily rinsing was begun. Soft tissue, plaque, gingivitis, and extrinsic tooth stain were evaluated after 1, 3, 6 and 9 months of rinsing with the randomly assigned mouthrinses. Results demonstrated that Listerine antiseptic significantly reduced the development of plaque at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months and the development of gingivitis at 9 months, as compared to its vehicle control or water control.