Since the first discovery of an inverse correlation between high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels and coronary heart disease in the 1950s the life cycle of HDL, its role in atherosclerosis and the therapeutic modification of HDL‐C levels have been major research topics. The Framingham study and others that followed could show that HDL‐C is an independent cardiovascular risk factor and that the increase of HDL‐C of only 10 mg·L−1 leads to a risk reduction of 2–3%. While statin therapy and therefore low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C) reduction could lower coronary heart disease considerably; cardiovascular morbidity and mortality still occur in a significant portion of subjects already receiving therapy. Therefore, new strategies and therapies are needed to further reduce the risk. Raising HDL‐C was thought to achieve this goal. However, established drug therapies resulting in substantial HDL‐C increase are scarce and their effect is controversial. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly evident that HDL particle functionality is at least as important as HDL‐C levels since HDL particles not only promote reverse cholesterol transport from the periphery (mainly macrophages) to the liver but also exert pleiotropic effects on inflammation, haemostasis and apoptosis. This review deals with the biology of HDL particles, the established and future therapeutic options to increase HDL‐C and discusses the results and conclusions of the most important studies published in the last years. Finally, an outlook on future diagnostic tools and therapeutic opportunities regarding coronary artery disease is given.

Objectives Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a commonly used antiseptic mouthwash, used by dental practitioners and the public, due to its antimicrobial effects. The aim of this article was to provide a narrative review of current antimicrobial uses of CHX relevant to dentistry in the context of oral diseases, highlighting need for further studies to support its safe and appropriate use. Study selection, data and sources Randomised controlled trials, systematic reviews and national (UK and US) guidelines were consulted where available, with search terms for each subject category entered into MEDLINE, PubMed, Google Scholar and the Cochrane database. Results Some evidence existed to support adjunctive short-term use of CHX to manage dental plaque, and reduce clinical symptoms of gingivitis, dry socket, as well as reduce aerosolisation of bacteria. However, use must be weighed alongside the less desirable effects of CHX, including extrinsic staining of teeth, antimicrobial resistance to antiseptic agents and the rare, but fatal, allergic reactions to CHX. Conversely, evidence for the effectiveness of chlorhexidine to manage or prevent periodontitis, dental caries, necrotising periodontal diseases, peri-implantitis, and infections associated with extraction and aerosolised viruses remains less certain. Conclusions The use of CHX in dentistry and oral healthcare continues to be widespread and thus it is important that dental practitioners understand that, based on its differential mechanisms of action on different microbes, appropriate clinical and dental use of CHX should be oral disease specific. However, further scientific and clinical research is required before full recommendations can be made.

Introduction: Oral candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic oral fungal infections. Oral candidal carriage in schoolchildren is a subject of increasing interest worldwide and has recently been associated with increased caries incidence in children. Aims: This study was carried out to identify association between oral candidal carriage in children and dental caries. Subjects and Methods: One hundred subjects with an age range between 6 and 12 years were included in this study. The subjects were distributed equally into two groups, i.e., study (caries-positive) and control (caries-free) groups. Oral hygiene index and DMFT/dmft scores were recorded for each subject. Sampling for Candida was carried out using intraoral swabs and concentrated oral rinse. Sabouraud dextrose agar containing 0.1 mg/ml of chloramphenicol was used as the primary culture medium. Candida was identified by employing API-20C AUX and germ tube formation tests. Results: The subjects in the caries-positive group showed a high frequency of oral candidal carriage compared to the caries-free subjects and the results were statistically very significant (p < 0.01). The odds ratio was 67.37, implying a high caries risk with positive oral candidal carriage (95% CI 14–323). Discussion: The findings of this study underscore the possible association of Candida with dental caries. Conclusions: The occurrence of dental caries in children with mixed dentition is positively correlated with the frequency of oral candidal carriage.

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