Introduction: We aimed to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2 irrigants routinely used in root canal therapy of permanent teeth. Methods: Electronic databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were searched for randomized controlled trials published until March 2020. The meta-analysis of relative risk (RR) and standardized mean difference (SMD) was performed using a random effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analysis was performed for culture and molecular methods of bacterial detection. Results: The literature search yielded 2110 records without duplicates. Eight studies were eligible for a systematic review. No significant differences in the incidence of samples with positive bacterial growth after irrigation (RR 5 1.003; 95% CI, 0.729-1.380; P 5 .987) and mean bacterial number changes (SMD 5 0.311; 95% CI, 20.368 to 0.991; P 5 .369) were observed between CHX and NaOCl in the culture and molecular subgroups. Heterogeneity in RR (I 2 5 0.000%, P 5 .673) was low among studies, whereas considerable heterogeneity was observed in the analysis of SMD (I 2 5 76.336%, P 5 .005). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that both CHX and NaOCl irrigation can reduce bacterial infections without any significant difference in antimicrobial efficacy between them, despite their difference in molecular mechanisms. Therefore, each can be used as the main antibacterial root canal irrigant. However, our results were limited by inconsistencies among retrieved articles and a lack of clinically relevant outcomes. Further well-designed clinical studies are warranted to supplement our results.

Background: The quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has been assumed to give protection against genital warts (GW) as well as cervical cancer. Our main question was whether HPV vaccine has any effects on the prevention of GW reported in randomised controlled clinical trials (RCTs) and time-trend analyses. Methods: This meta-analysis was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines using the PICO format. We searched in three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Trials), and assessed heterogeneity using the Q-test and Isquared statistics, meta-regression was also performed. Odds ratios (OR) and their confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The sensitivity was tested by leave-one-out method. We evaluated the presence of publication bias using the funnel plot graph and the Copas selection model. The strength of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: Eight RCTs (per-protocol populations) and eight time-trend ecological studies were included in this meta-analysis. A significant reduction (pooled OR = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.01-0.09; I-squared = 53.6%) of GW in young women was recorded in RCTs, and in time-trend analyses both in young women (pooled OR = 0.36, CI 95% = 0.26-0.51; I-squared = 98.2%), and in young men (pooled OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.61-0.78; I-squared = 92.7%). In subgroup analysis, a significant reduction of the number of GW events was observed especially in women under 21 years (pooled OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.17-0.63). Leave-one-out analysis showed that similar results could be obtained after excluding one study, meta-regression did not show significant difference. Conclusions: Prophylactic, quadrivalent HPV vaccination can prevent GW in healthy women and men, therefore, it should be included in routine immunization programme.

Introduction: At the initial part of the gastrointestinal tract, multiple tissues serve the normal function of food delivery. Periodontal structures are integral elements of these. When they deteriorate, it is extremely challenging to regenerate and reconstruct them. The conventional intervention for periodontal disease is scaling and root planning with the aim of reducing pathogenic bacteria. However, periodontal pathogens can rapidly recolonize treated areas. Probiotics have been proposed as novel tools for managing oral health by suppressing pathogenic bacteria through their anti-inflammatory effect, but the available data are controversial.Aim: Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to study the effect of probiotics on periodontal pathogenic bacteria.Methods: The study was registered in PROSPERO under registration number CRD42018094903. A comprehensive literature search from four electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science) yielded nine eligible records for statistical analysis. Studies measuring bacterial counts in saliva and supra- and subgingival plaque were included. Bacterial counts were analyzed using standard mean difference (SMD) and by a random effects model with the DerSimonian–Laird estimation.Results: The results showed a significant decrease in the overall count of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the probiotic-treated group compared to the control at 4 weeks (SMD: −0.28; 95% CI: −0.56–−0.01; p = 0.045) but not later. Analyzing the bacterial counts in subgroups, namely, in saliva and supra- and subgingival plaque, separately, yielded no significant difference. Probiotics had no significant effect on the overall count of Porphyromonas gingivalis at 4 weeks (SMD: −0.02; 95% CI: −0.35−0.31; p = 0.914) or later. Subgroup analysis also revealed no significant difference between treatment and control groups nor did probiotics significantly decrease the overall and subgroup bacterial counts of Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythia, and Fusobacterium nucleatum.Conclusion: Our data support the beneficial effect of probiotics in reducing A. actinomycetemcomitans counts, but not of other key periodontal pathogenic bacteria in periodontal disease patients. However, due to the complex mechanism associated with periodontal disease and the limitations of the available studies, there is a further need for well-designed randomized clinical trials to assess the efficacy of probiotics.

: Herpes zoster (HZ) causes considerable pain and distress, and γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its derivatives are assumed to control this, but the available data are inconsistent. This metaanalysis and systematic review aimed to assess the effectiveness of GABA derivatives in the prevention of acute herpetic pain. The meta-analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines using PICO format, registered in PROSPERO number CRD42018095758. PubMed, Web of Science, Ovid, Scopus, and EMBASE databases were searched. Records were included if they were randomized controlled trials of patients undergoing HZ infection, investigating the effect of GABA derivatives versus placebo in the treatment of HZ pain. Eligible trials were evaluated for the risk of bias. Then data were extracted and analysed. The number of patients with observed presence of pain after treatment was used to calculate odds ratio in a random effect model with the DerSimonian-Laird estimator. The I 2 statistic was analysed for heterogeneity. The potential risk of bias was measured using Egger’s regression test. The metaanalysis included three randomized controlled trials with a total of 297 patients. The incidence of acute HZ pain events for GABA group was significantly lower compared to placebo group,18/148 vs 44/159, respectively (OR = 0.36; 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.93; Z = 2.11; P = 0.035), Egger’s test yielded P = 0.308. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis demonstrates that GABA derivatives reduce the incidence of acute herpetic pain. However, additional, well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed to determine their dose- and time-dependency regarding this symptom.