Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial disease the worldwide incidence of which is higher than the incidence of caries and represents one of the leading problems in dental medicine. It is manifested by the loss of the attachment...

Background/Objectives: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of STIs, posing a significant public health problem. Today, the transmission of HPV can be very effectively prevented, making it important to vaccinate the target population at a young age. The aim of this study was to examine the attitudes and beliefs of parents regarding the HPV vaccine and the HPV vaccination of their child. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Osijek, Croatia, from June 2021 to September 2022 via a self-administered questionnaire and included 215 respondents. Results: The results showed that respondents who would vaccinate their child were significantly more likely to be those who work in the healthcare field, who had heard of the term HPV, who had sought information about the HPV vaccine on their own, and who had received information about vaccination from school doctors. The attitude towards vaccination was more negative among respondents who did not intend to vaccinate their child. In predicting the decision not to vaccinate one’s child against HPV, bivariate logistic regression revealed that the probability of non-vaccination increases with working outside the field of healthcare (OR = 4.61) and a negative attitude towards vaccination (OR = 1.46), while the probability of non-vaccination decreases if information was received from a school doctor (OR = 0.46). Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression showed that there is a significant model in predicting non-vaccination against HPV, consisting of two predictors: working outside the healthcare field (OR = 8.15) and a negative attitude towards vaccination (OR = 1.49). Conclusions: Given that parents are responsible for making the decision about HPV vaccination, it is necessary to invest additional efforts in educating them about the importance of preventing HPV infections and the benefits of HPV vaccination itself.

One of the key factors influencing osseointegration is the hydrophilicity of the surface of dental implants; high hydrophilicity is more advantageous than low hydrophilicity. This study aimed to compare the hydrophilic properties of titanium and zirconia implants from different manufacturers. An in vitro analysis was conducted on 15 implants—13 titanium and 2 zirconia—each featuring distinct compositions and surface treatments. Their hydrophilicity was assessed using the contact angle method, where a drop of saline solution was pipetted onto the apical part of the implant. For each implant, 30 contact angle measurements were taken at three different surface wetting time intervals. The contact angle is defined as the internal angle between the tangent to the surface of the liquid and the surface at the point of tangency; a smaller angle means a higher hydrophilicity. The results show that titanium implants from BTI UniCa, Nobel TiUltra, and Straumann Roxolid SLActive—which are classified as premium implants—exhibited the highest hydrophilicity. In contrast, zirconia implants demonstrated significantly lower hydrophilicity. Within this group, the Nobel Pearl implant exhibited smaller contact angles than the Bredent WhiteSKY implant. Our findings confirm that high-quality titanium implants show superior hydrophilicity, potentially improving clinical outcomes by accelerating healing and facilitating immediate loading protocols, but this could only be proven with an in vivo animal study. Conversely, the relatively lower hydrophilicity of zirconia implants highlights the need for continued advancements in zirconia composition and surface modification to optimize their osseointegration potential.

Conditions such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, as well as unhealthy habits such as smoking, are known to impair wound healing. Recent studies found that greater surface wettability accelerates osseointegration and increases the bone-to-implant contact ratio. In light of this, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential correlation between impaired healing status and changes in implant surface wettability. This study included 18 dental implants from various systems. Blood samples were collected from 40 voluntary participants divided into four groups. When comparing the blood of smokers and healthy people, the biggest difference was shown by Avinent, BTI UniCa, and Nobel TiUltra, where more blood was absorbed by the implants immersed in the smoker's blood. Also, some implants have shown reverse results, but the difference was smaller. When testing the blood of diabetics, there were many different results; some implants showed that they absorbed more blood when immersed in the blood of diabetics, and some in the blood of healthy people. When testing the blood of hyperlipidemic patients, it is interesting that all tested implants absorbed more blood from hyperlipidemics than blood from healthy people, except for Nobel TiUltra, where the result was reverse, but the difference was very small. Our findings demonstrate that blood from these patient groups can significantly alter the hydrophilicity of implant surfaces compared to blood from healthy individuals. In vivo research is needed to determine the clinical significance of this finding.

The rising demand for sustainable and circular approaches in the agro-industrial sector has generated interest in repurposing herbal tea residues as sources of high-value bioactive compounds. This work focusses on recovering phytochemicals from Rosa canina L. peel and seed dust (by-products of processing of herbal tea in filter tea bags) using green extraction techniques. Two environmentally friendly technologies were used: ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with a sonotrode and subcritical fluid extraction (SBFE). The extracts were qualitatively profiled using (HR) LC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS and quantified using HPLC-PDA. Both by-products contained phenolic substances, including gallic acid derivatives, ellagic acid, and flavonoids such as quercetin and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (only in the peel). Additionally, Folin–Ciocalteu’s assay was used to determine Total Phenolic content (TP). The extraction efficiency was considered in terms of phenolic compound recovery and total phenolic content obtained under the respective experimental conditions. The maximum TP for SBFE was reported in samples extracted with ethanol–water (48:52) at 180 °C, producing 3876.67 GAE mg/L for peel and 1648.57 GAE mg/L for seeds. In the UAE, extraction with ethanol–water (48:52) for 10 min yielded the maximum TP of 2773.81 GAE mg/L for peel and 957.86 GAE mg/L for seeds. These findings highlight the potential of R. canina infusion by-products as long-term sources of bioactive compounds for use in nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Pre-transplant dental clearance is commonly recommended for kidney transplant candidates, although standardized protocols are lacking and supporting evidence remains limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the dental work-up protocol, treatment needs, complications, and time to clearance in patients undergoing kidney transplantation at a tertiary care center. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients referred by their attending nephrologist for pre-transplant dental evaluation between 2019 and 2024. Demographic, medical, and dental data were collected, including DMFT index, type and number of procedures performed, complications, and time required to obtain dental clearance. Seventy-four patients (median age 41 years) were included. The median DMFT index was 13.5 (range 0–28). Supragingival instrumentation was performed in 39.2% of patients, and tooth extraction in 27%, with 62 teeth removed overall. Endodontic treatment was completed in 9.5% of patients. Two postoperative complications (2.7%) were recorded and managed conservatively. Most patients (67.6%) achieved dental clearance in a single visit, and the median time to clearance was 1 day (range 1–45). Within the limitations of this single-center retrospective study, pre-transplant dental clearance was feasible, safe, and completed without evidence of clinically meaningful delay in the transplant preparation process.