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The validity of Cariogram in relation to caries increment over a 2-year period was evaluated. In 2007, the caries risk profile in a group of Sardinian schoolchildren (957) aged 7–9 years was assessed using the Cariogram software. A re-examination using the same criteria was performed 2 years later on 861 individuals from the original sample (drop-out 10.0%). The possible correlated variables were analyzed using the principal component analysis (PCA). The performances of Cariogram in predicting caries increment were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. At follow-up examination, 54.4% of the sample had developed new carious lesions (mean DFS 1.6, 95% CI 1.5–1.8). The mean caries increment (ΔDFS) was 0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.5. PCA showed that Cariogram, gingival status and dietary sugar frequency, both at baseline and at follow-up, tend to form a separate cluster (goodness of fit ≧0.75). Sensitivity and specificity measured by ROC analysis were 0.83 and 0.85, respectively, so the gain in certainty was 1.68, while the area under the ROC curve was 0.93. A strong correlation between caries risk profiles at baseline and caries incidence in the permanent teeth after 2 years was found. The validity of Cariogram was confirmed, the software fulfilling the criteria for a good risk assessment model: precision, accuracy and ease of use.

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ObjectivesA double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed to validate the hypothesis that the use of lozenges containing Lactobacillus brevis CD2 (Inersan®, CD Investments srl) may reduce plaque pH, salivary mutans streptococci (ms) and bleeding on probing, during a 6-week period, in a sample of high caries risk schoolchildren.MethodsA total of 191 children (aged 6–8 years), presenting two to three carious lesions and a salivary ms concentration of ≥105 CFU/ml, were enrolled and divided into two groups, an L. brevis CD2 lozenge group and a no L. brevis lozenge group, and examined at baseline (t0), after 3 weeks (t1), after 6 weeks of lozenge use (t2) and 2 weeks after the cessation of lozenge use (t3). Plaque pH was assessed using the microtouch technique following a sucrose challenge. The area under the curve (AUC5.7 and AUC6.2) was recorded. Salivary ms were counted, and bleeding on probing was assessed.ResultsAt t0, the plaque-pH and ms concentration values were similar in both groups. Mean areas (AUC5.7 and AUC6.2) were significantly greater in the control group at t1, t2 and t3. L. brevis CD2 lozenges significantly reduced salivary ms concentrations and bleeding. The subjects from the test group showed a statistically significant decrease (p = 0.01) in salivary ms concentration. At t2, a statistically significantly lower bleeding value was recorded in the test group compared with the control group (p = 0.02).ConclusionsSix weeks’ use of lozenges containing L. brevis CD2 had a beneficial effect on some important variables related to oral health, including a reduction in plaque acidogenicity, salivary ms and bleeding on probing. (Trial Registration Number NCT01601145 08/21/2012)

1 The systemic administration of D 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (2.5 ± 7.5 mg kg 71) reduced hippocampal extracellular acetylcholine concentration and impaired working memory in rats. 2 Both eects were antagonized not only by the CB 1 cannabinoid receptor antagonist SR141716A (0.5 mg kg 71 , i.p.) but also unexpectedly by the D 2 dopamine receptor antagonist S(7)-sulpiride (5, 10 and 25 mg kg-tetrahydrocannabinol-induced memory impairment and inhibition of hippocampal extracellular acetylcholine concentration were potentiated by the subcutaneous administration of the D 2 dopamine receptor agonist (7)-quinpirole (25 and 500 mg kg 71 ). The inhibition of hippocampal extracellular acetylcholine concentration and working memory produced by the combination of (7)-quinpirole and D 9-tetrahydrocannabinol was suppressed by either SR141716A or S(7)-sulpiride. 3 Our ®ndings suggest that impairment of working memory and inhibition of hippocampal extracellular acetylcholine concentration are mediated by the concomitant activation of D 2 dopamine and CB 1 cannabinoid receptors, and that D 2 dopamine receptor antagonists may be useful in the treatment of the cognitive de®cits induced by marijuana.