***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The present study is aim ed to describe short-term results on selected microbiological and clinical parameters obtained by treatment with soft laser in conjunction with methylene blue and /or mechanical subgingival debridement in human periodontal disease . STUDY DESIGN / MATERIAL S AND METHODS Ten patients , in whom each dental quadrant was r and omly design ated to receive one of four types of treatment procedures , were included in the study . Groups of quadrants received : scaling/root planing ( SRP ) ; laser application ( L ) ; SRP combined with L ( SRP/L ) ; oral hygiene instructions ( OHI ) . Four single rooted teeth ( one in each quadrant ) , having an interproximal site with a probing depth of 4 mm mesio-buccally , were selected in each patient . The selected teeth were first assessed for microbiological ( one site/tooth ) and then for clinical variables ( six sites/tooth ) . Supragingival irrigation with methylene blue was performed prior to laser application . The microbiological ( proportions of obligate anaerobes ) and clinical measurements ( plaque and gingival indices , bleeding on probing , probing pocket depth ) were evaluated over a period of 32 days . RESULTS Only the SRP/L and SRP groups provided significant reductions in the proportions of obligate anaerobes before and after treatments with no significant differences in between . Parallel to the microbiological changes , both SRP/L and SRP result ed in similar clinical improvements , whereas L alone revealed a limited effect similar to OHI . CONCLUSION Within the limits of this study , methylene blue/soft laser therapy provided no additional microbiological and clinical benefits over conventional mechanical debridement Experimental studies in animals and in vitro have shown the usefulness of photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) as an adjunct to periodontal treatment . The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term clinical and microbiological effects of PDT associated with nonsurgical periodontal treatment . Three sites in each of 33 patients with chronic periodontitis were r and omly allocated in a split-mouth design to a treatment group : ( 1 ) scaling and root planing ( SRP group ) ; ( 2 ) SRP and irrigation with toluidine blue O ( TBO group ) ; and ( 3 ) SRP , irrigation with TBO and low-level laser irradiation ( PDT group ) . Clinical parameters including visible plaque index , bleeding gingival index , bleeding on probing , probing depth , gingival recession and clinical attachment level were measured at baseline , and after 60 , 90 and 180 days . Additionally , subgingival plaque sample s were collected for microbiological analysis by PCR . Intergroup and intragroup statistical analyses were performed . All treatment groups showed an improvement in all clinical parameters , and a significant reduction in the proportion of sites positive for periodontopathogens at 60 , 90 and 180 days compared to baseline ( p < 0.05 ) . None of the periodontal parameters showed a significant difference among the groups ( p > 0.05 ) . At 180 days , PDT treatment led to a significant reduction in the percentage of sites positive for all bacteria compared to SRP alone ( p < 0.05 ) . Within the limits of this study it may be concluded that PDT as an adjunct to periodontal treatment produced statistically significant reductions in some of the key periodontal pathogens but produced no statistically significant benefit in terms of clinical outcome Background and aims . The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of adjunctive photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis . Material s and methods . A total of 24 patients with clinical diagnosis of aggressive periodontitis received scaling and root planing ( SRP ) for periodontal treatment . In a split-mouth design study , the teeth of one quadrant of each arch with ≥4 mm of probing depth were selected r and omly for additional treatment with PDT ( test group ) . PDT was performed with a diode laser beam with a wavelength of 670 - 690 nm and a power of 75 Mw . The control group consisted of selected teeth of the contralateral quadrant ( SRP only ) . Before any treatment , subgingival plaque sample s were collected by an endodontic paper cone for microbiological analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) for detection of Aggregatibacter actinomycetecommitans . Clinical parameters including clinical attachment loss ( CAL ) as primary outcome , plaque index ( PI ) , bleeding on probing ( BOP ) , probing depth ( PD ) and gingival recession ( REC ) were measured at baseline and after 90 days . Inter-group and intra-group statistical analyses were performed . Results . Treatment groups showed an improvement in all the clinical parameters and a significant reduction in the counts of A. actinomycetecommitans at 90 days compared to baseline ( P < 0.05 ) . None of the periodontal parameters exhibited significant differences between the two groups ( P > 0.05 ) . Conclusion . Within the limitations of this study , the results did not show additional benefits from PDT as an adjunctive treatment for patients with aggressive periodontitis AIM The aim of the study was to compare two methods of treatment for aggressive periodontitis : traditional surgical and Nd : YAG laser , evaluating their possible objective clinical advantages . MATERIAL S AND METHODS A total of 36 hemiarches of 18 patients were analysed , 10 males and 8 females of average age of 14 , selected according to predefined criteria . Overall we examined 70 radicular surfaces ( sites ) of 50 teeth . Each hemiarch to treat was r and omly assigned to one of two treatment groups . RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The results , analysed using the Friedman 's test , showed a clinical ly appreciable validity both for the surgical and the laser treatment , while the Wilcoxon signed-rank test did n't highlight any statistically significant difference between the two types of treatment . The laser itself appears as a valid alternative to conventional therapy , in relation to the young age of the patients and for individuals at increased anaesthesiological risk and /or with coagulation and platelet function disorders OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of a photodisinfection process to that of scaling and root planing ( SRP ) for non-surgical periodontal treatment . METHODOLOGY Thirty-three subjects with moderate to advanced periodontal disease were r and omly treated in one of three study arms with either photodisinfection ( PD ) alone ( Group 1 ) using a diode laser and photosensitizer combination , with SRP alone ( Group 2 ) , or with SRP and PD combined ( Group 3 ) . Clinical assessment s of bleeding on probing ( BOP ) , probing pocket depth ( PPD ) , and clinical attachment level ( CAL ) were made at baseline , three weeks , six weeks , and 12 weeks following therapy . RESULTS No difference in any of the investigated parameters was observed at baseline between the three groups . The mean value of BOP decreased in the PD group ( Group 1 ) from baseline by 71 % at six weeks and 73 % at 12 weeks , and in the SRP alone group ( Group 2 ) from baseline by 43 % at six weeks and 56 % at 12 weeks . The BOP in the combined SRP + PD group ( Group 3 ) decreased from baseline by 65 % at six and 59 % at 12 weeks . The sites treated with PD alone demonstrated mean CAL gains of 0.09 + /- 0.38 mm and 0.14 + /- 0.65 mm at six and 12 weeks , respectively . Those sites treated with SRP alone demonstrated mean CAL gains of 0.37 + /- 0.34 mm and of 0.36 + /- 0.35 mm at six and 12 weeks , respectively . The final group of SRP + PD demonstrated mean CAL gains of 0.92 + /- 0.62 mm and 0.86 + /- 0.61 mm at six and 12 weeks , respectively ( p < 0.01 for six weeks and p < 0.02 for 12 weeks when compared to SRP alone ) . The sites treated with PD alone demonstrated mean PPD reductions of 0.69 + /- 0.33 mm and of 0.67 + /- 0.44 mm at six and 12 weeks , respectively . Those sites treated with SRP alone demonstrated mean PPD reductions of 0.78 + /- 0.47 mm and 0.74 + /- 0.43 mm at six and 12 weeks , respectively . The final group of SRP + PD demonstrated mean PPD reductions of 1.16 + /- 0.39 mm and 1.11 + /- 0.53 at six and 12 weeks , respectively ( p < 0.06 for six weeks and p < 0.05 for 12 weeks when compared to SRP alone ) . CONCLUSION Within the limits of the present study , it can be concluded that SRP combined with photodisinfection leads to significant improvements of the investigated parameters over the use of SRP alone The aim of this trial was to investigate changes occurring in the subgingival microbiological composition of subjects with aggressive periodontitis , treated with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy ( aPDT )  , in a single episode , or scaling and root planing ( SRP )  , in a split-mouth design on −7 , 0 , and + 90 days . Ten patients were r and omly assigned to either aPDT using a laser source in conjunction with a photosensitizer or SRP with h and instruments . Subgingival plaque sample s were collected and the counts of 40 subgingival species were determined using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization . The data were analyzed using the method of generalized estimating equations ( GEE ) to test the associations between treatments , evaluated parameters , and experimental times ( α = .05 ) . The results indicated that aPDT and SRP  affects different bacterial species , with aPDT being effective in reducing numbers of A. actinomycetemcomitans than SRP . On the other h and , SRP was more efficient than  aPDT in reducing the presence of periodontal pathogens of the Red Complex . Additionally , a recolonization in the sites treated by aPDT was observed , especially for T. forsythia and P. gingivalis . Under our experimental conditions , this trial demonstrates that aPDT and SRP affected different groups of bacteria , suggesting that their association may be beneficial for the non-surgical treatment of aggressive periodontitis AIM To investigate the effect of photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) as adjunct to mechanical therapy in furcations . MATERIAL S AND METHODS A double-blind , parallel , r and omized controlled clinical trial was conducted in subjects presenting class II furcations . The subjects were r and omly allocated to a test ( PDT ; n = 16 ) or control group ( non-activated laser/only photosensitizer ; n = 21 ) . At baseline , 3 and 6 months , clinical , microbiological and cytokine pattern evaluation was performed . Clinical attachment level was defined as the primary outcome variable . RESULTS Clinical parameters improved after both therapies ( p < 0.05 ) with no differences between groups at any time point ( p > 0.05 ) . At 6 months , real-time PCR evaluation showed a decrease in Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia only in the PDT group ( p < 0.05 ) with no inter-group differences . Regarding cytokines , IL-4 and IL-10 levels increased in both groups at 6 months . GM-CSF , IL-8 , IL-1β and IL-6 levels decreased only in the PDT group after 3 months ( p < 0.05 ) . At 3 months , inter-group analyses showed that GM-CSF , IFN-γ , IL-6 and IL-8 levels were lower in the PDT group . At 6 months , lower IL-1β levels were also observed in the PDT group ( p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Photodynamic therapy did not promote clinical benefits for class II furcations ; however , advantages in local levels of cytokines and a reduction in periodontopathogens were demonstrated Residual pockets are challenging sites that require additional periodontal therapy . The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a single photodynamic therapy ( PDT ) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning ( SRP ) in residual pockets in single-rooted teeth . A blind , split-mouth , r and omized controlled clinical trial was conducted in systemically healthy subjects presenting at least two residual pockets ( probing pocket depth ( PPD ) ≥5 mm with bleeding on probing ( BoP ) ) in single root teeth in supportive periodontal therapy . The selected sites were assigned to receive ( 1 ) PDT + SRP or ( 2 ) SRP . In sites treated by PDT as adjunctive to SRP , the laser system included a h and held battery-operated diode laser with a wavelength of 660 nm , a power output of 60 mW , and energy density of 129 J/cm2 , together with methylene blue as a photosensitizer ( 10 mg/ml ) . Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline and 3 months post-therapies . Clinical parameters improved significantly after both therapies ( p < 0.05 ) , whereas higher probing pocket depth reduction and clinical attachment level gain were observed in the PDT + SRP group at 3 months ( p < 0.05 ) . In addition , sites treated by the combined approach yielded a significant reduction in the number of sites with PPD < 5 mm without BoP after 3 months compared to sites treated by conventional SRP alone ( p < 0.05 ) . PDT as an adjunctive to mechanical debridement demonstrated additional clinical benefits for residual pockets in single-rooted teeth and may be an alternative therapeutic strategy in supportive periodontal maintenance BACKGROUND The management of aggressive periodontitis ( AgP 
    Output:
    
At present , therefore , when compared to SRP alone or associated with systemic antibiotics , the evidence suggests that the association of aPDT + SRP is of no additional benefit in the nonsurgical treatment of