Fig 1.
Three-dimensional rendered reconstructions of the microtomographic sections of groups C (A, E), PROB (B, F), EP-SRP (C, G) and EP-SRP-PROB (D, H). Buccal view (A-D). Internal surface view, sagittal section (E-H). Pixel size = 7.96 μ.
Table 1.
Means and standard deviations (SD) of BV (%), BP (%) and ABL (μm) of Groups C, PROB, EP-SRP and EP-SRP-PROB, with comparisons among groups.
Fig 2.
Histomorphometric analysis of periodontal tissues.
Means and standard deviations of ANB (A; furcation area) and AL (B; interproximal area), with comparisons among groups. Photomicrographs of periodontal tissues in the furcation (C-F) and interproximal areas (G-J) of mandibular first molars: Group C (C and G); Group PROB (D and H); Group EP-SRP (E and I); Group EP-SRP-PROB (F and J). Abbreviations and symbols: ab = alveolar bone; ct = connective tissue; pdl = periodontal ligament; ANB = area of no bone; AL = attachment loss; FM = first molar; SM = second molar; black arrows = cementoenamel junction; white arrows = epithelial attachment; * = p<0.05; ** = p<0.01; *** = p<0.001. Scale bars: C-J = 200 μm. (Hematoxylin and Eosin stain).
Fig 3.
Immunohistochemical analyses–TRAP.
Means and standard deviations of the number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells (A), with comparisons among groups. Photomicrographs demonstrating immunolabeling for TRAP (B-E) in the furcation regions of mandibular first molars: Group C (B); Group PROB (C); Group EP-SRP (D); Group EP-SRP-PROB (E). Abbreviations and symbols: ab = alveolar bone; ct = connective tissue; pdl = periodontal ligament; black arrowhead = TRAP-positive multinucleated cell; * = p<0.05; ** = p<0.01; *** = p<0.001. Scale bars: B-E = 20 μm. (Hematoxylin counterstaining).
Fig 4.
Immunohistochemical analyses—IL-1β and CINC.
Medians, interquartile range and maximum and minimum values of the immunolabeling scores for IL-1β (A) and CINC (B), with comparisons among groups. Photomicrographs showing immunolabeling for IL-1β (C-F) and CINC (G-J) in the furcation regions of mandibular first molars: Group C (C and G); Group PROB (D and H); Group EP-SRP (E and I); Group EP-SRP-PROB (F and J). Abbreviations: ab = alveolar bone; ct = connective tissue; pdl = periodontal ligament; * = p<0.05. Scale bars: C-J = 80 μm. (Hematoxylin counterstaining).
Fig 5.
Immunohistochemical analyses—IL-10 and TGF-β1.
Medians, interquartile range and maximum and minimum values of the immunolabeling scores for IL-10 (A) and TGF-β1 (B), with comparisons among groups. Photomicrographs showing immunolabeling for IL-10 (C-F) and TGF-β1 (G-J) in the furcation regions of mandibular first molars: Group C (C and G); Group PROB (D and H); Group EP-SRP (E and I); Group EP-SRP-PROB (F and J). Abbreviations: ab = alveolar bone; ct = connective tissue; pdl = periodontal ligament; * = p<0.05. Scale bars: C-J = 80 μm. (Hematoxylin counterstaining).
Fig 6.
Histomorphometric analysis of small intestine.
Mean values and standard deviations of VH (A) and CD (B) in intestinal sections, with comparisons among groups. Photomicrographs of small intestine (duodenum sections): Group C (C); Group EP-SRP (D); Group PROB (E); Group EP-SRP-PROB (F). Abbreviations and symbols: LC = crypt of Lieberkühn; VH = villous height; CD = crypt depth; black arrowhead = calciform cells; * = Significant difference (p<0.05) when compared with Groups C, EP-SRP and EP-SRP-PROB; † = Significant difference (p<0.05) between Groups EP-SRP and EP-SRP-PROB; ‡ = Significant difference (p<0.05) between Groups C and EP-SRP-PROB; § = Significant difference (p<0.05) between Groups C and EP-SRP. Scale bars: C-F = 50 μm. (Hematoxylin and Eosin stain).
Fig 7.
Effects of B. lactis HN019 on ligature-associated microbiota.
Means and standard deviations of the ratios between aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in groups Intervention and Placebo. * = Significant difference (p<0.05) when compared with Group Placebo.