The shrinkage of water resources, as well as the deterioration of its quality as a result of industrial human activities, requires a comprehensive approach relative to its protection. Advanced oxidation processes show high potential for the degradation of organic pollutants in water
and wastewater. TiO2 is the most popular photocatalyst because of its oxidizing ability, chemical stability and low cost. The major drawback of using it in powdered form is the difficulty of separation from the reaction mixture. The solution to this problem may be immobilization on a support (glass beads, molecular sieves, etc.). In order to avoid these difficulties, the authors propose to prepare a catalyst as a titanium plate covered with an oxide layer obtained with laser treatment. (2) Methods: In the present work, we generated titanium oxide structures using a cheap and fast method based on femtosecond laser pulses. The structurized plates were tested in the reaction of methylene blue (MB) degradation under UVA irradiation (365 nm). The photocatalytic activity and kinetic properties for the degradation of MB are provided. (3) Results: Studies of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirm a titanium oxide layer with laser-induced generated structures
that are called “spikes” and “herringbones”. The structurized plates were effective photocatalysts, and their activity depends on the structure of the oxide layer (spike and herringbone). (4) Conclusions: The immobilization of the catalyst on a solid support can be performed in a fast and reproducible manner by using the technique of laser ablation. The layers obtained with this method have been shown to have catalytic properties.
Keywords: femtosecond laser processing self-organized microstructures; herringbone structure; engineered materials; photocatalysis; waste water treatment

A capability for effective tissue reparation is a living requirement for all multicellular organisms. Bone exits as a precisely orchestrated balance of bioactivities of bone forming osteoblasts and bone resorbing osteoclasts. The main feature of osteoblasts is their capability to produce massive
extracellular matrix enriched with calcium phosphate minerals. Hydroxyapatite and its composites represent the most common form of bone mineral providing mechanical strength and significant osteoinductive properties. Herein, hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite functionalized composite scaffolds based on electrospun polycaprolactone have been successfully fabricated. Physicochemical properties, biocompatibility and osteoinductivity of generated matrices have been validated. Both the hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite containing polycaprolactone composite scaffolds demonstrated good biocompatibility towards mesenchymal stem cells. Moreover, the presence of both hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite nanoparticles increased scaffolds’ wettability. Furthermore, incorporation of fluorapatite nanoparticles enhanced the ability of the composite scaffolds to interact and support
the mesenchymal stem cells attachment to their surfaces as compared to hydroxyapatite enriched composite scaffolds. The study of osteoinductive properties showed the capacity of fluorapatite and hydroxyapatite containing composite scaffolds to potentiate the stimulation of early stages of
mesenchymal stem cells’ osteoblast differentiation. Therefore, polycaprolactone based composite scaffolds functionalized with fluorapatite nanoparticles generates a promising platform for future bone tissue engineering applications.

 The aim: To study the effect of drug addiction and smoking on the status of periodontal tissues in patients with hepatobiliary pathology. Materials and methods: 58 smokers, 63 drug addicts with hepatobiliary pathology were examined and 92 persons of comparison group (with inflammatory periodontal diseases affected by hepatobiliary pathology, without addiction). Examination of patients included determination of iodine number by Svrakov, S-L and Stallard hygiene indices, PMA index and index PBI.

Results: The results of examination of smokers are worse in patients with cirrhosis than in patients with chronic toxic hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and also the results of these two groups was significantly worse than that of the comparison group (iodine number by Svrakov – 1,4 times and 1,3 times higher, PMA index – 1,7 times and 1,4 times worse, in accordance). The results of the study showed that drug addicts patients are worse values in patients with cirrhosis than in patients with chronic toxic hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and also the results of these two groups was significantly worse than that of the comparison group (iodine number by Svrakov – 1,5 times and 1,4 times higher, PMA index – 1,7 times and 1,5 times worse, in accordance).

Conclusions: Presence of hepatobiliary pathology in smokers and drug addicts increases the risk of periodontal diseases.

KEY WORDS: inflammatory periodontal diseases, hepatobiliary pathology, tobacco smoking, drug addiction 

 Introduction. Liver diseases and pathology of the organs of mouth cavity are interconnected. Smoking, usually increases the manifestations of the underlying disease and affects the course. The aim. To investigate the effect of chronic toxic hepatitis of nicotine-dependent patients and of patients without a bad habit on their periodontal status.

Materials and methods. During the clinical examination of the oral cavity of 86 patients, the depth and incidence of inflammation of the gum were determined using the number of the Svrakov's number (SN); the conditions of hygiene of the oral cavity were estimated using the Silness-Loe (S-l) index; Periodontal Index (PMA) and Bleeding Index (PBI). General histomorphology was studied on drugs stained with hematoxilin-eosin and by the method of Gerlich and van Gieson.

Results. It is established that the indicator of SN had the highest value among patients of group II (2,15±0,13), it was probably (p < 0.05) higher relatively to the group I and comparison group. In the smoking patients with chronic toxic hepatitis, in spinous layer of epithelium was determinanted karyorhexis, karyolysis with the formation of cell debris; basal layer cell proliferation, acanthosis, angiogenesis. We detected damage to collagen and elastic fibers of the periodontal, wich correlated with the intensity and duration of the bad habit. In areas of pronounced alterative changes colonies of bacteria were discovered.

Conclusions. Thus, the results obtained in nicotine-dependent patients with chronic toxic hepatitis visualize damaging effect on the epithelium and weakening of the histohematic barrier of the oral cavity and promotes the reproduction and penetrationof pathogenic microflora into the underlying tissues.

Keywords: periodontium, chronic toxic hepatitis, nicotine-dependent.