Histopathology and electron and immunofluorescence microscopy of gingivitis granulomatosa associated with glossitis and cheilitis in a case of Anderson-Fabry disease.

A 17-year-old white boy with signs, symptoms, and family history of angiokeratoma corporis diffusum universale, Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD), developed recurrent and then persistent swelling of both lips, erythematous hyperplastic gingivae, and a pebbled tongue. Positive blood findings were raised serum IgE, decreased T-cell level, and increased B-cell level. Histopathology of the gingiva showed noncaseating granulomas with multinucleate giant cells containing Schaumann bodies and large plasma-cell infiltrates in which immunofluorescence demonstrated immune globulins of several classes. Electron microscopy and histochemistry demonstrated ceramide in the vasculature. No glycolipid was found in the macrophages or giant cells of the granulomas which, in contrast, resembled sarcoid reactions. Plasma cells with Russell bodies and immune reaction-induced degranulation of mast cells were also identified. The pathogenesis of the oral findings possibly relates to altered immune reactivity associated with damage to the microvasculature analogous to that in Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome.     

The effects of periodate degradation and collagenase digestion on the organic matrix of human dentine.

Human dentine was demineralized and exhaustively extracted with EDTA, then extracted successively with 8 M urea, alkaline potassium chloride and 8 M urea with 0.1 M sodium borohydride. The insoluble residue was treated with sodium periodate. Acidification of the periodate-solubilized material resulted in only minimal amounts of precipitate which appeared to be entirely collagenous. Fractionation of the soluble material by ion-exchange chromatography and gel-filtration resulted in the isolation of five fractions. Two were collagenous, one a non-collagenous protein and two appeared to comprise collagen fragments attached to non-collagenous moieties. These latter fractions were digested with collagenase resulting in the appearance of two similar non-collagenous proteins. The insoluble residue after periodate treatment was subjected to collagenase digestion and the soluble non-dialysable products fractionated by ion-exchange chromatography. The resulting fractions all appeared to consist of collagen fragments attached to non-collagenous proteins. No evidence of a collagen-bound phosphoprotein in human dentine could be found.     

Cleidocranial dysostosis: a multidisciplinary approach to treatment.

To ensure eruption of the dentition in patients with cleidocranial dysostosis, close collatoration between the oral surgeon and the orthodontist is essential to determine the sequence of extraction, the teeth to be ligated, the preferred technique of ligation, and the approach for surgical exposure.     

Personal method for the surgical treatment of recessed gingiva]

The authors report their experience with a personal technique for the surgical treatment of gingival recessions. Their experience is based on operations upon 35 teeth. To avoid recurrences, the authors perform, on principle, the necessary vestibuloplasty, covering the wound surface with a full-thickness skin graft taken from the cheek, three weeks after the first intervention. The good results obtained permit to recommend this method.     

Ultrastructural histochemistry of the dento-epithelial junction

The dento-epithelial junctions (DEJ) of Rhesus monkeys were studied by electron microscopy for their histochemical responses to colloidal thorium and ruthenium red. Both of these cationic dyues are useful markers for the detection of acidic carbohydrates. With colloidal thorium, deposits occurred on the intercellular cell surfaces but not on the surfaces facing the tooth. The basal lamina, dental cuticle, desmosomes and hemidesmosomes reacted negatively. With ruthenium red, cell surfaces, desmosomal junctions, the peripheral densities and the spaces between the peripheral densities and the cell membranes of hemidesmosomes stained intensely. The lamina densa was also stained, but the lamina lucida and dental cuticle were negatively reacting. The negative reactions of the basal lamina and dental cuticle after colloidal thorium demonstrate the lack of acidic carbohydrates in both layers. With ruthenium red and periodic acid-oxidation, the dental cuticle was denoted again to be negative for acidic carbohydrates. As for the reaction positive basal lamina with ruthenium red, we interpreted that the reaction was not due to acidic carbohydrates but potentially attributed to a protien moiety.     

Plastic bullet injury: a case report.

Plastic bullets have been introduced into Northern Ireland for use by the Security Forces in riot control. They are alleged to be more accurate in flight than the rubber bullet and are cheaper to produce. The injuries to a patient caused by a plastic bullet are described.