Decreased phagocytic function in neutrophils and monocytes from peripheral blood in periodontal disease

Phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes constitutes the main defense mechanism against bacterial challenges in periodontitis. Phagocytosis by neutrophils has already been evaluated, whereas phagocytic function of monocytes has hardly been addressed so far.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes in periodontitis.

Material and Methods

The sample included 30 subjects with severe periodontitis and 27 control subjects without periodontal disease. The phagocytic index (PhI) was calculated as the mean number of adhered/ingested Saccharomyces cerevisiae per phagocytozing monocyte or neutrophil multiplied by the percentage of phagocytes involved in phagocytosis.

Results

A significant reduction in phagocyte functions was observed in individuals with periodontitis. The median of PhI of neutrophils using non-sensitized S. cerevisiae was 3 for the control group, and 1.5 for the periodontitis group (p=0.01, Mann-Whitney test). The median of PhI of monocytes with non-sensitized S. cerevisiae was 26.13 for the control group, and 13.23 for the periodontitis group (p=0.03, Mann Whitney test). The median of PhI of monocytes assessed with sensitized S. cerevisiae was 97.92 for the control group and 60.1 for the periodontitis group (p=0.005, t-test).

Conclusion

The data demonstrated a reduction in the function of phagocytes, suggesting a decrease in immune defenses in periodontitis.     

Low expression of MSH2 DNA repair protein is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the expression of the MSH2 DNA repair protein in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in order to analyze its association with clinicopathologic factors and overall survival of patients.

Material and Methods

Clinical data and primary lesions of HNSSC were collected from 55 patients who underwent surgical resection with postoperative radiotherapy in Montes Claros, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2000 and 2008. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed to analyze MSH2 protein expression.

Results

Bivariate analysis showed no significant correlation or association between MSH2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Patients with locoregional metastatic disease (OR=4.949, p<0.001) and lower MSH2 immunohistochemical expressions (OR=2.943, p=0.032) presented poorer survival for HNSCC by Cox regression models.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that lower MSH2 expression might contribute to a higher clinic aggressiveness of HNSCC by promoting an unfavorable outcome.     

Influence of bismuth oxide concentration on the pH level and biocompatibility of white Portland cement

Objectives

To investigate if there is a relation between the increase of bismuth oxide and the decrease of pH levels and an intensification of toxicity in the Portland cement.

Material and Methods

White Portland cement (WPC) was mixed with 0, 15, 20, 30 and 50% bismuth oxide, in weight. For the pH level test, polyethylene tubes were filled with the cements and immersed in Milli-Q water for 15, 30 and 60 days. After each period, the increase of the pH level was assessed. For the biocompatibility, two polyethylene tubes filled with the cements were implanted in ninety albino rats (n=6). The analysis of the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate was performed after 15, 30 and 60 days. The statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn and Friedman tests for the pH level and the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests for the biological analysis (p<0.05).

Results

The results showed an increase of the pH level after 15 days, followed by a slight increase after 30 days and a decrease after 60 days. There were no significant statistical differences among the groups (p>0.05). For the inflammatory infiltrates, no significant statistical differences were found among the groups in each period (p>0.05). The 15% WPC showed a significant decrease of the inflammatory infiltrate from 15 to 30 and 60 days (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The addition of bismuth oxide into Portland cement did not affect the pH level and the biological response. The concentration of 15% of bismuth oxide resulted in significant reduction in inflammatory response in comparison with the other concentrations evaluated.     

Periodontal parameters and BANA test in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

Objectives

The aim of this study was to analyze the periodontal parameters of patients with chronic renal failure.

Material and Methods

The periodontal status of 16 Brazilian patients aged 29 to 53 (41.7±7.2) years with chronic renal failure (CRF) and another matched group of 14 healthy controls with periodontitis was assessed clinically and microbiologically. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), dental plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), and dental calculus index (CI) were the clinical parameters recorded for the entire dentition (at least 19 teeth), while the anaerobic periodontopathogen colonization in four sites with the highest PPD was evaluated using the BANA test (“PerioScan”; Oral B).

Results

The results for the CRF group and control group, respectively were: PPD: 1.77±0.32 and 2.65±0.53; GR: 0.58±0.56 and 0.51±0.36; PLI: 1.64±0.56 and 1.24±0.67; GI: 0.64±0.42 and 0.93±0.50; CI: 1.17±0.54 and 0.87±0.52. Comparison between groups using the "t" test revealed a significantly increased PPD (p<0.001) in the control group. Comparison of the other clincial parameters by the Mann-Whitney test showed differences only for PLI, which was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the CRF group. Spearman''s test applied to each group showed a positive correlation among all clinical parameters, except for GR (p<0.05). None of the groups showed any correlation between GR and GI, while a significant negative correlation between GR and PPD was observed for the CRF group. The percentage of BANA-positive sites was 35.9% for the CRF group and 35.7% for the control group. The BANA test correlated positively with PPD only in the control group and with GR only in the CRF group.

Conclusions

In spite of a higher PLI and dense anaerobic microbial population even in shallow PPD, patients with CRF exhibited better periodontal conditions than periodontitis patients, which is an evidence of altered response to local irritants.     

The teaching of temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain at undergraduate level in Brazilian dental schools

Objectives

Evaluate the way the topics for the study of pain mechanisms in general, and Orofacial Pain (OFP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) more specifically, are addressed in undergraduate courses curricula, and also to verify the existence of specialist OFP/TMD teachers in Brazilian dental schools.

Methods

Between July 2010 and January 2011, course Coordinators/Directors of all dental schools duly registered at the Ministry of Education were invited to answer a questionnaire on topics related to OFP/TMD teaching in their institutions.

Results

Fifty-three dental schools representatives answered the questionnaire. The study of pain mechanisms was found to cover an average of less than 10% of the courses'' total time. Pharmacology, Endodontics and Physiology were identified as the departments usually responsible for addressing pain mechanisms in dental courses. Psychosocial aspects were found to occupy a very small proportion in the syllabi, while most of the content referred to biological or somatic aspects. OFP/TMD is addressed by a specific department in only 28.4% of the participating dental schools, while in most cases (46.3%), OFP/TMD is under the responsibility of the Prosthodontics department. Only 38.5% of respondents indicated that they had a specialist OFP/TMD teacher in their Schools.

Conclusion

Among the Brazilian dental schools participating in the study, the teaching of OFP/TMD was found to be insufficient, segmented or with an extremely restricted focus. This initial assessment indicates that Curricular Guidelines for the study of OFP/TMD at undergraduate dental schools should be developed and implemented to facilitate their appropriate inclusion into the curricula and in specific pedagogical projects.     

The role of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor in arterial thrombosis at a young age: the ATTAC study1

Summary. Background and objectives: Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) attenuates fibrinolysis and may therefore contribute to the pathophysiology of arterial thrombosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the pathogenetic role of TAFI levels and genotypes in young patients with arterial thrombosis. Patients and methods: In a case–control study, 327 young patients with a recent first‐ever event of coronary heart disease (CHD subgroup) or cerebrovascular disease (ischemic stroke subgroup) and 332 healthy young controls were included. TAFI levels [intact TAFI, activation peptide (TAFI‐AP) and (in)activated TAFI (TAFIa(i)] and TAFI activity were measured and genetic variations in the TAFI gene (?438G/A, 505G/A and 1040C/T) were determined. Results: In the total group of patients, TAFIa(i) levels were higher (145.1 ± 37.5%) than in controls (137.5 ± 31.3%, P = 0.02). Plasma levels of intact TAFI, TAFI‐AP and TAFI activity were similar in patients and controls. In the CHD subgroup (n = 218), intact TAFI levels were higher (109.4 ± 23.0%) than in controls (102.8 ± 20.7%, P = 0.02). In 325Ile/Ile homozygotes, lower TAFI levels and a decreased risk of arterial thrombosis were observed (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.34–0.99) compared with patients with the common 325Thr/Thr genotype. This association was most evident in CHD patients (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.26–0.90). Haplotype analyses supported a role for the Thr325Ile polymorphism. Conclusions: TAFIa(i) levels were higher in patients with cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the TAFI 325Thr/Ile polymorphism was associated with lower TAFI levels and with the risk of cardiovascular disease in young patients, especially in CHD.     

ASSOCIATION AMONG HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS SUGGESTIVE OF PAPILLOMA VIRUS ON HEMORRHOIDECTOMY SPECIMENS

Background:

Many researchers studied human Papillomavirus infection in the anal area supposing it represents a risk factor for precursor lesions of anal cancer.

Aim:

To study the association between histological findings suggestive of injury by the virus in hemorrhoidectomy specimens.

Method:

Prevalence study was carried out based on histopathological analysis of hemorrhoidectomy specimens to find viral cytopathic effects. These findings were compared with anal condyloma acuminata that had no relationship with hemorrhoidectomy for microscopic comparison.

Results:

Of the 91 hemorroidectomies analyzed, eight had findings suggestive of viral cytopathic effects, with the presence of irregular acanthosis in 63%, koilocytes in 50% and other indirect viral cytopathic effects, such as hyperkeratosis (38%), parakeratosis (25% ) and papillomatosis (13%).

Conclusion:

This study was unable to conclude that there is an association between these two pathologic entities.