Calcium and magnesium content in hard tissues of rats under condition of subchronic lead intoxication

Lead manifests toxic effects in almost all organs and tissues, especially in: the nervous system, hematopoietic system, kidney and liver. This metal has a special affinity for deposition in hard tissue, i.e., bones and teeth. It is generally believed that the main mechanism of its toxicity relies on its interaction with bioelements, especially with Ca and Mg. This article analyses the influence of Pb poisoning on Ca and Mg content in hard tissues, (mandible, femur, teeth and skull) of female and young rats. Experiments were carried out on 60 female rats, AO breed, and on 80 of their young rats (offspring). Female rats were divided into three groups: the first one was a control group, the second one received 100 mg/kg Pb2+ kg b.wt. per day in drinking water, the third one received 30 mg/kg Pb2+ kg b.wt. per day in drinking water. Young rats (offspring) were divided into the same respective three groups. Lead, calcium and magnesium content in hard tissues (mandible, femur, teeth-incisors and skull) was determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry in mineralized samples. There was a statistically significant Pb deposition in all analyzed female and young rat hard tissues. Ca and Mg contents were significantly reduced in all female and young rat hard tissues. These results show that Pb poisoning causes a significant reduction in Ca and Mg content in animal hard tissues, which is probably the consequence of competitive antagonism between Pb and Ca and Mg

Analysis of biochemical markers in the saliva and correlation with clinical parameters in patients with aggressive periodontitis, before and after the therapy

Introduction/Objective Aggressive periodontitis (AP) is a progressive disease that damages the periodontal tissues. The aim of the study was the analysis of intracellular enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and electrolytes in the saliva of patients with AP and their correlation with clinical parameters before and after the therapy. Methods The study included 30 patients with AP (experimental group) and 35 patients with healthy parodontium (control group). Intracellular enzymes and electrolytes were analyzed in an unstimulated saliva of subjects with AP, before and after the therapy and in saliva of the control group. The analysis of biochemical markers was carried out using kinetic methods with commercial reagents. Results Concentrations of the biochemical markers AST (28.18 ± 25.16), ALT (5.48 ± 5.14), ALP (31.13 ± 37.79), ACP (17.53 ± 14.77), calcium (2.80 ± 1.97), phosphate (4.43 ± 1.92) in the saliva of subjects of the experimental group were statistically significantly higher in relation to the control group (p = 0.000; p = 0.001). Significant correlation was found between AST values, debris index (ρ =-0.444; p = 0.026) and calculus index (ρ =-0.513; p = 0.009), and between the plaque index and ALP level in the saliva after therapy (p = 0.020). Conclusion The investigation will contribute to a better understanding and standardization of biomarkers in the saliva that mayhelp in diagnosing the AP and evaluation of the applied therapy

Immunohistochemical expression of caspases 9 and 3 in adenoid cystic carcinoma of salivary glands and association with clinicopathological parameters

Purpose: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is one of the most common malignant salivary gland tumors. It is characterized by a high rate of recurrence, perineural invasion and development of distant metastases many years after removal of the primary tumor. Disorders of the induction of apoptosis and its cascade reactions where caspases are involved may be significant in the pathogenesis of this tumor. Methods: The immunohistochemical expression of caspase 9 and caspase 3 was analyzed by tissue microarray (TMA) in 50 cases of ACC in relation with different clinicopathological parameters (gender, age, localization, histological type and overall survival). Results: Caspase 9 was expressed in the cytoplasm and nuclei of ACC tumor cells with varying degrees of staining intensity (1+, 6%; 2+, 54%, 3+, 40%). Comparison of caspase 9 expression in tumor cells with clinicopathological parameters (gender, age, localization, histological type and overall survival) showed no statistically significant difference except that the expression was more pronounced in females. Caspase 3 was expressed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells with varying degrees of staining intensity (1+, 22%; 2+, 36%; 3+, 42%). No correlation between the expression of caspase 3 and clinicopathological parameters was noticed. Conclusions: The expression of caspases 9 and 3 in ACC of the salivary glands can contribute in the better characterization of molecules involved in apoptosis of tumor cells

A comparison of conventional visual and spectrophotometric shade taking by trained and untrained dental students

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of shade selection using a spectrophotometer with a conventional method using a shade guide for ‘trained’ and ‘untrained’ students. Methods: The ‘trained’ group were given a presentation and training exercise on colour science and shade selection and the ‘untrained’ group were not given any information or training. Each student matched the shade of maxillary right central incisor for eight test subjects using both methods. Differences in colour (∆E) and value (∆L) between the natural teeth and the shade determined by each method were calculated for both trained and untrained students. Results: Overall, the spectrophotometric method was more accurate but ‘trained’ students tended to be more accurate in matching shade using the visual method and were significantly better in matching the value visually than when using the spectrophotometer. ‘Untrained’ students matched both the shade and the value more accurately when using the spectro- photometer. Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, matching the shade of natural teeth using a spectrophotometric device is more accurate than a conventional method using a shade guide. However, knowledge and training on colour science and shade selection significantly affected the results.IF Alshiddi, and LC Richard