Factors associated with apoptosis in symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences that are present between apoptosis in symptomatic (with symptoms of cerebral ischemic attack) and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerotic plaques. The apoptotic process in macrophages and smooth muscle cells was evaluated. Cellular markers and products of immune cells in symptomatic and asymptomatic atherosclerotic plaque and endoarterectomy specimen were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. No statistically significant differences were present regarding the mean SMC actin-positive area. Using double staining of α-smooth muscle actin and TUNEL techniques, the number of smooth muscle cells in apoptosis was statistically higher in symptomatic plaque as compared with asymptomatic plaque. Statistically significant differences (p=0.009) were also found in the CD45-positive cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. The CD68-positive macrophages showed statistically significant differences (p=0.0001). Similarly, the double staining with CD68 and TUNEL revealed that apoptotic macrophages were mainly present in asymptomatic plaques rather than symptomatic plaques. Statistically significant differences (p<0.001) were found in the Bcl-2 expression, with higher values in asymptomatic plaques. Our data showed that the increase of the inflammatory cells contributes to plaque instability and that death due to apoptosis of smooth muscle cells in symptomatic plaques could contribute to their destabilization and explains their tendency to fracture

S100A8 calcium-binding expression in radicular and dentigerous cysts and in keratocystic odontogenic tumors

Introduction: Recently the term Keratocystic Odontogenic Tumor (KCOT) has been recommended for Odontogenic Keratocysts (OKC) to address the neoplastic nature of the lesion compared to radicular and dentigerous cysts. S100 are calcium-binding proteins involved in cell differentiation and inflammation, with a potential role in neoplastic transformation. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether S100A8 protein expression is different in KCOT compared to radicular cysts (RC) and dentigerous cysts (DC). Methods: A total of 84 consecutive odontogenic cysts, 34 RC, 25 DC, and 25 KCOT, were analyzed in this study. Results: Epithelial cells in KCOT cases were not immunoreactive for S100A8 except focally in cases associated with inflammation, while RC cases showed a variable positivity of all the epithelial layers from the basal to the superficial in 19/34 cases and DC cases showed a weak positivity of the intermediate and superficial layers in 7/25 cases. Conclusion: The lack of S100A8 protein expression seems to be observed more frequently in KCOT compared to RC and DC. This difference might be related to their neoplastic nature and a potential aggressive biological behavior for odontogenic cystic lesions

Bilateral diffuse gingival enlargement in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis

[No abstract available

Hemostasis control in endodontic surgery: a comparative study of calcium sulfate versus gauzes and versus ferric sulfate.

Calcium sulfate (CaS) is a simple, biocompatible material with a long history of safe use in different fields of medicine. CaS is a rapidly resorbing material that leaves behind a calcium phosphate lattice, which promotes bone regeneration and hemostasis. The aim of this study was a clinical evaluation of the hemostatic effect of CaS hemi-hydrate (CaSO4), commonly known as plaster of Paris, in endodontic surgery.Twenty-four patients with 31 periradicular lesions were enrolled in this study. The apical roots were exposed, and the bleeding would have made it difficult to correctly fill the root-end cavities. To avoid such an inconvenience, the teeth were divided into 3 groups. Hemostasis was attempted by using CaS in 11 teeth (group I), gauze tamponade in another 10 teeth (group II), or 20\% ferric sulfate in the last 10 teeth (group III).Control of the bleeding was achieved in all teeth of group I, whereas in group II adequate hemostasis was achieved in 3 of 10 cases and in group III in 6 of 10 cases.The use of CaS completely eliminated the bleeding, with a very good level of hemostasis

P16 expression in odontogenic tumors

none8AIMS AND BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of a cell-cycle-related factor (p16) in order to elucidate its role in the growth and diffusion of odontogenic tumors. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six odontogenic tumors were divided into two groups according to their clinical behavior: group A and group B composed of tumors at low and high risk of recurrences, respectively. The ANOVA test was used to detect differences between the two groups. RESULTS: p16 was expressed in both groups, but with different localization. A statistically significant difference was found in p16 expression of peripheral cells, with an increase in the expression in group B compared to group A (P < 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in p16 positive expression of the central cells of odontogenic tumors, which was high in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present data show a correlation between p16 expression and the biological behavior of odontogenic tumors.noneL. Artese; A. Piattelli; C. Rubini; G. Goteri; V. Perrotti; G. Iezzi; M. Piccirilli; F. CarinciL., Artese; A., Piattelli; C., Rubini; G., Goteri; V., Perrotti; G., Iezzi; M., Piccirilli; Carinci, Francesc

In Silico-Guided Rational Drug Design and Synthesis of Novel 4-(Thiophen-2-yl)butanamides as Potent and Selective TRPV1 Agonists

: We describe an in silico-guided rational drug design and the synthesis of the suggested ligands, aimed at improving the TRPV1-ligand binding properties and the potency of N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-4-(thiophen-2-yl) butanamide I, a previously identified TRPV1 agonist. The docking experiments followed by molecular dynamics simulations and thermodynamic analysis led the drug design toward both the introduction of a lipophilic iodine and a flat pyridine/benzene at position 5 of the thiophene nucleus. Most of the synthesized compounds showed high TRPV1 efficacy and potency as well as selectivity. The molecular modeling analysis highlighted crucial hydrophobic interactions between Leu547 and the iodo-thiophene nucleus, as in amide 2a, or between Phe543 and the pyridinyl moiety, as in 3a. In the biological evaluation, both compounds showed protective properties against oxidative stress-induced ROS formation in human keratinocytes. Additionally, while 2a showed neuroprotective effects in both neurons and rat brain slices, 3a exhibited potent antinociceptive effect in vivo.