AVALIAÇÃO CITOMORFOMÉTRICA DA MUCOSA BUCAL DE CRIANÇAS E ADOLESCENTES COM ANEMIA FALCIFORME

A Anemia Falciforme (AF) é uma doença hereditária onde ocorre deformação das hemácias que se tornam com formato de foice, afetando a estrutura e síntese das hemoglobinas e o transporte de oxigênio. Este estudo analisou nos esfregaços bucais de indivíduos com AF se ocorrem variações morfométricas na área do núcleo (AN), do citoplasma (AC), e da relação núcleo/citoplasma (AN/AC) das células da mucosa bucal. Quarenta esfregaços da mucosa jugal de 20 crianças com AF e de 20 crianças saudáveis (controle = CT), pareadas em sexo e idade, com idade entre 1 a 13 anos foram coletados e processados pelo método da citologia esfoliativa em base-líquida. Imagens de 50 células por lâmina foram capturadas e as variáveis AN, AC e AN/AC mensuradas usando um sistema de análise de imagens. Os dados foram tabulados e o teste t Student (p<0,05) foi aplicado para as variáveis AN e AC e para AN/AC foi aplicado o Teste não-paramétrico U de Mann-Whitney (p<0,05) para comparar as médias dos grupos AF e CT. Houve aumento significante em relação a AN entre AF e CT. Este estudo demonstrou que ocorreram alterações morfométricas na área do núcleo das células epiteliais da mucosa bucal de pacientes com AF

Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Potential of Smoke Crack Cocaine on the Epithelium of the Human Oral Mucosa

Crack cocaine is an illicit drug derived from cocaine. It can produce some damages to the lungs and oral cavity. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of micronuclei and some nuclear alterations in epithelial cells of crack cocaine users. Methods: Oral smears were collected from clinically normal-appearing buccal mucosa exfoliative cytology of 30 individuals (15 crack cocaine users and 15 controls). Results: Crack cocaine users consumed about 3.8 grams per day and the time consumption of the drug was of 6.4 (+3.3) years. The prevalence of micronuclei, binucleated cells, broken egg cells, budding cells, picnosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis was determined. The frequencies of micronuclei for case and control groups were, respectively, 2.87 + 3.46 and 0.57 + 1.6 (p=0.018). No statistical difference was observed for binucleated cells, broken egg cells, budding cells, picnosis, and karyolysis. The frequency of karyorrhexis was significantly increased on crack cocaine users than controls (54.07 + 38.58 and 24.87 + 23.97, p=0.001). Conclusion: Smoke crack might have a cytotoxic and genotoxic effects to the oral mucosa due to increased frequency of micronuclei and karyorrhexis. Thus, individuals who used crack cocaine in the long term need to be frequently examined in order to prevent neoplastic transformation.Keywords: Crack Cocaine; Micronucleus Tests; Mouth Mucosa; Cytological Techniques; Carcinogens

The effects of antidepressants and pilocarpine on rat parotid glands: an immunohistochemical study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of antidepressants and pilocarpine on the quantity of myoepithelial cells and on the proliferation index of the epithelial cells of rat parotid glands. INTRODUCTION: Hyposalivation, xerostomia, and alterations in saliva composition are important clinical side effects related to the use of antidepressants. METHODS: Ninety male Wistar rats were allocated to nine groups. The control groups received saline for 30 (group C30) or 60 days (group C60) or pilocarpine for 60 days (group Pilo). The experimental groups were administered fluoxetine (group F30) or venlafaxine for 30 days (group V30); fluoxetine (group FS60) or venlafaxine (group VS60) with saline for 60 days; or fluoxetine (group FP60) or venlafaxine (group VP60) with pilocarpine for 60 days. Parotid gland specimens were processed, and the immunohistochemical expression of calponin and proliferating cell nuclear anti-antigen on the myoepithelial and parenchymal cells, respectively, was evaluated. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey HSD and Games-Howell tests were applied to detect differences among groups (p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared with the controls, chronic exposure to antidepressants was associated with an increase in the number of positively stained cells for calponin. In addition, venlafaxine administration for 30 days was associated with an increase in the number of positively stained cells for proliferating cell nuclear anti-antigen. Fluoxetine and pilocarpine (group FP60) induced a significant decrease in the number of positively stained cells for calponin compared with all other groups. CONCLUSIONS: The number of positively stained cells for calponin increased after chronic administration of antidepressants. The proliferation index of the epithelial cells of rat parotid glands was not altered by the use of antidepressants for 60 days

Conformational and constitutional analysis of dental caries following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the morphology and chemical composition of dental caries related to ionizing radiation (DCIR), an aggressive and progressive disease that affects dental hard tissues. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight human teeth with DCIR were paired with sixteen control teeth (8 teeth with conventional caries and 8 without caries) and included in this study. An analysis of the morphology of the lesions was performed using the following techniques: periapical radiography, cone beam computed tomography, computed microtomography, and scanning electron microscopy. The chemical composition was assessed using X-ray dispersive spectroscopy. RESULTS: There was more demineralization in DCIR lesions when compared to conventional dental caries, even though there was no cavitation in the cervical region of the teeth. The superficial roughness and topography of DCIR lesions were similar to those of healthy teeth. On the other hand, lesions of conventional dental caries showed greater surface and topographic irregularity when compared to DCIR and healthy teeth (p = 0.001). Calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels were lower in DCIR lesions when compared to controls. However, higher levels of carbon (C) have been observed in DCIR lesions. There was a greater loss of the mineral matrix in DCIR followed by conventional caries. The reduction in the mineral matrix (Ca and P) was compatible with the imaging patterns observed in teeth with DCIR and conventional caries. CONCLUSION: Despite their rapid evolution, DCIR presents an irregular, apparently intact surface with significant changes in the amount of Ca, P, and C