A morphometric and histopathologic evaluation of the effects of propolis on alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Propolis collected by honeybees from various plant sources is a resinous hive product possessing a broad spectrum of biologic activities. Propolis has been used extensively in the diet to improve health and prevent disease. The purpose of this study was to analyze the morphometric and histopathologic changes associated with experimental periodontitis in rats in response to the systemic administration of propolis. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: non-ligated (NL; N = 10); ligature only (LO; N = 10); and systemic administration of ligature and propolis (100 mg/kg body weight per day [Pro100; N = 10] or 200 mg/kg body weight per day [Pro200; N = 10]). Silk ligatures were placed at the gingival margin of the lower first molars in both mandibular quadrants. The study duration was 11 days, and the animals were sacrificed at the end of this period. Changes in alveolar bone levels were clinically measured, and tissues were histopathologically examined to assess the differences among the study groups. RESULTS: At the end of 11 days, alveolar bone loss was significantly higher in the LO group compared to the NL, Pro100, and Pro200 groups (P <0.05). Osteoclast numbers in the LO group were significantly higher than those of the NL, Pro100, and Pro200 groups (P <0.05). Both dosages of propolis significantly reduced the periodontitis-related bone loss, but the differences between the two propolis groups were not statistically significant (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide morphologic and histologic evidence that propolis, when administered systemically, prevents alveolar bone loss in the rat model.

Effects of simvastatin on mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of local and systemic simvastatin application on distraction osteogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits underwent unilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis. After 7 days of neutral fixation, 0.4 mm twice per day, distraction was performed for 10 days. Simvastatin was applied locally during the osteotomy phase with a gelatin sponge carrier and systemically during the distraction osteogenesis period by oral gavage. All animals were killed at the end of the consolidation period of 14 days. The distracted mandibles were harvested and evaluated by plain radiography, by peripheral quantitative computed tomography, and with histomorphometry. RESULTS: Radiographic evaluation with peripheral quantitative computed tomography showed that the area of the regenerate increased by 9.6% in the local simvastatin group and by 19.3% in the systemic simvastatin group as compared with the control group. In both experimental groups the density of the regenerate increased by 6.7% as compared with the control group. Statistical evaluation of radiographic data showed that all of these changes were not significant. Histomorphometric evaluation determined that there was no statistical difference among groups with regard to the ratios of bone tissue volume to fibrous tissue volume and bone tissue volume to marrow tissue volume. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that simvastatin's effect on enhancing distraction regenerate is limited with the applied doses and methods.

Panoramic radiographic appearance of massive calcification of tuberculous lymph nodes.

AIM: The aim of this report is to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found in a panoramic radiograph including a discussion of the differential diagnosis of this lesion from other soft tissue calcifications. BACKGROUND: Concomitant massive submandibular and cervical tuberculosis lymph node calcifications are relatively uncommon lesions and may be encountered on routine panoramic radiographs. REPORT: This report describes the case of an asymptomatic 35-year-old patient whose dental radiographs showed findings which led to bilaterally, irregularly shaped, multiple calcified lymph nodes especially in the left submandibular and cervical area. SUMMARY: Because treatment is unnecessary for symptom-free calcified lymph nodes and the patient was unwilling to any further examination done, surgical removal of the calcified lymph nodes was not done.

Infection-related inferior alveolar and mental nerve paresthesia: case reports.

Nerve injury can be related to mechanical, chemical, and thermal factors. Infection-related paresthesia is usually related to mechanical pressure and ischemia associated with the inflammatory process. Another cause of paresthesia could be the toxic metabolic products of bacteria or inflammatory products released following tissue damage. This article presents cases of inferior alveolar and mental nerve paresthesia caused by an infected impacted tooth, an infected cyst, and periapical infection. The possible pathophysiologic mechanism of nerve injury, therapy, and prognosis for recovery are also discussed.

Dental findings in Cornelia de Lange syndrome.

Cornelia de Lange syndrome is a congenital disease, basically characterized by psychomotor retardation associated with a series of malformations, including mainly skeletal, craniofacial deformities together with gastrointestinal and cardiac malformations. There is no definitive biochemical or chromosomal marker for the prenatal diagnosis of this syndrome. We actually want to present the case of a 10-year-old patient, who was admitted to our clinic for dental pain. The patient had the symptoms of Cornelia de Lange syndrome. During the oral examination of this patient, the patient was found to have the typical symptoms of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, such as micrognathia and delayed eruption in conjunction with the symptoms of the Hutchinson's syndrome, which had never been reported before.

Effect of oil-based calcium hydroxide (Osteoinductal) on distraction osteogenesis in rabbit mandible.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of oil-based calcium hydroxide on mandibular lengthening during distraction osteogenesis. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-four New Zealand white rabbits underwent unilateral mandibular osteotomy. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups containing 6 each: groups 1 and 3 were control groups and groups 2 and 4 were test groups. Oil-based calcium hydroxide suspension was applied to test groups' corticotomy gap after osteotomy during operation. No treatment was applied to the control groups. After 5 days' latency period, distraction was commenced at a rate of 0.8 mm/day for 10 days via custom-made distractor. Groups 1 and 2 were killed 14 days after distraction and groups 3 and 4 were killed 28 days after distraction. RESULTS: Quantitative computerized tomography evaluation did not demonstrate a difference mean the density and the area of the regeneration between groups 1 and 3, but there was a significant difference groups 2 and 4. Histomorphometric evaluation demonstrated that there was a significant difference between test and control groups in new bone volume formation during distraction osteogenesis. CONCLUSION: Application of oil-based calcium hydroxide paste during the osteotomy phase of distraction osteogenesis increased regeneration and new bone volume formation.

Large complex odontoma associated with a primary tooth.

Odontomas are developmental malformations of dental tissues, and they may interfere with the eruption of the associated tooth. Odontomas have limited growth potential, and their occurrence in the primary dentition is uncommon. This article describes a case of a large complex odontoma in a 5.2-year-old boy that prevented eruption of the mandibular left lateral incisor. The odontoma was surgically removed, routine follow-up was done for more than a year, and no recurrence was seen.

Effect of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 on mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) on bone formation of mandibular distraction osteogenesis. Six skeletally mature sheep underwent 10 mm of bilateral mandibular distraction osteogenesis via a custom-made distractor. Three micrograms of rhBMP-2 with a collagen carrier was implanted in the osteotomy site of one side of the mandible during the osteotomy phase. The contralateral side was used as the control group, and no material was implanted into the distracted area. At 10 days after the end of distraction, all animals were killed, and the distracted calluses were harvested for radiologic and histologic analysis. New bone was generated in the distracted zone in all groups. Histologic and radiologic examination showed that the new bone formation was greater in the rhBMP-2 group than in the control group. Quantitative computed tomography evaluation, however, did not demonstrate a significantly different mean bone density of the regenerates between the 2 groups. The results indicate that application of a rhBMP-2/collagen implant during the osteotomy phase of distraction osteogenesis increased bone formation but did not have a significant effect on bone density of the regenerates.

Investigation of oxidative stress during fracture healing in the rats.

One of the most damaging effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is lipid peroxidation, the end-product of which is malondialdehyde (MDA). This study was aimed to evaluate erythrocyte MDA levels during fracture healing in rats. Thirty male rats were used and the rats were divided into two groups to serve as controls and tests. Six rats were used as a control group that was not subject to fracture. The remaining 24 rats were divided into four groups and erythrocyte MDA levels were examined on days 5, 10, 20 and 30 post fracture. The right fibulas of rats were broken by manual angulation in the experimental group. The erythrocyte malondialdehyde level was measured in the experimental and control groups. The difference between malondialdehyde levels of control and experimental groups was statistically significant (p<0.05). Oxidative stress clearly increases during fracture healing in rats.