Recombinant osteoprotegerin effects during orthodontic movement in a rat model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anchorage is one of the most challenging sides in orthodontics. The use of biological modulators that inhibit osteoclasts could be a solution to address these problems and provide new adjunctive approaches. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of recombinant osteoprotegerin fusion protein (OPG-Fc) in orthodontic anchorage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were utilized. The animals in the experimental group received twice-weekly injections with high dose of OPG-Fc (5.0mg/kg) in mesial and distal mucosa of the first molars, and those in the control group received no drugs. Right first maxillary molars were mesialized using a calibrated nickel-titanium spring connected to an anterior mini-screw. Tooth movement was measured by two blinded observers using scanned and magnified stone casts. Receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK), run-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), type I collagen, vimentin, matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9, S100 protein and the putative mechanoproteins acid-sensing ion channel (ASIC2) and transient receptor potential vainilloid 4 (TRPV4) were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: OPG-Fc group showed an important decreased in mesial molar movement with only 52%, 31%, and 22% of the total mesial molar movement compared with control group at Days 7, 14, and 21, respectively (P < 0.001). RANK ligand and Runx2 positive cells were severely reduced after OPG-Fc treatment. Periodontal ligament architecture, cell arrangement, and immunohistochemical patter for vimentin, type I collagen and the mechanoproteins TRPV4 and ASIC2 were altered by tooth movement and all these parameters altered by the applied treatment. CONCLUSIONS: OPG-Fc effectively inhibits osteoclastogenesis resulting in improved bone quantity and orthodontic anchorage. Based on present results, OPG-Fc could have clinical utility in preventing undesired tooth movements.

Determination of cellular debris in endodontically treated teeth: a pilot study / Determinación de restos celulares en dientes endodonciados: estudio piloto

Previous studies indicate that dental tissues are a source of mitochondrial DNA that could be useful for human identification. The main cell in the pulpo-dentin complex is the odontoblast, whose cellular body is located on the border between the pulp and dentin and continues through cell processes. In endodontically treated teeth, pulp tissue is removed, assuming the complete elimination of cellular content and the inner third of dentin. Facing the possibility of finding teeth that were treated endodontically as the only source available for a forensic analysis, is that the objective of this study is to determine the presence of cellular debris in the dentin of teeth with root canal treatment. Twenty teeth roots obtained from 8 single and multi-rooted teeth were treated endodontically, with conventional manual technique. The samples were processed by conventional histological analysis (H&E). In root canals endodontic cement remnants and cylinder-cubic structures resembled odontoblastic bodies were observed, but without certainty to establish its presence. This research concludes that it is not possible to determine presence of cellular debris in endodontically treated teeth using the described technique...

Estudios previos indican que los tejidos dentales son fuente de DNA mitocondrial útiles para la identificación humana. La principal célula del complejo pulpo-dentinario es el odontoblasto, cuyo cuerpo celular ubicado en el límite entre la pulpa y la dentina se continúa por prolongaciones celulares. En dientes tratados endodónticamente se extrae el tejido pulpar, presumiendo la completa eliminación del contenido celular y el tercio interno de la dentina. Frente a la posibilidad de encontrar dientes que fueron tratados endodónticamente como única fuente disponible para análisis forense, es que el objetivo de este estudio es determinar la presencia de restos celulares en la dentina de dientes con tratamiento de canales radiculares. 20 raíces dentarias obtenidas de 8 dientes uni y multirradiculares, fueron tratadas endodónticamente con terapia manual convencional. Las muestras fueron procesadas mediante análisis histológico convencional (H&E). En los canales radiculares se observaron restos de cemento endodóntico y estructuras cilindro-cúbicas que asemejaron a cuerpos de odontoblastos, sin poder establecer con certeza su presencia. En esta investigación se concluye que no es posible determinar mediante la técnica utilizada la presencia de restos celulares en dientes tratados endodónticamente...