Investigation of the protective effect of gel incorporating Eugenia jambolana leaf extract on 5-fluorouracil-induced oral mucositis: an animal study.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to evaluate the possible preventive effect of two concentrations (3 and 5% w/w) of Eugenia jambolana (EJ) extract against 5-FU-induced mucositis. METHOD: Sixteen adult rats were separated into four groups: two control and two preventive groups. Animals in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were injected intraperitoneally with 60 mg/kg/day of 5-FU on Day 1 followed by 150 mg/kg/day on Day 5. The rats in Group 4 (negative control) were given physiological saline at the same times and doses. Furthermore, on the fifth day of the study, the cheek and sublingual mucosa were irritated by external superficial scratches using the tip of an 18-G needle, followed by the application 15 µL of 20% acetic acid, after which 3 and 5% EJ w/w gels were applied topically for animals in Groups 2 and 3, respectively. RESULTS: The weight and the mucositis scores were recorded. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers and biochemical tests were analyzed. Significant differences were found between the study groups in weight loss, clinical mucositis scores, mortality rates, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters. CONCLUSION: The preventive effect of 3% gel was significant, with no mortality rate, making it an option for preventive strategies.

Storing Tooth Segments for Optimal Esthetics.

OBJECTIVE: A fractured whole crown segment can be reattached to its remnant; crowns from extracted teeth may be used as pontics in splinting techniques. We aimed to evaluate the effect of different storage solutions on tooth segment optical properties after different durations. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty central incisor crowns were divided into 6 groups (n = 10); Group 1 was kept dry; Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were placed in an isotonic solution, water, milk, saliva, and casein-phosphopeptide-amorphous-calcium-phosphate (CPP-ACP), respectively, for 30 min, 12 h, 1 day, 1 week, and 3 weeks. Color values were measured using a colorimeter. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis tests, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and Friedman Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni stepwise corrections (p < 0.05). RESULTS: ΔE* values varied from 0.3 to 15.3 over the 3 week period. Group 1 demonstrated the greatest color changes over all durations; Group 6 exhibited the least. L*, a*, b*, and ΔE* values varied between time periods in all groups; the differences were significant (p < 0.01), except for L* and ΔE* values in Group 2 and a* values in Group 6 (p > 0.01). Comparing ΔE* values, Group 6 was significantly different from the other groups for all durations (p < 0.01), except Group 4. CONCLUSIONS: A CPP-ACP complex solution seems a good choice for tooth fragment storage. Milk and saliva solutions may cause perceptible color changes if tooth fragments are stored for 3 weeks before use.