Impact of low-level laser therapy as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment on the levels of tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in Stage 3-4, Grade C periodontitis patients: a split-mouth, randomized control study.

AIM: To investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) on the plasminogen-activating system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stage 3-4 Grade C periodontitis and age-gender-matched healthy individuals participated in the split-mouth study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05233501). The study groups were Periodontitis/NSPT (Sham); Periodontitis/NSPT + LLLT (LLLT); Healthy (Control). Following NSPT, LLLT was applied on Days 0, 2 and 7. Clinical parameters were recorded at baseline and on Day 30. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected at baseline, on days 7, 14, and 30; tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were measured with ELISA. RESULTS: Clinical parameters, total GCF tPA (tPAt) and PAI-1 (PAI-1t) levels significantly reduced in LLLT and Sham groups (< 0.001). GCF tPAt levels in LLLT were significantly lower (< 0.05) than Sham on Day 7. GCF tPAt levels in periodontitis groups were significantly higher than the Control at baseline, on Days 7 and 14 (< 0.01). By Day 30, both groups decreased to control levels (> 0.05). GCF PAI-1t levels were significantly lower in LLLT than the Sham on day 30 (< 0.01), comparable to healthy controls (> 0.05). CONCLUSION: Adjunctive LLLT modulates the plasminogen activating system in severe periodontitis by altering GCF tPA and PAI-1 levels. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: LLLT as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment in patients with Stage 3-4 Grade C leads to reduced plasminogen activation.

Can the use of surface sealant on restorative materials prevent discoloration related to iron syrup supplements?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of surface sealants on the stain resistance of restorative materials exposed to iron syrups. METHODS: Sixty specimens were prepared from each of three restorative materials-compomer (Dyract XP), a microhybrid composite (Filtek Z250), and a nanohybrid composite (G-aenial Anterior). Specimens were divided into three solution groups (n = 20) and immersed in two iron syrups (Ferrum and Ferro Sanol B) and distilled water. Two subgroups, sealed (BisCover ( +)) and unsealed (BisCover (-)), were established for each group (n = 10). Color changes between baseline and measurements at 4, 8, 24, 48, and 72 h were calculated with CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) metrics. Data were analyzed with 4-factor mixed-design ANOVA. RESULTS: The first null hypothesis of this study that the use of surface sealant would not mitigate the restorative materials' susceptibility to staining was rejected: significant differences were found between BisCover ( +) and BisCover (-) groups in ΔE00 values for all restorative materials tested in Ferro Sanol B (p < 0.001) and Ferrum (p = 0.002) solutions. The ΔE00 values in the Ferro Sanol B/BisCover ( +) groups were significantly lower than in Ferrum/BisCover ( +) groups (p = 0.002), the second null hypothesis that different forms of iron syrups would not impact the staining resistance of restorative materials was rejected. ΔE00 values were different for each restorative materials tested, the third null hypothesis that the type of restorative material would not affect staining resistance was rejected. CONCLUSIONS: The application of surface sealant significantly improved the color stability of restorative materials. The content of iron syrups was also an important factor affecting color change. Nanohybrid composites seem to be more resistant to the staining effects of iron syrups.

Effect of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) juice on kidney, liver, heart and testis histopathological changes, and the tissues lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in lead acetate-treated rats.

Pomegranate juice (PJ) contains relevant amounts of active biological compounds which alleviate the detrimental effects of chronic heavy metal exposure. This study investigated the protective potential of PJ against lead-induced oxidative stress. A total of forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups. The animals were fed a standard pellet diet and tap water ad libitum. The rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each group): control, lead asetat (2000 ppm), low-treated PJ- a daily dose of 2.000 ppm lead plus 30µl pomegranate juice (included 1.050 µmol total polyphenols, gallic acid equivalent), and high-treated PJ- a daily dose of 2.000 ppm lead plus 60µl pomegranate juice (included 2.100 µmol total polyphenols, gallic acid equivalent). The treatments were delivered for 5 weeks. After the treatment period, the tissues samples (kidney, liver, heart and testis) were collected. Tissue lead (Pb) and mineral amounts (copper, zinc, and iron), tissues lipid peroxidation level and antioxidant status, and tissues histopathological changes were determined. The results showed that the highest rate lead loading was in the kidney and the testis. Pomegranate juice was decreased the lead levels of soft tissues examined; increased Zn amounts in tissues of which the lead accumulation was higher (kidney and the testis); decreased the copper, zinc and the iron levels of the liver and heart tissues, without creating a weakness in antioxidant capacity of these tissues, restricted the oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation, improved both of the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalaz (CAT), and the level of glutathione (GSH) in all the tissues examined in lead-treated groups. As histopathological findings, the cellular damage induced by lead in the tissues of the kidney, liver and the heart were observed to have been partially prevented by PJ treatment. The protective effect of PJ was more pronounced in the testis compared to those others.

The effect of zinc supplementation on ghrelin-immunoreactive cells and lipid parameters in gastrointestinal tissue of streptozotocin-induced female diabetic rats.

Zinc is an essential nutrient with a wide range of functions and closely involved in a variety of enzymatic processes of importance in glucose, protein and lipid metabolism. Ghrelin is the endogenous ligand of the G protein coupled growth hormone secretagogue receptor. The regulatory mechanism that explain the biosynthesis and secretion of ghrelin in the gastrointestinal tract has not been clarified. This study was undertaken to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, which exhibits ghrelin production and secretion, and lipid metabolism on the gastrointestinal tract. The animals were divided into four groups. Group I: Non-diabetic untreated animals. Group II: Zinc-treated non-diabetic rats. Group III: STZ-induced diabetic untreated animals. Group IV: Zinc-treated diabetic animals. Zinc sulfate was given to some of the experimental animals by gavage at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight every day for 60 days. In the zinc-treated diabetic group, the blood glucose levels decreased and body weight increased as compared to the diabetic untreated group. Zinc supplementation to STZ-diabetic rats revealed the protective effect of zinc on lipids parameters such as total lipid, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and atherogenic index. There is no statistically change in ghrelin-immunoreactive cells in gastrointestinal tissue. But, it has found that zinc supplementation caused a significant reduction in densities of ghrelin-producing cells of fundic mucosa of zinc-treated diabetic animals as compared to untreated, non-diabetic controls. Zinc supplementation may contribute to prevent some complications of diabetic rats, biochemically.

Hyperbaric oxygen improves healing in experimental rat colitis.

This study was designed to investigate therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen on experimentally induced colitis in rats by assessing oxidative tissue damage, neutrophil accumulation and histological changes. Six groups of animals were used. No procedures were done in the sham group. In the vehicle group, 50% ethanol-induced colitis, and in four other groups, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced colonic inflammation was achieved. In acute and chronic colitis non-treatment groups, no other procedure was done. In acute and chronic colitis hyperbaric oxygen treatment groups, rats underwent hyperbaric oxygen treatment for two or fourteen days. On the third and fifteenth days respectively tissue and blood samples were taken for microscopic and macroscopic damage assessment, myeloperoxidase activity and serum carbonyl content measurements. There was significant colonic tissue damage in non-treatment groups at 48 hours and 14 days. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment ameliorated the macroscopic damage significantly in chronic colitis. Amelioration of microscopic changes was not significant in each hyperbaric oxygen-treated group. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment significantly reduced tissue myeloperoxidase activity in acute colitis and decreased plasma carbonyl content in chronic colitis. In the present study, hyperbaric oxygen treatment significantly ameliorated trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid-induced chronic colitis in rats.

Angiogenesis predicts poor prognosis in gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: New prognostic factors in gastric carcinoma to determine the prognosis of the disease or to identify patients who will benefit from adjuvant therapy are being researched. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between microvessel count (MVC) and various clinicopathologic features in gastric carcinoma in order to evaluate the role of angiogenesis on the prognosis of gastric cancer. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients who underwent surgical intervention for gastric carcinoma between 1993 and 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. The relationship between MVC and various clinicopathological features was assessed. The effect of angiogenesis on overall survival and the role of MVC and other prognostic factors on distant metastases were assessed by multivariate analysis. Microvessels were outlined by anti-factor VIII, which is a specific monoclonal antibody to factor VIII in vessel endothelial cells, using the streptavidin-biotin method and counted under light microscopy x200 magnification. RESULTS: There was no correlation between MVC and age or sex of the patient, duration of symptoms or tumor size. Proximally located, undifferentiated, diffuse type, serosal invasion positive, lymph node invasion positive, advanced stage, or distantly metastasized tumors had higher MVCs. Higher MVCs affected the overall survival adversely. Lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion and MVC were found as independent prognostic factors affecting distant metastases. MVC was the sole factor affecting recurrent liver metastasis. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that MVC in gastric carcinoma may be a valuable prognostic factor to predict patients at high-risk for possible recurrences and to decide on postoperative adjuvant therapy.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on fetal spinal grafts: an experimental study.

In neural transplantation, lack of oxygen supply to the graft in acute stage is an important problem. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) on fetal spinal grafts. Spinal cord tissues obtained from 16-day fetal rats were transplanted into the spinal cord of adult Wistar rats (n = 30). After transplantation, they were randomly divided into two groups (n = 15 for each group); Group 1 received transplant alone, group 2 received transplant and HBO2 therapy consisting of 100% oxygen at 2.5 atm abs for 90 min twice a day for 7 days. Seven days after their surgery, all animals were killed for histologic examination. Degenerative changes, parenchymal integrity, host spinal cord edema, and vascularization of the graft were scored on a 3-point scale. Scores of these parameters were statistically analyzed. The graft survival rates in groups 1 and 2 were 54.5% and 71.4%, respectively. Animals treated with HBO2 showed statistically less spinal cord edema than the untreated groups (P < 0.05). Parenchymal integrity was also significantly better in this group (P < 0.05). The results indicate that edema reduction effect of HBO2 prevents the displacement of graft from the gap and contributes to the integration between the graft and host.

Suppression of atherogenesis by n-3 fatty acids in the cholesterol-fed rabbit.

The effects of n-3 fatty-acid supplementation on serum lipids, platelet aggregation, and the development of atherosclerotic lesions were studied in the cholesterol-fed rabbit. Serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol values were significantly reduced in comparison with those of the nonsupplemented cholesterol-fed group (p less than 0.005, p less than 0.0025, respectively), though still higher than those of the control group (p less than 0.0025, p less than 0.0125 respectively). Platelet aggregation was reduced below that of the cholesterol-fed and the control levels (p less than 0.0005, p less than 0.0025, respectively). The endothelial injury encountered in cholesterol-fed rabbits was inhibited in the supplemented group. It is concluded that n-3 fatty acids suppress atherogenesis in this animal model by interfering with platelet aggregation and lipid metabolism.