Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor with fibro-osseous reaction in the surrounding tissue.

Adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT) is a relatively rare odontogenic tumor that is exclusively odontogenic epithelium in origin. We present a rare case of an AOT in a patient with fibro-osseous reaction in the surrounding tissue. A 22-year-old woman complained of gradual swelling of the right maxillary for 1 month. Radiography showed a well-defined radiolucent lesion with root resorption of the involved teeth. The biopsy revealed a primarily cystic lesion surrounded by a solid portion. Microscopically, the cystic part mainly consisted of epithelial cells organized in solid nodules, whorls, and rosettes, typically characteristic of AOT. But the surrounding solid portion showed cellular fibroconnective tissue stroma with prominent calcified spherules corresponding to ossicles and cementicles, characteristic of ossifying fibroma. The presence of a prominent fibro-osseous reaction in our case is unique. To our knowledge, these findings have not been observed in the previous reports of AOT. It could well represent a cellular cystic wall with metaplastic ossification, rather than a benign fibro-osseous neoplasm such as ossifying fibroma. The tumor had no recurrence after local resection at 5-year follow-up.

[Recurrence and malignant transformation of intraosseous dentinogenic ghost cell tumor].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the histologic and clinical findings of recurrent intraosseous dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT) and its malignant transformation. METHODS: The clinical features, treatment, pathology and prognosis of recurrent intraosseous DGCT patients from 53 cases of mixed odontogenic tumors with ghost cells and mesenchymal inductive components were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Ten recurrent cases from 14 DGCT were all male and the age at diagnosis ranged from 18 to 60 years with an average of 32.4 years. The main manifestation was progressive bone bulging. Radiographically the tumor was characterized by ill-defined radiolucency. Most recurrent tumors had entrenched the surrounding tissues. Seven cases occurred in the maxilla among which 2 cases were transformed into ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma and 2 showed features of increased cell proliferation. Three cases occurred in the mandible among which 1 case showed a high proliferative activity. The initial surgery of all recurrent cases was curettage. CONCLUSION: The microscopic findings and prognosis suggested that intraosseous DGCT was locally aggressive. Multiple recurrences increased the risk of malignant transformation. Curettage alone might not be adequate for the management of DGCT. Maxillary cases with ill-defined borders, especially those showing an increased proliferative activity in biopsy or frozen section examination, should be treated more radically.

Chondroblastic osteosarcoma arising in the maxilla mimicking the radiographic and histological characteristics of cemento-osseous lesions: A case report.

Osteosarcomas of the jaw are comparatively rare and represent only 2-10% of all osteosarcomas. We herein present a rare case of an osteosarcoma exhibiting the radiographic and histological characteristics of cemento-osseous lesions in the alveolar ridge of the maxilla. A 53-year-old male patient presented with the complaint of gradual swelling of the left maxilla over 4 years. Radiography revealed an ill-defined radioopaque mass, intimately associated with the apices of the involved teeth, without a periosteal reaction. Microscopically, a cementicle-like structure was identified in the alveolar bone. In addition, the lesion exhibited typical characteristics of chondroblastic osteosarcoma in the body of the maxilla. The tumor contained abundant osteoid and cartilage intimately associated with anaplastic tumor cells. The cartilage displayed malignant-appearing cells in lacunae, and there was crowding at the periphery of the lobule where the spindle cells formed sheets. The differential diagnosis included primary osteosarcoma, concurrent cemento-osseous dysplasia and osteosarcoma, or a secondary osteosarcoma based on a pre-existing cemento-osseous lesion. The presence of the cementicle-like structure in the alveolar bone and the involvement of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone proper were unique in our case. The general invasive growth pattern and the abundance of the irregular tumor bone helped establish the diagnosis of primary osteosarcoma. This case may represent evidence of the pathogenesis of primary osteosarcoma in the jaw.

[Effect of extracellular zinc on osteoclastic resorption in dental mineralized tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bone resorption caused by osteoclasts and modulating functions of zinc ion on dental slices. METHODS: Osteoclasts were separated from long-limb bones of neonatal rabbits, cultured with de-activated human tooth slices and glass slices. The cells in the experiment group were treated with 1x10(-14)mol/L-1x10(-4)mol/L zinc+10% (volume fraction) fetal calf serum (FCS)+alphaMEM, while those in the control group were grown in 10%FCS+alphaMEM. Osteoclasts on glass slices were stained by TRAP staining. The absorption pits on tooth slices were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope. The resorbing activity was evaluated with the concentration of calcium in the supernatant liquid of osteoclasts. The ratio between the concentration of calcium in the experiment group and that of the control group was termed the resorption index. RESULTS: The isolated cells were multinuclear and showed positive in cytoplasma by TRAP staining. Usually, osteoclasts resorbed tooth slices first on the cementum and dentin, which had lower content of mineralized tissue. Compared with those on bone slices, the lacunae on the dental slices appeared less in amount, less in area and shallower in depth. They often showed shallow pits in a large area. Microscopy showed that the number and area of absorption pits formed on treated tissues were less than those on the control tissues. The content of calcium in the supernatant liquid increased at the concentrations of 1x10(-4)-1x10(-14)mol/L zinc, especially in the group of 1x10(-8)mol/L, 1x10(-10) mol/L, 1x10(-14)mol/L zinc on the 3rd day (P<0.05). But they were reversed on the 7th day, except in the group of 1x10(-14)mol/L zinc. At the end of culture, the resorption indexes of 1x10(-4)-1x10(-7)mol/L, 1x10(-9)mol/L, 1x10(-12)mol/L and 1x10(-13)mol/L group were lower than 1, but those of 1x10(-8)mol/L, 1x10(-10)mol/L, 1x10(-11)mol/L and 1x10(-14)mol/L group were higher than 1. CONCLUSION: The effect of zinc ion on osteoclastic resorption in dental slices is associated with phase and dosage closely.

Interface interaction induced ultra-dense nanoparticles assemblies.

We demonstrate a simple and clean physical methodology for fabricating such nanoparticle assemblies (dense arrays and/or dendrites) related to the interfacial interaction between the constructed materials and the anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) porous templates. The interfacial interaction can be regulated by the surface tension of the constructed materials and the AAO membrane, and the AAO-template structure, such as pore size, membrane thickness and surface morphologies. Depending on the interfacial interaction between the constructed materials and the AAO templates, NP arrays with mean particle diameters from 3.8 ± 1.0 nm to 12.5 ± 2.9 nm, mean inter-edge spacings from 3.5 ± 1.4 nm to 7.9 ± 3.4 nm and areal densities from 5.6 × 10(11) NPs per cm(2) to 1.5 × 10(12) NPs per cm(2) are fabricated over large areas (currently ~2 cm × 3 cm). The fabrication process includes firstly thermal evaporation of metal layers no more than 10 nm thick on the pre-coated Si wafer by AAO templates with a thickness of less than 150 nm and mean pore sizes no more than 12 nm, and then removal of the AAO templates. The NP arrays can be stable for hours at a temperature slightly below the melting point of the constructed materials (e.g., ~800 °C for Au NPs for 4 hours) with little change in size and inter-particle separation. Using one of them (e.g., 11.8 nm Au NPs) as growth-oriented catalysts, ultra-thin (12.1 ± 2.3 nm) dense nanowires can be conveniently obtained. Furthermore, dendrite superstructures can be generated easily from eutectic alloy NPs with diameters of ~10 nm pre-formed by thermal evaporation of metal layers more than 20 nm thick on surface-patterned thick AAO templates (e.g., 500 nm). The resulting dendrites, dense arrays and other superstructures (i.e., nanorods and nanowires) formed using NP arrays as catalysts, should have broad applications in catalysis, information technology, photovoltaics and biomedical engineering.

Expression of ghrelin in human salivary glands and its levels in saliva and serum in Chinese obese children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to reveal the expression characteristics of ghrelin in human three major salivary glands and to investigate saliva and serum ghrelin level and the relation with weight and lipid indices in Chinese children. DESIGN: Expression and distribution of ghrelin in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Saliva and serum samples were collected from 194 Chinese children and adolescents (mean age 12.98 years). Ghrelin levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significant differences were estimated by one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Ghrelin mRNA was expressed in parotid and submandibular glands, but was not detectable in sublingual glands. Ghrelin proteins were widespread in the cytoplasm of striated, intercalated and excretory ducts, as well as in serous acini of parotid and submandibular glands, but not in mucous acinar cells of sublingual glands. Saliva and serum ghrelin levels were increased along with BMI. There was positive correlation between saliva and serum ghrelin levels (r=0.534, P<0.01). Serum and saliva ghrelin levels were both significantly correlated with BMI (r=0.523, r=0.374, P<0.01, respectively), but not with blood lipid levels. CONCLUSIONS: Parotid and submandibular glands were primary sources of ghrelin produced and released in saliva. Although whether salivary ghrelin could be useful in the diagnosis of obesity remains to be determined, salivary ghrelin might be a possible alternative to serum ghrelin for predicting obesity.

Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma transformed from a dentinogenic ghost cell tumor of maxilla after multiple recurrences.

Dentinogenic ghost cell tumor (DGCT), also referred to as odontogenic ghost cell tumor, is a rare tumor classified as a neoplastic variant of calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC). Ghost cell odontogenic carcinoma (GCOC) is the especially rare malignant counterpart of DGCT and COC. The case of a middle-aged male with a maxillary DGCT which transformed to GCOC after 5 recurrences during a 21-year period is presented. When the diagnosis of GCOC (first identified as malignant after 17-year recurrence) was made, the tumor cells showed more obvious atypia, necrosis, and numerous mitoses, and interestingly the ghost cell was hard to find and even disappeared. The significances in pathologic diagnosis and clinical treatment are discussed.

[In vitro study of the effects of copper ion on osteoclastic resorption in various dental mineralized tissues].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of copper ion on osteoclastic resorption in various dental mineralized tissues. METHODS: Osteoclasts were separated from long-limb bones of neonatal rabbits, and cultured with de-activated human tooth slices and glass slices. The cells in the experiment group were treated with (1 x 10(-14))-1 x (10(-4)) mol/L copper + 10% (volume fraction) fetal calf serum (FCS) + alpha-MEM, while the cells in control group cells were grown in 10% FCS + alpha-MEM. Osteoclasts on glass slices were stained by TRAP staining. The absorption pits on tooth slices were observed by inverted phase contrast microscope. The resorbing activity was evaluated with the concentration of calcium in the supernatant liquid of osteoclasts. The ratio between the concentration of calcium in the experiment group and control group was termed as the resorption index. RESULTS: The isolated cells were multinuclear and TRAP positive in cytoplasma. Osteoclasts resorbed teeth slices first on the cementum and dentin. Compared with those on bone slices, the lacunae on the dental slices numbered less, with smaller volume and shallower in depth. Microscopy showed that the number and area of absorption pits formed on treated tissues were less than those on control tissues. The content of calcium in the supernatant liquid decreased in the concentrations of 1 x 10(-14) mol/L - 1 x 10(-4) mol/L copper, especially in the group of 1 x 10(-10) mol/L copper at 3rd day (P < 0.05) and 1 x 10(-4) mol/L, 1 x 10(-10) - 1 x 10(-12) mol/L copper at 7th day (P < 0.05). Their resorption index was lower than one. CONCLUSIONS: Extracellular copper ion can inhibit osteoclastic resorption on dental slices.

[The beneficial effect of genistein on mandible bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the effect of genistein on mandible metabolism in ovariectomized rats. METHODS: Forty 12 week-old female SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups: (1) sham operated; (2) ovariectomized; (3) ovariectomized and treated with estradiol; (4) ovariectomized and received genistein, 45 mg/kg body weight per day. After 12 weeks, bone mineral density (BMD), serum level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP), osteocalcin, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and calcitonin (CT) were evaluated. In addition, the serum estradiol and the weight of uteri were also examined to indicate the side effect of genistein to the uteri. RESULTS: Ovariectomized animals had a significant decrease in BMD, and increased serum level of ALP, ACP, IL-1beta and osteocalcin compared with sham rats. After treated with genistein, BMD and the serum level of ALP, ACP, osteocalcin increased significantly, while the serum level of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha decreased. Especially, the increase of ALP and osteocalcin was higher than that of estradiol-treated animal. Additionally, the uterus weight index and the serum estradiol in genistein-treated rats were lower significantly than those of estradiol-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Genistein can improve the mandible bone metabolism as well as its effect on femur through the promotion of bone formation and the prevention of bone resorption with slight side effect. Genistein provides an additional viable way to therapy for osteoporosis in the jaw bones.