Análisis forense de dientes, materiales de obturación y restauraciones protésicas en restos humanos expuestos a elevadas temperaturas. Revisión de la literatura / Forensic analysis of teeth, filling materials and prosthetic restorations in human remains exposed to high temperatures. Literature review

Resumen El proceso para establecer una identificación odontológica inequívoca se sustenta en la recuperación de la mayor cantidad posible de información post mortem, y su posterior cotejo con aquellos registros ante mortem de la víctima. Los dientes son tejidos del cuerpo humano con una elevada resistencia en su estructura, lo que les permite tolerar el embate de los efectos ambientales como el fuego, la desecación, la descomposición o la inmersión prolongada. En la mayoría de los desastres naturales, y también en los provocados por el hombre, los registros odontológicos pueden contribuir para identificar cuerpos que sería irreconocibles aplicando metodologías tradicionales. En cadáveres quemados o carbonizados, resulta imperativo conservar la evidencia odontológica recuperada, para evitar que su manipulación pueda desvirtuarla e incluso destruirla; por eso se suele fijar y estabilizar antes de ser transportada. Los recursos imagenológicos constituyen una sólida estrategia de perennización de evidencia, los cuales pueden ser complementados por fotografías y toma de impresiones. El presente artículo revisa varios estudios sobre restos dentales, materiales de obturación y aparatos protésicos quemados o carbonizados, haciendo énfasis sobre su importancia en el proceso de identificación humana.

Abstract The process to establish an unequivocal dental identification is based on the recovery of the greatest possible amount of post mortem information, and its subsequent comparison with the ante mortem records of the victim. Teeth are tissues of the human body with high resistance in their structure, which allows them to tolerate the onslaught of environmental effects such as fire, desiccation, decomposition, or prolonged immersion. In most natural disasters, an also in those caused by men, dental records can help identify a body that would be unrecognizable using traditional methodologies. In burned or charred corpses, it is imperative to preserve the recovered dental evidence, to avoid its manipulation from distorting and even destroying it; this is why it is usually fixed and stabilized before being transported. Imaging resources constitute a solid strategy for the perpetuation of evidence, which can also be complemented by photographs and impression taking. This article reviews several studies on dental remains, materials and burned or charred prosthetic devices, emphasizing their importance in the human identification process.

The role of the endocannabinoid system in tooth eruption: An ex vivo study.

The aim was to characterise the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the dental pulp of teeth at different stages of eruption. Pulp of: erupted premolars (EPM), third molars in pre-eruptive (PThM), intraosseous (IThM) and eruptive stages (EThM) (n = 12 each group) were used. Messenger RNA expression of components of the ECS as cannabinoid receptors (CBr1 and CBr2), and anandamide synthetizing (NAPE-PLD) and degradation (FAAH) enzymes were measured by RT-PCR. Data were analysed using Student's t-test for comparisons between two groups and one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post-test for multiple comparisons (statistical significance: p < 0.05). mRNA expression of CBr2, NAPE-PLD and FAAH was similar in the studied stages, was lower in IThM than in PThM and EThM, and the lowest in EThM (p < 0.01); of note, CBr2 mRNA expression was not detected in EThM. CBr1 mRNA did not differ significantly between IThM and PThM but was lower in EThM (p < 0.01). The absence of CBr2 and presence of CBr1 in EThM suggest the involvement of the ECS via CBr1 as a mediator of tooth and bone tissue homeostasis during tooth eruption.

Análisis Forense de Códigos QR Grabados con Láser en Prótesis Dentales Acrílicas / Forensic Analysis of Laser Engraved QR Codes on Acrylic Dental Prostheses

El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar la lectura e interpretación de códigos QR grabados con láser, sobre soportes metálicos adaptados, en prótesis den-tales acrílicas sometidas a injurias térmicas y ácidas. Se confeccionaron 150 prótesis de acrílico termopo-limerizable: 120 prótesis fueron expuestas a la acción de temperaturas de 200ºC, 400ºC, 800ºC y 1000ºC durante 30, 60 y 120 minutos (Grupo 1). Este grupo se dividió en un subgrupo 1.A, que incluyó 60 prótesis con el código QR grabado sobre un soporte de cromo cobalto adaptado en el acrílico, y un subgrupo 1.B, con 60 aparatos protésicos que portaban en su estruc-tura un soporte de acero para bandas de ortodoncia con el código QR. Las 30 prótesis remanentes confor-maron el Grupo 2 y se dividieron en subgrupo 2.A (15 prótesis con el soporte de cromo cobalto), y subgrupo 2.B (15 prótesis con el soporte de acero para bandas de ortodoncia), todas sumergidas en ácido clorhídrico al 40 % a temperatura ambiente, durante 30, 60 y 120 minutos. Los análisis estadísticos para comparación entre grupos e inter-grupos fueron ANOVA y prueba de Tukey, todos con nivel de significancia p<0,05. En el Grupo 1, la lectura positiva de los códigos QR fue del 75 % para el subgrupo 1.A, y 12 % en el subgrupo 1.B. Para el Grupo 2, la lectura positiva de los códigos QR resultó en un 66 % en el subgrupo 2.A, y 0 % para el subgrupo 2.B. Se concluyó que pese a los efectos vulnerantes de los agentes físicos y químicos sobre el acrílico, bajo ciertas condiciones es posible leer e interpretar códigos QR grabados con láser sobre so-portes metálicos adaptados en la estructura protéti-ca, representando una alternativa para la identificación humana (AU)

The objective was to evaluate the reading and interpretation of laser-engraved QR codes on metal supports adapted to acrylic dental prostheses subjected to thermal and acid insults. Were made 150 thermo-curing acrylic prostheses, 120 prostheses were exposed to the action of temperatures of 200ºC, 400ºC, 800ºC and 1000ºC for 30, 60 and 120 minutes (Group 1). This group was divided into a subgroup 1.A that included 60 prostheses with the QR code engraved on a cobalt chromium support adapted to the acrylic and a subgroup 1.B with the other half of the prosthetic appliances, which had in their structure a support of steel for orthodontic bands with QR code. The 30 remaining prostheses made up Group 2 and were divided into subgroup 2.A (15 prostheses with cobalt chromium support) and subgroup 2.B (15 prostheses with steel support for orthodontic bands) all submerged in hydrochloric acid 40% at room temperature, for 30, 60 and 120 minutes. The statistical analyzes for groups comparison and between groups were ANOVA and Tukey's test, all with a significance level of p <0.05. In Group 1, the positive reading of the QR codes was 75% for Subgroup 1.A and 12% in subgroup 1.B. For Group 2, the positive reading of the QR codes resulted in 66% in subgroup 2.A and 0% for subgroup 2.B. Conclusion: Despite the damaging effects of physical and chemical agents on acrylic, under certain conditions it is possible to read and interpret laser-engraved QR codes on metal supports adapted to the prosthetic structure, which may represent an alternative for human identification (AU)

Frenectomía lingual láser asistida como coadyuvante del tratamiento de ortopedia maxilar / Laser-assissted lingual frenectomy as a coadjuvant to maxillary orthopedic treatment

La aplicación del LÁSER (light amplification of stimulation emision of radiation) en las áreas de la medicina y la odontología viene demostrando una constante evolución, brindándonos alternativas a los tratamientos convencionales. Los láseres quirúrgicos de tejidos blandos muestran grandes ventajas comparados a los procedimientos habituales de corte, ya sea con bisturí frío o electrobisturí. La mínima necesidad de anestesia, la analgesia intra y postoperatoria, la coagulación inmediata, la cicatrización por segunda, el efecto bactericida, la ausencia de puntos de sutura, el confort postoperatorio, son algunas de las ventajas que hacen que la cirugía con láser sea una opción indiscutible que está ganando terreno entre los profesionales de la salud (AU)

Characterization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase from rabbit temporalis muscle.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to isolate the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase from rabbit temporalis muscle and to determine the optimal conditions for calcium transport and enzymatic activity. DESIGN: SR vesicles were isolated from rabbit temporalis muscle by differential centrifugation, the protein composition analyzed by electrophoresis and compared to fast-twitch muscle membrane suspensions. ELISA was used to determine the sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) isoform. Ca-ATPase activity was determined by a colorimetric method. Calcium-binding to the Ca-ATPase, calcium uptake, calcium efflux and phosphorylation by P(i) were determined with radioisotopic techniques. RESULTS: Sixty five percent of the total protein concentration of SR membranes suspensions from rabbit temporalis corresponded to SERCA. Of the total SERCA protein, 64% was SERCA 2, 35% was SERCA 1 and less than 1% was SERCA 3. The optimal conditions of the SERCA isolated from rabbit temporalis muscle were: pH 7.2, 5 µM Ca(2+), 100 µM EGTA, 90 µM Mg(2+), 3mM ATP and 100mM KCl and did not differ from fast-twitch skeletal muscle. The temporalis maximal calcium uptake and Ca-ATPase activity were lower but the sensitivity to the specific Ca-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin was higher. Calcium-binding to the enzyme and calcium efflux were similar while the phosphorylation of the enzyme by P(i) was lower. CONCLUSION: The lower enzymatic activity and calcium transport capability of the Ca-ATPase isolated from rabbit temporalis, and the higher sensitivity to inhibitory drugs are consistent with the presence of a substantial proportion of SERCA 2, which can be expected in other rabbit masticatory muscles.