An in vitro comparison of implant materials cell attachment, cytokine and osteocalcin production.

Bone deposition, for any implant system, is the deciding factor for the success. The biochemical signals at the cellular level will help elucidate the direction of host response. In this report, intercellular messenger, cytokines, that are regulatory for osteoblast and osteoclast function, were measured. Production of osteocalcin, a marker for osteoblast maturation was also estimated. Human osteoblast-like cells from osteosarcoma cell line MG 63 were grown in wells in the presence of titanium (Ti), titanium alloy (Ti6A14V) and stainless steel implant materials incubated at 37 degrees C. Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 and osteocalcin were quantitated using standard enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) kits from the growth media extracted at specific intervals over the critical ten day period. In all dishes, cells were seen adhering to the base after 24 hours and to confluence at 96 hours. Both IL-1alpha and IL-11 were not produced in sufficient quantities to be measured in the assay (< pg/ml). Interleukin-6 production was significantly higher for stainless steel than for titanium and the alloy. There was a progressive rise in osteocalcin production for titanium contrasted to a basal rate for stainless steel and alloy. Interleukin-8 levels for all metals and controls increased markedly after two days implicating inherent cellular characteristics. A relatively high constant range for macrophage colony stimulating factor from the first day was seen for all metals, including the controls. In conclusion, it appears that titanium implants activate osteocalcin production while stainless steel activates IL-6.

An in vitro comparison of implant materials cell attachment, cytokine and osteocalcin production

Bone deposition, for any implant system, is the deciding factor for the success. The biochemical signals at the cellular level will help elucidate the direction of host response. In this report, intercellular messenger, cytokines, that are regulatory for osteoblast and osteoclast function, were measured. Production of osteocalcin, a marker for osteoblast maturation was also estimated. Human osteoblast-like cells from osteosarcoma cell line MG 63 were grown in wells in the presence of titanium (Ti), titanium alloy (Ti6A14V) and stainless steel implant materials incubated at 37 degrees C. Interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 and osteocalcin were quantitated using standard enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) kits from the growth media extracted at specific intervals over the critical ten day period. In all dishes, cells were seen adhering to the base after 24 hours and to confluence at 96 hours. Both IL-1alpha and IL-11 were not produced in sufficient quantities to be measured in the assay (< pg/ml). Interleukin-6 production was significantly higher for stainless steel than for titanium and the alloy. There was a progressive rise in osteocalcin production for titanium contrasted to a basal rate for stainless steel and alloy. Interleukin-8 levels for all metals and controls increased markedly after two days implicating inherent cellular characteristics. A relatively high constant range for macrophage colony stimulating factor from the first day was seen for all metals, including the controls. In conclusion, it appears that titanium implants activate osteocalcin production while stainless steel activates IL-6.

Oral health and denture quality: a pilot study in Trinidad

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of dentures worn by a sample of the population in Trinidad and respondents' attitude towards their oral health and dentures. DESIGN AND METHODS: Respondents to advertisements in all the local newspapers for persons wearing full dentures were interviewed and examined clinically. Dentures were examined for processing defects. Mandibular functional movements were measured and dentures were evaluated for reproduction of these movements. RESULTS: In the 54 subjects studied none of the dentures were made to function with mandibular jaw movements. For the maxilla and mandibular dentures, 96.8 percent of the axial inclination of the teeth were set incorrectly. All of the denture extensions were found to be short and none had any retention or stability. None of the participants had post delivery visits. The majority (77.5 percent) of all the dentures had never been repaired and 61.3 percent had fractured teeth. A majority (51.6 percent) of participants were found to be in need of palliative treatment and 48.4 percent needed urgent treatment. The primary concerns of the participants were that they were slack (35.5 percent). The majority of dentures sampled (80.6 percent) were made by a dental technician who also did the clinical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The dentures made in Trinidad fall below acceptable standards and majority were made without any relation to functional jaw movements. However, patients' compliance with their prostheses was high (75 percent). There is an urgent need to a concerted effort by health officials to standardize oral health care.(AU)