3-O-methylfunicone, a secondary metabolite produced by Penicillium pinophilum, induces growth arrest and apoptosis in HeLa cells.

3-O-Methylfunicone (OMF) is a secondary metabolite produced by the soil fungus Penicillium pinophilum which has cytostatic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which such properties are exerted, with special reference to any anti-proliferative and apoptotic potential, on HeLa cells. OMF treatment caused about 44% inhibition of cell growth after 24 h, and modifications in the tubulin fibre organization. In addition, a significant increase in p21 mRNA expression and a decrease in cyclin D1 and Cdk4 mRNA expression resulted at the same time. Apoptosis induction was demonstrated by the annexin V assay, cytofluorimetric analysis of the DNA content of the sub-G1 fraction and DNA laddering. Taken together, our data showed that the compound inhibits proliferation of HeLa cells by several mechanisms, such as disruption of tubulin fibres, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. The capacity of the compound to affect the cell cycle and to modulate apoptosis is indicative of a potential for the development of a new agent for cancer chemotherapy.

Er:YAG laser treatments on dentine surface: micro-Raman spectroscopy and SEM analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to give an insight into the chemical and structural modifications occurring in laser treated dentine surface, as a tool to plan a new class of dental materials specific for the dental restoration when laser technologies are used. For this purpose the effect of Er:YAG (Erbium-Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) laser treatments on human dentine surface has been investigated. METHODS: The dentine surface of periodontally compromised teeth cut along the main axis was treated in vitro with laser pulses having the same energy but time duration varying in the range of 100-1000 micros. The chemical characteristics and the morphology of the laser treated surface have been studied with micro-Raman spectroscopy (micro-RS) and scansion electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The micro-RS and SEM analysis of laser treated teeth have been compared with those of surfaces treated with conventional mechanical methodologies. The laser pulse time duration affects the surface morphology and the chemistry of dentine, mainly of organic components. The effects have been monitored by analysing the C-H group stretch vibration mode of the micro-RS spectrum. CONCLUSION: The laser treatment can determine different chemical microenvironments on the treated dentine surface, depending on the time duration of laser pulse used. Treatments with very long pulse results in a the dentine surface very similar to that obtained with a conventional mechanical drill, while with very short laser pulses a strong modification of the dentine organic components has been observed.

[A proposal of a new histological method for the dynamic diagnosis of the disease stage in oral lichen planus]. / Proposta di un nuovo metodo istologico per la diagnosi dinamica dello stadio di malattia nel lichen planus orale.

The paper describes a histological fixing and staining technique capable of identifying the stage of disease in oral lichen planus. This is based on staining the nuclei on the basal stratum blue instead of red-orange as normally occurs using Mallory's technique. Under particular conditions of increased cellular protein synthesis these become a typical blue colour.

[The importance of direct immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of oral lichen planus. A clinical study and proposal of new diagnostic criteria]. / L'importanza dell'immunofluorescenza diretta nella diagnosi del Lichen planus orale. Studio clinico e proposta di nuovi criteri diagnostici.

A series of 40 lesions of various kinds as lichen planus are examined using samples stained with trichromic test. HLA-DR expression with immunoperoxidase technique and direct immunofluorescence using the standard techniques. The aim of the study was to discover the usefulness for diagnosis of direct immunofluorescence, above all in histologically uncertain cases. The results suggest the view that direct immunofluorescence is essential for diagnosis of lichen planus, in all clinical aspects. The author concludes with description of clinical proceeding for differential diagnosis between white and erosive lesions of mouth.

[Cyclosporin in a bioadhesive formulation in the therapy of oral erosive lichen planus. A clinico-experimental evaluation]. / La ciclosporina in formulazione bioadesiva nella terapia del Lichen planus orale erosivo. Valutazione clinico-sperimentale.

This study illustrates the possible topical therapy of OLP with cyclosporine A under bioadhesive gel formula. The treatment was carried out on 6 patients for 8 weeks in much lower (48 mg/day) than those used by other authors. The novelty of this study lies in the use of a bioadhesive formula with carbosymethylcellulose which allows CsA to remain on oral mucosa for about two hours. The remarkable results have shown a reduction ranging from 50 to 80% of oral lesions, thus proposing its specific use in all the forms resisting usual therapy.

[The importance of direct immunofluorescence in the diagnosis of oral lichen planus. A clinical study and proposal of new diagnostic criteria]. / L'importanza dell'immunofluorescenza diretta nella diagnosi del Lichen planus orale. Studio clinico e proposta di nuovi criteri diagnostici.

A series of 40 lesions of various kinds as lichen planus are examined using samples stained with trichromic test. HLA-DR expression with immunoperoxidase technique and direct immunofluorescence using the standard techniques. The aim of the study was to discover the usefulness for diagnosis of direct immunofluorescence, above all in histologically uncertain cases. The results suggest the view that direct immunofluorescence is essential for diagnosis of Lichen planus, in all clinical aspects. The author concludes with description of clinical proceeding for differential diagnosis between withe and erosive lesions of mouth.

Recent advances on the pathogenesis of oral lichen planus (OLP). The adhesion molecules.

Oral Lichen Planus is a chronic inflammatory pathology with not well defined etiology, characterized by an immunoreactivity directed against the keratinocytes of basal layer and mediated by a cellular infiltrate of T-lymphocytes. This immunoreactivity is caused by a modification of basal keratinocytes surface antigens, with activation of antigen-presenting cells allowing the recognition on non-self antigens by CD4 lymphocytes. The migration of T-cells at the sites of the damage and their interactions with leucocytes and keratinocytes represent a key effect of pathogenesis of OLP, and are mediated by specific cell surface adhesion molecules. Recent studies in molecular biology, with the discovery and the definition of cell adhesion receptors, have greatly contributed to clarify the pathogenic mechanism of OLP; these molecules regulate immune functions such as adhesion to endothelial cells, lymphocytes migration into extravasal tissues at the site of immune response and T-cell interactions with target cell antigens. The adhesion molecules have been classified into various families, differing on the basis of their molecular structure: the Immunoglobulin Superfamily (ICAM 1-3, PECAM-1, VCAM-1), the Selectins (ELAM-1, LECAM-1, GMP-140), the Integrins (LEA-1) and others. In this paper, the principal classes of adhesion molecules which are involved in the immune response are described and their importance in the pathogenesis of Lichen Planus is underlined.

[The immunological basis of vaccination against carious disease. Microorganism interactions. Specific host defense system. Immunological protection of the oral cavity]. / Le basi immunologiche della vaccinazione nella malattia cariosa. Interazioni tra microorganismi. Sistema di difesa aspecifico dell'ospite. Protezione immunitaria del cavo orale.

The authors describe the very complex interactions of the microorganisms of the oral cavity and among these latter and the guest organism. There are described the mechanisms of aspecific defense of the oral cavity and give some outlines of the anatomy and of the physiology of the organs and of the glandular structures of the specific immune defence of the oral cavity through blood and saliva.

[Prophylaxis of carious disease. Outline of dietetic and pharmacological prophylaxis]. / Profilassi della malattia cariosa. Cenni sulla profilassi dietetica e farmacologica.

The authors schematically describe the possibility of specialistic sanitary intervention in prevention, primary secondary and tertiary. They, furthermore, discuss of the real possibility of dietetical and pharmacological prophylaxis with special regard to the proper use and on the mechanism of action of fluorine and other chemical antiplaque agents.

[Immunoprophylaxis of carious disease. Historical outline, location of research groups, current status of anticaries vaccine use]. / Immunoprofilassi nella malattia cariosa. Cenni storici, dislocazione dei gruppi di ricerca, attuali possibilita sull'utilizzo di un vaccino anticarie.

The authors after giving some historical hints of vaccino-prophylaxis outline the various attempts made during the last twenty years, the present situation and the actual risks connected with the ways of administering of the antigen, in case of vaccination from a "public-health" point of view.

[The immunological basis of vaccine prophylaxis of carious disease. Maternal-fetal relations. Defense factors specific to the host]. / Le basi immunologiche della vaccino-profilassi nella malattia cariosa. Rapporti madre-feto. Fattori di difesa specifici dell'ospite.

The authors discuss of the relation between mother-phoetus from an immunological point of view and the real protection at birth because of the passing through the placental philter of maternal immunoglobulins. Then the Authors discuss of oral tolerance and of the possibilities of administering by oral-enteric way and the immunity of the guest.

[Laser in periodontology: theoretical-experimental approach. 2. The laser and biostimulation: hypothesis of the physico-biological mechanism of action]. / Il laser in parodontologia: approccio teorico-sperimentale. Nota II--Laser e biostimolazione: iptesi sul meccanismo d'azione fisico-biologico.

The Authors describe the physical principles regulating interaction between laser beam and living matter. Then they review the biological assumptions that explain the clinical effects on latest experimental data.

[Laser in periodontology: theoretical-experimental approach. 3. Experimental study of the effects of He-Ne (638 nm) and infrared diodic (904 nm) lasers on the gingival mucosa of rats]. / Il laser in parodontologia: approccio teorico-sperimentale. Nota III--Studio sperimentale sugli effetti dei lasers He-Ne (638 nm) e infrarosso diodico (904 nm) sulla mucosa gengivale di ratto.

Medical and surgical laser-therapy is becoming more and more important in various branches of Medicine, however independently from clinical results still very little is known about physical-biological interaction between laser beam and living matter. The aim of this study is of finding tissutal and cellular effects of stimulation with soft and mid laser. The study started from an original work carried out at the Institute of Biology of the 1st Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of Naples University from which appears the possibility of visualizing the stage of nuclear active synthesis of the cell, simply by Maloory tricromic colouring. By this method the cellular nucleuses take, usually, a red colour, however in presence of an increase of the RNA nuclear synthesis the nucleuses take a typical blue colour. The importance of the study induced us to research the presence in the oral mucose of the rat after radiation as an effect of biostimulation. The results of this study showed and increase of the epithelial cheratine and a variation of the disposition and of the number of the precheratine grains in treated site. The blue nucleuses have been found at the basal level without any difference between treated and control site. On the other hand their presence is the normal consequence of the epithelial evolution which starts from the basal level which is the most active in the stage of nuclear synthesis.

Acitretin and treatment of the oral leucoplakias. A model to have an active molecules release.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of acitretin in a new topical formulation (mucoadhesive two-layer tablets) for the treatment of oral leucoplakias. METHODS: Twenty-one volunteers, 16 men, five women, with oral leucoplakia (histologically diagnosed), were included in this double-blind placebo-controlled study. Patients were randomized in three groups (A, B, C) of seven patients each. Groups A and B received tablets with different in vitro release profiles, and group C subjects (controls) received tablets without acitretin. The acitretin dose was 20 mg/day (two 10 mg tablets daily). Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, cholesterol and triglycerides were evaluated before and after treatment. At the end of therapy the concentrations of acitretin in plasma, saliva and tissue were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: At the end of the study 71% (groups A and B) of patients showed clinical remission or marked improvement. No improvement was noted in the control subjects (group C). These results were further confirmed by histological findings. There were no significant changes in laboratory values in the three groups. The acitretin concentration in plasma and tissue ranged from 0 to 50 mg with no difference between groups A and B, and it was very high in saliva (ranging from 4.9 to 43 mg) with higher concentrations in group A than in group B (due to a longer adhesion time in group A). Patients' compliance was excellent. The results show that mucoadhesive tablets of topical acitretin are efficacious in the treatment of oral leucoplakia without systemic side-effects.