Gingival recession in maxillary canines and central incisors of individuals with clefts

Background. Mucogingival alterations are inherent to clefts and may be worsened by the several plastic surgeries required in these individuals. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and some possible etiologic factors of gingival recessions in teeth adjacent to the cleft. Study design. A total of 641 teeth ( maxillary canines and central incisors) of 193 individuals with cleft lip and/or palate were examined. A generalized linear model was used, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare the recession with cleft types. Results. Comparison among cleft types as to the presence of recession revealed a statistically significant positive relationship for the maxillary right and left central incisors only in the group with left cleft lip, alveolus, and palate (P = .034). The most frequently affected tooth was the right maxillary canine (26.16%). Conclusion. The prevalence of recession in teeth close to the cleft was higher, although it was not very severe. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: 37-45)

Transdentinal protective role of sodium ascorbate against the cytopathic effects of H(2)O(2) released from bleaching agents

Objectives. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the transdentinal cytotoxicity of 10% and 16% carbamide peroxide gel (CP), as well as the ability of the antioxidant, 10% sodium ascorbate (SA), to protect the odontoblasts in culture. Study design. Human dentin discs of 0.5-mm thickness were obtained and were placed into artificial pulp chambers. MDPC-23 odontoblastlike cells were seeded on pulp surface of the discs and the following groups were established: G1-No Treatment (control), G2-10% SA/6hs, G3-10%/CP6hs, G4-10%SA/6hs+10%CP/6hs, G5-16%CP/6hs, and G6-10%SA/6hs+16%CP/6hs. The cell viability was measured by the MTT assay. Results. In groups where 16% CP was used, decreased cell viability was observed. Conversely, the application of 10% SA on the dentin discs, before the use of the CP, reduced the cytotoxic effects of these products on cells. Conclusions. The 16% CP cause a significant decrease in MDPC-23 cell viability and 10% SA was able to partially prevent the toxic effects of CP. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: e70-e76)

Persistent Impairment of Testicular Histology and Sperm Motility in Adult Rats Treated with Cisplatin at Peri-Puberty

Cisplatin is one of the most widely used and effective chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several human malignancies. This study evaluated the effects of peri-pubertal cisplatin administration on several reproductive end-points and the reversibility of these effects in adulthood. Peri-pubertal Wistar male rats (45 days old) were divided into two groups: control (saline 0.9%) and cisplatin (1 mg/kg/day, 5 days/week, for 3 weeks, i.p.). The study was conducted in two steps and evaluations were performed at ages of 66 (post-pubertal age) and 140 (adult age) days on: (i) organ weights, serum gonadotropins and testosterone levels, sperm counts, motility and morphology, testicular histomorphometry, spermatogenesis kinetics, Sertoli cell number and in situ detection of apoptotic germ cells and (ii) sexual behaviour, fertility and intratesticular testosterone. At the end of cisplatin therapy, rats showed reductions in sperm production and reserves, sperm with progressive movement, tubular diameter, intratesticular testosterone and fertility potential, but increased numbers of TUNEL-positive seminiferous tubules, immotile sperm and pre-implantation losses compared with control. Moreover, cisplatin-treated post-pubertal rats displayed impaired testicular histopathology and sexual behaviour. Serum gonadotropins and testosterone levels, sperm morphology, spermatogenesis kinetics and Sertoli cell number were comparable between experimental groups at both ages. Alterations found in post-puberty were recovered at adulthood, except for sperm motility and damage to testicular histology. The persistence of these cisplatin effects, despite the unaltered fertility after natural mating in rats, may have implications for reproductive function of young boys undergoing cancer therapy, given the lower reproductive efficiency in human beings compared with rats.