Does Enoxaparin treatment have any effects on the placenta in women with unexplained histories of habitual abortion? A case control study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: It is very common to offer low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) medications to women with unexplained habitual abortion, to increase the livebirth rate. Although no benefit from LMWH has been clearly demonstrated, examination of the effects of enoxaparin on placental structure is lacking. OBJECTIVE: To assess placental structural changes in pregnancies treated with enoxaparin, compared with controls. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case-control study in an obstetrics and gynecology unit of a tertiary-level university hospital in Turkey. METHODS: Forty patients who had had term pregnancies and live births but also histories of habitual abortion were recruited for this study. Placentas were sampled using a systematic random sampling method. Tissue samples were obtained, embedded and sectioned for routine histological analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used. Surface area and length estimates from placental components were evaluated by using Image J. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were also assessed via immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups regarding maternal age, abortion rate, birth weight or gestational age. Comparison of the enoxaparin and control groups showed that there were no significant differences in terms of surface area and ratios of placental components. We found that Bcl-2 was generally expressed at high levels in the enoxaparin group, while there was no difference in terms of Ki-67 between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that enoxaparin did not show any significant effect on the placental structure of cases that had histories of habitual abortion.

Effects of grape seed extract on periodontal disease: an experimental study in rats

Abstract Natural compounds capable of modulating the host response have received considerable attention, and herbal products are suggested as adjunctive agents in periodontal disease treatment. Objective This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of grape seed extract (GSE) on periodontitis. Material and Methods Ligature induced periodontitis was created in 40 rats and they were assigned to four equal groups. One group was fed laboratory diet (group A) while three groups received GSE additionally. Silk ligatures were placed around the cervical area of the mandibular first molars for four weeks to induce periodontitis. The GSE groups were reallocated regarding GSE consumption as: for two weeks before ligation (group B; totally eight weeks), from ligation to two weeks after removal of the ligature (group C; totally six weeks), and for two weeks from ligature removal (group D; totally two weeks). Sections were assessed histologically and immunohistochemically. Inflammatory cell number (ICN), connective tissue attachment level (CAL), osteoclast density (OD), IL-10 and TGF-β stainings in gingival epithelium (GE), connective tissue (GC), and periodontal ligament (PL) were used as the study parameters. Results Lower ICN, higher CAL, and lower OD were observed in the GSE groups (p<0.05). IL-10 was more intensive in the GSE groups and in the GEs (p<0.05). Group B showed the highest IL-10 for PL (p<0.05). TGF-ß was higher in the GEs of all groups (p<0.017). Conclusions The results suggest anti-inflammatory activities of GSE, but further investigations are needed for clarification of these activities.

Determination of systemically & locally induced periodontal defects in rats.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: The role of lathyrogens on bone metabolism is unclear, therefore we undertook this study to observe periodontal and systemic alterations in experimental lathyrism in rat and compare these changes to that observed in the locally induced periodontitis group. METHODS: A total of 45 male Wistar rats were equally divided in the lathyritic group (group 1), ligature-induced periodontitis group (group 2), and healthy controls (group 3). Experimental lathyrism was induced by once daily subcutaneous administration of beta-aminoproprionitrile (beta-APN), at a dose of 5 mg/0.4 ml per 100 g of body weight for 40 days. Ligature-induced periodontitis was created by tying silk ligatures on the necks of mandibular molars. After 40 days, blood samples were obtained and the animals were decapitated. Radiographic observations, extraction tests, histologic evaluations were performed, and serum ALP activity and gingival tissue IL-1beta levels were measured. RESULTS: Significant alveolar bone resorption around the mandibular molar teeth (P<0.001); lower extraction force levels (P<0.001); higher numbers of lymphocytes and macrophages (P<0.01) (both in connective tissue and epithelium at the dentogingival junction); decreased ALP activity (P<0.001); and increased gingival tissue IL-1beta levels (P<0.001) were observed in groups 1 and 2, compared to those in group 3. ALP activity was higher in group 1 than in group 2 rats (P<0.05). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Similar radiographical and histopathological findings and comparable increases in gingival tissue IL-1beta levels both in groups 1 and 2 showed that in addition to resorption of alveolar bone, chronic inflammation of periodontium also occurred both in the lathyritic rats as well as in ligature-induced periodontitis group rats.