Study of the crevicular fluid flow rate in smokers

The purpose of this study was to investigate if smoking--a risk factor in periodontal disease-affects the crevicular fluid (CF) flow rate. Twenty-nine dental students were included in the control group--non-smokers- (NS) and 34 in the experimental group--smokers- (S). All subjects were enrolled in a rigorous dental hygiene program (RDHP). The Greene-Vermillion plaque index, and L÷e-Silness gingival index (GI) were recorded. CF was obtained and measured with the Periotron 8000. These recordings were made before and after the RDHP. The results show that the CF mean flow rate was slightly lower in the S group than in the NS group, for both recordings. The analysis of the relation between the CF flow rate and the GI recorded in the dental surfaces, revealed a significantly lower flow rate in the S group for GI 1 (p < 0.01) and GI 3 (p < 0.05). The difference observed between the S and NS groups, may be due to the vasoconstrictor action of the cigarette components (nicotine and/or metabolites) on the gingival vasculature.

Preventive action of short-term and long-term chlorhexidine rinses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 0.12

chlorhexidine mouthrinses on the presence of plaque and gingivitis, either used as the only oral hygiene practice during a short period of time (21 days) or associated with routine daily brushing for 180 days. The experimental subjects were 40 dental students of an average age of 20.9 years. Following a thorough examination and mechanical prophylaxis. The subjects were divided into two treatment groups. Twenty subjects stopped all oral hygiene procedures for 21 days except for twice-daily rinses with 0.12

chlorhexidine or a placebo. Plaque, gingivitis scores and oral soft tissue health were recorded on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for the short term group and on days 0, 90 and 180 of experimentation for the long term group. After 21 days of rinsing, plaque accumulation, gingivitis and bleeding on probing were significantly lower in the chlorhexidine group than in the placebo group. After three and six months of mouthrinses, the chlorhexidine group had less plaque and significantly less gingivitis than the placebo group. No significant differences in adverse oral soft tissue effects were observed between the different groups. It was concluded that a 0.12

chlorhexidine digluconate mouthrinse can provide an important adjunct to the prevention and control of gingivitis when used as the only oral hygiene practice or with regular personal hygiene procedures. The results obtained in this clinical study, using stringent parameters of evaluation with statistic analysis, corroborated the results obtained by other studies.

Extraction of plasminogen activator in the rat's submaxillary gland

El objetivo de este estudio fue extraer y cuantificar el activador de plasminógeno AP en glándulas salivares de la rata. AP se extrajo por homogeneización de 1 vol de tejido com 1 vol de una solución de 2M KSCN. La solución con AP fue pipeteada por triplicado en placas de fibrina PF ricas y pobres en plasminógeno. La actividad fibrinolítica inducida por AP se observó como áreas circulares de licuefacción medidas en mm2, resultado del producto de dos diámetros perpendiculares de las zonas de lisis. El AP de la submaxilar produjo un término medio de actividad lítica de 198 mm2 + ou - 18ESM únicamente en PF ricas en plasminógeno. Extrapolando al área de lisis producida por 50 mg/ml de plasmina. No se observó lisis con AP extraído de la parótida y sublingual. La droga antifibrinolítica E-ACA, redujo significantemente, en una acción inhibitoria, dosis dependiente, la actividad fibrinolítica del AP de la submaxilar. El hecho de que AP indujo lisis únicamente en PF ricas en plasminógeno, la que fue significativamente reducida por E-ACA, indica claramente que la actividad lítica observada en el sustrato fibrina es debido a una fibrinolisis específica y no debido a una proteólisis no específica

Extraction and quantification of heparin in [quot ]clinically normal[quot ] and inflamed gingiva of the dog

Heparin present in tissue has been reported to be a potential locally active agent responsible for bone resorption by the stimulation of collagenase via osteoclast activation and increased collagenase synthesis by the osteoblast. The purpose of this study was to extract, identify and quantify heparin in the [quot ]clinically normal[quot ], mildly and severely inflamed gingiva of Beagle dogs, using a simple and reliable technique. The extraction was carried out by homogenization, fat elimination, proteolytic digestion and precipitation, with organic solvents. Identification was performed by microelectrophoresis conducted on an agarose coated microscope slide. Quantification was performed by measuring the optical density of the metachromatic toluidine blue stained spot an comparing with the standard reference curve of heparin run simultaneously. The results showed that the difference in concentration of heparin in units per gram of wet tissue, was not significant when the [quot ]clinically normal[quot ] (26 +/- 1.9) was compared with mildly inflamed (24.4 +/- 4.7) gingiva. However, the concentration of heparin in severe gingivitis (79 +/- 7) was significantly higher. Gingival heparin could play important role in the established periodontal lesions, acting as a local factor or co-factor in periodontal bone destruction.