Comparison of four different suture materials in soft tissues of rats.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this in vivo study was to histopathologically evaluate the inflammatory reaction incited by Vicryl in rats and compare this material with various suture materials that are widely used in the clinic. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Four different suture materials, catgut, silk, polypropylene, and Vicryl were used in soft tissues of 32 Sprague-Dawley rats. Incisions performed were sutured by a standard technique. Eight rats were killed at the first, third, fifth, and seventh days. Histopathological evaluation of the en bloc samples was performed by determining the density of seven cell-types. A numerical grading from one to three was used. The data were statistically analysed by Kruskal-Wallis one way ANOVA and Dunn's tests. RESULTS: Vicryl has produced the mildest tissue reaction among the test materials at all experimental periods (P<0.05). Total cell number value in Vicryl group was found to be significantly lower than the one in catgut group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of this study, the results demonstrated that Vicryl as a suture material produced the mildest tissue reaction during early healing period.

The evaluation of anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in patients with oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine any association between anxiety and salivary cortisol levels in oral lichen planus (OLP) patients by the case-control method. DESIGN RELEVANT: Forty patients with OLP were evaluated. The OLP diagnosis was established through a composite of accepted clinical and histopathological characteristics. Forty patients from the register of patients who obtained general dental care were selected as controls. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The saliva samples collected between 9:00 and 9:15 am were analysed for the level of cortisol with Cortisol EIA that used competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Trait and state anxiety levels of 80 patients were measured using the Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. RESULTS: The mean level of cortisol from 40 saliva samples in study group was 1.46 and 0.93 microg dl(-1) in 40 controls (P=0.001). The mean level for state anxiety in the study group were 48.85 and 39.45 in control group (P=0.001). Trait anxiety levels in study group were 49.77 and 38.51 in control group (P=0.001). We found that salivary cortisol, state and trait anxiety levels in OLP group were significantly higher than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Because of the fact that the level of anxiety and salivary cortisol of OLP patients were high, our findings concluded that this disease is closely related with stress. Thus besides traditional treatment of OLP patients, our findings suggest that psychological support is also needed.