Effect of different localizations of microgap on clinical parameters and inflammatory cytokines in peri-implant crevicular fluid: a prospective comparative study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of microgap on clinical and biochemical parameters around dental implants for 1 year. All patients received four implants: group A-Standard Straumann(®) implants, group B-1 mm subcrestal placement of the polished surface of group A implants, group C-esthetic plus Straumann® implants, group D-subcrestal placement of the polished surface of group C implants. Clinical measurements and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) were collected immediately before loading and at 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after loading, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been assessed in the crevicular fluid. No significant differences were found in plaque index, gingival index, and probing between the groups throughout the study. However, the PICF volumes of group D were significantly higher than that in the other groups, and group A were significantly lower than the other groups (P < 0.05). With respect to bleeding on probing values, the percentage of BOP (+) sides in group A implants were fewer than group C and D implants (P < 0.05). With regard to IL-1ß, the levels of IL-1ß in group A were lower than that in the other groups during the study (P < 0.05). In point of TNF-α total amounts, the levels of TNF-α in group A implants were lower than those in group B and D implants (P < 0.05). Moving microgap coronally from alveolar crest could be recommended for the health of periodontal tissues. Most coronal location of microgap can be suggested in order to maintain the peri-implant health status, particularly in implant sites without esthetic priority.

Honey prevents hepatic damage induced by obstruction of the common bile duct.

AIM: To examine the possible effects of honey supplementation on hepatic damage due to obstruction of the common bile duct in an experimental rat model. METHODS: The study was performed with 30 male rats divided into three groups: a sham group, an obstructive jaundice group, and an obstructive jaundice plus honey group. At the end of the study period, the animals were sacrificed, and levels of nitric oxide (NO), and NO synthase (NOS) activities were measured in liver tissues, and levels of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities were measured in serum. RESULTS: Blood ALT and ADA activities were significantly elevated in the jaundice group as compared to those of the sham group. In the obstructive jaundice plus honey group, blood ALT and ADA activities were significantly decreased as compared to those of the jaundice group. In erythrocytes and liver tissues, NO levels were found to be significantly higher in the obstructive jaundice plus honey group compared to those of the sham group. Additionally, NO levels were found to be significantly higher in liver tissues from the animals in the obstructive jaundice plus honey group than those of the jaundice group. CONCLUSION: Honey was found to be beneficial in the prevention of hepatic damage due to obstruction of the common bile duct.

Methotrexate causes oxidative stress in rat kidney tissues.

AIM: Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is one of the chemotherapeutic agents widely used in the treatment of some types of cancers. Nephrotoxicity is one of the complications of MTX treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate possible effects of MTX treatment on the oxidant/antioxidant status in rat kidney tissues and enzymatic mechanisms leading to nephrotoxicity. METHODS: For this aim, 10 Sprague-Dawley type female rats of 4 weeks old were used in the study. The animals were divided into two groups randomly. Five of them were used as control, and the others were treated with MTX intravenously (60 mg/m2 of body surface area per week) for 7 weeks. At the end of this period, they were sacrificed, and kidney tissues were removed to be used in the analyses of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, antioxidant potential (AOP) values, and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, xanthine oxidase, adenosine deaminase, and 5' nucleotidase enzyme activities. RESULTS: There was significant increase in the MDA level in the MTX group compared with the control group (1.74+/-0.23 nmol/mg vs. 1.04+/-0.30 nmol/mg; p<0.05, respectively). There were however no meaningful differences between enzyme activities and AOP values of the groups. CONCLUSION: It has been suggested that MTX leads to oxidative stress in rat kidney tissues, which might be one of the reasons for MTX-induced nephrotoxicity.