ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Conduct a histological comparison of the pulp response to different materials, with a focus on the continuity and morphology of the mineralized barrier after direct pulp capping. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight maxillary first molars of 54 Wistar rats were subject to direct pulp capping and divided into three groups according to the materials used: calcium hydroxide (CH), mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and Biodentine. All cavities were sealed, and the animals were euthanized at 7, 14, and 21 days. Descriptive histological evaluation of the inflammation and formation of the mineralized barrier was performed. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical analyses were performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, which was complemented by the Dunn test; differences with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The results showed that MTA and Biodentine elicited less intense inflammatory reactions than CH. With respect to the formation and quality of the dentin barrier formed, differences were observed at 21 days between the analyzed groups; the best results being obtained following treatment with MTA and Biodentine. CONCLUSION: MTA and Biodentine induced formation of a more continuous and uniform mineralized barrier with less intense pulp response than CH.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Salivary gland tumors (SGT) account for 3-10% of all head and neck neoplasms, and little is known about their angiogenic properties. Despite semaphorins and neuropilins have been demonstrated to be prognostic determinants in many human cancers, they remain to be investigated in SGT. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the clinical significance of the expression of class 3 semaphorins A (Sema3A) and B (Sema3B) and neuropilins-1 (Np-1) and neuropilins-2 (Np-2), in SGT. METHODS: Two hundred and forty-eight SGT were organized in tissue microarray paraffin blocks and expression of CD34, Sema3A, Sema3B, Np-1, and Np-2 was determined through immunohistochemistry. The immunoreactions were quantified using digital algorithms and the results correlated with clinicopathological parameters. RESULTS: Malignant tumors had an increased vascular density than their benign counterparts and their increased vascular area significantly correlated with recurrences (P < 0.05). Patients older than 40 years and the presence of recurrences determined an inferior survival rate (P = 0.0057 and P = 0.0303, respectively). In normal salivary glands, Np-1 and Np-2 expression was restricted to ductal cells, whereas Sema3A and Sema3B were positive in the serous acinar compartment. Tumors were positive for all markers and the co-expression of Np-1/Np-2 significantly correlated with the presence of paresthesia and advanced stages of the tumors (P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sema3A, Sema3B, Np-1, and Np-2 may be involved in the pathogenesis of SGT, but their expression did not present a statistically significant prognostic potential in this study.
