[Hereditary gingival fibromatosis: a three-generation case report].

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a familial hereditary disease; while it is rare and usually benign, it is also characterized by the slow and progressive development of gingival tissue. This paper reports on the clinical examina-tion and history of HGF in a family of patients.

[Expression and significance of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 and ß-catenin in gingival tissue of patients with chronic periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the expression and correlation of secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) and ß-catenin in gingival tissues of patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). The role of the classical Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway in the development of periodontitis was also explored. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with CP (CP group) were enrolled in this study. Among them, 16 cases were moderate CP, and 12 demonstrated severe CP. Twelve healthy cases comprised the controls (normal group). Gingival tissue was collected, and the probing depth, bleeding index, and clinical attachment loss were recorded. The expression levels of SFRP1 and ß-catenin were detected by immunohistochemistry, and staining intensity was evaluated by double scoring method. SPSS 19.0 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The staining strength scores of SFRP1 and ß-catenin were 2.16±0.65 and 1.12±0.51 in the normal group, 3.57±0.45 and 2.36±0.49 in the CP group, 3.61±0.40 and 2.30±0.44 in the moderate CP group, and 3.52±0.52 and 2.45±0.55 in the severe CP group, respectively. The expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin in the CP group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01). A significant difference was noted between the normal group and the moderate and severe CP groups (P<0.01) but none between the moderate and severe CP groups (P>0.05). A positive correlation was found between the expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin (r=0.657, P<0.01). The expression levels of ß-catenin and SFRP1 were related to periodontal indexes. The correlation between the expression of SFRP1 and probing depth was most significant (r=0.723, P<0.01), as well as that between ß-catenin and bleeding index (r=0.697, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CP exhibit elevated expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin in gingival tissues, and this event is related to the degree of periodontal destruction. Abnormal expression of SFRP1 and ß-catenin may promote the development of periodontitis.

[Detection of Dickkopf-1 and alkaline phosphatase activity in gingival crevicular fluid from chronic periodontitis with Er:YAG laser as an adjunctive treatment].

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and the level of DKK1 and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) while taking Er:YAG laser as an adjunctive to scaling and root planning in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). METHODS: Eleven patients with CP were included and there were nineteen pairs of homonym teeth(thirty-eight teeth) in this split-mouth design, and they were randomly assigned to experimental group or control group. In the experimental group, a combination of ultrasonic subgingigval scaling and root planning with hand instrument (SRP) were performed with Er: YAG laser as an adjunctive; in the control group, only SRP was performed. The main variables were bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL) which were assessed at baseline (1 week after ultrasonic subgingival scaling), l month and 3 months after treatment. GCF was collected at baseline, l week, l month and 3 months, and the levels of DKK1 and ALP activity were detected at the same time point. The data were analyzed with SPSS 19.0 software package. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant reduction of PD, CAL, BI values 1 month and 3months after treatment, but no significant difference in clinical parameters were found between the two groups. In the experimental group, the activity of ALP reduced to (386.69±146.42), (341.221±171.62), (249.27±98.72) from (396.191±150.55) U/L and the level of DKK1 dropped to (310.34±184.68), (270.04±55.14), (247.31±56.99) from (307.12±45.63) µg/L at the end of 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, respectively. Meanwhile, in the control group, the activity of ALP reduced to (374.72±131.27), (344.42±127.80), (252.36±90.4 ) from (394.09±120.25) U/L and the level of DKK1 dropped to (310.34±84.68), (270.04±55.14), (247.31±56.99) from (305.33±147.40) µg/L at the end of l week, l month, 3months, respectively. There is no significant difference between the two groups at any period for ALP or DKK1. CONCLUSIONS: Er:YAG laser was a safe no-surgical adjunctive therapy in treating chronic periodontitis, further observation is needed to determine its long-term effectiveness.

[Effect of periodontal initial therapy on the amount of SFRP1 in gingival crevicular fluid in patients with periodontitis].

PURPOSE: To detect the change of secreted frizzled-related protein-1（SFRP1） in gingival crevicular fluid during periodontal initial treatment and explore the relationship between SFRP1 and the activity of chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with moderate to severe periodontitis were selected, and 5 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the study as control group. The bleeding index(BI),periodontal probing depth(PD)and clinical attachment loss(CAL) were recorded at 1 week after supragingival scaling, one month after subgingival scaling. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected at 1 week after supragingival scaling, one week after subgingival scaling, one month after subgingival scaling. The level of SFRP1 in GCF samples was detected by ELISA. SPSS19.0 software package was used for data processing. RESULTS: The amount of SFRP1 in GCF of moderate to severe periodontitis group was (40.80±4.85) pg, and that of normal control was (33.42±2.24) pg at 1 week after supragingival scaling. The amount of SFRP1 in GCF was significantly higher in moderate to severe periodontitis compared to normal control group (P<0.05). In moderate to severe periodontitis group, the amount of SFRP1 in GCF significantly increased at l week after subgingival scaling (45.99±5.23) pg compared to 1 week after supragingival scaling and 1 month after subgingival scaling (36.92±4.00) pg (P<0.05); There was significant decrease in the amount of SFRP1 in GCF at 1 month after subgingival scaling,compared to 1 week after supragingival scaling and l week after subgingival scaling (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The BI, PD in the periodontitis groups were significantly improved at 1 month after initial therapy,and the amount of SFRP1 in GCF changed with different periodontal inflammation state．

[Expression of loricrin and cytochrome P450 3A5 in oral submucous fibrosis and their significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of loricrin (LOR) and cytochrome P450 3A5 (CYP 3A5) in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and to evaluate their roles in the defending ability of epithelium mucosae. METHODS: The expression of LOR and CYP 3A5 was examined in the specimens of 66 OSF and 14 normal buccal mucosa samples by immunohistochemistry, and the protein and mRNA expression of them was detected by Western blot and reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR). RESULTS: LOR was overexpressed in 42 (63.6%) cases of OSF, and showed a significant difference only between the early and moderately stages of OSF (P < 0.05), but no clear difference between moderately and advanced stages (P > 0.05). All normal buccal mucosa tissues showed positive immunoreactivity for CYP 3A5 protein in the membrane and cytoplasm of spinous epithelial cells and cytoplasm of endothelial cells, 5 (7.6%) cases of OSF showed weak staining of CYP 3A5 in spinous epithelial cells and 33 (50%) showed faint in cytoplasm of endothelial cells. A negative relationship between its expression and pathological stages was found in OSF (P < 0.05). RT-PCR results were fully consistent with the immunohistochemical data. But the results of Western blot only showed the expression of CYP 3A5 was significantly higher in normal buccal mucosa samples than OSF. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the LOR and CYP 3A5 might play a vital role in the change of defending ability of epithelium mucosae as well as the pathopoiesis and carcinogenesis of OSF.

[Effect of astragalus polysaccharides on the proliferation and ultrastructure of dog bone marrow stem cells induced into osteoblasts in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the growth and osteogenic property of cultured dog bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) by investigating the effects of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the proliferation and ultrastructure of BMSCs into osteoblasts in vitro. METHODS: BMSCs osteogenic property was detected by improved Wright-Giemsa, Gomori and alizarin dyeing method. The proliferation and differentiation of the induced BMSCs with APS in different concentration and time were detected by MTT assay and the morphologic change of the induced BMSCs was observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: BMSCs osteogenic property was detected with Wright-Giemsa deep-bluing, Gomori method blacking and with more mineral nodules alizarin dyeing method carmining. APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL can promote the proliferation of the induced BMSCs in short-term culture (1th, 3th day) and 50 mg/mL can decrease the effect through long-term culture (5th day). Observed by TEM (5th day), the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum increased and the extracellular matrix was excreted more in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 0.005 mg/mL. However, not only the number of mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum reduced but also the structure was swollen, degenerative, membrance damaged in the induced BMSCs by APS with concentration of 50 mg/mL. CONCLUSION: APS with lower concentration in short-term culture may promote BMSCs proliferation and differentiation.

[Effects of astragalus polysaccharides-chitosan/polylactic acid scaffolds and bone marrow stem cells on repairing supra-alveolar periodontal defects in dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of astragalus polysaccharides-chitosan/polylactic acid (AP-C/PLA) scaffolds and bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) on periodontal regeneration of experimentally horizontal periodontal defects in dogs. METHODS: Dog BMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow and then cultured in a conditioned medium to be induced for osteogenesis. The expressions of Type I collagen and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were examined by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry in the induced BMSCs, respectively. The BMSCs were harvested and implanted with astragalus polysaccharides-chitosan/polylactic acid (AP-C/PLA) and chitosan/polylactic acid (C/PLA) scaffolds. Horizontal alveolar bone defects (5 mm depth, 2 mm width) were produced surgically in the buccal side of the mandibular premolar 3 and 4 of the 10 dogs. The defects were randomly repaired with a cell-scaffold construction (10 teeth per group): root planning only (surgical control), AP-C/PLA with a conditioned medium (medium control), C/PLA with BMSCs (scaffolds control), and AP-C/PLA with BMSCs (experimental group) . The dogs were killed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the surgery, and block sections of the defects were collected for the histologic and histometric analysis. RESULTS: BMSCs induced in vitro exhibited an osteogenic phenotype with expressing Type I collagen and ALP histologically. The bone nodule structure was observed in the experimental group 4 weeks postsurgically. The engineered bone became more mature,similar to the native bone 8 weeks postsurgically. The amount of new bone regeneration and the rate of new bone filling to the defect height of the experimental group were significantly different from those of the surgical control, medium control, and scaffolds control [(2.90+/-0.41) mm vs (0.83+/-0.30) mm, (1.46+/-0.55) mm, (2.67+/-0.26) mm; 57.46% vs 15.68 %, 30.13%, 51.87%)] (P<0.01, P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Astragalus polysaccharides can promote the new bone formation on the periodontal defects. The technology of tissue engineering with AP-C/PLA scaffolds and induced BMSCs may contribute to the periodontal regeneration.

[Effects of astragalus polysaccharides-chitosan/polylactic acid composite material on biological behavior of canine bone marrow stromal cells cultured in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the biological behavior of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) cultured in vitro with the astragalus polysaccharides-chitosan/polylactic acid (AP-C/PLA) and with the chitosan/polylactic acid (C/PLA) and to find a suitable compound material for periodontal tissue engineering. METHODS: BMSCs (induced 14 days by 50 mg/L vitamine C, 10(-8) mol/L dexamethasone, 10 mmol/L beta-sodium glycerylphosphate) were cultured on AP-C/PLA or C/PLA for 5 days respectively. The BMSCs attachment and the morphology were observed with scanning electronic microscope and the combining rates were counted. Type I collagen synthesis was examined with immunohistochemistry staining and the content of osteocalin was determined with radio-immunological method. RESULTS: Combining rates, type I collagen synthesis, and the content of osteocalin of BMSCs on AP-C/PLA were significantly higher than those on C/PLA. CONCLUSION: AP-C/PLA may promote the BMSC proliferation, differentiation and extracellular matrix synthesis, and it can be used as a good scaffold material for bone tissue engineering.