Mini Hyrax vs Hyrax expanders in the rapid palatal expansion in adolescents with posterior crossbite: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the dental effects, impact on quality of life, and pain perception of adolescents wearing Mini Hyrax and Hyrax expanders in rapid palatal expansion. METHODS: Thirty-four adolescents aged 11 to 16 years, with maxillary transverse deficiency (unilateral or bilateral posterior crossbite), were randomly allocated into two groups, Mini Hyrax group and Hyrax group (1:1 ratio). Dental effects were evaluated by digitally superimposed pretreatment and postretention three-dimensional intraoral scans on the palatal rugaes using the software 3DSlicer. Impact on quality of life was assessed with the OHIP-14 questionnaire applied in the pretreatment, posttreatment and postretention. Visual analog scale was applied 24, 48, and 72 h and 7 days after the first activation of the expander. RESULTS: Thirty of the 34 adolescents recruited completed the study. There were no statistically significant differences in dentoalveolar effects between groups. OHIP-14 scores across time among Mini Hyrax wearers were similar to those of the Hyrax wearers. The inter-group comparisons showed no difference between groups with respect to the OHIP-14 scores in posttreatment and postretention (p > 0.05). There were no differences in pain perception between groups. Considering intra-group comparison, the reduction in pain perception among adolescents in the Mini Hyrax group was gradual. Among adolescents in the Hyrax group, a statistically significant reduction between 48 and 72 h was observed. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in dental effects, impact on quality of life and pain perception between adolescents wearing Mini Hyrax and Hyrax expanders in rapid palatal expansion.

Th1 and Th2-like protein balance in human inflammatory radicular cysts and periapical granulomas.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic dental periapical lesions result from chronic inflammation of periapical tissues caused by continuous antigenic stimulation from infected root canals. Recent findings have suggested that T helper (Th) 1 and Th2-like cytokines are important in the pathogenesis of chronic periapical inflammatory diseases. However, the mechanisms regulating these immunoinflammatory pathways have not been fully elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, and interferon γ (IFN-γ) protein levels in human radicular cysts and periapical granulomas. METHODS: Archived samples of cysts (n = 52) and granulomas (n = 27) were sectioned and submitted to immunohistochemistry to evaluate the tissue expression of IL-4, IL-12, and IFN-γ. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test (P < .05). RESULTS: An increased expression of IFN-γ was observed in radicular cysts. IL-4 expression was stronger in periapical granulomas than in radicular cysts. IL-12 was not detected in any of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that IFN-γ protein levels are increased in radicular cysts, whereas IL-4 expression is stronger in samples of periapical granulomas. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the signaling pathways mediated by these cytokines and to facilitate the development of more effective periapical disease management strategies.

High HIF-1α expression genotypes in oral lichen planus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess whether C1772T and G1790A hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)α polymorphisms are associated with risk of oral lichen planus (OLP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was used to investigate HIF-1α C1779T and G1790A polymorphisms in 32 OLP and 88 individuals without OLP. RESULTS: The frequency of the CC, TT, GA, and AA genotypes was higher in patients with OLP. Notably, individuals carrying the C and A, and T and A haplotypes showed a significant association OLP risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the C1772T and G1790A polymorphisms of HIF-1α gene increased the risk of OLP. C1772T and G1790A polymorphisms of HIF-1α gene had differing patterns of allelic imbalance in the normal samples and subsequent chronic lesions. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the HIF-1α pathway in OLP, which would facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of OLP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results, in conjunction with previous studies, suggest that HIF-1α may play important roles in the chronicity of oral mucosa lesions of OLP patients. Taken together, we suggest that HIF-1α polymorphisms enhance its target genes, thereby altering the microenvironment and supporting sequential release of inflammatory mediators or cellular events in OLP. It appears unlikely that inhibition of a single proinflammatory mediator will prove useful in clinical practice, but several ways to reprogram mediators engaged in a wide array of roles simultaneously are encouraging.