Histochemical detection and comparison of apoptotic cells in the gingival epithelium using hematoxylin and eosin and methyl green-pyronin: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis plays a critical role in the regulation of inflammation and host immune response. It helps in tissue homeostasis and a disturbance in this is often associated with disease. The use of histochemical stains like hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and methyl green-pyronin (MGP) can provide a simple and cost-effective method for the detection of apoptotic cells. AIM: Study intended to analyze the expression of apoptosis in the gingival epithelium of healthy subjects and in patients with chronic periodontitis, using H and E and MGP. It is also proposed to correlate the apoptotic index (AI) of healthy individuals and those with chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty gingival biopsies were harvested from which ten samples were of healthy subjects and ten subjects who suffered from chronic periodontitis. Apoptotic cells were analyzed using MGP and H and E under light microscopy. RESULTS: Apoptotic cells were identified at ×100 magnification and AI was calculated. Apoptotic cells were easily distinguishable in MGP stained sections when compared to those stained using H and E. Moreover, apoptotic cell count was higher in chronic periodontitis. Statistical analyses were done by Tukey's multiple post hoc procedure. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that MGP staining can be used in a routine basic laboratory set up as one of the cost-effective methods for the detection of apoptotic cells.

Peripheral osteoma of the maxilla: A rare case report.

Osteoma is a benign osteogenic lesion with a very slow growth, characterized by proliferation of either cancellous or compact bone. Depending on its location, osteoma may be classified as central, peripheral or extraskeletal type. Although peripheral osteomas of the upper jaw are rare, diagnosticians can however encounter them in their clinical practice, which are probably misdiagnosed. These should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any slow-growing, non-tender, bony hard, non-compressible, non-fluctuant and non-pulsatile swelling present on the Oral and Maxillofacial region. We report a rare case of maxillary peripheral osteoma in a 50-year-old female patient. To best of our knowledge this is the eleventh case of maxillary osteoma reported in the English language literature.