Chronic alcohol consumption changes blood marker profile and bone density in rats with apical periodontitis.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate apical periodontitis (AP) development in rats under a chronic alcohol diet by calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase blood levels in addition to histological and radiographic analyses. METHODS: Thirty-two rats were arranged into four groups: (a) group 1: without apical periodontitis and on a regular diet; (b) group 2: AP and on a regular diet; (c) group 3: alcoholic diet without apical periodontitis; and (d) group 4: alcoholic diet and apical periodontitis. Alcoholic solution at 20% was given throughout the 8-week experiment. AP was induced in the first molars at the end of the 7th week. At the end, the animals were anesthetized for blood collection, followed by euthanasia, and jaws were removed for digital radiography and histological processing. The level of significance was 5%. RESULTS: Calcium levels remained constant in all groups (P > 0.05). Group 4 showed a higher phosphorous level than group 2 (P < 0.05). The alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in group 3 compared with group 1 (P < 0.05). Three animals in group 4 exhibited a severe inflammatory reaction, whereas the animals in group 2 did not demonstrate any reaction (P < 0.05). The lowest value of radiographic density was given by group 4 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic alcohol consumption increased serum phosphorus and decreased bone density in the periapical region, favoring AP development.

Bone Recuperation After rhBMP-2 Insertion in Alcoholic Animals-Experimental Study.

BACKGROUND: Alcoholism affects bone repair and this study evaluated the recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2)/collagen sponge association aiming to improve the bone healing process. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of alcoholism and its effect on the repair of bone defects (BD) performed on rat calvaria after the application of rhBMP-2, either pure or combined with a collagen matrix, using radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical methods. METHODS: We used 80 rats divided into two groups and these into 4 subgroups, each with a waiting period for sacrifice of four and six weeks after the BD (5mm). The groups were divided into: Veh-X) vehicle+BD, Veh-BMP) water+BD+5µg rhBMP-2, Veh-ACS) water+ BD+absorbable collagen sponge, Veh-BMP/ACS) water+BD+5µg rhBMP-2/absorbable collagen sponge, EtOH-X) ethanol+BD, EtOH-BMP) ethanol+BD+5µgrhBMP-2, EtOH-ACS) ethanol+BD+absorbable collagen sponge, and EtOH-BMP/ACS) ethanol+ BD+5µg of rhBMP-2/ absorbable collagen sponge. RESULTS: Radiographically, it was found that after six weeks, for the groups treated with rhBMP-2, independent of the carrier use and ethanol administration, there was more new bone formation (p<0.05). For immunohistochemical analysis, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein were found to be predominant in groups treated with rhBMP-2. For quantitative stereology, which aims to calculate the volume of new bone, higher values for the groups treated with rhBMP-2 pure or combined with the carrier were found; but for the groups treated with ethanol, a higher bone formation in the groups treated with rhBMP-2 associated with the carrier in the periods of four and six weeks (p<0.001) was found. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the carrier was effective for rhBMP-2 delivery, even in the presence of ethanol.

Effect of radiotherapy on the radiopacity and flexural strength of a composite resin.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiotherapy on the radiopacity and flexural strength of composite resin. Forty Z250 composite resin specimens were polymerized using a halogen light-curing unit and divided into 5 groups, in accordance with the radiotherapy dose: G1- without irradiation, G2- 30 Gy, G3- 40 Gy, G4- 50 Gy and GS- 60 Gy Digital images were obtained using a GE 100 X-ray. Radiopacity values were obtained with the Digora digital imaging system and the flexural strength was evaluated with an EMIC universal testing machine. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey 's test. G1 presented the highest radiopacity value, followed by G3, G5, G4 and G2. For flexural strength, G1 presented the lowest value, followed by G2, G5, G3 and G4. Differences were no significant (p>0.05). The commonly used dosage of radiotherapy treatment, did not cause alteration in the radiopacity and flexural strength of resin-based composites.