Correlation of histopathologic features with demographic, gross and radiographic findings in giant cell granulomas of the jaws.

Background and aims. The correlation between morphology of giant cells in peripheral granulomas of the jaws and the aggressive behavior of the lesion is unknown. This study investigated the correlation between the histopathologic features with demographic, gross and radiographic findings in giant cell granulomas. Materials and methods. In this analytical study, data from 23 cases of central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) and 42 cases of peripheral giant cell granuloma (PGCG) were analyzed, focusing on age, gender, location, and gross and radiographic features. For each patient, microscopic slides were assessed in terms of histologic features of giant cells and stroma. Results. No significant differences were found in the mean number of nuclei or the size of nuclei and giant cell distribution patterns between the jaws and genders in both lesions (P >0.05). Correlation between the mean number of nuclei and age was positively significant and correlation between the size of nuclei and age was negatively significant (P < 0.05). In addition, correlation between the mean number and size of nuclei and the size of the lesion was significant (P < 0.05). Correlation between stroma and aggressiveness of CGCGs was not statistically significant. Correlation between histopathologic features and radiographic findings was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusion. There were correlations between the mean number of nuclei per giant cell and the size of the lesion and age, and between the size of nuclei and size of the lesion. No relation was observed between histopathologic and radiographic features.

Two-year Prevalence of Minor Aphtha in Tabriz, Northwest Iran.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis is a condition comprised of oral painful ulcers appearing at inter-vals in different intraoral sites, triggered by a variety of causative agents in certain subgroups of patients. Since there are no studies on the subject in Northwest Iran, the aims of the present study were to evaluate the prevalence of aphthous ulcer and to assess the association of some influencing factors on minor aphtha. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of all patients examined during a two-year period, 33 patients were diagnosed with aphthous lesions. A questionnaire was used to collect the data including age, gender, familial history, smoking habit, and food allergy of the patients. Chi-square test was used to assess the association of variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of aphthous lesions was found to be 0.3%, and was significantly higher in females compared with males (23 females and 10 males, respectively; P = 0.024). Familial involvement of aphthous ulcer was reported in 42.4% of the patients (P = 0.411). The aphthous ulcer was seen less frequently in smokers compared with non-smokers (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: A relatively low prevalence of minor aphtha was found in the studied population. Higher prevalence in females and non-smokers were observed.

Isolation and identification of Enterococcus faecalis from necrotic root canals using multiplex PCR.

This study was designed to survey the incidence of Enterococcus faecalis infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic root canals of necrotic teeth using PCR and to isolate the bacterium for further screening. Sixty patients categorized according to their clinical symptoms were used for sampling by insertion of paper points into the root canals and absorbing all the fluids present within them. The samples were incubated in 1.0 ml 2xYT (containing 16 g bacto tryptone, 10 g yeast extract and 5.0 g NaCl per liter) for 24 h at 37 degrees C without aeration prior to multiplex PCR analysis. To assist the isolation of E. faecalis, sub-samples were further grown in the same medium supplemented with 6.5% NaCl and back-inoculated into bile esculin. Using multiple cultivation-dependent and PCR analyses, 6 cases (10%) of E. faecalis were identified. Four isolates were obtained from asymptomatic cases of chronic apical periodontitis, and the other two were associated with phoenix abscess and acute apical abscess, respectively. No E. faecalis infection was found in 5 patients with acute apical periodontitis or in 9 with chronic suppurative periodontitis. Our results indicate that there is no significant difference in the incidence of E. faecalis between symptomatic and asymptomatic necrotic dental root canals (P > 0.05).