Immunological and ultrastructural characterization of plasma cells of human periapical chronic inflammatory lesions (granulomas).

Despite many studies on the topic, plasma cells found in human periapical chronic inflammatory lesions (granulomas) continue to present unresolved issues. In this study, we tried to assess quantitatively and qualitatively the nature of plasma cells of 4 human periapical granulomas. Samples were analyzed for relative amounts of IgG-, IgM-, IgA-, and IgE-positive plasma cells by immunohistochemistry, and for morphological changes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

Cytoskeletal and membrane bound antigens in human oral normal and malignant keratinocytes: an intensity of staining analysis.

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a significant difference exists in the integrated optical density (IOD) of membrane and cytoplasmic antigens in monolayer keratinocytes cultures. Oral normal and two malignant (SCC15 and SCC25) keratinocyte cultures were stained with antibodies specific for E-cadherin, beta-catenin, beta-1 integrin, cytokeratin (CK) 14, CK19, CK10/11 and involucrin. The IOD recorded (n = 12) was analyzed for significant differences using a two-way analysis of variance (significance level set at alpha = 0.

Influence of amalgam fillings on Hg levels and total antioxidant activity in plasma of healthy donors.

In order to evaluate the influence of specific factors on mercury (P-Hg) levels and antioxidant power (P-FRAP) in human plasma, 26 healthy donors were examined by a dentist, their plasma analyzed for Hg by atomic absorption spectrometry and for total antioxidant activity by FRAP method. Hg plasma concentration was found to be correlated with the number of amalgam fillings, suggesting that Hg released from fillings is a source of Hg in non-occupational exposed subjects. P-FRAP correlated negatively with P-Hg suggesting a pro-oxidant role of the Hg released from amalgam fillings.

Release of mercury from dental amalgam and its influence on salivary antioxidant activity.

Dental amalgam fillings are known to release significant amounts of mercury (Hg) in saliva which could represent a continuous source of oxidative damage to mouth tissues. The present investigation was aimed at verifying this hypothesis by determining a possible correlation between salivary Hg levels and salivary total antioxidant activity (TAA), which is used as an index of oxidative stress. Samples of saliva from 34 healthy donors were analyzed for Hg content, by vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, and for TAA, by determining the ferric reducing ability ('FRAP' method).