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).

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.