Carl L. White

Minor salivary gland involvement in Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract This article presents a histologic evaluation of ninety-six minor labial salivary gland biopsies performed at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health from patients with a suspected diagnosis of Sjogrens syndrome. A proposed system of grading, utilizing a 1+ to 4+ scale, is offered on the basis of histologic criteria.

The rate of tertiary (reparative) dentine formation in the human tooth

Abstract In view of the increased interest in the biologic potential of the human dental pulp, the rather misleading statements concerning the rate of tertiary (reparative) dentine formation indicate the necessity of establishing some guidelines for this process. A histologic study of 108 human teeth with Class V cavities prepared by high- and low-speed methods with and without coolants was carried out. Little evidence of tertiary dentine formation was apparent prior to the thirtieth post-operative day. The rate of formation was highest initially in the 27- to 48-day interval (3.5 μ per day); it decreased markedly after the forty-eighth day of the experimental period to 0.74 μ per day; and it decreased further to 0.23 μ in the 72- to 132-day period. The average rate for the total length of the study was 1.49 μ per active day. The factor of remaining dentine thickness by itself did not appear to effect tertiary dentine production. However, operative techniques inducing considerable trauma were capable of slightly increasing the production of tertiary dentine.

The relationship of coronal pulp stone formation to experimental operative procedures.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the degree of pulp response elicited by cutting procedures and restorative materials was capable of increasing the incidence of pulp stone nidi and pulp stones. Four hundred seventy teeth were divided into eight separate groups according to their post-operative extraction time interval and examined histologically. The results suggest that there is some correlation between the incidence of pulp stone or nidus formation and an increase in postoperative extraction time interval. However, no significant correlation appeared to exist between formation of pulp stones or nidi and age of the patient, sex, thickness of remaining dentine beneath the cavity preparation, preparation time, or the traumatic potential of the operative procedure. Nidi and stones were most commonly seen perivascularly. In some instances, calcific formations could be seen in the lumina of vessels; in others, the vessel walls themselves were calcified but fresh blood cells could be seen in the lumina. A schematic diagram is presented to incorporate several hypotheses found in the literature and, at the same time, emphasize that thrombi formation and/or vascular-wall injury are possible mechanisms which may lead to the eventual formation of pulp stones.

Comparative pathology of periodontal disease: I. Gorilla

Abstract A total of 292 gorilla skulls were examined for periodontal disease as evidenced by resorptive lesions of the alveolar bone. Osseous periodontal lesions consisting of horizontal resorption, furcation involvements, interproximal craters, fenestrations, and buccal vertical defects were observed in 76.4 per cent of the specimens. The roots of the maxillary first molar appeared to be most often involved with a fenestration defect. Measurements of the alveolar bone lesions appear to indicate that a severe vertical loss of buccal bone (dehiscence may result from a confluence of the increasing horizontal and fenestration types of alveolar bone resorption.

Characterization of salivary proteins in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Abstract Parotid saliva of patients with Sjogrens syndrome was subjected to disc electrophoresis. The protein distribution in the saliva of the patients with Sjogrens syndrome was compared with the protein distribution in the saliva of a control group. More anode-migrating protein was found in the patients with Sjogrens syndrome, as well as less amylase, and these differences were possibly significant. There was no difference in the content of protein remaining near the cathode in the salivas of the two groups. Samples of parotid saliva from a group of patients with Sjogrens syndrome and from a control group were subjected to radial quantitative immunodiffusion. There was no significant difference in the amount of IgG, IgA, and IgM in the two groups.