Ivana Brekalo

Detection of Tumor Necrosis Factor α in Normal and Inflamed Human Dental Pulps

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in normal, painful, and asymptomatic human dental pulps. Methods Pulps were obtained from three groups of teeth, including healthy teeth, asymptomatic teeth with caries and/or large restoration, and symptomatic teeth with clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis. Pulpal tissues were collected, prepared, and analyzed for TNF-α concentration by ELISA technique. Results Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between TNF-α concentration in normal samples (64.01 ± 53.12 pg/g) and irreversible symptomatic pulpal tissue (1,962.99 ± 1,288.75 pg/g), between irreversible symptomatic and asymptomatic (1,120.09 ± 649.72 pg/g), and between normal and irreversible asymptomatic pulpal tissue ( p = 0.000). Conclusions TNF-α may be an objective marker for determining extent of pulpal inflammation associated with irreversible pulpitis.

Influence of calcium hydroxide root-canal sealer on microbial growth in vitro

The calcium hydroxide-based filling material Apexit, which is often used in endodontic practice, was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal effects against microorganisms isolated from oral cavity (Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans). Two different quantitative techniques were employed—the direct-contact test was used to examine the efficacy of freshly mixed material while the broth-survival test was employed to check the antimicrobial properties of 5-d-old material. Apexit inhibited Gram-negative bacteria more effectively than Gram-positive ones but had none or a very weak inhibitory effect onC. albicans.

Effect of Root Canal Sealers on Mouse Peritoneal Macrophage Functions

Three root canal filling materials,viz. calcium hydroxide-based cement (Apexit®, resin-based cement (AH-plus®) and glass-ionomer based material (Ketac Endo®) were tested for their influence on several functions of peritoneal macrophages from Balb/c mice. Macrophage functions were evaluated by the adherence, phagocytic, candidacidal and Nitro blue tetrazolium-dye assays. Ketac-Endo® enhanced all macrophage functions in the first 2 d (p≤0.05), when compared to the positive control, but this effect had changed after 7 and 14 d, causing inhibition of these functions. Other materials suppressed substrate adherence capacity and phagocytosis, while significantly stimulating macrophage microbicidal activity (p≤0.05) in a time-dependent manner.