Meyerov R

Cellular Responses Evoked by Different Surface Characteristics of Intraosseous Titanium Implants

The properties of biomaterials, including their surface microstructural topography and their surface chemistry or surface energy/wettability, affect cellular responses such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and migration. The nanotopography of moderately rough implant surfaces enhances the production of biological mediators in the peri-implant microenvironment with consequent recruitment of differentiating osteogenic cells to the implant surface and stimulates osteogenic maturation. Implant surfaces with moderately rough topography and with high surface energy promote osteogenesis, increase the ratio of bone-to-implant contact, and increase the bonding strength of the bone to the implant at the interface. Certain features of implant surface chemistry are also important in enhancing peri-implant bone wound healing. It is the purpose of this paper to review some of the more important features of titanium implant surfaces which have an impact on osseointegration.

Necrotizing Periodontal Diseases in a Semirural District of South Africa

Objectives. The aim of this study was to characterize the lesions of necrotizing gingivitis (NG) and necrotizing periodontitis (NP) with regard to extent and severity, and to correlate these parameters with the host HIV serostatus, CD4+ T-cell count, neutrophil count, age, and gender. Methods. Eighty-four consecutive patients, 39 black females and 45 black males aged 20–46 years, diagnosed with NG/NP were recruited to the study over a period of two years. Results. For both HIV-seropositive and -seronegative patients, the mandibular anterior gingiva was most frequently affected; 74% had NG/NP affecting ≥5 gingival tooth sites. Ninety percent of all patients had a mean severity of ≤4 mm. There was no statistically significant association between either extent or severity of NG/NP and HIV serostatus, CD4+ T-cell count, neutrophil count, age, or gender. The difference between the number of HIV-seropositive patients with NG/NP who had CD4+ T-cell counts ≤200 cells/mm3 and those who had CD4+ T cell counts of 201–499 cells/mm3 was not statistically significant. Conclusion. The clinical signs of NG/NP are similar in HIV-seropositive and -seronegative patients, and are not related to CD4+ T-cell count, to neutrophil count, to gender, or to age.

Multiple congenital oral granular cell tumours in a newborn black female: a case report

IntroductionCongenital oral granular cell tumour of the newborn is an uncommon benign tumour of uncertain origin. The typical clinical appearance is of a single nodule occurring on the anterior maxillary ridge. In 10% of cases there are multiple lesions. The occurrence of congenital epulis in non-Caucasians is rare.Case presentationTwo firm pedunculated nodular lesions were noticed in the mouth of a 3-day-old black female: one on the anterior maxillary ridge and the other further posteriorly in the midline of the palate. Both lesions were excised when the baby was nine days old. Microscopic examination of the lesions showed densely packed round to oval cells with abundant granular eosinophilic cytoplasm and uniform nuclei. The diagnosis was congenital granular cell tumour.ConclusionCongenital oral granular cell tumour occurs almost exclusively in Caucasian newborns but also rarely in black infants. The parents should be assured of the benign nature and the simple treatment of the condition.

Primary Oral Tuberculosis as an Indicator of HIV Infection.

We present a case of primary oral tuberculosis that led to the diagnosis of HIV infection. Our patient had clinically nonspecific ulcers on the labial mucosa and on the ventral surface of the tongue which were diagnosed as being tuberculous only on histological examination. This raised the suspicion of HIV infection that was subsequently confirmed by blood tests. The oral lesions resolved after 4 weeks of antituberculosis treatment. Some aspects of the pathogenesis of HIV-tuberculosis coinfection are discussed.