We evaluated in vitro microleakage of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) powder with 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) / methyl methacrylate (MMA) & tri-n-butylborane (TBB) resin as a retrograde filling material by using methylene blue dye method.

Fifty-two single rooted, extracted teeth were instrumented and obturated with gutta percha and AH plus sealer. The apical 3mm of each root was resected and 3mm deep ultrasonic root end preparation was done. External surface of roots was coated with nail varnish. Prepared teeth were randomly divided into five groups; Negative control: completely covered with nail varnish; Positive control: coated with nail varnish except for apical foramen; Group 1 (retrofilled with Portland cement); Group 2 (retrofilled with MTA); Group 3 (retrofilled with MTA powder mixed with 4-META/MMA & TBB resin). Immediately after completion of root-end filling, all specimens were submerged in methylene blue dye for 72 hours in 37℃ incubator. The roots were longitudinally sectioned and measured for extent of dye penetration by three different examiners under microscope (×10). The results were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA and Turkey's HSD test. No leakage was evident in negative control and complete leakage in positive control group. Group 3 showed significantly less leakage than group 1 and 2 (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between group 1 and 2 (p > 0.01).

It was concluded that MTA powder with 4-META/MMA & TBB resin was excellent in reducing initial apical microleakage.

The purpose of this study was to monitor the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) by human periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts stimulated with Prevotella nigrescens lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to examine the effect of calcium hydroxide treatment on P. nigrescens LPS.

LPS was extracted and purified from anaerobically cultured P. nigrescens. PDL fibroblasts were stimulated by the LPS (0, 0.1, 1, 10 ug/ml) or LPS (10 ug/ml) pretreated with 12.5 mg/ml of Ca(OH)₂ for 3 days, for various periods of time (12, 24, 48 h). Immunoprecipitation were performed for protein level analysis of MMP-1, MMP-2 and TIMP-1. Total RNA was isolated and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for quantification of MMP-1 mRNA.

According to this study, the results were as follows:

1. The production of MMP-1 by stimulation with P. nigrescens LPS increased in time-dependent manner, and showed maximum value at 48 h in both protein and mRNA level. But there was no dose-dependent increase.

2. MMP-2 production time-dependently increased when stimulated with 1 and 10 ug/ml LPS, but there was no dose-dependent increase.

3. TIMP-1 production increased to 24 h, but decreased at 48 h. It increased when stimulated with 0.1 and 1 ug/ml LPS, but suppressed at 10 ug/ml.

4. P. nigrescens LPS pretreated with Ca(OH)₂ markedly downregulated MMP-1 gene expression.

A variety files made of stainless steel (S-S) or nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) are used during endodontic treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the corrosion susceptibility of S-S and Ni-Ti endodontic files. Three brands of files were used for this study: K-flex® S-S files (Maillefer, USA), Profile® Ni-Ti files (Maillefer, USA), K-3® Ni-Ti files (SybronEndo, USA). 120 files of each brands (21mm, ISO size #20) were divided into 12 groups according to 1) sterilization methods using Autoclave or Ethylene Oxide (E-O) gas, 2) Irrigation solutions using 5.25 % NaOCl or Saline, 3) the number of sterilization (1, 5, 10 times). After above procedures, each of the files was inspected by three examiners with a light microscope and camera at X25. Each file was judged and ranked according to the following criteria: 0; no corrosion, 1; mild corrosion, 2; moderate corrosion, and 3; severe corrosion. The files of high score were examined under the Scanning Electron Microscope.

Data were statistically analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). Most of the ten time-autoclaved files had showed mild to moderate corrosion. But, one or five time-autoclaved files did not show corrosive surface. NaOCl treatment and E-O gas sterilization did not influence on corrosion. There was a significant difference in corrosion susceptibility between sterilization methods and the number of autoclaving. However, there was no significant difference between brands and file materials.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of estrogen deficiency on pulpodentinal complex of tooth in ovariectomized rats. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats, 10 weeks old, were used. Rats were grouped into two groups. One group (n = 15) was subjected to sham surgery (SHAM) and the other group (n = 15) was ovariectomized bilaterally (OVX). Animals were sacrificed 12 weeks later, and their mandibular molars and associated periodontal supporting tissues were dissected out, and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. For comparison of groups, immunostained for osteonectin. Histomorphometrical measurement of change of teeth was performed using an image analysis system and paired t-test was used and the level of significance for overall differences was set at p < 0.05.

In immunostaining of osteonectin, they were significantly different from each other. The predentin thickness in OVX rats was wider than in SHAM rats. And in SHAM rats, osteonectin was more specifically stained in predentin areas than in OVX rats. These results indicate that estrogen deficiency increased the unmineralized predentin areas and decreased osteonectin content in pulpal tissues in rats. If our result is applicable to human studies, odotoblast is affected by estrogen deficiency.

The purpose of this study is to monitor the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) produced by human osteosarcoma cell line (MG63) stimulated with Prevotella nigrescens lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and to compare the level of secretion before and after the treatment of calcium hydroxide on P. nigrescens LPS.

LPS was extracted and purified from anaerobically cultured P. nigrescens. MG63 cells were stimulated by the LPS (0, 1, 10 µg/ml) or LPS (10 µg/ml) pretreated with 12.5 mg/ml of Ca(OH)₂ for 3 days.

Total RNA was isolated from the cell, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed for quantification of MMP-1 and TIMP-1.

The results were as follows.

1. MMP-1 mRNA expression at 48 hr was highly increased by stimulation with P. nigrescens LPS. The increase was dose-dependent.

2. When stimulated with 1 µg/ml of LPS, TIMP-1 mRNA expression was highly increased at 24 hr and 48 hr. However, TIMP-1 expression was suppressed at higher concentration (10 µg/ml).

3. When P. nigrescens LPS was pretreated with Ca(OH)₂, MMP-1 and TIMP-1 gene expression was downregulated.

The results of this study suggest that transcriptional regulation of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 by P. nigrescens LPS could be one of the important mechanisms in bone resorption of periapical inflammation. The result of calcium hydroxide on MMP-1 and TIMP-1 gene expression suppression shows that calcium hydroxide detoxified bacterial LPS and thus should be used the medication of choice for intracanal dressings in root canal infected with black-pigmented bacteria.