Introduction The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 is a key regulator of host responses to microbial infection and a major modulator of extracellular matrix catabolism and bone resorption. Allele2 of IL-1b is associated with a four-fold increase in IL-1β production. The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the gene polymorphism of IL-1β in the pathogenesis of endodontic failure. We hypothesized that the gene polymorphism (allele2 of IL-1β) would influence host response and enhance inflammatory reactions predisposing to persistent apical periodontitis (PAP). Materials and Methods Subjects with at least 1 year of follow-up after root canal therapy (RCT) were recalled. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and 34 subjects with signs/symptoms of PAP with otherwise acceptable RCT were included. Sixty-one controls showed healing with acceptable RCT. Genomic DNA from buccal mucosa was amplified by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism to distinguish the alleles of IL-1β gene polymorphism. Results A significant difference in the distribution of the polymorphic genotype among cases (70.6%) and controls (24.6%) (P < .001, Pearson χ2) was shown. Conclusions These findings suggest that specific genetic markers associated with increased IL-1β production may contribute to increased susceptibility to PAP.

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Enterococcus faecalis has been shown to be highly resistant once established in the root canal system and may play an important role in endodontic failures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of four root canal sealers on E. faecalis. Seventeen blood-agar plates were inoculated with E. faecalis using the Lawn technique. Five discs were placed on each plate, four with sealers--Sealapex, Roth 811, Kerr EWT, and AH-Plus--and an ampicillin disc as the control. The plates were incubated at 37 degrees C. The zones of inhibition were measured at 24 and 48 h. Analysis using a one-way ANOVA and Tukey test showed a statistically significance difference (p < 0.05) between all four groups of sealers. Roth 811 showed the largest zone of inhibition (1.1 mm), followed by Sealapex (0.8 mm) and Kerr EWT (0.5 mm), whereas AH-Plus had no antimicrobial activity. There was no difference in the zones of inhibition between the 24- and 48-h time periods.

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