Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with different clinical types. Reticular and erosive forms are the most common. Although the cause of OLP remains speculative, many findings suggest auto-immune involvement, mediated by T lymphocytes against the basal keratinocytes. Inflammation, mechanical trauma or toxic agents can affect the epithelial homeostasia. Increased apoptosis may cause a decrease in epithelial thickness reflecting in the activity of the lesion. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of apoptosis and epithelial thickness in reticular and erosive forms of OLP. 15 samples of OLP each type (reticular and erosive) plus 10 of healthy mucosa were collected and processed. After morphometry, the apoptotic index and epitelial thickness were obtained. TUNEL and M30 CytoDEATH immunohistochemical assay were used to validate the morphologic criteria used. Apoptosis in the erosive OLP was significantly more intense than in the reticular type and both forms of OLP presented more apoptosis than the healthy oral mucosa. Healthy oral mucosa was thicker than both OLP forms and thicker in OLP reticular form than in the erosive one. The clinical differences between reticular and erosive forms of OLP are related to variations in epithelial thickness and in intensity of apoptosis.

Pulp samples of 50 healthy human teeth with indication for extraction were examined to evaluate the role of apoptosis in pulp elimination during physiological root resorption. Two groups were formed: a test group (n=30) composed of pulp samples of primary teeth with physiological root resorption and a control group (n=20) composed of pulp samples of permanent maxillary third molars. Morphological evidence of apoptosis as well as in situ detection of cellular DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay and detection of internucleosomal pattern of fragmentation of the genomic DNA by electrophoresis were observed. The apoptotic index of the primary tooth group was significantly higher than that of the permanent tooth group (51.01 ± 0.52 versus 25.32 ± 0.68) (p<0.001). TUNEL reaction showed intense and diffuse labeling in the pulp samples of primary teeth, which were discrete in the controls. Intense DNA internucleosomal fragmentation, a specific pattern for apoptosis, was observed in primary tooth pulps DNA by electrophoresis, in the permanent tooth pulps this pattern fragmentation of the genomic DNA for apoptosis were not present. These results seem to indicate a role of apoptosis in pulp elimination during the physiological root resorption of human primary teeth.

The oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease, probably autoimmune, with different clinical forms. The most common types are the reticular and the erosive ones. Apoptosis participates in the destruction of basal keratinocytes, but its role in the perpetuation of the subepithelial lymphocytic infiltrates was not yet investigated. To evaluate the involvement of apoptosis in the epithelium and in subepithelial lymphocytic infiltrates, 15 samples of reticular and erosive OLP and 10 samples of healthy oral mucosa were collected and processed histologically. Apoptosis was quantified in the epithelium and in inflammatory cell infiltrates. TUNEL reaction was used to measure apoptosis in the infiltrates. Erosive OLP showed more intense epithelial apoptosis than reticular OLP and controls. In contrast, apoptosis in the inflammatory cell infiltrates was more frequent in reticular than in erosive OLP. Lymphocytes were the predominant cells within the inflammatory cell infiltrates and were more frequent in erosive OLP than in reticular type. These results suggest that different apoptotic levels are involved in the erosive/reticular switch in OLP, determining different clinical presentations. In conclusion, decreased apoptosis in inflammatory infiltrates may contribute to the persistence of T lymphocytes, worsening the attack to the epithelium in erosive OLP.

Apoptose tem um papel importante na manutenção da homeostase placentária, e o desequilíbrio desse processo pode comprometer a gestação. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a ocorrencia de apoptose em amostras de placenta de vacas em diferentes fases de gestação. Amostras de placentomos de 15 vacas saudáveis com 4 (n=5), 6 (n=5) e 9 (n=5) meses de gestação foram colhidas e processadas rotineiramente para a histologia, imuno-histoquímica e isolamento de DNA. As lâminas obtidas foram coradas em HE, ou submetidas à análise imuno-histoquímica das proteínas pró-apoptóticas caspase-3 e Bax, e da proteína anti-apoptótica Bcl-2. O DNA isolado foi submetido à eletroforese em gel de agarose para detecção da fragmentação internucleossômica do genoma. Os resultados de histomorfometria revelaram que as células apoptóticas aumentaram progressivamente com o avanço da gestação. Confirmou-se a apoptose pela fragmentação característica do DNA genômico, visualizada pelo clássico "padrão em escada" na eletroforese em gel de agarose. Adcionalmente, a imunoexpressão de caspase-3, Bax e Bcl-2 foram observadas em todas as amostras. Entretanto, a proteína caspase-3 apresentou marcação mais intensa em todos os tempos gestacionais, quando comparada com a marcação das proteínas Bcl-2 e Bax. Esses resultados confirmam e reforçam a importância da apoptose na maturação placentária. Além disto, indica que caspase-3, Bax e Bcl-2 estão envolvidas nos mecanismos de ativação da apoptose pela via intrínseca mitocondrial ao longo da gestação, contribuindo para o equilíbrio fisiológico da celularidade e renovação celular na placenta bovina.

OBJECTIVE. Physiological root resorption is a programmed event that takes place in primary teeth leading to elimination of all root structures. The mechanism behind pulp elimination indicates apoptosis, but its pathway has not been well characterised yet. To better understand this event, we evaluated the gene expression of bax, bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-8 through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry expression of Caspase-8 and Bax in pulps. METHODS. Samples were split into two groups: pulps from primary teeth with physiological root resorption (n = 40) and control (n =40), pulps from permanent teeth. Samples of each group were split into PCR (n = 20) and immunohistochemistry (n = 20). RESULTS.  Pulps from primary teeth showed a higher caspase-3 mRNA level than pulps from permanent teeth. The expression of bax gene was more intense than caspase-8 but both did not show difference between groups. The bcl-2 mRNA level was incipient and similar between groups. Histopath slides did not show any evidence of inflammatory infiltration, which implies that extrinsic via is not likely to be involved. Immunohistochemistry reaction to Bax and Caspase-8 supported PCR results. CONCLUSIONS. Pulp apoptosis is likely to occur via caspase-3 activation through the mitochondrial pathway.

Objetivo: O presente trabalho visa orientar o odontólogo sobre as novas regras de uso de EPIs, normas de biossegurança, técnicas odontológicas utilizadas no atendimento da criança, para que possamos realizar os procedimentos odontológicos com segurança antes, durante e após a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: Após busca em diversos bancos de dados (Google, SciELO, Bireme, Portal de Periódicos da CAPES, PubMed), em 30/03/2020, 21 artigos relacionados ao atendimento odontológico durante a pandemia foram selecionados. O critério de inclusão dos artigos foi se relacionar às normas específicas de biossegurança para o atendimento odontológico durante a pandemia, especialmente em crianças. Resultados: Vinte e um artigos foram incluídos no trabalho sendo sete deles, específicos do atendimento odontopediátrico. As consultas odontopediátricas devem ser marcadas de forma espaçada, evitando o encontro de pessoas na sala de espera. A criança deve vir acompanhada de apenas um acompanhante. Algumas barreiras devem ser usadas nas crianças como máscara, gorro e óculos. O odontólogo deve usar máscara N95 e protetor facial, além dos outros EPI’s. Previamente ao atendimento, bochecho de peróxido de hidrogênio a 1% deve ser realizado pela criança. Técnicas operatórias (ART, aplicação de diamino fluoreto de prata e técnica Hall) que gerem menos aerossóis dever ser priorizadas. Se necessário o uso de baixa e alta rotação, estas deverão ser com sistema anti-reflexo e esterilizadas a cada paciente. Um intervalo de 1 a 2 horas deve ser dado entre pacientes, permitindo a ventilação da sala, diminuição dos aerossóis e desinfecção de todo o ambiente clínico. Conclusão: A pandemia do COVID-19 se tornou um risco ocupacional para odontólogos, crianças e responsáveis. Para evitar contágio e transmissão da doença, os odontólogos devem se capacitar por meio de informações seguras e cumprir as normas de biossegurança sugeridas. Descritores: Odontólogos. Criança. Infecções por coronavirus. Pandemias. Contenção de riscos biológicos.

Objective: To assess the impact of wearing palatal expanders on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children aged 8 to 10 years. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 35 children aged 8 to 10 years treated at the orthodontics and pediatric dentistry outpatient clinics affiliated with the Dental School. Children were divided in two groups: 17 were submitted to palatal expansion treatment (Group 1), while 18 just received coronal polishing and topical fluoride application (Group 2). The Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10) was used to assess children's OHRQoL. The questionnaire was administered before the expander was placed, at the end of its activation, and before its removal. Intervals between the interviews were similar in the two groups. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used for data analyses. Results: The overall CPQ8-10 score was not significantly different between the groups. The results show statistically significant differences between the two groups only for the functional limitations domain after activation of the appliance (p=0.001). Conclusion: Palatal expanders may negatively affect children's functions only during the initial wearing period.