Electro-poration of HDFCs yield relatively high transfection rates and cell viability when compared to chemical transfection techniques. Our observations might be useful for developing gene and cell therapy applications using dental follicle stem cells.

We investigated aspirates of pus from dentoalveolar abscesses in 13 patients who had received empirical antibiotic therapy within 1 month before presentation at our facility. The antibiotics administered were lincomycin, amoxicillin, ampicillin, or a cephalosporin. Information on antibiotic therapy was obtained from the patients' medical histories. Cultures of all dentoalveolar abscesses yielded organisms. A total of 70 isolates (42 anaerobes and 28 facultative organisms) were recovered, representing 5.3 isolates (3.2 anaerobes and 2.1 facultative organisms) per specimen. The counts of bacteria ranged from 5 X 10(7) cfu/mL to 8 X 10(11) cfu/mL (mean count, 1.4 X 10(11) cfu/mL; median count, 2.3 X 10(10) cfu/mL). The predominant isolates were Prevotella species (25.7% of isolates), Peptostreptococcus species (17.1%), and Streptococcus species (14.2%). This study illustrates the polymicrobial nature of dentoalveolar abscesses as well as the predominant role played by anaerobic bacteria.

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A case of paresthesia of the mental nerve following over-extension of root canal filling material into the inferior alveolar canal is presented . The causes of this complication are discussed and the importance of performing surgical treatment as early as possible is emphasized.

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Toxic doses of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) were injected subcutaneously (25 into rats for 5 weeks, causing a significant increase of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels (p < 0.01). Gingival tissue alkaline phosphatase levels were also elevated (p < 0.01). On the other hand, a significant difference was detected between serum calcium levels in experimental and control groups (p < 0.02).

A tumor-like foreign body in the maxillary sinus is reported. Examination of the paranasal sinuses by computerized tomography revealed a dense and well defined lesion equal to that of bone in the left maxillary sinus. After surgery, the lesion was found to be alginate used for impression-taking before fitting of a prosthesis, and not a tumor.

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