December, 2007, Vol. 9, No. 4

CONTENTS

SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

Effect of cyclic 3´, 5´ adenosin-monophosphate on osteogenesis embryonic bone cultivated in tissue culture: an autoradiographic study
Edvitar Leibur, Elbi Lepp
99-104

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by total blood in periodontitis patients and the aged
Juozas Zilinskas, Jonas Zekonis, Gediminas Zekonis, Aiste Valantiejiene, Rima Periokaite
105-108

Factors related to job satisfaction among Lithuanian dentists
Alina Puriene, Jadvyga Petrauskiene, Vilija Janulyte, Irena Balciuniene
109-113

Validity and reproducibility of cephalometric measurements obtained from digital photographs of analogue headfilms
Simonas Grybauskas, Irena Balciuniene, Janis Vetra
114-120

Finite element analysis of stresses in the maxillary and mandibular dental arches and TMJ articular discs during clenching into maximum intercuspation, anterior and unilateral posterior occlusion
Gaivile Pileicikiene, Algimantas Surna, Rimantas Barauskas, Rimas Surna, Algidas Basevicius
121-128

Dynamics of Pregnant Women's Oral Health Status during Preventive Programme
Ingrida Vasiliauskiene, Simona Milciuviene, Egle Bendoraitiene, Julija Narbutaite, Egle Slabsinskiene, Vilija Andruskeviciene
129-136

© 2007 Stomatologija

Stomatologija 2007; 9 (4): 105-108 440 KB

The reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium by total blood in periodontitis patients and the aged

Juozas Zilinskas, Jonas Zekonis, Gediminas Zekonis, Aiste Valantiejiene, Rima Periokaite

Summary

Experimental data have demonstrated that impaired antioxidant capacity is associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS can cause inactivation of critical enzymes and induce denaturation that renders proteins nonfunctional. Total blood is continuously exposed to oxidative stress. The aim of the current study was to investigate the reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) by the total blood in persons with periodontitis and aged subjects.

Materials and methods. The reduction of NBT in the total blood was measured according to a previously described procedure (Demehin et al., 2001), with modifications. Eight mL of venous blood were taken by venipuncture in the morning before meals and in portions of 2 mL placed into 4 plastic test tubes. Blood clotting was controlled with heparin (20 units/mL). Then the test tubes with blood were placed in the thermostat at the temperature of 37°C and kept for 5 min. Next, NBT, the final concentration of which ranged to 1×10^-4, was added to the blood in the test tubes, which were kept for 20 min at the temperature of 37°C. On completion of incubation, the tubes were centrifuged for 5 min at 2000×g to sediment any cells. The supernatant was decanted into fresh test tubes, and the absorbance of NBT in the samples was measured spectrophotometrically at wave length of 570 nm at 25°C.

Results. Total blood antioxidant capacity in the patients with periodontitis and aged subjects was significantly lower (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) than in the control subjects.

In conclusion, the present study raise the necessity to search for causative agents of enhanced oxidative stress in patients with periodontitis and aged subjects and thus find the methods to diminish them.

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¹Public institution Odontologijos studija
²Department of Dental and Maxillar Orthopedics, Kaunas University of Medicine

Juozas Zilinskas¹ – D.D.S., private practice
Jonas Zekonis² – D.D.S., professor
Gediminas Zekonis² – D.D.S., associate professor
Aiste Valantiejiene² – D.D.S.
Rima Periokaite² – D.D.S.

Address correspondence to Gediminas Zekonis, Department of Dental and Maxillar Orthopedics, Kaunas University of Medicine. Mickevièiaus 9, Kaunas, Lithuania.
E-mail: gediminas.zekonis@gmail.com