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Biomedical subjects

M Pourtois

Publications and source records attributed to M Pourtois.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Anaerobes and short-chain fatty acids in crevicular fluid from adults with chronic periodontitis.

Pathogeny of adult chronic periodontitis is still unclear. Bacteriological and chemical analysis of crevicular fluid have shown, in active sites of the disease, a simultaneous presence of anaerobes and their major by-product: short-chain fatty acids. The last can decrease "in vitro" the neutrophil intracellular pH, whenever these cells are incubated in an acid medium. Clinical investigations are scarce which hold out data useful to attempt verifying this possible physiopathological mechanism. This work shows the presence of anaerobes in the active periodontal pockets, together with the presence of short-chain fatty acids likely to reach a concentration level comparable to that used for inhibiting neutrophils "in vitro". Forthcoming studies should investigate about a possible intracellular pH drop in the neutrophils and other cells of the inflamed periodontium.

Adult↗

Inhibition of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes phagocytosis and protein-kinase-C activity by low pH concentrations.

PMN leukocytes from circulating blood, were investigated using the following parameters: chemiluminescence, superoxide generation, exocytic degranulation, lactoferrin, myeloperoxydase and protein-kinase-C activities. The results did not allow to point out any significative discrepancy between samples collected from either patients suffering of periodontal disease or healthy individuals. However, the phagocytic ability (as measured by light emission and superoxide production) was found to be severely inhibited in both instances, when PMN leukocytes were incubated in the presence of succinic acid. Similarly, protein-kinase-C activity in these cells, collapsed when the pH was brought down to 5.5. These data and the available literature indicate that pH decrease as well as succinic acid release in the crevicular fluid, may play a role in the pathogeny of chronic periodontitis in adults.

Acid Phosphatase↗

[Odontogenesis in the human fetus: an echographic study].

During real-time ultrasound observation of swallowing movements in the human fetus, changes in the echostructure of the jaws were detected. Dense linear echoes (2-6 mm) arose symmetrically in the superior and inferior jaws from the median to the distal level with increasing gestational age. Their localisation and onset suggested they might represent tooth germs. The comparison between radiography after birth and pre- and postnatal echography confirmed that these particular echoes were indeed calcified tooth germs. The implications of this observation will be discussed in terms of fetal growth maturation and gestational age.

Deglutition↗

Lead accumulation in teeth as a function of age with different exposures.

The level of lead exposure in industrial, urban, and rural populations has been evaluated by sampling permanent teeth gathered from three regions of Belgium. When tooth lead concentrations are plotted against tooth age, a linear function appears to fit the empirical results satisfactorily. On the contrary, comparing only the arithmetical means of the three samples would bring a possible bias of the results because their mean ages are different. The slope of the three best regression lines obtained respectively with data from the three regions increases significantly in the sequence rural less than urban less than industrial. A simplified mathematical model shows that this slope is directly related to the mean intake of lead under uniform exposure. It is suggested that this slope could be used as an index of the population's exposure to lead.

Adult↗

The effect of clindamycin gel insert in periodontal pockets, as observed on smears and cultures.

This study is aimed at the evaluation of a 1% clindamycin hydrochloride containing gel on the microbial flora of periodontal pockets deeper than 5 mm. In order to achieve that purpose, 20 patients with pocketing in the premolar-molar regions were selected. Active and placebo gel were inserted once during the first 2 weeks of this experimental study. Microbial samplings were performed 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks after the experiment started. The samples were submitted to microscopic examination and also to culture. Changes in the microbial content of the periodontal pockets treated by subgingival scaling and clindamycin 1% gel were significant, compared with those obtained with subgingival scaling and placebo gel, particularly with respect to anaerobic black-pigmented bacteria and the motile gram-negative flora. However, after 3 months, most of the treated cases were recolonized by the same initial species, though never at pre-clindamycin levels. In the light of this study, it will be concluded that the use of a small amount of clindamycin hydrochloride inserted into a periodontal pocket, once a week for 2 weeks as a complement to periodontal subgingival scaling, is beneficial in the treatment of adult periodontitis, by eliminating more effectively the microbial pocket colonization.

Administration, Topical↗