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The endotoxin inactivating action of plasma was evaluated in 62 patients with cirrhosis and 10 healthy subjects. Endotoxin from E. coli 0111:B4 was added to each plasma sample to a final concentration of 250 pg/ml and the percentage loss of endotoxin activity by incubation (37 degrees C for 1 h) was calculated as the endotoxin inactivating rate. The plasma endotoxin inactivating rate in cirrhotics was significantly greater than that in healthy subjects, although patients with Child C cirrhosis and marked hyperbilirubinemia had a significantly lower endotoxin inactivating rate than other cirrhotics. The plasma endotoxin inactivating rate was positively correlated to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. In patients with Child A and Child B cirrhosis, the endotoxin inactivating rate was positively correlated to the endotoxin binding capacity of plasma albumin. The present results support the assumption that the plasma of cirrhotics has a high endotoxin inactivating capacity. Its decrease may augment endotoxicity in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis.

This study was undertaken to determine the extent of in vitro penetration of E. coli endotoxin into the root cementum of periodontally healthy and diseased teeth. Freshly extracted teeth were washed in distilled water, scaled and divided into two groups of 16 teeth each. Nine diseased and five healthy teeth in the first group were immersed in various concentrations of E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. They were then prepared for indirect immunofluorescence examination after treatment with anti-endotoxin antibody and rhodamine conjugated secondary antibody. Teeth in the second group were prepared for autoradiographic examination by immersing nine diseased and five healthy teeth in tritium labelled E. coli endotoxin for 2 to 12 weeks. The latter technique also allowed for semi-quantitative study of the depth of endotoxin penetration by creating facets on the root at various depths after endotoxin exposure. This technique was also used to investigate the strength of endotoxin binding to the tooth surface by brushing for 1 minute and re-examining the tooth for the presence of endotoxin. Controls included periodontally diseased and healthy teeth. Results of the study showed that (1) endotoxin adheres to the tooth surface without penetration into the root cementum of either periodontally healthy or diseased teeth, and (2) the binding of the endotoxin to the root surface appears to be weak.