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Bacground/Aim. Development of periapical lesions (PLs) involves a complex cross-talk between pathogenic microorganisms from the root canal and host immune mechanisms. In these processes proinflammatory cytokines are involved in stimulation of inflammation and osteodestructive mechanisms, whereas anti-inflammatory cytokines, with the immunoregulatory functions, have the opposite effects. How this balance is controlled is still the subject of numerous studies. The aim of this study was to examine whether the local production of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-27 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in human asymptomatic PLs depends on the lesion size and how levels of these immunoregulatory cytokines correlate with the cellular composition of PLs. Methods. The study was conducted on 30 PLs which were collected at the Clinic for Stomatology of the Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia. The PLs were divided according to their size into small- and largesize lesions (n = 12 and n = 18, respectively). The inflammatory cells (PL-ICs) were isolated from PLs and cultivated for 24 hours in culture medium supplemented with phorbol myristate acetate and Ca2+ ionophore. Cytospins were processed for immunocytology by using monoclonal antibodies to cell subsets. The levels of cytokines in culture supernatants were determined by the ELISA method. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test and the Spearman’s correlation test. The values of p < 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results. The levels of IL-10 and TGF-β were significantly higher in the PL-ICs cultures of large-size lesions than in small ones (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). In contrast, the levels of IL-27 were higher in the cultures of small-size lesions than in small ones (p < 0.05). Although the total number of PL-ICs and the proportion of mononuclear phagocytes were higher in the large-size PLs (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), their main composition was not significantly different between the groups. The proportions of B cells/plasma cells (CD19/CD38+ cells), CD8+ T cells and CD14+ cells were significantly higher in the large-size PLs (p < 0.005; p < 0.05; p < 0.05, respectively). In contrast, the proportion of total T cells (CD3+ cells) was higher in the small-size lesions (p < 0.05). No statistically significant correlation was found between the levels of these cytokines and the composition/ phenotype of PL-ICs. Conclusion. This study suggests that IL-10, IL-27 and TGF-β may play different roles in suppression of unwanted immune/inflammatory reactions in asymptomatic PLs, depending on the extension of pathological process as judged by the size of lesions. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. OI 175102]

Background/Aim. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown to suppress immune and inflammatory reactions. However, it is not known whether MSCs from inflammatory tissues, such as periapical lesions (PLs) have similar effects. This question was addressed in this study in which the aim was to examine the capacity of PL-MSCs for modulating cytokine production by local immune cells. Methods. PL-MSCs were isolated from asymptomatic (as) and symptomatic (sy) PLs. Their phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry by detecting MSC surface markers. Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of PL-MSCs were examined by measuring cytokine production in direct co-culture experiments with mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from asPLs and syPLs, respectively. The levels of cytokines in supernatants were determined by specific ELISA kits. Results. Both PL-MSCs lines were characterized by typical MSC phenotype, with the predominance of CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105 and CD166. However, the lines, independently of their similar phenotype had the same modulatory effect on cytokine production, but the response of asPL-MNCs and syPL-MNCs was different, in spite of similar composition of these MNCs. Both MSC lines inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1_ (IL-1_) and tumor necrosis factor-_ (TNF-_). However, IL-8 was only down-regulated in the co-culture of these MSC lines with syPL-MNCs. The PL-MSCs also modulated the production of immunoregulatory cytokines. Transforming growth factor-_ (TGF-_) was up-regulated by both as- and syPL-MNCs but IL-10 was up-regulated only by asPL-MNCs. Conclusion. Our results showed that PL-MSCs contribute to the restriction of local inflammatory and immune responses, but this effect is probably less efficient during the exacerbation of PL inflammation. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 175102]

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The flower and leaf of hawthorn contains many active components, used in the production of pharmaceutical preparations for cardiotonic, anti-hypertonic anti-hypotonic, artherosclerotic, anti-arithmic and anti-anemic groups. According to the ROTTE list (1996), 159 of 1800 pharmaceutical preparations contain components from hawthorn. Due to the remedial action of hyperoside and other flavonoids from hawthorn, their determination is important for the standardization of extract and preparation quality. The extraction of the flavonoids from a mixture of hawthorn (C. oxycantha and C. monogyna) flower and leaf was carried out by percolation with 40% and 70% (v/v) ethanol. In order to determine the content of total flavonoids calculated as hyperoside spectrophotometric method with aluminium(lll) chloride as a colour reagent at 425 nm was applied. The total flavonoid content in the herbal material mixture was 0.483%, in 40% and 70% (v/v) ethanolic liquid extract it was 138 mg/100 cm3 and 157 mg/100 cm, respectively. The extraction degree of total flavonoids with 40% and 70% (v/v) ethanolic solutions was 57.14% and 65.01% respectively. The yield of total flavonoids in the dry extract was 63% in regard to the herbal mixure content.

Aim Compare the efficacy of nebulized hypertonic saline and normal saline in the treatment of infants hospitalized for bronchiolitis. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Pulmonology, Paediatric Clinic, Clinical Centre University of Sarajevo, covering the period from January 2015 to December 2019 and comprising 380 children aged between 1 and 12 months having bronchiolitis. One group received nebulized hypertonic saline (NHS, 3% NaCl)), and another group received nebulized normal saline (NNS, 0.9% NaCl). The control group did not receive any of these treatment options. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the treatment groups regarding length of hospital stay (LOS) and Clinical Severity Score (CSS) at admission and discharge as well as in oxygen therapy duration and antibiotic use, the duration of symptoms before hospital admission, frequency of nasal discharge, elevated temperature, dyspnoea, cough and dehydration. Conclusion The results of this study are consistent with several recent studies or meta-analyses and support the evidence against the use of NHS in hospitalized infants with mild or moderate bronchiolitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]