Papers by Author: Stef Manea

Abstract: This investigation is based on the premise that heavy metals are sequestered by the mineral phase of teeth [1,2], hydroxyapatite, during their formation and there is a relation between heavy metal pollution and progressive destruction of human primary tooth. Our study was carried out on temporary molars – sound and carious - extracted from children up to 6 year old, residing in an area of Romania known to be highly polluted with heavy metals (Pb and Cd). In carious dentin extracts we found increased levels of collagen type 1 and alkaline phosphatase activity that can be correlated with the remineralization processus during teeth decay. Gelatin zymography shown increased MMP-1 (type-I collagenase) and MMP-2 (gelatinase-A) activities only in dentin extract from carious teeth isolated from children residing in a highly polluted area, suggesting their role in pathological extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and degradation processes in the progression of carious decay.

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to correlate surface features of degraded temporary teeth from area with high pollution with the cell adhesion and proliferation. Viability of gingival fibroblast (HGF-1, CRL-2014, American Type Culture Collection) was evaluated with a MTT (3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazolium bromide ) test and the values are discussed for the most degraded temporary teeth in correlation with the change in surface morphology and hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance, taking into account that cell adhesion is related to a more hydrophilic character.