IntroductionMultiple studies have reported strong associations between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) inflammation and gastric cancer (GC) development. Altered expressions of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines have a crucial role in Hp and GC proliferation. Although there are many studies related to cytokines polymorphisms involvement in GC risk, the role of Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in gastric inflammation process is not yet clarified.AimThis study aimed to investigate the impact of common IL-4 and IL-6 polymorphisms in GC development risk among Portuguese population.MethodsA total of 100 GC biopsies (50 with intestinal type, IGC, 50 with diffuse type, DGC) and 50 chronic gastritis cases, used as control group, were included in this case-control study. IL-4 and IL-6 common polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR-SSP, using commercially available kits.ResultsIL-4 low producer genotypes, IL-4-590TT (OR = 6.7; 95% CI 1.4–32.4) and IL-4-1098GG (OR = 4.4; 95% CI 1.7–16.9) were found associated with IGC and DGC, respectively. We also verified that IL-4 TTT haplotype was linked with both IGC (OR = 5.8; 95% CI 2.3–14.4) and DGC (OR = 2.3; 95% CI 1.0–5.5) groups. Concerning IL-6 results, IL-6-174CG genotype showed a higher prevalence among IGC cases (OR = 7.3; 95% CI 2.7–20.3), and IL-6-174CC (OR = 3.8; 95% CI 1.7–8.7) showed upper prevalence within DGC subjects. Finally, IL-6-174/nt565CG haplotype showed a significant association with both IGC (OR = 7.3; 95% CI 2.7–20.3) and DGC (OR = 7.9; 95% CI 4.2–14.9).ConclusionIL-6 and IL-4 expression variants seem to have an important role in GC risk mechanisms. This study provides preliminary evidence that IL-4 and IL-6 polymorphisms, although not directly linked to the disease, may be useful tools in the study of this multifactorial disease.

This study was designed to compare the thickness of dentin formed associated with autogenous tooth transplantation in dogs, using either one- or two-stage surgical techniques. The study consisted of three Beagles, older than 5 months, in which six incisors and six premolars were transplanted to mechanically prepared recipient sockets. One group was transplanted using a one-stage method to recipient beds prepared immediately before transplantation. The second groups of teeth were transplanted using a two-stage method in which the recipient beds were prepared and left to heal for 7 days before transplantation. Dogs were injected with xylenol orange, calcein and oxytetracycline at 2 days before, 3 and 9 weeks after transplantation, respectively, for vital staining. Clinical examinations were carried out every week, and the animals were euthanized 9 weeks later. The jaws were resected, fixed in formaldehyde and embedded in resin. Undemineralized sections were cut and examined by fluorescent microscopy. The thickness of dentin formed in the third week after transplantation and 9 weeks was evaluated by undertaking histomorphometric analysis and analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test (P = 0.05). All the transplanted teeth in both groups survived, and the dentin was formed. No statistically significant difference was found in the thickness of dentin formed in the third week and formed in the third to ninth week between the treatment groups (P = 0.999 and P = 0.998, respectively). This study demonstrated that there was no difference between the two surgical techniques in terms of the thickness of dentin formed in transplanted teeth.

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