RT causes changes that contribute to increased risk of tooth decay. Restorative treatments can be performed using adhesive procedures, but it is preferable to be performed before of the irradiation protocol, to guarantee better adhesive properties to restoration.

Chemical bath deposition (CBD), a direct low cost technique that involves a cadmium salt solution, a complexing agent and a chalcogen source, was used to prepare CdSe semiconductor films. The most favourable conditions for acceptable quality CdSe films grown on glass were obtained. Commercially available microscope glass slides (with a size of 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 mm) were used as substrates to deposit CdSe films. CdSe films were deposited in a freshly prepared aqueous solution containing CdSO 4 (0.2 -0.4 M), NH 4 OH (3.8 -14 M) as a complexing agent for slow release of Cd 2+ ions, and Na 2 SeSO 3 (0.118 and 0.16) as a source of Se 2-ions. The solutions were prepared in deionized water. The glass slides were immersed in a mixture of CdSO 4 -NH 4 OH for 5 min before the solution of Na 2 SeSO 3 was added. The bath temperature varied from 20 to 60 °C. Structural and morphological quality of the films was analyzed by XRD, SEM, EDS, and XPS. The results show that the crystallinity of the CdSe films as-deposited is improved by increasing temperature. The initial growth stages of CdSe films at 20 and 60 °C start on CdO x and Cd(OH) 2 buffer layers respectively.

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Radiation-related caries are one the most undesired reactions manifested during or after head and neck radiotherapy. Fluoride application is an important strategy to reduce demineralization and enhance remineralizaton.Objective:To evaluate the effect of the topical application of fluoride during irradiation on dental enamel demineralization.Material and Methods:Thirty molars were randomly divided into three groups: Non-irradiated (NI), Irradiated (I), Irradiated with fluoride (IF). Each group was subdivided according to the presence or absence of pH-cycling (n=5). In the irradiated groups, the teeth received 70 Gy. The enamel's chemical composition was measured using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (organic matrix/mineral ratio - M/M and relative carbonate content - RCC). Vickers microhardness (VHN) and elastic modulus (E) were evaluated at three depths (surface, middle and deep enamel). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the enamel's morphology.Results:The FTIR analysis (M/M and RCC) showed significant differences for irradiation, pH-cycling and the interaction between factors (p<0.001). Without pH-cycling, IF had the lowest organic matrix/mineral ratio and relative carbonate content. With pH-cycling, the organic matrix/mineral ratio increased and the relative carbonate content decreased, except for IF. VHN was influenced only by pH-cycling (p<0.001), which generated higher VHN values. ANOVA detected significant differences in E for irradiation (p<0.001), pH-cycling (p<0.001) and for the interaction between irradiation and pH-cycling (p<0.001). Increased E was found for group I without pH-cycling. With pH-cycling, groups I and IF were similar, and showed higher values than NI. The SEM images showed no morphological changes without pH-cycling. With pH-cycling, fluoride helped to maintain the outer enamel's morphology.Conclusions:Fluoride reduced mineral loss and maintained the outer morphology of irradiated and cycled enamel. However, it was not as effective in preserving the mechanical properties of enamel. Radiotherapy altered the enamel's elastic modulus and its chemical composition.

AIMS: This brief review focuses on the current understanding of the complex relationship of tumor-associated mononuclear cells (TAMs) with neoplastic cells, summarizing their immunological efficiency, cytokine profile and production of nitric oxide (NO) in the tumor microenvironment, with current insights on how this might affect tumor growth. DATA SOURCE: Data was obtained through Medline from articles indexed during the last 10 years. The main key words used in the research were: cancer, ovarian cancer, cytokine, nitric oxide (NO), mononuclear cell, lymphocyte, macrophage. SELECTION OF STUDIES AND DATA COLLECTION: 30 studies were reviewed, which contained data regarding the production of cytokines and NO by TAMs or malignant cells, and tried to establish a correlation between these mediators and tumor growth, especially in ovarian carcinoma. DATA SUMMARY: TAMs consist mainly of macrophages and T lymphocytes which present lower proliferative indices and cytotoxicity compared to autologous blood monocytes, although they are able to release various cytokines. The profile of cytokine expression could help to explain both the immunological impairment observed in patients with advanced carcinoma diseases and the potential of TAMs to exert antitumor activity, which makes these cells an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. NO is also produced in the tumor microenvironment. Several reports in animals suggest a tumoricidal role for NO, but in human tumors its role has not been well-established and may change during tumor progression.