title: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripical tissue exudates of teeth with apical periodontitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in periapical exudates and to evaluate their relationship with radiological findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Periapical exudates were collected from root canals of 60 single-rooted teeth using absorbent paper points. TNF-alpha levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The samples were divided into three groups according to the periapical radiolucent area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between TNF-alpha concentrations in control group (40, 57+/-28, 15 pg/mL) and group with larger radiolucent areas (2365, 79+/-582, 95 pg/mL), as well as between control and canals with small radiolucent areas (507, 66+/-278, 97) (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The levels of TNF-alpha increase significantly in teeth with periapical pathosis, from smaller to bigger lesions. This research and its results have shown that objective analysis of the TNF-alpha levels enables establishment of a relationship between different concentrations of TNF-alpha and different radiological changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka, Brace Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia. sonja.pezelj-ribaric@medri.hr
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pezelj-Ribarić
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Magasić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prpić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miletić
authors.forename: Zoran
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karlović
mesh_terms: D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha