0889-5406/2002/$35.00 � 0 8/8/125969doi:10.1067/mod.2002.125969

Perceptions of treatment satisfactionin a cleft team: a questionnaireapproachAlison Cartright Reid, BS, DDSCollege of Dentistry, The Ohio State University

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree ofsatisfaction of parents or legal guardians of children with cleftlip and/or palate with the overall treatment process, theinteraction with the various specialists, the attention given topsychosocial and psychological issues, and the overall treat-ment process and outcome received at Children’s Hospital inColumbus, Ohio. A questionnaire was pilot tested and admin-istered at the patients’ routine orthodontic appointments. Eachsubject was given a standardized introduction to the study anda brief description of the questionnaire. In addition, eachsubject was instructed to complete the questionnaire indepen-dently and was given $10 for participation.

The questionnaire, derived from one previously used byWilliams et al in 2001, consisted of 5 main items. Wereceived 63 completed questionnaires. The average respon-dent was a white mother 40 years of age.

Our results indicated that parents or legal guardians ofchildren with cleft lip and/or palate treated at Children’sHospital in Columbus are satisfied with the care and treatmenttheir child has received. The need for a counselor or psychol-ogist is indicated (92.5%-96.3%). Teasing was reported in60% of the children. The teasing concerned the child’s facialappearance (79.6%).

0889-5406/2002/$35.00 � 0 8/8/125967doi:10.1067/mod.2002.125967

A comparison of cephalometricsuperimposition techniques in ortho-donticsLenka Kusa, MUDr, Dipl.OrthoDepartment of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Canada

The purpose of this study was to compare 2 popularsuperimposition techniques for evaluating the skeletal anddental relationships on the mandible. Serial lateral cephalo-grams of 51 untreated female and male subjects from theBurlington Growth Center, University of Toronto, were usedat ages 9, 12, 14, and 16. Ricketts’ Position 1 and Position 4of his 4-point technique were compared with the structuralsuperimposition technique of Bjork and on stable anatomicstructures of the cranial base and of the mandible. Anorthogonal coordinate system was used for measuring verticaland horizontal differences between the 2 techniques. Sixdental and skeletal landmarks were identified on the mandible

and compared. Means and standard deviations of measuredlandmarks and of linear and angular changes were statisticallyanalyzed. Paired t tests were performed to confirm differencesbetween the 2 methods. Statistically significant differenceswere shown between Ricketts’ Position 1 and Bjork’s stableanatomic structures for both males and females. No statisti-cally significant differences were shown between Ricketts’Position 4 and Bjork’s stable anatomic structures on themandible for either males or females. The study demonstrateddifferences between the 2 superimposition techniques, whichproduced different x- and y-coordinate readings for differentlandmarks. There were differences related to the structuresused for the superimposition of the tracings and differencesfrom rotational and translational errors between tracings. Thecompared superimposition methods are not interchangeable.

0889-5406/2002/$35.00 � 0 8/8/125971doi:10.1067/mod.2002.125971

Evaluation of the effects of curcuminon expression and function of selectedphase I and phase II enzymes incultured oral keratinocytes

Anthony Rinaldi, DDSCollege of Dentistry, The Ohio State University

Because the fate of a carcinogen depends on whichmetabolic pathway (detoxification or bioactivation) pre-vails, routes to augment detoxification are a chemopreven-tive focus. Curcumin, the major phenolic antioxidant andanti-inflammatory agent in the spice tumeric, has demon-strated anticarcinogenic effects in varied animal models,potentially by down-regulating carcinogen bioactivation(Huang 1998 and Singh, 1998). This study used culturedhuman oral premalignant (immortalized, nontumorgenic)and malignant keratinocytes to investigate the effect ofcurcumin on (1) key carcinogen metabolizing phase I P450enzymes (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) via determination ofethoxyresorufin (ER) O-deethylation (HPLC assay); (2)functional activities of the phase II detoxifying enzymeglutathione S-transferase (GST) (spectrophotometric ki-netic assay) and levels of the cytoprotective tripeptide,glutathione (GSH) (spectrophotometric assay); and (3)growth factor-associated signal transduction by inhibitingactivation of the transcription activating factor, NF-�B.Our results showed that sustained curcumin treatmentappears to increase activities of the phase I enzymesCYP1Al and CYPlB1. This may reflect increased expres-sion and/or efficiency of phase I enzymes. However,because of curcumin’s abilities to antagonize bioactivationof procarcinogens, this is not necessarily a liability (Cio-lino, 1998). Increases in the oxidant scavenger glutathioneupon stimulation of P450 oxidant metabolism likely reflectde novo glutathione synthesis in the curcumin free-cell

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsVolume 122, Number 2

Reviews and Abstracts 231

cultures but may represent glutathione sparing in thepresence of the antioxidant curcumin. Because of cur-cumin’s ability to inhibit oral keratinocyte response tomitogens, assessed by nuclear translocation of NF-�B,curcumin should suppress uncontrolled cell growth.

0889-5406/2002/$35.00 � 0 8/8/125966doi:10.1067/mod.2002.125966

Functional activities and immuno-histochemical distribution ofsuperoxide dismutase in normal,dysplastic, and squamous cellcarcinoma oral tissuesThomas David Hawley, DDSCollege of Dentistry, The Ohio State University

Although reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) fulfillphysiological roles (eg, intracellular signaling and protectionagainst microbes), sustained ROI levels result in oxidativestress and its deleterious sequelae (eg, DNA mutationsincluding transmissions and translations) (Wink et al, 1998).Consequently, aberrant antioxidant enzyme function has beenspeculated to be a key contributor in carcinogenesis. Levels ofsuperoxide dismutase (SOD), the antioxidant enzyme respon-sible for the dismutation of superoxide to hydrogen peroxideand oxygen, can vary greatly depending on tissue site anddonor status. The purpose of this study was to determine thefunctional SOD activities (total, mitochondrial [Mn], andcytosolic [CuZn]) in histologically confirmed noninflamednormal oral mucosal, inflamed normal oral mucosal, and oralsquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) tissues and to characterizethe in vivo cellular distribution of MnSOD and CuZnSOD inrepresentative sections of those tissues as well as oral epithe-lial dysplasia. Materials and methods: total (tot), cytosolic(CuZn), and mitochondrial (Mn) SOD activities were spec-trophotometrically determined (25° C, 550 nm) by calculatingthe rate of inhibition of reduction of acetylated cytochrome c.Immunohistochemical studies using standard techniques (avi-din-biotin-peroxidase) and commercially available CuZnSODand MnSOD antibodies were completed. Results of functionalSOD assays: (1) all samples showed the highest proportion ofSOD activity in the mitochondria, (2) both the inflamednormal and SCC tissues contained a heavy influx of host

inflammatory cells, and (3) the overall data trends show anSCC � inflamed normal � noninflamed normal distributionin SOD activities. Immunohistochemical results: (1) epithe-lial tissues (either of surface or salivary gland origin) dem-onstrated markedly greater SOD staining relative to fibrovas-cular connective tissues; (2) only scattered cells in theconnective tissues (including endothelial cells and phago-cytes) showed SOD staining positivity; (3) CuZn stainingcharacteristics: (a) noninflamed normal tissues: full epithelialthickness staining distribution, with most intense staining inthe granular layer epithelial cells, (b) inflamed normal tissues:same full-thickness staining distribution, increased intensityat granular layer, (c) dysplastic tissues: while staining inten-sity remained greatest at the granular layer, there was anoverall reduction in SOD protein expression, and (d) SCCtissues: highly variable SOD protein demonstrated in lesionalSCC cells, foci of intense staining noted in occasionalwell-differentiated SCC tumor cells and, when present, theoverlying surface epithelium showed higher staining intensityrelative to SCC tumor cells; and (4) Mn staining characteris-tics: (a) noninflamed normal tissues: intense staining noted atthe basal layer keratinocytes and in a granular, perinucleardistribution in the granular layer epithelial cells, (b) inflamednormal tissues: intense staining not restricted to basal layerkeratinocytes—a more uniform, epithelial full-thickness, pe-rinuclear granular distribution was observed, (c) dysplastictissues: an overall dramatic reduction in Mn staining, withfoci of positivity noted in scattered granular layer epithelialcells, and (d) relative to the overlying dysplastic tissues,dramatically reduced Mn staining intensity in SCC tumorcells was noted. Scattered foci of positive tumor cells wereobserved in more well-differentiated tumor cells, ie, thoseshowing keratin pearl formation.

Conclusions: (1) proportionately higher levels of SOD inoral mucosa indicate that the oral cavity is possibly a site ofhigh extrahepatic xenobiotic metabolism, (2) SOD functionalactivities reflect cellular adaptation to ongoing oxidant stress,(3) reduced SOD expression in dysplastic samples is permis-sive for the progression to a premalignant/malignant pheno-type, and (4) decreased MnSOD expression in dysplasia andSCC reflects reactive species enzyme inactivation, possiblyby tyrosine nitration as reported by MacMillan-Crow et al,1996.

0889-5406/2002/$35.00 � 0 8/8/125968doi:10.1067/mod.2002.125968

All inquiries regarding information on reviews and abstracts should be directed to the respective authors. Forordering books, contact your local bookstore or write directly to the publishers. Articles or books for reviewin this department should be addressed to Dr Alex Jacobson, University of Alabama School of Dentistry,University Station, Birmingham, AL 35295.

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsAugust 2002

232 Reviews and Abstracts