Mitochondrial Function and Root-Filled Teeth – Detrimental and Unknown Interfaces in Systemic Immune Diseases

Figures & data

Figure 1 Semi-quantitative analysis procedure to determine the presence of VSC. Color changes indicating higher concentration of sulfhydryls.

Notes: The sulcus swab of a patient is obtained using a small sponge that was immersed in a reagent mixture, which causes a change in color to yellow in the presence of sulfurous compounds, which represent bacterial degradation products. The color changes can be classified based on six grading levels (ranging from 0 to 5) for the semi-quantitative determination of the VSCI.
Abbreviations: VSC, volatile sulfur compounds; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.

Figure 2 In the dental clinic: From left to right: (A) Local measurement of toxins in the sulcus of the RFT with the VSCI (here, grade 5); (B) extraction of the RFT; (C) place the RFT in Aqua-Bidest for 24 hours at room temperature.

Abbreviations: VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator; RFT, root-filled teeth; Tox-sol, toxin solution; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Hep Serum, heparinized whole blood; Dil, diluted.

Figure 3 In the Laboratory serum obtained of patient: (D) Exposure of the heparinized whole blood of the patient with the RFT extraction toxin solution (Tox-sol) for 24 hours; (E) measurement of the ATP supply after 24 hours in contaminated blood plus RFT dilution; (F) heparinized whole blood of the patient without the extraction toxin solution (Tox-sol); (G) control measurement of the ATP supply after 24 hours in pure Aqua-Bidest without the extraction toxin solution (Tox-sol).

Abbreviations: ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Hep Serum, heparinized whole blood; Dil, diluted.

Figure 4 Sample PBMC measurement results using JC-10 dye.

Notes: Gating the T cells via FL-4/CD3APC and the evaluation of PBMCs using FL1 versus FL2. Upper-right quadrant shows cells with high membrane potential in black. FL4 represents CD3, therefore the black circle marks T cells. Lower quadrant shows cells with reduced membrane potential in red.
Abbreviation: PBMC, peripheral blood mononuclear cell.

Figure 5 Overview of ATP activity in the two test subjects, each of whom was exposed to a solution containing a healthy wisdom tooth. Y-axis is percentage of T cells (CD3+) without a reduction in the membrane potential. This unrestricted membrane potential is also referred to as ATP energy level (see Figure 4).

Notes: The remaining ATP activity was 93.9% with a solution concentration of 1:100, and was almost unchanged with the 1:1000 solution. As such, the ATP activity could not be determined with a solution that contained healthy teeth. The column at the very right shows the mean VSCI values in this group of healthy teeth with 0.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.

Figure 6 ATP activity on the mitochondrial membrane in five healthy participants after adding the extraction solution in various concentrations (1:100, 1:1000, 1:10,000) and following exposure for 24 hours. Orange box indicates the minimum ATP activity after adding the 1:100 solution compared to other dilutions.

Notes: With the 1:100 solution, the lowest value of ATP activity was 49%. A corresponding reduction in quantity occurred without exception in all five test subjects. The control with Aqua-Bidest showed only a minimal reduction in ATP activity (ie, demonstrating 96% remaining ATP activity).
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Table 1 Overview of the ATP Activity in 30 Subjects from Four Disease Groups (Rheumatism, Allergies, Neurological Disorders, and Tumors)

Pat#	Disease	ATP Energy Level	ATP Energy Level 24 h	Tox-Sol 1:100 After 24 h	Tox-Sol 1:1000 After 24 h	Tooth#	VSCI
88	Tumor	96.83	99.08	81.54	96.17	16	5
64	Allergie	88.73	94.69	85.50	87.05	36	4
36	Rheuma	86.15	99.41	96.41	97.63	26	3
35	Allergy	95.25	98.86	93.59	95.12	37	3
74	Neurolog	99.30	98.68	98.03	98.79	45	4
66	Rheuma	92.60	97.42	86.91	71.18	16	5
65	Neurolog	85.74	97.30	92.59	94.37	13	3
13	Rheuma	96.42	99.82	95.30	98.47	45	3
51	Neurolog	99.44	100.00	74.42	87.88	18	4
86	Allergy	99.45	99.57	99.56	99.26	11	3
97	Neurolog	98.02	95.76	76.61	84.59	25	5
56	Neurolog	97.91	94.43	96.31	89.95	15	3
57	Rheuma	97.56	95.59	91.75	98.46	26	2
73	Neurolog	99.30	95.24	69.51	69.92	26	5
74	Rheuma	95.30	93.83	54.13	61.50	16	4
70	Rheuma	91.37	97.74	61.15	65.95	46	5
94	Allergy	99.08	89.81	59.98	13.40	47	4
93	Neurolog	98.61	92.30	5.95	31.87	25	4
25	Allergie	97.24	98.15	26.71	10.08	46	5
11	Neurolog	99.61	91.85	58.68	51.04	27	4
32	Rheuma	73.72	99.10	99.79	100.00	14	3
10	Rheuma	90.32	86.96	67.81	60.26	28	5
54	Allergy	95.10	26.72	36.28	88.40	25	4
52	Neurolog	93.23	97.28	95.72	96.43	16	3
53	Neurolog	90.32	48.74	79.59	87.03	24	4
51	Neurolog	98.94	82.94	99.29	97.84	12	3
50	Rheuma	95.51	93.48	62.30	87.02	17	5
99	Allergy	77.50	88.84	44.50	42.53	24	4
03	Rheuma	52.90	20.24	51.11	31.25	16	3
31	Tumor	94.81	87.38	79.39	83.03	22	5
MV		92.54	88.71	74.01	75.88		3.9
STDEV			20,12	24,06	26,69

Notes: Overview of the ATP activity in 30 subjects from four disease groups (rheumatism, n=10; allergies, n=7; neurological disorders, n=11; tumors, n=2) with an unencumbered initial ATP value (ATP energy level), an unstressed initial ATP value after 24 hours (the ATP energy level after 24 hours was not considered in the evaluation), loaded ATP value after 24 hours in the Tox-sol (1:100), loaded ATP value after 24 hours in the Tox-sol (1:1000; not taken into account in the evaluation), extracted and examined tooth of the test subject, and the VSCI value prior to tooth extraction. Medium values (MV) are highlighted in orange.

Abbreviations: ATP, adenosine triphosphate; nr, number; n, number; Tox-Sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator; Neuro, neurology; Rheuma, rheumatism.

Figure 7 ATP activity following 24 hours of exposure to different Tox-sol dilutions. Y-axis is percentage of T cells (CD3+) without a reduction in the membrane potential. This unrestricted membrane potential is also referred to as ATP energy level (see Figure 4).

Notes: The curves (red and green) show a reduction in the original ATP activity (blue) after 24 hours of exposure in the Tox-sol dilutions of 1:100 and 1:1000 in 16 test subjects.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Figure 8 All three ATP activity curves show approximate congruence, so there is unrestricted ATP activity by the Tox-sol in 16 test subjects.

Notes: The curves (red and green) show a reduction in the original ATP activity (blue) after 24 hours of exposure in the Tox-sol dilutions of 1:100 and 1:1000 in 16 test subjects.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Figure 9 Paradoxically increased ATP activity despite exposure to the Tox-sol in a group of four patients.

Notes: The curves (red and green) show a reduction in the original ATP activity (blue) after 24 hours of exposure in the Tox-sol dilutions of 1:100 and 1:1000 in four test subjects. However, initial values in this group were only ~45% of the ATP activity of the other two groups (93.91% and 98.00%), respectively.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Figure 10 Overview of the mean ATP activity in all groups.

Notes: The column at the very right shows the mean VSCI values of 3.9 in all groups ie in all patients.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.

Figure 11 Mean ATP activity values based on a reduction in the maximum ATP activity levels among all groups.

Notes: The column at the very right shows the mean VSCI value of 4.6 all groups, i.e. all patients.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.

Figure 12 Mean ATP activity levels among the samples that demonstrated no reduction in ATP activity.

Notes: The column at the very right shows the mean VSCI value of 3 in the group of no reduction in ATP activity.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.

Figure 13 Mean ATP activity levels of the samples that demonstrated a paradoxical increase.

Notes: The column at the very right shows the mean VSCI value of 3.5 in the group with initial very low ATP energy level.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound.

Figure 14 (A and B) In the Rheuma group (A; left window) and Allergy group (B; right window), the ATP activity is reduced to 86.77% and 74.77% of the initial value, respectively.

Notes: Rheuma Group (A; left window); Allergy Group (B; right window): ATP Energy Level at 24 h = in blue; Tox Sol 1:100 at 24 h = in red.
Abbreviations: Rheuma, rheumatism; h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Figure 15 (A and B) In the Neurology group (A; left window) and Tumor group (B; right window), the ATP activity is reduced to 85.13% and 84.87% of the initial value, respectively.

Notes: Neurology group (A; left window); Tumor group (B; right window): ATP Energy Level at 24 h = in blue; Tox Sol 1:100 at 24 h = in red.
Abbreviations: h, hours; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; Tox-sol, toxin solution.

Figure 16 This diagram shows the VSCI values for the different groups.

Note: There is a clear co-incidence of high VSCI values and a reduction in ATP activity.
Abbreviations: Neuro, neurology; Rheuma, rheumatism; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; red, reduction; act, activity; RFT, root-filled teeth; VSCI, volatile sulfur compound indicator.