CHAPTER 2
 MATERIALS AND METHODS

 This study was conducted under the rules and regulations of the University of

Florida Health Sciences Center Institutional Review Board asserting that all clinical

investigative techniques, tissue management, and care was in concert with those expected

and mandated with human use. This protocol was assigned the IRB # 622-20.

 Patient Selection

 Gingival tissue samples from 30 of human patients were used for this study.

Inclusion criteria were adult patients presenting to the University College of Dentistry at

either the Graduate Periodontics Department or the Emergency Dental Clinic. All

patients included in this study had presented for routine oral surgery or periodontal

surgery and the tissue samples collected were gingival tissue normally excised and

typically discarded as part of the standard of care in this type of treatment. Controls and

diabetic patients were confirmed using a written health questionnaire and an oral

interview. Individuals meeting the inclusion criteria were asked to participate in this

study and given the informed consent form to sign. Informed consent was obtained prior

to excision and collection of all tissues used. All of the test subjects had Type 2 diabetes

mellitus.

 Tissue Samples

 Gingival tissue samples were excised under local anesthetic (2% lidocaine with

1:100,000 epinephrine) during routine periodontal and oral surgery. The samples were

immediately placed in 10% neutral buffered fomalin v/v (pH 6.8-7.2 at 25 degrees