Regulation of Anti-Apoptotic SOD2 and BIRC3 in Periodontal Cells and Tissues.

The aim of the study was to clarify whether orthodontic forces and periodontitis interact with respect to the anti-apoptotic molecules superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 3 (BIRC3). SOD2, BIRC3, and the apoptotic markers caspases 3 (CASP3) and 9 (CASP9) were analyzed in gingiva from periodontally healthy and periodontitis subjects by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. SOD2 and BIRC3 were also studied in gingiva from rats with experimental periodontitis and/or orthodontic tooth movement.

Body habitus changes, metabolic abnormalities, osteopenia and cardiovascular risk in patients treated for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of three variables--protease inhibitors, stavudine, and the length of combined therapy--on body habitus changes, metabolic effects and bone mineral density in HIV patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The onset of possible cardiovascular involvement was considered. Forty HIV patients (29 men and 11 women, mean age 39.

An open-label, prospective, observational study of the incidence of coronary artery disease in patients with HIV infection receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: The association of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens that include protease inhibitors (PIs) with metabolic and somatic disorders has raised concerns about the possibility of an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with HIV infection.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of CAD in previously untreated HIV infected outpatients who received reverse transcriptase inhibitors with or without PIs.

Methods: In this open-label, multicenter, prospective, observational trial, previously untreated and asymptomatic HIV-infected Italian patients were followed to assess the incidence of CAD (primary end point) according to the HAART regimen they received: 2 nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in combination with PIs (group PI+) or 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor in combination with 2 NRTIs (group PI-).