Associations of Interleukin-1 Polymorphisms with Chronic Periodontitis in Two Different Kenyan Ethnic Groups: A Case Control Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between IL-1β and IL-1α isoforms with chronic periodontitis in two Kenyan ethnic groups, Taitas and Swahilis.

Methods: A case-control study in which participants were assessed for dental plaque, gingival inflammation, pocket depth and gingival recession after informed consent. Buccal swab samples were obtained and deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from the swabs using QIAamp DNA purification protocol followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification using specific primers to IL-1 α rs1800587 (-889) and rs17561 (+4845) and IL-1β (rs16944 (-511) and rs11443624 (+3954).

Oral health in Kenya.

This paper gives general information on the location of Kenya, its demography, economy, organisation of health services, general health policy, health financing, oral health infrastructure, problems that hamper health financing and proposals on how to solve these problems. Further, a summary of health status of the Kenyan people is given based on the results of studies. The mean DMFT for the rural and urban populations is low and there is no evidence of an increase or decrease.

Occurrence of ulcerative oral lesions at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.

This study was done as part of a WHO international survey of orofacial mutilations and NOMA cases referred to out-patient clinic and care centers in 1992. Files of 16,000 patients who were treated at the Dental Unit of Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) were scrutinized for the occurrence of NOMA and other ulcerative oral lesions. Of these, 30% had acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis with a male to female ratio of 5:1.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards HIV positive and AIDS patients among public service dentists in Nairobi.

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, practices and attitudes towards HIV Positive/AIDS patients among 112 dentists from public institutions in Nairobi using a self-administered questionnaire. 94(83.9%) responded.