The antimicrobial propeptide hCAP-18 plasma levels in neutropenia of various aetiologies: a prospective study.

The underlying cause of neutropenia may be difficult to determine due to similar clinical presentation in many neutropenic conditions. The neutrophil protein hCAP-18 (pro-LL-37) is a major component of neutrophil secondary granules and in this prospective study we assessed the use of hCAP-18 levels in blood plasma for differential diagnosis of neutropenic patients (n = 133) of various aetiologies. Plasma levels of hCAP-18 were determined using immunoblot and ELISA.

Pathological periodontal pockets are associated with raised diastolic blood pressure in obese adolescents.

Background: Obesity, a well-known risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), is associated with chronic periodontitis in adults. This cross-sectional pilot study on obese adolescents was designed to investigate whether periodontal disease in terms of pathological periodontal pockets is associated with raised blood pressure and other risk markers for CVD.

Methods: The study included 75 obese subjects between 12 to 18 years of age, mean 14.

The relationship between matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3, -8, -9) in serum and peripheral lymphocytes (CD8+ , CD56+ ) in Down syndrome children with gingivitis.

Background And Objective: Altered immune response may be a major contributor to periodontal disease in Down syndrome. This study investigated the relationship between peripheral lymphocytes and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in serum in Down syndrome children with gingivitis.

Material And Methods: Children with Down syndrome (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 10) were clinically and radiographically examined during dental treatment under general anaesthesia.

Oral bacterial community dynamics in paediatric patients with malignancies in relation to chemotherapy-related oral mucositis: a prospective study.

The role of oral bacteria in the development of chemotherapy-related oral mucositis has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate oral bacterial community diversity and dynamics in paediatric patients with malignancies in relation to the occurrence of oral mucositis. Patients with malignancies (n = 37) and reference individuals without known systemic disorders (n = 38) were recruited.

Pretherapeutic plasma pro- and anti- inflammatory mediators are related to high risk of oral mucositis in pediatric patients with acute leukemia: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: This prospective study evaluated clinical risk indicators as well as pro- and anti- inflammatory mediators at the time of malignancy diagnosis in relation to chemotherapy-related oral mucositis in pediatric population.

Methods: Patients (n = 104) under 18 years of age with primary malignancies and undergoing chemotherapy were included. Potential risk indicators were analyzed using binary logistic regression with oral mucositis as the outcome.

Is congenital malformation a risk factor for caries development in Swedish adolescents?

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether various forms of congenital malformations are risk factors for approximal caries development in Swedish adolescents.

Materials And Methods: This longitudinal register-based cohort study included all adolescents (n = 18 142) of 13 years of age who resided in the county of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000. The cohort was followed until individuals were 19 years of age.

Annexin A5 inhibits atherogenic and pro-inflammatory effects of lysophosphatidylcholine.

Objective: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory condition, and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques is a major cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) is generated in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) during oxidation and/or enzymatic modification and has been implicated in atherosclerosis. Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is an antithrombotic and atheroprotective plasma protein.

Altered relationship between MMP-8 and TIMP-2 in gingival crevicular fluid in adolescents with Down's syndrome.

Background And Objective: Periodontitis is more frequently found in subjects with Down's syndrome. The aim was to investigate whether the relationship between MMPs and TIMPs) in the gingival crevicular fluid of subjects with Down's syndrome is altered compared with controls.

Material And Methods: Twenty-one adolescents with Down's syndrome and gingivitis (DS-G), 12 subjects with Down's syndrome and periodontitis (DS-P), 26 controls with gingivitis (HC-G) and eight controls with periodontitis (HC-P) were clinically examined.

Microbiota in the oral subgingival biofilm is associated with obesity in adolescence.

To test the hypothesis whether microbiota in oral biofilm is linked with obesity in adolescents we designed this cross-sectional study. Obese adolescents (n = 29) with a mean age of 14.7 years and normal weight subjects (n = 58) matched by age and gender were examined with respect to visible plaque index (VPI%) and gingival inflammation (bleeding on probing (BOP%)).

Mutations in the ELANE gene are associated with development of periodontitis in patients with severe congenital neutropenia.

Background: Patients with severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) often develop periodontitis despite standard medical and dental care. In light of previous findings that mutations in the neutrophil elastase gene, ELANE, are associated with more severe neutropenic phenotypes, we hypothesized an association between the genotype of SCN and development of periodontitis.

Methods: Fourteen Swedish patients with SCN or cyclic neutropenia harboring different genetic backgrounds were recruited for periodontal examination.

Expression of prostaglandin E synthases in periodontitis immunolocalization and cellular regulation.

The inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases including periodontitis; it is synthesized by cyclooxygenases (COX) and the prostaglandin E synthases mPGES-1, mPGES-2, and cPGES. The distribution of PGES in gingival tissue of patients with periodontitis and the contribution of these enzymes to inflammation-induced PGE(2) synthesis in different cell types was investigated. In gingival biopsies, positive staining for PGES was observed in fibroblasts and endothelial, smooth muscle, epithelial, and immune cells.

T-helper-related cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid from adolescents with Down syndrome.

Subjects with Down syndrome have a high prevalence of periodontal disease. The aim was to investigate the level of Th1-, Th2- and Th17-related cytokines in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of subjects with Down syndrome. Subjects with Down syndrome (n = 24) and controls (n = 29) with a mean age of 16.

Migration background: a risk factor for caries development during adolescence.

The influence of child and parental migration background on the risk of approximal caries increment in Swedish adolescents was investigated. This retrospective longitudinal register-based cohort study included all 13-yr-old adolescents (n = 18,142) who were resident in the County of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000, and followed them up to 19 yr of age. At follow-up, 15,538 subjects were examined.

Association between obesity and periodontal risk indicators in adolescents.

Objective: In a cross-sectional study design we test the hypothesis of whether obesity in adolescence is associated with periodontal risk indicators or disease.

Study Design: Obese adolescents (n=52) and normal weight subjects (n=52) with a mean age of 14.5 years were clinically examined with respect to dental plaque, gingival inflammation, periodontal pockets and incipient alveolar bone loss.

Signal pathways JNK and NF-kappaB, identified by global gene expression profiling, are involved in regulation of TNFalpha-induced mPGES-1 and COX-2 expression in gingival fibroblasts.

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is involved in several chronic inflammatory diseases including periodontitis, which causes loss of the gingival tissue and alveolar bone supporting the teeth. We have previously shown that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) induces PGE2 synthesis in gingival fibroblasts. In this study we aimed to investigate the global gene expression profile of TNFalpha-stimulated primary human gingival fibroblasts, focusing on signal pathways related to the PGE2-synthesizing enzymes prostaglandin E synthases (PGES), as well as the upstream enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and PGE2 production.

Association between obesity, flow rate of whole saliva, and dental caries in adolescents.

In a cross-sectional study design, we test the hypothesis whether childhood obesity is associated with reduced flow rate of stimulated whole saliva and dental caries. Obese adolescents (n = 65) with a mean age of 14.5 years and normal weight subjects (n = 65) with a mean age of 14.

Maternal overweight and smoking: prenatal risk factors for caries development in offspring during the teenage period.

This study aimed to investigate pre- and perinatal determinants as risk factors for caries development in offspring. In this longitudinal register-based cohort study, we included all children (n = 18,142), of 13 years of age who resided in the county of Stockholm, Sweden, in 2000. The cohort was followed until individuals were 19 years of age.

Risk factors and risk indicators in relation to incipient alveolar bone loss in Swedish 19-year-olds.

Objective: To investigate incipient alveolar bone loss and subgingival calculus on a subject-based level in Swedish 19-year-olds, with special reference to risk factors and risk indicators.

Material And Methods: Subjects (n=686) with different socio-economic profiles enrolled at seven public dental clinics in suburban Stockholm answered a questionnaire on general health, tobacco habits, oral hygiene habits, and their parents' socio-economic background. The clinical and radiographic examination included registration of plaque, bleeding on probing (GBI), supra- and subgingival calculus, caries, and restorations.

Regulation of prostaglandin E synthases: effects of siRNA-mediated inhibition of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key mediator involved in several inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the expression and regulation of the terminal PGE2 synthesizing enzyme prostaglandin E synthases (mPGES-1, mPGES-2 and cPGES) in gingival fibroblasts stimulated with pro-inflammatory cytokines. We used siRNA knockdown of mPGES-1 to elucidate the impact of mPGES-1 inhibition on mPGES-2 and cPGES expression, as well as on PGE2 production.

Risk factors and risk indicators associated with high caries experience in Swedish 19-year-olds.

Objective: To study the risk factors and risk indicators associated with high caries experience (DMFS >or= 10) in 19-year-olds.

Material And Methods: The subjects (n=800) lived in seven suburbs of Stockholm and answered a structured questionnaire about their parents' education, occupation, and country of birth, as well as their dietary habits, oral hygiene habits, and attitudes to dental care. Dental caries was assessed by clinical and radiographic examination using the decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT), and surfaces (DMFS) indices.

Cell interactions between human gingival fibroblasts and monocytes stimulate the production of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in gingival fibroblasts.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) plays an important role in inflammatory diseases including periodontitis, which is characterized by tissue destruction and dense infiltration of mononuclear cells.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cell interactions between human gingival fibroblasts and human monocytes on the production of MMP-1 in a coculture model.

Methods: The fibroblasts were cultured in either cell-to-cell contact with monocytes or in separated cocultures using a microporous membrane to prevent cell-to-cell contact.

Cell expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 in co-cultures of human gingival fibroblasts and monocytes: the involvement of ICAM-1.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) plays an important role in the degradation of collagen in inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular expression of MMP-1 and its inhibitor, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), in gingival fibroblasts co-cultured with monocytes and the possible mediating role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In co-cultures, the expression of MMP-1 and TIMP-1 increased in fibroblasts, but not in monocytes, although the number of MMP-1+ and TIMP-1+ adhered monocytes increased.

Correlation between TNFalpha in gingival crevicular fluid and body mass index in obese subjects.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI kg/m2), the inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), and interleukin-8 (-8) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from 32 obese subjects aged between 13 and 24 years. Gingival inflammation (GBI %), pathological pocket depths, and alveolar bone loss diagnosed on radiographs were recorded. The GCF was collected from six sites per subject using periopaper, and the volume was determined using Peritron 8000.

Triclosan reduces microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 expression in human gingival fibroblasts.

Objective: The effect of triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether) on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) and on the translocation of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in relation to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was investigated in human gingival fibroblasts challenged with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha).

Methods: Fibroblasts were established from gingival biopsies obtained from six children. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression was quantified using mRNA quantitation and enzyme immunometric assay kits.

Induction of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in human gingival fibroblasts.

It is well established that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in inflammatory diseases including periodontitis. Previously we have reported that the inflammatory mediators interleukin-1beta, (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) stimulate PGE2 synthesis by inducing mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in human gingival fibroblasts. In present study the involvement of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) in relation to PGE2 production was investigated.