The limited value of three pathogen species in predicting healing of periodontal pockets.

Baseline level of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans has been suggested as being predictive of periodontal treatment outcome. We analyzed the presence of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia in 55 deep periodontal pockets of 29 patients (18 men, 11 women, 37-75 years) before and after periodontal treatment. At baseline and after treatment, 62% and 33%, respectively, of the subjects presented with 1, 2, or a combination of all 3 pathogens.

The relation between tooth eruption and alveolar crest height in a human skeletal sample.

It is commonly assumed that alveolar crest height increases with continuing tooth eruption unless affected by marginal inflammation. To test this hypothesis, the relation between eruption and alveolar crest height was examined in skulls from a sample consisting of the remains of 244 individuals from the late medieval period. The mandibular first and second molars and second premolars were analysed.

Molecular forms and concentration of fibronectin and fibrin in human gingival crevicular fluid before and after periodontal treatment.

A total of 23 periodontitis-affected sites from seven adults was selected for the study. Crevicular fluid (CF) samples were collected with paper strips before treatment (scaling, root planing, and curettage) and 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 days after treatment. Each sample was eluted into sterile saline and two aliquots were drawn for gel electrophoresis: one for fibronectin and one for fibrin analysis.

Missing teeth and ischaemic heart disease in men aged 45-64 years.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between number of missing teeth (expressing sustained oral infections) and diagnosed ischaemic heart disease using cross-sectional data from 1384 men aged 45-64 years. The study population was derived from a representative sample of adult Finns. Ischaemic heart disease was considered to be present in those with angina pectoris or previous myocardial infarction, whether definite or possible.

Changes in the prevalence of subgingival enteric rods, staphylococci and yeasts after treatment with penicillin and erythromycin.

The changes in the balance of microbial flora in the periodontium after antibiotic treatment were investigated in a blind study. The prevalence of gram-negative enteric rods, staphylococci and yeasts was followed before and during penicillin or erythromycin treatment of 72 periodontitis patients without periodontal cleaning. The prevalence of subgingival coagulase-positive staphylococci increased significantly following systemic penicillin therapy.

Characterization of fibronectin and fibrin(ogen) fragments in gingival crevicular fluid.

A total of 49 crevicular fluid (CF) samples were collected with paper strips from 12 healthy adults. Each sample was eluted into sterile saline and two aliquots were drawn for SDS-PAGE, one for fibronectin and one for fibrin analysis. Peptides were transferred to nitrocellulose membranes, and fibronectin and fibrin were detected using specific antibodies.

Clinical responses to subgingival application of a metronidazole 25% gel compared to the effect of subgingival scaling in adult periodontitis.

A newly developed metronidazole 25% dental gel was compared with subgingival scaling in the treatment of adult periodontitis. 206 patients in 9 centres participated in the study. Probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were recorded before treatment and 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks after the treatment.

Protein composition of crevicular fluid before and after treatment.

Crevicular fluid (CF) analysis is a potential tool for site-specific diagnosis of periodontal disease activity. In this study, CF was collected using a novel washing method from 91 sites in 18 adult periodontitis patients both before and after conventional periodontal treatment. The sites studied were classified according to their clinical status and the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN's) in CF samples.

An intracrevicular washing method for collection of crevicular contents.

Gingival crevicular contents provide a potential source of markers of the destruction of periodontal structures and the disease activity. This communication introduces a new device designed for efficient collection of samples from the critical area of initial tissue break-up at the bottom of a sulcus or a periodontal pocket. The instrument is characterized by two injection needles fitted one within the other so that during sampling the thinner "ejection needle" is at the bottom of the pocket and the "collection needle" at the gingival margin.

Analyses of periodontal glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Regulation by microbial, chemical and inflammatory factors.

During the last two decades one of the main lines of research in the Department of Periodontology in Turku has related to connective tissue glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. A general outline of current knowledge about proteoglycans is presented, with a review of most published and unpublished results on periodontal glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans obtained in our Department.

Gingival crevicular fluid plasmin activity in different clinical conditions and after periodontal treatment.

Plasmin is an important enzyme in the process of wound healing and it has been suggested that it plays a role in the pathogenesis and healing of periodontal diseases. In this study, plasmin activity in crevicular fluid (CF) was measured in different clinical conditions and after periodontal treatment. 152 CF samples were collected with paper strips from 12 subjects.

Metabolism of progesterone and testosterone by Bacillus cereus strain Socransky 67 and Streptococcus mutans strain Ingbritt.

Bacillus cereus strain Socransky 67 and Streptococcus mutans strain Ingbritt were grown overnight in complex medium and then in fresh medium flasks for 5 h. The bacterial cells in the medium were centrifuged and resuspended; 4-14C-progesterone or 4-14C-testosterone was added, and the samples were incubated for 2 h at 37 degrees C in a shaking water bath. The metabolites were analyzed with column and thin layer chromatography and radioautography and quantified by liquid scintillation counting.

Caries occurrence in Klinefelter syndrome men (47,XXY males).

Men with the Klinefelter syndrome (47,XXY males) and their brothers were studied as regards their caries experiences as part of a comprehensive study on oral facial growth and health in individuals with sex chromosome anomalies. The results show that caries experience was greater among the 47,XXY men than among their normal brothers, and a greater proportion of the 47,XXY men's cumulative caries experience consisted of extractions.

Gingival crevicular fluid fibronectin degradation in periodontal health and disease.

The molecular forms of fibronectin (FN) in gingival crevicular fluid of five subjects with at least two sites exhibiting clinical signs of inflammation and pockets of at least 4 mm (test group) and five subjects with clinically healthy periodontium (control group) were investigated. Samples were collected with standard filter paper strips. In the test group samples from both diseased and healthy sites were collected.

Effects of penicillin and erythromycin on the clinical parameters of the periodontium.

The clinical effects of systemic penicillin and erythromycin on the periodontium were investigated. There are only a few studies of the effects of these antibiotics on clinical periodontal parameters. Of the 72 subjects in the study, 24 belonged to the penicillin group, 21 to the erythromycin group and 27 to the control group.

Vascular and cellular responses to guanidino propyl piperazine CK0569A, a new anti-plaque agent.

Guanidino propyl piperazine CK0569A (abbreviation piperazine) used as a 0.1% mouthrinse has been shown to be effective against plaque bacteria. In addition to its efficacy as an antibacterial agent, its safety should be taken into consideration.

Caries prevalence in Turner's syndrome (45,X females).

Dental caries prevelance in permanent teeth (DFS) was studied in 50 patients with Turner's syndrome (45,X females) and 41 normal first-degree female relatives. Caries prevalence was lower in 45,X women than in controls, and this difference was more pronounced in the incisor region than in pre-molar and molar teeth.

Reproducibility of a clinical screening method for assessing gingival inflammation, pockets and plaque retentions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the Periodontal Treatment Need System (PTNS), when plaque retentions were examined separately. A sample of 8000 persons was drawn to represent the Finnish population aged 30 yr and over. The first clinical examination (total sample) was made by a specially trained expanded-duty dental auxiliary (EDDA).