Publications by authors named "Rathna D Vaithilingam"

Periodontitis (PD) is characterized by the host's inflammatory responses to microbial dental biofilm dysbiosis, potentially resulting in tooth loss if left untreated. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease leading to synovial inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage and bone. The suggested association between PD and RA is based on the potential of chronic inflammation present in periodontitis, which could induce alterations in proteins through post-translational modifications, leading to the formation of citrullinated and carbamylated protein antigens.

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Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis (PD). RA patients with periodontitis (RA-PD) are associated with elevated inflammatory burden due to increased production of proinflammatory cytokines. Controlling upregulated MMPs activity in these patients may have potential therapeutic effects.

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Background And Objective: Periodontitis (PD) is a dysbiotic disease of tooth-supporting structures that has been associated with various systemic diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To date, evidence demonstrated increased prevalence of RA among PD patients and postulated PD to have a role in the development of autoantibodies in RA patients. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted to assess the available evidence to ascertain the effect of PD on levels of autoantibodies in the serum, saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of RA patients.

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Periodontitis (PD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are causally linked by their common inflammatory responses, yet it is largely unknown if these inflammatory responses might have an impact on salivary metallothionein (MT), zinc (Zn), and calcium (Ca) content. In this study, we analysed salivary concentrations of pro-inflammatory (IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4 and IL-10) cytokines, as well as MT, Zn, and Ca in four groups of participants, namely control (without PD or RA, n = 21), PD (n = 21), RA (n = 21), or RAPD (n = 19). As expected, an increased amount of salivary pro-inflammatory cytokines were observed in the PD, RA, and RAPD groups.

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Objective: This study investigated the subgingival microbial profile of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its associations with disease parameters and the inflammation-related antimicrobial peptide, LL-37.

Methods: RA and non-RA (NRA) patients were assessed for periodontal status and divided into periodontitis (CP), gingivitis (G), and healthy (H) groups. Subgingival plaque 16s rRNA gene sequencing data was processed and analyzed using the CLC Genomic Workbench (Qiagen).

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Introduction: The bi-directional relationship between periodontitis (PD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) has been confirmed. Medical practitioners (MPs) serve an important role in relaying this information to patients. This study aimed to investigate the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) in the management of DM patients with PD in primary care clinics under the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Malaysia.

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Background: Previous studies have reported conflicting findings between serum anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) participants with and without periodontitis (Pd). This study aimed to analyse possible correlations between serum ACPA levels and clinical parameters in Pd and RA participants.

Methods: Full mouth periodontal examination (probing pocket depth, clinical attachment levels, gingival bleeding index, visual plaque index) was conducted and serum samples obtained from 80 participants comprising RA, Pd, both RA and Pd (RAPd) and healthy individuals (HC).

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This study aimed to investigate the association between oral disease burden and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) among overweight/obese (OW/OB) and normal weight (NW) Malaysian adolescents. A total of 397 adolescents were involved in the two-year prospective observational cohort study. OHRQOL was measured through a self-administered questionnaire containing the short version of the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP[M]).

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Background: Periodontitis (PD) is a multifaceted inflammatory disease connected to bacterial infection that results in the destruction of tooth supporting structures and eventually tooth loss. Given their involvement in infection and inflammation, both metallothionein (MT) and zinc (Zn) might play vital roles in the development and progression of PD. More specifically, both MT and Zn are heavily involved in regulating immune functions, controlling bacterial infection, balancing inflammatory responses, and reducing oxidative stress, all of which are associated with the pathogenesis of PD.

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Background: The influence of scaler tip design on root surface roughness, tooth substance loss and patients' pain perception is investigated.

Methods: This article was divided into the following parts: Part 1 Surface roughness and substance loss: an in vitro study, which involves intact extracted teeth sectioned and treated using a piezoelectric ultrasonic device (PM200 EMS Piezon, Switzerland) with a conventional scaler tip (FS-407) and a Perio Slim (PS) scaler tip (Perio Slim DS-016A). All sectioned samples for tooth surface roughness (n = 20) and tooth substance loss (n = 46) analyses were measured and compared using a 3D surface texture analyser and scanning electron microscope (SEM) respectively, at baseline and following scaling.

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Background: This study aimed to assess the impact of periodontitis (PD) on the health related quality of life (HRQoL) and oral health related QoL (OHRQoL) of subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and PD.

Methods: Subjects from dental and RA clinics were screened. Complete periodontal examinations were performed.

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Objectives: This clinical study assessed and compared the linear and volumetric changes of extraction sockets grafted with a combination of Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) and Calcium Sulfate (CS) (PRF-CS), and extraction sockets grafted with a combination of PRF and xenograft (X) (PRF-X).

Methods: Five single maxillary premolar extraction sockets received PRF-CS grafts and five single maxillary premolar sockets received PRF-X grafts. Linear (horizontal and vertical) measurements were accomplished using Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images and volumetric changes were assessed using MIMICS software.

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Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with chronic periodontitis (CP) due to shared risk factors, immuno-genetics and tissue destruction pathways. Human cathelicidin LL-37 has been suggested as a possible mechanistic link for these diseases. This study investigated the levels of salivary and serum LL-37 in subjects with RA and CP and their correlation with disease parameters.

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Objectives: It has been proposed that citrullination and carbamylation occur in the inflamed periodontium and could be the plausible mechanisms for the generation of antigens involved in the development and progression of RA. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and location of citrullinated and carbamylated proteins in the gingival tissues and compare their abundance in periodontitis (PD) patients with or without RA.

Materials And Methods: Gingival tissue samples of healthy (n = 5), PD with RA (n = 5) and PD without RA (n = 5) were collected.

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Background: Non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) known as gold standard treatment in managing periodontitis. The aim of this study was to investigate the response of NSPT in periodontitis subjects who were obese. Clinical parameters of periodontitis, changes in serum resistin and periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque were compared before and after NSPT in periodontitis subjects who were obese and with normal weight.

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Periodontitis (PD), a chronic inflammatory disease which results in irreversible attachment loss, bone destruction and tooth loss, is a major oral health problem. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a global prevalence of 1%, is an autoimmune disease characterized as a chronic inflammatory disorder leading to synovial inflammation and destruction of cartilage and bone. Studies have reported an association between PD and RA whereby PD is reportedly more severe in patients with established RA.

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Purpose: To assess the impact of extent and severity of chronic periodontitis (CP) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was performed on subjects from multiple dental centres in Malaysia using a questionnaire covering sociodemographics, OHRQoL using the Malaysian Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire, OHIP-14(M) and self-reported symptoms. Participants with severe CP were age-and gender-matched with periodontally healthy/mild periodontitis (HMP) participants based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.

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We evaluated changes in clinical variables and microbiological profiles of periodontopathogens among 56 patients with moderate to severe CP who were randomly assigned to oral hygiene instruction (OHI; n = 28) or nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT; n = 28). Periodontal variables were assessed and subgingival plaque samples were obtained from deep pockets (≥5 mm) at baseline and 3 months after treatment. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Tannerella forsythia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Prevotella intermedia.

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This study investigated changes in periodontal outcomes after nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) and evaluated associations of change in salivary resistin level with periodontal outcomes in obese Malaysians with chronic periodontitis. Sixty-two obese adults with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into a test group (n = 31), which received NSPT, and a control group (n = 31), which received no treatment. Plaque score (PS), gingival bleeding index (GBI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 weeks after NSPT.

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Background: Periodontitis is one of the most common oral diseases associated with the host's immune response against periodontopathogenic infection. Failure to accurately diagnose the stage of periodontitis has limited the ability to predict disease status. Therefore, we aimed to look for reliable diagnostic markers for detection or differentiation of early stage periodontitis using the immunoprotemic approach.

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Objectives: To determine the serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of resistin between individuals with chronic periodontitis (CP) and those without CP, and to evaluate the role of resistin in CP.

Materials And Methods: The addressed focused question was "Is there a difference in the resistin levels between individuals with CP and those without CP?" four electronic databases: Medline, PubMed (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda), EMBASE, and Science direct databases from 1977 up to March 2016 for appropriate articles addressing the focused question. EMBASE and Medline were accessed using OVID interface which facilitated simultaneous search of text words, MeSH or Emtree.

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Objective: There is a controversy over the influence of obesity on the periodontal treatment outcome in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) in the management of CP among obese and non-obese patients.

Materials And Methods: The addressed focused question was "What is the efficacy, of NSPT with respect to clinical, radiographic, biochemical, microbiological, and patient-centered outcomes in obese as compared to non-obese chronic periodontitis patients?" Databases were searched from 1977 up to and including December 2014 using relevant key indexing terms.

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Background: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a global public health issue. Studies have suggested CP could be linked to obesity due to their similar pathophysiological pathway. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of CP and to assess the predictors for CP among the obese Malaysian population.

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Background: The aim was to assess the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) in the treatment of aggressive periodontitis (AgP).

Methods: The addressed focused question was "Is aPDT effective in the treatment of AgP?" MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI Web of knowledge and Google-Scholar databases were searched from 1977 till May 2015 using combinations of the following keywords: antimicrobial; photochemotherapy; photodynamic therapy; photosensitizing agents; AgP; scaling and root-planing (SRP). Reviews, case reports, commentaries, and articles published in languages other than English were excluded.

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Objectives: To assess dimensional changes and histologic/histomorphometric aspects of grafted sockets using either calcium sulfate-platelet-rich plasma (CS-PRP) or CS alone in socket preservation procedure.

Study Design: Twelve subjects with single nonmolar teeth underwent atraumatic extraction. Six sockets received CS grafts and 6 sockets received CS-PRP grafts.

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