Sex differences in inflammatory and apoptotic signaling molecules in normal and diseased human gingiva.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine whether sex dimorphism exists in the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic mediators in gingiva obtained from normal and diseased sites of periodontal disease.

Methods: Gingival papillae were obtained from individuals (56 males and 62 females) who required extraction of adjacent teeth. Gingival samples were grouped by adjacent sulcus depth: 1 to 3 mm (normal), 3 mm with bleeding on probing (slight disease), 3 to 6 mm (moderate disease), and >6 mm (severe disease).

Use of saliva for assessment of stress and its effect on the immune system prior to gross anatomy practical examinations.

The objective of this study was to determine the longitudinal effects of a series of stressful gross anatomy tests on the immune system. Thirty-six freshman occupational therapy students completed a written stress evaluation survey, and saliva samples were obtained at baseline and prior to each of three timed-practical gross anatomy tests. Cortisol, secretory IgA (sIgA), and IL-12 concentrations were measured within the salivary samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Relationship between gingival angiopoietin-1 concentrations and depth of the adjacent gingival sulcus.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess concentrations of angiopoietin (Ang)-1 at various stages of gingival inflammation. Ang-1 is an anti-inflammatory mediator present in various inflammatory diseases. However, its presence during the pathogenesis of gingival inflammation has not been established in vivo.

Identification and treatment of the geriatric alcoholic dental patient.

The geriatric alcoholic patient is often difficult to identify because signs of alcoholism are also signs of aging. Often, the elderly abuse alcohol for different reasons than younger individuals do, and these differences can be used for identification of geriatric alcoholics. While alcoholics may have more oral disease than nonalcoholics, most dental treatment of the alcoholic patient does not differ significantly from that for the nonalcoholic.

The relationship between smoking history, periodontal screening and recording (PSR) codes and overweight/obesity in a Mississippi dental school population.

Purpose: To examine the risks for being overweight (Ow) or obese (Ob) in subjects with elevated Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSRTM) Codes (> or =1) (with smoking as a modifier) in a population of dental school patients located within a region with a high incidence of Ow, Ob, diabetes mellitus (Db), and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Materials And Methods: 1098 patient files were studied and data were grouped by average PSR Codes, smoking history, and body mass index (BMI). Data were compared by factorial ANOVA, the Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square analysis using PSRTM Code as an exposure for BMI, Db, or CVD, with smoking as the effect modifier.

Periodontitis as a component of hyperinflammation: treating periodontitis in obese diabetic patients.

Increasing evidence points to periodontal disease as a significant risk factor in the etiology of other diseases with inflammatory components, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, it may be possible to reduce the risk for other diseases with an inflammatory component by maintaining a healthy periodontium. In addition to plaque and calculus, other factors such as diet, body weight, lifestyle, and environmental stress complicate the maintenance of a healthy periodontium.

Gingival concentrations of interleukin-23 and -17 at healthy sites and at sites of clinical attachment loss.

Background: The presence of interleukin (IL)-23 has not been reported within inflamed gingiva, so we evaluated its concentration within gingiva from normal sites and sites of chronic periodontal disease.

Methods: Gingiva was obtained prior to extraction of teeth. It was grouped based on clinical attachment loss (CAL): 0 to 2 mm (normal-slight), 3 to 4 mm (moderate), and >5 mm (severe).

Osteoclast distribution within the rat interdental septum coincident to experimental tooth movement using light forces.

There is little quantitative information concerning the number and distribution of bone-matrix resorbing osteoclasts (BMRO) within the adjacent alveolar bone coincident to tooth movement. We moved the right first maxillary molar tooth anteriorly in 40 female rats (E), the left side was untreated, serving as an internal control (IC). Forty female age and weight matched rats were untreated, serving as external controls (EC).

The contribution of interleukin-13 and -15 to the cytokine network within normal and diseased gingiva.

Background: There are no comparisons of concentrations of interleukin (IL)-13 and -15 and gingival sulcular depth within healthy or inflamed gingiva. Study of non-oral inflammations indicated that IL-15 has similar functions to IL-2, and IL-13 has similar functions to IL-4 and -10. Thus, IL-13 and -15 likely have a function in gingival inflammation.

Comparative 35S-sulfate and 3H-proline metabolism within the interdental septal bone and adjacent periodontal ligament.

Tooth movements require rapid remodeling of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and adjacent alveolar bone. Our objective was to compare the regional metabolism of sulfated-glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) within the PDL and adjacent alveolar bone and compare it to the metabolism of collagenous proteins using radioautographic techniques. Rats were injected with either (3)H-proline or (35)S-sulfate and maxillae were removed at 1, 6, and 12 hr 1-7 days later.

Racial differences in salivary sIgA concentrations in postmenopausal women.

The purpose of this study was to compare sIgA salivary concentrations between Caucasian and African-American postmenopausal women. The age, height, weight and history of hormone replacement therapy were recorded and the BMI was calculated for each individual. Whole, stimulated saliva was assayed for sIgA and total protein.

Synthesis of alveolar bone Sharpey's fibers during experimental tooth movement in the rat.

There is little information concerning the effects of tooth movement on the relative synthesis of bone matrix and Sharpey's fiber collagenous proteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate this situation using radioautographic techniques. The maxillary first molar tooth in rats was tipped toward the midline using an appliance and the animals were injected with 3H-proline after 3 days and sacrificed 24 hr later.

Effects of spaceflight on the attachment of tendons to bone in the hindlimb of the pregnant rat.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of spaceflight on the structure of the tendon-bone junction (TBJ). Pregnant rats either flew in the space shuttle Atlantis (flight group; F) or were exposed to simulated launch and landing protocols (synchronous control group; SC) during days 9-19 of pregnancy. Following birth of their pups, maternal hindlimbs were studied using scanning electron and light microscopic histomophometric techniques.

Recovery of periodontopathogenic bacteria from embalmed human cadavers.

There is recent interest in recovery of periodontopathogenic bacteria from arterial and bronchial tissues to identify a link between periodontal and cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases. This interest could provide a useful clinical correlation exercise for gross anatomy. Our objective was to perform a feasibility study to determine whether these bacteria could be recovered from two sites within eight (4 dentate, 4 edentulous) human embalmed cadavers from an anatomical dissection laboratory.

Use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' significantly increases the risk of periodontitis: smoking considerations.

Background: The role of water in the etiology of periodontal disease is poorly understood.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine the association amongst water softness, risk for periodontitis, and smoking status.

Methods: We examined the association between use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' and the risk for periodontal disease in smokers and non-smokers, using adult participants (18+ years), from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data.

The relationship between tomato intake and congestive heart failure risk in periodontitis subjects.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between monthly tomato consumption (MTC) and serum lycopene (sLyco) levels, and a self-reported history of congestive heart failure (CHF) in individuals with periodontitis using data available in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Methods: Adult participants in NHANES III were used in this study. Zero to thirty three percent of sites with a periodontal attachment loss (PAL) of >3 mm was considered a healthy periodontium, while greater than >33% of sites with PAL of >3 mm as periodontitis.

Biomarkers of bone turnover can be assayed from human saliva.

The purpose of this study was to determine if biomarkers of bone turnover [deoxypyridinium (D-PYR) or osteocalcin (OC)] could be detected in human saliva. These biomarkers have been measured in ovariectomized sheep saliva, but not in human saliva. Saliva was collected from 37 women.

Synergistic enhancement of collagenous protein synthesis by human gingival fibroblasts exposed to nifedipine and TNF-alpha in vitro.

Background: Gingival overgrowth occurs in patients receiving nifedipine. Gingival inflammation may be an etiologic factor.

Methods: Gingival fibroblasts were either exposed to (i) 0-500 ng/ml TNF-alpha or 10(-7) M nifedipine or (ii) 0-500 ng/ml TNF-alpha + 10(-7) M nifedipine for 7 days.

Comparison of body composition and periodontal disease using nutritional assessment techniques: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of body composition (obesity) and periodontal disease using simple, inexpensive nutritional assessment techniques available in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

Material And Methods: Caucasian subjects, aged 18 years and above, participating in NHANES III, were used for this study. Weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, skinfold thickness (S), and bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements were performed and used in the calculation of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (visceral fat), log sum of S (subcutaneous fat), and fat-free mass (FFM).