Publications by authors named "Tracy R Fitzsimmons"

The high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease place a significant burden on society, both socially and economically. Recent advances in genomic technologies have linked both diseases to shifts in the oral microbiota - a community of >700 bacterial species that live within the mouth. The development of oral microbiome transplantation draws on the success of fecal microbiome transplantation for the treatment of gut pathologies associated with disease.

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Background: The cause of prolonged postoperative ileus (PPOI) is multifactorial. The influence of preoperative factors on PPOI has been well documented, but little is known about the impact of intraoperative conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of intraoperative factors on PPOI in patients undergoing colorectal surgery.

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Aim: This study investigated the role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on bone loss and local and systemic inflammation in an in vivo mouse model of experimental periodontitis (PD).

Materials And Methods: Experimental PD was induced in mice by oral inoculation with Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum over a period of 44 days. The probiotic LGG was administered via oral inoculation or oral gavage prior to, and during disease induction.

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Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the in vitro cytokine response of gingival fibroblasts (GF's) from healthy and inflamed human gingival tissues and to assess whether GF's from inflamed gingivae are capable of mounting a secondary inflammatory response after exposure to P. gingivalis LPS.

Materials And Methods: GF's were obtained from healthy donors and periodontitis patients and cultured in vitro.

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Objectives: To investigate if there is subspecies specific migration to the placenta by Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and to determine whether experimentally induced periodontitis results in adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) in mice.

Methods: Periodontitis was induced in pregnant mice using an inoculum of Fn and Porphyromonas gingivalis. In parallel, four sub-species of Fn were individually injected into the circulatory system.

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Aim: To determine the independent and combined associations of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) on periodontitis case status in the Australian population.

Materials And Methods: GCF was collected from 939 subjects selected from the 2004-2006 Australian National Survey of Adult Oral Health: 430 cases had examiner-diagnosed periodontitis, and 509 controls did not. IL-1beta and CRP in GCF were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

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Aim: To compare the levels of the soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (sRANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG) and their relative ratio in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) among periodontitis patients with varying smoking histories.

Material And Methods: GCF samples were collected from 149 periodontitis patients who were never smokers (n=58), former smokers (n=39) and current smokers (n=52). sRANKL and OPG concentrations in GCF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

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Aims: To examine the associations of physical activity with interleukin 1-beta (IL-1beta), C-reactive protein (CRP) and periodontitis and to investigate whether any relationship between physical activity and inflammatory mediators differs between periodontitis cases and non-cases.

Material And Methods: In this population-based case control study of Australians aged 18+ years, dentists conducted oral epidemiologic examinations identifying cases with moderate or severe periodontitis and periodontally healthy controls. Gingival crevicular fluid samples collected during examinations were analysed for inflammatory biomarkers.

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