Maciej Łopucki

Effects of selected factors on the osseointegration of dental implants.

Introduction Osseointegration of dental implants with the maxillary and/or mandibular bone is the basis for implant prosthetic treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the patients’ gender, age, and in the case of women, their menopausal status (before menopause/after menopause/during hormone replacement therapy) on the osseointegration of dental implants. Material and methods The study evaluated the bone loss after implant loading and the success rate of the procedure in 71 women and 30 men. In the postmenopausal group, 20 (28.1%) women were receiving hormone replacement therapy. The implants used in the treatment of the studied patients were the two-phase dental implants. The extent of bone loss was estimated by comparing the post-implantation radiographs and the post-loading ones. Results The implantation procedure was entirely successful in 81 patients (80.2%). The patients’ age, gender and menopausal status did not significantly affect the implantation procedure success rate or bone loss (p > 0.05). A correlation between bone loss and hormone replacement therapy (p = 0.002) was found. Conclusions The hormone replacement therapy contributes to a greater peri-implant bone loss. The patients receiving hormone replacement therapy who consider replacement of missing teeth with implants should be informed about a greater risk of osseointegration failure, which may affect the success of implant therapy.

Study on free amino acid concentrations in umbilical cord blood plasma of newborns from normoglycaemic and gestational diabetes-complicated pregnancies

Introduction and objective. Gestational diabetes mellitus is a common disease among pregnant women. The aim of the study was to compare plasma concentrations of 24 amino acids in umbilical cord blood in newborns from normoglycaemic pregnancies versus those complicated by gestational diabetes. The relationship between birth weight and length of newborns and placental concentrations of individual amino acids were also assessed. Material and methods. The study comprised 76 pregnant women at the gestational age of 37 weeks and more. The control group consisted of 31 women whose 75-g glucose load test excluded gestational diabetes mellitus. The study group encompassed 45 women with diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus. The placental plasma concentrations of 24 amino acids were determined using ion-exchange chromatography with an automated amino acid analyser. Results. The concentrations of cysteic acid, aspartic acid, threonine, glutamic acid, cystine, and alpha-aminobutyric acid in umbilical cord blood plasma were higher in the group complicated by gestational diabetes compared to normoglycemic pregnancies; otherwise, concentrations of glutamine, alanine, valine, phenylalanine, lysine and, arginine were lower in the group complicated by gestational diabetes than in the normoglycaemic group. Conclusions. The results show that despite optimal control of carbohydrate metabolism during gestational diabetes mellitus, there are many abnormalities in the amino acids metabolism. This suggests that research on the effects of amino acids concentration in umbilical cord blood on the foetal development in gestational diabetes-complicated pregnancies should be continued.

Preliminary analysis of the protein profile in saliva during physiological term and preterm delivery

From a clinical point of view, easily obtainable and useful markers of a particular pathological status are required for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Analysis of the proteomic profile of saliva may allow for the selection of potential marker of preterm delivery in humans. Saliva samples were collected from 12 patients diagnosed with threatened preterm delivery and 10 controls with uncomplicated pregnancies at the same gestational age. Samples were analysed using 2D electrophoresis. Based on statistical analysis, spots of interest were selected and collected from gels. Subsequently, spots were decoloured and proteins were identified by mass spectrometry using the matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight technique. The results of identification were compared with the Swiss-Prot database. A total of 1,393 spots were detected in the present study with 59 significantly different between control and preterm samples. Increased intensity of staining of 32 spots was observed in the premature delivery group compared with control patients and 27 spots were stained more intensely in the control group compared with the premature delivery group. A total of nine spots, which were significantly different between examined samples were identified and three of them exhibited increased intensity of staining in premature delivery group compared with controls, including dedicator of cytokinesis protein 1, metallothionein-2, guanylyl cyclase-activating protein 1. The six remaining spots included, epithelial-stromal interaction protein 1, serum albumin, tyrosine-tRNA ligase, cytoplasmic, protein chibby homolog 3, leukemia inhibitory factor receptor and adenosylhomocysteinase 3, and exhibited increased intensity of staining in healthy controls compared with premature delivery group. Further studies with an increased number of patients and identification of the complete protein profile are required to confirm the results of the present study and applicability of saliva as a source of disease biomarkers.

Study of the role of L-arginine in the diagnosis of pregnancy-induced hypertension

Background Pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is a significant health issue in pregnancy, complicating 7–10% of pregnancies. L-arginine is an important mediator of vasodilation with a potential preventative role in pregnancy-related hypertensive diseases. Aim of the study The aim of the present study was to assess the differences in plasma L-arginine concentrations in physiological pregnancies and pregnancies complicated with hypertension in the third trimester. Material and methods Plasma concentration of L-arginine was determined by ion-exchange chromatography in 210 pregnant women (25–41 weeks of gestation). Plasma L-arginine concentration was expressed in μmol/cm 3 . Results The mean L-arginine concentration was significantly higher in physiological pregnancy (0.102) than in the PIH group (0.034). The analysis of plasma L-arginine concentration in the subgroups of third trimester showed that L-arginine concentration in the PIH group decreased with increasing stage of pregnancy (25–34 hbd — 0.051; 35–38 hbd — 0.03; 39–41 hbd — 0.02). L-arginine concentration in physiological pregnancies was the same in all subgroups (0.1). Conclusions L-arginine may have a role in the prevention and treatment of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Further well-designed and adequately powered research is warranted.