Meral Günhan

Evaluation of Lipid Peroxidation and Oxidative DNA Damage in Patients With Periodontitis and Hyperlipidemia

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to determine the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), as a lipid peroxidation marker, and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), as an oxidative DNA damage marker, in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and hyperlipidemia. METHODS A total of 74 individuals were divided into four age- and sex-matched groups: 18 patients with hyperlipidemia and CP (HLp), 18 periodontally healthy patients with hyperlipidemia (HLh), 19 systemically healthy individuals with CP (Cp), and 19 systemically and periodontally healthy controls (Ch). Clinical periodontal parameters were measured, and serum lipids, MDA, and 8-OHdG levels were assessed in blood samples. RESULTS 8-OHdG, MDA, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and percentage of sites bleeding on probing (BOP) were significantly higher in the HLp group than the Cp group. In the hyperlipidemic group, BOP was significantly correlated with total cholesterol, the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and 8-OHdG levels. A significant correlation between 8-OHdG and MDA was also observed in the hyperlipidemia group. CONCLUSIONS In this study, serum MDA and 8-OHdG were found to be highest in the HLp group. The increased levels of MDA and 8-OHdG in HLp patients may be a result of a harmful oxidative status in association with hyperlipidemia and periodontitis.

Gingival crevicular fluid tissue/blood vessel‐type plasminogen activator and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐2 levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: effects of nonsurgical periodontal therapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nonsurgical periodontal therapy on clinical parameters and gingival crevicular fluid levels of tissue/blood vessel-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) in patients with periodontitis, with or without rheumatoid arthritis (RA). MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen patients with RA and chronic periodontitis (RA-P), 15 systemically healthy patients with chronic periodontitis (H-P) and 15 periodontally and systemically healthy volunteers (C) were included in the study. Plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, clinical attachment level, bleeding on probing, gingival crevicular fluid t-PA and PAI-2 levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein and disease activity score were evaluated at baseline and 3 mo after mechanical nonsurgical periodontal therapy. RESULTS All periodontal clinical parameters were significantly higher in the RA-P and H-P groups compared with the C group (p < 0.001) and decreased significantly after treatment (p < 0.001). Pretreatment t-PA levels were highest in the RA-P group and significantly decreased post-treatment (p = 0.047). Pre- and post-treatment PAI-2 levels were significantly lower in controls compared with both periodontitis groups (p < 0.05). Gingival crevicular fluid volume and the levels of t-PA and PAI-2 were significantly correlated. CONCLUSION In patients with periodontitis and RA, nonsurgical periodontal therapy reduced the pretreatment gingival crevicular fluid t-PA levels, which were significantly correlated with gingival crevicular fluid PAI-2 levels. The significantly higher t-PA and PAI-2 gingival crevicular fluid levels in periodontal patients, regardless of systemic status, suggest that the plasminogen activating system plays a role in the disease process of periodontitis.

Ischemia Modified Albumin: A Novel Systemic Indicator of Periodontal Tissue Damage

BACKGROUND Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a systemic indicator of inflammatory diseases and is suggested as an oxidative stress marker. OBJECTIVE To determine the IMA and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) serum levels for patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and to evaluate the impact of non-surgical periodontal therapy on serum IMA and hsCRP levels. METHODS Twenty one systemically healthy patients with CP and 15 systemically and periodontally healthy controls (C) were enrolled in the study. Periodontal pocket depth (PPD), bleeding on probing (BOP) and attachment loss (AL) were recorded at the time of diagnosis and 6 weeks after the nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Blood samples were obtained before and after treatment from all groups, and serum IMA and hsCRP levels were evaluated by ELISA method. RESULTS All of the clinical findings were found to be elevated in the CP group in comparison to C group (p<0.05). Levels of IMA and hsCRP were higher in the CP group (p<0.05) and decreased after non-surgical periodontal therapy (p<0.05). Positive correlations were determined between PPD, BOP and hsCRP (p<0.05) as well as between PPD, AL, BOP and IMA levels (p<0.01) before treatment. A significant positive correlation was also observed between hsCRP and IMA (p<0.01) before and after treatment. CONCLUSION IMA is a marker indicating systemic inflammation during periodontal disease, and is significantly reduced as a result of non-surgical periodontal therapy. Therefore, IMA might be suggested as a useful indicator of periodontal disease.