Taner Arabaci

Therapeutic Effects of Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C on Alveolar Bone Resorption After Experimental Periodontitis in Rats: A Biochemical, Histochemical, and Stereologic Study

BACKGROUND Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and vitamin C (Vit-C) are very important and powerful antioxidants that have been used for the treatment of many diseases. The present study aims to investigate the role of ALA and Vit-C substances in the treatment of alveolar bone resorption in periodontal diseases. METHODS Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: 1) control rats; 2) rats with experimental periodontitis (PED); 3) rats with PED treated with ALA (ALA); and 4) rats with PED treated with ALA+Vit-C (ALA+Vit-C). PED was simulated by placing ligatures around the neck of teeth for 5 weeks. After ligature removal, the PED group was given a single intragastric dose of 1 mL saline, and the ALA and ALA+Vit-C groups were treated with an intragastric dose of 50 mg/kg ALA and ALA+Vit-C for 15 days, respectively. Levels of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in gingival tissues were analyzed. To evaluate the osteoclast activation, expression of activated receptor activator nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) and bone density index (BDI) were determined stereologically in the bone sections obtained from the mandibles of the rats. RESULTS The results showed statistically significant differences between the PED group and groups treated with antioxidant according to B-ALP, MPO, RANKL, and BDI values (P <0.05). ALA and ALA+Vit-C treatments showed beneficial effects on the mesial/distal periodontal bone support at the ligature-induced periodontitis tooth areas. CONCLUSION This study shows that ALA and Vit-C treatment provides therapeutic effects on inhibition of alveolar bone resorption and periodontal tissue destruction.

Relationship between periodontal parameters and Behçet’s disease and evaluation of different treatments for oral recurrent aphthous stomatitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The highest prevalence of Behçets disease (BD) has been reported in Turkey, and therefore research of relations between BD and other disorders have become important in the Turkish population. Since oral aphthous ulcers impair tooth brushing, reducing complaints about aphthous ulcers will motivate the patient to maintain better oral hygiene performance and will thus reduce plaque accumulation and periodontal scores. The purpose of this controlled case study was to evaluate the relationship between the severity of periodontal scores and Behçets disease, and to compare the treatment modalities with neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and medication on the recurrent aphthous ulcers in BD patients by considering the degree of pre- and post-treatment pain, discomfort and functional complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS The periodontal status of 28 BD patients was evaluated according to periodontal indices. The BD patients were also assessed for clinical severity score as described previously. Levels of pre- and post-treatment pain and functional complications were assessed at patient visits on days 1, 4 and 7. RESULTS Periodontal indices, the number of oral ulcers and the daily frequency of tooth brushing were related to the severity scores of BD (p < 0.001). The results indicated that BD patients treated with the Nd:YAG laser had less post-treatment pain and fewer functional complications and reported immediate relief of pain and faster healing (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that periodontal status is worse in BD patients and is associated with disease severity; also, the Nd:YAG laser has better patient acceptance, shorter treatment time and lower rates of pain and post-treatment adverse events among BD patients with oral recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

Therapeutic Effects of Melatonin on Alveolar Bone Resorption After Experimental Periodontitis in Rats: A Biochemical and Immunohistochemical Study

BACKGROUND The present study aims to investigate the effects of systemic melatonin administration on alveolar bone resorption in experimental periodontitis in rats. METHODS Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (control, experimental periodontitis [Ped], and experimental periodontitis treated with melatonin [Mel-Ped]). For periodontitis induction, first molars were ligatured submarginally for 4 weeks. After ligature removal, rats in the Mel-Ped group were treated with a daily single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight melatonin for 15 consecutive days. At the end of the study, intracardiac blood samples and mandible tissues were obtained for histologic, biochemical, and radiographic analysis. Serum markers related to bone turnover, calcium, phosphorus, bone alkaline phosphatase (b-ALP), and terminal C telopeptide of collagen Type I (CTX) were analyzed. Myeloperoxidase levels were determined in gingival tissue homogenates, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) activation was analyzed in the mandible samples stereologically. Alveolar bone loss was also evaluated radiographically in the mandible samples of each group. RESULTS Melatonin treatment decreased serum CTX levels and increased b-ALP levels. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were not statistically different among groups (P >0.05). Alveolar bone resorption and myeloperoxidase activity were statistically higher in the Ped group compared to the Mel-Ped group (P <0.05). Immunohistochemical staining of RANKL and osteoclast activity were significantly lower in the Mel-Ped group compared to the Ped group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION This study reveals that melatonin treatment significantly inhibits regional alveolar bone resorption and contributes to periodontal healing in an experimental periodontitis rat model.

Effects of Melatonin on Oxidative Stress Index and Alveolar Bone Loss in Diabetic Rats With Periodontitis

BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of systemic melatonin treatment on serum oxidative stress index (OSI) and alveolar bone loss (ABL) in rats with diabetes mellitus (DM) and periodontitis. METHODS Seventy Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control, experimentally induced periodontitis (EP), DM, EP-DM, EP and melatonin treatment (EP-MEL), DM and melatonin treatment (DMMEL), and EP-DM-MEL groups. DM was induced by alloxan, after which periodontitis was induced by ligature for 4 weeks. After removal of the ligature, the rats in the melatonin groups (EP-MEL, DM-MEL, and EP-DM-MEL) were treated with a single dose of melatonin (10 mg/body weight) every day for 14 consecutive days. At the end of the study, all of the rats were euthanized, and intracardiac blood samples and mandible tissues were obtained for biochemical and histologic analyses. Serum levels of total oxidant status/total antioxidant status and OSI were measured. In addition, neutrophil and osteoclast densities and myeloperoxidase activities were determined in gingival tissue homogenates, and ABL was evaluated with histometric measurements. RESULTS Melatonin treatment significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose levels in the rats with DM. In addition, reduced OSI and ABL levels were detected in the EP-MEL and DM-MEL groups; the reductions in the EP-DM-MEL group were found to be more prominent. Melatonin also significantly decreased the increased myeloperoxidase activities and osteoclast and neutrophil densities in the EP, DM, and EP-DM groups. CONCLUSION It is revealed in this experimental study that melatonin significantly inhibited hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and ABL through antiDM and antioxidant effects in rats with DM and periodontitis.

Assessment of cytogenetic and cytotoxic effects of chlorhexidine digluconate on cultured human lymphocytes

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic and cellular toxicity of Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) on peripheral human lymphocytes in vitro. Materials and methods. Micronucleus assay was used to investigate the genotoxicity, while the cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion test and Nuclear Division Index in control and CHX-treated (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5 mg/ml) human blood cultures. Results. A dose-dependent toxic effect was found depending on CHX incubation on the genetic and cell viability of the lymphocytes. Micronucleus frequency was found to be statistically higher at 0.5 mg/ml concentration compared to lower doses and the control group (p < 0.05). A significant reduction was shown in the cell viability and cell proliferation of the exposed lymphocytes at the concentrations of 0.4 and 0.5 mg/ml (p < 0.05), while no significant toxicity was found at lower concentrations compared to control (p > 0.05). Conclusion. This study showed dose-dependent genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of CHX on human lymphocytes in vitro. It should be considered during periodontal irrigation or novel CHX products at lower concentrations should be manufactured for clinical usage.

Evaluation of genotoxicity after application of Listerine® on human lymphocytes by micronucleus and single cell gel electrophoresis assays

Listerine (LN) is one of the most commonly used mouth rinses worldwide although very limited information is available concerning its genotoxicity. In another view, the biological safety profile of oral care products is frequently assumed on the basis of simplistic test models. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro genotoxic potential of LN using micronucleus and single cell gel electrophoresis tests as genetic endpoints. Different concentrations of LN (0–100% of ml/culture, v/v) were applied to whole human blood cultures (n = 5). The result of the present study showed that there were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the control group and the groups treated with LN alone in both analysed endpoints. In conclusion, our result first demonstrated the absence of genotoxicity of LN on human lymphocytes.

Evaluation of oral malodour in left- and right-handed individuals

Halitosis is a common social problem in the worldwide population. It is frequently associated with oral hygiene performance, so it may depend on the hand skill and cognitive ability of individuals. This study aimed to determine the relationship between handedness and pathologic oral halitosis. The study included a total of 1510 participants, and daily oral hygiene activities, hand preference, VSCs scores (volatile sulphur compounds) and clinical oral indices such as plaque index (PI) and tongue coating index (TCI) of each individual were recorded. Results of this study showed that there were no statistically significant differences between right- and left-handers (Groups I and II, respectively) according to age and oral hygiene practices. But it was found that PI and TCI were statistically higher in Group I with respect to Group II (Table 1). VSC scores, PI, and TCI were statistically higher in men compared to women (p<.01) (Table 2). There were statistically significant differences between women and men in the right-handed participant group (p<.01), while there were no statistically significant differences among the left-handers (p> .05) (Figure 1). Furthermore, statistically significant correlations were found between VSC scores and individual oral hygiene indices (p<.01) (Table 3). The lower halimetric values and clinical indices in left-handed individuals may be related with their oral healthcare and daily brushing habits. But unless detailed neurological investigations are undertaken, it cannot be suggested that the left-handers have better coordination and better-developed spatial abilities in oral hygiene procedures than the right-handers.

Influences of Fucoxanthin on Alveolar Bone Resorption in Induced Periodontitis in Rat Molars

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of systemic fucoxanthin treatment on alveolar bone resorption in rats with periodontitis. Thirty rats were divided into control, experimental periodontitis (EP), and experimental periodontitis-fucoxanthin (EP-FUCO) groups. Periodontitis was induced by ligature for four weeks. After removal of the ligature, the rats in the EP-FUCO group were treated with a single dose of fucoxanthin (200 mg/kg bw) per day for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the study, all of the rats were euthanized and intracardiac blood and mandible tissue samples were obtained for biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histometric analyses. Fucoxanthin treatment resulted in a slight decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6 levels and a significant decrease in oxidative stress index. It was observed that fucoxanthin caused a significant reduction in receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β ligand (RANKL) levels and a statistically non-significant elevation in osteoprotegerin and bone-alkaline phosphatase levels. There were no significant differences in alveolar bone loss levels between the EP and EP-FUCO groups. This experimental study revealed that fucoxanthin provides a limited reduction in alveolar bone resorption in rats with periodontitis. One of the mechanisms underlying the mentioned limited effect might be related to the ability of fucoxanthin to inhibit oxidative stress-related RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis.

An index developed for the determination of oral hygiene motivation success

Introduction: The purpose of this article is to develop a new index system to identify the individual oral hygiene score (OHS) and the level of the motivation success by using some scales, which are an indicator of the individual oral hygiene status. In this way, the level of personal oral hygiene would be determined and a standard motivation success scale would be presented by comparing the oral hygiene levels measured before and after the motivation application. The Hypothesis: In this hypothesis, an index was primarily formed in order to obtain an individual OHS with the total values of plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and calculus index (CI) scores. Motivation success levels of the individuals were calculated and classified by using the rate of change of OHS between the sessions. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: This index system would form a basis for future strategies in preventive dentistry. Standard and common scores in one individual or a wide population will be attained easily and effectively.

Biochemical and histopathologic analysis of the effects of periodontitis on left ventricular heart tissues of rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Current epidemiological works have suggested that chronic infections, such as periodontitis, are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, including hypertrophy and heart failure. However, mechanisms behind the association are not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of periodontitis on the serum lipid levels, inflammatory marker levels and left ventricular heart muscle tissues of rats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: control (without ligature) and experimental periodontitis (EP; ligatured). Periodontitis was induced by placing ligatures (3.0 silk) at a submarginal position of the lower first molar teeth for 5 wk. Serum samples were collected for biochemical studies (C-reactive protein, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and serum lipids), after which the rats were killed and heart tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and immunological studies (nuclear factor kappa B and β-myosin heavy chain). RESULTS Significant increases in C-reactive protein and interleukin-1β levels and no statistically significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-α level were observed in the EP group compared to the control group. In addition, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in the EP group. Stereological and immunological findings showed that the number of nuclear factor kappa B-p65- and β-myosin heavy chain-positive cardiomyocytes increased significantly in the left ventricular tissue samples of the rats with periodontitis. CONCLUSION Early chronic phase effects of periodontitis on heart tissue are in the form of degenerative and hypotrophic changes. Prolonging the exposure to systemic inflammatory stress may increase the risk of occurrence of hypertrophic changes.