Tomasz Konopka

Total antioxidant status and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in gingival and peripheral blood of periodontitis patients.

Introduction:The aim of this study was to determine 8-OHdG concentration as a biomarker of oxidant-induced DNA damage and to assess total antioxidant status (TAS) in gingival and peripheral blood during periodontal lesion.Materials and Methods:The study included 56 untreated periodontitis patients (26 with aggressive periodontitis, and 30 with chronic periodontitis (CP). The control group consisted of 25 healthy volunteers without pathological changes in the periodontium. Competitive ELISA was used to measure 8-OHdG. A colorimetric method based on the reduction of ABTSo+ radical cation generation was used to measure TAS.Results:Significantly higher 8-OHdG concentrations were detected in the gingival blood in both groups of patients with periodontitis than in the control group. Subjects with CP had significantly decreased TAS levels in the gingival blood compared with the control group. A significantly decreased TAS level in the peripheral blood in both patient groups compared with the control group was found. Significant positive correlation between TAS levels in venous and gingival blood in all the periodontitis patients and in the CP group was observed.Conclusions:The oxidative burst in periodontitis may lead to significant local damage to nucleic acids. The significantly decreased TAS level in the gingival blood of CP patients compared with the healthy subjects suggests the possibility of a significant decrease in local antioxidant system capacity during the course of periodontitis. The decreased TAS level in the peripheral blood in the group of all patients with periodontitis may be one of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the links between periodontal disease and several systemic diseases for which periodontitis is regarded as a independent risk factor.

Antibacterial potential of saliva in children with leukemia

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to evaluate the local oral defense mechanisms during the course of leukemia, and to define the correlation between the activity of salivary antibacterial factors and the oral clinical findings. STUDY DESIGN A total of 44 children with newly diagnosed acute leukemia participated in the study. The control group consisted of 23 healthy children. The examination took place at the time of the diagnosis, and during and at the end of the chemotherapy treatment course. During the collection of resting mixed saliva samples the salivary flow rate was measured. In the salivas supernatant the following parameters were determined: total protein, peroxidase, myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, lactoferrin, and secretory immunoglobulin A. RESULTS The introduction of chemotherapy caused a slight decrease of salivary secretion rate (P < .05), as well as the decrease of S-IgA concentration (P < .01), which remained at the same level after the end of chemotherapy (P < .001). Patients with aplasia had decreased levels of peroxidase (P = .014) and myeloperoxidase (P = .013). Patients with oral mucositis presented with lower myeloperoxidase (P = .026) and peroxidase (P = .003) activity levels as well as the drop of S-IgA (P = .000) concentration compared with subjects with no mucositis. CONCLUSIONS Antileukemic treatment contributes to the compromise of salivary defense mechanisms, therefore it is reasonable to support pharmacologically the salivas antibacterial potential of leukemic patients to impede the development of local infection.

Evaluation of select neurophysiological, clinical and psychological tests for burning mouth syndrome

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify, among an array of potential risk factors for burning mouth syndrome (BMS), those that are potentially the most significant in the development of the disease. STUDY DESIGN Sixty-three participants, divided into group I (with BMS: 33 patients ages 41 to 82 years [mean age: 61.5 ± 9.4]) and group II (without BMS: 30 healthy volunteers ages 42-83 years [mean age: 60.5 ± 10.5]) were studied. All underwent a dental examination and psychological tests. Neurological tests (neurophysiological test, electroneurography, and tests of the autonomic nervous system) were performed. Mean parameters were analyzed by Student t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and χ(2) test, and multifactor analysis was performed with logistic regression and by calculating the odds ratio. RESULTS In the logistic regression test, 3 factors were significant in the etiopathogenesis of BMS: a value more than 39 μV for the amplitude of the positive peak of the potential induced by stimulating the trigeminal nerve on the left side (P2-L); a value above 5.96 ms for the latency of wave V of the brainstem auditory evoked potentials on the right side (V-R); and a value over 2.35 ms for the latency of the sensory ulnar nerve response. CONCLUSIONS The BMS sufferer was characterized as having mild sensory and autonomic small fiber neuropathy with concomitant central disorders.

Effectiveness of orthodontic miniscrew implants in anchorage reinforcement during en-masse retraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: The aim of this systematic review was to compare the effectiveness of orthodontic miniscrew implants—temporary intraoral skeletal anchorage devices (TISADs)—in anchorage reinforcement during en‐masse retraction in relation to conventional methods of anchorage. Methods: A search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science was performed. The keywords were orthodontic, mini‐implants, miniscrews, miniplates, and temporary anchorage device. Relevant articles were assessed for quality according to Cochrane guidelines and the data extracted for statistical analysis. A meta‐analysis of raw mean differences concerning anchorage loss, tipping of molars, retraction of incisors, tipping of incisors, and treatment duration was carried out. Results: Initially, we retrieved 10,038 articles. The selection process finally resulted in 14 articles including 616 patients (451 female, 165 male) for detailed analysis. Quality of the included studies was assessed as moderate. Meta‐analysis showed that use of TISADs facilitates better anchorage reinforcement compared with conventional methods. On average, TISADs enabled 1.86 mm more anchorage preservation than did conventional methods (P <0.001). Conclusions: The results of the meta‐analysis showed that TISADs are more effective than conventional methods of anchorage reinforcement. The average difference of 2 mm seems not only statistically but also clinically significant. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of the moderate quality of the included studies. More high‐quality studies on this issue are necessary to enable drawing more reliable conclusions. HighlightsEffectiveness of temporary intraoral skeletal anchorage devices (TISADs) was assessed.Fourteen articles representing 616 patients with TISADs were selected for meta‐analysis.Quality of the included studies was moderate.TISADs were more effective than conventional methods of anchorage reinforcement.The average difference of 2 mm was statistically and clinically significant.

Polymorphisms of Toll-Like Receptor 4 as a Risk Factor for Periodontitis: Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND Toll-like receptors play an important role in the recognition of periopathogens. There are widely known polymorphisms of these receptors that may alter host susceptibility to periodontitis. OBJECTIVES Evaluating the association of TLR4 polymorphisms (Asp299 and Thr399Ile) with the occurrence of periodontitis and its two clinical types: chronic (CP) and aggressive (AgP) among Caucasians. MATERIAL AND METHODS A review of 4 electronic databases was made to identify studies that match the inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis and were published up to December 31, 2013. RESULTS Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. For Asp299Gly polymorphism 1621 patients with periodontitis (1148 with CP and 473 with AgP) and 1755 individuals without clinical signs of periodontitis were included in the meta-analysis. The occurrence of polymorphism The 399Ile was evaluated among 1522 patients with periodontitis (1017 with CP and 505 with AgP) and 1461 subjects in the control group. The pooled OR with a random effects model for the Asp299Gly and chronic periodontitis was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.02-1.8, p = 0.038), indicating a possible association between this polymorphism and CP. Other published meta-analyzes showed no significant association between single nucleotide polymorphisms of TLR4 and periodontitis nor its clinical types. No publication bias was reported. CONCLUSIONS Our meta-analysis showed statistically significant association between TLR4 Asp299Gly allele and increased susceptibility to chronic periodontitis.

Correlation between the state of periodontal tissues and selected risk factors for periodontitis and myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND The current level of knowledge indicates a relationship between periodontitis and diabetes and/or cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Periodontitis can be not only a risk factor for these diseases, but also a condition modifying other primary risk factors associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular complications (lipid disorders, arterial hypertension, etc.) or diabetes. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was an analysis of the correlation between the state of periodontal tissues and selected risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in patients after recent myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 417 patients (92 women, 325 men) hospitalized due to recent MI. The inclusion criteria were MI history and age below 70 years. The state of periodontal tissues (plaque index, bleeding on probing, pocket depth and clinical attachment loss, CPI index) and selected risk factors for periodontitis and CVD were recorded. RESULTS An analysis of the results showed no statistically significant correlation between the depth, the number, percentage of periodontal pockets and the average clinical attachment level on one hand and BMI on the other hand. Whereas a statistically significant correlation was observed between tobacco smoking and the degree of severity of periodontal diseases measured by the average pocket depth, the number and percentage of pockets above 4 mm and the average clinical attachment loss, as well as between hypertension and the state of oral hygiene and between diabetes and the number of preserved teeth and the number of pockets above 4 mm. CONCLUSIONS The degree of severity of periodontal disease can impact hypertension and diabetes, which could potentially influence the occurrence and course of CVD.

Periodontal Condition in 35–44 and 65–74 Year-Old Residents from Lower Silesia Region

Background. It is essential to conduct regional epidemiological periodontal studies among adults. Objectives. The aim of this study was to evaluate periodontal status by means of CPI index and number of teeth among residents of large (Wrocław) and small (Oława) cities in Lower Silesia aged 35–44 and 65–74 years. The authors recorded the presence of pathological lesions on the oral mucosa. Dent. Med. Probl. 2015, 52, 4, 447–454 DOI: 10.17219/dmp/60135 Projekt Ministerstwa Zdrowia