Comparison of the efficacy of subgingival irrigation with 2% povidone-iodine and tetracycline HCl in subjects with chronic moderate periodontitis: A clinico microbiological study.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate and compare the clinical and antimicrobial efficacy of subgingival irrigation with tetracycline and povidone-iodine as an adjunct to nonsurgical periodontal therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty subjects with chronic moderate periodontitis were recruited in this split-mouth study with probing pocket depth of >3 and ≤5 mm and clinical attachment loss of 3-4 mm in relation to 16, 36, and 46. In each subject, three selected periodontal pockets were assigned to receive one out of three irrigants (1) sterile water (control) in 16; (2) tetracycline at 10 mg/ml in 36; (3) 2% povidone-iodine in 46, and these sites were designated as Group A, Group B, and Group C, respectively. Plaque score, gingival score, pocket probing depth, and clinical attachment level were evaluated before treatment and at 1 and 3 months posttreatment. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to detect Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythensis which have been implicated as the major risk factors for periodontal disease. Subgingival plaque collected before treatment and at 1 and 3 months posttreatment. Data were analysed using ANOVA and repeated measure ANOVA. Results were considered significant if P < 0.05. RESULTS: Clinical and microbiological parameters were reduced posttreatment, the reduction being significantly higher in Group B compared to Group C. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that chemical and mechanical therapies were of slight benefit in the treatment of chronic moderate periodontitis, and there was an adjunctive effect of significance when scaling and root planing was combined with a single subgingival irrigation with tetracycline or povidone-iodine in lower concentration.

Influence of Vitamin D & Calcium Supplementation in the Management of Periodontitis.

INTRODUCTION: It has long been recognized that vitamin D is a hormone and were many studies reporting that patients in periodontal maintenance programs taking vitamin D and calcium supplementation had a trend for better periodontal health compared to patients not taking supplementation. AIM: To evaluate the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in reducing gingival inflammation, using clinical parameters like gingival index (GI), oral hygiene index-simplified (OHIS), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and bone density (BD). Also, to assess whether calcium and vitamin D oral supplementation influences alveolar Bone Density (BD). DESIGN AND SETTINGS: A nonrandomised clinical trial done in Amrita School of dentistry, Kochi, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Group A taking vitamin D (250IU/day) and calcium (500 mg/day) supplementation, and Group B were not taking oral supplementation. All subjects had at least one or more teeth with chronic moderate periodontitis. Digital Orthopantomogram images were taken to assess bone density. Data were collected at baseline and three months. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: OHI-S, GI, PPD, CAL, and Bone Densities (BD) were calculated per group. Karl Pearson Coefficient of correlation was used to test correlation of bone density with GI and OHI -S. Intergroup comparison of parameters were done using Independent two Sample t-test. Intragroup comparison of parameters at recall interval was done using Paired sample t-test. The results were considered statistically significant when p-value was <0.05. RESULTS: Both Groups showed significant change in the periodontal parameters and bone density after three months and intragroup comparison showed highly significant results for vitamin D group in relation to GI, OHI S and bone density. CONCLUSION: Calcium and vitamin D supplementation has got a positive effect on periodontal health and it can be used as an adjunct to non surgical periodontal therapy.

T and B cell repertoire in gastric lymph follicles in children with Helicobacter pylori infection.

Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated in the development of gastrointestinal malignancy in adults and children. The histopathological processes that lead to such development are unknown. We compared the immune cell repertoire of mucosal lymph follicles in children with H. pylori infection to B cell type mucosal associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-lymphoma of adults. The B and T cell populations residing within the lymph follicles and/or within B cell type MALT lymphoma were characteriZed by an immunohistochemical technique, utilizing B and T cell markers including: CD3, CD4, CD8 (T cells); CD20, CD40, GD74, BLA36, CD80, CD86 (B cells). Stain intensity was compared between the samples. T cell repertoire was observed within the lymph follicles, but not in the B cell MALT-lymphoma specimens. No significant difference was observed between the staining of CD40, CD74, CD8, and BLA36. The B cell markers, CD80 and CD86, were found within the centrocytic zone of the lymph follicle. In the B cell repertoire, no significant difference was observed between the lymph follicles of children with H. pylori infection and the adult MALT-lymphoma specimens except in CD20. B and T cells were in close anatomical proximity, enabling them to interact and exchange immunological information.

Differential expression of chemokines in a mouse model of wound healing.

Macrophages have a multifaceted role in wound healing. While their initial activity may be in the degradation and elimination of damaged tissue, macrophages also produce and secrete a variety of mediators that can participate in the repair process as well. To perform these functions, macrophages must be recruited to a wound site. Our purpose was to examine the temporal and spatial expression of macrophage chemoattracting cytokines (chemokines) at a surgical wound site. A surgical wound was prepared on the dorsal aspect of B6AF1/J mice. Biopsies were obtained from the wound and a comparable nonwounded area between 6 and 72 hr after wounding. The presence or absence of various chemokine mRNAs was detected by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunohistochemical staining and in situ RT-PCR determined localization of cells producing chemokines. In wounded tissue, both macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-1 (MIP-1) were detected; however, the time of expression differed for each molecule. MCP-1 mRNA was detected at 6 hr after wounding, with decreased expression at subsequent time periods. In contrast, MIP-1 messages were not observed until 24 hr after wounding, and steadily increased thereafter. MCP-1 and MIP-1 mRNA and protein were localized predominantly in keratinocytes. The rapid and strong expression of MCP-1 and MIP-1 messages within the wound site suggests a pivotal role for these chemokines in the repair process. The differences in appearance and level of expression over time, however, suggest distinctive functions for each chemokine and indicate that the local milieu, rather than a single cytokine, influences macrophage recruitment and/or activation.

Human vaginal mucosal immune system: characterization and function.

OBJECTIVE: The mucosal immune system has been recognized as the first line of defense against foreign antigens. The limited information available on the mucosal immunity of the lower reproductive organs have restricted our ability to fight infections, especially, the sexually transmitted disease. The aim of this study was to characterize in-vitro the human vaginal lamina propria lymphocytes (VLPL), their cell surface phenotypes, and cellular function. METHODS: VLPL were isolated from human vaginal mucosa by enzymatic techniques. Cell surface characteristics were investigated by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analysis. Cellular immune function was evaluated by 3H-thymidine incorporation studies and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analysis showed that the CD4/CD8 ratio of the human vaginal mucosa is reversed compared to the gut lamina propria lymphocytes (0.55 +/- 0.17). PHA and ConA mitogens enhanced VLPL thymidine incorporation, while PWM did not have any significant effect. Very high level of ODC activity was observed in VLPL after PHA stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: The human VLPL can be isolated, characterized, and respond to a mitogenic stimulus. We postulate that further analysis of the vaginal immune system will enhance our understanding of local defence mechanisms which will help in the development of new therapeutic modalities against vaginal infections.