The relationship between periodontitis and diabetes: a brief review.

It has been reported that a close association exists between inflammatory periodontal diseases and diabetes through which one exerts a reciprocal influence on the other. This two-way relationship is based on the extensively reported assumption that the one condition so modifies the systemic and local environments that the progress of the other is favoured. On the other hand, treating and eliminating inflammatory periodontal diseases results in improved glycaemic control which minimises the microvascular complications of diabetes. This paper provides a brief review in an endeavour to create a better understanding of the interaction between these two relatively common conditions.

The association between periodontitis and systemic health: an overview.

A putative association between periodontitis and several systemic conditions is reflected in the literature. However, the nature of the relationship is not fully understood and at times may be confusing. It is reported that active periodontitis may contribute towards the development of a high systemic disease burden and that oral heath maintenance, following effective periodontal treatment, will improve the quality of life of the patient and reduce the morbidity of these systemic conditions. Evidence has been presented of direct relationships between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease, with pre-term low-birth-weight infants and with diabetes mellitus, amongst others. Whether these relationships are causal or not, still needs to be established by further investigation. In the endeavour to make sense of this rapidly advancing area of research, a series of papers is planned for publication during the year 2012. These evidence-based, condensed reviews will hopefully provide clarity on the associations and/or possible causal relationships of periodonttis with specific systemic conditions. The present paper introduces and reviews the concept of the inter-relationships between periodontal and systemic health. The importance of a multidisciplinary approach with co-operation between dental and medical professionals, whether general practitioners or specialists, in the management of patients with these diseases is highlighted.

Characterising oral lesions in patients who presented with chronic vesiculobullous lesions during a 10-year period.

INTRODUCTION: Vesiculobullous lesions are a subset of lesons with an aetiologic spectrum that ranges from infection to aberrant mmune function. The bulk are chronic immune-mediated or autoimmune diseases in which inappropriate production of antibodies against auto-antigens results in the development of these conditions. METHODS: All departmenta patient records in the ten-year period were reviewed and those indicating a provisional diagnosis of oral chronic immune-mediated lesions were included in the study. Simple descriptive statistics were used. Chronic immune-mediated conditions included were lichen planus, pemphigus vulgaris, benign mucous membrane pemphigoid, including cicatricial pemphigoid, bullous pemphigoid, erythema multiforme and systemic lupus erythematosus. RESULTS: The files of forty-five patients (12 males, 33 females) who had been provisionally diagnosed with immune-mediated oral lesions during a ten-year period, from 2001 to 2010, were identified. Of these, 22 (49%) recorded final diagnoses of chronic immune-mediated conditions. CONCLUSION: This paper characterises the oral lesions of chronic immune-mediated conditions diagnosed in patients attending the oral medicine clinic during a ten-year period.

The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of gentian violet on the germ tube formation by Candida albicans and its adherence to oral epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of gentian violet on the germ tube formation by Candida albicans and its adherence ability to oral epithelial cells. METHODS: Thirty strains of C. albicans isolated from denture wearers, normal healthy individuals and HIV positive patients were used in the study. The antifungal property (Minimum Fungicidal Concentration) of gentian violet was determined at various time intervals using a microdilution technique. The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of gentian violet on the adherence ability (0.000244%) and on germ tube formation ((0.000244%, 0.000122%, 0.000061% and 0.000031%) was determined. In both experiments, water was used as a control. The test results were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: At 60min a high concentration (0.0078%) of gentian violet was required to completely kill C. albicans. Subinhibitory concentrations of gentian violet significantly reduced the adherence ability of C. albicans by 57% (p<0.01) and equally inhibited germ tube formation (p<0.01) compared with the controls. The inhibition was concentration dependent, with up to 98% reduction at a concentration of 0.000244%. Germ tube reduction was significantly higher in the isolates from the HIV positive patients than in the isolates from denture wearers. CONCLUSION: At high concentrations, gentian violet killed C. albicans, whereas at subinhibitory concentrations it reduced its virulence by preventing the adherence ability and germ tube formation. This suggests that the beneficial effects of gentian violet would last beyond the fungicidal concentrations in the treatment of candidiasis.