Periodontitis as a risk factor for organic erectile dysfunction: A case-control study in a sub-Saharan population.

Background: This study investigated the association between periodontitis and organic erectile dysfunction (ED) in a sub-Saharan population. Methods: This multicenter analytical study lasted from April to September 2021. A total of 114 patients (38 cases and 76 controls) were recruited and matched on age, diabetes, and smoking status. Medical history and ED were recorded, as well as the plaque index, bleeding index, maximum interdental clinical attachment loss (CALmax), maximum probing depth, clinically detectable furcation involv ement, number of teeth in the mouth, number of teeth lost for periodontal reasons, and tooth mobility. The analysis was performed with SPSS 20.0 with a significance threshold set at 5%. Results: The two study groups were comparable regarding sociodemographic characteristics. Periodontitis was present in 76.31% of cases and 75% of controls without a significant difference (P=0.878). Logistic regression showed a significant association between high blood pressure and ED with an OR=4.78 (95% CI: 1.80‒12.70). Periodontitis was not associated with ED (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 0.55‒4.16); however, severe periodontitis was significantly associated with severe ED (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.11‒1.85, and OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.15‒2.44, respectively for CALmax and tooth loss). Conclusion: Within the limits of this study, periodontitis was not associated with organic ED. However, the severity of periodontal disease significantly increased in patients with organic ED.

Enzyme-controlled, nutritive hydrogel for mesenchymal stromal cell survival and paracrine functions.

Culture-adapted human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) are appealing candidates for regenerative medicine applications. However, these cells implanted in lesions as single cells or tissue constructs encounter an ischemic microenvironment responsible for their massive death post-transplantation, a major roadblock to successful clinical therapies. We hereby propose a paradigm shift for enhancing hMSC survival by designing, developing, and testing an enzyme-controlled, nutritive hydrogel with an inbuilt glucose delivery system for the first time. This hydrogel, composed of fibrin, starch (a polymer of glucose), and amyloglucosidase (AMG, an enzyme that hydrolyze glucose from starch), provides physiological glucose levels to fuel hMSCs via glycolysis. hMSCs loaded in these hydrogels and exposed to near anoxia (0.1% pO2) in vitro exhibited improved cell viability and angioinductive functions for up to 14 days. Most importantly, these nutritive hydrogels promoted hMSC viability and paracrine functions when implanted ectopically. Our findings suggest that local glucose delivery via the proposed nutritive hydrogel can be an efficient approach to improve hMSC-based therapeutic efficacy.

Long-term effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on glycaemic control in patients with diabetes with periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Non-surgical periodontal therapy consisting of scaling and root planning has been shown to be effective in the improvement of glycaemic control in patients with diabetes with periodontitis for up to 3 months. However, questions remain about this beneficial effect over a longer period of time. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the long-term effect (at least 6 months from the therapy) of non-surgical periodontal therapy with or without adjuvant on glycaemic control of patients with diabetes with periodontitis. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This systematic review will include randomised control trials with a follow-up period of at least 6 months after initial therapy, with measurement of glycated haemoglobin as the primary endpoint. A literature search will be conducted in MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, The Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, and the US National Institutes of Health Trials Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov, from inception to 30 June 2020. Selection of studies, data extraction and bias assessment will be conducted independently by two reviewers. A DerSimonian-Laird random-effect meta-analysis will be conducted to pool studies deemed to be homogeneous. A subgroup analysis will be conducted in case of substantial heterogeneity. Egger's test and observation of the funnel plot will be used to assess publication bias. The statistical analysis will be done using R V.4.0.0 software. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Since primary data are not collected, ethical approval is not required. The final report will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020192635.

Osteoformation potential of an allogenic partially demineralized bone matrix in critical-size defects in the rat calvarium.

Allogenic demineralized bone matrix has been developed as a reliable alternative to the autologous bone graft. In the present study, we assessed the osteoformation potential of a partially demineralized bone matrix (PDBM) in a paste form obtained without an added carrier. This formulation included the preparation of cancelous bone from femoral heads after decellularision, delipidation, demineralization in HCl and autoclaving at 121 °C. Structural and biochemical characteristics of PDBM were determined using FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), hydroxyproline, DNA content assays, and optical ellipsometry. The osteoformation potential was evaluated in 8-, 6-, and 4-mm-diameter rat-calvarial bone defects by in vivo micro-CT analysis, performed immediately after surgery on days 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60. Moreover, histological and histomorphometric analyses were done on day 60. PDBM was compared to cancelous bone powder (BP) before its partial demineralization. The expression levels of selected inflammation-, angiogenesis-, and bone-related genes were also investigated by RT-PCR, 3, 7, and 14 days after surgery. Compared to the control group, the PDBM group exhibited a significant increase (p < 0.05) in radiopacity in 8-mm- and 6-mm-diameter defects at all time points tested. On day 60, the amount of newly-formed bone was greater (16 and 1.6 folds; p < 0.001; respectively) compared to that in control defects. No bone formation was observed in defects filled with BP regardeless of the size. In 8-mm-diameter defect, PDBM was effective enough to induce the upregulation of genes pertinent to inflammation (i.e., TNFα, IL-6, and IL-8), angiogenesis (i.e., VEGF, VWF), and osteogenesis (ALP, RUNX2, BGLAP, SP7) by day 3 after surgery. This study showed that the tested PDBM deeply influences the early critical events involved in bone regeneration and exhibits efficient osteoformation capacity, making it an attractive graft option for treating defects in periodontal and maxillofacial areas.

New classification of periodontal diseases (NCPD): an application in a sub-Saharan country.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical and radiological profile of periodontitis according to the 2018 NCPD, in a Dakar (Senegal) based periodontal clinic. METHODS: This is a descriptive study based on patient's records in the periodontology clinic. The study was conducted between November 2018 and February 2020 (15 months). All periodontitis cases were included in the study. Incomplete records (due to lack of radiographic workup or unusable periodontal charting) were excluded. Periodontitis diagnosis was established based on criteria used in the 2018 NCPD. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20.0, with the significance threshold set at 0.05. RESULTS: A total number of 517 patient records were collected during the study period but only 127 periodontitis records were complete. The mean age of participants was 46.8 ± 13.8 years and 63.8% of participants were males. The mean plaque index and bleeding on probing (BOP) were 74% ± 21.3 and 58.1% ± 25.1, respectively. The mean maximum clinical attachment loss was 8.7 mm ±2.7, with a probing depth greater than 6 mm present in 50.4% of the sample. The median number of missing teeth was 3 (interquartile range 5-1). Pathological mobility was present in 60.6% of the patients and 78.0% had occlusion problems. Bone crest defect at the most affected site was moderate in 52.8% of cases. The ratio of bone loss to age greater than one concerned 66.1% of the sample. Generalised (81.9%), Stage IV (70.1%) and grade C (69.3%) were the most encountered diagnosis. The disease severity was associated with age (r = 0.241; P < 0.001), BOP (r = 0.230; P = 0.013) and the number of teeth with pathological mobility (r = 0.318; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with periodontitis in this study had advanced forms of the disease and required multidisciplinary care. Clinical hindsight is necessary to improve this classification.