Salivary microbial shifting in hypertensive patients with chronic periodontitis after scaling and root surface debridement.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of scaling and root surface debridement (SRP) on salivary bacterial counts and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive patients with chronic periodontitis, with a focus on clinical significance. METHODS: An observational trial included 24 chronic periodontitis patients, eleven of them were hypertensive patients. Non-surgical periodontal treatment was administered to all patients, with clinical parameters including gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and probing pocket depth (PPD) recorded. Saliva samples were collected before and after SRP to quantify total bacterial counts and specific bacterial counts. RESULTS: Two months following SRP, PI and PPD in every subject under study demonstrated good responses. In hypertension patients, the salivary bacterial count was significantly higher following SRP (P = 0.0221). The incidence of Porphyromonas gingivalis in hypertension patients significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.0386). Despite this, there was no discernible decrease in blood pressure following treatment. CONCLUSIONS: SRP alone was ineffective in reducing overall bacterial counts, but P. gingivalis levels responded favorably. Regular periodontal assessment is crucial for hypertensive individuals to mitigate cardiovascular risk. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Periodontal therapy in hypertensive patients may improve oral health but might not significantly impact blood pressure. Regular periodontal evaluation is essential for managing cardiovascular risk in hypertension.

Changes in the level of cytokines in the saliva of hypertensive patients with chronic periodontitis after scaling and root planning.

INTRODUCTION: Cytokines have a key role in the pathogenesis of both hypertension and periodontitis. Salivary diagnosis is a promising field with numerous clinical applications. Since limited studies have been carried out on how salivary inflammatory cytokines can be determined and how well periodontal disease and hypertension might react to scaling and root planning (SRP). The goal of this study was to identify the pattern of changes in salivary inflammatory cytokines in chronic periodontitis subjects with hypertension after nonsurgical periodontal therapy. METHODS: It included observational trial recruited 94 chronic periodontitis patients, 44 of whom had hypertension. All subjects have undergone non- surgical periodontal treatment. The clinical periodontal parameters included gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and probing of pocket depth (PPD). Unstimulated saliva was collected to determine the inflammatory biomarkers (using a commercial Elisa kit) both before and after SRP RESULTS: In comparison to non-hypertensive participants, the periodontal PPD was significantly higher in hypertensive subjects. All clinical parameters in the first examination, except for PI, were significantly higher in hypertensive than in non-hypertensive subjects. Plaque Index, GI, and PPD parameters at first visit and after finishing treatment positively correlated with salivary IL-1ß, excluding pretreatment GI. The current results demonstrate the presence of a positive correlation between diastolic blood pressure and TNF (r = 0.330 and P = 0.029). All patients enrolled in this study showed a significant increase in the salivary levels of IL-4 after SRP. CONCLUSIONS: The current study offer important and valuable information concerning the practical application of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as useful biomarkers and indicators for determining the outcome of SRP and progression of chronic periodontitis in patients with hypertension.

Microscopic analysis of the inhibition of staphylococcal biofilm formation by Escherichia coli and the disruption of preformed staphylococcal biofilm by bacteriophage.

The formation of bacterial biofilms is a severely encountered problem in clinical and industrial settings. Most of the naturally occurring bacterial strains are capable of forming mono or mixed biofilms. In this study, we evaluated the potentiality of three clinically relevant species in forming mono and mixed biofilms over glass surface. In addition, we also appraised the efficiency of bacteriophages in alleviating preformed mono and mixed biofilm. Our initial study focused on the ability of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in forming biofilm on glass cover slip. All the three strains were able to form mono biofilm, although at varying intensities. Interestingly, E. coli inhibited the formation of S. aureus biofilm in a mixed culture. Specific bacteriophages ɸ44AHJD and ɸX174 completely disrupted S. aureus and E. coli preformed biofilm structure after 72 hr of incubation. However, addition of either of the bacteriophage to the mixed E. coli-S. aureus promoted the formation of biofilm by the alternate strain that was not affected by the phage. Our findings elicit the potentiality of common bacterial strains in forming biofilms on smooth glass surface. In addition, these results are very promising for the development of effective drugs using intact bacteriophages for the removal of complicated bacterial biofilms formed in clinically relevant glass surfaces. The observations further complemented the earlier finding of competitive inhibition of S. aureus biofilm development by E. coli.

Concerted dispersion of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm by bacteriophage and 'green synthesized' silver nanoparticles.

Staphylococcal biofilms predominantly cause persistent nosocomial infections. The widespread antibiotic resistance followed by its ability to form biofilm in biological and inert surfaces often contributes to major complications in patients and veterinary animals. Strategic importance of bacteriophage therapy against critical staphylococcal infections had been predicted ever since the advent of antibiotic resistant staphylococcal strains. The significance of metal nanoparticles in quenching biofilm associated bacteria was previously reported. In this study, we demonstrate a concerted action of 'green synthesized' silver nanoparticles and bacteriophages in removing pre-formed Staphylococcus aureus biofilms from an inert glass surface in a time dependent manner. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the rapid co-operative dispersion of the bacterial biofilm. In addition, the synergistic activity of the nanoparticles and bacteriophages causes the loss of viability of the biofilm entrapped bacterial cells thus preventing establishment of a new infection and subsequent colonization. This work further opens up a platform for the combinational therapeutic approach with a variety of nanoparticles and bacteriophages against mono or poly bacterial biofilm in environmental, industrial or clinical settings.