A systematic review assessing the dental pulp stone prevalence in the Saudi Arabian population.

This Systematic Review (SR) was to report on the prevalence of pulp stones in the Saudi Arabian (KSA) population. The electronic databases were searched for scientific research articles during May 2021. The data search was performed in electronic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Saudi Digital Library, and 6 original research articles which fulfilled the eligibility criteria were assessed for qualitative data. The prevalence of pulp stones among the KSA population ranged from 4.6% to 50.93% among the study participants and it ranged between 10.2%-13.34% in the teeth assessed. The pulp stones were more frequently reported in decayed teeth, periodontal diseases, attrition, teeth with dental restorations, and higher in the molar teeth in comparison with the premolar teeth. The data on the prevalence of pulp stones among the Saudi population will be helpful for clinicians in planning endodontic procedures.

Used Toothbrush as a Potential Source of Gene Expression Among Subjects With Systemic Disease and Adverse Habits.

Purpose To explore the viability of used toothbrush as a source of gene expression and comparison of the same among tobacco, alcohol, diabetic and hypertensive subjects. Materials and methods Fourteen subjects with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension were allocated to Group I, 14 subjects with tobacco and alcohol habits allocated to Group II and 14 healthy subjects allocated to Group III. Genetic materials retrieved from the used toothbrush of the study subjects were assessed for genetic expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Bcl-2-like protein 4 (BAX), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), G-protein beta-3 (GNB3), and subunit gene and transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results BAX gene showed reduced expression in tobacco and alcohol users (p=0.0497). BCL2, CDK4, and GNB3 showed no significant difference in expression in both the groups and with control. CDKN2A was expressed at a lower level in Group I and II participants. TCF7L2 showed higher expression in Group 2 participants (p=0.001). Conclusion The study concluded that used toothbrush is a reliable source for genetic expression. There was no difference in BCL2, CDK4, and GNB3 gene expression between subjects with systemic disease, adverse habits and healthy controls. There is a downregulation of BAX and upregulation of TCF7L2 gene in subjects with adverse habits.

Salivary Biomarkers in Periodontitis Post Scaling and Root Planing.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the levels of salivary uric acid and arginase in patients with periodontitis, generalized gingivitis, and in healthy individuals. Then, the effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy on levels of salivary arginase and uric acid were also investigated. METHODS: A total of 60 subjects were divided into three groups based on periodontal health: group I comprised 20 healthy individuals; group II comprised 20 subjects who had generalized gingivitis; group III comprised 20 subjects who had generalized periodontitis. On day 0, the clinical examination of periodontal status was recorded, following which saliva samples were collected. Group II and group III subjects underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy. These patients were recalled on day 30 to collect saliva samples. The periodontal parameters were reassessed on day 90, and saliva samples were collected for analysis of salivary arginase and uric acid levels. RESULTS: Group II and group III showed improvement in clinical parameters following non-surgical periodontal therapy on the 90th day. The MGI score, PPD, and CAL showed improvement. On day 0, at baseline, salivary arginase levels in group III and group II were higher than those in healthy subjects, whereas on day 0, salivary uric acid levels in group III and group II were lower than those in healthy subjects. Both on day 0 and day 90, the salivary arginase level showed a positive correlation with the periodontal parameters, whereas the salivary uric acid level was positively correlated with the periodontal parameters on day 90. CONCLUSION: the level of salivary arginase was a pro-inflammatory marker and a raised level of salivary uric acid was an anti-inflammatory marker following periodontal therapy, suggesting their pivotal role in assessing periodontal status and evaluation of treatment outcome.

Assessing the In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Moringa oleifera Crude Extract.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play a vital role in the pathogenesis of various diseases of the oral cavity including periodontal disease. Phytochemicals present in plants with antioxidant (AO) and anti-inflammatory properties could aid as a therapeutic adjunct in the management of these diseases. AIM: To assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. (MOL) in an in vitro environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera Lam. were prepared by maceration. Antioxidant activity was assessed by FRAP, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by Albumin Denaturation Assay. Experiments were repeated thrice, and mean and standard deviation were calculated. RESULTS: Both the test substances exhibited significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and aqueous extracts exhibited higher activity than ethanolic extract. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera Lam. could be further explored for the management of periodontal disease as a local drug delivery system with the extract could be developed.

Role of Toothbrushes as Gene Expression Profiling Tool for Oral Cancer Screening in Tobacco and Alcohol Users.

AIM: The use of toothbrushes was investigated as a potential RNA source and gene expression profiling tool for oral cancer screening in tobacco and alcohol users. METHODOLOGY: A total of 20 subjects were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups: group I-healthy controls (n = 6); group II-individuals who consume tobacco and alcohol (n = 14). After the volunteers brushed their teeth using a soft-bristle toothbrush with ~0.5 gm of toothpaste, the toothbrushes were collected, and the gene expression of BAX, BCL2, CDK4, CKDN2A, GNB3, and TCF7L2 was assessed. RESULTS: The gene expression of BAX decreased significantly in alcoholics and smokers (0.13867 ± 0.12014), while the gene expression of BCL2 increased in alcoholics and smokers (1.91001 ± 0.90425) in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.0054 and p = 0.0055). Although there was increased expression of CDK4, CKDN2A, and TCF7L2 and decreased expression of GNB3 in smokers and alcoholics, the results were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: A toothbrush is a good source of RNA, and gene expression analysis can be performed using the genetic material retrieved from toothbrushes, which can aid in the early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma among tobacco and alcohol users. Further studies with a larger sample size and different durations of toothbrush use should be conducted to explore the role of toothbrushes as a noninvasive tool for disease diagnosis.

Root Membrane Concept: Shield the Socket-A Case Report.

Edentulousness affects the mental health of most patients. Missing teeth in the anterior esthetic zones is a matter of concern, especially for young adults. Various replacement options such as fixed partial dentures, removable partial dentures, and dental implants are available to treat edentulousness. Dental implants have been a booming treatment option in modern-day dentistry as they more closely mimic the natural tooth. The most important criterion for placement of the implant in the esthetic zone is the conservation of alveolar bone, especially in the anterior region which is usually compromised due to tooth extraction or resorption of the ridge. The root membrane concept or the socket shield technique is a recently introduced concept in implant dentistry where a portion of the root acts as a shield to protect against alveolar bone resorption and maintain bone integrity, especially in the esthetic area. This case report describes the clinical management of fractured upper anterior teeth using a dental implant and the root membrane technique. Keywords: Anterior zone, Esthetics, Immediate implants, Implant, Missing teeth, Root membrane technique, Socket shield.

Evaluation and Comparison of Genomic DNA Extraction Methods and PCR Optimization on Archival Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissues of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recovery and amplification of nucleic acids from archived formalin-fixed tissue samples is the most developing field in retrospective genetic studies. We compared different deparaffinization methods and DNA isolation techniques, and intergroup comparisons were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different storing methods for archival OSCC samples based on obtained mean DNA quantity, quality, and PCR amplification of the P53 gene. The study comprised 75 archival histologically diagnosed OSCC samples which were divided into Group I: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and Group II: Long-term formalin-fixed tissue. A comparison of different deparaffinization methods showed that xylene deparaffinization is an efficient method to obtain suitable DNA. Comparing different DNA isolation techniques illustrated that the conventional phenol-chloroform method gives better integrity to DNA in contrast with the kit method. Comparison between FFPET and long-term FFT samples demonstrated that samples fixed in formalin overnight and embedded in wax yield better quality and quantity DNA in comparison with long-term samples fixed in formalin. To obtain suitable integrity of DNA, tissue samples should be stored by fixing in formalin overnight followed by preparation of paraffin tissue blocks, deparaffinization by xylene, and subjecting them to the conventional phenol-chloroform DNA isolation protocol.

Clinical and Radiological Outcomes for Guided Implant Placement in Sites Preserved with Bioactive Glass Bone Graft after Tooth Extraction: A Controlled Clinical Trial.

The goal of the study was to evaluate marginal bone loss (MBL) after 1-year implant placement using a guided implant surgical (GIS) protocol in grafted sockets compared to non-grafted sites. We followed a parallel study design with patients divided into two groups: grafted group (Test group, n = 10) and non-grafted group (Control, n = 10). A bioactive glass bone graft was used for grafting. A single edentulous site with a minimum bone height ≥11 mm and bone width ≥6 mm confirmed by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) was chosen for implant placement. Tapered hybrid implants that were sandblasted and acid-etched (HSA) were placed using the GIS protocol and immediately loaded with a provisional prosthesis. MBL and implant survival rates (ISR) were assessed based on standardized radiographs and clinical exams. Patients were followed up for 1-year post-loading. MBL after one year, in the control group, was −0.31 ± 0.11 mm (mesial) and −0.28 ± 0.09 mm (distal); and in the test group was −0.35 ± 0.11 mm (mesial) and −0.33 ± 0.13 mm (distal), with no statistical significance (p > 0.05). ISR was 100% in both groups after one year. ISR was similar between groups and the marginal bone changes were comparable one year after functional loading, without statistical significance, suggesting that bioactive glass permitted adequate bone formation. The GIS protocol avoided raising flaps and provided a better position to place implants, preserving the marginal bone around implants.

Impact of Red Complex Bacteria and TNF-α Levels on the Diabetic and Renal Status of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in the Presence and Absence of Periodontitis.

Scientific evidence shows a positive association in the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Various confounding factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation, also play a significant role in the progression of CKD, which remains unexplored. We hypothesise the role of red complex bacteria with various confounding factors associated with chronic kidney disease. The study comprised a total of 120 participants categorised into 4 groups: the control group (C), periodontitis subjects without CKD (P), periodontally healthy chronic kidney disease subjects (CKD), and subjects having both periodontitis and CKD (P + CKD), with 30 subjects in each group. Demographic variables, and periodontal, renal, and diabetic parameters were recorded. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and those of red complex bacteria such as Prophyromonas gingivalis (P.g), Treponema denticola (T.d), and Tonerella forsythia (T.f) were assessed, and the obtained results were statistically analysed. Among the various demographic variables, age showed a level of significance. Mean PI, GI, CAL, and PPD (the proportion of sites with PPD ≥ 5 mm and CAL ≥ 3 mm) were elevated in the P + CKD group. Diabetic parameters such as fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c levels were also greater in the P + CKD group. Renal parameters such as eGFR and serum creatinine levels were greater in CKD patients. The estimation of red complex periodontal pathogens such as Pg, Td and Tf levels were significantly greater in the P and P + CKD groups. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant correlation of red complex bacteria with all variables. Greater levels of P.g, T.d and T.f were found in the P groups, thus indicating their important role in the initiation and progression of inflammation of periodontitis and CKD, with diabetes as one of the confounding factors. The study also confirmed a log-linear relationship between TNF-α levels and red complex bacteria, thereby demonstrating the role of inflammatory biomarkers in periodontal disease progression that could contribute to the development of systemic inflammation such as CKD.

In-vitro analysis on the potential use of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells on arecoline-induced oral epithelial cells.

To assess the protective role of the secretome of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells on arecoline-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and senescence on epithelial cells of the oral mucosa. Effect of varying concentrations of arecoline extract and dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell condition media (DPSC-CM) were noted on oral mucosal epithelial cells. MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, and the quantitative gene expressions of BCL2, PUMA, BAD, BAX, CASP3, CASP9, CASP12, TGFB1, CST3, COL1A2, COL3A1, TIMP1, TIMP2, CDH1, and CDH2 were assessed. Oral mucosal epithelial cells exposed only to the arecoline were the control. 50% and 100% DPSC-CM decreased apoptosis-related gene expression in the cells exposed with 25 µM arecoline compared to the control. 50% DPSC-CM attenuated the expression of all fibrotic genes and EMT-related genes. 20% and 100% DPSC-CM showed differential effects on fibrotic and EMT-related genes. DPSC-CM inhibited apoptosis, and attenuated expression of fibrotic and EMT-related genes on arecoline treated human oral epithelial cells.

Is Palatal Rugae Pattern a Reliable Tool for Personal Identification following Orthodontic Treatment? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To qualitatively and quantitatively review the reliability of palatal rugae as a tool for personal identification following orthodontic treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective studies assessing the accuracy of matching palatal rugae pattern pre- and post-orthodontic treatment were identified from PubMed and SCOPUS databases. The title and abstract of the articles identified in the search were screened for potential duplicates and relevancy to the topic of interest. The full text of the articles selected in the screening was analyzed using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quantitative analysis of the studies representing coherent data in terms of age and treatment choice was performed using RevMan software. RESULTS: Out of 64 screened articles, only 18 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. Out of these 18 articles, only 3 studies had data compatible with the quantitative analysis. Significant changes were noted in lateral first rugae in transverse bilateral direction (p = 0.02) and between second and third lateral rugae of the left side in the anteroposterior direction (p = 0.04). Despite the dimensional changes, observers in most studies were able to accurately (>90%) match the palatal rugae pre- and post-orthodontic treatment through visual observation. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the visual matching, despite the significant dimensional changes, indicates that morphology could have potentially been the major matching factor. Thus, a combination of dimensional and morphological evaluation of the palatal rugae could potentially increase the accuracy of personal identification.

Assessing the therapeutic potential of agomelatine, ramelteon, and melatonin against SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: The SARS-Cov-2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection affecting human populations worldwide is now a very concerning issue considering the morbidity and mortality rates. Despite several measures followed by the medical fraternity and general public, there is no resolution. Therapeutic measures to tackle the infection have been based on researching new designer drug molecules that could prevent viral entry into the human host. Melatonin has been tried as an adjuvant in the management of COVID 19(coronavirus disease) illness but its specific antiviral role has not been investigated. Objectives: The objectives of the present study were to conduct an in-silico analysis to investigate if melatonin and related drugs namely ramelteon and agomelatine could be used as antiviral agents in SARS-CoV-2 infection based on their binding to the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding site (RBD) and Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2). METHODS: For docking studies (Pdb Id 1M0J), the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) crystal structure which was ACE2 cell receptor bounded was employed. From the PubChem database, the three-dimensional configuration of the ligands melatonin, ramelteon, and agomelatine was retrieved, and conceptual density functional theory (CDFT) was performed to determine molecular descriptors. Charges were added and optimized with the universal force field to prepare the ligands for the process of docking. For facilitation of readability by the AutoDock software conversion to PDBQT(Protein Data Bank, Partial Charge (Q), & Atom Type (T)) format was performed. AutoDock version 4.2.6 docking program and AutoDock Tools (ADT) version 1.5.6 were used for molecular docking. Desmond, a Package of Schrödinger LLC was used to simulate molecular dynamics for hundred nanoseconds using. RESULTS: Data from the present study reveal that melatonin, ramelteon, and agomelatine demonstrate significant binding with SARS-CoV-2 RBD and ACE 2 demonstrating the fact that they can strongly prevent viral entry into the host cells through dual binding effects. However, Ramelteon was found to be the most superior amongst the 3 drugs analyzed in its antiviral properties against SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: Results advocate further research in exploring the potential therapeutic applications of melatonin, ramelteon, and agomelatine for the management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Evaluating fluoride uptake of dentin from different restorative materials at various time intervals - In vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Glass ionomer cement is very popular in clinical practice due to their antibacterial and cariostatic properties, which is totally dependant on the amount of fluoride release and uptake by dentine. The short-term and long-term fluoride uptake by dentine from commercially available restorative materials like nano-ionomer, zirconia reinforced glass ionomer cement and flowable composite is of clinical interest. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare Nano-ionomer, Zirconia reinforced glass ionomer, and flowable composite resin for the fluoride uptake by dentin at different time intervals. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA (Tukey-Kramer Multiple Comparison Test) was applied to test the comparison of mean values of all parameters compared together. The student's paired 't' test was applied to compare groups. The fluoride uptake was evaluated at 3 days and 42 days. At 3 days dentin showed higher fluoride uptake with Zirconomer (Group Z) as compared to Ketac N100 and SDR Composite which was statistically significant. At 42 days higher fluoride uptake was seen in Ketac N100 (Group K) as compared to Zirconomer and SDR composite which was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Fluoride uptake by dentine was seen in all study materials. Fluoride uptake by dentine at 3 days was seen maximum in Zirconomer, whereas fluoride uptake at 42 days was more in Ketac N100.

Melatonin levels in periodontitis vs. the healthy state: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim was to provide a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessment of any potential differences in melatonin levels in periodontitis vs. the healthy state. The keyword combination "melatonin" AND "periodontitis" was searched in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis were performed on articles satisfying the inclusion criteria. Only 14 studies were included in the systematic review, out of which only 10 had quantitative data compatible with a meta-analysis. Ten studies demonstrated low melatonin in periodontitis, three studies demonstrated an initial reduction in melatonin levels followed by elevation with worsening of periodontitis, and one study showed an elevation in melatonin levels in the transition from a healthy state to periodontitis. Grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation revealed that all the included studies had low to very low overall evidence. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction (p < .0001) in salivary melatonin levels in chronic periodontitis (3.26 ± 3.44 pg/ml) compared with healthy controls (5.27 ± 5.39 pg/ml), with a mean difference of 2.65 ± 7.84 and a confidence interval of 1.94-3.36. The significantly lower salivary melatonin levels in periodontitis must be inferred with caution given the low quality of the included studies.

The SARS-CoV-2 Virus could Downregulate Dual Specificity Phosphatase-1 Expression in Oral Cancer: A Plausible Hypothesis that could Explain Oral Cancer Progression in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-pandemic Situation.

This study explores the downregulation of Dual Specificity Phosphatase-1 (DUSP-1) expression in oral cancer progression during the pandemic and post-pandemic situations. Keywords: COVID-19, Dual specificity phosphatase-1, Oral cancer, SARS-CoV-2.

Anticancer Effects of Carica papaya L. and Benzyl Isothiocyanate on an Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The study aimed to assess the anticancer effects of leaves of the male and female plant and seeds Carica papaya L. extract and the active compound benzyl isothiocyanate on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts of CO2 strain C. papaya L. seeds were prepared using water, ethanol, and ethanol:water by maceration, and benzyl isothiocyanate was quantified. Alkaloid fractions of leaves of male and female plants of C. papaya L. were prepared and quantified. The anticancer effects of the test substances on the SCC-25 cell line were assessed by MTT, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and determination of mitochondrial membrane potential. RESULTS: The ethanol:water extract of C. papaya L. (seeds) demonstrated the highest quantity of benzyl isothiocyanate. Male plant leaves demonstrated greater alkaloid content. The leaves of the male plant exhibited apoptosis induction and S-phase arrest, whereas the leaves of the female plant and seeds of C. papaya L. demonstrated G2M-phase arrest and apoptosis induction. CONCLUSION: C. papaya L. and benzyl isothiocyanate demonstrated anticancer effects. There was a difference in the anticancer effects of leaves of male and female plants of C. papaya L. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The anticancer effects of papaya leaves and seeds could be further explored to develop an adjunct therapy for oral cancer to improve prognosis and reduce recurrence rates.

Evaluation of Stress Distribution during Insertion of Tapered Dental Implants in Various Osteotomy Techniques: Three-Dimensional Finite Element Study.

Conventional osteotomy techniques can, in some cases, induce higher stress on bone during implant insertion as a result of higher torque. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the stress exerted on the underlying osseous tissues during the insertion of a tapered implant using different osteotomy techniques through a dynamic finite element analysis which has been widely applied to study biomedical problems through computer-aided software. In three different types of osteotomy techniques, namely conventional (B1), bone tap (B2), and countersink (B3), five models and implants designed per technique were prepared, implant insertion was simulated, and stress exerted by the implant during each was evaluated. Comparison of stress scores on the cortical and cancellous bone at different time points and time intervals from initiation of insertion to the final placement of the implant was made. There was a highly statistically significant difference between B1 and B2 (p = 0.0001) and B2 and B3 (p = 0.0001) groups. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference in the stress scores between B1 and B3 (p = 0.3080) groups at all time points of implant placement. Overall, a highly significant difference was observed between the stresses exerted in each technique. Within the limitations of our study, bone tap significantly exerted lesser stresses on the entire bone than conventional and countersink type of osteotomy procedures. Considering the stress distribution at the crestal region, the countersink showed lower values in comparison to others.

Synergistic Effect of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Attenuate Markers for Inflammation and Osteoclast Differentiation by Suppressing NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathway in Chronic Periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is characterized by excessive osteoclastic activity, which is closely associated with inflammation. It is well established that MAPK/NF-kB axis is a key signaling pathway engaged in osteoclast differentiation. It is stated that that biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) have significant antiostoeclastogenic effects in chronic periodontitis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to elucidate the synergetic effect of PRF/BCP involvement of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in osteoclast differentiation in chronic periodontitis. METHODS: We induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients with chronic periodontitis. We assessed osteoclast generation by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, proinflammatory cytokines were investigated by ELISA and NF-κB, and IKB by immunoblot, respectively. MAPK proteins and osteoclast transcription factors were studied by Western blot analysis and osteoclast transcriptional genes were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results showed that the potent inhibitory effect of PRF/BCP on osteoclastogenesis was evidenced by decreased TRAP activity and the expression of transcription factors, NFATc1, c-Fos, and the osteoclast marker genes, TRAP, MMP-9, and cathepsin-K were found to be reduced. Further, the protective effect of PRF/BCP on inflammation-mediated osteoclastogenesis in chronic periodontitis was shown by decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, NF-kB, IKB, and MAPK proteins. CONCLUSIONS: PRF/BCP may promote a synergetic combination that could be used as a strong inhibitor of inflammation-induced osteoclastogenesis in chronic periodontitis.

Toothbrushes as a Source of DNA for Gender and Human Identification-A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have reported the use of toothbrushes as a reliable source of DNA for human or gender identification. The present systematic review with the available information was conducted to answer the focus question "Is a toothbrush a reliable source of DNA for human or gender identification?". METHODS: The keyword combination "Toothbrush" and "DNA" was used to search databases including MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science along with a manual search of reference lists of relevant articles. Duplicates and irrelevant articles were excluded, and the remaining articles were fully read for the final selection of articles. The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated using the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies (AXIS tool). RESULTS: Of the 130 articles obtained, 122 duplicates or irrelevant articles were eliminated. Following the full-text reading of eight articles, five articles were selected based on eligibility criteria. The five studies reported that a toothbrush is a good source of DNA irrespective of the time interval. In a few studies some samples were not sufficient for complete DNA profiling due to factors such as the method of DNA extraction. CONCLUSION: Although a toothbrush is an excellent source of DNA for human and gender identification, future studies with a larger sample size, appropriate control group, and standardized technique of DNA extraction need to be conducted. Additionally, factors influencing the quantity and quality of DNA in toothbrushes need to be determined with standardized techniques.