Associations between immune-inflammatory markers, age, and periodontal status: a cross-sectional study.

Since periodontal disease is associated with many systemic diseases, it is important to evaluate its effects on host responses in elderly individuals. To this end, this study investigated salivary interleukin (IL)-17, IL-18, toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in patient groups with different periodontal health statuses and immunologically evaluated the relationship between age and periodontal health status. A total of 60 individuals aged 18-40 years (young individuals) and 60 individuals aged 65 years or older (elderly individuals) were included in this study. According to periodontal disease status, the patients were divided into periodontally healthy, gingivitis, and periodontitis subgroups. Clinical periodontal parameters, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI), were recorded. Saliva samples were collected and analyzed using ELISA to determine the levels of IL-17, IL-18, TLR2, TLR4, and TNF-α. Higher clinical periodontal parameter (PD, CAL, PI, and GI) and inflammatory marker (IL-17, IL-18, TNF-α, TLR2, and TLR4) levels were found in patients with periodontitis than those in periodontally healthy individuals and patients with gingivitis (P < 0.05). Salivary inflammatory marker levels were significantly higher in elderly individuals than those in young individuals in all subgroups (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between inflammatory marker levels and clinical periodontal parameters, but there was no correlation between TLR2 and PI or GI. This study suggests a significant increase in host response to periodontal disease as the disease progresses, with the levels of cytokines and TLR expression exhibiting an increasing trend with age. Increased IL-17, IL-18, TLR2, TLR4, and TNF-α levels in elderly individuals in all periodontal health subgroups might suggest the role of these cytokines and TLR pathway in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases.

Potential Use of ChatGPT for Patient Information in Periodontology: A Descriptive Pilot Study.

Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the answers given by Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) (OpenAI OpCo, LLC, San Francisco, CA), to the most frequently asked questions on different topics in the field of periodontology. Methods The 10 most frequently asked questions by patients about seven different topics (periodontal diseases, peri-implant diseases, tooth sensitivity, gingival recessions, halitosis, dental implants, and periodontal surgery) in periodontology were created by ChatGPT. To obtain responses, a set of 70 questions was submitted to ChatGPT, with an allocation of 10 questions per subject. The responses that were documented were assessed using two distinct Likert scales by professionals specializing in the subject of periodontology. The accuracy of the responses was rated on a Likert scale ranging from one to six, while the completeness of the responses was rated on a scale ranging from one to three. Results The median accuracy score for all responses was six, while the completeness score was two. The mean scores for accuracy and completeness were 5.50 ± 0.23 and 2.34 ± 0.24, respectively. It was observed that ChatGPT's responses to the most frequently asked questions by patients for information purposes in periodontology were at least "nearly completely correct" in terms of accuracy and "adequate" in terms of completeness. There was a statistically significant difference between subjects in terms of accuracy and completeness (P<0.05). The highest and lowest accuracy scores were peri-implant diseases and gingival recession, respectively, while the highest and lowest completeness scores were gingival recession and dental implants, respectively. Conclusions The utilization of large language models has become increasingly prevalent, extending its applicability to patients within the healthcare domain. While ChatGPT may not offer absolute precision and comprehensive results without expert supervision, it is apparent that those within the field of periodontology can utilize it as an informational resource, albeit acknowledging the potential for inaccuracies.

The association Between Sleep Quality, Fatigue and Periodontal Status: a pilot study / La asociación entre la calidad del sueño, la fatiga y el estado periodontal: un estudio piloto

Abstract Reduced sleep duration, poor sleep quality and fatigue are related to reduced immunity and increased inflammatory markers. Due to its potential to influence inflammation, poor sleep quality and fatigue could be factors for periodontitis and quality of life. Ninety-three individuals with untreated periodontitis and thirty-one individuals with healthy gingiva were included in the study. The research involved a clinical examination and a questionnaire. Demographic information, information on oral health, oral hygiene habits, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Jenkins Sleep Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue Scale, and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 were included in the questionnaire. Patients were diagnosed based on the 2017 World Workshop on the Classification of Periodontal and Peri-Implant Diseases and Conditions. No statistically significant difference was revealed between sleep quality, fatigue, oral health related quality of life, and stage-grade of periodontitis (p<0.05). However, periodontitis group had higher Oral Health Impact Profile-14 scores (p<0.05). A statistically significantly lower sleep duration was observed in stage IV periodontitis group than the other groups (p<0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the scores of the other questionnaires (p<0.05). The stage of periodontitis may impact sleep duration.

Resumen La reducción de la duración del sueño, la mala calidad del sueño y la fatiga están relacionados con una inmunidad reducida y un aumento de los marcadores inflamatorios. Debido a su potencial para influir en la inflamación, la mala calidad del sueño y la fatiga podrían ser factores determinantes en el desarrollo de la periodontitis e incidir en la calidad de vida. Noventa y tres personas con periodontitis no tratada, además de treinta y una personas con encía sana se incluyeron en el estudio. La investigación involucró un examen clínico y un cuestionario. En el cuestionario se incluyeron información demográfica, información sobre salud bucal, hábitos de higiene bucal, el índice de calidad del sueño de Pittsburgh, la escala de sueño de Jenkins, la escala de evaluación multidimensional de la fatiga y el perfil de impacto en la salud bucal-14. Los pacientes fueron diagnosticados en base al Taller Mundial 2017 sobre la Clasificación de Enfermedades y Condiciones Periodontales y Periimplantarias. No se revelaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la calidad del sueño, la fatiga, la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud bucal y el grado de etapa de la periodontitis (p<0,05). Sin embargo, el grupo de periodontitis tuvo puntajes más altos en el Perfil de Impacto en la Salud Oral-14 (p<0.05). Se observó una duración del sueño significativamente menor desde el punto de vista estadístico en el grupo de periodontitis en estadio IV que en los otros grupos (p<0,05). Se observó una correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa entre el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh y las puntuaciones de los otros cuestionarios (p<0,05). La etapa de la periodontitis puede afectar la duración del sueño.

Effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy on inflammatory markers of psoriasis: A randomized controlled trial.

AIM: The purpose of this randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate the effect of non-surgical mechanical periodontal therapy on the inflammatory status and severity of psoriasis in subjects with psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 92 periodontitis patients with psoriasis vulgaris suffering from an untreated periodontal disease. Two randomized groups were formed from these patients: immediate periodontal therapy (test group, n = 46) and delayed periodontal therapy (control group, n = 46). Periodontal clinical measures, on salivary interleukin 2, interleukin 6 and secretory immunoglobulin A levels and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores were evaluated at baseline and on the 8th week in control and test groups. RESULTS: Eight weeks after completion of non-surgical periodontal therapy (test group) or initial examination (control group), a significant decrease was observed in interleukin 2, interleukin 6 level and in PASI score, whereas a significant increase was observed in secretory immunoglobulin A levels in the test group (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of this study, the results suggest that effective periodontal therapy improves the psoriasis condition in patients afflicted by both diseases.

Hypoxia and collagen crosslinking in the healthy and affected sites of periodontitis patients.

Present study suggests that diseased sites of periodontitis with stage 3 grade B and C had decreased fibroblast cell density, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions while increased inflammatory cell counts compared to both healthy sites of the periodontitis patients and healthy controls. Collagen maturation enzymes also decreased in the diseased sites. Objective: The present study aimed at determining markers of hypoxia and collagen crosslinking in healthy and diseased gingiva from healthy individuals and periodontitis patients. Methods: Group-1; healthy individuals, Group-2; healthy sites of periodontitis patients-stage 3 grade B, (H-GradeB) Group-3; diseased sites of periodontitis patients-stage 3 grade B, (D-GradeB). Group-4; healthy sites of periodontitis patients-stage 3 grade C, (H-GradeC). Group-5; diseased sites of periodontitis patients-stage 3 grade C, (D-GradeC). Plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and clinical attachment levels (CALs) were recorded. Gingival biopsies were obtained. Fibroblast and inflammatory cells were counted. HIF-1α, prolyl hydroxylase (PH), VEGF, lysyl oxidase (LOX) and lysyl hydroxylase (LH) levels were determined via immunohistochemistry. Results: Fibroblast cell counts were lower in D-GradeC and D-GradeB than other groups. C group had highest fibroblast cell counts. Inflammatory cell counts were highest in the D-GradeC and lowest in C group. HIF-1α levels were highest in C group and decreased in diseased sites. Lowest value was observed in D-GradeC group. VEGF, PH, and LH levels were higher in the control group compared to other groups. LOX levels were similar in the groups except for D-GradeC. LOX levels were similar in the groups except for D-GradeC which is significantly lower than those of the control group and healthy sites. Conclusions: The results revealed that diseased sites of periodontitis patients had decreased fibroblast cells, HIF and VEGF expressions while increased inflammatory cells. Collagen crosslinking tend to decrease with disease regardless of stage and grade of disease.

The effect of vanillic acid on ligature-induced periodontal disease in Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Vanillic acid, also known as 4-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzoic acid has a potent effect on bone metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to specify the effects of vanillic acid (VA) on preventing inflammation and bone destruction in experimental periodontitis as inflammatory bone disease. To evaluate the effects of VA, osteoblast, osteoclast and inflammatory cell counts, iNOS, CD68, MMP-1, and TIMP-1 levels were determined. METHODS: 32 female Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups as; Group 1: healthy control (C, n = 8), group 2: Periodontitis (P, n = 8), group 3: periodontitis and 50 mg/kg VA administered group (P + VA-50, n = 8) and group 4: periodontitis and 100 mg/kg VA delivered group (P + VA-100, n = 8). Ligature-induced experimental periodontitis was carried out at mandibular first molar teeth of the right quadrant by placing submarginal 4-0 silk ligatures. VA was administered by oral gavage for 14 days beginning from the first day. Rats were euthanized on the 15th day. Morphological changes in alveolar bone were evaluated via a stereomicroscope. Mandibles were subjected to histological procedures. Osteoblasts, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase synthesizing osteoclasts and inflammatory cells were counted. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cluster of differentiation (CD)-68, Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, tissue inhibitor of MMP-1, runt-related x factor-2 (RUNX2), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The rats in the periodontitis group had the highest alveolar bone loss compared to the other groups. Both doses of VA significantly decreased alveolar bone loss but not the control levels. TRAP-positive osteoclast and inflammatory cell counts were also highest in the P group, and both 50 and 100 mg/kg VA reduced these counts. Control rats had the lowest osteoclast and inflammatory cell counts compared to the other groups. Similar to osteoclast counts, MMP-1, iNOS, CD68, and COX-2 expressions were the highest in the P group compared to the other groups. Both doses of VA significantly decreased these levels. Osteoblast cells were higher in the VA groups compared to the control and periodontitis groups. RUNX2 levels were lower in the periodontitis group compared to the control group. A slight increase was also observed in VA groups. However, the difference in the TIMP-1 levels was significant only between P and VA100 groups. CONCLUSION: VA administration successfully ameliorated periodontitis symptoms by decreasing alveolar bone and collagen destruction, periodontal inflammation, and increasing osteoblastic activity.