Apelin - A New Kid on the Block in Periodontology.

Periodontitis is associated with numerous systemic diseases, and it has been shown that these associations are partly causal in nature. It is assumed that such interactions between periodontal and systemic diseases are also medi- ated via adipokines. Apelin, an adipokine about which there is little research in the dental field, is also produced together with its receptor in periodontal cells. The aim of this review was to summarize the currently available literature on the apelin-APJ system to better understand the pathomechanistic relationship between periodontitis and obesity and to de- termine the potential clinical relevance of apelin for diagnostics and therapy. In vitro studies suggest that apelin can en- hance bacterial-induced synthesis of proinflammatory and proteolytic molecules, indicating a significant etiopathogenic role of this adipokine. Since serum levels of apelin are elevated in diabetes and/or obesity, it is possible that such sys- temic diseases promote the development and progression of periodontitis via apelin. On the other hand, it is also conceivable that apelin from the periodontium influences such systemic diseases. Further research is needed to better understand the role of apelin in the periodontium and the entire oral cavity, but also in the interactions between periodontal and sys- temic diseases. In particular, clinical intervention studies are needed to further decipher the etiopathogenic role of apelin in periodontitis.

Endo-Perio Lesions and Dentists' Treatment Approach: A Survey.

BACKGROUND Endo-perio lesions are a great challenge for dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment approach of dental practitioners to endo-perio lesions by considering the current endo-perio classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS An online survey was prepared, consisting of questions about the treatment approach to 3 simulated cases with endo-perio lesions, shown on periapical radiography. Details of the patient's age, presence of systemic disease, smoking, and how the single- or multi-rooted tooth would affect the treatment plan were also included in the simulated cases presented in the survey. The survey was sent to 1500 dentists via e-mail, WhatsApp, and social media platforms. The chi-square test was used for comparison of data. Significance was evaluated at P<0.05. RESULTS In total, 338 dentists participated in the survey, including general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists. Fifty-three percent of participants stated that they would perform root canal treatment and initial periodontal treatment simultaneously, when both treatments were required. In cases classified as grade 3, most general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists answered that they would prescribe systemic antibiotics if there was diffuse extra-oral swelling (P<0.05). Moreover, in grade 3 cases, more general dentists chose the option "extraction" as the best choice, compared with endodontists and periodontists, who did not choose extraction as often (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS According to the results of this study, general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists generally follow different approaches to endo-perio lesions. A consensus is needed on this issue to develop a successful multidisciplinary approach to endo-perio lesions.

Utility of gingival crevicular fluid components for periodontal diagnosis.

Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent chronic diseases, and severe periodontitis creates functional and esthetic problems and decreases self-esteem for a large percentage of the older population worldwide. In many cases of periodontitis, there is no distinct tell-tale pain that motivates a patient to seek treatment, rather the signs become clinically detectable late, and typically when the disease has progressed to a problematic level for the life of the dentition. Early periodontal screening and diagnostics tools will provide early recognition of periodontal diseases and facilitate timely management of the disease to reduce tooth loss. To this goal, gingival crevicular fluid is easily sampled, can be repeatedly and non-invasively collected, and can be tested for potential biomarkers. Moreover, the site specificity of periodontal diseases enhances the usefulness of gingival crevicular fluid sampled from specific sites as a biofluid for diagnosis and longitudinal monitoring of periodontal diseases. The present review aimed to provide up-to-date information on potential diagnostic biomarkers with utility that can be assayed from gingival crevicular fluid samples, focusing on what is new and useful and providing only general historic background textually and in a tabulated format.

Eminent science support from Jews to the young Turkish republic; a particular focus on dentistry.

During World War II, millions of people were mistreated and imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps. Due to the antisemitic pressure applied by the Nazi regime, many scientists had to leave Germany, and they immigrated to the United States, Switzerland, Turkey or South America. Alfred Kantorowicz was among those highly educated people who were forced out of their professional career. For a certain period, he had to stay away from the world of research and academia, which were his favorite occupations. However, these unexpected difficulties did not prevent him to pursue his success story with many awards, books, and scientific studies. Professor Kantorowicz was saved from a concentration camp upon the efforts of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to modernize the university education system in Turkey. Prof. Kantorowicz worked from 1933 until his retirement in 1948 and acted as the "father of dentistry" in Turkey. His vision of preventive dentistry and his entrepreneurial approach should set an example for today's young dentists.

Placental TLR recognition of salivary and subgingival microbiota is associated with pregnancy complications.

BACKGROUND: Pre-term birth, the leading cause of neonatal mortality, has been associated with maternal periodontal disease and the presence of oral pathogens in the placenta. However, the mechanisms that underpin this link are not known. This investigation aimed to identify the origins of placental microbiota and to interrogate the association between parturition complications and immune recognition of placental microbial motifs. Video Abstract METHODS: Saliva, plaque, serum, and placenta were collected during 130 full-term (FT), pre-term (PT), or pre-term complicated by pre-eclampsia (PTPE) deliveries and subjected to whole-genome shotgun sequencing. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to measure toll-like receptors (TLR) 1-10 expression in placental samples. Source tracking was employed to trace the origins of the placental microbiota. RESULTS: We discovered 10,007 functionally annotated genes representing 420 taxa in the placenta that could not be attributed to contamination. Placental microbial composition was the biggest discriminator of pregnancy complications, outweighing hypertension, BMI, smoking, and maternal age. A machine-learning algorithm trained on this microbial dataset predicted PTPE and PT with error rates of 4.05% and 8.6% (taxonomy) and 6.21% and 7.38% (function). Logistic regression revealed 32% higher odds of parturition complication (95% CI 2.8%, 81%) for every IQR increase in the Shannon diversity index after adjusting for maternal smoking status, maternal age, and gravida. We also discovered distinct expression patterns of TLRs that detect RNA- and DNA-containing antigens in the three groups, with significant upregulation of TLR9, and concomitant downregulation of TLR7 in PTPE and PT groups, and dense correlation networks between microbial genes and these TLRs. 70-82% of placental microbiota were traced to serum and thence to the salivary and subgingival microbiomes. The oral and serum microbiomes of PTPE and PT groups displayed significant enrichment of genes encoding iron transport, exosome, adhesion, quorum sensing, lipopolysaccharide, biofilm, and steroid degradation. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of cross-sectional analysis, we find evidence to suggest that oral bacteria might translocate to the placenta via serum and trigger immune signaling pathways capable of inducing placental vascular pathology. This might explain, in part, the higher incidence of obstetric syndromes in women with periodontal disease.

Examining awareness of tobacco's oral health effects: Dentists' role in smoking cessation among dental patients.

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco products are well-known as a major risk factor for systemic and oral diseases. Dentists may play an important role in the prevention and progression of oral problems related to smoking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of awareness about the poor oral health effects of tobacco products and the role of dentists in smoking cessation among dental patients. METHODS: A survey containing 40 questions was prepared, and patients seeking dental treatment between June and October 2019 at the School of Dentistry, Ege University, were asked to participate. The survey included demographic variables in the first part, habits of using tobacco products in the second part, relations between smoking and oral health, and the possible role of dentists in smoking cessation in the last part. Data were tested statistically by Mann Whitney U and chi-squared tests. RESULTS: A total of 501 patients participated in the survey; more than half of the participants were non-smokers (63.7%). Cigarettes (95.06%), hookah (7.69%), e-cigarettes (2.75%), and cigars (1.65%) were the most frequently consumed tobacco products. The biggest obstacle to quitting smoking was 'having smoker friends'. The rate of non-smokers (41.4%) agreeing that smoking is related to periodontal diseases was more than that of smokers (32.4%) (p<0.05). The most known side effect of tobacco products was halitosis (81.6%). Half of the respondents (46.7%) did not know about dentists' role in helping them quit smoking. The rate of participants previously recommended by a dentist to quit smoking was only 36%. CONCLUSIONS: The aesthetic and social consequences of using tobacco products are well known, but smokers are substantially less aware than non-smokers of the relationship between tobacco products and oral diseases. The present findings suggest that dentists should inform their patients about the detrimental effects of tobacco products and play an active role in advising them to quit.

Gingival crevicular fluid levels of apelin correlates with clinical periodontal diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: Limitations of clinical periodontal measurements have led to the search for reliable biomarkers that can be used in diagnosis and monitoring of periodontal diseases. Considering the relationship of adipokines with periodontal disease, diabetes, and obesity, apelin may be a biomarker for periodontal diseases due to its modulating effects on inflammation. The present study was conducted to determine gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) apelin levels in systemically healthy individuals and to evaluate the potential of apelin as a biomarker for periodontal diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten individuals with clinically healthy periodontal tissues, 10 patients diagnosed with gingivitis, and 10 patients with periodontitis were included in the present study. Whole mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded and GCF samples were obtained from the buccal approximal regions of single-rooted teeth with features that would represent clinical periodontal diagnosis. Apelin level in the samples was determined by ELISA. Clinical and biochemical findings were statistically analyzed. Possible relationship between the variables was evaluated with Pearson correlation analysis. RESULTS: Apelin level in the gingivitis group was higher than that in the clinically healthy group (p = 0.000) and lower than that in the periodontitis group (p = 0.000). A positive correlation was found between GCF apelin concentration and plaque score, bleeding on probing, and probing depth (p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it can be suggested that GCF apelin concentration may be a biomarker that can distinguish between healthy periodontal tissues, gingivitis, and periodontitis patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Apelin concentration in the gingival crevicular fluid may aid in the diagnosis of periodontal disease.

Gender inequality among the editorial boards of periodontology and implantology journals.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate gender composition of the editorial board members of the journals in the field of periodontology and implantology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A rigorous search was performed through Web of Science database to identify journals, scoping on the periodontology and implantology research fields. Data on journal's demographic information, gender of the editorial board members were gathered from the journals fulfilling the predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Variables including journal impact factor and quartiles were extracted as well. RESULTS: The proportion of women in the editorial team in periodontology journals was 27.3%, whereas it was almost 19% in implantology journals. As for editorial leadership, these ratios were 22.1% and 19.8%, respectively. There were significantly less women than men in editor-in-chief position in periodontology journals (p = 0.042). Journal metrics had no impact on the gender distribution of editor-in-chief positions in both fields. CONCLUSIONS: Women seem to be under-represented as editorial leaders or board members in journals of periodontology and implantology. The proportion of women in periodontology journals has increased in the last decade; however, there is still a clear need for further increase to have a gender balance.

Pocket closure in stage III-IV grade C periodontitis: A multilevel analysis following non-surgical periodontal therapy.

BACKGROUND: Risk of disease progression and tooth loss is higher in cases where deep probing pocket depths (PPDs) and bleeding on probing (BOP) persist after active periodontal treatment. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of non-surgical periodontal therapy on pocket closure (PC), defined as PPD ≤4 mm without BOP (PC1) or PPD ≤4 mm solely (PC2) 3 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment and to compare PC between smokers and non-smokers. METHODS: This cohort study is a secondary analysis from a controlled clinical trial consisting of systemically healthy patients with stage III or IV grade C periodontitis. All the sites with baseline PPD ≥5 mm are included as diseased sites and PC at 3 months after completion of non-surgical periodontal treatment was calculated. PC was compared between smokers and non-smokers at site and patient levels. Multilevel analysis is used to investigate factors at patient, tooth and site levels affecting PPD changes and the probability of PC. RESULTS: A total of 1998 diseased sites in 27 patients were included in the analysis. The rates of PC1 and PC2 were 58.4% and 70.2% and were significantly correlated to smoking habits at site level (r (1) = 7.03, p = 0.008; r (1) = 36.17, p < 0.001). Tooth type, mobility, clinical attachment level (CAL) and PPD at baseline significantly affected PC. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings indicate that non-surgical periodontal treatment is effective in PC, but its performance is influenced by baseline PPD and CAL and residual pockets may remain.

Apelin Enhances the Effects of Fusobacterium nucleatum on Periodontal Ligament Cells In Vitro.

This study aimed to explore effects of Fusobacterium nucleatum with or without apelin on periodontal ligament (PDL) cells to better understand pathomechanistic links between periodontitis and obesity. First, the actions of F. nucleatum on COX2, CCL2, and MMP1 expressions were assessed. Subsequently, PDL cells were incubated with F. nucleatum in the presence and absence of apelin to study the modulatory effects of this adipokine on molecules related to inflammation and hard and soft tissue turnover. Regulation of apelin and its receptor (APJ) by F. nucleatum was also studied. F. nucleatum resulted in elevated COX2, CCL2, and MMP1 expressions in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Combination of F. nucleatum and apelin led to the highest (p < 0.05) expression levels of COX2, CCL2, CXCL8, TNF-α, and MMP1 at 48 h. The effects of F. nucleatum and/or apelin on CCL2 and MMP1 were MEK1/2- and partially NF-κB-dependent. The combined effects of F. nucleatum and apelin on CCL2 and MMP1 were also observed at protein level. Moreover, F. nucleatum downregulated (p < 0.05) the apelin and APJ expressions. In conclusion, obesity could contribute to periodontitis through apelin. The local production of apelin/APJ in PDL cells also suggests a role of these molecules in the pathogenesis of periodontitis.

A sustainable, self-sufficient peer review algorithm for health-related YouTube videos: A proposal.

YouTube has recently become one of the major sources of information in the field of health. Not only healthcare professionals but also laypersons can upload videos to YouTube and this fact creates a significant heterogeneity in the content, viewpoint, and accuracy of the available videos. Particularly, those videos presenting personal experiences and inferences on health problems may not rely on scientific evidence thus create inaccurate information. This commentary aims to propose an algorithm to improve the accuracy and reliability of health-related YouTube videos.

Surface decontamination protocols for surgical treatment of peri-implantitis: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To answer the following PICO question: "In patients requiring surgical treatment of peri-implantitis (P), is any implant surface decontamination protocol (I) superior to others (C) in terms of clinical and radiographic parameters (O)?" METHODS: Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing two or more decontamination protocols as part of the surgical treatment of peri-implantitis were included. Two authors independently searched for eligible studies, screened titles and abstracts, did full-text analysis, extracted data, and performed the risk-of-bias assessment. Whenever possible, results were summarized through random effects meta-analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-two manuscripts reporting on 16 RCTs were included, testing mechanical, chemical and physical decontamination protocols. All of them resulted in an improvement in clinical parameters; however, the superiority of specific protocols over others is mainly based on single RCTs. The use of titanium brushes and implantoplasty showed favorable results as single decontamination methods. Meta-analyses indicated a lack of added effect of Er:Yag laser on probing pocket depth (PPD) reduction (n = 2, WMD = -0.24 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] [-1.10; 0.63], p = .59); while systemic antimicrobials (amoxicillin or azithromycin) showed an added effect on treatment success ([PPD ≤5 mm, no bleeding or suppuration, no progressive bone loss]; n = 2, RR = 1.84, 95% CI [1.17;2.91], p = .008), but not in terms of PPD reduction (n = 2, WMD = 0.93 mm, 95% CI [-0.69; 2.55], p = .26), even if with substantial heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: No single decontamination method demonstrated clear evidence of superiority compared to the others. Systemic antibiotics, but not Er:Yag laser, may provide short-term clinical benefits in terms of treatment success (CRD42020182303).

Introduction of a Novel Anatomic Recession Ratio in the Treatment of Gingival Recession: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

The present study introduces a novel "anatomic recession ratio" (ARR) and evaluates the clinical outcomes of using a tunnel technique (TUN) with a connective tissue graft (CTG) for root coverage (RC). Sixteen systemically healthy patients contributing a total of 33 recession types 1 and 2 were treated with TUN + CTG. The predictive value of a panel of baseline clinical parameters (ARR) on RC was evaluated 12 months postoperatively. At 12 months, mean recession depth decreased from 2.74 ± 0.22 mm to 0.46 ± 0.13 mm (P < .0001); 19 sites (58%) showed complete RC, and the mean RC rate was 88.85% ± 2.73%. The mean ARR value was 0.74 ± 0.3, revealing a positive correlation with RC (r2: 0.73, P < .0001). The 12-month esthetic evaluation resulted in a score of 8.52 ± 1.75 using the root coverage esthetic score. TUN + CTG is effective in reducing recession depth and obtaining good esthetic outcomes. Within the limits of the present study, it may be suggested that ARR has potential as an analytical baseline parameter for RC outcomes with TUN + CTG.

aMMP-8 Oral Fluid PoC Test in Relation to Oral and Systemic Diseases.

The manuscript uses the previously published literature and highlights the benefits of active-matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP)-8 chairside/point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic tools as adjunctive measures in oral and systemic diseases. Previous studies suggest that as a biomarker, aMMP-8 is more precise than total MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, MMP-7, MMP-1, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase (MPO), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and bleeding of probing (BOP). Therefore, aMMP-8 could be implemented as the needed key biomarker for the new disease classification for both periodontitis and peri-implantitis. With a sensitivity to the tune of 75-85% and specificity in the range of 80-90%, lateral flow aMMP-8 PoC testing is comparable to catalytic protease activity assays for aMMP-8. The test can be further applied to estimate the glycemic status of an individual, to ascertain whether a person is at risk for COVID-19, in managing the oral side effects of radiotherapy carried in head and neck cancers, and in selected cases pertaining to reproductive health. In the future, aMMP-8 could find application as a potential systemic biomarker in diseases affecting the cardiovascular system, cancers, bacteremia, sepsis, diabetes, obesity, meningitis, as well as pancreatitis. The aMMP-8 PoCT is the first practical test in the emerging new dental clinical field, that is, oral clinical chemistry representing oral medicine, clinical chemistry, peri-implantology, and periodontology.

Shared microbiological and immunological patterns in periodontitis and IBD: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: To extract the microbiological and immunological evidence underpinning the association between periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). METHODS: Relevant articles were sorted through a systematic search on PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science up to October 2020. Available evidence was grouped in three different clusters: (a) studies that examined oral microbial alterations in IBD patients; (b) studies that investigated intestinal dysbiosis in patients with periodontitis; and (c) evidence for a shared immunological pattern between the two conditions. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies involving 1,171 patients were included. Oral microbiome, either subgingival or salivary, was consistently altered in patients with IBD compared to healthy subjects (a) Additionally, gut dysbiotic microbiota of IBD patients was colonized by pathobionts from oral origin, either via haematogenous or enteric route. Suffering from periodontitis is associated with lower alpha diversity in the gut microbiome (b) Lastly, both IBD and periodontitis are characterized by similar expression patterns of inflammatory cytokines at the gingival and gut levels that are exacerbated when both diseases are present (c). CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis and IBD share common dysbiotic and immunological traits. Well-designed preclinical models and longitudinal cohort studies are required to better explore the causal pathways between the two conditions (PROSPERO CRD42020194379).

Periodontal treatment outcomes in smokers: A narrative review.

Smoking is considered as the major environmental risk factor for periodontal diseases. Smokers have a higher risk for severe periodontitis with more periodontal tissue destruction, more gingival recession, and more susceptibility for tooth loss. The aim of this narrative review is to provide up-to-date evidence on the clinical outcomes of periodontal treatment in smokers. Electronic databases were searched for studies that compare the clinical outcomes in smokers and non-smokers following non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment modalities and also during the supportive periodontal treatment. Clinical studies published before May 2021 were included in the review. Smokers have a higher risk for recurrence of periodontal disease and the response to non-surgical as well as surgical periodontal treatment is not as good as that of non-smokers. Moreover, there is a dose-response effect in the adverse effects of smoking on periodontal health. Compared to non-smokers, smoker patients with periodontitis tend to respond less favorably to non-surgical and surgical periodontal treatment, and exhibit recurrence more frequently during supportive periodontal treatment. Along with the periodontal treatment, smokers may be encouraged to quit. Long follow-up and the communication between the dentist and the patient give a great opportunity for such counseling.

Active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) point-of-care test (POCT) in the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Active matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP)-8 utilized in point-of-care testing (POCT) is regarded as a potential biomarker for periodontal and peri-implant diseases. Various host and microbial factors eventually influence the expression, degranulation, levels and activation of aMMP-8. The type of oral fluids (saliva, mouthrinse, gingival crevicular, and peri-implant sulcular fluids [GCF/PISF], respectively) affect the analysis. AREAS COVERED: With this background, we aimed to review here the recent studies on practical, inexpensive, noninvasive and quantitative mouthrinse and GCF/PISF chair-side POCT lateral flow aMMP-8 immunoassays (PerioSafe and ImplantSafe/ORALyzer) and how they help to detect, predict, monitor the course, treatment and prevention of periodontitis and peri-implantitis. The correlations of aMMP-8 POCT to other independent and catalytic activity assays of MMP-8 are also addressed. EXPERT OPINION: The mouthrinse aMMP-8 POCT can also detect prediabetes/diabetes and tissue destructive oral side-effects due to the head and neck cancers' radiotherapy. Chlorhexidine and doxycycline can inhibit collagenolytic human neutrophil and GCF aMMP-8. Furthermore, by a set of case-series we demonstrate the potential of mouthrinse aMMP-8 POCT to real-time/online detect periodontitis as a potential risk disease for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The clinical interdisciplinary utilization of aMMP-8 POCT requires additional oral, medical, and interdisciplinary studies.

Salivary metabolomics for the diagnosis of periodontal diseases: a systematic review with methodological quality assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Early diagnosis of periodontitis by means of a rapid, accurate and non-invasive method is highly desirable to reduce the individual and epidemiological burden of this largely prevalent disease. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present systematic review were to examine potential salivary metabolic biomarkers and pathways associated to periodontitis, and to assess the accuracy of salivary untargeted metabolomics for the diagnosis of periodontal diseases. METHODS: Relevant studies identified from MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase and Scopus databases were systematically examined for analytical protocols, metabolic biomarkers and results from the multivariate analysis (MVA). Pathway analysis was performed using the MetaboAnalyst online software and quality assessment by means of a modified version of the QUADOMICS tool. RESULTS: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 19 to 130 subjects. Compared to periodontally healthy individuals, valine, phenylalanine, isoleucine, tyrosine and butyrate were found upregulated in periodontitis patients in most studies; while lactate, pyruvate and N-acetyl groups were the most significantly expressed in healthy individuals. Metabolic pathways that resulted dysregulated are mainly implicated in inflammation, oxidative stress, immune activation and bacterial energetic metabolism. The findings from MVA revealed that periodontitis is characterized by a specific metabolic signature in saliva, with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.52 to 0.99. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review summarizes candidate metabolic biomarkers and pathways related to periodontitis, which may provide opportunities for the validation of diagnostic or predictive models and the discovery of novel targets for monitoring and treating such a disease (PROSPERO CRD42020188482).