Selected osteointegration markers in different timeframes after dental implantation: findings and prognostic value.

The study aimed to determine the osteointegration markers after dental implantation and evaluate their predictive value. The study was performed on 60 practically healthy persons who needed teeth rehabilitation using dental implants. The conical-shaped implants (CI) and hexagonal implants (HI) were used. The content of Osteopontin (OPN), Osteocalcin (OC), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Osteoprotegerin (OPG), and nitric oxide (NO) was determined in patients' gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF), collected 1, 3, and 6 months after implantation. During the 3-6 months of observation level of OPN increased in patients with CIs (<50 years > 50 years) and HIs (<50 years) (CI: <50 years F = 36.457, p < 0.001; >50 years F = 30.104, p < 0.001; HI < 50 years F = 2.246, p < 0.001), ALP increased in patients with CIs (<50 years: F = 19.58, p < 0.001; >50 years: F = 12.01; p = 0.001) and HIs (<50 years) (F = 18.51, p < 0.001), OC increased in patients <50 years (CI: F = 33.72, p < 0.001; HI: F = 55.57, p < 0.001), but in patients >50 years - on the 3 days month (CI: F = 18.82, p < 0.001; HI: F = 26.26, p < 0.001), but sharply decreased at the end of sixth month. OPG increased during 1-3 months of the observation in patients <50 years (CI: F = 4.63, p = 0.037; HI: F = 2.8927, p = 0.046), but at the end of the sixth month returned to the initial level; NO content in PISF increased in patients with CI (>50 years) during 1-6 months of the observation (F = 27.657, p < 0.001). During the post-implantation period, age-related differences in osteointegration were observed. Patients <50 years old had relatively high levels of OPN, ALP, OC, and OPG in PISF, resulting in less alveolar bone destruction around dental implants and more intensive osteointegration. These indicators may be used as biological markers for monitoring implant healing. The process of osseointegration was more intense in CIs due to their comparatively high mechanical loading.

Role of ABO Blood Groups in Susceptibility and Severity of COVID-19 in the Georgian Population.

Aim and objective: The establishment of the potential role of the infected people's ABO blood type in the virus infectivity and aggressivity could clarify the aspects of the various susceptibility to virus and play a key role in assessing its spreading potential in the future. We studied the possible association of risk of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection and severe outcomes of disease with ABO blood groups and Rh factor in the Georgian population. Materials and methods: The effect of blood type on the severity of infection in COVID-19 positive patients admitted to the First University Clinic of Tbilisi State University (Tbilisi, Georgia) from December 2020 to September 2021 was analyzed retrospectively. The odds ratio (OR) criterion was used to determine the influence of the blood group on the risk of COVID-19 infection and of severe course of the disease. Results: The incidence of COVID-19 was 1.65-fold higher in the patients with blood group II(A), and average twice lower in patients with blood groups III(B) and IV(AB), compared with the ABO blood group distribution in healthy donors of the region. The percentage of patients transferring in ICU with I(O) and II(A) blood groups was enough high (42-40%), whereas in patients with III(B) and IV(AB) blood groups very low (12-6%). There were not revealed any statistically significant differences in the distribution of the patients with Rh+ and Rh- blood groups in healthy and COVID-19 infected individuals (including those transferred in the ICU). Conclusion: The link between patients' ABO blood groups and receptivity to COVID-19 infection, progression and severity of the disease, has been detected. These results are relevant in terms of elucidating the mechanisms and risk factors of infecting and severity course of COVID-19 disease. How to cite this article: Ratiani L, Sanikidze TV, Ormotsadze G, Pachkoria E, Sordia G. Role of ABO Blood Groups in Susceptibility and Severity of COVID-19 in the Georgian Population. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(4):487-490.