The essential oil composition of aerial parts of Anthemis tricolor Boiss. from Cyprus.

The water-distilled essential oil from the aerial parts of Anthemis tricolor Boiss. (Asteraceae), an endemic taxon from Cyprus, was analysed by GC and GC-MS. The analysis revealed 40 compounds accounting for 84.5% of the oil. Muurola-4,11-diene (20.2%), ß-caryophyllene (9.1%) and germacrene-D (5.5%) were the main compounds of A. tricolor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first detailed study of the essential oil composition of A. tricolor collected from Cyprus.

Is obesity a possible modifier of periodontal disease as a chronic inflammatory process? A case-control study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional case-control study was conducted to provide a comparative evaluation of clinical periodontal measurements, together with serum levels of certain bioactive peptides and inflammatory cytokines, in relation to obesity. For this purpose, clinical periodontal measurements and the levels of serum leptin, adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 of obese female individuals and their nonobese counterparts were compared. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty obese (body mass index (BMI) > 30) and 31 nonobese (BMI < 30) female subjects were recruited for the present study. Before any periodontal intervention, serum samples were obtained and full-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded at six sites per tooth. ELISA was used for the biochemical analysis. Data were tested statistically. RESULTS: Clinical attachment level was significantly higher in the obese group compared with the nonobese control group (p < 0.05). Serum levels of leptin and IL-6 were significantly higher in the obese group (p < 0.05). BMI correlated with the serum levels of inflammatory molecules (p < 0.05), but not with clinical periodontal parameters, in the obese group. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, obesity does not seem to have a prominent effect on clinical periodontal parameters but it does have many correlations with circulating inflammatory molecules. As suggested in the literature, increased levels of leptin and IL-6 in the obese group might be one explanation for a possible relationship between obesity and periodontal disease. A prospective study is warranted to clarify, in greater detail, the effects of obesity on periodontal health.

Determination of in vivo toxicity and in vitro cytotoxicity of venom from the Cypriot blunt-nosed viper Macrovipera lebetina lebetina and antivenom production

The venomous Levantine viper, Macrovipera lebetina lebetina is endemic to Cyprus. The objective of this study was to investigate in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo lethality, and antivenom production followed by a re-immunization schedule in mice against Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom. The LD50 value was estimated as 7.58 mg/kg within 24 hours by different venom doses administrated intraperitoneally in mice. Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvants were used for first and second immunization of mice in antivenom production. A cell-based assay was performed to determine the effects of Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom and antivenom neutralizing potency on L929 cell viability. The snake venom toxicity and cytotoxicity were examined and comparison of results showed good correlation, the LD50 value was tenfold higher than the IC50 value. The IC50 value was 0.62 ± 0.18 mL after 48 hours treatment while the calculated value was 1.62 ± 0.25 mL for the culture media totally refreshed after two hours treatment with venom. The in vitro efficacy of antivenom against Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom was found to be low. This is the first report that describes the in vivo and in vitro toxic effects of Macrovipera lebetina lebetina venom and antivenom production against this species.(AU)

Interleukin-17 and interleukin-18 levels in saliva and plasma of patients with chronic periodontitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study was planned to investigate whether patients with chronic periodontitis exhibit different salivary and/or plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-18 compared with clinically healthy subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Whole saliva and blood samples, together with full-mouth clinical periodontal recordings, were obtained from 22 otherwise healthy untreated nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis and from 21 systemically and periodontally healthy control subjects. The concentrations of IL-17 and IL-18 in saliva and plasma were determined using ELISAs. RESULTS: The healthy control group exhibited significantly lower values in all clinical periodontal measurements (p < 0.001). The salivary concentration of IL-17 was significantly lower, and that of IL-18 significantly higher, in patients from the chronic periodontitis group compared with healthy control subjects (p = 0.025 and p = 0.009, respectively). Plasma IL-17 and IL-18 concentrations were similar in the two study groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Within the limits of the present study, it may be suggested that an elevated salivary IL-18 level in untreated nonsmoker chronic periodontitis patients has the potential to be a biomarker for periodontal tissue destruction.

Salivary osteocalcin levels are decreased in smoker chronic periodontitis patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study was planned to investigate whether smoker chronic periodontitis patients exhibit different salivary concentrations of C-telopeptide pyridinoline cross-links of type I collagen (ICTP) and osteocalcin (OC) compared to the non-smoker counterparts. METHODS: Whole saliva samples, full-mouth clinical periodontal recordings were obtained from 33 otherwise healthy chronic periodontitis patients and 36 systemically, periodontally healthy control subjects. Chronic periodontitis patients and healthy control subjects were divided into smoker and non-smoker groups according to their self reports. Salivary ICTP, OC levels were determined by Enzyme-linked Immunoassays. RESULTS: Healthy control groups exhibited significantly lower values in all clinical periodontal measurements (P < 0.001). Smoker periodontitis patients revealed similar clinical periodontal index values with non-smoker counterparts (P > 0.05). Chronic periodontitis patients exhibited significantly higher salivary OC levels than healthy controls (P < 0.05). Smoker periodontitis patients revealed lower salivary OC levels than non-smoker counterparts (P < 0.001). Log ICTP levels in non-smoker chronic periodontitis patients were higher than non-smoker controls (P < 0.05). Smoker healthy control group revealed higher log ICTP levels than non-smoker counterparts (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it may be suggested that suppression of salivary osteocalcin level by smoking may at least partly explain the deleterious effects of smoking on periodontal status.

Plasma osteoprotegerin levels are decreased in smoker chronic periodontitis patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma levels of soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in smoker versus non-smoker chronic periodontitis patients. METHODS: Plasma samples were obtained from 13 smoker and 31 non-smoker systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients, as well as 13 smoker and 29 non-smoker systemically and periodontally healthy subjects. Before commencing any periodontal intervention, venous blood samples were obtained and whole-mouth clinical periodontal measurements were recorded. sRANKL and OPG concentrations in plasma samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Data were tested statistically by student's t test, Wilcoxon matched pairs test, and Spearman's correlation analysis. RESULTS: All clinical periodontal measurements were significantly higher in chronic periodontitis groups than the healthy controls (p < 0.05). Smoker and non-smoker chronic periodontitis patients exhibited similar values in all clinical periodontal measurements and plasma sRANKL, OPG concentrations (p > 0.05). Smoker chronic periodontitis patients exhibited significantly lower (p = 0.007) plasma OPG concentrations and higher sRANKL/OPG ratio (p = 0.01) than smoker healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, periodontal inflammation in smoker chronic periodontitis patients seems to lower plasma osteoprotegerin levels and thereby increase the RANKL/OPG ratio, and possibly play a role in the increased susceptibility for alveolar bone destruction in smoker subjects.