Estimation of pentraxin-3 levels in the gingival tissues of chronic and aggressive periodontitis participants: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Pentraxins are acute-phase proteins that belong to a family of evolutionarily conserved proteins, and they are considered markers of inflammation. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is a prototype of the long pentraxin group. It is suggested to play an important role in innate resistance against pathogens, regulation of inflammation, and clearance of apoptotic cells. The aim of this study is to estimate the level of PTX3 in gingival tissues of individuals with chronic (CP) and aggressive (AgP) periodontitis and control participants and further correlate the level of PTX3 with clinical parameters. METHODS: The study population consisted of 50 participants ranging in age from 20 to 55 years and attending the outpatient section of Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, India. The study groups included the following: 1) group A, patients with generalized CP (n = 20); 2) group B (n = 20), patients with generalized AgP (GAgP); and 3) group C (n = 10), healthy controls. Tissue samples from participants were assayed for PTX3 levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Gingival tissues from patients with GAgP (8.349 ± 5.076 ng/mL) had a higher mean concentration of PTX3 than tissues from patients with generalized CP (5.068 ± 3.274 ng/mL) and controls (0.251 ± 0.277). The PTX3 levels in the gingival tissues correlated positively with clinical parameters in all the groups. Among the parameters, probing depth was the most significant predictor variable associated with PTX3 in cases with periodontitis. CONCLUSIONS: PTX3 concentration in gingival tissues of patients with GAgP was higher than in tissues from patients with CP, and the levels correlated positively with clinical parameters. Hence, tissue PTX3 level can be considered a marker of inflammation in periodontal disease.

Comparative analysis of presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epsteinbarr virus -1 (EBV-1) in cases of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis with controls.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epsteinbarr virus -1 (EBV-1)viruses in sub gingival plaque of chronic periodontitis (groupA), aggressive periodontitis patients (group B), periodontally healthy controls (group C) and to compare the clinical parameters between virus negative and positive sites in each of these groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects were included in the study and equally divided into the 3 groups (group A - 20, group B - 20, group C - 20). Sub gingival plaque samples were obtained from the 3 deepest periodontal pocket sites in case of subjects suffering from periodontitis, and from one random bleeding site per quadrant in healthy groups. Clinical parameters like plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket depth (PD) and clinical loss of attachment (CAL) were recorded. Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using Proteinase-K DNA Extraction method, and the presence of CMV and EBV-1 was detected by polymerase chain reaction and 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: Results of our study showed a 45% prevalence of CMV and EBV-1 in Aggressive periodontitis cases. Prevalence of CMV in chronic periodontitis and healthy subjects was 20% and 10%, respectively; while for EBV-1 it was 25% and 0%, respectively. In terms of comparison of the clinical parameters with virus presence, both CMV and EBV-1 positive sites showed a significantly higher mean pocket depth compared to virus negative sites. CONCLUSION: Our studyshowed that the prevalence of EBV1 was higher in chronic and aggressive periodontitis subjects compared to controls and the prevalence of CMV was higher in aggressive periodontitis patients. The virus positive sites showed higher pocket depth compared to virus negative sites.

Prevalence of TT Virus in patients with chronic periodontitis, patients with aggressive periodontitis and healthy controls: a pilot study

Torque teno virus (TTV), a novel DNA virus resides in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and replicates when these cells get activated. The TTV replication shifts the immunobalance. Aim: To determine the presence of TTV in the gingiva of patients with aggressive periodontitis, patients withchronic periodontitis, and healthy controls, and to correlate the presence of TTV with probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Methods: Forty-two subjects (22 males and 20 females)aged 21 to 55 years were recruited for this study. Subjects were stratified into aggressive periodontitis (Group I), chronic periodontitis (Group II) and healthy controls (Group III). Gingival tissue biopsy was taken from all the subjects and the presence of TTV was analyzed using PCR and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: TTV was identified in half of the subjects and more number of subjects with periodontitis have TT virus compared to controls. There was significant association between presence of TT virus and pocket depth, clinical attachment level. Conclusions: The findings from the present study shows that there was no significant association between TT virus and periodontitis, even though it was isolated from more number of subjects with aggressive periodontitis, and TTV was associated with pocket depth and clinical attachment level. These findings need to be investigated in further studies.

Management of mucous membrane pemphigoid with dapsone plus weekly steroid injections in a young patient: a case report / Tratamento de penfigóide membranoso mucoso com dapsona e injeções semanais de esteróide em um paciente jovem: relato de caso

Purpose: Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune subepithelial blistering disorder usually affecting older individuals. This paper describes the pharmacological management of MMP in a young patient. Case description: A 23 year-old woman showed erythematous ulcerative gingiva in the maxillary palatal region and around the retromolar region. A perilesional excisional biopsy was done, and the histologic and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the clinical diagnosis of MMP as the cause of desquamative gingivitis in this patient. The patient was treated with topical steroids plus daily Dapsone 100 mg and weekly steroid injections (40 mg). The lesions began to resolve after 12 weeks of therapy. Conclusion: This case of MMP in a young female patient was effectively managed with a combination therapy of topical steroids, Dapsone and steroid injections.

Objetivo: O penfigóide membranoso mucoso (PMM) é uma desordem autoimume subeptelial bolhosa que geralmente afeta indivíduos mais velhos. Este relato de caso descreve a abordagem farmacológica do PMM em uma paciente jovem. Descrição do caso: Uma paciente do sexo feminino, com 23 anos de idade, apresentava a gengiva eritematosa e ulcerada na região palatina e na região retromolar. A biópsia excisional total foi realizada e as análises histológica e de imuno-histoquímica confirmaram o diagnóstico clínico de PMM como causa da gengivite descamativa nesta paciente. A paciente foi tratada com esteróides tópicos, Dapsona 100 mg diariamente e injeções de esteróides mensais (40 mg). A resolução das lesões se iniciou após 12 semanas de terapia medicamentosa. Conclusão: Este caso de PMM em uma paciente jovem foi efetivamente tratado com uma terapia combinada de esteróides tópicos, Dapsona e injeções de esteróides.

Analysis of the association between interleukin-1beta (+3954) gene polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in a sample of the south Indian population.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the association between IL-1B (+3954) gene polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in a sample of the south Indian population. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study employed a cross-sectional design involving individuals from the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern part of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from the white blood cells of 30 patients with chronic periodontitis (18 males and 12 females) and 31 healthy controls (20 males and 11 females). The age of the subjects ranged from 30 to 55 years old and all were non smokers. DNA was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers flanking the locus +3954 of IL-1beta gene and analyzed by 3% agarose gel electrophoresis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: A Chi-square test was used to determine the genotype distribution between the groups and the relative risk was estimated with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The chronic periodontitis group displayed a higher percentage of T allele, even though it was not statistically significant. The relative risk analysis between genotypes showed that the risk was higher for the CT genotype compared with the CC genotype and the risk was significant. In conclusion, our data suggested that there was no significant association between IL-1beta (+3954) gene polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in the south Indian population.