Association between asthma and periodontitis: A case-control analysis of risk factors, related medications, and allergic responses.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the association between asthma, related allergies and medication use, and the presence and severity of periodontitis among individuals at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. METHODS: Employing a case-control design, the study analyzed data from 892 patients, half with asthma and half without asthma. Data collection included demographics, asthma history, medication use, allergies, and periodontal examination outcomes, including probing pocket depth (PPD), mobility, furcation involvement, and radiographic bone loss (RBL). Logistic regression models assessed the relationship between asthma and periodontitis, adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Asthmatic patients exhibited significantly lower odds of periodontitis (OR = 0.10, p < .001) and were less likely to present with advanced stages (OR = 0.23, p < .001) and grades of the disease (OR = 0.31, p < .001) compared to non-asthmatic patients. The study also found a higher proportion of females in the asthmatic group (67% vs. 51.8%, p < .001). Smoking was identified as a significant factor associated with periodontitis in patients with asthma, with former smokers at more than double the odds (OR = 2.28, p = .035) and current smokers at a slightly lower yet significant odds (OR = 1.87, p = .050). Additionally, asthmatic patients on adrenergic inhalers had an increased likelihood of developing periodontitis (OR = 1.76, p = .045). Allergies to codeine and latex were associated with higher odds of periodontitis, with ORs of 3.41 and 6.09, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma was found to be associated with lower odds of periodontitis. However, this association appears to be modified by smoking habits and the use of certain asthma medications, which are related to an increased likelihood of periodontitis among asthmatic patients.

Direct Catalytic Enantioselective Vinylogous Aldol Reaction of Allyl Ketones to Pyrazole-4,5-diones.

The first catalytic enantioselective vinylogous nucleophilic addition to pyrazole-4,5-diones is reported. Using quinine-derived bifunctional tertiary amino-amide as the catalyst, this direct aldol reaction of allyl ketones is shown to proceed exclusively in γ- and E-selective manner to generate pyrazolone derivatives, bearing an oxygen-containing quaternary stereogenic center, in good yields with moderate to high enantioselectivities (up to 97:3 er).

Are second-trimester minor sonographic markers for Down syndrome useful in patients who have undergone first-trimester combined screening?

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine efficacy of minor markers for detection of Down syndrome (DS) in a population prescreened with first-trimester combined screening (FTS). STUDY DESIGN: FTS was modified using established likelihood ratios to generate a new composite risk (NCR). RESULTS: Of 3845 women, 390 had ≥1 marker. There were 10/3845 cases of DS; 3 were among patients with low-risk FTS (n = 3727). In 55 patients, NCR adjusted the risk from low to high without increasing detection rate. NCR did not modify risk to allow for detection of the 3 DS among patients with low-risk FTS even though 2 of these fetuses had 1 minor marker each. There were 7 DS among patients with high-risk FTS (n = 118). Use of NCR increased positive predictive value from 7/118 (5.1%) to 7/53 (13.2%). CONCLUSION: Screening for minor markers is useful in patients with high-risk FTS. It is of questionable benefit in patients with low-risk FTS.