Melatonin levels in periodontitis vs. the healthy state: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim was to provide a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative assessment of any potential differences in melatonin levels in periodontitis vs. the healthy state. The keyword combination "melatonin" AND "periodontitis" was searched in Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus. Qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis were performed on articles satisfying the inclusion criteria. Only 14 studies were included in the systematic review, out of which only 10 had quantitative data compatible with a meta-analysis. Ten studies demonstrated low melatonin in periodontitis, three studies demonstrated an initial reduction in melatonin levels followed by elevation with worsening of periodontitis, and one study showed an elevation in melatonin levels in the transition from a healthy state to periodontitis. Grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation revealed that all the included studies had low to very low overall evidence. The meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction (p < .0001) in salivary melatonin levels in chronic periodontitis (3.26 ± 3.44 pg/ml) compared with healthy controls (5.27 ± 5.39 pg/ml), with a mean difference of 2.65 ± 7.84 and a confidence interval of 1.94-3.36. The significantly lower salivary melatonin levels in periodontitis must be inferred with caution given the low quality of the included studies.

The SARS-CoV-2 Virus could Downregulate Dual Specificity Phosphatase-1 Expression in Oral Cancer: A Plausible Hypothesis that could Explain Oral Cancer Progression in the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post-pandemic Situation.

This study explores the downregulation of Dual Specificity Phosphatase-1 (DUSP-1) expression in oral cancer progression during the pandemic and post-pandemic situations. Keywords: COVID-19, Dual specificity phosphatase-1, Oral cancer, SARS-CoV-2.

Anticancer Effects of Carica papaya L. and Benzyl Isothiocyanate on an Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line: An In Vitro Study.

AIM: The study aimed to assess the anticancer effects of leaves of the male and female plant and seeds Carica papaya L. extract and the active compound benzyl isothiocyanate on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Extracts of CO2 strain C. papaya L. seeds were prepared using water, ethanol, and ethanol:water by maceration, and benzyl isothiocyanate was quantified. Alkaloid fractions of leaves of male and female plants of C. papaya L. were prepared and quantified. The anticancer effects of the test substances on the SCC-25 cell line were assessed by MTT, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and determination of mitochondrial membrane potential. RESULTS: The ethanol:water extract of C. papaya L. (seeds) demonstrated the highest quantity of benzyl isothiocyanate. Male plant leaves demonstrated greater alkaloid content. The leaves of the male plant exhibited apoptosis induction and S-phase arrest, whereas the leaves of the female plant and seeds of C. papaya L. demonstrated G2M-phase arrest and apoptosis induction. CONCLUSION: C. papaya L. and benzyl isothiocyanate demonstrated anticancer effects. There was a difference in the anticancer effects of leaves of male and female plants of C. papaya L. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The anticancer effects of papaya leaves and seeds could be further explored to develop an adjunct therapy for oral cancer to improve prognosis and reduce recurrence rates.

Assessing the In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Activity of Moringa oleifera Crude Extract.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play a vital role in the pathogenesis of various diseases of the oral cavity including periodontal disease. Phytochemicals present in plants with antioxidant (AO) and anti-inflammatory properties could aid as a therapeutic adjunct in the management of these diseases. AIM: To assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera Lam. (MOL) in an in vitro environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. oleifera Lam. were prepared by maceration. Antioxidant activity was assessed by FRAP, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by Albumin Denaturation Assay. Experiments were repeated thrice, and mean and standard deviation were calculated. RESULTS: Both the test substances exhibited significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, and aqueous extracts exhibited higher activity than ethanolic extract. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera Lam. could be further explored for the management of periodontal disease as a local drug delivery system with the extract could be developed.

Root Membrane Concept: Shield the Socket-A Case Report.

Edentulousness affects the mental health of most patients. Missing teeth in the anterior esthetic zones is a matter of concern, especially for young adults. Various replacement options such as fixed partial dentures, removable partial dentures, and dental implants are available to treat edentulousness. Dental implants have been a booming treatment option in modern-day dentistry as they more closely mimic the natural tooth. The most important criterion for placement of the implant in the esthetic zone is the conservation of alveolar bone, especially in the anterior region which is usually compromised due to tooth extraction or resorption of the ridge. The root membrane concept or the socket shield technique is a recently introduced concept in implant dentistry where a portion of the root acts as a shield to protect against alveolar bone resorption and maintain bone integrity, especially in the esthetic area. This case report describes the clinical management of fractured upper anterior teeth using a dental implant and the root membrane technique. Keywords: Anterior zone, Esthetics, Immediate implants, Implant, Missing teeth, Root membrane technique, Socket shield.

Role of Periodontal Bacteria, Viruses, and Placental mir155 in Chronic Periodontitis and Preeclampsia-A Genetic Microbiological Study.

Previous studies assessed the involvement and impact of periodontal bacteria in preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis. To explore further, the current study aimed to associate periodontal viruses and bacteria with mir155 levels in placental tissues of preeclamptic women with generalized chronic periodontitis. Four-hundred 45 pregnant women, 18-35 years of age, were selected and divided into four groups (controls, A, B, and C) where the Controls included 145 systemically and periodontally healthy pregnant women Group A-100 systemically healthy pregnant women with chronic periodontitis, Group B- 100 preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis, Group C- 100 preeclamptic women without chronic periodontitis. Age, BMI, SES, and periodontal parameters such as PI, BOP, PPD, and CAL were noted. Periodontal pathogens such as Tf, Td, Pg, Pi, Fn, HSV, EBV, and HCMV were tested in subgingival plaque, placental tissues, and mir155. We observed that PI, BOP, PPD, CAL, Tf, and EBV were highly significant in Group B. We found a higher number of periodontal bacteria, viruses, and mir 155 in Group B showing a higher risk of preeclampsia. More genetic studies in this field are advised to ascertain the role of periodontopathogens and mir 155 in preeclampsia and periodontal inflammation. What is already known on this subject? Periodontal diseases pose an increased risk of developing preeclampsia and delivering preterm and/or low-birth-weight babies. What do the results of this study add? Periodontal variables such as PI, pocket depth, BOP, and clinical attachment levels, were found to be increased in the preeclamptic women with chronic periodontitis. The significant difference was seen in the relative fold expression of mir155 with higher gene expression of mir155 in groups B and A as compared to group C and controls. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In our study, mir155 correlation with the periodontal parameters and periodontal pathogens further strengthen the evidence of periodontal inflammation as a risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women especially when associated with chronic periodontitis. mir155 can be considered to be one of the genetic biomarkers and can be used as a diagnostic tool for the early detection of PE.

Allicin May Promote Reversal of T-Cell Dysfunction in Periodontitis via the PD-1 Pathway.

We evaluated the role of allicin in periodontitis using an in silico and in vitro design. An in silico docking analysis was performed to assess the plausible interactions between allicin and PD-L1. The cytokine profile of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples obtained from periodontitis patients was estimated by cytometric bead array. CD3+ lymphocytes isolated from the peripheral blood were sorted and characterized using immunomagnetic techniques. Cultured and expanded lymphocytes were treated with the GCF samples to induce T-cell exhaustion. Optimum concentrations of allicin were added to exhausted lymphocytes to compare the expression of TIM-3 and LAG-3 gene expression at baseline and post-treatment. Allicin was found to bind to the PD-L1 molecule as revealed by the in-silico experiment, which is possibly an inhibitory interaction although not proven. GCF from periodontitis patients had significantly higher concentrations of TNF-α, CCL2, IL-6, IFN-γ, and CXCL8 than controls. GCF treatment of CD3+ lymphocytes from the periodontitis patients significantly increased expression of T-cell exhaustion markers TIM-3 and LAG-3. Allicin administration with GCF treatment resulted in significant lowering of the expression of exhaustion markers. Allicin may exert an immunostimulatory role and reverse immune-destructive mechanisms such as T-cell exhaustion.

Synergistic Effect of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Attenuate Markers for Inflammation and Osteoclast Differentiation by Suppressing NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathway in Chronic Periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is characterized by excessive osteoclastic activity, which is closely associated with inflammation. It is well established that MAPK/NF-kB axis is a key signaling pathway engaged in osteoclast differentiation. It is stated that that biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) have significant antiostoeclastogenic effects in chronic periodontitis. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to elucidate the synergetic effect of PRF/BCP involvement of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway in osteoclast differentiation in chronic periodontitis. METHODS: We induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from patients with chronic periodontitis. We assessed osteoclast generation by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, proinflammatory cytokines were investigated by ELISA and NF-κB, and IKB by immunoblot, respectively. MAPK proteins and osteoclast transcription factors were studied by Western blot analysis and osteoclast transcriptional genes were assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results showed that the potent inhibitory effect of PRF/BCP on osteoclastogenesis was evidenced by decreased TRAP activity and the expression of transcription factors, NFATc1, c-Fos, and the osteoclast marker genes, TRAP, MMP-9, and cathepsin-K were found to be reduced. Further, the protective effect of PRF/BCP on inflammation-mediated osteoclastogenesis in chronic periodontitis was shown by decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, NF-kB, IKB, and MAPK proteins. CONCLUSIONS: PRF/BCP may promote a synergetic combination that could be used as a strong inhibitor of inflammation-induced osteoclastogenesis in chronic periodontitis.

The SARS-CoV-2 Virus may Remain Viable on Oral Appliances for up to 3 Days?

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has created havoc in the world by causing the COVID-19 pandemic.1 The affected patients exhibit fever, cough, and apnea. Hospitalization is often due to progressive respiratory distress, which, in a proportion of patients, had led to fatalities.2 The geriatric population is at a higher risk, because of their reduced immunity and the presence of comorbid conditions like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Health authorities have advocated social distancing as a method to contain the spread of this contagious disease. A landmark study has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can remain viable on various surfaces like cardboard, stainless steel, plastic, and copper for a long duration. The research conducted by van Doremalen et al.3 has created an aerosolized environment using SARS-CoV-2 (105.25 50% tissue-culture infectious dose [TCID50] per milliliter) in a Goldberg drum using a 3 jet collision nebulizer and has exposed various materials such as cardboard, paper, stainless steel, plastic, and copper to the virus. The SARS-Cov-2 virus was found to be viable in aerosol for only 3 hours, although its presence on material surfaces lasted significantly longer, especially in stainless steel and plastic surfaces, wherein the virus was detected for up to 72 hours.3.

In Vitro Anticancer Effects of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl, Cinnamaldehyde, 4 Hydroxycinnamic Acid and Eugenol on an Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to assess the in vitro anticancer effects of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl extract and its active constituents, such as cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol on oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aqueous, ethanolic, and hydroalcoholic extracts of C. verum J. Presl (bark) were prepared using standardized protocols. Cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol were quantified in the extracts. Total saponins, tannins, and polyphenols were quantified in the selected extracts. A commercially available SCC-25 cell line was cultured according to standard protocol. The anticancer effects of the extract, active compounds, and standard cisplatin were assessed by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) cytotoxicity, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, DNA, fragmentation assay, cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry, and JC-1 staining (5,5',6,6'-tetrachloro1,1',3,3'tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide). RESULTS: The hydroalcoholic extracts demonstrated a higher quantity of the active ingredients cinnamaldehyde, 4 hydroxycinnamic acid, and eugenol. The selected extract and active compounds demonstrated anticancer effects via apoptosis induction and S-phase arrest. Apoptosis induction was exerted by the extract via alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential. CONCLUSION: Cinnamomum verum J. Presl and its active compounds exhibited in vitro anticancer effects on oral squamous cell carcinoma. Further studies in animal models have to be carried out to assess toxicity and in vivo effects. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The anticancer properties of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl could be explored further for prevention and management of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Comparative Evaluation of Gingival Depigmentation by Scalpel, Electrosurgery, and Laser: A 14 Months' Follow-up Study.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare three different techniques using scalpel, electrosurgery, and laser for gingival depigmentation in terms of pain, discomfort, duration of procedure, wound healing, and repigmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty patients in the age range of 24-38 years were briefed about the surgical procedure and an informed consent was obtained and they were randomly allocated into three groups of 10 individuals (5 males and 5 females) each: those undergoing depigmentation with scalpel (group I), electrosurgery (group II), and diode lasers (Biolase) (group III). Individuals of all three groups were asked to describe the level of pain and discomfort by using the visual analog scale (VAS) 2 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week postoperatively. Further, the groups were compared based on duration of procedure, wound healing, and repigmentation at the end of 14 months. RESULTS: All the groups showed a decrease in the pain levels, which was statistically highly significant 1 week postoperatively when compared 24 hours postoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference in the pain levels between the scalpel, electrosurgery, and lasers groups after 24 hours (p < 0.001), with the lasers group demonstrating significantly less pain and discomfort. There was significant difference between the groups with respect to the duration of procedure, with less mean time for completion of the procedure observed for group III. Furthermore, less time for wound healing was observed in group III as compared to other groups. Total 8 out 10 patients in group I, 7 out of 10 patients in group II, and 2 out of 10 patients in group III showed repigmentation at the end of 14 months. CONCLUSION: The rising concern for esthetic demand of an individual requires the removal of hyperpigmented gingival areas to create a confident and pleasing smile, which could be easily attained by using laser. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Laser is an effective and fast tool that causes less pain, discomfort, faster healing, and delayed repigmentation compared with scalpel or electrosurgery for gingival depigmentation.

Depression, Anxiety, and Psychological Distress among Healthcare Providers during the Outbreak of the Life-threatening Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

"The concept of total wellness recognizes that our every thought, word, and behavior affect our greater health and well-being. And we, in turn, are affected not only emotionally but also physically and spiritually."-Greg Anderson.

A systematic review assessing the dental pulp stone prevalence in the Saudi Arabian population.

This Systematic Review (SR) was to report on the prevalence of pulp stones in the Saudi Arabian (KSA) population. The electronic databases were searched for scientific research articles during May 2021. The data search was performed in electronic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Saudi Digital Library, and 6 original research articles which fulfilled the eligibility criteria were assessed for qualitative data. The prevalence of pulp stones among the KSA population ranged from 4.6% to 50.93% among the study participants and it ranged between 10.2%-13.34% in the teeth assessed. The pulp stones were more frequently reported in decayed teeth, periodontal diseases, attrition, teeth with dental restorations, and higher in the molar teeth in comparison with the premolar teeth. The data on the prevalence of pulp stones among the Saudi population will be helpful for clinicians in planning endodontic procedures.

Evaluating fluoride uptake of dentin from different restorative materials at various time intervals - In vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Glass ionomer cement is very popular in clinical practice due to their antibacterial and cariostatic properties, which is totally dependant on the amount of fluoride release and uptake by dentine. The short-term and long-term fluoride uptake by dentine from commercially available restorative materials like nano-ionomer, zirconia reinforced glass ionomer cement and flowable composite is of clinical interest. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare Nano-ionomer, Zirconia reinforced glass ionomer, and flowable composite resin for the fluoride uptake by dentin at different time intervals. RESULTS: One-way ANOVA (Tukey-Kramer Multiple Comparison Test) was applied to test the comparison of mean values of all parameters compared together. The student's paired 't' test was applied to compare groups. The fluoride uptake was evaluated at 3 days and 42 days. At 3 days dentin showed higher fluoride uptake with Zirconomer (Group Z) as compared to Ketac N100 and SDR Composite which was statistically significant. At 42 days higher fluoride uptake was seen in Ketac N100 (Group K) as compared to Zirconomer and SDR composite which was also statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Fluoride uptake by dentine was seen in all study materials. Fluoride uptake by dentine at 3 days was seen maximum in Zirconomer, whereas fluoride uptake at 42 days was more in Ketac N100.

In-vitro analysis on the potential use of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells on arecoline-induced oral epithelial cells.

To assess the protective role of the secretome of dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells on arecoline-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition and senescence on epithelial cells of the oral mucosa. Effect of varying concentrations of arecoline extract and dental pulp mesenchymal stem cell condition media (DPSC-CM) were noted on oral mucosal epithelial cells. MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, and the quantitative gene expressions of BCL2, PUMA, BAD, BAX, CASP3, CASP9, CASP12, TGFB1, CST3, COL1A2, COL3A1, TIMP1, TIMP2, CDH1, and CDH2 were assessed. Oral mucosal epithelial cells exposed only to the arecoline were the control. 50% and 100% DPSC-CM decreased apoptosis-related gene expression in the cells exposed with 25 µM arecoline compared to the control. 50% DPSC-CM attenuated the expression of all fibrotic genes and EMT-related genes. 20% and 100% DPSC-CM showed differential effects on fibrotic and EMT-related genes. DPSC-CM inhibited apoptosis, and attenuated expression of fibrotic and EMT-related genes on arecoline treated human oral epithelial cells.

Used Toothbrush as a Potential Source of Gene Expression Among Subjects With Systemic Disease and Adverse Habits.

Purpose To explore the viability of used toothbrush as a source of gene expression and comparison of the same among tobacco, alcohol, diabetic and hypertensive subjects. Materials and methods Fourteen subjects with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension were allocated to Group I, 14 subjects with tobacco and alcohol habits allocated to Group II and 14 healthy subjects allocated to Group III. Genetic materials retrieved from the used toothbrush of the study subjects were assessed for genetic expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), Bcl-2-like protein 4 (BAX), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A), B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), G-protein beta-3 (GNB3), and subunit gene and transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results BAX gene showed reduced expression in tobacco and alcohol users (p=0.0497). BCL2, CDK4, and GNB3 showed no significant difference in expression in both the groups and with control. CDKN2A was expressed at a lower level in Group I and II participants. TCF7L2 showed higher expression in Group 2 participants (p=0.001). Conclusion The study concluded that used toothbrush is a reliable source for genetic expression. There was no difference in BCL2, CDK4, and GNB3 gene expression between subjects with systemic disease, adverse habits and healthy controls. There is a downregulation of BAX and upregulation of TCF7L2 gene in subjects with adverse habits.

Evaluation and Comparison of Genomic DNA Extraction Methods and PCR Optimization on Archival Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded Tissues of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Recovery and amplification of nucleic acids from archived formalin-fixed tissue samples is the most developing field in retrospective genetic studies. We compared different deparaffinization methods and DNA isolation techniques, and intergroup comparisons were performed to evaluate the effectiveness of different storing methods for archival OSCC samples based on obtained mean DNA quantity, quality, and PCR amplification of the P53 gene. The study comprised 75 archival histologically diagnosed OSCC samples which were divided into Group I: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue blocks and Group II: Long-term formalin-fixed tissue. A comparison of different deparaffinization methods showed that xylene deparaffinization is an efficient method to obtain suitable DNA. Comparing different DNA isolation techniques illustrated that the conventional phenol-chloroform method gives better integrity to DNA in contrast with the kit method. Comparison between FFPET and long-term FFT samples demonstrated that samples fixed in formalin overnight and embedded in wax yield better quality and quantity DNA in comparison with long-term samples fixed in formalin. To obtain suitable integrity of DNA, tissue samples should be stored by fixing in formalin overnight followed by preparation of paraffin tissue blocks, deparaffinization by xylene, and subjecting them to the conventional phenol-chloroform DNA isolation protocol.

Role of Toothbrushes as Gene Expression Profiling Tool for Oral Cancer Screening in Tobacco and Alcohol Users.

AIM: The use of toothbrushes was investigated as a potential RNA source and gene expression profiling tool for oral cancer screening in tobacco and alcohol users. METHODOLOGY: A total of 20 subjects were selected on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups: group I-healthy controls (n = 6); group II-individuals who consume tobacco and alcohol (n = 14). After the volunteers brushed their teeth using a soft-bristle toothbrush with ~0.5 gm of toothpaste, the toothbrushes were collected, and the gene expression of BAX, BCL2, CDK4, CKDN2A, GNB3, and TCF7L2 was assessed. RESULTS: The gene expression of BAX decreased significantly in alcoholics and smokers (0.13867 ± 0.12014), while the gene expression of BCL2 increased in alcoholics and smokers (1.91001 ± 0.90425) in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.0054 and p = 0.0055). Although there was increased expression of CDK4, CKDN2A, and TCF7L2 and decreased expression of GNB3 in smokers and alcoholics, the results were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: A toothbrush is a good source of RNA, and gene expression analysis can be performed using the genetic material retrieved from toothbrushes, which can aid in the early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma among tobacco and alcohol users. Further studies with a larger sample size and different durations of toothbrush use should be conducted to explore the role of toothbrushes as a noninvasive tool for disease diagnosis.

Is Palatal Rugae Pattern a Reliable Tool for Personal Identification following Orthodontic Treatment? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: To qualitatively and quantitatively review the reliability of palatal rugae as a tool for personal identification following orthodontic treatment. METHODS: Cross-sectional retrospective studies assessing the accuracy of matching palatal rugae pattern pre- and post-orthodontic treatment were identified from PubMed and SCOPUS databases. The title and abstract of the articles identified in the search were screened for potential duplicates and relevancy to the topic of interest. The full text of the articles selected in the screening was analyzed using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quantitative analysis of the studies representing coherent data in terms of age and treatment choice was performed using RevMan software. RESULTS: Out of 64 screened articles, only 18 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. Out of these 18 articles, only 3 studies had data compatible with the quantitative analysis. Significant changes were noted in lateral first rugae in transverse bilateral direction (p = 0.02) and between second and third lateral rugae of the left side in the anteroposterior direction (p = 0.04). Despite the dimensional changes, observers in most studies were able to accurately (>90%) match the palatal rugae pre- and post-orthodontic treatment through visual observation. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of the visual matching, despite the significant dimensional changes, indicates that morphology could have potentially been the major matching factor. Thus, a combination of dimensional and morphological evaluation of the palatal rugae could potentially increase the accuracy of personal identification.

Impact of Red Complex Bacteria and TNF-α Levels on the Diabetic and Renal Status of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in the Presence and Absence of Periodontitis.

Scientific evidence shows a positive association in the etiopathogenesis of periodontitis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Various confounding factors, such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation, also play a significant role in the progression of CKD, which remains unexplored. We hypothesise the role of red complex bacteria with various confounding factors associated with chronic kidney disease. The study comprised a total of 120 participants categorised into 4 groups: the control group (C), periodontitis subjects without CKD (P), periodontally healthy chronic kidney disease subjects (CKD), and subjects having both periodontitis and CKD (P + CKD), with 30 subjects in each group. Demographic variables, and periodontal, renal, and diabetic parameters were recorded. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels and those of red complex bacteria such as Prophyromonas gingivalis (P.g), Treponema denticola (T.d), and Tonerella forsythia (T.f) were assessed, and the obtained results were statistically analysed. Among the various demographic variables, age showed a level of significance. Mean PI, GI, CAL, and PPD (the proportion of sites with PPD ≥ 5 mm and CAL ≥ 3 mm) were elevated in the P + CKD group. Diabetic parameters such as fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c levels were also greater in the P + CKD group. Renal parameters such as eGFR and serum creatinine levels were greater in CKD patients. The estimation of red complex periodontal pathogens such as Pg, Td and Tf levels were significantly greater in the P and P + CKD groups. Pearson correlation analysis revealed significant correlation of red complex bacteria with all variables. Greater levels of P.g, T.d and T.f were found in the P groups, thus indicating their important role in the initiation and progression of inflammation of periodontitis and CKD, with diabetes as one of the confounding factors. The study also confirmed a log-linear relationship between TNF-α levels and red complex bacteria, thereby demonstrating the role of inflammatory biomarkers in periodontal disease progression that could contribute to the development of systemic inflammation such as CKD.