Importance of periodontal ligament thickness

This study evaluated whether periodontal ligament (PL) thickness varied with root size and examined the possible influence of this variation on orthodontic mechanics. Measurements were taken of the maxillary left first molar in 54 male Wistar rats. Mean mesial and distal PL thicknesses were compared between the intermediate buccal and mesiobuccal roots using paired Student's t-tests with a 5% significance level. Mean values differed significantly between roots (p < 2.2 × 10-16). PL thickness in rats is directly proportional to root dimensions.

Photodynamic and Antibiotic Therapy Impair the Pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecium in a Whole Animal Insect Model

Enterococcus faecium has emerged as one of the most important pathogens in healthcare-associated infections worldwide due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance to many antibiotics, including vancomycin. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is an alternative therapeutic platform that is currently under investigation for the control and treatment of infections. PDT is based on the use of photoactive dye molecules, widely known as photosensitizer (PS). PS, upon irradiation with visible light, produces reactive oxygen species that can destroy lipids and proteins causing cell death. We employed Galleria mellonella (the greater wax moth) caterpillar fatally infected with E. faecium to develop an invertebrate host model system that can be used to study the antimicrobial PDT (alone or combined with antibiotics). In the establishment of infection by E. faecium in G. mellonella, we found that the G. mellonella death rate was dependent on the number of bacterial cells injected into the insect hemocoel and all E. faecium strains tested were capable of infecting and killing G. mellonella. Antibiotic treatment with ampicillin, gentamicin or the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin prolonged caterpillar survival infected by E. faecium (P = 0.0003, P = 0.0001 and P = 0.0001, respectively). In the study of antimicrobial PDT, we verified that methylene blue (MB) injected into the insect followed by whole body illumination prolonged the caterpillar survival (P = 0.0192). Interestingly, combination therapy of larvae infected with vancomycin-resistant E. faecium, with antimicrobial PDT followed by vancomycin, significantly prolonged the survival of the caterpillars when compared to either antimicrobial PDT (P = 0.0095) or vancomycin treatment alone (P = 0.0025), suggesting that the aPDT made the vancomycin resistant E. faecium strain more susceptible to vancomycin action. In summary, G. mellonella provides an invertebrate model host to study the antimicrobial PDT and to explore combinatorial aPDT-based treatments.

Influence of experimental canine ehrlichiosis on the E-ADA activity and purine levels in serum and possible functional correlations with pathogenesis

The aim of this study was to evaluate adenosine deaminase activity and purines levels in serum of dogs experimentally infected by Ehrlichia canis. Banked serum samples of dogs divided into two groups with five animals each: healthy animals and animals infected by E. canis. The concentration of purines (adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine, inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid), and adenosine deaminase (E-ADA) activity in sera were evaluated. Samples were collected on days 12 and 30 post-infection (PI). The E-ADA activity showed a significant reduction on day 12 PI, and increased on day 30 PI in dogs infected with E. canis. On day 12, an increase in seric concentration of ATP, ADP and adenosine was verified, and different levels of hypoxanthine, xanthine and uric acid had a drastic reduction in infected compared healthy dogs (P< 0.05). However, on day 30 PI, the levels of seric ADP and AMP decreased, unlike the concentration of xanthine and uric acid that increased significantly in infected dogs (P< 0.05). Therefore, the activity of E-ADA and purine levels are altered in experimental canine ehrlichiosis, probably with the purpose of modulating the pathogenesis of the disease related to immune response, oxidative stress and coagulation disorders in acute phase. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Influência do consumo crônico de etanol 20% na doença periodontal induzida em ratas com deficiência estrogênica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Perinatal Periodontal Disease Reduces Social Behavior in Male Offspring

Objective: Our objective was to verify whether prenatal maternal periodontitis is a risk factor for the development of central nervous system disorders in rats. Methods: Periodontitis was induced by placing a ligature around the upper and lower first molars in 9 female Wistar rats (experimental group); 9 rats were left unligated (control group). The maternal general activity in an open field was observed on gestational day (GD) 0, GD 4, and GD 14, and the maternal performance was assessed on the second day after birth. The pups' play behavior was assessed on postnatal day 30. The relative level of reelin was measured in the frontal cortex by real-time PCR analysis. Results: The results showed that, compared with the control group, (1) the general activity in female rats with periodontitis was decreased, (2) the maternal performance of these rats was not modified by periodontitis, (3) the play behavior of pups from dams with periodontitis was decreased, and (4) there were no differences in the frontal cortex reelin levels of pups from dams with periodontitis. Conclusions: We conclude that pre- and postnatal periodontitis induces maternal sickness behavior and reduces the pups' play behavior without interference with frontal cortex reelin expression. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Salivary carriage of periodontal pathogens in generalized aggressive periodontitis families

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perception and Attitude About Systemic Health and Periodontal Disease Among Dentistry Undergraduates

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Clinical outcomes of periodontal therapy are not influenced by the ATC/TTC haplotype in the IL8 gene

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of nicotine and cotinine impregnation on the first step of periodontal regeneration: clot stabilization

This study analyzes the clot stabilization on root surfaces of teeth impregnated with cotinine and nicotine and the influence of the scaling in the adhesion of blood components, observing the influence of new exposition to nicotine and/or cotinine after scaling. Fifteen human teeth extracted due to periodontal disease of non-smokers patients were selected and manually scaled. Four dentin blocks were obtained from each tooth (n = 60). Samples received blood application or reimpregnation with nicotine and/or cotinine, depending on the groups. Group 1: PBS immersion + root scaling + blood; group 2: nicotine + root scaling + blood; group 3: nicotine + root scaling + nicotine reapplication + blood; group 4: cotinine + root scaling + blood; group 5: cotinine + root scaling + cotinine reapplication+ blood; group 6: nicotine and cotinine + root scaling + nicotine and cotinine + blood. Samples were kept in 2 ml of each substance for 24 hours. Each group received a blood drop and was analyzed by SEM. The higher amount of blood components was present in teeth exposed to cotinine and the groups submitted to scaling and blood application in comparison with groups that received reapplication of toxic substances after scaling. The greater toxic effect on root dentin surface was after the exposure to nicotine and cotinine. Results suggest that periodontal healing may be delayed in smokers due to the direct inhibition of clot stabilization on the root surface when nicotine and cotinine are present concomitantly.

Efeitos de drogas antiplaquetárias na doença periodontal

The association between platelets, angiogenesis and progression or repair of periodontal disease has been little explored and, consequently, the results are inconclusive. The pathogenic bacteria present in the periodontal pocket release endotoxins that affect the endothelial integrity and are able to induce the production of chemical mediators derived from plasma proteins and blood clotting while altering platelet function. There is great interest in the modulation of platelet activity in vascular disorders, especially cardiovascular diseases. For this reason, antiplatelet drugs, that are commonly used in the prevention of thromboembolic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and peripheral arterial disease, have been used. Aspirin is the only non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent with antiplatelet activity. In the periodontium, instead of only reduces levels of inflammatory cytokines, also significantly affects bleeding on probing, suggesting a dose-dependent modulation of periodontitis. In contrast, clopidogrel and ticlopidine are thienopyridine drugs with no known antiinflammatory action, suggesting that this benefit is related to an antiinflammatory effect indirectly correlated to their antiplatelet activity already established. In the literature there is limited information about the effect of these drugs on periodontium and periodontal disease development. Antiplatelet drugs hypothetically can change both the pathogenesis of periodontitis and subsequent periodontal tissue repair by blocking the secretion of chemical mediators which in general are important in modulating inflammation and tissue repair.

Occurrence of periodontal pathogens in ethnic groups from a native Brazilian reservation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Experimental periodontal disease treatment by subgingigval irrigation with tetracycline hidrochloride in rats

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare subgingival irrigation with tetracycline hydrochloride (TTC-HCL) as adjunctive treatment to scaling and root planning (SRP) on induced periodontitis in rats. Material and Methods: In 60 rats, periodontal disease was ligature-induced at the mandibular left first molar. After 7 days, the ligature was removed and all animals were submitted to SRP, and divided into 2 groups according to the following treatment: C (n=30) – subgingival irrigation with 1 mL of saline; T (n=30) – subgingival irrigation with 1 mL of TTC-HCL (50 mg/mL). Ten animals in each group were euthanized at 7, 15 and 30 days posttreatment. The histometric values were statistically analyzed (p<0.05). Results: In the histometric analysis, at 7, 15 and 30 days, Group T (0.72±0.05 mm2, 0.57±0.14 mm2, 0.62±0.07 mm2), showed less bone loss (p<0.05) than Group C (1.35±0.25 mm2; 1.40±0.31 mm2; 1.29±0.27 mm2), respectively. Conclusions: Subgingival irrigation with TTC-HCL was an effective adjunctive treatment for periodontal disease induced in rats.

Chitosan/Carbomer-based tablets containing Metronidazole for potential treatment of periodontal diseases

Mucoadhesive tablets with different mixtures of chitosan and carbomer homopolymer type B were prepared in order to obtain new formulations containing metronidazole for periodontal disease treatment. All tablets were characterized by swelling and erosion studies, ex vivo mucoadhesion force and in vitro drug release. The drug released mechanism was described by Korsmeyer-Peppas and Weibull models. Tablets containing increased amounts of chitosan presented higher swelling ability and the drug release was prolonged in the simulated saliva fluid. The mechanisms for the drug release from tablets were complex, including diffusion, swelling and erosion simultaneously. This kind of delivery system is suitable for formulating metronidazole mucoadhesive systems, representing a good alternative for the local treatment of periodontal diseases.

Pathogenesis of Human and Bovine Cryptosporidium parvum in Gnotobiotic Pigs

To compare the pathogenesis of human genotype 1 (HuGl) and bovine genotype 2 (BoG2) Cryptosporidium parvum, neonatal gnotobiotic pigs were given 1-10 HuGl or BoG2 oocysts. The prepatent and patent periods were significantly longer for HuGl than for BoG2 C. parvum (prepatent, 8.6 vs. 5.6 days; patent, 16.6 vs. 10.3 days). BoG2-infected pigs developed signif- icantly more severe disease than did HuGl-infected pigs. BoG2 parasites were seen micro- scopically throughout the intestines during the prepatent and patent periods. HuGl parasites were only detected during the patent period in the ileum and colon but colonized the mucosal surface in significantly larger numbers than did BoG2. Moderate-to-severe villus/mucosal attenuation with lymphoid hyperplasia was seen throughout the intestines of BoG2-infected pigs, whereas lesions in HuGl-infected pigs were mild to moderate and restricted to the ileum and colon. These findings provide additional support for the hypothesis that human and bovine C. parvum genotypes may be separate species.