Proinflammatory cytokine levels in oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to identify salivary and serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and healthy controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients selected included 54 oral lichen planus (41 to 65 years), 50 oral leukoplakia (42 to 65 years), 51 oral submucous fibrosis (41 to 65 years), and 50 healthy controls (42 to 65 years). Oral lichen planus, oral leukoplakia, and oral submucous fibrosis cases were diagnosed using histopathological analysis. Salivary and serum cytokine concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunoassay kits in all subjects. RESULTS: The levels of serum and salivary TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 were statistically significantly increased in oral leukoplakia, submucous fibrosis, and lichen planus in contrast to normal healthy subjects (P<0.05). Serum and salivary correlation analysis revealed strong and highly significant correlations for TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8 in all groups (r=0.72-0.82, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Salivary and serum cytokines were also elevated when analyzed in oral precancerous lesions. Thus, salivary and serum IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-alpha levels might act as diagnostic markers for detection of oral precancer.

Association between stress, sleep quality and temporomandibular joint dysfunction: simulated Mars mission

The aim of this study was to test the association between quality of sleep and stress in individuals with TMD [temporomandibular joint dysfunction] in simulated Mars mission. The 24 healthy crew members were recruited. The physiological measures of systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], and heart rate [HR] were recorded. The Symptom Checklist-90-revised was used which was based on nine dimensions of psychological functioning. The Multidimensional Pain Inventory was pain severity, social and physical activities, affective distress, social support, and feelings of life control. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to measure the number of hours spent in bed and during asleep, frequency and reasons for awakening, and difficulty returning to sleep after awakening. The orofacial pain questionnaire was applied to measure pain experience using descriptors from the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Salivary cortisol and melatonin were measured. The 15 crew members reported temporomandibular joint pain after 6 days of mission. On dental examination, 5 crew members reported simple muscle pain [SM] and other 10 crew members with TMD. The TMD group endorsed more affective descriptors of their pain experience. Compared to the TMD group, the SM group also reported significantly poorer sleep duration. The TMD group reported nonsignificantly more daytime dysfunction than the control. Higher levels of salivary cortisol and salivary melatonin were reported in the TMD group as compared to other group. This study concludes that both quality of sleep and stress levels due to extreme condition [simulated Mars mission] were associated with TMD in simulated Mars mission

Larvicidal and irritant activities of hexane leaf extracts of Citrus sinensis against dengue vector Aedes aegypti L

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the larvicidal and irritant activities of the hexane extracts of leaves of Citrus sinensis (C. sinensis) against the early fourth instars and female adults of Aedes aegypti (Ae. aegypti).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The larvicidal potential of the prepared leaf extract was evaluated against early fourth instar larvae of Ae. aegypti using WHO protocol. The mortality counts were made after 24 h and LC50 and LC90 values were calculated. The efficacy of extract as mosquito irritant was assessed by contact irritancy assays. Extract-impregnated paper was placed on a glass plate over which a perspex funnel with a hole on the top was kept inverted. Single female adult, 3-day old unfed/blood-fed, was released inside the funnel. After 3 min of acclimatization time, the time taken for the first take-off and total number of flights undertaken during 15 min were scored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The citrus leaf extracts from hexane possessed moderate larvicidal efficiency against dengue vector. The bioassays resulted in an LC50 and LC90 value of 446.84 and 1 370.96 ppm, respectively after 24 h of exposure. However, the extracts were proved to be remarkable irritant against adults Ae. aegypti, more pronounced effects being observed on blood-fed females than unfed females. The extract-impregnated paper was thus proved to be 7-11 times more irritable as compared with the control paper.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The hexane extracts from C. sinensis leaves are proved to be reasonably larvicidal but remarkably irritant against dengue vector. Further studies are needed to identify the possible role of extract as adulticide, oviposition deterrent and ovicidal agent. The isolation of active ingredient from the extract could help in formulating strategies for mosquito control.</p>

Levels of gingival crevicular metalloproteinases 8 and 9 in periodontitis

Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs], the key enzymes responsible for matrix degradation, are derived from polymorphonuclear leukocytes during the early stages of periodontitis. The aim of this study was planned to determine the levels of GCF [gingival crevicular fluid] matrix metalloproteinase-8 [MMP-8] and metalloproteinase-9 [MMP-9] patients with periodontitis and in healthy controls. Levels of crevicular MMP-8 and-9 were determined by ELISA in subjects with healthy without any periodontal disease [n=10] and periodontitis [n=10]. Significantly higher crevicular MMP-8 and-9 were observed in cases of periodontitis compared to healthy adults. Crevicular MMP-8 and-9 may serve as biomarkers of periodontal disease and aid in early detection of periodontitis

Salivary levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in generalized periodontitis - a pilot study

Periodontitis is usually a painless, slowly progressing infectious disease in tooth supporting tissues. The main etiological agents in periodontitis are dental plaque bacteria, especially gram negative micro organisms. The objective of the present study was to evaluate whether the salivary TNF-alpha concentration affect the periodontitis. Salivary tumor necrosis factor alpha levels were estimated in 25 patients with periodontitis and ten healthy normal. Concentrations of TNF-alpha wre determined using the human TNF-alpha ELISA kit [SIGMA ImmunoChemicals St. Louis, Mo, USA]. Significantly higher levels of Salivary tumor necrosis factor alpha were observed in periodontitis patients as compared to controls [p<0.001]. Saliva provides an ideal medium for the detection of pro-inflammatory markers of the oral cavity. Salivary TNF-alpha analysis may be a useful diagnostic tool and a potential prognostic marker in periodontal disease