ABSTRACT
@#Periodontitis is closely related to many systemic diseases. Cancer of the digestive system is a common malignant tumor. Increasing evidence has shown that periodontitis is related to various digestive system cancers. This review summarizes the current research on the relationship between periodontitis and esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and colorectal cancer and analyzes the possible mechanisms, including via microorganisms, immunity, inflammation, and genes. The content of periodontal pathogens and Helicobacter pylori in the mouth of patients with periodontitis is increased, with the secretion of many virulence factors and pathogenic enzymes and inhibition or evasion of the host’s non-specific immune function, making the digestive system organs connected to the oral cavity more vulnerable to cancer cell invasion. The plasma levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) , interleukin-6(IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in patients with periodontitis and digestive system cancers are increased. These elevated factors promote the occurrence and development of cancer by activating endothelial cells, increasing the expression of adhesion molecules and inducing the production of matrix metalloproteinases. Additionally, formyl peptide receptors involved in the inflammatory response and NF-κB, as therapeutic targets of periodontitis, are associated with many cancers, but the mechanism is unclear. Periodontal health is considered a breakthrough point to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of patients with these three common cancers of the digestive system.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#To compare the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease in patients with end-stage renal disease treated with maintenance hemodialysis with that in healthy controls and to investigate the relationship between end-stage renal disease, dental caries and periodontal disease.@*Methods @#A total of 82 maintenance hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria were selected as the case group, and 86 healthy persons who underwent oral examination in the physical examination center were selected as the control group. Dental caries and periodontal conditions were examined in the two groups. The dental caries examination was conducted by determining the number of decayed-missing-filled teeth, which was recorded as recommended by the World Health Organization. The periodontal condition parameters included the plaque index, calculus index, bleeding on probing, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss.@*Results@#The prevalence of dental caries in the case group and healthy control group was 87.8% and 81.4%, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The periodontal indexes, including the plaque index, calculus index, probe bleeding index, periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment level, in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and the prevalence of periodontitis in the case group was significantly higher than that in the control group (97.6% vs 88.4%, P < 0.05).@*Conclusion@#The dental caries conditions were comparable between the case group and the control group, but the prevalence and severity of periodontitis were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group.