Role of endothelin‑1 in periodontal diseases: A structured review.

Background and Objective: Endothelin‑1 (ET‑1) is a 21‑amino acid peptide and is a potent vasoconstrictor produced by endothelial cells. It plays a role in the development of diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis. Previous studies have identified ET‑1 in gingival tissues obtained from patients affected by chronic periodontitis or gingival overgrowth. Thus, there is a need to appraise the role of ET‑1 in periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: The electronic search strategy included the databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, LILACS, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, MeSH, Cochrane database of systematic reviews, and EMBASE databases. Hand search of relevant journals was also carried out until September 2013. The included studies were both cross‑sectional and longitudinal performed in vivo/in vitro, which measures the expression of ET‑1 from various cells of the periodontium and in periodontal disease. Further, studies assessing the factors which influence ET‑1 expression were included in the study. Results: A total of 15 articles were found relevant and fulfilled the inclusion criteria posed in this review. Ten studies discussed the concentration of ET‑1 in periodontal disease, whereas eight studies investigated the cells expressing ET‑1. Nine studies assessed the factors influencing ET‑1 expression and two studies evaluated the influence of ET‑1 on inflammatory mediators and other cytokines. The results suggested that ET‑1 is elevated in periodontal diseases and is influenced by inflammatory cytokines and periodontal pathogens. Conclusion: ET‑1 was found to have a role in periodontal disease, but further research will be required to substantiate its use as a biomarker.

Analysis of association of TaqI VDR gene polymorphism with the chronic periodontitis in Dravidian ethnicity.

AIM: The aim of this study is to analyze the association of TaqI vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism with the chronic periodontitis (CP) in Dravidian ethnicity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 120 subjects were recruited for this study, which included 60 CP and 60 healthy controls. TaqI VDR gene polymorphism was analyzed using specific primers and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and visualized under 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: Our study results showed that Tt and tt genotype had a higher frequency of occurrence in CP compared with controls. Similarly, t allele was found to be associated with CP. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that TaqI VDR gene polymorphism is associated with CP in Dravidian ethnicity.

Comparative analysis of presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epsteinbarr virus -1 (EBV-1) in cases of chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis with controls.

Aim : The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epsteinbarr virus -1 (EBV-1)viruses in sub gingival plaque of chronic periodontitis (groupA), aggressive periodontitis patients (group B), periodontally healthy controls (group C) and to compare the clinical parameters between virus negative and positive sites in each of these groups. Materials and Methods : Sixty subjects were included in the study and equally divided into the 3 groups (group A - 20, group B - 20, group C - 20). Sub gingival plaque samples were obtained from the 3 deepest periodontal pocket sites in case of subjects suffering from periodontitis, and from one random bleeding site per quadrant in healthy groups. Clinical parameters like plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), pocket depth (PD) and clinical loss of attachment (CAL) were recorded. Viral Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted using Proteinase-K DNA Extraction method, and the presence of CMV and EBV-1 was detected by polymerase chain reaction and 2% agarose gel. Results: Results of our study showed a 45% prevalence of CMV and EBV-1 in Aggressive periodontitis cases. Prevalence of CMV in chronic periodontitis and healthy subjects was 20% and 10%, respectively; while for EBV-1 it was 25% and 0%, respectively. In terms of comparison of the clinical parameters with virus presence, both CMV and EBV-1 positive sites showed a significantly higher mean pocket depth compared to virus negative sites. Conclusion: Our studyshowed that the prevalence of EBV1 was higher in chronic and aggressive periodontitis subjects compared to controls and the prevalence of CMV was higher in aggressive periodontitis patients. The virus positive sites showed higher pocket depth compared to virus negative sites.

Treatment of human periodontal infrabony defects with hydroxyapatite+ β tricalcium phosphate bone graft alone and in combination with platelet rich plasma: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: The present study was aimed at comparing the clinical effectiveness of two regenerative techniques - platelet rich plasma (PRP) + bone graft (HA + β TCP) versus bone graft (HA + β TCP) + normal saline in the treatment of periodontal intrabony defects. Materials and Methods: Ten patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were enrolled in a randomized split mouth clinical trial. Following phase I therapy the sites were randomly assigned to the test group - PRP + bone graft (HA + β TCP) and control group - saline + bone graft (HA + β TCP). Clinical parameters recorded at baseline and 6 months included plaque index, probing pocket depth, relative attachment levels, and relative gingival margin levels. Hard tissue evaluation was done using digital radiography to evaluate the image intensity and therefore the radioopacity of a desired region of interest in the intrabony defect. Pre- and postoperative comparisons were made between the treatment groups at 6 months. Results: Test group sites showed a significantly higher reduction in pocket depth compared to control group sites. Test group sites showed a significantly higher amount of radioopacity in the regions of interest, indicative of better graft remodeling, compared to control group sites. Conclusion: (HA + β TCP) bone graft appears to be a beneficial material in the treatment of human periodontal intrabony defects. When combined with platelet-rich plasma there is a significantly higher reduction in probing pocket depth, higher gain in attachment levels and higher amount of radio-density seen in the intrabony defects.

Prevalence of TT Virus in patients with chronic periodontitis, patients with aggressive periodontitis and healthy controls: a pilot study

Torque teno virus (TTV), a novel DNA virus resides in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and replicates when these cells get activated. The TTV replication shifts the immunobalance. Aim: To determine the presence of TTV in the gingiva of patients with aggressive periodontitis, patients withchronic periodontitis, and healthy controls, and to correlate the presence of TTV with probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level. Methods: Forty-two subjects (22 males and 20 females)aged 21 to 55 years were recruited for this study. Subjects were stratified into aggressive periodontitis (Group I), chronic periodontitis (Group II) and healthy controls (Group III). Gingival tissue biopsy was taken from all the subjects and the presence of TTV was analyzed using PCR and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: TTV was identified in half of the subjects and more number of subjects with periodontitis have TT virus compared to controls. There was significant association between presence of TT virus and pocket depth, clinical attachment level. Conclusions: The findings from the present study shows that there was no significant association between TT virus and periodontitis, even though it was isolated from more number of subjects with aggressive periodontitis, and TTV was associated with pocket depth and clinical attachment level. These findings need to be investigated in further studies.

Management of mucous membrane pemphigoid with dapsone plus weekly steroid injections in a young patient: a case report / Tratamento de penfigóide membranoso mucoso com dapsona e injeções semanais de esteróide em um paciente jovem: relato de caso

Purpose: Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (MMP) is an autoimmune subepithelial blistering disorder usually affecting older individuals. This paper describes the pharmacological management of MMP in a young patient. Case description: A 23 year-old woman showed erythematous ulcerative gingiva in the maxillary palatal region and around the retromolar region. A perilesional excisional biopsy was done, and the histologic and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the clinical diagnosis of MMP as the cause of desquamative gingivitis in this patient. The patient was treated with topical steroids plus daily Dapsone 100 mg and weekly steroid injections (40 mg). The lesions began to resolve after 12 weeks of therapy. Conclusion: This case of MMP in a young female patient was effectively managed with a combination therapy of topical steroids, Dapsone and steroid injections.

Objetivo: O penfigóide membranoso mucoso (PMM) é uma desordem autoimume subeptelial bolhosa que geralmente afeta indivíduos mais velhos. Este relato de caso descreve a abordagem farmacológica do PMM em uma paciente jovem. Descrição do caso: Uma paciente do sexo feminino, com 23 anos de idade, apresentava a gengiva eritematosa e ulcerada na região palatina e na região retromolar. A biópsia excisional total foi realizada e as análises histológica e de imuno-histoquímica confirmaram o diagnóstico clínico de PMM como causa da gengivite descamativa nesta paciente. A paciente foi tratada com esteróides tópicos, Dapsona 100 mg diariamente e injeções de esteróides mensais (40 mg). A resolução das lesões se iniciou após 12 semanas de terapia medicamentosa. Conclusão: Este caso de PMM em uma paciente jovem foi efetivamente tratado com uma terapia combinada de esteróides tópicos, Dapsona e injeções de esteróides.

Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Desquamative gingival lesions are non-plaque induced inflammatory gingival lesions. It is a clinical description and not a diagnosis. These desquamative lesions represent oral manifestations of various dermatoses. Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), one of the rare dermatoses shows desquamative lesions as the oral manifestation. We here with report a case of SLE with oral lesions involving gingiva of a 36 year old female patient. The clinical presentation, histological features, and investigatory findings are discussed.