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

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

gingival crevicular fluid leptin concentrations in pregnant women with periodontitis: a pilot study

Leptin, a pleiotropic cytokine, regulates various metabolic and endocrine responses, has emerged as an important regulator of inflammation. Also, hyperleptinemia has been reported as a component of metabolic syndrome. Association between periodontitis, pregnancy and cardiovascular risk has been suggested. Hence, the present study was planned to study gingival crevicular fluid [GCF] leptin concentrations in pregnant women with and without periodontitis. Twenty five pregnant women with periodontitis and 10 pregnant women as a control were recruited. Leptin [GCF] leptin concentrations were analyzed by competitive ELISAkit. The leptin levels were significantly lower in pregnancy periodontitis patients as compared to normal pregnant women [p<0.01]. The higher leptin GCF levels in pregnant women without periodontitis may have a protective role in periodontal disease. Further studies are required to clarify role of GCF leptin, and the possibility of leptin receptors in gingiva and periodontal ligament in pathogenesis of periodontal disease in pregnancy and future cardiovascular risk

C-reactive protein and peripheral blood in apical periodontitis: a pilot study

C-reactive protein [CRP] is a potential marker of cardiovascular risk and has been recently associated with periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to determine CRP and peripheral blood markers in patients with apical periodontitis. CRP levels were analyzed in 28 apical periodontitis patients and 24 healthy controls. Also, hemoglobin, red blood cell count [RBC], leukocyte cell count [WBC total and differential] and platelet count were estimated. Total WBC, neutrophil and platelet counts and CRP levels were raised in periodontitis patients as compared to controls [p<0.01]. RBC count and hemoglobin were lowered in periodontitis as compared to controls [p<0.01]. These findings indicate towards a possible role of CRP in periodontitis. These findings suggest an important role of CRP in development of periodontitis. Routinel screening for CRP in periodontitis patients might be an important tool to prevent heart disease

Effect of scaling and root planning on salivary 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels: periodontitis

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disorder in which tissue damage occurs through complex interactions between periodontal pathogens and components of the host defense mechanisms and oxidative stress is implicated in pathophysiology. Twelve subjects with periodontitis were selected and salivary samples were taken before treatment, after 3 weeks of treatment and after 10 weeks of the treatment for 8-OHdG levels [8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine]. Salivary levels of 8-OHdG were significantly decreased with scaling and root planning. Thus, measurement of 8-OHdG may prove to be useful in identifying periodontal disease and risk of tooth loss

Assessment of salivary and serum antioxidant vitamins and lipid peroxidation in patients with oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus [OLP] is a chronic mucosal condition commonly encountered in clinical dental practice Lichen planus is believed to represent an abnormal immune response in which epithelial cells are recognized as foreign, secondary the aim of this study was to assess the level of lipid peroxidation and status of antioxidant vitamins in patients with oral lichen planus to changes in the antigenicity of the cell surface Twenty five patients with oral lichen planus and 30 healthy controls were recruited Vitamin A C and F and malondialdehyde [MBA] levels were measured in both scrum and saliva of patients with oral lichen planus and control subjects Levels of vitamins A, C and E in both fluids were significantly lower m patients with lichenplanus then in healthy control subjects Conversely, the levels of MDA in saliva and serum were significantly higher in patients with oral lichen planus than in the control group Furthermore, strong and highly significant correlation was found between serum and salivary levels of vitamin A, C' and Band MDA in patients with OLP The present study demonstrates that the serum and saliva levels of selected antioxidant vitamins are lower while the degree of lipid peroxidation as judged by the MDA levels, is higher in patients with OLP than in the control subject This is the first study to measure specific antioxidant levels in both saliva and serum in the same patients, and indicates that the non-enzymatic anti-oxidant ability is impaired in patients with OLP

Thiocynate, a salivary marker of periodontitis among smokers and non-smokers: a pilor study

To determine the association between levels of salivary thiocynate and periodontitis. One hundred thirty eight samples were screened of which smokers with periodontitis were [n=35], periodontitis in non-smokers [n=33], healthy periodontium in smokers [n=38] and healthy periodontium [n=32], were recruited for the study and salivary thiocynate levels were analyzed. Salivary levels of thiocynate were significantly higher in smokers with periodontitis in smoker as compared to others. Thus, measurement of salivary thiocynate may prove to be useful in early detection of periodontal disease

8 hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels: periodontitis in smoker and non smoker: a pilot study

To determine the association between levels of a marker of oxidative stress, 8- hydroxydeoxyguanosine [8-OHdG], in saliva and presence of periodontitis in smokers and non-smokers. Forty subject samples, as healthy control [n=16], periodontitis in smokers [n=11] and periodontitis in non-smokers [n=13] were recruited for the study. The 8-OHdG were analyzed in the saliva of smoking and non-smoking patients of periodontitis and healthy control. Salivary levels of 8-OHdG were significantly higher in subject with periodontitis who smoked as compared to non-smoker [6.82 + 0.18 ng/ml and 4.83 + 0.16 ng/ml]. Thus, measurement of 8-OHdG may prove to be useful in identifying periodontal disease and risk of tooth loss