Periodontitis and Metabolic Control: A Preliminary Study / Periodontitis y Control Metabólico: Estudio Preliminar

The aim of this study was to evaluate the periodontal condition and the metabolic control of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were evaluated pre- and post (30 days) treatment of the periodontitis through the following exams: glycemia, glycosylated hemoglobin, plaque index, gingival bleeding index and periodontal pocket depth index. Periodontal treatment consisted of: Scaling, root planning and plaque control, associated with systemic antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin. Seventeen patients (12 women and 5 men; mean age = 55.94 years) were included. The chief complaints were: gingival bleeding (n=13); gingival pain (n=8), tooth mobility (n=3), gingival swelling (n=2) and halitosis (n=2). The mean time of these complaints ranged from 2 months to 20 years. None of them had ever received guidance on oral hygiene or dental assessment. There was a reduction in the following indexes (30 days after the periodontal treatment): plaque, from 41.79±24% to 12.26±13%) (p0.0005), gingival bleeding from 51.58±25%) to 15.77±15% (p0.0005), periodontal pocket depth from 0.98±0.91 mm to 1.76±0.63 mm) (p0.0005). In 15 patients there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin (10.85±3.03% to 8.72±1.68%) (p0.0005). This preliminary study shows that patients of this sample had chronic and severe periodontal disease; there was a reduction in the glycosylated hemoglobin levels, but not of glycemia, 30 days after periodontal treatment. Long-standing studies are necessary; however patients with diabetes mellitus need control of chronic infections, including periodontal disease.

El objetivo fue evaluar la condición periodontal y el control metabólico de pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. En los pacientes con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 se evaluaron previo y posterior (30 días) al tratamiento de la periodontitis los siguientes exámenes: glucemia, hemoglobina glicosilada, índice de placa bacteriana, índice de sangrado gingival e índice de profundidad de la bolsa periodontal. El tratamiento periodontal consistió en: curetage, alisado radicular y control de placa, asociado a la terapia sistémica antibiótica con amoxicilina. Se evaluaron 17 pacientes (12 mujeres y 5 hombres, con una edad media de 55,94 años). Las principales complicaciones fueron: sangrado gingival (n= 13), dolor gingival (n= 8), movilidad dental (n= 3), edema gingival (n= 2) y halitosis (n= 2). El tiempo medio de estas complicaciones varió entre 2 meses y 20 años. Ninguno de ellos reconoció haber recibido orientación sobre higiene oral o evaluación dental. Hubo una reducción (30 días después del tratamiento periodontal) en los siguientes índices: placa, de 41,79±24% a 12,26±13%) (p0,0005); sangrado gingival, de 51,58±25%) a 15,77±15% (p0,0005), profundidad de la bolsa periodontal, de 0,98±0,91 mm a 1,76±0,63 mm) (p0,0005). En 15 pacientes se observó una reducción en la hemoglobina glucosilada (10,85±3,03% a 8,72±1,68%) (p0,0005). Observamos que los pacientes de esta muestra tenían enfermedad periodontal crónica y severa; que hubo una reducción en los niveles de hemoglobina glucosilada, pero no de la glucemia, 30 días después del tratamiento periodontal. Estudios longitudinales son necesarias, sin embargo los pacientes con diabetes mellitus requieren control de las infecciones crónicas, como la enfermedad periodontal.

Methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia: A pilot proof-of-concept study

OBJECTIVE: This research was designed as a pilot proof-of-concept study to evaluate the use of low-dose methadone in post-herpetic neuralgia patients who remained refractory after first and second line post-herpetic neuralgia treatments and had indications for adding an opioid agent to their current drug regimens. METHODS: This cross-over study was double blind and placebo controlled. Ten opioid naïve post-herpetic neuralgia patients received either methadone (5 mg bid) or placebo for three weeks, followed by a 15-day washout period and a second three-week treatment with either methadone or placebo, accordingly. Clinical evaluations were performed four times (before and after each three-week treatment period). The evaluations included the visual analogue scale, verbal category scale, daily activities scale, McGill pain questionnaire, adverse events profile, and evoked pain assessment. All patients provided written informed consent before being included in the study. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01752699 RESULTS: Methadone, when compared to placebo, did not significantly affect the intensity of spontaneous pain, as measured by the visual analogue scale. The intensity of spontaneous pain was significantly decreased after the methadone treatment compared to placebo on the category verbal scale (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Evoked pain was reduced under methadone compared to placebo (50% improved after the methadone treatment, none after the placebo, p = 0.031). Allodynia reduction correlated with sleep improvement (r = 0.67, p = 0.030) during the methadone treatment. The side effects profile was similar between both treatments. Conclusions: Methadone seems to be safe and efficacious in post-herpetic neuralgia. It should be tried as an adjunctive treatment for post-herpetic ...