Periodontal health status in Swedish adolescents: an epidemiological, cross-sectional study.

The aim of this epidemiological survey was to analyze the periodontal conditions of 19-year old individuals in two rural county areas, i.e. Fyrbodal and Skaraborg, Västra Götaland, Sweden, with special reference to gender and socioeconomic grouping. A randomized sample of 506 individuals (Fyrbodal 250 and Skaraborg 256 individuals, respectively) was clinically examined with regard to oral hygiene, gingivitis, periodontal pockets and gingival recession. Bitewing radiographs were used for assessment of alveolar bone level (ABL) and dental calculus. A questionnaire-based interview regarding oral hygiene habits was included. A majority of the subjects (76%) claimed to brush their teeth at least twice a day, while interdental hygiene means were used daily by 4%. The subjects showed a mean plaque score of 47% and a gingivitis score of 56%. Forty-six % of the adolescents had a plaque score of > or = 50%, whereas the corresponding figure for gingivitis was 62%. The subjects had on average 5.5 teeth with facial gingival recession. The mean prevalence of sites with probing depth (PPD) of > or = 4 mm was 8, out of which 99% were located at proximal sites. A radiographic bone level of > 2 mm was observed at on average 0.4 teeth per subject. Logistic regression analyses revealed that gender (males) and county area (Fyrbodal) were significant factors for a high plaque and gingivitis score. There was no significant difference in periodontal conditions in relation to socio-economic grouping. In conclusion, the survey revealed higher prevalence of plaque and gingivitis among male than female adolescents, but no differences between socioeconomic groups.

Long-term effect of the combined use of powered toothbrush and triclosan dentifrice in periodontal maintenance patients.

AIM: To test the hypothesis of a superior clinical and microbiological effect of the combined use of powered toothbrush+triclosan-containing dentifrice compared with manual toothbrush+regular fluoride-containing dentifrice in periodontal maintenance patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 128 periodontitis subjects involved in recall programmes were randomized to use either powered toothbrush with triclosan-dentifrice (test) or manual toothbrush and standard dentifrice (control). Supportive periodontal treatment was provided at baseline and every 6 months. Plaque, bleeding on probing (BoP), probing pocket depth (PPD) and relative attachment level (RAL) were scored at baseline, 1, 2 and 3 years. Subgingival plaque samples were taken and analysed for their content of 40 bacterial species at each examination interval. All analyses were performed by "intention-to-treat" protocol. RESULTS: Both groups showed significant reduction in BoP, PPD and in mean total counts of the 40 bacterial species between baseline and 3 years, while plaque score and RAL remained almost unchanged. No significant differences between the two prevention programmes were found for any of the clinical outcome variables or in mean counts of the various bacterial species. CONCLUSIONS: The study failed to demonstrate superior clinical and microbiological effects of powered toothbrush+triclosan dentifrice compared with manual toothbrush+standard fluoride-dentifrice in periodontitis-susceptible patients on regular maintenance therapy.

Drug-resistant human lung cancer cells are more sensitive to selenium cytotoxicity. Effects on thioredoxin reductase and glutathione reductase.

The human U-1285 and GLC(4) cell lines, both derived from small cell carcinoma of the lung, are present in doxorubicin-sensitive (U-1285 and GLC(4)) and doxorubicin-resistant MRP-expressing (U-1285dox and GLC(4)/ADR) variants. These sublines were examined here with respect to their susceptibilities to the toxic effects of selenite and compared to the toxic effects of selenite on the promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and its doxorubicin-resistant P-glycoprotein expressing variant. The drug-resistant U-1285dox and GLC(4)/ADR sublines proved to be 3- and 4-fold, respectively, more sensitive to the cytotoxicity of selenite than the drug-sensitive U-1285 and GLC(4) sublines, whereas no difference was observed between the HL-60 sublines. The presence of doxorubicin at a concentration equal to the IC(10) did not significantly potentiate the toxic effects of selenite. The presence of selenite did not significantly affect the expression of the multi-drug resistant proteins (MRP1, LRP and topoisomerase IIalpha) in the drug-resistant cells. The activities of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) were higher (50 and 25%, respectively) in the drug resistant cell sublines U-1285dox and GLC(4)/ADR compared to the drug-sensitive parental lines. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) was essentially the same in the drug-sensitive and -resistant cell lines. Exposure to selenite resulted in a 4-fold increase in both TrxR and GR activities in U-1285 cells, an effect, which was less pronounced in the presence of doxorubicin. Under similar conditions the increase in the TrxR activity in the resistant U-1285dox cell line, was only 30% and the activity of GR was unaltered. Different responses in the activity of the key enzymes in selenium metabolism are one possible mechanism explaining the differential cytotoxicity of selenium in these cells.