The effects of vitamin D deficiency on mandibular bone structure: a retrospective radiological study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin D deficiency on the mandibular bone structure by fractal analysis and panoramic morphometric indices. METHODS: Ninety participants were divided into three groups as 30 individuals with severe vitamin D deficiency, 30 individuals with vitamin D deficiency, and 30 individuals with vitamin D sufficiency. Fractal dimension analysis (FD), panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical index (MCI), and mandibular cortical thickness measurement (CTM) were evaluated on panoramic radiographs. RESULTS: FD values of the patients with vitamin D deficiency were found to be statistically lower than the patients with vitamin D sufficiency (p < 0.05). FD value of supracortical area above the angulus mandible (FD2) in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency was significantly lower than FD values (p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the CTM (p > 0.05). PMI was significantly lower in patients with severe vitamin D deficiency (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in MCI values between the groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Vitamin D deficiency causes a decrease in bone mineral density in the mandible, and an increase in alveolar porosity. FD analysis and radiomorphometric indices in panoramic radiographs can be used to assess osteoporotic changes in patients with vitamin D deficiency.

Comparison of trabecular bone structure in individuals with healthy periodontium and stage III/IV, grade C periodontitis by fractal analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to perform fractal analysis (FA) to compare differences in trabecular microarchitecture in interdental and antegonial regions on panoramic radiographs in periodontally healthy patients and those with stage III/IV, grade C periodontitis, and to compare the effects of patient age and sex on FA results. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical and radiographic records from 33 periodontally healthy individuals and 28 individuals with aggressive periodontitis were obtained from the faculty archives. Three regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen bilaterally from interdental bone around the mandibular first molar and canine and the antegonial region. The mean fractal dimension (FD) values of the ROIs were calculated. Significance of differences was established at P < .05. RESULTS: FD values of all 3 ROIs in the periodontitis group were significantly lower than values in the control group (P ≤ .004). FD was not affected by patient age (P = .357) or sex (P = .216). There were no significant correlations between FD and age in either group (P ≥ .093). FD values differed significantly between sexes in only one ROI. CONCLUSIONS: FA can effectively detect trabecular microarchitectural differences in patients with aggressive periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy individuals. This technique might be useful in predicting the susceptibility of patients to periodontal disease.

Celastrol restricts experimental periodontitis related alveolar bone loss by suppressing inflammatory cytokine response.

Introduction: Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. The host defense mechanisms are responsible for inflamatuar and destructive reactions in periodontitis. Celastrol is one of the most promising components of the plant in Eastern and Southern China that has a long history of use in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Aim: The aim of this animal study was to inspect the preventive or restrictive effects of celastrol on periodontitis-related inflammatory host response and alveolar bone loss. Methods: 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups: control, experimental periodontitis (Ep), and experimental periodontitis-celastrol (Ep-Cel). Periodontitis was induced by placing ligatures sub-paramarginally around the mandibular first molars of the rats in the Ep and Ep-Cel groups and maintaining the ligatures for 15 days. For 14 days following the ligature placement, celastrol administration (1 mg/kg BW day) for the Ep-Cel group and vehicle injection for the control and Ep groups was carried out. At the end of the experiment, mandibula and gingiva samples were obtained after the euthanasia. Alveolar bone loss was measured on serial histological slices; Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1ß levels were measured on gingiva samples by ELISA. Results: Systemic celastrol administration significantly restricted the alveolar bone loss that was higher in rats with periodontitis. (p < 0.05) Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin-1ß levels that were high in the gingiva of the rats with periodontitis were found significantly lower in rats administered celastrol. (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Celastrol restricted periodontitis-related alveolar bone loss by suppressing the inflammatory response.

Is sexual dysfunction associated with periodontal status in perimenopausal women?: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between periodontal status and sexual dysfunction in perimenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 106 participants. After the evaluation of the sexual functioning of participants with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), their periodontal status and decayed-missing-filled teeth (DMFT) were assessed using appropriate indexes and obtained results were recorded for comparisons. Participants were divided into two groups by the periodontal status. Patients with periodontitis were grouped by the stage and the extent of the disease. Besides, participants were grouped according to the bleeding on probing (BOP) ratios for more detailed analyses. RESULTS: A negative significant correlation was observed between total FSFI scores and each of the clinical periodontal parameters. Total FSFI scores and the scores of arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain domains were significantly lower in periodontitis patients (p < .05). When the patients were grouped as having localized or generalized periodontitis or whether they had stage-I, -II, and -III periodontitis, no statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of general sexual dysfunction parameters across the groups (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Periodontal status in perimenopausal women may be associated with sexual dysfunction.

Melatonin ameliorates periodontitis-related inflammatory stress at cardiac left ventricular tissues in rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this experimental rat study was to investigate the potential inflammatory effects of periodontitis on cardiac left ventricular tissue and the therapeutic activity of melatonin on these effects. METHODS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, experimental periodontitis (Ep), and Ep-melatonin (Ep-Mel). Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing and maintaining 3.0 silk ligatures at a peri marginal position on the left and right mandibular first molars for 5 weeks. Afterward, following the removal of ligatures, melatonin (10 mg/body weight) to Ep-Mel group, and vehicle (saline) to Ep and control groups were administered intraperitoneally for 14 days. On the first day of the eighth week, mandibular and cardiac left ventricular tissue samples were obtained following the euthanasia of the rats in all groups. Alveolar bone loss measurements were made on histological and microcomputed tomographic slices. Cardiac tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and cardiac Troponin-T (cTnT) were evaluated by appropriate biochemical methods. RESULTS: Measurements made on the histological and microcomputed tomographic slices showed that melatonin significantly limits the ligature-induced periodontal tissue destruction (P <0.01). In addition, melatonin was detected to cause a significant decrease of MDA, MMP-9, and cTnT levels which were found to be significantly higher on rats with Ep (P <0.05) while having no significant effect on antioxidant levels (GSH, SOD, and CAT) (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: Melatonin might be regarded as an important supportive therapeutic agent to reduce the early degenerative changes and possible hypertrophic remodeling at cardiac left ventricular tissues provoked by periodontitis-related bacteria and/or periodontal inflammation.

Evaluation of Lp-PLA2 mass, vitronectin and PAI-1 activity levels in patients with preeclampsia.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study is to determine, correlate and compare the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), vitronectin (Vn), Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) activity and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) levels in early-onset preeclampsia, late-onset preeclampsia and in control pregnant women. METHODS: A total of 79 individuals, 30 early-onsets, and 22 late-onset preeclamptic and 27 control pregnant women were included into the scope of this study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay procedure was used to determine the serum Lp-PLA2 and plasma Vn, t-PA antigen and PAI-1 activity levels. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured immunoturbidimetrically in routine clinical chemistry analyser. RESULTS: In patients with preeclampsia, Lp-PLA2, PAI-1, t-PA, CRP and blood pressures levels were increased (p = 0.000) and correlated with each other. Vn levels were decreased (p = 0.016) but not correlated with other parameters in preeclamptic patients. CONCLUSION: We are of the opinion that increased Lp-PLA2 levels may partially contribute to endothelial dysfunction by the progression of inflammation. In addition, increased complex formation with Vn is likely to bring about the increase of PAI-1 activity in patients with preeclampsia. Moreover, increased t-PA and decreased Vn levels may also be the consequences of compensatory mechanisms against disease progression.