Complementary clinical effects of red complex bacteria on generalized periodontitis in a caucasian population.

OBJECTIVES: To relate five periodontopathogenic bacteria, including the red complex, to the severity, extent, and inflammation of the periodontal lesion in Caucasian patients with generalized aggressive and chronic periodontitis and to explore whether tobacco use is associated with a specific bacterial profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional and analytic study was conducted in patients with aggressive and chronic periodontitis. Data were gathered on socio-demographic and periodontal variables, and RH-PCR was used to determine subgingival bacterial profile. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients with aggressive and 123 with chronic periodontitis. Total red complex bacteria count was higher in aggressive periodontitis, mainly due to T. denticola (P = 0.015). In both periodontitis types, models showed an association between T. forsythia count and probing depth (B = 0.157, P = 0.030) and between T. denticola count and higher bleeding scores (B = 2.371, P = 0.027). Smoking did not affect the red complex bacteria count in either disease. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of red complex bacteria was similar between aggressive and chronic periodontitis, but their count was higher in the former. In both diseases, T. forsythia was associated with greater severity and T. denticola with more severe bleeding. Tobacco smoking was not associated with the presence of red complex bacteria in either disease.

Acute myocardial infarct size is related to periodontitis extent and severity.

Cardiovascular disease has been associated with 40% of deaths in high-income countries and 28% in lower-income countries. The relationship between periodontitis and acute myocardial infarction is well documented, but it has not been established whether the extent and severity of periodontitis influence the infarct size. This cross-sectional and analytic study was designed to investigate the association of chronic periodontitis extent and severity with acute myocardial infarct size as indicated by serum cardiac troponin I and myoglobin levels. Sociodemographic, periodontal, cardiologic, and hematologic variables were gathered in 112 consecutive patients with myocardial infarction. The extent (Arbes Index) and severity (Periodontal Inflammatory Severity Index) of the chronic periodontitis were significantly associated with troponin I levels after controlling for sociodemographic and clinical confounders (change in R (2) = .041, p < .02, and R (2) = .031, p = .04). However, only the extent index accounted for levels of myoglobin (change in R (2) = .030, p < .05), total leukocytes (change in R (2) = .041 p < .02), and neutrophils (change in R (2) = .059, p < .01). Mediated regression analysis showed that leukocytes and neutrophils may underlie these observed relationships of chronic periodontitis with troponin I and myoglobin. To our knowledge, this study contributes the first research data demonstrating that the extent and severity of periodontitis is positively associated with acute myocardial infarct size as measured by serum troponin I and myoglobin levels.

Body mass index and myocardium at risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome / Índice de masa corporal y miocardio en riesgo en pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo

Background and objectives. Whilst traditional studies have shown that obese individuals are at a higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to lean subjects, recent studies in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have suggested that obesity may exert protective effects (the "obesity paradox"). We sought to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the BARI score (BARIsc), a validated tool used to assess myocardium at risk, in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Patients and methods. Participants were 116 consecutive patients (mean age, 60.6 years; 97 men) with AMI (68 ST elevated myocardial infarction, STEMI; 48 non-ST elevated myocardial infarction, NSTEMI). Demographics, BMI, risk factors, biochemistry data, left ventricular function, angiographic data and the BARIsc were assessed in every patient. Results. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that BMI significantly correlated with BARIsc; β=.23, p<0.02. This was found only in the overweight/obese patients, β=.27, p<0.01, but not in patients with normal BMIs, β=0.08, p=0.71. Conclusions. An increased body weight is associated with an increased area of myocardium at risk in patients with ACS (AU)

Introducción y objetivos. Algunos estudios han demostrado que los pacientes obesos presentan un mayor riesgo cardiovascular, pero estudios más recientes en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) han sugerido que la obesidad puede ejercer un efecto protector (efecto conocido como la "paradoja de la obesidad"). Hemos examinado la relación entre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la puntuación ofrecida por el BARI (BARIsc), una herramienta validada para determinar la cantidad de miocardio en riesgo en los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo. Pacientes y métodos. Se incluyeron 116 pacientes de forma consecutiva (edad media, 60.6 años; 97% varones) con IAM (68 con un síndrome coronario agudo con elevación de ST [SCACEST], y 48 con síndrome coronario agudo sin elevación de ST [SCASEST]). En todos ellos se determinaron las variables demográficas y analíticas, los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, el IMC, la función ventricular, los datos angiográficos, y el BARIsc. Resultados. El análisis de regresión lineal múltiple mostró que el IMC se correlacionaba significativamente con el BARIsc, β=,23; p<0,02. Esto se demostró únicamente en los pacientes con sobrepeso u obesidad, β=,27; p<0,01, pero no en los que presentaban IMC normal β=0,08; p=0,71. Conclusiones. El aumento de peso se asocia a la cantidad de miocardio en riesgo en pacientes que con un SCA (AU)

Body mass index and myocardium at risk in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Whilst traditional studies have shown that obese individuals are at a higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to lean subjects, recent studies in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have suggested that obesity may exert protective effects (the "obesity paradox"). We sought to assess the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and the BARI score (BARIsc), a validated tool used to assess myocardium at risk, in patients with acute coronary syndrome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were 116 consecutive patients (mean age, 60.6 years; 97 men) with AMI (68 ST elevated myocardial infarction, STEMI; 48 non-ST elevated myocardial infarction, NSTEMI). Demographics, BMI, risk factors, biochemistry data, left ventricular function, angiographic data and the BARIsc were assessed in every patient. RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analyses showed that BMI significantly correlated with BARIsc; ß=.23, p<0.02. This was found only in the overweight/obese patients, ß=.27, p<0.01, but not in patients with normal BMIs, ß=0.08, p=0.71. CONCLUSIONS: An increased body weight is associated with an increased area of myocardium at risk in patients with ACS.

Increase of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in HPV-18 positive oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Several studies have established a probable relationship between HPV infections and oral neoplasia. The present study analyze the importance of the integration of DNA of HPV type 18 on the proliferative capability of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by the study of PCNA expression. Thirty seven patients with OSCC were studied. A complete clinical history and histopathological study was performed. DNA of HPV-18 was found in 7 of the 37 oral OSCCs (19.1%). PCNA expression appeared in 75.7% of OSCCs (28 cases). 9 OSCCs (24.3%) were completely negative, whereas 13 (35.1%), 8 (21.6%) and 7 (18.9%) show minimal, moderate and intense PCNA expression. 4 HPV-18 positive OSCCs showed a intense PCNA expression, 1 OSCC showed moderate PCNA expression, whereas 2 OCSSs showed minimal PCNA expression. Statistical correlations between PCNA expression and DNA HPV-18 amplification showed a more intense PCNA expression in HPV-18 positive OSCCs (p = 0.023). Further studies are needed to establish whether the increase of cellular proliferation induced by HPV-18 has prognostic consequences.