Simvastatin modulates gingival cytokine and MMP production in a rat model of ligature-induced periodontitis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of simvastatin on the synthesis of cytokines TNF-α and IL-10 and metalloproteinase (MMPs) 2 and 9 in a rat model of ligature-induced periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty Wistar rats were used, and a cotton ligature was place in a subgingival position encircling the entire cervix of the first molar of the left (ipsilateral) side of the mandible. The right (contralateral) side of the mandible had no ligature placed and was used as control. After the ligature placement, animals were randomly assigned to two experimental groups (n=10): 1) rats with ligature + vehicle (saline; 10 mL/kg; orally) and 2) rats with ligature + simvastatin (25 mg/kg; orally). After 14 days of treatment, the animals were euthanized by anesthetic overdose and the gingival tissue was removed and homogenized in appropriate buffer. MMP-2 and -9 release as well as the IL-10 and TNF-α levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical comparison was performed by unpaired Student's t-test, with p<0.05 representing significance. RESULTS: No differences were observed for TNF-α production between the groups (p>0.05). However, IL-10 was upregulated in simvastatin-treated animals (1.8-fold increase) in comparison with the vehicle-treated group (p<0.05). Simvastatin reduced the gingival levels of MMP-9 (64.3%) in comparison with vehicle-treated samples (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Oral treatment with simvastatin increased the release of IL-10 and reduced the MMP-9 in ligature-induced periodontitis model in rats.

Effectiveness of Oral Antiseptics on Tooth Biofilm: A Study in vivo.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of five different mouthwashes through measurement of the plaque index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty subjects took part in this blind study, randomized into blocks of five groups according to the active ingredient of the mouthwash: CHX group (0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate), essential oils (EO) group, cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) group, Tri group (triclosan) and Hamamelis virginiana (HV) group. All subjects were evaluated for a reduction in the bacterial plaque index at 7, 14 and 21 days. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in the mean plaque index during the period of evaluation (p < 0.01), and the reduction during the period of evaluation was different between mouthwashes (p < 0.01). The reduction in the plaque index at the end of 21 days was, in decreasing order, CHX > EO > CPC > Tri > HV. CONCLUSION: The reduction in the plaque index during the period of evaluation was different between the types of mouth-wash. The mouthwash containing the active ingredient chlorhexidine was the most effective, followed by the essential oil, cetylpyridinium chloride, triclosan and H. virginiana.

Avaliação dos índices de placa e gengival de crianças portadoras de neoplasias submetidas a tratamento antineoplásico / Assessment of the plaque and gingival indices of children with neoplasy submitted to antineoplastic treatment

A terapia antineoplásica pode levar a inúmeras manifestações bucais, incluindo manifestações no periodonto. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o grau de comprometimento periodontal de crianças submetidas a tratamento antineoplásico. Foram examinadas 32 crianças, entre 3 a 15 anos, de ambos os sexos, que estavam sendo submetidas a tratamento no Hospital Aldenora Belo, principal centro de referência para terapia oncológica no Maranhão. Avaliou-se clinicamente a presença de lesões orais e os índices de placa bacteriana e gengival. A gengivite foi a manifestação oral mais incidente. O índice de placa predominante foi o escore 1 (placa não visível) e o índice gengival predominante foi o escore 2, caracterizando uma inflamação gengival moderada. Sendo assim, conclui-se que as condições clínicas do periodonto de crianças em tratamento antineoplásico evoluíram desfavoravelmente.