ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Kharra is a mixture of areca nut and tobacco. Arecoline, an areca nut extract, disrupts the harmony of the periodontal cells and thus leads to destruction of the periodontium. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a premalignant condition that arises due to the consumption of kharra. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of kharra chewing on periodontal status in patients with OSMF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-five patients were divided into Group I: healthy periodontium (n = 15), Group II: chronic periodontitis without OSMF group (n = 15), and Group III: chronic periodontitis with OSMF group (n = 15). The clinical parameters assessed for patients with chronic periodontitis were gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), probing pocket depth (PPD; overall and regional) ≥3 mm, and clinical attachment level (CAL; overall and regional) ≥3 mm. For patients in Group III, the OSMF diagnosis and staging were based on Khanna's classification. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: The sample with a mean age of 35 years had a frequency of chewing kharra >6 times per day for at least 3 years. PI, PPD and CAL in Group III were 2.1 ± 0.4, 3.2 ± 0.6, and 4.8 ± 0.6 mm, respectively. the results of the clinical parameters in Group III and Group II were higher than Group I. GI was higher in Group II as compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: The habit of chewing kharra is found to be associated with poor periodontal health in patients with OSMF.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mast cells play a crucial role in activation of acquired immune response to inflammatory conditions of periodontal diseases. They promote inflammation by releasing pro-inflammatory mediators and bring about angiogenesis, degeneration of the extracellular matrix, and tissue remodeling. Since there is little literature regarding the role of mast cells in periodontitis, the present study was aimed to evaluate mast cell count (MCC) and density in periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eighty participants, Group I (n = 40) healthy participants and Group II (n = 40) participants with moderate chronic periodontitis, were included in the study. Tissue samples of 5 micron were obtained from each participant and were fixed in 10% formalin. Inflammation assessment was carried out after staining the sections with hematoxylin/eosin (H and E) followed by toluidine blue and mast cells were counted. RESULTS: MCC in healthy group (1.32 ± 0.43) was significantly smaller than periodontitis group (10.28 ± 1.15) and also mast cell density in healthy group (98.08 ± 37.40) was smaller than periodontitis group (803.43 ± 89.94) with P < 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: It could be concluded that participants with chronic periodontitis have a higher MCC and density when compared with healthy participants.
ABSTRACT
AIM: Sialic acid plays a central role in the functioning of biological systems, in stabilizing the glycoproteins and cellular membranes, assisting in cell-cell recognition and interaction. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the periodontal health status and salivary Sialic acid levels in patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and chronic periodontitis patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety subjects were included in the study, which were divided into the following groups, 30 in each group. Group 1: patients suffering from COPD and chronic periodontitis, Group 2: periodontitis patients without any systemic diseases Group 3: healthy subjects. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected around 9-10 AM; 2 h after the subjects had breakfast. The sialic acid content was determined by a combined modification of the thiobarbituric acid method of Skoza and Mohos. RESULTS: The mean salivary sialic acid levels were least in the healthy group followed by the periodontitis group, and it was highest in the COPD group. CONCLUSIONS: We can thus conclude that promotion of dental care knowledge is very much essential in the prevention and treatment of COPD. Thus, estimation of levels of salivary sialic acid can be used as an adjunct to diagnose the current periodontal disease status and to assess the treatment outcomes in subjects with COPD and chronic periodontitis.
