Caries dental y microorganismos asociados a la caries en la saliva de los alumnos del primer año de la Facultad de Odontología, UNAM / Dental caries and caries-associated mechanisms found in the saliva of first year students at the School of Dentistry, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico)

Se estudiaron 380 alumnos del primer año en la Facultad de Odontología (n = 380) (periodo 2012-2013) a fin de determinar el índice CPOD y relacionar si la caries está asociada con los microorganismos Streptococcus y Lactobacillus. El índice CPOD (cariado, perdido y obturado) se registró usando los parámetros de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se tomaron muestras de saliva de cada alumno y se determinaron las unidades formadoras de colonias de Streptococcus y Lactobacillus. La media de los índices CPOD fue de 7.25 ± 4.59. Las mujeres (n = 278) y hombres (n = 102) presentaron una media de índices CPOD de 7.11 ± 4.66 y 7.29 ± 4.57, respectivamente. Encontramos que los alumnos de 19 años presentaron menos caries que los estudiantes de otras edades. Tanto Streptococcus y Lactobacillus se correlacionaron significativamente entre sí, así como en la incidencia de caries. Un incremento en el número de estos microorganismos, especialmente de Streptococcus mutans, se asociaron con el incremento en CPOD.

Three hundred and eighty first year students of the National School of Dentistry (UNAM) (n = 380) (academic year 2012-2013), were assessed targeting determination of DMFT (decayed, missing, lost teeth) index as well as to establish a relationship of whether caries is associated to Lactobacillus and Streptococcus microorganisms. DMFT index was recorded using World Health Organization (WHO) parameters. Samples of all students were taken and colony-forming units of Streptococcus and Lactobacillus were determined. DMFT indexes mean was established at 7.25 ± 4.59. Females (n = 278) and males (n = 102) exhibited mean DMFT indexes of 7.11 ± 4.66 and 7.29 ± 4.57 respectively. Results revealed that 19 year old students exhibited lesser amounts of caries than students of other ages. Both Streptococcus and Lactobacillus were significantly correlated to each other as well as to caries incidence. Increase in the number of the aforementioned micro-organisms, especially Streptococcus mutans, were associated to DMFT increase.

Anti-inflammatory activity of fisetin in human gingival fibroblasts treated with lipopolysaccharide.

Fisetin is an anti-inflammatory flavonoid; however, its anti-inflammatory mechanism is not yet understood. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of fisetin and its association with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-beta pathways in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from Porphyromonas gingivalis. The cell signaling, cell viability, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression of HGFs treated with various concentrations (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 µM) of fisetin were measured by cell viability assay (MTT), Western blotting, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis on COX-2. We found that fisetin significantly reduced the synthesis and expression of prostaglandin E2 in HGFs treated with LPS. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 MAPK was suppressed consistently by fisetin in HGFs treated with LPS. The data indicate that fisetin inhibits MAPK activation and COX-2 expression without affecting cell viability. These findings may be valuable for understanding the mechanism of the effect of fisetin on periodontal disease.

Flavonoids inhibit iNOS production via mitogen activated proteins in lipoteichoic acid stimulated cardiomyoblasts.

Infective endocarditis is caused by oral commensal bacteria which are important etiologic agents in this disease and can induce release of nitric oxide (NO), promoting an inflammatory response in the endocardium. In this study, we investigated the properties of kaempherol, epigallocatechin, apigenin, and naringin in embryonic mouse heart cells (H9c2) treated with lipoteichoic acid (LTA) obtained from Streptococcus sanguinis. NO production was measured with the Griess method. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, western blot assays and immunofluorescence staining were used to assess translocation of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB), degradation of IκB, and activity of the mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinases extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). And the effects of these flavonoids on cell viability were also assessed. Our results showed that flavonoids blocked activation of ERK, JNK, and p38 in cardiomyocytes treated with LTA. Moreover, the flavonoids showed no cytotoxic effects and blocked NF-κB translocation and IκB degradation and inhibited LTA-induced NF-κB promoter activity, iNOS expression and NO production. In conclusion these effects are consistent with some of the observed anti-inflammatory properties of other flavonoids.

Myricetin suppresses lipoteichoic acid-induced interleukin-1ß and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in human gingival fibroblasts.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease affecting the connective tissue and supporting bone surrounding the teeth. In periodontitis, human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) synthesize IL-1ß, causing a progressive inflammatory response. Flavones demonstrate a variety of biological activity: among others, they possess anti-inflammatory properties. Myricetin is a flavone with a strong anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the flavonoid myricetin on HGFs under inflammatory conditions induced by lipoteichoic acid (LTA). the effect of myricetin on HGFs was assessed by measuring cell viability, signaling pathways and IL-1ß expression and synthesis. It was found that, over time, myricetin did not affect cell viability. However, it inhibited activation of p38 and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase-1/2 in LTA-treated HGFs and also blocked IκB degradation and cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 synthesis and expression. These findings suggest that myricetin has therapeutic effects in the form of controlling LTA-induced inflammatory responses.