The Expression of Lung Resistance Protein in Saliva: A Novel Prognostic Indicator Protein for Carcinoma of the Breast.

Considering that saliva is a fluid inundated with proteins, it is possible that solubilized oncogenic proteins may be present in saliva and may be useful in differentiating between healthy and diseased individuals. As a consequence, the purpose of this study was to determine if the solubilized form of LRP was present in stimulated whole saliva and could differentiate between 16 healthy women and 16 women with confirmed Stage I breast cancer. LRP levels were determined using gel electrophoresis and Western blot technology. The results showed LRP at significantly higher concentrations among breast cancer subjects as compared to healthy women.

The relationship between smoking history, periodontal screening and recording (PSR) codes and overweight/obesity in a Mississippi dental school population.

PURPOSE: To examine the risks for being overweight (Ow) or obese (Ob) in subjects with elevated Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSRTM) Codes (> or =1) (with smoking as a modifier) in a population of dental school patients located within a region with a high incidence of Ow, Ob, diabetes mellitus (Db), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 1098 patient files were studied and data were grouped by average PSR Codes, smoking history, and body mass index (BMI). Data were compared by factorial ANOVA, the Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square analysis using PSRTM Code as an exposure for BMI, Db, or CVD, with smoking as the effect modifier. Data were then analysed by adjusted multivariate logistic regression to determine the risks for being Ow or Ob. RESULTS: Subjects with an average PSRTM Code > or =1 and a smoking history did not have a significantly increased risk for either Db or CVD. Non-smoking subjects with an average PSR Code =3 had a significantly higher risk for being Ow; those with an average PSR Code of 2-4 had a significantly higher risk for being Ob (p < 0.05). In contrast, only smokers with an average PSR Code =4 had a significant risk for being either Ow or Ob. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that smoking may not directly increase the risk factors for Db or CVD in subjects with an average PSRTM Code > 1 (confirming the 'Smoker's Paradox'), but could be an indirect risk factor for these diseases as a consequence of its effect on body weight.

The effects of selected dietary bioflavonoid supplementation on dental caries in young rats fed a high-sucrose diet.

Recent evidence suggests that certain bioflavonoids reduce dental caries and cariogenic bacteria incidence. The present study evaluates two separate, but related, dietary trials -- trial 1, 0.09%, 0.18%, 0.36%, and 0.72% dietary naringenin (NAR) supplementation; and trial 2, 0.57% dietary rutin (R), quercetin (Q), and naringin (N) supplementation-on dental caries formation in 40 different male albino rats, at the expense of dextrose, for periods of 42 days. All rats were fed 40% sucrose. In dietary trial 1, rats were evaluated for dental caries, dental plaque accumulation, and saliva flow rates using oneway analysis of variance, post hoc Tukey's test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman's correlations. In dietary trial 2, rats were evaluated for occlusal dental caries only using a Kruskal-Wallis H test and analysis of variance. A 5% level of statistical significance was adopted throughout. In dietary trial 1, NAR showed a statistically significant effect on dental caries, plaque, and saliva flow rate reduction compared with the control group (P < .05-.01). An inverse dose-dependent relationship was established among the NAR experimental groups and control group. Dietary NAR supplementation significantly reduced dental caries formation, possibly because of reduced dental plaque accumulation. In dietary trial 2, statistically significant reductions in occlusal caries were observed for R, Q, and N in the maxillary molars and for Q and N in the mandibular molars compared with the control group (P < .05). Significant associations were observed among the experimental groups and maxillary (P < .05) and mandibular (P < .01) occlusal dental caries. Hence, selected bioflavonoids may show promise as an alternative means of reducing dental caries.

Bound sugars in hepatic glycoproteins from male rats during dietary citrus bioflavonoid and/or ascorbic acid supplementation.

The purpose of these experiments was to determine whether quantitative changes take place in the attached sugars of hepatic (postmitochondrial) glycoproteins isolated from rats fed a diet supplemented with citrus bioflavonoids (an equal mixture of rutin, naringin, and hesperidin) (B) and/or ascorbic acid (C) for 40 days and 90 days. Statistically significant increases in body weights (P < .05) were observed in the B-only groups and liver weights in the CB group (P < .01-.05) after 40 and 90 days of feeding the experimental diets, while liver weights were decreased in the B-only groups after 40 days of feeding (P < .05). In the acid-soluble glycoprotein fraction, statistically significant decreases were seen in bound hexoses and fucose (P < .05) in the CB group after 40 days, and in bound fucose only after 90 days (P < .05). In the acid-insoluble glycoprotein fraction, statistically significant changes were seen in bound hexoses and fucose (P < .05) in the CB group after 40 days, and in bound fucose only in the CB group after 90 days (P < .05). There is an apparent overall decrease in the sugar-rich acid-soluble glycoprotein fraction that is accentuated even further by combined CB supplementation. This decrease is more probable after 40 days than it is after 90 days of dietary supplementation. An adaptive phenomenon is suggested for maintaining the intracellular environment during periods of dietary citrus bioflavonoid and/or ascorbic acid supplementation.

The effects of dietary naringenin supplementation on physiological changes in molar crestal alveolar bone-cemento-enamel junction distance in young rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary naringenin (NAR) supplementation on physiological molar crestal alveolar bone (CAB)-cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) distances in young male albino rats. The effects of diets supplemented with 0.09%, 0.18%, 0.36%, and 0.72% NAR, at the expense of dextrose, were tested on 40 young rats, divided equally into five groups, for a period of 42 days. Rat skulls were defleshed, and CAB-CEJ distance was scored according to the modified method of Keyes and Gold. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, post hoc Tukey's test, and Spearman's (R(2)) correlation. P < .05 was used to reject the null hypothesis. NAR showed a statistically significant inverse dose-dependent relationship on CAB-lingual alveolar bone distance (P < .05). In all cases lingual CAB-CEJ distance was larger than buccal CAB-CEJ distance. Thus dietary NAR supplementation was shown to significantly reduce molar CAB-CEJ distance (P < .001-.05) during alveolar development in young male rats.

Recovery of periodontopathogenic bacteria from embalmed human cadavers.

There is recent interest in recovery of periodontopathogenic bacteria from arterial and bronchial tissues to identify a link between periodontal and cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases. This interest could provide a useful clinical correlation exercise for gross anatomy. Our objective was to perform a feasibility study to determine whether these bacteria could be recovered from two sites within eight (4 dentate, 4 edentulous) human embalmed cadavers from an anatomical dissection laboratory. Bacterial samples were collected from the right coronary artery and the right superior secondary bronchus and assayed for the presence and concentrations of the DNA of A. actinomycetemcomitans, E. corrodens, C. rectus, P. intermedia, P. gingivalis, B. forsythus, T. denticola, and F. nucleatum. Frequencies were compared using a Kruskal-Wallis H-test. Correlations between the presence of teeth, bacterial species, and site were determined by a Spearman's rho correlation test. A. actinomycetemcomitans and B. forsythus frequencies were different between the sites in edentulous subjects (P <0.05); the frequency of B. forsythus was different in dentate and edentulous subjects at the bronchus site (P <0.05). Numerous significant correlations were identified between strains of bacteria, site, and presence of teeth. Thus, it is possible for the DNA of periodontopathogenic bacteria to be recovered from human embalmed cadavers. Collection and identification of these bacteria from these cadavers could be a useful clinical correlation exercise for dental students in a gross anatomy class.

Use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' significantly increases the risk of periodontitis: smoking considerations.

BACKGROUND: The role of water in the etiology of periodontal disease is poorly understood. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the association amongst water softness, risk for periodontitis, and smoking status. METHODS: We examined the association between use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' and the risk for periodontal disease in smokers and non-smokers, using adult participants (18+ years), from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) data. Zero to 33 per cent (0-33%) of sites with periodontal attachment loss > or = 3 mm was considered a healthy periodontium, and > 33% of sites with periodontal attachment loss > or = 3 mm was defined as periodontitis. Soft water users were divided into 'yes' or 'no' using the question, 'Does your home have a "softening or conditioning system?".' Smoking subjects were divided into groups as follows: current smokers (had smoked > or = 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoked), former smokers (had smoked > or = 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, not currently smoking), or never smokers (had not smoked > or = 100 cigarettes in their lifetime). Data was analyzed by univariate analyses using SPSS. The 5% level of statistical significance was adopted throughout. RESULTS: Subjects that answered the question 'yes' to soft water use had a significantly higher risk of periodontitis (p < 0.05), adjusting for confounders. When mineral intake from foods was added to the model, the significance of periodontitis risk remained the same for the non-smoking, soft water-using subjects, whereas for the smoking, soft water-using subjects the risk for periodontitis increased significantly (p < 0.05) in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, use of water 'softening and conditioning systems' significantly increased the risk for periodontitis, and smoking increased this risk.

Hepatolipidemic effects of naringenin in high cornstarch- versus high coconut oil-fed rats.

The effects of naringenin (Nar) on hepatic neutral and polar lipids were examined in rats that were fed either a high (27.98%) cornstarch (CornS) or a high (19.05%) coconut oil (CocoO) diet, with or without supplementation with 0.60% NAR, for 40 days. Liver weights and total, neutral, and polar lipids were significantly increased following the feeding of CocoO (P <.01) when compared with the CornS-fed rats. Furthermore, significant elevations in liver weight and total neutral lipids were observed (P <.01) with the CornS-Nar compared with the CornS diet; cholesterol esters (CE), CE:cholesterol (CE:C) ratio, triglycerides (TG), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were significantly increased (P <.01). When Nar was added to the CocoO diet, liver protein, total lipids, and total neutral and polar lipids were significantly decreased (P <.01). Of the neutral lipids, CE, CE:C ratio, TG, free fatty acids (FFA), mono- and diglycerides (P <.01), and C (P <.05) were significantly decreased. CE and TG were more significantly decreased than C, while FFA decreased most markedly (P <.01). Of the hepatic polar lipids, lysophosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and -inositol, PE, and phosphatidic acid were significantly elevated (P <.001) following the feeding of the high CocoO diet compared with the high CornS diet. When Nar was added to the CornS diet, PE was significantly elevated (P <.01), and the outer membrane to inner membrane lipids ratio was significantly decreased (P <.01). When Nar was added to the CocoO diet, all of the polar lipids examined were significantly decreased when compared with the CocoO diet (P <.01). Dietary Nar supplementation significantly reduced both hepatic neutral and polar lipids in rats fed a high CocoO diet, but not in the CornS-fed rats.

The effects of dietary bioflavonoid (rutin, quercetin, and naringin) supplementation on physiological changes in molar crestal alveolar bone-cemento-enamel junction distance in young rats.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of dietary bioflavonoid (rutin [R], quercetin [Q], and naringin [N]) supplementation on physiological molar crestal alveolar bone(CAB)-cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) distances in young male albino rats. The effects of diets supplemented with 0.57% R, Q, or N, at the expense of dextrose, were tested on 40 young rats, divided into four groups, for a period of 42 days. Rat skulls were defleshed, and CAB-CEJ distance was scored according to the modified method of Keyes and Gold (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1955;8:492). Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, post hoc Tukey's test, and Spearman's (R(2)) correlation. P <.05 was used to reject the null hypothesis. The N group demonstrated the lowest CAB-CEJ distance, followed by the R and Q groups (P <.001-.05), except in the mandibular lingual region, where the Q group had a lower CAB-CEJ distance than the N and R groups (P <.05). The control group showed the largest CAB-CEJ distances. Dietary bioflavonoid supplementation was shown to significantly reduce molar CAB-CEJ distance (P <.001-.05) during alveolar development in male young rats.

The relationship between tomato intake and congestive heart failure risk in periodontitis subjects.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between monthly tomato consumption (MTC) and serum lycopene (sLyco) levels, and a self-reported history of congestive heart failure (CHF) in individuals with periodontitis using data available in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). METHODS: Adult participants in NHANES III were used in this study. Zero to thirty three percent of sites with a periodontal attachment loss (PAL) of >3 mm was considered a healthy periodontium, while greater than >33% of sites with PAL of >3 mm as periodontitis. The outcome variable was the self-reported history of CHF. MTC and sLyco levels were categorized into quartiles. Data was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, anova and multivariate analyses using SPSS(R). p<0.05 was used to reject the null hypothesis. RESULTS: Individuals with periodontitis showed a dose-response relationship between dietary MTC and self-reported CHF risk; moderate MTC (risk ratio (RR), 3.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-9.67), low MTC (RR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.33-8.24) (p<0.05) and very low MTC (RR, 5.10; 95% CI, 1.67-15.57) (p<0.01), adjusting for confounders of both diseases (periodontitis and CHF). The moderate sLyco level-healthy periodontium group showed a significant decrease in CHF risk (RR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07-0.84) (p<0.05), adjusting for confounders. Significant inverse dose-response relationships were seen between sLyco and C-reactive protein, and MTC and white blood cell count in periodontitis subjects, respectively (p<0.05). MTC was correlated with sLyco concentration (r=-0.018, p<0.05), adjusting for confounders abolished that significance. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship exists between periodontitis and CHF risk, and high MTC appears to affect this relationship in a positive direction in periodontitis subjects.

Comparison of body composition and periodontal disease using nutritional assessment techniques: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of body composition (obesity) and periodontal disease using simple, inexpensive nutritional assessment techniques available in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Caucasian subjects, aged 18 years and above, participating in NHANES III, were used for this study. Weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, skinfold thickness (S), and bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements were performed and used in the calculation of body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (visceral fat), log sum of S (subcutaneous fat), and fat-free mass (FFM). Data were analyzed using SPSS. One-way, factorial ANOVA, multivariate analyses, and regression curve analyses were performed. p<0.05 was used to reject the null hypothesis. RESULTS: Adjusting for age, gender, history of diabetes, current smoking, and socioeconomic status, statistically significant correlations were found between periodontitis and WHR, BMI, FFM, and in some instances S. CONCLUSION: This study, indicating significant correlations between body composition and periodontal disease (with WHR being the most significant, followed by BMI, FFM, and S), showed similarities to those observed in other obesity-related health problems. This strengthened arguments that periodontal disease and certain obesity-related systemic illnesses are related, with abnormal fat metabolism possibly being an important factor.