Effects of initial periodontal therapy on interleukin-1ß level in gingival crevicular fluid and clinical periodontal parameters.

Inflammatory cytokines may have important roles in periodontitis. We assessed the effects of initial periodontal therapy on clinical periodontal parameters and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) level in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from chronic periodontitis (CP) patients. After initial screening, baseline periodontal parameters such as probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured. GCF samples were collected from 13 shallow (≤3 mm) and deep (≥5 mm) PPD sites from 13 CP patients, and GCF volume and IL-1ß concentration were determined at baseline (before scaling and root planning) and at 2 and 4 months after initial therapy. Baseline BOP rate, GCF volume, and IL-1ß level were significantly higher at deep PPD sites than at shallow PPD sites. Significant improvements in PPD and BOP were observed at 2 and 4 months after periodontal initial therapy in deep PPD sites only. In contrast, GCF volume and IL-1ß concentration were lower at 2 and 4 months after initial therapy at all sites. These results suggest that GCF volume and IL-1ß level in samples reflect disease severity and that these variables are better than PPD and BOP as markers of gingival inflammation.

A comparative study of microfocus CT and histomorphometry in the evaluation of bone augmentation in rat calvarium.

Microfocus computed tomography (micro-CT; R_mCT) is a dynamic noninvasive method for measuring bone regeneration. This study evaluated whether R_mCT was equivalent to histomorphometry in assessing bone augmentation. Two plastic caps of graft material with (experiment) or without hydroxyapatite (HA; control) were placed in the exposed calvaria of rats. Images of bone augmentation within the plastic caps were then taken using R_mCT. Histological sections were cut along the same plane as that used for the micro-CT images. Bone regeneration beyond the skeletal envelope occurred at both the experimental and control sites. Bone volume also increased at both sites. In addition, consistent patterns of bone formation were observed in both R_mCT and histological images. R_mCT analysis enables highly quantitative and qualitative measurement of bone augmentation in living animals.