Host beta-globin gene fragments in crevicular fluid as a biomarker in periodontal health and disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Leukocytes and epithelium are the first line of defense in preventing bacterial invasion into periodontium. Some of these cells die in gingival crevicular fluid, whereupon their DNA is spilled out. The present study was designed to investigate the profile of host beta-globin gene fragments in the gingival crevicular fluid of various periodontal conditions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Gingival crevicular fluid from 40 teeth with chronic periodontitis, 30 with gingivitis and 22 that were clinically healthy were centrifuged (3,000 g, 10 min). The supernatant (cell-free gingival crevicular fluid) was centrifuged again (13,000 g, 10 min), resulting in the pellet and the supernatant as debris and debris-free fractions, respectively. Specific primers for amplifying 110 bp, 536 bp and 2 kb amplicons of human beta-globin gene were used to investigate host DNA by quantitative and qualitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The periodontitis group showed the largest amount of host beta-globin gene fragments, while the healthy group had the lowest. In the debris and debris-free fractions, the 536 bp and 2 kb amplicons were more often detected in the periodontitis group than in the other groups. Interestingly, the presence of 2 kb amplicon in the debris fraction could be used to discriminate periodontitis from gingivitis and healthy groups because we found it in 85% of periodontitis samples but only in 13% of gingivitis samples, and it was absent in the healthy group. CONCLUSION: This study shows the different DNA profiles of cell-free gingival crevicular fluid in periodontal health and disease. It suggests that the quantity and quality of host DNA are dependent on the disease conditions. Therefore, the beta-globin gene fragments in cell-free gingival crevicular fluid may be a potential biomarker of periodontal disease progression.

Interleukin-1beta level in gingival crevicular fluid of patients with active periodontitis.

Previous studies revealed that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) was detectable in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients with periodontitis, and the level was increased in level in gingival tissue extracts of active periodontal disease sites (defined as attachment loss > or = 2.5 mm over the preceding 2 months) compared to inactive sites or healthy sites. The present study evaluated the relationship of IL-1beta level in GCF and periodontal disease status. GCF was collected with Periopaper strips from 34 disease-active and 45 disease-inactive teeth in 11 untreated periodontitis patients and from 60 teeth in 15 healthy control subjects. Disease activity was defined as attachment loss of > or = 2.5 mm in at least one site of a tooth as determined by sequential probing. The absorbed GCF volume was determined using a Periotron 6000 and the crevicular IL-1beta level was determined using IL-1beta monoclonal antibody (Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Japan). IL-1beta was below the detection level of the assay (6 pg/ml) in the healthy control group but was detected in most teeth of the periodontitis group. However, disease-active teeth had higher IL-1beta level (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.05) than disease-inactive teeth (mean total IL-1beta of 5.89 +/- 7.88 pg/tooth and 1.72 +/- 2.28 pg/tooth; mean concentration of 1.6 +/- 2.5 ng/ml and 0.6 +/- 0.83 ng/ml, respectively). The level of IL-1beta showed no correlation with probing depth, but had significant correlation (p < 0.05) with the extent of attachment loss. This study suggests that the level of IL-1beta in GCF may have a predictive value for determining active and inactive periodontal status.

Oral lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. A case report.

Lichen sclerosus et atrophicus affecting only the oral mucosa is extremely rare. We report here a case of oral lichen sclerosus et atrophicus presenting as a white, flat lesion involving the right buccal and labial mucosa and vermillion border. The diagnosis was based on histopathologic features. Treatment with intralesional corticosteroid was successful in reducing the size of the lesion and the symptoms of the patient. A free gingival graft was also performed to restore the lost attached gingiva. No recurrence of the lesion was found after a 1-year follow-up period, and no skin or genital lesions developed during the 3 years of treatment.

Mechanical state assessment of the implant-bone continuum: a better understanding of the Periotest method.

The aim of this study was to obtain a better understanding of the Periotest method when used to detect subclinical mobility of osseointegrated implants. Four hundred two screw-shaped implants were tested with the Periotest device at the time of abutment connection. Several factors, including jaw location, implant and abutment length, and gender, were related to Periotest values (PTVs). Implants located in the anterior region of the mandible showed the lowest mean PTV (-3.2). The influence of abutment and implant length upon PTVs could be detected in the maxilla. In the mandible, only abutment length had influence on PTVs. Women showed higher mean Periotest scores in the maxilla compared with men. This difference was not found in the mandible. The Periotest method, its clinical limitations, and the meaning of a given PTV are also discussed.

Anxiety in recurrent aphthous stomatitis patients.

The relationship of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) to psychological factors has been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine anxiety in RAS patients. All new patients seen during May 1988-November 1988 at the Oral Diagnosis Clinic, Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Mahidol University, completed a questionnaire regarding their history of RAS. For the measurement of anxiety, patients were given the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS). Of the 3,106 patients studied, 46.7% reported a positive history of RAS. In this population, females were significantly (P less than 0.001) more anxious than males. The mean SAS score obtained from patients with RAS was significantly (P less than 0.001) higher than that of patients without RAS in each sex. It is concluded that patients with RAS are more anxious than patients without RAS.