Nos3 Gene Rs1799983 and Rs2070744 Polymorphisms in Patients with Periodontal Disease.

Periodontal disease is a common oral disease. Inflammatory and immune responses to oral microorganisms initiate the development of periodontitis. Cigarette smoking is an important environmental risk factor for periodontitis. Another important inflammatory mediator is nitric oxide (NO). NO modulates vascular tone, microvascular permeability, leukocyte migration and oxidative activity, contributing to the direct killing of microorganisms. Several polymorphisms of the NOS3 gene have been detected, which may alter gene expression and NO synthesis. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the NOS3 rs1799983 and rs2070744 polymorphisms and periodontal disease. This study enrolled 200 patients with periodontal diseases (130 were non-smokers and 70 were smokers) and 160 control subjects (126 were non-smokers and 34 were smokers). Among the patients with periodontal disease, we observed a statistically increased frequency of patients with the CT genotype (TC vs. TT; 95%CI 1.83, OR 1.16-2.88, P = 0.011). There was a statistically significant increased frequency of CT genotype carriers among non-smoking patients with periodontal disease as compared with non-smoking controls, whereas there were no statistically significant differences between smoking patients with periodontal disease and smoking control subjects. The results of our study suggest an association between the NOS3 rs2070744 polymorphism and periodontal disease.

Reduced immunoglobulin levels in epilepsy patients treated with levetiracetam, lamotrigine, or carbamazepine.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate immunoglobulin levels in patients with epilepsy using the antiepileptic drugs (AED) levetiracetam (LEV), carbamazepine (CBZ), or lamotrigine (LTG). METHODS: A total of 211 patients and 80 controls (age: 18-45 years) of both genders were included. The patients had been treated with either LEV (n = 47), CBZ (n = 90), or LTG (n = 74) monotherapy for at least 6 months. Total concentrations of immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG subclasses (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4), immunoglobulin A (IgA), and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were measured. Smoking, drinking habits, and physical activity were recorded, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. RESULTS: A significantly lower total IgG and IgG1 was found in both men and women treated with LTG and in men on CBZ. IgG2 and IgG4 were also lower in LTG-treated women, and IgA and IgM were lower in LTG-treated men. Patients treated with LEV did not differ from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of immunoglobulins were found in patients with epilepsy treated with LTG or CBZ. As our group of patients consisted of otherwise healthy young adults, one should be especially aware of a possible effect of AEDs on immunoglobulin levels when treating selected patient groups, for example immunocompromised patients. Immunoglobulin concentrations should be measured in patients treated with LTG or CBZ who experience recurrent infections, and a change in medication should be considered.