Rapid periodontal destruction in adult humans with poorly controlled diabetes. A report of 2 cases

Comparison of the impact of two types of removable partial dentures on the periodontal health of the remaining teeth: A prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and compare the impact of two removable partial dentures (acrylic removable partial denture [ARPD] and metallic removable partial denture [MRPD]) on periodontal tissues of the remaining teeth in the first 12 months of denture use.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective clinical study included 40 patients, of which 20 received ARPDs, 20 received MRPDs, nine in the maxilla, and 11 in the mandible each. The patients were 45-65 years old; 24 were females, and 16 were males. Patients' demographic details, clinical indicators of periodontal complications, and biochemical measurement of Hs-C-reactive protein (CRP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were considered. One-way analysis of covariance and Friedman were used to measure the differences in clinical periodontal parameters between the two types of dentures.

RESULTS

The significant findings were: Plaque index (PLAQ) scores for abutment teeth were higher in MRPD wearers (mean = 12.15) than ARPD wearers (mean = 10.45), whereas ARPD users had significantly higher mean bleeding on probing (BOP) values (mean = 1.5) than MRPD users (mean = 0.00); mobility of abutment teeth showed no significant differences; timeline comparisons showed a significant increase in the percentage of nonabutment teeth mobility in ARPD users (p = .028) compared with MRPD users over the same follow-up period (p = .102).

CONCLUSIONS

For a short-term period of 1 year, periodontal and mobility parameters have no significant impact on the abutment and nonabutment teeth of ARPD and MRPD users. Moreover, biochemical markers (CRP and ALP) for periodontal inflammation exhibited no significant difference in both types of dentures.

A novel adiponectin receptor agonist (AdipoAI) ameliorates type 2 diabetes-associated periodontitis by enhancing autophagy in osteoclasts

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated periodontitis is severe and refractory in many cases. Considered an inflammatory disease, T2D predisposes to periodontitis by increasing whole-body inflammation. One mechanism of increased inflammation is thatT2D is mediated by loss of production or function of the anti-inflammatory hormone adiponectin. In our previous report, AdipoRon, an adiponectin receptor agonist, and AdipoAI, a newly discovered, more specific agonist, attenuated T2D-associated inflammation by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis and LPS-induced endotoxemia. Autophagy plays an important role during osteoclast differentiation and function. The impact of AdipoAI on osteoclast function and autophagy involved in osteoclastogenesis is not known. Here, we compare AdipoRon and AdipoAI potency, side effects and mechanism of action in T2D-associated periodontitis.

METHODS

The RAW 264.7 cell line was used for in vitro studies. We analyzed the potential cytotoxicity of AdipoAI using the CCK-8 assay. The anti-osteoclastogenic potential of AdipoAI was studied by real-time qPCR and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. The actions of AdipoAI involved in autophagy were tested by real-time qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. In the diet-induced obesity model of T2D, we investigated the impact of AdipoAI on fasting blood glucose, alveolar bone loss, and gingival inflammation in mice with experimental periodontitis.

RESULTS

AdipoRon inhibited osteoclastogenesis and AdipoAI inhibited osteoclastogenesis at lower doses than AdipoRon without any cytotoxicity. In DIO mice with experimental periodontitis, AdipoAI reduced mouse body weight in 14 days, reducing fasting glucose levels, alveolar bone destruction, osteoclast number along the alveolar bone surface, and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory factors in periodontal tissues. AdipoAI and AdipoRon also enhanced LC3A/B expression when cultured with RANKL.3-Methyladenine, a known autophagy inhibitor, decreased LC3A/B expression and reversed the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis during AdipoAI treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that AdipoAI ameliorates the severity of T2D-associated periodontitis by enhancing autophagy in osteoclasts at lower doses than AdipoRon without demonstrable side effects. Thus, AdipoAI has pharmaceutical potential for treating diabetes-associated periodontal disease.

Periodontal, metabolic, and cardiovascular disease: Exploring the role of inflammation and mental health

Previous evidence connects periodontal disease, a modifiable condition affecting a majority of Americans, with metabolic and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review focuses on the likely mediation of these associations by immune activation and their potential interactions with mental illness. Future longitudinal, and ideally interventional studies, should focus on reciprocal interactions and cascading effects, as well as points for effective preventative and therapeutic interventions across diagnostic domains to reduce morbidity, mortality and improve quality of life.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders in Indian Population

Objective. To assess the prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders and to determine the potential risk factors for its development in Indian population. Materials and Methods. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 1241 individuals in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. A questionnaire was designed to record information about sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene practices, dietary habits, and risk factors for oral potentially malignant disorders. Oral mucosal lesions were examined by a skilled person. Results. The overall prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders was found to be 13.7% with oral submucous fibrosis (8.06%) found to be more common and erythroplakia (0.24%) found to be least prevalent. Results of Logistic Regression analysis showed that males (OR = 2.09, P value < 0.0001) who were ever consumers of tobacco (OR = 2.06, P value = 0.030) and areca nut chewing (OR = 2.64, P value = 0.004) were more likely to develop oral potentially malignant disorders compared to never consumers. Diabetic (OR = 2.21, P value = 0.014) and underweight individuals (OR = 2.23, P value = 0.007) were more likely to suffer from oral potentially malignant disorders. Conclusion. The study reinforces the association of tobacco and areca nut consumption with oral potentially malignant disorders. An association of oral potentially malignant disorders with diabetes and BMI was confirmed by this study.

Gingival crevicular blood for screening of blood glucose level in patients with & without diabetes: a chair-side test

OBJECTIVES

Diabetes is a pandemic disease with increasing prevalence and serious complications. Periodontitis being one of its presentation and is its sixth recognized complication. This study compares blood glucose levels in gingival crevicular blood of patients with and without diabetes elicited during routine periodontal probing and venous blood sample.

METHODS

Seventy patients with moderate gingivitis and periodontitis positive for bleeding on probing were chosen. All the subjects were divided in two groups, group I consisted of 35 diabetic and group II of 35 non-diabetic subjects. Blood from the gingiva of the most inflamed site was collected with the test strip of a glucose self-monitoring device, and the blood glucose levels were measured. At the same time, intravenous blood was collected for measurement in a laboratory glucose analyzer. Gingival index and probing pocket depth were evaluated for each subject at same time.

RESULTS

The mean GCB levels and VB derived from all samples were 156.07 ± 49.23 mg dl(-1) and 156 ± 49.89 mg dl(-1) , respectively, for diabetic group and 90.80 ± 11.07 and 93.41 ± 9.30 for non-diabetic group. In both the groups, the difference between GCB and VB glucose levels was non-significant (P > 0.005). Highly significant correlation between GCB and VB (r = 0.972 for diabetic and r = 0.721 for non-diabetic) in both the groups was found.

CONCLUSION

The data from this study show that GCB collected during diagnostic periodontal examination can be an excellent source for estimation of blood sugar or glucometric analysis. This technique is also suitable for routine screening of diabetic and early diagnosis of unknown diabetic cases.

Glucometric assessment of gingival crevicular blood in diabetic and non-diabetic patients: A randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most incessant metabolic afflictions with high prevalence rate in Indians. Diagnosis of diabetics in the initial stage helps to prevent its long term complications that are responsible for high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study was to assess whether glucometric analysis using Gingival Crevicular Blood (GCB) can be used for screening of diabetic patients in dental chair.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Present study was a double blinded randomized controlled trial. A total of 50 patients, 25 diabetic and 25 non-diabetic with chronic periodontitis were enrolled in the study. Blood oozing from the gingival crevices after periodontal pocket probing of anterior teeth and Finger Prick Blood (FPB) was taken and analysed by glucometer.

RESULT

Mean ± S.D was 195.84 ± 27.19 and 138.78 ± 29.95 for GCB and FPB respectively in diabetic group. For non-diabetic group Mean ± S.D was 103.84 ± 12.56 and 84.36 ± 10.36 respectively for GCB and FPB. A Karl Pearson correlation coefficient value of r = +0.735 for diabetic and r = +0.802 for non-diabetic group comparing GCB and FPB.

CONCLUSION

GCB cannot be used for screening blood glucose during periodontal examination.

Effect of nonsurgical periodontal treatment on glycosylated hemoglobin in diabetic patients: a systematic review

This review was designed to determine whether non-surgical periodontal treatment is able to reduce serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Several previous reports showed that scaling and root planning (SRP) improve periodontal status in patients with DM, but whether it also improves metabolic control of the disease is unclear. A systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Cochrane Collaboration and PRISMA. A literature search was conducted in October 2012 using three libraries (Cochrane, Web of Knowledge, and Scopus) and the keywords "periodontal disease" and "diabetes mellitus." Only 21 of the articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. A total of 1,454 patients were thus included in this study to evaluate whether periodontal treatment improved serum HbA1c levels. Both the methodological quality and the risk of bias of each study were taken into account using the Jadad scale. Only ten of the included studies had an acceptable-good score of 3-5. Fourteen of the studies reported a significant decrease in serum HbA1c levels (p < 0.05) after periodontal treatment. The remaining seven studies failed to find a significant decrease in serum HbA1c. The findings of this review suggest that the published literature is insufficient and inconclusive to clearly support periodontal treatment as a means to improve serum HbA1c levels in patients with type 1 DM. It also demonstrates the need for homogeneous studies, with larger samples and longer follow-up periods, to properly address this question.

Comparison of Salivary Beta Glucuronidase Activity in Chronic Periodontitis Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the study was to estimate the salivary beta glucuronidase (β) activity in patients with chronic periodontitis with and without diabetes mellitus and to evaluate the relationship between Beta Glucuronidase activity and Periodontal clinical parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consisted of 80 patients of both sexes with age ranging from 20-60 years and they were divided into four groups. Clinical parameters such as Gingival index, Probing depth and Clinical attachment loss were measured. Salivary Beta Glucuronidase activity was measured using spectrophotometer with reagents like phenolphthalein glucuronic acid, phosphate and glycine buffer.

RESULTS

The mean BG activity of Group IV (1.17 ± 0.27) was significantly higher than mean BGA levels of Group I, II, III. The p-value was < 0.05. The mean BGA levels of Group III (0.78 ± 0.17) was significantly higher than mean BGA levels of Group I, Group II at 5 % level. There was a significant positive linear relationship between salivary β Glucuronidase level and Probing Depth, clinical attachment level in the experimental Groups.

CONCLUSION

The salivary β Glucuronidase level was higher in Diabetic patients with periodontitis than nondiabetic periodontitis patients.

Gingival crevicular blood: As a non-invasive screening tool for diabetes mellitus in dental clinics

BACKGROUND

A high number of patients with periodontitis may have undiagnosed diabetes. Self-monitoring devices provide a simple method for rapid monitoring of the glucose level in the blood by utilizing a blood sample from the finger, but this method requires a needle puncture to obtain blood. It is possible that gingival crevicular blood (GCB) from routine periodontal probing may be a source of blood for glucose measurements.

AIM

To establish whether GCB can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic aid in screening for diabetes mellitus during routine periodontal examination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved 50 diabetics and 50 non-diabetics, with an age range of 26-66 years. Both diabetic and non-diabetic patients had moderate to severe gingivitis with at least one tooth in the maxillary anterior region showing bleeding upon probing. The Gingival Index and Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified were recorded. Blood oozing from the gingival sulcus/pocket following periodontal pocket probing was collected using a capillary tube and transferred to the test stick of a glucose self-monitoring device (Accu-Chek, Roche Diagnostic, Germany) in patients with comparable gingival and oral hygiene status. This value was compared with the peripheral fingerstick blood glucose (PFBG) value, which was obtained by pricking the finger tip at the same visit. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULT

There was no statistically significant difference between the gingival crevicular blood glucose (GCBG) values and the PFBG values in both the diabetic (P = 0.129, NS) and the non-diabetic (P = 0.503, NS) groups. Karl Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was calculated, which showed a positive correlation between the two measurements in the diabetic (r = 0.943) as well as the non-diabetic (r = 0.926) groups.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that GCB can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic aid in screening for diabetes mellitus during routine periodontal examination.

Diabetes-associated periodontitis molecular features in infrared spectra of gingival crevicular fluid

BACKGROUND

It has been established previously that infrared spectroscopy (IRS) can be used to identify periodontitis-specific molecular signatures in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and to confirm clinical diagnoses. This follow-up study is designed to assess whether this novel technique is also able to differentiate diseased from healthy sites in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) by analyzing the molecular fingerprints embedded in the GCF.

METHODS

A total of 65 patients with DM with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis (CP) was recruited, and 15 individuals without DM (65 sites) without periodontal diseases were used as control. Clinical examination and GCF samples were taken from a total of 351 sites, including periodontitis (109), gingivitis (115), and healthy (127) sites. Corresponding absorption spectra of GCF samples were acquired and processed, and the relative contributions of key functional groups in the infrared spectra were identified and analyzed. The qualitative assessment of clinical relevance of these GCF spectra was interpreted with multivariate statistical analysis: linear discriminant analysis (LDA).

RESULTS

Spectral analysis revealed several molecular signatures representing vibrations in protein (amide I and II), lipid ester, and sugar moieties in the GCF of patients with DM with CP and non-DM controls. The diagnostic accuracy for distinction between healthy and CP sites in patients with DM determined by LDA of GCF spectra was 95.3% for the training set of samples and 87.5% for the validation set. Additional LDA of GCF spectra from healthy sites of non-DM controls and patients with DM revealed 100% diagnostic accuracy for the training set and 86.7% for the validation set. The regions robotically selected by LDA for the two analyses were slightly different in that first LDA identified major regions clustered with the side chain vibrations originating from protein and DNA contents, whereas the second was predominantly the glycation and protein components.

CONCLUSION

IRS is a feasible method to differentiate disease-specific molecular signatures in GCF in the presence of DM and to generate a complex biochemical profile of GCF to identify DM-specific spectral features.

The effect of intensive oral hygiene care on gingivitis and periodontal destruction in type 2 diabetic patients

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral hygiene care by oral professionals on periodontal health in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Diabetic participants were recruited at a university hospital and matched at a 1:1 ratio by age and gender, and randomly allocated into intervention (40 people) and control groups (35 people). Tooth brushing instruction, oral health education, and supra-gingival scaling were implemented in all patients at baseline. This program was repeatedly conducted in intervention patients every month for 6 months, and twice at baseline and the sixth month in the control. Oral health was measured by decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), plaque index, calculus index, bleeding index, patient hygiene performance (PHP) index, tooth mobility, Russel's periodontal index, and community periodontal index (CPI). Diabetes-related factors, oral and general health behaviors, and sociodemographic factors were interviewed as other confounding factors. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used with SPSS for Windows 14.0.

RESULTS

At baseline, there were no significant differences between the two groups in average of periodontal health (calculus index, bleeding index, Russel's periodontal index, CPI, and tooth mobility), diabetes-related factors (fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and HbA1c), and in distribution of sociodemographic factors and health behaviors. In intervention group, plaque index, dental calculus index, bleeding index, and PHP index were reduced fairly and steadily from the baseline. There were significant differences in plaque index, dental calculus index, bleeding index, PHP index, and Russel's periodontal index between the two groups at sixth month after adjusted for baseline status.

CONCLUSION

Intensive oral hygiene care can persistently improve oral inflammation status and could slow periodontal deterioration.

Comparison of neutrophil functions in diabetic and healthy subjects with chronic generalized periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic condition that has long been associated with an increased risk and severity of periodontal disease. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) play a key role in the maintenance of gingival and periodontal health. Reduced PMN function has been found in patients with diabetes.

AIM

The objective of this study was to evaluate PMN functions in 15 diabetic patients with chronic generalized periodontitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Chemotaxis, superoxide production, phagocytosis and killing of Porphyromonas gingivalis by diabetic PMNs were evaluated relative to healthy and matched controls.

RESULTS

These analyses revealed a significant (P < 0.01) depression in the number of diabetic PMNs migrating along an fMLP gradient. In addition, a significant (P < 0.01) enhancement of diabetic PMN superoxide production was observed. Phagocytosis (P < 0.05) and killing by diabetic PMN of P. gingivalis was also impaired significantly (P < 0.01).

Gingival crevicular fluid PGE2, IL-1beta, t-PA, PAI-2 levels in type 2 diabetes and relationship with periodontal disease

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate if type 2 diabetes mellitus increase gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2).

DESIGN AND METHODS

Seventeen type 2 diabetic patients with periodontal disease (DM), 17 otherwise healthy periodontally diseased patients (PD) and 17 systemically and periodontally healthy control subjects (H) were enrolled. Clinical periodontal measurements were recorded at six sites/tooth. GCF samples were analyzed by ELISA. Data were tested by statistical tests.

RESULTS

DM group revealed lower IL-1beta levels than PD group (p<0.01). PGE(2), t-PA and PAI-2 levels were similar in DM and PD groups (p>0.05). PGE(2), t-PA levels were higher in DM and PD groups than H group (p<0.05). PAI-2 level was higher in DM group than H group (p<0.05). GCF total amount of PGE(2) in DM group exhibited significant correlations with all clinical periodontal measurements (p<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Type 2 diabetes in this study seems not to increase GCF levels of the evaluated inflammatory mediators.

Comparison of periodontal and socioeconomic status between subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-diabetic controls

BACKGROUND

The association among periodontal conditions, socioeconomic status (SES), and diabetes has been reported. However, there is a lack of published data comparing periodontal conditions among individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). The aim of the present study was to compare the periodontal conditions and SES between subjects with T2D and non-diabetic controls.

METHODS

A total of 75 (31 males and 44 females) individuals with T2D (62 poorly controlled and 13 well-controlled) and 99 non-diabetic patients (healthy controls; 51 males and 48 females) participated in the study. Plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), and probing depth (PD) were investigated. Random blood glucose level was recorded. Premolar and molar marginal bone loss (MBL) was measured digitally on scanned orthopantomograms.

RESULTS

Individuals with poorly controlled T2D had increased MBL in molars and maxillary premolars (P<0.05) compared to individuals with well-controlled T2D. PI, BOP, and PD of 4 to <6 mm were increased in individuals with poorly controlled T2D compared to those with well-controlled T2D (P<0.001). There was no difference between the diabetic groups when PD was >or=6 mm. Individuals with poorly controlled T2D had a lower SES compared to patients with well-controlled T2D (P<0.05). Illiteracy and the number of missing teeth were not different between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologic and clinical indicators of periodontal destruction were increased in individuals with poorly controlled T2D. Low SES aggravated the periodontal condition in individuals with T2D.

Clinical and metabolic changes after conventional treatment of type 2 diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare the response to conventional periodontal treatment between patients with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus from a clinical and metabolic standpoint.

METHODS

A prospective, parallel, comparative longitudinal clinical study was performed between type 2 diabetics and non-diabetics with moderate generalized chronic periodontitis. The study period was 6 months. Conventional periodontal scaling and root planing were performed, and the response to this treatment was compared between the groups at 3 and 6 months, measuring the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, level of clinical attachment, and gingival recession. In the diabetic patients, the clinical response was related to measurements of HbA1c and glucose in blood at 3 and 6 months.

RESULTS

An improvement in all clinical variables was observed, with no statistically significant differences between the groups, with the exception of probing depth (P <0.0207). The improvement observed in blood HbA1c levels confirmed a positive metabolic response to periodontal treatment, with a lower value for this variable at each measurement time.

CONCLUSIONS

Both groups of patients showed a clinical improvement after basic non-surgical periodontal treatment. The diabetic patients showed improved metabolic control (lower HbA1c) at 3 and 6 months after periodontal treatment.

Collagenases in gingival crevicular fluid in type 1 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Studies have demonstrated that high levels of collagenase activity in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) are associated with degradation of periodontal tissues in progressive periodontitis compared to periodontally healthy tissues. Because the activation of collagenases is an important issue in periodontitis, we have studied the activation of collagenase in gingival crevicular fluid samples of diabetic patients.

METHODS

Collagenase activity was studied in human gingival crevicular fluids. Twenty-two poorly controlled diabetic patients (e.g., blood glucose: 11.0+/-0.7 mmol/l; hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]: 9.6%+/-0.3%) and five well-controlled diabetic patients were compared to six chronic periodontitis subjects and five healthy controls. Collagenase activity against type I collagen was measured using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis quantitated by laser densitometry.

RESULTS

The poorly controlled diabetic patients had more alveolar bone loss than the well-controlled diabetic subjects and controls (P<0.001; t test). The activity of collagenases in GCF in poorly controlled diabetic patients was similar to that seen in chronic periodontitis subjects (P>0.05) but higher than in healthy controls (P<0.01; t test), whereas there was no difference between the well-controlled diabetic subjects and systemically healthy controls (P>0.05; t test).

CONCLUSION

Poorly controlled diabetes is strongly related to periodontal tissue destruction, and collagenases in GCF may mediate and reflect this effect.

The effect of periodontal therapy on uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus in older subjects

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of periodontal therapy on glycemic control in older type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

Fifty-two diabetic patients, age 55-80 years (mean age = 61 years), with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 7.5-11.0% (mean +/- s.d. = 8.98 +/- 0.88) and severe periodontitis were included in the present study. The treatment group received mechanical periodontal treatment combined with systemic doxycycline, 100 mg day(-1) for 14 days. The control group received neither periodontal treatment nor systemic doxycycline. Clinical periodontal parameters, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and HbA1c levels were measures at baseline and 3 months.

RESULTS

Periodontal treatment significantly improved periodontal status of the treatment group (P < 0.05), however the reduction in the level of FPG and HbA1c did not reach significance. In the control group, no significant changes in clinical periodontal parameters, FPG and HbA1c levels were observed, except for significant increase in attachment loss (P < 0.05). Comparing the two groups, although the 3-month level of HbA1c of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group, the difference did not reach significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study indicate that the periodontal condition of older Thais with uncontrolled diabetes is: (a) significantly improved 3 months after mechanical periodontal therapy with adjunctive systemic antimicrobial treatment, and (b) rapidly deteriorating without periodontal treatment. The effect of periodontal therapy on the glycemic control of older uncontrolled diabetics will require further studies that will have to include much larger sample sizes.

Oral Infections and Glycemic Control in Pregnant Type 2 Diabetics

BACKGROUND

The relationship between diabetes mellitus and infection is bidirectional. Diabetes favors infection, while infections make controlling diabetes much more difficult. The most frequent infections encountered in pregnant diabetics are those of the urinary tract (UTI) and cervicovaginal (CVI) area. Periodontal diseases (PD) and active caries (AC) are infectious diseases frequently found in these cases often remaining as hidden entities of low intensity. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is an association between PD and caries with lack of glycemic control often encountered in pregnant type 2 diabetic women.

METHODS

A single skilled researcher performed the periodontal evaluation of PD and AC cases. Glycated alpha hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) over 6.5% was used to diagnose metabolic glucose disturbances. The controlled variables were UTI, CVI and adherence to treatment. The statistical tests used were chi-square adjusted for continuity, analysis of variance, odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals and logistic regression with a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven type 2 diabetic women were seen during the second trimester of their pregnancies. Mean age was 31.3 years; 55% had lack of glycemic control associated with CVI (chi2 21.07, p < 0.000), PD (chi2 5.72, p < 0.005) and UTI (chi2 13.77, p < 0.000) with therapeutic adherence (TA) (chi2 14.80, p < 0.00). No association was found with AC. The logistic regression results showed that UTI, CIV, PD and TA are associated with lack of glycemic control.

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontal diseases may act as "hidden" infections in pregnant diabetics and be associated with lack of glycemic control. This situation should be taken into consideration by healthcare teams in charge of prenatal care.

Periodontal Health, Salivary Status, and Metabolic Control in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to determine whether detectable periodontal destruction and alterations in the salivary status were present with duration of diabetes in children with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) as compared to healthy controls.

METHODS

Sixteen newly diagnosed children with DM (group 1), 16 children with type 1 DM of long duration (group 2), and 16 healthy children (group 3) participated in the study. Periodontal health was assessed by plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, and periodontal probing depths. The flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, and peroxidase activities of stimulated saliva were determined. The data were analyzed by Kruskall-Wallis, Student t test, and Pearson's correlation analysis.

RESULTS

The mean values for fasting blood glucose levels for the diabetic groups were significantly higher than for the controls. The mean values for salivary buffering capacities and salivary pH from the diabetic groups were significantly lower than for the controls. The plaque index values for the diabetic groups were significantly higher than for the controls. The mean gingival index value for group 1 was significantly lower than for group 2. The mean periodontal probing depths for group 1 were similar to those of the non-DM controls, but the mean periodontal probing depths for group 2 were significantly greater than for both the non-DM controls and group 1. Group 1 had significantly greater bleeding on probing scores than did the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The glycemic status of the diabetic subjects affects the periodontal probing depths, salivary pH, buffering capacity, and peroxidase activity.

The ultrastructure of the capillaries in the gingiva of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The diabetic effects of alloxan (type I diabetes mellitus) were investigated in 40 Wistar albino rats (18 controls and 22 diabetics). Alloxan in sterile physiological saline was injected into animals intravenously. After the induction of diabetes with alloxan, the ultrastructure of the capillaries in the gingiva was examined by transmission electron microscopy. The thickness of the basement membranes was observed closely adherent to the endothelial cells of the capillary alloxan-diabetic rats. It was greatly thickened owing to the increase in its amorphous, granular and filamentous material with occasional scattered collagen fibres. In some sections, the capillary lumens of the diabetics were closed by epithelial cells. Loss of cytoplasmic material and hyalinization were seen in some smooth muscle cells. In addition, the mitochondrial cristae of smooth muscle cell and epithelial cells disappeared. There was endothelial integrity throughout the smooth muscle cells.

Glycemic control of type 2 diabetes and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population ages 45 years and older.

METHODS

Data on 4343 persons ages 45-90 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study III were analyzed using weighted multivariable logistic regression. Severe periodontal disease was defined as 2 + sites with 6 + mm loss of attachment and at least one site with probing pocket depth of 5 + mm. Individuals with fasting plasma glucose > 126 mg/dL were classified as having diabetes; those with poorly controlled diabetes (PCDM) had glycosylated hemoglobin > 9% and those with better-controlled diabetes (BCDM) had glycosylated hemoglobin <or= 9%. Additional variables evaluated in multivariable modeling included age, ethnicity, education, gender, smoking status, and other factors derived from the interview, medical and dental examination, and laboratory assays.

RESULTS

Individuals with PCDM had a significantly higher prevalence of severe periodontitis than those without diabetes (odds ratio = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.40, 6.03), after controlling for age, education, smoking status, and calculus. For the BCDM subjects, there was a tendency for a higher prevalence of severe periodontitis (odds ratio = 1.56; 95% CI: 0.90, 2.68).

CONCLUSION

These results provide population-based evidence to support an association between poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe periodontitis.

Bidirectional interrelationships between diabetes and periodontal diseases: an epidemiologic perspective

This review evaluates evidence for a bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases. A comprehensive Medline search of the post-1960 English language literature was employed to identify primary research reports of relationships between diabetes and periodontal diseases. Reports included in the review on the adverse effects of diabetes on periodontal health (DM-->PD) were restricted to those comparing periodontal health in subjects with and without diabetes. Review of adverse affects of periodontal infection on glycemic control included reports of periodontal treatment studies and follow-up observational studies in which changes in glycemic control could be assessed. Observational studies reporting DM-->PD provided consistent evidence of greater prevalence, severity, extent, or progression of at least one manifestation of periodontal diseases in the large majority of reports (supportive evidence in 44/48 total reviewed; 37/41 cross-sectional and 7/7 cohort). Additionally, there were no studies reviewed with superior design features to refute this association. Treatment studies provided direct evidence to support periodontal infection having an adverse, yet modifiable, effect on glycemic control. However, not all investigations reported an improvement in glycemic control after periodontal treatment. Additional evidence to support the effect of severe periodontitis on increased risk for poorer glycemic control comes from 2 follow-up observational studies. The evidence reviewed supports viewing the relationship between diabetes and periodontal diseases as bidirectional. Further rigorous, systematic study is warranted to establish that treating periodontal infections can be influential in contributing to glycemic control management and possibly to the reduction of the burden of complications of diabetes mellitus.

Health behaviors and their relation to metabolic control and periodontal status in type 2 diabetic patients: a model tested using a linear structural relations program

BACKGROUND

Although it has been reported that diabetic control is beneficial in managing periodontal disease, there are few studies in the literature where the relationship between singular behavioral factors and periodontal status has been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the simultaneous interrelationships among selected medical/dental variables and 5 behavior components with general health behavior (GHB), perceived fatigue (PF), diet control (DC), regular diet (RD), and dental behavioral inventory (HU-DBI) scores, using data from a study of 102 type 2 diabetic patients.

METHODS

A hypothesized model was tested by a linear structural relations program (LISREL).

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between oral health behavior and calculus accumulation (r = 0.399; P<0.001). Correlations were found between calculus and periodontal status measured by gingivitis index and probing depth (r = 0.232; P<0.05, r = 0.279; P<0.01, respectively). The final model was found to be consistent with the data (chi2 = 55.0, df = 47, P = 0.197; GFI = 0.922). Oral health behavior affected periodontal status through its effect on calculus but not plaque accumulation. General health behavior had significant effects on oral health behavior and diet behavior (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Diet behavior affected both plaque accumulation and metabolic control (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). However, the result was the virtual absence of a significant pass coefficient between metabolic control and periodontal status.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of the 2 diseases seemed to be connected indirectly through health behaviors such as diet behavior and oral health behavior.

Healing response to non-surgical periodontal therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus: clinical, microbiological, and immunologic results

The aim of the present study was to monitor clinical, microbiological, medical, and immunological effects of non-surgical periodontal therapy in diabetics and healthy controls. 20 IDDM (insulin dependent, n = 7) or NIDDM (non-insulin dependent, n = 13) diabetic patients (median duration 11.5 years, range of HbA1C: 4.4-10.6%) with moderate to advanced periodontal disease and 20 matched healthy control patients, were subjected to supragingival pretreatment and subsequent subgingival therapy. Periodontal examinations (API, PBI, BOP, PPD, PAL), microbiological examinations (culture), medical routine examinations, and immunological examinations (oxidative burst response of PMNs to TNF-alpha and FMLP) were performed at baseline, 2 weeks after supragingival, and 4 months after subgingival therapy. 4 months after completion of non-surgical therapy, the following compared to baseline significant (p < or = 0.05) changes (delta) of clinical parameters (median) were found in diabetic patients versus control patients: deltaAPI (30.4% versus 36.3%), deltaPBI (22.9% versus 24.2%), deltaBOP (39.5% versus 46.9%). The median % per patient of pockets with PPD > or = 4 mm decreased from 41.9% to 28.3% in diabetics, and from 41.6% to 31.8% in controls. Microbiologically, similar reductions of periopathogenic bacteria were found in diabetics and controls. Neither periodontal data nor the oxidative burst response of PMNs showed any significant difference (p > 0.05) between diabetics and control patients. In this study, periodontal therapy had no significant influence on medical data of diabetics. In conclusion, this study indicates that metabolically well-controlled diabetics might respond to non-surgical periodontal therapy as well as healthy control patients.

Periodontal status and subgingival microbiota of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetics: a 3-year longitudinal study

This study examined for 3 years the changes in periodontal status and the possible correlations with selected subgingival microbiota and diabetic conditions in a group of 16 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM, JD) patients as compared with their 16 healthy cohabiting siblings (HS). JD patients were monitored every 3 months for levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Clinical and microbiological parameters were measured 6 weeks before drawing blood to determine levels of HbA1C. Periodontal parameters were measured at baseline (TO), year 2 (T2), year 3 (T3) and included: probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), and plaque index (PI). Two sites in each patient were selected for microbial samples: a mesio-facial aspect of the maxillary right first molar (defined as constant site, CS) and a site with the greatest probing depth (defined as deepest site, DS). Microbial samples were analyzed by culture techniques. No significant differences in clinical parameters were found between diabetics and healthy siblings at any examination. The SBI in the non-diabetic group at T2 and at T3 was significantly lower than at baseline. PD and AL of constant sites in the diabetic group at T3 were significantly higher than baseline. There was a significant increase in Prevotella intermedia at T3 as compared with baseline for deepest sites in the diabetic group. Cluster analysis revealed, in a former study, two clusters (IV and V) at baseline which were significantly different from the overall mean regarding composition of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Capnocytophaga spp. They were not significantly different for periodontal parameters from TO to T3. These data would suggest no significant differences in clinical parameters between the diabetics and non-diabetic siblings throughout this 3-year longitudinal study.

Morphometric analysis of cellular and vascular changes in gingival connective tissue in long-term insulin-dependent diabetes

This study examined cellular and vascular changes in gingival connective tissue samples by stereologic point-counting procedures and interactive digital analyzing systems in long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Gingival connective tissue capillaries representing a clinically healthy sulcus with no evidence of periodontal disease at the site of biopsy were studied in 29 patients with diabetes. Based upon their long-term medical records, 19 were identified as having poorly controlled (PIDD) and 10 as controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (CIDD). Ten nondiabetic, age- and gender-matched individuals served as controls. Thirty-nine biopsies were processed for light microscopy, and the blood vessel area was analyzed using an interactive digital analyzing system; 9 gingival biopsies, 5 diabetic and 4 controls, were processed for morphometric electron microscopic analysis. For each individual, site-specific recordings were made for the plaque index, bleeding index, probing depth, loss of attachment, and radiographic loss of interproximal alveolar bone. No evident signs of periodontitis occurred at the biopsy sites. For each PIDD patient, respective volumetric and numeric densities of cellular components including fibroblasts, neutrophilic granulocytes, monocyte/macrophages, mast cells, lymphocytes, blast cells, and plasma cells were recorded in the inflamed connective tissue (ICT). Non-cellular components such as collagen fibers and blood vessels were also recorded. PIDD patients had elevated plasma cell levels relative to controls and they appeared also to have a decreased collagen fiber density. In addition, fibroblasts occupied less volume in the ICT of PIDD patients than in controls. PIDD patients had the largest mean area of cross-section of the blood vessels, but this difference was not statistically significant (P > or = 0.211; t-test). No specific characteristics of ICT or vascular changes were detectable in adult well-controlled long-term diabetics under similar plaque conditions. Swollen and proliferated endothelial cells were frequently found in PIDD patients and the mean distance from the lumen to the outer border of basement membrane was greater in the PIDD than in the controls (P < 0.001; t-test). Overall, our findings that cellular, vascular, and connective tissue changes indicative of increased catabolism rather than anabolism detected in gingiva are especially associated with poorly controlled long-term insulin-dependent diabetes.

Periodontal disease related to diabetic status. A pilot study of the response to periodontal therapy in type 1 diabetes

Variation in the periodontal health status and the response to oral hygiene education, scaling and root planing were studied in 36 subjects with type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and in 10 non-diabetic control subjects. The age range of the subjects was 24-36 years. The diabetic group was divided into 3 subgroups based on the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAlc) over a 3 year period and the presence of diabetic complications as follows: (D1) subjects with good metabolic control and no complications (n=13), (D2) subjects with varying metabolic control with/without retinopathy (n=15) and (D3) subjects with severe diabetes, i.e., with poor long-term control and/or multiple complications (n= 8). Clinical measurements (plaque, subgingival calculus, probing pocket depth, bleeding after probing and clinical attachment level) were performed at the baseline and 4 weeks and 6 and 12 months after periodontal therapy. The between-group comparisons were made using the Student t-test and ANOVA. Based on the plaque scores, the oral hygiene status was similar in all groups during the whole study. No statistically-significant differences in the periodontal health status could be found between the diabetic group as a whole and the non-diabetic controls at any examination. The level of periodontal health of the diabetics with good control and no complications (D1) and those with moderate control with/without retinopathy (D2) was on the same level with that seen in the non-diabetic controls. Our findings of the significantly higher extent of al > or =2 mm at the baseline and the fast recurrence of pd > or =4 mm during the longitudinal study in diabetic subjects with poor metabolic control and/or multiple complications (D3) indicate increased periodontal breakdown as a complication of DM in these subjects. To be able to assess the periodontal prognosis and the need for periodontal therapy on an individual basis,the clinical practitioner should be well aware of the diabetic status of his/her patients.

The relationship between clinical periodontal status and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Results after 5 years

The clinical periodontal status of 44 insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents and 20 healthy control subjects was compared for a period of approximately 5 years. Fasting blood glucose, fructosamine, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) values were determined at baseline and 5 years later. The differences in the clinical and laboratory parameters were compared during the study period. The differences between the two groups were also evaluated. The only statistically significant difference observed in the diabetic group was clinical attachment loss (CAL). The CAL was statistically significantly higher in the diabetic group compared to the controls, and a statistically significantly higher in the diabetic group compared to the controls, and a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the duration of diabetes and CAL. Fructosamine was also correlated with the gingival index in the diabetic group while there was no correlation in the controls. It may be concluded that diabetes modifies the clinical status of the periodontal tissues and increases clinical attachment loss.

The onset of diabetes and poor metabolic control increases gingival bleeding in children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Gingival health (bleeding on probing) and oral hygiene (plaque percent) were assessed in 2 groups of children and adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). 1st study group included 12 newly diagnosed diabetic children and adolescents (age range 6.3-14.0 years, 5 boys and 7 girls). They were examined on the 3rd day after initial hospital admission and at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after initiation of insulin treatment. Gingival bleeding decreased after 2 weeks of insulin treatment (37.8% versus 19.0%, p < 0.001, paired t-test), and remained at the same level when examined 1 month later while glucose balance was excellent. Another group (n = 80) of insulin-dependent diabetic children and adolescents (age range 11.7-18.4 years, 44 boys and 36 girls) with a mean duration of diabetes 6.0 years (range 0.3-15.0 years) were examined 2x at 3-month intervals. Subjects with poor blood glucose control (glycosylated haemoglobin, HbA1, values over 13%) had more gingival bleeding (46.3% on examination 1, 41.7% on examination 2) than subjects with HbA1 values less than 10% (mean gingival bleeding 35.2% and 26.9%, respectively) or subjects with HbA1 values between 10 to 13% (mean gingival bleeding 35.6% and 33.4%, respectively). Differences were significant on both examinations (p < 0.05, Anova), and remained significant after controlling the groups for differences in age, age at the onset of diabetes, duration of diabetes and pubertal stage (Ancova). Results were not related to differences or changes in dental plaque status, supporting the concept that imbalance of glucose metabolism associated with diabetes predisposes to gingival inflammation. An increase in gingival bleeding in association with hyperglycaemia suggests that hyperglycaemia-associated biological alterations, which lower host resistance toward plaque, have apparently taken place. Consequently, although not all gingivitis proceeds into a destructive periodontal disease, prevention of plaque-induced gingival inflammation should be emphasised, particularly in children and adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes.

Glucose modulates growth of gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells: correlation with expression of basic fibroblast growth factor

Diabetes mellitus is a systemic disease with profound effects on oral health and periodontal wound healing. Uncontrolled diabetes adversely affects surgical wound healing and is often associated with abnormal proliferation of fibroblasts, excessive angiogenesis and poor bone regeneration. Human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells from both diabetics and non-diabetics were evaluated for growth responses following culture in 20 mM glucose, a concentration compatible with blood glucose levels in uncontrolled diabetics. Gingival fibroblasts derived from 9 non-diabetic patients and 3 insulin-dependent diabetics either proliferated or showed little change of growth in elevated glucose. Enhanced proliferation was observed following 1 wk of culture in glucose. Growth of periodontal ligament cells from 5 non-diabetic patients was inhibited by 20 mM glucose. Fibroblasts that were markedly growth stimulated were probed for expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) using a reverse-transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results indicate that fibroblasts exhibiting the greatest increase in growth in response to high glucose also exhibited increased expression of bFGF. No changes were observed in mRNA expression for platelet-derived growth factor-AA, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, insulin-like growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta 1. Mitogenic effects induced by the cytosol of fibroblasts exhibiting increases of growth in 20 mM glucose were abrogated by neutralizing antibodies to bFGF. In addition, some periodontal ligament cells that were growth inhibited by high glucose had reduced expression of bFGF. These data suggest that bFGF may play a role in the abnormal wound healing associated with periodontal surgery of uncontrolled diabetics.

Severe periodontitis and risk for poor glycemic control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

This study tested the hypothesis that severe periodontitis in persons with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) increases the risk of poor glycemic control. Data from the longitudinal study of residents of the Gila River Indian Community were analyzed for dentate subjects aged 18 to 67, comprising all those: 1) diagnosed at baseline with NIDDM (at least 200 mg/dL plasma glucose after a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test); 2) with baseline glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) less than 9%; and 3) who remained dentate during the 2-year follow-up period. Medical and dental examinations were conducted at 2-year intervals. Severe periodontitis was specified two ways for separate analyses: 1) as baseline periodontal attachment loss of 6 mm or more on at least one index tooth; and 2) baseline radiographic bone loss of 50% or more on at least one tooth. Clinical data for loss of periodontal attachment were available for 80 subjects who had at least one follow-up examination, 9 of whom had two follow-up examinations at 2-year intervals after baseline. Radiographic bone loss data were available for 88 subjects who had at least one follow-up examination, 17 of whom had two follow-up examinations. Poor glycemic control was specified as the presence of HbA, of 9% or more at follow-up. To increase the sample size, observations from baseline to second examination and from second to third examinations were combined. To control for non-independence of observations, generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used for regression modeling. Severe periodontitis at baseline was associated with increased risk of poor glycemic control at follow-up. Other statistically significant covariates in the GEE models were: 1) baseline age; 2) level of glycemic control at baseline; 3) having more severe NIDDM at baseline; 4) duration of NIDDM; and 5) smoking at baseline. These results support considering severe periodontitis as a risk factor for poor glycemic control and suggest that physicians treating patients with NIDDM should be alert to the signs of severe periodontitis in managing NIDDM.

Salivary peroxidase activity in whole saliva of patients with insulin-dependent (type-1) diabetes mellitus

In this study, salivary peroxidase activity was measured in a group of 10 patients with insulin-dependent (type I) diabetes mellitus (IDDM) who had a tendency towards periodontitis. In healthy subjects (N : 10), mean salivary peroxidase activity was 0.0025 +/- 0.001 IU/ml, while in this group of type I diabetic patients it was 0.051 +/- 0.015 IU/ml, a significantly higher level (p < 0.001). Approximal plaque index (API), modified sulcus bleeding index (mod SBI) and pocket depths were assessed clinically. The values for mod SBI and API were 60% and 68% respectively for the diabetic patients while for the control group mod SBI was measured 0.0% and the value for API was 10.67% (p < 0.001). The administration of this simple and practical test may provide an early marker of a tendency towards periodontitis in IDDM patients.

Short-term responses to periodontal therapy in insulin-dependent diabetic patients

This investigation studied relative changes in periodontal conditions of 18 insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Measures of gingival inflammation, crevicular fluid aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, probing depth and attachment levels, the presence of three periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bacteroides forsythus, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) and serum antibody titers to these bacteria, and blood sugar levels (glycosylated hemoglobin, HbAlc) were studied before and 2 months after non-surgical debridement. Antibody titers to the same bacteria were also studied in sera from 18 sex- and age-matched periodontally healthy and non-diabetic subjects. Periodontal conditions showed significant improvement. The mean probing depth at 4 of the worst sites selected in each patient decreased from 5.7 mm to 4.8 mm (p < 0.0001). The mean full width probing depth changed from 2.9 mm (s.d. +/- 0.2) to 2.5 mm (s.d. +/- 0.3). A mean gain of 0.4 mm attachment level was recorded (P < 0.0001). The mean AST value decreased from 1009 microIU to 518 microIU (P < 0.006). Minimal differences in mean glycosylated hemoglobin values (HbAlc) were noticed before and after treatment. A. actinomycetemcomitans was never detected. P. gingivalis was present at 7% of the sites both before and after treatment. B. forsythus was found at 29% of sites (50% of patients) before and at 36% of sites (61% of patients) after treatment. Positive associations were found between the presence of B. forsythus and AST values, gingival index, probing depth, and attachment level (P < 0.05). Baseline serum IgG titers to P. gingivalis were significantly lower in the patients with diabetes (9.5 ELISA units vs. 28.5 ELISA units in the healthy controls). IgG titers to B. forsythus did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. No changes in IgG titers occurred after treatment. Clinical improvements after mechanical non-surgical therapy in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were modest after 2 months. Treatment did not eliminate B. forsythus and P. gingivalis and did not affect IgG titer responses. More intense therapy, and longer follow-up times, may be necessary to see more pronounced clinical and systemic effects.

Microvascular angiopathy in advanced periodontal disease

Previous studies have shown a perivascular hyaline thickening affecting restricted regions of the microcirculation in gingivitis and moderate periodontitis and in the pulpal vessels in chronic pulpitis. In the present study of the lesion of advanced periodontitis, immunostaining for type IV collagen and laminin demonstrated widespread deposition of basement membrane material, with manifest involvement of the venous network. Some vessels were associated with an increased deposition of both basement membrane proteins, while others showed preferential deposition of either laminin or type IV collagen. Immunostaining also revealed an extensive trabecular network of type IV collagen throughout the affected gingival tissue that was related to recognizable vessels but was co-extensive with less intense staining for laminin. This network was not associated with viable endothelial cells demonstrable by staining with the endothelial marker Ulex agglutinin (UEA-1). The results indicate extensive vascular pathology in advanced periodontitis that could explain the attenuation of the inflammatory reaction and the restricted ability to develop reparative granulation tissue in this disease.

The relationship between clinical attachment loss and the duration of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) in children and adolescents

The periodontal status of 77 diabetic children and adolescents, and 77 paired, systemically-healthy, sex- and age-matched control subjects, was clinical examined. Fasting blood glucose, fructosamine and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) values were determined. The mean periodontal pocket depths, clinical attachment levels and the parameters to assess diabetes mellitus from the diabetic group were significantly higher than those of the controls. We found a positive correlation between the duration of diabetes and clinical attachment loss, but not with periodontal probing depth, plaque index and gingival index in the diabetic group. A positive correlation was also assessed between the present serum fructosamine and gingival index in the diabetic group, but not in controls.

Dark field microscopy of the subgingival microflora in insulin-dependent diabetics

The subgingival microflora was assessed by means of dark field microscopy in 106 pockets of 47 subjects with long-term insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDD). The microbiota of 55 healthy sulci (probing depth < 4 mm) and 51 periodontally diseased (probing depth > or = 4 and 6 mm) pockets were analyzed. The mean duration of the IDD of the diabetic subjects was 23.7 years (range from 10 to 41 years). The diabetic patients, aged 30-65 years, were under medical treatment at the III Department of Medicine, University of Helsinki Central Hospital, and at 2 clinics of the Helsinki Health Centre. Based upon their long-term medical records, 26 subjects were assessed to have poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (PIDD) and 21 had controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (CIDD). The PIDD subjects exhibited higher mean blood glucose levels (12.9 +/- 4.6 mmol/l, mean +/- S.D.) than the CIDD subjects (7.9 +/- 3.6 mmol/l) (p < 0.001, t-test). The mean glycosylated hemoglobin HBA1 (HBA1c) levels were 11.2 +/- 4.6% (10.3 +/- 1.2%) and 8.8 +/- 1.8% (7.7 +/- 1.4%) for PIDD and CIDD subjects, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, t-test). For each individual, site-specific recordings were made for plaque index and bleeding index scores, probing depth, loss of attachment and radiographic loss of alveolar bone. Dark field microscopy analysis of the presence of spirochetes, motile rods, cocci, non-motile rods, filaments and fusiforms was performed in the total of 106 pockets. According to the results of the dark field microscopy, the % of spirochetes and motile rods in the periodontally diseased pockets was significantly higher in the PIDD than in the CIDD subjects (9.2 +/- 13.4% and 10.8 +/- 14.3% versus 4.0 +/- 5.2% and 3.1 +/- 3.2%, p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, chi 2-test, respectively). Moreover, the PIDD subjects had lower mean %s of coccoid cells in periodontally diseased sites than the CIDD subjects (52.1 +/- 20.8% versus 60.7 +/- 9.0%, p < 0.001, chi 2-test).

Periodontal status and selected cultivable anaerobic microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetics

The periodontal status and subgingival microflora of insulin-dependent juvenile diabetic (JD) patients (n = 16, mean age = 11.3) were compared with that of their non-diabetic cohabiting healthy siblings (HS, n = 16, mean age = 13.2). JD patients were monitored every 3 months for levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and clinical and microbial parameters were measured 6 weeks before drawing blood for levels of HbA1c (M% = 8.76). Clinical indices, measured for the entire permanent dentition, included: probing depth (PD), attachment level (AL), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), and plaque index (PI). Subgingival plaque samples were obtained at 2 sites from each subject; whenever possible, the site with the deepest probing depth and the mesial aspect of the maxillary right first molar were used. Microbial analyses were determined by cultural characteristics and biochemical tests. No significant differences were detected in any of the clinical indices for the entire dentition. The mean AL for JD sites was 2.32 +/- 0.83 mm and for HS sites was 2.2 +/- 0.85 mm. Mean percentage of total cultivable anaerobic microflora included Capnocytophaga spp. (JD, 13.21%; HS, 11%) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (JD, 5.1%; HS, 7.9%). Differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. When cluster analysis was performed on sampled sites, one cluster group in JD patients showed significantly elevated P. gingivalis and lower Capnocytophaga spp. levels as compared to the overall mean. The clinical parameters of this cluster were characterized by statistically significant greater loss of attachment and probing depth. These data would suggest few differences between JD patients and their HS in this population.

Single-blind studies of the effects of improved periodontal health on metabolic control in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Uncontrolled studies have suggested a beneficial effect of periodontal treatment on metabolic control of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). We therefore conducted controlled single-blind studies, using current metabolic status indicators in IDDM subjects free of significant complications other than periodontal diseases. In the 1st study, 41 IDDM subjects with gingivitis and early periodontitis were randomly assigned to treatment (oral hygiene and scaling) or control groups. The study was completed by 16 experimental and 15 control subjects. Reassessment after 2 months showed a Hawthorne effect in the control group, and no difference between groups. However, further analysis showed a relationship between individual metabolic control variation and gingival inflammation. A 2nd study enrolled 23 IDDM subjects with advanced periodontitis, who were randomised to treatment (full initial therapy including root planning) or control groups. Only 1 subject failed to complete the study, owing to illness. In this study, a significant response to periodontal treatment was not accompanied by any improvement in metabolic control. These results support the concept that the effect of metabolic control may be predominant in the relationship between IDDM and periodontal health.

Periodontal disease and type I diabetes mellitus in children and adolescents

This study compared the periodontal status of a juvenile diabetic study group with that of a non-diabetic control group similar in age and sex. The study group consisted of 26 type I diabetic patients with an average age of 13.42 years and 24 control subjects of similar age. The diabetic subjects were evaluated with glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) to obtain a measure of diabetic control. Clinical periodontal evaluations were performed for all teeth in each subject, and consisted of the plaque index, gingival fluid flow, gingival index, probing depths, clinical attachment levels, recession, and bleeding on probing. Analysis of the data demonstrated no statistically significant differences in the overall means for the 2 groups for average attachment loss, probing depths, recession, gingival index, plaque index, gingival fluid flow, or bleeding on probing. There was no significant association between the level of control of diabetes (GHb) and clinical variables. However, comparisons based on site-specific measurements showed the gingival index to be somewhat higher among the diabetics (p = 0.0002), and examination of interaction effect plots showed the diabetic group to have higher average gingival index for most teeth and higher or the same plaque index levels on all teeth relative to controls. Thus, a young study population with type I diabetes mellitus was found to have significantly increased severity of inflammatory gingival disease compared to controls of similar age.

Serum fructosamine correlates with gingival index in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

Fructosamine assay, which is used in diagnosing and monitoring diabetic patients, is compared with the hemoglobin and plasma glucose assays in children and adolescent insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. We demonstrated that the gingival index scores were correlated with fructosamine values in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients but not in non-diabetic controls. We also found that there was no correlation between gingivitis scores and fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c values. Periodontitis was found to be rare in diabetic children and adolescents.

A site-by-site follow-up study on the effect of controlled versus poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the present site-by-site follow-up study, the change in amount of approximal alveolar bone was assessed after 1 year from the baseline examination in 38 and after 2 years in 22 dentate subjects all with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The diabetics, aged 35 to 56 years at baseline, had a history of a mean duration of 18 years of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and were under medical treatment at the outpatient clinic of the III Department of Medicine, University Central Hospital of Helsinki as well as at 2 diabetic clinics of the Helsinki Health Centre. Based upon their long-term medical records, 26 subjects were after 1 year, and 16 subjects after 2 years from the baseline, identified as having poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (PIDD). At the 1-year examination, 12 subjects were classified as having controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (CIDD) as compared to 6 subjects at the 2-year examination. After 1 and 2 years, from baseline, site-by-site measurements were recorded for plaque index scores, bleeding after probing, loss of attachment, and radiographic loss of alveolar bone. After 1 and 2 years from baseline, the PIDD subjects exhibited higher mean %s of sites with improved bleeding scores (P < 0.01, chi 2-test) than the CIDD subjects. At the 2-year examination, the mean % of sites with loss of approximal alveolar bone was greater in the PIDD than in the CIDD group (P < 0.05, chi 2-test). The greatest differences between PIDD and CIDD subjects were found when recordings for only canines were analyzed at the 1- and 2-year examinations (P < 0.05, chi 2-test). The results of our current 2-year longitudinal site-by-site examinations confirm earlier results that poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is strongly related to the amount of alveolar bone loss.

A longitudinal study on insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease

In the present two-year longitudinal investigation, the progression of periodontal disease was assessed after 1 year from the baseline examination in 38 dentate subjects and after 2 years in 22 dentate subjects with a mean duration of 18 years of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The diabetics, aged 35 to 56 years at baseline, were under medical treatment at the outpatient clinic of the III Department of Medicine, University Central Hospital of Helsinki and at 2 diabetic clinics of the Helsinki Health Centre. Based upon their long-term medical records, 26 subjects were at baseline identified as having poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (PIDD) with a mean blood glucose level of 12.5 mmol/l and a mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1) level of 10.1%. 12 subjects were classified as having controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (CIDD) with a mean blood glucose level of 6.7 mmol/l and a mean HBA1 level of 9.2% at baseline. For each individual, recordings were made at baseline and after 1 and 2 years from the baseline for the plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, loss of attachment, bleeding after probing, gingival recession, and radiographic loss of alveolar bone. At baseline and 2 years after the baseline examination, the PIDD subjects had similar plaque conditions as the CIDD subjects. At baseline and after 1 and 2 years from baseline the PIDD subjects had more gingivitis and bleeding after probing (P < 0.05, chi 2-test) than the CIDD subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tetracycline administration increases protein (presumably procollagen) synthesis and secretion in periodontal ligament fibroblasts of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Streptozotocin-induced, insulin-deficient diabetic adult rats were daily administrated either minocycline or a chemically-modified non-antimicrobial tetracycline (CMT) by oral gavage for a 3-week time period; untreated diabetic and non-diabetic rats served as controls. On day 21, all rats received an intravenous injection of 3H-proline followed by perfusion fixation with an aldehyde mixture at 20 minutes and 4 hours after isotope injection. The upper and lower mandibles of these rats were dissected and processed for quantitative electron microscopic autoradiography to study 3H-proline utilization by fibroblasts in the periodontal ligament (PDL) of molars. In the non-diabetic controls, at 20 min after 3H-proline injection, radioprecursor was incorporated by the Golgi-RER system of PDL fibroblasts. At the 4-h time period, most of the label was present over the collagen fibers around these cells. In contrast, PDL fibroblasts in the untreated diabetic rats showed marked abnormalities ultrastructurally and minimal uptake (20 min) and secretion (4 h) of labeled proline. At both time periods, in both minocycline- and CMT-treated diabetic rats, fibroblasts were structurally more normal and the radioprecursor was localized in the fibroblasts and the PDL matrix in a pattern similar to that seen in the control rats. These results suggest that the diabetes-induced structural abnormalities and suppression of synthesis and secretion of protein (presumably collagen and its precursor) by PDL fibroblasts can be restored to near-normal by administration of a tetracycline and that this effect is mediated by a non-antimicrobial property of this family of antibiotics.

Cellular source and tetracycline-inhibition of gingival crevicular fluid collagenase of patients with labile diabetes mellitus

Accelerated periodontal tissue destruction in patients with labile insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DM) and localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) has been suggested to be related to functional abnormalities of neutrophils. We have recently found that collagenase in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of adult periodontitis patients is primarily derived from neutrophils and that neutrophil collagenase activity is more sensitive to inhibition by tetracyclines than collagenase produced by fibroblasts. This study is to characterize the cellular sources, activation and inhibition of collagenase in GCF of DM patients and to compare it with collagenase in LJP GCF. We found differences which may have therapeutic implications. Specific doxycycline inhibition tests revealed that GCF collagenase in DM is derived from neutrophils, whereas the enzyme in LJP originates primarily from fibroblasts. Oxidant, sodium hypochlorite, activated efficiently GCF collagenase of DM but not LJP patients. In contrast, plasmin activated LJP GCF collagenase but not that of DM patients. In GCF of DM patients 50-60% of collagenase existed in an active form, whereas in LJP GCF, the enzyme was almost completely in a latent form. The results suggest that collagenase in GCF of periodontitis patients with labile DM is primarily derived from neutrophils and that tetracycline therapy may be an effective adjunct in treatment aimed at controlling the periodontal breakdown in these patients. On the other hand, in LJP the anti-collagenase property of tetracyclines may be less important for control of periodontal tissue destruction because of the tetracycline-resistance of fibroblast collagenase.

Periodontal conditions in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

In the present investigation, the frequency and severity of periodontal disease was assessed in a group of 71 patients with a mean duration of 16.5 years of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDD). The diabetics, aged 17-63 years, were under treatment at the diabetic outpatient clinic of the III Department of Medicine, University Central Hospital of Helsinki and at two clinics of the Helsinki Health Centre. Based upon their long-term medical records, 44 individuals were assessed to have a poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (PIDD). At baseline of the present study, the PIDD group had a mean blood glucose level of 11.8 mmol/l and a mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HBA1) level of 10.7%. 27 subjects were classified as having a controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (CIDD). For each individual, site-specific recordings were made for the plaque index, gingival index, pocket depth, loss of attachment, bleeding after probing, gingival recession and radiographic loss of alveolar bone. Under similar plaque conditions, adult subjects with a long-term PIDD were found to have lost more approximal attachment and bone than subjects with a CIDD (P = 0.046, P = 0.019). These differences were not equally obvious when the subjects were classified according to the history of medical complications, such as retinopathies, neuropathies and nephropathies.