Effect of periodontal treatment in patients with periodontitis and diabetes: systematic review and meta-analysis

Fusobacterium nucleatum-infected periodontitis promotes renal interstitial fibrosis in rats through the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 and β-catenin signaling pathways

OBJECTIVES

Periodontitis is associated with Fusobacterium nucleatum (F.n) infection. Although the colonization of renal tissue by F.n is well documented, its specific role in kidney disease has yet to be determined. This study aimed to investigate the potential association between F.n-induced periodontitis and renal interstitial fibrosis.

METHODS

The rat gingival sulcus was injected with F.n suspension, while the control group (NC) was injected with PBS. The levels of total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), creatinine, and urea nitrogen (BUN) in rat serum and/or urine were quantified using the appropriate kits. Renal interstitial fibrosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were evaluated in rats using Masson staining, Periodic Schiff-Methenamine (PASM) staining, and immunohistochemical staining. The levels of fibrosis- and EMT-related proteins and the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 and β-catenin signaling pathways were determined using Western blot analysis. F.n in the kidney tissues was quantitatively determined using bacterial 16S rRNA technology.

RESULTS

Serum levels of TP, ALB, creatinine, and BUN were not significantly decreased in F.n-infected rats with periodontitis. The levels of creatinine and ALB in the urine were not statistically different between two groups. Masson and PASM staining showed that F.n-induced periodontitis could promote renal interstitial fibrosis in rats. The levels of collagen I, fibronectin (FN), vimentin, and α-SMA were upregulated in the kidney tissues of rats with F.n-induced periodontitis and in F.n-treated HK-2 cells. However, E-cadherin levels were reduced. F.n promoted renal interstitial and HK-2 cell fibrosis in rats by modulating the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 and β-catenin signaling pathways. F.n colonization increased renal interstitial fibrosis in rats.

CONCLUSION

F.n-induced periodontitis promoted EMT by activating the TGF-β/SMAD2/3 and β-catenin signaling pathways, thus promoting renal interstitial fibrosis in rats.

Gingipain from Porphyromonas gingivalis causes insulin resistance by degrading insulin receptors through direct proteolytic effects

Periodontitis is a critical risk factor for the occurrence and development of diabetes. Porphyromonas gingivalis may participate in insulin resistance (IR) caused by periodontal inflammation, but the functional role and specific mechanisms of P. gingivalis in IR remain unclear. In the present study, clinical samples were analysed to determine the statistical correlation between P. gingivalis and IR occurrence. Through culturing of hepatocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes, and feeding mice P. gingivalis orally, the functional correlation between P. gingivalis and IR occurrence was further studied both in vitro and in vivo. Clinical data suggested that the amount of P. gingivalis isolated was correlated with the Homeostatic Model Assessment for IR score. In vitro studies suggested that coculture with P. gingivalis decreased glucose uptake and insulin receptor (INSR) protein expression in hepatocytes, myocytes, and adipocytes. Mice fed P. gingivalis tended to undergo IR. P. gingivalis was detectable in the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue of experimental mice. The distribution sites of gingipain coincided with the downregulation of INSR. Gingipain proteolysed the functional insulin-binding region of INSR. Coculture with P. gingivalis significantly decreased the INSR-insulin binding ability. Knocking out gingipain from P. gingivalis alleviated the negative effects of P. gingivalis on IR in vivo. Taken together, these findings indicate that distantly migrated P. gingivalis may directly proteolytically degrade INSR through gingipain, thereby leading to IR. The results provide a new strategy for preventing diabetes by targeting periodontal pathogens and provide new ideas for exploring novel mechanisms by which periodontal inflammation affects the systemic metabolic state.

Effectiveness of 0.2% Hyaluronic Acid on Clinical, Biomolecular and Microbiological Parameters in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE

 This double-blind randomized clinical trial assessed the effectiveness of 0.2% hyaluronic acid (HA) gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) in patients with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), focusing on changes in clinical periodontal parameters, the expression of inflammatory mediators, and oral pathogens.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 The randomized clinical trial involved 36 participants, 18 DM patients, and 18 healthy patients. The participants in each group were randomly assigned to receive placebo or HA gel after SRP. Gingival crevicular fluid and subgingival plaque samples were taken before treatment and at 4-week follow-up. Clinical parameters, interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-10 levels, and proportions of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) were evaluated at baseline and follow-up.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

 Paired t-test (parametric data) or Wilcoxon signed-rank test (nonparametric data) was used for intragroup comparison between baseline and follow-up, and comparisons between groups one-way analysis of variance test (parametric data) or Kruskal-Wallis test (nonparametric data).

RESULTS

 At 4 weeks, most of the groups showed statistically significant decreases (p ≤ 0.05) in various clinical and biomolecular parameters. However, there were exceptions: the pocket probing depth (PPD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) parameter did not significantly decrease for the placebo (p > 0.05) non-DM group, and the IL-10 parameter in the DM HA gel group (p = 0.108). Regarding bacterial proportions, the non-DM and DM placebo group exhibited significant test results for Pg after 4 weeks (p ≤ 0.05). In the case of Fn bacteria proportions, they decreased in all groups, but these results were not statistically significant (p ≥ 0.05). An intergroup analysis revealed no significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) for bleeding on probing (BOP), PPD, and both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Only clinical attachment loss (CAL) exhibited a statistically significant intergroup difference 0.042.

CONCLUSION

 The use of 0.2% HA gel into periodontal pockets alongside SRP, for both diabetic and healthy individuals, showed no statistically significant variances in clinical, biomolecular, and microbiological measures.

Salivary fructosamine in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with healthy and diseased periodontium and its changes after non-surgical periodontal therapy

AIMS

A bidirectional relationship has been reported between diabetes mellitus and periodontitis. The present study aimed to estimate salivary fructosamine in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals with healthy and diseased periodontium and to measure its changes after non-surgical periodontal therapy. Another aim was to identify the cut-off value of salivary fructosamine to diagnose diabetes mellitus and to correlate it with glycated hemoglobin.

METHODS

Salivary fructosamine and HbA1c were assessed in periodontally healthy individuals and periodontitis patients (n = 60 in each group). Both groups comprised of equal number of patients with and without diabetes mellitus. Salivary fructosamine estimation was repeated 4 weeks after non-surgical periodontal therapy in periodontitis patients.

RESULTS

HbA1c and Salivary fructosamine were significantly higher in the periodontally diseased compared to the healthy group. Significantly higher values of these biomarkers were noticed in diabetic patients with periodontitis compared to the non-diabetic group. Periodontal therapy significantly reduced salivary fructosamine in both diabetic and nondiabetic periodontitis patients. A significant positive high correlation was noticed between salivary fructosamine and HbA1c (r = 0.76). The cut-off value of salivary fructosamine was found to be 68 µg/mL with 95% sensitivity, 81.67% specificity, 83.82% positive predictive value, and 94.23% negative predictive value.

CONCLUSION

Periodontitis can contribute to glycemic control and periodontal therapy can bring about improvement in glycemic status. Salivary fructosamine could be used as an alternate glycemic biomarker and its advantages over HbA1c include simple and non-invasive collection of saliva and it can provide intermediate glycemic status.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY OF INDIA

2020/11/038496.

More than just teeth: How oral health can affect the heart

Epidemiological evidence has revealed a potential relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Consensus regarding a link between these pathologies remains elusive, however, largely secondary to the considerable overlap between risk factors and comorbidities common to both disease processes. This review article aims to update the evidence for an association by summarizing the evidence for causality between periodontitis and comorbidities linked to CVD, including endocarditis, hypertension (HTN), atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes mellitus (DM) and hyperlipidemia (HLD). This article additionally discusses the role for periodontal therapy to improved management of the comorbidities, with the larger goal of examining the value of periodontal therapy on reduction of CVD risk. In doing so, we endeavor to further the understanding of the commonality between periodontitis, and CVD.

Poor glycemic control impairs oral health in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus - a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

There are more than one million children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and their number is steadily increasing. Diabetes affects oral health through numerous channels, including hyposalivation, immune suppression, and the inflammatory effect of glycation end-products. However, patients with type 1 diabetes must follow a strict sugar free diet that is proven to be carioprotective. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate whether children with type 1 diabetes have a difference in Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth index (DMFT), salivary function, and periodontal status than children without diabetes, with an emphasis on glycemic control.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane libraries were screened for articles, using predefined search keys without any language or date restrictions. Two independent authors performed the selection procedure, extracted data from the eligible articles, carried out a manual search of the reference lists, and assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analysis was performed in R using the random-effects model. Effect sizes were mean differences; subgroup analysis was performed on glycemic control.

RESULTS

33 studies satisfied the eligibility criteria. 22 studies did not show a significant difference regarding the DMFT index between the diabetes and non-diabetes groups; six studies found that children living with diabetes had higher DMFT scores, compared to five studies that found significantly lower scores. Meta-analysis found no statistically significant differences in plaque, gingival, and calculus indexes, however it found significant differences in pooled DMFT indexes, and salivary flow rate. Subgroup analysis on glycemic control using DMFT values found significant differences in children with good and poor glycemic control with results of 0.26 (CI95%=-0.50; 1.03) and 1.46 (CI95%=0.57; 2.35), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with poor glycemic control face higher risk of developing caries compared to good control and non-diabetes children. Regular dental check-ups and strict control of glycemic levels are highly advised for children living with type 1 diabetes, further emphasizing the importance of cooperation between dentists and diabetologists.

Clinical Study on the Implications of Immunological Markers in the Diagnosis of Periodontitis in People with Diabetes Mellitus

The basic idea from which the working hypothesis for this study started is the fact that the only systemic disease today that is clearly linked to periodontal disease by biochemical mechanisms is diabetes mellitus, as well as the clinical finding that diabetes causes a number of specific periodontal changes. Highlighting the biochemical markers of inflammation during periodontal disease in patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is the main aim of the study. To achieve this objective, we used the human ELISA kit from Boster Biological Technology Co., Ltd. (Pleasanton, CA, USA), for the detection of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-8 and TNF-α. The data analysis shows that plasma levels of these cytokines are associated with the progression of periodontitis. In conclusion, we can state that the involvement of immunological markers is evident in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

Clinical attachment loss is cross-sectionally associated with elevated glucose among adults without diabetes

AIM

We investigated whether periodontal measures are cross-sectionally associated with prediabetes and cardiometabolic biomarkers among non-diabetic younger adults.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One thousand seventy-one participants (mean age = 32.2 years [SE = 0.3]; 73% female) from the Oral Infections, Glucose Intolerance and Insulin Resistance Study were enrolled. Full-mouth clinical attachment loss (fm-CAL), probing depth (fm-PD) and bleeding on probing were ascertained. Interproximal CAL (i-CAL) and probing depths (i-PD) served as our primary exposures. Glucose, HbA1c, insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) outcomes were assessed from fasting blood. Prediabetes was defined per American Diabetes Association guidelines. Prediabetes prevalence ratios (PR [95% CI]) and mean [SE] cardiometabolic biomarkers were regressed on periodontal variables via multivariable robust variance Poisson regression or multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

Prevalence of prediabetes was 12.5%. Fully adjusted prediabetes PR in Tertiles 3 versus 1 of mean i-CAL was 2.42 (1.77, 3.08). Fully adjusted fasting glucose estimates across i-CAL tertiles were 83.29 [0.43], 84.31 [0.37], 86.48 [0.46]; p for trend <.01. Greater percent of sites with i-PD ≥3 mm showed elevated natural-log-HOMA-IR after adjustment (0%-12% of sites = 0.33 [0.03], 13%-26% of sites = 0.39 [0.03], ≥27% of sites = 0.42 [0.03]; p for trend = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

i-CAL (vs. fm-CAL) was associated with elevated fasting glucose and prediabetes, whereas i-PD (vs. fm-PD) was associated with insulin resistance. Future studies are needed to examine periodontal disease and incident prediabetes.

Association between dental scaling and metabolic syndrome and lifestyle

PURPOSE

Periodontal disease is a risk factor for diabetes and metabolic syndrome, and non-surgical periodontal treatment has been shown to help maintain stable blood sugar in diabetic patients. Determining the level of preventive scaling in patients with metabolic syndrome will help manage the disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent to which people with metabolic syndrome or bad lifestyle performed scaling and the association between preventive scaling and metabolic syndrome or lifestyle in a large population.

METHODS

This study was conducted on adults aged 20 years or older from January 2014 to December 2017 in the National Health Insurance System (NHIS) database. Among 558,067 people who underwent health checkups, 555,929 people were included. A total of 543,791 people were investigated for preventive scaling. Metabolic syndrome components were abdominal obesity, lower high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL)-C, high triglycerides, high blood pressure and hyperglycemia. Unhealthy lifestyle score was calculated by assigning 1 point each for current smokers, drinkers, and no performing regular exercise.

RESULTS

When multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for age, sex, income, body mass index (BMI), smoking, drinking and regular exercise, the Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the group with 5 metabolic syndrome components were 0.741 (0.710, 0.773) (p<0.0001). After adjustment for age, sex, income, BMI, smoking, drinking, regular exercise, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia, the OR (95% CI) of the group with unhealthy lifestyle score = 3 was 0.612 (0.586, 0.640) (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

The more metabolic syndrome components, and the higher unhealthy lifestyle score, the less scaling was performed.

Radiographic Orofacial Findings of Systemic Diseases

This article discusses the orofacial clinicoradiographic features of systemic diseases that manifest in the orofacial region. The systemic diseases discussed are grouped into the following: autoimmune diseases, endocrine diseases, bone diseases, hematologic diseases, syndromes, and malignancies. The radiographic manifestation ranges from radiolucent bony destruction, increased bone density, calcification, thinning of cortical plate, loss of trabeculation, missing teeth, and supernumerary teeth. It is imperative for clinicians to be cognizant of these findings, as they may be the first manifestation of these systemic diseases.

Use of ultrasound imaging for assessment of the periodontium: A systematic review

The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature regarding diagnostic applications of ultrasound imaging for evaluation of the periodontium in humans. The search was conducted on Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed up to April 3, 2023. The studies included were exclusively human studies that assessed the periodontium with ultrasound (US) imaging (b-mode). Outcomes measured included alveolar bone level, alveolar bone thickness, gingival thickness, and blood flow quantification. References were imported to Covidence. Two reviewers conducted phases 1 and 2. The JBI risk assessment tool for cross-sectional studies was used. Extracted data included the transducer and measurements used and the study's outcomes. The search yielded 4892 studies after removing duplicates. From these, 25 studies were included and selected for extraction. Included studies retrieved outcomes from US examinations of the periodontal tissues. From the selected studies, 15 used US on natural teeth, 4 used US on implants, 2 used US on edentulous ridges, and 4 used color flow/power in US to evaluate the blood flow. The results of the present systematic review suggest that US might be a feasible and valuable diagnostic tool for the periodontium, with the potential to complement shortfalls of current radiographic technologies.

Flavonoid extract from propolis alleviates periodontitis by boosting periodontium regeneration and inflammation resolution via regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and RANK/NF-κB pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional Chinese medicine, propolis has been used for treating oral diseases for centuries, widely. Flavonoid extract is the main active ingredient in propolis, which has attracted extensive attention in recent years.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective and novelty of the current study aims to identify the mechanism of total flavonoid extract of propolis (TFP) for the treatment of periodontitis, and evaluate the therapeutic effect of TFP-loaded liquid crystal hydrogel (TFP-LLC) in rats with periodontitis.

METHODS

In this study, we used lipopolysaccharide-stimulated periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) to construct in vitro inflammation model, and investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of TFP by expression levels of inflammatory factors. Osteogenic differentiation was assessed using alkaline phosphatase activity and alizarin red staining. Meanwhile, the expression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) etc, were quantitated to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of TFP. Finally, we constructed TFP-LLC using a self-emulsification method and administered it to rats with periodontitis via periodontal pocket injection to evaluate the therapeutic effects. The therapeutic index, microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT), H&E staining, TRAP staining, and Masson staining were used for this evaluation.

RESULTS

TFP reduced the expression of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB and inflammatory factor in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated PDLSCs. Meanwhile, TFP simultaneously regulating alkaline phosphatase, RANK, runt-associated transcription factor-2 and matrix metalloproteinase production to accelerate osteogenic differentiation and collagen secretion. In addition, TFP-LLC can stably anchor to the periodontal lesion site and sustainably release TFP. After four weeks of treatment with TFP-LLC, we observed a decrease in the levels of NF-κB and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the periodontal tissues of rats, as well as a significant reduction in inflammation in HE staining. Similarly, Micro CT results showed that TFP-LLC could significantly inhibit alveolar bone resorption, increase bone mineral density (BMD) and reduce trabecular bone space (Tb.Sp) in rats with periodontitis.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, we have firstly verified the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of TFP in PDLSCs for periodontitis treatment. Our results indicate that TFP perform anti-inflammatory and tissue repair activities through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and RANK/NF-κB pathways in PDLSCs. Meanwhile, for the first time, we employed LLC delivery system to load TFP for periodontitis treatment. The results showed that TFP-LLC could be effectively retained in the periodontal pocket and exerted a crucial role in inflammation resolution and periodontal tissue regeneration.

Periodontitis promotes the progression of diabetes mellitus by enhancing autophagy

Objective

This study aims to identify the periodontitis factor that activates excessive autophagy in pancreatic β cells, resulting in organic lesions of pancreatic islet tissues and diminished insulin secretion, thereby accelerating the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were induced with periodontitis (PD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), or the combination of T2DM and PD (DP) through a high-sugar/high-fat diet and ligation of the tooth neck with silk thread. Alveolar bone resorption was assessed using Micro-CT, blood glucose levels were measured with a blood glucose meter, pancreatic tissue pathology was examined through HE staining, and the expression of autophagy-related proteins Beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I was analyzed using Western blotting.

Results

Micro-CT results revealed more pronounced alveolar bone resorption and root bifurcation exposure in the PD and DP groups compared to the control group, with the DP group exhibiting the most severe condition. HE staining demonstrated the formation of periodontal pockets, severe alveolar bone destruction, and abnormal pancreatic islet tissue morphology in the PD and DP groups. The serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β increased sequentially in the control, DM, PD, and DP groups (P < 0.05). Relative expressions of GCK and GLUT-2 mRNA decreased in the PD group compared to the control group (P > 0.05), while the mRNA expressions in the DP and DM groups increased (P < 0.05), with the DP group exhibiting higher levels than the DM group (P < 0.05). Western blot results indicated increased expression levels of autophagy proteins Beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I in the DM and DP groups compared to the control group (P < 0.05), with the DP group exhibiting higher levels than the DM group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The findings demonstrate that periodontal inflammatory factors may promote the enhancement of pancreatic cell autophagy in diabetic rats.

Current scientific evidence for why periodontitis should be included in diabetes management

This Perspective provides a brief summary of the scientific evidence for the two-way links between periodontal diseases and hyperglycemia (diabetes mellitus [DM] and pre-DM). It delivers in a nutshell current scientific evidence for manifestations of hyperglycemia on periodontal health status and effects of periodontal diseases on blood glucose levels and in turn incidence, progression, and complications of diabetes. Of outmost importance is presentation of scientific evidence for the potential of routine periodontal treatment to lower blood glucose levels, providing a novel, economical tool in DM management. Non-surgical periodontal treatment ("deep cleaning") can be provided by dental hygienists or dentists in general dental offices, although severe cases should be referred to specialists. Such therapy can decrease the costs of DM care and other health care costs for people with DM. The great importance of a healthy oral cavity free of infection and subsequent inflammation - especially periodontitis that if untreated will cause loosening and eventually loss of affected teeth - has largely gone unnoticed by the medical community as the health care curricula are largely void of content regarding the bi-directional links between oral health and systemic health, despite elevation of blood glucose levels being an integral part of the general systemic inflammation response. The importance of keeping disease-free, natural teeth for proper biting and chewing, smiling, self-esteem, and pain avoidance cannot be overestimated. Medical and dental professionals are strongly encouraged to collaborate in patient-centered care for their mutual patients with - or at risk for - hyperglycemia.

Salivary Proteome and Intact N-Glycopeptides Analysis Reveal Specific Signatures in Periodontitis

Periodontitis is a prevalent oral inflammatory disease that can result in tooth loss and is closely linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D). In this study, we analyzed the salivary proteome and intact N-glycopeptides (IGPs) of individuals with mild-moderate, severe, aggressive periodontitis, and periodontitis with T2D, including those treated with antidiabetic drugs, to identify specific signatures associated with the disease. Our results revealed that salivary proteins and glycoproteins were altered in all periodontitis groups (PRIDE ID: 1-20230612-72345), with fucose- and sialic acid-containing N-glycans showing the greatest increase. Additionally, differentially expressed proteins were classified into 9 clusters, including those that were increased in all periodontitis groups and those that were only altered in certain types of periodontitis. Interestingly, treatment with antidiabetic drugs reversed many of the changes observed in the salivary proteome and IGPs in T2D-related periodontitis, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for managing periodontitis in patients with T2D. Consistent with MS/MS results, the expression of salivary IGHA2 and Fucα1-3/6GlcNAc (AAL) was significantly increased in MP. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of periodontitis and highlight the potential of salivary biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of disease progression and treatment response.

Current concepts in the pathogenesis of periodontitis: from symbiosis to dysbiosis

The primary etiological agent for the initiation and progression of periodontal disease is the dental plaque biofilm which is an organized aggregation of microorganisms residing within a complex intercellular matrix. The non-specific plaque hypothesis was the first attempt to explain the role of the dental biofilm in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. However, the introduction of sophisticated diagnostic and laboratory assays has led to the realisation that the development of periodontitis requires more than a mere increase in the biomass of dental plaque. Indeed, multispecies biofilms exhibit complex interactions between the bacteria and the host. In addition, not all resident microorganisms within the biofilm are pathogenic, since beneficial bacteria exist that serve to maintain a symbiotic relationship between the plaque microbiome and the host’s immune-inflammatory response, preventing the emergence of pathogenic microorganisms and the development of dysbiosis. This review aims to highlight the development and structure of the dental plaque biofilm and to explore current literature on the transition from a healthy (symbiotic) to a diseased (dysbiotic) biofilm in periodontitis and the associated immune-inflammatory responses that drive periodontal tissue destruction and form mechanistic pathways that impact other systemic non-communicable diseases.

The Associations of Cardiometabolic and Dietary Variables with Clinical Periodontitis in Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes: A Cross-Sectional Study

Periodontitis is a commonly occurring inflammatory oral disease affecting a large proportion of global and US adults and is characterized by the destruction of the tooth-supporting apparatus. Its etiology is multifactorial, and type 2 diabetes and diet play critical roles in its remission and progression. However, few studies have addressed nutritional and serum vitamin D status in adults with periodontitis in the presence of diabetes. A cross-sectional study (n = 78), and a sub-set of age- and BMI-matched case-control studies (n = 50), were conducted to examine differences in dietary and cardiometabolic variables, and serum vitamin D in adults with periodontitis with or without diabetes. Participants provided fasting blood samples and 24-h diet recalls on at least two different days. Data on health history, body weight, height, nutritional habits, and clinical features of periodontitis were also collected. The Mann-Whitney U Test (with exact p-value estimation by Monte Carlo simulation) was used to examine differences by diabetes status in continuous and ordinal variables. Results revealed significantly lower serum vitamin D, and dietary intake of fruits, vegetables, dairy, vitamins A and C in adults with periodontitis with vs. without diabetes in the sub-study (all p < 0.05). In the overall sample, adults with diabetes presented with higher caries risk measures and lower numbers of teeth than those without diabetes; plaque and bleeding scores did not differ by diabetes status. Finally, a significant associations of food habits was observed, especially consuming protein-rich foods twice a day with a lower bleeding score, and daily consumption of fried or fast foods with a fewer number of teeth present (all p < 0.05). The present findings show significant dietary and serum vitamin D inadequacies among adults with periodontitis, and diabetes further aggravates the observed malnourishment and oral health.

Establishment of models to predict factors influencing periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with periodontitis. Currently, there are few studies proposing predictive models for periodontitis in patients with T2DM.

AIM

To determine the factors influencing periodontitis in patients with T2DM by constructing logistic regression and random forest models.

METHODS

In this a retrospective study, 300 patients with T2DM who were hospitalized at the First People's Hospital of Wenling from January 2022 to June 2022 were selected for inclusion, and their data were collected from hospital records. We used logistic regression to analyze factors associated with periodontitis in patients with T2DM, and random forest and logistic regression prediction models were established. The prediction efficiency of the models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Of 300 patients with T2DM, 224 had periodontitis, with an incidence of 74.67%. Logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.047, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.017-1.078], teeth brushing frequency (OR = 4.303, 95%CI: 2.154-8.599), education level (OR = 0.528, 95%CI: 0.348-0.800), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (OR = 2.545, 95%CI: 1.770-3.661), total cholesterol (TC) (OR = 2.872, 95%CI: 1.725-4.781), and triglyceride (TG) (OR = 3.306, 95%CI: 1.019-10.723) influenced the occurrence of periodontitis (P < 0.05). The random forest model showed that the most influential variable was HbA1c followed by age, TC, TG, education level, brushing frequency, and sex. Comparison of the prediction effects of the two models showed that in the training dataset, the AUC of the random forest model was higher than that of the logistic regression model (AUC = 1.000 vs AUC = 0.851; P < 0.05). In the validation dataset, there was no significant difference in AUC between the random forest and logistic regression models (AUC = 0.946 vs AUC = 0.915; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both random forest and logistic regression models have good predictive value and can accurately predict the risk of periodontitis in patients with T2DM.

The Association between Tooth Loss and Insulin Resistance Mediated by Diet Quality and Systemic Immunoinflammatory Index

(1) Background: Both tooth loss and diabetes have high global prevalence, and both have a significant influence on patients' general health and quality of life. Previous research has indicated a possible connection between tooth loss and diabetes, but it has been unclear whether tooth loss has an effect on the development of diabetes and how it affects it. We aim to investigate the relationship between insulin resistance (IR) and tooth loss and examine how the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) level and diet quality mediate it. (2) Methods: The cross-sectional study data were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). After describing and comparing baseline data, we used regression models to evaluate the relationship between IR and tooth loss, diet quality and tooth loss and IR, SII and tooth loss and IR. Furthermore, we applied bootstrapping to test the mediation effect of diet quality and SII between tooth loss and IR. Diet quality is reflected by the HEI (Healthy Eating Index)-2015 score. (3) Results: The total number of subjects included was 8197, with 3861 individuals belonging to the IR group (HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5) and 4336 in the non-IR group (HOMA-IR < 2.5). In the model with all covariates adjusted, tooth loss in the fourth quartile was found to be positively correlated with an increase in HOMA-IR (OR = 1.301; 95% confidence interval (CI) = [1.102, 1.537]; p < 0.001) compared to the first quartile; tooth loss in the fourth quartile correlated with the HEI-2015 score compared to the first quantile (β = -0.121, 95% CI = [-4.839, -2.974], p < 0.001); and the highest number of tooth loss was found to have a significant effect on SII (β = 0.032; 95%CI = [1.777, 47.448]; p < 0.05). Compared to average diet quality, best diet quality acts as a safeguard against elevated HOMA-IR (OR = 0.776; 95% CI = [0.641, 0.939]; p < 0.01); inadequate diet quality is a risk factor (OR = 1.267; 95%CI = [1.138, 1.411]; p < 0.001) conversely. Meanwhile, it can be seen that compared with the first quantile of SII, the highest score is significantly correlated with the higher incidence of IR (OR = 1.363; 95%CI = [1.179, 1.575]; p < 0.001). Diet quality and SII played a partial mediating role in the relationship between HOMA-IR and tooth loss, and the mediating effect ratio for the total effect value was 4.731% and 4.576%, respectively. The mediating effect of SII and diet quality in the association of the relationship between HOMA-IR and tooth loss both was 0.003 (95%CI = [0.001, 0.004]). (4) Conclusions: Our study revealed the relationship between IR and tooth loss, and further explored the mediating role of SII and diet quality between the number of missing teeth and IR, emphasizing that improving diet quality and reducing SII can effectively prevent and treat IR and related diseases. It provides new theoretical support for the study of IR mechanisms and new ideas and approaches to deal with related diseases.

The effects of low-level laser therapy and photodynamic therapy on oral health of fixed orthodontics patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective To investigate the effect of low-level laser and photodynamic therapy on the oral health, and periodontal tissue of fixed orthodontic patients and the effect of using photobiomodulation methods compared to routine plaque removal methods and the amount of plaque in fixed orthodontic patients. Method and materials First, the title and summary of related articles were collected by using the search strategy electronic databases PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane's CENTRAL, Scopus, ISI and all the articles that were published from the beginning to February 2023 were evaluated. The title, abstracts and full texts of all the relevant studies were reviewed respectively, and those meeting the criteria were entered into our study. Finally, the quality of the studies was examined and the results of the studies were pooled by means of random effects inverse variance meta-analysis. Results Eighteen randomized studies, conducted between 2015 and December 2022, were selected for meta-analysis. Five studies were conducted as split-mouth, twelve as parallel-group, and one as a cross-over design. Among the studies, five examined the effects of low-level laser therapy and twelve assessed the effects of photodynamic therapy. The meta-analysis revealed that photodynamic therapy significantly reduced probing depth compared to scaling (MD=-0.2 mm, P<0.001), though the difference does not seem to be clinically significant. But no significant differences between photodynamic therapy and scaling or low-level laser therapy and control groups in terms of plaque index, or bleeding on probing, gingival crevicular fluid volume, gingival recession, clinical attachment loss, bacterial load and concentrations of inflammatory substances across multiple follow-up periods. Conclusion Moderate evidence indicates that photodynamic therapy (PDT) is comparable to conventional methods in improving oral health, as measured by periodontal indices, inflammatory proteins, bacterial colonies, and white spot lesions, making it a suitable alternative. Limited evidence suggests low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may improve oral health, particularly addressing caries, but further research is needed.

Systemic antibiotics adjuvants to scaling and root planing in type 2 diabetic and periodontitis individuals: Systematic review with network meta-analysis

Targeting inflammatory pathways is considered a common strategy to control type 2 diabetes (T2D) and periodontitis. This overview was to validate systemic antibiotics as an adjuvant to scaling and root planing (SRP) for the treatments of periodontal patients with T2D. Literature searches were conducted using Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE. Randomized trials comparing SRP and systemic antibiotics on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and probing pocket depth (PPD) in adults with T2D and periodontitis were analyzed using network meta-analysis and meta-regression. At 3-month postintervention, meta-analyses of 16 studies revealed that SRP and SRP plus systemic antibiotics (SRPa) had similar significant effects in reducing HbA1c levels of - 0.72% and - 0.96% respectively. While SRP and SRPa also, respectively, reduced PPD of - 0.67 and - 0.89 mm, SRPa showed a better reduction than SRP. At 6-month postintervention, meta-analyses of 7 trials revealed that only SRP was effective in reducing HbA1c levels (-0.29%) but not SRPa. Although both SRP and SRPa still significantly reduced PPD by - 0.56 and - 0.81 mm, respectively, there was no difference between them. The current overview suggested that routine SRP alone is highly recommended for patients with T2D and periodontitis, since systemic antibiotics as an adjuvant provide a rather short-term effect.

Association of oral care with periodontitis and glycemic control among US adults with diabetes

BACKGROUND

Studies indicate that treating periodontitis may benefit glycemic control among people with diabetes. It is unclear whether oral self-care such as flossing may reduce risk for periodontitis and improve glycemic control among people with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between oral care, specifically, flossing and preventive dental care, with periodontitis and glycemic control, among US dentate adults with diabetes.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014 for 892 participants aged 30 years and older with diabetes who completed the periodontal examination and lab test for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Sampling weights were applied. Multivariable logistic regression and multivariable linear modeling were performed to examine the associations of flossing and preventive dental services on periodontal health and HbA1c levels, respectively, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and other risk factors.

RESULTS

Among U.S. dentate adults with diabetes, 52.1% of flossers and 72.1% of non-flossers had periodontitis (p < 0.001). Flossers were 39% less likely to have periodontitis (Adj. OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.43-0.88) compared to non-flossers. Flossers had an average HbA1c reading 0.30% (95% CI 0.02%-0.58%) lower than non-flossers, adjusted for covariates (p = 0.037). Preventive dental visits were associated with reduced risk for periodontitis (Adj. OR 0.54, 95%CI, 0.38-0.75) but not glycemic control.

CONCLUSION

Flossing was associated with periodontal health and glycemic control among US adults with diabetes. Although further research is needed, the findings support that oral self-care may be particularly beneficial for adults with diabetes.

Inequalities in healthcare utilisation among adults with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To examine inequality in dentist, ophthalmologist, and podiatrist attendance among adults with type 2 diabetes in a country with varying degrees of co-payment.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study with a population of 41,181 people with type 2 diabetes resident in the Central Denmark Region in 2019, identified through Danish registers using a prespecified diabetes algorithm. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression were used to examine the attendance at dentist, ophthalmologist, and podiatrist, controlling for sociodemographic and clinical factors. Attendance at dentist, ophthalmologist, and podiatrist were examined separately.

RESULTS

The majority (59.7 %) had attended the ophthalmologist at least once in the preceding year, whereas 46.5 % and 34.2 % had visited the dentist/dental hygienist and podiatrist, respectively. Disposable household income increased attendance significantly, with a clear gradient in the OR of attending the dentist (p < 0.001), whereas age significantly magnified the OR of podiatrist and ophthalmologist attendance (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides circumstantial evidence that co-payment can increase inequality in health care attendance, especially for dental attendance, and it further shows that there is significant sociodemographic inequality in healthcare utilisation among people with type 2 diabetes.

Periodontitis is associated with the increased levels of visfatin: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Periodontitis is a common inflammatory disease associated with systemic factors. Visfatin is a pleiotropic adipokine that exerts metabolic and immune functions. Studies have shown visfatin played roles in the development of periodontitis. The present study aims to compare the levels of visfatin in body fluids including serum, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) between periodontitis patients and healthy individuals, and to elucidate the alteration of visfatin levels after periodontal treatments.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The database searched included Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. According to the Eligibility criteria, the records were screened and the eligible studies were included. The methodological qualities of the included case-controlled studies were assessed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale (NOS). The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was applied for assessing the qualities of the included clinical trials. The statistical analyses were processed using STATA 15.0.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included in the statistical analyses. The meta-analysis showed significantly elevated visfatin levels of GCF, serum, and saliva in the periodontitis population compared with the controls (GCF: SMD = 5.201, 95% CI: 3.886-6.516, Z = 7.75, P < 0.05; Serum: SMD = 7.417, 95% CI: 3.068-11.767, Z = 3.34, P = P < 0.05; Saliva: SMD = 2.683, 95% CI: 1.202-4.163, Z = 3.34, P < 0.05). Visfatin levels of saliva serum and GCF were significantly decreased after periodontal treatment. (Saliva: SMD = -1.338, 95% CI: -2.289-0.487, Z = 39.77, P < 0.05; Serum: SMD = -2.890, 95% CI: -5.300-0.480, Z = 2.35, P < 0.05; GCF: SMD = -6.075, 95% CI: -11.032-1.117, Z = 2.40, P = 0.016; I 2 = 95.9%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontitis elevated the visfatin levels in GCF, serum, and saliva. Additionally, GCF, serum, and saliva visfatin levels could be reduced after periodontal treatment.

Bacteremia Prevention during Periodontal Treatment-An In Vivo Feasibility Study

The link between periodontitis and systemic diseases has increasingly become a focus of research in recent years. In this context, it is reasonable-especially in vulnerable patient groups-to minimize bacteremia during periodontal treatment. The aim of the present in vivo feasibility study was to investigate the possibility of laser-based bacteremia prevention. Patients with stage III, grade B generalized periodontitis were therefore treated in a split-mouth design either with prior 445 nm laser irradiation before nonsurgical periodontal therapy or without. During the treatments, clinical (periodontal measures, pain sensation, and body temperature), microbiological (sulcus samples and blood cultures before, 25 min after the start, and 10 min after the end of treatment), and immunological parameters (CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α) were obtained. It was shown that periodontal treatment-related bacteremia was detectable in both patients with the study design used. The species isolated were Schaalia georgiae, Granulicatella adiacens, and Parvimonas micra. The immunological parameters increased only slightly and occasionally. In the laser-assisted treatments, all blood cultures remained negative, demonstrating treatment-related bacteremia prevention. Within the limitations of this feasibility study, it can be concluded that prior laser disinfection can reduce bacteremia risk during periodontal therapy. Follow-up studies with larger patient numbers are needed to further investigate this effect, using the study design presented here.

Endotoxin of Porphyromonas gingivalis amplifies the inflammatory response in hyperglycemia-induced zebrafish through a mechanism involving chitinase-like protein YKL-40 analogs

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a key pathogen in periodontal diseases, is also associated with hyperglycemia-associated systemic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). Gingipains are the most important endotoxins of P. gingivalis, and in vivo studies using gingipains are scarce. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a vertebrate with high physiological and genetic homology with humans that has multiple co-orthologs for human genes, including inflammation-related proteins. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of gingipain in a hyperglycemia-induced zebrafish model by evaluating inflammation, oxidant-antioxidant status, and the cholinergic system. Adult zebrafish were grouped into the control group (C), hyperglycemia-induced group subjected to 15 days of overfeeding (OF), gingipain-injected group (GP), and gingipain-injected hyperglycemic group (OF + GP). At the end of 15 days, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase, catalase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and sialic acid (SA) levels were determined spectrophotometrically in the hepatopancreas. The expression levels of tnf-⍺, il-1β, ins, crp, and the acute phase protein YKL-40 analogs chia.5 and chia.6 were evaluated by RT‒PCR. After two weeks of overfeeding, significantly increased weight gain, FBG, and OGTT confirmed that the zebrafish were hyperglycemic. Increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and AChE and ALP activities were observed in both the overfeeding and GP groups. Amplification of inflammation and oxidative stress was evident in the OF + GP group through increased expression of crp, il-1β, chia.5, and chia.6 and increased LPO and NO levels. Our results support the role of gingipains in the increased inflammatory response in hyperglycemia-associated diseases.

The association between periodontal disease and risk of adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of analytical observational studies

Background and Aim

The aim of this meta-analysis was to find the association between periodontal disease (PD) and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including Pre-eclampsia (PE), premature rupture of the amniotic sac, gestational diabetes (GDM), or low birth weight (LBW) in pregnant women, which should be investigated in a systematic meta-analysis.

Methods

Studies that reported the association between PD and pregnancy or neonatal outcomes and were published from January 1990 to December 2022, were identified by an extensive search in PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Medline (Elsevier). After retrieving the studies, the screening stage was performed based on their titles, abstracts, and full texts, and after selecting the final articles, their information was extracted and their quality was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale checklist.

Results

Pregnant women with PD had a 1.39 higher chance of developing GDM than those who did not have the infection (risk ratio [RR]: 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-1.61; I square: 49.67%; p: 0.03). Additionally, the pooled RR of LBW was 2.19, which indicates that pregnant women with PD had a 2.19-fold higher risk of LBW than pregnant women who do not have the infection (RR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.82-2.64; I square: 0.00%; p: 0.65). The relationship between the risk of PE and the existence of PD was examined in 33 cohort and case-control studies for this meta-analysis. These results were combined, and the pooled RR was 1.43. This indicates that pregnant women with PD are 1.43 times more likely to experience PE than pregnant women without PD (RR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.32-1.54; I square: 82.64%; p: 0.00).

Conclusion

According to the findings of the current meta-analysis, PD may contribute to a higher risk of poor maternal and newborn outcomes in pregnant women.

Periodontal and cardiovascular therapies modify specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator (sPRLM) (LPXA4, PD1, RvE1, RvD1, and MaR1)-mediated pathway: the first pilot clinical study

OBJECTIVES

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and periodontal disease have a common pathogenesis with inflammation and resolution steps. Although the relationships among periodontal disease, CVD, and specialized pro-resolving lipid mediator (sPRLM)s are well known, there is no study about the combined effects of cardiovascular and periodontal treatments on sPRLM levels. It was aimed to evaluate the effects of periodontal and cardiovascular therapies on sPRLMs (lipoxin A4, protectin (PD)1, resolvin (Rv) E1, RvD1, and maresin (MaR)1) in patients with CVD and periodontal disease.

METHODS

This observational study consisted of fifty-five patients with CVD and mild or moderate periodontitis. The clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth, percentage of bleeding on probing, and clinical attachment level) and blood and unstimulated total saliva samples were obtained at baseline, at 3 months (following only cardiovascular therapy), and at 6 months (following cardiovascular and periodontal therapies). The blood count and serum levels of cardiometabolic biomarkers (white blood cell, neutrophil/lymphocyte, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, and low and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels) were evaluated. sPRLMs were evaluated by ELISA.

RESULTS

There were significant decreases in body mass index, clinical periodontal parameters, WBC, LDL, PD1, and RvD1 at 6 months compared to baseline. The decreases in TC/HDL, RvE1, and MaR1 levels were significant at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION(S)

The combination of cardiovascular and periodontal treatments leads to significant reductions in clinical periodontal and cardiometabolic parameters and sPRLMs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Our report, which is the first in their field, suggested that cardiovascular and periodontal therapies provide an important contribution via decreasing the periodontal and atherosclerotic inflammation modulating sPRLMs. This finding will be a big step toward increasing the quality of life in these patients by drawing attention to importance of public health associated with oral hygiene, periodontal health, and systemic phase of periodontal treatment.

Revisiting Oral Antiseptics, Microorganism Targets and Effectiveness

A good oral health status is mostly dependent on good oral hygiene habits, which knowingly impacts systemic health. Although controversial, chemical oral antiseptics can be useful in adjunct use to mechanical dental plaque control techniques in the prevention and management of local and overall health and well-being. This review aims to revisit, gather and update evidence-based clinical indications for the use of the most popular oral antiseptics, considering different types, microorganism targets and effectiveness in order to establish updated clinical recommendations.

Diabetes mellitus promotes susceptibility to periodontitis-novel insight into the molecular mechanisms

Diabetes mellitus is a main risk factor for periodontitis, but until now, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Diabetes can increase the pathogenicity of the periodontal microbiota and the inflammatory/host immune response of the periodontium. Hyperglycemia induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and enhances oxidative stress (OS), exacerbating periodontal tissue destruction. Furthermore, the alveolar bone resorption damage and the epigenetic changes in periodontal tissue induced by diabetes may also contribute to periodontitis. We will review the latest clinical data on the evidence of diabetes promoting the susceptibility of periodontitis from epidemiological, molecular mechanistic, and potential therapeutic targets and discuss the possible molecular mechanistic targets, focusing in particular on novel data on inflammatory/host immune response and OS. Understanding the intertwined pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and periodontitis can explain the cross-interference between endocrine metabolic and inflammatory diseases better, provide a theoretical basis for new systemic holistic treatment, and promote interprofessional collaboration between endocrine physicians and dentists.

Periodontal treatment and subsequent clinical outcomes and medical care costs: A retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Periodontitis is a common oral disease associated with coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular disease (CBVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We studied if periodontitis treatment improves clinical outcomes and reduces medical care costs in patients with CAD, CBVD or T2D.

METHODS

We used clinic records and claims data from a health care system to identify patients with periodontitis and CAD, CBVD or T2D, and to assess periodontal treatments, hospitalizations, medical costs (total, inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy), glycated hemoglobin, cardiovascular events, and death following concurrent disease diagnoses. We compared clinical outcomes according to receipt of periodontal treatment and/or maintenance care in the follow-up period, and care costs according to treatment status within one year following concurrent disease diagnoses, while adjusting for covariates. The data were analyzed in 2019-21.

RESULTS

We identified 9,503 individuals, 4,057 of whom were in the CAD cohort; 3,247 in the CBVD cohort; and 4,879 in the T2D cohort. Patients who were selected and elected to receive treatment and maintenance care were less likely to be hospitalized than untreated individuals (CAD: OR = 0.71 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.92); CBVD: OR = 0.73 (0.56, 0.94); T2D: OR = 0.80 (0.64, 0.99)). Selection to treatment and/or maintenance care was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events, mortality, or glycated hemoglobin change. Total care costs did not differ significantly between treated and untreated groups over 4 years. Treated patients experienced lower inpatient costs but higher pharmacy costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with periodontitis and CAD, CBVD or T2D who were selected and elected to undergo periodontal treatment or maintenance care had lower rates of hospitalizations, but did not differ significantly from untreated individuals in terms of clinical outcomes or total medical care costs.

Effect of subgingival periodontal therapy on glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients: Meta-analysis and meta-regression of 6-month follow-up randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Periodontitis worsens the hyperglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Subgingival instrumentation, with or without surgical access, is the gold-standard treatment for periodontitis. The aim was to summarize the evidence on the effect of subgingival instrumentation (with or without open flap) on the reduction of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c).

METHODS

Nine electronic databases were searched up to 15 February 2023. Twelve randomized controlled trials with at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Studies using systemic or local-delivery antimicrobial therapies were excluded. Meta-analyses were performed using the random-effects model. The sources of heterogeneity were assessed by applying linear meta-regression. Risk of bias was assessed by RoB 2, and certainty of evidence by GRADE.

RESULTS

Eleven studies were included in the quantitative analyses (1374 patients). Subgingival instrumentation resulted in 0.29% lower HbA1c (95% confidence interval: 0.10-0.47; p = .03) compared with non-active treatment.

DISCUSSION

None of the 12 studies were assessed as having low risk of bias. The percentage of females and the time of diabetes diagnosis significantly explained the high level of heterogeneity. Subgingival periodontal therapy results in a significant and clinically relevant improvement in glycaemic control over 6 months in patients with T2DM and periodontitis. The grade of evidence was moderate.

Age differences in the effects of multi-component periodontal treatments on oral and metabolic health among people with diabetes mellitus: A meta-epidemiological study

OBJECTIVE

To explore the age differences in the effects of multi-component periodontal treatments on oral and metabolic indicators among individuals with periodontitis and diabetes.

DATA

Trials reporting the effects of multi-component periodontal treatments on oral and metabolic indicators among participants aged 18 and above with periodontitis and diabetes were included.

SOURCES

Six databases (PubMed/Medline, Embase, CINHAL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and ProQuest) were searched from database inception to August 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers selected the included studies independently. We used bivariate and multivariate meta-regression models to examine the association between age and treatment effect size. The primary outcomes were changes in probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c).

RESULTS

A total of 18,067 articles were identified in the database search. Of these, 115 trials (119 articles) met inclusion criteria. The mean age of participants was 58 years old, ranging from 35 to 73 years. The pooled evidence demonstrated that multi-component periodontal treatment significantly reduced PD (g=0.929 [0.689-1.169], I2=94.1%), CAL (g=0.879 [0.669-1.089], I2=92.1%), and HbA1c (g=0.603 [0.443-0.763], I2=87.5%). A significant decreasing trend was observed in the effect size for PD (P for trend = 0.020) and CAL (P for trend = 0.028) as age increases. Results from multivariate meta-regression showed that mean age was associated with a smaller effect size for PD (β=-0.123 [0.041], P = 0.004) and CAL (β=-0.159 [0.055], P = 0.006). Compared to their younger counterparts, the effect size for HbA1c was smaller among participants aged 55 and older (β=-0.792 [0.322], P = 0.017).

CONCLUSIONS

Multi-component periodontal treatments may be more effective in younger populations in terms of effects on PD, CAL, and HbA1c.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Our study highlights the importance of early intervention and tailored treatment approaches. Clinicians should take into account the patient's age when developing periodontal treatment plans and may need to employ more aggressive or personalized strategies for older adults to achieve optimal outcomes.

Associations between Periodontal Status and Liver Function in the Japanese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

A relationship between periodontitis and liver function has been suggested. Indeed, patients with severe periodontal disease have been found to be more prone to liver dysfunction. The periodontal inflammatory surface area (PISA) has been shown to be a useful indicator of periodontal and systemic diseases. However, little information is available regarding whether the PISA is associated with liver function markers, such as gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). This study aimed to clarify relationship between liver function markers, AST, ALT, and GGT, and PISA level in a cross-sectional study. The subjects were recruited between 2018 and 2021 at the Medical and Dental Collaboration Center of Kanagawa Dental College Hospital. A periodontal clinical examination was performed, and the PISA was calculated. Peripheral blood samples were collected, and serum levels of liver function markers were measured. The levels of liver function markers were examined in different values of PISA. Participants with high PISA scores were more likely to have increased GGT levels while AST and ALT were not changed with PISA. Increased GGT was found in 10.8% and 29.4% (p = 0.0056), increased AST in 48.2% and 52.9% (p = 0.62), and increased ALT in 35.2% and 47.0% (p = 0.20) among <300 mm² and ≧300 mm² PISA groups, respectively. It was found that males with a PISA of 300 mm² or higher had an elevated level of serum GGT. In conclusion, elevated GGT was found in the high PISA group, particularly in males, while AST and ALT did not differ by PISA.

Oral health status and risk of incident diabetes: a prospective cohort study of 213,389 individuals aged 45 and over

AIMS

To examine whether simple measures of oral health are associated with incident diabetes.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study linked data from the 45 and Up Study, Australia, to administrative health records. The study participants were 213,389 men and women, aged ≥ 45 years, with no diabetes at baseline. The oral health of participants was assessed by questionnaire. Incident diabetes cases were ascertained based on self-report in follow-up questionnaires, linked data on medical and pharmaceutical claims, and hospitalisation data up until 2019. The association between oral health and incident diabetes were calculated using multivariable cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

During 2,232,215 person-years of follow-up, 20,487 (9.6%) participants developed diabetes. Compared with those with ≥20 teeth, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for incident diabetes was 1.12 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.08, 1.17) for 10-19 teeth, 1.20 (1.14, 1.26) for 1-9 teeth and 1.15 (1.09, 1.21) for no teeth. Compared with those with excellent/very good teeth and gums, the aHR for incident diabetes was 1.07 (1.03, 1.12) for fair and 1.13 (1.07, 1.20) for poor teeth and gums.

CONCLUSIONS

Simple measures of oral health were associated with risk of developing diabetes, demonstrating the potential importance of oral health screening for diabetes prevention.

Awareness of physicians and dentists in Serbia about the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Strong evidence supports the association between periodontitis and certain systemic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge of a group of physicians and dentists in Serbia regarding this topic and assess their professional actions to prevent and control both periodontal and systemic diseases.

METHODS

An anonymous self-administered structured questionnaire was sent to the available e-mail addresses of randomly selected healthcare providers working in Serbia. According to the inclusion criteria, general practitioners, specialists, general dentists, and specialists working in government hospitals and private practices in various cities in Serbia were recruited in the study. The questionnaire consisted of 17 questions divided into three parts. The first part recorded the sociodemographic characteristics of participants, the second part included questions about the clinical manifestation and etiology of periodontitis, as well as knowledge of the association between periodontitis and systemic diseases, and the third part included questions about professional procedures for the prevention and control of periodontitis and systemic diseases.

RESULTS

A total of 1301 health participants, 739 (57.8%) physicians and 562 (43.2%) dentists, were included in this cross-sectional study. Most respondents (94.7%) were aware of the association between periodontitis and general health. The highest percentage of respondents associated diabetes mellitus and periodontitis. Factors significantly associated with higher knowledge were female sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-2.52; p < 0.001) and dental profession (OR, 5.86; 95% CI], 4.03-8.53; p < 0.001). Participants who had higher knowledge score were more likely to ask their patients about gum/systematic health (p < 0.001) and refer them to dentists/physicians (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded that compared to the group of dentists, the group of physicians had less knowledge of the relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases. The female gender was significantly associated with better knowledge. A better understanding of this topic is associated with better clinical practice.

Association between the Mediterranean Diet Index and self-reported Gingival Health Status Indicators in a population of Chilean adults: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Despite the recognized impact of diet on non-communicable diseases, the association between the Mediterranean diet and periodontal diseases is still uncertain. This study aimed to determine the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Index (MDI) and self-reported gingival health status in Chilean adults, exploring the feasibility of using validated web-based survey questionnaires.

METHODOLOGY

Cross-sectional data were collected from a representative sample of a population of Chilean adults (18-60 years old) using a low-cost and time-saving methodology. By the PsyToolkit platform, anonymous survey data were downloaded and analyzed in bivariate (crude) and backward stepwise selection multivariate logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic determinants, smoking, and dental attendance using STATA 17. Odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence intervals] were estimated.

RESULTS

In total, 351 complete statistical data were mostly obtained from female university students who had never smoked and reported having visited a dentist in the previous year. Multivariate regression models showed an association between MDI and very good/good gingival health status (OR 1.18 [95% CI 1.04-1.34], p=0.013), absence of bleeding on toothbrushing (OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.01-1.25], p=0.035), and absence of clinical signs of gingival inflammation (OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.10-1.40], p<0.001), after controlling for age, sex, educational level, smoking, and dental attendance.

CONCLUSIONS

We associated adherence to the Mediterranean diet with better self-reported gingival health status in a population of Chilean adults in an entirely web-based research environment. Longitudinal studies with random sampling are required to establish the effect of diet on gingival and periodontal health. Nevertheless, this evidence could contribute to the design of low-cost surveillance programs to reduce the burden of periodontal disease and related "common risk factors".

Effects of multigrain rice and white rice on periodontitis: an analysis using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012-2015

OBJECTIVES

Numerous studies have investigated the efficacy of whole grains; however, research on multigrain remains limited. Grains exhibit combined positive effects against various diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of multigrain and white rice consumption on periodontitis.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-3 and VI, collected between 2012 and 2015, which included 12,450 patients (4,859 male and 7,591 female) aged 19-64 years. The World Health Organization's Community Periodontal Index (CPI) was utilized to assess the presence of periodontitis, with periodontitis defined as a CPI index score of ≥3. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for potential confounding variables.

RESULTS

The group that consumed only multigrain rice was less likely to have periodontitis than the group that consumed only white rice (odds ratio [OR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 0.93). When stratified by sex, the risk of periodontitis demonstrated a 24% decrease in female who consumed only multigrain rice (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.93). A similar result was observed in the age group of 40-64 years (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71 to 0.99). In the diabetes stratification model, the normal group that consumed only multigrain rice exhibited a 25% decrease in the odds of periodontitis (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.91).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that the prevalence of periodontitis may vary depending on the type of rice consumed.

aMMP-8 Point-of-Care Test (POCT) Identifies Reliably Periodontitis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes as well as Monitors Treatment Response

BACKGROUND

The link between diabetes and periodontitis is bi-directional: high glucose levels increase the risk of periodontitis and elevated oral fluid aMMP-8 as well as diabetic development while untreated periodontitis worsens glycaemic control.

METHODS

Type-2 patients (N = 161) underwent an aMMP-8 Point-of-Care Test (POCT) at diabetes clinics. If the test was positive, the patient was sent to an oral health care clinic and oral health examination, health-promoting as well as necessary treatment procedures were carried out. Only 41 patients underwent full clinical evaluations. At the end of the treatment, an aMMP-8 POCT (B) was performed and if the test was positive, the treatment was continued and a new test (C) was performed, aiming for test negativity. The glycated haemoglobin (GHbA1c) test was performed approximately 6 months from the original appointment.

RESULTS

GHbA1c concentrations did not decrease during the follow-up. The concentrations of aMMP-8 assessed by POCT, and clinical parameters decreased. Changes in GHbA1c and aMMP-8 levels assessed by POCT during the treatment correlated positively with each other (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

aMMP-8 POCT proved its reliability, and that its use is beneficial in the diabetes clinic, it enables identifying patients with periodontal findings reliably and guides them directly to an oral health clinic.

The Effect of Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment on Patients with Combined Refractory Arterial Hypertension and Stage III, Grade B Periodontitis: A Preliminary Prospective Clinical Study

We sought to evaluate the effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) on periodontal clinical parameters, systemic blood pressure (BP), and plasma levels of systemic inflammation markers in patients with combined refractory arterial hypertension (RAH) and stage III grade B periodontitis. Twenty-seven participants with RAH and periodontitis received NSPT. The analyzed clinical parameters were probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI). An assessment was performed for systemic BP, complete blood count, coagulogram, creatinine measurement, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycated hemoglobin, cholesterol, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamate pyruvic transaminase, waist-hip ratio, and body mass index. In the follow-up period, twenty-two patients were evaluated at baseline and after 90 and 180 days. The data were submitted for statistical analysis (α = 0.05%). As expected, the clinical results showed a significant improvement in the percentages of PI, BOP, PD, and CAL, which were statistically significant at 90 and 180 days (p < 0.0001). Importantly, NSPT significantly reduced the blood level of CRP (p < 0.02). However, no significant reduction in BP parameters was noted in the evaluated follow-up periods. NSPT, despite the benefits in periodontal clinical parameters, reduced the plasma level of CRP but not the BP in patients with combined RAH and periodontitis.

Predictive value of TCM clinical index for diabetic peripheral neuropathy among the type 2 diabetes mellitus population: A new observation and insight

Aims

The objectives of this study were to identify clinical predictors of the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinical index for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, develop a clinical prediction model, and construct a nomogram.

Methods

We collected the TCM clinical index from 3590 T2DM recruited at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2019 to October 2020. The participants were randomly assigned to either the training group (n = 3297) or the validation group (n = 1426). TCM symptoms and tongue characteristics were used to assess the risk of developing DPN in T2DM patients. Through 5-fold cross-validation in the training group, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis method was used to optimize variable selection. In addition, using multifactor logistic regression analysis, a predictive model and nomogram were developed.

Results

A total of eight independent predictors were found to be associated with the DPN in multivariate logistic regression analyses: advanced age of grading (odds ratio/OR 1.575), smoke (OR 2.815), insomnia (OR 0.557), sweating (OR 0.535), loose teeth (OR 1.713), dry skin (OR 1.831), purple tongue (OR 2.278). And dark red tongue (OR 0.139). The model was constructed using these eight predictor's medium discriminative capabilities. The area under the curve (AUC) of the training set is 0.727, and the AUC of the validation set is 0.744 on the ROC curve. The calibration plot revealed that the model's goodness-of-fit is satisfactory.

Conclusions

We established a TCM prediction model for DPN in patients with T2DM based on the TCM clinical index.

Application of periodontal tissue regeneration combined with orthodontics in oral prosthodontics and its influence and significance on the expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-5 in periodontal tissue

The aim is to investigate the application of periodontal tissue regeneration combined with orthodontics in oral restoration, and explore its effect and significance on the expressions of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) in periodontal tissue. The patients in observation group were treated with orthodontics combined with periodontal tissue regeneration, and the control group was treated with periodontal tissue regeneration. The total effective rate, adverse reactions, recurrence rate and treatment satisfaction were compared. The masticatory function, language function, aesthetic level, VAS score, quality of life, gingival index (GI), plaque index (PLI), periodontal pocket probing depth (PD), sulcus bleeding index (SBI), IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-5 levels were compared. The recurrence rate of observation group was lower than control group, while the treatment satisfaction was higher after treatment. After treatment, the scores of masticatory, language, aesthetics, physiological, social, emotional, cognitive, and emotional functions and overall health score were higher than before treatment. After treatment, the scores of masticatory and language functions, aesthetics and quality of life of observation group were significantly higher than control group. After treatment, the VAS score, GI, PLI, SBI, PD, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-5 levels were lower than before. The VAS score, GI, PLI, SBI, PD levels, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-5 levels of observation group were lower after treatment. Orthodontics combined with periodontal tissue regeneration can help improve the periodontal condition of patients with periodontitis, reduce inflammatory response, improve the level of efficacy and overall safety, and further improve patients' quality of life and treatment satisfaction.

Recent Clinical Treatment and Basic Research on the Alveolar Bone

The periodontal ligament is located between the bone (alveolar bone) and the cementum of the tooth, and it is connected by tough fibers called Sharpey’s fibers. To maintain healthy teeth, the foundation supporting the teeth must be healthy. Periodontal diseases, also known as tooth loss, cause the alveolar bone to dissolve. The alveolar bone, similar to the bones in other body parts, is repeatedly resorbed by osteoclasts and renewed by osteogenic cells. This means that an old bone is constantly being resorbed and replaced by a new bone. In periodontal diseases, the alveolar bone around the teeth is absorbed, and as the disease progresses, the alveolar bone shrinks gradually. In most cases, the resorbed alveolar bone does not return to its original form even after periodontal disease is cured. Gum covers the tooth surface so that it matches the shape of the resorbed alveolar bone, exposing more of the tooth surface than before, making the teeth look longer, leaving gaps between the teeth, and in some cases causing teeth to sting. Previously, the only treatment for periodontal diseases was to stop the disease from progressing further before the teeth fell out, and restoration to the original condition was almost impossible. However, a treatment method that can help in the regeneration of the supporting tissues of the teeth destroyed by periodontal diseases and the restoration of the teeth to their original healthy state as much as possible is introduced. Recently, with improvements in implant material properties, implant therapy has become an indispensable treatment method in dentistry and an important prosthetic option. Treatment methods and techniques, which are mainly based on experience, have gradually accumulated scientific evidence, and the number of indications for treatment has increased. The development of bone augmentation methods has contributed remarkably to the expansion of indications, and this has been made possible by various advances in materials science. The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) cell technology for regenerating periodontal tissues, including alveolar bone, is expected to be applied in the treatment of diseases, such as tooth loss and periodontitis. This review focuses on the alveolar bone and describes clinical practice, techniques, and the latest basic research.

Preoperative HbA1c and Blood Glucose Measurements in Diabetes Mellitus before Oral Surgery and Implantology Treatments

Diabetes mellitus has become a worldwide epidemic and is frequently accompanied by a number of complications proportional to the duration of hyperglycemia. The aim of this narrative review is to assess the most up-to-date guidelines on DM provided by both diabetes and dental associations. Furthermore, to gather evidence on the uni/bidirectional relationships of elevated HbA1c levels on dental surgery, implantology, bone augmentation, and periodontology and to demonstrate the importance of measuring HbA1c levels before invasive dental treatments. HbA1c and blood glucose measurements are a minimally invasive method for preventing complications in diabetes mellitus. The authors conducted a literature review to determine which oral conditions are affected by diabetes mellitus. MEDLINE served as a source with the use of a specific search key. Regarding oral complications of diabetes, prevention is the most vital factor. With this publication, we hope to assist physicians and dentists to make prompt diagnoses and to help in recognizing various oral manifestations of diabetes and follow the existing guidelines.

The Impact of Periodontitis on Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and periodontitis are chronic, progressive, inflammatory diseases with similarly complex pathogeneses that involve an interplay between dysbiotic microbiota and dysregulated immune-inflammatory responses. However, whether the presence of periodontitis is associated with IBD activity and/or its severity remains unknown.

METHODS

An online, questionnaire-based study was answered by 1093 patients with IBD, comprising 527 patients with Crohn's disease and 566 patients with ulcerative colitis. The survey included questions on social demographics; oral health, including the Periodontal Screening Score (PESS); and IBD-related characteristics, including validated disease indices.

RESULTS

Irrespective of disease subtype, patients with a reduced number of teeth and those with self-reported severe periodontitis scored significantly higher on the IBD disability index (number of teeth: coefficient, 4.93 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.21-8.66; P = .010]; periodontitis: coefficient, 3.54 [95% CI, 0.27-6.80; P = .034]) and reported increased disease activity in the preceding 12 months (number of teeth: odds ratio [OR], 1.91 [95% CI, 1.36-2.69; P < .001]; periodontitis: OR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.27-2.31; P < .001]). There was also evidence of a weak association between self-reported severe periodontitis and current disease activity (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.95-1.86; P = .099). However, IBD severity, as a composite parameter of a history of surgery due to IBD and/or treatment with biological therapy, was not associated with possessing a reduced number of teeth (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.77-1.80; P = .451), nor with self-reported severe periodontitis (OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.79-1.66; P = .467).

CONCLUSIONS

Periodontitis and tooth loss were significantly associated with increased IBD-related disability and more disease activity in the preceding 12 months. Our results suggest that greater attention should be paid to IBD patients' oral health.

Unlocking Modifiable Risk Factors for Alzheimer's Disease: Does the Oral Microbiome Hold Some of the Keys?

Advancing age is recognized as the primary risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD); however approximately one third of dementia cases are attributable to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and obesity. Recent research also implicates oral health and the oral microbiome in AD risk and pathophysiology. The oral microbiome contributes to the cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative pathology of AD via the inflammatory, vascular, neurotoxic, and oxidative stress pathways of known modifiable risk factors. This review proposes a conceptual framework that integrates the emerging evidence regarding the oral microbiome with established modifiable risk factors. There are numerous mechanisms by which the oral microbiome may interact with AD pathophysiology. Microbiota have immunomodulatory functions, including the activation of systemic pro-inflammatory cytokines. This inflammation can affect the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, which in turn modulates translocation of bacteria and their metabolites to brain parenchyma. Amyloid-β is an antimicrobial peptide, a feature which may in part explain its accumulation. There are microbial interactions with cardiovascular health, glucose tolerance, physical activity, and sleep, suggesting that these modifiable lifestyle risk factors of dementia may have microbial contributors. There is mounting evidence to suggest the relevance of oral health practices and the microbiome to AD. The conceptual framework presented here additionally demonstrates the potential for the oral microbiome to comprise a mechanistic intermediary between some lifestyle risk factors and AD pathophysiology. Future clinical studies may identify specific oral microbial targets and the optimum oral health practices to reduce dementia risk.

A Comparative Analysis of Treatment-Related Changes in the Diagnostic Biomarker Active Metalloproteinase-8 Levels in Patients with Periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have revealed the potential diagnostic utility of aMMP-8, an active form of MMP-8, in periodontal and peri-implant diseases. While non-invasive point-of-care (PoC) chairside aMMP-8 tests have shown promise in this regard, there is a dearth of literature on the evaluation of treatment response using these tests. The present study aimed to investigate treatment-related changes in aMMP-8 levels in individuals with Stage III/IV-Grade C periodontitis compared to a healthy control group, using a quantitative chairside PoC aMMP-8 test, and to determine its correlation with clinical parameters.

METHODS

The study included 27 adult patients (13 smoker, 14 non-smoker) with stage III/IV-grade C periodontitis and 25 healthy adult subjects. Clinical periodontal measurements, real-time PoC aMMP-8, IFMA aMMP-8, and Western immunoblot analyses were performed before and 1 month after anti-infective scaling and root planing periodontal treatment. Time 0 measurements were taken from the healthy control group to test the consistency of the diagnostic test.

RESULTS

Both PoC aMMP-8 and IFMA aMMP-8 tests showed a statistically significant decrease in aMMP-8 levels and improvement in periodontal clinical parameters following treatment (p < 0.05). The PoC aMMP-8 test had high diagnostic sensitivity (85.2%) and specificity (100.0%) for periodontitis and was not affected by smoking (p > 0.05). Treatment also reduced MMP-8 immunoreactivity and activation as demonstrated by Western immunoblot analysis.

CONCLUSION

The PoC aMMP-8 test shows promise as a useful tool for the real-time diagnosis and monitoring of periodontal therapy.

Comparison of the triglyceride glucose index and modified triglyceride glucose indices in assessing periodontitis in Korean adults

BACKGROUND

Periodontal diseases are closely connected with insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome. The Triglyceride Glucose Index (TyG) assesses IR, and recently, a few indices combining TyG and body composition have emerged with higher IR predictive performance than TyG alone. We aimed to examine which TyG-related parameters are most helpful in predicting the risk of periodontal disease.

METHODS

From 2013 to 2015, data were collected through the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Periodontitis was defined using the Community Periodontal Index. TyG-body mass index (BMI), TyG-waist circumference (WC), and TyG-waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated by multiplying TyG index score by BMI, WC, and WHtR, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to estimate areas under the curve (AUC).

RESULTS

Compared to each reference quartile (Q)1, Q4 of the TyG index, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR were significantly associated with a higher risk of periodontitis after adjusting for confounders (OR, 95% CI; 1.23, 1.01-1.49 for TyG; 1.63, 1.22-2.17 for TyG-BMI; 1.37, 1.04-1.81 for TyG-WC; and 1.53, 1.16-2.02 for TyG-WHtR). The AUC and 95% CIs of TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR in predicting periodontitis were 0.609 (0.600-0.617), 0.605 (0.596-0.617), 0.629 (0.621-0.637), and 0.636 (0.628-0.644), respectively (all p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

TyG, TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHtR appear to be significantly associated with the prevalence of periodontitis. Among the TyG and modified TyG indices, TyG-WHtR exhibited the highest predictive performance for periodontitis.

Association of Oral Health with Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are inflammatory diseases that share many similarities. We aimed to investigate the associations of periodontitis and oral hygiene status and behaviors with RA in a nationwide general population cohort. Participants from the National Health Screening cohort database of Korea who underwent oral health screening by dentists between 2003 and 2004 were included. The occurrence of RA was analyzed according to the presence of periodontitis, oral health examination findings, and behaviors. Overall, 2,239,586 participants were included. During a median of 16.7 years, RA occurred in 27,029 (1.2%) participants. The risk for incident RA was higher when participants had periodontitis (hazard ratio (HR) 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-1.24) and an increased number of missing teeth (HR 1.5, 95% CI, 1.38-1.69). In contrast, better oral hygiene behaviors, such as a higher frequency of daily tooth brushing (HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.73-0.79, p for trend <0.001) and a recent history of dental scaling (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.99), were associated with a lower occurrence of RA. Periodontitis and increased missing teeth were associated with an increased risk of RA. Maintaining good oral hygiene through frequent tooth brushing and regular dental scaling may reduce the risk of RA occurrence.