Perception of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children with Epidermolysis Bullosa: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT

The results of this study confirm the difficulties experienced by patients in the oral sphere. They also show that patients are able to adapt and that their demands go beyond functional rehabilitation. This work should encourage dental practitioners to be part of the overall management of the disease, involving regular checkups, preventive dental measures, and oral hygiene education. Therefore, more effective communication is required, not only between the dental and dermatological teams but also with the parents and caregivers.

[Impact of periodontal disease on arterial pressure in diabetic mice]

Diabetes-driven cardiovascular diseases represent a high challenge for developed countries. Periodontal disease is strictly linked to the aforementioned diseases, due to its Gram negative-driven inflammation. Thus, we investigated the effects of periodontal disease on arterial pressure during the development of diabetes in mice. To this aim, C57BL/6 female mice were colonized with pathogens of periodontal tissue (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum) for 1month, whereas another group of mice did not undergo the colonization. Subsequently, all mice were fed a high-fat carbohydrate-free diet for 3months. Then, arterial pressure was measured in vivo and a tomodensitometric analysis of mandibles was realized as well. Our results show increased mandibular bone-loss induced by colonization with periopathogens. In addition, periodontal infection augmented glucose-intolerance and systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, parameters already known to be affected by a fat-diet. In conclusion, we show here that periodontal disease amplifies metabolic troubles and deregulates arterial pressure, emerging as a new axis of metabolic investigation.

Localization of STRO-1, BMP-2/-3/-7, BMP receptors and phosphorylated Smad-1 during the formation of mouse periodontium

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and BMP receptors (BMPRs) are known to regulate the development of calcified tissues by directing mesenchymal precursor cells differentiation. However, their role in the formation of tooth-supporting tissues remains unclear. We investigated the distribution pattern of STRO-1, a marker of mesenchymal progenitor cells and several members of the BMP pathway during the development of mouse molar periodontium, from the post-natal days 6 to 23 (D6 to D23). STRO-1 was mainly localized in the dental follicle (DF) at D6 and 13 then in the periodontal ligament (PDL) at D23. BMP-2 and -7 were detected in Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) and in DF, then later in differentiated periodontal cells. BMP-3 was detected after D13 of the periodontal development. BMPRs-Ib, -II, the activin receptor-1 (ActR-1) and the phosphorylated Smad1 were detected in DF and HERS at D6 and later more diffusely in the periodontium. BMPR-Ia detection was restricted to alveolar bone. These findings were in agreement with others data obtained with mouse immortalized DF cells. These results suggest that STRO-1 positive DF cells may be target of BMPs secreted by HERS. BMP-3 might be involved in the arrest of this process by inhibiting the signaling provided by cementogenic and osteogenic BMPs.