Wisdom teeth, periodontal disease, and C-reactive protein in US adults

OBJECTIVES

The study aim was to evaluate the associations among the presence of wisdom teeth (third molars, M3), periodontal disease, and serum C-reactive protein (CRP) in the US adult population, thus to generate population-based evidence to inform heart disease prevention and dental care.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed secondary data analysis of the 2009-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), and included 3752 people aged 30 years and older who participated in the periodontal examination.

METHODS

Descriptive analyses were performed to determine the prevalence of M3 presence, periodontal disease, and elevated CRP. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to determine the association between M3 presence, periodontal disease, and elevated CRP.

RESULTS

The prevalence of M3 presence, periodontal disease (probing periodontal pockets depth (PPD)≥ 4 mm), and elevated serum C-reactive protein level (≥5 mg/L) was 39%, 41%, and 19% respectively. M3 presence was highest among men, younger adults, Blacks and Hispanics compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, those who did not attend college, and people with low incomes (P < 0.001). M3 presence, adjusted for sociodemographic and health characteristics, was independently associated with periodontal disease (adjusted [Adj.] odds ratio [OR] 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31, 1.97), and periodontal disease was independently associated with elevated serum CRP (Adj. OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.06, 1.73), but we did not find M3 presence associated with elevated serum CRP (Adj. OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.79, 1.31).

CONCLUSIONS

We observed expected associations between M3 presence and periodontal disease, and periodontal disease and elevated CRP. However, M3 presence alone is not associated with elevated CRP. Further research into cardiovascular health hazards related to the retention of wisdom teeth is needed, including examining possible relationships with other inflammatory factors.

Differential effects of repeated restraint stress on pulsatile lutenizing hormone secretion in female Fischer, Lewis and Wistar rats

Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and can suppress pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion, resulting in reproductive dysfunction. The histocompatible inbred Fischer and Lewis rat strains exhibit marked phenotypic differences in the activity of the HPA axis, the former being more reactive. Using Fischer, Lewis and Wistar rats, we assessed effects of repeated restraint stress on pulsatile LH secretion. Adult rats were ovariectomized and fitted with cardiac catheters. Blood samples were collected at 5-min intervals for 3-5 h for detection of LH. Less frequent samples were collected for corticosterone measurement. After 2 h, rats were restrained for 60 min. The same regimen was repeated four times at 6-day intervals. The mean peak corticosterone levels achieved during the first restraint in Fischer rats were significantly higher than those in Lewis and Wistar rats. By the time of the fourth episode of restraint, there had been some adaptation of the corticosterone response in the Fischer, but not in the Lewis or Wistar rats. LH pulses were interrupted during the 1st restraint in all experimental groups, although only Fischer rats showed suppression of LH pulses during the subsequent 2-h postrestraint period. During the fourth restraint, LH pulse frequency was still reduced in Wistar, but not in Fischer and Lewis rats, both of which showed a complete habituation. These results suggest that differential control mechanisms underlie the response of the HPA and HPG axes to repeated restraint stress.

Teaching strategies for foreign nurses

To assist foreign-trained nurses to improve their nursing care and enhance outcomes in nursing practice, educators must have specific teaching strategies to build the nurses' self esteem, improve their openness to explore new ideas, and help them obtain new knowledge. The author discusses specific efforts and teaching strategies to facilitate this process.

Interactions between St. Lucian Biomphalaria glabrata and Helisoma duryi, a possible competitor snail, in a semi-natural habitat

In artificial drains similar to those used in banana culture on St. Lucia, Helisoma duryi, the rams-horn snail, controlled Biomphalaria glabrata, intermediate host of schistosomiasis on that island. Time required for elimination of B. glabrata depended on environmental temperature and numbers of H. duryi initially introduced in the drains. Best fit to the data was given by the equation for the logistic curve rather than by an equation for unlimited growth. Multiple regression analyses of natality and mortality rates of both species of snails indicated that populations of B. glabrata were regulated by temperature rather than by density-dependent means while numbers of H. duryi were strongly influenced by numbers of rams-horn snails already present in the drains. Fitting of snail shell growth to von Bertalanffy equations showed that H. duryi shell diameter was uninfluenced by environmental temperatures or presence of B. glabrata while growth of the intermediate host was strongly affected both by temperature and numbers of H. duryi.