Association Between Periodontitis and Salivary Nitric Oxide Metabolites Among Community Elderly Koreans

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is known to play an important role in many biologic systems, although the relationship between NO metabolites and periodontitis remains controversial. Moreover, little evidence of an association between salivary NO (S‐NO) and periodontitis in the general population has been reported. This study aims to investigate the relationship between S‐NO and periodontitis in an elderly Korean population. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted using participants and salivary samples from Sunchang Elderly Cohort Study. The total number of final participants was 242 (91 males and 151 females; 48 to 93 years old). Periodontitis was determined by a clinical attachment loss of >6 mm at six probe points on 12 index teeth. NO was measured in unstimulated saliva via the Griess reaction. Sociodemographic status, general/oral health, and health‐related behaviors were investigated as confounders. Bivariate analysis and multivariable linear regression analyses including confounders were applied. Results: After controlling for age, sex, education, salivary flow rate, number of teeth, smoking status, physical activity, hypertension, and diabetes, three metabolites of S‐NO (total NO, nitrite, and nitrate) were independently associated with the percentage of probe points exhibiting periodontitis. Of these linear associations, total NO was found to have the strongest correlation with periodontitis (partial r = 0.181, P = 0.009). These associations were most pronounced in females (except for nitrate), non‐smokers, those without hypertension, and those without diabetes. Conclusions: Our data suggest that high concentrations of S‐NO are associated with severe periodontitis. Thus, S‐NO may serve as a potential biologic marker for detecting and monitoring periodontitis.     

Elevated Plasma Homocysteine Levels in Chronic Periodontitis: A Hospital‐Based Case‐Control Study

Background: Plasma homocysteine (Hcy), a novel risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has been found to be increased in inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. Our study investigates the association between chronic periodontitis and plasma Hcy. Methods: This case‐control study involves 85 age‐ and sex‐matched subjects with chronic periodontitis and 91 healthy controls. Patients were grouped into moderate and severe periodontitis. Plaque index, calculus component of simplified oral hygiene index, and modified gingival index were recorded. Body mass index, fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, very‐low‐density lipoprotein, and plasma Hcy were also assessed. Results: Case and control groups had similar levels of fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, and body mass index. The mean plasma Hcy was found to be 19.22 ± 8.27 and 10.27 ± 2.50 μmol/L for cases and controls, respectively. A significant elevation in plasma Hcy levels was observed in cases (P <0.05). No significant differences were observed in plasma Hcy levels between moderate and severe chronic periodontitis (P = 0.722). Conclusions: Elevated levels of plasma Hcy were observed in patients with chronic periodontitis. Future research should be directed on the effect of periodontal therapy on plasma Hcy levels.     

Effects of periodontal therapy on systemic markers of inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome: a controlled clinical trial

Background: The systemic inflammation in both metabolic syndrome (MetS) and periodontitis is a common denominator of the association of these conditions with higher risk of atherosclerosis. The current study investigates whether periodontal therapy may reduce systemic inflammation in patients with MetS and reduce cardiovascular risk. Methods: A parallel‐arm, double‐blind, randomized clinical trial of 1‐year duration in patients with MetS and periodontitis was conducted. Participants were randomized to an experimental treatment group (ETG) (n = 82) that received plaque control and root planing plus amoxicillin and metronidazole or to a control treatment group (CTG) (n = 83) that received plaque control instructions, supragingival scaling, and two placebos. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease were recorded; serum lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose, body mass index (BMI), C‐reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen concentrations, and clinical periodontal parameters were assessed at baseline and every 3 months until 12 months after therapy. The primary and secondary outcomes were changes in CRP and fibrinogen levels, respectively. Results: The baseline patients’ characteristics of both groups were similar. No significant changes in lifestyle factors, frequency of hypertension, BMI, serum lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels were observed during the study period. The periodontal parameters significantly improved in both groups 3 months after therapy (P = 0.0001) and remained lower than baseline up to 12 months. The improvement of periodontal status was significantly greater in the ETG (P = 0.0001). A multiple linear regression analysis, controlled for sex, smoking, hypertension, and extent of periodontitis, demonstrated that CRP levels decreased with time and that this reduction was significant at 9 (P = 0.024) and 12 (P = 0.001) months in both groups, without difference between the groups. Fibrinogen levels significantly decreased in the ETG at 6 and 12 months but not in the CTG. Conclusion: Reduction of periodontal inflammation either with root planing and systemic antibiotics or with plaque control and subgingival scaling significantly reduces CRP levels after 9 months in patients with MetS.     

Measurement of atherosclerosis markers in patients with periodontitis: a case-control study

Background: It is suggested that periodontitis enhances the process of vascular inflammation leading to atherosclerosis. The present study explores the effect of periodontitis in relation to the clinical and ultrasound markers of carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: Sixty systemically healthy patients >45 years of age (30 with chronic periodontitis and 30 without periodontitis) were studied in a university dental school. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors for atherosclerosis were evaluated. Carotid intima‐media thickness (IMT) was assessed by ultrasound. Results: The internal carotid IMT was 0.77 and 0.81 mm in the periodontal disease and control groups, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.538). There were significant differences in the presence of carotid atheroma plaques and the severity of periodontitis (P = 0.003). In the logistic regression analysis, significant differences in terms of age and periodontitis were recorded in relation to the presence of atheroma plaques in the carotid intima. Conclusion: The severity of periodontitis was seen to influence the presence of carotid atheroma plaques.     

代谢综合症患者牙周状况的临床研究

目的：分析代谢综合症患者牙周状况,探讨代谢综合症在牙周疾病发生、发展中的意义。方法：选择150例诊断明确的代谢综合症患者为研究组,150例健康人作为对照组。检查记录：菌斑指数（PLI）、探诊深度（PD）、临床附着丧失（CAL）、出血指数（BI）、失牙数并计算牙周位点率。测定龈沟液及血清中白细胞介素-6（IL-6）、C反应蛋白（CRP）、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平。结果：代谢综合症组患侵袭性牙周炎、慢性牙周炎高于对照组（P〈0．01）;代谢综合症组PD、CAL、重度百分比及失牙数除BI外均高于对照组（P〈0．01）。代谢综合症患者龈沟液中IL-6、TNF-α、CRP水平高于对照组（p〈0．01）,而血清中两组无差异。相关性分析表明：MS组患者血糖水平与PLI、CAL、BI、重度百分比呈正相关（P〈0．01）,腹型（腰围水平）与PD、CAL、PLI重度百分比呈正相关（P〈0．01）。HDL-C水平与PLI、CAL、BI、重度百分比及失牙数正相关。血糖及HDL-C水平与牙周病的发病率正相关。结论：MS患者牙周疾病的发病率明显高于正常人,其中血糖、HDL-C及肥胖程度是影响牙周状况的重要因素,这种变化可能是通过MS引发炎症失衡而发生的。     

Subgingival bacterial clusters and serum antibody response as markers of extent and severity of periodontitis in adult Chinese

This study evaluated the associations between clinical, microbiological, and antibody activity manifestations of periodontitis in 123 adult rural Chinese subjects with no dental intervention. All participants were registered for full‐mouth clinical attachment level (CAL) and pocket probing depth (PD) measurements, and microbial samples were taken from four sites and analyzed for 18 different bacterial species using the ‘checkerboard’. Serum from each individual was analyzed to determine the antibody activity against the same 18 species. Exploratory factor analysis disclosed two microbial factors – Factor 1, consisting of seven species associated with periodontal health (‘early colonizers’); and Factor 2, consisting of eight species associated with periodontitis (‘putative periodontopathogens’) – which explained 87% of the variation among the microbial variables. Factor 2 was consistently associated with disease‐severity measures, whereas the ‘early colonizer’ factor was not. The antibody response showed weak or no correlations with bacterial load or with disease severity. We conclude that the bacteria investigated are resident in the subgingival plaque; that their load and proportions in the pocket may be ecologically driven; and that the antibody response is based on bacterial carrier state rather than on disease. The different antibody‐response pattern found between the individuals may suggest that each individual could be classified as a good or a weak immune responder.     

Effect of Non‐Surgical Periodontal Therapy on Serum Ferritin Levels: An Interventional Study

Background: Ferritin, an acute‐phase reactant, has been found to be elevated in many chronic inflammation‐related diseases. The aim of the present study is to investigate differences in concentrations of serum ferritin in patients with and without periodontal disease before and after non‐surgical periodontal therapy and correlate these values with clinical variables associated with periodontal disease. Methods: Forty‐two individuals were included in this study, 20 with chronic periodontitis (CP) and 22 classified as periodontally healthy. Serum ferritin concentrations, hemoglobin levels, and periodontal parameters (probing depth [PD], clinical attachment level, gingival index, bleeding on probing, and plaque index) were recorded at baseline and 3 months after non‐surgical periodontal therapy. Results: Patients with CP showed higher concentrations of serum ferritin than periodontally healthy controls (P <0.01). After adjustment for confounders, a positive and significant correlation was observed between serum ferritin levels and the number of sites with PD ≥6 mm at baseline (P <0.01). Regression analyses revealed association between deep pockets and serum ferritin levels at baseline (R² = 0.823). Significant reductions in serum ferritin levels were observed at the 3‐month assessment after periodontal treatment (P <0.01), and the post‐treatment serum ferritin values were comparable to those of controls (P >0.05). Furthermore, the post‐treatment degree of change in the serum ferritin level was positively and significantly associated with improvement in PD (R² = 0.213, P <0.05). Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels are raised in patients with CP and decrease to control levels post‐treatment.