DEATH AS A STIMULUS TO IMPROVING THE AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT FOR MORE HEALTHFUL LIVING

In D. Leviton's (1991) conception of horrendous death , a poorly managed environment can contribute to widespread mortality, and the deaths so caused can further create an environment for subsequent death. The African environment in particular is characterized by a number of "deathogenic" factors that must be understood and confronted by health educators committed to minimizing or eliminating the impact of horrendous death on the African continent. In this comment, the author argues that attention to characteristic but preventable forms of death in the African context can lead to greater public advocacy among African health educators, contributing to the physical and psychological wellbeing of the populations they serve.     

Biomarkers of periodontal inflammation in the Australian adult population

Background:  Several inflammatory biomarkers are implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontitis including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and C-reactive protein (CRP). This study investigated the presence of these factors in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and their relationship to clinical and social determinants of periodontitis in the Australian population.
Methods:  Equal numbers of periodontitis cases and non-cases were sampled during oral epidemiologic examination in the National Survey of Adult Oral Health. GCF was sampled from four sites where probing pocket depth (PPD) and recession were recorded. From these, IL-1β and CRP were quantified by ELISA and the log amount of GCF IL-1β (pg) per person and the proportion of adults with detectable CRP was computed.
Results:  Periodontitis cases (n = 511) had significantly higher levels of IL-1β and CRP than non-cases (n = 562). PPD, clinical attachment loss, plaque and gingivitis indices were positively associated with elevated levels of both biomarkers. Levels of both were positively associated with age, low socio-economic position and non-Australian birth.
Conclusions:  The presence of IL-1β and CRP in GCF are associated with periodontal disease parameters within the Australian population. The levels of both biomarkers are influenced by age, education and eligibility for public dental care.