No abstract

Our results indicated that PD deteriorates metabolic control in diabetes, which emphasizes that PD may play a significant role for the course of diabetes. The GK rat can represent a suitable model for further studies on the association between PD and diabetes.

Prediabetes worsened periodontitis, and periodontitis, in turn, was associated with deterioration of glucose metabolism in ZFRs, suggesting a progress toward diabetes. Furthermore, periodontitis also affected glucose regulation in lean rats.

Findings from rodent studies have been useful in increasing our understanding of periodontitis, diabetes, and their association and hold great promise for future investigations given the wide variety of possibilities for testing biologic hypotheses.

Periodontal diseases are among the six most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, constituting a burden for oral and general health. There is a shortage of epidemiological data on periodontal diseases in Africa. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to present the periodontal status and cotinine levels of a South African population of adults. This study included individuals living in the Belville South area. Bleeding on probing (BOP) and pocket depth were recorded for each tooth, and clinical attachment loss (CAL) was recorded as the highest score per sextant. Cotinine levels were measured in ng/mL. A total of 951 individuals were included. More than one third of all subjects had BOP. Regarding pocket depth, over 50% of the subjects had shallow pockets (4–5 mm), and almost 6% had deep pockets. CAL ≥ 4 mm was present in 40.1% of the subjects. Males presented worse periodontal conditions than females. In total, 52.7% of the participants had serum cotinine levels of ≥15 ng/mL. Cotinine levels had no effect on periodontal variables. Periodontal diseases were highly prevalent, and periodontal conditions were worse in males. Preventive and restorative public health programs are required to improve oral health in this population.

Gingival pigmentation is a common finding in several ethnic groups. Although physiologic melanin pigmentation is not a medical problem, cosmetic demands may turn it into a problem of social acceptance in different cultures. In this way, different treatment modalities have been used with the aim of removing pigmentations for esthetic reasons. In the present study, the use of ADM with partial thickness flap resulted in more effective elimination of gingival melanin pigmentation, as repigmentation occurred later and was much weaker when compared to the outcomes of epithelial abrasion.

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in late 2019, the world has faced a major healthcare challenge. There remains limited understanding of the reasons for clinical variability of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and a lack of biomarkers to identify individuals at risk of developing severe lung disease. This article aims to present a hypothesis on a vascular route of transfer of SARS-CoV-2 from the oral cavity to the lungs. Saliva is a reservoir of SARS-CoV-2, thus any breach in the immune defenses of the mouth may facilitate entrance of the virus to the vasculature through the gingival sulcus or periodontal pocket. From the oral vasculature, the virus would pass through veins of the neck and chest, and reach the heart, being pumped into pulmonary arteries, and to the small vessels in the lung periphery. The binding of the virus to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2), present on the endothelial surface of lung vessels, inactivates ACE2 and increases angiotensin-II levels, leading to pulmonary vasoconstriction and immunothrombosis (inflammatory-mediated clotting). This leads to vascular congestion, proximal vasodilatation, and subsequent lung parenchymal damage mediated by endothelial dysfunction. The biological rationale for the oral-vasculo-pulmonary route of infection is discussed in detail in this article, including pertinent radiological and oral cavity scientific findings. We propose that dental plaque accumulation and periodontal inflammation would further intensify this pathway. Therefore, it is suggested that daily oral hygiene and oral healthcare should be prioritized as such measures could be potentially lifesaving for COVID-19 patients. If this proposed pathological pathway is verified, it would be hugely significant in terms of understanding disease management. Simple low-cost measures, such as use of specific mouthwashes, could decrease the salivary viral load, and help prevent or mitigate the development of lung disease and severe COVID-19.

Objectives: Caries is a ubiquitous non-communicable disease worldwide. There is a paucity of literature on adult caries in Africa, with the last epidemiological caries study in South Africa conducted in 1988/1989. This article reports on the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) scores in relation to demographic characteristics for a mixed-ancestry South African population. Methods: This cross-sectional epidemiological study was part of the ongoing Cape Town Bellville South Vascular and Metabolic Health Study. Each participant signed an informed consent form prior to enrolling in the study. During a clinical examination, DMFT score and components were recorded for each participant. Data analysis was performed with the statistical Package STATA 15. Results: A sample of 1,885 participants was included in the study. Sixty-eight percent of the population experienced high DMFT scores. Mean DMFT score increased with age from 5 (≤ 24-year-old group) to 32 (≥ 75-year-old group, P < 0.001). It was higher in women than in men (28.5 vs. 18, respectively, P < 0.001). The missing component contributed 83% to DMFT score, followed by decayed (14%) and filled (3%) scores. Males had a higher average number of teeth present than females (18 vs. 6.5, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Dental caries experience was very high, with high levels of tooth loss in this community. These findings highlight limited access to preventive oral healthcare and a high rate of tooth extraction. Females presented higher levels of oral disease than males, indicating the need for preventive oral healthcare programmes in Cape Town, South Africa.