Abstract. Purpose -This paper explores the implications of systems thinking for the deconstructing of sustainability within the context of ecological worldview. Design/methodology/approach -A systems thinking approach to sustainability is undertaken to explore the ecological worldview. Findings -The ecological framework relates basic concepts and assumptions within the modern to postmodern thought. For the most part, the scientists, decision-makers have only been exposed to mechanistic thinking within the related subjects. The aim of systems thinking framework is to shift the ecological thinking by engaging with sustainability from different perspectives, rather than presenting one version of sustainability. The influence of and tensions between paradigms operative in the sustainability field is discussed. Then problems common to the discourse as a whole are outlined and positive recent developments that indicate a more integrative and systemic approaches are briefly presented. The framework has proven to be useful in developing critical and reflecting and discussion. Originality/value -The paper provides a summary of ecological worldview as applied to systems thinking and describes how this is used in sustainability paradigm.
Background : As both periodontitis and peri-implantitis are opportunistic infections with a similar etiology and similar host response, it is reasonable to assume that risk evaluation should follow similar pathways. Adipokines such as visfatin, leptin and adiponectin, activate the innate and adaptive immune cells to promote a proinflammatory response by secreting proinflammatory mediators and proteinases to accelerate local breakdowns.Aim/Hypothesis : To identify the expression levels of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) in peri-implant mucosal tissues affected by peri-implantitis, and to compare the levels to those of periodontally diseased and healthy tissue samples.Material and Methods : Peri-implant mucosal samples ( n = 17) were harvested from peri-implantitis sites while, periodontal soft tissue samples ( n = 29) were collected from periodontitis sites during the peri-implant and periodontal flap surgeries. Healthy control specimens ( n = 21) obtained from the soft tissues around implants for screwing healing caps onto the dental implants and from the gingival enlargement when crown lengthening was indicated. Before the surgery, the clinical periodontal parameters recorded in all individuals, including plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment levels (CAL) and patients' demographic characteristics. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was used to examine the mRNA expression of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Additionally, protein expression was measured by immunohistochemistry.Results : mRNA expression levels of adiponectin, visfatin, and leptin were found significantly difference between healthy tissue and periodontitis samples ( P < 0.05). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and leptin between healthy tissue and peri-implantitis samples ( P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed between periodontitis and peri-implantitis samples regarding to all biomarker levels.
Conclusion and Clinical Implications: Our results demonstrated that mRNA expression levels of adiponectin and leptin were elevated in periimplantitis and periodontitis tissues compared to the healthy tissues. Expression of adiponectin, and leptin may have a possible diagnostic role in the pathogenesis of both peri-implantitis and periodontitis.
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