Patients with CP had higher levels of miR-146a than healthy individuals, accompanied by reduced levels of TNF-α and IL-6. A positive relationship between miR-146a levels and clinical parameters suggests a pathophysiologic role of miR-146a in CP.

Background and aims. Lysozyme and lactoferrin are salivary proteins which play an important role in innate defense mechanisms against bacteria. This study investigated the association of salivary lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations with early childhood caries (ECC).Materials and methods. This study was carried out on 42 healthy children (age range, 36 to 71 months), of whom 21 were caries free (CF) and 21 had ECC. Disposable needle-less syringes were used to collect unstimulated saliva from buccal and labial vestibules. Fifteen children who had ECC were treated completely and their saliva was collected in the same way for the second time, three months after treatment. Lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations were measured and recorded by the ELISA method. The intergroup comparisons were carried out using chi-square, Student’s t-test and Wilcoxon signed ranked test. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results. The mean concentration of lysozyme was significantly higher in CF group compared with that of ECC group (P = 0.04). Although the mean concentration of lactoferrin in ECC group was higher in comparison with ECC group, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.06). After dental treatment, the mean concentrations of lysozyme and lactoferrin did not change in comparison with their concentrations before treatment.Conclusion. ECC may have a relationship with lower concentrations of unstimulated salivary lactoferrin and lysozyme and reduced amounts of these two salivary proteins may be a risk factor for dental caries in children.

Background and Objective MicroRNA‐146a (miR‐146a) is a small noncoding RNA that plays a critical role in the negative regulation of the innate immune response, and the dysregulation of miR‐146a has been associated with several inflammatory disorders. In generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) the degree of clinical inflammation appears to be similar to that of chronic periodontitis, and, in this situation, age of onset and family history are important additional criteria for diagnosis. This study was performed to evaluate the level of miR‐146a expressed in gingival tissues of patients with GAgP and its association with disease severity. Material and Methods Gingival samples from 18 patients with GAgP and 10 healthy subjects were collected and the level of miR‐146a and its targets, including necrosis factor‐alpha, interleukin‐1beta, and interleukin‐6, were assessed using real‐time PCR. Clinical parameters, including probing depth and clinical attachment loss, were measured and their correlations with the level of miR‐146a were determined. Results Our results demonstrated an elevation in the level of miR‐146a expressed in patients with GAgP compared with healthy controls (P < .001), which was directly associated with disease severity (P < .05). Overexpression of miR‐146a was accompanied by a reduction in the levels of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions Our findings suggest that there is an association between miR‐146a and GAgP and imply that miR‐146a may serve as an indicator of periodontal disease severity. However, further studies and additional information are required to confirm this relationship and the precise role of miR‐146a in the development and/or progression of periodontitis.

We have described for the first time in the literature the personal infant-feeding intentions and behavior of a cohort of IM physician mothers. Workplace interventions to enable internists to maintain breastfeeding after return to work and to achieve their breastfeeding goals might improve the health of these mothers and their infants and positively impact their clinical breastfeeding advocacy.

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the proliferation of undifferentiated periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts.Materials and Methods:The undifferentiated PDL fibroblasts were obtained from two healthy human premolar teeth and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. Cell wells were divided into five groups. Experimental groups received 0.1%, 5%, or 50% PRP; the positive and negative control groups were cultured in fetal bovine serum (FBS) 12% and in a medium without FBS 12%, respectively. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 days. PDL cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide proliferation assay. Statistical analysis of the data was accomplished using repeated measure ANOVA and Tukey's test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:The 5% PRP had the greatest effect on undifferentiated fibroblast proliferation, which was significant on the 3rd day. There was no significant difference between 0.1% PRP and positive control during the first 3 days. The group with 50% PRP presented significantly lower proliferation, compared to other experimental and control groups.Conclusions:It may be concluded that the growth-stimulating effect of PRP is dose dependent with the best results in low concentrations.

No abstract

IntroductionInterleukin-17 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with a wide range of protective and destructive effects in periodontitis. The role of IL-23 is stabilisation and expansion of Th-17. The aim of this study was to assess whether patients with aggressive and chronic periodontitis exhibit different gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 compared with clinically healthy subjects.Material and methodsGCF samples were obtained from 32 patients: 10 with chronic periodontitis (CP), 12 with aggressive periodontitis (AgP), and 10 healthy controls (HC). IL-23 and IL-17 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Comparison of study groups was performed with ANOVA and Tukey HSD tests. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess correlations between the variables.ResultsIL-17 concentration was significantly higher in the healthy group compared to the AgP and CP groups (p < 0.001), but there were no significant differences between the CP and AgP groups. IL-23 levels in the healthy group were significantly higher than that in the AgP group (p < 0.001). Cytokine concentrations did not correlate significantly with probing depths and clinical attachment levels.ConclusionsGingival crevicular fluid concentrations of IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly higher in the healthy group compared to periodontitis groups.

No abstract