OBJECTIVES: To compare the relative amounts of elastase (primary polymorphonuclear leucocyte granule constituent) and lactoferrin (secondary PMN granule constituent) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites. DESIGN: This cross‐sectional study looked at the two GCF constituents in three categories of disease status within the same subject. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with chronic adult periodontitis were screened and those exhibiting all three types of sites ie periodontally healthy, gingivitis and periodontitis sites were recruited (n = 10) and had GCF collected from the three sites. Lactoferrin and elastase were measured in eluates of GCF by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The absolute amount of lactoferrin measured in ng per 30 s samples was significantly lower in healthy and gingivitis sites as compared to periodontitis sites however this difference failed to reach significance when the concentration of lactoferrin in GCF was used as the analytical unit. No significant differences were found for elastase levels at any sites when expressed as either absolute amounts or concentrations. Secondary granule release, as evidenced by lactoferrin levels, occurs during cell migration and the process is independent of primary granule release, which is thought to correlate with PMN activation. The relationship between granule constituents in the samples showed significant differences, the highest lactoferrinlelastase ratio being at periodontitis sites (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS These findings imply a change in the relative amounts of elastase and lactoferrin released at different disease level sites, with an almost 10‐fold increase in the proportion of lactoferrin to elastase in periodontitis sites over healthy and gingivitis sites. This variation in the release by PMNs of primary and secondary granule constituents may indicate alterations in PMN function in different disease environments.
In 2002, it was estimated that 11 million children (between the ages of 0-18) are living in dire poverty in South Africa on less than R200 per capita per month (R245 in 2002 real terms), and therefore living on less than half the minimal R400 per capita per month required to meet their basic needs, and 14.3 million children are living in poverty on less than R400 per capita per month (R490 in 2002 terms). Child poverty is on the increase. Between 1995 and 1999 the rate of child poverty in South Africa on a poverty line of R400 per capita per month increased from 64.7% to 75.8% and the rate of children in dire poverty calculated on a poverty line of R200 per capita per month increased by 19.2% from 38.9% to 58.1%. 4 These children face shortages of food, clothing, and shelter. They also lack access to basic services. In the light of this, their basic human dignity and other fundamental rights are denied. 5 Therefore, it is not surprising that most of South Africa's children lack basic shelter and are often homeless. This prevailing manifestation of poverty needs to be addressed effectively. One way of addressing this is through a rights based approach whereby socioeconomic rights are realised to the poorest of the poor. 6
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