In the recent years, statistically significant associations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal disease have been identified. Emerging as a chronic inflammatory joint disease, RA displays various features and pathogenetic events similar to chronic periodontitis (CP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of determining systemic and crevicular levels of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as potential biomarkers for association between RA and CP. A total of fifty-six patients were included in the study. The subjects were categorized into four groups as follows: healthy-control (n = 21), active RA (n = 16), CP (n = 14), and RA-CP association (n = 12). Assessment of serum and crevicular concentrations of total MMP-9 (active and pro-MMP-9) was based on ELISA technique. The results of this study showed statistically significant differences of serum MMP-9 between patients groups and control. Serum levels of MMP-9 were similar in RA and RA-CP associated patients. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) recorded increased MMP-9 levels in RA-CP association subjects as compared to CP. Considering that RA-CP association is characterized by a disregulation of the inflammatory response, MMP-9 may play a role in the pathogenesis of RA-CP association. MMP-9 is therefore a sensitive tool in the diagnosis and management of patients affected by this binomial association.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections could have an important impact on the oral health status of patients, favoring conditions such as periodontal disease and oral cancer. The review of the existing scientific literature written in English was performed, searching for oral and periodontal manifestations of HCV infection and its impact on the oral fluids. HCV infection can determine direct extrahepatic manifestations at the oral and periodontal level including oral lichen planus, Sjögren-like sialadenitis, and oral cancer. The changes caused by the infection in the subjects' immune system, diet, and lifestyle can facilitate the development of oral conditions such as periodontal disease. Important changes also occur in the composition of the infected patients' saliva and gingival fluid. HCV-infected patients need to be carefully monitored in terms of oral health since the infection with the virus can result in oral complications. The cellular and molecular particularities of the gingival fluid of HCV-infected patients can answer some questions regarding its impact upon periodontium impairment and whether this refers to a possible bidirectional relationship, with hepatic biomarker adjustments being induced by the periodontal patients' inflammatory status.

The study assessed whether the increased production of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as a result of chronic hepatic inflammation, could be the expression of the negative impact on periodontal disease. The study included chronic periodontitis patients who were systemically healthy, chronic periodontitis patients suffering from chronic hepatitis C, as well as control patients, being systemically and periodontally healthy. After periodontal examination and the assessment of certain periodontal parameters, gingival crevicular fluid was collected from all participating patients. By using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method, a quantitative assessment of IL-1α and IL-1β levels was possible. The immunologic results were correlated to the clinical periodontal data. The gingival fluid levels of cytokines were higher for periodontitis patients with chronic hepatitis C than for the systemically healthy periodontitis patients (1.8-fold higher for IL-1α and 2.1-fold higher for IL-1β). In addition, the gingival fluid cytokine levels were significantly higher for the periodontal patients (with/without chronic hepatitis C) than for the control group. Positive correlations were found between gingival fluid IL-1α and IL-1β levels and certain clinical periodontal parameters or the age of the viral hepatitis C diagnosis, in periodontitis patients with chronic hepatitis C. The chronic hepatic inflammation may have an important additional negative impact on the periodontal status, as both inflammatory reactions seem to be promoted by common pro-inflammatory cytokines.

The results suggest PTX-3 involvement in periodontal orthodontic remodeling and the aseptic inflammation induced by the orthodontic forces.

In the present study the aim was to measure the levels of Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and Lipocalin-2/matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9/NGAL) complex in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) at different time points of orthodontic treatment, to determine the relationship between these values and those of total-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and theirs implication in angiogenesis balance, in the situation of a good control of the bacterial plaque, emphasizing the role of TSP1 and MMP9/NGAL complex. GCF samples were collected from 16 young orthodontic patients requiring upper canine distalization (test tooth) with first premolar extraction. The contralateral canine (control tooth) was free from orthodontic force. For the orthodontic appliance, brackets Roth 0.018 inch with 0.012 inch NiTi archwire and a laceback were used. TSP1, MMP9/NGAL, and MMP9 increased from 1 hour before activation of orthodontic appliance to a maximum at 8 hours for MMP9 and 72 hours for MMP9/NGAL and TSP1. The results show a change in time of TSP1, MMP9/NGAL, and MMP9 levels in GCF of patients with this method of orthodontic treatment. The powerful correlation of MMP9/NGAL with TSP1 suggests their stronger involvement in angiogenesis processes in PDL during orthodontic periodontal remodeling, in the situation of a healthy periodontium and a good control of the bacterial plaque.