METHODS: There were 104 participants in the study: 19 healthy volunteers, 23 patients with periodontitis, 28 patients with T1DM, and 34 patients with T1DM and periodontitis. Levels of blood glucose/glycated hemoglobin (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry [IFCC]) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Levels of IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL5 in plasma were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In vitro stimulation of OKF6/TERT-2 cells and THP-1 monocytes was performed with combinations of AGE and P. gingivalis LPS. Changes in expression of IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL5 were monitored by ELISA and real-time polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS: Patients with diabetes and periodontitis had higher plasma levels of IL-8 than patients with periodontitis alone. Plasma levels of IL-8 correlated significantly with IFCC units, clinical probing depth, and attachment loss. AGE and LPS, alone or in combination, stimulated IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL5 expression in both OKF6/TERT-2 cells and THP-1 monocytes.
CONCLUSIONS: Elevated plasma levels of IL-8 potentially contribute to the cross-susceptibility between periodontitis and T1DM. P. gingivalis LPS and AGE in combination caused significantly greater expression of IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL5 from THP-1 monocytes and OKF6/TERT-2 cells than LPS alone.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed and a 13-item survey questionnaire was given to FMPs practicing in 12 different teaching hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. The questions were aimed at exploring the knowledge of FMP's regarding the association of obesity and periodontal disease and their attitude towards the association of obesity and periodontal disease. Chi-square and Spearman co-efficient were conducted to compare subgroups and correlate factors with the knowledge score of FMPs.
RESULTS: A total of 314 questionnaires were completed (response rate = 92%). Median age of participants was 41 years and 57% were females. Almost 61% of FMPs answered all the knowledge questions correctly and 64% reported moderate understanding of the association between periodontal health and obesity. Nearly 73% FMPs inquired from obese patients regarding the periodontal disease and more than half (58%) refer patients to a dentist for evaluation. More than half of FMPs perform periodontal disease screening. Nearly all FMPs considered informing obese patients regarding periodontal disease as one of their roles.
CONCLUSIONS: FMP's play an important role in the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of periodontal conditions in obese patients. More than two thirds of FMPs showed good knowledge of the association of obesity and periodontal disease. The attitudes of FMPs towards assessing and referring obese patients at a risk of having periodontal disease were reassuring.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study had randomly and systematically recruited facial burn patients from the Burn Care Center, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from June of 2016 to July of 2017. Intraoral examination recorded the DMFT, CPI and OHI-S. Information on the socio-demographic status, self-perceived oral health, oral health behaviours were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and; the burn characteristics were obtained from the patients' medical record. The t-test, ANOVA, SLR, and chi-square test were used to examine the relationship between oral health and each factor. A parameter was derived from the clinical indices using the principal component analysis and used in the multiple linear regression analysis to determine the important factors associated with oral health status.
RESULTS: A total of 271 burn patients (69% female and 31% male) had participated in the study. All of the participants had caries with mean DMFT = 10.96 (95%CI: 10.67, 11.25). There were 59.0% (95%CI: 53.15, 64.93%) and 66.1% (95%CI: 60.38, 71.73%) of the participants who had periodontitis and poor oral hygiene respectively. About 79 and 80% of the participants rated their dental and periodontal status as poor. About 78% reported brushing once daily and 89% did not practice regular dental visit. The DMFT, CPI and OHI-S were associated with the burn characteristics and oral health behaviours (p