Alloxan-induced hyperglycemia causes rapid-onset and progressive dental caries and periodontitis in F344 rats

We have previously shown that diabetes increases dental caries, and periodontitis might be a secondary change resulting from dental caries in spontaneous diabetic rodent models. However, the lesions in these models were slow to manifest, and the intensity and frequency were mild and varied among individuals. The goal of this study was to confirm the reproducibility of caries development in chemically induced diabetic rats and investigate whether alloxan, which induces immediate and severe hyperglycemia in experimental animals, increases the lesions. Female F344 rats were examined 13 and 26 weeks after dosing of alloxan. Alloxan injection induced severe hyperglycemia in two-thirds of the rats. Progressive molar caries and periodontitis were already induced in all diabetic rats 13 weeks after dosing of alloxan, although the lesions were not observed in nondiabetic rats. Histopathologically, dental caries initially developed in the crown, then spread into the dental root, entered the periodontal connective tissue via the apical foramen, and progressed to periodontitis. In conclusion, alloxan-induced severe hyperglycemia is capable of causing rapid-onset and progressive dental caries and periodontitis in rats.     

广西崇左智人洞早期现代人龋病及牙槽骨异常研究

2007-2008年, 广西崇左智人洞发现了3件智人化石标本, 智人Ⅱ号为下颌右侧第3臼齿伴有部分下颌骨, 智人Ⅱ号为游离的下颌右侧第2或第3臼齿, 智人Ⅲ号为人类下颌骨中间部分残段。釉系测年结果显示其为距今10万年左右, 是目前东亚地区最古老的早期现代人。这3件化石标本显示出一系列的病理及异常现象:智人Ⅱ号牙齿齿根大部分暴露, 牙槽骨萎缩, 个体生前患有严重的牙周炎; 智人Ⅱ号牙齿龋病严重伴随齿根部大区域突起的白色钙化状的牙骨质增生, 个体生前可能患有严重的牙周组织炎症; 智人Ⅲ号下颌骨牙列拥挤, 双侧中门齿扭转, 双侧前臼齿对称性出现根尖周炎症状, 最大可能个体生前双侧前臼齿具有畸形中央尖, 突出的牙尖折断后牙髓感染导致根尖部牙槽腔扩大。更新世古人类出现龋病的情况非常罕见, 智人洞发现的人类龋齿是目前我国乃至东亚地区报道的最早的龋病病例。智人Ⅲ号下颌显示的牙列拥挤与牙齿扭转对于探讨人类咀嚼器官的退行性演化有重要参考价值。     

Effect of gonadectomy on the onset of diabetic syndrome in the female WBN/Kob rats

Almost all the male animals of WBN/Kob rat strain show the diabetic syndrome whereas none of the female animals develop such diseased conditions even at elder age. We investigated the effect of sex hormones on the onset of diabetic syndrome of this rat strain by comparing the results of body weight gain and various clinical tests such as glucose tolerance, serum biochemistry and histopathology of spayed female rats with those of non-treated and sham-operated female animals kept until 88-week-old. Non-treated and sham-operated female animals had shown no abnormal result even at 88-week-old. Spayed female animals began to reveal glucosuria associated with polydipsia and polyuria from 72-week-old, and gradually developed emaciation and cataract. Increased body weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance and lasting hyperglycemia were observed prior to the onset of the symptoms. Pancreatic changes consisted of atrophy of acinar tissue and atrophy or disappearance of islet tissue attributable to clinical data also were detected in spayed female animals. These diabetic syndrome and pancreatic change were analogous to those of aged male WBN/Kob rats but the onset of spayed females was delayed and less severe. Present results suggest that female sex hormones are protective from the onset of diabetic syndrome of WBN/Kob rats.     

The effect of geochemical factors on prevalences of dental diseases for prehistoric inhabitants of the state of Missouri

In previous epidemiological studies, it has been suggested that geochemical factors besides fluoride may affect the prevalences of dental diseases. Our objective in this study was to determine whether the prevalences of periodontal diseases, coronal caries, and root caries for prehistoric inhabitants vary between geochemical regions of the state of Missouri. Burial sites were located on unique maps that depict geochemical variation among regions of the state. Data on dental caries and alveolar bone loss were gathered from 179 of the best preserved skeletal remains of the Late Woodland (A.D. 400-900) and Mississippian (A.D. 900-1700) periods. Mean caries scores and proportions of individuals with caries were calculated for these geochemical regions. Average alveolar bone loss was regressed on age for the individuals of these regions. Significant differences in caries and bone loss were found between several regions. These differences cannot be adequately explained by fluoride concentrations or by diet. It is suggested that geochemical factors, in addition to fluoride, may have affected the prevalences of dental diseases.     

Dental Caries in the Elderly

Studies in the United States and other countries have shown that there is continued caries activity with advancing age. These studies, however, do not elaborate on the nature of the dental caries nor its anatomical location on the tooth. It has been assumed that dental caries occur on the coronal portion of retained teeth and that recurrent decay around existing restorations represents the major form of the disease. In addition to continued coronal caries activity in adults, the problem of carious lesions occurring on the exposed roots of teeth has been identified in a number of recent surveys. The exposure of the root surface to the oral cavity is a consequence of the apical migration of the periodontal attachment through periodontal disease and dental treatment which renders this part of the tooth at risk of the dental caries process. However, there are several distinct differences between coronal and root caries. The continued occurrence of coronal caries in adults and the projected increase m the prevalence of root caries suggests an expanded role for the restorative and preventive services for the older adult patient. Although the techniques relating to coronal caries are well-established, those relating to root caries are just beginning to be explored and developed. Many of the principles, materials and philosophies which have proved to be effective for coronal caries are not equally efficacious when the tooth root is involved. This area represents a fertile field for research and development in the older adult patient.     

Alloxan-induced diabetes triggers the development of periodontal disease in rats

Background

Periodontal disease in diabetic patients presents higher severity and prevalence; and increased severity of ligature-induced periodontal disease has been verified in diabetic rats. However, in absence of aggressive stimuli such as ligatures, the influence of diabetes on rat periodontal tissues is incompletely explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases in rats only with diabetes induction.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (n = 25) by intravenous administration of alloxan (42 mg/kg) and were analyzed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after diabetes induction. The hemimandibles were removed and submitted to radiographical and histopathological procedures. A significant reduction was observed in height of bone crest in diabetic animals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, which was associated with increased numbers of osteoclasts and inflammatory cells. The histopathological analyses of diabetic rats also showed a reduction in density of collagen fibers, fibroblasts and blood vessels. Severe caries were also detected in the diabetic group.

Conclusions/Significance

The results demonstrate that diabetes induction triggers, or even co-induces the onset of alterations which are typical of periodontal diseases even in the absence of aggressive factors such as ligatures. Therefore, diabetes induction renders a previously resistant host into a susceptible phenotype, and hence diabetes can be considered a very important risk factor to the development of periodontal disease.     

Characterization of a novel congenic strain of diabetic fatty (WBN/Kob-Lepr(fa)) rat

The WBN/Kob-Lepr^fa rat is a new congenic strain for the fa allele of the leptin receptor gene (Lepr). Homozygous (fa/fa) WBN/Kob-Lepr^fa rats provide a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes with obesity. Here, we describe the characteristics of this new animal model in detail. At 7 weeks of age, both male and female obese WBN/Kob rats showed inflammatory cell infiltration of the pancreas that suggested pan-pancreatitis and an abnormal OGTT. At 3 months of age, both male and female obese WBN/Kob rats developed overt diabetes mellitus associated with severe chronic pancreatitis. In contrast, lean female WBN/Kob rats do not develop pancreatitis or diabetes. In WBN/Kob rats, this mutation might promote the onset of severe pancreatitis, leading to the rapid development of diabetes mellitus.     

Diabetes aggravates periodontitis by limiting repair through enhanced inflammation

Periodontitis is the most common lytic bone disease and one of the first clinical manifestations of diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to examine mechanisms by which diabetes aggravates periodontitis. Ligature-induced periodontitis was examined in Goto-Kakizaki rats with type 2 diabetes. A tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-specific-inhibitor, pegsunercept, was applied to diabetic rats after the onset of periodontal disease. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), TNF-α, interleukin-1 β (IL-1β), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ-1), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), and BMP-6 were measured by real-time RT-PCR, and histological sections were examined for leukocyte infiltration and several parameters related to bone resorption and formation. Inflammation was prolonged in diabetic rats and was reversed by the TNF inhibitor, which reduced cytokine mRNA levels, leukocyte infiltration, and osteoclasts. In contrast, new bone and osteoid formation and osteoblast numbers were increased significantly vs. untreated diabetic animals. TNF inhibition in diabetic animals also reduced apoptosis, increased proliferation of bone-lining cells, and increased mRNA levels of FGF-2, TGFβ-1, BMP-2, and BMP-6. Thus, diabetes prolongs inflammation and osteoclastogenesis in periodontitis and through TNF limits the normal reparative process by negatively modulating factors that regulate bone.     

Effect of sex hormones on the onset of diabetic syndrome in WBN/Kob rats]

The effects of sex hormone on diabetic conditions were investigated in WBN/Kob strain rats, i.e., castrated or spayed, hormone-treated, and non-treated rats. The effects of sex hormone on glycosuria, body-weight change, glucose tolerance and histopathology of the pancreas were compared among these animals. There were no abnormal changes in these parameters in the non-treated females and estrogen-treated males. The glycosuria began to be observed from the age of about 30 weeks in the non-treated group and from the age of 52 weeks in the castrated group. In the female animals, this symptom began to appear from the age of 55 weeks in the testosterone-treated group and from the age of 72 weeks in the spayed group. Before the onset of the diabetic symptoms, glucose tolerance was impaired in these animals. Body weights of the castrated and estrogen-treated males were lower than that of the non-treated males, especially in the estrogen-treated males. Those of the spayed and testosterone-treated females were much heavier than that of the non-treated females. Testosterone treatment accelerated body-weight gain in the spayed female animals. Histopathological examination of the pancreas revealed atrophy of the aciner tissue and atrophy and disappearance of the islet cells similar to those of the non-treated WBN/Kob male rats in the castrated males, spayed females and testosterone-treated females. However, these changes were not observed in the non-treated females or estrogen-treated males. These findings suggest that female hormone suppressed the onset of hyperglycemia along with glycosuria and male hormone accelerates the onset of hyperglycemia in the WBN/Kob rats.     

Continuous tooth eruption in Australian aboriginal skulls

Increases in the distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar crest (CEJ-AC) have often been attributed to senile atrophy of the bone or to the effects of periodontitis, without reference to the condition of the alveolar crest. This study investigated the relationship between CEJ-AC distance, tooth wear, gender, site of the CEJ-AC measurements, and age in 161 pre-white-contact Australian aboriginal skulls. Individual teeth were included in the study when there was no evidence of dehiscence, periodontitis, or abscess cavity formation in the supporting alveolar bone. The CEJ-AC distances increased as the severity of attrition increased; in male skulls, CEJ-AC distances were greater than in female skulls for all categories of tooth wear. In general, CEJ-AC distances measured on the mesial aspects of teeth were greater than those recorded distally; lingual distances generally exceeded buccal recordings. The best explanation of these findings and similar reports in the anthropological literature is that continuous tooth eruption occurred without the concomitant coronal movement of alveolar bone. This conclusion has significant ramifications for anthropological, epidemiological, and clinical studies which use the CEJ and AC as reference points when measuring periodontal attachment loss (periodontitis).     

Observations of dental diseases among prehistoric populations of Hungary

The incidence of dental disease among people in developing countries today raises questions about the variation in the oral health of prehistoric populations. Considering these questions, we offer observations describing several types of dental disease which occurred among certain prehistoric populations of Hungary. The dental remains of 162 individuals recovered from seven sites of the Neolithic, Copper, and Bronze Age periods were examined for evidence of caries, hypoplasia, and periodontal disease. Appropriate methods were used to describe and record these dental lesions. The incidence of dental caries was low by comparison to other prehistoric agriculturists except for two forms of root caries: cervical and cemental. These types accounted for 68% of all the carious teeth recorded. Enamel hypoplasia was also lower than expected, occurring on only 4% of the total number of teeth. Periodontal abscesses were rare but other milder forms of periodontal lesions were frequent. Alveolar bone resorption occurred in varying degrees and followed the expected age distribution. The few exceptions were children or adolescents whose crania had other lesions suggesting a mineral metabolic disturbance. The lower incidence of enamel caries is likely due to high fluoride ingestion which also may have influenced the expression of enamel hypoplasia. No clear population trends were seen in dental disease incidence except for cemental caries which were found among Copper and Bronze Age remains.     

Radiographic and visual assessment of alveolar pathology of first molars in dry skulls

There are many reports in the literature relating to the dental pathology of ancient peoples. In most instances only visual observations of alveolar lesions have been made, precluding assessment of covert dental lesions. The present paper was undertaken to compare the incidence of alveolar dental lesions determined by both visual and radiographic methods in a group of Australian aboriginal skulls. First molars of the right side were used for the comparison: approximately ten percent more lesions were found by the radiographic method. The data demonstrated the limitation of either technique alone. The strong association between pulp exposure and furcal, angular, and apical lesions suggests that pulpal lesions provoke periodontal changes that have traditionally been assigned to a gingival etiology. The location of the lesions within the periodontium would appear to be determined by the location of the pulpal pathology and the pathways through dentin between that location and the periodontal ligament.     

Changes in the Concentration of Microelements in the Teeth of Rats in the Final Stage of Type 1 Diabetes,with an Absolute Lack of Insulin

The mineral content of tooth hard tissue may influence the rate of decay change. Considering this fact, we aimed at examining if type 1 diabetes might be a contributing factor to the appearance of tooth decay. The experiment was conducted on female Wistar rats. To induce diabetes, rats were intravenously injected with 1 mL streptozocine 0.01 M citrate buffer. The control group of rats was injected with 1 mL 0.01 M citrate buffer only. After 10 days, teeth and blood serum samples were obtained. Fluoride concentration was determined by potentiometer method, and calcium and magnesium, by AAS. Serum concentrations of glucose and estradiol in the diabetic rats were significantly higher compared to the control group. In the experimental group, a statistically significant decrease of fluorine concentration in both teeth and serum were observed. Calcium and magnesium concentrations in blood serum and dental magnesium concentration were significantly higher in rats with type 1 diabetes compared with the control. A downward trend in the content of dental calcium in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was observed. The results obtained indicate that caries initiation and progression could be promoted by metabolic changes associated with diabetes affecting the mineral composition of tooth hard tissue.     

实验性牙周炎合并咬合创伤模型的研究进展

不正常的咬合接触关系或者过大的咬合力,造成咀嚼系统各部位的病理性损害或者适应性变化称为咬合创伤,而牙周炎是一种慢性炎症性疾病,是由牙菌斑生物膜引起的牙周组织的感染性疾病,导致牙周支持组织的破坏-牙周袋形成和炎症、进行性的附着丧失和牙槽骨吸收。近年来有学者对咬合创伤作为一类独立疾病进行研究,也有学者将咬合创伤作为牙周炎的一个重要的局部促进因素进行研究。牙周炎和咬合创伤的关系至今不是很明确,关于咬合创伤和牙周炎的相互关系,虽然早在20世纪初已开始研究,却直到70年代才有严格对照的动物实验研究。大鼠牙周炎合并咬合创伤的模型在牙周炎和咬合创伤关系的相关研究中起着十分重要的作用。本文从牙周炎和咬合创伤复合模型的建立方面,综述了各种建模方法的研究进展,以期为牙周炎合并咬合创伤的深入研究提供参考。     

The influence of alveolar structures on the torsional strain field in a gorilla corporeal cross-section

Anthropologists have often used mandibular torsional properties to make inferences about primate dietary adaptations. Most of the methods employed are based on assumptions related to periodontal and alveolar properties. This study uses the finite element method to evaluate some of these assumptions with a cross-section through the third molar of a gorilla. Results indicate that the properties of alveolar bone play an important role in determining the strain field. In comparison, the exact stiffness values of the periodontal ligaments seem to have a much smaller impact. Replacing the dental roots and periodontal ligaments with alveolar bone, however, has a significant influence on the strain field. It underestimates the maximum shear strain by about 28% along its periosteal aspect when alveoli are modeled as cortical bone. It overestimates the strain by a smaller amount when alveoli are modeled as trabecular bone.This study supports the assumption that primate mandibles behave like a closed-section under torsion under the limiting condition that the alveolar bone stiffness is more than half of the value of cortical bone; alveolar bone can then be modeled as cortical bone with a minimal loss of accuracy. In addition, this study suggests that the minimum cortical thickness should be considered for torsional strength. Finally, modeling accuracy can be significantly increased if both dental and periodontal structures can be realistically incorporated into mandibular biomechanical models. However, this may not be always feasible in studies of fossil mandibles. This is due mainly to the difficulties involved in estimating alveolar bone densities and in distinguishing boundaries between cortical bone, alveolar bone, periodontal ligaments, and dental roots in fossil specimens.     

Structure of alveolar bone during tooth eruption in the dog: preliminary findings

The structure of the alveolar bone during the tooth eruption in the young dog mandibles was investigated by microradiographic and polarized light techniques. Around the first erupting molar root a trabecular network of primary alveolar bone, less mineralized than the surrounding cortical one, was found. Numerous calcified spicules parallel one to others radiate out the spongiosa near the periodontal ligament. The collagen fiber bundles of the alveolar, woven, bone are continuous with the periodontal ligament ones. This finding indicates that the alveolar bone increases by ossification of the periodontal ligament. Therefore the latter is the forming alveolar bone substratum. The trabeculae of the occlused premolar alveolar bone are ticker and more mineralized. This modification of the occlused tooth alveolar bone could be related to the occlusal stresses.     

A new diabetic strain of rat (WBN/Kob)

A new, spontaneously occurring diabetic syndrome has been observed in the aged males of an inbred strain of Wistar rats, WBN/Kob. The main clinical sign, glycosuria, was first detected at about 60 weeks of age, and thereafter some animals developed hyperlipidaemia and gradual emaciation. Prior to the onset of glucosuria, male rats showed impaired glucose tolerance after a glucose load at 21 weeks of age. The histopathologic lesions of the pancreas in the diabetic males consisted of multifocal fibrosis, decreased in number and size of islets and atrophy of exocrine tissue. Multifocal inflammatory foci of varying stages were the main pancreatic lesion in prediabetic male rats. This inflammatory change was detected even in 12-week-old rats and tended to occur around the islets. Therefore focal fibrosis and the decrease in the number and size of islets were considered to result from post-inflammatory scarring. The maturity-onset of this syndrome and the impaired glucose tolerance in younger animals suggested that diabetes mellitus of this rat strain is insulin-independent type II. However, the histological lesions of the pancreas were somewhat different from previous reports of both type I and II diabetes mellitus in man and animals.     

FcrRIIA基因多态性与牙周炎关系的研究进展

牙周炎是一种由菌斑引起的以牙周软组织和牙槽骨破坏为特征的慢性感染性疾病,其病因尚不明确,目前普遍认为是细菌 感染和宿主防御相互作用的结果,受遗传有关的宿主易感性、环境、行为因素的影响。致病菌的存在是牙周炎发生的必要条件,基 因因素影响宿主在应对细菌免疫应答过程中的强度,从而导致不同程度的牙周组织破坏。许多有关牙周炎基因方面的研究把目 光对准了在免疫调节和新陈代谢中发挥重要作用的物质的基因多态性,比如细胞因子、细胞表面受体、趋化因子、酶以及其他与 抗原识别有关的物质。FcrR 就是其中之一。FcrR 属于免疫球蛋白超家族,主要有FcrRI、FcrRII、FcrRIII 三类,大量研究表明 FcrRIIA 基因多态性与牙周炎的易感性有关。在针对不同种族的调查中,Fc酌RIIA 基因多态性与牙周炎的易感性的研究结果不尽 相同。也提示我们基因多态性的等位基因频率在各个种族之间存在差异,这种基因标识在界定牙周炎病因和预后方面的相关应 用会变得有所不同。基因诊断将会成为未来牙周病预防和治疗的新方向。本文主要对近年来FcrRIIA 基因多态性与牙周炎关系 的研究进展进行了综述。