Background. Transferrin is a negative acute phase protein, which decreases during inflammation and infection. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate changes in the transferrin serum levels subsequent to non-surgical treatment of chronic periodontal disease.Methods. Twenty patients with chronic periodontitis and 20 systemically healthy subjects without periodontal disease, who had referred to Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry, were selected. Transferrin serum levels and clinical periodontal parameters (pocket depth, clinical attachment level, gingival index, bleeding index and plaque index) were measured at baseline and 3 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods (means ± standard deviations). Independent samples t-test was used to compare transferrin serum levels and clinical variables between the test and control groups. Paired samples t-test was used in the test group for comparisons before and after treatment. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results. The mean transferrin serum level in patients with chronic periodontitis (213.1 ± 9.2 mg/dL) was significantly less than that in periodontally healthy subjects (307.8 ± 11.7 mg/dL). Three months after periodontal treatment, the transferrin serum level increased significantly (298.3 ± 7.6 mg/dL) and approached the levels in periodontally healthy subjects (P < 0.05).Conclusion. The decrease and increase in transferrin serum levels with periodontal disease and periodontal treatment, respectively, indicated an inverse relationship between transferrin serum levels and chronic periodontitis.

Background. This study aimed to compare the analgesic effects of Ibuprofen and bromelain after periodontal surgery. Methods. A double-blinded crossover clinical trial was conducted on 22 patients needing two crown lengthening surgeries without bone surgery or with limited bone surgery on two quadrants of the maxilla, with control and test sides. Each quadrant was randomly assigned to bromelain (500 GUD) or ibuprofen (400 mg). Immediately after the surgery and 6 hours after it, the first dose of the drugs was packaged in the same capsules in A and B. Postoperative pain was evaluated during the first 8 hours and on the following day using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results. Using the VAS, the Ibuprofen group showed significantly lower mean pain scores than the bromelain group at 4 hours (P=0.047). In contrast, there were no significant differences between the two groups at 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, and 48 hours (P>0.05). Conclusion. The effectiveness of bromelain for pain control following periodontal surgery was comparable to that of Ibuprofen. Therefore, bromelain can be an efficient replacement for ibuprofen in managing pain after periodontal surgery, especially in patients with gastric ulceration and increased bleeding tendency.