Background and Objective:Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of periodontitis even if the mechanism is unknown. Since both MetS and periodontitis are characterized by an alteration of inflammation status, the aim of this pilot study was to determine if differences in ROS metabolism of phagocytes isolated from (A) patients with MetS, (B) patients with both MetS and mild periodontitis, (C) healthy subjects and (D) normal weight subjects with mild periodontitis, were present.Methods:ROS metabolism was studied by a Chemiluminescence (CL) technique: the system was made up of luminol (100 nmol/L) and cells (1 × 105) in the presence or absence of stimulus constituted by opsonized zymosan (0.5 mg). The final volume (1.0 mL) was obtained using modified KRP buffer. ROS production was measured at 25°C for 2 h, using an LB 953 luminometer (Berthold, EG & G Co, Germany). All the experiments were performed in triplicate.Statistical Analysis:All results are mean ± standard deviation (SD). The group of means was compared by the analysis of variance "(ANOVA)". A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant.Results:Results showed that basal ROS production (both from PMNs and from PBMs) of groups A, B and D was increased with respect to that obtained from group C (p <0.05).Conclusion:These results are congruent with literature data, although the actual clinical relevance of the phenomenon remains to be evaluated.

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The topical treatment for oral mucosal diseases is often based on products optimized for dermatologic applications; consequently, a lower therapeutic effect may be present. 18-β-glycyrrhetic acid (GA) is extracted from Glycirrhiza glabra. The first aim of this study was to test the cytotoxicity of GA on PE/CA-PJ15 cells. The second aim was to propose and test two different delivery systems, i.e. nanoparticles and fibers, to guarantee a controlled release of GA in vitro. We used chitosan and poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid based nanoparticles and polylactic acid fibers. We tested both delivery systems in vitro on PE/CA-PJ15 cells and on normal human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). The morphology of GA-loaded nanoparticles (GA-NPs) and fibers (GA-FBs) was investigated by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering; GA release kinetics was studied spectrophotometrically. MTT test was used to assess GA cytotoxicity on both cancer and normal cells. Cells were exposed to different concentrations of GA (20-500 μmol l) administered as free GA (GA-f), and to GA-NPs or GA-FBs. ROS production was evaluated using dichlorodihydrofluorescein as a fluorescent probe. Regarding the cytotoxic effect of GA on PE/CA-PJ15 cells, the lowest TC value was 200 μmol l when GA was added as GA-NPs. No cytotoxic effects were observed when GA was administered to HGFs. N-acetyl Cysteine reduced mortality induced by GA-f in PE/CA-PJ15 cells. The specific effect of GA on PE/CA-PJ15 cells is mainly due to the different sensitivity of cancer cells to ROS over-production; GA-NPs and GA-FBs formulations increase, in vitro, this toxic effect on oral cancer cells.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy) is a risk\ud factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD).\ud In type 2 diabetes (T2D), hHcy is strongly associated with\ud increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin B12 and\ud folic acid supplementation have been reported to lower\ud homocysteine (tHcy) levels, but no data on plasma tHcy,\ud cysteine (Cys), folate and vitamin B12 levels in T2D-CKD\ud patients are reported.\ud Procedures tHcy and Cys levels were analyzed in 178\ud T2D-CKD patients by high performance liquid chromatography\ud (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. In addition,\ud we determined folate and vitamin B12 levels using a\ud chemiluminescence method.\ud Results tHcy and Cys levels were increased in T2D\ud patients, and this rise positively correlated with the CKD\ud stage (P\0.001). Folate levels were comparable to controls\ud at various CKD stages, whereas vitamin B12 levels\ud were lower, except at stage IV. We did not find any\ud correlation between B-vitamins and levels of tHcy and Cys,\ud regardless of the CKD stage.\ud Conclusions This is the first study reporting tHcy, Cys\ud and B-vitamins status in T2D-CKD patients. Although\ud limited to our cohort of 178 patients, our findings could be\ud helpful in clarifying the conflicting literature regarding\ud B-vitamins supplementation. Further studies are necessary\ud before any Hcy-lowering therapy can be safely established\ud in T2D-CKD subjects