Recent studies have suggested an association between periodontal disease (PD) and the systemic polygenic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD). These are thought to be associated because of interrelated environmental, epigenetic, and genetic risk factors. The involved candidate genes include the IL-1B gene, encoding the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, and the CRP gene encoding the C-reactive protein (CRP), also a known marker of inflammation. However, as the details are not well known on the genetic variation influencing the risk factors, this work aimed to evaluate the distribution of selected polymorphisms of IL-1B and CRP genes, and serum CRP level, in comparison with the PD status. For this purpose, periodontal health was assessed, serum CRP levels measured and polymorphism status of IL-1B and CRP genes determined from samples of peripheral blood taken from 101 consenting Indonesian adult males. The results show that severe PD was significantly associated with age and smoking, as expected, but not with the polymorphisms of IL-1B or CRP (1444). However, a significantly lower fraction of subjects with normal periodontal health than subjects with PD showed the heterozygous type polymorphism of CRP (717). There was no significant difference in the fraction of cases with elevated serum CRP level between subjects with normal health and those with PD, and further study with a larger sample is recommended. The observed association between polymorphism of CRP (717) and periodontal health is suggested as a complementary indicator of the risk to PD for the Indonesian male population.

Abstract. Hydroxyapatite (HA) formation is one of the most important aspects of bone regeneration. Because domestically made chitosan-hydroxyapatite-collagen composite scaffolding from crab shell and bovine bone and tendon has potential as a maxillofacial reconstruction material, the material's HA-forming ability requires evaluation. The aim of this research is to investigate chitosan-hydroxyapatite-collagen composite scaffold's potential as a maxillofacial reconstruction material by observing the scaffold's compositional changes. Scaffold specimens were immersed in 37°C simulated body fluid (SBF) for periods of 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. Scaffold composition was then evaluated by using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) percentages of the scaffold were found to increase following SBF immersion. The high Ca/P ratio (3.82) on the scaffold indicated HA formation. Ion exchange played a significant role in the increased percentages of Ca and P, which led to new HA layer formation. The scaffold's HA acted as a nucleation site of Ca and P from the SBF, with collagen and chitosan as the scaffold's matrix. Chitosan-hydroxyapatitecollagen composite scaffold shows potential as a maxillofacial reconstruction material, since its composition favors HA formation.

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