Aim: To evaluate the potential role of miR-26 family members in periodontal pathogenesis by assessing innate immune responses to periopathic bacteria and regulation of cytoskeletal organization.Materials and Methods: Expression of miR-26a-5p and miR-26b-5p was quantified in gingival biopsies derived from healthy and periodontally diseased subjects before and after non-surgical (scaling and root planing) therapy by RT-qPCR. Global pathway analysis and luciferase assays were performed for target identification and validation.Cytokine expression was assessed in miR-26a-5p transfected human oral keratinocytes upon stimulation with either live Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans or Pg lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Wound closure assays were performed in cells transfected with miR-26a-5p, while the impact on cytoskeletal organization was assessed by F-actin staining.Results: miR-26a-5p and miR-26b-5p were downregulated in diseased gingiva and restored 4-6 weeks post-therapy to levels comparable with healthy subjects. Target validation assays identified phospholipase C beta 1 as a bona fide novel target exhibiting antagonistic expression pattern in disease and post-therapy cohorts. miR-26a-5p transfected cells secreted higher levels of cytokine/chemokines upon stimulation with periopathogens and demonstrated impaired cell migration and cytoskeletal rearrangement.Conclusions: Downregulated miR-26a-5p levels in periodontal inflammation may interfere with key cellular functions that may have significant implications for host defence and wound healing.

Several strains of the novel Coronavirus have been identified and countries around the world are conducting research to identify, map and compare each type. Its infection can manifest with symptoms ranging from uncomplicated non-specific illness to a more damaging syndrome that include mild to moderate pneumonia (Co-vid 19 pneumonia broadly categorised into the phenotypes: L-type and H-type); Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome; Sepsis and Septic shock. Although, this virus has a low mortality rate, the danger lies in its virulence and transmission dynamics. With more and more cases being reported, researchers and clinicians are promptly identifying and triaging the cases for treatment. Till date, there has been no drug identified to be efficacious cure for this infection. Using the WHO guidelines as a base, various medical institutions are continuously updating their guidelines for the identification and therapeutic management of persons infected with Co-vid 19, with a strong emphasis on IPC measures. The guidelines also highlight detailed supportive treatment including supplemental oxygen therapy, ventilation, intubation and management of specific complications. The current treatment is tailored to patient centred management for the existing co-morbidities and appreciate a progress in the prognosis. What is needed at this hour however, is a definitive drug therapy or vaccine. Different countries are rushing to find this and various trials are already underway. The aim of this article is thus to review salient features of specific therapies being used now and summarise the different clinical trials being conducted so as to stay abreast of the possible treatment modalities.

Periodontal inflammation is largely governed by infiltration of myeloid cells, in particular macrophages. Polarization of Mφ within the gingival tissues is a well-controlled axis and has considerable consequences for how Mφ participate in inflammatory and resolution (tissue repair) phases. We hypothesize that periodontal therapy may instigate a pro-resolution environment favoring M2 Mφ polarization and contribute towards resolution of inflammation post-therapy. We aimed to evaluate the markers of macrophage polarization before and after periodontal therapy. Gingival biopsies were excised from human subjects with generalized severe periodontitis, undergoing routine non-surgical therapy. A second set of biopsies were excised after 4-6 weeks to assess the impact of therapeutic resolution at the molecular level. As controls, gingival biopsies were excised from periodontally healthy subjects, undergoing crown lengthening. Total RNA was isolated from gingival biopsies to evaluate pro- and anti-inflammatory markers associated with macrophage polarization by RT-qPCR. Mean periodontal probing depths, CAL and BOP reduced significantly after therapy and corroborated with the reduced levels of periopathic bacterial transcripts after therapy. Compared to heathy and treated biopsies, higher load of Aa and Pg transcripts were observed in disease. Lower expression of M1Mφ markers (TNF-α, STAT1) were observed after therapy as compared to diseased samples. Conversely, M2Mφ markers (STAT6, IL-10) were highly expressed in post-therapy as opposed to pre-therapy, which correlated with clinical improvement. These findings corroborated with murine ligature-induced periodontitis and resolution model, comparing the respective murine Mφ polarization markers (M1 Mφ: cox2, iNOS2 and M2 Mφ: tgm2 and arg1). Our findings suggest that imbalance in M1 and M2 polarized macrophages by assessment of their markers can provide relevant clinical information on the successful response of periodontal therapy and can be used to target non-responders with exaggerated immune responses.

The use of dental lasers for treatment of periodontal diseases has been the area of interest in the recent years. Current evidence indicates that the use of lasers for the treatment of adult chronic periodontitis—either used solely or as an adjunct to traditional scaling and root planning therapy—offers minimal benefit. This article which is a peer review of various articles provides a brief explanation of the mechanism behind soft tissue lasers. The use of laser therapy in addition to traditional nonsurgical periodontal treatment in the management of periodontal diseases is reviewed. Lasers have been applied for hard and soft tissue debridement, as also for the bacterial load reduction from the periodontal pocket. Although, subgingival application of few of them during nonsurgical periodontal therapy can result in undesired outcomes, even when using manufacturer-recommended parameters. Over the past 20 years the research conducted regarding the clinical application of lasers is very limited. This article tries to fill in the void by reviewing the current and potential application of laser therapy. It has in turn proven to be a promising field in nonsurgical periodontal treatment of diseases. How to cite this article Uttamani J, Shaikh I, Kulkarni V. Use of Lasers in Nonsurgical Periodontal Therapy. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2013;2(1):29-32.