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background: osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease that affects women more than men, it is characterized by generalizes reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) leaving a fragile weak bone that is liable to fracture, gonial angle index (GAI) is one of the radio-morphometric indices, it has been controversial whether it is related to bone mineral density or ageing or none of them. The aim of study is to evaluate the role of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a screening tool for diagnosis of osteoporosis and age effect in females using gonial angle index. Material and method: 60 females were divided into 3 groups according to age and (BMD) status into: Group1 (nonosteoporosis 20-30 years), Group2 (non-osteoporosis 50years and above), and Group3 (osteoporosis 50years and above), each patient had a CBCT scan, and gonial angle index was measured compared among groups. Results: Gonial angle index showed a significant difference between Group1 and Group2 at p < 0.05, while it showed no significant difference between Group2 and Group3 at p > 0.05. Conclusion: Gonial angle index is significantly affected by age factor while it was not affected by osteoporosis, so it cannot be used as a parameter that can predict bone mineral density status patients

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Objective: To determine the expression of key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers in gingival tissue samples collected from patients with periodontitis.Background: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a process responsible for shifting epithelial-phenotype to mesenchymal-phenotype leading to loss of epithelial-barrier function. Thus, EMT could be involved as a pathogenic mechanism in periodontitis as both conditions share common promoters and signalling pathways.Materials and Methods: Gingival tissue samples were collected from patients with periodontitis (case) and healthy periodontium (control). Periodontal parameters including bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment loss were recorded. Paraffinized tissue samples were processed and immunohistochemically stained to determine the expression of key EMT markers which included E-cadherin, β-catenin, Snail1 and vimentin. Results:The majority of cases (n = 65, 72.2%) were diagnosed with periodontitis stage 3 or 4, grade b or c vs 25 (27.8%) subjects with intact healthy periodontium. Discontinuity of epithelium was detected in up to 80.9% of periodontitis cases associated with reduced number of epithelial layers as compared to controls. Immunohistochemical expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and β-catenin)was significantly downregulated in periodontitis patients as compared with controls. Periodontitis cases exhibited significant upregulation of Snail1 expression. Furthermore, cytoplasmic vimentin (66.2%) and nuclear β-catenin (27.7%) were solely expressed in periodontally diseased tissues compared with control. Epithelial markers, E-cadherin and β-catenin, were significantly negatively correlated with increasing PPD, while vimentin showed positive correlation with this parameter. Conclusion:There were marked downregulation of epithelial molecules and upregulation of mesenchymal markers in gingival tissues derived from periodontitis patients, suggesting expression of the EMT phenotype in the pathological epithelial lining of periodontal pockets.

Background:Hormonal changes in women affect bone mineral density, especially during and postmenopausal years, which leads to susceptibility to osteoporosis which interfere with implantation.Aims:This study aims to use cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) viewer program to predict patients with osteoporosis which may decrease the success rate of implantation and to evaluate osteoporosis effect on the posterior mandible.Settings and Design:This cross-sectional study consists of 60 Iraqi females who were divided into three groups: Group 1 consisted of 20 nonosteoporotic females aged 20–30 years as a control group, Group 2 consisted of 20 nonosteoporotic females aged 50 years and above, and Group 3 consisted of 20 osteoporotic females aged 50 years and above.Materials and Methods:The posterior mandibular first molar area was examined for alveolar bone height and radiographic density (RD) using CBCT.Statistical Analysis Used:Statistical analysis was computer assisted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 21). Interclass correlation coefficient was used for calibration. Normally distributed variables were assessed using one-way ANOVA, and Dunnett test with control and not normally distributed were assessed by Kruskal–Wallis test, and multiple Mann–Whitney U-test with Bonferroni adjustment.Results:RD showed a significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3 (P = 0.000, MD = 158.554). On the other hand, alveolar bone height showed a significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.039).Conclusions:RD in the posterior mandible first molar area is significantly affected in osteoporotic patients and it can be used as a predictor for the presence of osteoporosis using CBCT.