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Background: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have a higher prevalence and severity of periodontal disease, which cannot be explained by poor oral hygiene alone and is related to changes in the immune response. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether DS was associated with differential modulation of expression of genes associated with proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses in periodontal disease. Methods: A total of 51 individuals were evaluated: 19 individuals with DS and periodontal disease (group 1), 20 euploid individuals with periodontal disease (group 2; positive control), and 12 euploid individuals without periodontal disease (group 3; negative control). Clinical periodontal evaluation and gingival biopsies were performed. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to determine expression levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), the receptors IL-10RA and IL-10RB, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interferon-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and the signaling intermediates Janus kinase 1, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3), and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS-3). Results: Expression of IL10, SOCS3, IP10, and ICAM1 mRNA in DS patients was significantly lower compared to euploid individuals with periodontal disease, whereas IL-10RB and STAT-3 mRNA levels were higher in individuals with DS. Conclusion: Reduced expression of IL-10 coupled with a possible increase of STAT3 activation (increase of STAT3 and reduction of SOCS3 mRNA) indicates an important modulation of the immune response, with attenuation of anti-inflammatory and increase of proinflammatory mediators. This modulation may be related to the increased prevalence and severity of periodontitis in individuals with DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This cross-over in situ experiment evaluated the microbial composition and quantified the total polysaccharides in the biofilm formed on the surface of a high viscosity glass-ionomer cement (GIC) mixed with chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX) in concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2%. GIC without CHX was used as control., Methods: The volunteers (n= 8) tested each material for a 7-day period, by using a palatal acrylic device containing four round specimens, all fabricated with the same material. An increasing order of CHX concentration and a 15-day washout period between each concentration was adopted. The biofilm formed was collected and inoculated in specific culture media and thereafter, the total microorganisms, total streptococci, Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp were counted. Total polysaccharides were quantified by using a phenol-sulfuric method. Microbiologic data were analyzed by ANOVA for repeated measures and Tukey tests, and the total polysaccharide content by Friedman and Dunn's tests. Significance level was set at 5%., Results: Microorganism counts showed statistically significant differences among groups only for Lactobacillus (P< 0.05), that were significantly higher for group GIC+CHX 2% compared with GIC and GIC+CHX 0.5%. However, the concentration of total polysaccharides in the biofilm was lower for groups containing 1% and 2% of CHX., Clinical Significance: The addition of chlorhexidine in the studied concentrations did not reduce the microorganism counts, but caused reduction of biofilm density., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest. This work was partially supported by CAPES – Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the oral colonization profile of Candida albicans strains isolated from diabetic patients and their non-diabetic consorts. In addition hydrolytic enzyme activity of these isolates was analysed., Methods: The genetic diversity of C. albicans oral isolates from 52 couples was established using isoenzyme marker and cluster analysis. Hydrolytic enzyme characteristics, namely secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAPs) and phospholipases (PLs) were also analysed., Results: Simultaneous colonization by C. albicans was observed in the consorts of 12 couples (23.1%). Patterns of monoclonal and polyclonal oral colonization by C. albicans strains were identified and the coexistence of identical or highly related strains was observed in both members of eight couples. The genetic diversity observed in the total yeast population revealed four large, genetically distinct groups (A to D) and the coexistence of strains in couples or consorts conjugally unrelated. SAP and PL activity was observed in the majority of C. albicans isolates without any association to particular strain, strain clusters (highly related isolates), or clinical characteristics of the consorts (diabetic, non-diabetic, and gender)., Conclusion: Possible sources of transmission and oral propagation of groups (clusters) of strains of C. albicans can occur between diabetic and non-diabetic consorts. A conjugal genotypic identity exists in most C. albicans-positive couples, that is, both consorts share identical or highly related strains; however, this identity is not couple-specific as seen by the coexistence of clusters in couples and unrelated consorts.