Hafize Öztürk Özener

Background/Objectives: Chronic hyperglycemia drives gingival fibroblast dysfunction, disrupting extracellular matrix homeostasis and the migratory capacity required for wound healing, which contributes to increased periodontal susceptibility in diabetes. Ferulic acid (FA), a dietary phenolic compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has demonstrated wound-healing activity in various tissues; however, its effects on human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) under hyperglycemic conditions remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of FA on HGF viability, wound closure, and the secreted concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) under normoglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions. Methods: Cultured HGFs (HGF-1 cell line) were pre-conditioned for 72 h under normal glucose (5.5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM), with an iso-osmolar mannitol control to distinguish glucose-specific effects from osmotic changes. Viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and wound closure by scratch assay following FA treatment, while MMP-1, TIMP-1, and IL-6 concentrations in conditioned medium were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: FA was non-cytotoxic at all tested concentrations, whereas 50 µM transiently increased viability. FA significantly enhanced wound closure under both conditions, independent of osmotic effects. High glucose increased IL-6 concentration in the conditioned medium (significant at 48 h) and MMP-1 levels. FA partially attenuated MMP-1 levels at specific time points, modestly reduced IL-6 levels, and markedly increased TIMP-1 concentration under both glucose conditions. Conclusions: FA enhanced wound closure in scratch assay and shifted the secreted MMP-1/TIMP-1 concentration ratio toward a more favorable, matrix-protective profile at the protein level, without cytotoxicity, supporting further investigation of its potential role in periodontal tissue repair under high glucose conditions.

Squalene, a natural isoprenoid and an intermediate in cholesterol synthesis, has anti-inflammatory and skin-protective effects. The aim of the present stud

Polymorphisms in inflammasome genes can modulate the host immune response and influence individual susceptibility to periodontitis. The present study was d

Objective: The Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) enables quantification of periodontal inflammatory burden by translating clinical periodontal findings into a surface area metric. The present retrospective study aimed to calculate PISA values in individuals diagnosed with Stage III Grade B and Stage III Grade C periodontitis and to evaluate the associations between PISA and conventional periodontal clinical parameters. Material and Methods: Healthy individuals as well as patients with Stage III Grade B and Stage III Grade C periodontitis were evaluated for periodontal parameters. PISA scores were calculated based on bleeding on probing positive sites and probing depth. Correlations between PISA values and periodontal clinical parameters were analyzed statistically. Results: Significant differences in PISA values were observed among healthy individuals and Stage III Grade B and Grade C periodontitis patients, with the highest values were found in Grade C periodontitis. PISA values were positively correlated with bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD), and plaque index (PI) indicating an increase in inflammatory burden with greater periodontal tissue breakdown. Conclusion: PISA provides a robust quantitative representation of periodontal inflammation and demonstrates strong associations with established clinical periodontal parameters. These findings highlight the value of PISA as a complementary outcome measure for assessing periodontal inflammatory burden and disease severity in periodontitis.

Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the histomorphometric and immunohistochemical impacts of vitamin K2 on guided bone regeneration (GBR) in calvarial critical‐size defects (CSDs) in diabetic rats.Methods: A total of 30 rats were used in this study, comprising 12 non‐diabetic (control) rats and 18 with streptozotocin‐nicotinamide‐induced experimental Diabetes mellitus (DM). In all rats, two calvarial CSDs were created: one defect was left empty (E), the other was treated with bovine‐derived bone graft and collagen‐based resorbable membrane (GM). Study groups were as follows: control rats administered saline (n = 6, C‐E and C‐GM groups) or vitamin K2 (n = 6, CK‐E and CK‐GM groups) and diabetic rats administered saline (n = 6, DM‐E and DM‐GM groups) or vitamin K2 (n = 6, DMK‐E and DMK‐GM groups). After 4 weeks of saline or vitamin K2 administration, the rats were euthanized. Bone defect healing and new bone formation were assessed histomorphometrically, and osteocalcin and osteopontin levels were examined immunohistochemically.Results: Percentage of new bone formation was greater in CK‐GM vs. CK‐E and in DMK‐GM vs. DMK‐E [d = 3.86 (95% CI = 16.38–28.61), d = 1.86, (95% CI = 10.74–38.58), respectively, p < .05]. Bone defect healing scores were higher in CK‐GM vs. CK‐E and in DMK‐GM vs. DMK‐E [d = 2.69 (95% CI = ‐2.12 to −0.87), d = 3.28 (95% CI = 0.98–1.91), respectively, p < .05]. Osteocalcin expression levels were elevated in CK‐GM vs. CK‐E, in DMK‐GM vs. DMK‐E [d = 1.19 (95% CI = 0.08–1.41), d = 1.10 (95% CI = 0.02–1.22), respectively p < .05]. Vitamin K2 enhanced osteocalcin expression levels in DMK‐E vs. DM‐E [d = 2.78, (95% CI = 0.56–1.53), p < .05] and in DMK‐GM vs. DM‐GM [d = 2.43, (95% CI = 0.65–2.10), p < .05]. Osteopontin expression was enhanced in defects treated with GM vs. E defects [C‐GM vs. C‐E, d = 1.56 (95% CI = 0.38–2.01); CK‐GM vs. CK‐E, d = 1.91 (95% CI = 0.49–1.72); DM‐GM vs. DM‐E, d = 2.34 (95% CI = ‐1.12 to −0.50); DMK‐GM vs. DMK‐E, d = 2.00 (95% CI = 0.58–1.91), p < .05].Conclusion: The research findings suggest that administering vitamin K2 in GBR for rats with DM favorably impacts bone healing in CSDs, presenting an adjunctive strategy for bone regeneration.

Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate radiographically the effect of orally administered vitamin D3 on guided bone regeneration in calvarial critical size defects (CSD) in rats. Methods: Two calvarial CSD were created in 12 male Sprague-Dawley rats. One of the defects was left empty (E defect), while the other one was treated with deproteinized bovine bone graft and collagen-based resorbable membrane (GM-filled defect). Following surgical intervention, rats were randomly assigned into two groups; the control group was administered distilled water, and the test group was treated with 2 µg /kg vitamin D3 by gavage once a day for 8 weeks. Radiological images were obtained from rats on 4th and 8th weeks. The area fraction of newly formed osteoid was determined using Image Fiji Analysis Software. Results: The percentages of area fraction in the GM-filled defects were statistically higher than the E defects in both study groups at 4th and 8th weeks (p<.0001). In both E and GM defects, the percentage of area fraction was higher at weeks 4 and 8 in the test group compared to the control groups (p<.0001). In comparison to the other groups, the GM-filled defect in the test group had the highest mean percentage of area fraction (p<.0001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that healing of CSD could be evaluated by radiography and Vitamin D3 improves bone healing, particularly when guided bone regeneration is used in rats with CSD at the calvaria.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the relationship between peri-implantitis and stage/grade of periodontitis. Methods: Records of 171 periodontitis patients with 318 dental implants were screened. Classification of diagnosed patients with periodontitis were done by both stage (1, 2, 3 and 4) and grade (A, B and C). Peri-implant health status was evaluated as no peri-implantitis or with peri-implantitis. Marginal bone loss severity of implants diagnosed with peri-implantitis, prosthesis type (single, bridge), location of dental implants (maxilla, mandibula, anterior and posterior), smoking (yes/no) and diabetes history (yes/no) of the patients were also evaluated. Analysis was done at implant level. Results: A total of 203 (63.8%) dental implants were diagnosed with peri-implantitis. There were statistical differences in the stage and grade of periodontitis between implants diagnosed with no peri-implantitis and peri-implantitis (p<0.05). All of the dental implants in stage 4 periodontitis patients were diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Staging (1/2 versus 3/4) and grading (A/B versus C) of periodontitis had significant effects on the marginal bone loss of implants (radiographically ≥25% or <25% of the implant length) diagnosed with peri-implantitis. The marginal bone loss risk increased 3.86 times in stage 3/4 compared to stage 1/2 and 3.16 times in patients with grade C periodontitis compared to grade A/B. Conclusion: The outcome of this study indicates that peri-implantitis was quite prevalent in dental implant patients with periodontitis, depending on the stage/grade. The severity of peri-implant marginal bone loss of implants was related to higher-level staging and grading of periodontitis.

Objectives: Numerous indices have been used to grade the severity of gingival overgrowth which led to suspicion regarding the results concerning its prevalence and pathogenicity. The aim of this study was to assess the concordance of three different gingival overgrowth indices, which were used widely in previous studies, and check their reliability and reproducibility. Material and Methods: A total of 30 full-mouth plaster casts and 90 intra-oral photographs collected from 30 patients diagnosed with gingival overgrowth were included in our study. Three trained examiners performed measurements twice on plaster casts using gingival hyperplasia index (A index) and hyperplastic index (B index). Intraoral photographs were assessed also twice using (C index). Results: Concordance of intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability of the recorded measurements was carried out for each index using weighted kappa (K), with a confidence interval of 95%. The A index revealed intra-examiner total kappa values between 0.724-0.876 for horizontal measurement and 0.512-0.823 for vertical measurement, and inter-examiner total kappa values between 0.255-0.626 horizontally and 0.235-0.279 vertically. The B index presented intra-examiner total kappa values between 0.587-0.868 horizontally and 0.653-0.855 vertically; and inter-examiner total kappa values between 0.393-0.595 and 0.3720.635 for horizontal and vertical measurements, respectively. The C index achieved the highest intraexaminer concordance with total kappa values between 0.758-0.855 and inter-examiner total kappa values between 0.716-0.804. Conclusions: The C index evaluated through intraoral photographs is considered the most reliable and applicable method to be utilized. The C index is suggested to be used in large scale populations with its definite detailed criteria.