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This case-control study was designed to outline age- and gender-related differences of metabolic risk factors in a group of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Accordingly, a total of 366 consecutive patients with a recent diagnosis of CAD (139 women, 41-79 yr; 227 men, 39-78 yr) were screened between October 1999 and April 2001 at Baskent University Adana Medical Center, and 366 age- and gender-matched individuals were selected as a control group. We compared demographics, blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference, lipid profile, fasting and post-prandial glucose-insulin levels between CAD patients and the control group. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 72.6% in females, and 39.0% in males with CAD. Hypertension, obesity and diabetes were more common in female patients; 64.5% of female patients had premature CAD and 83.5% of those had metabolic syndrome. In logistic (OR: 3.57 for women and OR: 1.59 for men) regression analysis, metabolic syndrome was independently associated with CAD in both genders. As a conclusion, prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in patients with CAD than the control group, especially in female patients. The metabolic syndrome was independently associated with CAD in both genders.

Empirical antibiotics constitute the cornerstone of medical therapy for chronic sinusitis due to difficulties of obtaining cultures from the paranasal sinuses. Indirect isolation of the pathogenic microorganisms outside the paranasal sinuses with a non-invasive method may enable administration of specific antibiotics. In this prospective study, we obtained cultures from the middle meatus and ethmoid sinuses of 193 sides from 127 patients who had undergone FESS for chronic sinusitis with a method that minimizes the risk of nasal contamination. The same bacterial species were isolated from both the ethmoid sinus and middle meatus in 59.3% of the cultures. There was no bacterial growth in either site in 32.3% of the cultures. The overall correlation rate of middle meatus and ethmoid sinus cultures was estimated to be 91.6%. In conclusion, middle meatal cultures can be used for the isolation of pathogenic microorganisms indirectly, while administration of specific antibiotics can be possible according to the results of these cultures.

Background: The effects of sociocultural status on periodontal conditions in pregnant women have been reported by a number of researchers and there have been speculations about the effects of hormonal changes, patients' systemic health, and socio-cultural characteristics on periodontal health during pregnancy., Methods: This study evaluates the periodontal condition of 61 pregnant women at their first, second, and third trimesters, and the relation between the demographic (age, professional level, education) and clinical variables (previous periodontal care, frequency of tooth brushing). The clinical indices, including plaque index, gingival index, and probing depth measurements were repeated at the first, second, and third trimesters. The statistical tests used were stepwise analysis and paired sample test., Results: The results of the study showed that the plaque index, gingival index, and probing depth scores increased gradually in the first, second, and third trimesters, although oral hygiene instructions were given to the entire study population. The level of statistical significance was established at P <0.05. When the clinical parameters and demographic variables were compared, only educational level and periodontal care seemed to be statistically significant (P<0.05)., Conclusions: Our clinical index scores were related to the educational level of the study population. When the educational level of the study group decreased, the plaque, gingival index, and probing depth scores contrarily increased. Also non-attendance for previous periodontal care increased the scores of plaque index and probing depth. In view of the results of our study, it might be suggested that simple preventive oral hygiene programs may help maintain healthy gingiva during pregnancy.

Background: The increase in circulating levels of progesterone during pregnancy stimulates production of prostaglandins, especially prostaglandin E2, possibly resulting in pregnancy gingivitis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of prostaglandin E2 concentrations on gingival tissues in pregnancy and to assess its relationship to clinical parameters., Methods: This study evaluates the effects of periodontal treatment on clinical indices including plaque index, gingival index, probing depth, and gingival crevicular fluid prostaglandin E2 levels of 22 pregnant women in their first, second, and third trimesters. Initial periodontal therapy consisting of scaling, root planing, and oral hygiene instruction was performed at the beginning of the first trimester and repeated each trimester. Prostaglandin E2 concentrations in gingival crevicular fluid were determined using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit. The statistical tests used were paired sample test and correlation analysis., Results: The results of the study show that periodontal therapy has resulted in an improvement in clinical parameters (P<0.05). There is also a statistically significant decrease in levels of prostaglandin E2 at the second and third trimesters following periodontal therapy (P <0.001). The correlation between prostaglandin E2 concentrations and clinical parameters is found to be non-significant (P >0.05)., Conclusions: Our data indicate that levels of prostaglandin E2 in gingival crevicular fluid may be used as a marker of gingival inflammation in order to determine the effects of periodontal therapy in pregnancy. Periodontal therapy that is performed throughout the entire pregnancy period may help prevent the threat of pregnancy gingivitis.

The purpose of this single-blind, randomized study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of slow-release tetracycline fibers as an adjunct to initial periodontal therapy in moderate to advanced periodontitis patients who had no periodontal treatment before. A group of 17 patients with at least two sites in each quadrant with probing pocket depths > 5 mm that bled on probing were included in the study. After scaling and root planing, each selected site was randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: tetracycline fiber therapy and control group. Plaque index, gingival index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were measured at baseline and at 1, 3, and 7 weeks. The change from the baseline of each measurement was studied using analysis of variance with subject and treatment effects and a baseline covariate. Results of this investigation demonstrated that tetracycline fiber treatment as adjunct to scaling and root planing is effective in regard to probing pocket depth reduction and bleeding on probing. On the other hand, fiber application seems to have no beneficial effect on gain of clinical attachment level within limits of this study.