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Biomedical subjects

R B Cogen

Publications and source records attributed to R B Cogen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Serum IgG and IgM levels to bacterial antigens in necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Previous studies of the systemic antibody response in necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) have elicited varying results. The purpose of this study was to determine the humoral response to site-specific isolates of microbiota associated with NUG. Sera from 21 active NUG subjects and 21 age-sex-race matched controls were assessed for IgG and IgM antibodies to 4 clinical isolates of Prevotella intermedia and 3 clinical isolates of Treponema species. P. intermedia and Treponema strains were isolated from active and inactive sites of NUG patients and gingivitis sites of controls. P. intermedia was also isolated from noninflamed sites of the controls. IgG and IgM serum levels to these 7 bacteria were measured by ELISA. Compared to control subjects, the NUG sera exhibited significantly lower IgG and IgM levels to all 4 isolates of P. intermedia (P < or = 0.001). It was also noted that sera from NUG subjects had elevated IgM levels to all 3 spirochete isolates but significantly higher only to the spirochete isolated from a gingivitis site of a control subject (P < or = 0.005). The data suggest that failure to mount a substantial antibody response to P. intermedia may be associated with onset of disease activity in NUG. However, the assumed lack of "biological significance" between differences in antibody responses measured indicates the relationship is weak or nonexistent. It also appears that antibody response to spirochetes is not associated with onset of NUG.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Destructive periodontal disease in healthy children.

This study determined the prevalence of destructive periodontal disease affecting the deciduous dentition among otherwise healthy subjects, who were diagnosed with juvenile periodontitis (JP) in their permanent dentitions. There were 4,757 subjects in this retrospective, cross-sectional study. Diagnosis of JP was based on age (< or = 15 years), negative medical history, and radiographic evidence of arc-shaped alveolar bone loss. The study population was one-third white and two-thirds black and the male/female ratio was 1:1, reflecting the general patient population. The prevalence among whites was 0.3%, with a female/male ratio 4:1; whereas among blacks the prevalence was 1.5%, with a female/male ratio approximately 1:1. Among the black JP subjects with radiographs of the mixed dentition, 85.7% presented evidence of bone loss, and of those with radiographs of the deciduous dentition, 71.4% had discernible alveolar bone loss. This study suggests that JP is much more prevalent in blacks and that it does indeed occur in the prepubertal years affecting the deciduous as well as the permanent dentitions in otherwise healthy children. These data imply the importance of including a periodontal evaluation in the examination of children, using the periodontal probe and radiographs sufficient to adequately view the alveolar bone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Epidemiology of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

In the last 60 years, there have been approximately 50 studies of various suspected risk factors associated with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Two thirds of these studies have been either surveys or case reports; nearly all the rest have been case-control studies. There have been only a few longitudinal and population-based studies, most of which were in high-risk populations. The findings of many studies pertain to gingivitis in general rather than in acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis in particular; the findings of other studies are based on small numbers or solely on case histories without the inclusion of control subjects. There are comparisons between the epidemiology of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis as it occurs in military populations and the epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis (98-103). Both diseases have been reported in closed communities such as in young recruits away from home and in new surroundings. A temporal trend upward in disease frequency was described for both infections during World War II. Both infections appear to be characterized by low communicability, with no documented transmission by fomites or vectors. Furthermore, active disease in both cases is associated with markedly increased numbers of normally indigenous flora: B. intermedius in the case of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis and Neisseria meningococcus in the case of epidemic meningococcal meningitis. Risk factors associated with both diseases include crowding, physical fatigue, increased stress, low socioeconomic status, and failure of host defense mechanisms. In general, there is potential for longitudinal studies of young people such as new military recruits and college students who are undergoing the transition from dependence to independence. It is intriguing that these young adults are suddenly at increased risk of this disease in late adolescence when they should be at peak fitness and, just as suddenly, at decreased risk after their early thirties. It appears that the dynamic tension between bacterial agents, environmental stressors, and host defense mechanisms is abruptly altered in certain young people, allowing the characteristic lesions to develop. Furthermore it appears that, in the United States at least, the disruption is limited primarily to white people relative to black people. It is possible that disease develops because young adults are brought together from diverse locations and perhaps exposed to a new microbial agent. However, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis has not been demonstrated clearly to be transmissible, and if it is, the mode of transmission is not known.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Female↗
PubMed1988

Allelic variants for complement factors C3, C4, and B in acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Impaired immune defense mechanisms and genetic factors appear to play a role in susceptibility to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG). Therefore, possible etiological mechanisms might involve genes at the Major Histocompatibility Complex, which include the complement factor loci. We have tested for a possible association between certain complement factor alleles and ANUG using a case-control study design. Specific alleles at complement factors C3 and C4, and properdin factor B (Bf) loci were determined indirectly by high voltage agarose gel electrophoresis in 58 subjects with a history of ANUG and in 58 age-sex-matched healthy controls. The highest relative risk of ANUG, as obtained by conditional logistic regression, for alleles at the C3 locus was 1.9 (90% confidence limits 0.8 to 4.8; p = 0.229) for C3*F-positive individuals. The highest relative risk for alleles at the C4 locus was 2.6 (0.5 to 14.9; p = 0.358) for C4A*3-positive individuals. There was no evidence for an association between Bf allotype and risk of ANUG, with a relative risk of 1.2 for Bf*F- and relative risk of 1.0 for B*S-positive individuals. None of our estimates was statistically significant. We conclude, therefore, that it is unlikely that there is any association between complement factor gene haplotype and susceptibility to ANUG.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1988

A case-control study of plasma ascorbate and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Data from animal studies and from studies of patients with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) have provided suggestive evidence for an association between ascorbate deficiency and disease risk. Further, there is biological plausibility for such an association, due to the role of ascorbate in collagen synthesis and leukocyte function. A case-control study of plasma ascorbate and ANUG was performed on 60 patients with a history of ANUG infection and 60 age-race-sex-matched controls. No cases had had active lesions for at least two months prior to their vitamin assay to avoid any potential reduction of dietary intake of ascorbic acid due to the presence of painful mouth lesions. According to results obtained by use of a modification of the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method for determination of total plasma ascorbate, the mean and standard error of the mean of plasma ascorbate for all ANUG cases was 0.07 +/- 0.006 mmol/L; the mean for all controls was 0.10 +/- 0.006 mmol/L. Paired differences in plasma ascorbic acid concentrations between cases and controls were significantly different from zero (p less than 0.001). The unadjusted relative risk (RR) of ANUG as obtained by conditional logistic regression for subjects whose plasma ascorbic acid concentration was at or below the median value for controls, relative to subjects with higher values, was 7.3 (90% confidence interval, 3.0 - 17.4; one-sided p value less than 0.001). Patients with a history of ANUG ingested a daily average of 1.2 +/- 0.2 servings of dietary ascorbic acid, as compared with a daily average of 1.9 +/- 0.2 servings for healthy controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1986

Host factors in juvenile periodontitis.

This study was undertaken to determine whether defects in leukocyte function or in genes at the MHC play a role in the etiology of either localized (LJP) or generalized (GJP) juvenile periodontitis. Thirteen LJP and five GJP patients (ranging in age from 13 to 22 years) and their matched controls were compared with respect to selected leukocyte functions and HLA phenotypic frequencies. The results of these studies indicated that there were significant decreases in the phagocytic and chemotactic abilities of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in both LJP and GJP. All JP patients displayed intrinsic cell defects in chemotaxis compared with controls; in addition, some patients displayed multiple defects, including those which were serum-associated. Also, there appeared to be a significant association between JP and HLA-DR2 and HLA-A33 phenotypes. Fifty percent of the JP patients were HLA-DR2-positive, whereas only six percent of the matched controls were positive. Thirty-six percent of JP patients were HLA-A33-positive, whereas none of the controls was positive. The association seen with DR2 may be due to sampling, since there were no significant differences between the JP cases and a larger unmatched control sample which was not evaluated for periodontal disease. We conclude from these data that increased susceptibility of some patients to a very aggressive and destructive form of periodontal disease (JP) is based on defects in PMN responsiveness. Further investigations are necessary to determine whether these defects are under genetic control.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Demographic and clinical data associated with acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis in a dental school population (ANUG-demographic and clinical data).

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of demographic and clinical factors of patients diagnosed as having ANUG as determined by the presence of painful, bleeding, necrotic and ulcerated interproximal gingival papillae. Results showed that ANUG patients were evenly divided between males and females relative to the general clinic population. 58% of the patients with ANUG were under 25 years of age as compared to 31% under 25 in the general clinic population. Overall, the ANUG group accounted for 1.4% of the under 34 age group in the general clinic population. 76% of the ANUG group had a high school education or less with 67% having less than $5,000 annual income. Only 20% presented with elevated temperature. Only 6% of the patients with ANUG were non-smokers as compared to 63% in a matched control group. Of great significance was the fact that only 1 patient with ANUG was black as compared to a 41% black population in the clinic population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of various root surface treatments on the attachment and growth of human gingival fibroblasts: histologic and scanning electron microscopic evaluation.

Human teeth extracted because of advanced periodontal disease were obtained. The portions of the roots which had been exposed in periodontal pockets were either untreated or were treated with root planing or citric acid, or root planing followed by citric acid. Human gingival fibroblasts were then added to the roots so treated and were allowed to incubate for 72 h. The ability of cells to attach to and grow onto these roots was assessed by means of gross evaluation of staining intensity and by histologic and scanning electron microscopic observation. The results of multiple experiments in each root-treatment category indicated that only roots which had been planed, whether or not citric acid demineralization was used, promoted cell attachment and growth. In addition, there were no discernible morphologic differences in the cells which were plated onto roots which were root planed only, compared to those which were root planed and citric-acid treated. In both situations too, the cells displayed morphology typical of human gingival fibroblasts in culture.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1984

Cellular effects of human leukocyte hydrolases III: inflammatory exudate and synovial fibroblasts.

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether lysosomal enzymes obtained from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) might adversely affect the viability of human synovial fibroblasts. The effects of the PMN granule enzymes were additionally determined in the presence of an inflammatory exudate. These in vitro results indicated that as a result of these experimental conditions, the lysosomal enzymes, although present in relatively high concentration, were incapable of cell destruction and could only release cells from their growth surfaces; as could other proteases. However, even this effect was not expressed in the presence of naturally occurring inhibitors widely distributed in body fluids, such as serum; and most importantly which are also present in inflammatory exudates. This was in spite of the relatively high dilution of serum and inflammatory exudate used. So that, in effect, the relatively dilute inhibitors present in both serum and inflammatory exudates prevented the relatively concentrated lysosomal enzymes from exerting any discernible effects on either the cells, or the intercellular substance under these experimental conditions. This possibly suggests that the role of PMN granule enzymes as mediators of the cellular destruction observed in many inflammatory diseases, needs further elucidation.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Fluoride-treated roots and viability and attachment of human gingival fibroblasts.

Topical fluoride treatment is used to help prevent root caries. It may also be useful in periodontal therapy because of its antimicrobial property. In addition, for therapeutic new attachment to occur, the fibroblasts approximating the treated root surface should remain viable, and should also be able to attach and grow onto the treated root surface. These conditions, at least, are required for fluoride not to interfere with new attachment. This study was designed to determine whether treatment of roots with fluoride adversely affects human gingival fibroblasts in culture; and what effect fluoride treatment has on attachment and growth of cells to the root surface. Cells originally obtained from human gingiva were allowed to grow to confluency in multi-well tissue culture petri dishes, and were then incubated for 24 hr in the presence of root sections as follows: (1) no treatment; (2) root-planed only; (3) 2% NaF only; (4) root-planed + 2% NaF; (5) root-planed + citric acid, pH 1 + 2% NaF. In addition, cells were plated onto roots similarly treated and were subsequently allowed to incubate for 72 hr. Viability of cells was determined by exclusion of vital dye and 51Cr retention. Attachment and growth of cells were determined by histology and scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated that, after 24 hours' exposure, there was little or no difference in cell viability between different treatment groups and control cultures. Also, all roots which had been planed accommodated cell attachment, regardless of additional treatment rendered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acid Etching, Dental↗
PubMed1983

Effect of various root surface treatments on the viability and attachment of human gingival fibroblasts.

Periodontally involved extracted human teeth were either untreated or were treated with root planing, citric acid, or root planing followed by citric acid. Following incubation of the roots, in the presence of normal human gingival fibroblasts for varying periods of time, cells were assayed for viability by radioactive label (51Cr). In addition, the ability to promote attachment and growth of gingival fibroblasts, by root treatment as above, was observed. The results of multiple experiments in each category indicated strongly that none of the roots, regardless of treatment or nontreatment, had any significant adverse affect on the viability of the cells. However, only root-planed roots, whether or not citric acid was used, promoted cell attachment and growth.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed1983

Leukocyte function in the etiology of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Patients with the diagnosis of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) and their controls, matched for age, sex, race and general plaque accumulation, donated blood for differential white blood cell counts and for assay of several leukocyte functions. The leukocyte function assays included polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) responsiveness to chemotaxis and phagocytosis, and lymphocyte responsiveness to stimulation by nonspecific mitogens. The differential leukocyte counts were within the normal range for all subjects tested, and there was no difference between ANUG patients and controls. The ANUG patients did, however, display significantly depressed PMN responsiveness in both chemotaxis and phagocytosis, compared to the controls. There was also reduced DNA synthesis by ANUG patients' lymphocytes upon stimulation by a nonspecific mitogen (Con A). The data presented in this report suggest that depression of some host defense mechanisms, particularly PMN chemotaxis and phagocytosis, may be important in the pathogenesis of ANUG.

Chemotaxis, Leukocyte↗
PubMed1982

Cellular effects of human leukocyte hydrolases. I. Human gingival fibroblasts.

Experiments were carried out to determine whether lysosomal enzymes had the ability to adversely affect the viability of human gingival fibroblasts. These studies were accomplished in vitro using lysosomal enzymes derived from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The results strongly indicated that under the conditions of these experiments, lysosomal enzymes were incapable of mediating cell destruction. In fact, the only measurable effect was to release the cells from their growth surface in a manner similar to other known proteases. Even this capability was not expressed in the presence of naturally occurring inhibitors which are widely distributed in many body fluids, such as serum and inflammatory exudates. These results suggest that PMN leukocyte granule enzymes may not contribute significantly as mediators of the cellular destruction observed in inflammatory diseases in general, and inflammatory periodontal disease in particular.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Cellular effects of human leukocyte hydrolases. II. Ultrastructural studies on fibroblasts.

Morphologic ultrastructural changes induced in human gingival fibroblasts in vitro by treatment with human neutrophil granule enzymes were studied. Surface mucopolysaccharide of the fibroblasts was examined by ruthenium red staining. The only alteration that could be identified was the removal of surface mucopolysaccharide after treatment with granule enzymes, but not when soybean trypsin inhibitor was present. When the cells were released from their growth surface they assumed the characteristics of floating cells rather than spreading fibroblasts, but were otherwise unremarkable.

Adult↗