Aims of the study: to isolate and identify microorganisms causing aggressive periodontitis, and to estimate the changes in the levels of IL-1, TNF- and CRP in serum as well as to determine peroxidase activity in saliva of patients with aggressive periodontitis. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on total number of 40 (35 patients with aggressive periodontitis, 18 females and 17 males aged between 16-35 years and 5 control group between 20-30 years old). Samples were taken from the lesion for bacteriological study. Serum and saliva were collected and ELISA test was performed. Results: The bacteriological results showed that A. actinomycetemcomitans was the most prevalent bacteria in aggressive periodontitis, followed by facultative anaerobic. The serological and biochemical studies showed that interleukin-1 was significantly elevated in the study group while tumor necrosis factor was not, whereas peroxidase enzyme activity and C-reactive protein were also highly significant elevated in the study group. Conclusion: Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was the major etiologic bacteria of this disease as well as significantly high levels of, CRP, peroxidase activity and IL-1 could be regarded as strong markers for more precise understanding the immunological aspect of this disease

aggressive periodontitis --- bacteriology --- immunology

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate some biochemical (Lysozyme and Peroxidase enzymes) and immunological (S-IgA) changes in saliva of thalassemia major patients and the correlation of these changes with the oral health status measured by the dmft/DMFT (decay, missing, filling tooth index for deciduous and permanent dentition), plaque and gingival indices.Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in Ibn Al-Atheer Teaching Hospital in Mosul and involved (91) subjects. The study group (70 thalassemia major patients) and the control group (21 normal non-thalassemic subjects). The study group was divided into two subgroups (35 each) according to the history of disease. Data was collected from each patient including medical status and oral health status indices and saliva samples were collected from each patient and stored at -20 oC to be analyzed for salivary Lysozyme by lysoplate method, salivary Peroxidase activity and salivary secretary S-IgA by ELISA.Results: Showed that the dmft/DMFT plaque and gingival indices in thalassemia major patients were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than normal subjects. The salivary lysozyme in thalassemia major patients was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than normal subjects. The salivary peroxidase activity was nearly higher in thalassemic patients than normal subjects. The salivary S-IgA in thalassemic patients was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than normal subjects. Conclusions: The study showed a significant correlation between the changes in some of the salivary constituents and the high prevalence of dental caries, plaque and gingivitis in thalassemia major patients

saliva --- immunological --- biochemical --- thalassemia