Perio Treatment & Cerebrovascular Function

CvR to hypercapnia was evaluated by means of the breath-holding index (BHI). Two dual 2-MHz transducers fitted on a headband and placed on the temporal bone windows were used to obtain a bilateral continuous measurement of mean flow velocity in the middle cerebral arteries. Depth of insonation ranged from 48 to 52 mm. The BHI is obtained by dividing the percentage increase in mean flow velocity occurring during breath holding by the length of time (seconds) subjects hold their breath af- ter a normal inspiration ([mean flow velocity at the end of breath holding minus mean flow velocity at rest divided by mean flow velocity at rest] multipled by 100 divided by seconds of breath holding).

Gosling's pulsatility index (PI) of the middle cerebral artery will be calculated according to the following formula: PI = (Vmax -Vmin)/Vmean

Resistivity index (RI) of the middle cerebral artery will be calculated according to the following formula: RI = (Vmax -Vmin)/Vmax

Levels of hs-CRP in serum will be measured by ELISA (mg/L)

After detection of brachial artery vasomotion, ultrasound evaluation will be made on the dominant forearm. Two- dimensional brachial artery imaging and measurements were performed in all patients by the same operator. Straight segments of the artery will be chosen above the antecubital fosse, perpendicular to the ultrasound beam and along its long axis. Flow-mediated dilatation caused by shear-induced endothelial nitric oxide production will be detected after occlusion of the forearm circulation. A longitudinal image will be used to measure brachial artery diameter; a blood pressure cuff will be inflated on the upper arm to 300 mmHg for 4 min and then deflated, and after 45 s to 1 min, a second longitudinal scan will be obtained, to calculate the brachial artery diameter.

The image will be focused on the posterior (far) wall of the left carotid artery. A minimum of four measurements of the common carotid far wall was taken 10 mm proximal to the bifurcation, to derive the mean carotid intima-media thickness. The presence of an atheroma plaque will be evaluated in the common and internal carotid extracranial arteries as well as the bifurcations according to standardized scanning and reading protocols. Plaque will be defined as a focal structure that encroaches into the arterial lumen at least 0.5 mm or 50% of the surrounding intima-media thickness value, or demonstrates a thickness >1.5 mm as measured from the media-adventitia interface to the intima- lumen interface.

Will be measured from the free gingival margin to the bottom of the sulcus or pocket (in mm)

measured from the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to the bottom of the sulcus or pocket (in mm)

Defined as the number of sites with gingival bleeding on probing (BoP) divided by the total number of sites per mouth, multiplied by 100 (%)

Defined as the number of sites with detectable supragingival dental plaque divided by the total number of sites per mouth, multiplied by 100 (%)