Studies on Periodontal Disease

Dr. Daisuke Ekuni, DDS, PhD, is currently Lecturer, Okayama University Hospital, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama, Japan where he also completed his DDS and PhD in Dental Science. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the  Department of Oral Biological & Medical Sciences at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Ekuni is a member of several professional societies including the International Associate for Dental Research and the Japanese Society of Periodontology.Dr. Maurizio Battino, DSc, PhD, earned his DSc at the University of Bologna and his PhD in Biochemistry at the University of Catania, Italy. He was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Granada and is currently Associate Professor in Biochemistry at Università Politecnica delle Marche. He serves on the editorial boards of several journals including as Editor-in-Chief for Journal of Berry Research. His laboratory focuses on: the healthy effects of bioactive compounds in berries, honey and olive oil; unraveling the role of oxidative stress in the onset and development of periodontal diseases; and the mitochondrial role in genetic diseases.Dr. Takaaki Tomofuji, DDS, PhD, is Senior Assistant Professor, Okayama University Hospital, Department of Preventive Dentistry, Okayama, Japan. He was a Post-Doctorial Fellow at the Chonbuk National University, South Korea. He is a councilor of the Japanese Society for Dental Health and serves on the editorial board of  Journal of Dental Health.Dr. Edward E Putnins, DMD; Dip Perio; MRCD(C); MSc; PhD received his undergraduate and Periodontal training at The University of Manitoba prior to completion of his PhD at The University of British Columbia. He is a professor and serves as Associate Dean of Research, Graduate and Postgraduate Studies at The University of British Columbia. Dr. Putnins’ laboratory has two principal areas of focus: (1) examining whether novel bonemarrow stromal cell expansion strategies can be developed to regenerate lost hard and soft periodontal tissues; and (2) regulating epithelial cell barrier integrity and proliferation with respect to periodontal disease pathogenesis.

• Part I: Oxidative stress in periodontal diseases (basic science).- 1. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant systems in periodontal disease.- 2. The role of protein oxidative modification in periodontal diseases.- 3. Association between oxidative stress and periodontal diseases in animal model studies.- 4. Expression of reactive oxygen species and junctional and pocket epithelium.- 5. DNA damage caused by oral malodorous compounds in periodontal cells in vitro.- 6. Apoptotic pathways triggered by oral malodorous compounds in periodontal cells.- 7. The role of p53 in carcinogenesis and apoptosis in oral tissues.- 8. Physiological roles of a periodontopathic bacterial membrane-bound quinol peroxidase.- Part II: Oxidative stress in periodontal diseases (clinical studies).- 9. Periodontitis and oxidative stress: Human clinical studies.- 10. Effects of periodontal therapy on circulating oxidative stress.- 11. Roles of HMGB1 in periodontal disease.- 12. The inflammation as the connecting link between systemic diseases and periodontal diseases.- 13. Periodontitis and atherosclerosis.- 14. Periodontitis and liver diseases.- 15. Oxidative stress and Periodontal disease in Down syndrome.- Part IV: Future strategies (control of ROS, roles of nutrition/antioxidants and application to dentistry).- 16. New theories and their clinical relevance about the onset and development of periodontal diseases.- 17. The role of nutrition in periodontal diseases.- 18. Effects of antioxidants on periodontal disease.- 19. Role of vitamin C and vitamin E in periodontal disease.- 20. Salivary biomarkers of oxidative stress associated with periodontal diseases.