Research Notes

Oral hygiene important for more than mouth

While researchers have speculated about a connection between oral health and heart disease for the past five years, Loesche recently presented several possibilities for the mechanisms by which periodontal disease might lead to cardiovascular disease. Because periodontal disease is both preventable and treatable, researchers hope a clearer understanding of the link could someday help to prevent and treat stroke and heart attack.

In his own patients, Loesche found that those with coronary artery disease have high levels of certain periodontal bacteria. He suggested periodontal bacteria or their products travel through the bloodstream and damage blood vessels. Elevated levels of a substance called the von Willebrand factor - found in people with periodontal disease - could also be a sign of lipopolysaccharides damaging blood vessels.

Loesche also discussed evidence that oral bacteria themselves are found in blood vessel linings.

'U' researchers aid isolated scientists

Olson spoke about the projects at a symposium "Science and the Internet: Globalization, Cooperation and Development" during an annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Faculty and students at small universities around the world will gain access to expensive instruments and will be able to interact with a variety of scientists, hopefully leading them to make their own advances in their fields, Olsan said.

Researchers hope the collaboratory approach of the project will also attract scientists from even more remote parts of the world.

Anti-oxidents could slow aging

Christian Leeuwenburgh, a professor in the College of Health and Human Performance, recently co-authored a study on anti-oxidants, showing their effectiveness in slowing the aging process.

The study claims anti-oxidants break radicals, harmful substances in the body that degenerate cell strength and function.

The researcher found the more anti-oxidants were present in the body, the fewer radicals were circulating.

Common virus finds new foe

Subtype C is most common in India and Africa and is responsible for 90 percent of all new infections in the world. Most research until now had focused on the use of protease inhibitors for type B, which is popular in the United States and Europe.

The researchers analyzed the impact of the drugs on African patients with subtype C and found the drugs highly effective.

- Compiled by Daily Staff Reporters Gerard Cohen-Vrignaud

and Asma Rafeeq.

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