The role of smoking as a contributory factor in the progression of the periodontal disease process has long been suspected and recently a large number of studies have been published in the dental literature regarding this possible role. Much of the literature has also indicated that smokers affected with periodontitis respond less favorably to periodontal treatment be it non-surgical, surgical and regenerative. This paper will review the current literature regarding the effects of smoking on various aspects of the periodontal disease process and present an explanation for the possible association between smoking and the progression of periodontitis.
The presence of acrylamide in the environment poses a threat due to its well known neurotoxic, carcinogenic and teratogenic properties. Human activities in various geographical areas are the main anthropogenic source of acrylamide pollution. In this work, an acrylamide-degrading bacterium was isolated from Antarctic soil. The physiological characteristics and optimum growth conditions of the acrylamide-degrading bacteria were investigated. The isolate was tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp. strain DRYJ7 based on carbon utilization profiles using Biolog GN plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The results showed that the best carbon sources for growth was glucose and sucrose with no significant difference in terms of cellular growth between the two carbon sources (p>0.05). This was followed by fructose and maltose with fructose giving significantly higher cellular growth compared to maltose (p<0.05). Lactose and citric acid did not support growth. The optimum acrylamide concentration as a nitrogen source for cellular growth was at 500 mgl(-1). At this concentration, bacterial growth showed a 2-day lag phase before degradation took place concomitant with an increase in cellular growth. The isolate exhibited optimum growth in between pH 7.5 and 8.5. The effect of incubation temperature on the growth of this isolate showed an optimum growth at 15 degrees C. The characteristics of this isolate suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of acrylamide.
Several local acrylamide-degrading bacteria have been isolated. One of the isolate that exhibited the highest growth on acrylamide as a nitrogen source was then further characterized. The isolate was tentatively identified as Bacillus cereus strain DRY135 based on carbon utilization profiles using Biolog GP plates and partial 16S rDNA molecular phylogeny. The isolate grew optimally in between the temperatures of 25 and 30 degrees C and within the pH range of 6.8 to 7.0. Glucose, fructose, lactose, maltose, mannitol, citric acid and sucrose supported growth with glucose being the best carbon source. Different concentrations of acrylamide ranging from 100 to 4000 mg l(-1) incorporated into the growth media shows that the highest growth was obtained at acrylamide concentrations of between 500 to 1500 mg l(-1). At 1000 mg l(-1) of acrylamide, degradation was 90% completed after ten days of incubation with concomitant cell growth. The metabolite acrylic acid was detected in the media during degradation. Other amides such as methacrylamide, nicotinamide, acetamide, propionamide and urea supported growth with the highest growth supported by acetamide, propionamide and urea. Strain DRY135, however was not able to assimilate 2-chloroacetamide. The characteristics of this isolate suggest that it would be useful in the bioremediation of acrylamide.