title: Characterization of volatile sulphur compounds production at individual gingival crevicular sites in humans.
abstract: The present investigation describes a method for collection and analysis of volatile sulphur compounds (VSC) from gingival crevicular sites in humans. Tenax-GC trapping devices were used to adsorb and concentrate VSC from crevicular air at -55 degrees C, which were then thermally desorbed at 120 degrees C. Gas chromatographic (GC) analyses were performed using a Tracor 550 GC equipped with a flame-photometric detector and a Teflon column packed with 5% polyphenyl ether and 0.05% phosphoric acid on 30-40 mesh Teflon. Sulfides identified from crevicular sites include hydrogen sulfide [H2S], methyl mercaptan [CH3SH], dimethyl sulfide [(CH3)2S], and dimethyl disulfide [(CH3S)2]. Of the seventeen patients studied, crevicular sites that were either deep (P.D. > or = 4 mm) or inflamed (BoP = 1) exhibited significantly larger CH3SH to H2S ratios than corresponding crevicular shallow (P.D. < or = 3 mm) sites (p < .10) or noninflamed (BoP = 0) sites (p < .05). Similarly, total sulphur in deep and inflamed sites was significantly higher than in corresponding shallow (p < .01) and noninflamed (p < .05) sites. This is the first known in vivo study to quantitate VSC directly from individual gingival crevices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Coli
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tonzetich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004220:Disulfides / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005888:Gingival Pocket / Q000378:metabolism*; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D006209:Halitosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000032:analysis; D013440:Sulfides / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C005231:methylmercaptan; C021181:dimethyl disulfide; C004784:dimethyl sulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide