Credibility and Trust
The following is a list of statements by prominent physicians who have scientifically studied and used the aMMP-8 biomarker technology in daily practice and have gained practical experience with it. That the technology stands for quality has been repeatedly proven hundreds of times over. More than just a theory, the biomarker has been validated in practice.
If you would like to send us a statement describing your practical experience with aMMP-8 technology, please write to us. We look forward to hearing from you.
”The novel aMMP-8 test method is one of the first commercially
available tests which opens up the possibility to optimize therapy and
prevention of periodontal disease.” March 2010
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlagenhauf
Head of the Department of Periodontology, University of Würzburg,
President of the German Society for Periodontology (DGP)
”Regarding cardiovascular diseases, pathologically excessive MMP-8 has
been implicated in atherosclerotic plaque
destabilization and rupture through its capacity to thin the protecting
collagenous fibrous cap.“ March 2010
Prof. Timo Sorsa PhD
Department of Cell Biology of Oral Diseases,
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
”From a cardiological point of view, the careful consideration
of the dental status becomes more important. The MMP-8 rapid test is an important
‘link’ for interdisciplinary communication.” May 2010
OA PD Dr. med. Heinrich Körtke
Head of the Institute for Applied Telemedicine, Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery,
Heart and Diabetes Center, Bad Oeynhausen
“Active-aMMP-8 is an ideal test which is quantitative, highly sensitive
and specific, reproducible, and easy to perform.” August 2010
Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology, Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and External Affairs,
Medical Staff University Hospital, Practice Limited to Periodontics, Stony Brook University
“In my opinion, health communication can be optimized.
Enlightening the population regarding the connection between periodontitis
and overall health could help in this effort.” March 2010
Laurenz Meyer
Economist, CDU politician, Bundestag member ret.,
CDU General Secretary ret., CDU Economic Policy Spokesman ret., Berlin
“In order to ensure high quality in medicine, a stringent
diagnosis, therapy and aftercare concept is necessary – an interdisciplinary
approach is desirable in this context.” December 2010
Dr. med. dent., oec. med. Björn Eggert
Dentist, health economist and quality manager, Director of the goDentisDKV Academy
MMP-8 as a point-of-care biomarker of periodontitis, periimplantitis, and cardiovascular systemic diseases
Neutrophil collagenase or collagenase-2 (matrix metalloproteinase
[MMP] -8) belongs to collagenase subgroup of
MMP super family. MMP-8 is catalytically most competent
enzyme to initiate type I collagen and extracellular matrix
degradation associated to periodontal and peri-implant
tissue destruction leading to tooth and dental implant loss.
Regarding cardiovascular diseases pathologically excessive
MMP-8 has been implicated to atherosclerotic plaque
destabilization and rupture through its capacity to thin
the protecting collagenous fibrous cap. During the initiation
and course of inflammatory responses in periodontal,
peri-implant and cardiovascular diseases proinflammatory
mediators including especially MMP-8 are up-regulated
not only in affected tissues but also in secreted diseaseaffected
oral fluids (gingival crevicular fluid [GCF], periimplant
sulcular fluid [PSF], mouth-rinse and saliva) as
well as in serum (Sorsa et al. Oral Dis 2004, Sorsa et al. Ann
Med 2006, Tuomainen et al. ATVB 2007).
Regarding periodontitis, peri-implantitis and cardiovascular
diseases oral fluid and serum MMP-8 analysis has proved
to an objective biomarker that has been evaluated and confirmed
as an indicator of health, pathologic processes and
pharmacologic response to therapeutic intervention (Sorsa
et al. Oral Dis 2004, Sorsa et al. Ann Med 2006, Tuomainen
et al. ATVB 2007, Reinhardt et al. J Periodontol 2010). Oral
fluids i.e. GCF, PISF, mouth-rinse and saliva, are easily and
non-invasively collected for the site and patient-specific
diagnostic analysis in periodontitis and peri-implantitis
(Sorsa et al. 2004, 2006).
For diagnosis and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases
plasma and or serum sample collection is required (Tuomainen
et al. ATVB 2007, 2008). Research has consequently
been conforted with a need for development for innovative
point-of-care diagnostic tests for MMP-8 (Sorsa et al. Oral
Dis 2010, Gursoy et al. J Clin Periodontol 2010, Leppilahti
et al. Oral Dis 2010).
Prof. Timo Sorsa, PhD
Helsinki, Finland, March 2010
Prof. Timo Sorsa PhD
Department of Cell Biology of Oral Diseases,
Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
aMMP-8 as a tool for precise diagnostics and improved follow-up therapy in all medical disciplines
At the Institute for Applied Telemedicine (IFAT) at the Heart and
Diabetes Center NRW of Ruhr-University Bochum
more than 1,600 patients are treated telemedically every year
in order to perform good pre- and postoperative follow-up.
The treatment guideline, “Move the information
and not the patient”, is our motto and
ensures that the quality of patient care will continue to increase”.
As an NRW center of excellence for telemedical
cardiodiagnostics and care, we take
a leading telemedical role and focus on the
best possible interdisciplinary and differential therapeutic
approach.
The IFAT is primed to develop targeted telemedical
home monitoring of patients with high cardiovascular
risk factors in order to develop the area of prevention
further so as to benefit patients. From the cardiological point of view
, therefore, careful consideration
of the condition of the teeth also gains in importance.
The periodontal status of affected patients prior to cardiological
/cardiac surgery would be useful from my point of view.
By means of the new MMP-8 rapid test
, we are able to obtain a picture of the oral situation
within minutes and, if necessary, with the colleagues from the field of
periodontics and dentistry, ensure that the
oral area is free from inflammation,
which is needed to go ahead with cardiological treatment.
International studies show very clearly that stroke and heart attacks
are strongly influenced by periodontal disease.
A timely diagnosis
can significantly reduce the risk to patients. In addition,
a US study by Aetna shows that cardiac
treatment costs for periodontal treatment patients
may possibly be reduced. Thus, in addition to the
medical necessity of early diagnosis
and therapy, there is important economic evidence for the linkage
of periodontal and cardiological diagnostics.
The MMP-8 rapid test is an important link
for our interdisciplinary communication.
OA PD Dr. med. Heinrich Körtke
Bad Oeynhausen, May 2010
OA PD Dr. med. Heinrich Körtke
Head of the Institute for Applied Telemedicine, Clinic for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery,
Heart and Diabetes Center, Bad Oeynhausen
Technology transfer makes the identification of oral inflammation possible for dentists, physicians and other health care professionals
Research conducted over the past decade has led to an increased
awareness of the systemic consequences of chronic
inflammation among dentists, physicians and other health care
professionals. The public has been alerted to the impact
of chronic inflammation on its overall health. The fact
is that the most common chronic inflammatory condition
known to mankind is periodontal disease. The research
has supported a link between periodontitis and many other
disease states such as diabetes, stroke, rheumatoid arthritis
and heart disease, as well as adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The problem has been that periodontal disease is often
a silent condition that can progress over the years if left
unchecked by a healthcare provider. Recent studies have
also indicated that dental implants often used to replace
natural teeth, can become diseased as well, generating a
significant inflammatory response that may exceed the
inflammation that has been associated with natural teeth
experiencing the same clinical level of disease. Current
methods of diagnosis for both teeth and implants are based
on clinical observations by the dental professional of pocketing,
attachment loss around teeth, radiographic evidence
of bone loss, redness, swelling, bleeding and suppuration.
In addition, once identified, periodontitis is known to have
periods of exacerbation and remission. The development
of biochemical diagnostic tests to aid in the identification of
disease and to determine levels of disease activity can help
in establishing a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis. A
biochemical marker allows for optimal treatment planning
and follow-up for both natural teeth and dental implants.
Based on numerous studies it appears that the matrix metalloproteinases
are ideal biochemical markers, particularly
active-MMP-8.
Due to the known impact of untreated periodontitis on
overall health and well-being, there has been a transition
toward the interdisciplinary management of patients so
as to provide the most comprehensive treatment possible.
Screening for oral inflammation can now easily be conducted
using the a-MMP-8 marker, prompting a physician
referral to the dental care professional for a thorough oral
examination. Once a referral is made, the source of the
a-MMP-8 can be identified and the appropriate treatment
can be provided. The source of a-MMP-8 can then be
monitored until the levels of a-MMP-8 are reduced and the
inflammatory process is resolved.
Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology
Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and External Affairs
Medical Staff University Hospital
Practice Limited to Periodontics
Stony Brook University
Evidenced-based practice would say that reducing the
inflammatory burden to our patients, whatever the source
of inflammation, is a winning strategy. Active-MMP-8 is an
ideal test which is quantitative, highly sensitive and specific,
reproducible, and easy to perform. The adoption of this test
into the medical and dental communities will help to facilitate
a new interdisciplinary approach to the management
of diseases.
Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., Ph.D.
New York, August 2010
Maria Emanuel Ryan, D.D.S., Ph.D.
Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology, Associate Dean for Strategic Planning and External Affairs,
Medical Staff University Hospital, Practice Limited to Periodontics, Stony Brook University
The aMMP-8 test optimizes the treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases
The occurrence of periodontal inflammation is closely
related to the presence of specific micro-organisms in the area around the
gingival sulcus or periodontal pockets.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the focus of periodontal
research efforts in the past mostly
focused on the detailed analysis of presumed bacterial virulence mechanisms which were deemed to be the culprits
in the onset
of the disease.
A multitude of clinical-experimental data has meanwhile
shown that periodontal diseases
are not transmissible bacterial infections in
the sense of the Kochian postulates, but rather
are regarded as opportunistic infections which arise chiefly
due to the faulty regulation of
the oral immune system. Implementing
consistent plaque control is, under clinical-practical aspects, nevertheless still the means of
choice for minimizing the intensity of periodontal inflammatory
inflammatory
processes.
However, the documentation of even optimal, plaque-free dental conditions
is, according to the current understanding of the etiology, not sufficient
by itself
in order to wholly prevent any onset of illness or
a relapse. However, when it comes to a correct risk assessment
– in addition to the absolutely necessary evaluation of the fitness of the oral
immune system – to date there have been no concepts which have been
unequivocally substantiated and widely accepted
on the basis of clinical studies.
The novel BioMarker test method is designed to determine
the activity of tissue-destroying matrix metalloproteinases
in the sulcus fluid or saliva, and is among
the first commercially available tests that also permits the evaluation
of a central part of the host reaction of periodontal
and peri-implant inflammation on an objective
basis and thus provides additional opportunities to optimize
the therapy and prevention of periodontal
disease.
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlagenhauf
Würzburg, March 2010
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schlagenhauf
Head of the Department of Periodontology, University of Würzburg,
President of the German Society for Periodontology (DGP)
Interdisciplinary cooperation gains in importance from an economic point of view as well
As can be seen from numerous statements by researchers and scientists
, 70% of all Germans are unaware that they suffer from
health problems of the oral
cavity. Interactions between common medical diseases
and periodontal disease are becoming increasingly apparent.
The are massive personal and national negative consequences for those affected and
for society
as a whole.
This presents medical professionals and dentists
with challenges for which they may not be
adequately prepared in their studies.
The Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Initiative for the Early Detection of Periodontal Disease
is concerned with the topic of “pathogenic
enzymatic activity” and shows once more the extent to which there is a close
link between dental health and general health.
The interactions of periodontal diseases and
for example, diabetes and cardiovascular
diseases are scientifically proven.
Interdisciplinary collaboration is thus
of crucial importance: diseases can be detected early
, mitigated and allayed.
The study by US company Aetna indicates that there is a potential to reduce the costs associated with the cardiological treatment
of patients
undergoing periodontal treatment. Thus,
in my opinion the Aetna study offers important
economic evidence for the relevance of interdisciplinary
cooperation. In this case, the principle of
“prevention is better than cure” is always applicable.
Laurenz Meyer
Berlin, April 2010
Laurenz Meyer
Economist, CDU politician, Bundestag member ret.,
CDU General Secretary ret., CDU Economic Policy Spokesman ret., Berlin
“In order to ensure high quality in medicine, a stringent diagnosis, therapy and aftercare concept is necessary – an interdisciplinary approach is desirable in this context.” December 2010
Early diagnosis and patient-oriented therapy
at a definitively high quality level – these are certainly objective goals which every dental practitioner can make use of
for his or her practice.
This, combined with a preventive treatment concept,
ensures our patients the best possible care
and guarantees a high level of satisfaction, thus providing the basis for
the economic success of the dental practice. This
type of treatment is medically successful while
remaining affordable.
Still, we’re all familiar with the new patient, who, after years of treatment elsewhere just happens
to show up at our clinic.
Our results indicate the dental enamel has been adequately cared for with high-quality
treatment, and that his or her oral hygiene
is acceptable The results of the PSI come back as a surprise,
and in explaining
the horizontal bone loss on the current X-ray, the patient asks: “But I
had regular checkups and had my teeth professionally
cleaned every year. Why didn’t my dentist see this this?”
These types of patient cases repeatedly emphasize
the need for stringent diagnosis, therapy and
follow-up concepts, risk-oriented prevention measures,
and a high level of qualification and motivation on the part
of the dental treatment team, including assistants,
especially if it
performs delegable services. Naturally, this includes the willingness
for interdisciplinary cooperation with
all specialist fields.
Quality must be lived. Have we really already reached this goal?