ABSTRACT Epidemiological and longitudinal studies have shown that pregnancy is associated with increased gingival inflammation and worsening of periodontal status. Prospective studies suggested that periodontal therapy during pregnancy might reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and significant periodontal status improvement. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the prevalence of periodontal disease amongst pregnant women, and to compare periodontal conditions before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy. This study was a cross-sectional and intervention study of pregnant women at the Mother and Child Health Clinic, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching, who were referred to the Periodontic Unit, Jalan Masjid Dental Clinic, Kuching for further periodontal examination and treatment. All participants were examined and diagnosed with healthy periodontium or diseased periodontium. Sixty women became the subjects and 85% were diagnosed with periodontal disease, while 15% had healthy periodontium. Plaque score (PS) and bleeding score (BS) were evaluated at baseline and at eight weeks. At baseline, all periodontal parameters (mean ± SD) were higher in the diseased periodontium group compared to the healthy group (BS, 39.6 ± 21.5 vs 6.5 ± 3.9; PS, 46.4 ± 30.1 vs 33.5 ± 31.1). After two months, both groups showed improvement in all periodontal parameters; diseased periodontium (p = 0.001) and healthy periodontium group (p = 0.016). In conclusion, 85% of the participants in this study had periodontal diseases and, the non-surgical periodontal therapy improved the participants’ periodontal status. Furthermore, there was no significant adverse pregnancy outcomes reported in this study.
Periodontal Diseases ; Pregnant Women ; Malaysia (Kuching, Sarawak)

Exercise selection is one of crucial factors in designing a comprehensive training programme. The exposure of different exercise selection may stimulate the specific adaptation imposed demand. In the construction of any resistance training (RT) programme, it is important to choose whether to apply bilateral (BI) or unilateral (UNI) exercise. The present study aimed to look into the physiological responses of blood glucose (BG) between UNI and BI RT. Quantitative research method was used, RT (UNI versus BI training) as the independent variables whereas BG set as the dependent variable. In order to measure training effects following a single bout of different training intervention (UNI versus BI), a crossover experimental pre and post test design was implemented. A total of sixteen (n = 16) trained women with mean age of 23 (SD = 1.35) years old went through a single bout of RT involved a total body exercise using major muscles group with 80% of 1RM for each protocols (UNI and BI) for 10 repetitions to maximal effort (for 3 sets). Crossover design would be more accurate in exposing different training protocol to a similar characteristic of individuals as compared using different individuals. The results revealed that blood glucose (BG) were statistically changed (p < .001) across times (between PRE to IP, between PRE and 15P as well as between PRE and 30P), and finding shows there is no difference between training protocols (p = .39). Thus, similar responses of UNI and BI RT on BG concentration provides wide selection of exercise method to practitioners specifically to trained women. Future research on UNI versus BI RT could venture onto other types of hormones analysis including insulin, growth hormone and cortisol can be included. Besides, future research should consider a long run study that involve chronic adaptation of RT on human body in order to prevent and alleviate disease.