Beck, masticating on the correlation, suspects that different immune responses in individuals may account for the link. Patients with stronger immune responses may release higher levels of cytokines that may contribute to atherosclerosis. Also, many risk factors for heart disease exist. Even though statistical methods can separate them somewhat, isolating just one and labeling it a cause may prove tough. So, until more molecular evidence arrives, Beck will call periodontitis a risk factor, an indicator of potential heart disease.
Tissue engineering has something to offer as a way to meet the demand.
Recent advances, such as the ability to culture stem cells, may make building an organ easier. But big steps such as controlling the differentiation of stem cells still must be made, emphasized Joseph P. Vacanti of Harvard Medical School and member of the LIFE initiative. Vacanti remains optimistic about the project. But he added that even small advances along the way would likely help patients. Even if we could generate a one-centimeter piece of cardiac tissue, that would be beneficial as a patch.