IL6 and alkaline phosphatase measurement: Two (#1 & #2) of the six AP tissues tested positive for P. gingivalis infection via RT-qPCR of the extracted gDNAs, and these two samples also exhibited high-expression of p-STAT3 and IL-6 (Figure 2D), suggesting a potential relationship between P. gingivalis infection and activation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.