Non-coding RNAs in saliva: emerging biomarkers for molecular diagnostics.

Saliva is a complex body fluid that comprises secretions from the major and minor salivary glands, which are extensively supplied by blood. Therefore, molecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA, etc., present in plasma could be also present in saliva. Many studies have reported that saliva body fluid can be useful for discriminating several oral diseases, but also systemic diseases including cancer. Most of these studies revealed messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteomic biomarker signatures rather than specific non-coding RNA (ncRNA) profiles. NcRNAs are emerging as new regulators of diverse biological functions, playing an important role in oncogenesis and tumor progression. Indeed, the small size of these molecules makes them very stable in different body fluids and not as susceptible as mRNAs to degradation by ribonucleases (RNases). Therefore, the development of a non-invasive salivary test, based on ncRNAs profiles, could have a significant applicability to clinical practice, not only by reducing the cost of the health system, but also by benefitting the patient. Here, we summarize the current status and clinical implications of the ncRNAs present in human saliva as a source of biological information

Exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities of Non small cell lung carcinoma

Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer death worldwide. Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, and the prognosis of NSCLC patients in advanced stages is still very poor. Given the need for new therapies, the metabolism of NSCLC has been widely studied in the past two decades to identify vulnerabilities that could be translated into novel anti-metabolic therapeutic approaches. A number of studies have highlighted the role of glucose and mitochondrial metabolism in the development of NSCLC. The metabolic properties of lung tumors have been characterized in detail in vivo, and they include high glucose and lactate use and high heterogeneity regarding the use of nutrients and mitochondrial pathways. This heterogeneity has also been observed in patients infused with labeled nutrients. We will summarize here the knowledge about the use of amino acids, fatty acids and carbohydrates in NSCLC that could lead to new combination treatments

Non-coding Rnas In Saliva: Emerging Biomarkers For Molecular Diagnostics

Saliva is a complex body fluid that comprises secretions from the major and minor salivary glands, which are extensively supplied by blood. Therefore, molecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA, etc., present in plasma could be also present in saliva. Many studies have reported that saliva body fluid can be useful for discriminating several oral diseases, but also systemic diseases including cancer. Most of these studies revealed messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteomic biomarker signatures rather than specific non-coding RNA (ncRNA) profiles. NcRNAs are emerging as new regulators of diverse biological functions, playing an important role in oncogenesis and tumor progression. Indeed, the small size of these molecules makes them very stable in different body fluids and not as susceptible as mRNAs to degradation by ribonucleases (RNases). Therefore, the development of a non-invasive salivary test, based on ncRNAs profiles, could have a significant applicability to clinical practice, not only by reducing the cost of the health system, but also by benefitting the patient. Here, we summarize the current status and clinical implications of the ncRNAs present in human saliva as a source of biological information

Effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in the elderly

The Mediterranean diet is known to be one of the healthiest dietary patterns in the world due to its relation with a low morbidity and mortality for some chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to review literature regarding the relationship between Mediterranean diet and healthy aging. A MEDLINE search was conducted looking for literature regarding the relationship between Mediterranean diet and cardiovascular disease (or risk factors for cardiovascular disease), cancer, mental health and longevity and quality of life in the elderly population (65 years or older). A selection of 36 articles met the criteria of selection. Twenty of the studies were about Mediterranean diets and cardiovascular disease, 2 about Mediterranean diets and cancer, 3 about Mediterranean diets and mental health and 11 about longevity (overall survival) or mental health. The results showed that Mediterranean diets had benefits on risks factors for cardiovascular disease such as lipoprotein levels, endothelium vasodilatation, insulin resistance, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, antioxidant capacity, the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality. Some positive associations with quality of life and inverse associations with the risk of certain cancers and with overall mortality were also reported

Osteoarthritis and the Mediterranean Diet: A Systematic Review

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects 240 million people globally. Few studies have examined the links between osteoarthritis and the Mediterranean diet (MD). The aim of this paper was to systematically review and analyze the epidemiological evidence in humans on the MD and its association with OA. A systematic search of EMBASE identified three studies that explored the association between MD and OA. Two of them were cross-sectional and the third one was a 16-week randomized clinical trial. Prisma declaration was followed to carry out this review. These studies described a positive association between a higher adherence to a MD and the quality of life of participants suffering OA. The prevalence of OA was lower in participants with a higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Biomarkers of inflammation and cartilage degradation related to OA were also analyzed and significant differences were detected only for IL1-, which decreased in the MD group. Exploring the relationship between MD and OA is complex, moreover, the limited evidence and methodological differences in such studies makes it difficult to compare results. In conclusion, the three studies included in this systematic review demonstrated some relation between osteoarthritis and a Mediterranean diet. However, prospective and longer interventions are required to evaluate the long-term efficacy of the Mediterranean diet to improve symptomatology and preventing osteoarthritis

Actividad física en la población infantil y juvenil española en el tiempo libre. Estudio enKid (1998-2000)

Introducción y objetivos: La práctica regular de actividad física se ha convertido en uno de los objetivos principales de los planes de salud pública debido a su relación con la prevención de numerosas enfermedades crónicas. La infancia y la adolescencia son momentos clave para iniciar el hábito del ejercicio físico. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un análisis descriptivo de la práctica de actividad física en el tiempo libre y los factores socioeconómicos que influyen en ella en una muestra representativa de la población infantil y juvenil española. Métodos: Se estudiaron 3.185 individuos de 2 a 24 años a los que se administró un cuestionario sobre actividad física y variables socioeconómicas. Resultados: Alrededor del 70% de los niños y adolescentes españoles no realizan actividad física regular en su tiempo libre, especialmente las chicas. Con la edad, se produce un aumento de la actividad física hasta los 10-13 años, a partir de entonces disminuye su práctica. El nivel socioeconómico y el nivel de estudios de la madre influyen positivamente en el grado de actividad física de la población. Conclusiones: El ejercicio físico en el tiempo libre no es un hábito en la mayoría de la población infantil y juvenil española. Las campañas de salud dirigidas a su promoción deben tener en cuenta las variables socioeconómicas que influyen en su práctica y mejorar la disponibilidad de instalaciones deportivas o recreativas de manera que toda la población tenga acceso a ellas

Activitat física en la població infantil i juvenil espanyola en el temps de lleure. Estudi enKid (1998-2000)

Introducció i objectius: La pràctica regular d'activitat física ha esdevingut un dels objectius principals dels plans de salut pública a causa de la seva relació amb la prevenció de nombroses malalties cròniques. La infància i l'adolescència són moments claus per iniciar l'hàbit de l'exercici físic. L'objectiu d'aquest treball és fer una anàlisis descriptiva de la pràctica d'activitat física en el temps de lleure i els factors socioeconòmics que hi incideixen en una mostra representativa de la població infantil i juvenil espanyola. Mètodes: Es van estudiar 3.185 individus de 2 a 24 anys, als quals es va administrar un qüestionari sobre activitat física i variables socioeconòmiques. Resultats: Al voltant del 70% dels nens i adolescents espanyols no fan activitat física regular durant el seu temps de lleure, especialment les noies. Amb l'edat, es produeix un augment de l'activitat física fins als 10-13 anys, moment a partir del qual la pràctica minva. El nivell socioeconòmic i el nivell d'estudis de la mare tenen una influència positiva en el grau d'activitat física de la població. Conclusions: L'exercici físic en el temps de lleure no és un hàbit en la majoria de la població infantil i juvenil espanyola. Les campanyes de salut adreçades a promoure-la han de tenir en compte les variables socioeconòmiques que incideixen en aquesta pràctica i millorar la disponibilitat d'instal·lacions esportives o recreatives, a fi que tota la població hi tingui accés

Cancer Salivary Biomarkers for Tumours Distant to the Oral Cavity

The analysis of saliva as a diagnostic approach for systemic diseases was proposed just two decades ago, but recently great interest in the field has emerged because of its revolutionary potential as a liquid biopsy and its usefulness as a non-invasive sampling method. Multiple molecules isolated in saliva have been proposed as cancer biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, drug monitoring and pharmacogenetic studies. In this review, we focus on the current status of the salivary diagnostic biomarkers for different cancers distant to the oral cavity, noting their potential use in the clinic and their applicability in personalising cancer therapiesS

How is the adequacy of micronutrient intake assessed across Europe? A systematic literature review

EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned is a network of excellence funded by the European commission, and established to address the problem of differences between countries in micronutrient recommendations as well as to understand how nutritional information including requirements and adequacy of intake is processed among different population groups. The aims of the present paper were to review the methods used for the adequacy assessment of the intake of six micronutrients of public health concern (vitamin A, folate, vitamin B12, Fe, Zn and iodine) in non-European and European nutrition surveys carried out on the apparently healthy population and to compare in particular the adequacy across surveys for folate intake. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify nutrition surveys that assessed micronutrient intake adequacy. The search yielded 9049 records, out of which 337 were eligible for the selected micronutrients. The majority (83·9%) of the European surveys compared the adequacy of the nutrient intake against the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA); only a few surveys (8·0%) used the estimated average requirement cut-point method, while none of them used the probability approach. The comparison of folate inadequacy across eight countries revealed that about 25% of the adult female population had inadequate intakes when judged against the different recommendations used by the respective investigators, but nearly 75% had inadequate intakes when compared against the estimated average requirement cut-point value of 320μg/d. The present review showed that different methods were applied across Europe to estimate the adequacy of micronutrient intake, which led to different prevalence estimates of micronutrient inadequac

Starvation and antimetabolic therapy promote cytokine release and recruitment of immune cells

Cellular starvation is typically a consequence of tissue injury that disrupts the local blood supply but can also occur where cell populations outgrow the local vasculature, as observed in solid tumors. Cells react to nutrient deprivation by adapting their metabolism, or, if starvation is prolonged, it can result in cell death. Cell starvation also triggers adaptive responses, like angiogenesis, that promote tissue reorganization and repair, but other adaptive responses and their mediators are still poorly characterized. To explore this issue, we analyzed secretomes from glucose-deprived cells, which revealed up-regulation of multiple cytokines and chemokines, including IL-6 and IL-8, in response to starvation stress. Starvation-induced cytokines were cell type-dependent, and they were also released from primary epithelial cells. Most cytokines were up-regulated in a manner dependent on NF-κB and the transcription factor of the integrated stress response ATF4, which bound directly to the IL-8 promoter. Furthermore, glutamine deprivation, as well as the antimetabolic drugs 2-deoxyglucose and metformin, also promoted the release of IL-6 and IL-8. Finally, some of the factors released from starved cells induced chemotaxis of B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils, suggesting that nutrient deprivation in the tumor environment can serve as an initiator of tumor inflammation