Mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia within a period 1991-2009

Background/Aim. Lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors account for 3.7% of all cancer deaths worldwide, with significant geographic variations in frequency and distribution. The aim of this descriptive epidemiologic study was to analyze the mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia proper within a period 1991-2009. Methods. Mortality rates standardized directly using the world population as the standard were used in data analysis. Linear trend and regression analyses were used to analyze rate trends in mortality. Results. The Serbian population demonstrated an increase in the mortality of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors (y = 3.32 + 0.03×; p = 0.002; average annual percent change = + 0.8). The male population showed a significant increase in mortality trend (y = 5.90 + 0.03×; p = 0.020; % change = + 0.9), while the female population did not show a significant increase in mortality. The male/female cancer mortality ratio was 5.5:1. Mortality rates for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer increased with age in both genders, with rates being the highest in the population aged 85 and older. Increasing trends of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality were observed in males aged 50-54; the average annual percent change was + 7.4 % (95% CI, 6.2-9.0). The population of both genders aged 55-59 demonstrated an increase in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality, the increase being + 1.8% (95% CI, 1.4-2.2) in men and + 34.3% (95% CI, 28.4-40.2) in women. Conclusion. The increasing trend in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality points to the necessity to investigate etiology and improve primary and secondary prevention measures

Uloga folne kiseline, vitamina B12 i genetičke varijacije IL28B gena u nastanku rekuretnog herpetičkog keratitisa

Uvod. U gotovo 90% odrasle populacije prisutna su antitela prema tipu 1 Herpes simplex (HSV-1) virusa. Interferoni tipa III (IFN-λ) imaju veoma značajnu antivirusnu i antiinflamacijsku aktivnost, što je od posebnog značaja kod rekurentnog herpetičnog keratitisa. Epigenetska priroda reaktivacije HSV-1, između ostalog, može zavisiti od prisustva i koncentracija dokazanih epigentskih modulatora kao što su vitamin B12 i folna kiselina, koji su uključeni u proces metilacije molekula DNK. Ciljevi. Cilj studije je da se istraži moguća povezanost između IL28B genotipa domaćina i predispozicije za rekurentni stromalni herpetični keratitis. Takođe, cilj ovog istraživanja je i analiza moguće povezanosti između koncentracija vitamina B12 i folne kiseline u krvi sa razvojem rekuretnog herpetičnog keratitisa. Metode. Ispitivanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od osamdeset pacijenata starijih od 18 godina, oba pola, koji su u anamnezi imali pojavu rekurentnog herpesvirus hominis labialis (HSL). Svi ispitanici su testirani na prisustvo IgG antitela specifičnih za HSV-1, kako bi se kod seropozitivnih pojedinaca tipizirao gen IL28B (rs12979860snp). Sedamdeset i pet seropozitivnih ispitanika uključeno je u studiju. Dvadeset i četiri pacijenata imala su rekurentni herpetični keratitis sa posledičnim ožiljavanjem rožnjače i značajnim smanjenjem vidne oštrine. Ukupna DNK izolovana je iz uzoraka krvi ispitanika. Ispitanicima sa recidivirajućim herpetičnim keratitisom, dodatno je uzeto 2ml periferne venske krvi za određivanje nivoa folne kiseline i vitamina B12 u akutnoj fazi recidiva herpetične bolesti oka. Rezultati. U našem istraživanju pokazana je statistički značajna povezanost između pojave rekuretnog HSV keratitisa i dva jednonukleotidna polimorfizma (SNP) za genotip IL28B (CCrs12979860 i CTrs12979860, p<0.05). Takođe, prema rezultatima naše studije, svi pacijenti su imali niže vrednosti vitamina B12 i folne kiseline u serumu u akutnoj fazi recidivirajućeg herpetičnog keratitisa. Zaključak. Rezultati naše studije pokazuju da se klinička manifestacija rekurentne HSV-1 infekcije može povezati sa polimorfizmom IL28B gena. Reaktivacija virusa HSV-1 može biti povezana sa minimalnim nedostatkom vitamina B12 i folne kiseline tokom latentne faze bolesti, zbog epigenetske prirode HSV-1 virusa.Introduction. Herpes simplex (HSV-1) type 1 antibodies are present in almost 90% of the adult population. Type III interferons (IFN-λ) have very significant antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, which is of particular importance in recurrent herpetic keratitis. The epigenetic nature of HSV-1 reactivation may depend, among other things, on the presence and concentrations of proven epigenetic modulators such as vitamin B12 and folic acid involved in the DNA methylation process. Objectives. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible association between IL28B host genotype and the predisposition to recurrent stromal herpetic keratitis. Also, the aim of the study is to find out the possible relationship between vitamin B12 and folic acid concentrations in blood and recurrent herpetic keratitis. Methods. The study was conducted on a sample of eighty patients over 18 years of age, of both genders with a history of recurrent herpesvirus hominis labialis (HSL). All subjects were tested for the presence of HSV-1-specific IgG in order to typify IL28B genes (rs12979860snp) in seropositives. Seventy-five of these patients were found to be seropositive for HSV-1 and were subsequently enrolled in the study. Twenty-four of the enrolled patients also had a history of recurrent herpetic keratitis (HSK) associated with severe corneal scarring and visual acuity deterioration. Total DNA was isolated using blood samples. Two milliliters of peripheral venous blood were additionally collected from subjects with recurrent herpetic keratitis, in the acute phase of the disease, in order to determine folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. The results. A significant association was observed between recurrent HSK and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the IL28B genotype (CCrs12979860 and CTrs12979860, p<0.05). Our results show that all patients in the acute phase of the recurrent herpetic keratitis had lower B12 and folic acid sera levels. Conclusion. The results from our study indicate that the clinical manifestation of recurrent HSV- 1 infection may be related to IL28B gene polymorphism. HSV-1 virus reactivation may be associated with minimal vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency during the latent phase of the disease, due to the epigenetic nature of the HSV-1 virus

Uloga folne kiseline, vitamina B12 i genetičke varijacije IL28B gena u nastanku rekuretnog herpetičkog keratitisa

Uvod. U gotovo 90% odrasle populacije prisutna su antitela prema tipu 1 Herpes simplex (HSV-1) virusa. Interferoni tipa III (IFN-λ) imaju veoma značajnu antivirusnu i antiinflamacijsku aktivnost, što je od posebnog značaja kod rekurentnog herpetičnog keratitisa. Epigenetska priroda reaktivacije HSV-1, između ostalog, može zavisiti od prisustva i koncentracija dokazanih epigentskih modulatora kao što su vitamin B12 i folna kiselina, koji su uključeni u proces metilacije molekula DNK. Ciljevi. Cilj studije je da se istraži moguća povezanost između IL28B genotipa domaćina i predispozicije za rekurentni stromalni herpetični keratitis. Takođe, cilj ovog istraživanja je i analiza moguće povezanosti između koncentracija vitamina B12 i folne kiseline u krvi sa razvojem rekuretnog herpetičnog keratitisa. Metode. Ispitivanje je sprovedeno na uzorku od osamdeset pacijenata starijih od 18 godina, oba pola, koji su u anamnezi imali pojavu rekurentnog herpesvirus hominis labialis (HSL). Svi ispitanici su testirani na prisustvo IgG antitela specifičnih za HSV-1, kako bi se kod seropozitivnih pojedinaca tipizirao gen IL28B (rs12979860snp). Sedamdeset i pet seropozitivnih ispitanika uključeno je u studiju. Dvadeset i četiri pacijenata imala su rekurentni herpetični keratitis sa posledičnim ožiljavanjem rožnjače i značajnim smanjenjem vidne oštrine. Ukupna DNK izolovana je iz uzoraka krvi ispitanika. Ispitanicima sa recidivirajućim herpetičnim keratitisom, dodatno je uzeto 2ml periferne venske krvi za određivanje nivoa folne kiseline i vitamina B12 u akutnoj fazi recidiva herpetične bolesti oka. Rezultati. U našem istraživanju pokazana je statistički značajna povezanost između pojave rekuretnog HSV keratitisa i dva jednonukleotidna polimorfizma (SNP) za genotip IL28B (CCrs12979860 i CTrs12979860, p<0.05). Takođe, prema rezultatima naše studije, svi pacijenti su imali niže vrednosti vitamina B12 i folne kiseline u serumu u akutnoj fazi recidivirajućeg herpetičnog keratitisa. Zaključak. Rezultati naše studije pokazuju da se klinička manifestacija rekurentne HSV-1 infekcije može povezati sa polimorfizmom IL28B gena. Reaktivacija virusa HSV-1 može biti povezana sa minimalnim nedostatkom vitamina B12 i folne kiseline tokom latentne faze bolesti, zbog epigenetske prirode HSV-1 virusa.Introduction. Herpes simplex (HSV-1) type 1 antibodies are present in almost 90% of the adult population. Type III interferons (IFN-λ) have very significant antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, which is of particular importance in recurrent herpetic keratitis. The epigenetic nature of HSV-1 reactivation may depend, among other things, on the presence and concentrations of proven epigenetic modulators such as vitamin B12 and folic acid involved in the DNA methylation process. Objectives. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible association between IL28B host genotype and the predisposition to recurrent stromal herpetic keratitis. Also, the aim of the study is to find out the possible relationship between vitamin B12 and folic acid concentrations in blood and recurrent herpetic keratitis. Methods. The study was conducted on a sample of eighty patients over 18 years of age, of both genders with a history of recurrent herpesvirus hominis labialis (HSL). All subjects were tested for the presence of HSV-1-specific IgG in order to typify IL28B genes (rs12979860snp) in seropositives. Seventy-five of these patients were found to be seropositive for HSV-1 and were subsequently enrolled in the study. Twenty-four of the enrolled patients also had a history of recurrent herpetic keratitis (HSK) associated with severe corneal scarring and visual acuity deterioration. Total DNA was isolated using blood samples. Two milliliters of peripheral venous blood were additionally collected from subjects with recurrent herpetic keratitis, in the acute phase of the disease, in order to determine folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. The results. A significant association was observed between recurrent HSK and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the IL28B genotype (CCrs12979860 and CTrs12979860, p<0.05). Our results show that all patients in the acute phase of the recurrent herpetic keratitis had lower B12 and folic acid sera levels. Conclusion. The results from our study indicate that the clinical manifestation of recurrent HSV- 1 infection may be related to IL28B gene polymorphism. HSV-1 virus reactivation may be associated with minimal vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency during the latent phase of the disease, due to the epigenetic nature of the HSV-1 virus

Genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in Serbia

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is the main causative agent of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). To characterize and determine the genetic diversity of PCV2 in the porcine population of Serbia, nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) of PCV2 collected from the tissues of pigs that either had died as a result of PMWS or did not exhibit disease symptoms were analyzed. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed considerable diversity among PCV2 ORF2 sequences and the existence of two main PCV2 genotypes, PCV2b and PCV2a, with at least three clusters, 1A/B, 1C and 2D. In order to provide further proof that the 1C strain is circulating in the porcine population, the whole viral genome of one PCV2 isolate was sequenced. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis using the entire viral genome sequences confirmed that there was a PMWS-associated 1C strain emerging in Serbia. Our analysis also showed that PCV2b is dominant in the porcine population, and that it is exclusively associated with PMWS occurrences in the country. These data constitute a useful basis for further epidemiological studies regarding the heterogeneity of PCV2 strains on the European continent

Mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia within a period 1991-2009

Background/Aim. Lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors account for 3.7% of all cancer deaths worldwide, with significant geographic variations in frequency and distribution. The aim of this descriptive epidemiologic study was to analyze the mortality rate of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors in Serbia proper within a period 1991-2009. Methods. Mortality rates standardized directly using the world population as the standard were used in data analysis. Linear trend and regression analyses were used to analyze rate trends in mortality. Results. The Serbian population demonstrated an increase in the mortality of lip, oral cavity and pharynx malignant tumors (y = 3.32 + 0.03×; p = 0.002; average annual percent change = + 0.8). The male population showed a significant increase in mortality trend (y = 5.90 + 0.03×; p = 0.020; % change = + 0.9), while the female population did not show a significant increase in mortality. The male/female cancer mortality ratio was 5.5:1. Mortality rates for lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer increased with age in both genders, with rates being the highest in the population aged 85 and older. Increasing trends of lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality were observed in males aged 50-54; the average annual percent change was + 7.4 % (95% CI, 6.2-9.0). The population of both genders aged 55-59 demonstrated an increase in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality, the increase being + 1.8% (95% CI, 1.4-2.2) in men and + 34.3% (95% CI, 28.4-40.2) in women. Conclusion. The increasing trend in lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer mortality points to the necessity to investigate etiology and improve primary and secondary prevention measures