Analiza antiapoptotskog proteina bcl-2 u skvamocelularnom karcinomu usne regije

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the presence of the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma and determine its potential role in the development and progression of this type of tumor. Materials and methods: The expression of bcl-2 was determined in 28 paraffin blocks of oral squamous cell carcinoma using the immunohistochemical method. The percentage of the immuno-reactive cells in positively stained tumor regions was determined using the microscopic analysis and Ozaria software. Results: Positive immunohistochemical test was observed in 19 out of 28 samples (68%) as follows: in 11 samples there was a low (+), in four a moderate (++) and in the last four a high percentage (+++) of stained cells. In the group of patients at the low stage of the disease (T2), 50% of tumor samples showed bcl-2 protein expression whereas in the higher stages (T3 and T4) of positively stained samples, this percentage was 67%. There was a trend of an increasing number of cells with positive bcl-2 staining in the tumors of higher clinical stages but not the level of bcl-2 protein expression. Conclusion: Both parameters, the presence of bcl-2 staining and the percentage of cells with bcl-2 immunoexpression, may act as additional prognostic parameters that indicate an increased proliferative tumor potential.Cilj ove studije bio je analiza prisustva antiapoptotskog proteina bcl-2 u skvamocelularnom karcinomu usne regije i procena njegove eventualne uloge u razvoju i progresiji ove vrste tumora. Materijal i metode: Na uzorku od 28 parafinskih blokova skvamocelularnog karcinoma usne regije, imunohistohemijskom metodom ispitan je ekspresioni status bcl-2 proteina. Mikroskopskom analizom i primenom softvera- Ozaria određen je procenat imunoreaktivnih ćelija u pozitivno obojenim tumorskim regijama. Rezultat: Pozitivnu imunohistohemijsku obojenost pokazalo je 19 od 28 uzoraka (68%) i to: 11 je bilo sa niskim (+), 4 sa srednjim (++) i 4 sa visokim procentom (+++) obojenih ćelija. U grupi pacijenata niskog stadijuma (T2) 50 % uzoraka tumora je pokazivalo ekspresiju bcl-2 proteina dok je u višim stadijumima (T3 i T4) pozitivnih uzoraka bilo 67%. Postojao je trend porasta broja ćelija sa pozitivnom bcl-2 obojenošću kod tumora u višim kliničkim stadijumima, ali ne i povećan nivo ekspresije bcl-2 proteina. Zaključak: Oba parametra, prisustvo bcl-2 obojenosti i procenat ćelija sa bcl-2 imunoekspresijom, mogu predstavljati dopunske prognostičke parametre koji ukazuju na povećan proliferativni potencijal tumora

Clinical and microbiological effects of quadrant versus full-mouth root planing-A randomized study

Background/purpose: Periodontitis is a destructive inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues caused mainly by Gram-negative microorganisms. Disruption and removal of the subgingival biofilm are the primary objectives of cause-related initial periodontal therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and microbiological effects after single-visit full-mouth debridement and quadrantwise therapy. Materials and methods: Forty patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis were randomly assigned to one of the following two treatment protocols: (1) scaling and root planing, quadrant by quadrant, at 1-week intervals and (2) full-mouth scaling and root planing performed in 2 consecutive days. Plaque index, gingival index (GI), papilla bleeding index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level were used to assess the periodontal status of the patients. Polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in subgingival plaque. Results: Both treatment modalities resulted in significant clinical improvement, without evident difference between the two groups. Likewise, no differences were detected for selected target bacteria, except for A. actinomycetemcomitans, the level of which was reduced significantly in the full-mouth root planing (FMRP) group (P = 0.007). Conclusion: Results of the present study indicate similar clinical outcomes following both treatment modalities. Although all four species responded more favorably to FMRP, the only statistically significant decrease was recorded in the case of A. actinomycetemcomitans after therapy in this group of patients

Prevalence of Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus in Chronic Periapical Lesions

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the tissue of chronic periapical lesions, and to compare the results in relation to the symptoms of patients and the size of the lesion. Methods: Periapical lesions analyzed in the study were collected from the roots of the teeth indicated for extraction. Samples were divided according to the symptoms into groups of symptomatic and asymptomatic, and according the size into groups of small and large lesions. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect HCMV and EBV. The amplification was performed in a DNA Thermal Cycler (Hybaid). Results: Symptomatic lesions were 7.68 times more likely to be infected with HCMV than asymptomatic lesions (p lt 0.001). Large symptomatic lesions were 73.50 times more likely to harbor HCMV than small symptomatic lesions (p lt 0.001). Large symptomatic lesions were 7.64 times more likely to be infected with EBV than small symptomatic lesions (p = 0.05). Large symptomatic lesions were 5.38 times more likely to harbor dual HCMV/EBV infection than small symptomatic lesions (p = 0.115). Conclusion: Detection of HCMV and EBV in the samples of periapical lesions suggests an important role of herpesviruses in periapical tissue destruction

Utjecaj parodontološke terapije na C-reaktivni protein i parodontne patogene kod pacijenata s parodontopatijom

Objective: Recent epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with periodontitis have significantly increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. Although the mechanism responsible for the relationship between periodontal disease and cardiovascular events is not fully understood, it is hypothesized that the removal of infection and inflammatory burden of periodontitis by therapy would be accompanied by a decrease in levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the presence of chronic periodontitis and periodontal pathogens and subsequent periodontal treatment could influence the serum levels of C-reactive protein in a Serbian cohort. Material and Methods: Fifty adults with moderate to severe periodontitis who underwent complete mouth disinfection were evaluated to determine if periodontal therapy would result in decreased periodontal infammation and lower serum levels of an inflammatory marker. Subjects underwent measuring of periodontal disease severity and serum C-reactive protein, and periodontal pathogens (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) at the time of the baseline visit and again 6 and 12 months after treatment. Serum levels CRP were also obtained from 25 subjects without periodontitis in a control group. Results: The levels of CRP in the serum seemed not to be lower than those reported in other population in Western European countries. There were significant changes in clinical periodontal values, CRP levels and presence of periodontal pathogens when baseline values were compared to those taken after periodontal treatment completion. Conclusion: The obtained results confirm the hypothesis that periodontal therapy may contribute to elimination of periodontal inflammation and periodontal pathogens, and reduce serum level of CRP. Periodontitis may contribute to the systemic inflammatory burden of affected individuals since it was shown that periodontal therapy may decrease presence of periodontal pathogens and inflammatory markers

Anti-Cancer Activities of Nano Amorphous Calcium Phosphates toward Premalignant and Oral Cancer Cells

Despite advancements in treatment, the squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patient survival rate remains stagnant. Conventional therapies have limited effectiveness, necessitating novel agents. Our study aims to synthesize and characterize amorphous calcium phosphate nanoparticles (nACPs), assess their potential cytotoxic effects on premalignant and malignant OSCC cells, and investigate possible mechanisms of action. The morphological features of nACP were investigated by field emission scanning coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and particle size distribution (PSD). Then, we examined the effect of nACPs on nanoparticle uptake, cell adhesion, viability, invasion ability, cell cycle, and gene expression. nACP uptake was dose-dependent, induced limited selectivity in cytotoxicity between healthy and malignant cells, and affected cellular adhesion and invasion. Early apoptosis was the predominant type of cell death. The nACP effect on viability was verified by alterations in the genes associated with apoptosis and proliferation. A high concentration of nACP was shown to arrest the cell cycle progression in the G0/G1 phase of both malignant and premalignant cells. This type of nACP justifies the development of a strategy for its potential use as an anti-cancer agent and/or anti-cancer active carrier for various drugs in oral cancer treatments

Genetic polymorphism of glutathion S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) Ile105Val and susceptibility to atherogenesis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

One of the characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the state of persistent oxidative stress (OS) that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diseases such is atherosclerosis mainly through chronic hyperglycemia that stimulates production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases OS. Glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) is a member of the cytosolic GST superfamily. It plays an important role in neutralizing OS as an enzyme. Also, it participates in regulation of stress signaling and protects cells against apoptosis via its noncatalytic ligand-binding activity. GSTP1 Ile105Val functional polymorphism influences protein catalytic activity and stability and the aim of this study was to determine whether this gene variation influences susceptibility to atherogenesis in T2DM patients. A total of 240 individuals (140 patients with T2DM, accompanied with clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, and 100 healthy controls) were included in this study. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood cells and genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. We obtained no statistically significant differences in the distribution of alleles and genotypes between cases and controls (P>0.05) but association between Ile/Val (OR=0.6, 95%CI=0.35-1.05, P=0.08) and Val/Val (OR=0.45, 95%CI=0.18-1.11, P=0.08) genotypes and disease approached significance (P=0.08). Our results indicated that a larger study group is needed to establish the true relationship between potentialiy protective allele Val and the disease, and to determine the influence of other GSTP1 polymorphisms on atherogenesis in T2DM patients. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 175075

Zastupljenost bakterije Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans u dubokim karijesnim lezijama

Introduction Deep caries is a reversible process where caries lesion has affected bigger part of dentin and only thin layer of softened dentin that separates lesion from the pulp is remained. The objective of this study was to identify and determine serotypes of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in teeth with deep caries lesions at the beginning of their treatment. Material and methods Clinical research included 29 patients of both genders, aged 16 to 40 and 45 permanent teeth with diagnosed deep caries lesions based on medical history, clinical and radiographic examination. After cavity preparation and removal of softened dentin, microbiological swab was taken from the bottom of the cavity. Swabs were disposed in special sterile micro tubes and stored at the temperature of -80oC until serotyping was done (determination of serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans bacterium). Results In one of the 3 samples two serotypes of A. actinomycetemcomitans (b and c) were identified which is relatively rare finding, while in the second and third sample serotypes (a) and serotype (b) was identified, respectively. Conclusion In the three samples the 3 serotypes were found (a, b and c) and one of the samples was carrying even two different serotypes, which is a rare phenomenon. For more serious epidemiological study of A. Actinomycetemcomitans serotypes at the population level incomparably larger starting material is necessary, at least few hundred of samples.Uvod Duboki karijes je reverzibilni proces kod kojeg je karijesna lezija zahvatila veći deo dentina i samo tanak sloj razmekšalog dentina razdvaja leziju od pulpe. Cilj ovog rada je bio da se na početku terapije utvrde i odrede serotipovi bakterije Aggregatibacter actynomycetemcomitans kod zuba sa dubokim karijesnim lezijama. Materijal i metod rada Kliničko ispitivanje je obuhvatalo 29 pacijenata, oba pola, uzrasta od 16 do 40 godina i 45 stalnih zuba kod kojih je na osnovu anamneze, kliničkog i radiografskog pregleda dijagnostikovan duboki karijes. Posle preparacije kaviteta i uklanjanja razmekšalog dentina, sa dna kaviteta je uziman bris, odlagan u posebne sterilne mikrotubice i čuvan na temperaturi od -80oC do postupka serotipizacije (utvrđivanja serotipova bakterije Aggregatibacter actynomycetemcomitans) primenom metode multipleks PCR. Rezultati Serotipizacija je registrovana u samo tri uzorka. U jednom od tri uzorka identifikovana su dva serotipa A. actynomycetemcomitans - b i c, što je relativno redak nalaz, dok su u drugom i trećem uzorku identifikovani serotipovi a, odnosno serotip b. Zaključak U tri uzorka nađena su tri serotipa - a, b i c, a jedan od uzoraka je nosio čak dva različita serotipa, što je redak fenomen. Za ozbiljniju epidemiološku studiju serotipova A. Actynomycetemcomitans na nivou populacije neophodan je neuporedivo veći uzorak i to reda veličine nekoliko stotina