effect of obesity and periodontitis on the expression of antimicrobial peptides in gingival tissues

To compare the expression of human beta-defensins [HBD] in the gingival tissues of obese and normal weight systemically healthy subjects. This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from March 2010 to November 2011. Twenty obese [10 affected with periodontitis and 10 periodontally healthy], and 20 normal weight subjects [10 affected with periodontitis and 10 periodontally healthy] were selected. Gingival tissue samples were collected and subjected to immunohistochemistry assay to evaluate the expression of HBD-1 and -2. In the epithelium, the staining was almost limited to the basal and supra-basal cells, while the superficial layers and keratin were negative. In the connective tissue, some of the chronic inflammatory cells and fibroblasts were also stained. Endothelial cells lining blood or lymphatic vessels were mostly positive with HBD-2 and were almost negative with HBD-1. The percentage of positively stained areas did not show any differences in the expression of HBD-1 and -2 in obese compared to normal weight subjects whether they were affected or not affected with periodontitis. The results of this study did not demonstrate an association between the expression of HBD-1 and -2 and obesity and periodontitis

Low serum zinc and higher risk of CA prostate in local population study

Study was designed to evaluate the Serum status of Zinc in CA Prostate patients and then match to PSA levels to obtain any significant correlation of Serum Zinc values the risk of CA prostate. Study was conducted at the Biochemistry Department of B.M.S.I, JMPC. Diagnosed CA Prostate cases were selected with the collaboration of Urology and Radiotherapy Department, J.P.M.C, Karachi since June 2006 to July 2007. Total thirty five [35] diagnosed CA Prostate patients and thirty five controls were participated in the study. Zinc and PSA were measured in the blood samples of prostate patients. Significant low zinc blood levels [p<0.05] and significantly high levels of PSA [p<0.05] in the CA Prostate patients as compared to control were found. Serum zinc was estimated in prostate cancer patients, we found significantly decreased levels of zinc [p<0.005] in cancer patients when compared to control group