ABSTRACT
Statement of the Problem: Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] have been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain diseases and cancers via tissue destruction and can be secreted into the blood stream. MMP9 expression in the salivary gland tissue was evaluated but their serum level in the salivary gland tumors was not studied
Purpose: The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of serum MMP-9 in healthy participants and in patients with salivary gland tumor
Materials and Method: Using an ELISA kit, the circulating levels of MMP-9 in sera from 58 patients with salivary gland tumor [31 pleomorphic adenoma, 17 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 10 mucoepidermoid carcinoma] and 30 healthy controls was assessed
Results: The serum MMP9 level in patients with salivary gland tumors [380.0 +/- 301.3 pg/ml] also patients with benign tumors [354.3 +/- 218.7 pg/ml] [354.3 +/- 218.7 pg/ml] were significantly lower than that in the healthy group [727.4 +/- 624.6 pg/ml] [Respectively p= 0.02 and p= 0.01]. Mean serum MMP9 concentration in malignant tumors was [402.3 +/- 441.8pg/ml] higher than benign tumors [354.3 +/- 218.7 pg/ml] but the difference was not significant [p= 0.9]
Conclusion: Our results showed that serum level of MMP9 decreased in patients with salivary gland tumors which suggest that MMP9 may not have a potential role in development and pathogenesis of salivary gland tumor
ABSTRACT
Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] has been suggested to be linked with autoimmune processes. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization has the potency to stimulate more autoimmune reactions in PCOS patients. In the present study, we considered anti-nuclear antibodies [ANAs] as the hallmark of autoimmune reactions, and investigated the serum level of these antibodies in 35 patients with PCOS [21-38 years old] pre and one-month after electrocauterization, and in 35 fertile healthy women [25-35 years old] as the control group. Serum levels of ANAs, as well as ANA subtyping, were investigated using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]. While 3 out of the 35 patients [8.6%] were positive for ANAs before electrocauterization, none of the controls was positive. The number of ANA-positive cases increased following electrocauterization [3 out of 35 [8.6%] before vs. 10 out of 35 [28.6%] after the procedure]. The main ANA subtype in the positive samples was SS-A. The higher ANA level among the PCOS patients suggests association of the disease with autoimmune reactions. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocauterization seems to increase the number of positiveANA patients