ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Oral squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most lethal forms of cancer, and its aetiology has been attributed to both genetic and epigenetic factors working in liaison to contribute to the disease. Epigenetic changes especially DNA methylation is involved in the activation or repression of gene functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the DNA methylation pattern and expression profiling of the promoter regions of FMS-related tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3), erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 3 (EPB41L3) and stratifin (SFN) genes in oral cancer within the Khasi and Jaintia tribal population of Meghalaya in North East India. Methods: Quantitative methylation analyses of the selected genes were carried out by MassARRAY platform System, and the relative expression profiling was carried out by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Quantitative methylation results indicated that the level of methylation was significantly higher (hypermethylated) for FLT3 and EPB41L3 and significantly lower (hypomethylated) for SFN in tumour tissues as compared to the adjacent paired normal tissue. Expression profiling was in concurrence with the methylation data whereby hypermethylated genes showed low mRNA level and vice versa for the hypomethylated gene. Interpretation & conclusions: The findings show that hyper- and hypomethylation of the selected genes play a potential role in oral carcinogenesis in the selected Khasi and Jaintia tribal population of Meghalaya. The methylation status of these genes has not been reported in oral cancer, so these genes may serve as promising biomarkers for oral cancer diagnosis as well as in disease monitoring.
ABSTRACT
Background: Different studies suggest that Vitamin D3 has a role in regulation of insulin and its deficiency leads to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). In a study by ICMR-INDIAB (NE), it was shown that the prevalence of type 2 DM is about 9% in Tripura. However, little is known regarding the blood level of Vitamin D3 among the rural ethnic population. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the blood level of Vitamin D3 and its association with type 2 DM in rural ethnic population. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken from February 2018 to January 2019 at Multidisciplinary Research Unit of Agartala Government Medical College to assess the blood Vitamin D3 level in the rural ethnic population and its association with Type 2 DM. Two hundred and eight subjects were recruited from 10 different health camps. Blood samples were collected for detecting different blood glycemic parameters. The data were statistically analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the association of blood Vitamin D3 with glycemic parameters. Results: Of 208 ethnic subjects, 136 had insufficient while 72 had sufficient blood Vitamin D3 level. Overall, 65% prevalence of Vitamin D3 insufficiency has been observed in the study population. About 98.3% and 52.3% of insufficiency (<30 ng/ml) have been observed in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, respectively. Conclusion: About 65% prevalence of Vitamin D3 insufficiency irrespective of diabetic status was found in this study. However, Vitamin D3 level and its inverse association with glycemic parameters in type 2 DM could not be established.