Salivary Biomarkers for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Overview.

Oral Cancer encompasses an important faction of neoplasms of head and neck. More than 90% of oral cancers are oral squamous cell carcinomas. Ideally, this fatal disease is detected through a comprehensive clinical examination by the oral health care professionals. Regardless of the fact that the oral cavity is easily accessible, most oral cancers are typically detected at an advanced stage. This has attributed to lower survival rate. Saliva, an aqueous biological fluid is in direct contact with the oral cancer lesion. Hence, the abnormal DNA, RNA, protein molecules released by the malignant cells can be easily obtained from saliva. Saliva, being a noninvasive diagnostic aid can be an alternative to serum for early detection, monitoring post therapy status, prognosis of oral cancer patients. This article aims to provide a brief overview of various salivary biomarkers and their implications in oral cancer.

Relationship between periodontitis and systemic diseases: Leptin, a new biomarker.

Background: Leptin is a polypeptide hormone associated with the occurrence of legion of diseases including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Periodontitis, that is, inflammation of the periodontium has also been linked to a number of systemic manifestations. Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of leptin as a biomarker linking periodontitis with obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Setting and Design: The inclusion criteria included, clinical trials available in English language; studies involving human participants; studies relating leptin and periodontal diseases to either obesity, cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. Exclusion criteria enlisted manuscripts in language other than English; if they were case reports, narrative reviews, personal communication, conference presentations, editorial and expert opinion; experiments not involving humans. Methods: We performed a literature search encompassing the time period from January 2000 to May 2013. A systematic search of the Cochrane Library and the Medline through PubMed was performed using the selected keywords/phrases "leptin and periodontitis," "leptin and periodontal diseases," "leptin, periodontitis and obesity," "leptin, periodontitis and cardiovascular diseases," and "leptin, periodontitis, and diabetes." Result: A total of 23 studies was obtained using the selected keywords/phrases. On screening, the chosen studies seven fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Four demonstrated association of leptin with periodontitis and obesity. One study associated cardiovascular diseases and periodontitis through leptin whereas two were found linking leptin, periodontitis, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusion: We could find some positive consociation between the serum concentration of leptin, periodontitis, and systemic diseases including obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The results were conflicting when its relation with diabetes mellitus type 2 was examined, as one study favored the association whereas the other one claimed that there was no effect on the levels of leptin.

Epidemiological Markers of Fungi and its Clinical Application.

The risk factors for opportunistic fungal infections are progressive HIV infection, Diabetes mellitus or patient on antibiotics, steroid or antimalignant therapy. Though with the development of Medical sciences, fungal infections are gaining importance, the field of epidemiology of fungal infection has not expanded that much. The different epidemiological markers for fungal infection have been discussed in this article. Ideally epidemiological marker should be standardized, reproducible, sensitive, easy to perform and inexpensive.

Significant increases in monocyte counts and serum creatine kinase in acute myocardial infarction versus general infections.

Background: Biomarkers specificity is an important factor for their reliable utilization. Known markers for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), including creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), and blood cell counts are thought to be altered in other pathologic conditions, such as infections. Aim: To compare the level of these biomarkers in AMI patients and infected controls with respect to normal subjects. Materials and Methods: We recruited 15 AMI patients, 15 patients with bacterial infections (infected control group) and 35 normal subjects. Peripheral blood samples were obtained for blood cell counts and biochemical analyses. Results: Only monocytes were significantly increased in AMI patients (0.793 × 10 9 /L) than normal controls (0.497 × 10 9 /L). Infected controls showed a significant increase in total white blood cell (11.50 × 10 9 /L versus 6.149 × 10 9 /L) and neutrophil (9.360 versus 3.223 × 10 9 /L) counts and a significant decrease in red blood cell (3.750 versus 5.105 × 10 12 /L) counts as compared with normal controls. Serum CK was significantly increased in AMI patients (313.20 ± 94.84 U/L) and decreased in infected controls (48.40 ± 10.35 U/L) as compared with normal controls (100.82 ± 8.86 U/L). The levels of CRP were significantly higher in infected controls (136.93 ± 34.83 mg/L) and nonsignificantly higher in AMI patients (38.53 ± 12.76 mg/L) than normal controls (3.48 ± 0.59 mg/L). Monocytes were significantly correlated with both CK and CRP; however, there was no correlation between CK and CRP. Conclusion: Differential trends of monocytes and CK in AMI and infective controls point toward their possible application in prognosis of AMI patients.

Animal study of silicosis in respect of morbidity and mortality.

Silica activates release of biochemical substances in lungs. To evaluate duration dependent toxic effects of silica by biochemical changes in Broncho Alveolar Lavage Fluid (BALF) and by post-mortem findings we developed a series of rat silicosis. Based on duration of exposures, single intratracheal injection of quartz dust in saline to acute models (n=3) and inhalation of quartz dust with air to chronic models (n=3) were administered. Control rats received vehicle only. Group wise BALF was collected on completion of exposure periods. Post-mortem examination was performed. Protein, hydroxyproline, elastase and Elastase Inhibitory Capacity (EIC) in BALF were measured. Post-mortem examination revealed progressive fibro-nodular changes in lungs. Biochemical parameters excepting EIC in both models showed significant (p< 0.001) gradual rise. Duration dependent biochemical changes in BALF due to silica were found responsible for progressive morbidity and may be considered as early markers for diagnosis, thereby, preventing increasing morbidity and death.

Basic fibrolast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor levels as pulmonary biomarkers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

There has been increasing interest in using pulmonary biomarkers to understand and monitor the inflammation in the respiratory tract of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]. The aim of this study is evaluating circulating basic fibroblast growth factor [bFGF] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] levels to determine the value of these growth factors as biomarkers of COPD and as indicators of severity of COPD in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in comparison to the inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein [CRP], tumor necrosis factor- alpha [TNF- alpha and interleukin-6 [IL-6]. Also, to determine if there is a correlation between circulating levels of VEGF and bFGF and pulmonary function [FEV1]. The study included 86 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], Besides 20 healthy, age matched males with normal pulmonary function were included as controls. The patients were divided into 5 stages according to lung function measured by spirometer [FEV1% predicted]. All patients were subjected to determination of FEV1 and determination of circulating bFGF, VEGF. TNF- alpha CRP and IL-6. The results showed that the concentration of circulating bFGF, VEGF, TNF- alpha, CRP and IL-6 were significantly higher in patients with CORD in comparison to the control group and their levels increased according to the stage of disease. There was a negative correlation between the blood levels of VEGF and bFGF with FEV1 in the different stages of COPD [p<0.05]. Also, there was a strong positive correlation between VEGF and bFGF [p<0.05]. In conclusion, bFGF and VEGF could play an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD and could be considered as a reliable and early biomarker in the diagnosis of COPD