Expression of Minichromosome Maintenance Protein 2 (MCM2) in Oral Epithelial Dysplasia and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.

The histopathological investigations of oral lesions are a basic approach for diagnosing ongoing cancer or pre-cancer associated pathological attributes in the dissected biopsy. The early detection and management of potentially malignant disorders of the lip and oral cavity that require intervention may reduce malignant transformations, or in case any malignancy is detected during surveillance, the appropriate treatment may improve survival rates. This would guide the clinicians to decide the appropriate treatment modality or lesion to achieve a more favorable prognosis. MCM2 protein is involved in DNA replication providing additional information about the prognosis of neoplasms. Some authors have pointed out that MCM proteins have been inversely correlated with salivary tumour differentiation and therefore could be an indicator of proliferation potential. Therefore, it is essential to find the expression of the MCM2 gene in oral leukoplakia and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Electronic databases like Ebscohost, Livivo, Google Scholar and PubMed were searched. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 2 reviewers (MS and SN) independently selected the relevant articles. Any disagreement was discussed until a consensus was reached. We used the QUADAS-2 tool to assess the quality of the included studies over four key domains: patient selection, index test, reference standard and flow and timing of participants through the study. 10 out of 57 titles were found to meet the eligibility criteria. Biopsied tissue with immunohistochemical staining or advanced diagnostic studies were included. A total of 901 samples were included in the study and different groups were normal oral mucosa (NOM), oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MCM2 proteins are useful diagnostic markers for distinguishing malignant from benign epithelial dysplasia and for early detection and diagnosis of OSCC as an adjunct to clinicopathological parameters. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03296-7.

Study of IL-6 and vitamin D3 in patients of pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis can grow in hostile intracellular environment of macrophages by actively evading macrophage-associated antibacterial activities. The stress response factor contributes this process by releasing inflammatory cytokine Interleukin 6 (IL-6). IL-6 screening of patients with TB may be useful to monitor the progress of infection and to infer the risk of progression to active disease. Vitamin D has a critical role in the innate immune system, in the circulating metabolite and supports induction of pleiotropic antimicrobial responses, through the production of antimicrobial peptides, particularly cathelicidin and its active metabolite. 1,25-dihydoxyvitamin D, has long been known to enhance immune response to mycobacteria. In this study, we have studied the role of IL-6 and Vitamin D3 in M. tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups involved in this study are Control, Category I (newly diagnosed TB) and MDR TB patients. The serum levels of IL-6 and vitamin D3 were measured using chemiluminescence and fully-automated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. RESULTS: The serum levels of IL-6 were significantly increased, whereas vitamin D3 decreased in TB multidrug-resistant group of patients compared to the newly diagnosed TB patients. CONCLUSION: IL-6 appears to be the major cytokine elaborated by mycobacteria infection as well as play a role in the clinical manifestations and pathological events and hence may function as a potent biomarker of tuberculosis. Since, Vitamin D increases activity of cell-mediated immunity; it can be used as a supplementation during tuberculosis therapy.

Helicobacter pylori gastritis, a presequeale to coronary plaque.

Helicobacter pylori are considered the most common human pathogen colonizing gastric mucosa. Gastritis with or without H. pylori infection is associated with increase in levels of homocysteine and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) but a more pronounced increase is noted in gastritis with H. pylori infection. Increasing level of homocysteine, due to decreased absorption of vitamin B12 and folic acid, together with increased CRP levels in gastritis with H. pylori infection may be the earliest event in the process of atherosclerosis and plaque formation. Retrospective study conducted at tertiary care hospital in Mumbai by Department of Biochemistry in association with Department of Surgery. Eighty patients who underwent gastroscopy in view of gastritis were subjected to rapid urease test for diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine and hs-CRP were analyzed using chemiluminescence immuno assay. Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation and linear regression used for statistical analysis. Patients with H. pylori gastritis had significantly lower levels of vitamin B12 (271.6±101.3 vs 390.6±176.7 pg/mL; P=0.0005), as well as higher levels of homocysteine (17.4±7.4 vs 13.8±7.8 µmol/L; P=0.037) and hs-CRP (2.5±2.9 vs 1.2±1.1 mg/L; P=0.017), than in patients without H. pylori gastritis. However, folic acid showed (8.9±3.2 vs 10.0±3.6 ng/mL; P=0.171) no significant difference. Elevated homocysteine and hs-CRP in H. pylori gastritis may independently induce endothelial dysfunction, leading to cardiovascular pathology.

The roles of glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and the carbonyl protein in pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: This study determines the protein carbonyls which cause cellular damage and glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase act as antioxidants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was carried out in different categories of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis cases of newly sputum culture positive diagnosed pulmonary categorie I (n=100), extra pulmonary patients categorie (n=35) before and after the DOTS treatment of 6 months, categorie II (n=100), categorie III (n=100) and in normal control subjects (n=100). RESULTS: The serum protein carbonyl levels were significantly increased in the pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The activities of blood glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were found to be significantly decreased in subjects of all the categories of pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis. A negative correlation between the carbonyl protein content and glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase was seen in pulmonary tuberculosis, p<0.001. CONCLUSION: Increased antioxidant defense mechanism due to increase oxidative stress in tuberculosis. The changes were reversed after 6 months of antitubercular treatment in patients with a good recovery, but the increase in the oxidative stress was not completely reversed.

The p53 breast cancer tissue biomarker in Indian women.

BACKGROUND: Combination chemotherapy is highly effective in locally advanced breast cancer. A negative expression of biomarker p53 indicates a higher chance of responding to this regimen. Patients' p53 status may be used as a biological cancer marker to identify those who would benefit from more aggressive treatments. AIMS: The role of p53 in modulating apoptosis has suggested that it may affect the efficacy of anticancer agents. p53 alterations in 80 patients with locally advanced breast cancer IIIB undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy were prospectively evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients received three cycles of paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) and doxorubicin (60 mg/m(2)) every 21 days. Tumor sections were analyzed before treatment for altered patterns of p53 expression, using immunohistochemistry and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: An overall response rate of 83.5% was obtained, including 15.1% complete pathological responses. The regimen was well tolerated with 17.7% grade 2/3 nausea and 12.8% grade 3/4 leukopenia. There was a statistically significant correlation between response and expression of p53. Of 25 patients who obtained a complete clinical response, only two were classified as p53-positive (P = 0.004, χ(2)). Of 11 patients who obtained a complete pathological remission, one was positive (P = 0.099, χ(2)). CONCLUSION: Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis has been shown to be a prognostic factor for patients with breast cancer in India. Paclitaxel is one of the most promising anticancer agents for the therapy of breast cancer, where it has also shown activity in tumors resistant to doxorubicin.