Association of Salivary Statherin, Calcium, and Proline-Rich Proteins on Oral Hygiene: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Saliva, as a complex biofluid, plays a pivotal role in maintaining oral health and tooth integrity. There has been inconsistent data available on the relationship between salivary parameters and oral health. This study aims to investigate the association between salivary statherin, acidic proline-rich proteins (aPRP), and calcium with oral hygiene status. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-eight healthy subjects aged between 18 and 50 years with varying oral hygiene status who gave consent to participate were included in this cross-sectional study. The subjects were recruited from primary oral health care of MAHSA University. Oral hygiene of all the participants was measured using Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S). Stimulated saliva collected using paraffin wax was analyzed for salivary statherin, aPRP, and calcium. The relationship between salivary statherin, aPRP, and calcium levels with OHI-S was assessed using Spearman's Rank correlation coefficient; the strength of relationship was assessed by multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The study found a weak positive correlation (r = 0.179, p = 0.014) between salivary statherin and OHI-S; weak negative correlation (r = -0.187, p = 0.010) between salivary aPRP and OHI-S; and moderate negative correlation between salivary statherin and salivary aPRP levels (r = -0.50, p < 0.001) which were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Poor oral hygiene is associated with increased statherin and reduced aPRP levels in saliva. Thus, these salivary components may have a role in predicting oral hygiene status.

Eosinophilic endotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: similarities and differences from asthma

Approximately 25% to 40% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have the eosinophilic endotype. It is important to identify this group accurately because they are more symptomatic and are at increased risk for exacerbations and accelerated decline in forced expiratory volume in the 1st second. Importantly, this endotype is a marker of treat ment responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), resulting in decreased mortality risk. In this review, we highlight differences in the biology of eosinophils in COPD compared to asthma and the different definitions of the COPD eosinophilic endotype based on sputum and blood eosinophil count (BEC) with the corresponding limitations. Although BEC is useful as a biomarker for eosinophilic COPD endotype, optimal BEC cut-offs can be combined with clinical characteristics to improve its sensitivity and specificity. A targeted approach comprising airway eosinophilia and appropriate clinical and physiological features may improve identification of subgroups of patients who would benefit from biologic therapy or early use of ICS for disease modification.

Association between lung compliance phenotypes and mortality in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

INTRODUCTION@#Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in COVID-19 is associated with a high mortality rate, though outcomes of the different lung compliance phenotypes are unclear. We aimed to measure lung compliance and examine other factors associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients with ARDS.@*METHODS@#Adult patients with COVID-19 ARDS who required invasive mechanical ventilation at 8 hospitals in Singapore were prospectively enrolled. Factors associated with both mortality and differences between high (<40mL/cm H@*RESULTS@#A total of 102 patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation were analysed; 15 (14.7%) did not survive. Non-survivors were older (median 70 years, interquartile range [IQR] 67-75 versus median 61 years, IQR 52-66; @*CONCLUSION@#COVID-19 ARDS patients with higher compliance on the day of intubation and a longitudinal decrease over time had a higher risk of death.

Role of the CXCR4-SDF1-HMGB1 pathway in the directional migration of cells and regeneration of affected organs.

In recent years, several studies have reported positive outcomes of cell-based therapies despite insufficient engraftment of transplanted cells. These findings have created a huge interest in the regenerative potential of paracrine factors released from transplanted stem or progenitor cells. Interestingly, this notion has also led scientists to question the role of proteins in the secretome produced by cells, tissues or organisms under certain conditions or at a particular time of regenerative therapy. Further studies have revealed that the secretomes derived from different cell types contain paracrine factors that could help to prevent apoptosis and induce proliferation of cells residing within the tissues of affected organs. This could also facilitate the migration of immune, progenitor and stem cells within the body to the site of inflammation. Of these different paracrine factors present within the secretome, researchers have given proper consideration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF1) that plays a vital role in tissue-specific migration of the cells needed for regeneration. Recently researchers recognized that SDF1 could facilitate site-specific migration of cells by regulating SDF1-CXCR4 and/or HMGB1-SDF1-CXCR4 pathways which is vital for tissue regeneration. Hence in this study, we have attempted to describe the role of different types of cells within the body in facilitating regeneration while emphasizing the HMGB1-SDF1-CXCR4 pathway that orchestrates the migration of cells to the site where regeneration is needed.

Impact of a pharmacy-led smoking cessation clinic in a dermatology centre

INTRODUCTION@#Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and has a deleterious effect on dermatological conditions, such as skin cancers, hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriasis. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a pharmacist-led smoking cessation clinic in reducing cigarette smoking at a tertiary referral dermatology centre. We described the impact of this clinic to provide guidance on how such a model could be further improved and implemented more widely.@*METHODS@#In this single-centre, retrospective study, 74 currently smoking patients who received counselling at a structured smoking cessation clinic between January 2010 and March 2013 were identified. Information on baseline demographic characteristics and detailed past medical history, including smoking history, was collected. Follow-up was conducted at two weeks and three months.@*RESULTS@#At the first follow-up at two weeks, which was attended by 57 patients, 9 (15.8%) had stopped smoking and 26 (45.6%) showed reduction in the number of cigarette sticks smoked per day, with an average reduction of 4.1 cigarette sticks per day. However, a few patients also reported no change or increased number of cigarette sticks smoked per day following counselling.@*CONCLUSION@#A structured pharmacist-led smoking cessation clinic is effective and can be made a part of the holistic management of dermatological conditions.

Covalently linked fluorescent ribonucreopeptide sensors.

Fluorescent biosensors based on the biological macromolecule are convenient tools for investigating the event occurring in the living cell. As for one of the candidates of such biosensors, we have reported a fluorescent sensor by utilizing a ribonucleopeptide (RNP) framework. Fluorescent RNP sensors are obtained from the fluorescent RNP library constructed by the combination of the RNA subunit, a substrate recognition unit selected by in vitro selection, and a fluorophore-modified peptide subunit. By taking the advantage of the noncovalent nature of fluorescent RNP complexes, RNP sensors with desired optical sensing properties are selected in a high-throughput manner. However, the noncovalent nature of the fluorescent RNP sensor is not suitable for practical applications. We report here a strategy to generate stable covalently linked RNP sensors and demonstrate a multiple ligands sensing system by using the covalently linked RNP sensors to detect biologically active ligands.

Aspiration of breast abscess under ultrasound guidance: outcome obtained and factors affecting success.

OBJECTIVE: To assess ultrasonographically (US) guided needle aspiration of breast abscesses as an alternative to surgical incision and drainage. METHODS: In our prospective study, 30 patients with 31 breast abscesses (one patient had bilateral breast abscess) underwent percutaneous breast abscess drainage under US guidance with local anaesthesia and oral antibiotics between 1 January 2004 and 31 March 2005. These patients consisted of 16 (53.3%) non-lactating and 14 (46.7%) lactating women, with ages ranging from 18 to 68 years (median, 28 years). The racial distribution comprised 26 (86.7%) Malays, three (10%) Chinese and one (3.3%) Indian. All patients had the chief complaint of breast swelling and 25 (83.3%) had breast pain. Clinically, 28 (93.3%) were found to have a palpable mass. Nine (30%) lesions were in the upper outer quadrant of the left breast. US diameters ranged from 1 to 15 cm (median, 4 cm). The pus volumes varied from 1 to 200 mL (median, 14 mL). RESULTS: Fifteen (50%) patients required only a single aspiration, 10 required multiple aspirations and five required incision and drainage. Those patients in whom needle aspiration failed had multiloculated lesions irrespective of abscess volume and size. CONCLUSION: Needle aspiration with ultrasound guidance is an effective treatment for breast abscess irrespective of abscess volume and size.

Oral hypoglycaemic agents for diabetes in pregnancy - an appraisal of the current evidence for oral anti-diabetic drug use in pregnancy

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>The use of oral hypoglycaemic drugs in pregnancy is not recommended because of reports of foetal anomalies and other adverse outcomes in animal studies and in some human cases. However, recent studies have suggested that some oral hypoglycaemic drugs may be used in pregnancy. This review will examine these studies critically.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Literature review of articles obtained from a PubMed search of peer-reviewed journals on oral hypoglycaemic drug use in pregnancy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In two prospective studies, one of which was a randomised controlled trial, glibenclamide was as effective and safe as insulin in gestational diabetes. In several studies, metformin did not increase foetal anomalies or malformations when used during pregnancy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In one prospective study on infants born to mothers who used metformin in pregnancy, follow-up for 18 months showed no adverse effects. In several prospective and retrospective studies on women with PCOS, metformin was shown to prevent early pregnancy loss, decrease insulin resistance, reduce insulin and testosterone levels, and decrease the incidence of gestational diabetes when these women got pregnant while on metformin and continued to take it throughout their pregnancy. In a single small study, acarbose did not cause any adverse effects during pregnancy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Recent evidence shows promising findings in the safety and efficacy of some oral hypoglycaemic agents in treating pregnant diabetics. However, larger clinical studies will be needed to ensure the safety and efficacy of these drugs in pregnancy.</p>