Genetic Implications of HLA-DR and HLA-DQ Genotype on Tobacco Smoking and Oral Submucous Fibrosis.

PURPOSE: Integration of genetic information into our understanding of oral diseases has fostered the hope to intervene the disease process among genetically susceptible individuals. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) (mainly in the Southeast Asia region) and tobacco smoking are two of the major public health problems the world is facing today. With more and more diseases being associated with alleles of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA), the objective of the study was to explore any genetic association of OSF and smoking behaviour with specific HLA Class II DQB1*0503 and HLA DRB1*0301 alleles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva of 64 patients divided into an OSF group, a tobacco smokers group and a control group. This was followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with sequence-specific primer of HLA-DQB1*0503 and HLA DRB1*0301 allele, visualised under 2% agarose gel. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was observed between the OSF group and controls in presence of HLA-DQB1*0503 allele, with 84% of the patients showing the presence. Frequency of HLA DRB1*0301 allele was also found to be significantly higher (72%) among OSF patients (p <0.001). Similar results were shown in tobacco smokers with 28% cases showing presence of HLA DRB1*0301 allele and 13 (52%) of them having DQB1*0503 allele (p <0.001). CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1*0301 and HLA-DQB1*0503 are statistically significantly associated with susceptibility to OSF and smoking behaviour.

Quantification of circulating plasma cell free DNA fragments in patients with oral cancer and precancer.

PURPOSE: Study was aimed to quantify plasma level of total, short and long fragmented cell-free DNA (cfDNA) along with DNA integrity in patients with oral cancer, oral precancer and tobacco users without lesions and normal controls. In addition, study evaluated the correlation of cfDNA with clinicopathologic parameters of oral cancer. METHODOLOGY: Plasma samples were collected preoperatively from 44 patients with oral cancer, 40 patients with oral precancer, 40 tobacco users without any oral lesion and 40 healthy controls without any tobacco habit. cfDNA extraction was carried out from the plasma followed by quantitative and qualitative assessment of extracted DNA. Quantity of short and long fragmented DNA was assessed by using PCR with two different primer sets for the beta-actin gene, amplifying short (102 bp) and long (253 bp) products. The DNA integrity index was measured by calculating the ratio of quantity of long fragmented to short fragmented DNA. All quantitative cfDNA parameters were statistically analyzed to verify their correlation with clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: Results showed that total cfDNA level, short and long fragmented cfDNA concentration and DNA integrity was significantly higher in oral cancer group as compare to other (p=0.0001). Study demonstrated that there is no correlation total, short and long cfDNA and DNA integrity with tumor size and histologic type or grading. But positive correlation of total cfDNA was found with nodal metastasis (p=0.001) and clinical stages (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis of total cfDNA may be applied as a screening marker for early detection of precancer and cancer as well as for prognostication of oral cancer. Additionally, plasma levels of short and long fragmented cfDNA and DNA integrity index can be applied for early detection of oral cancer.

Why the Jan Aushadhi Scheme Has Lost Its Steam in India?

The Jan Aushadhi Scheme (JAS) initiated by the Government of India is a powerful intervention against the unjustifiable pricing of medicines by private pharmaceutical industry, to make the generic medicines available at affordable prices. The marginalized populations of India are not able to afford many branded medicines; hence, there is an urgent need for making the cheaper generics available to Indians in the best interest of populations. It has been observed that lack of awareness in the public, distribution of free medicines by state governments, lack of support for JAS, poor supply chain, and doctors not prescribing generic medicines are the major constraints faced by the JAS leading to its poor success.

Total Protein Profile and Drug Resistance in Candida albicans Isolated from Clinical Samples.

This study was done to assess the antifungal susceptibility of clinical isolates of Candida albicans and to evaluate its total protein profile based on morphological difference on drug resistance. Hundred and twenty clinical isolates of C. albicans from various clinical specimens were tested for susceptibility against four antifungal agents, namely, fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and ketoconazole. A significant increase of drug resistance in clinical isolates of C. albicans was observed. The study showed 50% fluconazole and itraconazole resistance at 32 µg mL(-1) with a MIC50 and MIC90 values at 34 and 47 and 36 and 49 µg mL(-1), respectively. All isolates were sensitive to amphotericin B and ketoconazole. The SDS-PAGE protein profile showed a prevalent band of ~52.5 kDa, indicating overexpression of gene in 72% strains with fluconazole resistance. Since the opportunistic infections of Candida spp. are increasing along with drug resistance, the total protein profile will help in understanding the evolutionary changes in drug resistance and also to characterize them.

Evaluation of antibacterial activity of Prosopis juliflora (SW.) DC. leaves.

BACKGROUND: The ethnobotanical importance of Prosopis juliflora is well-known in the folkloric system of medicine for the treatment of various ailments. Although, the study related to the antibacterial potential of this plant, from Central India is scanty. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The in vitro antibacterial activity of Prosopis juliflora leaves collected from the local area was evaluated against ten bacterial type cultures by agar well diffusion assay. The crude extracts prepared by two methods separately with three different solvents were examined for the preliminary antibacterial activity and phytochemical screening, the results of which were used for the choice of solvent and mass extraction of crude extract. Solvent fractionation of crude extract was done employing two sets of solvents namely Set-PCE and Set-HDB which resulted in total, six organic and two aqueous fractions, which were finally subjected to antibacterial activities. RESULTS: Varying degrees of growth inhibition was shown by all the fractions against tested microorganisms. The highest antibacterial activity was observed in aqueous fractions as compared to solvent fractions. CONCLUSION: Isolation and characterization of the bioactive components can be further done by systematic screening of the most active solvent fraction which could lead to the possible source of new antibacterial agents.