SARS-CoV-2 IgG Amongst Dental Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, special safety protocols have been introduced in dentistry. Dental professionals were determined to be mostly at risk for contracting the virus due to aerosol-generating procedures used. This preliminary study starts the cycle of the laboratory protocols describing the quality and efficacy of laboratory tests in the SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin G (IgG) detection in the serum of asymptomatic dental personnel during the last quarter of 2020. METHODS: IgG levels were measured with the use of a semi-quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in vitro diagnostic kit in the serum of a study group that consisted of 127 employees of the dental clinic divided into 3 subgroups: SUB1: dentists (n = 67); SUB2: dental assistants, dental hygienists, nurses, laboratory workers (n = 40); SUB3: administrative workers (n = 20). Pearson analysis of results from the questionnaires attached to the study protocol were provided to assure that the results compare to the participants' impressions about their general health. RESULTS: Positive ELISA IgG results were found in 6% (n = 4) of the SUB1 group, 7.50% (n =3) of the SUB2 group, and 5% of the SUB3 group. The percentage of participants without work interruption from the beginning of the pandemic was 54% of dentists and 60% of chairside assistants. CONCLUSIONS: Serum IgG prevalence with the use of a semi-quantitative test was low, and further research on the biobanked samples should follow to determine the levels of IgG with quantitative methods and/or to evaluate the presence of neutralising antibodies in dental personnel. Because of the low representation of seropositivity studies in this group, it will be crucial to confirm the risk of COVID-19 transmission in dental offices.

p16INK4A alterations are accompanied by aberrant protein immunostaining in endometrial carcinomas.

PURPOSE: To date, the significance of p16INK4A tumor suppressor gene inactivation in sporadic endometrial cancer (EC) has only rarely been described. In this study, we examined the alteration type and frequency of gene alterations [point mutations, aberrant promoter methylation and loss of heterozygosity (LOH)] in 50 sporadic ECs, and correlated the genetic findings with the immunohistochemical expression of the p16INK4A protein and the classical clinicopathological features. METHODS: Gene mutations were detected by PCR-SSCP-sequencing analysis, promoter hypermethylation by methylation-specific PCR (MSP), and LOH by PCR of the STS-marker c5.1. RESULTS: In total, p16INK4A alterations were found in 14 of 50 (28%) sporadic ECs. In six (12%) cases, two alterations occurred simultaneously. Partial p16INK4A deletions were found in four of 50 (8%) samples. There was one missense mutation (codon 70; CCC-->GCC) and one frameshift mutation (1-bp deletion in exon 2). Only 2 of 47 (4.2%) tumors exhibited aberrant promoter methylation. An allelic loss was detected in 12 of 50 (24%) carcinomas with a higher incidence in advanced endometrial carcinomas than in early-stage uterine tumors. p16INK4A alterations were generally accompanied by gene silencing, confirmed by aberrant protein immunostaining ( r=-0.442; P=0.001). There was a significant difference in the frequency of p16INK4A alterations between early (stage I; 18%) and advanced (stages II-IV; 58%) ECs ( P=0.022). One case showed complete protein loss, but absence of genetic alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that p16INK4A inactivation plays a role in the tumorigenesis of the subset of sporadic ECs, particularly in cases exhibiting an aggressive clinical behavior. We demonstrate that p16INK4A methylation can act efficiently and similarly to other genetic alterations as one of the two necessary hits according to the Knudson two-hit hypothesis of tumor suppressor gene inactivation.

Blood lipids profile in obese or overweight patients.

Elevated levels of total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are important risk factors for coronary heart disease. Another established predictor of cardiovascular disease is obesity. Obesity and overweight are widespread phenomena and they have reached epidemic proportions in the developed countries, including Poland. Only 30% of people in the Lublin region have normal weight (BMI<25). The aim of this study was to asses the relationship between BMI (body mass index) and blood lipids in the population of 83 people from Aleksandrow commune (64 women and 19 men aged 28-81) who spontaneously applied for medical examination performed as student research. Mean total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations were higher in obese persons in comparison to normal weight subjects and HDL cholesterol concentration was lower in obese subjects as compared to normal and overweight individuals. Differences in mean concentrations of LDL cholesterol were not significant. A linear correlation between the degree of obesity and plasma level of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides was shown. In conclusion, obesity and overweight are accompanied by unfavourable blood lipids patterns and in a considerable proportion of overweight or obese patients other risk factors for coronary heart disease, such as hypertension, smoking, diabetes or family history of cardiovascular diseases coexist.