Cytogenetic Biomonitoring of Dental Technicians: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PURPOSE: This is a cross-sectional study to assess the incidence of micronuclei and other nuclear morphological changes in buccal epithelial cells of dental technicians. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 45 dental technicians versus 2 control groups: 50 dentists and 50 dental assistants. DNA damage was analyzed in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells by micronucleus assay. The differences in the frequency of detected types of cytogenetic damage between experimental groups were analyzed by applying 2-way ANOVA with Tukey's HSD post-hoc test. RESULTS: Dentists and dental assistants have significantly lower incidence of micronucleated cells than technicians (mean ± SD: 0.68 ± 0.74, 0.58 ± 0.81, and 1.58 ± 2.07; p = 0.031 and p = 0.015, respectively), and this trend also holds for karyolitic cells (0.10 ± 0.30, 0.20 ± 0.49, and 1.42 ± 1.25; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), condensed chromatin (0.16 ± 0.37, 0.14 ± 0.35, and 0.76 ± 0.98; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), and pyknotic cells (0.04 ± 0.20, 0.08 ± 0.27, and 0.96 ± 1.24; p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Cytogenetic biomarkers in dental technician buccal mucosa are increased compared with control groups. This increase may be associated with more extensive exposure to potentially harmful components of the materials used in everyday dental practice.

ELF5 transcription factor expression during gestation in humans and rats - an immunohistochemical analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to measure immunohistochemically the expression of ELF5 protein in term human and rat placentas and in human placentas associated with gestational diabetes (GD) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: The results were quantitated stereologically using the stereological variable of volume density. A semiquantitative analysis was performed independently by a certified pathologist. RESULTS: Total expression of ELF5 protein was higher in pathological pregnancies than in corresponding control term placentas, with both methods of quantifications showing similar results. In addition, ELF5 expression was also higher in connective tissue and blood vessels in chorionic villi in IUGR placentas (but not in GD placentas) compared to healthy controls. ELF5 is higher in placenta as a whole and in most of its components in both pathologies. The two exceptions are chorionic plates in IUGR and decidua in GD, where its expression is lower than in healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that IUGR and GD are associated with significantly increased levels of ELF5 protein in placentas, which suggests that ELF5 may play an important role in normal placentation. However, these are term placentas and to study ELF5 in premature births would give better insight into human placentation in health and disease.

TWENTY-THREE-YEAR LONG-TERM HEALTH OUTCOME AFTER THE WAR IN VUKOVAR.

Results of the first research of this kind on the 23-year long-term outcome in children born during the war in Vukovar are presented. This retrospective clinical study surveyed the potential 23-year long-term consequences and morbidity of children born between May 1, 1991 and November 19, 1991, during the siege and occupation of Vukovar. Data were obtained from women having delivered their babies in that period and from delivery protocols of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Vukovar County Hospital. According to the survey and the data collected, there were 9 (3.98%) preterm deliveries, 60 (81%) of the total of 77 subjects were breastfed, 14 (19%) were not breastfed, while three babies died in the postpartum period. However, the breastfeeding period was evidently shorter, as only 10 women breastfed for a period longer than 6 months, while the mean length of the breastfeeding period was 9.9 weeks, i.e. 2.5 months. Allergy-related illnesses and proneness to infections in childhood and preschool age were found in 27.3% and 16.9% of children, respectively, while two children developed diabetes type 1. One child had atopic diathesis, two started speaking after the age of two, one child started walking late (after 20 months) and started speaking after the age of two, one child had loud sound phobia, and one used to overreact and express anger in inconvenient situations, all of them being of female gender and born prematurely. Cognitive and attention disorders and stress reactions were found in 6.5% of the children. Regular elementary school education was completed by 74 (96%) children, while three (3.8%) children experienced failure at school due bad behavior, i.e. delinquency. At the age of 23, 34 (46%) children had developed bad habits, i.e. 33 of them smoked, 2 were addicted to alcohol, whereas one was addicted to both smoking and alcohol. Forty (54%) subjects did not use any harmful substances. Psychiatric disorders related to anxiety, depression or other illnesses were not found in this research. In conclusion, it should be noted that pregnant women who gave birth during the study period spent the first trimester of their pregnancy in a relatively peaceful pre-war period without acute stressors, so the long-term results and morbidity actually did not differ from those in the general population. The most important isolated risk factor was premature delivery with the known short-term and long-term consequences typical for premature delivery (perinatal mortality, slow neuromotor and cognitive development).

Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG) as a Marker of Clinical Disorders.

Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is an important protein, not only for transporting sex steroids which is its primary role, but with the discovery of a specific receptor that binds SHBG, a novel approach regarding classic 'free-hormone hypothesis' should be implemented. Research in SHBG gene and it expression has been done, as well as cellular signaling that controls it. It provides significant knowledge of the impact of certain well ­defined cellular level signaling pathways and how they affect the level of SHBG production. Moreover, new insights have proven that SHBG isn't just a peripherally synthesized protein. Its origin has been proven to exist in the brain, namely in the hypothalamus and the pituitary, where it is spatially closely related to oxytocin-producing neurons. The main peripheral organ that produces SHBG is the liver. Since the liver is the central metabolic organ, certain metabolic diseases will result in changed SHBG serum levels. On the other hand, endocrine disorders that affect tissues involved in sex hormone regulation will also have an impact on SHBG levels. Thusly, SHBG stands as one of the mediators between various endocrine tissues and definitely contributes with its own pathophysiological role in diseases such as: obesity, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, osteoporosis, breast and prostate cancer. Its value expands to the area of clinical medicine as a marker of certain pathological states. Some studies already established its reliability and the growing trend to implement it as a useful clinical marker is present. It still remains largely understudied, from physiological and clinical aspect, but recent findings give notions that SHBG plays an important role in health and disease and could be a useful assessment marker.