DNA integrity in diagnosis of premalignant lesions.

BACKGROUND: Carcinogenesis is a dynamic process which traditional biopsying can not keep up with. Saliva as fluid in the vicinity of the tumor can offer better insights to this process. This study aimed to identify the accuracy of salivary DNA integrity index in differentiating between oral premalignant lesions and oral cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This phase II diagnostic test accuracy study included 93 patients divided into three groups: 30 oral cancer patients, 33 patients with oral premalignant lesions divided into 21 oral lichen planus patients and 12 patients with leukoplakia and 30 normal individuals who acted as controls. Oral rinse was collected from all participants and they all underwent conventional visual and tactile examination, and patients with oral lesions had the diagnosis confirmed by histopathological examination of tissue biopsy. DNA integrity index was determined as the ratio between ALU247 and ALU115 measured by qPCR. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference regarding ALU115, ALU247 and DNA integrity index between the three study groups. The index was significantly higher in the oral cancer group than the oral lichen planus patients, while no significant difference was found between the oral cancer and the leukoplakia cases. The DNA integrity index sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 73%, 45%, 55% and 65% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary DNA integrity index showed poor diagnostic abilities in differentiating between the oral cancer and premalignant lesions.

Identification of Mediterranean mutation in Egyptian favism patients.

OBJECTIVES: Identify and screen the G6PD Mediterranean mutation in favism patients by applying a Amplification Refractory Mutation System Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 114 unrelated Egyptians patients were included in the present study; their ages ranged between (2-9) years with male to female ratio 4.5:1. G6PD activity was determined qualitatively from red cell hemolysate during attack. The G6PD Mediterranean mutation in patients has been identified by ARMS-PCR. RESULTS: G6PD deficiency was detected in 87.7%, (n=100). The frequency of G6PD Mediterranean mutation was (94.7%), (n=108). The association between G6PD deficiency and Mediterranean mutation was a highly significant. CONCLUSIONS: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase Mediterranean mutation is one of the most common mutations causing G6PD deficiency among Egyptian children with favism.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant defense in Egyptian favism patients.

BACKGROUND: Favism occurs as the result of intolerance to the ingesting of fava beans or to the inhalation of pollen from the Vicia faba plant. Patients with favism are always Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient, but not all G6PD-deficient individuals develop hemolysis as a result of fava beans consumption. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from children with favism (n = 55) between age (2-12 years) on EDTA tubes divided into 3 groups: group 1 control group (n = 15), group 2 before blood transfusion (during hemolytic action) (n = 20) and group 3 after blood transfusion (treated) (n = 20). RESULTS: It was found that in group 2 GSH level was significantly low; (1.11 ± 0.39, p < 0.001) compared to controls (26.31 ± 5.26, p < 0.001). In group 3 after blood transfusion Level of GSH rose but remained lower than normal level (5.88 ± 2.33, p < 0.001) compared to controls. As for oxidative stress parameters, both levels of H2O2 and MDA were highly significant in group 2; (213.49 ± 57.56, p < 0.001), (98.05 ± 22.34, p < 0.001) compared to controls (3.75 ± 1.164, p < 0.001), (7.38 ± 2.07, p < 0.001), respectively. Moreover, in group 3 after blood transfusion, levels of H2O2 and MDA were decreased but remained high compared to controls (66.55 ± 22.49, p < 0.001), (47.18 ± 9.62, p < 0.001) sequentially. Also, there was a negative correlation between GSH that acts as antioxidant defense enzyme and each one of oxidative stress parameters MDA & H2O2. However, there was a positive correlation between H2O2 and MDA. CONCLUSIONS: From this study, it could be concluded that the favic patients have high oxidative stress (H2O2 and MDA) more than normal individuals and less antioxidant defense (GSH). With the passage of time these individuals, cells would be more vulnerable for H2O2-induced senescence.  

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome: neutrophil function in 15 cases fron 4 families in Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the periodontal pathologic cause of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome by comparing, with respect to neutrophil function, probands with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome from 4 families in Egypt, unaffected siblings of the probands, and age-matched and gender-matched control subjects. STUDY DESIGN: Family histories and clinical dermal and oral manifestations of Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome were evaluated for 15 affected members of 4 families with the syndrome, 10 siblings of the probands, and 7 age-matched and gender-matched controls. Phagocytic and intracellular killing (lytic activity) of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was evaluated for all subjects according to a modification of the method of Wilkinson; opsonization was evaluated according to a modification of the methods of Cutler et al. Data were analyzed by means of analysis of variance. RESULTS: Family pedigrees were plotted, and consanguinity was noted in 3 of the 4 families with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome. The means and SDs for phagocytic killing, lytic activity, and opsonization indices were as follows: probands, 4.76+/-1.99, 0.42+/-0.20, and 0.84+/-0.07; unaffected siblings, 10.4+/-1.3, 3.3+/-0.3, and 0.84+/-0.07; controls, 10.8+/-0.8, 3.5+/-0.6, and 0.85+/-0.05. The phagocytic killing and lytic activity indices demonstrated significance between the probands and both siblings and controls (P<.0005), whereas the opsonization index did not demonstrate significance between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly decreased neutrophil function in probands with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome was demonstrated with respect to neutrophil phagocytotic and lytic activity but not with respect to opsonization. Therefore, specific neutrophil dysfunction appears to be etiologically involved in this disorder.

A new concept for the pathogenesis and treatment strategies for oral lichen planus.

Mounting evidence points out to the immunologic basis of lichen planus (LP). Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a cytokine with multiple biologic activities, some of which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of LP. The present study was thus conducted to assess its production by peripheral blood leucocytes in patients with active lesions of oral lichen planus (OLP) compared to age matched healthy control volunteers. For the assessment, the quantitative immunometric sandwich technique was employed. Significantly greater amounts of TNF-alpha were found in serum samples of OLP patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting a possible association between this cytokine and the pathogenesis of OLP and pointing out to the primary initiative role played by altered keratinocytes. This pointed out the beneficial effect of anti-TNF drugs in the management of OLP.

A bacteriologic aid in the differential diagnosis of periapical and periodontal abscesses.

The aim of the present investigation was to determine whether spirochaetal count could help differentiate between periodontal and periapical abscesses. 23 draining abscesses were included, where 15 were diagnosed as periodontal and 8 as periapical, based on clinical and radiographic data. Exudate samples were collected aseptically and examined by both darkfield microscopy and Gram-stained smear. The results revealed a statistically high increase in spirochaetal count in periodontal abscesses compared to periapical ones. The obvious difference appeared adequate to differentiate both lesions and establish a rapid chairside diagnostic aid.

Effects of sheesha and cigarette smoking on pulmonary function of Saudi males and females.

The effects of sheesha or cigarette smoking on pulmonary function values were examined in 441 and 154 male and female smokers respectively. Cigarette smokers showed a marked decline in pulmonary function values with increasing age that was more pronounced than in non-smokers. VC, FEV1 and FVC mean values of male sheesha smokers were significantly lower than those of corresponding non-smokers with all pulmonary function measurements demonstrating a decline with age in sheesha smokers, particularly in the age group 20-49. The extent of the decline in pulmonary function measurements in young and middle aged female sheesha smokers (20-45 years) was not as pronounced as that of older female smokers. It is concluded that sheesha smoking as well as cigarette smoking, will produce similar harmful effects on the function of ventilatory capacity of both male and female subjects and increase the risk of developing obstructive airway disease, with sheesha smokers being at a greater risk.