Long-term changes of salivary exoglycosidases and their applicability as chronic alcohol-drinking and dependence markers.

OBJECTIVES: Investigation of long-term dynamic changes of salivary activity/output of exoglycosidases, deglycosylation processes and their applicability as alcohol markers. METHODS: Exoglycosidase (α-fucosidase (FUC), ß-galactosidase (GAL), ß-glucuronidase (GLU), ß-hexosaminidase (HEX, HEX A and HEX B isoenzymes) and α-mannosidase (MAN)) activities were measured in the saliva of healthy social drinking controls (C), alcohol-dependent non-smokers (ANS) and alcohol-dependent smokers (AS) at the 1st, 15th, 30th and 50th day of abstinence after chronic alcohol drinking. RESULTS: The activity of exoglycosidases was 2-3-fold (MAN), 2-6 fold (FUC), 8-25-fold (HEX A) and 19-40-fold (GLU) higher in the ANS and AS groups than in controls, and had good/excellent sensitivity, specificity and accuracy. The higher outputs of exoglycosidases were in the AS and ANS groups than in controls at the 1st day (GLU, HEX A) and at the 50th day (GLU, FUC, MAN) of abstinence. We found numerous correlations between alcohol-drinking days with GLU and HEX A, alcohol amounts with HEX A and duration of alcohol dependence with FUC and MAN activity/output. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary exoglycosidases/deglycosylation processes were still very high up to 50 days after the end of alcohol consumption. We found markers of chronic alcohol consumption (HEX A), alcohol dependence (FUC and MAN) and chronic alcohol consumption and dependence (GLU).

Prevention of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) accounts for 95% of all pancreatic cancers. About 230,000 PDA cases are diagnosed worldwide each year. PDA has the lowest five-year survival rate as compared to others cancers. PDA in Poland is the fifth leading cause of death after lung, stomach, colon and breast cancer. In our paper we have analysed the newest epidemiological research, some of it controversial, to establish the best practical solution for pancreatic cancer prevention in the healthy population as well as treatment for patients already diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We found that PDA occurs quite frequently but is usually diagnosed too late, at its advanced stage. Screening for PDA is not very well defined except in subgroups of high-risk individuals with genetic disorders or with chronic pancreatitis. We present convincing, probable, and suggestive risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer, many of which are modifiable and should be introduced and implemented in our society.

Serum ß-glucuronidase as a potential colon cancer marker: a preliminary study.

AIM: Colorectal cancer is characterized by high morbidity and mortality in developed countries. The lack of low-cost, easy-to-use screening diagnostic methods is one of the causes of late diagnosis of colorectal cancer. Beta-glucuronidase (GLU) is a lysosomal exoglycosidase involved in degradation of glycosaminoglycans of the cell membranes and extracellular matrix of normal and cancerous colon tissues. The aim of our research was to evaluate the activity of GLU in the serum of colorectal cancer and estimate its potential value in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 21 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and 17 healthy subjects. GLU activity was determined by the colorimetric method of Marciniak et al. by measuring the amount of p-nitrophenol released from 4-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucuronide, at λ = 405 nm. RESULTS: We found significantly greater activity of GLU (p<0.0001) in the serum of patients with colorectal cancer, as compared to the healthy subjects. The serum GLU activity significantly differentiates patients with colorectal cancer from healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Serum GLU activity has diagnostic value and may be used in the diagnosis of colon adenocarcinoma.

Fibroblast-Like Synovial Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis--the Impact of Infliximab on Hexosaminidase Activity.

BACKGROUND: The effect of multiple infusions of infliximab (INF), a chimeric anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody, on the concentration of hexosaminidase (HEX) activity in a synovial cell culture derived from human synovial inflamed fluid obtained from patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been evaluated. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to prove INF efficacy in RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inflamed synovial fluid was taken from RA patients (a study group) and patients who had undergone knee trauma within 7 days (a control group). The following solutions of infliximab were used: 40, 60 and 140 µg/mL. Determination of the concentration of HEX activity in cell cultures was performed after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of infliximab administration. To identify synoviocytes in cell culture immunohistochemical staining with vimentin and pancytokeratin was performed. RESULTS: A predominance of fibroblast-like synovial cells has been observed in the study group. In the control group the concentration of HEX activity without adding infliximab to the cell culture was 283.00 nkat/mL. After 96 h of incubation with infliximab, the concentrations of HEX activity in cultured synoviocytes according to infliximab doses of 40, 60 and 140 µg/mL were respectively: 280.00, 271.50 and 293.50 nkat/mL. In the study group, the concentration of HEX activity without adding infliximab to the cell culture was 542.27 nkat/mL. The final concentrations of HEX activity of cultured fibroblast-like synovial cells measured after 96 h of incubation with infliximab were: 471.72, 498.27 and 556.72 nkat/mL, according to infliximab doses of 40, 60 and 140 µg/mL. In all groups (besides the infliximab concentration of 140 µg/mL after 96 h of incubation), the level of concentration of HEX activity was significantly higher in the study group compared to the control group, irrespective of infliximab concentration and time of infliximab incubation. CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab changes the concentration of HEX activity depending on the drug dose and time of administration.

Salivary alcohol dehydrogenase in non-smoking and smoking alcohol-dependent persons.

Increasing attention to the importance of saliva testing is not surprising because smoking and alcohol drinking act synergistically on oral tissues, and their metabolite levels, e.g., acetaldehyde, are much higher in saliva than in blood. The activity of salivary alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) comes from oral microbiota, mucosa, and salivary glands. The purpose of this study was to investigate the involvement of ADH in the oral health pathology of smoking (AS) and non-smoking (ANS) alcohol-dependent males. The results indicated that the AS group had a more significant and longer duration (until the 30th day of alcohol abstinence) decrease in ADH activity and output than the ANS group (until the 15th day of alcohol abstinence) compared to controls (social drinkers; C). The decreased salivary flow (SF) in alcoholics was observed longer in the ANS group (until the 30th day of alcohol abstinence), whereas in the AS group SF normalized at the 15th day, probably due to the irritating effect of tobacco smoke on the oral mucosa. Because saliva was centrifuged to remove cells and debris (including microbial cells), the detected salivary ADH activity was derived from salivary glands and/or oral mucosa. A more profound and longer decrease in ADH activity/output in smoking than non-smoking alcoholics was likely due to the damaged salivary glands and/or oral mucosa, caused by the synergistic effect of alcohol drinking and smoking. The lower values of salivary ADH in smoking than non-smoking alcoholics might also be partly due to the reversed/inhibited ADH reaction by high levels of accumulated acetaldehyde.

The diagnostics of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent human malignant neoplasms. CRC has an estimated incidence of more than 1,000,000 new cases annually worldwide. Approximately one out of three people who develop CRC dies from the disease. Furthermore, CRC often affects inhabitants of industrialized countries in comparison to less developed countries. Several markers of colon cancer, including CEA, CA-19-9, TPS, TAG-72 and lysosomal hydrolases, have been identified and are now being adopted in routine clinical practice. Increased values of these markers are often the first signal of recurrence or metastases, which is useful in prediction and prognosis of clinical outcome of patients with CRC. Determination of the activity of lysosomal exoglycosidases in body fluids may bring some hope of improving diagnosis of colorectal cancer. However, it has to be remembered that currently the most effective diagnostic method of CRC is endoscopy.

Salivary exoglycosidases as markers of alcohol dependence.

BACKGROUND: Some salivary markers of alcohol abuse/dependence have been proposed so far: aminotransferases, gamma-glutamyltransferase, ethanol, ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, sialic acid, ß-hexosaminidase A, oral peroxidase, methanol, diethylene/ethylene glycol, α-amylase, clusterin, haptoglobin, heavy/light chains of immunoglobulins and transferrin. AIM: To investigate the effect of chronic alcohol drinking and smoking on the activity (pKat/ml) and output (pKat/min) of salivary lysosomal exoglycosidases: α-fucosidase (FUC), α-mannosidase (MAN), ß-galactosidase (GAL), and ß-glucuronidase (GLU), and their applicability as markers of alcohol dependence. METHODS: The activity of FUC, MAN, GAL and GLU was measured colorimetrically in the saliva of healthy social drinkers, alcohol-dependent non-smokers and alcohol-dependent smokers. RESULTS: We observed an increased salivary activity of FUC, GAL, GLU and MAN, as well as an increased output of GAL and GLU, in comparison with controls. The highest increase in the activity/output was found in salivary GLU and MAN (GLU, even 7- to 18-fold), and the least in GAL. We found an excellent sensitivity and specificity and a high accuracy (measured by the area under the ROC curve) for salivary FUC, GLU and MAN activities. The salivary GLU activity positively correlated with the number of days of last alcohol intoxication. Salivary activity of FUC, GAL and MAN, but not GLU, positively correlated with the periodontal parameters such as gingival index and papilla bleeding index. CONCLUSIONS: Although we found an excellent sensitivity and specificity as well as a high accuracy for the salivary activity of FUC, GLU and MAN, the GLU activity seems to be mostly applicable as a marker of chronic alcohol drinking (alcohol dependence).

The activity of N-acetyl-ß-d-hexosaminidase A and B and ß-glucuronidase in nasal polyps and hypertrophic nasal concha.

UNLABELLED: Nasal polyps and hypertrophic lower nasal conchae are common disorders of nasal cavity. The majority of etiopathogenetic theories indicate inflammatory background of polyps and hypertrophic concha. N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase and ß-glucuronidase are lysosomal exoglycosidases revealing accelerated activity in inflammatory processes. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the catabolism of glycoconjugates in nasal polyps and hypertrophic nasal concha basing on the activity of N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) and ß-glucuronidase (GLU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Material consisted of nasal polyps taken from 40 patients during polypectomy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and hypertrophic lower nasal conchae taken from 20 patients during mucotomy. The activity of HEX, HEX A, HEX B and GLU in supernatant of homogenates of nasal polyps and hypertrophic lower nasal concha tissues has been estimated using colorimetric method. RESULTS: Statistically significant decrease has been observed in concentration of the activity (per 1mg of tissue) of HEX (p<0.05), HEX B (p<0.001) and specific activity (per 1mg of protein) of HEX B (p<0.001) in nasal polyps tissue in comparison to hypertrophic lower nasal conchae tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in the activity and specific activity concentration of the majority of examined lysosomal exoglycosidases (increasing in inflammations) in comparison to hypertrophic lower nasal conchae suggests electrolytes disorders and questions the inflammatory background of nasal polyps.

The salivary ß-HEX A% index as an excellent marker of periodontitis in smoking alcohol-dependent persons.

BACKGROUND: Severe periodontitis leading to tooth loss is found in 5-15% of most populations worldwide. AIM: The applicability of salivary ß -hexosaminidase (ß-HEX A%, percentage of ß-HEX A isoenzyme to total ß-HEX) and ß-HEX B% (ß-HEX B/ß-HEX) indexes was investigated as a possible marker of periodontitis. METHODS: Thirty three alcohol-dependent smokers (AS) and 32 healthy controls (C) were enrolled in the study. The activity of ß-HEX was measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: ß-HEX A% was significantly higher and ß-HEX B% was lower in AS than in C group. We found a significant correlation between ß-HEX A% and gingival index (GI) and an inverse correlation between ß-HEX A% and salivary flow (SF), in all groups. Salivary ß-HEX A% index in smoking alcoholics at 0.23 had excellent sensitivity (96%) and specificity (91%); the AUC for ß-HEX A% was high (0.937). There were no correlations between amount/duration-time of alcohol drinking/smoking and ß-HEX A% or ß-HEX B%. We found significant correlations between the time period of denture wearing and GI, papilla bleeding index (PBI), and decayed missing filled teeth index (DMFT) and between GI and the amount of smoked cigarettes per day. CONCLUSION: Bad periodontal state was most likely due to the nicotine dependence. Salivary ß-HEX A% is a promising excellent marker for the diagnosis of periodontitis.

The activity of serum beta-galactosidase in colon cancer patients with a history of alcohol and nicotine dependence: preliminary data.

INTRODUCTION: Beta-galactosidase (GAL) is a lysosomal exoglycosidase involved in the catabolism of glycoconjugates through the sequential release of beta-linked terminal galactosyl residues. The stimulation of activity of exoglycosidases and other degradative enzymes has been noted in cancers as well as in alcohol and nicotine addiction separately. This is the first study to evaluate the activity of the serum senescence marker GAL in colon cancer patients with a history of alcohol and nicotine dependence, as a potential factor of worse cancer prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material was serum of 18 colon cancer patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Ten colon cancer patients met alcohol and nicotine dependence criteria. The activity of beta-galactosidase (pkat/ml) was determined by the colorimetric method. Comparisons between groups were made using the Kruskal-Wallis analysis and differences evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to measure the statistical dependence between two variables. RESULTS: The activity of serum GAL was significantly higher in colon cancer patients with a history of alcohol and nicotine dependence, in comparison to colon cancer patients without a history of drinking/smoking (p=0.015; 46% increase), and the controls (p=0.0002; 81% increase). The activity of serum GAL in colon cancer patients without a history of alcohol/nicotine dependence was higher than the activity in the controls (p = 0.043; 24% increase). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Higher activity of beta-galactosidase may potentially reflect the accelerated growth of the cancer, invasion, metastases, and maturation, when alcohol and nicotine dependence coincide with colon cancer. For a better prognosis of colon cancer, alcohol and nicotine withdrawal seems to be required.

Lysosomal exoglycosidases in nasal polyps.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal polyps are smooth outgrowths assuming a shape of grapes, formed from the nasal mucosa, limiting air flow by projecting into a lumen of a nasal cavity. Up to now the surgical resection is the best method of their treatment, but etiology and pathogenesis of the nasal polyps is not yet fully established. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was the assessment of the selected lysosomal exoglycosidases activity in the nasal polyps. In this study the activity of ß-galactosidase, α-mannosidase and α-fucosidase was determined in the tissue of the nasal polyps obtained from 40 patients (10F, 30M) and control tissues derived from mucosa of lower nasal conchas obtained during mucotomy from 20 patients (10F, 10M). RESULTS: We observed significant lower values of GAL, FUC and tendency to decrease of MAN and GLU concentration in nasal polyps (P) in comparison to control healthy nasal mucosa (C). In nasal polyp tissue (P) no differences of GAL, MAN and FUC specific activity in comparison to control mucosa (C) were found. CONCLUSIONS: Our research supports bioelectrical theory of the nasal polyps pathogenesis and directs attention at research on glycoconjugates and glycosidases of the nasal mucosa extracellular matrix.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients with xerostomia have reduced production of key salivary constituents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between complaints of xerostomia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with the total output of the salivary proteins of innate and adaptive immunity. STUDY DESIGN: The salivary output and specific activity of peroxidase and specific contents of lysozyme, lactoferrin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) were determined in xerostomic RA patients, nonxerostomic RA patients, and healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Compared with nonxerostomic RA and healthy control groups, xerostomic RA patients had significantly decreased output of saliva and protein, decreased peroxidase activity, and a significantly lower specific content of peroxidase and sIgA. Compared with the RA control group, xerostomic RA patients had significantly lower specific content of all salivary proteins examined. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that xerostomia in patients with RA may be a harbinger of diminished saliva production regarding quantity and quality, and may be indicative of impairment of the salivary immune system of the oral cavity in xerostomic RA patients.

Salivary hexosaminidase in smoking alcoholics with bad periodontal and dental states.

BACKGROUND: A sensitive alcohol marker, ß-hexosaminidase (HEX), in the saliva of alcoholics, is investigated for the first time. METHODS: The activity, specific-activity and output of total HEX and its isoenzymes HEX A and HEX B were measured in the saliva of healthy controls (C), alcohol-dependent non-smokers (ANS), and alcohol-dependent smokers (AS). RESULTS: We observed a significantly increased activity/specific-activity and output of HEX A in the ANS and AS groups, due to the inflammatory state of the oral-cavity/salivary-glands. Significantly increased activity of HEX A contributed to an increase in the salivary activity of the total HEX in the ANS group. A significant decrease in the activity/specific-activity of HEX B in AS seemed to be due to HEX B inactivation by cigarette smoke. We noticed a tendency for deteriorated dental state (lower decayed-missing-filled-teeth index - DMFT), worse periodontal state (higher gingival index - GI and papilla-bleeding index - PBI) in AS, and worse periodontal state (higher GI) in ANS, as compared to the controls. We found no differences in the salivary protein concentrations between all groups and decreased salivary flow in both alcoholic groups as compared to the controls. In alcoholics, the area under the curve (AUC) for HEX A activity/specific-activity was significantly greater than for HEX and HEX B. The salivary HEX A activity/specific-activity had good/excellent sensitivity and specificity in smoking and non-smoking alcoholics, whereas salivary HEX and HEX B had poor/fair sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary HEX A may be helpful in the diagnosis of chronic alcohol intoxication, even in smokers.

The effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and smoking on the output of salivary immunoglobulin A.

The effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and smoking on the output of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) was studied in 37 volunteers: 17 male smoking patients after chronic alcohol intoxication (AS) and 20 control non-smoking male social drinkers (CNS). The DMFT index (decayed, missing, or filled teeth), gingival index and papilla bleeding index (PBI) were assessed. Concentration of IgA in saliva was determined by ELISA. Salivary flow (SF) and IgA output were significantly decreased in AS compared to CNS. There were no significant correlations between the amount of alcohol/cigarettes as well as the duration of alcohol intoxication/smoking, and SF or IgA output, nor between IgA level and SF. Gingival index was significantly higher in AS than in CNS, and was inversely correlated with IgA salivary level. The worsened periodontal state in smoking alcohol-dependent persons may result from diminished IgA protection of the oral tissues due to its decreased output.

Salivary lysozyme in smoking alcohol dependent persons.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and smoking on the concentration and output of salivary lysozyme. Thirty seven men participated in the study, including 17 male smoking alcohol-dependent patients after chronic alcohol intoxication (AS), and 20 control non-smoking male social drinkers (CNS) with no history of alcohol abuse or smoking. The level of lysozyme was assessed by the radial immunodiffusion method. Significantly lower lysozyme output in the AS group compared to the CNS group was found. Moreover, gingival index was significantly higher in AS than in the CNS group. It appeared that the reduced salivary lysozyme output was more likely the result of ethanol action than smoking. In conclusion, persons addicted to alcohol and nicotine have a poorer periodontal status than non-smoking social drinkers, which may partially be due to the diminished protective effects of lysozyme present in the saliva.

Lysosomal exoglycosidases and cathepsin D in colon adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Changes in the structure of membrane glycoconjugates and activity of glycosidases and proteases are important in tumor formation. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to compare the specific activity of lysosomal exoglycosidases: N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase (HEX), its isoenzymes A (HEX A) and B (HEX B), ß-D-galactosidase (GAL), α-fucosidase (FUC), and α-mannosidase (MAN) with the activity of cathepsin D (CD) in serum, urine, and carcinoma tissue of patients with colon adenocarcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The specific activity of HEX, HEX A, HEX B, GAL, FUC, MAN, and CD was assayed in serum, urine, and carcinoma tissue of 12 patients with colon adenocarcinoma. RESULTS: Lysosomal exoglycosidases and CD have similar specific activity in colon adenocarcinoma tissue and urine, which is higher than their activity in serum (with the exception of the highest specific activity of CD in urine). A positive correlation was observed between the specific activity of CD and that of HEX, HEX A, FUC, and MAN in the carcinoma tissue and urine as well as between CD and GAL in the urine of patients with colon adenocarcinoma. Negative correlations were observed between protein levels and the specific activity of HEX, HEX A, FUC, MAN, and CD in the carcinoma tissue and urine, and between protein levels and GAL in urine. CONCLUSIONS: Increased degradation and remodeling of glycoconjugates in the colon adenocarcinoma tissue is reflected by increased specific activity of exoglycosidases and CD. The results suggest a strong effect of exoglycosidase action on tissue degradation and a potential role of exoglycosidases in the initiation of proteolysis.

The effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and smoking on the activity of oral peroxidase.

Peroxidase is the most important antioxidant enzyme in saliva. Through peroxidation of thiocyanate in the presence of H2O2, peroxidase catalyses the formation of bacteriocidic compounds such as hypothiocyanate.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of chronic alcohol intoxication and smoking on the activity of oral peroxidase (OPO). A total of 37 volunteers participated in the study. This cohort consisted of 17 male alcohol-dependent smoking patients after chronic alcohol intoxication (AS group, alcohol + smoking) (mean age: 42 years; range: 26-55) (100-700 g/day of alcohol; 10-20 cigarettes/day) and 20 control male social drinkers(CNS group, control non-smokers) with no history of alcohol abuse or smoking (mean age: 42 years; range:30-53). Salivary peroxidase activity was measured by the colorimetric method. The differences between groups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. There was significantly higher activity of OPO (p = 0.00001)and significantly lower salivary flow (SF) (p = 0.007) in alcohol-dependent smokers after chronic alcohol intoxication compared to the control group. OPO activity significantly correlated with the number of days of alcohol intoxication, but not with smoking. Gingival index (GI) was significantly higher in smoking alcohol-dependent persons than in the control group, and correlated with OPO activity. The sensitivity of the OPO test was 70% in smoking alcoholics, while specificity was 95%. The increased activity of OPO suggests chronic oxidative stress is more likely due to ethanol action than to smoking. Smoking alcohol-dependent persons have a worse periodontal status than controls. OPO activity as a marker of chronic alcohol abuse may help in the diagnosis of alcoholism.

Decrease in salivary lactoferrin output in chronically intoxicated alcohol-dependent patients.

Salivary lactoferrin is a glycoprotein involved in the elimination of pathogens and the prevention of massive overgrowth of microorganisms that affect oral and general health. A high concentration of lactoferrin in saliva is often considered to be a marker of damage to the salivary glands, gingivitis, or leakage through inflamed or damaged oral mucosa, infiltrated particularly by neutrophils. We conducted a study to determine the effect of chronic alcohol intoxication on salivary lactoferrin concentration and output. The study included 30 volunteers consisting of ten non-smoking male patients after chronic alcohol intoxication (group A), and 20 control nonsmoking male social drinkers (group C) with no history of alcohol abuse. Resting whole saliva was collected 24 to 48 hours after a chronic alcohol intoxication period. Lactoferrin was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. For all participants, the DMFT index (decayed, missing, or filled teeth), gingival index (GI) and papilla bleeding index (PBI) were assessed. The differences between groups were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. We noticed significantly decreased salivary flow (SF) in alcohol dependent patients after chronic alcohol intoxication (A), compared to the control group (C). Although there was no significant difference in salivary lactoferrin concentration between the alcohol dependent group A and the control group C, we found significantly decreased lactoferrin output in group A compared to group C. We found a significant correlation between the amount of daily alcohol use and a decrease in lactoferrin output. There was a significant increase in GI and a tendency of PBI to increase in group A compared to group C. We demonstrated that chronic alcohol intoxication decreases SF and lactoferrin output. The decreased lactoferrin output in persons chronically intoxicated by alcohol may be the result of lactoferrin exhaustion during drinking (due to its alcohol-related lower biosynthesis or higher catabolism) or to decreased function of neutrophils affected by the ethanol. The poorer periodontal state in alcohol dependent persons compared to controls may be a result of lower salivary flow and decreased protection of the oral cavity by lactoferrin.

[Activity of N-acetyl-ß-hexosaminidase and its isoenzymes A and B in cancer]. / Aktywnosc N-acetylo-ß-D-heksozoaminidazy i jej izoenzymów A i B w nowotworach.

There were approximately 93,060 deaths from cancers in Poland in 2008, and about 105,000 are predicted for the year 2025. Early detection of cancer is a major problem throughout the world, which is why many researchers are still looking for specific and sensitive markers of malignant tumors. Our work is a review of recent publications on activity of N-acetyl-ß-D-hexosaminidase (HEX) and its isoenzymes A (HEX A) and B (HEX B) as potential markers of malignant tumors. HEX is the most active of the lysosomal exoglycosidases, taking part in degradation of glycoconjugates (glycoproteins, glycolipids, proteoglycans). HEX cleaves N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine from non-reducing ends of oligosaccharide chains of glycoproteins, glycolipids and glycosaminoglycans. The activity of HEX, and its isoenzymes A (HEX A) and B (HEX B), was determined by spectrophotometric and isoelectric focusing methods. There was a statistically significant increase in activity of HEX in tumors of the kidney, pancreas, thyroid, colon, ovary, brain, salivary gland, stomach and larynx, which suggests potential applicability of HEX and its isoenzymes in cancer diagnosis.

[The influence of alcohol on the oral cavity, salivary glands and saliva]. / Wplyw alkoholu na jame ustna, slinianki oraz sline.

Ethanol diffuses rapidly into saliva during the drinking, and immediately after its salivary concentration is temporarily much higher than in plasma. Within 30 minutes, salivary ethanol concentration equilibrates with the plasma level, thus suggesting that ethanol easily penetrates the whole body, including oral cavity tissues and salivary glands. After alcohol intake, the level of acetaldehyde in saliva strikingly exceeds the level in systemic blood. From saliva, acetaldehyde and ethanol easily reach all local tissues. Damage to the oral tissues seems to be ascribed mostly to the action of acetaldehyde, although some acute effects depend on a direct action of ethanol and formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs). It is known that the oral mucosal surface is the home of numerous normal flora microorganisms and is the portal of entry for the majority of pathogens. The oral cavity and salivary antimicrobial immune defense systems eliminate pathogens and prevent massive overgrowth of microorganisms. An oral defense system participate in the protection of not only oral tissues, but also in the protection of upper digestive and respiratory tracts, against a number of microbial pathogens. Saliva plays the role in the oral cavity lubrication, maintenance of mucosal and tooth integrity, esophageal physiology, digestion and gastric cytoprotection. As alcohol abuse affects the structure and function of oral cavity mucosa, salivary glands and saliva, the maintenance of oral and general health under normal conditions is seriously impaired during the drinking. The severe tissue damage occurs in particular when alcohol abuse coincides with smoking.