White spot lesions: diagnosis and treatment - a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: White spot lesions represent the first stage of caries and their prevalence has been increasing in recent years, particularly in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. DIferential diagnosis and lesion activity are essential to decide on the clinical approaches to treatment. The aim of this study is to understand if the new diagnostic tools such as fluorescence, microradiography and computed microtomography have the potential to change the conventional treatment of white spots". METHODS: A systematic search of available studies in the literature was carried out, using PRISMA guidelines, in Pubmed and Scopus electronic databases and manually to identify relevant articles to answer the PICO question: "Do the new diagnostic tools have the potential to change the conventional treatment of white spots?". This systematic review included randomized controlled trials (RCT), cross-sectional and longitudinal studies complying with the following inclusion criteria: (i) studies in humans, (ii) studies about white spot lesions, (iii) studies published between 2012 and 2023, (iv) studies having both diagnosis and treatment and (v) studies with full text available. In this review we excluded other systematic reviews of clinical trials and in vitro studies. The RoB tool was used to assess the risk of bias. RESULTS: The systematic literature search identified 143 potentially relevant references, which after applying the exclusion criteria, resulted in 20 articles. Regarding diagnostic methods, most articles found were based on conventional methods of visual examination (n:10) or fluorescence (n:7). The least referenced diagnostic techniques were based on the use of clinical photographs (n:2), cross-sectional microradiography (n:1) and computed microtomography (n:1). The use of DIAGNOdent was reported by 3 in vitro studies. With regard to therapies, most studies reported the use of infiltrating resin (n:7) and fluoride-based products (n:5). Other studies have reported the use of self-assembling peptide P11-4 (n:1), home care (n:1), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (n:2) and hydrochloric acid (n:1). Combination therapies were also considered. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic tool does not have the potential to change the form of treatment, whether it is a conventional method or a more differentiated one.

Oral Health Strategies: Surveying the Present to Plan the Future of Community-Based Learning.

Introduction: Oral health literacy relates to the capacity of individuals to acquire, understand and to act upon oral health information to make appropriate health decisions. This scientific review's main goal is to analyze the strategies that improve oral health literacy within the community, specifically oriented to a community-based learning model focused on the most vulnerable risk groups in society. Materials and Methods: The current review is based on the literature on oral health literacy within community-based learning strategies. The present review selected scientific studies by searching MEDLINE and related databases, such as Web of Science and PUBMED, and by consulting existing bibliographies. Results: Based on the application of the inclusion criteria to the abstracts, 45 publications were retrieved which explicitly dealt with the definitions of oral health literacy, community-based learning, and service learning. Several studies have demonstrated that health consumers with low health literacy fail to understand the available health information. Therefore, innovative oral health literacy strategies should be undertaken. Service learning is an example of an educational approach where the student learns specific soft skills in the classroom and collaborates directly with an agency or institution and engages in reflection activities to deepen their understanding of what is being taught. Conclusions: One of the main strategies used to incorporate the oral health professional in social responsibility and direct contact in the community is through experiencing community-based learning projects. The future graduate must be an educator capable of educating patients in order to themselves acquire high-level skills in oral health literacy.

Is oral microbiota associated with overweight and obesity in children and adolescents? A systematic review.

This article aims to verify the relationship between the composition and diversity of oral microbiota with overweight and obese children and adolescents. This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, followed PRISMA 2020, and included an electronic search until March 2022, in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and The Cochrane Library databases. Studies were eligible if they compared the oral microbiota according to nutrition status among children and adolescents. Independent peers using JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists assessed the quality of studies. Eleven studies were eligible to be included in this review, with a total of 1,695 children and adolescents, 224 were obese, 190 were overweight, 1,154 were eutrophics and 127 were underweight. The most frequent phyla in overweight and obese children and adolescents, in comparison to their counterparts were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria. It was identified that nine of the eleven articles selected showed an association between oral microbiota and overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. We observed that there is an important association between oral bacterial composition diversity and overweight and obesity. This finding indicates the relevance of the evaluation and surveillance in oral health to control cases of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

COVID-19 Salivary Protein Profile: Unravelling Molecular Aspects of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

COVID-19 is the most impacting global pandemic of all time, with over 600 million infected and 6.5 million deaths worldwide, in addition to an unprecedented economic impact. Despite the many advances in scientific knowledge about the disease, much remains to be clarified about the molecular alterations induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this work, we present a hybrid proteomics and in silico interactomics strategy to establish a COVID-19 salivary protein profile. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD036571. The differential proteome was narrowed down by the Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis and enrichment analysis was performed with FunRich. In parallel, OralInt was used to determine interspecies Protein-Protein Interactions between humans and SARS-CoV-2. Five dysregulated biological processes were identified in the COVID-19 proteome profile: Apoptosis, Energy Pathways, Immune Response, Protein Metabolism and Transport. We identified 10 proteins (KLK 11, IMPA2, ANXA7, PLP2, IGLV2-11, IGHV3-43D, IGKV2-24, TMEM165, VSIG10 and PHB2) that had never been associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, representing new evidence of the impact of COVID-19. Interactomics analysis showed viral influence on the host immune response, mainly through interaction with the degranulation of neutrophils. The virus alters the host's energy metabolism and interferes with apoptosis mechanisms.

Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the rapid estimate of adult literacy in dentistry: REALD-29 PT.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a main factor in health for its improvement, allowing the individuals to have a greater capacity to engage and participate in collective health promotion actions. The evaluation of functional health literacy is essential to determine the ability that each individual has to understand basic health information. The present study aimed to perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 to the Portuguese language and test the reliability and validity of this version. METHODS: After translation and cultural adaptation, the instrument was applied to a group of individuals that participate in the program Atividade Senior, developed by the municipality of Viseu, Portugal. The final sample was composed by 206 participants that accepted responding to the translated version of the instrument. Statistical validation was accomplished to complete the process and obtain the final instrument. One question was removed for the creation of the final instrument with 29 questions, therefore being named Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT. RESULTS: The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT presented good internal reliability. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.89 to 0.90 when words were deleted individually. The analysis of test-retest reliability revealed excellent reproducibility. We can verify that the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT scale for assessment of oral health literacy among older adults presents an acceptable internal consistency, with a global Cronbach´s alpha of 0.894. CONCLUSIONS: The new scale can be applied to assess oral health literacy among older Portuguese adults, presenting an acceptable internal consistency and is validated to assess oral health literacy and is crucial in epidemiological studies.

Population wide testing pooling strategy for SARS-CoV-2 detection using saliva.

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has forced frequent testing of populations. It is necessary to identify the most cost-effective strategies for the detection of COVID-19 outbreaks. Nasopharyngeal samples have been used for SARS-CoV-2 detection but require a healthcare professional to collect the sample and cause discomfort and pain to the individual. Saliva has been suggested as an appropriate fluid for the diagnosis of COVID-19. We have investigated the possibility of using pools of saliva samples to detect SARS-CoV-2 in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Two hundred and seventy-nine saliva samples were analyzed through RT-PCR of Envelope, Nucleocapsid and Open Reading Frame 1ab genes. Reproducibility assays showed an almost perfect agreement as well as high sensitivity (96.6%), specificity (96.8%), positive predicted value (96.6%), and negative predicted value (96.8%). The average Cycle Threshold of the genes detected was 29.7. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were detected when comparing the cycle threshold average of two consecutive reactions on the same positive saliva samples. Saliva samples have a higher median viral load (32.6) than in nasopharyngeal samples (28.9), although no significant differences were detected (p > 0.05). Saliva-pool samples allowed effective SARS-CoV-2 screening, with a higher sensibility (96.9%) on 10-sample pools than in 20-sample pools (87.5%). Regardless of pools size specificity was high (99.9%) and an almost perfect agreement was observed. Our strategy was successfully applied in population wide testing of more than 2000 individuals, showing that it is possible to use pooled saliva as diagnostic fluid for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Oral health behaviour perception scale applied among a sample of portuguese adolescents / Escala de percepción del comportamiento de salud bucal aplicada en una muestra de adolescentes portugueses

Introduction: The application of a scale can be particularly useful for the epidemiological studies comparing different populations and for analysis of the influence of distinct aspects of oral health on the development of certain health conditions. The aim of this study consists in the creation of a scale to classify the level of perception of the oral health behaviors applicable to a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was designed with a total of 649 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 years old from five public schools in the Viseu and Guarda districts, in Portugal. Data was collected by the application of a self-administered questionnaire and, after analysis of data collection, the newly Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP) oral health perception scale was created. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-IBM software version 24.0 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, Il., USA). In the descriptive statistical analysis, absolute and descriptive frequencies were used for variables with nominal measurement level, mean as a measure of central tendency and standard deviation as a measure of dispersion for interval variables. Results: Oral health behaviors perception respecting the assumptions defined by the present scale has been elaborated. The result showed that 67% of the sample presented a poor perception of their oral health behaviors, 23.9% intermediate/sufficient, while 8.2% refer having good perception, respecting the assumptions defined for the elaboration of the present scale. Conclusion: For this purpose, through the scale to classify the level of oral health behaviors applicable to the sample of portuguese adolescents, it is possible to compare the data of several samples and understand what are the most frequent oral or eating habits among adolescents

Introducción: La aplicación de una escala puede ser particularmente útil para los estudios epidemiológicos que comparan diferentes poblaciones y para el análisis de la influencia de distintos aspectos de la salud bucal en el desarrollo de determinadas condiciones de salud. El objetivo de este estudio consiste en la creación de una escala para clasificar el nivel de percepción de las conductas de salud bucal aplicable a una muestra de adolescentes portugueses. Material y Métodos: Se diseñó un estudio observacional transversal con un total de 649 adolescentes de entre 12 y 18 años de cinco escuelas públicas de los distritos de Viseu y Guarda, en Portugal. La recolección de datos se realizó mediante la aplicación de un cuestionario autoadministrado y, tras el análisis de la recolección de datos, se creó la nueva escala de percepción de salud bucal de la Universidad Católica Portuguesa (UCP). El análisis estadístico se realizó utilizando el software SPSS-IBM versión 24.0 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, Il., EE. UU.). En el análisis estadístico descriptivo se utilizaron frecuencias absolutas y descriptivas para variables con nivel de medida nominal, media como medida de tendencia central y desviación estándar como medida de dispersión para variables de intervalo. Resultados: ha elaborado la percepción de conductas de salud bucal respetando los supuestos definidos por la presente escala. El resultado mostró que el 67% de la muestra presentó mala percepción de sus conductas de salud bucal, el 23,9% intermedia / suficiente, mientras que el 8,2% refiere tener buena percepción, respetando los supuestos definidos para la elaboración de la presente escala. Conclusión: Para ello, a través de la escala para clasificar el nivel de conductas de salud bucal aplicable a la muestra de adolescentes portugueses, es posible comparar los datos de varias muestras y comprender cuáles son los hábitos orales o alimentarios más frecuentes entre los adolescentes.

Dental caries and oral health behavior assessments among portuguese adolescents / Caries dental y evaluaciones del comportamiento de salud bucal en adolescentes portugueses

Introduction: Adolescents have a high risk of developing caries in Portugal. The present study is designed to assess dental caries experience among the adolescents by the application of DMFT index, characterize the oral health risk factors and to determine the association between caries experience and socio-demographic variables. The characterization of the oral health behaviors of adolescents of the central region of Portugal will help in the development of specific oral health education strategies to improve oral health among the local communities. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenient sample of 694 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years attending public schools in two Portuguese districts using a structured questionnaire designed to investigate oral health and behavior of participants. In addition, a clinical examination was carried out noting the decayed, missing and filled teeth. A descriptive analysis of the variables was performed using the Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). A multivariate analysis was applied for analysis of the association between variables. Results: The mean DMFT index score of 2.91±2.9 was obtained. Of the total sample, 73% consumed sugary food daily, 50.1% considered having good oral health and 70.8% did not report pain in the last 12 months. Most adolescents (79.4%) brushed their teeth daily and 60% did not use dental floss. Of the total sample, 96.4% had a dental appointment in the last 12 months, 46.4% of which was for preventive purposes. Applying the Chi-square statistical test, we verified that the adolescents who brush their teeth daily presented a good perception about their oral health (p<0.001), the DMFT index scores were associated with the residence area (p=0.01) and the presence of dental caries was associated with the perception of oral health (p=0.049) and sugary food intake (p=0.029).Conclusion: Portuguese adolescents presented a low DMFT index. The DMFT index was associated with residence area, perception of oral health and sugary food intake. Daily toothbrushing was associated with self-perception of oral health. It is suggested that oral health promotion and prevention programs should aim to reduce the risks of oral disease development.

Introducción: Los adolescentes tienen un alto riesgo de desarrollar caries en Portugal. El presente estudio está diseñado para evaluar la experiencia de caries dental entre los adolescentes mediante la aplicación del índice CPOD, caracterizar los factores de riesgo para la salud bucal y determinar la asociación entre la experiencia de caries y las variables sociodemográficas. La caracterización de los comportamientos de salud bucal de los adolescentes de la región central de Portugal ayudará en el desarrollo de estrategias específicas de educación en salud bucal para mejorar la salud bucal entre las comunidades locales. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal en una muestra por conveniencia de 694 adolescentes de 12 a 18 años que asisten a escuelas públicas en dos distritos portugueses utilizando un cuestionario estructurado diseñado para investigar la salud bucal y el comportamiento de los participantes. Además, se llevó a cabo un examen clínico observando los dientes cariados, faltantes y obturados. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las variables mediante las pruebas de Chi-cuadrado, Mann-Whitney y Kruskal-Wallis (p <0,05). Se aplicó un análisis multivariado para el análisis de la asociación entre variables. Resultados: Se obtuvo la puntuación media del índice CPOD de 2,91 ± 2,9. Del total de la muestra, el 73% consumía alimentos azucarados diariamente, el 50,1% consideró tener buena salud bucal y el 70,8% no refirió dolor en los últimos 12 meses. La mayoría de los adolescentes (79,4%) se cepillaban los dientes a diario y el 60% no usaba hilo dental. Del total de la muestra, el 96,4% tuvo cita con el dentista en los últimos 12 meses, de la cual el 46,4% fue con fines preventivos. Aplicando la prueba estadística de Chi-cuadrado, verificamos que los adolescentes que se cepillan los dientes diariamente presentaban una buena percepción sobre su salud bucal (p <0.001), las puntuaciones del índice CPOD se asociaron al área de residencia (p = 0.01) y la caries dental se asoció con la percepción de salud bucal (p = 0,049) y con la ingesta de alimentos azucarados (p = 0,029). Conclusión: Los adolescentes portugueses presentaron un índice CPOD bajo. El índice CPOD se asoció con el área de residencia, la percepción de salud bucal y la ingesta de alimentos azucarados. El cepillado diario de los dientes se asoció con la autopercepción de la salud bucal. Se sugiere que los programas de promoción y prevención de la salud bucal deben ser enfocados en reducir los riesgos de desarrollo de enfermedades bucodentales.

Tracking the functional meaning of the human oral-microbiome protein-protein interactions.

The interactome - the network of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) within a cell or organism - is technically difficult to assess. Bioinformatic tools can, not only, identify potential PPIs that can be later experimentally validated, but also be used to assign functional meaning to PPIs. Saliva's potential as a non-invasive diagnostic fluid is currently being explored by several research groups. But, in order to fully attain its potential, it is necessary to achieve the full characterization of the mechanisms that take place within this ecosystem. The onset of omics technologies, and specifically of proteomics, delivered a huge set of data that is largely underexplored. Quantitative information relative to proteins within a given context (for example a given disease) can be used by computational algorithms to generate information regarding PPIs. These PPIs can be further analyzed concerning their functional meaning and used to identify potential biomarkers, therapeutic targets, defense and pathogenicity mechanisms. We describe a computational pipeline that can be used to identify and analyze PPIs between human and microbial proteins. The pipeline was tested within the scenario of human PPIs of systemic (Zika Virus infection) and of oral conditions (Periodontal disease) and also in the context of microbial interactions (Candida-Streptococcus) and showed to successfully predict functionally relevant PPIs. The pipeline can be applied to different scientific areas, such as pharmacological research, since a functional meaningful PPI network can provide insights on potential drug targets, and even new uses for existing drugs on the market.

A method for the rapid evaluation of leather biodegradability during the production phase.

Advances in technological-industrial processes have led to the development of new materials that generate different impacts on the environment when presented as waste. The application of sustainable manufacturing practices in order to improve the environmental behaviour of materials, including in the waste stage, is now an important industry responsibility. This study developed a new method for the rapid evaluation of leather biodegradability that can easily be operated by the tannery industry during the production phase. The method uses the OxiTop® system within which a solid sample is suspended in a liquid medium with no nutritional limitations at a constant temperature and stirring conditions. Ten leather samples were tested based on the existing methodology for determining aerobic biological activity (EN 16087-1: 2011), ultimate aerobic biodegradability of plastic materials in an aqueous medium (ISO 14851: 2004), and OECD 301F guidelines for testing of chemicals. The developed method has been shown to reliably distinguish (over 7 days) between samples produced using different manufacturing processes/treatments. Starch proved to be a better standard reference material for checking inoculum activity and the proper functioning of the measurement system than cellulose. Skin without treatment was shown to be a suitable reference material for defining the maximum biodegradation of leather materials. Double exponential and Gompertz mathematical models closely described the biodegradation of the tested samples. This method offers a way for industry to test and produce leather materials with higher levels of biodegradability, thus reducing the adverse environmental impacts of the final products when presented as solid waste.

SalivaPRINT Toolkit - Protein profile evaluation and phenotype stratification.

The value of the molecular information obtained from saliva is dependent on the use of in vitro and in silico techniques. The main proteins of saliva when separated by capillary electrophoresis enable the establishment of individual profiles with characteristic patterns reflecting each individual phenotype. Different physiological or pathological conditions may be identified by specific protein profiles. The association of each profile to the particular protein composition provides clues as to which biological processes are compromised in each situation. Patient stratification according to different phenotypes often within a particular disease spectrum is especially important for the management of individuals carrying multiple diseases and requiring personalized interventions. In this work we present the SalivaPRINT Toolkit, which enables the analysis of protein profile patterns and patient phenotyping. Additionally, the SalivaPRINT Toolkit allows the identification of molecular weight ranges altered in a particular condition and therefore potentially involved in the underlying dysregulated mechanisms. This tutorial introduces the use of the SalivaPRINT Toolkit command line interface (https://github.com/salivatec/SalivaPRINT) as an independent tool for electrophoretic protein profile evaluation. It provides a detailed overview of its functionalities, illustrated by the application to the analysis of profiles obtained from a healthy population versus a population affected with inflammatory conditions. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: We present SalivaPRINT, which serves as a patient characterization tool to identify molecular weights related with particular conditions and, from there, find proteins, which may be involved in the underlying dysregulated cellular mechanisms. The proposed analysis strategy has the potential to boost personalized diagnosis. To our knowledge this is the first independent tool for electrophoretic protein profile evaluation and is crucial when a large number of complex electrophoretic profiles needs to be compared and classified.

New Targets for Zika Virus Determined by Human-Viral Interactomic: A Bioinformatics Approach.

Identifying ZIKV factors interfering with human host pathways represents a major challenge in understanding ZIKV tropism and pathogenesis. The integration of proteomic, gene expression and Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) established between ZIKV and human host proteins predicted by the OralInt algorithm identified 1898 interactions with medium or high score (≥0.7). Targets implicated in vesicular traffic and docking were identified. New receptors involved in endocytosis pathways as ZIKV entry targets, using both clathrin-dependent (17 receptors) and independent (10 receptors) pathways, are described. New targets used by the ZIKV to undermine the host's antiviral immune response are proposed based on predicted interactions established between the virus and host cell receptors and/or proteins with an effector or signaling role in the immune response such as IFN receptors and TLR. Complement and cytokines are proposed as extracellular potential interacting partners of the secreted form of NS1 ZIKV protein. Altogether, in this article, 18 new human targets for structural and nonstructural ZIKV proteins are proposed. These results are of great relevance for the understanding of viral pathogenesis and consequently the development of preventive (vaccines) and therapeutic targets for ZIKV infection management.

Protein Quality Assessment on Saliva Samples for Biobanking Purposes.

Biobank saliva sample quality depends on specific criteria applied to collection, processing, and storage. In spite of the growing interest in saliva as a diagnostic fluid, few biobanks currently store large collections of such samples. The development of a standard operating procedure (SOP) for saliva collection and quality control is fundamental for the establishment of a new saliva biobank, which stores samples to be made available to the saliva research community. Different collection methods were tested regarding total volume of protein obtained, protein content, and protein profiles, and the results were used to choose the best method for protein studies. Furthermore, the impact of the circadian variability and inter- and intraindividual differences, as well as the saliva sample stability at room temperature, were also evaluated. Considering our results, a sublingual cotton roll method for saliva collection proved to produce saliva with the best characteristics and should be applied in the morning, whenever possible. In addition, there is more variability in salivary proteins between individuals than in the same individual for a 5-month period. According to the electrophoretic protein profile, protein stability is guaranteed for 24 hours at room temperature and the protein degradation profile and protein identification were characterized. All this information was used to establish an SOP for saliva collection, processing, and storage in a biobank. We conclude that it is possible to collect saliva using an easy and inexpensive protocol, resulting in saliva samples for protein analysis with sufficient quality for biobanking purposes.

CanisOme--The protein signatures of Canis lupus familiaris diseases.

Although the applications of Proteomics in Human Biomedicine have been explored for some time now, in animal and veterinary research, the potential of this resource has just started to be explored, especially when companion animal health is considered. In the last years, knowledge on the Canis lupus familiaris proteome has been accumulating in the literature and a resource compiling all this information and critically reviewing it was lacking. This article presents such a resource for the first time. CanisOme is a database of all proteins identified in Canis lupus familiaris tissues, either in health or in disease, annotated with information on the proteins present on the sample and on the donors. This database reunites information on 549 proteins, associated with 63 dog diseases and 33 dog breeds. Examples of how this information may be used to produce new hypothesis on disease mechanisms is presented both through the functional analysis of the proteins quantified in canine cutaneous mast cell tumors and through the study of the interactome of C. lupus familiaris and Leishmania infantum. Therefore, the usefulness of CanisOme for researchers looking for protein biomarkers in dogs and interested in a comprehensive analysis of disease mechanisms is demonstrated. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This paper presents CanisOme, a database of proteomic studies with relevant protein annotation, allowing the enlightenment of disease mechanisms and the discovery of novel disease biomarkers for C. lupus familiaris. This knowledge is important not only for the improvement of animal health but also for the use of dogs as models for human health studies.

The landscape of protein biomarkers proposed for periodontal disease: markers with functional meaning.

Periodontal disease (PD) is characterized by a deregulated inflammatory response which fails to resolve, activating bone resorption. The identification of the proteomes associated with PD has fuelled biomarker proposals; nevertheless, many questions remain. Biomarker selection should favour molecules representing an event which occurs throughout the disease progress. The analysis of proteome results and the information available for each protein, including its functional role, was accomplished using the OralOme database. The integrated analysis of this information ascertains if the suggested proteins reflect the cell and/or molecular mechanisms underlying the different forms of periodontal disease. The evaluation of the proteins present/absent or with very different concentrations in the proteome of each disease state was used for the identification of the mechanisms shared by different PD variants or specific to such state. The information presented is relevant for the adequate design of biomarker panels for PD. Furthermore, it will open new perspectives and help envisage future studies targeted to unveil the functional role of specific proteins and help clarify the deregulation process in the PD inflammatory response.

Reversible catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy due to pheochromocytoma: case report.

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor originating from chromaffin tissue. It commonly presents with symptoms and signs of catecholamine excess, such as hypertension, tachycardia, headache and sweating. Cardiovascular manifestations include catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, which may present as severe left ventricular dysfunction and congestive heart failure. We report a case of pheochromocytoma which was diagnosed following investigation of dilated cardiomyopathy. We highlight the dramatic symptomatic improvement and reversal of cardiomyopathy, with recovery of left ventricular function after treatment.

Computational prediction of the human-microbial oral interactome.

BACKGROUND: The oral cavity is a complex ecosystem where human chemical compounds coexist with a particular microbiota. However, shifts in the normal composition of this microbiota may result in the onset of oral ailments, such as periodontitis and dental caries. In addition, it is known that the microbial colonization of the oral cavity is mediated by protein-protein interactions (PPIs) between the host and microorganisms. Nevertheless, this kind of PPIs is still largely undisclosed. To elucidate these interactions, we have created a computational prediction method that allows us to obtain a first model of the Human-Microbial oral interactome. RESULTS: We collected high-quality experimental PPIs from five major human databases. The obtained PPIs were used to create our positive dataset and, indirectly, our negative dataset. The positive and negative datasets were merged and used for training and validation of a naïve Bayes classifier. For the final prediction model, we used an ensemble methodology combining five distinct PPI prediction techniques, namely: literature mining, primary protein sequences, orthologous profiles, biological process similarity, and domain interactions. Performance evaluation of our method revealed an area under the ROC-curve (AUC) value greater than 0.926, supporting our primary hypothesis, as no single set of features reached an AUC greater than 0.877. After subjecting our dataset to the prediction model, the classified result was filtered for very high confidence PPIs (probability ≥ 1-10-7), leading to a set of 46,579 PPIs to be further explored. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this dataset holds not only important pathways involved in the onset of infectious oral diseases, but also potential drug-targets and biomarkers. The dataset used for training and validation, the predictions obtained and the network final network are available at http://bioinformatics.ua.pt/software/oralint.

OralCard: a bioinformatic tool for the study of oral proteome.

OBJECTIVES: The molecular complexity of the human oral cavity can only be clarified through identification of components that participate within it. However current proteomic techniques produce high volumes of information that are dispersed over several online databases. Collecting all of this data and using an integrative approach capable of identifying unknown associations is still an unsolved problem. This is the main motivation for this work. RESULTS: We present the online bioinformatic tool OralCard, which comprises results from 55 manually curated articles reflecting the oral molecular ecosystem (OralPhysiOme). It comprises experimental information available from the oral proteome both of human (OralOme) and microbial origin (MicroOralOme) structured in protein, disease and organism. CONCLUSIONS: This tool is a key resource for researchers to understand the molecular foundations implicated in biology and disease mechanisms of the oral cavity. The usefulness of this tool is illustrated with the analysis of the oral proteome associated with diabetes melitus type 2. OralCard is available at http://bioinformatics.ua.pt/oralcard.