A standalone approach to utilize telomere length measurement as a surveillance tool in oral leukoplakia.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is often preceded by a white patch on a surface of the mouth, called oral leukoplakia (OL). As accelerated telomere length (TL) shortening in dividing epithelial cells may lead to oncogenic transformation, telomere length measurement could serve as a predictive biomarker in OL. However, due to high variability and lack of a universal reference, there has been a limited translational application. Here, we describe an approach of evaluating TL using paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as an internal reference and demonstrate its translational relevance. Oral brush biopsy and paired venous blood were collected from 50 male OL patients and 44 male healthy controls (HC). Relative TL was measured by quantitative PCR. TL of each OL or healthy sample was normalized to the paired PBMC sample (TL ratio). In OL patients, the mean TL ratio was significantly smaller not only in the patch but also in distal normal oral tissue, relative to healthy controls without a high-risk oral habit. Dysplasia was frequently associated with a subgroup that showed a normal TL ratio at the patch but significantly smaller TL ratio at a paired normal distal site. Our data suggest that evaluation of TL attrition using a paired PBMC sample eliminates the requirement of external reference DNA, makes data universally comparable and provides a useful marker to define high-risk OL groups for follow-up programs. Larger studies will further validate the approach and its broader application in other premalignant conditions.

25-Hydroxyl Vitamin D Deficiency in Nasal Polyposis

Abstract Introduction Vitamin D is known to have immunomodulatory functions and has action on chronic inflammatory processes, such as nasal polyposis. Objective The present study assessed the levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with nasal polyposis, as compared with healthy control subjects, and identified their association with disease severity in nasal polyposis. It further assessed the levels of 25-hydroxyl vitamin D and hs-CRP in patients with nasal polyposis and atopy and compared it with patients with nasal polyposis without atopy. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 2 groups: 80 patients with nasal polyposis and 80 healthy subjects. In patients with nasal polyposis, the disease severity is assessed by the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT20) and by the Lund & Mackay staging system. Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and hs-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result The mean 25-hydroxyl vitamin D levels (ng/ml) was 12.01 ± 7.29 for cases and 22.87 ± 14.95 for controls, with p< 0.0001. The mean hs-CRP levels (mg/L) was 5.99 ± 2.74 in cases and 2.41 ± 1.95 in controls, with p< 0.0001. The severity of polyposis correlated negatively with serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and positively with hs-CRP. Conclusion The study has thus shown significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and inflammation in patients with nasal polyps.

25-Hydroxyl Vitamin D Deficiency in Nasal Polyposis.

Introduction Vitamin D is known to have immunomodulatory functions and has action on chronic inflammatory processes, such as nasal polyposis. Objective The present study assessed the levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with nasal polyposis, as compared with healthy control subjects, and identified their association with disease severity in nasal polyposis. It further assessed the levels of 25-hydroxyl vitamin D and hs-CRP in patients with nasal polyposis and atopy and compared it with patients with nasal polyposis without atopy. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving 2 groups: 80 patients with nasal polyposis and 80 healthy subjects. In patients with nasal polyposis, the disease severity is assessed by the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT20) and by the Lund & Mackay staging system. Levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and hs-CRP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Result The mean 25-hydroxyl vitamin D levels (ng/ml) was 12.01 ± 7.29 for cases and 22.87 ± 14.95 for controls, with p < 0.0001. The mean hs-CRP levels (mg/L) was 5.99 ± 2.74 in cases and 2.41 ± 1.95 in controls, with p < 0.0001. The severity of polyposis correlated negatively with serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D and positively with hs-CRP. Conclusion The study has thus shown significant correlation between vitamin D deficiency and inflammation in patients with nasal polyps.