Mucin levels in saliva of adolescents with dental caries.

BACKGROUND: Human saliva, a complex secretion that contains a mixture of inorganic and organic molecules, plays an essential role in the maintenance of oral health. Mucins are the major macromolecular component of the secretion and are considered the first line of defense for epithelial tissues. The aim of this study was to compare levels of mucins (MUC5B, MUC7, and MUC1) in saliva of young subjects with dental caries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients had DMF (decay/missing/filled) higher than value 0. Eight subjects with DMF=3 (control group) and 27 adolescents with DMF >11 (research group) were recruited for this study. Clinical evaluation procedures were oral examination, including tooth, periodontal, oral mucosal status, and collection of saliva samples. Saliva was collected for mucin assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantitate MUC5B, MUC7, and MUC1. RESULTS: Our results indicate that adolescents with very high intensity of dental caries disease had increased levels of MUC1 and MUC5B. The membrane mucin MUC1 protein levels in the group with DMF>11 (research group) were higher compared to the group with DMF=3 (control group), and the increase was statistically significant (p=0.011). Similarly, secreted mucin MUC5B protein levels were higher (p=0.06) in the group with DMF>11 (research group). Although MUC7 protein levels were slightly reduced in symptomatic subjects, the decrease was statistically insignificant (p=0.918). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest links between the production of mucins, especially MUC1 and MUC5B in saliva, and dental caries disease.

Levels of biological markers of nitric oxide in serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

The aim of the study was a determination of the levels of nitric oxide (NO) and its biological markers such as malonyldialdehyde (MDA) and nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity and identification of the relationships between NO and those markers. These studies were performed on patients with SCC of the oral cavity before and after treatment. Griess reaction was used for the estimation of the total concentration of NO in serum. The nitrotyrosine level in serum was assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and MDA level using a spectrophotometric assay. Higher concentrations of NO in blood serum were determined in patients with stage IV of the disease before treatment in comparison to the control group and patients with stages II and III of the disease. Moreover, higher concentrations of MDA and nitrotyrosine were determined in the serum of patients in all stages of the disease in comparison to healthy people. After treatment, lower concentrations of NO in the serum of patients with stage IV of the disease were observed in comparison to the amounts obtained prior to treatment. In addition, lower levels of nitrotyrosine in the serum of patients with all stages of the disease were recorded, whereas higher concentrations of MDA were determined in these patients in comparison to results obtained before treatment. The compounds formed with the contribution of NO, such as MDA and nitrotyrosine, may lead to cancer progression in patients with SCC of the oral cavity, and contribute to formation of resistance to therapy in these patients as well. Moreover, the lack of a relationship between concentrations of NO and MDA, and between NO and nitrotyrosine in serum suggests that the process of lipid peroxidation and nitration in patients with SCC does not just depend on NO.

A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in neutrophils of patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma.

Available data indicating a role for neutrophils in the tumor-host reactions are controversial. In 37 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we investigated the expression of a tumor-promoting, proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) molecule by peripheral blood neutrophils isolated from blood samples collected at presentation and three weeks after surgery, and the serum levels of TGF-ß in the same samples. Additionally, we investigated the consequences of TLR4 activation by LPS for the synthesis of APRIL by those cells. The levels of mRNA for APRIL and TLR4 were measured using a real-time PCR method. Western blot analysis was used to assay the expressions of APRIL and ERK1/2 in cell lysates. The results of the present study revealed the unfavorable features of the detection, in the blood, of neutrophils displaying an enhanced expression of the tumor-promoting APRIL molecule. The increased expression and release of APRIL accompanying advanced stages of disease demonstrated by these cells, combined with the increased number of neutrophils, may be an important marker of disease progression in the patient group examined. Simultaneously, an increased level of circulating TGF-ß in the serum of these patients appeared to be associated with the overexpression of APRIL in their neutrophils. In contrast to the healthy controls, TLR4 expression and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway appear to play only minor roles in APRIL induction in the cells of patients with cancer. The changes presented in the current study suggest that modulation of the expression of tumor-promoting APRIL, in addition to TRAIL and BAFF, might be taken into account in the development of new strategies for supportive immunotherapy of OSCC disease and possibly for other types of neoplasm as well.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines in saliva of adolescents with dental caries disease.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Dental caries is an inflammatory disease with multifactorial etiology. The presented study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the elevation of salivary cytokines - interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a) is changed in dental caries patients. IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a are particularly relevant to inflammation, one of the very first responses of the host to a pathological insult. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole saliva from 26 patients with dental caries, as well as 10 healthy persons, was investigated for the presence of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a by enzyme immunoassay - ELISA. RESULTS: The results showed that an elevation of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-a in unstimulated whole saliva in subjects with dental caries, compared with controls, increased and was statistically significant in all cases (p <0.05). The study also show a positive correlation between TNF-a and IL-8. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest links between the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) in saliva and dental caries disease.

[Dental caries of the developmental age as a civilization disease]. / Próchnica wieku rozwojowego choroba cywlizacyjna.

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), dental caries is a local pathological process of the extrasomatic background, leading to enamel decalcification, decomposition of dental hard tissue, and in consequence to formation of a dental cavity. Morbidity of dental caries increases with age, reaching 100% of children, aged from 6 to 7. Poland is one of few European countries where the incidence of dental caries in children did not decrease, despite recommendations of WHO for 2000 year, aimed at the decrease in the incidence of dental caries among 6-year-old children to the level of 50%. The recommendation of WHO for 2015 year is to reduce the incidence of dental caries to 30% among 6-year-olds, i.e., 70% of 6 year-old children should be free of dental caries. Apart from genetic conditioning, inappropriate health behaviors, nutritional habits and gastroesophageal reflux disease influence the development of dental caries. Consumption of 'fast food' and drinking sweetened beverages of low pH contribute markedly to the development of dental caries, decreasing simultaneously consumption of pro healthy foods, including milk and cereals. Taking into consideration perspective clinical examinations of children and adolescents, evaluating the relationship between dental caries and nutritional habits as well as environmental conditioning, the study shows current data about factors, contributing to the incidence of dental caries in children, collected from the literature. The attention was paid to the relationship between dental caries and gastroesophageal reflux disease and the necessity of its early diagnostics and proper treatment.

[Selected eating habits and caries occurrence in adolescents]. / Wybrane zachowania zywieniowe a wystepowanie próchnicy U Mlodziezy.

INTRODUCTION: Normal nutrition is an important element of caries prophylaxis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of chosen bad eating habits on caries occurrence in adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination was carried out in the group of 367 (68.5% girls and 31.5% boys) pupils of the 3rd year of high schools in Bialystok in 2011. Own questionnaire was used for the evaluation of eating habits. Caries intensity (PUW) was assessed by dental examination. To verify statistic hypotheses, the level of significance was estimated at p < 0.05. All calculation was performed with the use of the Statistic programme Statistica 7.0 (StatSoft). RESULTS: It was stated that 5 meals a day were consumed by 29.4% of examined pupils, 4 meals were eaten by 33.2%, 3 meals--by 31.3%, 2 meals--by 5.4%, and one meal was consumed by 0.5% of pupils. There were 55.3% of pupils who had irregular meals while 24.3% did not eat breakfast and 62.9%--did not have elevenses. Eating between meals was stated in 96.7% of pupils. Sweets consumption was revealed as follows: 16.8% several times a day, 19%--once a day, 40.5%--several times a week, 18.5%--several times a month, 5.2%--rarely or never. "Fast food" was not consumed by 34% of examined pupils while 54.6% consumed such meals several times a month, 10.9%--several times a week, and 0.5%--once a day. Higher level of caries intensity was observed in girls (mean coefficient PUW = 11.3) than in boys (mean coefficient PUW = 10.8). Mean coefficient PUW = 11.5 concerned pupils with consumption of fast food several times a month while PUW = 11.0 in those who consumed it several times a week, and PUW = 10.7 in pupils who eat rarely or never such food. As far as eating sweets, PUW was higher than mean (12.4) in pupils who eat sweets several times a day. Persons who eat between meals were characterized by higher coefficient (PUW = 13.0) as compared to those who eat between meals rarely (PUW = 11.3) and those who do not eat between meals (PUW = 8.9). CONCLUSIONS: (1) Bad eating habits (irregular meals, skipping breakfast, eating between meals as well as overeating sweets) in the developmental age can be a significant caries coefficient in adolescents. 2. High mean coefficient PUW in the examined group of 18-year-old pupils, in relation to abnormal eating habits in the significant percentage of those pupils, indicates the necessity of health education as far as caries prophylaxis is concerned.

[Oral cavity health status among dentistry students in the Medical University of Bialystok]. / Stan zdrowotny jamy ustnej studentów IV i V roku stomatologii Akademii Medycznej w Bialymstoku.

The aim of this study was to analyse oral cavity hygiene, general health status and health behaviour of students studying on the last two years on the faculty of dentistry in the Medical University of Bialystok. 127 students were examined: 48 (37.8%) from the fourth and 79 (62.2%) from the fifth year of schooling. We used a standardized and anonymous questionnaire that was made in Collegium Medicum of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow. Obtained data were statistically elaborated. This work was a part of a multicenter study. 41 (32.3%) students suffered from chronic systemic diseases especially allergy (22.8%). 19 (15.1%) of them still undergo drug treatment. As for dental examination, it have been noted that caries prevention was unsatisfactory at early stages of life of the respondents. Oral hygiene was correct. University education has a bearing on quality of students' health behaviour. Parodontium status was adequate. High frequency of temporomandibular joint pathology is alarming and strongly suggests initiating diagnostics and treatment.