Association between polymorphisms of immune response genes and early childhood caries - systematic review, gene-based, gene cluster, and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Early childhood caries is a significant public health concern affecting about 600 million children globally. The etiology of early childhood caries can be explained as an interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are the most common variations in the human genome. Genetic variations of immune response genes can modify the defense response of the host, and alter the susceptibility to bacterial colonization of the oral cavity and early childhood caries. The aim of this systematic review is to identify genetic variants of immune response genes associated with early childhood caries.

RESULTS

A total of 7124 articles were identified by conducting an elaborate search across various electronic databases and genome-wide association studies databases. Subsequent to exclusion at various stages, fifteen articles qualified to be included into the present review. Risk of bias assessment was done with the Q-genie tool. Quantitative synthesis revealed that the odds ratio for TT and CC genotypes of rs11362 was 1.07 (0.67-1.71) and 1.16 (0.84-1.60), respectively. Gene-based analysis revealed a statistically significant association between variants of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene and T-cell receptor alpha variable 4 locus with early childhood caries. Gene clustering showed the presence of three functional clusters. To comprehend the protein-protein interaction, the bioinformatic tool of "Search Tools for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes and Proteins" was used. Among the biological processes and the reactome pathways, complement activation through the lectin pathway showed the highest strength of association with early childhood caries. To understand the interaction and functionality of the genes, "gene function prediction using Multiple Association Network Integration Algorithm" was used, which revealed that the genes were linked by physical interaction (39.34%) and through co-expression (34.88%).

CONCLUSIONS

Genotype TT of rs7217186 of arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase gene was a risk factor for early childhood caries. Multiple genetic variants of T-cell receptor alpha variable 4 locus and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene were associated with increased susceptibility to early childhood caries. Polymorphisms of genes regulating the lectin pathway of complement activation can modify the susceptibility to early childhood caries.

Association of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor (AT1R) Gene Polymorphism with Angiotensin II Serum Levels in Patients with Essential Hypertension

Essential hypertension (EH) is a multifactorial, polygenic condition, and is one of the most important comorbidities that contributes to stroke, myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, and renal failure. The continuous increasing rate of morbidity and mortality associated with EH presents an unmet need of population-based studies to explore pathophysiology as well as newer strategies for better diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. This study aimed to determine genotype and allele frequencies of A1166C polymorphism of AT1R gene in Indian patients with EH and correlated with serum levels of Angiotensin II. A total of 200 patients with EH and 200 age- and gender-matched control individuals were included in this study from the General Medicine Department Outpatient at Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. Patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg were considered as hypertensive. The findings of this study revealed significantly increased risk of C/A heterozygote and allele C in both men and women. Moreover, both men and women patients with EH showed higher serum levels of Angiotensin II with C/A as well as AA genotypes. These findings indicate a significant association of 1166 C/A polymorphism of the AT1R gene with increased risk of hypertension in Indian population.

Status of Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphism and 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Deficiency with Essential Hypertension

Essential hypertension (EH) is a multifactorial and complex disease with high rate of incidence and associated co-morbidities. Previous studies do not provide unanimous results for the risk of hypertension and association with Fok I genotype frequency and serum vitamin D levels. Hence, this study was undertaken to determine the status of Fok I vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism along with vitamin D levels and blood pressure in patients with EH. Four hundred (200 controls and 200 cases of essential hypertension) participants from general Indian population were enrolled in this study. Peripheral blood samples were collected for genotyping Fok I-VDR gene polymorphism using PCR–RFLP method whereas 25-OH vitamin D levels in serum were quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Significantly reduced 25-OH vitamin D levels were observed in patients with EH (24.04 ± 8.62 vs 50.46 ± 15.46) compared to control subjects (p = 0.0001). Homozygous recessive genotype ‘ff’ frequency was increased by 8.06 fold (CI: 3.71–17.47, p = 0.0001) in patients with EH compared to dominant ‘FF’ genotype frequency. In conclusion, recessive ‘ff’ genotype frequency correlates with reduced serum vitamin D levels and results in significantly increased systolic and diastolic blood pressures leading to predisposition of EH.

Bioactivity and hemocompatibility of sol–gel bioactive glass synthesized under different catalytic conditions

In bioactive glass synthesis by sol–gel method, HCl catalyst induces biocompatible wollastonite crystallization and supports higher apatite formation.

A New EYENET Model for Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration is an eye disease, that gradually degrades the macula, a part of the retina, which is responsible for central vision. It occurs in one of the two types, DRY and WET age-related macular degeneration. In this chapter, to diagnose Age-related macular degeneration, the authors have proposed a new EYENET model which was obtained by combining the modified PNN and modified RBFNN and hence it poses the advantages of both the models. The amount of the disease spread in the retina can be identified by extracting the features of the retina. A total of 250 fundus images were used, out of which 150 were used for training and 100 images were used for testing. Experimental results show that PNN has an accuracy of 87%, modified PNN has an accuracy of 90% RBFNN has an accuracy of 80%, modified RBFNN has an accuracy of 85% and the proposed EYENET Model has an accuracy of 94%. This infers that the proposed EYENET model outperforms all other models.

Standardization of the conditions for extraction of polyphenols from pomegranate peel

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) peel possess higher antioxidant activity than the edible portion. Efforts were made to extract dry peel powder at room temperature (28-30 °C) using combination of water and ethanol (EtOH, a green combination) and standardize the factors that may affect the extraction efficiency. The storage stability of the extract has been studied for >100 days at room temperature (28-30 °C), 4, 0 and -80 °C. The extract quality was monitored by measuring the radical scavenging activity (RSA) by diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method, total polyphenol content and by estimating the contents of punicalagins and ellagic acid, the two major ellagitannins present in the peel. The standardized conditions for extraction were found to be; Water and EtOH in 1:1 (v/v) ratio, duration of 24-48 h, ratio of 1:10 for solid to solvent and particle size in the range of 100-400 μ. Consecutive extraction of the peel powder did neither improve the yield nor polyphenol content, hence single extraction was adopted. The extract stored at room temperature for 110 days resulted in 13.2 % loss of polyphenol content followed by 8.9, 2.8, 27.5 and 14.1 % loss in Punicalgin A, B, Ellagic acid and RSA content, respectively.

Health Benefits of Punicic Acid: A Review

Punicic acid (PA) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (18:3 n-5), which is classified as a conjugated linolenic acid. PA is also referred as a "super CLnA" whose effect is even more potent than that of an ordinary CLnA. It is found mainly in the seeds of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) and Trichoxanthes kirilowii and some other minor sources. It possesses a wide array of biological properties including antidiabetic, antiobesity, antiproliferative, and anticarcinogenic activity against various forms of cancer. In spite of this, PA has not been explored as a nutraceutical or as an ingredient of food products which can be aimed at specific consumer target groups. This review details the various health-beneficial properties of PA and explores the possibilities of its utilization as an active ingredient in various food products.

Dosimetric characteristics of a MOSFET dosimeter for clinical electron beams

The fundamental dosimetric characteristics of commercially available metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) detectors were studied for clinical electron beam irradiations. MOSFET showed excellent linearity against doses measured using an ion chamber in the dose range of 20-630cGy. MOSFET reproducibility is better at high doses compared to low doses. The output factors measured with the MOSFET were within +/-3% when compared with those measured with a parallel plate chamber. From 4 to 12MeV, MOSFETs showed a large angular dependence in the tilt directions and less in the axial directions. MOSFETs do not show any dose-rate dependence between 100 and 600MU/min. However, MOSFETs have shown under-response when the dose per pulse of the beam is decreased. No measurable effect in MOSFET response was observed in the temperature range of 23-40 degrees C. The energy dependence of a MOSFET dosimeter was within +/-3.0% for 6-18MeV electron beams and 5.5% for 4MeV ones. This study shows that MOSFET detectors are suitable for dosimetry of electron beams in the energy range of 4-18MeV.

Dose distribution for endovascular brachytherapy using Ir-192 sources: comparison of Monte Carlo calculations with radiochromic film measurements

An analysis of Ir-192 source distribution using the Monte Carlo method and radiochromic film experiments for endovascular brachytherapy is presented. Three different source possibilities, namely, mHDR Ir-192 sources with 5 mm and 2.5 mm step sizes and Ir-192 seed sources with 1 mm air gap are investigated to obtain uniform radial dose distribution throughout the treatment area. From this study, it is inferred that mHDR Ir-192 sources with 2.5 mm step size are effective for getting dose uniformity. Hence, different restenosis geometries, namely, linear, dumb bell and hairpin, are simulated with 2.5 mm step size, 15 mHDR Ir-192 sources using the Monte Carlo technique and the results are compared experimentally by using radiochromic films. The results from both methods agreed to within 7%. Further, it is also inferred that for the dosimetry of endovascular brachytherapy, the film dosimetry may be considered adequate, even if the film calibration is time consuming and requires adequate dosimetric procedures.

Native fluorescence spectroscopy of blood plasma in the characterization of oral malignancy

Native fluorescence characteristics of blood plasma were studied in the visible spectral region, at two different excitation wavelengths, 405 and 420 nm, to discriminate patients with different stages of oral malignancy from healthy subjects. The fluorescence spectra of blood plasma of oral malignant subjects exhibit characteristic spectral differences with respect to normal subjects. Different ratios were calculated using the fluorescence intensity values at those emission wavelengths that give characteristic spectral features of each group of experimental subjects studied. These fluorescence intensity ratios were used as input variables for a multiple linear discriminant analysis across different groups. Leave-one out cross-validation was used to check the reliability of each discriminant analysis performed. The discriminant analysis performed across normal and oral cancerous subjects classified 94.7% of the original grouped cases and 93.7% of the cross-validated grouped cases. A classification algorithm was developed on the basis of the score of the discriminant functions (discriminant score) resulted in the analyses. The diagnostic potentiality of the present technique was also estimated in the discrimination of malignant subjects from normal and nonmalignant diseased subjects such as liver diseases. In the discriminant analysis performed across the three groups, normal, oral malignancy (including early and advanced stages) and liver diseases, 99% of the original grouped cases and 95.9% of the cross-validated grouped cases were correctly classified. Similar analysis performed across normal, early stage of oral malignancy, advanced oral malignancy and liver diseases correctly classified 94.9% of the original grouped cases and 91.8% of the cross-validated grouped cases.

Fiber-optic probe for noninvasive real-time determination of tissue optical properties at multiple wavelengths

We present a compact, fast, and versatile fiber-optic probe system for real-time determination of tissue optical properties from spatially resolved continuous-wave diffuse reflectance measurements. The system collects one set of reflectance data from six source-detector distances at four arbitrary wavelengths with a maximum overall sampling rate of 100 Hz. Multivariate calibration techniques based on two-dimensional polynomial fitting are employed to extract and display the absorption and reduced scattering coefficients in real-time mode. The four wavelengths of the current configuration are 660, 785, 805, and 974 nm, respectively. Cross-validation tests on a 6 x 7 calibration matrix of Intralipid-dye phantoms showed that the mean prediction error at, e.g., 785 nm was 2.8% for the absorption coefficient and 1.3% for the reduced scattering coefficient. The errors are relative to the range of the optical properties of the phantoms at 785 nm, which were 0-0.3/cm for the absorption coefficient and 6-16/cm for the reduced scattering coefficient. Finally, we also present and discuss results from preliminary skin tissue measurements.

Characterization of native fluorescence from DMBA-treated hamster cheek pouch buccal mucosa for measuring tissue transformation

The steady-state native fluorescence spectra of extracts of normal mucosa as well as of different stages of oral lesion of the 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster cheek pouch carcinogenesis model have been measured and analysed at 405 nm excitation. The emission spectra were scanned from 430 to 700 nm to characterize the native fluorescence of endogenous porphyrin and other fluorophores under various tissue transformation conditions, such as hyperplasia, papilloma, early invasive carcinoma and well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Two ratio parameters, R1 = (I530/I620) and R2 = (I530/I630), are introduced to quantify the diagnostic potentiality. The ratio values were found to decrease as the stage of the cancer increases. The suggested critical values for both R1 and R2 for normal mucosa is above three, and the suggested critical value for tissues with lesion is less than three. It was also found that the values for R1 and R2 for well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is less than one. The ratio parameter R2 is selected for discrimination between normal mucosa and oral lesions, as the difference in the R2 value between normal and DMBA-treated tissue is higher than that for R1.

A comparative clinico-pathological study of oral submucous fibrosis in habitual chewers of pan masala and betelquid

BACKGROUND

Oral submucous fibrosis associated with chewing of betel nut products has an estimated prevalence of 0.2-1.2% in India. The increasing use of pan masala/gutkha, a mix of tobacco and a less moist form of betelquid lacking the betel leaf, seems associated with an earlier age of onset of oral submucous fibrosis.

METHOD

A prospective study examined the in vivo effects of pan masala/gutkha and betelquid chewing on buccal mucosal cytology in 50 patients with oral submucous fibrosis and 40 controls.

RESULTS

The percentage of nucleolated intermediate cells or proliferative fraction of buccal mucosa cells was significantly higher in all habitual chewers than controls. Pan masala/gutkha chewers presented with oral submucous fibrosis after 2.7 +/- 0.6 y of use whereas the betelquid users presented with oral submucous fibrosis reported 8.6 +/- 2.3 y of use (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Habitual chewing of pan masala/gutkha is associated with earlier presentation of oral submucous fibrosis than betelquid use. Factors which may be responsible for these differences are the tobacco content, the absence of the betel leaf and its carotenes and the much higher dry weight of pan masala/gutkha.