Association study indicates combined effect of interleukin-10 and angiotensin-converting enzyme in basal cell carcinoma development.

Cytokines involved in inflammatory and immune response have been associated with risk for development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In this study, three functional DNA polymorphisms affecting gene expression were investigated in 54 BCC patients and 111 healthy controls: interleukin-1b (IL-1b) +3953C/T, interleukin-10 (IL-10) - 1082G/A and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms. Significant increase of the variant alleles was observed in IL-10 - 1082G (P = 0.

Effect of Olmesartan on the Level of Oral Cancer Risk Factor PAI1.

Aim: To study if the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan reduces levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1), a risk factor for oral cancer, in a mouse model and therefore whether it could be used in the treatment of this malignancy.

Materials And Methods: Twelve transgenic PAI1 mice aged 16-20 weeks were divided in two groups each containing six animals. One group was given olmesartan every day for 30 days in drinking water in an amount corresponding to their weight, 0.

Proliferating fibroblasts and HeLa cells co-cultured in vitro reciprocally influence growth patterns, protein expression, chromatin features and cell survival.

Aim: to identify biological interactions between proliferating fibroblasts and HeLa cells in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from both normal and tumour human tissues. Coverslip co-cultures of HeLa and fibroblasts in various ratios with medium replacement every 48 h were studied using fixed cell staining with dyes such as Giemsa and silver staining, with immunochemistry for Ki-67 and E-cadherin, with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme reaction, as well as live cell staining for non-specific esterases and lipids.

Alterations in miRNA expression patterns in whole blood of OSCC patients.

Background/aim: Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression in blood of cancer patients is a common finding. The present study aimed at evaluating the differences in miRNA expression in whole blood samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients compared to healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Microarray based miRNA profiling was performed on whole blood samples of 20 OSCC patients and 20 healthy volunteers and the differences in expression patterns between the two groups were evaluated.

miR-186, miR-3651 and miR-494: potential biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma extracted from whole blood.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in the whole blood of patients suffering from different types of cancer. Collection of whole blood samples is a minimally invasive procedure. To date, little is known concerning the altered miRNA expression in patients suffering from oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Effect of thrombosis-related gene polymorphisms upon oral cancer: a regression analysis.

It is well-known that there is an interplay between hemostasis, thrombosis and cancer. Functional DNA polymorphisms in genes encoding factors related to thrombosis have been associated with increased risk for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study investigated the possible combinatory effect of 10 such polymorphisms as primary risk predictors for OSCC in a European population.

The relevance of EGFR overexpression for the prediction of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.

The present study evaluated the relevance of EGFR overexpression in prediction of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLP). The retrospective study comprised paraffin-embedded tissue samples of OLP that transformed into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (n=53) and tissue samples of OLP that did not transform into OSCC (n=45) during a follow-up period of 5 years. EGFR overexpression was assessed immunohistochemically.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in saliva and cervix of sexually active women.

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly associated with cervical cancer and possibly with some oropharyngeal cancers. However, the relation between oral and cervical HPV infection is not fully understood. This study evaluates the prevalence rate and type-concordance of HPVs in these areas.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma.

The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is significantly reduced in individuals treated with inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) that produces angiotensin II. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association of a functional polymorphism in the ACE gene, which affects its transcription, with risk for BCC. In DNA samples of 92 patients with BCC and 103 healthy controls of Greek origin and comparable age and gender, we studied the ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism.

Prevalence of thrombosis-related DNA polymorphisms in a healthy Greek population.

Genetic association studies have revealed a correlation between DNA variations in genes encoding factors of the haemostatic system and thrombosis-related disease. This study investigated the prevalence of 13 such genetic risk factors in a sample (N=400 alleles) of the Hellenic population of Greece. Some of these polymorphisms [coagulation factor V (F5) Leiden, coagulation factor II (F2) G20210A, 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, coagulation factor XIII A1 subunit (F13A1) Val34Leu, serpine1 (SERPINE1) 4G/5G, angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D, angiotensinogen (AGT) Met325Thr, integrin A2 (ITGA2) C807T] have been previously studied in Hellenic populations of Greece and Cyprus, while others such as coagulation factor XII (F12) C46T, plasma carboxypeptidase B2 (CPB2) C1040T, platelet glycoprotein Ib α polypeptide (GP1BA) VNTR, thrombomodulin (THBD) -A33G and protein Z (PROZ) - A13G have not.

Oral carcinogenesis is not achieved in different carcinogen-treated PAI-1 transgenic and wild-type mouse models.

Aim: In an effort to assess the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in oral squamous cancer development and progression, two different carcinogen treatment protocols were conducted.

Materials And Methods: Protocol I included mice from a PAI-1 transgenic (Tg) breed (n=56) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=56), divided into one control group and two main experimental groups, treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) for 8 and 16 weeks, respectively. Protocol II included the same number and types of animals and groups, which were similarly treated with 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) in drinking water.

The interplay between hemostasis and malignancy: the oral cancer paradigm.

Accumulating evidence has revealed the role of various components of the coagulatory system in different stages of carcinogenesis including precancerous and initial stages, tumor growth, angiogenesis, stroma generation, and metastasis of malignant cells. This comprehensive review discusses major points of evidence, in addition to recent findings on specific factors associated with the paradigm of oral squamous cell carcinoma. During carcinogenesis, angiogenesis is favored by local conditions of hypoxia, cell-to-cell interactions, and by expression of paracrine growth factors and inflammatory cytokines.

Potential prevention of thromboembolism by genetic counseling and testing for two common thrombophilia mutations.

Background/aim: Thrombophilia is a multifactorial predisposition for thromboembolism affecting about a tenth of any population. We investigated whether genetic counseling combined with molecular testing for two common dominant mutations (coagulation factor V Leiden and prothrombin G20210A) may increase prevention of venous thromboembolic incidents in individuals with a positive family history compared to the general population.

Patients And Methods: Mutation detection was carried out by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism analysis in DNA samples of 96 unrelated healthy Greeks (group A) who asked for genetic counseling for various reasons and had at least two relatives with thromboembolic incidents and 100 unrelated healthy Greeks (group B).

Secondary reconstruction of posttraumatic enophthalmos: prefabricated implants vs titanium mesh.

Objective: To compare individually prefabricated computer-assisted designed/computer-assisted manufactured (CAD/CAM) glass-bioceramic implants with nonpreformed titanium meshes for orbital floor reconstruction in secondary correction of enophthalmos.

Methods: In a nonrandomized, comparative, prospective cohort study, 2 groups of 10 patients received secondary correction of enophthalmos with CAD/CAM implants in one group and titanium meshes in the other. Relative enophthalmometry and exophthalmometry data were assessed preoperatively, at the end of the operation, at day 90 postoperatively, and at day 365 postoperatively.

Diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of NY-ESO-1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Cancer/testis antigen 1B (NY-ESO-1) is exclusively expressed in various types of tumor but not in healthy normal tissue, except testis, and induces strong cellular and humoral immune responses. Therefore, it represents an ideal target for diagnostic and immunotherapeutic applications. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of NY-ESO-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) to determine its impact as a diagnostic parameter or a therapeutic target for oral cancer.

A novel multiple-marker method for the early diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: Melanoma associated antigens-A (MAGE-A) expression is highly specific to cancer cells. Thus, they can be the most suitable targets for the diagnosis of malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity of multiple MAGE-A expression analysis for the diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Early findings of a novel established molecular diagnostic technique for the prediction of malignant transformation in leukoplakia.

To date, there are no objective parameters regarding the early prediction of malignant transformation in leukoplakia. Expression analysis of melanoma-associated antigens (MAGE-A) can differentiate between healthy and already malignant transformed tissues. Thus, expression analysis may also be used as an additional diagnostic tool for oral pre-malignant lesions to monitor potential malignant changes.

Osteocutaneous free flap including medial and lateral scapular crests: technical aspects, viability, and donor site morbidity.

The aims of the present study were to check for metabolism of the bony segments of osteocutaneous free flaps that included lateral as well as medial scapular crests by 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) examinations and to assess donor site morbidity. Twenty patients were included in the study. In 10 patients, osteocutaneous free flaps were harvested that included lateral as well as medial scapular crests.

A common 9 bp deletion in the ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated gene is not associated with oral cancer.

Background: The ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated gene (ATM) product is a well-characterized tumour suppressor that plays a key role in the maintenance of genomic stability. Given the fact that the loss of heterozygosity at the ATM locus is common in head and neck tumours, we investigated the possible association of 7636del9, which is the most frequent ATM deletion, with risk for oral cancer.

Patients And Methods: The 7636del9 9nt deletion was investigated in DNA samples of 67 German and Greek patients with oral cancer and 57 healthy controls of equivalent ethnicity, age and gender, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by electrophoretic analysis.

In vitro behavior of layer-by-layer deposited molecular oligoelectrolyte films on Ti-6Al-4V surfaces.

Layer-by-layer self-assembled films of molecular oligoelectrolytes were used to modify Ti-6Al-4V surfaces in order to test their ability as potential drug delivery system. With regard to medical application the in vitro behavior of the modified material was investigated. The Ti-6Al-4V (6% aluminium, 4% vanadium) material was treated in a layer-by-layer (LbL) process with 2, 4, 6 and 8 layers of molecular oligoelectrolytes 1 and 2 and thereby doped with a fluorescent reporter molecule 2.

Osteotomy and primary wound closure in bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw: a prospective clinical study with 12 months follow-up.

Goals Of Work: This is a prospective clinical study aimed at assessing the success rate of osteotomy and primary wound closure in patients with bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ).

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients who had received bisphosphonates intravenously and subsequently suffered from BONJ were included in the study. All patients underwent osteotomy of the affected jaw bone region and primary wound closure under general anaesthesia.

Association of polymorphisms in Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha and Beta genes with increased risk for oral cancer.

Background: In light of the recently found contribution of inflammation-related factors to oral oncogenesis, the possible correlation of tumor necrosis factor alpha and beta genes (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta) with risk of oral cancer was investigated.

Materials And Methods: DNA samples of 160 German and Greek patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and 153 healthy controls of equivalent age, gender and ethnicity were studied. The functional polymorphisms TNF-alpha (-308 G/A) and TNF-beta (252 G/A), which affect gene expression, were investigated by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Influence of residual alveolar bone height on osseointegration of implants in the maxilla: a pilot study.

Aims/background: For sinus floor augmentation and simultaneous implant placement, a minimum of 5 mm of residual bone height has been recommended empirically. This study was designed to test this assumption in an experimental animal trial.

Material And Methods: In eight mini pigs, three premolars and two molars were removed on one side of the maxilla.