Exploring Salivary Epithelial Dysfunction in Sjögren's Disease.

Sjögren's Disease (SjD) is an autoimmune disease of the exocrine tissues. Etiological events result in the loss of epithelial homeostasis alongside extracellular matrix (ECM) destruction within the salivary and lacrimal glands, followed by immune cell infiltration. In this review, we have assessed the current understanding of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated changes within the salivary epithelium potentially involved in salivary dysfunction and SjD pathogenesis.

Regulation of STAT1 and STAT4 Expression by Growth Factor and Interferon Supplementation in Sjögren's Syndrome Cell Culture Models.

Our goal was to investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interferons (IFNs) on signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT1 and STAT4 mRNA and active phosphorylated protein expression in Sjögren's syndrome cell culture models. iSGECs (immortalized salivary gland epithelial cells) and A253 cells were treated with EGF, IFN-alpha, -beta, -gamma, or mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 alpha (p38-MAPK) inhibitor for 0-24-48-72 h. STAT1 and STAT4 mRNA expression was quantified by qRT-PCR.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms conferring susceptibility to leukemia and oral mucositis: a multi-center pilot study of patients prior to conditioning therapy for hematopoietic cell transplant.

Purpose: Leukemias have been associated with oral manifestations, reflecting susceptibility to cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis. We sought to identify SNPs associated with both leukemia and oral mucositis (OM).

Methods: Whole exome sequencing was performed on leukemia and non-cancer blood disorder (ncBD) patients' saliva samples (N = 50) prior to conditioning therapy.

Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with chronic graft-versus-host disease in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Introduction: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) is a debilitating side effect of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), affecting the quality of life of patients. We used whole exome sequencing to identify candidate SNPs and complete a multi-marker gene-level analysis using a cohort of cGVHD( +) (N = 16) and cGVHD( -) (N = 66) HCT patients.

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from HCT patients (N = 82) pre-conditioning in a multi-center study from March 2011 to May 2018.

Human oral mucosa and oral microbiome interactions following supragingival plaque reconstitution in healthy volunteers: a diet-controlled balanced design proof-of-concept model to investigate oral pathologies.

Changes in the oral microbiome may contribute to oral pathologies, especially in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Interactions between oral microbiome and oral mucosa may exacerbate inflammation. We determined whether probiotic-controlled plaque formation could impact proximal oral mucosa gene expression profiles in healthy volunteers.

Oral microbiomes of patients with infective endocarditis (IE): a comparative pilot study of IE patients, patients at risk for IE and healthy controls.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is an uncommon disease with high morbidity and mortality rates, which often develops from oral bacterial species entering circulation.

Objective: We compared oral microbiome profiles of three groups: IE patients (N  9 patients; n = 27 samples), disease controls at risk for IE (N = 28; n = 84), and healthy controls (N = 37; n = 111). Bacterial species in IE patients' blood cultures were identified for comparison with matched oral samples.

Regulation of MMP9 transcription by ETS1 in immortalized salivary gland epithelial cells of patients with salivary hypofunction and primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients exhibit enhanced degradation of the salivary epithelium initially through MMP9 overexpression. We assessed the expression of MMP9 and an associated transcription factor, ETS1, in primary salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) and investigated potential regulatory mechanism(s) in immortalized SGECs. SGECs and iSGECs were derived from pSS and/or xerostomic "sicca" patients.

Cutaneous Microbiome Profiles Following Chlorhexidine Treatment in a 72-Hour Daily Follow-Up Paired Design: a Pilot Study.

Venous catheter-related bloodstream infections represent a significant problem in the United States. Our objective was to determine daily changes in skin microbiome profiles up to 72h postchlorhexidine treatment. Left and right forearm skin swab samples were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers over 72h at 24h intervals.

A Computational Text Mining-Guided Meta-Analysis Approach to Identify Potential Xerostomia Drug Targets.

Xerostomia (subjective complaint of dry mouth) is commonly associated with salivary gland hypofunction. Molecular mechanisms associated with xerostomia pathobiology are poorly understood, thus hampering drug development. Our objectives were to (i) use text-mining tools to investigate xerostomia and dry mouth concepts, (ii) identify associated molecular interactions involving genes as candidate drug targets, and (iii) determine how drugs currently used in clinical trials may impact these genes and associated pathways.

Factors that affect dentists' use of antibiotic prophylaxis: Findings from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network questionnaire.

Background: Little is known about factors that influence dentists' decision making concerning antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) prescribing. The objective of this study was to determine factors that influence dentists' AP prescribing habits in patients at risk of developing infective endocarditis and prosthetic joint infections.

Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 3,584 dentist members of The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

and spp. Constitute a Multi-Marker Signature in a Cohort of Human Papillomavirus-Positive Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a known etiological factor of oropharyngeal head and neck cancer (HNC). HPV positivity and periodontal disease have been associated with higher HNC risk, suggesting a role for oral bacterial species. Our objective was to determine oral microbiome profiles in HNC patients (HPV-positive and HPV-negative) and in healthy controls (HC).

Comorbidities and Susceptibility to COVID-19: A Generalized Gene Set Data Mining Approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to over 2.26 million deaths for almost 104 million confirmed cases worldwide, as of 4 February 2021 (WHO). Risk factors include pre-existing conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Oral Microbiome Signatures in Hematological Cancers Reveal Predominance of and Species.

The endogenous microbiome of healthy individuals in oral cavities is diverse, representing over 700 bacterial species. Imbalance in oral and gut microbiome composition and associated gene expression has been linked to different forms of hematological (blood) cancers. Our objective is to compare oral microbiome profiles of patients with blood cancers (BC group: N = 39 patients, n = 124 oral samples) to those of healthy control subjects (HC group: N = 27 subjects, n = 100 oral samples).

Immortalization of Salivary Gland Epithelial Cells of Xerostomic Patients: Establishment and Characterization of Novel Cell Lines.

Primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune disease mainly affecting salivary and lacrimal glands. Previous pSS studies have relied on primary cell culture models or cancer cell lines with limited relevance to the disease. Our objective was to generate and characterize immortalized salivary gland epithelial cells (iSGECs) derived from labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsies of pSS patients (focus score > 1) and non-Sjögren's Syndrome (nSS) xerostomic (i.

Prophylactic antibiotic prescribing in dental practice: Findings from a National Dental Practice-Based Research Network questionnaire.

Background: Little is known about antibiotic prescribing practices of dentists. The objective of this study was to gain a better understanding of dentists' beliefs and behaviors regarding the use of antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) before invasive dental procedures.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed and disseminated a questionnaire to 3,584 dentist members of the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Methodology for the development of a national Dental Practice-Based Research Network survey on dentist's beliefs and behaviors concerning antibiotic prophylaxis.

Background: Dentists are high prescribers of antibiotics for both treatment and prevention of infection, although there are few guidelines to aid clinicians. Given the worldwide concerns about unnecessary use of antibiotics, there is a need for a better understanding of dentists' use of these drugs for antibiotic prophylaxis (AP) to prevent distant site infections (i.e.

Lasting profile changes characterized hematological cancer patients who developed oral mucositis following conditioning therapy.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a common side effect of conditioning therapy implemented before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The role of oral microbiome in OM is not fully elucidated. To determine oral microbiome profile changes post-conditioning in HSCT patients who developed moderate OM, or mild to no OM.

Identification of single nucleotide pleomorphisms associated with periodontal disease in head and neck cancer irradiation patients by exome sequencing.

Objective: Periodontal disease (PD) is a common oral complication in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Our objective was to identify candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with PD in radiation-treated patients with HNC.

Study Design: DNA was extracted from the saliva of patients with HNC (n = 69) before RT.

Telomere erosion in Sjögren's syndrome: A multi-tissue comparative analysis.

Background: Acinar progenitor cells within salivary glands have decreased regenerative capacity and exhibit shorter telomeres in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients. We investigated whether DNA of saliva, PBMCs, and labial salivary gland (LSG) biopsy tissue have shorter telomeres in pSS compared to controls. mRNA expression of genes associated with pSS pathogenesis (ETS1, LEF1, and MMP9), telomere DNA damage response (ATM), senescence (CDKN2A), telomerase inhibition (IFN-y, TGFβ1), and the shelterin complex (TPP1, POT1) were assessed in LSG tissue by qRT-PCR to examine potential defects in telomere maintenance.

Oral Microbiome and Cancer Therapy-Induced Oral Mucositis.

Characterization of the role of oral microbiome in cancer therapy-induced oral mucositis (CTOM) is critical in preventing the clinically deleterious effects on patients' health that are associated with CTOM. Funding initiatives related to the National Institutes of Health human microbiome project have resulted in groundbreaking advancements in biology and medicine during the last decade. These advancements have shown that a human being is in fact a superorganism made of human cells and associated symbiotic or commensal microbiota.

Caries-associated oral microbiome in head and neck cancer radiation patients: a longitudinal study.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) therapy often leads to caries development. Our goal was to characterize the oral microbiome of HNC patients who underwent radiation therapy (RT) at baseline (T0), and 6 (T6) and 18 (T18) months post-RT, and to determine if there was a relationship with increased caries. HOMI was used to determine the relative abundance (RA) of >600 bacterial species in oral samples of 31 HNC patients.

A Repeated Measures Pilot Comparison of Trajectories of Fluctuating Endogenous Hormones in Young Women with Traumatic Brain Injury, Healthy Controls.

Objective: To compare baseline and 72-hour hormone levels in women with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and controls.

Setting: Hospital emergency department.

Participants: 21 women ages 18-35 with TBI and 21 controls.

Expression of ETS1 and LEF1 in salivary glands of Sjögren syndrome patients.

Objective: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease affecting exocrine glands, thereby causing dry mouth and eyes (sicca). Our objective was to determine the expression of pSS pathogenic biomarker MMP9 and its putative transcription factors ETS1 and LEF1, in labial salivary glands of pSS patients.

Methods: Sicca patients were assigned to three groups based on focus score (FS): non-pSS sicca (i.

Text mining-based in silico drug discovery in oral mucositis caused by high-dose cancer therapy.

Introduction: Oral mucositis (OM) is a major dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy and radiation used in cancer treatment. Due to the complex nature of OM, currently available drug-based treatments are of limited efficacy.

Objectives: Our objectives were (i) to determine genes and molecular pathways associated with OM and wound healing using computational tools and publicly available data and (ii) to identify drugs formulated for topical use targeting the relevant OM molecular pathways.

Biosemantics guided gene expression profiling of Sjögren's syndrome: a comparative analysis with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) shares many clinical and pathological similarities with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These autoimmune diseases mostly affect women. In this study, concept profile analysis (CPA) and gene expression meta-analysis were used to identify genes potentially involved in SS pathogenesis.