Detecting Colorectal Neoplasia Using Specific Fecal Fluorogenic Protease-Sensitive Substrates: A Pilot Study.

Background: identification and removal of advanced adenomas (AA) reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and potentially mortality. CRC screening often uses fecal immunochemical testing to select high-risk individuals for colonoscopy, despite its low sensitivity for AA and relatively high false-positivity rate. Previous studies have linked proteases to CRC development through their ability to facilitate angiogenesis and immunoregulation.

A technical note on the Kamranmeter; a manually operated device for measuring salivary spinnbarkeit.

Objective: The objective was to develop a manually operatable, non-electric device to measure salivary spinnbarkeit for research, clinical and educational purposes.

Materials And Methods: A newly developed device, named the Kamranmeter, was built and evaluated in a pilot study, comparing the spinnbarkeit of unstimulated and chew-stimulated saliva samples from healthy volunteers. The Neva Meter, which operates on electrical resistance, was used as a reference standard.

Bovine lactoferrin and chimera lactoferrin prevent and destroy Typhimurium biofilms in Caco-2 cells.

Salmonellosis is a common foodborne disease caused by bacteria. The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella serotypes, such as Typhimurium, and Salmonella's ability to form biofilms contribute to their resistance and persistence in host and non-host environments. New strategies are needed to treat or prevent Salmonella infections.

Scent of relief: Mastic resin scent recovers salivation in chronic dry mouth patients.

Background: Olfactory stimulation with mastic resin, derived from the Pistacia lentiscus tree, demonstrated a bona fide sialagogic effect in healthy volunteers [1]. Its main volatile compound, α-pinene, also showed this effect. The current study aimed to validate the effect of mastic resin volatiles in chronic dry mouth patients with confirmed decreased saliva secretion.

Carbon dots combined with phytosphingosine inhibit acid-induced demineralization of hydroxyapatite in vitro.

Objectives: To study the effects of carbon dots (CDs), in combination with phytosphingosine (PHS), against acid-induced demineralization of hydroxyapatite in vitro.

Methods: CDs were generated from citric acid and urea by microwave heating. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), FT-IR, and fluorescence intensity were used to characterize the CDs.

Differential Modulation of Saliva-Derived Microcosm Biofilms by Antimicrobial Peptide LL-31 and D-LL-31.

Microbiome modulation, aiming to restore a health-compatible microbiota, is a novel strategy to treat periodontitis. This study evaluated the modulation effects of antimicrobial peptide LL-31 and its D-enantiomer (D-LL-31) on saliva-derived microcosm biofilms, spiked with or without . To this end, one-day-old biofilms were incubated for 24 h with biofilm medium alone, or medium containing 40 µM LL-31 or D-LL-31, after which biofilms were grown for 5 days.

Sialagogic Effects Through Olfactory Stimulation with Mastic Resin and α-pinene Volatiles in vivo.

Background: Xerostomia, often associated with decreased saliva quality, poses challenges due to limited treatment efficacy. This study aimed to investigate alternative approaches to enhance saliva secretion through olfactory volatile stimulation with mastic resin and its main compound α-pinene, known for inhibiting acetylcholinesterase in vitro.

Methods: The inhibitory effects of freshly prepared mastic resin extract oil and α-pinene oil on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were measured in vitro.

Identification and Characterization of MUC5B Binding Peptides by Phage Display.

Objectives: MUC5B plays a multifactorial role in oral health. As a consequence, decreased MUC5B output leads to impaired salivary functions and xerostomia. Synthetic combinatorial technologies have been used to develop functional peptide libraries by phage display e.

Antitumor activity of bovine lactoferrin and its derived peptides against HepG2 liver cancer cells and Jurkat leukemia cells.

Liver cancer and leukemia are the fourth and first causes, respectively, of cancer death in children and adults worldwide. Moreover, cancer treatments, although beneficial, remain expensive, invasive, toxic, and affect the patient's quality of life. Therefore, new anticancer agents are needed to improve existing agents.

Lactoferrin and the development of salivary stones: a pilot study.

Salivary stones (sialoliths) are calcified structures located in the ductal system of the major salivary glands. Their exact cause is not clear but in general they are characterized by concentric inorganic (hydroxyapatite) layers. The formation is a slow intermittent process which may result in enlargement of the sialolith causing obstruction of saliva secretion resulting in mealtime related pain and swelling of the affected salivary gland.

Novel Antiamoebic Tyrocidine-Derived Peptide against Brain-Eating Amoebae.

() can cause keratitis, a sight-threatening infection, as well as a fatal brain infection termed granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, mostly in immunocompromised individuals. In contrast, () causes a deadly infection involving the central nervous system, recognized as primary amoebic encephalitis, mainly in individuals partaking in recreational water activities or those with nasal exposure to contaminated water. Worryingly, mortality rates due to these infections are more than 90%, suggesting the need to find alternative therapies.

GPCR/endocytosis/ERK signaling/S2R is involved in the regulation of the internalization, mitochondria-targeting and -activating properties of human salivary histatin 1.

Human salivary histatin 1 (Hst1) exhibits a series of cell-activating properties, such as promoting cell spreading, migration, and metabolic activity. We recently have shown that fluorescently labeled Hst1 (F-Hst1) targets and activates mitochondria, presenting an important molecular mechanism. However, its regulating signaling pathways remain to be elucidated.

Gramicidin A is hydrolyzed by a d-stereospecific peptidase produced by Bacillus anthracis.

Previously we described the discovery of a Bacillus spp. specific peptidase activity related to d-stereospecific peptidases (DSPs). The peptidase showed a strong preference for d-leucine and d-valine amino acids.

Comparing periodontitis biomarkers in saliva, oral rinse and gingival crevicular fluid: A pilot study.

Aim: To explore the feasibility of screening for periodontitis by measuring biomarkers, namely total proteolytic activity (TPA), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, chitinase, lysozyme or their combination, in saliva, oral rinse and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF).

Material And Methods: Subjects were recruited among healthy/gingivitis individuals and untreated periodontitis patients in Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA). All participants donated samples of unstimulated whole saliva, oral rinse and GCF.

Lubricating properties of chewing stimulated whole saliva from patients suffering from xerostomia.

Objectives: The study aimed to quantify the lubricating properties of chewing stimulated whole saliva from healthy controls (n = 22), from patients suffering from primary Sjögren's syndrome (n = 37) and from patients undergoing head-and-neck radiotherapy (n = 34).

Materials And Methods: All participants had to complete the Xerostomia Inventory questionnaire to score dry mouth sensation. Lubrication was measured using an ex vivo tongue-enamel friction system in terms of Relief and Relief period.

Histatin-1 is a novel osteogenic factor that promotes bone cell adhesion, migration, and differentiation.

Histatin-1 is a salivary antimicrobial peptide involved in the maintenance of enamel and oral mucosal homeostasis. Moreover, Histatin-1 has been shown to promote re-epithelialization in soft tissues, by stimulating cell adhesion and migration in oral and dermal keratinocytes, gingival and skin fibroblasts, endothelial cells and corneal epithelial cells. The broad-spectrum activity of Histatin-1 suggests that it behaves as a universal wound healing promoter, although this is far from being clear yet.

D-LL-31 enhances biofilm-eradicating effect of currently used antibiotics for chronic rhinosinusitis and its immunomodulatory activity on human lung epithelial cells.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic disease that involves long-term inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Bacterial biofilms present on the sinus mucosa of certain patients reportedly exhibit resistance against traditional antibiotics, as evidenced by relapse, resulting in severe disease. The aim of this study was to determine the killing activity of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides (LL-37, LL-31) and their D-enantiomers (D-LL-37, D-LL-31), alone and in combination with conventional antibiotics (amoxicillin; AMX and tobramycin; TOB), against bacteria grown as biofilm, and to investigate the biological activities of the peptides on human lung epithelial cells.

Bovine lactoferrin and lactoferrin peptides affect endometrial and cervical cancer cell lines.

Cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers are the most common malignancies of the female genital tract worldwide. Despite advances in prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening, and treatment programs, mortality remains high. Consequently, it is important to search for new treatments.

DNase-mediated eDNA removal enhances D-LL-31 activity against biofilms of bacteria isolated from chronic rhinosinusitis patients.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic infection of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses associated with the presence of a microbial biofilm. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is an important component of the biofilm matrix. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural peptides with the ability to kill microorganisms.

Human Salivary Histatin-1 Promotes Osteogenic Cell Spreading on Both Bio-Inert Substrates and Titanium SLA Surfaces.

Promoting cell spreading is crucial to enhance bone healing and implant osteointegration. In this study, we investigated the stimulatory effect of human salivary histatin-1 (Hst-1) on the spreading of osteogenic cells as well as the potential signaling pathways involved. Osteogenic cells were seeded on bio-inert glass slides with or without the presence of Hst1 in dose-dependent or time-course assays.

Selective tumor antigen vaccine delivery to human CD169 antigen-presenting cells using ganglioside-liposomes.

Priming of CD8 T cells by dendritic cells (DCs) is crucial for the generation of effective antitumor immune responses. Here, we describe a liposomal vaccine carrier that delivers tumor antigens to human CD169/Siglec-1 antigen-presenting cells using gangliosides as targeting ligands. Ganglioside-liposomes specifically bound to CD169 and were internalized by in vitro-generated monocyte-derived DCs (moDCs) and macrophages and by ex vivo-isolated splenic macrophages in a CD169-dependent manner.

Elevated Baseline Salivary Protease Activity May Predict the Steadiness of Gingival Inflammation During Periodontal Healing: A 12-Week Follow-Up Study on Adults.

Aim was to profile salivary total protease, gingipain, and neutrophil elastase activities in relation to the resolution of periodontal inflammation, salivary macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α concentrations. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment was performed in 24 periodontitis patients in a prospective interventional study design. Periodontal clinical parameters were recorded, and stimulated saliva samples were collected at baseline and 2, 6, and 12 weeks after treatment.