Epigenetic changes of TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3 sigma genes as indication of status of chronic inflammation and cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the epigenetic changes via hypermethylation status of TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3σ genes, between healthy subjects and patients with reversible chronic inflammatory disease, and between healthy subjects and patients with irreversible malignant disease, to highlight the genetic changes that occur in the progression from an inflammatory condition to irreversible genetic changes commonly observed in cancer patients.

Methods: DNA was extracted from the blood of 680 healthy subjects, and tissues and blood of 110 patients with chronic inflammation disease of the gums, as well as neoplastic tissues of 108 breast cancer patients. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for TIMP-3, GSTP-1 and 14-3-3σ was performed, and hypermethylation status was analyzed and compared between the 3 groups.

Comparative evaluation of cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid and saliva of patients with aggressive periodontitis.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate and compare cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva of patients with aggressive periodontitis (AP) before and after treatment.

Methods: Forty AP patients and 40 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Clinical parameters included probing depth and sulcus bleeding index.

Evaluation of the psychological and biological changes of patients diagnosed with benign and malignant breast tumors.

Purpose: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe anxiety disorder developed by exposure to any incident or circumstance that results in psychological trauma. In this study we compared the psychological and physiological changes between patients with malignant and benign breast tumors.

Methods: We selected 150 Chinese women with a breast mass, aged 20 to 45 years, from the Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital between 2009 and 2011 for this study; 30 healthy participants were enrolled into the control group.

Clinical application of human β-defensin and CD14 gene polymorphism in evaluating the status of chronic inflammation.

Background: Periodontitis is a common disease that affects the periodontal tissue supporting the teeth. This disease is attributed to multiple risk factors, including diabetes, cigarette smoking, alcohol, pathogenic microorganisms, genetics and others. Human beta-defensin-1 (hBD-1) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide with cysteine-rich ß-sheets and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity.

Gene polymorphism and protein of human pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in Chinese healthy subjects and chronic periodontitis patients.

Background: Periodontal disease is thought to arise from the interaction of various factors, including the susceptibility of the host, the presence of pathogenic organisms, and the absence of beneficial species. The genetic factors may play a significant role in the risk of periodontal diseases. Cytokines initiate, mediate and control immune and inflammatory responses.

Comparing serum levels of cardiac biomarkers in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and subjects with chronic periodontitis.

Background: Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a chronic inflammation associated with elevations of several inflammatory and cardiac markers. Studies implicated CP as one of the etiologies in coronary heart disease (CHD). Cardiotoxicity is a major complication of anticancer drugs, including anthracyclines and 5-fluorouracil (5FU).