Influence of polycystic ovary syndrome on the periodontal health of Indian women visiting a secondary health care centre

Objectives

Periodontal disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) share risk factors like obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia, along with evidence of chronic inflammation in the two conditions. Evaluating the influence of PCOS on periodontal health would, therefore, identify a possible association.

Materials and methods

Sixty women, divided into equal groups of PCOS and healthy patients, were clinically examined for periodontal parameters like probing depth (PD), plaque index (PI), modified gingival index (mGI), and bleeding on probing (BOP). Fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin (FI), triglycerides (TG), and free testosterone along with serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were the biochemical parameters evaluated.

Results

Women with PCOS had statistically significant differences in mGI, PI, testosterone, FBS, and TG when compared with healthy women (p < 0.05). MDA levels in serum and GCF between women with PCOS and controls were also significantly different. BOP and mGI showed a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.45 and 0.44) with serum levels of MDA. Relatively greater gingival inflammation was observed in patients with PCOS compared to healthy controls, independent of the risk factors present.

Conclusion

PCOS seemed to have an impact on gingival inflammation, in addition to the effect of dental plaque and other local factors in the oral cavity, in PCOS patients when compared with healthy individuals.

Clinical relevance

Women diagnosed with PCOS may have probabaility of co-existing gingival inflammation. Therefore, emphasis on medical treatment for PCOS and periodic screening for periodontal disease may be warranted.

     

Cellular metabolism dictates T cell effector function in health and disease

In a healthy person, metabolically quiescent T lymphocytes (T cells) circulate between lymph nodes and peripheral tissues in search of antigens. Upon infection, some T cells will encounter cognate antigens followed by proliferation and clonal expansion in a context-dependent manner, to become effector T cells. These events are accompanied by changes in cellular metabolism, known as metabolic reprogramming. The magnitude and variation of metabolic reprogramming are, in addition to antigens, dependent on factors such as nutrients and oxygen to ensure host survival during various diseases. Herein, we describe how metabolic programmes define T cell subset identity and effector functions. In addition, we will discuss how metabolic programs can be modulated and affect T cell activity in health and disease using cancer and autoimmunity as examples.     

Over expression of brain and acute leukemia,cytoplasmic and ETS-related gene is associated with poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia

The high expression of brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) and ETS-related gene (ERG) has been reported to influence the outcome in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), but due to limited prospective studies, their role as prognostic factors is unclear. At diagnosis, the prognostic value of BAALC and ERG expression with respect to other cytogenetic and molecular markers was analyzed in 149 AML patients. Patients were divided into quartiles which resulted in the formation of four groups (G1–G4) based on expression values of BAALC and ERG and clinical response defined across groups. Groups with similar survival probabilities were merged together and categorized subsequently as high versus low expressers. Patients with high BAALC and ERG expression had significantly lower overall survival (OS; BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 29.4% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4% vs. 50.4%) and disease-free survival (BAALC: p = 0.001 at 5 years 19.5% vs. 69.8%; ERG: p < 0.0001 at 5 years 4.2% vs. 47%). Patients were further stratified combining BAALC and ERG expression in an integrative prognostic risk score (IPRS). After a median follow-up of 54 months (95% CI 45–63 months) among survivors, IPRS for high versus low expressers was a significant predictor for OS (BAALC + ERG: 4% vs. 71.6%, p < 0.0001) and DFS (BAALC + ERG: 4.5% vs. 74.1%, p < 0.0001). In a multivariate model, IPRS of BAALC + ERG expression retained prognostic significance for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.96, 95%CI 1.91–4.59, p < 0.001) and DFS (HR 3.61, 95%CI 2.26–5.76, p < 0.001).     

Measurement of antirotavirus IgM/IgA/IgG responses in the serum samples of Indian children following rotavirus diarrhoea and their mothers

Rotavirus specific, serum IgM/IgA/IgG levels among hospitalized children and their respective mothers were determined. Children were grouped as having rotavirus diarrhoea (RVD) and non-rotavirus diarrhoea (NRVD) on the basis of fecal excretion measured by ELISA and RT-PCR. Although IgM seropositivity was observed among children of both the groups, it was significantly higher in the acute as well as convalescent phase serum samples (P < 0.05 for both) of RVD group. Five out of ten acute sera from the NRVD group were positive for IgM and seven showed IgA/IgG seroconversion indicating rotavirus infection among these children in the past. It was noted that, three out of 24 mothers' sera from RVD group, showed presence of IgM in the serum collected during convalescence of their children. The observation suggests, subclinical rotavirus infection among mothers probably contacted from their children. This is supported by the seroconversion for IgA/IgG among these three mothers. Such a phenomenon was not noticed among the mothers from NRVD group. In general, IgA positivity did not vary significantly among the children from both the groups. IgA seropositivity was significantly higher (P < 0.001) from children of RVD group as compared to healthy group of children following rotavirus infection. From RVD group, all the child patients and 12 mothers out of 24 (50%) showed IgA/IgG seroconversion. None of the mothers from NRVD group showed seroconversion. Serum samples of healthy children and adults, showed IgM positivity at equal level (10%), but a significant difference (P < 0.01) was observed in IgA positivity. In conclusion, subclinical transmission of rotavirus infection from children to their mothers may occur. Seroconversion alone cannot be considered as a marker of rotavirus diarrhoea in children. Moreover, about 40-50% of subjects lacked rotavirus specific IgA at protective levels, making them susceptible to rotavirus infection.