High-sensitivity Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay Research Articles

Altered mitochondrial lymphocyte in overweight schizophrenia patients treated with atypical antipsychotics and its association with cognitive function.

Increasing evidence indicated that schizophrenia and obesity are associated with altered mitochondrial and immune function. In this study, we investigated the levels of CRP (C-reactive protein) and mitochondrial lymphocytes in chronically treated schizophrenia patients with atypical antipsychotic medications and further explored the relationship between mitochondrial lymphocyte and weight gain as well as cognitive function in these patients. We evaluated the mitochondrial lymphocyte count of 97 patients (53 overweight, 44 non-overweight) and 100 healthy controls using mitochondrial fluorescence staining and flow cytometry (NovoCyte, Agilent Technologies, US). The serum CRP was measured by high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical symptoms and cognitive function of the patients were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The results showed that mitochondrial lymphocyte counts of CD3+ T, CD3+CD4+ T, and CD3+CD8+ T cells in schizophrenia patients were higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, overweight patients had significantly higher mitochondrial lymphocyte counts of CD3+ T and CD3+CD4+ T cells compared to schizophrenia patients with normal weight. Stratified analysis by gender revealed that there was a statistically significant difference in CD3+CD4+ mitochondrial lymphocyte count in male patients (p = 0.014) and a marginal trend toward significance in female patients (p = 0.058). Furthermore, the mitochondrial lymphocyte counts of CD3+ T and CD3+CD4+ T cells, as well as CRP levels, were positively correlated with BMI in schizophrenia patients, but the mitochondrial lymphocyte counts of CD3+CD4+ T cells were negatively correlated with the language scale in the RBANS. Our study results provide evidence for the association between altered mitochondrial T lymphocyte and weight gain as well as cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients treated with atypical antipsychotic medications.

Exploring variations in heat shock protein 70 expression among vulnerable populations across urban and rural areas in Klang Valley

As global temperatures rise due to climate change, the occurrence and intensity of heat waves are anticipated to increase. Despite this anticipation, there remains a gap in comprehending the underlying defense mechanisms against heat stress, particularly exhibited by Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) within vulnerable populations. Hence, this study aims to assess the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in response to heat exposure among vulnerable populations residing in both urban and rural areas. A total of 108 respondents were recruited using multistage sampling. This study consists of three (3) methods: Part I: face-to-face questionnaire; Part II: indoor heat exposure monitoring using Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) classification; and Part III: blood sample collection to determine HSP70 protein expression using HSP70 High Sensitivity Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit. The results show that urban areas were exposed to strong UTCI thermal stress, whereas rural areas experienced moderate UTCI thermal stress. A higher level of HSP70 protein expression was observed in urban (2.524 ± 0.26) than in rural respondents (2.095 ± 0.27). This study concludes that both urban and rural vulnerable populations demonstrated different patterns of HSP70 protein expression in response to various levels of heat exposure.

Portable microfluidic plasmonic chip for fast real-time cardiac troponin I biomarker thermoplasmonic detection.

Acute myocardial infarction is one of the most serious cardiovascular pathologies, impacting patients' long-term outcomes and health systems worldwide. Significant effort is directed toward the development of biosensing technologies, which are able to efficiently and accurately detect an early rise of cardiac troponin levels, the gold standard in detecting myocardial injury. In this context, this work aims to develop a microfluidic plasmonic chip for the fast and accurate real-time detection of the cardiac troponin I biomarker (cTnI) via three complementary detection techniques using portable equipment. Furthermore, the study focuses on providing a better understanding of the thermoplasmonic biosensing mechanism taking advantage of the intrinsic photothermal properties of gold nanoparticles. Specifically, a plasmonic nanoplatform based on immobilized gold nanobipyramids was fabricated, exhibiting optical and thermoplasmonic properties that promote, based on a sandwich-like immunoassay, the "proof-of-concept" multimodal detection of cTnI via localized surface plasmon resonance, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and thermoplasmonic effects under simulated conditions. Furthermore, after the integration of the plasmonic nanoplatform in a microfluidic channel, the determination of cTnI in 16 real plasma samples was successfully realized via thermoplasmonic detection. The results are compared with a conventional high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent clinical assay (ELISA), showing high sensitivity (75%) and specificity (100%) as well as fast response features (5 minutes). Thus, the proposed portable and miniaturized microfluidic plasmonic chip is successfully validated for clinical applications and transferred to clinical settings for the early diagnosis of cardiac diseases, leading towards the progress of personalized medicine.

Diagnostic Value of Serum Galectin-3 Binding Protein Level in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still lacks effective biomarkers to assist in its diagnosis and prognosis. Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) plays a role in immune and inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate Gal-3BP as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with PAH. From January 2017 to December 2019, we enrolled 167 consecutive PAH patients and 58 healthy controls. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was used to diagnose PAH. Serum Gal-3BP levels were measured by high-sensitivity human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum Gal-3BP levels in the PAH group were significantly higher compared with the control group (4.87±2.09 vs 2.22±0.86 μg/mL, p<0.001). Gal-3BP level was correlated with several hemodynamic parameters obtained from RHC (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for PAH (odds ratio (OR)=2.947, 95% CI: 1.821-4.767, p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of serum Gal-3BP level for predicting PAH was 2.89 μg/mL (area under the curve (AUC)=0.860, 95 % CI: 0.811-0.910, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Gal-3BP levels above the median (4.87 μg/mL) were associated with an increased risk of death in patients with PAH (hazard ratio (HR)=8.868, 95 % CI: 3.631-21.65, p<0.0001). Cox multivariate risk regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for death in PAH patients (HR=2.779, 95 % CI: 1.823-4.237, p<0.001). Serum Gal-3BP levels were increased in patients with PAH, and levels of Gal-3BP were associated with the severity of PAH. Gal-3BP might have predictive value for the diagnosis and prognosis of PAH.

A high-sensitivity ELISA for detection of human FGF18 in culture supernatants from tumor cell lines

Fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF18) is elevated in several human cancers, such as gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers, and stimulates the proliferation of tumor cells. This suggests that FGF18 may be a promising candidate biomarker in cancer patients. However, the lack of a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) does not permit testing of this possibility. In this study, we generated monoclonal antibodies against human FGF18 and developed a high-sensitivity ELISA to measure human FGF18 at concentrations as low as 10 pg/mL. Of the eight tumor cell lines investigated, we detected human FGF18 in culture supernatants from four tumor cell lines, including HeLa, OVCAR-3, BxPC-3, and SW620 cells, albeit the production levels were relatively low in the latter two cell lines. Moreover, the in-house ELISA could detect murine FGF18 in sera from mice overexpressing murine Fgf18 in hepatocytes, although the sensitivity in detecting murine FGF18 was relatively low. This FGF18 ELISA could be a valuable tool to validate FGF18 as a potential biomarker for cancer patients and to test the contribution of FGF18 for various disease models invivo and in vitro.

Serum neurofilament levels in patients with multiple sclerosis: A comparison of SIMOA and high sensitivity ELISA assays and contributing factors to ELISA levels

BackgroundSerum neurofilaments (sNfs), especially the most investigated serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), are promising biomarkers in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, their clinical utility is still limited, given the availability and costs of accessible analytical methods. The gold standard for the detection of sNfs is represented by the single molecule arrays (SIMOA). Recently, a high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (hsELISA) has also been introduced. The objective of the study was to compare both assays for the determination of sNfL and neurofilament heavy chain (sNfH) concentrations in a defined MS cohort. The second objective was to identify contributing factors to sNfs concentrations determined by hsELISA. MethodsSerum samples were collected from MS patients attending the MS Centre, University Hospital Ostrava, Czech Republic. The levels of sNfs were detected using SIMOA and hsELISA assays. ResultsThe Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between the sNfL SIMOA and sNfL hsELISA and between the sNfH SIMOA and sNfH hsELISA was moderate rs= 0.543 (p = 0.001) and rs= 0.583 (p = 0.001), respectively. The Passing-Bablok regression analysis demonstrated bias between both methods. Equally significant bias between the methods was confirmed by the Bland-Altman plots. Furthermore, confounding factors affecting the sNfL levels were glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; 95% CI -2.34 to -0.04) and sex (95% CI -2.38 to -0.10). The sNfH levels were affected by age (95% CI 0.01 to 0.07), eGFR (95% CI -2.45 to -0.02), body mass index (BMI; 95% CI -0.31 to -0.05), and blood volume (95% CI 0.69 to 3.35). ConclusionThis analytical study showed significant differences between hsELISA and SIMOA methods, especially for the sNfH concentrations. We identified confounding factors for sNfs levels determined by hsELISA. The sNfs levels were influenced by renal function and sex, whilst sNfH levels were affected by age, BMI, and total blood volume.

Performance analysis of Luminex and ELISA to profile serum IP-10 as a biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interferon-γ inducible protein-10 (IP-10) is a promising biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The optimal quantification platform has not yet been identified. We compared the performance of bead-based multiplex assay (Luminex) and high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (hs-ELISA) for profiling serum IP-10 as a biomarker of lupus activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted on outpatients with SLE. Serum IP-10 was measured simultaneously on Luminex and hs-ELISA, and correlation between platforms was assessed. Additionally, IP-10 levels were tested against disease activity and organ involvement. One-hundred and forty-one patients (88% women; 38 years old) were studied. Median IP-10 levels were 100.9 (125.2) pg/mL by Luminex and 156.5 (191.7) pg/mL by hs-ELISA. Correlation analysis showed Spearman's ρ = 0.621 (p < 0.0001) between Luminex and hs-ELISA. Quantification of IP-10 by Luminex showed a significant correlation (ρ = 0.198; p = 0.021) with disease activity, while this was not observed (ρ = 0.036; p = 0.683) when measured using hs-ELISA. Serum IP-10 levels were lower in quiescent patients than in those with active disease (70.8 [68.4] versus 114.3 [123.9] pg/mL; p = 0.024), with an AUC-ROC = 0.62 (p = 0.029), sensitivity = 47.9%, specificity = 77.5%, and positive likelihood ratio = 2.1. Patients with active arthritis had higher IP-10 levels than non-arthritis patients (158.1 [505.4] versus 94.1 [114.0] pg/mL; p = 0.008), with an AUC-ROC = 0.73 (p = 0.0009), sensitivity = 72.7%, specificity = 66.4%, and positive likelihood ratio = 2.1. No other type of organ involvement was identified by serum IP-10. Luminex performs better than hs-ELISA as a quantification platform for IP-10 as it correlates with disease activity and identifies active arthritis in SLE.

Anesthesia promotes acute expression of genes related to Alzheimer’s disease and latent tau aggregation in transgenic mouse models of tauopathy

BackgroundExposure to anesthesia in the elderly might increase the risk of dementia. Although the mechanism underlying the association is uncertain, anesthesia has been shown to induce acute tau hyperphosphorylation in preclinical models. We sought to investigate the impact of anesthesia on gene expression and on acute and long-term changes in tau biochemistry in transgenic models of tauopathy in order to better understand how anesthesia influences the pathophysiology of dementia.MethodsWe exposed mice with over-expressed human mutant tau (P301L and hyperdopaminergic COMTKO/P301L) to two hours of isoflurane and compared anesthetized mice to controls at several time points. We evaluated tau hyperphosphorylation with quantitative high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and performed differential expression and functional transcriptome analyses following bulk mRNA-sequencing.ResultsAnesthesia induced acute hyperphosphorylation of tau at epitopes related to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in both P301L-based models. Anesthesia was associated with differential expression of genes in the neurodegenerative pathways (e.g., AD-risk genes ApoE and Trem2) and thermogenesis pathway, which is related to both mammalian hibernation and tau phosphorylation. One and three months after anesthesia, hyperphosphorylated tau aggregates were increased in the anesthetized mice.ConclusionsAnesthesia may influence the expression of AD-risk genes and induce biochemical changes in tau that promote aggregation even after single exposure. Further preclinical and human studies are necessary to establish the relevance of our transcriptomic and biochemical findings in these preclinical models to the pathogenesis of dementia following anesthesia.Trial registration: Not applicable.

Soluble CD14 is subtype-dependent in serum but not in cerebrospinal fluid in people with HIV

Monocytes and macrophages activation are crucial in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) central nervous system (CNS) infection and HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) pathogenesis. The soluble form of CD14 (sCD14) is a marker of monocyte activation. We hypothesized that sCD14 levels would be lower in people with HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) than in HIV-1B owing to a variant Tat cysteine dimotif (C30S31) with reduced chemotactic activity. A total of 68 paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples from people with HIV (PWH); 27 samples of the HIV-1B subtype and 40 of the non-B HIV-1 subtypes (including 26,HIV-1C), and 18 HIV-negative controls were included. sCD14 levels were quantified using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. sCD14 increase in serum, but not in CSF, was higher in samples from HIV-1B than HIV-1C (p = 0.002; Cohen's d, 0.7). CSF or serum sCD14 values were not correlated with global deficit score or specific cognitive domains. The impact of HIV-1 on monocyte stimulation biomarkers evaluated by sCD14 in serum was subtype-dependent, higher in HIV-1B than HIV-1C, consistent with reduced chemotactic activity as hypothesized.

High plasma levels of soluble LOX-1 portends poor survival in acute coronary syndromes beyond GRACE 2.0: a multicentre prospective cohort study

Abstract Background While inflammatory states and dyslipidemias confer a dismal prognosis following myocardial ischaemia, the role of the lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) which sits at the confluence of these conditions remains elusive. Given soluble LOX-1' (sLOX-1) pivotal role in inflammatory processes underlying atherosclerotic plaque progression, we sought to study its prognostic utility on the risk of adverse events in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Purpose Hence, we aimed to investigate whether sLOX-1 is an independent predictor of all-cause death at one year beyond traditional and emerging risk factors for poor survival following ACS. Methods 2678 ACS patients were recruited in the prospective, multicentre SPUM-ACS trial, of which 2525 completed follow-up at one year. Major adverse cardiovascular events, including death from any cause, were adjudicated by an independent clinical endpoint committee. By employing high-sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, sLOX-1 was assessed in the plasma at the time of presentation in ACS and age-matched chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression models, adjusted for baseline variables and the GRACE 2.0 score, were used to study the predictive utility of sLOX-1. Results At the time of presentation, ACS patients, specifically those with ST-segment elevation ACS, had significantly elevated sLOX-1 levels as compared to patients with CCS (median, 35.40 vs. 2.00 pg/ml, P&amp;lt;0.0001). Patients in the upper sLOX-1 tertile were at heightened risk for both death from any cause (crude HR 1.785, 95% CI 1.083–2.941, P&amp;lt;0.05; adjusted HR 2.035, 95% CI 1.176–3.519, P&amp;lt;0.05) and CV death (crude HR 2.447, 95% CI 1.285–4.663, P&amp;lt;0.01; adjusted HR 2.383, 95% CI 1.206–4.710, P&amp;lt;0.05) compared to those in the first tertile. Importantly, sLOX-1 remained an independent predictor of all-cause death after adjustment for known risk factors of adverse outcome and the GRACE 2.0 score (adjusted + GRACE 2.0 HR 1.896, 95% CI 1.034–3.476, P&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusions Plasma sLOX-1 is elevated in ACS patients and predicts poor survival independent of both traditional and emerging risk factors and provides prognostic information beyond GRACE 2.0. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Swiss National Science FoundationFoundation for Cardiovascular Research - Zurich Heart House

Impact of Osteoprotegerin and RANKL on Non-ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Objective: Osteoprotogerin and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) formed an alliance that joining between bone remaking and vascular reforming. The aim of this study is to quantify the blood concentrations of osteoprotogerin and of RANKL in diabetic patients with myocardial infarction and to evaluate their relationship with other perilous factors in reference to healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 76 diabetic patients with myocardial infarction of non-ST-segment raising aged 50 to 60 years and their matched 60 healthy control aged 45 to 55 years were randomly selected from Al-yarmook Hospital and evaluated for inclusion in this case–control study. Blood levels of osteoprotogerin and RANKL were assessed using high-sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The outcomes of this study elucidated increment in the blood concentrations of osteoprotogerin and RANKL in those patients. Apparently, significant positive correlation directed between osteoprotogerin level with age and onset of diabetes. Otherwise, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers exhibited no significant correlation with osteoprotogerin level. Conclusion: Upraised blood levels of osteoprotogerin and RANKL in diabetic patients with non-ST-segment raising myocardial infarction may be of a consequence of diabetic complication on vascular cell.

High sensitivity and specificity Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Acetaminophen in herbal tea and liquor

The acidified structure of acetaminophen (ACA) and 3-Oxo-3-(phenylamino) propanoic acid (3-O-3) were used to couple bovine serum albumin (BSA) to prepare haptens, respectively. A highly sensitive and specificive competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) method was developed for the detection of acetaminophen using 3-O-3-BSA for New Zealand white rabbit immunization to produce antibodies. The IC50 was 6.66 ng/mL, the detection limit was 0.32 ng/mL, and the quantitative detection range was 0.91-48.54 ng/mL. Comparing the performance of ACA-BSA antibody and 3-O-3-BSA antibody recognition of acetaminophen, it was found that the carbonyl site of 3-O-3 plays a major role in antigen-antibody recognition, while para-phenolic hydroxyl does not play an important role in the recognition process. The study provided theoretical guidance for the preparation of acetaminophen recognition antibodies, and established a rapid detection method for acetaminophen.

Soluble sST2 biomarker analysis for fibrosis development in atrial fibrillation. A case control study.

Objectives. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a clinically relevant supra-ventricular arrhythmia which represents an independent risk factor for development of heart failure and ischemic stroke. The present study aims at the investigation of the possible clinical role of the soluble sST2 biomarker to evaluate the fibrosis in a group of patients with first diagnosed or permanent AF. The possible association with the left atrium size is also studied. Materials and Methods. The serum concentrations of the biomarker have been measured in a group of 58 patients (mean age 83.6 ± 6.0 years) and 40 individuals, assumed healthy and without AF, constituted the control group. The analysis is carried out by means of a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. The mean concentration of sST2 is 26.1 (22.7-30.5) ng/mL in the AF group, while in the control is 17.3 (15.7-18.9) ng/mL. Remarkable differences have been obtained for the two subsets with first diagnosed (23 (21.2-24) ng/mL) and permanent AF (30.5 (28.6-32) ng/mL). The analysis has been completed with a trans thoracic echocardiographic exam to evaluate the left atrium size and the left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions. The sST2 serum concentrations are found to be higher in the permanent AF with respect to the cases where the AF is of new onset or follow a paroxysmal pattern. The results support the adoption of the marker to evaluate the degree of fibrosis related to the left atrium of fibrillating patients. A positive association has been proved between the left atrium size and the sST2 concentrations.

Quantification of Defensive Proteins in Skin Mucus of Atlantic salmon Using Minimally Invasive Sampling and High-Sensitivity ELISA.

Simple SummaryThe external surfaces of fish, including the skin, are covered by mucus. Mucus is an important and multifunctional matrix of substantial complexity. The mucus is viscous and sticky, and adheres to the underlying epithelium, making the sampling of mucus challenging. To help define more standardized protocols for mucus sampling, we here compare three different sampling methods. The methods include scraping of mucus, wiping of mucus, and absorption of the liquid part of mucus. We compare the resulting damage to the fish skin and compare the content of two specific immune proteins in the three sample types. Using histological examination, we show that absorption leads to very limited damage to the skin epithelium while scraping causes substantial damage. Using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) methods, we show that the mucus sample types contain similar amounts of antigen specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and complement component 5 (C5), respectively. The levels of the IgM but not the C5 were moderately correlated between mucus and blood from the same fish, suggesting the importance of fish skin mucus for analyzing antigen-specific IgM after vaccination procedures. We conclude that absorption is an easily performed and minimally invasive sampling method that produces mucus samples with comparable contents of IgM and C5.Protocols used to collect fish skin mucus may inadvertently compromise the sampled fish or the resulting sample. Here, we used three methods (wiping, scraping, and absorption) to collect skin mucus from Atlantic salmon and compared their invasiveness on fish skin epithelium. We found that the absorption method was the least invasive. We also compared the abundance of antigen-specific immunoglobulin M subtype A antibodies (IgM-A Ab) and complement component 5 (C5) in mucus samples collected from vaccinated fish by the three methods. An enzyme-cascade-amplification strategy colorimetric immune assay was optimized and used to analyze IgM-A, and ELISA was used to analyze C5. The abundance of antigen-specific IgM-A in skin mucus was comparable between the three methods, but C5 was significantly lower in absorbed mucus in comparison to in the wiped or scraped mucus samples. Absorbed skin mucus samples collected from various body regions of salmon, levels of C5 were comparable, while specific IgM-A amounts varied between the regions. By comparing three mucus-absorbing materials (medical wipe, gauze, and cotton) for their ability to absorb and release IgM-A and C5, medical wipes proved to be ideal for IgM-A analysis, whereas gauze was the best for C5 analysis.

A study on C reactive protein among diabetic patients

CRP has a relatively long half-life of 18 to 20 h, owing to its stable pentraxin structure. In addition, CRP levels are stable as these do not exhibit diurnal variations or variations in relation to food intake. In the past decade, high-sensitivity assays with rapid turnaround times for measurement have become available. High-sensitivity assay techniques such as immunonephelometry, immunoturbidimetry, high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and resonant acoustic profiling (RAP) can detect CRP with a sensitivity range of 0.01 to 10 mg/ l. The previously formulated proforma used to collect the clinical and demographic details of the samples. Detailed history related to the present as well as a thorough history pertaining to other diseases were taken. Each patient was enquired about previous drug history, coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes and any other comorbid conditions.

The Effects of Salvia officinalis Gel as an Adjunct to Scaling and Root Planning in Patients with Periodontitis (Clinical and Immunological Study)

Background: Phytotherapy is the usage of herbal species with medicinal properties for the management of various diseases. Gingivitis and periodontitis are diseases that involve the role of both the bacteria and the host immune response. Over the years, various researches have shown the importance of herbal products in the management of periodontal diseases. Aims of the study: To evaluate the efficacy of locally applied Salvia officinalis gel as adjunctive in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. Subjects and methods: Fourteen patients (10 males and 4 females) with chronic periodontitis were enrolled in the present study with total number of twenty-eight periodontal pockets utilizing a split mouth design, the pockets were divided into two groups, the test group which was treated with scaling and root planning procedure and the application of the S. officinalis gel, and the control group that treated with scaling and root planning only. Plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) were recorded for each site. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) was collected from each site by using PerioCol paper strips. The concentration of the transforming growth factor beta-1 in the gingival crevicular fluid was quantified by a high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The test group demonstrated a significant reduction in GI at 1-week and 1-month after the treatment comparing to baseline (1.14 vs. 1.64, p = 0.003, and 1.21 vs. 1.64, p = 0.028, respectively), while no significant reduction in the PI at recall visits comparing to baseline. The control group demonstrated no significant reduction in PI and GI at recall visits, comparing to baseline. Both the test and control groups demonstrated no significant reduction in the transforming growth factor-beta 1 concentration in the gingival crevicular fluid at one week after the treatment comparing to baseline, while at one month after the treatment only the test group demonstrated a significant reduction comparing to baseline (3.91 vs. 9.62, p = 0.044). Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicated that the S. officinalis gel has a potential anti-inflammatory role in the treatment of chronic periodontitis by monitoring both the clinical and immunological parameters.

In Vivo Evaluation of Effect of Preoperative Ibuprofen on Proinflammatory Mediators in Irreversible Pulpitis Cases

IntroductionPreoperative administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been suggested as a method for increasing the efficacy of local anesthetics and decreasing postoperative pain in symptomatic irreversible pulpitis cases. However, the effects of ibuprofen at the molecular level are still unknown. Hence, the purpose of this study was to compare the levels of proinflammatory mediators in the dental pulp of teeth with irreversible pulpitis in patients who medicated with preoperative ibuprofen versus those who did not. MethodsThirty-four patients undergoing conventional endodontic therapy for teeth with irreversible pulpitis were selected and randomly assigned into either the ibuprofen or nonibuprofen group. Four patients undergoing endodontic therapy for prosthodontic reasons served as controls. Patients in the ibuprofen group were instructed to take 600 mg ibuprofen 1 hour before treatment, whereas patients in the nonibuprofen and control groups were asked to avoid analgesics before treatment. Blood samples obtained from the pulp upon access were tested for levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis efactor alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and interferon gamma using high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Postoperative pain levels were recorded for the groups. Data for the cytokine levels and postoperative pain were analyzed using statistical analysis. ResultsThere was a significant decrease in the levels of prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-6, and interferon gamma in the ibuprofen group compared with the nonibuprofen group. No significant differences were noted in the postoperative pain levels between these groups. ConclusionsThe data showed that preoperative ibuprofen significantly decreased the levels of most proinflammatory cytokines in the dental pulp, which could possibly help with anesthesia in irreversible cases.

Salivary and plasma inflammatory mediators and secretory status in preterm delivery women with periodontitis - a cross sectional study

Bacground/Aim. Preterm birth is defined as a delivery prior to the completed 37th week of gestation. Literature data suggested that periodontal processes may influence to the feto-placental unit and induce preterm delivery. The degree of the periodontal disease is influenced by secretor status. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are involved in periodontitis as well as in delivery. The combined influence of these factors on the risk of preterm birth has not been explored. The aim of our study was to investigate the associations between periodontal diseases, secretor status, and interleukin- 1-? (IL1-?) and prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) levels in women delivered preterm. Methods. The study included 56 preterm delivery women and 56 women delivered at term as a control group, aged between 17 and 41 years. Periodontal examination, blood and saliva sampling were performed within 48 hours following delivery. Secretor phenotype was determined by hemagglutination inhibition method. The concentrations of IL1-? and PGE2 were measured by high sensitivity Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results. In the pre-term birth group there were 66.1% of women with periodontitis, while in the control one there were 12.5% (p &lt; 0.01). Concentrations of IL1-? and PGE2 in plasma were significantly higher in the non-secretor group of women who gave birth pre-term and had periodontitis comparing to other groups. There was a significant correlation between salivary and plasma levels of PGE2 and IL1-? in the preterm birth group (R = 0.416, p = 0.017 and R = -0.592, p &lt; 0.001, respectively). There were no such correlations in women who delivered at term. Conclusion. Our results support the hypothesis that non-secretor phenotype and periodontitis are at least in part responsible for pathogenesis of preterm birth. This probability of negative impact of non-secretor status cannot be ignored. These findings support the need for additional research into the biology of human parturition.

Prospective examination of synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine inhalation: effects on salivary IL-6, cortisol levels, affect, and non-judgment

Rationale5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is a psychotropic substance found in various plant and animal species and is synthetically produced. 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine is used in naturalistic settings for spiritual exploration, recreation, or to address negative affect and mood problems. However, scientific knowledge on the effects of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine in humans is scarce.ObjectivesThe first objective was to assess the effects of inhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine on neuroendocrine markers. The second objective was to assess effects of the substance on affect and mindfulness. In addition, we assessed whether ratings of subjective measures were associated with changes in stress biomarkers (i.e., cortisol) and immune response (i.e., IL-6, CRP, IL-1β), as well as the acute psychedelic experience.MethodsAssessments (baseline, immediately post-session, and 7-day follow-up) were made in 11 participants. Salivary samples were collected at baseline and post-session and analyzed by high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine significantly increased cortisol levels and decreased IL-6 concentrations in saliva immediately post-session. These changes were not correlated to ratings of mental health or the psychedelic experience. Relative to baseline, ratings of non-judgment significantly increased, and ratings of depression decreased immediately post-session and at follow-up. Ratings of anxiety and stress decreased from baseline to 7-day follow-up. Participant ratings of the psychedelic experience correlated negatively with ratings of affect and positively with ratings of non-judgment.ConclusionInhalation of vaporized synthetic 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine produced significant changes in inflammatory markers, improved affect, and non-judgment in volunteers. Future research should examine the effect of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamineamine with healthy volunteers in a controlled laboratory setting.

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Related Disorders: Clinical Significance and Metabolic Correlates.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a heterogeneous syndrome that is difficult to diagnose at early stages. Plasma neurofilament light chain (NFL) has been proposed as a potential biomarker for PPA. To examine the diagnostic properties of plasma NFL in PPA and to evaluate its association with clinical stages of the disease and brain metabolism. Our study included 80 participants (13 with non-fluent, 12 with semantic, and 16 with logopenic variant PPA; 13 with amnestic Alzheimer's disease [AD]; 13 with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia; and 13 healthy controls). Plasma NFL concentration was measured using a high-sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. PET imaging was performed in a subgroup of patients. NFL discriminated patients from controls with an area under the curve of 0.914 (95% CI, 0.843-0.984; p < 0.001) (cut-off: 76.46 pg/mL; 94% sensitivity, 76.9% specificity). There were no significant differences between clinical syndromes (PPA subtypes), the main clinical forms of dementia (frontotemporal dementia and AD), or the expected pathological groups (frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau [FTLD-tau], FTLD-TDP43, and AD). NFL levels showed weak to moderate correlations with age and functional scale score. We found no significant correlation with the extent of hypometabolism observed on FDG-PET images. Plasma NFL is a non-specific marker of neurodegeneration, and may be helpful in the diagnosis of PPA. However, NFL does not permit differential diagnosis between PPA subtypes and is not correlated with the extent of neurodegeneration.