Changes in oral mucosal MUC1 expression and salivary hormones throughout the menstrual cycle

Investigation of periodontitis, halitosis, xerostomia, and serological characteristics of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and identification of new biomarkers

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two different types of arthritis. Within RA, the subsets between seronegative RA (snRA) and seropositive RA (spRA) represent distinct disease entities; however, identifying clear distinguishing markers between them remains a challenge. This study investigated and compared the oral health conditions in patients with RA and OA to clarify the differences from healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the serological characteristics of the patients, the factors that distinguished patients with RA from those with OA, and the main factors that differentiated between snRA and spRA patients. A total of 161 participants (mean age: 52.52 ± 14.57 years, 32 males and 129 females) were enrolled in this study and categorized as: normal (n = 33), OA (n = 31), and RA (n = 97). Patients with RA were divided into the following two subtypes: snRA (n = 18) and spRA (n = 79). Demographics, oral health, and serological characteristics of these patients were compared. The prevalence of periodontal diseases was significantly higher in patients with OA (100%) and RA (92.8%) than in healthy controls (0.0%). However, the presence of periodontal diseases was not utilized as a distinguishing factor between OA and RA. Xerostomia occurred more frequently in patients with RA (84.5%) than in patients with OA (3.2%) and healthy controls (0.0%) (all p < 0.001). ROC analysis revealed that periodontal disease was a very strong predictor in the diagnosis of OA compared to healthy controls, with an AUC value of 1.00 (p < 0.001). Additionally, halitosis (AUC = 0.746, 95% CI 0.621-0.871, p < 0.001) and female sex (AUC = 0.663, 95% CI 0.529-0.797, p < 0.05) were also significant predictors of OA. The strongest predictors of RA diagnosis compared to healthy controls were periodontal diseases (AUC = 0.964), followed by xerostomia (AUC = 0.923), age (AUC = 0.923), female sex (AUC = 0.660), and halitosis (AUC = 0.615) (all p < 0.05). Significant serological predictors of RA were anti-CCP Ab (AUC = 0.808), and RF (AUC = 0.746) (all p < 0.05). In multiple logistic regression analysis, xerostomia (odds ratio, OR: 8124.88, 95% CI 10.37-6368261.97, p-value = 0.008) and Anti-CCP Ab (OR: 671.33, 95% CI 2.18-207,074.02, p = 0.026) were significant predictors for RA compared to OA. When diagnosing spRA compared to snRA, anti-CCP Ab (AUC = 1.000, p < 0.001) and RF (AUC = 0.910, 95%CI 0.854-0.967, p < 0.001) had outstanding predictive performances. Therefore, clinicians and researchers should thoroughly evaluate the oral status of both OA and RA patients, alongside serological factors, and consider these elements as potential predictors.

Prediction of xerostomia in elderly based on clinical characteristics and salivary flow rate with machine learning

Xerostomia may be accompanied by changes in salivary flow rate and the incidence increases in elderly. We aimed to use machine learning algorithms, to identify significant predictors for the presence of xerostomia. This study is the first to predict xerostomia with salivary flow rate in elderly based on artificial intelligence. In a cross-sectional study, 829 patients with oral discomfort were enrolled, and six features (sex, age, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates (UFR and SFR, respectively), number of systemic diseases, and medication usage) were used in four machine learning algorithms to predict the presence of xerostomia. The incidence of xerostomia increased with age. The SFR was significantly higher than the UFR, and the UFR and SFR were significantly correlated. The UFR, but not SFR, decreased with age significantly. In patients more than 60 years of age, the UFR had a significantly higher predictive accuracy for xerostomia than the SFR. Using machine learning algorithms with tenfold cross-validation, the prediction accuracy increased significantly. In particular, the prediction accuracy of the multilayer perceptron (MLP) algorithm that combined UFR and SFR data was significantly better than either UFR or SFR individually. Moreover, when sex, age, number of systemic diseases, and number of medications were added to the MLP model, the prediction accuracy increased from 56 to 68%.

Oral mucosal diseases and psychosocial factors: progress in related neurobiological mechanisms

The aetiology of oral mucosal diseases, such as recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU), oral lichen planus (OLP) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS), involves many factors, and it remains difficult for clinicians to effectively relieve disease symptoms and formulate coping strategies. With the rapid development of psychology, the role of mental and psychological factors in RAU, OLP and BMS has gradually attracted researchers attention, but the specific mechanism has not been completely determined. This narrative review describes the potential neurobiological mechanism of oral mucosal diseases and detailed psychological factors after introducing relevant research into psychological factors and oral mucosal diseases. Future research strategies and innovations needed to understand and treat oral mucosal diseases and psychological factors, as well as how to prevent oral mucosal diseases by regulation of the neuroendocrine system, are also discussed.

Investigation of volatile sulfur compound level and halitosis in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis

This study aimed to measure the levels of volatile sulfur compounds and investigate the occurrence of halitosis in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis. Additionally, the incidence rates of gingivitis and periodontitis in patients with halitosis were investigated. Through various statistical analyses, we attempted to determine the relationship between periodontal disease and halitosis. One-hundred-and-four participants (52 females and 52 males, mean age: 46.49 ± 16.03 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, comprising 33 healthy controls, 43 patients with gingivitis, and 28 patients with periodontitis. Gas chromatography was used to measure hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH), which are representative VSCs. The VSC cut-off values for diagnosing halitosis were 65.79 ppb for women and 79.94 ppb for men. Total VSC level was significantly higher in the gingivitis than the healthy control group (186.72 ± 374.83 ppb vs. 19.80 ± 40.19 ppb, p = 0.035). There was no significant difference between the gingivitis and periodontitis (153.79 ± 278.51 ppb) groups. H2S level was significantly higher in the gingivitis (100.51 ± 183.69 ppb) and periodontitis (91.57 ± 132.06 ppb) groups than in healthy controls (14.97 ± 31.22 ppb), and CH3SH level was significantly higher in gingivitis group (29.31 ± 59.16 ppb) than in the healthy control (5.73 ± 14.10 ppb) (all p < 0.05). Halitosis was found in 3% of healthy controls and 39.5% and 42.9% of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis patients, respectively, making it significantly higher in the gingivitis and periodontitis groups than the healthy controls (p = 0.005). Conversely, among participants with halitosis, 53.1% had gingivitis, 37.5% had periodontitis, and 90.6 incidence had periodontal disease. Multivariate logistic regression analysis to predict the presence of halitosis, found periodontal disease was a significant predictor of halitosis (OR = 3.607, 95% CI 1.023-12.718, p = 0.046). Considering area under curve value for halitosis, the cut-off value of healthy control (H2S:61.5 ppb, CH3SH:3.5 ppb), gingivitis (H2S:50.0 ppb, CH3SH:6 ppb), and periodontitis (H2S:62.0 ppb, CH3SH:3.5 ppb) were (all p < 0.05). Our results emphasize the close and strong relationship between periodontal disease and halitosis through human clinical evidence based on the high co-occurrence rate of mutual diseases. Additionally, the presence of periodontal disease increased the probability of halitosis by 3.607 times. These results suggest that H2S can be used as a biomarker of halitosis in patients with periodontal disease.

Effects of self-perceived psychological stress on clinical symptoms, cortisol, and cortisol/ACTH ratio in patients with burning mouth syndrome

BACKGROUND

Psychological stress is a crucial parameter in defining the symptoms of burning mouth syndrome (BMS). We hypothesized that the level of psychological stress in patients with BMS would correlate with severity of clinical symptoms, cortisol levels, and cortisol/ adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) ratio. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the influence of clinical and hematologic parameters on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, particularly concerning the presence or absence of self-perceived psychological stress in patients with BMS. In addition, we aimed to identify parameters predicting psychological stress in these patients.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-one patients with BMS (117 women, 82.98%; 56.21 ± 13.92 years) were divided into psychological stress (n = 68; 55 females, 56.39 ± 12.89 years) and non-psychological stress groups (n = 73; 62 females, 56.03 ± 14.90 years), and inter- and intra-group statistical analyses were conducted. Significant predictors of psychological stress in patients with BMS were investigated through multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of xerostomia was significantly higher (67.6% vs. 34.2%, p < 0.001), while unstimulated salivary flow rate was lower (0.66 ± 0.59 vs. 0.91 ± 0.53 mL/min, p < 0.01) in the psychological stress group than in the non-psychological stress group. SCL-90R subscale values for somatization, hostility, anxiety, and depression, as well as cortisol and ACTH levels and the cortisol/ACTH ratio, were also higher in the psychological stress group (all p < 0.05). Above-mean values for cortisol (AUC = 0.980, 95%CI: 0.959-1.000) and cortisol/ACTH (AUC = 0.779; 95%CI, 0.701-0.856) were excellent predictors of psychological stress, with cortisol (r = 0.831, p < 0.01) and cortisol/ACTH (r = 0.482, p < 0.01) demonstrating substantial correlations. Above-average values for cortisol (OR = 446.73) and cortisol/ACTH (OR = 6.159) significantly increased incidence of psychological stress in patients with BMS (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with BMS, xerostomia, decreased salivary flow rate, increased cortisol levels, and cortisol/ACTH ratio were associated with psychological stress, highlighting the psycho-neuro-endocrinological features of this condition. Cortisol and cortisol/ACTH ratio were strong predictors of psychological stress in patients with BMS.

Salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and chromogranin A levels in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis and a novel biomarker for psychological stress

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the neuroendocrine responses based on cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol/DHEA ratio, and chromogranin A levels, which reflect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, according to the presence or absence of psychological stress in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis compared to that in healthy controls.

Methods

In total, 117 patients (60 women, mean age: 36.29 ± 19.03 years) participated in this case-control study, comprising 32 healthy controls, 49 patients with gingivitis, and 36 patients with periodontitis. We investigated the presence of psychological stress and salivary characteristics, and analyzed the stress-related biomarkers of cortisol, DHEA, cortisol/DHEA ratio, and chromogranin A in the stimulated saliva.

Results

Salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels increased with the severity of periodontal disease; their levels were the highest in the periodontitis group and were significantly higher in the following descending order: periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy control groups (all values of p < 0.001). Additionally, the DHEA levels and cortisol/DHEA ratio were higher in the periodontitis group than those in the healthy control group (all values of p < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors predicting above-average cortisol levels were periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] = 256.829; p < 0.001), women (OR = 6.365; p = 0.004), and psychological stress (OR = 6.036; p = 0.007); those predicting above-average cortisol/DHEA ratios were periodontitis (OR = 11.436; p < 0.001), psychological stress (OR = 3.977; p = 0.003), and women (OR = 2.890; p = 0.026). Thus, periodontitis and psychological stress were significant and strong predictors of above-average cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA ratios. In the gingivitis group, salivary cortisol levels (r = 0.381, p = 0.007) and cortisol/DHEA ratios (r = 0.479, p < 0.001) were correlated with the presence of psychological stress. In the periodontitis group, increased cortisol/DHEA ratios (r = 0.412, p = 0.013) and lowered salivary buffer capacities (r = -0.334, p = 0.047) were correlated with the presence of psychological stress.

Conclusion

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease resulting in inflammatory tissue destruction, which differs from gingivitis and a healthy state. Differences in stress-related neuroendocrine markers were revealed based on the severity of periodontal disease. The biomarkers that could be classified according to disease severity were salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels. Above-average cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA ratios are significant predictors of psychological stress in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis.

HPA axis activity across the menstrual cycle - a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies

Differential HPA axis function has been proposed to underlie sex-differences in mental disorders; however, the impact of fluctuating sex hormones across the menstrual cycle on HPA axis activity is still unclear. This meta-analysis investigated basal cortisol concentrations as a marker for HPA axis activity across the menstrual cycle. Through a systematic literature search of five databases, 121 longitudinal studies were included, summarizing data of 2641 healthy, cycling participants between the ages of 18 and 45. The meta-analysis showed higher cortisol concentrations in the follicular vs. luteal phase (d_SMC = 0.12, p =.004, [0.04 - 0.20]). Comparisons between more precise cycle phases were mostly insignificant, aside from higher concentrations in the menstrual vs. premenstrual phase (d_SMC = 0.17, [0.02 - 0.33], p =.03). In all included studies, nine samples used established cortisol parameters to indicate HPA axis function, specifically diurnal profiles (k = 4) and the cortisol awakening response (CAR) (k = 5). Therefore, the meta-analysis highlights the need for more rigorous investigation of HPA axis activity and menstrual cycle phase.

The Potential Use of Saliva as a Biofluid for Systemic Inflammatory Response Monitoring in Children with Pneumonia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the levels of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, calprotectin, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in both saliva and serum in children with community-acquired pneumonia and to compare the saliva response with the systemic response.

METHODS

Forty hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia aged between 1 mo and 15 y; and 40 healthy controls were included. Both serum and saliva samples were collected on admission and at the time of discharge.

RESULTS

Calculated differences between values for each serum and salivary parameter on admission and before discharge named delta (Δ) values were used for correlation analysis. Salivary Δ values of each parameter were moderately/strongly correlated with their corresponding serum Δ levels [IL-1β ÷ (r = 0.554, p < 0.001); IL-6 ÷ (r = 0.484, p = 0.002); PCT ÷ (r = 0.737, p < 0.001); TNF-α ÷ (r = 0.587, p < 0.001); CRP ÷ (r = 0.703, p < 0.001); and calprotectin ÷ (r = 0.774, p < 0.001)].

CONCLUSIONS

This study will evaluate the reflection of systemic changes in saliva and the efficacy of saliva in pediatric patients with pneumonia. Results will highlight saliva potential use as a biofluid for systemic monitoring in this patient group.

Crosstalk between the oral microbiota, mucosal immunity, and the epithelial barrier regulates oral mucosal disease pathogenesis

Oral mucosal disease (OMD), which is also called soft tissue oral disease, is described as a series of disorders or conditions affecting the mucosa and soft tissue in the oral cavity. Its etiology is unclear, but emerging evidence has implicated the influence of the composition of the oral mucosa and saliva-resident microbiota. In turn, this dysbiosis effects the immune response balance and epithelial barrier function, followed by the occurrence and progression of OMD. In addition, oral microbial dysbiosis is diverse in different types of diseases and different disease progressions, suggesting that key causal pathogens may exist in various oral pathologies. This narrative literature review primarily discusses the most recent findings focusing on how microbial dysbiosis communicates with mucosal adaptive immune cells and the epithelial barrier in the context of five representative OMDs, including oral candidiasis (OC), oral lichen planus (OLP), recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU), oral leukoplakia (OLK), and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), to provide new insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms of OMDs.

Oral mucosal pellicle as an immune protection against micro-organisms in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A hypothesis

Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis (RAS) is the most common ulcerative diseases of oral mucosa affecting an estimate of 20% of the world's population. Majority of the people affected by RAS are under 30 years of age. RAS is located on the lining (non-keratinized) oral mucosa, i.e. buccal mucosa, lateral side of the tongue, soft palate, lip mucosa, or the floor of mouth. An aphthous ulcer develops when lymphocytic cells infiltrate into the epithelium and cause an edema due to transient inflammatory stimuli. Bacteria, viruses and fungi have been suggested to cause aphthous lesions, but findings regarding oral pathogens are conflicting. Prior consensus has been that RAS is a multifactorial condition, with microbes, allergies, nutritional deficiencies, genetic factors, certain illnesses, immunodeficiency, hormonal changes, trauma and stress among others, contributing to the condition. In spite of many suggestions and investigations, the etiology and pathophysiology of RAS remains uncertain. Our hypothesis focuses on mucin proteins that have been shown to play a role in the formation of protective mucosal pellicle, which serves as the first line of defense between oral epithelium and pathogens within the oral cavity. Mucins, including transmembrane mucin 1 (MUC1), and salivary mucins MUC5B and MUC7 form a protein network that is strongly retained to oral epithelium. The role of the mucosal pellicle in pathophysiology of RAS is unknown. Structural variations have been found in the salivary MUC7 terminal end oligosaccharides in RAS patients, rendering the protein unable to agglutinate pathogens. Furthermore, low levels of MUC1 fail to provide a scaffold for assembly of salivary mucins. We introduce a new hypothesis, the alterations in the structure of these glycoproteins could have a profound impact on the oral mucosal barrier function. On the other hand, micro-organisms secreting their mucolytic enzymes destroy the mucosal pellicle causing oral ulcers.

Blood contamination in salivary diagnostics: current methods and their limitations

The use of saliva samples in clinical studies has increased. However, the diagnostic value of whole saliva is compromised in the presence of blood contamination, owing to the higher levels of analytes in blood compared with those in saliva. The aim of this study was to review the existing methods and their limitations for measuring the levels of blood contamination in saliva. A literature search was performed using Web of Science, SCOPUS, and PubMed databases and 49 articles dealing with salivary diagnostics and measurements of blood contamination were included. Five methods for measuring the degree of blood components in saliva were discussed, including "visual inspection", use of "strip for urinalysis", and detection of plasma proteins such as "hemoglobin", "albumin", and "transferrin". Each method has its limitations, and transferrin has been regarded as the most reliable and valid marker for blood contamination in saliva. However, transferrin in whole saliva may not be solely a product of blood, and its level in whole saliva can be influenced by several factors such as age, gonadal hormones, salivary flow rate, chewing performance, and oral microorganisms. In conclusion, when quantitatively analyzing whole saliva samples, the influence of blood contamination should be considered.

Salivary biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in healthy adults

OBJECTIVES

Diagnostic value of saliva depends on the reproducibility of data in repeatedly collected samples and predictable correlations between saliva and blood. We aimed to investigate the reliability, blood reflectance, and influence of blood contamination in the analysis of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in saliva samples.

DESIGN

In total, 37 healthy young male participants (26.7 ± 2.2 years) were included. Unstimulated whole saliva and blood samples were collected on the first visit, and saliva samples were collected again after 2-3 days. The concentrations of total protein and inflammatory [C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α] and oxidative stress [8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] biomarkers in saliva and blood, and as well as blood contamination biomarkers (transferrin and hemoglobin) in saliva were analyzed.

RESULTS

The intra-class correlations of all examined biomarkers except TNF-α were fair to excellent. Significant positive correlations between CRP and IL-6 and between total protein and TAC were stable in the saliva samples collected on different days. Notably, IL-6 was the only biomarker that showed a significant correlation between saliva and blood. As the concentration of salivary transferrin increased, the saliva/blood ratios of total protein and TAC also increased. The concentration of salivary hemoglobin did not affect the saliva/blood ratios of biomarkers.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study are limited to healthy young males. For clinical applications, studies on salivary diagnostics should be performed for individual disease and health conditions, demographic characteristics, and biomarkers.

Oral epithelial MUC1 and oral health

OBJECTIVES

To provide information about MUC1, epithelial membrane-bound mucin, in terms of its role in oral health.

DESIGN

The expression and functional roles of MUC1 in the oral mucosa and salivary glands were reviewed. Information on the modulation of oral mucosal epithelial MUC1 expression compared with that of endometrial epithelial MUC1 expression was also reviewed. In addition, the possible associations between oral mucosal epithelial MUC1 and oral diseases were explored.

RESULTS

MUC1 is expressed in the oral mucosa and major and minor salivary glands. Protection of oral mucosal surfaces is believed to be the main function of oral mucosal epithelial MUC1. Its role in the salivary glands is thought to facilitate salivary flow through the ductal system. Information on the role of MUC1 in signal transduction and modulation of immune function in the oral cavity is sparse. However, the possible roles of MUC1 in dry mouth conditions, burning mouth syndrome, dental caries, and oral candidiasis have been suggested.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite limited information, it is clear that oral epithelial MUC1 plays an important role in oral health. Further research evaluating the physiological and pathological roles of MUC1 in the oral cavity is warranted.

Ovulation Induction for the General Gynecologist

The practice of ovulation induction often falls to the reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. However, attitudes toward the evaluation and treatment of infertility has shifted among general obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYN). This review discusses the underlying scientific basis of anovulation and clinical guidelines regarding the use of different medications for the purpose of promoting follicular recruitment and ovulation for the general OB-GYN.

Clinical factors affecting salivary transferrin level, a marker of blood contamination in salivary analysis

BACKGROUND

Diagnostic value of whole saliva may be compromised when blood contamination is present in saliva samples. Measuring transferrin level in saliva samples has been used for detecting the level of blood contamination in saliva. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of transferrin as a proper biomarker for blood contamination in whole saliva.

METHODS

Thirty younger (mean age: 25.9 ± 2.1 years) and twenty older (mean age: 65.1 ± 9.0 years) females were included. The index reflecting overall gingival inflammation (total gingival index), salivary flow rate, and salivary concentration and secretion rate of transferrin of each subject were analyzed.

RESULTS

Salivary transferrin concentrations and secretion rates were higher in the younger females than in the older ones despite a lower total gingival index in the younger females. The total gingival index showed no significant correlations with the concentration or secretion rate of transferrin in either unstimulated or stimulated whole saliva of younger and older subjects. The salivary concentration of transferrin showed negative correlations with the flow rate of saliva in both the younger and older groups. There were significant positive correlations between the salivary concentrations and secretion rates of transferrin in both the younger and older groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Salivary transferrin levels could be affected by other factors as well as the level of blood contamination. The influences of age, gonadal hormones, salivary flow rate, and chewing performance need to be considered when using the salivary level of transferrin as a blood contamination marker.

Preconception stress and the secondary sex ratio in a population-based preconception cohort

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between preconception parental stress and the secondary sex ratio, defined as the ratio of males to females at birth.

DESIGN

A population-based preconception cohort.

SETTING

Not applicable.

PATIENT(S)

A total of 235 couples who were enrolled before conception in Michigan and Texas between 2005 and 2009 and who had a singleton birth during the follow-up period. Couples were interviewed separately at baseline to obtain information on perceived stress (Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale) and lifetime history of physician-diagnosed anxiety and/or mood disorders. Female partners were also trained to collect basal saliva samples for the measurement of salivary stress markers, alpha-amylase and cortisol.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Birth outcome data including infant sex were collected upon delivery. Modified Poisson regression models were used to estimate the relative risks (RRs) of a male birth for each stress marker.

RESULT(S)

After adjusting for potential confounders, we observed a 76% increase in the risk of fathering a male infant (RR 1.76; 95% confidence interval 1.17-2.65) in men diagnosed with anxiety disorders compared with those who were not diagnosed. When lifetime history of physician-diagnosed anxiety disorders was modeled jointly for the couple, the association was slightly strengthened (RR 2.03; 95% confidence interval 1.46-2.84).

CONCLUSION(S)

This prospective cohort study suggests that paternal lifetime history of physician-diagnosed anxiety disorders may be associated with an increase in the secondary sex ratio, resulting in an excess of male births.