Clinical and biochemical assessment of the effect of topical use of coenzyme Q10 versus topical corticosteroid in management of symptomatic oral lichen planus: randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous immunologically mediated condition that has a great adverse effect on oral functions. Corticosteroids are still the first drugs of choice used in the treatment of OLP; however, they have extensive medical side effects. The present study was carried out to assess the clinical therapeutic effect of the topical use of coenzyme Q10 (coQ10 or ubiquinol) versus topical corticosteroids in the management of symptomatic OLP and to determine whether the effect, if any, was due to the powerful antioxidant activity of coQ10.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We performed a randomized, double blinded controlled trial at the Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University, Egypt. The study was conducted on 34 patients suffering from symptomatic OLP. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: intervention group (I),who received topical CoQ10 in the form of mucoadhesive tablets (40% CoQ10) 3 times daily for one month and control group (II),who received topical corticosteroid (kenacort in Orabase: triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% 5-g adhesive paste - dermapharm), 4 times daily for one month. Patients were evaluated at one-week intervals using the clinical parameters (score) of pain (VAS) and lesion size. Additionally, salivary levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected in both groups before and after treatment using ELISA. All recorded data were analysed using independent t test, ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test for lesion size and salivary level of MDA data and Mann-Whitney U test and Friedman test for VAS data.

RESULTS

Both groups showed a significant reduction in pain and the size of the lesions (p ≤ 0.05) with no statistically significant difference between them (p > 0.05), and this clinical improvement was associated with a reduction in the salivary levels of MDA in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The topical use of CoQ10 mucoadhesive tablets was as effective as the topical use of triamcinolone acetonide, and its clinical effect was associated with a reduction in the salivary level of MDA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study protocol was registered at www.

CLINICALTRIAL

gov (NCT04091698) and registration date: 17/9/2019.

Amelioration of exosome and mesenchymal stem cells in rats infected with diabetic nephropathy by attenuating early markers and aquaporin-1 expression

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a prevalent diabetic microvascular condition. It is the leading cause of kidney disease in the advanced stages. There is no currently effective treatment available. This research aimed to investigate the curative potentials of exosomes isolated from mesenchymal stem cells affecting DN. This study was performed on 70 male adult albino rats. Adult rats were randomized into seven groups: Group I: Negative control group, Group II: DN group, Group III: Balanites treated group, Group IV: MSCs treated group, Group V: Exosome treated group, Group VI: Balanites + MSCs treated group and Group VII: Balanites + exosome treated group. Following the trial period, blood and renal tissues were subjected to biochemical, gene expression analyses, and histopathological examinations. Results showed that MDA was substantially increased, whereas TAC was significantly decreased in the kidney in the DN group compared to normal health rats. Undesired elevated values of MDA levels and a decrease in TAC were substantially ameliorated in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes compared to the DN group. A substantial elevation in TNF-α and substantially diminished concentration of IGF-1 were noticed in DN rats compared to normal health rats. Compared to the DN group, the co-administration of Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes substantially improved the undesirable elevated values of TNF-α and IGF-1. Furthermore, in the DN group, the mRNA expression of Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV was significantly higher than in normal healthy rats. Compared with DN rats, Vanin-1, Nephrin, and collagen IV Upregulation were substantially reduced in groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes. In DN rats, AQP1 expression was significantly lower than in normal healthy rats. Furthermore, the groups co-administered Balanites aegyptiacae with MSCs or exosomes demonstrated a substantial increase in AQP1 mRNA expression compared to DN rats.

Persistent left superior vena cava in patient with right atrial myxoma undergoing open heart surgery. A case report and review of literature

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a rare and asymptomatic congenital cardiovascular anomaly. Being asymptomatic, PLSVC was usually discovered while performing interventions (such as insertion of central lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, or placing pacemakers) through the left internal jugular vein or left subclavian veins. Commonly, PLSVC is detected not only as an isolated congenital anomaly, but also it can be associated with many other cardiac anomalies. Also, presence of a dilated coronary sinus on echocardiography should raise the suspicion of PLSVC. The diagnosis should be confirmed by contrast venography or computed tomography angiography. The present case is a female patient, 29 year old, who was undergoing elective excision of a right atrial mass, with closure of patent foramen ovale, and she had end-stage renal failure on regular hemodialysis three times weekly through a permicath inserted in the right subclavian vein.

Salivary microRNAs in oral cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the use of three salivary microRNAs (miRNA-21, miRNA-184, and miRNA-145) as possible markers for malignant transformation in oral mucosal lesions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Salivary whole unstimulated samples were collected from a study group of 100 subjects, consisting of 20 clinically healthy controls, 40 patients with oral potentially malignant disorders (PMDs) [20 with dysplastic lesions and 20 without dysplasia], 20 with biopsy-confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and 20 with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) as disease controls. Total RNA was isolated and purified from saliva samples using the microRNA Isolation Kit (Qiagen, UL). miRNA expression analysis was performed using qRT-PCR (Applied Biosystems).

RESULTS

There was a highly significant increase in salivary miRNA-21 and miRNA-184 in OSCC and PMD (with and without dysplasia) when compared to healthy and disease controls (P < 0.001). Conversely, miRNA-145 levels showed a highly significant decrease in OSCC and PMD overall (P < 0.001). RAS cases showed no significant difference from normal controls in any measured miRNA (P > 0.05). The only microRNA to discriminate between OSCC and PMD with dysplasia was miRNA-184. When receiver operating characteristic curves were designed for the three miRNAs, cutoff points delineating the occurrence of malignant change were a fourfold increase in miRNA-21 with specificity 65% and sensitivity 65%, a 0.6 decrease in miRNA-145, with specificity 70% and sensitivity 60%, and a threefold increase of miRNA-184, with specificity 75% and sensitivity 80%. Calculating the area under the curve revealed that miRNA-184 was the only one among the studied miRNAs that provided good diagnostic value.

CONCLUSION

Salivary determination of the miRNAs tested might furnish a noninvasive, rapid adjunctive aid for revealing malignant transformation in oral mucosal lesions, particularly miRNA-184.

Interleukin 10 receptor alpha subunit (IL-10RA) gene polymorphism and IL-10 serum levels in Egyptian atopic patients

OBJECTIVES

To assess the value of serum interleukin (IL) 10 levels as an immunological marker in atopy and to determine the role of an IL-10RA gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (serine 138-to-glycine exchange [S138G]) in the pathogenesis of atopic diseases.

METHODS

Seventy-five patients with atopic disorders were compared with 25 age-matched healthy volunteers. Serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IL-10 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the IL-10RA gene S138G variant was screened by multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

There was a significant association between G allele frequencies of the S138G variant (62%, 60% and 68% for atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, respectively) in atopic patients compared to in controls. There were significant differences in mean IgE levels but not mean serum IL-10 levels between the allelic variants in atopy groups.

CONCLUSION

The IL-10RA gene SNP S138G may contribute to susceptibility to atopic diseases but serum IL-10 level is not a sensitive indicator in atopy.

Bacteriological and clinical assessment of tetracycline as root conditioning in adjunct to periodontal surgery

The present study was conducted on 14 quadrants from seven solicited patients. After initial phase of plaque control, six different clinical parameters were recorded and scaling and root planning performed. In each of the seven patients two Modified Widman flaps were done. One served as a control and the other as experimental in which irrigation by Tetracycline-Hcl solution 100 mg/ml for 5 minutes was performed. On comparing the two treatment modalities the tetracycline-Hcl root conditioning showed a better improvement in all the clinical parameters tested. Tetracycline irrigation gave less bacterial counts than the control group right after irrigation, however after two weeks the bacterial counts increased again and were insignificantly different in the two groups.

Prepubertal periodontitis: a genetic analysis

Genetic factors were recognized as possible predisposing factors in the etiopathogenesis of prepubertal periodontitis (PP). Consequently, the present work was carried out to determine the possible mode of inheritance and if there were any associated chromosomal aberrations in cases with PP. The study included 3 families with probands manifesting PP (the families included 18 individuals). Pedigree analysis was carried out as well as chromosomal analysis. The results pointed out to the possibility of new mutations arising due to various environmental factors (including the use of pesticides and their handling), in addition to a possible autosomal recessive inheritance. Chromosomal analysis showed no association between a certain chromosomal aberration and PP. An interesting finding was that a girl proband proved to be Xo female, i.e. a case of Turner's syndrome. This could be considered the first report of Turner's syndrome with PP.

A study of carboxyhaemoglobin levels of cigarette and sheesha smokers in Saudi Arabia

A single carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) estimation of late evening blood sample among non-smokers, cigarette smokers, and sheesha smokers was evaluated among Saudis. The COHb level in smokers of 15 to 40 cigarettes a day ranged between 0.7 and 10.3 with a mean value of 6.1 +/- 2.58 COHb. Values among sheesha smokers ranged between 6.5 and 13.9 with a mean value of 8.8 +/- 1.83, significantly higher than those of cigarette smokers (P less than 0.001) for a given degree of exposure to tobacco smoke.