Sasa Jankovic

The Association Between Periodontal Inflammation and Labor Triggers (Elevated Cytokine Levels) in Preterm Birth: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND Periodontitis is considered to be a risk factor for preterm birth. Mechanisms have been proposed for this pathologic relation, but the exact pathologic pattern remains unclear. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate levels of four major labor triggers, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and serum samples between women with preterm birth (PTB) and full-term birth (FTB) and correlate them with periodontal parameters. METHODS PGE2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were estimated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in GCF and serum samples collected 24 to 48 hours after labor from 120 women (60 FTB, 60 PTB). RESULTS Women with PTB exhibited significantly more periodontitis, worse periodontal parameters, and increased GCF levels of IL-6 and PGE2 compared with the FTB group; there were no significant differences in serum levels of measured markers. GCF levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and PGE2 and serum levels of TNF-α and PGE2 were significantly higher in women with periodontitis compared with periodontally healthy women. Serum levels of PGE2 were positively correlated with probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) as well as with GCF levels of TNF-α in women with PTB. CONCLUSIONS Women with PTB demonstrated worse periodontal parameters and significantly increased GCF levels of IL-6 and PGE2 compared with those with FTB. Based on significant correlations among serum PGE2 and PD, CAL, and GCF TNF-α in PTB, periodontitis may cause an overall increase of labor triggers and hence contribute to preterm labor onset.

Assessment of Pb, Cd and Hg soil contamination and its potential to cause cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in human cell lines (CaCo-2 and HaCaT)

Soil contamination by heavy metals is a serious global environmental problem, especially for developing countries. A large number of industrial plants, which continually pollute the environment, characterize Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of this study was to assess the level of soil pollution by heavy metals and to estimate cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of soil leachates from this area. Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) were analyzed by ICP-AES and AAS. Soil contamination was assessed using contamination factor, degree of contamination, geoaccumulation index and pollution load index. To determine the connection of variables and understanding their origin in soils, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used. The results indicate that Cd and Hg originated from natural and anthropogenic activities, while Pb is of anthropogenic origin. For toxicity evaluation, CaCo-2 and HaCaT cells were used. PrestoBlue assay was used for cytotoxicity testing, and γH2A.X for genotoxicity evaluation. Concerning cytotoxicity, Cd and Hg had a positive correlation with cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells, but only Hg induced cytotoxicity in CaCo-2 cells. We also demonstrate that soil leachates contaminated by heavy metals can induce genotoxicity in both used cell lines. According to these results, combining bioassays with standard physicochemical analysis can be useful for evaluating environmental and health risks more accurately. These results are important for developing proper management strategies to decrease pollution. This is one of the first studies from this area and an important indication of soil quality in Southeast Europe.Graphical Abstract

Determination of PAH4 compounds in smoked meat and meat products - elaboration of the method.

Smoked meat and smoked meat products represent a significant part of the human diet in Serbia. The process of smoking, i.e. wood combustion, is one of the most important sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarcarbons (PAHs). Considering the carcinogenic and mutagenic properties of some PAHs, these compounds have been in the spotlight of scientific interest. The EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) reviewed the available data on occurrence and toxicity of PAHs in food. In 2008, the CONTAM Panel concluded that benzo[a]pyrene is not a suitable indicator for the occurrence of PAHs in food. Based on the currently available data relating to occurrence and toxicity, the CONTAM Panel concluded that the sum of benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene and benzo[b]fluoranthene (PAH4) are the most suitable indicators of PAHs in food. These proposals have become part of the legislation both of EU and Serbia. From 1st September 2014, maximum residue limits (MRL) both for benzo[a]pyrene (2 μg/kg) and sum of PAH4 compounds (12 μg/kg), in smoked meat and meat products, were defined by the legislation of Serbia, which is in accordance with EU regulation. In this paper, the method has been developed for the determination of benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene and benzo[b]fluoranthene (PAH4 compounds) in smoked meat and smoked meat products. Accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was used for extraction of lipids and lipophilic compounds. Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) was used in order to remove lipids from analysed samples. High-performance liquid chromatographic with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) was applied for identification and quantification of benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene and benzo[b]fluoranthene. Different conditions of HPLC-FL analysed were applied (mobile phase, HPLC column, oven temperature, flow) in order to achieve optimal conditions for qualitative and quantitative analysis of PAH4 compounds.

The effect of chlorhexidine on the receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression in chronic periodontitis in humans and companion animals

% OPG % RANKL KR nema AB Periodontal disease is a chronic, multi-factorial disease of the tissues supporting the teeth. Periodontitis in companion animals is an almost identical disease to that in humans in terms of disease course and clinical presentation. Receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are bioactive molecules that control bone resorption. This study aims to evaluate the effect of Chlorhexidine (CXD) on the RANKL and OPG expressions in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) collected from subjects with chronic periodontitis. GCF was obtained from subjects with chronic periodontitis.10 subjects (CXD1) rinsed the mouth with 0.12% CXD, 10 subjects (CXD2) utilized 0.20% CXD and the last 10 (PL) used Placebo solution for 7 days. RANKL and OPG concentrations in GCF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays ELIat baseline and after 7 days. Periodontal clinical variables: clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD), papilla-bleeding index (PBI) were evaluated in all groups. After 7 days in CXD1 and CXD2 group RANKL/OPG ratio exhibited a significant decrease (p<0.05) in contrast to the PL group where results showed similar values of RANKL/OPG ratio at baseline and after the observation period. RANKL/OPG ratio was positively correlated with PPD, CAL and PBI before and after the observation period in both Chlorhexidine (CXD1, CXD2) groups. In an existing inflammatory response, chlorhexidine reduced the level of periodontal inflammation, which leads to reduction of RANKL/OPG relative ratio. Decrease of RANKL/OPG ratio will apparently induce maintenance of alveolar bone and slow down periodontal tissue breakdown. Parodontopatije su hronicna, multikauzalna oboljenja potpornog aparata zuba. Parodontalna oboljenja koja srecemo kod kucnih ljubimaca su prema toku i klinickoj slici skoro identicna onima koje se javljaju kod ljudi. RANKL i osteoprotegerin (OPG) su bioaktivni molekuli koji kontrolisu kostanu resorpciju. Cilj ove studije je evaluacija efekata hlorheksidina na ekspresiju RANKL-a i OPG-a u gingivalnoj tecnosti (GT) uzetoj od pacijenata sa hronicnom parodontopatijom. 10 pacijenata (CXD1) su ispirali usta sa 0.12% CXD, 10 pacijenata (CXD2) su koristili 0.20% CXD i poslednjih 10 pacijenata (PL) su koristili placebo rastvor 7 dana. RANKL i OPG koncentracije u GT su merene ELItestom na pocetku i posle sedam dana. Parodontalni klinicki parametri CAL, PPD i PBI su evaluirani u svim grupama. Posle 7 dana u CXD1 i CXD2 grupi RANKL/OPG odnos je pokazao signifikantno smanjenje (p<0.05) u poređenju sa PL grupom gde su zabaleženi slicni rezultati na pocetku i nakon opservacionog perioda. RANKL/OPG odnos je pokazao pozitivnu korelaciju sa vrednostima PPD-a, CAL-a i PBI-a pre i nakon observacionog perioda u obe eksperimentalne grupe (CXD1, CXD2). U prisutnom inflamatornom odgovoru hlorheksidin je redukovao nivo inflamacije, sto je uslovilo redukciju RANKL/OPG odnosa. Rezultati istraživanja dokazuju da koncentracija hlorheksidina ne utice statisticki znacajno na smanjenje RANKL/OPG odnosa. PR Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. P145042