Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis in determining the saliva protein of orthodontic patients during retention phase

The biological responses involved during retention phase have been studied for many years but little is known about the effect of saliva proteome during retention phase of post-orthodontic treatment. This study aims to identify the protein profiles during retention phase in relation to biological processes involved by Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) approach. A total of 5 ml of unstimulated saliva was collected from each subject (10 non-orthodontic patients and 15 post-orthodontic patients with 6-months retention phase). Samples were then subjected to LC-MS analysis. The expressed proteins were identified and compared between groups. Incisor irregularity for both maxilla and mandible were determined with Little?s Irregularity Index at 6-months retention phase. 146 proteins and 135 proteins were expressed in control and 6-months retention phase group respectively. 15 proteins were identified to be co-expressed between groups. Immune system process was only detected in 6-months retention phase group. Detected protein in immune system process was identified as Tyrosine-protein kinase Tec. Statistical significant of incisor irregularity was only found in mandible at 6-months retention phase. Our study suggests that immune system process protein which is Tyrosine-protein kinase Tec could be used as biomarker for prediction of stability during retention phase of post-orthodontic treatment

Patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma demonstrate enhanced serum and tissue ceruloplasmin expression

The proteomics approach was adopted to study the simultaneous expression of serum proteins in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We have subjected unfractionated whole sera of ten newly diagnosed Malaysian Chinese patients with WHO type IIINPC to two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and image analysis. The results obtained were then compared to that generated from sera of ten normal healthy controls of the same ethnic group and range of age. Our data demonstrated that the serum high abundance 2-DEproteinprofiles of NPC patients were generally similar to that of the controls, with exception of the ceruloplasmin (CPL) spots (identified by mass spectrometric analysis and MASCOT database search), which showed higher expression. The enhanced expression of CPL in the patients’ sera was confirmed by competitive ELISA. Immunohistochemical analysis of nasopharyngeal lesions of NPC patients demonstrated moderate to strong positive CPL staining in the cytoplasm of cells at the regions of malignancy but only weak cytoplasmic staining at normal epithelial lining areas. When follow-up 2-DE and ELISA studies were performed on five of the NPC patients who responded positively to six months treatment, the difference in CPL expression was no longer significant

Effects of clusterin over-expression on metastatic progression and therapy in breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Clusterin is a secreted glycoprotein that is upregulated in a variety of cell lines in response to stress, and enhances cell survival. A second nuclear isoform of clusterin that is associated with cell death has also been identified. The aim of this study was to determine the role(s) of the secretory isoform in breast tumor progression and metastasis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the role of secretory clusterin in the biology of breast cancer tumor growth and resistance to therapy we have engineered an MCF-7 cell line (MCF-7CLU) that over-expresses clusterin. We have measured the <it>in vitro </it>effects of clusterin over-expression on cell cycle, cell death, and sensitivity to TNFalpha and tamoxifen. Using an orthotopic model of breast cancer, we have also determined the effects of over-expression of clusterin on tumor growth and metastatic progression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In vitro, over-expression of secretory clusterin alters the cell cycle kinetics and decreases the rate of cell death, resulting in the enhancement of cell growth. Over-expression of secretory clusterin also blocks the TNFalpha-mediated induction of p21 and abrogates the cleavage of Bax to t-Bax, rendering the MCF-7CLU cells significantly more resistant to the cytokine than the parental cells. Orthotopic primary tumors derived from MCF-7CLU cells grow significantly more rapidly than tumors derived from parental MCF-7 cells and, unlike the parental cells, metastasize frequently to the lungs.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest that secretory clusterin, which is frequently up-regulated in breast cancers by common therapies, including anti-estrogens, may play a significant role in tumor growth, metastatic progression and subsequent drug resistance in surviving cells.</p

Serum proteome analysis for profiling protein markers associated with carcinogenesis and lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), one of the most common cancers in population with Chinese or Asian progeny, poses a serious health problem for southern China. It is unfortunate that most NPC victims have had lymph node metastasis (LNM) when first diagnosed. We believe that the 2D based serum proteome analysis can be useful in discovering new biomarkers that may aid in the diagnosis and therapy of NPC patients. To filter the tumor specific antigen markers of NPC, sera from 42 healthy volunteers, 27 non-LNM NPC patients and 37 LNM NPC patients were selected for screening study using 2D combined with MS. Pretreatment strategy, including sonication, albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) depletion, was adopted for screening differentially expressed proteins of low abundance in serum. By 2D image analysis and MALDI-TOF-MS identification, twenty-three protein spots were differentially expressed. Three of them were further validated in the sera using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our research demonstrates that HSP70, sICAM-1 and SAA, confirmed with ELISA at sera and immunohistochemistry, are potential NPC metastasis-specific serum biomarkers which may be of great underlying significance in clinical detection and management of NPC

Aberrant expression of acute-phase reactant proteins in sera and breast lesions of patients with malignant and benign breast tumors

We have analyzed unfractionated sera of newly diagnosed patients (n =10) with breast carcinoma (BC), prior to treatment, and patients (n = 5) with fibrocystic disease of the breast (FDB) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and silver staining. The patients' 2-DE serum protein profiles obtained were then subjected to image analysis and compared to similar data generated from sera of normal healthy female controls (n = 10) of the same range of age. The relative expression of alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin (ACT), clusterin, and complement factor B was significantly higher in all BC patients as compared to normal controls. However, the expression of alpha(1)-antitrypsin (AAT) in 4 BC patients was apparently lower than that of the controls. Similar differential expression of ACT was detected in the FDB patients. The aberrant expression of the serum acute-phase proteins of patients with BC and FDB was confirmed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Similar altered proteins expression was also observed from immunohistochemical studies of malignant (n = 5) and benign (n = 5) breast lesions of the respective patients performed using antisera to the aberrantly expressed proteins. However, the malignant breast lesions were instead positively stained for AAT The differential expression of the serum proteins was apparently abrogated when a six-month follow-up study was performed on nine of the BC patients subsequent to treatment

Attitudes towards and the confidence in acceptance of telemedicine among the people in Sabah, Malaysia

The access to healthcare in rural areas is difficult and telemedicine could be a promising solution to this problem if it is accepted by the population. The aim of this study was to assess different attitudes towards telemedicine, the level of confidence and acceptance of telemedicine among rural populations in Sabah. A questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework and other validated studies were developed to achieve the data for this study. The questionnaire was distributed to the residents of Penampang and Putatan in Sabah. The questions were scored using a five-level Likert scale and the level of confidence was rated from 0 to 100%. A high mean score of attitudes towards use and a moderate score of confidence was observed in the findings, indicating positive attitude towards telemedicine and reasonable level of confidence in using telemedicine services for their healthcare needs. Findings in this study revealed a high level of acceptance among the respondents, which was found to be generally consistent with previous telemedicine studies.</jats:p

Attitudes towards and the confidence in acceptance of telemedicine among the people in Sabah, Malaysia

The access to healthcare in rural areas is difficult and telemedicine could be a promising solution to this problem if it is accepted by the population. The aim of this study was to assess different attitudes towards telemedicine, the level of confidence and acceptance of telemedicine among rural populations in Sabah. A questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework and other validated studies were developed to achieve the data for this study. The questionnaire was distributed to the residents of Penampang and Putatan in Sabah. The questions were scored using a five-level Likert scale and the level of confidence was rated from 0 to 100%. A high mean score of attitudes towards use and a moderate score of confidence was observed in the findings, indicating positive attitude towards telemedicine and reasonable level of confidence in using telemedicine services for their healthcare needs. Findings in this study revealed a high level of acceptance among the respondents, which was found to be generally consistent with previous telemedicine studies