Acne is the commonest inflammatory dermatosis seen worldwide. Atrophic acne scarring is a frequent complication, which can arise from acne of any severity. Micro (mi)RNAs are noncoding RNA molecules of 19-25 nucleotides that function as post-transcriptomic mediators of gene expression. They have demonstrated differential expression in various pathologies, such as eczema and psoriasis, allowing for a unique miRNA ‘signature’ profile to be established for different disease states.

To establish a miRNA signature for acne, and acne-associated atrophic scarring and to identify if a pattern of circulating miRNA is evident in patients who are prone to scarring.

In total, 41 participants were consecutively recruited to this study. Circulating miRNA was quantified from plasma samples in all 41 patients, while in 8 patients, and in a further validation cohort of 9 patients, whole miRNAome was undertaken from tissue specimens, which included lesional, normal and where present, scarred skin.

Three miRNAs, miR-223, miR-21 and miR-150, were statistically significantly overexpressed in acne lesions, and notably, in clinically uninvolved skin in participants prone to scarring. In this subgroup, we also found statistically significantly elevated levels of circulating miRNA-21 and miRNA-150.

The presence of elevated levels of these specific miRNAs in the serum of patients with acne raises the potential of a blood test to identify those at risk of scarring, allowing for earlier intervention with effective therapy.

The presence of elevated levels of these specific miRNAs in the serum of patients with acne raises the potential of a blood test to identify those at risk of scarring, allowing for earlier intervention with effective therapy.

Up-to-date epidemiological studies on the global burden of severe periodontitis is scarce. This study aimed to present the latest estimates for prevalence of severe periodontitis from 1990 to 2019, by region, age, and level of socio-demographic development.

Estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study 2019 were used to investigate burden and trends of prevalence of severe periodontitis and its association with socio-demographic development at global, regional, and national level. Decomposition analysis was performed to explore the contribution of demographic and epidemiological factors to the evolving burden of severe periodontitis.

In 2019, there were 1.1 billion (95% uncertainty interval 0.8-1.4 billion) prevalent cases of severe periodontitis globally. L(+)-Monosodium glutamate monohydrate From 1990 to 2019, age-standardized prevalence rate of severe periodontitis increased by 8.44% (6.62%-10.59%) worldwide. Prevalence of severe periodontitis is higher among less developed countries/regions. Global population growth accounted for 67.9% of the increase in the number of prevalent cases of severe periodontitis from 1990 to 2019.

The global burden of severe periodontitis has been substantial and increasing over the past three decades. Upstream policy changes are urgently needed to address the global public health challenge of severe periodontitis.

The global burden of severe periodontitis has been substantial and increasing over the past three decades. Upstream policy changes are urgently needed to address the global public health challenge of severe periodontitis.The study aimed to develop and evaluate a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay (mPCR) for the concurrent detection of three major mycotoxin metabolic pathway genes, namely tri8 (T-2 toxin), tri6 (trichothecene) and pks4 (zearalenone), along with competitive internal amplification control. Specific primers for each of the aforementioned genes were optimized and validated using 14 reference strains and 10 pure culture isolates. The optimized mPCR assay detected the three metabolic pathway genes in artificially contaminated maize samples with a sensitivity of 2 × 103 CFU per g for tri6 and pks4 positive Fusarium strains, whereas 2 × 104 CFU per g for tri8 positive Fusarium strains. Application of the developed mPCR assay to 30 cereal and 20 feed samples revealed 24% (12 of 50) contamination with either one or more mycotoxins. The results of mPCR assay were further evaluated with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and both methods provided unequivocal results. This mPCR assay might be a supplementary tool to conventional mycotoxin analytical techniques like thin-layer chromatography, HPLC, etc. The current mPCR assay is a rapid and reliable tool for simultaneous, sensitive and specific detection of T-2, zearalenone and trichothecene producing Fusarium spp. from naturally contaminated foods and to monitor them during the processing steps of food and feed commodities.

We investigated differential DNA methylation in gingival tissues in periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis, and its association with differential mRNA expression.

Gingival tissues were harvested from individuals and sites with clinically healthy and intact periodontium, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Samples were processed for differential DNA methylation and mRNA expression using the IlluminaEPIC (850 K) and the IlluminaHiSeq2000 platforms, respectively. Across the three phenotypes, we identified differentially methylated CpG sites and regions, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and genes with concomitant differential methylation at their promoters and expression were identified. The findings were validated using our earlier databases using HG-U133Plus2.0Affymetrix microarrays and Illumina (450 K) methylation arrays.

We observed 43,631 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) between periodontitis and health, and 536 DMPs between gingivitis and health (FDR < 0.05). On the mRNA level, statistically significant DEGs were observed only between periodontitis and health (n= 126). Twelve DEGs between periodontitis and health (DCC, KCNA3, KCNA2, RIMS2, HOXB7, PNOC, IRX1, JSRP1, TBX1, OPCML, CECR1, SCN4B) were also differentially methylated between the two phenotypes. Spearman correlations between methylation and expression in the EPIC/mRNAseq dataset were largely replicated in the 450 K/Affymetrix datasets.

Concomitant study of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns may identify genes whose expression is epigenetically regulated in periodontitis.

Concomitant study of DNA methylation and gene expression patterns may identify genes whose expression is epigenetically regulated in periodontitis.