Markers of cytotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage in Diabesity: A new age illness

BACKGROUND: The oral mucous membrane is particularly sensitive to certain types of systemic disorders such as anemia, vitamin deficiencies, infectious diseases, hormonal disturbances and can be objectively reproduced through definite measurements using cytomorphometry. OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study is to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative changes in cytological buccal smears of obese individuals with type II diabetes (Group 1 = 20), obese individuals without type II diabetes (Group 2 = 20), individuals with type II diabetes without obesity (Group 3 = 20) by comparing with controls (individuals without obesity and without type II diabetes) (Group 4 = 20). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Buccal mucosal cells were scraped from study participants and were subjected to morphometric analysis (Magnus Pro software). Clinical history, hemoglobin A1c, heights and weights of participants were measured and consequently, their body mass index was calculated. Quantitative parameters (nuclear area, cytoplasmic area, nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio) and qualitative parameters (micronuclei [MN], nuclear budding, nuclear disintegration, apoptosis, necrosis) were assessed among the groups. The data were statistically interpreted using SPSS software version 20.0. RESULTS: There is an increase in nuclear diameter and nuclear: cytoplasmic ratio of Groups 1 and 3 relative to Group 2. The qualitative assessment revealed MN and nuclear disintegration in Group 1 and 3 individuals. In addition, other qualitative changes such as nuclear budding and apoptotic bodies were evident in patients with type II diabetes. CONCLUSION: The aforementioned qualitative and quantitative parameters facilitate early diagnosis and identification of individuals at risk of developing new age systemic illnesses such as diabetes and obesity.