Supplementation of pyrroloquinoline quinone with atorvastatin augments mitochondrial biogenesis and attenuates low grade inflammation in obese rats.

Mitochondrial dysfunction and Inflammation play a significant role in the manifestation of the co-morbidities of obesity. The study deciphered the impact of Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) per se and with Atorvastatin (ATS) on high fat, 10% fructose diet (HFFD) induced obese rats expressing low-grade inflammation, dyslipidemia, and mitochondrial dysfunction. HFFD was fed for 10 weeks followed by treatment for 5 weeks with ATS 10 or 20 mg/kg, PQQ 10 or 20 mg/kg, p.o. per se or their combinations. The impact on blood glucose, lipid profile and serum insulin, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-18, IL-6 was estimated. Gene and protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC 1α), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), Mitochondrial transcriptional factor A (TFAM) and augmented mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), NOD like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) and Caspase 1 was assessed. Rats receiving PQQ and ATS revealed significant decrease in body weights, anthropometric parameter, and adipose tissue vis-à-vis positive control. PQQ alone and with ATS improved glucose tolerance, lipid profile, insulin indices and lowered serum levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-18, IL-1ß, TNF-α and IL-6 along with a rise in adiponectin. PQQ supplementation with ATS upregulated the mRNA expression of PGC 1α, SIRT1, TFAM and augmented mtDNA while downregulating inflammatory markers NLRP3 and Caspase 1. PQQ supplementation with atorvastatin holds therapeutic promise to effectively combat mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic low-grade inflammation in obesity.

Study of lip prints in different ethno-racial groups in India.

Context (Background): Lips prints are unique and are a tool for personal identification. AIMS: Indian population can be divided into different ethno-racial groups. In this study, we aimed at finding the most and the least prevalent lip print patterns in these groups and also to observe any similarities or differences that may exist in these groups in terms of lip print patterns. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Lip prints in 755 individuals categorized into different ethno-racial groups were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brown- and pink-colored lipsticks, cellophane tape, and magnifying lens were used to record and study the lip prints. RESULTS: Among all the three ethno-racial groups, Type I was the most prevalent lip print pattern observed. The least prevalent lip print pattern in all the three groups was Type IV. Inference/Conclusion: Lip prints hold potential as supplementary tools for identification where they can be recorded with ease. The observation and classification of lip print patterns in different ethno-racial groups not only provide some useful data but also open a new window to a field that can contribute extensively to criminal investigation and identification.

Role of PXR in Hepatic Cancer: Its Influences on Liver Detoxification Capacity and Cancer Progression.

The role of nuclear receptor PXR in detoxification and clearance of xenobiotics and endobiotics is well-established. However, its projected role in hepatic cancer is rather illusive where its expression is reported altered in different cancers depending on the tissue-type and microenvironment. The expression of PXR, its target genes and their biological or clinical significance have not been examined in hepatic cancer. In the present study, by generating DEN-induced hepatic cancer in mice, we report that the expression of PXR and its target genes CYP3A11 and GSTa2 are down-regulated implying impairment of hepatic detoxification capacity. A higher state of inflammation was observed in liver cancer tissues as evident from upregulation of inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α along with NF-κB and STAT3. Our data in mouse model suggested a negative correlation between down-regulation of PXR and its target genes with that of higher expression of inflammatory proteins (like IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB). In conjunction, our findings with relevant cell culture based assays showed that higher expression of PXR is involved in reduction of tumorigenic potential in hepatic cancer. Overall, the findings suggest that inflammation influences the expression of hepatic proteins important in drug metabolism while higher PXR level reduces tumorigenic potential in hepatic cancer.

Photobiomodulation in oral medicine: a review.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in dentistry is an evolving science, with an increasing number of controlled clinical studies exploring its potential as a treatment modality. The present study provides an outline of the biologic mechanism of PBM and summarizes the findings of clinical studies of PBM for specific applications in oral medicine. Controversies and drawbacks associated with PBM, which require further research, are also identified. Current literature reports the potential of PBM in various applications in oral medicine. Furthermore, well-documented research confirms its efficacy in certain conditions, such as oral mucositis, recurrent herpes simplex infection, and burning mouth syndrome. The absence of any reported adverse effects is an advantage over conventional therapeutic modalities. While PBM has proved to be effective for some specific applications, it is not a panacea. The paucity in standardized studies, coupled with ambiguity over the laser parameters, has limited its credibility as a therapeutic modality.

Cheiloscopic patterns in Indian population and their efficacy in sex determination: A randomized cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Cheiloscopy or the study of lip prints is an important tool in forensic dentistry which is gaining popularity in current times. Not only has it proven effective in identification of individuals, but its role in sex determination has also been investigated. There are six different types of cheiloscopic/lip print patterns according to Tsuchihashi. AIMS: The present study was conducted to find the prevalence of cheiloscopic/lip print pattern in 755 individuals and also to assess their efficacy in sex determination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to classification by Tsuchihashi, the lip prints were analysed. Sex determination using lip print was done by method given by Vahanwala et al. RESULTS: It was found that Type I was the most prevalent cheiloscopic pattern. Based on the method of sex determination using lip prints by Vahanwala et al., the percentage of individuals correctly identified was less. CONCLUSION: Although cheiloscopy holds promise as a supplementary tool along with other modes to recognize the sex of an individual, there is need for further studies using standardized methods to evaluate the same in larger population sizes.

Kissing dentigerous cysts involving mandibular canines: report of unusual case with review of literature.

Dentigerous cysts are odontogenic developmental cysts, which mostly surround the crown of unerupted teeth, odontomas or supernumerary teeth. These cysts are mostly solitary in occurrence and their bilateral presentation is rare, especially in the absence of syndromes such as Maroteaux-Lamy, basal cell nevus or cleidocranial dysplasia. We present an unusual case of a 24-year-old female with nonsyndromic bilateral dentigerous cysts associated with unerupted mandibular canines that were diagnosed histopathologically as dentigerous cysts.

Topical tacrolimus in the management of oral lichen planus: literature review.

Tacrolimus is an immunosuppressive property approved for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Studies have shown that topical tacrolimus is effective for a broad spectrum of mucocutaneous diseases, including oral lichen planus. The objective of this article is to review the pharmacology of tacrolimus, its usage in oral lichen planus, adverse effects and advantages of tacrolimus over other conventional drugs, thus making it a popular and alternative drug for the treatment of lichen planus.

Botulinum toxin: The Midas touch.

Botulinum Toxin (BT) is a natural molecule produced during growth and autolysis of bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Use of BT for cosmetic purposes has gained popularity over past two decades, and recently, other therapeutic uses of BT has been extensively studied. BT is considered as a minimally invasive agent that can be used in the treatment of various orofacial disorders and improving the quality of life in such patients. The objective of this article is to review the nature, mechanism of action of BT, and its application in various head and neck diseases.

Hemophilia A: Dental considerations and management.

AIM: To review hemophilia A with emphasis on its oral manifestations, investigations, and dental management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Search was conducted using internet-based search engines, scholarly bibliographic databases, PubMed, and Medline with key words such as "Hemophilia A," "factor VIII," "bleeding and clotting disorders," and "dental management." RESULTS: Hemophilia comprises a group of hereditary disorders caused due to the deficiency of one or more clotting factors leading to prolonged clotting time and excessive bleeding tendencies. It is broadly divided into hemophilia A, B, and C, which occur due to deficiency of factor VIII, IX, and XI, respectively. Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive hereditary disorder and is the most common of the three, accounting for 80-85% of the cases. CONCLUSION: Understanding this complex entity is very important for a dentist to provide appropriate dental treatment and avoid undesirable consequences.

Inhibition of mucin-type O-glycosylation through metabolic processing and incorporation of N-thioglycolyl-D-galactosamine peracetate (Ac5GalNTGc).

Mucin-type O-glycans form one of the most abundant and complex post-translational modifications (PTM) on cell surface proteins that govern adhesion, migration, and trafficking of hematopoietic cells. Development of targeted approaches to probe functions of O-glycans is at an early stage. Among several approaches, small molecules with unique chemical functional groups that could modulate glycan biosynthesis form a critical tool. Herein, we show that metabolism of peracetyl N-acyl-D-galactosamine derivatives carrying an N-thioglycolyl (Ac5GalNTGc, 1) moiety-but not N-glycolyl (Ac5GalNGc, 2) and N-acetyl (Ac4GalNAc, 3)-through the N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (GalNAc) salvage pathway induced abrogation of MAL-II and PNA epitopes in Jurkat cells. Mass spectrometry of permethylated O-glycans from Jurkat cells confirmed the presence of significant amounts of elaborated O-glycans (sialyl-T and disialyl-T) which were inhibited upon treatment with 1. O-Glycosylation of CD43, a cell surface antigen rich in O-glycans, was drastically reduced by 1 in a thiol-dependent manner. By contrast, only mild effects were observed for CD45 glycoforms. Direct metabolic incorporation of 1 was confirmed by thiol-selective Michael addition reaction of immunoprecipitated CD43-myc/FLAG. Mechanistically, CD43 glycoforms were unperturbed by peracetylated N-(3-acetylthiopropanoyl) (4), N-(4-acetylthiobutanoyl) (5), and N-methylthioacetyl (6) galactosamine derivatives, N-thioglycolyl-D-glucosamine (7, C-4 epimer of 1), and α-O-benzyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactopyranoside (8), confirming the critical requirement of both free sulfhydryl and galactosamine moieties for inhibition of mucin-type O-glycans. Similar, yet differential, effects of 1 were observed for CD43 glycoforms in multiple hematopoietic cells. Development of small molecules that could alter glycan patterns in an antigen-selective and cell-type selective manner might provide avenues for understanding biological functions of glycans.

Stem cells: Boon to dentistry and medicine.

Stem cell research has received considerable attention since the discovery that adult stem cells have the capacity to form many different tissue types. Stem cells are a booming field for the research and have been extensively studied in the field of medicine, as well as dentistry. Their application in oncology has been a boon to many of the patients. Dental stem cells have been novel approach to treat diseases like periodontitis, dental caries and many more. Their potential uses in dentistry have provided a new generation of treatments for dental diseases and stem cells have become the focus in dental research. This review highlights about the biology, sources and potential applications of stem cells in dentistry with emphasis on a dentist's role in enabling both medical and dental applications using stem cells from teeth.

Oral fluid nanosensor test: saliva as a diagnostic tool for oral health.

High-impact diseases, especially cancer, are challenging to diagnose without supplementing laboratory testing. Even with laboratory tools, definitive diagnosis often remains elusive. The oral fluid nanosensor test technology platform combines cutting-edge technologies--such as self-assembled monolayers, bionanotechnology, cyclic enzymatic amplification, and microfluidics--with several well-established techniques including microinjection molding, hybridization-based detection, and molecular purification. The intended use of the OFNASET is for the point-of-care multiplex detection of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer.

Brittle teeth with brittle bone in a family for four generations: Case report and literature review.

Dentinogenesis imperfect (DI) is a hereditary dentine disorder affecting both deciduous and permanent teeth. DI is caused by mutations in genes encoding for type I collagen leading to discoloration of teeth. Shield around 30 years ago classified DI into 3 types (type I, II, and III). DI type I is associated with osteogenesis imperfect (OI), which is an inheritable disorder of connective tissue. Bone fragility and fracture of bone with minor trauma are hallmarks of this disorder. The objective of this article is to report and review a rare case of DI with OI affecting 4 generations of the family. Through this article, we intend to highlight genetic influence that affected a family for many generations, discuss the oral manifestations that can lead to the diagnosis of OI, and the importance of early diagnosis of OI.

Overexpression of hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1/p32/gC1qR) in HepG2 cells leads to increased hyaluronan synthesis and cell proliferation by up-regulation of cyclin D1 in AKT-dependent pathway.

Overexpression of the mature form of hyaluronan-binding protein 1 (HABP1/gC1qR/p32), a ubiquitous multifunctional protein involved in cellular signaling, in normal murine fibroblast cells leads to enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and ultimately apoptosis with the release of cytochrome c. In the present study, human liver cancer cell line HepG2, having high intracellular antioxidant levels was chosen for stable overexpression of HABP1. The stable transformant of HepG2, overexpressing HABP1 does not lead to ROS generation, cellular stress, and apoptosis, rather it induced enhanced cell growth and proliferation over longer periods. Phenotypic changes in the stable transformant were associated with the increased "HA pool," formation of the "HA cable" structure, up-regulation of HA synthase-2, and CD44, a receptor for HA. Enhanced cell survival was further supported by activation of MAP kinase and AKT-mediated cell survival pathways, which leads to an increase in CYCLIN D1 promoter activity. Compared with its parent counterpart HepG2, the stable transformant showed enhanced tumorigenicity as evident by its sustained growth in low serum conditions, formation of the HA cable structure, increased anchorage-independent growth, and cell-cell adhesion. This study suggests that overexpression of HABP1 in HepG2 cells leads to enhanced cell survival and tumorigenicity by activating HA-mediated cell survival pathways.

Intraosseous ameloblastoma masquerading as exophytic growth: a case report.

Intraosseous ameloblastoma is the most common and simple type of ameloblastoma prevalent among odontogenic tumors. Clinico-radiographically intraosseous ameloblastoma presents as slow, painless swelling or expansion of the jaws and described as multilocular expansile radiolucency that occurs most frequently in mandibular molar/ramus area. This article describes a case of follicular ameloblastoma involving 45 year old male which is different from the usual presentation, which includes-exophytic growth, different location and without expansion of the cortex.