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BACKGROUND: Studies suggest diurnal patterns of occurrence of some eye conditions. Leveraging new information sources such as web-based search data to learn more about such patterns could improve the understanding of patients' eye-related conditions and well-being, better inform timing of clinical and remote eye care, and improve precision when targeting web-based public health campaigns toward underserved populations. OBJECTIVE: To investigate our hypothesis that the public is likely to consistently search about different ophthalmologic conditions at different hours of the day or days of week, we conducted an observational study using search data for terms related to ophthalmologic conditions such as conjunctivitis. We assessed whether search volumes reflected diurnal or day-of-week patterns and if those patterns were distinct from each other. METHODS: We designed a study to analyze and compare hourly search data for eye-related and control search terms, using time series regression models with trend and periodicity terms to remove outliers and then estimate diurnal effects. We planned a Google Trends setting, extracting data from 10 US states for the entire year of 2018. The exposure was internet search, and the participants were populations who searched through Google's search engine using our chosen study terms. Our main outcome measures included cyclical hourly and day-of-week web-based search patterns. For statistical analyses, we considered P<.001 to be statistically significant. RESULTS: Distinct diurnal (P<.001 for all search terms) and day-of-week search patterns for eye-related terms were observed but with differing peak time periods and cyclic strengths. Some diurnal patterns represented those reported from prior clinical studies. Of the eye-related terms, "pink eye" showed the largest diurnal amplitude-to-mean ratios. Stronger signal was restricted to and peaked in mornings, and amplitude was higher on weekdays. By contrast, "dry eyes" had a higher amplitude diurnal pattern on weekends, with stronger signal occurring over a broader evening-to-morning period and peaking in early morning. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of web-based searches for various eye conditions can show cyclic patterns according to time of the day or week. Further studies to understand the reasons for these variations may help supplement the current clinical understanding of ophthalmologic symptom presentation and improve the timeliness of patient messaging and care interventions.
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Conjunctivitis , Eye Diseases , Eye Diseases/diagnosis , Humans , Infodemiology , Internet , Search EngineABSTRACT
Introduction: To evaluate eye and orbital injuries in non-powered scooter, electric-scooter (e-scooter), and hoverboard riders in the United States (US) between 2014 and 2019. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for head and neck injuries by body part codes related to non-powered scooters and powered scooters/hoverboards from 2014 to 2019. The NEISS complex sampling design was used to obtain US population projections of injuries and hospital admissions. Keywords were queried in case narratives to analyze trends in location, type, and mechanism of eye and orbit injuries. Results: Since their introduction, a 586% (p=0.01) increase in e-scooter injuries and 866% (p<0.001) increase in hoverboard injuries were observed with an increase in hospital admissions seen in young adults (18-34) in urban areas (e-scooter: 5980% and hoverboard: 479%). Descriptive narratives of the trauma noted eye injuries in 242 unweighted NEISS cases with only 30 cases appropriately documented under body part code 77: eyeball. Eye injuries increased 96.9% during the study period (p=0.23). Specifically, the most common ophthalmic injuries reported included eyebrow (40.9%) and eyelid (11.3%) lacerations, periorbital contusions (18.7%), orbit fractures (6.6%), and corneal abrasions (5.1%). Conclusion: There was a significant increase in both head and neck injury cases and hospital admissions related to e-scooters. Eye and orbit injuries similarly increased but were underreported by body part code compared to injury narratives. Orbital fractures were reported more frequently in injuries from e-scooters than non-powered scooters.
From 2014 to 2019, there were significant increases in both head and neck injuries and hospital admissions related to e-scooters, with eye and orbital injuries similarly increased but underreported by body part code compared to the injury narratives.
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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the social determinants of health for keratoconus. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of patients with keratoconus, the electronic health record was reviewed for keratometry, treatments received, clinical comorbidities, and social characteristics. Outcomes included severe keratoconus at presentation (steep keratometry ≥52 diopters), disease progression (≥0.75 diopters increase from the first to the most recent clinical visit), and corneal transplantation. Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with severity at presentation and corneal transplantation. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to evaluate progression. RESULTS: A total of 1038 patients with keratoconus were identified, 725 (70%) of whom had baseline imaging. Compared with commercially insured patients, Medicaid recipients were more likely to have severe keratoconus, independent of social and clinical confounders [odds ratio (OR) 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12-3.35, P = 0.017]. Male sex was independently associated with progression (hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% CI, 1.03-1.84, P = 0.030). Medicare and Medicaid recipients were more likely to require transplantation compared with commercially insured patients (OR 2.71, 95% CI, 1.65-4.46, P < 0.001 and OR 1.74, 95% CI, 1.08-2.80, P = 0.022, respectively). Other social determinants of health, including non-White race/ethnicity, limited English proficiency, and unemployment, were associated with the outcomes only in univariate analysis. Obstructive sleep apnea, atopy, body mass index, and tobacco use were not associated with any outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic factors were more consistent predictors of keratoconus severity and corneal transplantation compared with clinical factors that have received relatively greater attention in the keratoconus literature.
Subject(s)
Keratoconus , Aged , United States/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Keratoconus/diagnosis , Keratoconus/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Medicare , Cornea , Disease Progression , Socioeconomic Factors , Corneal TopographyABSTRACT
Importance: Left ventricular conduction disease predicts heart failure and death, and the only strategies to mitigate its effects involve implantation of a permanent pacemaker. There are currently no proven preventive strategies for this common condition. Objective: To determine the association between targeting intensive blood pressure (BP) control and the risk of developing left ventricular conduction disease. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a post hoc analysis of the 2-arm multicenter Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT), which recruited participants from 102 sites in the US and Puerto Rico and was conducted from November 2010 until August 2015. Adults 50 years and older with hypertension and at least 1 other cardiovascular risk factor were included. Participants with baseline left ventricular conduction disease, ventricular pacing, or ventricular pre-excitation were excluded for the current analysis. Data were analyzed from November 2021 to November 2022. Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to a systolic BP target of less than 140 mm Hg (standard treatment group) or less than 120 mm Hg (intensive treatment group). Main Outcome: The primary outcome was incident left ventricular conduction disease, including any fascicular or left bundle-branch block, assessed by serial electrocardiography. Incident right bundle-branch block was examined as a negative control. Results: Among 3918 participants randomized to standard treatment and 3956 to intensive treatment (mean [SD] age, 67.6 [9.2] years; 2815 [36%] female) monitored for a median [IQR] 3.5 (0.02-5.2) years, 203 developed left ventricular conduction disease. Older age (hazard ratio per 10-year increase [HR], 1.42; 95% CI, 1.21-1.67; P < .001), male sex (HR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.63-3.32; P < .001), and cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.06-2.00; P = .02) were associated with a higher risk of left ventricular conduction disease. Assignment to intensive treatment was associated with a 26% lower risk of left ventricular conduction disease (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.56-0.98; P = .04). These results persisted when incident ventricular pacing was included in the outcome and when considering all-cause death as a competing risk. In contrast, no association between randomization assignment and right bundle-branch block was observed (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.71-1.27; P = .75). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, targeting intensive BP control was associated with lower risk of left ventricular conduction disease in a randomized clinical trial, suggesting that clinically relevant conduction disease may be preventable. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01206062.
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents , Hypertension , Male , Humans , Female , Aged , Blood Pressure/physiology , Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Bundle-Branch Block/complications , Hypertension/drug therapy , Blood Pressure Determination/methods , Cardiac Conduction System DiseaseABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Management of ocular rosacea is challenged by the limited evidence-based systemic treatment guidelines and lack of elucidated mechanisms of treatment efficacy. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of clinicians who regularly treat ocular rosacea to elicit their opinions on treatment algorithms and understanding of the treatment's primary mechanism of action. Descriptive statistics and univariate comparisons were reported. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two participants completed the online survey. Of the 132 respondents, 74% were cornea specialists. Most respondents (85%) favored systemic tetracyclines over macrolides. Providers' specialty training did not significantly influence preference between tetracyclines and macrolides for ocular rosacea management. Among tetracycline prescribers, there was no consensus regarding initial dosage and duration prescribing patterns. Most macrolide prescribers (88%) initiated a 3-week course of 1 gram of azithromycin weekly. Long-term management strategy for treatment-responsive patients varied: 46% preferred to half the initial dose, 29% discontinued pharmacotherapy, and 16% chronically pulse-dosed patients. Most tetracycline prescribers (90%) and macrolide prescribers (73%) postulate their chosen agents' primary mechanism of effect for ocular rosacea is anti-inflammatory. However, there was no consensus in identifying anti-inflammatory doses of either drug class. Furthermore, there is discordance between prescribers' intended mechanistic effect with the selection of initial dosages for both tetracycline and macrolides for ocular rosacea. CONCLUSIONS: Among clinicians who commonly treat ocular rosacea, there is significant community equipoise regarding which dose of tetracycline is best for initial systemic treatment of this disease. In addition, a consensus understanding regarding mechanism of action of this treatment is lacking.
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BACKGROUND: Fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscle is a limiting factor in the success of repairs. Fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are a population of stem cells within the rotator cuff that can differentiate into white adipocytes, fibroblasts, and beige adipocytes. The effects of patient age and rotator cuff tendon tear size on the number, differentiation patterns, and gene expression profiles of FAPs have not yet been analyzed. PURPOSE: To determine if patient age and rotator cuff tear size independently regulate FAP number, differentiation patterns, and gene expression profiles. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. METHODS: Supraspinatus muscle samples were collected from 26 patients between the ages of 42 and 76 years with partial- or full-thickness rotator cuff tears. FAPs were quantified using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Gene expression analysis was performed across a custom 96-gene panel using NanoString. In vitro differentiation assays of FAPs were conducted using adipogenic, fibrogenic, and beige-inducing (amibegron-treated) media, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to assess gene expression differences between adipogenic and amibegron media conditions. Multivariable linear regressions were performed using Stata to independently analyze the effects of age and rotator cuff tear size on FAP number, differentiation, and gene expression. RESULTS: Increasing age and tear size were independently correlated with increased FAP number (ßage = 0.21, P = .03; ßtear size = 3.86, P = .05). There was no clear association between age and gene expression of freshly sorted FAPs. Under adipogenic and fibrogenic media conditions, increasing age and tear size were independently associated with increased adipogenic and fibrogenic differentiation of FAPs. Under amibegron treatment conditions, age positively correlated with increased beige differentiation (ß = 1.03; P < .0001), while increasing tear size showed a trend toward decreased beige differentiation (ß = -4.87; P = .1). When gene expression patterns between adipogenic and amibegron media conditions were compared, larger tear size strongly inhibited beige gene expression, while advanced age did not. CONCLUSION: Patient age and rotator cuff tear size independently regulated FAP number, differentiation, and gene expression. Age and tear size were positively correlated with increased FAP number and fibrogenic/adipogenic differentiation. Advancing patient age did not limit FAP beige differentiation and gene expression, while increasing rotator cuff tear size strongly inhibited these processes.
Subject(s)
Rotator Cuff Injuries , Rotator Cuff , Adipogenesis/genetics , Adult , Aged , Humans , Infant , Middle Aged , Muscular Atrophy/pathology , Rotator Cuff/pathology , Rotator Cuff Injuries/genetics , Rotator Cuff Injuries/pathology , TranscriptomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recurrent conjunctivitis epidemics are prevalent worldwide. Aetiologies are often undetermined. METHODS: We surveyed conjunctivitis researchers about perceived trends in prevalence, incidence and aetiologies of conjunctivitis epidemics. RESULTS: Of the 155 participants, 7% endorsed globally variable and dynamic microbial aetiologies of conjunctivitis epidemics. Increased incidence of conjunctivitis epidemics over the last decade were reported by 21% of respondents. Peak seasons differed between the northern and southern hemispheres. CONCLUSIONS: There is regional equipoise regarding the increasing incidence and emerging underlying aetiologies of epidemic conjunctivitis. Further investigation of global surveillance and microbial characterization of conjunctivitis outbreaks could improve prevention and outcomes.
Subject(s)
Conjunctivitis , Epidemics , Conjunctivitis/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Humans , Incidence , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Background: In a prior study at the start of the pandemic, we reported reduced numbers of Google searches for the term "conjunctivitis" in the United States in March and April 2020 compared with prior years. As one explanation, we conjectured that reduced information-seeking may have resulted from social distancing reducing contagious conjunctivitis cases. Here, after 1 year of continued implementation of social distancing, we asked if there have been persistent reductions in searches for "conjunctivitis," and similarly for other communicable disease terms, compared to control terms. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if reduction in searches in the United States for terms related to conjunctivitis and other common communicable diseases occurred in the spring-winter season of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to compare this outcome to searches for terms representing noncommunicable conditions, COVID-19, and to seasonality. Methods: Weekly relative search frequency volume data from Google Trends for 68 search terms in English for the United States were obtained for the weeks of March 2011 through February 2021. Terms were classified a priori as 16 terms related to COVID-19, 29 terms representing communicable conditions, and 23 terms representing control noncommunicable conditions. To reduce bias, all analyses were performed while masked to term names, classifications, and locations. To test for the significance of changes during the pandemic, we detrended and compared postpandemic values to those expected based on prepandemic trends, per season, computing one- and two-sided P values. We then compared these P values between term groups using Wilcoxon rank-sum and Fisher exact tests to assess if non-COVID-19 terms representing communicable diseases were more likely to show significant reductions in searches in 2020-2021 than terms not representing such diseases. We also assessed any relationship between a term's seasonality and a reduced search trend for the term in 2020-2021 seasons. P values were subjected to false discovery rate correction prior to reporting. Data were then unmasked. Results: Terms representing conjunctivitis and other communicable conditions showed a sustained reduced search trend in the first 4 seasons of the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic compared to prior years. In comparison, the search for noncommunicable condition terms was significantly less reduced (Wilcoxon and Fisher exact tests, P<.001; summer, autumn, winter). A significant correlation was also found between reduced search for a term in 2020-2021 and seasonality of that term (Theil-Sen, P<.001; summer, autumn, winter). Searches for COVID-19-related conditions were significantly elevated compared to those in prior years, and searches for influenza-related terms were significantly lower than those for prior years in winter 2020-2021 (P<.001). Conclusions: We demonstrate the low-cost and unbiased use of online search data to study how a wide range of conditions may be affected by large-scale interventions or events such as social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings support emerging clinical evidence implicating social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic in the reduction of communicable disease and on ocular conditions.
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Purpose: To assess the impact of parental socioeconomic status and keratoconus literacy on pediatric eye rubbing and keratoconus severity. Methods: In this mixed-methods study, pediatric keratoconus patients (age ≤ 18 years) were retrospectively identified. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were extracted from the electronic medical record (EMR). Telephone surveys were subsequently conducted to assess parental keratoconus literacy, receipt of counseling on keratoconus prevention, eye rubbing, and household socioeconomic factors not available in the EMR. Parents reporting poor keratoconus literacy were probed via semi-structured interview to explore barriers to their understanding. Results: Forty-eight patients met inclusion criteria, 22 (46%) of whom were reached by telephone. Most patients were insured by Medicaid (73%) and current eye rubbers (82%). Few parents reported good or excellent keratoconus literacy now (32%) or at the time of diagnosis (18%). Parents with a high-school education, limited English proficiency, lower income level, and Medicaid insurance tended to have lower keratoconus literacy, though this was not statistically significant. Parental keratoconus literacy was not correlated with disease severity. High-school education, limited English proficiency, lower income level, and Medicaid insurance were correlated with steeper keratometry readings, which was statistically significant for high-school education. In-depth interviews revealed parents felt unconfident with eye health in general and perceived a personal responsibility for learning more. Conclusion: This is the first study exploring keratoconus literacy from a socioeconomic perspective, demonstrating lower literacy among socioeconomically marginalized parents and a tendency toward more severe disease in their children.
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Purpose: To describe trends in the use of corneal topography and tomography for the management of keratoconus patients at a single academic institution and to identify how these trends may be associated with different procedural interventions. Patients and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, keratoconus patients treated from 2012 to 2019 were identified. The electronic health record was reviewed for the presence of corneal topography or tomography imaging completed within seven days of the first visit and the highest level of intervention at the first and most recent visit. Patients were grouped as pediatric (<18 years) or adult (≥18 years). Chi-square tests and linear regressions were used to evaluate trends and to determine which factors were predictive for receiving corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) versus other surgical interventions (intrastromal corneal ring segments, lamellar keratoplasty, or penetrating keratoplasty) by the most recent visit. Results: A total of 873 keratoconus patients met inclusion criteria. The use of corneal topography at the first visit remained relatively consistent from 2012 to 2019, while corneal tomography usage at the first visit increased from 3.9% in 2015, when corneal tomography was introduced, to 52.8% in 2019. Each year was associated with an 11.2% ± 1.9% increase in the use of corneal tomography at the first visit in pediatric patients and 6.7% ± 0.5% in adult patients. Use of corneal tomography at the first visit was a significant predictor for receiving CXL procedures (P < 0.001) and a negative predictor for requiring other surgical interventions (P = 0.032) when controlling for the year of the first visit. Conclusion: Obtaining corneal tomography at the first visit has become the standard of care in keratoconus, especially for pediatric patients. Moreover, the increase in corneal tomography imaging has coincided with an increase in CXL procedures and decrease in other surgical interventions.
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Epicardial formation is necessary for normal myocardial morphogenesis. Here, we show that differentiating hiPSC-derived lateral plate mesoderm with BMP4, RA and VEGF (BVR) can generate a premature form of epicardial cells (termed pre-epicardial cells, PECs) expressing WT1, TBX18, SEMA3D, and SCX within 7 days. BVR stimulation after Wnt inhibition of LPM demonstrates co-differentiation and spatial organization of PECs and cardiomyocytes (CMs) in a single 2D culture. Co-culture consolidates CMs into dense aggregates, which then form a connected beating syncytium with enhanced contractility and calcium handling; while PECs become more mature with significant upregulation of UPK1B, ITGA4, and ALDH1A2 expressions. Our study also demonstrates that PECs secrete IGF2 and stimulate CM proliferation in co-culture. Three-dimensional PEC-CM spheroid co-cultures form outer smooth muscle cell layers on cardiac micro-tissues with organized internal luminal structures. These characteristics suggest PECs could play a key role in enhancing tissue organization within engineered cardiac constructs in vitro.
Subject(s)
Cell Aggregation/physiology , Coculture Techniques , Myocytes, Cardiac/physiology , Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family/metabolism , Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors , Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 , Calcium/metabolism , Cell Differentiation , Genes, Wilms Tumor , Humans , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells , Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/metabolism , Mesoderm , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle , Retinal Dehydrogenase/metabolism , Semaphorins , Stem Cells , T-Box Domain Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The association between low back pain and lumbar disc degeneration is not fully characterized. One potentially overlooked factor of this process is the lumbar multifidus, which plays a role in segmental stabilization and locomotion. Previous reports have shown multifidus degeneration to be associated with disc degeneration. The goal of this study was to develop a mouse model of advanced lumbar disc degeneration to recapitulate the pathology of the human multifidus in patients with lumbar disc degeneration and low back pain. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice underwent a left anterolateral approach to the lumbar spine and disc puncture with a micro scalpel at L5/6 and L6/S1. Mice underwent behavioral analysis and functional gait testing. A subset of mice underwent 14T T2-weighted MRI to assess disc degeneration and paraspinal muscle quality. At 6 and 15 weeks, mice were sacrificed, and the multifidus muscles were harvested and divided into proximal and distal segments relative to disc injury. Histological analysis was performed to assess muscle degeneration, fiber type, and macrophage density. Fibroadipogenic progenitors (FAPs) were isolated for gene expression analysis with qPCR. RESULTS: MRI demonstrated decreased intervertebral disc signal and paraspinal muscle atrophy at 6 weeks, with progressive degeneration and atrophy at 15 weeks. Disc injury resulted in delayed functional recovery and impaired gait. Histology demonstrated progressive multifidus fibrofatty degeneration between 6 and 15 weeks. CD68+ macrophage density was increased at 6 weeks but not 15 weeks. FAPs exhibited increased fibrotic and adipogenic gene expression at 6 weeks compared to sham with less of a difference in gene expression by 15 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a mouse model of disc injury-mediated paraspinal muscle degeneration that recapitulates features of degenerative muscle pathology observed in patients with lumbar disc degeneration, and highlights the role of FAPs in mediating fibrofatty muscle degeneration after disc injury.
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Intravascular administration of plasminogen activators is a clinically important thrombolytic strategy to treat occlusive vascular conditions. A major issue with this strategy is the systemic off-target drug action, which affects hemostatic capabilities and causes substantial hemorrhagic risks. This issue can be potentially resolved by designing technologies that allow thrombus-targeted delivery and site-specific action of thrombolytic drugs. To this end, leveraging a liposomal platform, we have developed platelet microparticle (PMP)-inspired nanovesicles (PMINs), that can protect encapsulated thrombolytic drugs in circulation to prevent off-target uptake and action, anchor actively onto thrombus via PMP-relevant molecular mechanisms and allow drug release via thrombus-relevant enzymatic trigger. Specifically, the PMINs can anchor onto thrombus via heteromultivalent ligand-mediated binding to active platelet integrin GPIIb-IIIa and P-selectin, and release the thrombolytic payload due to vesicle destabilization triggered by clot-relevant enzyme phospholipase-A2. Here we report on the evaluation of clot-targeting efficacy, lipase-triggered drug release and resultant thrombolytic capability of the PMINs in vitro, and subsequently demonstrate that intravenous delivery of thrombolytic-loaded PMINs can render targeted fibrinolysis without affecting systemic hemostasis, in vivo, in a carotid artery thrombosis model in mice. Our studies establish significant promise of the PMIN technology for safe and site-targeted nanomedicine therapies in the vascular compartment.
Subject(s)
Blood Platelets/cytology , Cell-Derived Microparticles/metabolism , Fibrinolysis , Nanomedicine/methods , Thrombosis/therapy , Animals , Fibrinolysis/drug effects , Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology , Fibrinolytic Agents/therapeutic use , Intravital Microscopy , Lipase/metabolism , Male , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Peptides/metabolism , Phospholipases A2/metabolism , Solubility , Thrombosis/drug therapy , Thrombosis/pathologyABSTRACT
AIM: To conduct a systematic review on the role of myofibroblasts in progression of oral cancer. The myofibroblast is essential for the integrity of the mammalian body by virtue of its role in wound healing, but it also plays a negative role due to their role in promoting tumor development. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Systematic review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bibliographic searches were conducted in several electronic databases using all publications in PubMed, PubMed central, EMBASE, CancerLit, Google scholar, and Cochrane CCTR between 1990 and June 2015. RESULTS: The search of all publications from various electronic databases revealed 1,371 citations. The total number of studies considered for systematic review was 43. The total number of patients included in the studies was 990. CONCLUSION: Myofibroblasts are a significant component in stroma of oral cancer cases, though not identified in all cases. This systematic review shows that clinical, pathological, and immunohistochemistry tests have correlated the presence of high myofibroblast count in oral cancer cell stroma. KEY MESSAGES: Myofibroblasts play a significant role in oral cancer invasion and progression. Various studies have demonstrated their association with oral cancer. This review tends to highlight their role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer over the decade. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Sekhon HK, Sircar K, Kaur G, Marwah M. Evaluation of Role of Myofibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Systematic Review. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2016;9(3):233-239.
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Periodontitis is an increasing area of interest due to its global prevalence. This inflammatory condition results due to the loss of the critical balance between the virulence factors produced by microorganisms and the inflammatory host response. A number of efforts have been made in the past to address this condition and regain periodontal health. Targeting the root cause by nonsurgical debridement has been considered the gold standard. However, research has shown the possible effects of nutrient deficiency and an imbalanced diet on the periodontium. Therefore, an effort toward the maintenance of optimal conditions as well as improvement of the oral health necessities the introduction of adjunctive nutritional therapy, which can benefit the patients. Antioxidants in the diet have some remarkable benefits and valuable properties that play an irreplaceable role in the maintenance of periodontal health. These have emerged as excellent adjuncts that can enhance the outcomes of conventional periodontal therapy. The aim of this review article is to highlight some of these dietary antioxidants that can make a notable difference by striking a balance between health and disease.