Association of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, collagen type I alpha 1, and osteocalcin gene polymorphisms with early crestal bone loss around submerged dental implants: A nested case control study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The reason for variations in peri-implant early crestal bone loss is unclear but may be due to genetic differences among individuals. PURPOSE: The purpose of this nested case control study was to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, collagen type I alpha1, and osteocalcin genes to early crestal bone loss around submerged dental implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dental implants were placed in the mandibular posterior region (single edentulous space) of 135 participants selected according to predetermined selection criteria. Bone mineral density measurement by using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, cone beam computed tomography scans at the baseline and after 6 months, and interleukin-1A-889 A/G (rs1800587), interleukin-1B-511 G/A (rs16944), interleukin-1B+3954 (rs1143634), interleukin-6-572 C/G (rs1800796), collagen type I alpha1 A/C (rs1800012), and osteocalcin C/T (rs1800247) genotyping were performed in all participants. Early crestal bone loss measured around dental implants was used to group participants into clinically significant bone loss (BL)>0.5 mm and clinically nonsignificant bone loss (NBL)≤0.5 mm. Early crestal bone loss was calculated as the mean of the difference of bone levels at the baseline and bone levels after 6 months as measured with cone beam computed tomography scans. The obtained data for basic characteristics, early crestal bone loss, and genotyping were tabulated and compared by using a statistical software program (α=.05). RESULTS: AA genotype and the A allele frequency of interleukin-1B-511 and GG genotype and the G allele frequency of interleukin-6-572 were significantly higher in BL than in NBL (P<.05). Multiple logistic analysis suggested that interleukin-1B-511 AA/GG+AG and interleukin-6-572 GG/CC+CG genotype expression were significantly associated with early crestal bone loss (AA/GG+AG; P=.014, GG/CC+CG; P=.047) around dental implants. Other risk factors were not significantly different (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: Of the genes studied, individuals with interleukin-1B-511 AA (rs16944) or interleukin-6-572 GG (rs1800796) genotype had higher susceptibility to early crestal bone loss around dental implants.

Clinical outcomes of flap versus flapless immediately loaded single dental implants in the mandibular posterior region: One-year follow-up results from a randomized controlled trial.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Flapless implant placement with immediate functional loading has been reported in anterior locations. However, data on posterior locations are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to determine and compare clinical outcomes of flap versus flapless surgically placed single posterior mandibular dental implants subjected to immediate functional loading. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants with missing mandibular first molar teeth were recruited and randomized into 2 groups (n=51): flapped and flapless. Dental implants were surgically placed and loaded immediately with interim restorations following implant protective occlusion. Outcome measures were implant failure, crestal bone loss, and periodontal parameters: modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, and pocket depths. Outcome data were recorded at baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits. Cone beam computed tomography scans were used to calculate crestal bone loss, and periodontal outcomes were recorded by using a resin covered periodontal probe (α=.05). RESULTS: After 12 months, similar implant failure rates (P>.05) were found between the groups. Crestal bone loss in the flapped group was statistically higher than in the flapless group at 6 months (0.83 ±0.21 mm versus 0.75 ±0.23 mm) and at 12 months (1.04 ±0.27 mm versus 0.90 ±0.24 mm) from the baseline. The modified plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, and peri-implant probing depths (PDs) in both groups increased from the baseline to 6-month follow-ups (Baseline modified plaque index: 0.82 ±0.54 versus 0.79 ±0.21; Baseline modified sulcus bleeding index: 0.74 ±0.21 versus 0.70 ±0.43; Baseline PD: 1.25 ±0.37 mm versus 1.20 ±0.22 mm; 6 months modified plaque index: 1.54 ±0.70 versus 1.21 ±0.45; 6 months modified sulcus bleeding index: 1.93 ±0.54 versus 1.51 ±0.61; 6 months PD: 3.20 ±0.73 mm versus 2.80 ±0.43 mm). At 12-month follow-ups after repeated oral hygiene reinforcements, periodontal parameters had improved (decreased) significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Flapless implant insertion with immediate functional loading could be considered as an appropriate treatment option for providing functional restorations on the day of implant placement with minimal surgical intervention, reducing crestal bone loss, and periodontal complications.

Associations among gene polymorphisms, crestal bone loss, and bone mineral density in patients receiving dental implants.

Objectives: Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) gene polymorphisms have been suggested to be responsible for diminished bone mineral density (BMD) and high crestal bone loss (CBL) in some individuals. However, the effects of systemic BMD on variations in peri-implant CBL are unclear. Hence, this study was aimed at investigating the association of IL-1 and IL-6 gene polymorphisms with systemic BMD and CBL around dental implants. Methods: A total of 190 participants undergoing dental implantation in the mandibular posterior region were selected according to predetermined selection criteria and divided into a normal BMD group (NBD, 93 participants, T-score ≥ -1) and low BMD group (LBD, including both osteoporosis and osteopenia, 97 participants, T-score < -1 standard deviation) according to the BMD of the right femoral neck, measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dental implants were placed through the standard surgical protocol, and CBL was calculated after 6 months with cone beam computed tomography scans before second-stage surgery. Genotyping was performed on all participants for IL-1A-889 A/G, IL-1B-511G/A, IL-1B+3954, and IL-6-572 C/G gene polymorphisms. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics of the participants in both groups were compared with t-test and chi-square test (χ2). The associations of NBD and LBD with the different genotypes and CBL was determined with odds ratios, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The frequency of IL-1B-511AA and IL-6-572 GG genotypes was significantly higher in LBD than in NBD (p < 0.05). In LBD, the IL-1B-511 AA (AA vs GA + GG; p ≤ 0.001) and IL-6-572 GG (GG vs CC + GC; p = 0.001) genotypes were significantly associated with higher peri-implant CBL. Conclusions: Individuals with the IL-1B-511 AA or IL-6-572 GG genotype had elevated risk of osteoporosis/osteopenia and were more susceptible to CBL around dental implants.

Association of the Antidepressants and the Periodontal Status: An Original Research.

Antidepressants have anti-inflammatory effects and boost immunity, and dentists should be aware. This case-control study included only those patients who consented to take part and had a ham-d score of at least 16 and a diagnosis of moderate-to-severe depression. Inclusion criteria included adults, those experiencing moderate to severe depression, taking fluoxetine or venlafaxine, and those with twenty or more teeth. Exclusion criteria included tobacco chewers, smokers, women expecting or nursing, periodontal treatment, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, or vitamin/nutritional supplements. Patients who had had surgery or other therapy were excluded from the study. Three groups of patients were created: Control, venlafaxine, and fluoxetine. A periodontist assisted in the dental examination, and indices were observed. The analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24.0. Number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to present the values. Results showed that antidepressants may be a risk factor for periodontal health, with increased periodontal parameters, and concluded that It is crucial to frequently check the periodontal health of depressed people using fluoxetine or venlafaxine since these drugs put good periodontal tissues at risk.

Development and characterization of solvent-based 3D printed polylactic acid/45S5 bioactive glass composites for soft and hard tissue engineering.

With the benefit of offering hydrolysis breakdown and bio-resorption of its products, polylactic acid (PLA) is among the most frequently utilized polymers for many biomedical applications. Composites made of polylactic acid (PLA) and bioactive substances such as bioactive glass (BG) are developing as novel biomaterials because they comprise the mechanical properties and bioactivity of bioactive glass (BG) with the conformability and bio absorption of PLA. In this work, composites of PLA/BG were produced by employing the solvent-based three-dimensional printing process. To accomplish this, 0-2 wt% of BG particles (size ≤ 2 µm) were added to PLA. The resulting composite mix was then fed into a solvent-based 3D printer for the layer-by-layer construction of composites. According to the SEM/EDX investigation, BG particles were evenly dispersed throughout the polymer matrix which resulted in the interfacial bonding between them. FTIR and XRD analysis showed that PLA and BG did not interact chemically. All the composites were evaluated for cytocompatibility by in vitro cellular tests, which also proved their suitability as a substrate for NIH 3T3 cell adherence and growth. The composites were also found to be good in terms of hemocompatibility and platelet adhesion. In conclusion, additional studies on these materials were encouraged by the successful outcomes, which suggested that 3D-printed composite scaffolds consisting of PLA and BG particles might be useful in soft and hard tissue engineering.

Liver Extracellular Matrix-Based Nanofiber Scaffolds for the Culture of Primary Hepatocytes and Drug Screening.

Immortalized liver cell lines and primary hepatocytes are currently used as in vitro models for hepatotoxic drug screening. However, a decline in the viability and functionality of hepatocytes with time is an important limitation of these culture models. Advancements in tissue engineering techniques have allowed us to overcome this challenge by designing suitable scaffolds for maintaining viable and functional primary hepatocytes for a longer period of time in culture. In the current study, we fabricated liver-specific nanofiber scaffolds with polylactic acid (PLA) along with a decellularized liver extracellular matrix (LEM) by the electrospinning technique. The fabricated hybrid PLA-LEM scaffolds were more hydrophilic and had better swelling properties than the PLA scaffolds. The hybrid scaffolds had a pore size of 38 ± 8 µm and supported primary rat hepatocyte cultures for 10 days. Increased viability (2-fold increase in the number of live cells) and functionality (5-fold increase in albumin secretion) were observed in primary hepatocytes cultured on the PLA-LEM scaffolds as compared to those on conventional collagen-coated plates on day 10 of culture. A significant increase in CYP1A2 enzyme activity was observed in hepatocytes cultured on PLA-LEM hybrid scaffolds in comparison to those on collagen upon induction with phenobarbital. Drugs like acetaminophen and rifampicin showed the highest toxicity in hepatocytes cultured on hybrid scaffolds. Also, the lethal dose of these drugs in rodents was accurately predicted as 1.6 g/kg and 594 mg/kg, respectively, from the corresponding IC50 values obtained from drug-treated hepatocytes on hybrid scaffolds. Thus, the fabricated liver-specific electrospun scaffolds maintained primary hepatocyte viability and functionality for an extended period in culture and served as an effective ex vivo drug screening platform to predict an accurate in vivo drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Comparative analysis of PEG-liposomes and RBCs-derived nanovesicles for anti-tumor therapy.

Lipid-based vesicular nanoparticles, for instance liposomes, conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) have proven to be the closest to an ideal drug delivery vehicle, making way for several PEG-liposomes based nanomedicines in market. However, the synthetic nature of the nanomaterial poses a threat to stimulate immune system. Alternatively, nanovesicles derived from mammalian cells, such as RBCs, have gained interests as they may not elicit much immune response due to the presence of host specific self-recognition markers on their surface. While several reports demonstrating the superior efficacy of these naturally derived vesicles have come out in the last few years, a comparison with clinically established liposomes is still missing. Thus, we conducted an in-vitro and in-vivo comparative studies between PEG-Liposomes and nanovesicles (NVEs) derived from red blood cell (RBC) membrane with an aim to establish a biocompatible nanocarrier for efficient delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs and photothermal agents.

Bioresponsive mesoporous silica nanoparticles for triggered drug release.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have garnered a great deal of attention as potential carriers for therapeutic payloads. However, achieving triggered drug release from MSNPs in vivo has been challenging. Here, we describe the synthesis of stimulus-responsive polymer-coated MSNPs and the loading of therapeutics into both the core and shell domains. We characterize MSNP drug-eluting properties in vitro and demonstrate that the polymer-coated MSNPs release doxorubicin in response to proteases present at a tumor site in vivo, resulting in cellular apoptosis. These results demonstrate the utility of polymer-coated nanoparticles in specifically delivering an antitumor payload.

Infection resistant polymer brush coating on the surface of biodegradable polyester.

Biomaterials with anti-infective coatings are usually found to suffer from low cyto-compatibility and therefore, development of a stable, effective polymeric anti-bacterial substrate without compromising the biocompatibility is still an unmet challenge. Addressing this, a simple strategy for developing non-leaching antibacterial coating on a biodegradable substrate is reported here. The strategy can be utilized for mitigating serious biomedical implant related complications arising from generation of biocide resistant bacterial strains, losing antibacterial activity over time etc. without significantly compromising the cytocompatibility of the biomaterials. To develop the infection resistant yet cytocompatible biomaterials comprised of tartaric acid based biodegradable aliphatic polyester, we have primarily focussed on attaching anti-infective polymer brushes such as poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), poly (poly (ethylene glycol) methacrylate) (PPEGMA) and poly[(2-methacryloyloxyethyl] trimethyl ammonium chloride) (PMETA) on hydroxyl functionalized polyester substrate via surface initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SIATRP). The brushes were thoroughly characterized for reaction kinetics, grafting yield, surface density, topography and hydrophilicity. Among the various brushes, cationic polymer brush (PMETA) was found to exhibit highest antibacterial activity, with only ~3% and ~4% adherence of E. coli (Escherichia coli) and S. aureus (Staphylococcus aureus), respectively. In order to show its widespread use and also to vary initiator density, polylactic acid (PLA) was blended with this tartaric acid based aliphatic polyester and a 3D (three-dimensional) scaffold was fabricated by 3D printing using the blend. Finally, PMETA brush was grown onto the scaffold surface for various time periods and the evaluation of antibacterial activity (using gram positive and gram-negative bacteria) and cytocompatibility (using mammalian osteoblast cells) were carried out on the brush modified scaffold. A balance between antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility was found at optimum brush length achieved after 18 h of SIATRP suggesting that this composition offers a stable, non-leaching, anti-infective, but cytocompatible coating on biodegradable polymeric implant surface for addressing several biomaterials associated infections.

Polymeric micelles coated with hybrid nanovesicles enhance the therapeutic potential of the reversible topoisomerase inhibitor camptothecin in a mouse model.

Nanoparticles with longer blood circulation, high loading capacity, controlled release at the targeted site, and preservation of camptothecin (CPT) in its lactone form are the key characteristics for the effective delivery of CPT. In this regard, natural membrane-derived nanovesicles, particularly those derived from RBC membrane, are important. RBC membrane can be engineered to form vesicles or can be coated over synthetic nanoparticles, without losing their basic structural features and can have prolonged circulation time. Here, we developed a hybrid system to encapsulate CPT inside the amphiphilic micelle and coat it with RBC membrane. Thus, it uses the dual ability of polymeric micelles to preserve CPT in its active form, while maintaining its "stealth" effect due to conserved RBC membrane coating. The hybrid system stabilized 60% of the drug in its active form even after 30 h of incubation in serum, in contrast to 15% active form present in free drug formulation after 1 h of incubation. It showed strong retention inside the Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma (EAC) mice models for at least 72 h, suggesting camouflaging ability conferred by RBC membrane. Additionally, the nano formulation retarded the tumor growth rate more efficiently than free drug, with no evident signs of necrotic skin lesions. Histopathological analysis showed a significant reduction in cardiac atrophy, hepato-renal degeneration, and lung metastasis, which resulted in the increased overall survival of mice treated with the nano formulation. Hence, CPT-loaded polymeric micelles when coated with RBC membrane can prove to be a better system for the delivery of poorly soluble drug camptothecin.

A comparative analysis of solvent cast 3D printed carbonyl iron powder reinforced polycaprolactone polymeric stents for intravascular applications.

In the present research, the effectiveness of developed methodology based on solvent cast 3D printing technique was investigated by printing the different geometries of the stents. The carbonyl iron powder (CIP) reinforced polycaprolactone (CIPC) was used to print three pre-existing stent designs such as ABBOTT BVS1.1, PALMAZ-SCHATZ, and ART18Z. The physicochemical behavior was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The radial compression test, three-point bending test and stent deployment test were carried out to analyze the mechanical behavior. The degradation behavior of the stents was investigated in static as well as dynamic environment. To investigate the hemocompatible and cytocompatible behaviors of the stents, platelet adhesion test, hemolysis test, protein adsorption, in vitro cell viability test, and live/dead cell viability assay were performed. The results revealed that stents had the adequate mechanical properties to perform the necessary functions in the human coronary. The degradation studies showed slower degradation rate in the dynamic environment in comparison to static environment. in vitro biological analysis indicated that the stents represented excellent resistance to thrombosis, hemocompatible functions as well as cytocompatible nature. The results concluded that PALMAZ-SCHATZ stent represented better mechanical properties, cell viability, blood compatibility, and degradation behavior.

Phytochemical and pharmacological review of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl-a versatile spice used in food and nutrition.

Cinnamomum verum is the widely used spice for its medicinal and culinary uses since ages. It is native to Sri Lanka and southern India but also distributed in many Asian, Caribbean, Australian and African countries. It is widely used in food preparations and industrial products like candies, chewing gums, mouthwash and toothpaste. It is also used to treat asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, headache, inflammation and cardiac disorders. Cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, caryophyllene, cinnamyl acetate and cinnamic acid are the major compounds found in its essential oil. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, wound healing, anti-HIV, anti-anxiety and antidepressant, etc. This review highlights its comprehensive and up-to-date information on taxonomy, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacological and toxicity activities. Structure-activity relationship, mechanism of action and some research gaps has also been provided. Owing to its immense medicinal importance, more well-designed in-vivo and clinical studies are required.

Biological and mechanical characterization of biodegradable carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone composite material fabricated using three-dimensional printing for cardiovascular stent application.

Biological and mechanical properties of biodegradable polymeric composite materials are strongly influenced by the choice of appropriate reinforcement in the polymer matrix. Non-compatibility of material in the vascular system could obstruct the way of the biological fluids. The concept of development of polymeric composite material for vascular implants is to provide enough support to the vessel and to restore the vessel in the natural state after degradation. In this research, the polycaprolactone composite materials (carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone) were developed by reinforcement of the 0%-2% of carbonyl iron powder using the solvent cast three-dimensional printing technique. The physicochemical properties of developed composites were characterized in conjunction with mechanical and biological properties. The mechanical characterizations were assessed by uniaxial tensile testing as well as flexibility testing. The results of mechanical testing assured that carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone composites have shown desirable properties for vascular implants. Besides the mechanical characterization, in vitro biological investigations of carbonyl iron powder/polycaprolactone were done for analyzing blood compatibility and cytocompatibility. The results revealed that the materials developed were biocompatible, less hemolytic, and having non-thrombogenic properties indicating the promising applications in the field of cardiovascular applications.

Differential expression of inflammatory responsive genes between chronic periodontitis and periodontally affected bronchiectasis patients.

The study aimed to investigate differential expression of targeted inflammatory-immune responsive genes [LTA, LTB, TNFSF4, TNFSF11/RANKL, TNFSF13, TNFSF13B, TNFRSF11B/ Osteoprotegerin; OPG and GFPT1/GFA ] in gingival tissues of bronchiectasis patients having chronic periodontitis in North central Indian population. Gingival tissues were collected from 30 systemically healthy chronic periodontitis patients (CP), 30 bronchiectasis patients with chronic periodontitis (B+CP), 3 systemically healthy with healthy gingiva (healthy control; HC) and 3 bronchiectasis with healthy gingiva (bronchiectasis control; BC). Statistical analysis revealed 7 genes to be significantly upregulated on comparing CP with B+CP i.e LTA (P<0.0001) in B+CP while LTB (P<0.0001), TNFSF4 (P=0.0003), TNFSF11 (P<0.0001), TNFSF13 (P=0.0003), TNFSF13B (P<0.0001) and TNFRSF11B (P=0.0004) in CP group. LTA (Lymphotoxin A) gene could be a potential genetic marker in bronchiectasis patients with chronic periodontitis.

Dysbiosis and Variation in Predicted Functions of the Granulation Tissue Microbiome in HPV Positive and Negative Severe Chronic Periodontitis.

Retrospective analysis has already shown correlation between severe Chronic Periodontitis (CP) cases with human papiloma virus (HPV). Hence, we aimed to explore deep-seated infected granulation tissue removed during periodontal flap surgery procedures for residential bacterial species between HPV+ and HVP- CP cases, which may serve as good predisposition marker for oral cancer. All CP-granulation samples showed the prominence of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla with an abundance of gram negative anaerobes, except Streptococcus. In Beta diversity nonmetric multidimensional scaling plot, the random distribution of species was observed between HPV+ and HPV- CP granulation-samples. However, an abundance of Capnocytophaga ochracea was observed in HPV+ CP samples (p<0.05), while Porphyromonas endodontalis, Macellibacteroides fermentas, Treponema phagedenis, and Campylobacter rectus species were highly abundant in HPV- CP samples (p<0.05). The differential species richness leads altered functions related to mismatch-repair and nucleotide excision-repair and cytoskeleton-proteins. Hence, differential abundance of gram negative bacterial species between HPV+ and HPV- granulation-samples under anaerobic conditions may release virulence factors which may alter pathways favouring carcinogenesis. Hence, these species may serve as good predisposition marker for oral-cancer.

16S rRNA Long-Read Sequencing of the Granulation Tissue from Nonsmokers and Smokers-Severe Chronic Periodontitis Patients.

Smoking has been associated with increased risk of periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to compare the periodontal disease severity among smokers and nonsmokers which may help in better understanding of predisposition to this chronic inflammation mediated diseases. We selected deep-seated infected granulation tissue removed during periodontal flap surgery procedures for identification and differential abundance of residential bacterial species among smokers and nonsmokers through long-read sequencing technology targeting full-length 16S rRNA gene. A total of 8 phyla were identified among which Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were most dominating. Differential abundance analysis of OTUs through PICRUST showed significant (p>0.05) abundance of Phyla-Fusobacteria (Streptobacillus moniliformis); Phyla-Firmicutes (Streptococcus equi), and Phyla Proteobacteria (Enhydrobacter aerosaccus) in nonsmokers compared to smokers. The differential abundance of oral metagenomes in smokers showed significant enrichment of host genes modulating pathways involving primary immunodeficiency, citrate cycle, streptomycin biosynthesis, vitamin B6 metabolism, butanoate metabolism, glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism pathways. While thiamine metabolism, amino acid metabolism, homologous recombination, epithelial cell signaling, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phosphonate/phosphinate metabolism, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, translation factors, Ascorbate and aldarate metabolism, and DNA replication pathways were significantly enriched in nonsmokers, modulation of these pathways in oral cavities due to differential enrichment of metagenomes in smokers may lead to an increased susceptibility to infections and/or higher formation of DNA adducts, which may increase the risk of carcinogenesis.

Modifications of silk film for dual delivery.

Silk biomaterials can be designed to provide an architectural framework comparable to connate extracellular matrix in order to boost cell growth and eventual tissue regeneration. Silk (Bombyx mori) fibroins self-assemble into hydrophobic crystalline ß sheets, which provide mechanical strength and tunable degradability. The next generation of tissue engineering scaffolds aim to provide spatially controlled modulation of cell adhesion and differentiation, which can be achieved by spatially controlled surface functionalization of the scaffolds. In this respect, it is even more important to be able to release molecules at timescales ranging from hours to days, as many biological processes require signals early on to initiate processes, and over prolonged periods to sustain them. Unfortunately, achieving spatio-temporal control over multiple release profiles from silk based substrates is challenging due to their intrinsic slow release behaviour. Here, we report a simple strategy that provides spatio-temporal control over the release of drugs from silk films (SFs). We have developed a UV based strategy to modify the SFs with nanogels, which can provide a fast as well as slow release profile from a single platform. We demonstrate that the release profile of encapsulated molecules on the SF substrate can be tuned from fast (within hours) to slow (within days), thus resulting in a dual release system, which can be eventually utilized to deliver bioactive molecules at specific regions with different rates to achieve the desired multiple biological effects.

Comparative Assessment of Canal Transportation and Centering Ability of Reciproc and One Shape File Systems Using CBCT-An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: Root canal preparation leads to deviation of the canal anatomy causing canal transportation which affects the success of the treatment. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) is a non invasive imaging technique to analyse the shape of the root canal before and after the preparation. AIM: The purpose of this study was to investigate and evaluate the canal transportation in curved mandibular molar root canals and centering ability of Reciproc and One Shape file systems after instrumentation using CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty mandibular molars were taken and allocated into two groups (n=10): Group 1-One Shape and Group 2-Reciproc. The canals were then scanned using CS 3D CBCT scanner (Carestream) before and after preparation, to assess the transportation and centering values at different levels respectively from the apex. The data gathered were then assessed statistically with Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that Reciproc and One Shape showed statistically no significant difference in terms of canal transportation and centering ability (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: One shape and Reciproc performed similar in terms of canal transportation & centering ability.

Inhibition of EHMT2 Induces a Robust Antiviral Response Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infections in Bovine Cells.

The genetic regulatory network controlling the innate immune system is well understood in many species. However, the role of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the expression of immunoregulatory genes is less clear, especially in livestock species. Histone H3 lysine 9 dimethylation (H3K9me2) is an epigenetic modification associated with transcriptional silencing within the euchromatin regions. Euchromatic histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2; also known as G9a) is a crucial enzyme responsible for regulating the dynamics of this epigenetic modification. It has been shown that histone modifications play a role in regulating type I interferon (IFN) response. In the present study, we investigated the role of EHMT2 in the epigenetic regulation of bovine antiviral innate immunity and explored its therapeutic potential against viral infections. We evaluated the effects of pharmacological and RNAi-mediated inhibition of EHMT2 on the transcription of IFN-ß and other IFN-inducible antiviral genes, as well as its effect on foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replication in bovine cells. We show that treatment of primary bovine cells with the synthetic EHMT2 inhibitor (UNC0638) either before or shortly after virus infection resulted in a significant increase in transcript levels of bovine IFN-ß (boIFN-ß; 300-fold) and other IFN-inducible genes, including IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG-15), myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx-1), Mx-2, RIG-I, 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS-1), and protein kinase R (PKR). Expression of these factors correlated with a significant decrease in VSV and FMDV viral titers. Our data confirm the involvement of EHMT2 in the epigenetic regulation of boIFN-ß and demonstrate the activation of a general antiviral state after EHMT2 inhibition.

Controlling the cell adhesion property of silk films by graft polymerization.

We report here a graft polymerization method to improve the cell adhesion property of Bombyx mori silk fibroin films. B. mori silk has evolved as a promising material for tissue engineering because of its biocompatibility and biodegradability. However, silk's hydrophobic character makes cell adhesion and proliferation difficult. Also, the lack of sufficient reactive amino acid residues makes biofunctionalization via chemical modification challenging. Our study describes a simple method that provides increased chemical handles for tuning of the surface chemistry of regenerated silk films (SFs), thus allowing manipulation of their bioactivity. By grafting pAAc and pHEMA via plasma etching, we have increased carboxylic acid and hydroxyl groups on silk, respectively. These modifications allowed us to tune the hydrophilicity of SFs and provide functional groups for bioconjugation. Our strategy also allowed us to develop silk-based surface coatings, where spatial control over cell adhesion can be achieved. This control over cell adhesion in a particular region of the SFs is difficult to obtain via existing methods of modifying the silk fibroin instead of the SF surface. Thus, our strategy will be a valuable addition to the toolkit of biofunctionalization for enhancing SFs' tissue engineering applications.