Interplay between dental caries pathogens, periodontal pathogens, and sugar molecules: approaches for prevention and treatment.

Globally, oral diseases affect nearly 3.5 billion people, accounting for 4.6% of the healthcare expenditure. Common oral diseases include dental caries and periodontal disease, associated with biofilms formed by cariogenic pathogens. Epidemiological studies associate carbohydrates with these diseases due to  the sugars metabolized by cariogenic pathogens. This review focuses on dental caries and periodontal pathogens, quorum sensing, lectin-carbohydrate interactions, and various sugar molecules. Cariogenic sugars significantly influence biofilms by enhancing pathogen adhesion, viability, and gene expressions associated with biofilm formation. Moreover, lectin-carbohydrate interactions contribute to biofilm stability. Disrupting these interactions is a potential strategy for oral disease prevention. The use of nanoparticles, such as quantum dots, provides novel insights into lectin-sugar interactions and the development of inhibitors. Additionally, nanomaterials like calcium phosphate nanoparticles neutralize acids and inhibit microbial growth. This overview emphasizes understanding the relationships between oral diseases, microbial communities, and sugars to devise preventive and therapeutic strategies against oral diseases.

Silk Hydrogel for Tissue Engineering: A Review.

AIM: This review aims to explore the importance of silk hydrogel and its potential in tissue engineering (TE). BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering is a procedure that incorporates cells into the scaffold materials with suitable growth factors to regenerate injured tissue. For tissue formation in TE, the scaffold material plays a key role. Different forms of silk fibroin (SF), such as films, mats, hydrogels, and sponges, can be easily manufactured when SF is disintegrated into an aqueous solution. High precision procedures such as micropatterning and bioprinting of SF-based scaffolds have been used for enhanced fabrication. REVIEW RESULTS: In this narrative review, SF physicochemical and mechanical properties have been presented. We have also discussed SF fabrication techniques like electrospinning, spin coating, freeze-drying, and physiochemical cross-linking. The application of SF-based scaffolds for skeletal, tissue, joint, muscle, epidermal, tissue repair, and tympanic membrane regeneration has also been addressed. CONCLUSION: SF has excellent mechanical properties, tunability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Silk hydrogels are an ideal scaffold matrix material that will significantly impact tissue engineering applications, given the rapid scientific advancements in this field.

Eugenol-piperine loaded polyhydroxy butyrate/polyethylene glycol nanocomposite-induced apoptosis and cell death in nasopharyngeal cancer (C666-1) cells through the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a malignancy developing from the nasopharynx epithelium due to smoking and nitrosamine-containing foods. Nasopharyngeal cancer is highly endemic to Southeast Asia. Eugenol and piperine have shown many anticancer activities on numerous cancer types, like colon, lung, liver, and breast cancer. In this study, we amalgamated eugenol and piperine loaded with a polyhydroxy butyrate/polyethylene glycol nanocomposite (Eu-Pi/PHB-PEG-NC) for better anticancer results against nasopharyngeal cancer (C666-1) cells. In the current study, nasopharyngeal cancer cell lines C666-1 were utilized to appraise the cytotoxic potential of Eug-Pip-PEG-NC on cell propagation, programmed cell death, and relocation. Eu-Pi/PHB-PEG-NC inhibits cellular proliferation on C666-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and when compared with 20 µg/ml, 15 µg/ml of loaded mixture evidently restrained the passage aptitude of C666-1 cells, this was attended with a downregulated expression of mitochondrial membrane potential. Treatment with 15 µg/ml Eu-Pi/PHB-PEG-NC suggestively amplified cell apoptosis in the C666-1 cells. Furthermore, its cleaved caspase-3, 8, and 9 and Bax gene expression was augmented and Bcl-2 gene expression was diminished after Eu-Pi/PHB-PEG-NC treatment. Additionally, our data established that the collective effect of Eu-Pi/PHB-PEG-NC loaded micelles inhibited the expansion of C666-1 cells augmented apoptosis connected with the intrusion of PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Orthodontic treatment in adults: Challenges, outcomes, and factors affecting compliance and satisfaction.

BACKGROUND: The demand for orthodontic treatment among adults has witnessed a substantial rise in recent years. This study aims to explore the complexities of adult orthodontics, focusing on challenges faced, treatment outcomes, and the influence of factors such as age, gender, and education on patient compliance and satisfaction. METHODS: A multi-dimensional approach was employed, combining a review of clinical records with structured patient surveys. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic characteristics, treatment duration, and orthodontic problems addressed. Inferential statistics included Pearson correlation, Chi-squared tests, and analysis of variance to examine age compliance, gendersatisfaction, and education-orthodontic problem relationships. Qualitative analysis enriched findings, and statistical software facilitated data processing. RESULTS: The analysis revealed a statistically significant negative correlation between age and compliance (r = -0.28, P < 0.05), indicating that younger participants demonstrated higher compliance rates. Gender emerged as a significant factor influencing patient satisfaction (P = 0.024), with females reporting notably higher levels of satisfaction than males. Furthermore, participants with advanced education levels (Master's/Ph.D.) were significantly more likely to have orthodontic issues related to malocclusion (P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: The study provides an insight into the multi-dimensional aspects of adult orthodontics, recognizing the challenges, compliance, and satisfaction levels. Tailored approaches considering age, gender, and education are essential. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of orthodontic treatment in adults and its potential implications for enhanced patient care.

Effect of different drugs for controlling post-operative swelling after implant surgery among Indians.

Pain and swelling are common complications associated with dental implant surgery. Forty five patients were included in this study (Group 1: Paracetamol+ amoxicillin (n=15), Group 2: Paracetamol+ Cold packs (n=15), Group 3: Paracetamol (n=15)). Post op drugs were given based on the group, and Pre and post-operative photographs were evaluated with Adobe photoshop software. The photographs were evaluated with Adobe Photoshop for Statistical analysis was done by repeated measures ANOVA. The first day post-surgery, there was increased swelling in group 1 with mean surface area of swelling of 47.6±2.1 mm2 and considerable decrease in group 2, 42.1±3.5 mm2. The surface area of swelling in this group was maintained in the same range till Day 7.

Post-operative pain management using two drugs following dental implant surgery among Indians.

It is of interest to assess two drug regimens for managing pain and swelling in 40 dental implant surgery patients. Visual analogue scale readings were taken at 24 hours, 72 hours and 1 week. Data shows that a combination of acetaminophen and aceclofenac with trypsin - chymotrypsin was found to be more effective than acetaminophen alone.

Molecular docking analysis of a virulence factor protein dentilisin from Treponema denticola with oxazole piperazine derivatives.

Dentilisin is a surface protease synthesized by the cell wall of Treponema denticola. This protein aids in the invasion of the periodontal tissue by causing infection. To identify drug molecules that have better results, homology modeling of the dentilisin protein was constructed, and molecular docking was performed with the oxazole compounds (1-6) taken from previous studies that are not yet clinically used. Data shows that compounds 1, 2, 3 show better inhibiting properties.

Diabetes linked oral complications in south Indian cohorts.

Diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance. In poorly controlled or uncontrolled diabetes, persistent hyperglycemia causes oral and systemic problems. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate biochemical indicators for oral health and diabetes using a fully automatic biochemistry analyzer which separates patient serum from blood samples. Data shows that diabetic oral complex patients showed high RBS, HbA1c, FBS, and PBSS. Thus, dental condition is linked to diabetes.

Molecular docking analysis of oxazole compounds with the heme-binding protein from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a peripathogen, has several methods to impede or modify the protective mechanisms of the teeth. Targeting the inhibition of the heme protein will prevent the organism from multiplying and inhibit the virulence mechanism. The literature derived oxazole compounds (1-5) were docked against the protein's active site, and the results show that the selected oxazole derivatives exhibit better interaction compared to clinically proven drugs.

Gene expression analysis of alkaline phosphatase in peri-implantitis tissue.

Peri-implantitis is a condition that causes inflammation and bone loss around dental implants. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a gene involved in the inflammation of the tissue. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the expression of the ALP gene around the peri-implantitis site. 20 samples were collected and analyzed using qRT-PCR, and statistical analysis was performed. The results showed a significant decrease in ALP expression in infected peri-implantitis tissue compared to normal tissue, indicating that ALP gene is involved in the inflammation of peri-implantitis and correlates with clinical findings.

Correlation between CT - derived bone density and optimal bone densities acquired from CBCT scans.

It is of interest to explore the correlation between preoperative bone density, assessed via CBCTT, and primary stability of dental implants, assessed by torque ratchet. A total of 100 patients who had implant placed were taken a sample for this retrospective study. The Hounsfield units (HU) derived preoperative bone densities at implant sites that were acquired with the help of the CBCT and the primary stability was achieved during the day of surgery. Both were compared to optimum bone densities. Statistical correlation was done between the HU and Bone density. Data suggests that evaluating HU values, along with other parameters, before performing implant surgery could lead to better primary implant stability.

Inflammation in smokers and non-smokers during implant surgery among Indians.

One of the main drawbacks faced by the dental implant surgeons is to assess the healing of the tissues and implant success for patients who are smokers. It is of interest to evaluate inflammatory biomarkers to understand the soft and hard tissue healing between smokers and non-smokers based on levels of IL-6 and STAT-3. This study included totally 20 patients (Group 1 : smokers (n=10) and Group 2: non-smokers (n=10)) undergoing stage-1 implant surgery and collected a tissue sample for the patients to assess the levels of IL-6 and STAT-3. The results indicated that there is a pronounced increase in the biomarkers in patients who are smokers in comparison to non-smokers.

Influence of antagonist tooth on mandibular implant positioning during surgery among Indians

A retrospective radiographic analysis of cone beam computed tomographic radiographs of 42 patients who had undergone dental implant therapy at the department of implantology, Saveetha Dental College Hospitals, India. The mean angular deviation was 3.17 ° in the anterior, 1.6° in the premolar and 0.81° in the molar region. Data shows that free hand placement could be done with minimal deviation taking the opposing dentition as a guide.

Molecular docking analysis of imidazole quinolines with gingipain R from Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is known to produce major virulence factor, Gingipain R that could penetrate the gingivae and cause tissue destruction. In this research we aim to target the gingipain R protein with imidazole quinoline derivatives (1-6) via insilico means. Molecular docking results show, compounds (1-6) have better affinity and amino acid interactions compared to the standard clinically proven drugs used as control group, and they obey Lipinski's rule of five and can be used as potential drug candidates to inhibit gingipain R.

Molecular docking analysis of thiazo inhibitors with the virulent factor cystalysin from Treponema denticola.

Treponema Denticola has a virulent protein called cystalysin, which causes periodontitis. Therefore, it is of interest to design efficient drug that may have fewer side effects than the present clinical drugs, considering most of them are multidrug resistant. The molecular docking analysis show that the selected thiazo derivatives (1-6) show better binding energies and amino acid interactions compared to the clinically proven drugs proving to be potential inhibitors against the protein.

Molecular docking analysis of Indole based oxadiazoles with the H-binding protein from Treponema denticola.

Treponema denticola is a gram-negative bacteria that is associated with periodontal diseases. Literature derived, six indole based oxadiazole derivatives are docked with the target Factor H binding protein (fHbp) protein. Results show better docking interaction compared to clinically proven drugs and all compounds obey Lipinski's rule of five. Hence, the compounds were inferred to be potential inhibitors for factor H binding protein of Treponema denticola.

Fabrication of Biogenic Titanium Nanoparticles and Investigating Their Biological Properties for Dental Applications.

INTRODUCTION: Oral inflammation, often triggered by infections, injuries, or immune responses, can compromise treatment outcomes, delay healing, and contribute to patient discomfort. The development of green nanoparticle synthesis methods is receiving attention due to their potential advantages over existing approaches. These procedures use commonly available, affordable, and environmentally friendly natural plant extracts. Due to their numerous uses in various industries, titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) have attracted the most attention among the nanoparticles. In this study, we present the green synthesis of Myristica fragrans (mace) extract as a reductant and stabilizer for the production of curcumin-functionalized TiO2NPs (CTN). We additionally evaluated the effectiveness of these nanoparticles as anti-inflammatory agents. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to develop biogenic TiO2NPs using Myristica fragrans as a natural capping agent and functionalized with curcumin for effectively managing oral inflammation in dental applications. METHODS: The nanoparticles were synthesized using the green synthesis method and characterized using various characterization techniques. Biocompatibility was evaluated using hemolytic assays, and the bioactivity of the nanoparticles was assessed using anti-inflammatory assays. RESULTS: Curcumin-coated M-TiO2NPs (MCTN) were successfully synthesized and characterized by various techniques, confirming their morphology, crystallinity, functionalization, elemental composition, size, and stability. In vitro bioactivity studies revealed that MCTN exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, as evidenced by the inhibition of protein denaturation with minimal hemolytic potential. These findings highlight the potential of MCTN as a promising candidate for anti-inflammatory applications. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MCTN exhibits promising anti-inflammatory and anti-hemolytic properties. However, further in-depth in vivo analysis is required to fully understand their efficacy and toxicity.

Awareness about Patterson syndrome among dental students.

The aim is to create awareness about Patterson syndrome among dental students. Patterson-Stevenson-Fontaine syndrome is a very rare condition marked by irregular facial bone and tissue growth (mandibulofacial dysostosis) as well as limb abnormalities. A recessed jaw (retrognathism), cleft palate, and external ear defects are all possible symptoms of this disorder. A total of 112 undergraduate dental students participated in a longitudinal cross-sectional sample. To assess college students' awareness about Patterson syndrome, a self-administered, closed-ended questionnaire was developed and distributed. The only language allowed was English. The results were analyzed in SPSS software version 23. 10.71% of females and 14.29% of males were aware about Patterson syndrome. 32.14% of females and 38.39% of males were aware that Patterson syndrome was a rare adrenal disorder. We can conclude that very few of the population which was only 25% of the dental students were aware about Patterson syndrome and this survey helped in creating awareness about this syndrome.

Knowledge and awareness of celiac disease among the dental students.

Consumption of gluten triggers an autoimmune disease known as celiac disease (CD). This is also referred to as nontropical sprue, celiac sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Gluten is a protein present in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. It is due to gluten that the dough becomes elastic and provides bread its chewy texture. The aim of this study is to assess the awareness and knowledge of CD among dental students. This survey is totally based on CD and its awareness among dental students. A survey was conducted among 100 students who are volunteers underneath. This survey contained questionnaires of CD causes, symptoms, treatment, etc., and the accrued was analyzed using SPSS statistics. The result shows that CD affects mainly the small intestine being chosen by 38.61% of students. The symptoms of CD as chronic diarrhea are chosen by 63.37%. The main cause of the disease is due to gluten chosen by 9.90%. Some of the gluten-free foods are chosen by 22.77% of students. In the Chi-square test, the association between the awareness of CD and students shows that postgraduate (PG) students are more aware than undergraduate (UG) students. However, this is not statistically significant since P > 0.05 (P = 0.088). The correlation graph says that the PGs are more aware than the undergraduates, and UGs have poor knowledge about this disease.

Knowledge, awareness, and perception on root canal treatment among South Indian population - A survey.

The pulp is removed, and the interior of the tooth is cleaned and sealed during root canal treatment. Root canals are dreaded by many people because they are considered to be painful. The following are indicators of pulpal damage, color changes, swelling, thermal sensitivity, and pain in the gums. The pulp gets inflamed or diseased when it becomes infected, then RCT or extraction is needed to eliminate the inflamed or infected tissue and heal that particular region. The questionnaire was circulated to the sample population through a Google Docs link. Pie charts with a frequency table were created when the survey data were acquired. The Chi-square test was used to evaluate the connection using the SPSS software. Eighty-four percent of people are aware of RCT and what it is intended for and 80% of the participants themselves have undergone endodontic treatment. Most of the South Indian population were aware of root canal treatment and have undergone an RCT procedure.