A quest for cytosolic sequons and their functions.

Evolution shapes protein sequences for their functions. Here, we studied the moonlighting functions of the N-linked sequon NXS/T, where X is not P, in human nucleocytosolic proteins. By comparing membrane and secreted proteins in which sequons are well known for N-glycosylation, we discovered that cyto-sequons can participate in nucleic acid binding, particularly in zinc finger proteins. Our global studies further discovered that sequon occurrence is largely proportional to protein length. The contribution of sequons to protein functions, including both N-glycosylation and nucleic acid binding, can be regulated through their density as well as the biased usage between NXS and NXT. In proteins where other PTMs or structural features are rich, such as phosphorylation, transmembrane ɑ-helices, and disulfide bridges, sequon occurrence is scarce. The information acquired here should help understand the relationship between protein sequence and function and assist future protein design and engineering.

Discovery and Visualization of the Hidden Relationships among N-Glycosylation, Disulfide Bonds, and Membrane Topology.

Membrane proteins (MPs) are functionally important but structurally complex. In particular, MPs often carry three structural features, i.e., transmembrane domains (TMs), disulfide bonds (SSs), and N-glycosylation (N-GLYCO). All three features have been intensively studied; however, how the three features potentially correlate has been less addressed in the literature. With the growing accuracy from computational prediction, we used publicly available information on SSs and N-GLYCO and analyzed the potential relationships among post-translational modifications (PTMs) and the predicted membrane topology in the human proteome. Our results suggested a very close relationship between SSs and N-GLYCO that behaved similarly, whereas a complementary relation between the TMs and the two PTMs was also revealed, in which the high SS and/or N-GLYCO presence is often accompanied by a low TM occurrence in a protein. Furthermore, the occurrence of SSs and N-GLYCO in a protein heavily relies on the protein length; however, TMs seem not to possess such length dependence. Finally, SSs exhibits larger potential dynamics than N-GLYCO, which is confined by the presence of sequons. The special classes of proteins possessing extreme or unique patterns of the three structural features are comprehensively identified, and their structural features and potential dynamics help to identify their susceptibility to different physiological and pathophysiological insults, which could help drug development and protein engineering.

Surgical management of fractured orthodontic mini- implant- a case report.

The idea of absolute anchorage has always been an elusive goal for clinicians. Orthodontic mini-implants or temporary anchorage devices allow tooth movements previously thought to be impossible or difficult. Although extensive literature exists on use of temporary anchorage devices, their failures have been hardly focused upon, especially implant fracture. The following case report describes successful management of fractured orthodontic mini-implant.

Platform switching: A panacea for bone loss??

The goal of modern implant therapy entails more than just the successful osseointegration of the implant. A successful result must also include an esthetic and functional restoration surrounded by stable peri-implant tissue levels that are in harmony with the existing dentition. In an attempt to improve long-term bone maintenance around implants, a new implant-to abutment connection referred to as "platform switching" has been proposed. It refers to the use of an abutment of smaller diameter connected to an implant neck of larger diameter. Platform switching is a simple and effective way to control circumferential bone loss around dental implants. This short communication aims to present an overview of concept of platform switching in dental implantology.

Assessment of gingival contours for esthetic diagnosis and treatment: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to quantify some clinical parameters that are useful as esthetic guidelines when the gingival contour is modified and to compare the left and right sides of the six maxillary anterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and forty interdental papilla sites in 20 healthy patients were evaluated. Interdental papilla heights of maxillary anterior teeth were measured from the gingival zenith, along with clinical crown lengths. Percentages of papilla height to crown length were computed and defined as papilla proportion, mesial papilla proportion (MPP) and distal papilla proportion (DPP). RESULTS: Mean interdental papilla heights of maxillary teeth was 3.83 mm mesially and 3.8 mm distally. Mean MPP was 43.69% ( n = 120) and DPP was 44.57% ( n = 120). No significant differences were found between MPP and DPP for maxillary incisors ( P ≥ 0.5). CONCLUSION: Papilla proportions were approximately 44% for all tooth groups. Canines demonstrated a trend toward increased distal papilla heights. In the present study the average MPP and DPP of the central incisor (CI), lateral incisor (LI) and canine (CA) measured were 43%, 41%, 46%, 40%, and 42% 51% respectively.

A novel approach for treatment of an unusual presentation of radicular cysts using autologous periosteum and platelet-rich fibrin in combination with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft.

Radicular cysts are the most common cystic lesions affecting the jaws. They are most commonly found at the apices of the involved teeth. This condition is usually asymptomatic but can result in a slow-growth tumefaction in the affected region. The following case report presents the successful treatment of radicular cysts using autologous periosteum and platelet-rich fibrin with demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft.

Effect of periodontal therapy on serum C-reactive protein levels in patients with gingivitis and chronic periodontitis: a clinicobiochemical study.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of periodontal therapy on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with gingivitis and chronic periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 subjects (30 males and 30 females) were included in the study with 20 subjects in each of the groups classified based on community periodontal index (CPI) scores: I: Healthy, II: Gingivitis, III: Mild periodontitis. Periodontal therapy was performed on groups II and III patients. Venous blood was collected from each subject at baseline and 3 months after periodontal therapy. The collected sample was subjected to biochemical analysis to detect CRP levels by using immunoturbidimetric method. RESULTS: The present study demonstrated that the periodontitis group had a higher mean CRP levels (2.49 ± 0.47 ng/ml) as compared to the gingivitis group (1.40 ± 0.32 ng/ml) and healthy group (0.56 ± 0.20 ng/ml). The mean CRP values after periodontal therapy were found to be reduced to 0.44 ± 0.23 ng/ml in group II and 1.30 ± 0.36 ng/ml in group III patients. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that CRP level progressively increases from periodontal health to disease. A decrease in CRP levels with periodontal treatment was also observed. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Due to its opsonizing abilities CRP plays an important role in the innate host defence. It can be hypothesized that CRP is a potential biomarker of periodontal disease. A number of studies have reported elevated serum CRP levels in periodontitis subjects. Long standing periodontal disease and raised CRP levels enhance the risk of cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular accidents and preterm low birth weight infants. There is also evidence that effective periodontal therapy can lower serum CRP levels. However, the data of interventional studies on CRP in gingivitis and periodontitis is scarce.

Periodontal status in subjects with hyperlipidemia and determination of association between hyperlipidemia and periodontal health: a clinicobiochemical study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the periodontal status in subjects with hyperlipidemia and to determine whether there is any association between hyperlipidemia and periodontitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty subjects with hyperlipidemia and 60 normolipidemic subjects participated in the study. Biochemical parameters assessed included plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Periodontal parameters assessed included plaque index (PI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL) and percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP). RESULTS: Hyperlipidemic patients showed signifcantly higher values across the four periodontal parameters. Plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C were signifcantly and positively associated with PD, BOP and CAL (p = 0.05). Whereas HDL-C levels were signifcantly and negatively associated with PD, BOP and CAL (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with hyperlipidemia manifested higher values of periodontal parameters compared to control group. Poorly controlled hyperlipidemia had a destructive impact on periodontium. A cyclic relationship exists between serum lipids, periodontitis and systemic health. Clinical signifcance: The relationship between periodontium and systemic factors is bidirectional and interlinked. Therefore, dentists and physicians should take this into account while treating patients, aiming for the overall betterment of the patient.