Long Noncoding Rna GAS5 And Mir-137 And Two Of Their Genetic Polymorphisms Contribute To Acute Ischaemic Stroke Risk In An Egyptian Population.

Objectives: To assess the serum expression levels of long non-coding ribonucleic acid growth arrest specific-5 and micro-ribonucleic acid-137, and the different genotypes of long non-coding ribonucleic acid growth arrestspecific-5 rs2067079 (C>T) and micro-ribonucleic acid-137 rs1625579 (T>G) in acute ischaemic stroke patients. Method: The case-control study was conducted at Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, from January to August 2020, and comprised adult acute ischaemic stroke patients of either gender selected from the stroke unit of the Neurology Department at Kasr Alainy Hospital of Cairo University. Healthy individuals matched for age and gender were enrolled as controls. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify serum expression levels of long non-coding ribonucleic acid growth arrest specific-5 and micro-ribonucleic acid-137, and to genotype long non coding ribonucleic acid lncRNA growth arrest specific-5 rs2067079 and micro-ribonucleic acid-137 rs1625579 using TaqMan allelic discrimination. Data was analysed using SPSS 22. RESULTS: Of the 100 subjects, 50(50%) were patients; 34(68%) males and 16(32%) females with mean age 60.4±10.0 years. The remaining 50(50%) were controls; 28(56%) males and 22(44%) females with mean age 56.9±12.2 years (p>0.05). The patients had more smokers, more hypertensives and more diabetics than the controls (p<0.05). Long non-coding ribonucleic acid growth arrest specific-5 expression levels were significantly increased, while microribonucleic acid-137 expression levels were significantly reduced among the patients(p<0.05). Acute ischaemic stroke risk was significantly higher in patients with growth arrest specific-5 rs2067079 (C>T) recessive model (homozygous minor TT genotype), while micro-ribonucleic acid-137 rs1625579 (T>G) was protective against acute ischaemic stroke in allelic (G minor allele), codominant (GT genotype), dominant (GT+GG), and over-dominant (GT genotype) models (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Long non-coding ribonucleic acid growth arrest specific-5 rs2067079 and micro-ribonucleic acid-137 rs1625579 may act as novel genetic markers of acute ischaemic stroke risk.

Teaching Dental Drawings for Freshman Dental Students and Its Correlation with Manual Dexterity.

Objective: To assess whether the implementation of teeth drawing exercises in a dental anatomy course improves first-year (D1) dental students' understanding of tooth morphology, their dexterity, and their clinical skills compared with D1s who did not participate in the drawing exercises. Methods: In 2020, a "Teeth Drawing Module" was implemented within the D1 dental anatomy curriculum. In this course, students learn how to draw accurate outlines of teeth. The students are required to complete two types of drawing projects. Illustrations and instructions of teeth drawings that are outlined in a manual drawing book, PowerPoint presentations, illustration videos, and assessments are provided. Students' grades in the drawing module, waxing skills assessments, and their didactic exams were used to evaluate and assess the correlation between their drawing aptitude and their manual skills. Students who took the drawing course were compared with students who did not take the drawing course to determine if the drawings improved students' understanding of tooth morphology, their dexterity, and their clinical skills. A comprehensive survey was also developed and distributed to students who had the drawing module in their curriculum. Results: Students who participated in the drawing module were more successful in the dental anatomy course compared with students in the control classes. Classes that had drawing exercises scored significantly higher in all dental anatomy waxing exercises compared with classes that did not have drawing exercises (p < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between drawing and waxing scores (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between drawing and didactic scores (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Drawing exercises can be useful instruments for effectively representing and integrating the spatial domain of anatomical information. Teeth drawings as an adjunctive tool offer excellent visualization and allow students to improve their manual dexterity and knowledge in the dental anatomy course.

Impact of brushing with charcoal on tooth color and enamel loss: An in vitro study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the whitening efficacy of charcoal powder compared to a whitening toothpaste and the surface loss using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). METHODS: 60 human extracted teeth were randomly assigned to two groups: Treatment (T, charcoal group: Premium Nature) and Control (C, whitening toothpaste group: Colgate Optic White). Teeth in the treatment group were brushed with a charcoal paste. Teeth shade was evaluated before and after the intervention. Lightness was assessed using both VITA classical shade guide and VITA Easyshade V. Changes within and between the group were evaluated by the paired-sample t-test and independent sample t-test. Surface roughness (Ra) of samples was performed using SEM, and to assess surface loss a CLSM was used. RESULTS: At baseline, there were no significant differences in teeth lightness, chroma, or hue between both the charcoal and the whitening toothpaste groups (P> 0.05). After 21 days of brushing, teeth brushed with the whitening toothpaste were significantly lighter (VITA Easyshade mean score: 78.34, SD: 8.397; VITA classical A1-D4 shade mean: 8.90, SD: 4.475) than the charcoal group (VITA Easyshade mean: 69.70, SD: 6.364; VITA classical A1-D4 shade mean: 11.77; SD: 3.421) (P< 0.001). In addition, there was a significant reduction in lightness (i.e., increase in darkness) within the charcoal group after the intervention (P< 0.001). There was no significant difference in chroma and hue between the charcoal and the whitening toothpaste groups (P> 0.05). There was no significant tooth loss nor roughness change (P= 0.867) for both groups when compared with natural tooth structure. Brushing teeth with the charcoal paste tested for 21 days had no effect on tooth lightness, chroma, or hue. Charcoal powder had no significant effect on tooth surface roughness. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The Premium Nature charcoal toothpaste tested had no tooth whitening effect.

Characterization of Extraction Sockets by Indirect Digital Root Analysis.

This study aimed to characterize extraction sockets based on indirect digital root analysis. The outcomes of interest were estimated socket volume and dimensions of the socket orifice. A total of 420 extracted teeth, constituting 15 complete sets of permanent teeth (except third molars), were selected. Teeth were scanned to obtain STL files of the root complex for digital analysis. After digitally sectioning each root 2.0 mm apical to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), root volume was measured in mm3 and converted to cc. Subsequently, a horizontal section plane was drawn at the most zenithal level of the buccal CEJ, and the surface area (in mm2) and buccolingual and mesiodistal linear measurements of the socket orifice (in mm) were computed. Maxillary first molars exhibited the largest mean root volume (0.451 ± 0.096 cc) and mandibular central incisors the smallest (0.106 ± 0.02 cc). Surface area analysis demonstrated that mandibular first molars presented the largest socket orifice area (78.56 ± 10.44 mm2), with mandibular central incisors presenting the smallest area (17.45 ± 1.82 mm2). Maxillary first molars showed the largest mean socket orifice buccolingual dimension (11.08 ± 0.60 mm), and mandibular first molars showed the largest mean mesiodistal dimension (9.73 ± 0.84 mm). Mandibular central incisors exhibited the smallest mean buccolingual (5.87 ± 0.26 mm) and mesiodistal (3.52 ± 0.24 mm) linear dimensions. Findings from this study can be used by clinicians to efficiently plan extraction-site management procedures (such as alveolar ridge preservation via socket grafting and sealing) and implant provisionalization therapy, and by the industry to design products that facilitate site-specific execution of these interventions.

Effect of rosmarinic acid on potassium bromate induced renal cortical oxidative stress and apoptosis in adult male albino rat

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is widely used as a food additive and is a major water disinfection by-product, in spite of its well-known oxidative cell and tissue damage. Therefore, the therapeutic efficacy of rosmarinic acid is examined to alleviate KBrO3 mediated renal oxidative damage. For this purpose, 24 adult male albino rats were categorized into four groups; group 1 (control); group 2: received 50 mg/Kg/day rosmarinic acid orally for 4 weeks; group 3: received 20 mg/Kg/dose KBrO3 orally twice weekly for 4 weeks, and group 4: received both KBrO3 and rosmarinic acid. After 4 weeks, serum was collected for analysis of kidney functions and kidneys were sampled for histopathological and biochemical analysis. The results indicated that treatment with rosmarinic acid significantly abated most of the indices and biomarkers of the renal toxicity caused by KBrO3. It significantly ameliorated histopathological changes and the changes in the immunoexpression of proapoptotic protein (Bax), antiapoptotic protein (Bcl2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by KBrO3. Taken together, it could be concluded that the rosmarinic

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Role of Scutellarin in Ameliorating Lung Injury in a Rat Model of Bilateral Hind Limb Ischemia-Reperfusion.

The lung is one of the most sensitive organs that are vulnerable to injuries induced by lower limb ischemia-reperfusion. Scutellarin is a flavonoid glycoside extracted from the Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus. This study aimed to investigate the role of scutellarin in ameliorating lung injury in a rat model of bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups; control, scutellarin, bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion, and bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion followed by scutellarin (at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day for 14 days). Lung specimens were processed for different biochemical and histological techniques. The bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion group showed a significant increase in lung malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase levels as well as a significant decrease in lung glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Histological examination revealed collapsed alveoli, polymorphic mononuclear cell infiltration, thickened dilated congested blood vessels, and excessive collagen fiber deposition in thickened interalveolar septa. A significant increase in iNOS and Bax immunohistochemical expression was associated with a significant decrease in Bcl2 and COX2 expression. Scutellarin administration following bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion significantly ameliorated all studied parameters. It can be concluded that scutellarin could be beneficial in improving bilateral hind limb ischemia-reperfusion-induced lung damage most probably through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects. Anat Rec, 302:2070-2081, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

Comparison of light propagation in dental tissues and nano-filled resin-based composite.

OBJECTIVE: This study used three LASERs (red, green, and blue) with a spectrophotometer to compare the light propagation for the following: absorption (A), transmittance (T), attenuation (K), and scattering anisotropy coefficient (g) in dental tissues and nano-filled resin-based composites. This study used three distinct incremental build-up techniques, which included one shade (body), two shades (enamel and dentin), and three shades (enamel, transparent, and dentin). METHODS: Twenty human, un-erupted, recently extracted third molars (shade B1) were used to obtain 40 tooth slabs. The samples were randomized and equally distributed into four experimental groups. The Positive Control Group included dental tissues with enamel, dento-enamel junction DEJ, and dentin; the Technique 1 group (T1) included one shade tissues, B1B; the Technique 2 group (T2) included two-shades tissues, A2Dentin and B1Enamel; and the Technique 3 group (T3) included three shade tissues, A2Dentin, Transparent, and B1Enamel. Cavity preparation was standardized, and, using the spectrophotometer, each specimen was irradiated by three LASERs. A voltmeter recorded the light-output signal, and from this raw data, the following optical constants (A, T, K, g) were calculated. RESULTS: ANOVA, followed by a post hoc Tukey's test (p < 0.05), revealed that absorption and transmittance in dental tissues were significantly different when comparing the three build-up technique groups. However, when examining attenuation coefficient, there was no significant difference in dental tissues for T2 and T3 as analyzed by blue and red lasers. There was also no significant difference among the three lasers for T2 and T3. There was also no significant effect of the types of experiments on the value of scattering anisotropy factor g for blue laser among the four experimental groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, none of the build-up techniques were able to reproduce the dental tissues optical properties, and T2 and T3 resulted in a similar pattern of light propagation. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical success of restorative procedures depends on selecting materials and techniques that emulate the natural tooth and provide long-term stability in color and optical properties.

Pharmacological Action of a Pregnane Glycoside, Russelioside B, in Dietary Obese Rats: Impact on Weight Gain and Energy Expenditure.

Background and purpose: Russelioside B (RB) is a pregnane glycoside obtained from Caralluma quadrangula; a herb with antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic activities. The present experiment tested the possible role of RB in controlling weight gain in rats fed on high fat (HF) diet. Methods: RB was separated from the n-butanol fraction of the crude methanolic extract by chromatographic separation on a Si gel column according to the procedures described previously. The experiment of the biological assessment of RB used 32 male Wistar rats (4 groups, n = 8). Group 1 rats were fed with a palatable normal diet. Group 2, 3, and 4 were fed on HF diet for 16 weeks. Group 2 served as the HF diet control group while Group 3 and 4 received daily oral doses of RB (25 and 50 mg/kg) during the last four weeks. Animals' parameters like weight gain, fasting level of blood sugar, serum lipids, and serum liver enzyme activities were measured. Liver or adipose tissue weight was divided by the rat's body weight and multiplied by 100 to obtain the liver or adipose tissue index, respectively. Adipose tissues were processed for histopathological examination, measurement of mRNA expression of visfatin, leptin, adiponectin, uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1). Furthermore, serum levels of insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), leptin, resistin, and adiponectin were assessed using ELISA kits. Results: Rats fed with the HF diet exhibited significant body weight gain, abnormal liver function, disturbed lipid profile, and greater serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines in addition to greater insulin resistance, adipose tissue and liver indices. Further, rats fed with the HF diet displayed upregulations in the expression of visfatin and leptin with downregulations in the expression of adiponectin, UCP-1, and CPT-1 compared to normal rats. Interestingly, RB (25 or 50 mg/kg) favorably modulated the measured parameters. Conclusion: Data from this study documented the beneficial role of RB in diminishing weight gain, improving the inflammatory perturbations and energy expenditure in HF diet fed rats. Therefore, RB might be a promising candidate for obesity.