Antiproliferative effect of low-level laser/ photobiomodulation on gingival fibroblasts derived from calcium channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative properties of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on gingival fibroblasts obtained from calcium channel blocker-induced gingival overgrowth (GO). Gingival fibroblasts of patients with GO were compared to healthy gingival fibroblasts (H). Both cells were exposed to LLLT (685 nm wavelength, 25mW power, diode laser) and compared to those not treated with LLLT. Cell proliferation and viability were measured with MTT assay at baseline and after 24 and 72 h. TGF-ß1, CTGF, and collagen Type 1 levels were evaluated with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). LLLT significantly decreased the proliferation of GO fibroblasts (p < 0.05) while leading to a significantly higher proliferation in H fibroblasts compared to the untreated cells (p < 0.05). GO cells showed significantly higher CTGF, TGF-ß, and collagen Type 1 expression than the H cells (p < 0.05). LLLT significantly reduced CTGF levels in GO cells compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In H cells, CTGF and TGF-ß levels were also significantly decreased in response to LLLT compared to the control group (p < 0.05). While LLLT significantly reduced collagen expression in the H group (p < 0.05), it did not significantly impact the GO cells. LLLT significantly reduced the synthesis of the growth factors and collagen in both groups with an antiproliferative effect on the gingival fibroblasts from calcium channel blocker-induced GO, suggesting that it can offer a therapeutic approach in the clinical management of drug-induced GO, reversing the fibrotic changes.

Anti-proliferative impact of resveratrol on gingival fibroblasts from juvenile hyaline fibromatosis.

AIM: Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound with biological activities such as anti-inflammation and antioxidation. Its anti-fibrotic effect has been experimentally demonstrated in the pancreas and liver. This study aims to determine the anti-proliferative effect of resveratrol on fibroblasts obtained from hyperplastic gingival tissues from a patient diagnosed with Juvenile Hyaline Fibromatosis (JHF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary gingival fibroblast cell lines were obtained from gingival growth tissues by the gingivectomy of a patient with JHF. Gingival fibroblasts were treated with or without 3 different doses of resveratrol (50, 100, 200 µM). Cytotoxicity and cell proliferation were evaluated after 24, 48, and 72 h. Collagen, TGF, and CTGF were analyzed by ELISA in the 48-hour supernatants. RESULTS: All three doses of resveratrol suppressed the proliferation of JHF gingival fibroblasts at 24 and 48 h without showing any cytotoxic effect compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). At 72 h, 100 and 200 µM resveratrol showed significantly less proliferation (p < 0.0001), less collagen, CTGF, and TGF- ß (p < 0.001) than the control group. CONCLUSION: Resveratrol had a profound anti-proliferative effect on gingival fibroblasts obtained from gingival enlargements with JHF, suggesting that it can be used as a therapeutic to prevent excessive cell growth by suppressing collagen, CTGF, and TGF- ß synthesis in the pathogenesis of hyperplasia.

How much information regarding gingival enlargement can we get from TikTok and YouTube?

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the reliability and quality of the information about gingival enlargements on YouTube and TikTok. METHODS: Two popular video sites, YouTube and TikTok, were searched for gingival enlargement and gingival hyperplasia. The reliability and quality of the first 300 videos for each search term, which is 1200 videos in total, were evaluated by social media video content evaluation tools: Global Quality Score (GQS) for quality and modified DISCERN for reliability. RESULTS: Health professionals uploaded 68.6% of the videos on YouTube and 54.5% on TikTok. It was observed that 50% of TikTok videos and 65.9% of YouTube videos were educational. In terms of quality, 2.7% of the videos on YouTube are of excellent quality, while in TikTok there are no videos of perfect quality. TikTok videos had considerably more views, likes, viewing rates, and interaction index scores than YouTube videos (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The videos and pieces of information on YouTube are more reliable and accurate in terms of gingival enlargement when compared to TikTok. Nevertheless, it was discovered that videos on both platforms were of poor reliability and quality in general.

SARS-CoV-2 Mutations and their Viral Variants.

Mutations in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occur spontaneously during replication. Thousands of mutations have accumulated and continue to since the emergence of the virus. As novel mutations continue appearing at the scene, naturally, new variants are increasingly observed. Since the first occurrence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, a wide variety of drug compounds affecting the binding sites of the virus have begun to be studied. As the drug and vaccine trials are continuing, it is of utmost importance to take into consideration the SARS-CoV-2 mutations and their respective frequencies since these data could lead the way to multi-drug combinations. The lack of effective therapeutic and preventive strategies against human coronaviruses (hCoVs) necessitates research that is of interest to the clinical applications. The reason why the mutations in glycoprotein S lead to vaccine escape is related to the location of the mutation and the affinity of the protein. At the same time, it can be said that variations should occur in areas such as the receptor-binding domain (RBD), and vaccines and antiviral drugs should be formulated by targeting more than one viral protein. In this review, a literature survey in the scope of the increasing SARS-CoV-2 mutations and the viral variations is conducted. In the light of current knowledge, the various disguises of the mutant SARS-CoV-2 forms and their apparent differences from the original strain are examined as they could possibly aid in finding the most appropriate therapeutic approaches.

Host variations in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the zoonotic pathogen that causes the "Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19)", and COVID-19 itself is yet to be thoroughly understood. Both the disease as well as the mechanisms by which the host interacts with the SARS-CoV-2 have not been fully enlightened. The epidemiological factors -e.g. age, sex, race-, the polymorphisms of the host proteins, the blood types and individual differences have all been in discussions about affecting the progression and the course of COVID-19 both individually and collectively, as their effects are mostly interwoven. We focused mainly on the effect of polymorphic variants of the host proteins that have been shown to take part in and/or affect the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Additionally, how the procedures of diagnosing and treating COVID-19 are affected by these variants and what possible changes can be implemented are the other questions, which are sought to be answered.