Influence of the shared epitope on the elicitation of experimental autoimmune arthritis biomarkers.

Our previous studies have shown that inoculation of the oral cavity of "humanized" B6.DR1/4 mice with the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis results in an increase in the percentage of circulating Th17 cells, loss of bone and an exacerbation of experimental autoimmune arthritis. The aim of this study was to assess the role played by the human HLA-DRβ molecule containing the shared epitope supplied as a transgene to I-A˚ (murine class II null) C57BL/6 (B6) mice in driving these findings.

Understanding Early-Stage Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis for Future Prospects of Diagnosis: from Knee to Temporomandibular Joint.

Purpose Of Review: Many mechanical load-bearing joints of the body are prone to posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA), including the knee joint and temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Early detection of PTOA can be beneficial in prevention or alleviating further progression of the disease.

Recent Findings: Various mouse models, similar to those used in development of novel diagnosis strategies for early stages of OA, have been proposed to study early PTOA.

A comparison of two types of electrospun chitosan membranes and a collagen membrane in vivo.

Background: Electrospun chitosan membranes subjected to post-spinning processes using either triethylamine/tert-butyloxycarbonyl (TEA/tBOC) or butyryl-anhydride (BA) modifications to maintain nanofiber structure have exhibited potential for use in guided bone regeneration applications. The aim of this study was to evaluate ability of the modified membranes to support healing of bone-grafted defects as compared to a commercial collagen membrane.

Method: TEA/tBOC-treated and BA-treated chitosan membranes were characterized for fiber morphology by electron microscopy, residual trifluoroacetic acid byF NMR and endotoxin level using an endotoxin quantitation kit (ThermoScientific, US).

Vitamin D attenuates human gingival fibroblast inflammatory cytokine production following advanced glycation end product interaction with receptors for AGE.

Background And Objectives: Vitamin D [1,25(OH) D or 1,25D3] is critical in musculoskeletal health, inflammation, immune response, and glucose metabolism. Patients with vitamin D deficiency may be at higher risk of diabetes and periodontitis. Diabetic patients exhibit exacerbated inflammation and more periodontal destruction.

Mechanically stable surface-hydrophobilized chitosan nanofibrous barrier membranes for guided bone regeneration.

The use of chitosan based nanofiber membranes in guided bone regeneration (GBR) is limited by its uncontrolled swelling and mechanical instability in aqueous environments. This paper describes the significantly improved stability and properties of surface butyrylated chitosan nanofiber (BCSNF) membranes that greatly enhance their potential in GBR. The BCSNF membranes exhibited an overall degree of substitution of 1.

Dental and Dental Hygiene Intraprofessional Education: A Pilot Program and Assessment of Students' and Patients' Satisfaction.

Interprofessional and intraprofessional education (when students from two or more professions or within the same profession, respectively, learn about, from, and/or with each other) is crucial for effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness of a clinical intraprofessional education program for dental and dental hygiene students, based on students' expectations and satisfaction with the program and patients' satisfaction with the team-based care. The pilot program was developed at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry, where dental hygiene students were paired randomly with dental students scheduled for prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, or periodontal maintenance.

In vitro and in vivo evaluations of a novel post-electrospinning treatment to improve the fibrous structure of chitosan membranes for guided bone regeneration.

Electrospun chitosan membranes have been investigated for guided bone regeneration but are susceptible to swelling, dissolution, and loss of biomimetic nanofiber structure due to residual acid salts. A novel process was investigated for acidic salt removal from chitosan electrospun in 70% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) by treating with triethylamine (TEA)/acetone and di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (tBOC) instead of the common NaCO treatment. TFA salt removal and nanofiber structure stabilization were confirmed by EDS, FTIR, F NMR and electron microscopy before and after soaking in water.

Bone loss and aggravated autoimmune arthritis in HLA-DRβ1-bearing humanized mice following oral challenge with Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Background: The linkage between periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis is well established. Commonalities among the two are that both are chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by bone loss, an association with the shared epitope susceptibility allele, and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.

Methods: To explore immune mechanisms that may connect the two seemingly disparate disorders, we measured host immune responses including T-cell phenotype and anti-citrullinated protein antibody production in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR1 humanized C57BL/6 mice following exposure to the Gram-negative anaerobic periodontal disease pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Experience and expertise regarding orthodontic management of childhood and adolescent cancer survivors.

Introduction: Great strides in pediatric cancer treatment are allowing hundreds of thousands of children to survive into adulthood. However, these treatments can be responsible for long-term medical and dental complications. The treatments may alter the patients' dental health and require modifications to standard orthodontic care.

Dentoskeletal effects of a temporary skeletal anchorage device-supported rapid maxillary expansion appliance (TSADRME): A pilot study.

Objective: To quantitatively evaluate maxillary skeletal expansion using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and propose a novel way to quantify the dental tipping effects of temporary skeletal anchorage device-supported rapid maxillary expansion appliance (TSADRME).

Materials And Methods: Images from 25 patients receiving rapid maxillary expansion with incorporated temporary skeletal anchorage devices (TSADs) before activation (T1) and after removal (T2) were analyzed to detect dentoskeletal changes.

Results: A significant increase from T1 to T2 was found for all linear measurements except buccal maxillary width at the canines.

Management of oral melanin pigmentation.

Melanin is an endogenous pigment responsible for human tissue coloration of the skin, mucosa, hair, eyes and parts of the brain. In the skin, its function is protection from the harmful effects of UV radiation. Its purpose in oral tissues has not yet been determined.

Bone proteins PHEX and DMP1 regulate fibroblastic growth factor Fgf23 expression in osteocytes through a common pathway involving FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling.

Fibroblastic growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a circulating phosphaturic hormone. Inactivating mutations of the endopeptidase PHEX or the SIBLING protein DMP1 result in equivalent intrinsic bone mineralization defects and increased Fgf23 expression in osteocytes. The mechanisms whereby PHEX and DMP1 regulate Fgf23 expression are unknown.

Mislocalized scaffolding by the Na-H exchanger NHE1 dominantly inhibits fibronectin production and TGF-beta activation.

Secretion and assembly of the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin regulates a number of normal cell and tissue functions and is dysregulated in disease states such as fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer. We found that mislocalized scaffolding by the plasma membrane Na-H exchanger NHE1 suppresses fibronectin expression, secretion, and assembly. In fibroblasts, wild-type NHE1 localizes to the distal margin of membrane protrusions or lamellipodia but a mutant NHE1-KRA2 lacking binding sites for PI(4,5)P2 and the ERM proteins ezrin, radixin, and moesin is mislocalized and found uniformly along the plasma membrane.

Positive feedback between Cdc42 activity and H+ efflux by the Na-H exchanger NHE1 for polarity of migrating cells.

A fundamental feature of cell polarity in response to spatial cues is asymmetric amplification of molecules generated by positive feedback signaling. We report a positive feedback loop between the guanosine triphosphatase Cdc42, a central determinant in eukaryotic cell polarity, and H(+) efflux by Na-H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1), which is necessary at the front of migrating cells for polarity and directional motility. In response to migratory cues, Cdc42 is not activated in fibroblasts expressing a mutant NHE1 that lacks H(+) efflux, and wild-type NHE1 is not activated in fibroblasts expressing mutationally inactive Cdc42-N17.