Assessment and comparison of clinical dental status and its impact on oral health-related quality of life among rural and urban adults of Udaipur, India: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Dental diseases negatively influence people's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and thus their perceived need for dental care. QoL is increasingly acknowledged as a valid, appropriate and significant indicator of service need and intervention outcomes in contemporary public health research and practice.

Objectives: (1) To assess the psychometric properties of oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) scale among rural and urban OHIP of Udaipur population.

PKC δ and βII regulate angiotensin II-mediated fibrosis through p38: a mechanism of RV fibrosis in pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) eventually leads to right ventricular (RV) fibrosis and dysfunction that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Although angiotensin II plays an important role in RV remodeling associated with hypoxic PH, the molecular mechanisms underlying RV fibrosis in PH largely remain unresolved. We hypothesized that PKC-p38 signaling is involved in RV collagen accumulation in PH and in response to angiotensin II stimulation.

Signaling factor interactions with polysaccharide aggregates of bacterial biofilms.

Biofilms are surface-attached colonies of bacteria embedded in an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Inside the eukaryotic hosts, bacterial biofilms interact with the host cells through signaling factors (SFs). These signaling processes play important roles in the interaction between bacteria and host cells and the outcome of infections and symbiosis.

MCL-1 and BCL-xL-dependent resistance to the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-199 can be overcome by preventing PI3K/AKT/mTOR activation in lymphoid malignancies.

Overexpression of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family members is a hallmark of many lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that can be targeted with small molecule inhibitors. ABT-199 is a rationally designed BCL-2 homology (BH)-3 mimetic that specifically binds to BCL-2, but not to MCL-1 and BCL-xL. Although the thrombocytopenia that occurs with navitoclax treatment has not been a problem with ABT-199, clinical trials in CLL could benefit by lowering the ABT-199 concentration through targeting other survival pathways.

Ventricular conduction and long-term heart failure outcomes and mortality in African Americans: insights from the Jackson Heart Study.

Background: QRS prolongation is associated with adverse outcomes in mostly white populations, but its clinical significance is not well established for other groups. We investigated the association between QRS duration and mortality in African Americans.

Methods And Results: We analyzed data from 5146 African Americans in the Jackson Heart Study stratified by QRS duration on baseline 12-lead ECG.

Caspase-3 activation is a critical determinant of genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis.

Apoptosis can be measured by number of methods by taking advantage of the morphological, biochemical, and molecular changes undergoing in a cell during this process. The best recognized biochemical hallmark of both early and late stages of apoptosis is the activation of cysteine proteases (caspases). Detection of active caspase-3 in cells and tissues is an important method for apoptosis induced by a wide variety of apoptotic signals.

Comparison of the Debonding Characteristics of Conventional and New Debonding Instrument used for Ceramic, Composite and Metallic Brackets - An Invitro Study.

Background: Debonding procedure is time consuming and damaging to the enamel if performed with improper technique. Various debonding methods include: the conventional methods that use pliers or wrenches, an ultrasonic method, electrothermal devices, air pressure impulse devices, diamond burs to grind the brackets off the tooth surface and lasers. Among all these methods, using debonding pliers is most convenient and effective method but has been reported to cause damage to the teeth.

NS1619-induced vasodilation is enhanced and differentially mediated in chronically hypoxic lungs.

Purpose: To identify the effect of the benzimidazalone derivative, NS1619, on modulating pulmonary vascular tone in lungs from rats exposed to normoxia (21% FiO2) or chronic hypoxia (10% FiO2) for three weeks.

Methods: Isolated perfused lungs were preconstricted (U46619), and dose-dependent vasodilation to NS1619 was assessed. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible, NS1619 vasodilatory responses were assessed following inhibition of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated (BKCa; iberiotoxin and paxilline), L-type Ca2+ (nifedipine), K+ (tetraethylammonium), Cl- (niflumic acid), and cation/TRP (lanthanum) channels, as well as nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME).

Study design and rationale for investigating phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension due to chronic obstructive lung disease: the TADA-PHiLD (TADAlafil for Pulmonary Hypertension associated with chronic obstructive Lung Disease) trial.

In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), moderate or severe pulmonary hypertension (COPD-PH) is associated with increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite this, approaches to treatment and the efficacy of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition (PDE-5i) in COPD-PH are unresolved. We present the clinical rationale and study design to assess the effect of oral tadalafil on exercise capacity, cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, and clinical outcome measures in COPD-PH patients.

Rare presentation of genitourinary tuberculosis masquerading as renal cell carcinoma: a histopathological surprise.

Genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) is a rare extrapulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis (TB). Various forms of presentation are described and in most cases the disease results in calcification, atrophy, or necrosis of the renal parenchyma. The kidney is not generally palpable except in cases of hydronephrosis due to an upper ureteric stricture.

Six-minute magnetic resonance imaging protocol for evaluation of acute ischemic stroke: pushing the boundaries.

Background And Purpose: If magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to compete with computed tomography for evaluation of patients with acute ischemic stroke, there is a need for further improvements in acquisition speed.

Methods: Inclusion criteria for this prospective, single institutional study were symptoms of acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours onset, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≥3, and absence of MRI contraindications. A combination of echo-planar imaging (EPI) and a parallel acquisition technique were used on a 3T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner to accelerate the acquisition time.

Elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure predicts heart failure admissions in African Americans: Jackson Heart Study.

Background: Although elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) is associated with heart failure (HF), whether PASP measurement can help predict future HF admissions is not known, especially in African Americans who are at increased risk for HF. We hypothesized that elevated PASP is associated with increased risk of HF admission and improves HF prediction in African American population.

Methods And Results: We conducted a longitudinal analysis using the Jackson Heart Study cohort (n=3125; 32.

Cigarette smoke-induced lung endothelial apoptosis and emphysema are associated with impairment of FAK and eIF2α.

Lung endothelial cell (EC) apoptosis has been implicated in the pathogenesis of emphysema. However, the mechanism underlying cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung EC apoptosis and emphysema is not well defined. We have previously shown that cigarette smoke extract (CSE) decreased focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity via oxidative stress in cultured lung EC.

Laparoscopic single-site synchronous bilateral cortex-preserving adrenalectomy using conventional trocars and instruments for large bilateral adrenal pheochromocytomas.

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery is being adapted for widespread indications because it offers minimal invasiveness. Herein, we report a case of synchronous bilateral cortex-preserving adrenalectomy for bilateral large adrenal pheochromocytomas. We used conventional laparoscopic instruments and trocars through a single-port site.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics associated with pulmonary hypertension in African-Americans.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. It is frequently associated with cardiopulmonary diseases that are prevalent in African Americans (AAs). However, the prevalence or determinants of PH in the AA population is not known.

Periodontal pathogens and respiratory diseases- evaluating their potential association: a clinical and microbiological study.

Objective: To evaluate whether any potential association exists between respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and periodontal health status clinically and or microbiologically.

Materials And Methods: Fifty patients of COPD (test group) and 50 Patients without COPD (control group) were recruited for the study with more than 20 years of age with at least six natural teeth. All the patients were nonsmokers.

Percutaneous nephroscopic management of an isolated giant renal hydatid cyst guided by single-incision laparoscopy using conventional instruments: the Santosh-PGI technique.

Introduction: Isolated renal hydatid rarely presents, but when it does occur, it requires surgical treatment. We report our experience with a novel technique involving percutaneous management of a giant renal hydatid cyst with single-incision laparoscopic assistance.

Material And Surgical Technique: First we performed retrograde ureteropyelogram, which did not show any communication between the cyst and the calyceal.

Benign medullary fibroma of the kidney: a rare diagnostic dilemma.

Renomedullary interstitial cell tumor or medullary fibroma, is a small tumor that commonly presents as an incidental finding, but in rare cases maybe large and symptomatic. Although it is a benign tumor, it is difficult to differentiate this lesion from other malignancies of the kidney on radiological basis and hence many patients undergo radical nephrectomy. We present a case of renal medullary fibroma and various nuances associated with radiological identification of this lesion and its management related dilemmas.

Pharmacological evaluation and antifertility activity of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats.

Objectives: Pharmacological and antifertility activity evaluation of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats.

Methods: The antifertility activity of the extracts of Jatropha gossypifolia in rats was evaluated using two experimental animal models. Estrogenic activity was evaluated in immature female rats using ethinyl estradiol as standard.

Functioning Adrenocortical Carcinoma with Extension upto the Right Atrium Producing Cushing's Syndrome.

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis. Surgery is the only curative therapy available and overall 5-year survival for patients who undergo a complete resection is 32% to 48%. They are known to produce intravascular invasion and into the inferior vena cava (IVC) and in rare cases they may reach the right atrium.

Stratified reporting of high sensitivity troponin I assay is associated with suboptimal management of patients with acute coronary syndrome and intermediate troponin elevation.

Background: Newer troponin assays provide high sensitivity and precision and are reported in a stratified manner by some laboratories. We sought to investigate the clinical impact of such reporting in the treatment of patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: We identified patients presenting with suspected ACS over a one-year period.

Use of high-sensitivity troponin assays predicts mortality in patients with normal conventional troponin assays on admission-insights from a meta-analysis.

Background: Use of high-sensitivity troponin (hs-Tn) assays can detect small levels of myocardial damage previously undetectable with conventional troponin (c-Tn) assays. However, prognostic utility of these hs-Tn assays in prediction of mortality remains unclear in the presence of nonelevated c-Tn levels on admission. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess mortality risk of patients with hs-Tn elevations in the setting of normal c-Tn levels.