COVID-19: Ramifications and Effects on University Healthcare Students.

Aim: This study was carefully designed to analyze the perceived psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Roseman dental students. Students assessed their perceived changes in stress, self-esteem, and lifestyle behavior changes based on the impact of the pandemic.

Materials And Methods: A self-designed, anonymous, 18-item questionnaire was administered to Roseman dental students after being approved by the Institutional Review Board.

Immunomodulatory role of oral microbiota in inflammatory diseases and allergic conditions.

In recent years, the interplay between oral microbiota and systemic disease has gained attention as poor oral health is associated with several pathologies. The oral microbiota plays a role in the maintenance of overall health, and its dysbiosis influences chronic inflammation and the pathogenesis of gum diseases. Periodontitis has also been associated with other diseases and health complications such as cancer, neurogenerative and autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatic arthritis, respiratory health, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Synthetic Pharmacotherapy for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Potential Mechanisms of Action, Efficacy, and Safety.

The pharmacological treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) aims to decrease disease activity, progression, systemic compromise, and mortality. Among the pharmacological alternatives, there are chemically synthesized drugs whose efficacy has been evaluated, but which have the potential to generate adverse events that may compromise adherence and response to treatment. Therapy selection and monitoring will depend on patient characteristics and the safety profile of each drug.

Meta-Analysis of Two Human RNA-seq Datasets to Determine Periodontitis Diagnostic Biomarkers and Drug Target Candidates.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory oral disease that affects approximately 42% of adults 30 years of age or older in the United States. In response to microbial dysbiosis within the periodontal pockets surrounding teeth, the host immune system generates an inflammatory environment in which soft tissue and alveolar bone destruction occur. The objective of this study was to identify diagnostic biomarkers and the mechanistic drivers of inflammation in periodontitis to identify drugs that may be repurposed to treat chronic inflammation.

CD5 Deficiency Alters Helper T Cell Metabolic Function and Shifts the Systemic Metabolome.

Metabolic function plays a key role in immune cell activation, destruction of foreign pathogens, and memory cell generation. As T cells are activated, their metabolic profile is significantly changed due to signaling cascades mediated by the T cell receptor (TCR) and co-receptors found on their surface. CD5 is a T cell co-receptor that regulates thymocyte selection and peripheral T cell activation.

Adverse effects of E-cigarettes on head, neck, and oral cells: A systematic review.

Background: E-cigarette sales in the United States (US) are projected to reach 16.5 billion by 2024 according to market analysis. Six deaths and 450 lung illnesses have been linked to e-cigarette use.

Alphaviruses: Host pathogenesis, immune response, and vaccine & treatment updates.

Human pathogens belonging to the genus, in the family, are transmitted primarily by mosquitoes. The signs and symptoms associated with these viruses include fever and polyarthralgia, defined as joint pain and inflammation, as well as encephalitis. In the last decade, our understanding of the interactions between members of the alphavirus genus and the human host has increased due to the re-appearance of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in Asia and Europe, as well as its emergence in the Americas.

Atypical chemokine receptor ACKR2-V41A has decreased CCL2 binding, scavenging, and activation, supporting sustained inflammation and increased Alzheimer's disease risk.

A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 59 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins with a connection to Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrated an association between increased levels of chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) with an atypical chemokine receptor chemokine-binding protein 2 variant V41A (ACKR2-V41A; rs2228467). High levels of CCL2 are associated with increased risk of AD development as well as other inflammatory diseases. In this study we characterized the biological function of the ACKR2-V41A receptor compared to the wild type allele by measuring its ligand binding affinity, CCL2 scavenging efficiency, and cell activation sensitivity.

Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase expression is negatively correlated with immune activity through its regulation of purine synthesis.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of elevated Hypoxanthine Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) on the immune response in the tumor microenvironment.

Methodology: HPRT expression was evaluated in cancer patients and correlated with cytokine expression, survival, and immune cell infiltration. An HPRT knockdown cell line was created to evaluate HPRT impact on purine expression and subsequent purine treatment was administered to immune cells to determine their influence on cell activation.

The nuclear variant of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (nBMP2) is expressed in macrophages and alters calcium response.

We previously identified a nuclear variant of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), named nBMP2, that is translated from an alternative start codon. Decreased nuclear localization of nBMP2 in the nBmp2NLS mouse model leads to muscular, neurological, and immune phenotypes-all of which are consistent with aberrant intracellular calcium (Ca) response. Ca response in these mice, however, has yet to be measured directly.

Common gut microbial metabolites of dietary flavonoids exert potent protective activities in β-cells and skeletal muscle cells.

Flavonoids are dietary compounds with potential anti-diabetes activities. Many flavonoids have poor bioavailability and thus low circulating concentrations. Unabsorbed flavonoids are metabolized by the gut microbiota to smaller metabolites, which are more bioavailable than their precursors.

T Cell Calcium Signaling Regulation by the Co-Receptor CD5.

Calcium influx is critical for T cell effector function and fate. T cells are activated when T cell receptors (TCRs) engage peptides presented by antigen-presenting cells (APC), causing an increase of intracellular calcium (Ca) concentration. Co-receptors stabilize interactions between the TCR and its ligand, the peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC), and enhance Ca signaling and T cell activation.

Naïve helper T cells with high CD5 expression have increased calcium signaling.

The adaptive immune response is orchestrated by T helper cells and their function is dependent upon interactions between the T cell receptor (TCR), peptide MHC (pMHC) and co-receptors. TCR-pMHC interactions initiate calcium signaling cascades which determine T cell activation, survival, proliferation and differentiation. CD5 is a co-receptor that plays an important role in regulating T cell signaling and fate during thymocyte education.