Versatility of the Buccal Fat Pad (BFP) Graft in the Surgical Management of Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSMF)-A 6-Year Follow-up.

The surgical procedures for the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) vary, which include the excision of fibrous bands with the use of grafts or flaps. Flaps that are being widely used include tongue flaps, buccal fat pad (BFP), greater palatine pedicle flaps, nasolabial flaps, anterolateral thigh flap, radial forearm flap, and temporalis fascia flap. This case with grade III OSMF is being planned for reconstruction with the BFP graft after surgical resection of fibrotic bands, temporalis muscle myotomy, and bilateral coronoidectomy.

New VO, VO, VOVO and electrogenerated VOVO systems of valproic acid hydrazones: a study of catalytic activity.

The reaction between [VO(acac)] and two valproic acid hydrazide ligands, H2L1 and H2L2, resulted in the formation of two mononuclear dioxido complexes [V(O)HL] (1, 2) in acetonitrile, two oxidomethoxido complexes [VO(L)(OMe)(OHMe)] (3, 4) in methanol and the corresponding dinuclear μ-oxidodivanadium complexes [{VOL} μ-O] (5, 6) in dichloromethane. Here, H2L1 is the valproic acid hydrazone of salicylaldehyde and H2L2 is that of 2-hydroxy naphthaldehyde. X-ray crystallographic studies revealed the dual binding mode of the ligands, the neutral amido form in the dioxido complex 1 and the dianionic iminolato form in the oxidomethoxido complex 3.

Attenuated adenosine mediated immune-dampening increases natural killer cell activity in early age-related macular degeneration.

Non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dysfunction and has been linked to altered intraocular immunity. Our investigation focuses on immune cell subsets and inflammation-associated factors in the eyes with early and intermediate AMD. We observed elevated levels of activated natural killer (NK) cells and interferon-γ, concurrent with reduced myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and adenosine in AMD eyes.

Cigarette smoke and biological age induce degenerative heterogeneity in retinal pigment epithelium.

Environmental exposure such as cigarette smoke induces epigenetic changes that can induce degenerative heterogeneity and accelerate aging. In early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading worldwide cause of blindness among the elderly, retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell heterogeneity is a key change. Since smoking is the strongest environmental risk factor for AMD, we hypothesized that cigarette smoke induces degenerative RPE heterogeneity through epigenetic changes that are distinct from aging, and that with aging, the RPE becomes vulnerable to cigarette smoke insult.

Activated mTOR Signaling in the RPE Drives EMT, Autophagy, and Metabolic Disruption, Resulting in AMD-Like Pathology in Mice.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complexes 1 and 2 (mTORC1/2) are crucial for various physiological functions. Although the role of mTORC1 in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) homeostasis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) pathogenesis is established, the function of mTORC2 remains unclear. We investigated both complexes in RPE health and disease.