Effortless effort in bone regeneration: a review.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, the concept of osteoconduction in bony changes in the oral cavity showed a wide range of biomaterials and their osteoinductive potential that emerged gradually and has to a large extent improved the quality of the bone prior to the placement of an implant. Alveolar bone loss is a major concern after tooth extraction in patients and therefore atraumatic extraction procedures should be followed to avoid further bone loss. To overcome the alveolar bone loss and to augment support for placing dental implants, many bone regenerative substitutes are available such as allografts, autografts, xenografts, synthetic biomaterials and osteoactive agents.

A simplified technique for custom made overdenture semi-precision attachments.

Context: Overdentures are the choice of treatment for most of them, but the only snag is its cost. In India, the rural areas are still deprived of quality treatment. This manuscript is showcasing a study, which is a cheaper, but effective way to provide the best to the patient.

Efficacy of direct detection of pathogens in naturally infected mice by using a high-density PCR array.

We used a high-density array of real-time PCR assays for commonly reported rodent infectious agents (PRIA) to test naturally infected index mice and sentinel mice exposed by contact and soiled-bedding transfer. PRIA detected 14 pathogens--including viruses, bacteria, fur mites, pinworms, and enteric protozoa--in 97.2% of 28 pooled fecal samples, fur-perianal swabs, and oral swabs from 4 cages containing a total of 10 index mice.

Pathogenicity and genetic variation of 3 strains of Corynebacterium bovis in immunodeficient mice.

Corynebacterium bovis has been associated with hyperkeratotic dermatitis and acanthosis in mice. We studied 3 different strains of C. bovis: one previously described to cause hyperkeratotic dermatitis (HAC), one that infected athymic nude mice without leading to the classic clinical signs, and one of bovine origin (ATCC 7715).

Comparison of traditional and PCR methods during screening for and confirmation of Aspiculuris tetraptera in a mouse facility.

Pinworm detection in laboratory rodents typically is accomplished by using the tape test or various modifications of fecal flotation test to detect eggs. Direct examination of intestinal contents remains the 'gold standard' for pinworm detection, with the limitation of euthanasia of animals. Here, we compare traditional and real-time PCR methodologies during screening for and confirming the presence of Aspiculuris tetraptera.

Pneumocystis carinii causes a distinctive interstitial pneumonia in immunocompetent laboratory rats that had been attributed to "rat respiratory virus".

A prevalent and distinctive infectious interstitial pneumonia (IIP) of immunocompetent laboratory rats was suspected to be caused by a putative virus, termed rat respiratory virus, but this was never substantiated. To study this disease, 2 isolators were independently populated with rats from colonies with endemic disease, which was perpetuated by the regular addition of naive rats. After Pneumocystis was demonstrated by histopathology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the lungs of rats from both isolators and an earlier bedding transmission study, the relationship between Pneumocystis and IIP was explored further by analyzing specimens from 3 contact transmission experiments, diagnostic submissions, and barrier room breeding colonies, including 1 with and 49 without IIP.

Assessment of rpoB and 16S rRNA genes as targets for PCR-based identification of Pasteurella pneumotropica.

Diagnosis of Pasteurella pneumotropica in laboratory animals relies on isolation of the organism, biochemical characterization, and, more recently, DNA-based diagnostic methods. 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences were examined for development of a real-time PCR assay. Partial sequencing of rpoB (456 bp) and 16S rRNA (1368 bp) of Pasteurella pneumotropica isolates identified by microbiologic and biochemical assays indicated that either gene sequence can be used to distinguish P.

A comparative pharmacological investigation of three samples of 'Guduchi ghrita' for adaptogenic activity against forced swimming induced gastric ulceration and hematological changes in albino rats.

This study was undertaken to investigate the impact of formulation factors and adjuvants on the expression of biological activity of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers. The adaptogenic effect of three samples of Guduchi ghrita, prepared using plain ghee (clarified butter) obtained from three different sources was studied in albino rats and compared with expressed juice of stem of Guduchi.

The adenoviral E1A oncoprotein activates the Smad7 promoter: requirement of a functional E-box.

DNA tumorviruses like adenoviruses (AdV) or human papillomaviruses (HPV) have adopted various strategies to interfere with antiproliferative transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signalling. Here we report that the AdV E1A oncoprotein is sufficient to induce Smad7 expression, an inhibitor of TGF-beta signalling. E1A but not HPV oncoproteins activated the Smad7 promoter.

Inhibition of VEGF or TGF-{beta} signaling activates endothelium and increases leukocyte rolling.

Objective: Motivated by the central roles that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta play in the assembly and maintenance of the vasculature, we examined the impact of systemic VEGF or TGF-beta signal inhibition on endothelial activation as detected by leukocyte-endothelial interactions.

Methods And Results: VEGF or TGF-beta inhibition, accomplished using adenovirus expression of soluble Flt1 (Ad-sFlt1) or soluble endoglin (Ad-sEng), resulted in a significant increase in the number of leukocytes rolling along the mesenteric venous endothelium and a significant decrease in rolling velocity in Ad-sEng mice. Neutralization of VEGF or TGF-beta resulted in endothelial surface expression of P-selectin and impaired peripheral vasodilatation.

Thrombocytopenia and platelet abnormalities in high-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice.

Objective: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), mediated cellular uptake of lipoprotein cholesterol controls HDL structure and plasma HDL and biliary cholesterol levels. In SR-BI knockout (KO) mice, an unusually high plasma unesterified-to-total cholesterol ratio (UC:TC) and abnormally large HDL particles apparently contribute to pathology, including female infertility, susceptibility to atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease, and anemia. Here we examined the influence of SR-BI deficiency on platelets.

PSGL-1 regulates platelet P-selectin-mediated endothelial activation and shedding of P-selectin from activated platelets.

We have previously shown that activated platelets in circulation stimulate release of endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies thus increasing leukocyte rolling in venules. P-selectin on the activated platelets mediates adhesion to leukocytes via PSGL-1 and is rapidly shed into plasma. We were interested in studying the role of PSGL-1 in regulating expression and function of platelet P-selectin.

E7 proteins from high- and low-risk human papillomaviruses bind to TGF-beta-regulated Smad proteins and inhibit their transcriptional activity.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infect keratinocytes of skin and mucosa. Persistent infection can lead to the formation of benign tumors. In cases of high-risk HPV, such as HPV16 or 18, these may further progress to cancer.

Decreased plasma fibronectin leads to delayed thrombus growth in injured arterioles.

Objective: Plasma fibronectin (FN) is decreased in several clinical conditions. We were interested to study the thrombotic and hemostatic consequences of the decrease in plasma FN (pFN), the role of FN splice variants in thrombosis, and to examine whether pFN incorporates into thrombi in vivo.

Methods And Results: We compared the thrombotic response to a vessel injury in FN heterozygous (FN+/-) mice and corresponding FN+/+ mice.

Elevated levels of homocysteine compromise blood-brain barrier integrity in mice.

Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) correlate with increased risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimer diseases. We studied the effect of elevated Hcy on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to explore the possibility of a vascular link between the 2 diseases. On a hyperhomocysteinemic diet, cystathionine beta-synthase (Cbs)-heterozygous mice develop hyperhomocysteinemia.

Activated platelets induce Weibel-Palade-body secretion and leukocyte rolling in vivo: role of P-selectin.

The presence of activated platelets and platelet-leukocyte aggregates in the circulation accompanies major surgical procedures and occurs in several chronic diseases. Recent findings that activated platelets contribute to the inflammatory disease atherosclerosis made us address the question whether activated platelets stimulate normal healthy endothelium. Infusion of activated platelets into young mice led to the formation of transient platelet-leukocyte aggregates and resulted in a several-fold systemic increase in leukocyte rolling 2 to 4 hours after infusion.

A direct role for C1 inhibitor in regulation of leukocyte adhesion.

Plasma C1 inhibitor (C1INH) is a natural inhibitor of complement and contact system proteases. Heterozygosity for C1INH deficiency results in hereditary angioedema, which is mediated by bradykinin. Treatment with plasma C1INH is effective not only in patients with hereditary angioedema, but also in a variety of other disease models, in which such therapy is accompanied by diminished neutrophil infiltration.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme (ADAM17) mediates GPIbalpha shedding from platelets in vitro and in vivo.

Interaction of the platelet receptor glycoprotein (GP) Ib-V-IX with von Willebrand factor exposed at a site of vascular injury is an essential step in the initiation of a hemostatic plug. Proteolytic cleavage (shedding) of the GPIbalpha subunit was first described >25 years ago, the protease mediating this event as well as its physiological function, however, have not been elucidated. We reported recently that shedding of GPIbalpha induced by platelet storage or mitochondrial injury involves a platelet-derived metalloproteinase(s).

Expression of biopterin transporter (BT1) protein in Leishmania.

The present work focuses on the growth phase regulated expression of biopterin transporter gene (BT1) from the LD1 locus on chromosome 35 of Leishmania donovani. Antiserum against recombinant BT1 detected a polypeptide of 45 kDa of equal intensity at lag, log and stationary phases of promastigote growth, both in L. donovani strain LSB-7.

Detection of Leishmania causing visceral leishmaniasis in the Old and New Worlds by a polymerase chain reaction assay based on telomeric sequences.

We present a new polymerase chain reaction assay based on telomeric sequences of Leishmania donovani. When this assay was used in dilutions of purified L. donovani DNA, a strong amplification signal was observed with 1 fg of DNA.

Immunization with recombinant LD1 antigens protects against experimental leishmaniasis.

The genes, ORFF and BT1 (previously ORFG), are part of the multigenic LD1 locus on chromosome 35 which is frequently amplified in Leishmania. BT1 encodes a biopterin transporter, while the function of the ORFF gene product is unknown, but it is localized to the nucleus. We show here that immunization of mice with recombinant ORFF and BT1 proteins, individually, or in combination, conferred partial protection against challenge with Leishmania donovani.

A cDNA from the green alga Spermatozopsis similis encodes a protein with homology to the newly discovered Roadblock/LC7 family of dynein-associated proteins.

A clone, designated as B15, was isolated from a cDNA library of the unicellular green alga Spermatozopsis similis and characterised. The deduced amino acid sequence of its open reading frame exhibits high homology to members of the recently discovered roadblock/LC7 protein family (robl/LC7) of dynein-associated proteins. Homologies were highest to a robl/LC7-member from human testis (86%, identity 56%) and to the roadblock protein of Drosophila (88%, identity 52%).

The Leishmania donovani LD1 locus gene ORFG encodes a biopterin transporter (BT1).

We have previously described two genes, ORFF and ORFG, from the LD1 locus near one telomere of chromosome 35, which are frequently amplified in Leishmania isolates. In Leishmania donovani LSB-51.1, gene conversion of the rRNA gene locus on chromosome 27 with these two genes resulted in their over-expression, because of their transcription by the RNA polymerase I-mediated rRNA promoter.

Serodiagnosis of leishmaniasis with recombinant ORFF antigen.

The serodiagnostic potential of recombinant ORFF protein (rORFF) from Leishmania infantum was assessed by ELISA. Of 49 sera from confirmed cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), all were seropositive using 5 ng of rORFF and serum diluted 1:20, while only 38 were positive with 500 ng of soluble antigen (SA) and 44 were positive by a direct agglutination test. There was also a positive correlation between spleen size and level of seropositivity with rORFF or SA.