Human papillomavirus-mediated expression of complement regulatory proteins in human cervical cancer cells.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the expression pattern of complement regulatory proteins (CRPs) CD46, CD59, and CD55 in HPV-positive (HPV) & negative (HPV) cervical cancer cell lines in search of a reliable differential biomarker.

Study Design: We analysed the expression of CRPs in HPV 16-positive SiHa cell line, HPV 18-positive HeLa cell line, and HPV-negative cell line C33a using RT-qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy.

Results: We observed a differential expression profile of CRPs in HPV and HPV cervical cancer cell lines.

Surface Treatments of PEEK for Osseointegration to Bone.

Polymers, in general, and Poly (Ether-Ether-Ketone) (PEEK) have emerged as potential alternatives to conventional osseous implant biomaterials. Due to its distinct advantages over metallic implants, PEEK has been gaining increasing attention as a prime candidate for orthopaedic and dental implants. However, PEEK has a highly hydrophobic and bioinert surface that attenuates the differentiation and proliferation of osteoblasts and leads to implant failure.

Biomimicry and 3D-Printing of Mussel Adhesive Proteins for Regeneration of the Periodontium-A Review.

Innovation in the healthcare profession to solve complex human problems has always been emulated and based on solutions proven by nature. The conception of different biomimetic materials has allowed for extensive research that spans several fields, including biomechanics, material sciences, and microbiology. Due to the atypical characteristics of these biomaterials, dentistry can benefit from these applications in tissue engineering, regeneration, and replacement.

Salivary gland bioengineering - yesterday, today, tomorrow!

Salivary glands are specialized structures developed as an extensively compact, arborized design through classical embryogenesis, accompanied by a cascade of events channelized by numerous growth factors and genetic regulatory pathways. Salivary secretions maintain oral homeostasis and, when diminished in certain conditions, present as xerostomia or salivary hypofunction, adversely impacting the patient's quality of life. The current available treatments primarily aim at tackling the immediate symptoms providing temporary relief to the patient.

Tracking of Oral and Craniofacial Stem Cells in Tissue Development, Regeneration, and Diseases.

Purpose Of Review: The craniofacial region hosts a variety of stem cells, all isolated from different sources of bone and cartilage. However, despite scientific advancements, their role in tissue development and regeneration is not entirely understood. The goal of this review is to discuss recent advances in stem cell tracking methods and how these can be advantageously used to understand oro-facial tissue development and regeneration.

Recent Advances in Hydrogels: Ophthalmic Applications in Cell Delivery, Vitreous Substitutes, and Ocular Adhesives.

With the prevalence of eye diseases, such as cataracts, retinal degenerative diseases, and glaucoma, different treatments including lens replacement, vitrectomy, and stem cell transplantation have been developed; however, they are not without their respective shortcomings. For example, current methods to seal corneal incisions induced by cataract surgery, such as suturing and stromal hydration, are less than ideal due to the potential for surgically induced astigmatism or wound leakage. Vitrectomy performed on patients with diabetic retinopathy requires an artificial vitreous substitute, with current offerings having many shortcomings such as retinal toxicity.

An Overview on the Histogenesis and Morphogenesis of Salivary Gland Neoplasms and Evolving Diagnostic Approaches.

Salivary gland neoplasms (SGN) remain a diagnostic dilemma due to their heterogenic complex behavior. Their diverse histomorphological appearance is attributed to the underlying cellular mechanisms and differentiation into various histopathological subtypes with overlapping fea-tures. Diagnostic tools such as fine needle aspiration biopsy, computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography help evaluate the structure and assess the staging of SGN.

Hydrogel Encapsulation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Derived Exosomes for Tissue Engineering.

Tissue engineering has been an inveterate area in the field of regenerative medicine for several decades. However, there remains limitations to engineer and regenerate tissues. Targeted therapies using cell-encapsulated hydrogels, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are capable of reducing inflammation and increasing the regenerative potential in several tissues.

Bleeding risks for uncharacterized platelet function disorders.

Background: The bleeding risks for nonsyndromic platelet function disorders (PFDs) that impair aggregation responses and/or cause dense granule deficiency (DGD) are uncertain.

Objectives: Our goal was to quantify bleeding risks for a cohort of consecutive cases with uncharacterized PFD.

Methods: Sequential cases with uncharacterized PFDs that had reduced maximal aggregation (MA) with multiple agonists and/or nonsyndromic DGD were invited to participate along with additional family members to reduce bias.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Bacillus subtilis MB40 to Reduce Abdominal Discomfort, Gas, and Bloating.

Introduction: Bloating is a common yet poorly managed complaint among healthy people, with a complex etiology that impacts health and general well-being. The study intended to evaluate the efficacy and safety of supplementation with a probiotic, Bacillus subtilis MB40 (MB40), on bloating, abdominal discomfort, and gas in healthy participants.

Methods: In this multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel trial, 100 participants were randomized to receive either MB40 at 5 × 109 colony forming units (CFU; n = 50) or a placebo (n = 50) once daily for 4-weeks.

Leiomyosarcoma: Prognostic outline of a rare head and neck malignancy.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are mesenchymal malignant neoplasms with a broad spectrum of biologic behaviour. Most STS show predilection for extremities with rarity in head and neck. Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is an extremely rare STS in head and neck due to the paucity of smooth muscles in this anatomical region.

Estrogen receptor alpha differentially modulates host immunity in the bladder and kidney in response to urinary tract infection.

The protective role of endogenous estrogen against Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is well recognized, but the involvement of estrogen receptors (ERs) in modulating immunity in the urinary tract during UTI pathogenesis has not been investigated. The current study investigates the role of ERα in modulating immune responses and UTI outcome. Mice were pre-treated with either ERα agonist, propyl-pyrazole-triol (PPT), or ERα antagonist, methyl-piperidino-pyrazole (MPP), before experimental UTI.

Nanodiamonds facilitate killing of intracellular uropathogenic E. coli in an in vitro model of urinary tract infection pathogenesis.

About 25-44% of women will experience at least one episode of recurrent UTI and the causative agent in over 70% of UTI cases is uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). UPEC cause recurrent UTI by evading the bladder's innate immune system through internalization into the bladder epithelium where antibiotics cannot reach or be effective. Thus, it is important to develop novel therapeutics to eliminate these intracellular pathogens.

Estrogen receptor expression in chronic hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis.

Aim: To investigate gender-specific liver estrogen receptor (ER) expression in normal subjects and patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Liver tissues from normal donors and patients diagnosed with HCV-related cirrhosis and HCV-related HCC were obtained from the NIH Liver Tissue and Cell Distribution System. The expression of ER subtypes, ERα and ERβ, were evaluated by Western blotting and real-time RT-PCR.

Avathrin: a novel thrombin inhibitor derived from a multicopy precursor in the salivary glands of the ixodid tick, .

Tick saliva is a rich source of antihemostatic compounds. We amplified a cDNA from the salivary glands of the tropical bont tick () using primers based on the variegin sequence, which we previously identified as a novel thrombin inhibitor from the same tick species. The transcript encodes a precursor protein comprising a signal peptide and 5 repeats of variegin-like sequences that could be processed into multiple short peptides.

Daboxin P, a Major Phospholipase A2 Enzyme from the Indian Daboia russelii russelii Venom Targets Factor X and Factor Xa for Its Anticoagulant Activity.

In the present study a major protein has been purified from the venom of Indian Daboia russelii russelii using gel filtration, ion exchange and Rp-HPLC techniques. The purified protein, named daboxin P accounts for ~24% of the total protein of the crude venom and has a molecular mass of 13.597 kDa.

Purification and functionalization of nanodiamond to serve as a platform for amoxicillin delivery.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) cost $0.4-0.5 billion a year in the US and is the second most common disease affecting millions of people.

At-line nanofractionation with parallel mass spectrometry and bioactivity assessment for the rapid screening of thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors in snake venoms.

Snake venoms comprise complex mixtures of peptides and proteins causing modulation of diverse physiological functions upon envenomation of the prey organism. The components of snake venoms are studied as research tools and as potential drug candidates. However, the bioactivity determination with subsequent identification and purification of the bioactive compounds is a demanding and often laborious effort involving different analytical and pharmacological techniques.

Asymptomatic, blue, dome-shaped lesion on buccal mucosa.

An asymptomatic, blue, dome-shaped lesion on the buccal mucosa can include a plethora of entities clinically as well as histopathologically. Its clinical presentation may mimic reactive, developmental, benign or malignant conditions. This emphasizes the need on histopathological assessment of every docile looking lesion to explore its exact biological behavior.

Microfluidic Chip-Based Online Screening Coupled to Mass Spectrometry: Identification of Inhibitors of Thrombin and Factor Xa.

Thrombin and factor Xa (FXa) are critical enzymes of the blood coagulation cascade and are excellent targets of anticoagulant agents. Natural sources present an array of anticoagulants that can be developed as antithrombotic drugs. High-resolution, online screening techniques have been developed for the identification of drug leads from complex mixtures.

Unveiling the complexities of Daboia russelii venom, a medically important snake of India, by tandem mass spectrometry.

Composition of Indian Russell's viper (Daboia russelii russelii) venom, a medically important snake and member of "Big Four" snakes of India was done by gel filtration chromatography followed by tandem mass spectrometry. The MS/MS analyses of tryptic digested gel filtration peaks divulged the presence of 63 different proteins belonging to 12 families. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2), serine proteases, metalloproteases, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, l-amino acid oxidase, C-type lectin-like proteins, kunitz-type serine protease inhibitor, disintegrin, nucleotidase, phosphodiesterase, vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular nerve growth factor families were identified.

Development of Plate Reader and On-Line Microfluidic Screening to Identify Ligands of the 5-Hydroxytryptamine Binding Protein in Venoms.

The 5-HT3 receptor is a ligand-gated ion channel, which is expressed in the nervous system. Its antagonists are used clinically for treatment of postoperative- and radiotherapy-induced emesis and irritable bowel syndrome. In order to better understand the structure and function of the 5-HT3 receptor, and to allow for compound screening at this receptor, recently a serotonin binding protein (5HTBP) was engineered with the Acetylcholine Binding Protein as template.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma of the maxilla.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a distinctive aggressive variant of squamous cell carcinoma. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with tender swelling in the right cheek region for 6 months and continuous unilateral nasal discharge for 2 months. Extraoral examination revealed an ovoid, well-defined swelling from the right infraorbital rim to the angle of the mouth superoinferiorly and the right lateral wall of the nose to preauricular region anteroposteriorly.