Drugs That Induce Gingival Overgrowth Drive the Pro-Inflammatory Polarization of Macrophages In Vitro.

Several attempts have been made to elucidate the pathogenesis of drug-induced gingival overgrowth (DIGO), which is triggered by the chronic use of certain drugs that fall into three main categories: anticonvulsants, immunosuppressants, and calcium channel blockers. Previous research suggests that cytokines and impaired cellular functions play a role in DIGO. Of particular interest are macrophages, immune cells that can switch between M1 (pro-inflammatory) and M2 (anti-inflammatory) phenotypes in response to exogenous signals and stimuli.

Prevalence of Enterococci and Vancomycin Resistance in the Throat of Non-Hospitalized Individuals Randomly Selected in Central Italy.

Enterococci are commonly found in the environment and humans as a part of the normal microbiota. Among these, and can convert into opportunistic pathogens, making them a major cause of nosocomial infections. The rapid diffusion of vancomycin-resistant strains and their impact on nosocomial settings is of considerable concern.

Ultra-Rare Variants Identify Biological Pathways and Candidate Genes in the Pathobiology of Non-Syndromic Cleft Palate Only.

In recent decades, many efforts have been made to elucidate the genetic causes of non-syndromic cleft palate (nsCPO), a complex congenital disease caused by the interaction of several genetic and environmental factors. Since genome-wide association studies have evidenced a minor contribution of common polymorphisms in nsCPO inheritance, we used whole exome sequencing data to explore the role of ultra-rare variants in this study. In a cohort of 35 nsCPO cases and 38 controls, we performed a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and a hypergeometric test for assessing significant overlap between genes implicated in nsCPO pathobiology and genes enriched in ultra-rare variants in our cohort.

Polymorphic variants of and have an impact on predisposition and/or progression of Ewing sarcoma.

Ewing sarcoma (EWS), the second most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, occurs abruptly without clear evidence of tumor history or progression. Previous association studies have identified some inherited variants associated with the risk of developing EWS but a common picture of the germline susceptibility to this tumor remains largely unclear. Here, we examine the association between thirty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the , a gene that codes for an oncofetal RNA-binding protein demonstrated to be important for EWS patient's risk stratification, and five SNPs of , a long non-coding RNA shown to regulate .

Prevalence of and Cassette in the Throat of Non-Hospitalized Individuals Randomly Selected in Central Italy.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is a cause of life-threatening infections that are difficult to treat because of resistance to several antibiotics. Most documented MRSA infections are acquired nosocomially or among community with frequent contact with health facilities. However, an increasing attention to community acquired MRSA strains appears justified.

The Combination of AHCC and ETAS Decreases Migration of Colorectal Cancer Cells, and Reduces the Expression of and Genes in Cancer Stem Cells: A Novel Potential Approach for Integrative Medicine.

The AHCC standardized extract of cultured mycelia, and the standardized extract of stem, trademarked as ETAS, are well known supplements with immunomodulatory and anticancer potential. Several reports have described their therapeutic effects, including antioxidant and anticancer activity and improvement of immune response. In this study we aimed at investigating the effects of a combination of AHCC and ETAS on colorectal cancer cells and biopsies from healthy donors to assess the possible use in patients with colorectal cancer.

Non-syndromic Cleft Palate: An Overview on Human Genetic and Environmental Risk Factors.

The epithelial and mesenchymal cells involved in early embryonic facial development are guided by complex regulatory mechanisms. Any factor perturbing the growth, approach and fusion of the frontonasal and maxillary processes could result in orofacial clefts that represent the most common craniofacial malformations in humans. The rarest and, probably for this reason, the least studied form of cleft involves only the secondary palate, which is posterior to the incisive foramen.

Loss of function mutations in CCDC32 cause a congenital syndrome characterized by craniofacial, cardiac and neurodevelopmental anomalies.

Despite the wide use of genomics to investigate the molecular basis of rare congenital malformations, a significant fraction of patients remains bereft of diagnosis. As part of our continuous effort to recruit and perform genomic and functional studies on such cohorts, we investigated the genetic and mechanistic cause of disease in two independent consanguineous families affected by overlapping craniofacial, cardiac, laterality and neurodevelopmental anomalies. Using whole exome sequencing, we identified homozygous frameshift CCDC32 variants in three affected individuals.

ROCK1 is associated with non-syndromic cleft palate.

Background: Craniofacial morphogenesis is the result of an intricate multistep network of tightly controlled spatial and temporal signalling that involves several molecules and transcription factors organized into highly coordinated pathways. Any alteration in even one step of this delicate process can lead to congenital malformations such as cleft palate. One of the first steps in embryonal orofacial development is the migration of cells from the neural crests to the branchial arches.

Non-syndromic cleft palate: Association analysis on three gene polymorphisms of the folate pathway in Asian and Italian populations.

Periconceptional folic acid supplementation can reduce the risk of inborn malformations, including orofacial clefts. Polymorphisms of MTHFR, TCN2, and CBS folate-related genes seem to modulate the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) in some populations. CL/P and cleft palate only (CPO) are different malformations that share several features and possibly etiological causes.

Copy number variation analysis of twin pairs discordant for cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) is a frequent orofacial malformation. The comparison of concordance rate observed in monozygotic and dizygotic twins supports high level of heritability and a strong genetic component. However, phenotype concordance for orofacial cleft in monozygotic twins is about 50%.

Berberine and exert a potential anticancer effect on colon cancer cells by acting on specific pathways.

Berberine (BBR) is a natural active principle with potential antitumor activity. The compound targets multiple cell signaling pathways, including proliferation, differentiation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms behind the anticancer activity of BBR by comparing the effects of purified BBR with those of the extract of , a medicinal plant that produces this metabolite.

A hydrosilver gel for plaque control in adults affected by chronic periodontitis: Effects on the 'red complex' bacterial load. A prospective longitudinal pilot study using polymerase chain reaction analysis.

In subjects affected by chronic periodontitis, the chemical control of plaque is a strategy aiming primarily at controlling infection and bacterial loading. The aim is to evaluate the bacterial loading of the so-called 'red complex' associated with a short-term use of a hydrosilver gel (HSG) by using an model in adult subjects affected by chronic periodontitis. This prospective short-term clinical trial involved 10 adult volunteers using a 15-day model.

Association between oral cleft and transcobalamin 2 polymorphism in a sample study from Nassiriya, Iraq.

Orofacial clefts are common congenital defects whose prevalence differs between geographical regions and ethnic groups. The inheritance is complex, involving the contribution of both genetic and environmental factors. The involvement of genes belonging to the folate pathway is still matter of debate, with strong evidences of association and conflicting results.

Possible effect of SNAIL family transcriptional repressor 1 polymorphisms in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Objective: Orofacial development is a complex process subjected to failure impairing. Indeed, the cleft of the lip and/or of the palate is among the most frequent inborn malformations. The JARID2 gene has been suggested to be involved in non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) etiology.

CD99 polymorphisms significantly influence the probability to develop Ewing sarcoma in earlier age and patient disease progression.

Ewing sarcoma (EWS), the second most common primary bone tumor in pediatric age, is known for its paucity of recurrent somatic abnormalities. Apart from the chimeric oncoprotein that derives from the fusion of EWS and FLI genes, recent genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility variants near the EGR2 gene that regulate DNA binding of EWS-FLI. However, to induce transformation, EWS-FLI requires the presence of additional molecular events, including the expression of CD99, a cell surface molecule with critical relevance for the pathogenesis of EWS.

Replication analysis of 15 susceptibility loci for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in an italian population.

Background: Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (nsCL/P) is one of the most common congenital malformations in humans. Its average global incidence is 1.7 per 1000 live births, with wide variation according to geographical location and ethnicity.

Possible Gender-Related Modulation by the ROCK1 Gene in Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility.

Aim: In view of accumulating evidence supporting a pivotal role of the Rho/ROCK pathway in cancer, we investigated Rho-kinase polymorphisms as potential susceptibility factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) in a representative sample of the Italian population.

Methods: DNA obtained from the peripheral blood samples of 137 CRC patients and 141 healthy controls was genotyped for four ROCK1 (rs35996865; rs73963110; rs2127958; rs288980) and five ROCK2 (rs12692437; rs7563468; rs35768389; rs17463896; rs16857265) selected single nucleotide polymorphisms.

Results: None of the allelic variants of the nine selected markers was associated with the occurrence of CRC or with the development of regional lymph node metastasis.

Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate in Asian populations: Association analysis on three gene polymorphisms of the folate pathway.

Objective: Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are one of the most common birth defects in humans. They are the subject of a number of investigations aimed at elucidating the bases of their complex mode of inheritance involving both genetic and environmental factors. Genes belonging to the folate pathway have been among the most studied.

Human Multidrug Resistance 1 gene polymorphisms and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Background: For the first time we tested an association between the human multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) polymorphisms (SNPs) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Several MDR1 polymorphisms are associated with pathologies in which they modify the drug susceptibility and pharmacokinetics.

Materials And Methods: We genotyped three MDR1 polymorphisms of 48 IPF patients and 100 control subjects with Italian origins.

Colorectal cancer susceptibility: apparent gender-related modulation by ABCB1 gene polymorphisms.

Background: The ATP-binding cassette transporter B1 (ABCB1) gene codes for a membrane efflux pump localized in epithelial cells. Together with other Permeability-glycoproteins in the small and large intestine, its product represents a barrier against xenobiotics, bacterial toxins, drugs and other substances introduced with diet, including carcinogens. The aim of this investigation was to verify the possible contribution of ABCB1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the genetic risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).

RFC1 and non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate: an association based study in Italy.

The molecular basis of orofacial development is largely unknown and needs to be unravelled. Non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) is the most common craniofacial malformation, with an incidence of about 1/700 live births, although variable according to ethnicity. Being a multifactorial disease, it arises as a result of an interplay between genetic and environmental factors.

Role of the MIR146A polymorphism in the origin and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Gene expression and cell behavior are regulated by several factors, including small non-coding RNAs. MicroRNAs affecting cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis are thought to play an important role in tumorigenesis. The levels of miR-146 appear to be associated with cancer development and progression, including that of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Evidence of the involvement of the DHFR gene in nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Studies aimed at evidencing genetic causes for neural tube defect (NTD) occurrence have often provided the inspiration for orofacial cleft aetiology investigations. The correlation between the two congenital malformations is provided by the similar incidence timing and the involvement of structures localized in the midline of the embryo. This connection is corroborated by the existence of a number of genes involved in both malformations.