Association of Epstein-Barr Virus and its clinical relevance in Human Papillomavirus-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma: A cohort study from South India.

Objective: The study assessed the prevalence and clinical implications of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV)-positive but Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-negative oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a tertiary care hospital setting. The overall goal was to elucidate the potential impact of EBV on OSCC disease progression and prognosis.

Design: A total of 134 surgically resected and histopathologically confirmed OSCC tumor biopsies were collected from a tertiary care hospital.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Developmental Protein Malnutrition Resembling Marasmic-Kwashiorkor Condition in Wistar Rats.

Objectives: Protein malnutrition (PMN) is a significant public health concern that can aggravate pathological states. The impact of early malnutrition on metabolism needs extensive evaluation. Current models employ short-term diet restriction and are neither ethically correct nor clinically relevant.

Prevalence of Epstein Barr Virus and Herpes Simplex Virus Among Human Papillomavirus Negative Oral Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study from South India.

The high incidence of oral carcinomas is due to its multifactorial etiology and the presence of various risk factors. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has a proven role in the pathogenesis of oral carcinomas, but in the recent times there has been an increasing incidence of oral cancers who are negative for HPV infection. Also, these patients are non-smokers and non-drinkers so it could be speculated that these oral cancers are due to some other etiological factor probably of other viral infections.

Oncogenic viruses as etiological risk factors for head and neck cancers: An overview on prevalence, mechanism of infection and clinical relevance.

Objective: This review article aims to discuss the role of oncogenic viruses in the development of head and neck cancers including the prevalence, mode of infection and the clinical relevance of these viral infections associated with tumours.

Design: A detailed review of scientific literature was performed relevant to oncogenic viruses associated with head and neck cancers.

Results: The incidence of head and neck cancers associated with traditional risk factors such as smoking, chewing tobacco and alcohol consumption have reduced gradually.

Molecular Characterization and Differentiation of Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells from Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Cartilage.

The presence of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) articular cartilage is sparsely investigated largely owing to the persistent pathogenic disease condition and lack of specific biomarkers. Considering the recent advancements for potential cell-based therapies in immunomodulatory diseases, such as RA, this in vitro study was aimed at investigating the cellular, molecular, and differentiation characteristics of human RA cartilage-derived MPCs. Articular cartilage fragments from RA patients were obtained for the isolation of MPCs and characterization of their cellular and biological properties, cytogenetic stability, pluripotency, and plasticity.

Comparison of Cellular and Differentiation Characteristics of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Human Gingiva and Periodontal Ligament.

Objectives: Dental tissues possess multipotent stem cells with varying biological properties. The present study was aimed to establish a primary culture of human gingiva-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) and periodontal ligament-derived stem cells (PDLSCs) from periodontally healthy subjects and compare their biological characteristics.

Materials And Methods: Gingival and periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues were collected from extracted premolar teeth of five healthy subjects and primary cultures were established.

Influence of human teeth matrix on the cellular and biological properties of dental pulp stem cells - An study.

Background: A major challenge in bone tissue regeneration is the use of right combination of stem cells with osteoinductive biomaterials. Hence, the present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of mineralized teeth matrix (MTM) and demineralized teeth matrix (DTM) on the selected cellular and biological characteristics of human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs).

Methods: Established DPSCs were cultured in conditioned media (CM) of MTM and DTM and analyzed on their morphology, proliferation rate, population doubling time (PDT), viability, migration ability, ploidy and expression of cell surface markers, Further, the effect of MTM and DTM on the biocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation ability of DPSCs was evaluated.

Characterization of Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Anterior Teeth with Varying Levels of Root Resorption.

Background: Deciduous teeth undergo the physiologic process of resorption, during which the remnant pulp undergoes activation. However, the quality of stem cells obtained at various stages of root resorption has not been documented.

Objective: To isolate and characterize stem cells from deciduous teeth with varying levels of root resorption.

Cytogenetic and cytokine profile in elderly patients with cytopenia.

In the elderly with cytopenia, the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) may be missed. Cytokine levels contribute to the pathology of MDS. Hence, the objectives were to evaluate cytogenetic profile as a prognostic indicator in risk stratification and cytokine levels as a screening tool in patients with cytopenia for diagnosis.

Effect of electron-beam irradiation on antimicrobial, antibiofilm activity, and cytotoxicity of mouth rinses.

Background: Oral health diseases are common in all regions of the world. Mouth rinses are widely used generally by population as a port of daily oral care regimen. In addition to antimicrobial activity, mouth rinses possess certain cytotoxic effects.

Characterisation and differentiation of porcine ovarian theca-derived multipotent stem cells.

In this study, the cellular properties and in vitro differentiation capacity of porcine ovarian theca-derived multipotent stem cells (TSCs) were examined. Isolated TSCs were expanded into a homogeneous population that had a typical fibroblast-shaped morphology and was positive for alkaline phosphatase activity. Cell cycle analysis indicated that TSCs had high proliferative potential.

Donor-matched functional and molecular characterization of canine mesenchymal stem cells derived from different origins.

Canine mesenchymal stem cells (cMSCs) have generated a great interest as a promising source for cell-based therapies. To understand the basic biological properties of cMSCs derived from bone marrow (cBM-MSCs), adipose tissue (cA-MSCs), and dermal skin (cDS-MSCs) from a single donor, the present study compared their alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, expression of CD markers and stem cell transcription factors, differentiation ability into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages, in vivo ectopic bone formation, chromosomal stability, cell cycle status, telomere length, and telomerase activity. Expressions of AP activity and transcription factors (Oct3/4, Nanog, and Sox2) were either absent or extremely weak in all cMSCs.

Epigenetic modification of fetal fibroblasts improves developmental competency and gene expression in porcine cloned embryos.

Treatment of somatic cells with DNA methylation and histone deacetylation inhibitors has been hypothesized to improve the potential reprogramming after nuclear transfer (NT). The objective of this study was to investigate the developmental competence and gene expression during the porcine preimplantation development of in vitro fertilized (IVF) and embryos cloned with porcine fetal fibroblasts (pFF) (pFF-NT), and pFF treated by 0.5 μM 5-azacytidine (5-azaC) (pFF+5-azaC-NT) or 1.

Developmental expression of lineage specific genes in porcine embryos of different origins.

Purpose: This study compared the expression of genes involved in pluripotency, segregation of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE), and primitive endoderm (PE) formation in porcine embryos produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), parthenogenetic activation (PA), and nuclear transfer (NT) using either fetal fibroblasts (FF-NT) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-NT).

Methods: Blastocyst formation and total cell number were analyzed. The expression patterns of transcripts, including SRY-related HMG-box gene 2 (SOX2), reduced expression gene 1 (REX1/ZFP42), LIN28, caudal type homeobox 2 (CDX2), TEA domain family member 4 (TEAD4), integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) and GATA6 were assessed at the 4-8 cell and blastocyst stage embryos by real-time PCR.

In vitro and in vivo osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from skin, bone marrow and dental follicle tissues.

The present study evaluated the human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) isolated from skin (hSMSC), bone marrow (hBMSC) and dental follicle (hDFMSC) tissues on their in vitro and in vivo osteogenic potential using demineralized bone matrix (DBM) and fibrin glue scaffold. Cells originated from three distinct tissues showed positive expressions of CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105 and vimentin, and differentiation ability into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. hMSCs from all tissues co-cultured with a mixed DBM and fibrin glue scaffold in non-osteogenic induction media were positively stained by von Kossa and expressed osteoblast-related genes, such as osteocalcin (OC), osteonectin (ON), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and osterix.

Differential cytotoxic effects of sodium meta-arsenite on human cancer cells, dental papilla stem cells and somatic cells correlate with telomeric properties and gene expression.

We investigated the effects of sodium meta-arsenite (NaAsO(2)) on human cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and U-87 MG), dental papilla tissue stem cells (DPSCs) and somatic cells [MRC-5 fetal fibroblasts and adult muscle cells (MCs)] by examining telomeric properties, endogenous reverse transcriptase (RT) activity and the expression of tumorigenesis-linked genes. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values were higher in DPSCs and MCs, possessing longer telomere lengths when compared to cancer cells. Levels of telomerase and RT activity, and the expression of protein 53 (p53), B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells (NFκB), transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were significantly lower in cancer cells following sodium meta-arsenite treatment, whereas the effect was absent or marginally detected in DPSCs and somatic cells.

Transplantation of porcine umbilical cord matrix mesenchymal stem cells in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

The present study compared mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord matrix (UCM-MSCs) with bone marrow (BM-MSCs) of miniature pigs on their phenotypic profiles and ability to differentiate in vitro into osteocytes, adipocytes and neuron-like cells. This study further evaluated the therapeutic potential of UCM-MSCs in a mouse Parkinson's disease (PD) model. Differences in expression of some cell surface and cytoplasm specific markers were evident between UCM-MSCs and BM-MSCs.

Neurogenic and cardiomyogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells isolated from minipig bone marrow.

The present study investigated the potential of minipig bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) to differentiate in vitro into neuron- and cardiomyocyte-like cells. Isolated BM-MSCs exhibited a fibroblast-like morphology, expressed CD29, CD44 and CD90, and differentiated into osteocytes, adipocytes and chondrocytes. Upon induction in two different neuronal specific media, most of BM-MSCs acquired the distinctive morphological features and positively stained for nestin, neurofilament-M (NF-M), neuronal nuclei (NeuN), β-tubulin, galactocerebroside (Gal-C) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).

Effects of activation methods on DNA synthesis and development of parthenogenetic porcine embryos.

This study investigated the timing of DNA synthesis and patterns of pronuclear (PN) formation during the first cell cycle, and its influence on developmental competence, velocity and proliferation index of porcine parthenote blastocysts produced by different activation treatments. Oocytes were activated as follows: electrical stimulation (EST), EST combined with 7.5 μg/ml cytochalasin B (EST + CCB), 10 μg/ml cycloheximide (EST + CHX) and 1.

Comparative analysis of telomere length, telomerase and reverse transcriptase activity in human dental stem cells.

Stem cells from dental tissues have been isolated and established for tooth regenerative applications. However, basic characterization on their biological properties still needs to be investigated before employing them for effective clinical trials. In this study, we compared the telomere length, relative telomerase activity (RTA), and relative reverse transcriptase activity (RRA) as well as the surface antigen profile and mesenchymal differentiation ability in human dental papilla stem cells (DPaSCs), dental pulp stem cells (DPuSCs), and dental follicle stem cells (DFSCs) with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from bone marrow.

Endophytic fungal strains of Fusarium solani, from Apodytes dimidiata E. Mey. ex Arn (Icacinaceae) produce camptothecin, 10-hydroxycamptothecin and 9-methoxycamptothecin.

Camptothecin and 10-hydroxycamptothecin are two important precursors for the synthesis of the clinically useful anticancer drugs, topotecan and irinotecan. In recent years, efforts have been made to identify novel plant and endophytic fungal sources of camptothecin and 10-hydroxycamptothecin. In this study we have isolated endophytic fungi strains from Apodytes dimidiata (Icacinaceae), a medium sized tree from the Western Ghats, India.

Porcine mesenchymal stem cells--current technological status and future perspective.

Similarities of porcine mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) with human counterpart allow them to be considered as a valuable model system for in vitro studies and preclinical assessments. Effective isolation and expansion of porcine MSCs from different origins, namely bone marrow, umbilical cord Wharton's jelly, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood has been reported. The differentiation of porcine MSCs into mesenchymal lineages under in vitro conditions is consistent and growing evidence has also suggested their transdifferentiation abilities.