Overexpression of deubiquitinase (usp 36) in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Aim: Oral cancer is one of the top three types of cancer and is of significant public health importance in India. A common post-translational modification in cells is ubiquitination/deubiquitination, and its dysregulation is closely associated with the development of cancer. Studies on the role of ubiquitination in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are lacking.

Soft Bite Appliance for Teething Infants.

Mother's milk is a biological secretion that provides the best nutritional source with numerous benefits to the infant, which include somatic growth, modulation of post-natal intestinal function, brain development, and immune ontogeny. As per WHO, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months and continuation up to two years of age as both mother and the infant are mutually benefitted. Breast milk contains more nutritional, hormonal, and growth factors which are mandatory for the baby to attain the highest standards of health.

Phosphorylation of USP20 on Ser334 by IRAK1 promotes IL-1β-evoked signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells and vascular inflammation.

Reversible lysine-63 (K63) polyubiquitination regulates proinflammatory signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and plays an integral role in atherosclerosis. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 20 (USP20) reduces NFκB activation triggered by proinflammatory stimuli, and USP20 activity attenuates atherosclerosis in mice. The association of USP20 with its substrates triggers deubiquitinase activity; this association is regulated by phosphorylation of USP20 on Ser334 (mouse) or Ser333 (human).

Spectrum of salivary gland diseases: A 24-year single-institution retrospective study.

Introduction: Salivary glands are exocrine glands and are classified as major and minor salivary glands. Salivary gland pathologies are classified as neoplastic and non-neoplastic. The neoplasms of salivary glands can be benign or malignant.

Information-seeking preferences in diverse patients receiving a genetic testing result in the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER) study.

Purpose: Accurate and understandable information after genetic testing is critical for patients, family members, and professionals alike.

Methods: As part of a cross-site study from the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research consortium, we investigated the information-seeking practices among patients and family members at 5 to 7 months after genetic testing results disclosure, assessing the perceived utility of a variety of information sources, such as family and friends, health care providers, support groups, and the internet.

Results: We found that individuals placed a high value on information obtained from genetics professionals and health care workers, independent of genetic testing result case classifications as positive, inconclusive, or negative.

Lessons learned while starting multi-institutional genetics research in diverse populations: A report from the Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research (CSER) consortium.

Background: Increasing diversity in clinical trial participation is necessary to improve health outcomes and requires addressing existing social, structural, and geographic barriers. The Clinical Sequencing Evidence-Generating Research Consortium (CSER) included six research projects to enroll historically underrepresented/underserved (UR/US) populations in clinical genomics research. Delays and project re-designs emerged shortly after work began.

In Silico Design and Investigation of Novel Thiazetidine Derivatives as Potent Inhibitors of PrpR in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis is one of the most life-threatening acute infectious diseases diagnosed in humans. In the present investigation, a series of 16 new disubstituted 1,3-thiazetidines derivatives is designed, and investigated via various in silico methods for their potential as anti-tubercular agent by evaluating their ability to block the active site of PrpR transcription factor protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The efficacy of the molecules was initially assessed with the help of AutoDock Vina algorithm.

Exploration of natural product database for the identification of potent inhibitor against IDH2 mutational variants for glioma therapy.

Mutation in isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (mIDH2) is an oncogenic driver prevalently reported in various cancer types including gliomas. To date, enasidenib is the only FDA-approved drug widely used as a mIDH2 (R140Q) inhibitor. However, dose-limiting toxicity and modest brain penetrating capability restrict its use as a plausible mIDH2 inhibitor.

Design and Evaluation Challenges of Conversational Agents in Health Care and Well-being: Selective Review Study.

Background: Health care and well-being are 2 main interconnected application areas of conversational agents (CAs). There is a significant increase in research, development, and commercial implementations in this area. In parallel to the increasing interest, new challenges in designing and evaluating CAs have emerged.

molecular modelling, MM/GBSA binding free energy and molecular dynamics simulation study of novel pyrido fused imidazo[4,5-]quinolines as potential anti-tumor agents.

With an alarming increase in the number of cancer patients and a variety of tumors, it is high time for intensive investigation on more efficient and potent anti-tumor agents. Though numerous agents have enriched the literature, still there exist challenges, with the availability of different targets and possible cross-reactivity. Herein we have chosen the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) as the target of interest and investigated the potential of pyrido fused imidazo[4,5-]quinoline derivatives to bind strongly to the active site, thereby inhibiting the progression of various types of tumors.

Study - Comparative Evaluation of Bond Strengths of Stainless Steel Brackets and Ceramic Brackets after Curing with the Argon Laser and the Conventional Visible Light.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to compare the bond strengths of stainless steel brackets and ceramic brackets after treated with conventional visible light and argon laser.

Methodology: Extracted 80 human premolar teeth were collected and stored in distilled water. They are classified into four groups.

Decorin mediated biomimetic PCL-gelatin nano-framework to impede scarring.

Scars occur as a result of fibrosis after tissue damage or surgery and reports suggest that excessive Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) activity during the process of wound healing leads to progressive fibrosis. Decorin is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein which regulates collagen fibrillogenesis. However, targeted delivery and effective protein therapy remains a challenge owing to degradation byproteases.

Lessons learned and recommendations for data coordination in collaborative research: The CSER consortium experience.

Integrating data across heterogeneous research environments is a key challenge in multi-site, collaborative research projects. While it is important to allow for natural variation in data collection protocols across research sites, it is also important to achieve interoperability between datasets in order to reap the full benefits of collaborative work. However, there are few standards to guide the data coordination process from project conception to completion.

Radiographic and histochemical assessment of root resorption during canine retraction through piezocision site.

Introduction: The number of adult patients seeking orthodontics treatment has increased drastically. There is increased need for faster tooth movement and good esthetics. Piezocision is one of the methods used for accelerating the rate of tooth movement.

Applications of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles impregnated collagen scaffolds in wound therapeutics.

Introduction: The highly complex pathophysiology of the wound micro-environment demands the development of a multi-faceted system which would enhance the wound healing cascade. Incorporation of nanotechnology in wound therapeutics has opened up new avenues to tourment the diseased condition. Amongst the various types of nanoparticles molybdenum oxide nanoparticles posses various inherent properties that makes it a versatile material to be used in healing.

Designing Empathic Virtual Agents: Manipulating Animation, Voice, Rendering, and Empathy to Create Persuasive Agents.

Designers of virtual agents have a combinatorically large space of choices for the look and behavior of their characters. We conducted two between-subjects studies to explore the systematic manipulation of animation quality, speech quality, rendering style, and simulated empathy, and its impact on perceptions of virtual agents in terms of naturalness, engagement, trust, credibility, and persuasion within a health counseling domain. In the first study, animation was varied between manually created, procedural, or no animations; voice quality was varied between recorded audio and synthetic speech; and rendering style was varied between realistic and toon-shaded.

Osteoporosis in a Rural Community - Long-Term Effects of a Community Level Program of Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation - A Prospective Observational Study.

In a defined geographic area in rural India (1,60,000 population), osteoporosis detection and calcium and vitamin D supplementation program was instituted. Of the eligible 15,386 subjects, 5,992 (38%) participated in the program; 2,882 (48%) had osteopenia and osteoporosis; supervised calcium and vitamin D supplementation was instituted; 2,113 (73.3% of those identified) completed 2 years of supplementation.

Quantification of Helicobacter pylori and its oncoproteins in the oral cavity: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: To identify Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and related oncogenic and virulent proteins (CagA and VacA) in patients with gingivitis, periodontitis, oral cancer and gastric cancer.

Methods: Subgingival plaque samples were collected from 90 individuals with either gingivitis/periodontitis (group A, n = 30), oral cancer (group B, n = 30) and gastric cancer (group C, n = 30).

Knowledge, attitude and practice on exposure to Bisphenol A among dental surgeons in Southern India.

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a product in the manufacture of Bis-GMA, which is commonly used in dentistry, and is known to have a number of adverse effects.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice based on exposure and handling of BPA containing materials among dental surgeons for better understanding about the level of care rendered to the patients.

Material And Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 400 dental surgeons in Southern India.

Molecular genotypic diversity of populations of brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis and development of SCAR marker for pesticide resistance.

Background: The brinjal shoot and fruit borer, Leucinodes orbonalis is a destructive pest of Solanum melongena. The control of L. orbonalis with extensive application of synthetic chemical insecticides resulted in the development of resistance with known genetic heterogeneity among populations.

Zebrafish as a potential biomaterial testing platform for bone tissue engineering application: A special note on chitosan based bioactive materials.

Biomaterials function as an essential aspect of tissue engineering and have a profound impact on cell growth and subsequent tissue regeneration. The development of new biomaterials requires a potential platform to understand the host-biomaterial interaction, which is crucial for successful biomaterial implantation. Biomaterials analyzed in rodent models for in vivo research are cost-effective but tedious, and the practice has many technical difficulties.

Targeting the Autophagy Specific Lipid Kinase VPS34 for Cancer Treatment: An Integrative Repurposing Strategy.

The impact of autophagy on cancer treatment and its corresponding responsiveness has galvanized the scientific community to develop novel inhibitors for cancer treatment. Importantly, the discovery of inhibitors that targets the early phase of autophagy was identified as a beneficial choice. Despite the number of research in recent years, screening of the DrugBank repository (9591 molecules) for the Vacuolar protein sorting 34 (VPS34) has not been reported earlier.