Oral Health Research in the WHO African Region between 2011 and 2022: A Scoping Review.

The status of oral health research in the World Health Organization (WHO) African region is unclear, yet the need for such information is central to moving an oral health agenda forward. Such an agenda is essential for effectively translating research into actionable practices and supporting regional strategies. The aim of this scoping review was to provide data on the scope and output of oral health research in the WHO African region to be used as a starting point for establishing a research agenda that can affect oral health in the region.

The Intersection of the Oral Microbiome and Salivary Metabolites in Head and Neck Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment.

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are the seventh most common cancer worldwide, accounting for 4-5% of all malignancies. Salivary metabolites, which serve as key metabolic intermediates and cell-signalling molecules, are emerging as potential diagnostic biomarkers for HNC. While current research has largely concentrated on these metabolites as biomarkers, a critical gap remains in understanding their fluctuations before and after treatment, as well as their involvement in oral side effects.

Partial loss-of-function mutations in GINS4 lead to NK cell deficiency with neutropenia.

Human NK cell deficiency (NKD) is a primary immunodeficiency in which the main clinically relevant immunological defect involves missing or dysfunctional NK cells. Here, we describe a familial NKD case in which 2 siblings had a substantive NKD and neutropenia in the absence of other immune system abnormalities. Exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous variants in Go-Ichi-Ni-San (GINS) complex subunit 4 (GINS4, also known as SLD5), an essential component of the human replicative helicase, which we demonstrate to have a damaging impact upon the expression and assembly of the GINS complex.

Intramuscular delivery of neural crest stem cell spheroids enhances neuromuscular regeneration after denervation injury.

Background: Muscle denervation from trauma and motor neuron disease causes disabling morbidities. A limiting step in functional recovery is the regeneration of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) for reinnervation. Stem cells have the potential to promote these regenerative processes, but current approaches have limited success, and the optimal types of stem cells remain to be determined.

Growing Up with Intimate Partner Violence at Home: Adolescents' Narratives on Their Coping Strategies.

Purpose: The research on adolescents who have grown up around intimate partner violence (IPV) between their parents or caregivers has mostly focused on adolescent's victimization experiences and the negative impact of this type of violence on their mental health. More research is needed on how they respond to these experiences. The aim of this study is to understand adolescents' coping strategies regarding IPV between their parents or caregivers, from their perspectives.

Reiterative infusions of MSCs improve pediatric osteogenesis imperfecta eliciting a pro-osteogenic paracrine response: TERCELOI clinical trial.

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare genetic disease characterized by bone fragility, with a wide range in the severity of clinical manifestations. The majority of cases are due to mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 genes, which encode type I collagen. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), as the progenitors of the osteoblasts, the main type I collagen secreting cell type in the bone, have been proposed and tested as an innovative therapy for OI with promising but transient outcomes.

Multiplex TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay for Sensitive Detection of Two Weevil Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Rapid and cost-efficient identification of Naupactus species is becoming a key process for the exportation of citrus fruit from Chile and other countries, considering the quarantine regulations for some species of the cosmopolitan genus Naupactus. This study deals with the development of a fast and sensitive detection protocol for Naupactus cervinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Boheman) and Naupactus xanthographus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) (Germar) based on multiplex TaqMan Real-time polymerase chain reaction. Both N.

An Efficient Duplex PCR Method for Sex Identification of the European Grapevine Moth Lobesia botrana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) at Any Developmental Stage.

Many genetic studies in insects require sex identification of individuals in all developmental stages. The most common sex chromosome system in lepidopterans is WZ/ZZ; the W chromosome is present only in females. Based on two W chromosome-specific short sequences (CpW2 and CpW5) described in Cydia pomonella (L.

Variation of Human Neural Stem Cells Generating Organizer States In Vitro before Committing to Cortical Excitatory or Inhibitory Neuronal Fates.

Better understanding of the progression of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the developing cerebral cortex is important for modeling neurogenesis and defining the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we use RNA sequencing, cell imaging, and lineage tracing of mouse and human in vitro NSCs and monkey brain sections to model the generation of cortical neuronal fates. We show that conserved signaling mechanisms regulate the acute transition from proliferative NSCs to committed glutamatergic excitatory neurons.

Coagulation Factor Xa Promotes Solid Tumor Growth, Experimental Metastasis and Endothelial Cell Activation.

Hypercoagulable state is linked to cancer progression; however, the precise role of the coagulation cascade is poorly described. Herein, we examined the contribution of a hypercoagulative state through the administration of intravenous Coagulation Factor Xa (FXa), on the growth of solid human tumors and the experimental metastasis of the B16F10 melanoma in mouse models. FXa increased solid tumor volume and lung, liver, kidney and lymph node metastasis of tail-vein injected B16F10 cells.

A significant therapeutic effect of immunoglobulins administered alone, or in combination with conventional chemotherapy, in experimental pulmonary tuberculosis caused by drug-sensitive or drug-resistant strains.

The recommended chemotherapy for drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) consists of four different antibiotics administrated for 6 months. This long treatment leads to significant compliance problems and consequently to recrudescence of the disease and to the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Thus, new alternatives are needed to shorten or simplify the treatment of TB.

A PCR-Based Diagnostic System for Differentiating Two Weevil Species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) of Economic Importance to the Chilean Citrus Industry.

A PCR-based method was developed to identify Naupactus cervinus (Boheman) and Naupactus xanthographus (Germar), two curculionids affecting the citrus industry in Chile. The quarantine status of these two species depends on the country to which fruits are exported. This identification method was developed because it is not possible to discriminate between these two species at the egg stage.

[Glycosylation of antibodies and their pathogenic effect].

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) has covalently linked a sugar chain in the crystallizable fragment (Fc). This structure consists of double stranded glycosidic complexes with a high degree of heterogeneity that contribute to define the affinity to their specific receptors, and partly determine their biological activity. Recently was identified an anti-inflammatory mechanism mediated by IgG based on their different alternatives of Fc glycosylation and their interaction with the specific adhesion receptor of dendritic cells (DC-SIGN).

Nav1.1 modulation by a novel triazole compound attenuates epileptic seizures in rodents.

Here, we report the discovery of a novel anticonvulsant drug with a molecular organization based on the unique scaffold of rufinamide, an anti-epileptic compound used in a clinical setting to treat severe epilepsy disorders such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Although accumulating evidence supports a working mechanism through voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels, we found that a clinically relevant rufinamide concentration inhibits human (h)Nav1.1 activation, a distinct working mechanism among anticonvulsants and a feature worth exploring for treating a growing number of debilitating disorders involving hNav1.

The protective effect of immunoglobulin in murine tuberculosis is dependent on IgG glycosylation.

Antibodies have demonstrated having a protective effect in animal models of tuberculosis (TB). These experiments have considered the specificity of antigen recognition and the different isotypes and subclasses as significant contributors of this effect. However, the carbohydrate chain heterogeneity on the Fc region of IgG (Fc-IgG) can play an important role in modulating the immune response.

CD43 regulates the threshold for T cell activation by targeting Cbl functions.

T cell (TC) activation requires the coordinated signaling of the T cell receptor (TCR) and coreceptor molecules, allowing TCs to respond to lower degrees of TCR occupancy. Coreceptor molecules set the threshold for TC activation by controlling different regulatory signaling loops. The Cbl family members prevent undesired activation of T cells by regulating TCR signals.

Renin gene haplotype diversity and linkage disequilibrium in two Mexican and one German population samples.

Introduction: Renin is the main rate-limiting enzyme in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Its gene, REN, is a candidate crucial factor in essential hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate allele and haplotype distributions of REN polymorphisms, and to estimate normalised linkage disequilibrium (D') in Mexican and German populations.

Clonal analysis of NRAS activating mutations in KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis.

Cooperating genetic events are likely to contribute to the phenotypic diversity of KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis. In this study, 44 patients with KIT-D816V systemic mastocytosis were evaluated for coexisting NRAS, KRAS, HRAS or MRAS mutations. Activating NRAS mutations were identified in 2 of 8 patients with advanced disease.

Changes in vitamin D levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Effects on fatigue, disease activity, and damage.

Objective: To analyze whether changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels affect activity, irreversible organ damage, and fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We performed an observational study of 80 patients with SLE included in a previous cross-sectional study of 25(OH)D, reassessed 2 years later. Oral vitamin D(3) was recommended in those with low baseline 25(OH)D levels.

[Population data of five STRs from the INTERPOL series in a mestizo population of western Mexico (State of Jalisco)].

Introduction: Short tandem repeats (STRs) are the DNA polymorphisms most widely used in forensic genetics and parentage testing. Most common series of STRs are those from FBI (CODIS) and from INTERPOL. While there are data related to the first group, no studies are still known in Mexican populations in regard of the INTERPOL set.

Predictors of major infections in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Infections commonly complicate the course of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our aim is to investigate the clinical predictors of major infections in patients with SLE.

Methods: A nested case-control study design was used within the prospective Lupus-Cruces cohort.

Prophylactic effect of administration of human gamma globulins in a mouse model of tuberculosis.

The protective effect of human gamma globulins on Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was evaluated in a mouse model of intratracheal infection. Animals receiving human gamma globulins intranasally, 2h before intratracheal challenge showed a significant decrease in lung bacilli load compared to non-treated animals in different time intervals of up to 2 months after challenge. The same effect was obtained when M.

Induction of a protective response with an IgA monoclonal antibody against Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16kDa protein in a model of progressive pulmonary infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen for which cell-mediated immunity is considered the major component of the immune response. For many decades, the prevailing scientific view has been the antibodies have little or no role in modifying the course of M. tuberculosis infection.