Publications by authors named "Rashmi Pillai"

Background: Wisdom tooth extraction often requires various surgical techniques due to differences in tooth position, root morphology, and patient characteristics. This research aims to compare traditional surgical extraction with minimally invasive techniques such as piezo surgery and laser-assisted extraction, as well as extraction with the aid of 3D imaging and navigation systems.

Methods: Patients requiring wisdom tooth extraction were randomly assigned to one of the surgical technique groups.

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The goal of this study is to find a cure for the masticatory muscle disease known as hemimasticatory spasm (HMS). This retrospective investigation intends to find a more efficient therapeutic approach for HMS patients by examining the clinical effectiveness of masseteric nerve avulsion performed on HMS using a temporomandibular arthroscope. A clinical study was piloted where the subjects were treated for masseter nerve avulsion by TMJ arthroscopy.

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Protein-protein interactions at the plasma membrane mediate transmembrane signaling. Dual-channel fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (dc-FCCS) is a method with which these interactions can be quantified in a cellular context. However, factors such as incomplete maturation of fluorescent proteins, spectral crosstalk, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) affect quantification.

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Sensitive and long-term fluorescence imaging of G-protein-coupled receptors enables exploration of molecular level details of these therapeutically relevant proteins, including their expression, localization, signaling, and intracellular trafficking. In this context, labeling these receptors with bright and photostable fluorescent probes is necessary to overcome current imaging problems such as optical background and photobleaching. Here, we describe the procedures to functionalize nanoruby (and other similar nanoparticles) with NeutrAvidin (a streptavidin analog) and to apply this bioconjugate for ultrasensitive, long-term imaging of μ-opioid receptors heterologously expressed in AtT-20 cells.

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At the forefront of developing fluorescent probes for biological imaging applications are enhancements aimed at increasing their brightness, contrast, and photostability, especially toward demanding applications of single-molecule detection. In comparison with existing probes, nanorubies exhibit unlimited photostability and a long emission lifetime (∼4 ms), which enable continuous imaging at single-particle sensitivity in highly scattering and fluorescent biological specimens. However, their wide application as fluorescence probes has so far been hindered by the absence of facile methods for scaled-up high-volume production and molecularly specific targeting.

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Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and doxorubicin (Dox) chemotherapy are separately approved for liver cancer therapy; however, both have limited success in the clinic due to suboptimal/nonuniform heating and systemic side effects, respectively. Here, we report a biodegradable nanoparticle (NP) system showing excellent RF hyperthermic response together with the ability to locally deliver Dox in the liver under RF trigger and control. The nanosystem was prepared by doping a clinically permissible dose (∼4.

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