Assay Optimization Can Equalize the Sensitivity of Real-Time PCR with ddPCR for Detection of (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Bulk Samples.

(Hübner) is one of the most important agricultural pests in the world. This historically Old World species was first reported in Brazil in 2013 and has since spread throughout much of South America and into the Caribbean. Throughout North America, surveys are ongoing to detect any incursions.

Interaction between IRF6 and TGFA genes contribute to the risk of nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate.

Previous evidence from tooth agenesis studies suggested IRF6 and TGFA interact. Since tooth agenesis is commonly found in individuals with cleft lip/palate (CL/P), we used four large cohorts to evaluate if IRF6 and TGFA interaction contributes to CL/P. Markers within and flanking IRF6 and TGFA genes were tested using Taqman or SYBR green chemistries for case-control analyses in 1,000 Brazilian individuals.

The use of chronic gingivitis as reference status increases the power and odds of periodontitis genetic studies: a proposal based in the exposure concept and clearer resistance and susceptibility phenotypes definition.

Aim: Current literature on chronic periodontitis genetics encompasses numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms-focused case-control studies with inconsistent and controversial results, which typically disregards the exposure concept embraced by case-control definition. Herein, we propose a case-control design reappraisal by clear phenotype selection, where chronic gingivitis represents a genetically resistant phenotype/genotype opposing the susceptible cohort.

Material And Methods: The hypothesis was tested in healthy, chronic periodontitis and gingivitis groups through Real-time PCR-based allelic discrimination of classic variants IL1B-3954, IL6-174, TNFA-308, IL10-592 and TLR4-299.

Women are more susceptible to caries but individuals born with clefts are not.

The identification of individuals at a higher risk of developing caries is of great interest. Isolated forms of cleft lip and palate are among the most common craniofacial congenital anomalies in humans. Historically, several reports suggest that individuals born with clefts have a higher risk for caries.

Detection of Streptococcus mutans Genomic DNA in Human DNA Samples Extracted from Saliva and Blood.

Caries is a multifactorial disease, and studies aiming to unravel the factors modulating its etiology must consider all known predisposing factors. One major factor is bacterial colonization, and Streptococcus mutans is the main microorganism associated with the initiation of the disease. In our studies, we have access to DNA samples extracted from human saliva and blood.

Biological monitoring of a promissory xenogenic pin for biomedical applications: a preliminary intraosseous study in rats.

Objectives: Over the last years, it is known that in some cases metal devices for biomedical applications present some disadvantages suggesting absorbable materials (natural or synthetic) as an alternative of choice. Here, our goal was to evaluate the biological response of a xenogenic pin, derived from bovine cortical bone, intraosseously implanted in the femur of rats.

Material And Methods: After 10, 14, 30 and 60 days from implantation, the animals (n=5/period) were killed and the femurs carefully collected and dissected out under histological demands.

MMP1 and MMP20 contribute to tooth agenesis in humans.

Objective: Variations in genes that are critical for tooth formation may contribute to the tooth agenesis. MMPs are potential candidate genes for dental alterations based on the roles they play during embryogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between MMP1, MMP3, and MMP20 and tooth agenesis.

Studies with Wnt genes and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate.

Background: Clefts of the lip and/or palate (cleft lip/palate) are notable for their complex etiology. The WNT pathway regulates multiple developmental processes including craniofacial development and may play a role in cleft lip/palate and other defects of craniofacial development such as tooth agenesis. Variations in WNT genes have been recently associated with cleft lip/palate in humans.

CRISPLD2 variants including a C471T silent mutation may contribute to nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate.

Objective: To assess the association between nonsyndromic (NS) cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL(P)) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the CRISPLD2 gene (cysteine-rich secretory protein LCCL domain containing 2).

Design: Four SNPs within the CRISPLD2 gene domain (rs1546124, rs8061351, rs2326398, rs4783099) were genotyped to test for association via family-based association methods.

Participants: A total of 5826 individuals from 1331 families in which one or more family member is affected with CL(P).

Follow-up association studies of chromosome region 9q and nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate.

Cleft lip/palate comprises a large fraction of all human birth defects, and is notable for its significant lifelong morbidity and complex etiology. Several studies have shown that genetic factors appear to play a significant role in the etiology of cleft lip/palate. Human chromosomal region 9q21 has been suggested in previous reports to contain putative cleft loci.

A genome-wide association study of cleft lip with and without cleft palate identifies risk variants near MAFB and ABCA4.

Case-parent trios were used in a genome-wide association study of cleft lip with and without cleft palate. SNPs near two genes not previously associated with cleft lip with and without cleft palate (MAFB, most significant SNP rs13041247, with odds ratio (OR) per minor allele = 0.704, 95% CI 0.

FAM5C contributes to aggressive periodontitis.

Aggressive periodontitis is characterized by a rapid and severe periodontal destruction in young systemically healthy subjects. A greater prevalence is reported in Africans and African descendent groups than in Caucasians and Hispanics. We first fine mapped the interval 1q24.

MMP-9 and CD68(+) cells are required for tissue remodeling in response to natural hydroxyapatite.

Large bone defects represent major clinical problems in the practice of reconstructive orthopedic and craniofacial surgery. The aim of this study was to examine, through immunohistochemistry approach, the involvement of MMP-9 and CD68(+) cells during tissue remodeling in response to natural hydroxyapatite (HA) implanted in rat subcutaneous tissue. Before experimentation, forty animals were randomly distributed into two experimental groups: Group-I (Gen-Ox micro-granules) and Group-II (Gen-Ox macro-granules).

Immunolocalization of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 during apical periodontitis development.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9) during apical periodontitis development.

Methods: Using an experimental design of induced periapical lesions in rats and immunohistochemistry assay as investigative tool, the MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and distribution were evaluated at 3, 7, 14, 21, 30, 60 and 90 days after coronary access and pulp exposure of the first left mandibular molar to the oral environment. Two blind observers scored the immunoreactivity.

AXIS inhibition protein 2, orofacial clefts and a family history of cancer.

Background: Cancer and congenital malformations occasionally may have a common etiology. The authors investigated whether families with one or more members affected by orofacial clefts (that is, families segregating orofacial clefts) had an increased cancer incidence when compared with control families.

Methods: The authors assessed 75 white families with nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) and 93 white control families regarding a history of cancer.

The PDGF-C regulatory region SNP rs28999109 decreases promoter transcriptional activity and is associated with CL/P.

Human linkage and association studies suggest a gene(s) for nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) on chromosome 4q31-q32 at or near the platelet-derived growth factor-C (PDGF-C) locus. The mouse Pdgfc(-/-) knockout shows that PDGF-C is essential for palatogenesis. To evaluate the role of PDGF-C in human clefting, we performed sequence analysis and SNP genotyping using 1048 multiplex CL/P families and 1000 case-control samples from multiple geographic origins.

The potential role of suppressors of cytokine signaling in the attenuation of inflammatory reaction and alveolar bone loss associated with apical periodontitis.

Inflammatory cytokines contribute to periapical tissue destruction. Their activity is potentially regulated by suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS), which downregulate signal transduction as part of an inhibitory feedback loop. We investigated the expression of the cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha); interleukin (IL)-10 and RANKL; and SOCS-1, -2, and -3 by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 57 periapical granulomas and 38 healthy periapical tissues.

Expression analysis of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in epithelialized and nonepithelialized apical periodontitis lesions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in apical periodontitis lesions.

Study Design: Nineteen epithelialized and 18 nonepithelialized apical periodontitis lesions were collected after periapical surgery. After histological processing, serial sectioning, H&E staining, and microscopic analysis, 10 epithelialized and 10 nonepithelialized lesions were selected for immunohistochemical analysis for MMP-9 and CD 68.

AXIN2 and CDH1 polymorphisms, tooth agenesis, and oral clefts.

Background: AXIN2 and CDH1 genes play important roles during craniofacial morphogenesis. Mutations in these genes have been described in families presenting colorectal cancer and tooth agenesis, and gastric cancer and cleft lip/palate (CL/P). Oral clefts have been associated with tooth agenesis.

Differential patterns of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand/osteoprotegerin expression in human periapical granulomas: possible association with progressive or stable nature of the lesions.

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) are expressed in apical periodontitis, suggesting a role for these molecules during lesion development. However, the profiles of RANKL/OPG expression in periapical lesions remain unknown. In this study we investigated the patterns of RANKL and OPG mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction in human periapical granulomas (N = 44) and compared them with sites presenting characteristic bone resorbing activity: healthy (n = 14) and orthodontically stretched and compressed periodontal ligament (n = 26), healthy gingiva (n = 24), chronic gingivitis (n = 32), and chronic periodontitis (n = 34) samples.

Dental anomalies as part of the cleft spectrum.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine subphenotypes of clefts based on tooth development. Dental phenotypes (tooth agenesis, supernumerary and impacted teeth, transposition, and structural anomalies) outside the cleft area in the permanent dentition of oral cleft individuals were investigated.

Design: Evaluation of dental records of cleft patients.

Evidence of linkage disequilibrium between polymorphisms at the IRF6 locus and isolate tooth agenesis, in a Turkish population.

Recently, the IRF6 contribution that was reported for Van der Woude syndrome and non-syndromic oral clefts was extended to isolated tooth agenesis. Here we report the first study that tries to replicate this finding and we provide further evidence that IRF6 contributes to isolated tooth agenesis. Fifty-two sporadic tooth agenesis cases and their parents were studied.

MMP gene polymorphisms as contributors for cleft lip/palate: association with MMP3 but not MMP1.

Objective: Orofacial clefts result from failures of developing embryonic facial and palatal processes to either completely merge or fuse. Normal development of the facial primordia requires remodelling of the extracellular matrix, which is mediated in part by the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs can be considered a group of candidate proteins for the etiology of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) due to their role in craniofacial modelling.

Leakage of 4 resin-based root-canal sealers used with a single-cone technique.

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure leakage of 4 resin-based sealers.

Study Design: Four groups of premolars (n = 60) were prepared using GT Rotary files and the crown-down technique and filled by the single-cone technique with AH26, AHPlus, EndoREZ, and an experimental MBP as sealer. Leakage was measured using the fluid filtration method after 15, 30, and 60 days and determined as microL/min(-1) x 10 psi.