Publications by authors named "Sarah Ghafoor"

Article Synopsis
  • * In mice with mutations in ciliary proteins, abnormal cranial neural crest-derived cells disrupt signaling pathways, leading to improper cell differentiation and subsequent tongue issues like ankyloglossia.
  • * The research also indicates that these tongue deformities can be artificially triggered in normal mice, suggesting potential avenues for treatment approaches in ciliopathies.
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Irisin is a novel adipomyokine which has extensive systemic and local effects in different tissues of the body. The scientific interest in understanding the physiological roles of irisin in the body has increased tremendously in the past few years due to its vast therapeutic potential in different fields of medicine. The current narrative review was planned to describe the molecular mechanisms by which irisin regulates oral hard and soft tissues.

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This study aimed to synthesize fluoride-doped bioactive glass (F-BG) based thermo-sensitive injectable hydrogel for endodontic applications. The structural and phase analyses were done with Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray Diffraction, respectively. The setting time of prepared injectable was investigated at 21°C (in the presence and absence of an ultrasonic scalar) and at 37°C.

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Pulp-Dentin regeneration is a key aspect of maintain tooth vitality and enabling good oral-systemic health. This study aimed to investigate a nanofibrous scaffold loaded with a small molecule i.e.

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Adipose tissue or fat tissue is a loose connective tissue that consists mainly of adipocytes. Adipocytes are classified on the basis of their secretory origin, differentiation, distribution, cell characteristics, such as amount of mitochondria, size and type of lipid droplets, and expression of uncoupled protein-1. Adipocytes secrete adipokines that are divided as white adipokines, brown adipokines and beige adipokines.

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Xerostomia is a subjective condition of dryness of the oral cavity that may lead to several oral problems deteriorating oral health-related quality of life. This study aimed to (1) determine the prevalence of xerostomia, (2) compare the general health status, unstimulated salivary flow rate, and oral health-related quality of life in xerostomics and non-xerostomics, and (3) investigate the potential of salivary aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) as a screening biomarker for xerostomia in patients with periodontal disease. Demographics and systemic health data were collected from 109 healthy participants, 20 to 55 years old, with Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score ≥ 3.

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Oral fungal infections can be caused by certain species of fungi among which candida albicans is the most implicated. Oral candidiasis is correlated with multiple conditions, such as coronavirus disease-2019, oral leukoplakia and oral erythroplakia. Tenascin is a glycoprotein and is present at the site of tissue injury and chronic inflammation, and tends to be over-expressed in cases of malignancy.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study aimed to assess the levels of salivary irisin in patients with chronic periodontitis and explore its correlation with periodontal health indicators.
  • - Conducted at Fatima Memorial Hospital in Pakistan, the research involved 40 participants divided into two groups: healthy controls and chronic periodontitis patients, with saliva samples analyzed for irisin levels.
  • - Results showed significantly higher salivary irisin levels in chronic periodontitis patients compared to healthy individuals, suggesting irisin may serve as a biomarker for periodontal disease linked to plaque levels.
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Aquaporins are transcellular proteins that majorly consist of a tetrametric hour-glass-like structure. Aquaporins have a definitive function in transpositioning of water and solutes across cell membranes. The current review was planned to provide information regarding structure, expression and functions of aquaporins in the human body, and to generate a comprehensive summary of physiological and pathophysiological correlations related to aquaporins and their therapeutic implications.

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Article Synopsis
  • Biomarkers are measurable indicators of health status, useful for early disease detection, especially in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer.
  • Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a common side effect of radiation, and saliva contains protein biomarkers that need further research in this context.
  • The review focuses on identifying salivary protein and imaging biomarkers that can help predict and manage xerostomia in these patients.
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Article Synopsis
  • Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a painful complication after tooth extraction, with unclear causes linked to delayed bone healing due to fibrinolysis.
  • * The main risk factors for developing AO include trauma from the extraction, poor oral hygiene leading to bacterial buildup, and smoking.
  • * Key molecular markers like TNF-alpha, Runx 2, and osteocalcin could help researchers and doctors better understand and assess the condition.
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Cell-adhesion complex within a tissue is important for its stability, structural integrity, functioning, cellular migration and morphogenesis. Disruption of desmosomal cell-adhesions complex results in epithelial conditions such as epidermolysis bullosa and bullous pemphigoid. Desmosome assembly and disassembly is regulated post-translationally by calcium, kinase/phosphatase activity, proteolytic processing, and also through adhesive junctions.

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A thermo-responsive injectable bioactive glass (BAG) that has the ability to set at body temperature was prepared using pluronic F127 and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose as the carrier. The injectable composite has the advantage to fill irregular shape implantation sites and quick setting at body temperature. The structural and morphological analysis of injectable BAG before and after setting was done by using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).

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Physical activity has been linked with maintenance of bodily health and prevention of numerous pathologies which might arise in its absence. Physical surge renders the skeletal muscles of the body to come into action which then, besides per forming the basic functions of locomotion and maintenance of body posture, produce various proteinaceous secretions. These secretions contain skeletal muscle-released biochemical products known as myokines.

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The objective of this study was to explore perceived causes of stress and to analyse the influence of marital status and gender as indicators of these causes. Modified Graduate Dental Stress Environment Questionnaire was used on postgraduate students of basic dental sciences at a public sector university in Pakistan. Mean±SD was calculated for all stress-related items and statistical analysis was done through Mann Whitney-U test and multiple linear regression analysis.

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Wingless-Integrated/Beta-catenin (WNT/-catenin) signalling pathway is one of the principal intercellular signalling pathways in humans. It plays an intrinsic role in the cellular proliferation, differentiation and regeneration along with many other cellular functions. Epigenetic deoxyribonucleic acid methylations and silencing of WNT signalling pathway genes have a significant role in malignant transformation of oral lesions such as oral submucous fibrosis, oral leukoplakia, oral lichen planus and erythroplakia.

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An oronasal fistula is a passage between the oral and nasal cavity. Currently, surgical procedures use mucosal flaps or collagen grafts to make a barrier between oral and nasal cavities. Our aim was to develop a cell-free synthetic repair material for closure of nasal fistulas.

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Development of a guided occlusive biodegradable membrane with controlled morphology in order to restrict the ingrowth of epithelial cells is still a challenge in dental tissue engineering. A bilayer membrane with a non-porous upper layer (polyurethane) and porous lower layer (polycaprolactone and bioactive glass composite) with thermoelastic properties to sustain surgery treatment was developed by lyophilization. Morphology, porosity, and layers attachment were controlled by using the multi-solvent system.

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Angina Bullosa Haemorrhagica (ABH) is a benign lesion of the oral cavity categorized by sudden onset of single or multiple blood filled lesions that burst leaving an ulcer that usually heals in 7-10 days without leaving a scar. We report a case of ABH diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical examination and blood, renal and liver function tests. The case findings and its management is discussed.

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Background: The pituitary gland is formed by the juxtaposition of two tissues: neuroectoderm arising from the basal diencephalon, and oral epithelium, which invaginates towards the central nervous system from the roof of the mouth. The oral invagination that reaches the brain from the mouth is referred to as Rathke's pouch, with the tip forming the adenohypophysis and the stalk disappearing after the earliest stages of development. In tetrapods, formation of the cranial base establishes a definitive barrier between the pituitary and oral cavity; however, numerous extinct and extant vertebrate species retain an open buccohypophyseal canal in adulthood, a vestige of the stalk of Rathke's pouch.

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Polycystin 2 (Pkd2), which belongs to the transient receptor potential family, plays a critical role in development. Pkd2 is mainly localized in the primary cilia, which also function as mechanoreceptors in many cells that influence multiple biological processes including Ca(2+) influx, chemical activity and signalling pathways. Mutations in many cilia proteins result in craniofacial abnormalities.

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Hemidesmosomes are composed of intricate networks of proteins, that are an essential attachment apparatus for the integrity of epithelial tissue. Disruption leads to blistering diseases such as epidermolysis bullosa. Members of the Sox gene family show dynamic and diverse expression patterns during development and mutation analyses in humans and mice provide evidence that they play a remarkable variety of roles in development and human disease.

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Objective: Tongue papillae are critical organs in mastication. There are four different types of tongue papillae; fungiform, circumvallate, foliate, and filiform papillae. Unlike the other three taste papillae, non-gustatory papillae, filiform papillae cover the entire dorsal surface of the tongue and are important structures for the mechanical stress of sucking.

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Primary cilia mediate Hh signalling and mutations in their protein components affect Hh activity. We show that in mice mutant for a cilia intraflagellar transport (IFT) protein, IFT88/polaris, Shh activity is increased in the toothless diastema mesenchyme of the embryonic jaw primordia. This results in the formation of ectopic teeth in the diastema, mesial to the first molars.

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