Comparison of Various Minimally Invasive Techniques for the Management of Gingival Hyperpigmentation: A Case Report.

Gingival hyperpigmentation is a condition wherein there is excessive deposition of melanin pigment, which is produced by the melanocytes of the gingiva. Gingival depigmentation is a periodontal surgical procedure whereby the pigmentation is removed or reduced by various surgical techniques that are associated with significant postoperative pain, bleeding, and recurrence. Laser ablation has been recognized as one of the minimally invasive, effective, comfortable, and reliable techniques for gingival depigmentation.

Leveraging chromatin packing domains to target chemoevasion .

Cancer cells exhibit a remarkable resilience to cytotoxic stress, often adapting through transcriptional changes linked to alterations in chromatin structure. In several types of cancer, these adaptations involve epigenetic modifications and restructuring of topologically associating domains (TADs). However, the underlying principles by which chromatin architecture facilitates such adaptability across different cancers remain poorly understood.

Impact of Chromatin Organization and Epigenetics on CRISPR-Cas and TALEN Genome Editing.

DNA lies at the heart of the central dogma of life. Altering DNA can modify the flow of information in fundamental cellular processes such as transcription and translation. The ability to precisely manipulate DNA has led to remarkable advances in treating incurable human genetic ailments and has changed the landscape of biological research.

The Patient Population at Homeopathic Outpatient Clinics across India: A Clinical Data Collection Study.

Background:  Even though several initiatives have been undertaken in different locations worldwide to collect clinical data in homeopathy, it is important to further investigate these aspects in the context of health care in India.

Objective:  The study aimed to gather and analyze patients' clinical data and to derive insights into homeopathic treatment using an internet-based software program for data storage, retrieval and repertorization.

Methods:  A multi-center observational study was conducted across 14 homeopathy outpatient clinics in India that are affiliated with the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH).

Formamide denaturation of double-stranded DNA for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) distorts nanoscale chromatin structure.

As imaging techniques rapidly evolve to probe nanoscale genome organization at higher resolution, it is critical to consider how the reagents and procedures involved in sample preparation affect chromatin at the relevant length scales. Here, we investigate the effects of fluorescent labeling of DNA sequences within chromatin using the gold standard technique of three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization (3D FISH). The chemical reagents involved in the 3D FISH protocol, specifically formamide, cause significant alterations to the sub-200 nm (sub-Mbp) chromatin structure.

Depletion of lamins B1 and B2 promotes chromatin mobility and induces differential gene expression by a mesoscale-motion-dependent mechanism.

Background: B-type lamins are critical nuclear envelope proteins that interact with the three-dimensional genomic architecture. However, identifying the direct roles of B-lamins on dynamic genome organization has been challenging as their joint depletion severely impacts cell viability. To overcome this, we engineered mammalian cells to rapidly and completely degrade endogenous B-type lamins using Auxin-inducible degron technology.

Primary antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori in India over the past two decades: A systematic review.

Background: Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance has undergone vast changes in the last two decades. No systematic review has been done on the prevalence of antibiotic resistant H. pylori in India in the last two decades.

DNA uptake from a laboratory environment drives unexpected adaptation of a thermophile to a minor medium component.

DNA uptake is widespread among microorganisms and considered a strategy for rapid adaptation to new conditions. While both DNA uptake and adaptation are referred to in the context of natural environments, they are often studied in laboratories under defined conditions. For example, a strain of the thermophile Thermoanaerobacter kivui had been adapted to growth on high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO).

Chromatin reprogramming and bone regeneration in vitro and in vivo via the microtopography-induced constriction of cell nuclei.

Topographical cues on cells can, through contact guidance, alter cellular plasticity and accelerate the regeneration of cultured tissue. Here we show how changes in the nuclear and cellular morphologies of human mesenchymal stromal cells induced by micropillar patterns via contact guidance influence the conformation of the cells' chromatin and their osteogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo. The micropillars impacted nuclear architecture, lamin A/C multimerization and 3D chromatin conformation, and the ensuing transcriptional reprogramming enhanced the cells' responsiveness to osteogenic differentiation factors and decreased their plasticity and off-target differentiation.

Hypoimmune induced pluripotent stem cells survive long term in fully immunocompetent, allogeneic rhesus macaques.

Genetic engineering of allogeneic cell therapeutics that fully prevents rejection by a recipient's immune system would abolish the requirement for immunosuppressive drugs or encapsulation and support large-scale manufacturing of off-the-shelf cell products. Previously, we generated mouse and human hypoimmune pluripotent (HIP) stem cells by depleting HLA class I and II molecules and overexpressing CD47 (B2MCIITACD47). To determine whether this strategy is successful in non-human primates, we engineered rhesus macaque HIP cells and transplanted them intramuscularly into four allogeneic rhesus macaques.

Molecular Basis of the Electron Bifurcation Mechanism in the [FeFe]-Hydrogenase Complex HydABC.

Electron bifurcation is a fundamental energy coupling mechanism widespread in microorganisms that thrive under anoxic conditions. These organisms employ hydrogen to reduce CO, but the molecular mechanisms have remained enigmatic. The key enzyme responsible for powering these thermodynamically challenging reactions is the electron-bifurcating [FeFe]-hydrogenase HydABC that reduces low-potential ferredoxins (Fd) by oxidizing hydrogen gas (H).

Stem cells research prospects towards precision medicine.

The human body possesses an endogenous regeneration system based on stem cells, which may be found in practically every tissue type. They are classified as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) or nonembryonic stem cells (NESCs). Despite its enormous promise, the use of ESCs is presently limited because of ethical and scientific issues.

Metabolic Pathways of Parasite: Source of Pertinent Drug Targets and Potent Drug Candidates.

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by a protozoan parasite that is transmitted via infected female sandflies. At present, leishmaniasis treatment mainly counts on chemotherapy. The currently available drugs against leishmaniasis are costly, toxic, with multiple side effects, and limitations in the administration route.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatment as an alternative for a chronic sinus tract after chordoma surgery and radiation.

Chordoma is a rare form of cancer that forms from the notochord remnants, and affects the skull and the spine. The standard treatment for a sacrococcygeal chordoma is surgery and radiation. Chordoma has a high rate of recurrence and surgery with radiation treatment can leave patients with surgical site complications, such as wounds, fistulas or sinus tracts.

The real burden of tuberculosis: Hidden cases diagnosed on autopsy at a tertiary care center of India.

Introduction: Developing nations have a huge burden of tuberculosis (TB), because of which many cases are undetected and diagnosed only on autopsies. The purpose of this study was to find these cases in a series of consecutive autopsies conducted at a tertiary care centers.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study of 7-year duration from 2014 to 2020 consisted of reviewing 767 autopsies.

Urine DNA biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma screening.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs in a well-defined high-risk patient population, but better screening tests are needed to improve sensitivity and efficacy. Therefore, we investigated the use of urine circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) as a screening test.

Methods: Candidate markers in urine were selected from HCC and controls.

Smartphone integrated handheld Long Range Surface Plasmon Resonance based fiber-optic biosensor with tunable SiO sensing matrix.

In the present work, a novel smartphone assisted fiber optic (FO)-Long range surface plasmon resonance (LRSPR) based biosensor is proposed. In the developed biosensor, the inbuilt color sensitive property of the digital camera present in the smartphone is used for the monitoring of blue and red color channel intensities. This will replace the most exploited diffraction gratings or narrow band filters used for analyzing the spectral data in reported smartphone based SPR sensors.

The monofunctional CO dehydrogenase CooS is essential for growth of Thermoanaerobacter kivui on carbon monoxide.

Thermoanaerobacter kivui is a thermophilic acetogen that can grow on carbon monoxide as sole carbon and energy source. To identify the gene(s) involved in CO oxidation, the genome sequence was analyzed. Two genes potentially encoding CO dehydrogenases were identified.

Electron carriers involved in autotrophic and heterotrophic acetogenesis in the thermophilic bacterium Thermoanaerobacter kivui.

Thermoanaerobacter kivui is an acetogenic model organism that reduces CO with electrons derived from H or CO, or from organic substrates in the Wood-Ljugdahl pathway (WLP). For the calculation of ATP yields, it is necessary to know the electron carriers involved in coupling of the oxidative and reductive parts of metabolism. Analyses of key catabolic oxidoreductases in cell-free extract (CFE) or with purified enzymes revealed the physiological electron carriers involved.

Detection of Hotspot Mutations in Cell-Free DNA from the Urine of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The beta-catenin gene, is among the most frequently mutated in HCC tissues. However, mutational analysis of HCC tumors is hampered by the difficulty of obtaining tissue samples using traditional biopsy.

Lateral flow assay-based detection of long non-coding RNAs: A point-of-care platform for cancer diagnosis.

Lateral flow assay (LFA) is a flexible, simple, low-costpoint-of-care platform for rapid detection of disease-specific biomarkers. Importantly, the ability of the assay to capture the circulating bio-molecules has gained significant attention, as it offers a potential minimal invasive system for early disease diagnosis and prognosis. In the present article, we review an innovative concept of LFA-based detection of circulating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), one of the key regulators of fundamental biological processes.

Precise Regulation of Cas9-Mediated Genome Engineering by Anti-CRISPR-Based Inducible CRISPR Controllers.

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful genome editing tool, but its off-target cleavage activity can result in unintended adverse outcomes for therapeutic applications. Here we report the design of a simple tunable CRISPR controller in which a chemically inducible anti-CRISPR protein AcrIIA4 is engineered to disable Cas9 DNA binding upon the addition of trimethoprim. Dose-dependent control over Cas9 editing and dCas9 induction was achieved, which drastically improved the specificity and biosafety of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Nanoscale chromatin imaging and analysis platform bridges 4D chromatin organization with molecular function.

Extending across multiple length scales, dynamic chromatin structure is linked to transcription through the regulation of genome organization. However, no individual technique can fully elucidate this structure and its relation to molecular function at all length and time scales at both a single-cell level and a population level. Here, we present a multitechnique nanoscale chromatin imaging and analysis (nano-ChIA) platform that consolidates electron tomography of the primary chromatin fiber, optical super-resolution imaging of transcription processes, and label-free nano-sensing of chromatin packing and its dynamics in live cells.