Structural analysis of the NK-lysin-derived peptide NK-2 upon interaction with bacterial membrane mimetics consisting of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol.

NK-2 is an antimicrobial peptide derived from helices 3 and 4 of the pore-forming protein of natural killer cells, NK-lysin. It has potent activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and protozoan parasites without being toxic to healthy human cells. In biophysical assays its membrane activities were found to require phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lipids which dominate the composition of bacterial membranes.

Variable antifungal activity of curcumin against planktonic and biofilm phase of different candida species.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of curcumin against 2 strains of Candida albicans (ATCC 90028 and a clinical isolate - JY strain) and 1 isolate each of 3 nonalbicans - Candida species [Candida parapsilosis (ATCC 22019), C. glabrata (ATCC 90030), and C. dublieniensis (MYA 646)].

Inter- and intra-observer variability in three grading systems for oral epithelial dysplasia.

Background And Objectives: Management of oral premalignant lesions depends on clinical assessment and grading of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), which remains one of the most important predictors of malignant potential. Numerous grading systems for OED exists with varying sets of assessing criteria and are largely considered subjective. The present study attempted to assess the inter- and intra-observer variability in three grading systems: Binary system, WHO (2005) and Ljubljana systems.

Ameloblastic carcinoma of the mandible: Report of a case and review.

Ameloblastic carcinoma is a rare malignant odontogenic neoplasm that can arise either as a de novo lesion or from pre-existing ameloblastoma. Histopathologically, the tumor retains an ameloblastomatous differentiation pattern but shows cytological features of malignancy. Owing to variable biologic behavior and paucity of long-term follow-up cases, there has been no clear consensus on treatment protocol.

Chemiluminescence: a diagnostic adjunct in oral precancer and cancer: a review.

Oral cancer is one of the most common cancers in India. It's also associated with poor survival rate. Early diagnosis is the only way of reducing the high morbidity and mortality associated with it.

Membrane disruptive antimicrobial activities of human β-defensin-3 analogs.

Human beta defensin-3 (HβD-3) is a host-defense protein exhibiting antibacterial activity towards both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. There is considerable interest in the function of this protein due to its increased salt tolerance and activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. In this study, analogs of HβD-3 devoid of N and C terminal regions are investigated to determine the influence of specific structural motif on antimicrobial activity and selectivity between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Assessment of tissue eosinophilia as a prognosticator in oral epithelial dysplasia and oral squamous cell carcinoma-an image analysis study.

Association of tissue eosinophilia with oral squamous cell carcinoma has shown variable results ranging from favourable to unfavourable or even having no influence on prognosis. Also, very few studies have been done to know the role of eosinophils in premalignancy. So the present study investigated role of eosinophilic infiltration in oral precancer and cancer and its possible use as a prognosticator.

Morphometric evaluation of AgNORs in odontogenic cysts.

Objective: To evaluate the morphometry of AgNORs in odontogenic cysts and to compare their biologic behavior to determine whether AgNOR morphometry is helpful in predicting the behavior.

Study Design: Ten cases each of odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), dentigerous cyst (DC) and radicular cyst (RC) were stained with silver nitrate. Morphometric analysis of 100 selected epithelial and connective tissue cells was done to record their nuclear volume, nuclear perimeter, contour index of the nucleus, AgNOR count, AgNOR proportion and single AgNOR volume.

Assessment of morphological changes and DNA quantification: An in vitro study on acid-immersed teeth.

Context: Acid immersion of victim's body is one of the methods employed to subvert identification of the victim, and hence of the perpetrator. Being hardest and chemically the most stable tissue in the body, teeth can be an important forensic investigative medium in both living and nonliving populations. Teeth are also good reservoirs of both cellular and mitochondrial DNA; however, the quality and quantity of DNA obtained varies according to the environment the tooth has been subjected to.

2D barcodes: a novel and simple method for denture identification.

Several methods of denture marking have been described in the literature. However, most of them are expensive, time-consuming, and do not permit the incorporation of large amounts of information. We propose a novel and simple method incorporating 2D codes which has several advantages over the existing methods.

Dens invaginatus (Type III B).

Dens invaginatus or 'dens in dente' is a developmental malformation of the tooth resulting from infolding of the dental papilla before calcification. This article presents a case of dens invaginatus occurring in maxillary right lateral incisor of a 45-year-old male patient. The patient presented with pain and clinically missing maxillary right canine.

An anthropometric analysis of facial height, arch length, and palatal rugae in the Indian and Nepalese population.

Introduction: A country such as India abounds with diverse population groups with distinct anthropometric characteristics. Among these, numerous Nepalese population groups are present in different states of India comprising one of the most common immigrant races. The aim of the study is to compare two distinct races, Indians and Nepalese on the basis of facial height proportions, arch length and palatal rugae patterns and assess their significance in racial identification.

Helix orientations in membrane-associated Bcl-X(L) determined by 15N-solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Controlled cell death is fundamental to tissue hemostasis and apoptosis malfunctions can lead to a wide range of diseases. Bcl-x(L) is an anti-apoptotic protein the function of which is linked to its reversible interaction with mitochondrial outer membranes. Its interfacial and intermittent bilayer association makes prediction of its bound structure difficult without using methods able to extract data from dynamic systems.

LL-37, the only human member of the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides and their precursor molecules form a central part of human and mammalian innate immunity. The underlying genes have been thoroughly investigated and compared for a considerable number of species, allowing for phylogenetic characterization. On the phenotypical side, an ever-increasing number of very varied and distinctive influences of antimicrobial peptides on the innate immune system are reported.

Topological equilibria of ion channel peptides in oriented lipid bilayers revealed by 15N solid-state NMR spectroscopy.

Ion channel peptides have been prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis, labeled with 15N at selected sites, and reconstituted into oriented lipid bilayers. The (Leu-Ser-Ser-Leu-Leu-Ser-Leu)3-CONH2 peptide has previously been shown to exhibit well-defined and discrete ionic conductances when investigated by single-channel measurements [Lear, J. D.