Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Cell Recognition.

Since their conception 50 years ago, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have seen extensive development both in terms of synthetic routes and applications. Cells are perhaps the most challenging target for molecular imprinting. Although early work was based almost entirely around microprinting methods, recent developments have shifted towards epitope imprinting to generate MIP nanoparticles (NPs).

Hierarchical microchanneled scaffolds modulate multiple tissue-regenerative processes of immune-responses, angiogenesis, and stem cell homing.

Recapitulating the in vivo microenvironments of damaged tissues through modulation of the physicochemical properties of scaffolds can boost endogenous regenerative capacity. A series of critical events in tissue healing including immune-responses, angiogenesis, and stem cell homing and differentiation orchestrate to relay the regeneration process. Herein, we report hierarchically structured ('microchanneled') 3D printed scaffolds (named 'μCh'), in contrast to conventional 3D printed scaffolds, induce such cellular responses in a unique way that contributes to accelerated tissue repair and remodeling.

Development of a tool to assess oral health-related quality of life in patients hospitalised in critical care.

Aims And Objectives: Oral health deteriorates following hospitalisation in critical care units (CCU) but there are no validated measures to assess effects on oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL). The objectives of this study were (i) to develop a tool (CCU-OHQoL) to assess OHQoL amongst patients admitted to CCU, (ii) to collect data to analyse the validity, reliability and acceptability of the CCU-OHQoL tool and (iii) to investigate patient-reported outcome measures of OHQoL in patients hospitalised in a CCU.

Methods: The project included three phases: (1) the development of an initial questionnaire informed by a literature review and expert panel, (2) testing of the tool in CCU (n = 18) followed by semi-structured interviews to assess acceptability, face and content validity and (3) final tool modification and testing of CCU-OHQoL questionnaire to assess validity and reliability.

Validation of the HADS and PSS-10 and psychological status in patients with oral lichen planus.

Objectives: To validate the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) for use in patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and to provide cross-sectional analysis of anxiety, depressive and distress symptoms in patients with OLP.

Methods: Validity and reliability of both instruments were assessed in 260 participants with OLP in one tertiary oral medicine centre through confirmatory factor analysis and calculation of reliability coefficients. Prevalence, clinical and demographic predictors of the presence of psychological symptoms in OLP were calculated and identified using multivariated logistic regression.

The mechanobiology of tendon fibroblasts under static and uniaxial cyclic load in a 3D tissue engineered model mimicking native extracellular matrix.

Tendon mechanobiology plays a vital role in tendon repair and regeneration; however, this mechanism is currently poorly understood. We tested the role of different mechanical loads on extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling gene expression and the morphology of tendon fibroblasts in collagen hydrogels, designed to mimic native tissue. Hydrogels were subjected to precise static or uniaxial loading patterns of known magnitudes and sampled to analyse gene expression of known mechano-responsive ECM-associated genes (Collagen I, Collagen III, Tenomodulin, and TGF-β).

Development and validation of a short version of Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ-15).

Background: The adoption of the Chronic Oral Mucosal Disease Questionnaire (COMDQ) into clinical practice has been low, despite its rigorous development process. A potential limitation of the COMDQ is the high response burden to patients. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop and validate a short version of the 26-item COMDQ.

Gum health - who cares?

Much of the British population have poor gum health which can affect their daily lives and general health. Surprisingly, we don't often hear from the public whether they care about this situation. Is this a lack of interest or a lack of opportunity to be heard? In addition, gum health, like overall health, requires people to take care of themselves and to take ownership of their condition.

National British Orthodontic Society (BOS) Orthognathic Audit 2017-2018.

Objective: To carry out a UK national clinical audit of orthognathic acceptance criteria and information provided to orthognathic patients before treatment.

Design: National clinical audit.

Setting: Data collected using Bristol Online Surveys.

Periodontitis and vascular inflammatory biomarkers: an experimental in vivo study in rats.

The objective of this preclinical in vivo study was to determine changes in vascular inflammatory biomarkers in systemic circulation after injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) in rats. Experimental periodontitis was induced by injections of Pg-LPS. Gingival soft and hard tissues changes were analysed by means of magnetic resonance imaging and micro computed tomography.

The teaching of occlusion in undergraduate dental schools in the UK and Ireland.

Aim This study investigated and evaluated the teaching of occlusion in undergraduate dental schools in the UK and Ireland, the thorough understanding of which would facilitate young graduates to become competent practitioners.Material and methods A mixed-methods approach was employed, with primary data generated and collected by using a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey which was followed-up by semi-structured interviews. The hard copy questionnaires enquired about: i) whether occlusion was taught; ii) how long was spent by schools teaching occlusion; iii) what teaching resources were employed; iv) tutors' perceptions of how well prepared for general practice new graduates were; and v) how was knowledge/skill assessed.

Structural validation of facial skin using optical coherence tomography: A descriptive study.

Background: In this immediate ex vivo study, we aimed to identify the structures of normal and pathological facial skin using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compared them to the gold standard histopathology.

Material And Methods: A total of 53 patients, with 57 suspicious facial lesions, participated in this study. A set of variables have been highlighted by the pathologist to represent the minimum unique features that could be used to diagnose a skin pathology have been included in a checklist.

A systematic review to assess interventions delivered by mobile phones in improving adherence to oral hygiene advice for children and adolescents.

Background Mobile phones are potentially an invaluable tool in addressing the global challenge associated with dental caries as they may elicit behaviour change by incorporating numerous behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to address an individual's capability, opportunity and motivation.Methods The methodology for this review is published on the PROSPERO database (CRD42017078414).Results Two randomised controlled trials were included, both were undertaken with orthodontic patients and both reported significantly reduced plaque scores in the intervention group compared with the control at final follow-up.

Causal association between periodontitis and hypertension: evidence from Mendelian randomization and a randomized controlled trial of non-surgical periodontal therapy.

Aims: Inflammation is an important driver of hypertension. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which could provide a mechanism for pro-hypertensive immune activation, but evidence of a causal relationship in humans is scarce. We aimed to investigate the nature of the association between periodontitis and hypertension.

New protocol for optimisation of polymer composition for imprinting of peptides and proteins.

We present here a novel screening tool for optimisation of polymerisation mixtures used in imprinting of peptides and proteins. To facilitate rapid synthesis and screening of a combinatorial library of polymers the solid-phase synthesis method developed by Piletsky and co-workers was scaled down to 50 mg of template-immobilised solid phase, allowing a single well of a 96-well microplate to function as an individual reaction vessel. In this way, 32 different polymer compositions containing -isopropylacrylamide, acrylic acid, -(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide hydrochloride, and -butylacrylamide, were tested in imprinting of three peptides and three proteins.

Epithelial tissue thickness improves optical coherence tomography's ability in detecting oral cancer.

Background: OCT is a non-invasive imaging technique that enables the measurement of epithelial thickness and architectural changes, which can help in the diagnosis of pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions. The purpose of the study was to assess whether epithelial tissue thickness improves optical coherence tomography's ability in detecting oral cancer.

Patients And Methods: Surgically resected oral margins from 60 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma were subjected to OCT.

A 24-year experience of autologous stem cell transplantation for light chain amyloidosis patients in the United Kingdom.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is considered to be the best method to achieve deep haematological/organ responses and improve survival in selected patients with AL amyloidosis. This field has been led by US centres and is less utilised in Europe. The introduction of effective chemotherapy agents for AL prompted us to re-evaluate UK outcomes of ASCT in affected patients.

Oral features of systemic sclerosis: A case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the orofacial parameters of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its related systemic features.

Subjects And Methods: A descriptive case-control study was performed from November 2015 to October 2016. Ninety-three individuals were included and divided into SSc group (n = 50) and healthy controls (C, n = 43).

Non-metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma treated with photodynamic therapy using intravenous mTHPC.

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a method of treating various pathologies. In this retrospective study with prospective intent, a total of 22 patients with T1/T2 N0 cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were treated with intravenous mTHPC (meta-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin) and surface illumination PDT. Comparisons with the clinical features, rate of recurrence and overall outcome were made.

Influence of root maturity or periodontal involvement on dentinal collagen changes following NaOCl irrigation: an ex vivo study.

Aim: To refine a FTIR protocol for detection of NaOCl-induced dentinal collagen changes using an ex vivo irrigation model, and to apply it to determine the collagen change within 0.5 mm of canal or root surfaces, with or without mature roots or periodontal involvement.

Methodology: The root canals of extracted human roots were irrigated with control saline (n = 3) or 5% NaOCl (n = 3) and sectioned into transverse disks for FTIR analyses, 0.

OCT in the diagnosis of head and neck pre-cancerous and cancerous cutaneous lesions: An immediate ex vivo study.

Background: Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been shown to reliably identify skin changes with the combined advantage of resolution and penetration depth. The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of OCT in diagnosing various skin pathologies, using pre-set diagnostic criteria, by two reviewers blinded to the actual diagnosis.

Patients And Methods: This immediate ex-vivo study included skin specimens from 103 patients with suspicious skin lesions.

Root coverage procedures for treating single and multiple recession-type defects: An updated Cochrane systematic review.

Background: This updated Cochrane systematic review (SR) evaluated the efficacy of different root coverage (RC) procedures in the treatment of single and multiple gingival recessions (GR).

Methods: We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only of at least 6 months' duration evaluating Miller's Class I or II GR (≥3 mm) treated by means of RC procedures. Five databases were searched up to January 16, 2018.

Atypical Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Responses to Topographic Modifications of Titanium Biomaterials Indicate Cytoskeletal- and Genetic Plasticity-Based Heterogeneity of Cells.

Titanium (Ti) is widely used as a biomaterial for endosseous implants due to its relatively inert surface oxide layer that enables implanted devices the ability of assembling tissue reparative components that culminate in osseointegration. Topographic modifications in the form of micro- and nanoscaled structures significantly promote osseointegration and enhance the osteogenic differentiation of adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). While the biological mechanisms central to the differential responses of tissues and cells to Ti surface modifications remain unknown, adhesion and morphological adaptation are amongst the earliest events at the cell-biomaterial interface that are highly influenced by surface topography and profoundly impact the regulation of stem cell fate determination.

Domestication of Campylobacter jejuni NCTC 11168.

Reference and type strains of well-known bacteria have been a cornerstone of microbiology research for decades. The sharing of well-characterized isolates among laboratories has run in parallel with research efforts and enhanced the reproducibility of experiments, leading to a wealth of knowledge about trait variation in different species and the underlying genetics. Campylobacter jejuni strain NCTC 11168, deposited at the National Collection of Type Cultures in 1977, has been adopted widely as a reference strain by researchers worldwide and was the first Campylobacter for which the complete genome was published (in 2000).