-
Cureus Sep 2023Pulp canal calcification is a dental condition that is characterized by the deposition of mineralized tissue within the dental pulp space. While it is primarily a local...
OBJECTIVE
Pulp canal calcification is a dental condition that is characterized by the deposition of mineralized tissue within the dental pulp space. While it is primarily a local phenomenon, recent studies have suggested a potential link between pulp calcification and systemic diseases. This study aimed to determine the correlation between certain systemic diseases, medications, and the presence of pulp canal calcification. Second, it aimed to estimate the prevalence of pulp calcification in the smoker population.
METHODS
A pair-matched case-control observational study was conducted from June 2022 to June 2023 at the Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University. Digital periapical and bitewing radiographs were used for case-based sampling. Patients were categorized into two study groups: the cases group (n=100), consisting of patients with pulp canal calcification including either pulp stone, pulp canal obliteration, or both. Whereas the control group (n=100), consisted of patients without pulp canal calcification. Detailed medical histories were obtained to identify the presence of systemic diseases. Additionally, systemic medications and smoking status were documented.
RESULT
The participants were divided into two groups; cases (n=100), diagnosed with teeth calcifications and confirmed by radiographic examination, and controls (n=100), showing no evidence of teeth calcifications. Among the patients in the calcification group, 26% had a history of systemic disease compared to 17% in the control non-calcification group with no significant difference between both groups. No correlation between certain medications and pulp canal calcification. Smoking did not demonstrate a statistically significant association with teeth calcifications (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Pulp calcification on routine radiographic examination could indicate an underlying unnoticed systemic disorder that demands accurate referral and subsequent therapy.
PubMed: 37859878
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45484 -
Research in Veterinary Science Oct 2023This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp and warm season on gastrointestinal morphological parameters, immune-redox defences...
Impact of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp inclusion and warm season on gastrointestinal morphological parameters, immune-redox defences and coccidiosis in concentrate-fed light lambs.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp and warm season on gastrointestinal morphological parameters, immune-redox defences and coccidiosis in concentrate-fed light lambs. Weaned lambs were assigned to one of three concentrate-based diets: C0 (without carob pulp), C15 (150 g/kg of carob pulp) and C30 (300 g/kg of carob pulp) from 40 to 80 days of age in two consecutive cold and warm batches. Blood samples were collected at Day 80 to determine the metabolic status. Rectal faeces were sampled at Days 50, 65 and 80 to determine consistency and oocyst count per gram. Inclusion of carob pulp in lamb diets did not affect lamb growth but reduced coccidia oocyst excretion, improved faecal consistency and gastrointestinal morphological parameters, enhancing the ruminal thickness of the papilla living strata and reducing the darkness of the epithelium colour. Moreover, carob condensed tannins in the lambs' diet enhanced the expression of antioxidant SOD2 in rumen, while down-regulated NRF2, SOD1, CAT and PPARG in ileum. There was no interaction between the treatments and season in the evaluated variables. Lambs from the warm season exhibited reduced growth performance, altered ruminal epithelium, lower circulating iron levels, increased protein concentrations and higher coccidiosis susceptibility. In addition, regulatory immune and antioxidant mechanisms to counterbalance reactive oxygen species production in gastrointestinal tissues were evident. Dietary inclusion of carob pulp (150 and 300 g/kg) in lamb diets improved gastrointestinal health and homeostasis but did not ameliorate the deleterious effects of warm season.
Topics: Sheep; Animals; Antioxidants; Seasons; Sheep, Domestic; Oxidation-Reduction; Coccidiosis; Sheep Diseases
PubMed: 37639805
DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.104969 -
Journal of Advanced Research Jan 2024Chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) is a common infectious disease of the oral cavity. Immune responses and osteoclastogenesis of monocytes/macrophages play a crucial...
INTRODUCTION
Chronic apical periodontitis (CAP) is a common infectious disease of the oral cavity. Immune responses and osteoclastogenesis of monocytes/macrophages play a crucial role in CAP progression, and this study want to clarify role of monocytes/macrophages in CAP, which will contribute to treatment of CAP.
OBJECTIVES
We aim to explore the heterogeneity of monocyte populations in periapical lesion of CAP tissues and healthy control (HC) periodontal tissues by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), search novel targets for alleviating CAP, and further validate it by proteomics and in vitro and in vivo evaluations.
METHODS
ScRNA-seq was used to analyze the heterogeneity of monocyte populations in CAP, and proteomics of THP-1-derived macrophages with porphyromonas gingivalis infection were intersected with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of macrophages between CAP and HC tissues. The upregulated PTMA (prothymosin-α) were validated by immunofluorescence staining and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. We evaluated the effect of thymosin α1 (an amino-terminal proteolytic cleavage product of PTMA protein) on inflammatory factors and osteoclast differentiation of macrophages infected by P. gingivalis. Furthermore, we constructed mouse and rat mandibular bone lesions caused by apical periodontitis, and estimated treatment of systemic and topical administration of PTMA for CAP. Statistical analyses were performed using GraphPad Prism software (v9.2) RESULTS: Monocytes were divided into seven sub-clusters comprising monocyte-macrophage-osteoclast (MMO) differentiation in CAP. 14 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated genes and proteins were intersected between the DEGs of scRNA-seq data and proteomics, including the high expression of PTMA. Thymosin α1 may decrease several inflammatory cytokine expressions and osteoclastogenesis of THP-1-derived macrophages. Both systemic administration in mice and topical administration in the pulp chamber of rats alleviated periapical lesions.
CONCLUSIONS
PTMA upregulation in CAP moderates the inflammatory response and prevents the osteoclastogenesis of macrophages, which provides a basis for targeted therapeutic strategies for CAP.
PubMed: 38237771
DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.01.018 -
The Lancet. Planetary Health Dec 2023Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), such as Ebola virus disease and highly pathogenic influenza, are serious threats to human health and wellbeing... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs), such as Ebola virus disease and highly pathogenic influenza, are serious threats to human health and wellbeing worldwide. The financial sector has an important, yet often ignored, influence as owners and investors in industries that are associated with anthropogenic land-use changes in ecosystems linked to increased EIDs risks. We aimed to analyse financial influence associated with EIDs risks that are affected by anthropogenic land-use changes. We also aimed to provide empirical assessments of such influence to help guide engagements by governments, private organisations, and non-governmental organisations with the financial sector to advance a planetary health agenda.
METHODS
For this integrative analysis, we identified regions in the world where there was evidence of a connection between EIDs and anthropogenic land-use changes between Nov 9, 1999, and Oct 25, 2021, through a targeted literature review of academic literature and grey literature to identify evidence of drivers of anthropogenic land-use change and their association with commodity production in these regions. We only included publications in English that showed a connection between deforestation and the production of one or more commodities. Publications merely describing spatial or temporal land-use change dynamics (eg, a reduction of forest or an increase of palm-oil plantations) were excluded. As we were assessing financial influence on corporate activities through ownership specifically, we focused our analysis on publicly listed companies. Equity data and data about ownership structure were extracted from Orbis, a company information database. We assessed financial influence by identifying financial entities with the largest equity ownership, descriptively mapping transboundary connections between investors and publicly listed companies.
FINDINGS
227 public and private companies operating in five economic sectors (ie, production of palm oil, pulp and wood products, cocoa, soybeans, and beef) between Dec 15, 2020, and March 8, 2021, were identified. Of these 227, 99 (44%) were publicly listed companies, with 2310 unique shareholders. These publicly listed companies operated in six geographical regions, resulting in nine case-study regions. 54 (55%) companies with complete geographical information were included in the countries network. Four financial entities (ie, Dimensional, Vanguard, BlackRock, and Norway's sovereign wealth fund) each had ownership in 39 companies or more in three of the case-study regions (ie, north America, east Asia, and Europe). Four large US-based asset managers (ie, Vanguard, BlackRock, T Rowe Price, and State Street) were the largest owners of publicly listed companies in terms of total equity size, with ownership amounts for these four entities ranging from US$8 billion to $21 billion. The specific patterns of cross-national ownership depended on the region of interest; for example, financial influence on EIDs risks that was associated with commodity production in southeast and east Asia came from not only global asset managers but also Malaysian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean financial entities. India, Brazil, the USA, Mexico, and Argentina were the countries towards which investments were most directed.
INTERPRETATION
Although commodity supply chains and financial markets are highly globalised, a small number of investors and countries could be viewed as disproportionally influential in sectors that increase EIDs risks. Such financial influence could be used to develop and implement effective policies to reduce ecological degradation and mitigate EIDs risks and their effects on population health.
FUNDING
Formas and Networks of Financial Rupture-how cascading changes in the climate and ecosystems could impact on the financial sector.
Topics: Humans; Ecosystem; Industry; Investments; Ownership; Policy; Zoonoses; Internationality; Communicable Diseases, Emerging; Private Sector; Public Sector; Organizations
PubMed: 38056966
DOI: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00232-2 -
In Vivo (Athens, Greece) 2023Human dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (hDPSCs) are considered to be a good cell source for cell-based clinical therapy, due to the advantages of high proliferation...
BACKGROUND/AIM
Human dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells (hDPSCs) are considered to be a good cell source for cell-based clinical therapy, due to the advantages of high proliferation capacity, multilineage differentiation potential, immune regulation abilities, less ethnic concerns and non-invasive access. However, hDPSCs were traditionally isolated and expanded in medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is a barrier for clinical application due to the safety issues (virus transmission and allergy). Although many studies make efforts to screen out a suitable culture medium, the results are not promising so far. Therefore, a standard good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant culture system is urgently required for the large-scale cell production. This study aimed to find suitable culture conditions for producing clinical grade hDPSCs to meet the requirements for clinical cell-based therapy and further to promote the application of hDPSCs into tissue regeneration or disease cure.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We derived hDPSCs from nine orthodontic teeth expanded in two different media: a GMP compliant and xenogeneic serum-free medium (AMMS) and a serum containing medium (SCM). Cell propterties including morphology, proliferation, marker expression, differentiation, stemness, senescence and cytokine secretion between these two media were systematically compared.
RESULTS
hDPSCs cultured in both media exhibited the typical characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, we found that more cell colonies formed in the primary culture in AMMS, and the hDPSCs displayed higher proliferation capacity, differentiation potential and better stemness maintenance during sub-culturing in AMMS.
CONCLUSION
Cell properties of hDPSCs could be improved when they were isolated and expanded in AMMS, which might provide a good candidate of culture medium for large-scale cell manufacturing.
Topics: Humans; Dental Pulp; Cell Differentiation; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Tooth; Gene Expression; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 37905631
DOI: 10.21873/invivo.13364 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Oct 2023The splenic interendothelial slits fulfill the essential function of continuously filtering red blood cells (RBCs) from the bloodstream to eliminate abnormal and aged...
The splenic interendothelial slits fulfill the essential function of continuously filtering red blood cells (RBCs) from the bloodstream to eliminate abnormal and aged cells. To date, the process by which 8 [Formula: see text]m RBCs pass through 0.3 [Formula: see text]m-wide slits remains enigmatic. Does the slit caliber increase during RBC passage as sometimes suggested? Here, we elucidated the mechanisms that govern the RBC retention or passage dynamics in slits by combining multiscale modeling, live imaging, and microfluidic experiments on an original device with submicron-wide physiologically calibrated slits. We observed that healthy RBCs pass through 0.28 [Formula: see text]m-wide rigid slits at 37 °C. To achieve this feat, they must meet two requirements. Geometrically, their surface area-to-volume ratio must be compatible with a shape in two tether-connected equal spheres. Mechanically, the cells with a low surface area-to-volume ratio (28% of RBCs in a 0.4 [Formula: see text]m-wide slit) must locally unfold their spectrin cytoskeleton inside the slit. In contrast, activation of the mechanosensitive PIEZO1 channel is not required. The RBC transit time through the slits follows a [Formula: see text]1 and [Formula: see text]3 power law with in-slit pressure drop and slip width, respectively. This law is similar to that of a Newtonian fluid in a two-dimensional Poiseuille flow, showing that the dynamics of RBCs is controlled by their cytoplasmic viscosity. Altogether, our results show that filtration through submicron-wide slits is possible without further slit opening. Furthermore, our approach addresses the critical need for in vitro evaluation of splenic clearance of diseased or engineered RBCs for transfusion and drug delivery.
Topics: Erythrocytes; Spleen; Cytoskeleton; Microfluidics; Spectrin
PubMed: 37874856
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2300095120 -
Biomedicines Jul 2023Dental diseases occurring on young permanent teeth usually lead to the premature arrest of tooth root development. Sustained tooth root elongation is necessary to... (Review)
Review
Dental diseases occurring on young permanent teeth usually lead to the premature arrest of tooth root development. Sustained tooth root elongation is necessary to achieve the goal of long-term preservation of affected teeth. To this end, stem cell-based regenerative endodontic treatment has been regarded as one of the most promising strategies for treating young permanent teeth with pulp and periapical infections. Endogenous stem cells residing in the apical papilla, named stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs), have been intensively investigated due to their critical roles in pulp regeneration and root redevelopment. The present review summarizes advances in the field of SCAPs studies and discusses the challenges that need to be further addressed.
PubMed: 37509686
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072047 -
Food Chemistry: X Dec 2023The influences of hydrogen peroxide (HO) on the storability and metabolism of disease-resistant substances in fresh longan were investigated. Compared to the control...
Hydrogen peroxide induced changes in the levels of disease-resistant substances and activities of disease-resistant enzymes in relation to the storability of longan fruit.
The influences of hydrogen peroxide (HO) on the storability and metabolism of disease-resistant substances in fresh longan were investigated. Compared to the control samples, HO-treated longan exhibited a higher index of fruit disease, pericarp browning, and pulp breakdown, a higher rate of fruit weight loss, but lower chromaticity values (*, * and *) in pericarp appearance, and a lower commercially acceptable fruit rate. Additionally, HO-treated longan showed a lower lignin content, lower activities of enzymes including phenylalnine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumaryl coenzyme A ligase (4-CL), cinnamate dehydrogenase (CAD), peroxidase (POD), chitinase (CHI), and -1,3-glucanase (GLU). These data collectively suggest that HO negatively impacted the storability of fresh longan. This can be attributed to HO's role in reducing the levels of disease-resistant substances and suppressing the activities of disease-resistant enzymes, implying that HO reduced the postharvest storability of longan by compromising its disease resistance.
PubMed: 38144865
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2023.100923 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Jan 2024Activated microglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) are the main contributors to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's...
Activated microglial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) are the main contributors to neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Inhibiting their activation will help in reducing inflammation and oxidative stress during pathogenesis, potentially limiting the progression of the diseases. The immunomodulation properties of dental pulp-derived stem cells (DPSC) make it a promising therapy for neurodegenerative disorders. This study aims to determine whether secretory factors of DPSC (DPSC) inhibit inflammation and proliferation of microglial cells and define the molecular mechanisms. Our quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the DPSC reduced the markers of the inflammation and induced anti-inflammatory molecules in microglial cells. DPSC reduced the intracellular and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential in microglial cells. In addition, DPSC decreased the cellular bioenergetics parameters related to oxygen consumption rate (OCAR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR). We found that DPSC inhibited microglial cell proliferation by activating a checkpoint molecule, Chk1 leading an arrest at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. To define the mechanism, we performed the western blot analysis and observed that the MAPK P38 pathway was inhibited by DPSC. Furthermore, a System biology analysis revealed that the BDNF and GDNF, secretory factors of DPSC, blocked at the phosphorylation site (Tyr 182) of the P38 molecule resulting in the inhibition of downstream signaling of inflammation. These data suggest that the DPSC may be a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative diseases.
Topics: Humans; Microglia; Signal Transduction; Stem Cells; Inflammation; Neurodegenerative Diseases
PubMed: 38039760
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115971 -
International Journal of Oral Science Aug 2023The biomolecular mechanisms that regulate tooth root development and odontoblast differentiation are poorly understood. We found that Atp6i deficient mice (Atp6i)...
The biomolecular mechanisms that regulate tooth root development and odontoblast differentiation are poorly understood. We found that Atp6i deficient mice (Atp6i) arrested tooth root formation, indicated by truncated Hertwig's epithelial root sheath (HERS) progression. Furthermore, Atp6i deficiency significantly reduced the proliferation and differentiation of radicular odontogenic cells responsible for root formation. Atp6i mice had largely decreased expression of odontoblast differentiation marker gene expression profiles (Col1a1, Nfic, Dspp, and Osx) in the alveolar bone. Atp6i mice sample RNA-seq analysis results showed decreased expression levels of odontoblast markers. Additionally, there was a significant reduction in Smad2/3 activation, inhibiting transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in Atp6i odontoblasts. Through treating pulp precursor cells with Atp6i or wild-type OC bone resorption-conditioned medium, we found the latter medium to promote odontoblast differentiation, as shown by increased odontoblast differentiation marker genes expression (Nfic, Dspp, Osx, and Runx2). This increased expression was significantly blocked by anti-TGF-β1 antibody neutralization, whereas odontoblast differentiation and Smad2/3 activation were significantly attenuated by Atp6i OC conditioned medium. Importantly, ectopic TGF-β1 partially rescued root development and root dentin deposition of Atp6i mice tooth germs were transplanted under mouse kidney capsules. Collectively, our novel data shows that the prevention of TGF-β1 release from the alveolar bone matrix due to OC dysfunction may lead to osteopetrosis-associated root formation via impaired radicular odontoblast differentiation. As such, this study uncovers TGF-β1 /Smad2/3 as a key signaling pathway regulating odontoblast differentiation and tooth root formation and may contribute to future therapeutic approaches to tooth root regeneration.
Topics: Female; Animals; Mice; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Odontoblasts; Culture Media, Conditioned; Cell Differentiation; Signal Transduction; Disease Models, Animal; Tooth Root
PubMed: 37599332
DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00235-2