Abstract:
Pangolins are scale-covered mammals, containing eight endangered species. Maintaining pangolins in captivity is a significant challenge, in part because little is known about their genetics. Here we provide the first large-scale sequencing of the critically endangered Manis javanica transcriptomes from eight different organs using Illumina HiSeq technology, yielding similar to 75 Giga bases and 89,754 unigenes. We found some unigenes involved in the insect hormone biosynthesis pathway and also 747 lipids metabolism-related unigenes that may be insightful to understand the lipid metabolism system in pangolins. Comparative analysis between M. javanica and other mammals revealed many pangolin-specific genes significantly over-represented in stress-related processes, cell proliferation and external stimulus, probably reflecting the traits and adaptations of the analyzed pregnant female M. javanica. Our study provides an invaluable resource for future functional works that may be highly relevant for the conservation of pangolins. Source: Scientfic Reports Author: Yusoff AM, Tan TK, Hari R, Koeplfli KP, Wee WY, Antunes A, Sitam FT, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Karuppannan KV, Wong GJ, Lipovich L, Warren WC, O’brien SJ, Choo SW. Status: Open Access available at NATURE
0 Comments
Abstract:
Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the changes in cell density and morphology of selected cells of the ageing human dental pulp. Background:Changes in cell density and morphology of dental pulp cells over time may affect their capability to respond to tooth injury. Materials and methods:One hundred thirty-one extracted teeth were obtained from individuals between the ages of 6 and 80years. The apical 1/3 of the root region was removed from all teeth prior to routine processing for producing histological slides. The histology slides were used to study the changes in cell density and morphology of selected pulp cells; odontoblasts, subodontoblasts and fibroblasts in the crown and root regions of the dental pulp. Student's t-test and one-way anova were used for statistical analyses. Results:In all age groups, the cell density for all types of cells was found to be higher in the crown than in the root (p<0.05). In general, the pulp cell density was found to decrease with age in both the crown and root regions. However, it was noted that the reduction of coronal odontoblasts occurred later in life (40-49years) when compared to that of subodontoblasts or fibroblasts (30-39years). Conclusions:The density of the coronal pulp cells reduces and these cells undergo morphological changes with ageing of individuals and this may affect the pulp's ability to resist tooth injury. Source: GERODONTOLOGY Author: Daud S, Nambiar P, Hossain MZ, Ab Rahman MR, Bakri MM. Status: Full-text is available at WILEY Abstract:
Objective: People with chronic schizophrenia have high rates of physical ill-health such as heart disease. However, there has been less attention to the issue of poor oral health including dental caries (tooth decay) and periodontal (gum) disease, although both have consequences for quality of life and systemic physical health. We therefore measured tooth decay and gum disease in Malaysians with schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited long-stay inpatients with schizophrenia from June to October 2014. Four dental specialists assessed oral health using the decayed-missing-filled teeth index, the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs and the Debris Index of the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index. Results were compared with the 2010 Oral Health survey of the general Malaysian population. Results: A total of 543 patients participated (66.7% males, 33.3% females; mean age=54.8years [standard deviation=16.0]) with a mean illness duration of 18.4years (standard deviation=17.1). The mean decayed-missing-filled teeth was 20.5 (standard deviation=9.9), almost double that of the general population (11.7). Higher decayed-missing-filled teeth scores were associated with both older age (p<0.001) and longer illness duration (p=0.048). Only 1% (n=6) had healthy gums. Levels of decay and periodontal disease were greatest in those aged between 45 and 64years, coinciding with the onset of tooth loss. Conclusion: Dental disease in people with schizophrenia deserves the same attention as other comorbid physical illness. The disparity in oral health is most marked for dental decay. Possible interventions include oral health assessments using standard checklists designed for non-dental personnel, help with oral hygiene, management of iatrogenic dry mouth and early dental referral. Source: AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY Author: Wey MC, Loh S, Doss JG, Abu Bakar AK, Kisely S. Status: Full text available at SAGEPUB Three-dimensional facial analysis of Chinese children with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate11/22/2016 Abstract:
We analyzed the facial features of Chinese children with repaired unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and compared them with a normal control group using a three-dimensional (3D) stereophotogrammetry camera. This cross-sectional study examined 3D measurements of the facial surfaces of 20 Chinese children with repaired UCLP and 40 unaffected Chinese children aged 7 to 12 years old, which were captured using the VECTRA 3D five-pod photosystem and analyzed using Mirror software. Twenty-five variables and two ratios were compared between both groups using independent t-test. Intra-and inter-observer reliability was determined using ten randomly selected images and analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficient test (ICC). The level of significance was set at p < 0.0018. Intra-and inter-observers' reliability was considered fair to excellent with an ICC value ranging from 0.54 to 0.99. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.0018) were found mainly in the nasolabial region. The cleft group exhibited wider alar base root width, flattened nose and broader nostril floor width on the cleft side. They tended to have shorter upper lip length and thinner upper vermillion thickness. Faces of Chinese children with repaired UCLP displayed meaningful differences when compared to the normal group especially in the nasolabial regions. Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS Author: Othman SA, Koay NAA. Status: Full-text available at NATURE Abstract:
Despite the many attractive potential uses of ceramic materials as humidity sensors, some unavoidable drawbacks, including toxicity, poor biocompatibility, long response and recovery times, low sensitivity and high hysteresis have stymied the use of these materials in advanced applications. Therefore, in present investigation, we developed a capacitive humidity sensor using lead-free Ca,Mg,Fe,Ti-Oxide (CMFTO)-based electro-ceramics with perovskite structures synthesized by solid-state step-sintering. This technique helps maintain the submicron size porous morphology of the developed lead-free CMFTO electro-ceramics while providing enhanced water physisorption behaviour. In comparison with conventional capacitive humidity sensors, the presented CMFTO-based humidity sensor shows a high sensitivity of up to 3000% compared to other materials, even at lower signal frequency. The best also shows a rapid response (14.5 s) and recovery (34.27 s), and very low hysteresis (3.2%) in a 33%-95% relative humidity range which are much lower values than those of existing conventional sensors. Therefore, CMFTO nano-electro-ceramics appear to be very promising materials for fabricating high-performance capacitive humidity sensors. Source: Sensors Author: Tripathy A, Pramanik S, Manna A, Bhuyan S, Shah NFA, Radzi Z, Abu Osman NA. Status: Full text available at MDPI Abstract:
The mandibular canal is a conduit that allows the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle to transverse the mandible to supply the dentition, jawbone, and soft tissue around the lower lip. It is now acknowledged that the mandibular canal is not a single canal but an anatomical structure with multiple branches and variations. Iatrogenic injury to branches of the mandibular canal that carry a neurovascular bundle has been reported to cause injury to the main canal as severe as if the main canal itself is traumatized. These injuries include bleeding, neurosensory disturbance, or the formation of traumatic neuroma, and so far, they have involved cases with the bifid mandibular canal. This current report presents a case of neurosensory disturbance that resulted from the impingement of a branch of a trifid mandibular canal during implant insertion. Its management included analgesics, reexamination, and reinserting a shorter implant. Source: JOURNAL OF ORAL IMPLANTOLOGY Author: Aljunid S, AlSiweedi, Nambiar P, Chai WL, Ngeow WC. Status: Fulltext version availalbe at JOIONLINE Generation of functional hepatocyte-like cells from human deciduous periodontal ligament stem cells10/4/2016 Abstract:
Human deciduous periodontal ligament stem cells have been introduced for as an easily accessible source of stem cells from dental origin. Although recent studies have revealed the ability of these stem cells in multipotential attribute, their efficiency of hepatic lineage differentiation has not been addressed so far. The aim of this study is to investigate hepatic lineage fate competence of periodontal ligament stem cells through direct media induction. Differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells was conducted by the exposure of two phase media induction. First phase was performed in the presence of hepatocyte growth factors to induce a definitive endoderm formation. In the subsequent phase, the cells were treated with oncostatin M and dexamethosone followed by insulin and transferrin to generate hepatocyte-like cells. Hepatic-related characters of the generated hepatocyte-like cells were determined at both mRNA and protein level followed by functional assays. Foremost changes observed in the generation of hepatocyte-like cells were the morphological features in which these cells were transformed from fibroblastic shape to polygonal shape. Temporal expression of hepatic markers ranging from early endodermal up to late markers were detected in the hepatocyte-like cells. Crucial hepatic markers such as glycogen storage, albumin, and urea secretion were also shown. These findings exhibited the ability of periodontal ligament stem cells of dental origin to be directed into hepatic lineage fate. These cells can be regarded as an alternative autologous source in the usage of stem cell-based treatment for liver diseases. Source: SCIENCE OF NATURE Author: Vasanthan P, Jayaraman P, Kunasekaran W, Lawrence A, Gnanasegaran N, Govindasamy V, Musa S, Abu Kasim NH Status: Paid open access available at Springer Abstract:
The effect of pressureless sintering on the properties of magnesium orthosilicate-hydroxyapatite (MO-HA) ceramic has been studied. The amount of MO composition in the green body was varied from 10 wt% to 50 wt% through mechanical ball milling and was subsequently sintered at varying temperatures in air atmosphere from 1000 degrees C to 1300 degrees C for 2 h. The magnesium orthosilicate phase was stable during sintering but the hydroxyapatite phase decomposed to tricalcium phosphate. The MO-HA composites generally exhibited lower mechanical properties across all the investigated composition. Nevertheless, a high fracture toughness of 2.5 MPam(1/2) was recorded for sintered body that contained 20 wt% MO. This finding indicates the potential of this ceramic composite to be used for biomedical applications. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved. Source: CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL Author: Ramesh S, Jeffrey CKL, Tan CY, Wong YH, Ganesan P, Ramesh S, Kutty MG, Chandran H, Devaraj P. Status; Paid open access available at ElSevier Abstract:
Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids or peptides identified from a randomized combinatorial library through specific interaction with the target of interest. Targets can be of any size, from small molecules to whole cells, attesting to the versatility of aptamers for binding a wide range of targets. Aptamers show drug properties that are analogous to antibodies, with high specificity and affinity to their target molecules. Aptamers can penetrate disease-causing microbial and mammalian cells. Generated aptamers that target surface biomarkers act as cell-targeting agents and intracellular delivery vehicles. Within this context, the "cell-internalizing aptamers" are widely investigated via the process of cell uptake with selective binding during in vivo systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) or by cell-internalization SELEX, which targets cell surface antigens to be receptors. These internalizing aptamers are highly preferable for the localization and functional analyses of multiple targets. In this overview, we discuss the ways by which internalizing aptamers are generated and their successful applications. Furthermore, theranostic approaches featuring cell-internalized aptamers are discussed with the purpose of analyzing and diagnosing disease-causing pathogens. Source: APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Author: Gopinath SCB, Lakshmipriya T, Chen Y, Arshad MKM, Kerishnan JP, Ruslinda AR, Al-Douri Y, Voon CH, Hashim U. Status: Paid open access available at Springer Abstract: Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids or peptides identified from a randomized combinatorial library through specific interaction with the target of interest. Targets can be of any size, from small molecules to whole cells, attesting to the versatility of aptamers for binding a wide range of targets. Aptamers show drug properties that are analogous to antibodies, with high specificity and affinity to their target molecules. Aptamers can penetrate disease-causing microbial and mammalian cells. Generated aptamers that target surface biomarkers act as cell-targeting agents and intracellular delivery vehicles. Within this context, the "cell-internalizing aptamers" are widely investigated via the process of cell uptake with selective binding during in vivo systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) or by cell-internalization SELEX, which targets cell surface antigens to be receptors. These internalizing aptamers are highly preferable for the localization and functional analyses of multiple targets. In this overview, we discuss the ways by which internalizing aptamers are generated and their successful applications. Furthermore, theranostic approaches featuring cell-internalized aptamers are discussed with the purpose of analyzing and diagnosing disease-causing pathogens. Source: APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY Author: Gopinath SCB, Lakshmipriya T, Chen Y, Arshad MKM, Kerishnan JP, Ruslinda AR, Al-Douri Y, Voon CH, Hashim U. Status: A paid open access option is available for this journal here |