Abstract:
Goniothalamin is a natural occurring styryl-lactone compound isolated from Goniothalamus macrophyllus. It had been demonstrated to process promising anticancer activity on various cancer cell lines. However, little study has been carried out on oral cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxic effects of goniothalamin against H400 oral cancer cells and its underlying molecular pathways. Results from MTT assay demonstrated that goniothalamin exhibited selective cytotoxicity as well as inhibited cells growth of H400 in dose and time-dependent manner. This was achieved primarily via apoptosis where apoptotic bodies and membrane blebbing were observed using AO/PI and DAPI/Annexin V-FITC fluorescence double staining. In order to understand the apoptosis mechanisms induced by goniothalamin, apoptosis assessment based on mitochondrial membrane potential assay and cytochrome c enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were carried out. Results demonstrated that the depolarization of mitochondrial transmembrane potential facilitated the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytosol. Caspases assays revealed the activation of initiator caspase-9 and executioner caspase-3/7 in dose-dependent manners. This form of apoptosis was closely associated with the regulation on Bcl-2 family proteins, cell cycle arrest at S phase and inhibition of NF-κβ translocation from cytoplasm to nucleus. Conclusion, goniothalamin has the potential to act as an anticancer agent against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (H400 cells). Source: Archives of Oral Biology Author: Li LK, Rola AS, Kaid FA, Ali AM, Alabsi AM. Status: A paid open access option is available for this journal at ScienceDirect
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Abstract:
Objectives: To investigate the marginal accuracy of Cerec three-dimensional (3D) all-ceramic crowns, in terms of gap and overhang, and to analyze the "operators' experience" and "cement space" effects on the marginal fit. Method and Materials: Thirty virtual models were obtained from a metal master die by scanning by three different operators: operator 1 (novice), operator 2 (beginner), and operator 3 (expert) (n = 10). These were further divided into two subgroups of five each, based on the cement space settings: 10 mu m and 20 mu m. Monolithic ceramic crowns (n = 10) were designed and milled for each virtual model and subjected to marginal gap and overhang evaluation at six designated margin locations. The influence of operators' experience and cement space on the marginal fit of the crowns was assessed by performing Box tests and MANOVA (multiple analysis of variance) (a = .05). Kruskal Wallis test was also used to analyze the interactions between the operators' experience and the cement space. Results: The overall mean +/- SD marginal gaps and overhangs for the Cerec 3D crowns, were 154 +/- 56 mu m and 74 +/- 74 mu m for novice, 158 +/- 53 mu m and 86 +/- 66 mu m for beginner, and 155 +/- 52 mu m and 47 +/- 76 mu m for expert, respectively. The MANOVA and Kruskal Wallis tests found no significant differences (P > .05) between the operators, in terms of gap and overhang, for all cement settings. Conclusion: The operator experience did not seem to influence the marginal accuracy of Cerec 3D fabricated crowns. Source: QUINTESSENCE INTERNATIONAL Author: Baig MR, Gonzalez MAG, Abu Kasim NH, Abu Kassim NL, Farook MS. Status: Paid open access available at Quintessence International Can stature be estimated from tooth crown dimensions? A study in a sample of South-East Asians4/5/2016 Abstract:
Objective Stature estimation is an important step during medico-legal and forensic examination. Difficulty arises when highly decomposed and mutilated dead bodies with fragmentary remains are brought for forensic identification like in mass disaster or airplane crash. The body remains could be just a jaw with some teeth. The objective of this study was to explore if the stature of an individual can be determined from the tooth crown dimensions. Design A total of 201 volunteers participated in this study. The stature and clinical crown dimensions (length, mesiodistal and labiolingual diameters) of maxillary anterior teeth were measured. Correlation between crown dimensions and stature was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Regression analysis was used to get equations for estimation of stature from crown measurements. The regression equations were applied in the same sample of volunteers that was used to obtain the equations. The reliability and accuracy of the equations were checked in another sample of volunteers. Results Length and mesiodistal diameter of the crown of central incisors and canines showed significant albeit low to moderate correlations (0.35–0.45) with the stature. The correlation co-efficient values were higher (as high as 0.537) when summation of the measurements was taken for analysis. The regression equations when applied to the same and a test sample of volunteers revealed that differences between actual and estimated stature can be as low as 0.01 to as much as 16.50 cm. Conclusion The findings suggest that although there are some degrees of positive correlations between stature and tooth crown dimensions, stature estimation from the tooth crown dimensions cannot provide the accuracy of estimation as required in forensic situations. The stature estimation accuracy using tooth crown dimensions is comparable to that of cephalo-facial dimensions but inferior to that of long bones. Source: ARCHIVES OF ORAL BIOLOGY Author: Hossain MZ, Munawar KMM, Rahim ZHA, Bakri MM. Status: A paid open access option is available for this journal ScienceDirect Abstract:
Among the debilitating diseases, neurological related diseases are the most challenging ones to be treated using cell replacement therapies. Recently, dental pulp stem cells (SHED) were found to be most suitable cell choice for neurological related diseases as evidenced with many preclinical studies. To enhance the neurological potential of SHED, we recapitulated one of the pharmacological therapeutic tools in cell replacement treatment, we pre-conditioned dental pulp stem cells (SHED) with culture medium of ReNCell VM, an immortalized neuron progenitor cell, prior to neurogenesis induction and investigated whether this practice enhances their neurogenesis potential especially towards dopaminergic neurons. We hypothesed that the integration of pharmacological practices such as co-administration of various drugs, a wide range of doses and duration as well as pre-conditioning into cell replacement may enhance the efficacy of stem cell therapy. In particular, pre-conditioning is shown to be involved in the protective effect from some membrano-tropic drugs, thereby improving the resistance of cell structures and homing capabilities. We found that cells pre-treated with ReNCell VM conditioned medium displayed bipolar structures with extensive branches resembling putative dopaminergic neurons as compared to non-treated cells. Furthermore, many neuronal related markers such as NES, NR4A2, MSI1, and TH were highly expressed (fold changes > 2; p < 0.05) in pre-treated cells. Similar observations were detected at the protein level. The results demonstrate for the first time that SHED pre-conditioning enhances neurological potential and we suggest that cells should be primed to their respective environment prior to transplantation. Source: CYTOTECHNOLOGY Author: Gnanasegaran N, Govindasamy V, Musa S, Abu Kasim NH Status: A paid open access option is available for this journal .at Springer Abstract:
The radioprotective effect of Polyalthia longifolia was studied in mice. P. longifoliatreatment showed improvement in mice survival compared to 100% mortality in the irradiated mice. Significant increases in hemoglobin concentration, and red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet counts were observed in the animals pretreated with leaf extract. Pre-irradiation administration of P. longifolia leaf extract also increased the CFU counts of the spleen colony and increased the relative spleen size. A dose-dependent decrease in lipid peroxidation levels was observed in the animals pretreated with P. longifolia. However, although the animals pretreated with P. longifolia exhibited a significant increase in superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, the values remained below normal in both liver and the intestine. Pre-irradiation administration of P. longifoliaalso resulted in the regeneration of the mucosal crypts and villi of the intestine. Moreover, pretreatment with P. longifolia leaf extract also showed restoration of the normal liver cell structure and a significant reduction in the elevated levels of ALT, AST and bilirubin. These results suggested the radioprotective ability of P. longifolia leaf extract, which is significant for future investigation for human applications in developing efficient, economically viable, non-toxic natural and clinically acceptable novel radioprotectors. Source: PHYSICA MEDICA-EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL PHYSICS Author: Jothy SL, Saito T, Kanwar JR, Chen Y, Aziz A, Yin-Hui L, Sasidharan S. Status: A paid open access option is available for this journal at ScienceDirect |