Bibliometric analysis of research on dental age estimation

Dental age estimation plays a key role in therapeutic, medicolegal, forensic, and anthropological applications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the research progress on dental age estimation using bibliometric analysis. Data were gathered from Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed. Keyword co-occurrence analysis, collaboration network analysis, and descriptive analysis of bibliographic data were all completed using VOS viewer and Biblioshiny software. There has been an ongoing but gradual rise in research regarding dental age estimation, with notable increase since 2014. The country with the most publications published (205) was India. The year of 2018 (TP = 92) and 2021 (TP = 100) saw a rapid spike in publications and citations, respectively. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, which has 153 citations, was the most productive institution. Forensic Science International was the journal with the greatest number of publications (73). Author Cameriere had the maximum number of publications (30). The increase in publications associated to collaboration across numerous authors, nations, and institutes serves as evidence of the significant improvement in dental age estimation. This citation analysis allows for the identification of the most relevant and pertinent research fields while providing a view on the development of research in the field of dental age estimation.

Multiomic integration reveals neuronal-extracellular vesicle coordination of gliotic responses in degeneration

In the central nervous system (CNS), including in the retina, neuronal-to-glial communication is critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis including signal transmission, transfer of trophic factors, and in the modulation of inflammation. Extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated transport of molecular messages to regulate these processes has been suggested as a mechanism by which bidirectional communication between neuronal and glial cells can occur. In this work we employed multiomics integration to investigate the role of EV communication pathways from neurons to glial cells within the CNS, using the mouse retina as a readily accessible representative CNS tissue. Further, using a well-established model of degeneration, we aimed to uncover how dysregulation of homeostatic messaging between neurons and glia via EV can result in retinal and neurodegenerative diseases. EV proteomics, glia microRNA (miRNA) Open Array and small RNA sequencing, and retinal single cell sequencing were performed, with datasets integrated and analysed computationally. Results demonstrated that exogenous transfer of neuronal miRNA to glial cells was mediated by EV and occurred as a targeted response during degeneration to modulate gliotic inflammation. Taken together, our results support a model of neuronal-to-glial communication via EV, which could be harnessed for therapeutic targeting to slow the progression of retinal-, and neuro-degenerations of the CNS.

Impairing Gasdermin D-mediated pyroptosis is protective against retinal degeneration

BACKGROUND

Inflammasome activation and the subsequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) have been widely reported to contribute to the progression of retinal degenerations, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the Western World. The role of Gasdermin D (GSDMD), a key executioner of pyroptosis following inflammasome activation, however, is less well-established. In this study we aimed to characterise the role of GSDMD in the healthy and degenerating retina, and uncover its role as a conduit for IL-1β release, including via extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated release.

METHODS

GSDMD mutant and knockout mice, in vitro models of inflammation and a well-established in vivo model of retinal degeneration (photo-oxidative damage; PD) were utilised to explore the role and pathological contribution of GSDMD in regulating IL-1β release and propagating retinal inflammation. RNA sequencing of whole retinas was used to investigate GSDMD-mediated inflammation during degeneration. The role of EVs in GSDMD-mediated IL-1β release was investigated using nanoparticle tracking analysis, ELISA and EV inhibition paradigms. Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of targeting GSDMD was examined using GSDMD-specific siRNA.

RESULTS

We identified in this work that mice deficient in GSDMD had better-preserved retinal function, increased photoreceptor survivability and reduced inflammation. RNA-Seq analysis revealed that GSDMD may propagate inflammation in the retina via NF-κB signalling cascades and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also showed that IL-1β was packaged and released via EV in a GSDMD-dependent manner. Finally, we demonstrated that impairing GSDMD function using RNAi or blocking EV release was able to reduce IL-1β content in cell-free supernatant and EV.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these results suggest that pyroptotic pore-forming protein GSDMD plays a key role in the propagation of retinal inflammation, in particular via the release of EV-encapsulated IL-1β. Targeting GSDMD using genetic or pharmacological inhibitors may pose a therapeutic opportunity to dampen inflammatory cascades and delay the progression of retinal degeneration.

Short exposure to photo-oxidative damage triggers molecular signals indicative of early retinal degeneration

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world, currently affecting over 350 billion people globally. For the most prevalent late-stage form of this disease, atrophic AMD, there are no available prevention strategies or treatments, in part due to inherent difficulties in early-stage diagnosis. Photo-oxidative damage is a well-established model for studying inflammatory and cell death features that occur in late-stage atrophic AMD, however to date has not been investigated as a potential model for studying early features of disease onset. Therefore, in this study we aimed to determine if short exposure to photo-oxidative damage could be used to induce early retinal molecular changes and advance this as a potential model for studying early-stage AMD.

Methods

C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 1, 3, 6, 12, or 24h photo-oxidative damage (PD) using 100k lux bright white light. Mice were compared to dim-reared (DR) healthy controls as well as mice which had undergone long periods of photo-oxidative damage (3d and 5d-PD) as known timepoints for inducing late-stage retinal degeneration pathologies. Cell death and retinal inflammation were measured using immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR. To identify retinal molecular changes, retinal lysates were sent for RNA sequencing, following which bioinformatics analyses including differential expression and pathway analyses were performed. Finally, to investigate modulations in gene regulation as a consequence of degeneration, microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns were quantified using qRT-PCR and visualized using in situ hybridization.

Results

Short exposure to photo-oxidative damage (1-24h-PD) induced early molecular changes in the retina, with progressive downregulation of homeostatic pathways including metabolism, transport and phototransduction observed across this time-course. Inflammatory pathway upregulation was observed from 3h-PD, preceding observable levels of microglia/macrophage activation which was noted from 6h-PD, as well as significant photoreceptor row loss from 24h-PD. Further rapid and dynamic movement of inflammatory regulator miRNA, miR-124-3p and miR-155-5p, was visualized in the retina in response to degeneration.

Conclusion

These results support the use of short exposure to photo-oxidative damage as a model of early AMD and suggest that early inflammatory changes in the retina may contribute to pathological features of AMD progression including immune cell activation and photoreceptor cell death. We suggest that early intervention of these inflammatory pathways by targeting miRNA such as miR-124-3p and miR-155-5p or their target genes may prevent progression into late-stage pathology.

Robust expression of LINE-1 retrotransposon encoded proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) results from a series of genetic alteration in squamous cells. This particular type of cancer considers one of the most aggressive malignancies to control because of its frequent local invasions to the regional lymph node. Although several biomarkers have been reported, the key marker used to predict the behavior of the disease is largely unknown. Here we report Long INterpersed Element-1 (LINE1 or L1) retrotransposon activity in post-operative oral cancer samples. L1 is the only active retrotransposon occupying around 17% of the human genome with an estimated 500,000 copies. An active L1 encodes two proteins (L1ORF1p and L1ORF2p); both of which are critical in the process of retrotransposition. Several studies report that the L1 retrotransposon is highly active in many cancers. L1 activity is generally determined by assaying L1ORF1p because of its high expression and availability of the antibody. However, due to its lower expression and unavailability of a robust antibody, detection of L1ORF2p has been limited. L1ORF2p is the crucial protein in the process of retrotransposition as it provides endonuclease and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were performed on the post-operative oral cancer samples and murine tissues.

RESULTS

Using in house novel antibodies against both the L1 proteins (L1ORF1p and L1ORF2p), we found L1 retrotransposon is extremely active in post-operative oral cancer tissues. Here, we report a novel human L1ORF2p antibody generated using an 80-amino-acid stretch from the RT domain, which is highly conserved among different species. The antibody detects significant L1ORF2p expression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) samples and murine germ tissues.

CONCLUSIONS

We report exceptionally high L1ORF1p and L1ORF2p expression in post-operative oral cancer samples. The novel L1ORF2p antibody reported in this study will serve as a useful tool to understand why L1 activity is deregulated in OSCC and how it contributes to the progression of this particular cancer. Cross-species reactivity of L1ORF2p antibody due to the conserved epitope will be useful to study the retrotransposon biology in mice and rat germ tissues.

STRIDER NZAus: a multicentre randomised controlled trial of sildenafil therapy in early-onset fetal growth restriction

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of maternal sildenafil therapy on fetal growth in pregnancies with early-onset fetal growth restriction.

DESIGN

A randomised placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Thirteen maternal-fetal medicine units across New Zealand and Australia.

POPULATION

Women with singleton pregnancies affected by fetal growth restriction at 22⁺⁰ to 29⁺⁶ weeks.

METHODS

Women were randomised to oral administration of 25 mg sildenafil citrate or visually matching placebo three times daily until 32⁺⁰ weeks, birth or fetal death (whichever occurred first).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was the proportion of pregnancies with an increase in fetal growth velocity. Secondary outcomes included live birth, survival to hospital discharge free of major neonatal morbidity and pre-eclampsia.

RESULTS

Sildenafil did not affect the proportion of pregnancies with an increase in fetal growth velocity; 32/61 (52.5%) sildenafil-treated, 39/57 (68.4%) placebo-treated [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.23-1.05] and had no effect on abdominal circumference Z-scores (P = 0.61). Sildenafil use was associated with a lower mean uterine artery pulsatility index after 48 hours of treatment (1.56 versus 1.81; P = 0.02). The live birth rate was 56/63 (88.9%) for sildenafil-treated and 47/59 (79.7%) for placebo-treated (adjusted OR 2.50, 95% CI 0.80-7.79); survival to hospital discharge free of major neonatal morbidity was 42/63 (66.7%) for sildenafil-treated and 33/59 (55.9%) for placebo-treated (adjusted OR 1.93, 95% CI 0.84-4.45); and new-onset pre-eclampsia was 9/51 (17.7%) for sildenafil-treated and 14/55 (25.5%) for placebo-treated (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.26-1.75).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal sildenafil use had no effect on fetal growth velocity. Prospectively planned meta-analyses will determine whether sildenafil exerts other effects on maternal and fetal/neonatal wellbeing.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Maternal sildenafil use has no beneficial effect on growth in early-onset FGR, but also no evidence of harm.

Increasing body mass index and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness are associated with increased skin-to-epidural space distance in pregnant women

BACKGROUND

Body mass index does not indicate the distribution of adipose tissue. Central adiposity may be measured using ultrasound measurement of subcutaneous fat thickness. This study determined if the abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness measured correlated with skin-to-epidural space distance at delivery, and compared this with the booking body mass index.

METHODS

We analysed a sub-set of participants from a single-centre, prospective cohort study that assessed the relationship between subcutaneous fat thickness and maternity outcomes. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness measurements were obtained during the routine fetal anomaly scan. The skin-to-epidural space distance was obtained in those having epidural or combined spinal-epidural analgesia. Linear regression was used to test for strength of association and adjusted R² values calculated to determine if subcutaneous fat thickness or body mass index was more strongly associated with skin-to-epidural space distance.

RESULTS

The 463 women had a median (IQR) booking body mass index of 25.0 kg/m² (21.8-29.3) and subcutaneous fat thickness of 16.2 mm (13.0-21.0). The median (IQR) skin-to-epidural space distance was 5.0 cm (4.5-6.0). Both parameters significantly correlated with skin-to-epidural space distance (r=0.53 and 0.68 respectively, P <0.001). Adjusted linear regression coefficient (95% CI) for subcutaneous fat thickness was 0.09 (0.08 to 0.11), R²=0.30 and for body mass index 0.12 (0.11 to 0.13), R²=0.47.

CONCLUSIONS

Booking body mass index had a stronger relationship with skin-to- epidural space distance at delivery than subcutaneous fat thickness, explaining 47% of the variation in the skin-to-epidural distance.

Pharmacological Actions of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1, Gastric Inhibitory Polypeptide, and Glucagon

Glucagon family of peptide hormones is a group of structurally related brain-gut peptides that exert their pleiotropic actions through interactions with unique members of class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). They are key regulators of hormonal homeostasis and are important drug targets for metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and dysregulations of the nervous systems such as migraine, anxiety, depression, neurodegeneration, psychiatric disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. The current review aims to provide a detailed overview of the current understanding of the pharmacological actions and therapeutic advances of three members within this family including glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon.

Development and validation of an analytical method for the separation and determination of major bioactive curcuminoids in Curcuma longa rhizomes and herbal products using non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis

A simple, fast and efficient non-aqueous capillary electrophoresis method (NACE) was developed for the simultaneous determination of three major bioactive curcuminoids (CMNs) in Curcuma longa rhizomes and its herbal products. Good separation, resolution and reproducibility were achieved with the background electrolyte (BGE) consisting a mixture of 15.0 mM sodium tetraborate and 7.4 mM sodium hydroxide (NaOH) in 2:10:15 (v/v/v) of water, 1-propanol, and methanol. The influences of background electrolyte, sodium hydroxide, water, sodium dodecyl sulfate and hydroxylpropyl-β-cyclodextrin on separations were investigated. The separation was carried out in a fused-silica capillary tube with reverse polarity. Hydrodynamic injection of 25mbar for 12s was used for injecting samples and a voltage of 28 kV was applied for separation. The ultrasonication method was used for the extraction of CMNs from the turmeric herbal products and the extract was filtered and directly injected without any further treatments. The limits of detection and quantification were less than 5.0 and 14.6 µg/ml respectively for all CMNs. The percentage recoveries for CMNs were >97.2% (%RSD, <2.62). The results obtained by the method were compared with existing spectrophotometric and HPLC methods. The related compounds in the extract did not interfere in the determination of CMNs. The proposed NACE method is better than existing chromatographic and electrophoretic methods in terms of simple electrophoretic medium, fast analysis and good resolution.

Role of secretin peptide family and their receptors in the hypothalamic control of energy homeostasis

Secretin family of peptide hormones is a group of structurally related brain-gut peptides that exert their functions via interactions with the class B1 G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Recent researches of these peptides and receptors in metabolism have been an area of intense focus for the development of promising drug targets as therapeutic potentials for metabolic disorders. The fact that agonists of GLP-1, a member in the family, have already started being used as therapeutics clearly indicates the importance and relevance of further research on the clinical applications of these peptides. This review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding regarding the importance of this family of peptides as well as their receptors in metabolism with special focus on their actions in the hypothalamus.

Method development and validation for the simultaneous determination of cetirizine dihydrochloride, paracetamol, and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride in tablets by capillary zone electrophoresis

A simple, selective, and cost effective capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method has been developed for the simultaneous separation and determination of cetirizine dihydrochloride (CTZ), paracetamol (PARA), and phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride (PPA) in tablets. A 10 mM sodium tetraborate background electrolyte (BGE) solution (pH 9.0) was found to be suitable for separation of all the analytes. An uncoated fused-silica capillary of a total length of 76 cm (effective length 64.5 cm) was used for separation. All the analytes were completely separated within 10 min at the applied voltage of 20 kV (current produced approximately 21 microA), and detection was performed at 195 nm with an UV detector. Ibuprofen was used as internal standard (I.S.) for the quantification of the drugs. Validation of the method was performed in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and quantification (LOQ). The linearity of the calibration curves for CTZ, PARA, and PPA (tested range) were 2-50 microg ml(-1) (r(2)=0.9982), 10-1000 microg ml(-1) (r(2)=0.9978), and 10-100 microg ml(-1) (r(2)=0.9986), respectively. The proposed method has been applied for the determination of active ingredients in tablets, and the recovery was found to be > or =98.60% with the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) < or =1.56%. The LOQ of the CTZ, PARA, and PPA was found to be 2.0, 2.0, and 4.0 microg ml(-1), respectively. There were no interfering peaks due to the excipients present in the pharmaceutical tablets. Thus, the proposed method is simple and suitable for the simultaneous analysis of active ingredients in tablet dosage forms.

Simultaneous determination of HIV-protease inhibitors lamivudine and zidovudine in pharmaceutical formulations by micellar electrokinetic chromatography

A micellar electrokinetic chromatographic (MEKC) method for the simultaneous separation and determination of lamivudine (LMV) and zidovudine (ZDV) in pharmaceutical formulation has been developed. Factors that affect the separation, such as buffer pH, surfactant concentration (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS), organic solvents and applied voltage were optimized. Buffer consisting of 12.5 mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate and 15 mM boric acid adjusted at pH 10.8, containing 90 mM SDS and 5% (v/v) acetonitrile (ACN) was found to be suitable for the separation of the drugs. p-Aminobenzoic acid (PABA) was used as internal standard (I.S.). Detection of analytes and I.S. was performed at a wavelength of 210 nm. It was observed that both the drugs and I.S. were migrated within 20 min at the applied voltage of +10 kV. Validation of the method was performed in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ). An excellent linearity was obtained in the concentration range 10-80 microg/ml for LMV and 10-100 microg/ml for ZDV. The detection limits for LMV and ZDV were found to be 2.5 and 2.0 microg/ml, respectively. The optimized method was applied to the simultaneous determination of LMV and ZDV in pharmaceutical formulation and human plasma (spiked) samples. Recovery of both the drugs in tablet dosage form and spiked drugs in plasma were > or =99.72% (relative standard deviation (R.S.D.)< or =1.84%) and > or =80.4% (R.S.D.< or =5.4%), respectively. In the electropherogram no interfering peaks were observed in the region of analytes and I.S. due to inactive ingredients in the tablets and matrices in plasma.

Indirect photometric assay determination of gabapentin in bulk drug and capsules by capillary electrophoresis

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) method was developed for the assay determination of gabapentin (GBP) in bulk drug and capsules. Separation was carried out on 74cm (62.5cm effective length) x 75microm i.d. fused silica capillary by applying a potential of -20kV at ambient temperature. Background electrolyte (BGE) consisting of 5mM 5-sulphosalicylic acid and 0.5mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), pH 11.0 was employed for the separation. Indirect method of UV detection was performed at a wavelength of 215nm using sulphosalicylate ion as a chromophore. A linear calibration curve was obtained over a concentration range 20-200microg/ml of GBP in deionized water with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9998. Recoveries were shown to be >/=98% both in bulk drug and capsules with standard deviation (S.D.) </=2.3%. No placebo (matrix) peaks were observed at the migration times of GBP and L-glutamic acid (internal standard, I.S.).

Enantiomeric separation and determination of antiparkinsonian drugs by reversed-phase ligand-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple and rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the separation and determination of enantiomers of levodopa and carbidopa using a LiChrosper C18 column with aqueous copper-L-phenylalanine as mobile phase was developed. The separation between D- and L-enantiomers of levodopa and carbidopa was fairly good with separation factors of 1.63 and 2.38, respectively. The method was validated using synthetic mixtures and used for quality assurance of commercial formulations.