A Preliminary Report of Maximum Voluntary Bite Force of Young Indian Population

Introduction

The measurement of bite force is increasingly gaining importance in dentistry. This preliminary report evaluates the maximum voluntary bite force (MVBF) of young healthy individuals with normal occlusion and correlates the effect of age and gender with the maximum bite force (MBF).

Materials and Methods

405 participants in the age group of 18 to 40 years were selected from the outpatient department meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria. MVBF was measured with the help of a digital device called "Byte" at incisors, right first molar, and left first molar region.

Results

There was a strong correlation between age with bite force. Bite force increased with age. Males had more bite force than females. The posterior region had higher bite force than the anterior region.

Conclusion

Measurement of bite force is very important for every patient undergoing restorative treatment. The "Byte" device was found to be very efficient.

Assessment of Palatal Rugae to Aid in Gender Identification in Hazaribag Population-A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

This research paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of gender identification utilizing palatal rugae.

Materials and Methods

The size of the sample that was selected included 100 people. They were made up of 50 men and 50 women, all in between the ages of 18 and 25. To examine their palatal rugae patterns, casts were made after taking maxillary impressions. Based on the size and rugae amount found on the left as well as the right sides, the palatal rugae patterns were investigated. Rugae patterns have been recognized based on the categorization provided by Thomas and Kotze (1983).

Statistical Analysis

Chi-square analysis has been used.

Results

There were comparative variations in the shape of rugae patterns among male and female individuals. The study revealed that the circular pattern was higher in males (P < 0.01) as compared to females and the unification pattern was comparatively greater in females (P < 0.05) as compared to males. The most predominant pattern that was seen in both genders was the wavy pattern that was seen to be present in 57.17% of males and 53.42% of females. The rugae number on the right and left sides did not exhibit any significant variations.

Conclusions

This research thus exhibits a relevant difference in patterns of rugae and also confirms the uniqueness of patterns in each individual. Hence, it could be utilized as an adjunct to other tools for identification in the forensic sciences.

Invesigate How Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors Influence Oral Cancer Prevention Behaviors, Screening Uptake, and Treatment Outcomes

Background

Oral cancer is a significant global health issue, with prevention and early detection being pivotal for improved outcomes. This study investigates the impact of cultural and socioeconomic factors on oral cancer prevention behaviors, screening participation, and treatment outcomes.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving a sample size of 1,000 participants. Participants were recruited through stratified sampling to ensure cultural and socioeconomic diversity. Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were used to explore associations between factors and outcomes.

Results

The study revealed multifaceted influences of cultural and socioeconomic factors on oral cancer-related aspects. Cultural factors significantly influenced prevention behaviors, with participants from certain cultural backgrounds exhibiting higher rates of tobacco use and lower rates of dietary adherence). Socioeconomic status played a role in screening uptake, with individuals from lower income brackets less likely to undergo regular screenings.

Conclusion

Cultural and socioeconomic factors have a substantial influence on oral cancer prevention behaviors, screening participation, and treatment outcomes.

Assessment of the Capability to Accurately Capture the Vertical Relationship by the Various Bite Registration Materials

Background

This research study aimed to evaluate and compare the capability of four various bite registration materials to reproduce precise interocclusal relationships in the vertical dimension.

Materials and Methods

Ideal maxillary and mandibular casts were mounted on the semi-adjustable articulator in maximum intercuspation after mock tooth preparation on 46, 47, and 48. Models were scanned by the Medit T500 Dental Lab Scanner, and initial reading was noted at the predetermined points. Ten interocclusal bite registrations were made using four materials (CADbite, Jet Bite, Ramitec, and Aluwax). The mandibular model was demounted and again remounted using the interocclusal records, and the final reading was noted after scanning.

Results

Ramitec showed superior results when compared to polyvinyl bite registration material and Aluwax, but the differences between Ramitec, CADbite, and Jet Bite were nonsignificant.

Conclusions

Although all four materials are suitable for clinical use, elastomeric materials showed superior results. In that, polyether was found to be the best.

A Novel Indigenously Developed Device to Measure Bite Force

Introduction

In stomatology, the evaluation of bite power is crucial. It is considered a significant objective approach to evaluating masticatory performance. Bite force has become a significant outcome analysis index for various therapies in dentistry research. Presently several devices being used globally have their graces and faults. They are costly and also not available easily to the general dental practitioner.

Objectives

Development of a novel indigenous instrument for the measurement of human bite force.

Methods

This paper describes an indigenously developed and researched instrument to measure human bite force. The sensor data (change in electronic resistance under applied force) will be read by the microprocessor and converted to force values in newton. The bite force result will be instantly displayed on the screen of the instrument and the device with which it is connected.

Results

The developed instrument is handy and user-friendly and can measure bite force accurately and repeatedly.

Conclusions

In this research paper, an economical, lightweight, user-friendly, accurate, and reproducible human bite force measurement device is explained, which has been developed indigenously.

A Comparison of the Wetting Ability of Three Artificial Saliva Substitutes on Heat-Cured Denture Base Resin - An In vitro Study

Introduction

Salivary substitutes are gaining popularity these days because of the increase in patients with dry mouth. These substitutes must satisfy certain criteria to fulfill the patient's needs. One of these is wettability.

Materials and Methods

One hundred fifty rectangular specimens of heat-cured denture base acrylic resin were prepared. A drop of test liquids (human saliva, distilled water, aqwet, saleva, and wet mouth) was placed over the test specimen and right and left contact angles were measured using optical contact angle machine.

Results

All test liquids performed better than distilled water. Human saliva has the least contact angle followed by aqwet.

Conclusion

Carboxymethyl cellulose base aqwet saliva substitute was found to be best having similar contact angle values to human saliva.

A Clinical Study Comparing the Maxillary Anterior Tooth Shade and Fabricated Crown Shade of the Western Uttar Pradesh Population to Commercial Shade Guides

Background It is essential for dentists and technicians to work together to fabricate and create restorations that are a "perfect" shade match for a particular person. Thus, the Vitapan 3D-Master tooth shade system (Vita Zahnfabrik, Germany) was created and put into use in order to improve the accuracy of shade-selection operations. The objective was to visually assess the color of the maxillary anterior teeth in male and female subjects from various age groups in Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and methods There were 150 patients in total, and they were divided equally into three groups of 50: Group I, which included patients aged 18 to 30; Group II, which included patients aged 31 to 40; and Group III, which included patients aged 41 to 50. Ceiling-mounted fluorescent lighting fixtures with PHILIPS 65 D tubes (OSRAM GmbH, Germany) were installed. Three medical experts provided their opinions as part of this research. The maxillary central incisor was placed next to tabs of various shades, and the doctors' final assessment was based solely on the central one-third of the face. From each of the two sample sets, a total of 30 patients were selected. Once the crown had been made from the prepared tooth of the patient, it was colored according to two shade guidelines (Vita Classic and Vita 3D Master). The three clinicians matched the shade of the manufactured crown with visual shade guides. For shade matching, a modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) standard was employed. Results The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables across groups. According to the Vitapan Classic shade guide, 26% of Group I participants matched the first Hue group (A1), 14% of Group II participants matched the first Hue group (A3), and 20% of Group III participants matched the second Hue group (B2). Master shade guide for Vita 3D 26% of Group I participants matched with the second value group (2M2), 18% of Group II participants matched with the third value group (3L 1.5), and 24.5% of Group III participants matched with the third value group (3M2). Eighty percent of people who were matched to Alpha scored for crowns made using the Vita 3D Master shade guide, while 94.1% of people who were matched to Charlie scored for crowns made using the Vitapan Classic shade guide in a comparison of the two shade guides. Conclusion The majority of the shades obtained from the Vita 3D master shade guide were found to be 1M1 and 2M1 in the younger patients, 2M1 and 2M2 in the second age group, and 3L 1.5, 3M2 in the older age group. In contrast, the Vitapan Classic shade guide revealed A1, A2, A3, B2, C1, D2, and D3 as the predominant shades.

E-learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Various Healthcare Institutes of India

Introduction

A multicentric study on the benefits and outcomes of e-learning was lacking during the pandemic. This study aimed to find out the participation, satisfaction, and insights of dental and medical undergraduate learners toward digital learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in various healthcare institutes of India.

Material and Methods

A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted using Google Forms online on e-learning among students from the first to the final year of MBBS and BDS courses in five healthcare institutions.

Results

Most participants (72.7%) reported cellular data as their mode of internet connection. Seventy point eight percent of participants stated online classes did not affect health. Eyestrain (54.6%) was the most common, followed by headache and fatigue, whereas only 21.2% chose obesity and disturbed sleep as a consequence of e-learning.

Conclusion

Most students had experience in digital learning, in which the use of smart phones with cellular data was the most common mode of digital learning during the pandemic.

Quantitative Analysis of Publication Trends in the Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society between 2011 and 2020

AIM

To analyze quantitatively the trends in publication and compare the scientific content published during 2011-2015 and 2016-2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online search for all the different manuscripts published from 2011 to 2020 was performed electronically on the website of the Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society (JIPS). The manuscripts were grouped into the following broader categories: Author, article grouping, original article subtype, prosthetic division, and statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The authors from private institutions showed higher publication trends than the authors from government institutions. The period 2016-2020 showed a higher number of publications with four or more authors. There was more original research published, followed by case reports. There was an increasing trend in a systematic review during 2016-2020 as compared to the period 2011-2015. There were a greater number of in vitro experimental studies published with a comparison of the means in the statistical analysis. There was more publication on materials and technology, followed by implants in the prosthetic division of articles.

CONCLUSION

The analysis shows the overall progress of the journal explains the characteristics of the authors involved in the research, highlights the types of research done, statistical methods used, and important areas of research and trends in research in prosthodontics at a national level.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The publication trends will focus on the research thrust areas and the type of research done in the specialty, pointing out the gaps in the research and identifying the future course of action for authors and journals. It also helps for comparison with international publication trends in prosthodontics and provides information to prospective authors to focus research on the priority areas of the concerned journal for better acceptance.

Evaluation of Effect of Aluminum Oxide on Flexural Strength and Surface Roughness of Conventional Heat-Cure Denture Base Resin

PURPOSE

Acrylic denture base tends to fracture frequently during their service due to poor strength. The surface roughness of denture base is a critical property because denture base with rough surface will cause accumulation of food particles ,thereby leading plaque retention . Microbes such as candida albicans are seen inhabitating the surface.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Conventional heat cure denture base reins(DPI) and heat cure denture base resin with incorporation of 15wt% aluminium oxide was studied in two groups with 20 samples each. A mold of size 65 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm (ISO Standard) was obtained by investing brass rectangles. About forty specimens were prepared. Specimens were divided into two groups (n = 20) coded A and B. Group A was the control group (n = 20) without addition of aluminum oxide. Group B was the experimental group (n = 20) with addition of 15 wt % aluminum oxide. All the specimens were stored in distilled water for 14 days. The flexural strength was measured using a three-point bending test in a universal testing machine, and the surface roughness was measured using contact-type profilometer.

RESULTS

Incorporation of 15wt% aluminum oxide leads to a significant increase in flexural strength and surface roughness of conventional heat-cure denture base resin.

The Impact of COVID-19-Induced Factors on "Work from Home" of Employees

Background:

COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdown affecting all businesses globally. Everyone was forced to work from home (WFH) leading to challenges in productivity and motivation.

Methodology:

One thousand working professionals who worked from home participated in the online survey with semi-structured questionnaire using nonprobability Snowball sampling technique. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the findings and to collect data method.

Results:

Participants were asked about their biggest worries during lockdown COVID-19 situation and their biggest worry was infection to COVID-19/death. Professionals were asked whether they were affected or not affected due to “WFH” in COVID situation. The questionnaire items were clubbed into six major categories of job role overload, lifestyle choices, family distraction, occupational discomfort, job performance, and distress, and majority categories were affected.

Conclusion:

Thus, it is observed that the increase in work commitments leads to distress among employees while distractions from family members disrupt the quality of work. While good job performance contributes to life satisfaction, distress significantly diminished it. This paves the way for more studies to be done on work–life balance under WFH arrangements for as long as the pandemic of COVID-19 is prevalent.

The Effect of Joint Surface Preparations and Chemical Surface Treatment on the Transverse Strength of Repaired Denture Base Resin

AIM

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of joint surface preparations and chemical surface treatment given to prepared surface on the transverse strength of repaired denture base resin.

METHODOLOGY

Two hundred and twenty specimens (DPI India) were randomly allocated into eight groups (n = 10), according to the combination of joint surface preparation (Butt joint, 45° bevel, and rounded joint) and chemical surface treatment (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, and methyl methacrylate) for 30 and 60 s each. Specimens, after surface treatment, were repaired with self-cured resin (DPI India) and then subjected to 3-point bending test to measure transverse strength. Fractured surfaces were viewed under stereomicroscope and subjected to AutoCAD analysis to determine type of failure (adhesive or cohesive) and measure their area. Measurement data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, paired t-test, Dunnett's D test, and multiple comparison Bonferroni t-test, with a 5% significance level.

RESULTS

Most of the comparisons between the test specimens were statistically significant. Specimens (methylene chloride for 60 s and rounded joint) show 60%-70% gain of strength.

CONCLUSIONS

For providing better bond strength to a repaired specimen, the segment of fractured specimens to be provided "Rounded joint" preparation with etching by methylene chloride for 60 s.

Ultrasound-mediated disruption of the blood tumor barrier for improved therapeutic delivery

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major anatomical and physiological barrier limiting the passage of drugs into brain. Central nervous system tumors can impair the BBB by changing the tumor microenvironment leading to the formation of a leaky barrier, known as the blood-tumor barrier (BTB). Despite the change in integrity, the BTB remains effective in preventing delivery of chemotherapy into brain tumors. Focused ultrasound is a unique noninvasive technique that can transiently disrupt the BBB and increase accumulation of drugs within targeted areas of the brain. Herein, we summarize the current understanding of different types of targeted ultrasound mediated BBB/BTB disruption techniques. We also discuss influence of the tumor microenvironment on BBB opening, as well as the role of immunological response following disruption. Lastly, we highlight the gaps between evaluation of the parameters governing opening of the BBB/BTB. A deeper understanding of physical opening of the BBB/BTB and the biological effects following disruption can potentially enhance treatment strategies for patients with brain tumors.

Pro-poor policies and improvements in maternal health outcomes in India

BACKGROUND

Since 2005, India has experienced an impressive 77% reduction in maternal mortality compared to the global average of 43%. What explains this impressive performance in terms of reduction in maternal mortality and improvement in maternal health outcomes? This paper evaluates the effect of household wealth status on maternal mortality in India, and also separates out the performance of the Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and the Southern states of India. The results are discussed in the light of various pro-poor programmes and policies designed to reduce maternal mortality and the existing supply side gaps in the healthcare system of India. Using multiple sources of data, this study aims to understand the trends in maternal mortality (1997-2017) between EAG and non EAG states in India and explore various household, economic and policy factors that may explain reduction in maternal mortality and improvement in maternal health outcomes in India.

METHODS

This study triangulates data from different rounds of Sample Registration Systems to assess the trend in maternal mortality in India. It further analysed the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS). NFHS-4, 2015-16 has gathered information on maternal mortality and pregnancy-related deaths from 601,509 households. Using logistic regression, we estimate the association of various socio-economic variables on maternal deaths in the various states of India.

RESULTS

On an average, wealth status of the households did not have a statistically significant association with maternal mortality in India. However, our disaggregate analysis reveals, the gains in terms of maternal mortality have been unevenly distributed. Although the rich-poor gap in maternal mortality has reduced in EAG states such as Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Rajasthan, the maternal mortality has remained above the national average for many of these states. The EAG states also experience supply side shortfalls in terms of availability of PHC and PHC doctors; and availability of specialist doctors.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel contribution of the present paper is that the association of household wealth status and place of residence with maternal mortality is statistically not significant implying financial barriers to access maternal health services have been minimised. This result, and India's impressive performance with respect to maternal health outcomes, can be attributed to the various pro-poor policies and cash incentive schemes successfully launched in recent years. Community-level involvement with pivotal role played by community health workers has been one of the major reasons for the success of many ongoing policies. Policy makers need to prioritise the underperforming states and socio-economic groups within the states by addressing both demand-side and supply-side measures simultaneously mediated by contextual factors.

Emerging Advanced Technologies Developed by IPR for Bio Medical Applications ‑.A Review

Over the last decade, research has intensified worldwide on the use of low-temperature plasmas in medicine and healthcare. Researchers have discovered many methods of applying plasmas to living tissues to deactivate pathogens; to end the flow of blood without damaging healthy tissue; to sanitize wounds and accelerate its healing; and to selectively kill malignant cancer cells. This review paper presents the latest development of advanced and plasma-based technologies used for applications in neurology in particular. Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), an aided institute of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), has also developed various technologies in some of these areas. One of these is an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet (APPJ). This device is being studied to treat skin diseases, for coagulation of blood at faster rates and its interaction with oral, lung, and brain cancer cells. In certain cases, in-vitro studies have yielded encouraging results and limited in-vivo studies have been initiated. Plasma activated water has been produced in the laboratory for microbial disinfection, with potential applications in the health sector. Recently, plasmonic nanoparticle arrays which allow detection of very low concentrations of chemicals is studied in detail to allow early-stage detection of diseases. IPR has also been developing AI-based software called DeepCXR and AIBacilli for automated, high-speed screening and detection of footprints of tuberculosis (TB) in Chest X-ray images and for recognizing single/multiple TB bacilli in sputum smear test images, respectively. Deep Learning systems are increasingly being used around the world for analyzing electroencephalogram (EEG) signals for emotion recognition, mental workload, and seizure detection.

A randomized controlled trial comparing the radiographic evaluation of crestal bone resorption in single implant versus two implant-retained overdentures

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare radiographically the amount of crestal bone resorption during healing and loading period in single implant versus two implant-retained mandibular overdentures in totally edentulous patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 20 edentulous patients (12 male and 8 female) with age range of 58.6 years were included in this clinical trial which was completed in four phases (clinical and radiographic diagnosis, surgical phase, implant loading phase, and bone level measurement phase). The eligible patients were randomly allocated in two equivalent groups of 10 participants each per group. The allocation was in 1:1 ratio via randomized chit method. Group I included the case group, that is, single implant, and Group II included the control group, that is, two implants located in mandible. A total of 30 implants were placed in Group I and 20 implants in Group II. Digital intraoral peri-apical radiographs (RVG 5100) were used for measuring the bone level immediately after implant surgery, 1 month, 3 months, 4 months, and 6 months.

Result

This study showed that there was a mean crestal bone loss of 0.7 mm between the tip of the implant and alveolar crest at the end of 6 months after implant placement in single implant Group I while 0.67 mm in case of Group II two-implant-retained mandibular overdentures. The percentage of crestal bone loss after 6 months follow-up was 6.45% in Group I which was statistically insignificant compared with Group II where 6.25% of bone loss was recorded.

Conclusion

Single implant-retained mandibular overdentures could be used as another alternative treatment option for completely edentulous elderly patients with severely resorbed ridges and financially and systemically compromised conditions.

Mind the gap: Temporal trends in inequalities in infant and child mortality in India (1992-2016)

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Temporal trends in inequalities in infant and child mortality over two and half decades in India.

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Relative change in inequalities in child mortality over survey periods.

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Scatter plots to identify states with largest inequalities among wealth index groups.

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Concentration Index by various background characteristics and decomposition analysis to identify factors contributing in inequality in infant mortality between richest and poorest groups.

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Gap between the poorest and richest groups has narrowed in most states in India in recent years.

Abstract P6-07-09: Attenuation of progesterone driven mammary stem cell expansion by telapristone acetate

Purpose: The interplay of the ovarian hormones estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) contributes to the development of breast cancer, potentially aided by P4-induced expansion in mammary stem cells as observed in diestrous phase in mice, as well as the luteal phase and during pregnancy in women. Telapristone Acetate (TPA), a selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM), exhibits a protective effect against mammary carcinogenesis in rodents. TPA has been shown to display a more specific PR blockade and less toxicity when compared to RU486. We have examined the mammary stem cell pool expansion upon exposure to E2+P4 in mice and compared its attenuation by both TPA and RU486.

Methods: 8 week old female ovariectomized FVB mice weighing above 20g, were randomized into 4 treatment groups: sham (skin incision only, no pellets), E2+P4, E2+P4+Telapristone Acetate (TPA), E2P4+ Mifepristone (RU486). Eight experimental replicates were performed. At age 10 weeks, the mice were implanted with subcutaneous 30-day release pellets of E2 and P4 (0.3 mg E2 & 30.0 mg P4), E2P4+TPA (30.0 mg) and E2P4+RU486 (30.3 mg) in either flank. The mice were euthanized at day 15 of treatment. Single cell suspensions of the 4th inguinal mammary gland pair and one thoracic gland were prepared and labeled with cell surface markers. Lineage negative mammary gland cells were sorted into luminal and basal population subsets. The basal cell niche was identified as CD24+CD49fhi, the mammary stem cells (MaSC) within this niche are identified by CD61+CD49fhi. The cells were sorted on BD FACSAria 5-Laser and the data was analyzed using BD FACSDIVA.The D'Agostino-Pearson test was performed to determine the normal distribution and once normal distribution was confirmed one-way ANOVA (repeated measures) was performed to examine differences in percent cell populations with Tukey test for post-hoc analysis.

Results: The mammary stem cells (MaSC, CD61+CD49fhi) within the basal cell (CD24+CD49fhi) niche showed significant expansion at day 15 in mice implanted with Estrogen and Progesterone 30-day release pellet compared to sham (64.2%, 45.07% respectively; p=0.0392). This expansion was significantly attenuated in both TPA (-38.21%, p=0.011) and RU486 (-34.30%, p=0.002) treated mice compared to MaSC in mice treated with E2+P4 alone (+45.07%). Simultaneously, luminal progenitor cells (CD61+CD49flo) show a marked reduction in E2+P4 treated mice compared to sham (17.77%, 45.54%, respectively; p=0.0375). Luminal mature cells (CD61-CD49flo) show an expansion in E2+P4 treated mice compared to sham (82.23%, 54.41% respectively; %, p=0.0371). TPA significantly (58.40 %, p=0.061) suppresses LM cells expansion observed in the E2+P4 group. TPA and RU486 show significant suppression of the MaSC population in mouse mammary gland compared to the EP-treated mice.

Conclusion: TPA and RU486 alter the P4 driven changes in mammary gland cellular composition and in a manner consistent with the hypothesis that they will inhibit hormone-induced tumorigenesis in the mammary gland. To gain a better insight into this phenomenon, a high throughput transcriptomic profiling (RNASeq) of mammary stem cells isolated from the treatment groups is being performed.

Citation Format: Ranjan M, Lee O, Sun L, Karavites L, Clare S, Khan SA. Attenuation of progesterone driven mammary stem cell expansion by telapristone acetate [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-07-09.

Plasma fireball: A unique tool to fabricate patterned nanodots

A large plasma fireball is formed using a reverse biased planar sputter magnetron source. The magnetic field considerably reduces the contact area of the anode with the plasma and results in the formation of the fireball. Ions are extracted from the fireball using a large voltage cathode sheath of the grounded sample holder. The physical mechanism for the extraction of the ions from the fireball along with the effect of the sample holder on the fireball and the discharge current is discussed. The device is shown as a novel tool for developing nanodot patterns on a GaSb substrate without the use of additional ion source or power supplies. Variable nanodot patterns produced simply by the alteration of discharge conditions demonstrate unique surface wettability and reflection properties.

Drug-sensitive FGFR3 mutations in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths across the world. In this study, we present therapeutically relevant genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinoma of Indian origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-five primary lung adenocarcinoma tumors were sequenced for 676 amplicons using RainDance cancer panel at an average coverage of 1500 × (reads per million mapped reads). To validate the findings, 49 mutations across 23 genes were genotyped in an additional set of 363 primary lung adenocarcinoma tumors using mass spectrometry. NIH/3T3 cells over expressing mutant and wild-type FGFR3 constructs were characterized for anchorage independent growth, constitutive activation, tumor formation and sensitivity to FGFR inhibitors using in vitro and xenograft mouse models.

RESULTS

We present the first spectrum of actionable alterations in lung adenocarcinoma tumors of Indian origin, and shows that mutations of FGFR3 are present in 20 of 363 (5.5%) patients. These FGFR3 mutations are constitutively active and oncogenic when ectopically expressed in NIH/3T3 cells and using a xenograft model in NOD/SCID mice. Inhibition of FGFR3 kinase activity inhibits transformation of NIH/3T3 overexpressing FGFR3 constructs and growth of tumors driven by FGFR3 in the xenograft models. The reduction in tumor size in the mouse is paralleled by a reduction in the amounts of phospho-ERK, validating the in vitro findings. Interestingly, the FGFR3 mutations are significantly higher in a proportion of younger patients and show a trend toward better overall survival, compared with patients lacking actionable alterations or those harboring KRAS mutations.

CONCLUSION

We present the first actionable mutation spectrum in Indian lung cancer genome. These findings implicate FGFR3 as a novel therapeutic in lung adenocarcinoma.

Bioinformatic investigation of the cost management strategies of five oral microbes

Some amino acids are more energetically costly to synthesize de novo, therefore many microbes have evolved to regulate the metabolic expenditure of the cell and reduce the energy burden of extracellular unrecyclable proteins. Several oral bacterial species take up amino acids and peptides obtained from proteolysis of host proteins and hence do not rely only on de novo synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate if five oral bacterial species implement cost management strategies to reduce the energy burden of extracellular unrecyclable proteins. Since the relative de novo amino acid synthesis costs are proportional to the masses of the amino acids, the energy costs of producing proteins were assessed by calculating the mean amino acid mass for each protein. For Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia and Streptococcus sanguinis, the outer membrane/extracellular proteins are made up of a much larger percentage of lower average mass amino acids whereas cytoplasmic proteins are made up of a larger proportion of higher average mass amino acid residues. These results are consistent with the five oral bacterial species employing energy-saving mechanisms in the production of extracellular unrecyclable proteins. Interestingly, the P. gingivalis and S. sanguinis genomes exhibited significantly lower predicted mean amino acid masses compared with those of the genomes of the other three species, suggesting that this may provide them with an energy advantage with respect to protein biosynthetic cost.

An analytic approach to modeling the optical response of anisotropic nanoparticle arrays at surfaces and interfaces

Anisotropic nanoparticle (NP) arrays with useful optical properties, such as localized plasmon resonances (LPRs), can be grown by self-assembly on substrates. However, these systems often have significant dispersion in NP dimensions and distribution, which makes a numerical approach to modeling the LPRs very difficult. An improved analytic approach to this problem is discussed in detail and applied successfully to NP arrays from three systems that differ in NP metal, shape and distribution, and in substrate and capping layer. The materials and anisotropic NP structures that will produce LPRs in desired spectral regions can be determined using this approach.

Doubly localized surface plasmon resonance in bimodally distributed silver nanoparticles

Growth of bimodally distributed silver nanoparticles using sequential physical vapour deposition (PVD) is reported. Growth conditions of nanoparticles are defined in the following three steps: In the first step, nanoparticles are grown at a heated substrate and then exposed to atmosphere, in the second step, nanoparticles are vacuum annealed and finally re-deposition of silver is performed in the third step. This special way of deposition leads to the formation of bimodally distributed nanoparticles. It has been investigated that by changing the deposition time, different sets of bimodally distributed nanoparticles can be grown. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of such bimodally distributed nanoparticles generates double plasmon resonance peaks with overlapped absorption spectra. Double plasmon resonance peaks provide a quick indication of the existence of two sets of nanoparticles. LSPR spectra of such bimodally distributed nanoparticles could be modeled with double Lorentz oscillator model. Inclusion of double Lorentz oscillator model indicates that there exist two sets of non-interacting nanoparticles resonating at different plasma frequencies. It is also reported that silver nanoparticles grown at a heated substrate, again attain the new shape while being exposed to atmosphere, followed by vacuum annealing at the same temperature. This is because of physisorption of oxygen at the silver surface and change in surface free energy. The re-shaping due to the adsorbed oxygen on the surface is responsible for bimodal size distribution of nanoparticles.

Solid lipid nanoparticles regulate functional assortment of mouse mesenchymal stem cells

A rapid decline in self-renewability, viability and function, of isolated stem cells are major hurdles in developing cell based therapies. There has been an increasing interest towards identifying a support material for maintaining stem cell features of the isolated cells. Pioneering observations of the present paper, demonstrate functionally diverse potential of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in deciding the fate & behavior of mouse mesenchymal stem cell. The evidences are provided to show the dual nature of the SLNs for being a scaffold for the stem cell attachment, to retain stemness, and as reagent for inducing stem cell differentiation. Scanning electron microscopic examinations together with expression analysis were used to conform to such observations. Results of the study thus suggest that Solid lipid nanoparticles can be used as a good support material when functionalized to achieve adhesive properties and as a molecular paradigm for studying the adipocytic differentiation. We envisage a new role of SLNs towards regulating stem cell character by orchestrating the structural alignment during preparation of Solid lipid nanoparticles.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles Regulate Functional Assortment of Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cells

A rapid decline in self-renewability, viability and function, of isolated stem cells are major hurdles in developing cell based therapies. There has been an increasing interest towards identifying a support material for maintaining stem cell features of the isolated cells. Pioneering observations of the present paper, demonstrate functionally diverse potential of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) in deciding the fate & behavior of mouse mesenchymal stem cell. The evidences are provided to show the dual nature of the SLNs for being a scaffold for the stem cell attachment, to retain stemness, and as reagent for inducing stem cell differentiation. Scanning electron microscopic examinations together with expression analysis were used to conform to such observations. Results of the study thus suggest that Solid lipid nanoparticles can be used as a good support material when functionalized to achieve adhesive properties and as a molecular paradigm for studying the adipocytic differentiation. We envisage a new role of SLNs towards regulating stem cell character by orchestrating the structural alignment during preparation of Solid lipid nanoparticles

Regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation and protein tyrosine phosphatases during oligodendrocyte differentiation

Tyrosine phosphorylation is key to the differentiation of oligodendrocytes, as the FGF2 and PDGF receptor tyrosine kinases are known to mediate the proliferation and maintenance of their precursors. Marked changes in the levels and localization of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were found to accompany differentiation in the CG4 rat oligodendrocyte cell line. These alterations in phosphorylation as well as other differentiation-specific changes were found to be sensitive to inhibition by a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor. This suggested that at some point early in the differentiation process, tyrosine phosphatases are important. A differential display strategy revealed 11 distinct tyrosine phosphatases in the oligodendrocyte lineage, with both precursor cells and oligodendrocytes expressing four major phosphatase transcripts: PTP alpha, PTP zeta, PTP sigma, and PTP gamma. A majority of the phosphatases examined show an increase in their mRNA levels during differentiation, with a striking upregulation observed for PTP epsilon. Our results suggest a significant role for this class of signal transducers in oligodendrocyte differentiation.

The heat shock response in Xenopus oocytes, embryos, and somatic cells: a regulatory role for chromatin

The heat shock response in Xenopus laevis has been reported to be developmentally regulated at the transcriptional level. We find that the heat shock response of an exogenous Xenopus hsp70 gene introduced into Xenopus oocytes, embryos, and somatic cells is dependent on the transcriptional assay conditions employed. Under conditions of efficient chromatin assembly, transcription from the Xenopus hsp70 gene promoter is repressed in oocytes and embryos, yet the promoter responds to heat shock by activating transcription. Under conditions of inefficient chromatin assembly, the Xenopus hsp70 gene is constitutively active in oocytes and somatic cells. Our results resolve previous controversy concerning the existence of a heat shock response for the hsp70 promoter in oocytes and illustrate the importance of considering chromatin assembly as a contributory factor in reconstructing the developmental control of gene expression.

Immunohistochemical mapping of rat brain delta opioid receptor

Delta opioid receptors were immunohistochemically mapped in the rat brain with anti-idiotypic antibodies to anti-leucine enkephalin specific for the receptor. Regions of highest receptor binding were in the cerebral cortex and caudate putamen Lower receptor binding was mapped to the hypothalamus and claustrum.

Transcriptional repression of Xenopus TR beta gene is mediated by a thyroid hormone response element located near the start site

We report here the detailed analysis of the promoter of a thyroid hormone receptor (TR) gene that is regulated by the hormone itself. The receptor gene, TR beta A, is one of the two TR beta genes in Xenopus laevis. It has two transcription start sites. The mRNAs derived from one of them are up-regulated by thyroid hormone, whereas those derived from the other are independent of the hormone. We have characterized the hormone-inducible promoter using a transient transfection assay in a Xenopus tissue culture cell line (A6). Deletion and mutational analysis identifies the first amphibian thyroid hormone response element (TRE). This TRE consists of near perfect direct repeats of AGGTCA with a 4-base pair spacing similar to mammalian TREs. The TRE forms specific complexes with extracts of A6 cells that have similar sequence specificities as those found for the complexes between mammalian TRs and TREs. However, unlike TREs found in other thyroid hormone-inducible promoters, this TRE is located at the putative transcription start site and mediates transcriptional repression by unliganded TRs. The addition of thyroid hormone at physiological concentrations overcomes the repression and induces further transcriptional activation at higher concentrations. These results suggest a potential mechanism for the regulation of amphibian metamorphosis, a process that is entirely controlled by thyroid hormone.

Masking mRNA from translation in somatic cells

We present evidence for a role for Y-box proteins in both mRNA transcription and translation. We have expressed an oocyte-specific RNA-binding protein (FRGY2) in somatic cells. This protein is normally found together with mRNA in large amounts within the masked maternal mRNA storage particles of Xenopus laevis oocytes. Masked maternal mRNA is believed to be translationally repressed during oogenesis and is stored within ribonucleoprotein storage particles for subsequent use during embryogenesis. Surprisingly, FRGY2 is not only found to direct the accumulation of mRNA from promoters containing binding sites for the protein but also to selectively repress translation of the same mRNA. Thus, the role of FRGY2 in the transcription and storage of maternal mRNA is similar to that of the transcription factor TFIIIA in the transcription and storage of 5S rRNA from the oocyte type 5S rRNA genes.

Poor diagnostic value of adenosine deaminase in pleural, peritoneal & cerebrospinal fluids in tuberculosis

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) was estimated in 84 pleural, 140 peritoneal and 136 cerebrospinal fluids to study its diagnostic usefulness as a routine test for tuberculosis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for diagnosing tuberculosis in pleural fluids (ADA > 30 U/l) was 67, 92, 78 and 87 per cent respectively, in peritoneal fluids (ADA > 15 U/1) it was 89, 81, 25 and 99 per cent respectively and in cerebrospinal fluids (ADA > 10 U/l) it was 50, 90 21 and 97 per cent respectively. The differences in mean ADA levels between tuberculous (28.0 and 19.5 U/1) and non-tuberculous (9.7 and 4.8 U/1) peritoneal and cerebrospinal fluids although statistically significant (P < 0.001), were of no practical clinical value. A wide scatter in ADA values was seen in both tuberculous and non-tuberculous fluids. ADA estimation in plasma, lymphocytes and cell fractions of fluids was also not diagnostically useful nor did it throw light on the source of elevated ADA in fluids.

The Y-box factors: a family of nucleic acid binding proteins conserved from Escherichia coli to man

The Y-box factors interact specifically with both DNA and RNA. Biologically they have roles in both transcriptional and translational regulation. Conserved through evolution from prokaryotic to eukaryotic organisms they represent a new family of nucleic acid binding proteins.

Orthovanadate and fluoroaluminate stimulate inositol phosphate production and in vitro ovulation in goldfish (Carassius auratus) follicles

Both sodium orthovanadate and fluoroaluminate were found to stimulate in vitro ovulation in intact goldfish follicles, suggesting the involvement of G-proteins in ovulation. Although orthovanadate was able to stimulate cAMP production, it probably stimulates ovulation by some other mechanism since cAMP blocks ovulation in this species. These agents also stimulated the accumulation of labeled inositol phosphate in follicle walls. The time course of inositol phosphate production showed a slightly delayed and continuous accumulation for isomers of inositol mono-, bis-, and trisphosphates. No change was observed in inositol tetrakisphosphate levels over time. The accumulation of inositol phosphates in response to orthovanadate was also dose-dependent. Lithium chloride (10 mM) caused varying increases in the levels of most isomers and a decrease in ins-3,4-P2. Inositol phosphate production varied significantly with changes in the maturational stage of follicles. Peak production was observed in follicles 7-8 h after hCG treatment, which corresponds almost exactly with the time of ovulation. This correlation of maximal inositol phosphate production with the time of ovulation, along with the stimulation of ovulation by diacylglycerols, a phorbol ester, and the G-protein-stimulating agents, orthovanadate and fluoroaluminate, suggests a role for polyphosphatidylinositol hydrolysis in ovulation.