TSPO ligands promote cholesterol efflux and suppress oxidative stress and inflammation in choroidal endothelial cells

Choroidal endothelial cells supply oxygen and nutrients to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and photoreceptors, recycle metabolites, and dispose of metabolic waste through the choroidal blood circulation. Death of the endothelial cells of the choroid may cause abnormal deposits including unesterified and esterified cholesterol beneath RPE cells and within Bruch’s membrane that contribute to the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the most prevalent cause of blindness in older people. Translocator protein (TSPO) is a cholesterol-binding protein that is involved in mitochondrial cholesterol transport and other cellular functions. We have investigated the role of TSPO in choroidal endothelial cells. Immunocytochemistry showed that TSPO was localized to the mitochondria of choroidal endothelial cells. Choroidal endothelial cells exposed to TSPO ligands (Etifoxine or XBD-173) had significantly increased cholesterol efflux, higher expression of cholesterol homeostasis genes (LXRα, CYP27A1, CYP46A1, ABCA1 and ABCG1), and reduced biosynthesis of cholesterol and phospholipids from [14C]acetate, when compared to untreated controls. Treatment with TSPO ligands also resulted in reduced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased antioxidant capacity, and reduced release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF) induced by oxidized LDL. These data suggest TSPO ligands may offer promise for the treatment of AMD

Conservative management of invasive cervical resorption: a case Report

Abstract Invasive cervical resorption is a condition that affects the root surface area below the epithelial attachment. Multiple treatment modalities are advocated, involving exposure of the invasive defect, removal of the granulation tissue and sealing with various restorative materials. This report demonstrates conservative treatment of a patient presenting with peri-apical periodontitis in upper right central and lateral incisors, along with Class II invasive resorption defect cervically on the mesial aspect of the central incisor, as a result of trauma. As the patient was not willing for any surgical intervention, only ortho-grade root canal treatment was carried out in both teeth, with Calcium hydroxide as intra-canal medicament. At three year follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic demonstrating radiographic evidence of infilling of defect with bone-like tissue. Within the limitations of this report, it was seen that this conservative method for halting the progression of invasive cervical resorption could be under taken in patients who are un-willing for surgical intervention or in whom surgery is contra-indicate

Determinant factors of deprassion: a survey among university students

We compared the determinant factors of depression; among faculties in university, among junior and senior students, and gender differences among representative samples of faculties in university. Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) consisting for 20 questions was used to assess the status of well-being of students. A total of 240 students participated and completed the assessment forms. The results were then compared and analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 21. There was no effect of faculty on depression (p=0.854). The association between year of study and depression was not statistically significant (p≥0.05). Likewise, the association between gender and depression was statistically not significant (p≥0.05). The study revealed absence of statistically significant effect of faculty on depression. It was also found that gender and depression as well as year of study and depression were not statistically significant. Keyword

Inculcating research curriculum in operative dentistry - endodontics residency programme: Experience and outcomes

Incorporating research education and training in residency curriculum increases the understanding of evidence-based decision-making among doctors in training. Evidence suggests that the addition of research is linearly associated with improvement in clinical competence, and encourages the residents to shape their career as clinical investigators. The current paper was planned to share the experience of adding research into the core curriculum of Operative Dentistry-Endodontics residency programme at a tertiary care university hospital, and to evaluate the outcome achieved with that change

Golden Proportion in Visual Dental Smile in Pakistani Population: A Pilot Study

Uvod: Oduvijek se raspravljalo o tome što čini dobru dentalnu estetiku, s obzirom na to da ona može varirati od osobe do osobe, ovisno o njezinu iskustvu i društvenom okružju. Zato se “zlatni omjer” smatra važnim kako bi se postigla estetika i skladan osmijeh. Svrha: Istraživanjem se željelo postići sljedeće: odrediti prevalenciju “zlatnog omjera” vidljive širine na odabranom uzorku pakistanske populacije; ispitati ima li spolnih razlika u stvarnim širinama gornjih prednjih zuba; ustanoviti korisnost Levinove FI zubne ljestvice kao prediktora “zlatnog omjera”. Ispitanici i postupci: Od stotinu pacijenata odabranih neprobabilističkim uzorkovanjem, samo je njih 44 bilo uključeno u istraživanje. Za mjerenje zuba stručnjaci su se koristili zubnim modelima odabranih ispitanika. Stvarna širina (meziodistalna) mjerila se pomičnom mjerkom, a vidljiva (širina maksilarnih frontalnih zuba gledano sprijeda) ljestvicom i mjerkom. Predicirana širina izračunavala se korištenjem “zlatnog omjera” za gornji bočni sjekutić i gornji očnjak. Nakon toga su podaci bili statistički analizirani (deskriptivna statistika, Pearsonov koeficijent korelacije, t-test). Rezultati: Šezdeset i tri posto (63,6 %) uzorka (22 žene i 6 muškaraca) odgovaralo je ljestvici “zlatnog omjera” kad je riječ o vidljivoj širini gornjih prednjih zuba. Gledano sprijeda, vidljiva širina gornjih bočnih sjekutića iznosila je 75 posto stvarne širine središnjih sjekutića (središnji sjekutić bio je referentni zub te je zato korištena stvarna širina), a vidljiva širina očnjaka bila je 61,3 posto (gotovo “zlatni postotak”) vidljive širine bočnih sjekutića. Nije bilo veće spolne razlike u stvarnoj širini gornjih središnjih i bočnih sjekutića te očnjaka. Zaključak: Z ubna ljestvica FI može biti korisna i dobra početna točka za predikciju “zlatnog omjera” kod 63 posto pakistanske populacije. Ipak, taj se omjer ne bi se trebao smatrati odlučujućim čimbenikom dentalne privlačnosti. To bi prije trebao biti raspon nego jedna vrijednost.Introduction: It has always been argued as to what constitutes good dental esthetics, as it can vary from person to person depending on personal experiences and social surroundings. Golden proportion has been stated to be an important tool for achieving esthetics and harmony in smile. Objectives: The aim of this study was to find out prevalence of golden proportion of the apparent width in a selected sample of Pakistani population, to examine if there is gender difference considering actual maxillary frontal teeth widths, to determine the usefulness of Levin’s Phi Dental Grid as a predictor of golden proportion. Material and Method: From one hundred patients evaluated using non-probability sampling, only 44 were included in the study. Dental casts of the selected individuals were used for teeth measurement. The actual width (measured mesiodistal width) was measured using vernier caliper, the apparent width (width of the maxillary frontal teeth when viewed from the front) was measured using the grid and the caliper, and the predicted width was calculated using the Golden proportion for the maxillary lateral incisor and the maxillary canine. Data was subjected to statistical analysis (descriptive statistics, Pearson’s coeficient of correlation, t-test). Results: Sixty three percent of the sample (22 females and 6 males) fitted the scale of golden proportion considering the apparent width of the maxillary frontal teeth. When viewed from the front, maxillary lateral incisor’s apparent width was 75% of the central incisor’s actual width (central incisor was reference tooth therefore actual width was used) and the canine’s apparent width was 61.3% (almost golden percentage) of the lateral incisor’s apparent width. There was no significant gender difference for the actual widths of the maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines. Conclusion: Phi Dental Grid can be useful tool and a good starting point to predict golden proportion in 63% of the Pakistani population. However, golden proportion should not be considered as a decisive factor of determining dental attractiveness. It should be a range rather then a single value

Genetic Algorithm & Fuzzy Logic Based PEM Fuel Cells Power Conversion System for AC Integration

In the scientific environment, the leading variables such as voltage, current, power, heat from cooling system, membrane temperature and hydrogen pressure are uses as steady state and transient behaviors of Fuel Cells (FC). In the reproducing process of Fuel Cells (FC) variations, DC-DC converters are connected transversely its terminals, the efficiency, stability and durability are considered as operational problems for steady state. Since the Proton Exchange Fuel Cell is a non-linear process and its parameters change when it is delivering energy to the grid. The conventional controllers can’t content the control objectives. In this paper, an intelligent DC-AC power optimization is proposed for Fuel Cell (FC) control system to produce energy in the grid stations and to improve the power quality when FC is supplying load to grid. Furthermore, a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based reactive power optimization for voltage profile improvement and real power minimization in DC-AC system. A fuzzy logic controller is also used to control active power of PEM fuel cell system. Fuzzy logic controller will modify the hydrogen flow feedback from the terminal load. At the end, we will simulate DC-AC converter for checking its efficiency, stability and durability on the basis of the genetic algorithm and fuzzy logic controller to control power generation

Preliminary investigation on properties of novel sustainable composite : fish scales reinforced cement concrete

This study focused on analysing the effect of fish scales reinforcement on fresh and hardened-state properties of concrete. For this purpose, 24 cubes and 24 cylinders were casted at a design mix ratio of 1:2.3:4.3. The water-cement ratio of 0.57 was maintained. The fish scales reinforcement levels of 0%, 1%, 1.5% and 2% by weight of cement were maintained for casting of specimens. For fresh-state assessment, the workability of concrete mixes was observed by slump test and the results showed that, with the addition of fish scales, the slump value decreased due to increase in water demand. With the addition of 2% Fish Scales, the workability of concrete mixes reduced by 36.40%. The compressive strength and tensile strength of concrete cubes and cylinders were tested with Universal Testing Machine (UTM) at curing period of 7 and 28 days. Out of 48 specimens casted, a total of 24 specimens were subjected to compressive strength test while other 24 specimens were tested for tensile strength. The results reported that with addition of 2% fish scales in concrete, the tensile strength of concrete increased but the compressive strength initially decreased and later increased. It can thus be concluded that the fish scales can be incorporated in concrete with steel to enhance the tensile strength of concrete. Keeping the initial decrease in compressive strength of concrete in consideration, it can be recommended that the fish scale reinforced concrete can be safely used in light weight structures and non-structural elements like floor slabs and ribs

Dysregulation of lipid metabolism in the liver of Tspo knockout mice

The translocator protein, TSPO, has been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes exerted from its position in the outer mitochondrial membrane from where it influences lipid metabolism and mitochondrial oxidative activity. Understanding how this protein regulates a profusion of processes requires further elucidation and to that end we have examined lipid metabolism and used an RNAseq strategy to compare transcript abundance in wildtype and Tspo knockout (KO) mouse liver. The levels of cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid were significantly elevated in the KO mouse liver. The expression of cholesterol homeostasis genes was markedly downregulated. Determination of the differential expression revealed that many genes were either up- or downregulated in the KO animals. However, a striking observation within the results was a decrease of transcripts for protein degradation proteins in KO animals while protease inhibitors were enriched. When the entire abundance data-set was analysed with CEMiTool, and revealed a module of proteins that were under-represented in the KO animals. These could subsequently be formed into a network comprising three interlinked clusters at the centre of which were proteins of cytoplasmic ribosomes with gene ontology terms suggesting impairment to translation. The largest cluster was dominated by proteins of lipid metabolism but also contained disparate systems of iron metabolism and behaviour. The third cluster was dominated by proteins of the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. These findings suggest that TSPO contributes to lipid metabolism, detoxification of active oxygen species and oxidative phosphorylation, and regulates mitochondrial retrograde signalling

Fabrication and in vitro evaluation of chitosan-gelatin based aceclofenac loaded scaffold

Scaffold development is a nascent field in drug development. The scaffolds mimic the innate microenvironment of the body. The goal of this study was to formulate a biocompatible and biodegradable scaffold, loaded with an analgesic drug, aceclofenac (Ace). The bioscaffold is aimed to have optimum mechanical strength and rheology, with drug released in a sustained manner. It was prepared via chemical cross-linking method: a chitosan (CS) solution was prepared and loaded with Ace; gelatin (GEL) was added and the mixture was cross-linked to get a hydrogel. 20 formulations were prepared to optimize different parameters including the stirring speed, drug injection rate and crosslinker volume. The optimal formulation was selected based on the viscosity, drug solubility, homogeneity, porosity and swelling index. A very high porosity and swelling index were attained. In vitro release data showed sustained drug delivery, with effective release at physiological and slightly acidic pH. SEM analysis revealed a homogeneous microstructure with highly interconnected pores within an extended polymer matrix. FT-IR spectra confirmed the absence of polymer-drug interactions, XRD provided evidences for efficient drug entrapment within the scaffold. Rheological analysis corroborated the scaffold injectability. Mathematical models were applied to in-vitro data, and the best fit was attained with Korsmeyer-Peppas