Gene therapy with growth factors for periodontal tissue engineering : a review

The treatment of oral and periodontal diseases and associated anomalies accounts for a significant proportion of the healthcare burden, with the manifestations of these conditions being functionally and psychologically debilitating. A challenge faced by periodontal therapy is the predictable regeneration of periodontal tissues lost as a consequence of disease. Growth factors are critical to the development, maturation, maintenance and repair of oral tissues as they establish an extra-cellular environment that is conducive to cell and tissue growth. Tissue engineering principles aim to exploit these properties in the development of biomimetic materials that can provide an appropriate microenvironment for tissue development. The aim of this paper is to review emerging periodontal therapies in the areas of materials science, growth factor biology and cell/gene therapy. Various such materials have been formulated into devices that can be used as vehicles for delivery of cells, growth factors and DNA. Different mechanisms of drug delivery are addressed in the context of novel approaches to reconstruct and engineer oral and tooth supporting structure. © Medicina Oral

Functional characterization of L-tryptophan transport across mammalian cornea

In last few years transporter targeted drug delivery has drawn attention of research to identify and explore various nutrient transport systems including amino acid transporters for better drug delivery. The aim of present research work is to investigate the transport characteristics of L-tryptophan (L-try) across goat cornea. Transport of L-try was investigated using a glass diffusion cell for effect of concentration, pH, presence of other amino acids or metabolic inhibitor or dipeptide and tripeptide. The amount of L-try transported increased as the pH of L-try aqueous solution increased from 5 to 9. Inhibition was observed in L-try transport in absence of sodium ions where L-try solution was made isotonic with dextrose. Amino acids like L-histidine, L-arginine, L-lysine (cationic), L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid (anionic), glycine and L-proline (neutral) inhibited the L-try transport as compared to control (L-try alone). In presence of sodium azide and Ouabain the inhibition in L-try transport across goat cornea was observed while no marked inhibition was observed on L-try transport across goat cornea in presence of aspartame and glutathione. The L-try transport was favored up to concentration 1% w/v and at higher pH in presence of sodium ions through excised goat cornea. Functional presence of a sodium dependent L-try transport system as inhibited by ouabain having affinity to cationic and neutral amino acid is evident on goat cornea.Keywords: Cornea; Amino acid; Tryptophan; Transpor

Functional characterization of L-tryptophan transport across mammalian cornea

In last few years transporter targeted drug delivery has drawn attention of research to identify and explore various nutrient transport systems including amino acid transporters for better drug delivery. The aim of present research work is to investigate the transport characteristics of L-tryptophan (L-try) across goat cornea. Transport of L-try was investigated using a glass diffusion cell for effect of concentration, pH, presence of other amino acids or metabolic inhibitor or dipeptide and tripeptide. The amount of L-try transported increased as the pH of L-try aqueous solution increased from 5 to 9. Inhibition was observed in L-try transport in absence of sodium ions where L-try solution was made isotonic with dextrose. Amino acids like L-histidine, L-arginine, L-lysine (cationic), L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid (anionic), glycine and L-proline (neutral) inhibited the L-try transport as compared to control (L-try alone). In presence of sodium azide and Ouabain the inhibition in L-try transport across goat cornea was observed while no marked inhibition was observed on L-try transport across goat cornea in presence of aspartame and glutathione. The L-try transport was favored up to concentration 1% w/v and at higher pH in presence of sodium ions through excised goat cornea. Functional presence of a sodium dependent L-try transport system as inhibited by ouabain having affinity to cationic and neutral amino acid is evident on goat cornea.Keywords: Cornea; Amino acid; Tryptophan; Transpor

Concept of Yapan Basti and importance of Rajyapan Basti in Ayurvedic Chikitsa

Panchakarma therapy is one of the vital branch of Ayurveda, which deals mainly with purification of the provoked Doshas (physiological/pathological) from the body. These Doshas (toxins and waste material) should be purified from the body. Basti is vital Panchakarma, Yapana Basti promotes the longivity of life. Basti is effective treatment in Avaran Avastha. Rajayapana Basti having Sadhya Balajanana (increase strength), Brimhana (nourishment to Dhatu), Rasayana (rejuvenation) properties and can be used for all the causes of vitiation of Vata viz. Dhatukshaya (decrease in various tissues) and Avarana

Qualitative sign stability of linear time invariant descriptor systems

This article discusses assessing the instability of a continuous linear homogeneous timeinvariant descriptor system. Some necessary conditions and sufficient conditions are derived to establish the stability of a matrix pair by the fundamentals of qualitative ecological principles. The proposed conditions are derived using only the qualitative (sign) information of the matrix pair elements. Based on these conditions, the instability of a matrix pair can easily be determined, without any magnitude information of the matrix pair elements and without numerical eigenvalues calculations. With the proposed theory, Magnitude Dependent Stable, Magnitude Dependent Unstable, and Qualitative Sign Stable matrix pairs can be distinguished. The consequences of the proposed conditions and some illustrative examples are discussed

Association Between Use of Tobacco and Age on Graying of Hair

Aims and Objectives: To determine the association between smoking, chewing tobacco (gutka), and age of individual on graying of hair. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 120 patients attending the Outpatient Department of the DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research, Modinagar, UP. The individuals were classified into four groups (group I, II, III, IV) on the basis of the form of tobacco use (smoking or chewing). The Pearson correlation coefficient was utilized to find the correlation between the mean percentage of individuals with gray hair, risk multiplication factor (RMF), and age of the individual. Results: Mean percentage of individual with gray hair and RMF (r = 0.6487) are found to be positively associated. A significant and positive correlation was observed between the age of the individual and the frequency of individuals with gray hair. Conclusion: This study suggests that there is a significant association between tobacco use and aging on graying of hair.Keywords: Graying of hair, risk multiplication factor, smokin

Molecular Characterisation using 16S rRNA and COI Gene Sequences in Hard Ticks of Gwalior, India

Tick infestation in humans and animals represents a global threat for different tick-borne diseases. In the present study, the ticks from the Gwalior region of India have been mapped to create a database of tick diversity. We explored 773 ticks collected from domestic animals and vegetation in Gwalior. Animals were screened visually, and ticks were collected manually, whereas the flag-drag method was used to collect ticks from the vegetation. The 16S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase I (COI) genes of tick samples were amplified and purified for sequencing and respective phylogenetic trees were constructed. The ticks were morphologically identified using taxonomical keys, revealing the presence of five genera in the region: Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, Rhipicephalus, Boophilus, and Nosomma. Hyalomma spp. (Hy. annatolicum and Hy. marginatum) were the most abundant accounting for 69.598% of the total sample, followed by Rhipicephalus sanguineus (17.335%), Rhipicephalus microplus (7.115%), Haemaphysalis sp. (5.692%), and Nosomma monstrotum (0.258%). The tick sequences were submitted to the GenBank database. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the morphological identification at the species level. The combination of molecular and morphological analyses of the ticks supported the result obtained with each method, thus providing more reliable estimates for continued surveillance studies

The mechanical effects of extracorporeal irradiation on bone

Extracorporeal irradiation of an excised tumour-bearing segment of bone followed by its reimplantation is a technique used in bone sarcoma surgery for limb salvage when the bone is of reasonable quality. There is no agreement among previous studies about the dose of irradiation to be given: up to 300 Gy have been used. We investigated the influence of extracorporeal irradiation on the elastic and viscoelastic properties of bone. Bone was harvested from mature cattle and subdivided into 13 groups: 12 were exposed to increasing levels of irradiation: one was not and was used as a control. The specimens, once irradiated, underwent mechanical testing in saline at 37°C. The mechanical properties of each group, including Young's modulus, storage modulus and loss modulus, were determined experimentally and compared with the control group. There were insignificant changes in all of these mechanical properties with an increasing level of irradiation. We conclude that the overall mechanical effect of high levels of extracorporeal irradiation (300 Gy) on bone is negligible. Consequently the dose can be maximised to reduce the risk of local tumour recurrence

A Rare Manifestation of Cysticercosis Infestation

There are many causes of urticaria, which may vary from infections to malignancy. Among the infections, infestations by cysticercosis (larval stage of the tapeworm called Taenia solium) is an important cause. The present report is of forty four years old female who presented with urticaria and swelling on face. The swelling was later diagnosed as cysticercosis by noninvasive ultrasonography. The urticaria subsided after the treatment of cysticercosis. We report this case for rarity of its presentation. Key words: cysticercosis, chronic urticaria, Taenia solium, ultrasonograph