The effect of ellagic acid on the repair process of periodontal defects related to experimental periodontitis in rats

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of ellagic acid (EA) by measuring the levels of alveolar bone resorption and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in the periodontal tissues and serum on the periodontal repair process related to experimental periodontitis in rats. Methodology: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four study groups as follows: Group 1=healthy control (n=10); Group 2=EA control (15 mg/kg)(n=10); Group 3=periodontitis (n=10); Group 4=periodontitis+EA (15 mg/kg) (n=10). The periodontitis model was established by ligating bilateral mandibular first molars for 14 days. Then, rats were given normal saline or EA for another 14 days by gavage administration. Serum and gingiva myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OHdG), and glutathione (GSH) levels were analyzed by ELISA. İmmunohistochemical analysis was used to detect Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) immunoreactivities in the periodontal tissues. Alveolar bone loss (ABL) and attachment loss (AL) was evaluated by histomorphometry analysis. Results: ABL and AL were statistically higher in group 3 than in groups 1, 2 and 4 and in group 4 than in groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). MPO activities in gingival tissue and serum were significantly increased in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05). Significantly higher serum GSH levels, lower gingiva, and serum 8-OHdG levels, and MPO activity were observed in group 4 compared to group 3 (p<0.05). Rats with periodontitis (group 3) expressed significantly higher immunoreactivities of IL-6 and TNF-α and lower IL-10 immunoreactivity compared to those other groups (p<0.05). IL-6 and TNF-α immunoreactivities significantly decreased and IL-10 immunoreactivity increased in group 4 after the use of EA compared to group 3 (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our findings showed that EA provides significant improvements on gingival oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and alveolar bone resorption in the repair process associated with experimental periodontitis. Therefore, EA may have a therapeutic potential on periodontitis

Evaluation of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in the management of periapical cysts and granulomas: A clinical study

Purpose: The aim of this study was, firstly, to determine the concordance of ultrasonographic and histopathological diagnoses in patients in whom apical resection was already indicated. Secondly, this study aimed to determine whether lesions were periapical granulomas or cysts, and to compare them after root canal treatment using ultrasonography and periapical radiographs

Handheld optofluidic platform towards binding dynamics applications in field-settings

We have introduced a lensfree optofluidic platform that incorporates subwavelength nanohole arrays, a compact microfluidics system, and on-chip computational imaging to enable label-free identification of biomolecular interactions. Our platform weighs only 260 g and has dimensions of 16 cm × 10 cm × 11 cm. It utilizes a CMOS imager to capture plasmonic diffraction field images, offering a wide field-of-view of up to 11.5 mm² for refractive index sensing. To illuminate the plasmonic chip, we employ an LED source positioned close to the transmission resonance of the nanohole arrays. This LED source creates diffraction patterns on the imager. The platform ensures the targeted delivery of analytes to the ligand-coated sensing surface using microfluidics. By analyzing real-time variations within the diffraction field images, we could reveal the time-dependent binding dynamics of biomolecules. Our platform has demonstrated an experimentally obtained limit of detection (LOD) as low as 5 ng/mL for protein IgG. Furthermore, based on the real-time diffraction field images, we successfully determine the association and disassociation constants, which account for the binding and detachment between protein A/G and IgG. We have also developed a software that allows full control of the hardware settings of the portable platform, including the camera and pump system. This software also incorporates an image-processing algorithm to calculate the binding parameters for the analytes of interest. Providing high-quality sensing capabilities in a cost-effective infrastructure, we believe that our optofluidic biosensor platform offers significant advantages for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) applications for field-settings

Portable Optofluidic Device for Dynamic Binding Analysis in Field-Settings

Compact and portable biosensing technologies play an important role in replacing traditional counterparts that require costly and heavy equipment, as well as complex infrastructure. The integration of these easy-to-use and cheap devices allows for the conducting of biosensing analyses in resource-limited settings. The study produced a portable optofluidic platform that is lightweight (260 g) and compact (16 cm×10 cm×11 cm). It combines subwavelength nanohole arrays, microfluidics technology, and on-chip computational imaging. It records plasmonic diffraction field images with a CMOS imager and an LED light, allowing for a large field of view for refractive index measurement. This LED source generates diffraction patterns on the imager. The microfluidic pump confirms accurate analyte delivery, allowing real-time analysis of diffraction field images to reveal time-dependent binding kinetics of biomolecules. It identifies biomolecular interactions without labelling, allowing for the detection and quantification of biomolecules. Our platform has an outstanding limit-of-detection (LOD) of 5ng/mL for label-free detection of protein IgG. We effectively determined the association and dissociation constants for protein A/G and IgG binding using real-time diffraction field images. The optofluidic biosensor platform is ideal for surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in field applications. It can monitor interactions in real-time, making it useful for studying the way various biological and chemical compounds bind in many areas

Sarcopenia quality‑of‑life questionnaire (SarQoL)®: translation, cross‑cultural adaptation and validation in Turkish

Background The sarcopenia quality-of-life (SarQoL)® questionnaire is a multidimensional sarcopenia specific tool designed for community dwelling older adults. Aims The aim of this study was to translate, to cross-culturally adapt and validate the SarQoL® questionnaire to assess sarcopenia-related quality of life in Turkish older adults. Methods The validation process was performed in two sections: the first section constituted the translation with cross-cultural adaptation of SarQoL® into Turkish. Second section constituted the clinical validation study. To validate the Turkish version of the SarQoL®, we assessed its validity (discriminative power, construct validity), reliability (internal consistency, test–retest reliability) and floor/ceiling effects. Results One hundred community-dwelling subjects (mean age: 74.7 ± 6.1 years) were evaluated. The EWGSOP2 consensus diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose probable sarcopenia. A database including 1437 older adults, with complete evaluation of sarcopenia parameters, served to define low global muscle function. Results revealed a good discriminative power: subjects with probable sarcopenia had higher total scores compared to non-sarcopenic subjects (50 ± 16 vs. 68.9 ± 16.9, p < 0.001) a high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.88), consistent construct validity and excellent test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.97, 95% confidence interval: 0.94–0.98). There was no floor/ceiling effect. Conclusion The Turkish version of the SaQoL® questionnaire was found to be reliable and valid for the measurement of quality of life of sarcopenic patients and is, therefore, available for use in clinical research and practice. This validation could enable use of the SarQoL® tool in the eastern populations more confidently

Clinical and Molecular Findings of Nine Cases with Tay- Sachs Disease From Turkiye

Objective: Tay-Sachs disease is a fatal inherited lysosomal storage disease that mostly has an early infantile onset. We presented a case series of Tay-Sachs disease, describe the clinical and molecular findings, and compare the genetic spectrum with previously reported mutations from Turkiye.Methods: Patients with Tay-Sachs disease who were referred to the Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Genetics between January 2016 and December 2021 were included in this study. The diagnosis was confirmed by determining the level of serum 0-hexosaminidase activity and the detection of a biallelic related variant upon Sanger sequencing of the HEXA gene. The clinical and molecular findings of nine cases were re-evaluated. Results: Three disease-causing variants in the HEXA gene including c.78G>A (p.(Trp26Ter)) in three cases, c.1177C>T (p.(Arg393Ter)) in two cases, and c.1100_1111del (p.(Gly367_Tyr370del)) in three cases were determined. Moreover, a novel c.786C>G (p.(His262Gln)) variant was detected in one case. All of the stated variants were identified in the homozygous state.Conclusion: Our study both reassessed and expanded the known mutation spectrum of Tay-Sachs disease in Turkiye. Given the expanding horizon of newborn screening and population carrier testing, understanding the spectrum of population-specific disease-causing variants will facilitate early diagnosis of patients and carriers