Dental Patient’s Knowledge and Awareness Regarding Effects of Smoking on Oral Health among Smokers and Nonsmokers: A Comparative Study

Aims and objectives: The aim of the present study is to examine the difference in dental patient’s knowledge and awareness regarding effects of smoking on oral health betweensmokers and nonsmokers. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was carried out among 199 dental patients from Sri Aurobindo Institute of Dental Science, Indore. A self-prepared questionnaire was used to assess the awareness regarding the effects of smoking on oral health. Chi-square test and multiple linear logistic regression model was applied using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 22.6%. Fewer smokers and tobacco users than nonusers thought that oral health and smoking are related (28.0 vs 63.3%, p = 0.009). Multiple linear logistic regression was used to assess the association of each variable with awareness, which showed that smokers are less aware of the oral health effects of smoking than the nonsmokers. Conclusion: Smoking and tobacco using subjects are significantly less aware of the oral health effects of smoking as compared to nonsmokers. Comparative studies in other populations may be warranted to ascertain the validity of these results

Syndecan-1 promotes the angiogenic phenotype of multiple myeloma endothelial cells

Angiogenesis is considered a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM) progression. In the present study, we evaluated the morphological and functional features of endothelial cells (ECs) derived from bone marrow (BM) of patients affected by MM (MMECs). We found that MMECs compared with normal BM ECs (BMECs) showed increased expression of syndecan-1. Silencing of syndecan-1 expression by RNA interference technique decreased in vitro EC survival, proliferation and organization in capillary-like structures. In vivo, in severe combined immunodeficient mice, syndecan-1 silencing inhibited MMEC organization into patent vessels. When overexpressed in human umbilical vein ECs and BMECs, syndecan-1 induced in vitro and in vivo angiogenic effects. Flow-cytometric analysis of MMECs silenced for syndecan-1 expression indicated a decreased membrane expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor-2 (VEGFR-2). Immunoprecipitation and confocal analysis showed colocalization of VEGFR-2 with syndecan-1. Absence of nuclear translocation of VEGFR-2 in syndecan-1-knockdown cells together with the shift from perinuclear localization to recycling compartments suggest a role of syndecan-1 in modulation of VEGFR-2 localization. This correlated with an in vitro decreased VEGF-induced invasion and motility. These results suggest that syndecan-1 may contribute to the highly angiogenic phenotype of MMECs by promoting EC proliferation, survival and modulating VEGF–VEGFR-2 signalling

Single cell dissection of plasma cell heterogeneity in symptomatic and asymptomatic myeloma

Multiple myeloma, a plasma cell malignancy, is the second most common blood cancer. Despite extensive research, disease heterogeneity is poorly characterized, hampering efforts for early diagnosis and improved treatments. Here, we apply single cell RNA sequencing to study the heterogeneity of 40 individuals along the multiple myeloma progression spectrum, including 11 healthy controls, demonstrating high interindividual variability that can be explained by expression of known multiple myeloma drivers and additional putative factors. We identify extensive subclonal structures for 10 of 29 individuals with multiple myeloma. In asymptomatic individuals with early disease and in those with minimal residual disease post-treatment, we detect rare tumor plasma cells with molecular characteristics similar to those of active myeloma, with possible implications for personalized therapies. Single cell analysis of rare circulating tumor cells allows for accurate liquid biopsy and detection of malignant plasma cells, which reflect bone marrow disease. Our work establishes single cell RNA sequencing for dissecting blood malignancies and devising detailed molecular characterization of tumor cells in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients