Glucose and glutamine fuel protein O-GlcNAcylation to control T cell self-renewal and malignancy

Sustained glucose and glutamine transport are essential for activated T lymphocytes to support ATP and macromolecule biosynthesis. We now show that glutamine and glucose also fuel an indispensible dynamic regulation of intracellular protein O-GlcNAcylation at key stages of T cell development, transformation and differentiation. Glucose and glutamine are precursors of UDP-GlcNAc, a substrate for cellular glycosyltransferases. Immune activated T cells contained higher concentrations of UDP-GlcNAc and increased intracellular protein O-GlcNAcylation controlled by the enzyme O-GlcNAc glycosyltransferase as compared to naïve cells. We identified Notch, the T cell antigen receptor and c-Myc as key controllers of T cell protein O-GlcNAcylation, via regulation of glucose and glutamine transport. Loss of O-GlcNAc transferase blocked T cell progenitor renewal, malignant transformation, and peripheral T cell clonal expansion. Nutrient-dependent signaling pathways regulated by O-GlcNAc glycosyltransferase are thus fundamental for T cell biology

Complex Odontome Causing Facial Asymmetry

Odontomas are the most common non-cystic odontogenic lesions representing 70% of all odontogenic tumors. Often small and asymptomatic, they are detected on routine radiographs. Occasionally they become large and produce expansion of bone with consequent facial asymmetry. We report a case of such a lesion causing expansion of the mandible in an otherwise asymptomatic patient

Prescription Drug Abuse and Oral Clues - an Overview

Drug abuse is a growing trend, with people in every walk of life and at every economic level abusing drugs. Prescription drugs are those that are both legal and sanctioned by doctors. Most of these drugs are accurately labeled so those who want to use them to get ′high′ know exactly what is in them. Among the various known routes of prescription drug abuse, snorting, smoking and oral use of drugs are the ones that concern us the most because of their possible oral clues. The patient may present to us with a complaint of dry mouth or a characteristic pattern of caries or even perforation of the palate. Drug abusers are known to be psychologically unstable and often do not disclose the habit and tend to fake symptoms as well. It thus becomes a highly challenging task for the oral diagnostician to recognize such lesions and correlate them to the abuse of drugs. Also, extreme caution should be taken while prescribing drugs with a potential for abuse

Interferons - A Review

Interferons are a family of proteins and glycoproteins that have a variety of biologic actions. Interferons were first discovered in 1957 and several clinical trials have been conducted since then to unravel the action and clinical applications of different types of interferons. This paper reviews the mechanism of action and clinical uses of different types of interferons

Post-processing of panoramic radiographs: Demystifying its veracity

Background: Panoramic radiography is a routinely advised extraoral radiograph in a dental practice due to its diverse implications in the field of oral and maxillofacial diagnosis. The visibility of normal structures in the panoramic radiographs is of paramount importance as their margins should be delineated clearly from pathological structures that will aid in the correct diagnosis and treatment planning. Aims and Objective: The study aimed to compare the subjective image quality of selected anatomical landmarks on CCD-based panoramic images with and without processing. The objective was to highlight the importance of processed images, which are frequent in day-to-day practice. Materials and Methods: The study comprised 60 subjects with a complete complement of permanent teeth excluding third molars. Selected subjects were clinically examined, and a digital panoramic examination was done. The radiograph obtained was assessed for the subjective image analysis based on the visibility of six major anatomical landmarks using a 3-point scale, and the overall image assessment was done using a 4-point scale. The data was tabulated for statistical analysis. Results: Digital panoramic radiographs with post-processing showed superior visibility with regard to the six anatomical landmarks as well as for overall image assessment which was found to be statistically significant (P <.05). Conclusion: Post-processing tools such as sharpening and gamma with sharpening were best to visualize anatomical landmarks

Oral Histoplasmosis in A HIV Patient - A Case Report

Histoplasmosis is a granulomatous fungal disease caused by the dimorphic fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum, which was first described by Samuel Darling of Panama in 1905. The clinical presentation of Histoplasmosis is varied, ranging from the more common asymptomatic form to the rare and potentially fatal disseminated form. The disseminated form usually occurs in infants, elderly and immunocompromised individuals including those infected with HIV Oral lesions of Histoplasmosis are quite rare. When encountered, they are usually found in association with the disseminated form of the disease. However cases of isolated Oral Histoplasmosis without systemic or pulmonary involvement have also been reported. Here we report one such case of isolated Oral Histoplasmosis occuring in a 28 year old HIV infected male who visited the Department of Oral Medicine & Radiology, J.S.S. Dental College & Hospital, Mysore

Recurrent oral angioleiomyoma

Angioleiomyomas are vascular variant of leiomyomas which are benign tumors of smooth muscle. They are exceedingly rare in the oral cavity. Malignant transformation of these tumors has also been reported occasionally which warrants knowledge of this soft tissue tumor. A 57 year old male patient reported with a 15 day history of an asymptomatic growth that had started insidiously in his lower left back tooth region. Clinical examination revealed a solitary, oval, sessile growth in the mandibular left retro molar region. Excisional biopsy was suggestive of Angioleiomyoma. A recurrence of the same was noted two months later which was also histopathologically reported as Angioleiomyoma. The same was confirmed using special stains. This case reports an unusual presentation of Angioleiomyoma with regards to both recurrence as well as rapid growth. It is important to be well aware of this uncommon entity as these tumors often can mimic or transform into malignancy. Precise clinicopathological examinations are therefore invaluable in establishing an accurate diagnosis and delivering suitable treatment

Ultrasonography of Swellings in Orofacial Region

Objectives: To assess the reliability of ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid for diagnosis of swellings in orofacial region. Study design: The study consisted of 40 patients with orofacial swellings, and all these patients were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographical and histopathological examination and respective diagnoses were obtained. Ultrasonographic diagnosis correlated with clinical and histopathological examinination. Chi-square test and contingency coefficient tests were used for statistical evaluation. Results: A significant association was observed between clinical and ultrasonographic diagnoses (contingency = 0.938 and p< 000) and between ultrasonographic and histopathological diagnoses (contingency = 0.943 and p< 000). Conclusion: Ultrasonography revealed as a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis of orofacial swellings

Primary Systemic Amyloidosis Presenting as Macroglossia

Amyloidosis is a rare disease of unknown origin characterised by extracellular deposition of fibrillar proteinaceous substance called amyloid having common morphological, structural and staining properties but variable protein composition. Oral manifestations have been reported in 39% of patients with amyloidosis and it manifests frequently as macroglossia. A rare case of Primary Systemic Amyloidosis presenting as Macroglossia in a patient with no known antecedent or coexistent disease is being presented and discussed

Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome: A family investigation and review

Rendu-Osler-Weber syndrome is a rare genetic condition characterized by mucocutaneous and visceral fibrovascular dysplasia leading to multiple macular or papular vascular lesions of skin, mucosal surfaces and occasionally viscera that show tendency towards hemorrhage. The orofacial features of the condition in an affected family and in particular a 33-year-old Indian male patient, are illustrated along with summarization of management aspects in a dental setup