Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression Patterns for Oral Epithelial Cell Functions in Periodontitis

The structure and function of epithelial cells are critical for the construction and maintenance of intact epithelial surfaces throughout the body. Beyond the mechanical barrier functions, epithelial cells have been identified as active participants in providing warning signals to the host immune and inflammatory cells and in communicating various detailed information on the noxious challenge to help drive specificity in the characteristics of the host response related to health or pathologic inflammation. Rhesus monkeys were used in these studies to evaluate the gingival transcriptome for naturally occurring disease samples (GeneChip® Rhesus Macaque Genome Array) or for ligature-induced disease (GeneChip® Rhesus Gene 1.0 ST Array) to explore up to 452 annotated genes related to epithelial cell structure and functions. Animals were distributed by age into four groups: ≤ 3 years (young), 3-7 years (adolescent), 12-16 years (adult), and 18-23 years (aged). For naturally occurring disease, adult and aged periodontitis animals were used, which comprised 34 animals (14 females and 20 males). Groups of nine animals in similar age groups were included in a ligature-induced periodontitis experiment. A buccal gingival sample from either healthy or periodontitis-affected tissues were collected, and microarray analysis performed. The overall results of this investigation suggested a substantial alteration in epithelial cell functions that occurs rapidly with disease initiation. Many of these changes were prolonged throughout disease progression and generally reflect a disruption of normal cellular functions that would presage the resulting tissue destruction and clinical disease measures. Finally, clinical resolution may not signify biological resolution and represent a continued risk for disease that may require considerations for additional biologically specific interventions to best manage further disease

Propuesta metodológica para la redacción científica de presentaciones de casos

One of the main complexities currently presented to the medical researchers is the scientific writing of the case reports of a clinical case. The objective of this piece of writing is to provide a methodological proposal for the writing of this type of reports. The different sections that must be offered are presented, underlining the case reports and the need to describe to the scientific community the findings observed in the medical practice.Una de las principales dificultades que se presentan en la actualidad a los investigadores consiste en la redacción científica de una presentación o informe de un caso clínico. El objetivo de este artículo consiste en brindar una propuesta metodológica para la redacción de este tipo de informes. Se presentan las diferentes secciones que debe poseer, haciéndose énfasis en la presentación del caso y la necesidad de dar a conocer a la comunidad científica los hallazgos encontrados en la práctica médica

Effects of Aging on Apoptosis Gene Expression in Oral Mucosal Tissues

Apoptotic processes are important for physiologic renewal of an intact epithelial barrier and contribute some antimicrobial resistance for bacteria and viruses, as well as anti-inflammatory effects that benefits the mucosa. The oral cavity presents a model of host-bacterial interactions at mucosal surfaces, in which a panoply of microorganisms colonizes various niches in the oral cavity and creates complex multispecies biofilms that challenge the gingival tissues. This report details gene expression in apoptotic pathways that occur in oral mucosal tissues across the lifespan, using a nonhuman primate model. Macaca mulatta primates from 2 to 23 years of age (n = 23) were used in a cross-sectional study to obtain clinical healthy gingival tissues specimens. Further, mRNA was prepared and evaluated using the Affymetrix Rhesus GeneChip and 88 apoptotic pathway genes were evaluated. The results identified significant positive correlations with age in 12 genes and negative correlations with an additional five genes. The gene effects were predicted to alter apoptosis receptor levels, extrinsic apoptotic pathways through caspases, cytokine effects on apoptotic events, Ca+2-induced death signaling, cell cycle checkpoints, and potential effects of survival factors. Both the positively and negatively correlated genes within the apoptotic pathways provided evidence that healthy tissues in aging animals exhibit decreased apoptotic potential compared to younger animals. The results suggested that decreased physiologic apoptotic process in the dynamic septic environment of the oral mucosal tissues could increase the risk of aging tissues to undergo destructive disease processes through dysregulated inflammatory responses to the oral microbial burden

Caracterización de los valores de los estudiantes de primer año de estomatología / Characterization of values in 1st. year dental students

Se realiza una investigación descriptiva, cuya muestra estuvo formada por 25 estudiantes de primer año de la carrera de Estomatología de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna de Pinar del Río, curso 2006-2007 y 6 estomatólogos docentes del ciclo clínico de dicha carrera. Con el objetivo de determinar los valores que sustentan los modos de actuación de los estudiantes de este año de la carrera, se aplicaron 2 pruebas y una dinámica grupal. Las pruebas consistieron en la redacción de una composición para determinar valores actuales y futuros y un ordenamiento de valores a partir de una hoja de recursos. A los estomatólogos se les aplicó también una prueba de ordenamiento de valores. La muestra se clasificó en 3 categorías según su estructura en relación con los valores. Se encontró una proyección psico- profesional de los estudiantes más orientada hacia los valores individuales que a los relacionados con la profesión, la proyección actual hacia el desarrollo de valores tuvo una mejor estructura que la proyección futura, por lo que se concluye la necesidad de reforzar en los estudiantes los valores propios de la profesión y los de compromiso social, con vistas a lograr un profesional integral. Palabras clave: ESCUELAS DE ODONTOLOGÍA, ÉTICA MÉDICA, EDUCA CIÓN MÉDICAABSTRACT A descriptive is done, whose sample comprised 25 1st. year dental students from "Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna" Medical School (2006-2007) and 6 dental professors for such major, aimed at determining the values sustaining these students' way of performance. Two tests and a groupal dynamics were applied to them. Tests consisted of writing a composition to measure current and future values, and an ordering of values from a sheet of resources. The dental professors were also applied a test of ordering values. Students were classified into 3 categories according to their structure regarding values. It was found a psychoprofessional projection of the students more orientated towards individual values than those related to the profession. The current project towards developing values had a better structure that the future projection, that is why it is necessary to reinforce in students values related to the profession and those of social commitment, in order to achieve a comprehensive professional. Key words: DENTAL SCHOOLS, MEDICAL ETHICS, MEDICAL EDUCATION

Caracterización de los valores de los estudiantes de primer año de estomatología / Characterization of values in 1st. year dental students

Se realiza una investigación descriptiva, cuya muestra estuvo formada por 25 estudiantes de primer año de la carrera de Estomatología de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna de Pinar del Río, curso 2006-2007 y 6 estomatólogos docentes del ciclo clínico de dicha carrera. Con el objetivo de determinar los valores que sustentan los modos de actuación de los estudiantes de este año de la carrera, se aplicaron 2 pruebas y una dinámica grupal. Las pruebas consistieron en la redacción de una composición para determinar valores actuales y futuros y un ordenamiento de valores a partir de una hoja de recursos. A los estomatólogos se les aplicó también una prueba de ordenamiento de valores. La muestra se clasificó en 3 categorías según su estructura en relación con los valores. Se encontró una proyección psico- profesional de los estudiantes más orientada hacia los valores individuales que a los relacionados con la profesión, la proyección actual hacia el desarrollo de valores tuvo una mejor estructura que la proyección futura, por lo que se concluye la necesidad de reforzar en los estudiantes los valores propios de la profesión y los de compromiso social, con vistas a lograr un profesional integral. Palabras clave: ESCUELAS DE ODONTOLOGÍA, ÉTICA MÉDICA, EDUCA CIÓN MÉDICAABSTRACT A descriptive is done, whose sample comprised 25 1st. year dental students from "Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna" Medical School (2006-2007) and 6 dental professors for such major, aimed at determining the values sustaining these students' way of performance. Two tests and a groupal dynamics were applied to them. Tests consisted of writing a composition to measure current and future values, and an ordering of values from a sheet of resources. The dental professors were also applied a test of ordering values. Students were classified into 3 categories according to their structure regarding values. It was found a psychoprofessional projection of the students more orientated towards individual values than those related to the profession. The current project towards developing values had a better structure that the future projection, that is why it is necessary to reinforce in students values related to the profession and those of social commitment, in order to achieve a comprehensive professional. Key words: DENTAL SCHOOLS, MEDICAL ETHICS, MEDICAL EDUCATION

Oral Microbiome and Gingival Tissue Apoptosis and Autophagy Transcriptomics

Objective: This study focused on documenting characteristics of the gingival transcriptome during various stages of periodontitis targeting genes associated with apoptotic and autophagic pathways and changes that specifically associate with features of the oral microbiome. Methods: Macaca mulatta (n = 18; 12-23 years) were examined at baseline and 0.5, 1, and 3 months of disease progression, as well as 5 months with clinical disease resolution. 16S sequencing and microarray analyses examined changes in the microbiome and gingival transcriptome, respectively, at each time point from every animal. Results: Specific patterns of apoptotic and autophagic genes were identified related to the initiation and progression of disease. The analysis also provided insights on the principal bacteria within the complex microbiome whose abundance was significantly correlated with differences in apoptotic and autophagic gene expression. Bacteria were identified that formed associated complexes with similar effects on the host gene expression profiles. A complex of Leptotrichia_unclassifed, Capnocytophaga_unclassified, Prevotella sp. 317, and Veillonellaceae_[G-1] sp. 155 were significantly negatively correlated with both apoptosis and autophagy. Whereas, Veillonellaceae_[G-1], Porphyromonadaceae, and F. alocis 539 were significantly positively correlated with both pathways, albeit this relationship was primarily associated with pro-apoptotic genes. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence for specific bacteria/bacterial complexes within the oral microbiome that appear to have a more substantive effect on regulating apoptotic and autophagic pathways in the gingival tissues with periodontitis

Differential Gene Expression Profiles Reflecting Macrophage Polarization in Aging and Periodontitis Gingival Tissues

Recent evidence has determined a phenotypic and functional heterogeneity for macrophage populations. This plasticity of macrophage function has been related to specific properties of subsets (M1 and M2) of these cells in inflammation, adaptive immune responses and resolution of tissue destructive processes. This investigation hypothesized that targeted alterations in the distribution of macrophage phenotypes in aged individuals, and with periodontitis would be skewed towards M1 inflammatory macrophages in gingival tissues. The study used a non-human primate model to evaluate gene expression profiles as footprints of macrophage variation in healthy and periodontitis gingival tissues from animals 3-23 years of age and in periodontitis tissues in adult and aged animals. Significant increases in multiple genes reflecting overall increases in macrophage activities were observed in healthy aged tissues, and were significantly increased in periodontitis tissues from both adults and aged animals. Generally, gene expression patterns for M2 macrophages were similar in healthy young, adolescent and adult tissues. However, modest increases were noted in healthy aged tissues, similar to those seen in periodontitis tissues from both age groups. M1 macrophage gene transcription patterns increased significantly over the age range in healthy tissues, with multiple genes (e.g. CCL13, CCL19, CCR7 and TLR4) significantly increased in aged animals. Additionally, gene expression patterns for M1 macrophages were significantly increased in adult health versus periodontitis and aged healthy versus periodontitis. The findings supported a significant increase in macrophages with aging and in periodontitis. The primary increases in both healthy aged tissues and, particularly periodontitis tissues appeared in the M1 phenotype

Transcriptome Analysis of B Cell Immune Functions in Periodontitis: Mucosal Tissue Responses to the Oral Microbiome in Aging

Evidence has shown activation of T and B cells in gingival tissues in experimental models and in humans diagnosed with periodontitis. The results of this adaptive immune response are noted both locally and systemically with antigenic specificity for an array of oral bacteria, including periodontopathic species, e.g., Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. It has been recognized through epidemiological studies and clinical observations that the prevalence of periodontitis increases with age. This report describes our studies evaluating gingival tissue transcriptomes in humans and specifically exploiting the use of a non-human primate model of naturally occurring periodontitis to delineate gingival mucosal tissue gene expression profiles focusing on cells/genes critical for the development of humoral adaptive immune responses. Patterns of B cell and plasmacyte genes were altered in aging healthy gingival tissues. Substantial increases in a large number of genes reflecting antigen-dependent activation, B cell activation, B cell proliferation, and B cell differentiation/maturation were observed in periodontitis in adults and aged animals. Finally, evaluation of the relationship of these gene expression patterns with those of various tissue destructive molecules (MMP2, MMP9, CTSK, TNFα, and RANKL) showed a greater frequency of positive correlations in healthy tissues versus periodontitis tissues, with only MMP9 correlations similar between the two tissue types. These results are consistent with B cell response activities in healthy tissues potentially contributing to muting the effects of the tissue destructive biomolecules, whereas with periodontitis this relationship is adversely affected and enabling a progression of tissue destructive events

Caracterización de los valores de los estudiantes de primer año de estomatología Characterization of values in 1st. year dental students

Se realiza una investigación descriptiva, cuya muestra estuvo formada por 25 estudiantes de primer año de la carrera de Estomatología de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna de Pinar del Río, curso 2006-2007 y 6 estomatólogos docentes del ciclo clínico de dicha carrera. Con el objetivo de determinar los valores que sustentan los modos de actuación de los estudiantes de este año de la carrera, se aplicaron 2 pruebas y una dinámica grupal. Las pruebas consistieron en la redacción de una composición para determinar valores actuales y futuros y un ordenamiento de valores a partir de una hoja de recursos. A los estomatólogos se les aplicó también una prueba de ordenamiento de valores. La muestra se clasificó en 3 categorías según su estructura en relación con los valores. Se encontró una proyección psico- profesional de los estudiantes más orientada hacia los valores individuales que a los relacionados con la profesión, la proyección actual hacia el desarrollo de valores tuvo una mejor estructura que la proyección futura, por lo que se concluye la necesidad de reforzar en los estudiantes los valores propios de la profesión y los de compromiso social, con vistas a lograr un profesional integral.<br>A descriptive is done, whose sample comprised 25 1st. year dental students from "Dr. Ernesto Che Guevara de la Serna" Medical School (2006-2007) and 6 dental professors for such major, aimed at determining the values sustaining these students' way of performance. Two tests and a groupal dynamics were applied to them. Tests consisted of writing a composition to measure current and future values, and an ordering of values from a sheet of resources. The dental professors were also applied a test of ordering values. Students were classified into 3 categories according to their structure regarding values. It was found a psychoprofessional projection of the students more orientated towards individual values than those related to the profession. The current project towards developing values had a better structure that the future projection, that is why it is necessary to reinforce in students values related to the profession and those of social commitment, in order to achieve a comprehensive professional