Dentistry Commons^™

Investigating The Role Of Ebf3a In Craniofacial Development, Shujan A. Sharafeldeen

Undergraduate Theses, Capstones, and Recitals

Proper craniofacial development requires many genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) allows us to identify genes expressed in precursor cells for craniofacial structures, but the function of many of these genes in craniofacial development has yet to be characterized. In our scRNA-seq of cranial neural crest cells (NCCs), which are precursor cells for the craniofacial skeleton, we found a gene called early B-cell factor 3 (ebf3a) that may be involved in craniofacial development. In our scRNA-seq data, ebf3a expression is restricted to cranial NCCs of the dorsal and ventral domains of pharyngeal arches 1 and 2. In humans, damaging variants in …

Establishing An Objective, Quantifiable Method For Detecting Erosive Tooth Wear, Camille Kita

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This study aims to monitor and evaluate erosive tooth wear (ETW) by measurement of enamel surface thickness and texture in a clinical setting. The objective approach is fundamentally different from the standard subjective visual assessment that professionals in the dental field using the Basic Erosive Wear Evaluation (BEWE) method.

Twenty-nine hyposalivation and three control subjects were used in this longitudinal study, for a total of 597 samples (only 577 teeth were eligible for surface texture analysis) evaluated in a longitudinal study including both baseline and 12 month follow up surfaces. Each participant’s buccal surface of the tooth was first analyzed …

Educating Nurses On Frequent Oral Care For Mechanically Ventilated Patients: An Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal, Grace Alford, Susan Butz, Ruth Chavez, Joy Shoemaker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

The final scholarly project proposal is to implement oral care education for nurses in an intensive care unit (ICU). The proposal aims to create a guideline for an investigator to implement oral care recommendations for mechanically ventilated patients in order to reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The proposal consists of obtaining VAP data and oral care charting data for the unit studied, steps for providing oral care education, and analysis recommendations. Oral care involves swabbing the patient’s mouth every two hours with a swab and mouthwash. Oral care education would include handouts and direct teaching. The proposal aims to increase oral …

Genetic Analysis Of Hereditary Gingival Fibromatosis Associated Sos1 Missense Variants Of Uncertain Significance In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Himani Patel

Theses

Hereditary gingival fibromatosis (HGF) is a disease that can present as benign overgrowth of gingival tissue in the mouth. The overgrowth can enclose the entire mouth and teeth in severe cases or present itself in a concentrated area. Researchers have identified that mutations in the SOS1 gene can be responsible for HGF. This disease can impair basic functions related to the mouth. Eating, smiling, speaking can all be affected. Additionally, excess inflammation can cause periodontal disease because of the difficulty in maintaining proper oral health. Periodontal disease can lead to severe bone loss which can lead to complete loss of …

Sars-Cov-2 Infectivity, And Interaction With Ace2 In The Human Oral Cavity: A Comprehensive Study, Blake Joseph Henkel

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The oral cavity has the ability to transport infections throughout the body and be infected by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the virus that led to the most recent pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 has unique ways of interacting with the human body to infect individuals, which has led researchers and scientists to have limited knowledge on its long-term impact on human health. However, there are ways to identify various oral cavity infections and prevent infection now and in the future. Many studies have been conducted in an attempt to understand the body’s …

Genetically Engineering Gingipains For High Yield Large Scale Purification., Andrew E. Fuchs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a keystone oral pathogen in the progression of periodontal disease and has been implicated in the etiology of many other systemic human diseases. P. gingivalis produces primary virulence factors termed the gingipains, a group of cysteine proteases. There is a high demand for high purity gingipains for downstream in vitro studies where P.g. is implicated, both oral and systemic. Gingipain production candidate mutant P.g. strains were generated to isolate each gingipain for large scale purification and the purified gingipains characterized. Two mutants were determined not to be viable for large scale purification of gingipains, each for different …

Association Of Inflammatory Markers And Growth Factors With Radiographically Assessed Wound Healing Of Extraction Sockets, Sasha Mohammadi

Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this prospective cohort pilot study was to investigate the association of the periodontal status and inflammatory markers from the gingival crevicular and wound fluid with the healing outcomes following tooth extraction. The central research hypothesis is that extraction sites and the adjacent teeth that exhibit increased markers of inflammation, or decreased growth factors, at baseline or 2 weeks will be associated with reduced healing outcomes observed radiographically 3 months following surgery. Nine patients at the UNMC College of Dentistry who were seeking care to extract a posterior tooth due to advanced periodontal bone loss, non-restorable caries or …

The Emerging Oral Pathogen, Filifactor Alocis, Modulates Antimicrobial Responses In Primed Human Neutrophils., Ian J. Snider

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Honors Theses

Periodontitis is an irreversible, chronic inflammatory, infectious disease of the oral cavity that affects approximately half of all adults 30 years or older in the USA. The oral cavity is under high immune surveillance because of its constant exposure to microbes in the environment. The primary immune cell responsible for this surveillance is the neutrophil. Pathogens associated with periodontitis possess virulence factors and have evolved strategies to evade neutrophil antimicrobial responses to survive. One such pathogen is Filifactor alocis, whose presence is associated with the progression of periodontitis. F. alocis manipulates several neutrophil antimicrobial functional responses to avoid killing, an …

The Effect Of Fluorouracil On Pathogenic And Non-Pathogenic Oral Microorganisms And Microbial Interactions With Preventative Measures: A Preliminary Study, Valeria Ortiz Jimenez, Lynn Lewis

Student Research Submissions

Cancer chemotherapy compromises the patient’s oral health through dysbiosis of oral microbiota and increases the prevalence of dental cavities, gingivitis, oral mucositis, and xerostomia. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of a common chemotherapeutic agent, Fluorouracil (5-FU), on certain microorganisms that are common within the oral cavity. Varying concentrations (50 μM, 75 μM and 100μM) of 5-FU were used to simulate the dosage that reaches the oral cavity after intravenous delivery. The microorganisms tested were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Streptococcus salivarius. These are some of the most common ones found in the …

Characterizing Human Papillomavirus Associated Oral Epithelial Dysplasia, Damir Rosic

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The role of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is well documented in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and cervical cancer. Although a subset of oral dysplastic lesions have been associated to HPV infection as well, there is currently limited data characterizing these lesions. We identified HPV-associated oral epithelial dysplasia (HPV-OED) through screening for histopathological features of HPV and p16INK4a immunoreactivity. Transcriptionally active infections were confirmed by performing RT-qPCR to identify E6 mRNA expression. We identified 82 cases of confirmed HPV-OED that showed a strong predilection for male patients and anatomical sites such as floor of mouth and ventral tongue. This group had …

Enhancing Dental Aligners With Direct 3d Printing Manufacturing, Erin Clark, Lauren Ickes, Tyler Madison

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Replacement of thermoforming with direct 3d printed aligners, molding appliances for dental and alveolar movement. Currently the process involved requires 3d printing models and plastic thermoforming, trimming and polishing to fabricate the end product. If possible a product that could be 3d printed that had stress retention, crack resistance, and stain resistance properties delivered in thickness between .030 and .040 inches.

Probing The Porphyromonas Gingivalis Nitrosative Stress Response Network, Alexandra Galina

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To persist in the oral cavity, the perio-pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis must have an efficient nitrosative stress response mechanism. To better understand how P. gingivalis responds to nitrite (NO₂^-) we must determine what genes are involved in the nitrosative stress response network.

Methods: Through genomic screening, a list of genes was generated that were hypothesized to be part of the nitrosative stress response network and believed to be involved in nitrate/nitrite metabolism or redox state of the cells. Protein coding regions were replaced with the ermF sequence by allelic exchange mutagenesis. 15 mutants were created …

A Cell Culture Model To Study Tobacco Associated Oral Cancer Progression And Treatment Resistance, Amanda Busch

Theses & Dissertations

Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma is the 6^th most common cancer in the world. Risk factors for HNSCC include alcohol and tobacco consumption, infection with Human Papilloma Virus, and exposure to environmental toxins. Unlike many other cancers, the incidence of HNSCC is growing, yet the treatment options and outcomes have not been significantly improved for decades. An increased understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these cancers is needed for improvement in early diagnosis, enhanced treatment effectiveness, and cancer prevention. 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) is a well-tested, tobacco mimicking, carcinogen. 4NQO produces similar histological and chemical changes found in human …

Secretion Of Salivary Proteins And Their Interactions, Karla Tonelli Bicalho Crosara

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Saliva’s clinical application for disease diagnosis and monitoring is limited by incomplete knowledge of salivary protein interactions, the effect of stimulation on the salivary proteome, and if these factors impact protein identification. This thesis expands knowledge of the salivary interactome and effects of stimulation intensity and duration on parotid saliva’s proteome. First, previous in vitro studies identified 43 proteins in the histatin 1-protein network and demonstrated histatin 1’s increased stability in whole saliva when interacting with amylase. We hypothesized that protein-protein-interaction databases could enlarge the histatin 1-protein network. A comprehensive histatin 1-protein network was created using STRING database, merging previous …

Extrinsic And Intrinsic Factors Influencing Homeostasis And Repair In Oral Tissues, Georgia Nikoloudaki

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The oral tissues, including gingiva and buccal mucosa, heal rapidly with minimal scar formation. Although in the oral cavity, the palatal mucosa is associated with excessive scarring in response to injury. In this thesis, first, I investigated the complex relationship between cells and their microenvironment using wound healing models in which extracellular matrix composition and mechanical stiffness affect cellular responses during acute wound repair. I also determined how intrinsic differences of cells recruited during healing contribute to wound resolution.

In Chapter 2, I first investigated cell-extrinsic factors, specifically the influence of the pro-fibrotic matricellular protein periostin on palatal healing. Using …

Quantification Of Dental Fissures Through Occlusal Topography Analysis, Duru Erkan

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

Narrow, deep, and elaborate dental fissures are widely believed to increase the predisposition of enamel to develop carious lesions as these surfaces are thought to be ideal for cariogenic bacteria to adhere to. Therefore, dentists prescribe sealants as a preventative measure for patients with such fissures to avoid tooth decay. Yet to date, there is no objective data supporting the notion that fissure morphology actually affects caries susceptibility, nor is there a quantifiable, clinically practical method to characterize fissure patterns expected to increase risk of caries disease.

In this study, three new methods to quantitatively characterize fissure pattern in mandibular …

Aggregatibacter Actinomycetemcomitans Exploits And Modulates The Immune Response By Human Neutrophils For Survival In The Anaerobic Environment., Hazel Ozuna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is a Gram-negative facultative anaerobe and an opportunistic oral pathogen, strongly associated with localized periodontitis and other inflammatory diseases. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammation of the periodontium resulting from the inflammatory response of the host towards the dysbiotic microbial community present at the gingival crevice. The host immune response creates a hostile environment for microorganisms; therefore, it is important for Aa to be able to regulate the necessary genes to survive and thrive in such an environment. Aaexpresses several virulence factors such as a cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and leukotoxin A (LtxA), …

Dental Morphology In A Juvenile Mammal From The Late Cretaceous Of South America: Tooth Eruption And Development., Kayla E Newton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Meridiolestids are a diverse and distinct clade of Cretaceous–Miocene South American dryolestoid mammals ranging in size from small shrew-sized insectivores to large dog- sized omnivores. Cronopio dentiacutus from the Cenomanian La Buitrera locality, Rio Negro Province, Argentina (Candeleros Fm.) is the oldest and best known of them, represented by skull material and associated jaws. A juvenile skull as attributed to Cronopio dentiacutus, based on tooth size and morphology, was collected from the type locality. The specimen includes the skull and both articulated lower jaws. The fossil is poorly ossified and partially flattened; CT scanning reveals most of the dentition …

Impact Of Interleukin-34 On The Promotion Of Bone Osteolysis And Neuroinflammation In Experimental Models Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Anny Ho

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a growing health concern and is the most common type of dementia worldwide. Emerging evidence indicates that aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides, one of the hallmark features of AD neuropathology, can increase RANKL-mediated osteoclast activity leading to the prevalence and severity of inflammatory osteolysis, e.g., osteoporosis and periodontal bone loss. Conversely, osteolytic lesions are associated with increased risk of dementia diagnosis indicating that there is a direct link between dementia and inflammatory osteolysis. It was demonstrated that the neuronal cells primarily produce interleukin-34 (IL-34) and microglia, macrophages, and osteoclast precursors express colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF-1R), a …

Prediction Of Future Caries In Toddlers Via Salivary Microbiome: A 1-Year Longitudinal Study, Ratcha Raksakmanut

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Dental caries in children is the most common chronic oral disease that could disturb their quality of life including their development. Early prevention is a key approach to reducing the prevalence of early childhood caries. However, a reliable caries predictor, as an essential tool for targeted prevention that is important to this approach, is still lacking for infants before caries onset. Therefore, we aimed to develop the caries risk prediction model based on the salivary microbiome of caries-free 1-year-old children to predict caries onset at 1-year follow-up. Using a nested case-control design within a prospective cohort study, 30 saliva samples, …

The Impact Of Sickle Cell Disease On Gingival Bleeding And Oral Health Of Adults, Natalie Roa

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Oral health may serve as an indicator of overall systemic health, with each disease or condition manifesting differently in the oral cavity. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disorder in which sickled red blood cells cause blood vessel occlusion and potentially bleeding in specific sites (e.g., gastrointestinal and intracranial bleeding). With SCD being one of the most common hereditary diseases in the world, it is essential to understand the disease and improve awareness to better treat this population. While studies have been done to evaluate the oral health of persons with SCD, few have explored the occurrence of gingival …

The Effects Of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Derived From Jagged1-Treated Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells On Biological Responses Of Stem Cells Isolated From Apical Papilla, Suphalak Phothichailert

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: Indirect Jagged1 immobilization efficiently activates canonical Notch signaling in hDPSCs. This study aimed to investigate the characteristic of the Jagged1-treated hDPSCs-derived dECM and its biological activity on odonto/osteogenic differentiation SCAPs. Methods: Bioinformatic database of Jagged1-treated hDPSCs was analyzed by NetworkAnalyst. hDPSCs seeded on Jagged1 immobilized surface were maintained with N or OM followed by decellularization procedure, dECM-N or dECM-OM, respectively. SCAPs were reseeded on each dECM with either normal medium or OM. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Characteristics of dECMs and SCAPs were evaluated by SEM, EDX, immunofluorescent staining and alcian blue staining. A Multipotential differentiation assay. …

Development Of 3d-Bioprinted Scaffolds For Oral Probiotic Application., Jhanvi Patel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis adheres to and invades gingival epithelial cells, resulting in decreased cell viability. Previous studies have indicated that probiotics are effective against dental pathogens; however, few approaches provide sustained-delivery of active agents in the oral cavity. Hypothesis: Probiotics will limit P. gingivalis effects on Telomerase Immortalized Gingival Keratinocyte (TIGK) cells and 3D-printed scaffolds will prolong probiotic release. Methods: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium bifidum were assessed with adhesion and antibiotic protection assays to limit P. gingivalis effects on TIGKs. Scaffolds were printed with a select probiotic and evaluated for release kinetics. Results: Free L.a., …

Enamel Histological Indicator: Growth In Incisors Vs. Canines, Nisha Zaver

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Streptococcus Mutans And The Oral Microbiome, Danielle Pintone

Honors Program Contracts

No abstract provided.

S. Gordonii-Produced Hydrogen Peroxide Modulates Mir-663a And Ccl20 Expression In Oral Epithelial Cells, Marshall Houston Maynard

Theses and Dissertations--Medical Sciences

The mechanisms through which a persistent recognition of commensal bacteria by oral epithelial cells (OECs) mitigates an uncontrolled inflammatory response of the oral mucosa remain unknown. CCL20 secretion by OECs in response to pathogenic bacteria is regulated by S. gordonii (Sg)-induced miR-663a; nevertheless, the mechanisms involved in these Sg-modulated responses remain to be elucidated. Since Sg is a hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) producer, and H₂O₂ has been shown to stimulate miRNA expression, we hypothesized that H₂O₂ could be involved in Sg-induced miR663a and CCL20 responses. Expression of miR663a …

Anti-Inflammatory And Regeneration Properties Of Iloprost On Inflamed Human Dental Pulp Cells Model: An In Vitro Study, Rahman Wahyudi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

In the clinical situation, pulp exposure can happen during caries removal procedures. Inflammation can occur on the pulp of the exposed area because of infiltration of bacteria from caries or as a result of pulp reaction to caries removal drilling. When the pulp was exposed during the caries removal procedure, traditional methods to preserve the pulp such as pulp capping and pulpotomy were performed. The ideal treatment outcome of the pulp exposure is to regain the primary structure of tubular dentin as well as maintain the vitality and healthiness of the dental pulp Thus, good dental materials or drugs used …

Il-36g Cytokine Induction In Oral Epithelial Cells Triggered By Treponema Denticola And Their Role In Chronic Periodontitis, Christopher Blake

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is a polymicrobial disease affecting 10-15% of the population. Periodontal disease affects the quality of life by reducing mastication and potentially causing tooth loss. Periodontal disease is also linked to more severe, systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Development of the diseased state occurs when the plaque biofilm shifts from healthy to dysbiotic. The shift to a dysbiotic biome brings with it a shift in bacterial presence, specifically an increase in gram-negative bacteria, such as T. denticola. T. denticola is a gram-negative, anaerobic spirochete whose relationship with oral epithelial cells is poorly understood. Preliminary data …

Effect Of Shear Force On Immunosuppressive Property Of Human Periodontal Ligament Cells, Ravipha Suwittayarak

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The immunomodulatory property is to regulate immune cell function. IDO and TGF-β1 inhibited T cell proliferation and induced regulatory T (Treg) cells differentiation. However, this property must be activated by inflammation. Recently, mechanical forces have also activated this property. Hence, this study investigated effect of shear stress on immunosuppressive property of hPDL cells. Cells were subjected to shear stress then expression of IDO, TGF-β1, IFN-gamma and COX2 mRNA and protein was examined by qRT-PCR, ELISA, and IDO activity. Conditioned media derived shear stress were treated with CD4+ T cells. The proliferative T cell effect was determined using resazurin. The FOXP3, …

The Influence Of Infant Formula On The Growth Of Commensal And Pathogenic Streptococcus Species In The Infant Oral Cavity, Geneva Waynick

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The oral microbiome is a complex community of microorganisms that can both reflect and greatly influence the health of the human host. A number of diseases are associated with dysbiotic oral microflora in infants and children, including dental (e.g. dental caries, gingivitis, and periodontal disease), and gastrointestinal diseases (e.g. pediatric appendicitis, celiac disease, and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease). A variety of factors can influence the composition of the oral microbial community in infants, including gestation length, mode of delivery, feeding method, and diet. This study focuses on the effects of diet on the growth of a commensal bacterium (Streptococcus …