Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Evidence Of An Antigen Presenting Cell Phenotype In Granular Cell Tumours, Benjamin J W A Rogala

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Granular Cell Tumours (GCTs) are rare subepithelial lesions that are believed to develop from Schwann cells and are characterized by large polygonal cells with abundant lysosomes. Pilot studies from our laboratory showing unexpected HLA-DR immunoreactivity in GCTs lead us to hypothesize that GCTs have an antigen presenting cell (APC) phenotype.

To test our hypothesis, we assessed immunoreactivity of GCT lesions to APC phenotype markers, including CD68, HLA-DR, CD163, CD40 and CD11c. In addition, we assessed markers of neural crest cell (NCC) origin S100, SOX10, NSE and GAP43. Samples subjected to these studies included 23 cases of GCTs and 10 cases …

Assessing Nurse Practitioners' Knowledge And Clinical Practice With Regard To The Oral-Systemic Link, Angela Haynes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) comprise a significant portion of the U.S. primary care workforce and play an essential role in patients' health awareness, prevention strategies, disease management, and in providing appropriate provider referrals. Nurse Practitioners receive education on the oral-systemic connection, yet there have been limited studies on the clinical practice of NPs assessing the oral cavity to evaluate the condition of the teeth and the oral tissues. The purpose of this study was to explore the nurse practitioners’ knowledge and practice habits of assessing the oral cavity for diseases or abnormalities in the mouth that can, in turn, affect overall …

Epithelial Responses To Porphyromonas Gingivalis In The Community Context., Zackary Ray Fitzsimonds

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a keystone pathogen for periodontal disease, initiates a complex molecular dialogue with gingival epithelial cells, leading ultimately to disruption of host signaling pathways. Dysbiotic host responses are also thought to contribute to the initiation and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas. Recently, the homeostatic commensal Streptococcus gordonii has been shown to antagonize P. gingivalis-induced epithelial cell signaling events in host cells, such as proliferation and migration. The aim of this study was to characterize pathways that P. gingivalis targets to disturb host signaling, with a specific focus on pathways that S. gordonii can restore to homeostatic …

The Emerging Oral Pathogen, Filifactor Alocis, Disrupts Neutrophil Functions To Enhance Survival And Dysregulate Inflammation., Irina Miralda Molina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periodontitis is an irreversible, chronic inflammatory disease where pathogenic microbial communities accumulate in the gingival crevice. Advances in culture-independent techniques have facilitated the identification of new bacterial species in periodontal lesions, such as the Gram-positive anaerobe, Filifactor alocis. Neutrophils are a major component of the innate host response, and the outcome of their interaction with F. alocis may be a determinant of oral health status. While neutrophil functions typically protect the host against periodontal disease, oral pathogens have adapted to evade or disarm neutrophil microbicidal functions while promoting mechanisms that drive inflammation, which also provides a source of nutrients …

Functionalizing Nanoparticles With Cafa Protein To Target Bar Peptide For Oral Delivery Applications., Hetal Desai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Background: Porphyromonas gingivalis adherence to Streptococcus gordonii may be important for P. gingivalis colonization in the oral cavity. Nanoparticles encapsulating synthetic peptide BAR (BAR-NPs) inhibit P. gingivalis adherence more potently than free BAR. However, BAR-NPs would exhibit low retention in an open flow environment. Hypothesis: Targeting BAR-NPs to the streptococcal surface using CafA protein will enhance their efficacy. Methods: CafA-modified NPs encapsulating BAR were synthesized using double emulsion approach. Surface binding and retention, and release kinetics of BAR from CafA-modified NPs was assessed. Functional inhibition assays were performed using dual a species biofilm. Results: CafA-modified NPs demonstrated specificity of adhesion, …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Hemocompatible Antibiotic Nanoparticles, Elvin Muhindo Walemba

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a causative agent of periodontal disease and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Novel treatment of periodontal disease using nanomaterials can supplement or replace the use of antibiotics and mechanical debridement. Nanomaterials can be optimized for effectiveness and specificity and minimum toxicity. Synthesized Ag nanoparticles stabilized in Pluronic F127 were used to produce bimetallic core/shell Ag/Au nanoparticles with optimized Ag+ release and reduced toxicity. We tested the F127-stabilized nanoparticles for their antimicrobial activity and hemocompatibility in planktonic bacteria and citrated whole blood, respectively. Both Ag and Ag/Au bimetallic nanoparticles inhibited P. gingivalis W83 growth. We then evaluated …

The Role Of Manganese In Streptococcus Sanguinis, Tanya M. Puccio

Theses and Dissertations

Streptococcus sanguinis is primarily associated with oral health as a commensal bacterium. As an opportunistic pathogen, S. sanguinis is capable of colonizing heart valve vegetations, leading to the disease infective endocarditis. Previous studies from our lab have identified the high-affinity manganese transporter SsaACB as important for endocarditis virulence. The impact that manganese depletion has on S. sanguinis had never been evaluated and a secondary manganese transporter has not been identified. Thus, we employed the use of a fermentor to control large-scale growth over time and depleted manganese in an ΔssaACB mutant using a metal chelator, EDTA. The changes in …

Biological Effects Of Epigallocatechin Gallate During The Protection Of The Submandibular Gland After Injury, Erni Sulistiyani

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Background: When radiotherapy is delivered to head and neck cancer (HNC) patients, the salivary gland (SG) secretory epithelia can be irreversibly injured in up to 60% of the individuals, leading to dry mouth or xerostomia. Radiotherapy’s effectiveness in suppressing HNC growth is correlated with an increase in free radicals that produce DNA damage to the tumor and neighboring organs like the SG. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is one of the most abundant polyphenols present in green tea leaves and a well-known antioxidant. In previous in vitro study using genetically modified immortal SG cell lines, EGCG protected SG cells from γ-radiation. However, …

Comparative Gene Expression Analysis Of Human Dental Pulp Cells From Maxillary And Mandibular Teeth, Thira Faruangsaeng

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective : Given the anatomical and locational differences between the maxillary and mandibular teeth, it is possible that there are differences in gene expression patterns of dental pulp cells within those teeth. This study evaluates and compares the gene expression profiles of the maxillary and mandibular human teeth with the aim of finding differences in gene expression patterns of dental pulp cells by RNA-Sequencing technique. Methods : The upper and lower premolar and molar teeth obtained from the same participant were employed. Two pairs of opposing premolar teeth and two pairs of opposing molar teeth were isolated, cultured, and subjected …

The Effects Of Vaping On Oral Streptococci And Oral Inflammation, Matthew Caldwell

Honors Undergraduate Theses

E-cigarette (e-cig) use is rising, but much is unknown about the effects of its vapor. This vapor contains chemicals such as propylene glycol, a known antimicrobial, and nicotine, whose derivatives are carcinogenic. Here, we study the effects of vaping on resident bacteria of the oral cavity and on oral cell inflammation. Oral streptococci are major residents in the oral cavity, with S. mutans the primary cause of dental caries. Growth and biofilm formation have been shown to be enhanced upon exposure to traditional cigarette smoke in vitro. In this study, we analyzed the effects of e-cig vapor on growth …

Treatment Effects Of Amitriptyline On Pain Symptoms, Quality Of Life And Heart Rate Variability In Burning Mouth Syndrome Patients, Chanida Chaiworn

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objectives of this research project were 1) To evaluate the effectiveness of amitriptyline therapy on improving pain and the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in BMS patients when compared to palliative topical therapies (sodium bicarbonate mouthwash). 2) To determine the association between therapy of amitriptyline and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. 3) To assess the association between pain outcomes and fluctuations in HRV parameters. This project was composed of a retrospective and a prospective study, and subjects were primary BMS patients recruited at the Oral Medicine Clinic, Faculty of Dentistry, In the retrospective study, 20 female participants were …

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor Induces The Odontogenic Differentiation In Human Dental Pulp Cells: Comparison Of Trichostatin A (Tsa) And Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (Saha), Indrani Sulistyowati

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) have shown their plasticity to differentiate into odontoblast-like cell lineages under the treatment of two-members of hydroxamates HDAC inhibitors (HDACis), Trichostatin A (TSA) and Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). However, a comparison of the potency for stimulating odontoblast-like differentiation and mineralization process among these two HDACis has not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to confirm and compare the stimulatory effect of TSA and SAHA in inducing odontoblast-like differentiation and promoting mineralized-nodule formation. The primary cultured hDPCs was used for MTT assay, ALP activity assay, and alizarin red staining in the presence and absence of TSA and …

Selenomonas Sputigena: Growth Conditions And Projected Virulence Factors Of An Emerging Oral Pathogen, Kayla A. Keller

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal diseases are ubiquitous diseases. They can affect people through a chronic infection that happens over a lifetime, but also as an aggressive infection that afflicts the younger population. It not only results in tooth loss and a lower quality of life, but it can also lead to fatal secondary infections like cervical cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. This study looks at Selenomonas sputigena, an emerging oral pathogen, that has been hypothesized to contribute to periodontal disease. It has been linked to fatal septicemia and has been found in increased abundance within the oral biofilm during peak infection. …

Bcl-Xl Expression In Osteoclasts Of Patients With Medication-Related Osteonecrosis Of The Jaw: A Comparison With Osteoradionecrosis And Osteomyelitis, Vy Tran Ngoc Thuy

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Objective: The pathological mechanism of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is still unknown now. Osteoclasts are cells directly influenced by MRONJ, which might be the key mediator of pathological mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate the histological features of MRONJ, investigate the morphology and quantity of osteoclasts in MRONJ as well as expression of Bcl-xl, and compare it with ORN, OM, and normal jaw bone. Methods: In this study, 57 subjects, including patients with MRONJ, osteoradionecrosis of the jaw (ORN), osteomyelitis of the jaw (OM), and normal jaw bone were studied. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of these diagnosed cases …