Dentistry Commons^™

The Role Of Nod-Like Receptors In Innate Immunity, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Luiz Eduardo Baggio Savio, Robson Coutinho-Silva, David M. Ojcius

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The innate immune system in vertebrates and invertebrates relies on conserved receptors and ligands, and pathways that can rapidly initiate the host response against microbial infection and other sources of stress and danger. Research into the family of NOD-like receptors (NLRs) has blossomed over the past two decades, with much being learned about the ligands and conditions that stimulate the NLRs and the outcomes of NLR activation in cells and animals. The NLRs play key roles in diverse functions, ranging from transcription of MHC molecules to initiation of inflammation. Some NLRs are activated directly by their ligands, while other ligands …

Interactions Between Silica And Titanium Nanoparticles And Oral And Gastrointestinal Epithelia: Consequences For Inflammatory Diseases And Cancer, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Leticia Ferreira Cabido, Wei Chun Chin, Ge Wang, David M. Ojcius, Changqing Li

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Engineered nanoparticles (NPs) composed of elements such as silica and titanium, smaller than 100 nm in diameter and their aggregates, are found in consumer products such as cosmetics, food, antimicrobials and drug delivery systems, and oral health products such as toothpaste and dental materials. They may also interact accidently with epithelial tissues in the intestines and oral cavity, where they can aggregate into larger particles and induce inflammation through pathways such as inflammasome activation. Persistent inflammation can lead to precancerous lesions. Both the particles and lesions are difficult to detect in biopsies, especially in clinical settings that screen large numbers …

Pharmacology For National Board Examination, Krina Shah

Dugoni School of Dentistry Student Scholarly Works

This pharmacology study guide is designed to provide students preparing for the National Boards exam with a clear and concise visual aid in the form of systemic flow charts. Each flow chart is organized by drug class and includes information on the mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, dosages, and common adverse effects for each drug within the class. By using this study guide, students can easily navigate through the complex world of pharmacology and feel confident in their ability to succeed on the pharmacology section of the National Board exam. The study guide for pharmacology is significant in several ways. …

Medical Marijuana Knowledge And Attitudes: A Survey Of Dental And Dental Hygiene Faculty And Students, Dara Szyliowicz, Andrew Young, Yesha Golwala

Eberhardt School of Business Faculty Datasets

Background:

Medical Marijuana (MM) use is increasing, requiring healthcare professionals, such as dentists, to possess a working knowledge of MM. Previous studies have indicated that MM education is lacking in current healthcare education.

Methods:

A 50-question survey was created to assess, in detail, dental and dental hygiene faculty and students knowledge, practice, and attitudes toward MM, and to identify possible correlations between responses. The survey was modeled after a previous survey conducted amongst practicing pharmacists. All faculty dentists, faculty dental hygienists, students and residents at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, were invited by email …

A Flash Of Inspiration: Enhancing Dental Student Drug Recognition, Benjamin D. Zeitlin

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Students preparing for exams often retain the complexities of a subject but instant recognition and recall is something that, for most, takes time and consistent, repeated study to establish. This can happen through well-managed spaced learning (iterative study) prior to examination; given the preponderance of massed study (cramming for a subject),1 however, many students require long-term exposure in the clinic to patients’ medical histories to achieve instant recall. Understanding the applied pharmacology of common drugs is a current American Dental Association accreditation standard. Ideally, dental students should demonstrate a consistent level of basic drug recognition and the ability to retrieve …

Effects Of Frankincense Compounds On Infection, Inflammation, And Oral Health, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Nallusamy Sivakumar, Homer Asadi, Anna Chang-Chien, M. Walid Qoronfleh, David M. Ojcius, Musthafa Mohamed Essa

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Boswellia trees, found throughout the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, are the source of frankincense oil. Since antiquity, frankincense has been traded as a precious commodity, but it has also been used for the treatment of chronic disease, inflammation, oral health, and microbial infection. More recently, the bioactive components of Boswellia trees have been identified and characterized for their effects on cancer, microbial infection (especially infection by oral pathogens), and inflammation. Most studies have focused on cell lines, but more recent research has also investigated effects in animal models of disease. As natural products are considered to …

Differential Involvement Of The Canonical And Noncanonical Inflammasomes In The Immune Response Against Infection By The Periodontal Bacteria Porphyromonas Gingivalis And Fusobacterium Nucleatum, Kívia Queiroz De Andrade, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, David M. Ojcius, Robson Coutinho-Silva

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We examined the involvement of the P2 × 7 receptor and the canonical and noncanonical inflammasomes in the control of single-species or dual-species infection by the periodontal bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in cells and mice. Stimulation of the P2 × 7 receptor leads to activation of the canonical NLRP3 inflammasome and activation of caspase-1, which leads to cleavage of pro-IL-1β to IL-1β, a key cytokine in the host inflammatory response in periodontal disease. The non-canonical inflammasome pathway involves caspase-11. Thus, wildtype (WT), P2 × 7^−/−, caspase-11^−/− and caspase-1/11^−/− mice were co-infected with both bacterial …

Online Learning During Covid-19 Produced Equivalent Or Better Student Course Performance As Compared With Pre-Pandemic: Empirical Evidence From A School-Wide Comparative Study, Meixun S. Zheng, Daniel Bender, Cindy Lyon

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced dental schools to close their campuses and move didactic instruction online. The abrupt transition to online learning, however, has raised several issues that have not been resolved. While several studies have investigated dental students’ attitude towards online learning during the pandemic, mixed results have been reported. Additionally, little research has been conducted to identify and understand factors, especially pedagogical factors, that impacted students’ acceptance of online learning during campus closure. Furthermore, how online learning during the pandemic impacted students’ learning performance has not been empirically investigated. In March 2020, the dental school studied here moved …

Evaluation Of Usage-Induced Degradation Of Different Endodontic File Systems, Shekhar Bhatia, Venkateshbabu Nagendrababu, Ove A. Peters, Amr Fawzy, Umer Daood

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To evaluate structural profiles and mechanical behaviour of WaveOne Gold (WOG), Twisted File Adaptive (TFA) and XP-endo shaper (XPS) instruments after root canal preparation. Standardized in vitro shaping was performed in presence of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite. File morphology was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy; X-ray diffraction analysis was performed before and after use along with Raman spectroscopy. Nanoindentation was carried out to characterize surface topography. Ni2+ release was measured at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was done before and after use. After allocating scan line shifts like in WOG, mechanical deformation was shown using …

Potential Differences In Somatosensory Function During Premenopause And Early And Late Postmenopause In Patients With Burning Mouth Syndrome: An Observational Case–Control Study, Kana Ozasa, Noboru Noma, Andrew Young, Olga A. Korczeniewska, Eli Eliav, Yoshiki Imamura

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Background/purpose: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition presenting as intraoral burning or dysesthesia, with a high preponderance in menopausal women. This study aimed to examine the association between somatosensory dysfunction and BMS in premenopausal, early postmenopausal, and late postmenopausal patients, using a standardized Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) protocol, and to determine the predictive value of thermal or mechanical perception by QST for detecting BMS. Materials and methods: An observational case–control study was performed with 36 female participants with BMS (12 premenopausal, 10 early postmenopausal, and 14 late postmenopausal) and 42 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (21 premenopausal, 10 …

Is Neurotrophic Factor A Second Language That Neuron And Tooth Speak?, Nan Xiao

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No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Cyclic Fatigue And Bending Resistance Of Coronal Preflaring Niti File Manufactured With Different Heat Treatments, Soram Oh, Su-Young Moon, Antonis Chaniotis, Eugenio Pedullá, Adel S. Al-Ghamdi, Zawzi A. Al-Ghamdi, Ayman O. Mandorah, Hiran Perinpanayagam, Kee-Yeon Kum, Ove A. Peters, Seok W. Chang

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Coronal preflaring NiTi files should possess proper hardness, resistance to fracture and flexibility. This study compared the bending resistance and cyclic fatigue resistance of three orifice preflaring NiTi files. HyFlex EDM Orifice opener (#25/12), HyFlex CM (#25/08) and One Flare (#25/09) were tested (n = 46/instrument). Bending resistance was assessed with the stress when perpendicular displacement was applied to a 3 mm point from the file tip, and was performed at either room temperature (RT, n = 10) or body temperature (BT, n = 10). Cyclic fatigue resistance was tested with an artificial ceramic root canal at RT (n = …

The Significance Of Utilizing A Corticotomy On Periodontal And Orthodontic Outcomes: A Systematic Review And Meta‐Analysis, Jonathan Gao, Trung Nguyen, Snehlata Oberoi, Heesoo Oh, Sunil Kapila, Richard T. Kao, Guo-Hao Lin

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Purpose: This systematic review compares the clinical and radiographic outcomes for patients who received only a corticotomy or periodontal accelerated osteogenic orthodontics (PAOO) with those who received a conventional orthodontic treatment. Methods: An electronic search of four databases and a hand search of peer‐reviewed journals for relevant articles published in Eng-lish between January 1980 and June 2021 were performed. Human clinical trials of ≥ 10 patients treated with a corticotomy or PAOO with radiographic and/or clinical outcomes were included. Meta‐analyses were performed to analyze the weighted mean difference (WMD) and confidence interval (CI) for the recorded variables. Results: Twelve articles …

Radiographic Interpretation Using High-Resolution Cbct To Diagnose Degenerative Temporomandibular Joint Disease, Jonas Bianchi, João R. Gonçalves, Antônio C. De Oliveira Ruellas, Júlia V. P. Bianchi, Lawrence M. Ashman, Marilia Yatabe, Erika Benavides, Fabiana N. Soki, Lucia H. S. Cevidanes

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The objective of this study was to use high-resolution cone-beam computed images (hr-CBCT) to diagnose degenerative joint disease in asymptomatic and symptomatic subjects using the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders DC/TMD imaging criteria. This observational study comprised of 92 subjects age-sex matched and divided into two groups: clinical degenerative joint disease (c-DJD, n = 46) and asymptomatic control group (n = 46). Clinical assessment of the DJD and high-resolution CBCT images (isotropic voxel size of 0.08mm) of the temporomandibular joints were performed for each participant. An American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology certified radiologist and a maxillofacial radiologist used …

Cigarette Smoke Stimulates Sars-Cov-2 Internalization By Activating Ahr And Increasing Ace2 Expression In Human Gingival Epithelial Cells, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Harmony Matshik Dakafay, Kaitlyn Liu, David M. Ojcius

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A large body of evidence shows the harmful effects of cigarette smoke to oral and systemic health. More recently, a link between smoking and susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was proposed. COVID-19 is due to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which uses the receptor ACE2 and the protease TMPRSS2 for entry into host cells, thereby infecting cells of the respiratory tract and the oral cavity. Here, we examined the effects of cigarette smoke on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors and infection in human gingival epithelial cells (GECs). We found that cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) upregulated …

Altered Somatosensory Processing In Secondary Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Case Report, Noboru Noma, Kana Ozasa, Andrew Young

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Secondary trigeminal neuralgia might be very rarely preceded by trigeminal neuropathic pain. The patient, in this case, presented with paroxysmal pain in the left mandible and numbness of the lower lip and tongue. Sensory testing of these areas revealed cold and heat hyperalgesia and mechanical hyposensitivity in the mandibular region. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in the left cerebellopontine angle. The patient was prescribed systemic mirogabalin (2.5 mg/day), which provided some relief until the tumor was removed. The histopathological diagnosis was an epidermoid tumor. This article discusses the clinical characteristics and sensory testing findings that distinguish secondary trigeminal neuralgia …

A Pilot Virtual Project For Advising Senior Dental Hygiene Students On Work Readiness Skills, Annie Han, Mustafa S. Radif

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No abstract provided.

Immunotherapies For Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ibrahim Mortada, Raymond Farah, Sanaa Nabha, David M. Ojcius, Youssef Fares, Wassim Y. Almawi, Najwane S. Sadier

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The current treatments for neurodegenerative diseases are mostly symptomatic without affecting the underlying cause of disease. Emerging evidence supports a potential role for immunotherapy in the management of disease progression. Numerous reports raise the exciting prospect that either the immune system or its derivative components could be harnessed to fight the misfolded and aggregated proteins that accumulate in several neurodegenerative diseases. Passive and active vaccinations using monoclonal antibodies and specific antigens that induce adaptive immune responses are currently under evaluation for their potential use in the development of immunotherapies. In this review, we aim to shed light on prominent immunotherapeutic …

Tissue Reaction To Novel Customized Calcium Silicate Cement Based Dental Implants. A Pilot Study In The Dog, Amir Fakhrzadeh, Mohammad A. Saghiri, Steven M. Morgano, Andrew Sullivan

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Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of periodontal tissue regeneration in a canine model following post-extraction placement of an implant molded from a composite material made from extracted tooth dentin and a calcium silicate cement (CSC) material. The investigation used autologous dentin in conjunction with a CSC material to form a composite implant designed for immediate tooth replacement. Methods: Two (2) beagles had a periodontal and radiographic examination performed to rule out any pre-treatment inflammation, significant periodontal disease, or mobility. Then, ination eleven (11) teeth were extracted and polyvinyl siloxane molds were made to fabricate …

Student Preferences Impact Outcome Of Flipped Classroom In Dental Education: Students Favoring Flipped Classroom Benefited More, Nan Xiao, Der Thor, Meixun S. Zheng

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Many reports in dental education showed that student learning improved with the flipped classroom method. However, there are few reports that describe how different subsets of students may benefit from the flipped classroom. In this study, we investigated how students’ preference for the flipped classroom impacted their learning outcome. We used a flipped classroom module on the physiology of the autonomic nervous system taught to year one Doctor of Dental Surgery students to test the hypothesis that students who favored the flipped classroom performed better on assessment quizzes. The module was composed of pre-class activity, out-of-class assignment, in-class discussion, and …

Neither B Cell Nor T Cell – The Unique Group Of Innate Lymphoid Cells, Jean M. Kanellopoulos, David M. Ojcius

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This special issue contains four review articles that analyze the development and biology of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), which are the most recently-discovered group of innate immune cells. This unique group of lymphoid cells lacks the RAG gene and consequently does not express B cell nor T cell antigen-specific receptors. They are abundant at mucosal surfaces, where they play a role in immunity and homeostasis. The ILCs are the focus of intensive research efforts to understand their development and function.

Structural And Functional Features Of The P2x4 Receptor: An Immunological Perspective, Jean M. Kanellopoulos, Cássio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Sirje Rüütel Boudinot, David M. Ojcius

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Extracellular nucleotides are important mediators of activation, triggering various responses through plasma membrane P2 and P1 receptors. P2 receptors are further subdivided into ionotropic P2X receptors and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors. P2X4 is an ATP-gated cation channel broadly expressed in most tissues of the body. Within the P2X family, P2X4 has a unique subcellular distribution, being preferentially localized in lysosomes. In these organelles, high ATP concentrations do not trigger P2X4 because of the low pH. However, when the pH increases to 7.4, P2X4 can be stimulated by intra-lysosomal ATP, which is in its active, tetra-anionic form. Elucidation of P2X4, P2X3 …

Learning Engagement Through A Virtual Research Showcase, Karen Schulze, Annie Han

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COVID-19 has necessitated creative adaptions to educational environments. At the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, the school’s annual Spring research, clinical and community health showcase quickly morphed from the traditional face-to-face format to an online, virtually graded awards showcase with an online gallery website promoting sharing of the school community’s scholarship. This study’s goals were to explore how a dental academic community engaged with and learned from a pilot online showcase, and the professional value of showcase participation for students, research faculty and teaching clinicians. A convenience sample of 168 student and faculty showcase participants …

Does Covid-19 Contribute To Development Of Neurological Disease?, Arehally M. Mahalakshmi, Bipul Ray, Sunanda Tuladhar, Abid Bhat, Shasthara Paneyala, Duraisamy Patteswari, Meena Kishore Sakharkar, Hamdan Hamdan, David M. Ojcius, Srinivasa Rao Bolla, Musthafa Mohamed Essa, Saravana Babu Chidambaram, M. Walid Qoronfleh

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Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated primarily with pneumonia, recent data show that the causative agent of COVID-19, the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect a large number of vital organs beyond the lungs, such as the heart, kidneys, and the brain. Thus, there is evidence showing possible retrograde transmission of the virus from the olfactory epithelium to regions of the brain stem. Methods: This is a literature review article. The research design method is an evidence-based rapid review. The present discourse aim is first to scrutinize and assess the available literature on …

Ganoderma Lucidum Stimulates Autophagy-Dependent Longevity Pathways In Caenorhabditis Elegans And Human Cells, Hsin Hsin Peng, Cheng Yeu Wu, Yuan Chao Hsiao, Jan Martel, Po Yuan Ke, Chen Yaw Chiu, Jian Ching Liau, I. Te Chang, Yu Hsiu Su, Yun Fei Ko, John D. Young, David M. Ojcius

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The medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum is used as a dietary supplement and health tonic, but whether it affects longevity remains unclear. We show here that a water extract of G. lucidum mycelium extends lifespan of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The G. lucidum extract reduces the level of fibrillarin (FIB-1), a nucleolar protein that correlates inversely with longevity in various organisms. Furthermore, G. lucidum treatment increases expression of the autophagosomal protein marker LGG-1, and lifespan extension is abrogated in mutant C. elegans strains that lack atg-18, daf-16, or sir-2.1, indicating that autophagy and stress resistance pathways are required to extend lifespan. …

Making It Easier To Be A Patient In Times Of A Pandemic, David Chambers, Michelle Brady, David M. Ojcius, Evelyn Cuny

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No abstract provided.

Bacteriophage Therapy Of Bacterial Infections: The Rediscovered Frontier, Nejat Düzgüneş, Melike Sessevmez, Metin Yildirim

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Antibiotic-resistant infections present a serious health concern worldwide. It is estimated that there are 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States every year. Such microorganisms include Acinetobacter, Enterobacterioceae, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium. Alternative treatment methods are, thus, necessary to treat such infections. Bacteriophages are viruses of bacteria. In a lytic infection, the newly formed phage particles lyse the bacterium and continue to infect other bacteria. In the early 20th century, d’Herelle, Bruynoghe and Maisin used bacterium-specific phages to treat bacterial infections. Bacteriophages are being identified, purified and developed as pharmaceutically acceptable macromolecular “drugs,” undergoing strict quality …

Cigarette Smoke Stimulates Sars-Cov-2 Internalization By Activating Ahr And Increasing Ace2 Expression In Human Gingival Epithelial Cells, Cassio Luiz Coutinho Almeida-Da-Silva, Harmony Matshik Dakafay, Kaitlyn Liu, David M. Ojcius

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

A large body of evidence shows the harmful effects of cigarette smoke to oral and systemic health. More recently, a link between smoking and susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was proposed. COVID-19 is due to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which uses the receptor ACE2 and the protease TMPRSS2 for entry into host cells, thereby infecting cells of the respiratory tract and the oral cavity. Here, we examined the effects of cigarette smoke on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors and infection in human gingival epithelial cells (GECs). We found that cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) upregulated …

Does Covid-19 Contribute To Development Of Neurological Disease?, Arehally M. Mahalakshmi, Bipul Ray, Sunanda Tuladhar, Abid Bhat, Shasthara Paneyala, Duraisamy Patteswari, Meena K. Sakharkar, Hamdan Hamdan, David M. Ojcius, Srinivasa R. Bolla, Musthafa M. Essa, Saravana B. Chidambaram, M. Walid Qoronfleh

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated primarily with pneumonia, recent data show that the causative agent of COVID-19, the coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can infect a large number of vital organs beyond the lungs, such as the heart, kidneys, and the brain. Thus, there is evidence showing possible retrograde transmission of the virus from the olfactory epithelium to regions of the brain stem. Methods: This is a literature review article. The research design method is an evidence-based rapid review. The present discourse aim is first to scrutinize and assess the available literature on …

Noninvasive Temporal Detection Of Early Retinal Vascular Changes During Diabetes, Mohammad A. Saghiri, Andrew Suscha, Shoujian Wang, Ali M. Saghiri, Christine M. Sorenson, Nader Sheibani

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Diabetes associated complications, including diabetic retinopathy and loss of vision, are major health concerns. Detecting early retinal vascular changes during diabetes is not well documented, and only few studies have addressed this domain. The purpose of this study was to noninvasively evaluate temporal changes in retinal vasculature at very early stages of diabetes using fundus images from preclinical models of diabetes.Non-diabetic and Akita/+ male mice with different duration of diabetes were subjected to fundus imaging using a Micron III imaging system. The images were obtained from 4 weeks- (onset of diabetes), 8 weeks-, 16 weeks-, and 24 weeks-old male Akita/+ …