Assessment of the association between coronary artery blockage and periodontal health status in patients undergoing coronary angiography: a cross-sectional study

Growing evidence suggests a potential link between periodontal disease and the development of atherosclerosis, positioning periodontal disease as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate periodontal status in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by measuring the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) score in individuals undergoing coronary angiography. In this cross-sectional study, 300 patients scheduled for coronary angiography at K.S. Hegde Medical Hospital, Mangalore, India, were recruited. Comprehensive medical and dental histories were obtained prior to the procedure. The PISA score was calculated using standardized periodontal measurements. Patients were categorized into three groups based on angiographic findings: no coronary artery blockage, blockage in one or more vessels with <50% stenosis, and blockage in one or more vessels with ≥50% stenosis. Additional subgroup analyses were conducted for single-, double-, and triple-vessel disease. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A significant increase in PISA scores was observed in patients with ≥50% coronary artery stenosis compared to those with <50% stenosis and no stenosis. However, the extent of vessel obstruction appeared independent of the degree of periodontal destruction. This study suggests that periodontal disease may act as a pro-atherogenic factor in the context of CAD, potentially contributing to the progression of atherosclerosis rather than being a direct causative agent. These findings underscore the importance of considering oral health in cardiovascular risk assessment and management for patients with coronary artery disease

Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity provides new insights on the genetic variability of the brazilian physic nut germplasm bank

The genetic variability of the Brazilian physic nut (Jatropha curcas) germplasm bank (117 accessions) was assessed using a combination of phenotypic and molecular data. The joint dissimilarity matrix showed moderate correlation with the original matrices of phenotypic and molecular data. However, the correlation between the phenotypic dissimilarity matrix and the genotypic dissimilarity matrix was low. This finding indicated that molecular markers (RAPD and SSR) did not adequately sample the genomic regions that were relevant for phenotypic differentiation of the accessions. The dissimilarity values of the joint dissimilarity matrix were used to measure phenotypic + molecular diversity. This diversity varied from 0 to 1.29 among the 117 accessions, with an average dissimilarity among genotypes of 0.51. Joint analysis of phenotypic and molecular diversity indicated that the genetic diversity of the physic nut germplasm was 156% and 64% higher than the diversity estimated from phenotypic and molecular data, respectively. These results show that Jatropha genetic variability in Brazil is not as limited as previously thought

Cigarette smoke extract profoundly suppresses TNFα-mediated proinflammatory gene expression through upregulation of ATF3 in human coronary artery endothelial cells

Endothelial dysfunction caused by the combined action of disturbed flow, inflammatory mediators and oxidants derived from cigarette smoke is known to promote coronary atherosclerosis and increase the likelihood of myocardial infarctions and strokes. Conversely, laminar flow protects against endothelial dysfunction, at least in the initial phases of atherogenesis. We studied the effects of TNFα and cigarette smoke extract on human coronary artery endothelial cells under oscillatory, normal laminar and elevated laminar shear stress for a period of 72 hours. We found, firstly, that laminar flow fails to overcome the inflammatory effects of TNFα under these conditions but that cigarette smoke induces an anti-oxidant response that appears to reduce endothelial inflammation. Elevated laminar flow, TNFα and cigarette smoke extract synergise to induce expression of the transcriptional regulator activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), which we show by adenovirus driven overexpression, decreases inflammatory gene expression independently of activation of nuclear factor-κB. Our results illustrate the importance of studying endothelial dysfunction in vitro over prolonged periods. They also identify ATF3 as an important protective factor against endothelial dysfunction. Modulation of ATF3 expression may represent a novel approach to modulate proinflammatory gene expression and open new therapeutic avenues to treat proinflammatory diseases

Art of reading a journal article: Methodically and effectively

BACKGROUND: Reading scientific literature is mandatory for researchers and clinicians. With an overflow of medical and dental journals, it is essential to develop a method to choose and read the right articles. OBJECTIVE: To outline a logical and orderly approach to reading a scientific manuscript. By breaking down the task into smaller, step-by-step components, one should be able to attain the skills to read a scientific article with ease. METHODS: The reader should begin by reading the title, abstract and conclusions first. If a decision is made to read the entire article, the key elements of the article can be perused in a systematic manner effectively and efficiently. A cogent and organized method is presented to read articles published in scientific journals. CONCLUSION: One can read and appreciate a scientific manuscript if a systematic approach is followed in a simple and logical manner

Nuclear features in oral squamous cell carcinoma: A computer-assisted microscopic study

Background and Objectives : Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common tobacco-related cancers affecting the Indian population. Various malignancy-grading systems based on different histopathological features have been proposed for OSCC. Due to inherent subjectivity, inter-observer variation and reproducibility of a grading system remains a problem. Grading systems based on nuclear morphometry have been proposed for laryngeal, renal and pharyngeal carcinomas. In this study, an attempt was made to grade oral OSCC based on computer-assisted microscopic evaluation of nuclear features. Our intention was also to evaluate the use of Feulgen stain for studying nuclear features. Materials and Methods: Sections made from buccal mucosa biopsies of normal mucosa as well as different grades OSCC were stained by Feulgen reaction. The nuclear features were evaluated by computer-assisted microscopic image analysis for nuclear area (NA), nuclear perimeter (NP) and nuclear form factor (NF) and correlated with histologic grading of OSCC. Nuclear shape, membrane outline, chromatin clumps, nucleoli, and abnormal mitoses were also evaluated. Results: NA and NP were observed to be significantly increased in OSCC (P < 0.001) when compared with the control group. These values increased in correlation with increasing grades of OSCC. However, NF was found to more in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: It may be concluded from the results that computer-assisted nuclear morphometry is a reliable tool for grading OSCC. A new grading system based on nuclear features for OSCC has been proposed

Intraoral malignant melanoma

Primary oral mucosal melanoma is a rare aggressive neoplasm and accounts for only 0.2‑8% of all reported melanomas. It is a malignant neoplasm of melanocytes that may arise from a benign melanocytic lesion or de novo from melanocytes within normal skin or mucosa. It is considered to be the most deadly and biologically unpredictable of all human neoplasms, having the worst prognosis. In this article, we report a case of oral melanoma in a 52‑year‑old female patient with a chief complaint of black discolouration of the maxillary gingiva and palate.Keywords: Gingiva, malignant neoplasm, oral mucosal melanoma, palateNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 54 | Issue 4 | July-August | 201

Primary B-cell MALT lymphoma of the palate: A case report and distinction from benign lymphoid hyperplasia (pseudolymphoma)

Diagnosis of palatal swellings is a challenge. Benign and malignant tumors may be misinterpreted as lesions of inflammatory origin. We present a case of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma on the palate of a 40-year-old male. A number of factors can make the diagnosis of oral lymphoma difficult. Many lymphomas are extranodal, there is usually a prominent superimposed nonspecific inflammatory response and thus they mimic benign lymphoid hyperplasia. It is important for the pathologist to be familiar with features that distinguish benign from malignant lymphoid proliferations