Manipal University

About: Manipal University is a education organization based out in Manipal, Karnataka, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 9525 authors who have published 11207 publications receiving 110687 citations.

Midbrain cues dictate differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells towards functional dopaminergic neurons.

Abstract: Dental pulp originating from the neural crest is considered a better source of postnatal stem cells for cell-based therapies in neurodegenerative diseases. Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) have been shown to differentiate into cell-types of cranial neural crest ontology; however, their ability to differentiate to functional neurons of the central nervous system remains to be studied. We hypothesized that midbrain cues might commit DPSCs to differentiate to functional dopaminergic cell-type. As expected, DPSCs in their naive state spontaneously expressed early and mature neuronal markers like nestin, musashi12, β tubulin III, and Map2ab. On exposure to midbrain cues (sonic hedgehog, fibroblast growth factor 8 and basic fibroblast growth factor), DPSCs showed upregulation of dopaminergic neuron-specific transcription factors Nuclear Receptor related protein 1 (Nurr1), Engrailed 1 (En1) and paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3 (Pitx3) as revealed by real-time RT-PCR. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis showed enhanced expression of mature neuronal marker Map2ab and dopaminergic-neuronal markers [tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), En1, Nurr1, and Pitx3], with nearly 77% of the induced DPSCs positive for TH. Functional studies indicated that the induced DPSCs could secrete dopamine constitutively and upon stimulation with potassium chloride (KCl) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), as measured by dopamine ELISA. Additionally, the induced DPSCs showed intracellular Ca(2+) influx in the presence of KCl, unlike control DPSCs. ATP-stimulated Ca(2+) influx was observed in control and induced DPSCs, but only the induced cells secreted dopamine. Our data clearly demonstrate for the first time that DPSCs in the presence of embryonic midbrain cues show efficient propensity towards functional dopaminergic cell-type.

The effect of smoking on the ocular surface and the precorneal tear film

Abstract: Background:Smoking, both active and passive, creates a plethora of health‐related problems, which primarily affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. There is very little evidence on the effects of tobacco smoke on the eye, especially regarding anterior ocular surface related pathology. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of smoking on the ocular surface and the tear film in smokers. Methods:A total of 51 (102 eyes) smokers and 50 (100 eyes) age‐ andgender‐matched healthy non‐smokers were included in thisstudy. The ocular surface was evaluated by measuring tear film break‐up time, surface staining with fluorescein, and corneal and conjunctival sensitivities, and by completing the Schirmer’s II test. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5. A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The smoker group had significantly lower tear film break‐up time, and corneal and conjunctival sensitivity than the nonsmoker group. Punctate staining was significantly higher in the smoker group than the non‐smoker group. There was no statistically significant difference in Schirmer’s II test results between the smoker and non‐smoker group. Conclusion: Smoking caused adverse effects on the precorneal tear film and there was strong association between smoking and tear film instability. Although a causative relationship could not be determined, there is a need for further longitudinal studies.

Simultaneous detection of periodontal pathogens in subgingival plaque and placenta of women with hypertension in pregnancy

Abstract: There are many studies documenting increased prevalence of periodontal infection in women with preeclampsia. But, very few studies have attempted to establish causal relationship between the two. To find out causal circumstantial evidence by isolating specific periodontal pathogens in oral and placental samples. Antenatal periodontal screening and subgingival plaque collection was carried out in ten women with hypertension in pregnancy and ten normotensive controls on their hospital admission at term for cesarean delivery. Placental biopsy was obtained after aseptic placental collection at the time of elective cesarean delivery. Subgingival plaque and placental biopsy were studied for Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Treponema denticola, Prevotella intermedia and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans using quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique. Periodontist and laboratory personnel were unaware of case or control status. Periodontal status was not informed to the obstetrician recruiting the cases and laboratory. Microbiology report was not revealed till end of the study. Periodontal pathogens were found to be high in the group with hypertension than the controls. P gingivalis was found in all the samples from subgingival plaque and placenta, irrespective of the periodontal disease status. In cases with hypertension, periodontal pathogens are present in higher proportion in subgingival plaque and placenta.