Research Spotlight

Posted September 20th 2020

Comparing Gene Expression in the Parabrachial and Amygdala of Diestrus and Proestrus Female Rats after Orofacial Varicella Zoster Injection.

Phillip R. Kramer, Ph.D.

Phillip R. Kramer, Ph.D.

Hornung, R., Pritchard, A., Kinchington, P.R. and Kramer, P.R. (2020). “Comparing Gene Expression in the Parabrachial and Amygdala of Diestrus and Proestrus Female Rats after Orofacial Varicella Zoster Injection.” Int J Mol Sci 21(16).

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The orofacial pain pathway projects to the parabrachial and amygdala, and sex steroids have been shown to affect neuronal activity in these regions. GABA positive cells in the amygdala are influenced by sex steroid metabolites to affect pain, and sex steroids have been shown to alter the expression of genes in the parabrachial, changing neuronal excitability. Mechanisms by which sex steroids affect amygdala and parabrachial signaling are unclear. The expression of genes in the parabrachial and amygdala in diestrus (low estradiol) and proestrus (high estradiol) female rats were evaluated in this study. First, varicella zoster virus was injected into the whisker pad of female rats to induce a pain response. Second, gene expression was quantitated using RNA-seq one week after injection. Genes that had the greatest change in expression and known to function in pain signaling were selected for the quantitation of protein content. Protein expression of four genes in the parabrachial and seven genes in the amygdala were quantitated by ELISA. In the parabrachial, neurexin 3 (Nrnx3) was elevated at proestrus. Nrnx3 has a role in AMPA receptor and GABA signaling. Neuronatin (Nnat) and protein phosphatase, Mg(2+)/Mn(2+) dependent 1E (Ppm1e) were elevated in the parabrachial of diestrus animals both genes having a role in pain signaling. Epoxide hydroxylase (Ephx2) was elevated in the parabrachial at proestrus and the vitamin D receptor (Vdr) was elevated in the amygdala. Ephx2 antagonists and vitamin D have been used to treat neuropathic pain. In conclusion, sex steroids regulate genes in the parabrachial and amygdala that might result in the greater pain response observed during diestrus.


Posted September 20th 2020

Ramadan and Culturally Competent Care: Strengthening Tuberculosis Protections for Recently Resettled Muslim Refugees.

Faizan A. Kabani, Ph.D.

Faizan A. Kabani, Ph.D.

Stockbridge, E.L., Kabani, F.A., Gallups, J.S. and Miller, T.L. (2020). “Ramadan and Culturally Competent Care: Strengthening Tuberculosis Protections for Recently Resettled Muslim Refugees.” J Public Health Manag Pract 26(5): E13-e16.

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To improve latent tuberculosis infection treatment completion rates, Tarrant County Public Health began providing after-dusk home delivery of a 12-dose latent tuberculosis infection regimen of weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid administered via directly observed preventive therapy during Ramadan, a month of prayer and daytime fasting observed by Muslims. In unadjusted difference-in-difference logistic regression analyses (n = 148), Muslim patients had lower treatment completion rates than non-Muslim patients during Ramadan prior to program implementation (68.8% vs 95.4%), whereas rates were comparable postimplementation (95.7% vs 96.4%; difference-in-difference P = .011). Similar results were found after adjusting for age and gender (pre: 71.4% vs 94.8%; post: 95.5% vs 96.3%; P = .032). These findings provide evidence of the need for and effectiveness of programmatic innovations tailored to the varying cultural norms of the widely diverse populations served by public health authorities and suggest that culturally competent clinical care may advance population health goals.


Posted September 20th 2020

Control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in orthodontic practice.

Yan Jing, Ph.D.

Yan Jing, Ph.D.

Guo, Y., Jing, Y., Wang, Y., To, A., Du, S., Wang, L. and Bai, D. (2020). “Control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in orthodontic practice.” Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 158(3): 321-329.

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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has attracted worldwide concerns because of its high person-to-person infectivity and lethality, and it was labeled as a pandemic as the rapid increase in the number of confirmed patients in most areas around the world became evident. The SARS-CoV-2 is mainly transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact. There is also evidence of transmission through aerosols and digestive tracts. Because orthodontic treatment involves a large population who need routine return-visits, it was significantly affected and suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of the dental clinics and hospitals. Although the spread of COVID-19 has been effectively controlled in China, and many areas have gradually resumed work and classes, orthodontic participants are still under high risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is due to the fact that the asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 or patients in the incubation period may cause the cross-infection between orthodontic practitioners and patients. The close proximity between the practitioners and the patients, and the generation of droplets and aerosols that contain saliva and blood during treatment further increase the risks of transmission. In this article, we summarized the preventive strategies for control of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to protect both staff and patients during the orthodontic practice.


Posted September 20th 2020

Insights into the September 2020 Issue of the Journal of Endodontics.

Gerald N. Glickman, M.S.

Gerald N. Glickman, M.S.

Azarpazhooh, A., Diogenes, A.R., Fouad, A.F., Glickman, G.N., Kishen, A., Levin, L., Roda, R.S., Sedgley, C.M., Tay, F.R. and Hargreaves, K.M. (2020). “Insights into the September 2020 Issue of the Journal of Endodontics.” J Endod 46(9): 1165-1166.

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Welcome to the September 2020 issue of the Journal of Endodontics ( JOE). Here we share some of our favorite articles that are published in this issue of the journal. We hope you look forward to reading these and other articles in JOE. [No abstract; excerpt from Editorial.].


Posted September 20th 2020

FGF/FGFR signaling in health and disease.

Jian Q. Feng, Ph.D.

Jian Q. Feng, Ph.D.

Xie, Y., Su, N., Yang, J., Tan, Q., Huang, S., Jin, M., Ni, Z., Zhang, B., Zhang, D., Luo, F., Chen, H., Sun, X., Feng, J.Q., Qi, H. and Chen, L. (2020). “FGF/FGFR signaling in health and disease.” Signal Transduct Target Ther 5(1): 181.

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Growing evidences suggest that the fibroblast growth factor/FGF receptor (FGF/FGFR) signaling has crucial roles in a multitude of processes during embryonic development and adult homeostasis by regulating cellular lineage commitment, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis of various types of cells. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of FGF signaling and its roles in organ development, injury repair, and the pathophysiology of spectrum of diseases, which is a consequence of FGF signaling dysregulation, including cancers and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this context, the agonists and antagonists for FGF-FGFRs might have therapeutic benefits in multiple systems.