Search

Purpose: Entamoeba gingivalis (E. gingivalis) is one of the members of the wide range of oral resident pathogens in humans, particularly found in dental plaques, surfaces of gingiva or teeth, interdental spaces and carious lesions. The purpose of the current review and meta-analysis was to determine the global prevalence of E. gingivalis infection and its association with oral diseases based on published literatures. Materials and Methods: Multiple English databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were explored for papers published until August 2020. A total of 52 studies (including 7596 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Results: The overall prevalence of E. gingivalis was estimated to be 37% (95% CI 29–46%). With regard to different countries, the highest and lowest pooled prevalence of E. gingivalis infection were related to Jordan with 87% (95% CI 81–92%) and Portugal with 3% (95% CI 0–10%), respectively. Based on WHO regions, the highest prevalence was related to the region of the Americas with 56% (95% CI 31–79%). The infection was most prevalent in 46–55 mean age groups [61% (95% CI 21–94%)]. Among different diagnostic methods, the highest rate of the pooled prevalence was related to the molecular [53% (95% CI 24–81%)] and the direct methods [36% (95% CI 25–47%)], respectively. Our analyses revealed that E. gingivalis infection was associated with 4.34-fold increased risk of oral diseases (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings revealed a high prevalence rate of the infection among periodontal disease patients with 37% (95% CI 20–57%). To conclude, it must be considered that E. gingivalis can be a risk factor associated with oral diseases and a wide range of research is needed to specify its role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT) are a prevalent population of innate-like T cells in mice, but quite rare in humans that are critical for regulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses during antimicrobial immunity, tumor rejection, and inflammatory diseases. Multiple transcription factors and signaling molecules that contribute to iNKT cell selection and functional differentiation have been identified. However, the full molecular network responsible for regulating and maintaining iNKT populations remains unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of evolutionarily conserved, small, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Previous reports uncovered the important roles of miRNAs in iNKT cell development and function using Dicer mutant mice. In this review, we discuss the emerging roles of individual miRNAs in iNKT cells reported by our group and other groups, including miR-150, miR-155, miR-181, let-7, miR-17 ~ 92 cluster, and miR-183-96-182 cluster. It is likely that iNKT cell development, differentiation, homeostasis, and functions are orchestrated through a multilayered network comprising interactions among master transcription factors, signaling molecules, and dynamically expressed miRNAs. We provide a comprehensive view of the molecular mechanisms underlying iNKT cell differentiation and function controlled by dynamically expressed miRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the only mammalian species known to be affected by multiple transmissible cancers. Devil facial tumours 1 and 2 (DFT1 and DFT2) are independent neoplastic cell lineages that produce large, disfiguring cancers known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The long-term persistence of wild Tasmanian devils is threatened due to the ability of DFTD cells to propagate as contagious allografts and the high mortality rate of DFTD. Recent studies have demonstrated that both DFT1 and DFT2 cancers originated from founder cells of the Schwann cell lineage, an uncommon origin of malignant cancer in humans. This unprecedented finding has revealed a potential predisposition of Tasmanian devils to transmissible cancers of the Schwann cell lineage. In this review, we compare the molecular nature of human Schwann cells and nerve sheath tumours with DFT1 and DFT2 to gain insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil. We discuss a potential mechanism, whereby Schwann cell plasticity and frequent wounding in Tasmanian devils combine with an inherent cancer predisposition and low genetic diversity to give rise to transmissible Schwann cell cancers in devils on rare occasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myelinating cells of both the peripheral and central nervous systems (CNSs) undergo dramatic cytoskeletal reorganization in order to differentiate and produce myelin. Myelinating oligodendrocytes in the CNS show a periodic actin pattern, demonstrating tight regulation of actin. Furthermore, recent data demonstrate that actin polymerization drives early cell differentiation and that actin depolymerization drives myelin wrapping. Dysregulation of the actin cytoskeleton in myelinating cells is seen in some disease states. This review highlights the cytoskeletal molecules that regulate differentiation of and myelination by cells of the PNS and CNS, informing our understanding of neural development, in particular myelination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the physical chemistry of biological membranes. While explaining the principles of self-organization of lipids into bilayers that form the matrix of biological membranes, how the continuum theory of membrane energetics explain many biological processes is discussed. With increasing sophistication of investigative tools, there is now a growing appreciation for lipid diversity and their role lipid-protein interactions in membrane structure and function.

The article reviews the book "Muslims and the News Media," edited by Elizabeth Poole and John E. Richardson.