An epigenetic ‘extreme makeover’: the methylation of flaviviral RNA (and beyond)

2020

Beyond their high clinical relevance worldwide, flaviviruses (comprising dengue and Zika viruses) are of particular interest to understand the spatiotemporal control of RNA metabolism. Indeed, their positive single-stranded viral RNA genome (vRNA) undergoes in the cytoplasm replication, translation and encapsidation, three steps of the flavivirus life cycle that are coordinated through a fine-tuned equilibrium. Over the last years, RNA methylation has emerged as a powerful mechanism to regulate messenger RNA metabolism at the posttranscriptional level. Not surprisingly, flaviviruses exploit RNA epigenetic strategies to control crucial steps of their replication cycle as well as to evade sen…

Evaluation of labial microvessels in Sjogren syndrome: A videocapillaroscopic study

2008

Summary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by a progressive lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, especially salivary and lachrymal ones, leading to xerostomia, parotid gland enlargement, and xerophtalmia. SS may occur alone (primary) or in association with almost any of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases (secondary), the most frequent being rheumatoid arthritis. The aim of this study is to describe the capillaroscopic pattern of the labial mucosa in patients with SS. Methods A total of 20 patients affected by SS and 20 healthy controls were examined. The patients with conditions that compromise microcirculation, such as diabetes, hypertens…

Correlation of " in vivo" microcirculation and degeneration of the basal cells of the epithelium in lingual lichen planus

2010

Background: Oral lichen planus is an inflammatory chronic disease with an autimmune pathogenesis and unknown etiology that affects oral mucosa, with or without the involvement of the skin and other mucous membranes. The principal histological characteristics are the degeneration of the basal cell layer and the abnormal infiltration of inflammatory cells into the subepithelial layer of connective tissue. Objectives: This study is aimed to appraise if lingual lichen planus (LLP) is sustained by alteration of the oral microcirculation and if this abnormal vascularisation increases the degeneration of basal keratinocytes and the disruption of the basement membrane. Materials and Methods: Fiftee…

Angiogenesis in oral lichen planus: an in vivo and immunohistological evaluation.

2010

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an autoimmune disease with an inflammatory pathogenesis. The angiogenetic phenomenon is a mechanism at the base of the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory processes. The aim of this research is to evaluate the angiogenetic phenomenon, comparing an in vitro method with an in vivo one. Thirty OLP patients and 30 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Immunohistochemical analysis of the vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular-endothelial adhesion molecules were carried out by the means of primary antibodies and anti-CD34, anti-VEGF, anti-CD106 antigen (VCAM-1) and anti-CD54 antigen (ICAM-1). Capillary density and others capillaroscopic paramete…

Chronic hyperplastic candidosis: a pilot study of the efficacy of 0.18% isotretinoin.

2009

Management of oral candidiasis depends on an accurate diagnosis, identification and elimination of predisposing factors, and, often, use of antifungal agents. Chronic hyperplastic candidosis (CHC) is considered a premalignant lesion of the oral mucosa, occurring as speckled or homogeneous white lesions. If the lesions are untreated, a minor proportion may become dysplastic and progress to carcinoma. The traditional treatment of this lesion is based on the use of antifungal agents. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of 0.18% isotretinoin for treatment of nystatin-resistant candidiasis. Isotretinoin was administered topically twice a day for one month to six patients affected b…

The Medicinal Chemistry of Zika Virus

2021

Arthropod-borne viruses, also known as arboviruses, are transmitted by bites of infected mosquito or tick vectors. In this context, the Flavivirus genus is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes from the Aedes genus, being the Ae. africanus, Ae. aegypti, and Ae. Albopictus species are responsible for transmitting the Zika virus (ZIKV). It is a lipid-enveloped virus constitute of an RNA genome, which is translated into a polyprotein encoding three structural proteins {(capsid (C), membrane (M), and envelope (E)} and seven non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, and NS5). Several biological targets have been identified for developing antiviral agents against ZIKV, which could pre…

The effect of acupuncture on oral microcirculation in healthy volunteers: an exploratory study.

2009

Background Acupuncture is a therapeutic technique currently used in the treatment of many pathologies. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential effect of acupuncture on “in vivo” variations in oral microcirculation in healthy subjects. Methods An exploratory study was conducted on 40 healthy subjects: 20 cases (mean 55.90, SD 16.04) and 20 controls (mean 51, SD 11.91). Videocapillaroscopy was used to detect variations in oral microcirculation. This method permits an accurate and non-invasive in vivo study of the capillaries of the oral mucous. The site selected for this pilot study is the lower lip since it is the simplest to investigate and is more readily accessible. Assessments…

Periodontal disease and sjogren syndrome: a possible correlation?

2009

Sjögren syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune rheumatic disease characterized by a progressive lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, especially salivary and lachrymal ones, leading to xerostomia, parotid gland enlargement, and xerophthalmia. The aim of this study is to describe the capillaroscopic pattern of the interdental papilla in patients with SS and to evaluate a possible correlation with periodontal disease. Methods: A total of 25 patients affected by SS and 25 healthy controls were examined. The patients with conditions that compromise microcirculation, such as diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or some pharmacological treatments, were not included in the study. All the…

Angiogenesis of oral lichen planus: a possible pathogenetic mechanism.

2008

Objective: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an autoimmune inflammatory pathogenesis. The aim of the research is to compare the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and adhesion of molecules in the biopsy samples of patients affected by OLP, in order to research the presence of the angiogenetic phenomenon and to understand its pathogenetic mechanism. Materials and Methods: Thirty OLP patients and thirty healthy subjects were enrolled in a study. The immunohistochemical analysis of the VEGF and vascularendothelial adhesion molecules was carried out by means of primary antibodies and anti-CD34, anti-VEGF, antiCD106 antigen (VCAM-1) and anti-CD54 antigen (ICA…

SAR of novel benzothiazoles targeting an allosteric pocket of DENV and ZIKV NS2B/NS3 proteases

2021

In recent years, dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), both mosquito-borne members of the Flaviviridae family, have emerged as intercontinental health issues since their vectors have spread from their tropical origins to temperate climate zones due to climate change and increasing globalization. DENV and ZIKV are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses, whose genomes consist of three structural (capsid, membrane precursor, envelope) and seven non-structural (NS) proteins, all of which are initially expressed as a single precursor polyprotein. For virus maturation, the polyprotein processing is accomplished by host proteases and the viral NS2B/NS3 protease complex, whose inhibitors …

Oral microcirculation observed in vivo by videocapillaroscopy: a review

2009

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that is fundamental in viewing peripheral circulation and in studying microangiopathies. The morphological study of microcirculat ion is of fundamental importance, mainly because the microvascular bed is directly involved in the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and acute and chronic inflammatory pathological conditions. The value of capillaroscopic investigation as a diagnostic means in cases of peripheral microcirculation disorders has been confirmed by numerous studies. Other studies used capillaroscopic investigations to evaluate microcirculation damage not as a complication of disease (diabetes), but as its initial stage, and…

Burning mouth syndrome: is acupuncture a therapeutic possibility?

2010

Burning mouth syndrome is a chronic pathology of unknown ethiopathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether acupuncture can produce a reduction of the burning sensation by influencing the oral microcirculation. METHODS: Thirty patients (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 65.4 +/- 2.17) and 30 healthy subjects (10 male and 20 female; mean age +/- SD = 62.06 +/- 6.72) were recruited for the study. The patients were treated with acupunctural techniques based on traditional Chinese medicine. Microcirculation was observed in vivo using videocapillaroscopy at three different times: t(0)) in the absence of acupuncture; t(1)) 1 minute after the insertion of the needles; and t(2)…

B-Lactam antibiotics in daily dentistry practice: a critical review

2007

Nf-k B as target of Pharmacological Treatment

2007

Studio del ruolo dell'infiammazione neuro-mediata e di NFK-B nell'etiopatogenesi della burning mouth syndrome.

2011

HODKIN'S DISEASE AND ITS ORAL MANIFESTATIONS

2007

STUDIO del RUOLO dell’ INFIAMMAZIONE NEURO- MEDIATA e di NFΚ-B nell’ETIOPATOGENESI della BURNING MOUTH SYNDROME

2011

Hodgkin`s Disease and its Oral Manifestations

2007

Oral candidiasis and oral hyperplastic candidiasis: clinical presentation

2007

INFIAMMAZIONE NEURO-MEDIATA E PATOLOGIE DELLA MUCOSA LINGUALE: UN'IPOTESI EZIOPATOGENETICA

2007

The nervous system contributes to the pathophysiology of peripheral inflammation and a neurogenic component has been implicated in many inflammatory disease, including oral diseases. Neurogenic inflammation should be regarded as a protective mechanism wich forms the first line of defense and protects tissue integrity. However, prolonged noxius stimulation may result in the inflammatory response. This review focuses on the evidence suggesting that neuropeptides have a pivotal role in the complex cascade of chemical activity associated with oral diseases. The pathophysiology is complex and neuropeptides are not solely responsible for the initiation and progression of the disease. However, sin…

Evaluation of the serum levels of retinol in patients affected by leukoplakia and oral lichen planus: a statistical analysis.

2007

Patologie della mucosa orale

2010

Un contributo innovativo allo studio di una disciplina odontoiatrica in continua evoluzione. L’obiettivo è quello di fornire al lettore, sia esso studente o professionista, una guida chiara del management diagnostico e terapeutico di patologie spesso multidisciplinari o sulle quali verte il rischio di trasformazione neoplastica. Frutto di anni di esperienza clinica, il testo intende dare un apporto alla formazione di un odontoiatra e di un medico attento e consapevole, ed erudire chiunque si accosti all’avvincente e complesso campo delle patologie della mucosa orale. Pietro Messina è professore ordinario dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo. Le discipline mediche di suo principale interes…

MACROLIDES ANTIBIOTICS IN ODONTOSTOMATOLOGICAL PRACTICE:PAST. PRESENT AND FUTURE

2007