The term Laser "Photobiomodulation" was coined to encompass the pleiotropic effects of low-power lasers on biological processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta had a role in mediating the biological effects of low-power far-infrared laser irradiation. We assayed for in vitro activation using various biological forms of cell-secreted, recombinant, and serum latent TGF-beta using the p3TP reporter and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We demonstrate here that low-power lasers are capable of activating latent TGF-beta1 and -beta3 in vitro and, further, that it is capable of "priming" these complexes, making them more amenable to physiological activation present in the healing milieu. Using an in vivo oral tooth extraction-healing model, we observed an increased TGF-beta1, but not beta3, expression by immunohistochemistry immediately following laser irradiation while TGF-beta3 expression was increased after 14 days, concomitant with an increased inflammatory infiltrate. All comparisons were performed between laser-irradiated wounds and nonirradiated wounds in each subject essentially using them as their own control (paired T-test p<0.05). Low-power laser irradiation is capable of activating the latent TGF-beta1 complex in vitro and its expression pattern in vivo suggests that TGF-beta play a central role in mediating the accelerated healing response.

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Laugier–Hunziker syndrome is a rare acquired disorder characterized by diffuse hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa and longitudinal melanonychia in adults. They appear as macular lesions less than 5 mm in diameter. Laugier–Hunziker syndrome is considered to be a benign disease with no systemic manifestation or malignant potential. Therefore, it is important to rule out other mucocutaneous pigmentary disorders that do require medical management. Prompt clinical recognition also averts the need for excessive and invasive procedures and treatments. In India, the reported cases of this syndrome are very few. We provide a review of literature on Laugier–Hunziker syndrome with its differential diagnosis.

Background. This article attempts to evaluate the clinical profile and outcome determinants following hypertensive SICH in a South Indian population. The study represents the largest series of SICH reported from a single centre in India. Materials and Methods. Prospective data collection and analysis of patients with SICH admitted to our centre between 1st January 2015 and 31st December 2018. The variables analysed include: age, sex, comorbidities, Glasgow coma score (GCS) on admission, radiological features, treatment modality, and outcome at three months. Modified Rankin score (mRS) was used to assess the outcome at discharge and three months. Results. Our study group of 905 patients included 638 males and 267 females and the mean age at presentation was 58.10 ± 12.76 years. The study group included 523 patients (57.8%) previously diagnosed hypertensive, of whom 36.3% (n=190) were on irregular medication. The most frequent locations of hematoma were basal ganglia (478), thalamus (202), lobar (106), cerebellar (61), brainstem (31), and primary intraventricular haemorrhage (27). Secondary intraventricular extension was seen in 425 (47%) patients on admission. The mean volume of the clot on admission was 23.45 ± 19.79 ml, and clot progression was seen in only 46 (5.08%) cases. Surgical evacuation through craniotomy was done in 147 (16.8%) patients, and external ventricular drainage (EVD) was placed in 56 (6.2%) patients. Overall 3−month mortality was 30.1% (266 patients). On the last follow up a favorable outcome (mRS 0−3) was observed in 412 (45.53%) patients and a poor outcome (mRS 4−5) in 207 patients (22.87%). Independent predictors of mortality are Age >70 (p=<0.001, OR 4.806, 95% CI 3.064–7.54), admission GCS <8 (p=<0.001, OR7.684, 95% CI 5.055#x2013;11.68), and Hematoma volume >30 ml (p=<0.001, OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.626–3.691). Intraventricular haemorrhage was an additional poor outcome predictor (p<0.015, CI 1.105–2.585). Surgical evacuation reduced mortality in the group, but morbidity rates remained the same. Conclusions. SICH predominantly affects a younger population in India in comparison to the Western society. Elderly age, poor GCS on admission, clot volume above 30 ml and intraventricular extension remain the most consistent predictors of death and poor outcome. Further studies are needed to assess the risk of SICH among hypertensive patients and to prognosticate the outcome after SICH using novel predictors, including biomarkers.

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Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an essential role in the activation of innate immunity. TLRs are expressed in B-lymphocytes, monocytes, dendritic cells and epithelial cells. We examined the immunohistochemical expressions of TLR4 and TLR9 in various grades of oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal oral mucosa (NOM) to determine the association between TLR4 and TLR9 in the progression of lesions from dysplasia to carcinoma. Expressions of TLR4 and TLR9 were assessed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) on paraffin embedded tissue blocks of various grades of OED (28 cases), OSCC (27 cases) and NOM (10 cases). Expression of TLR4 was high in all grades of OED and OSCC. Expression of TLR9 was high in well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, and moderate to low in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas. Although expression was high in case of TLR4, it was not statistically significant. Expression of TLR9 was statistically significant. In OED, expression of TLR9 was less than that of TLR4. Our results indicated that the pattern of expression of TLR4 and TLR9 increased significantly from mild to severe dysplasia compared to controls. Expression of TLR4 and TLR9 reflects progression of OED to OSCC, which suggests that TLR may play a role in tumorigenesis and that it could be used as a target for OSCC prevention and therapy in the future.

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