A quantitative research on clinical parameters of gingival contour for anterior teeth esthetic analysis and design.

OBJECTIVES: To provide reference for computer-aided esthetic analysis and design of the maxillary anterior teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intraoral scanner was used to obtain the maxillary three-dimensional digital models of subjects with healthy periodontal tissue. In SpaceClaim, the occlusal plane was established as the horizontal reference plane to measure the positional relation between the gingival zenith (GZ) of the maxillary anterior teeth, the angle formed between the gingival line and the maxillary midline (GLA), the distance between the GZ of the lateral incisor and gingival line (LID), and the distance between the GZ and the vertical bisected middle surface along the long axis of the clinical crown (VBMS). RESULTS: The GLA was 92.7 ± 3.2°. The GZ of the canine, lateral incisor, and left central incisor were located to the GZ of the right central incisor coronally at 0.68 ± 0.91, 0.65 ± 0.66 mm, and apically at 0.12 ± 0.42 mm, respectively. The LID was 0.65 ± 0.92 mm. The GZ of the canine, lateral incisor, and central incisor were located distally to the VBMS at 0.00 ± 0.06, 0.27 ± 0.19, and 0.73 ± 0.21 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The GZ at different tooth position are in different heights. The direction and degree of the GZ deviation from the VBMS are also related to tooth position. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The clinical parameters of the gingival contour obtained in this research can be used for patients with unsound contour of periodontal soft tissue to do the anterior teeth esthetic analysis. Besides, it can also be used to determine the proper position between the GZs of the maxillary anterior teeth in anterior teeth esthetic design.

BRD4 inhibition suppresses cell growth, migration and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibition is a new therapeutic strategy for many malignancies. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of BRD4 inhibition by JQ1 on in vitro cell growth, migration and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). METHODS: The human normal epithelial cells and SACC cells (ACC-LM and ACC-83) were treated with JQ1 at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 µM. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution was evaluated by Flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the expression of BRD4 in SACC cells. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay and western blot assay were performed to examine messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in SACC cells. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were used to evaluate the activities of migration and invasion of SACC cells. RESULTS: JQ1 exhibits no adverse effects on proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis of the normal human epithelial cells, while suppressed proliferation and cell cycle, and induced apoptosis of SACC cells, down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of BRD4 in SACC cells, meanwhile reduced protein expressions of c-myc and BCL-2, two known target genes of BRD4. Moreover, JQ1 inhibited SACC cell migration and invasion by regulating key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics including E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist. CONCLUSIONS: BRD4 is an important transcription factor in SACC and BRD4 inhibition by JQ1 may be a new strategy for SACC treatment.

Low concentrations of TNF-α promote osteogenic differentiation via activation of the ephrinB2-EphB4 signalling pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Low concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) have been reported to promote osteogenic differentiation. In this study, a series of in vitro experiments was performed to investigate underlying molecular mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MC3T3-E1 murine preosteoblasts were treated with TNF-α at doses of 0, 0.1 or 1 ng/mL. The ephrinB2-EphB4 signalling pathway was activated using ephrinB2-fc, or inhibited using lentiviruses encoding siRNAs specifically targeting EphB4. Cell proliferation/survival was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and expression levels of Runx2, BSP, ephrinB2 and EphB4 were determined using RT-PCR and Western blotting. ALP activity in these cells was also determined, and mineral nodule formation was evaluated with alizarin red S staining. RESULTS: Low concentrations of TNF-α had no influence on cell proliferation/survival. However, expression levels of Runx2, BSP, ephrinB2 and EphB4, as well as ALP activity and mineral nodule formation, were significantly enhanced in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with low concentrations of TNF-α. Moreover, activation of the ephrinB2-EphB4 signalling pathway by ephrinB2-fc enhanced TNF-α-induced osteogenic differentiation, while down-regulation of EphB4 level reversed the positive effect of TNF-α. CONCLUSIONS: Low concentrations of TNF-α promoted osteogenic differentiation via activation of the ephrinB2-EphB4 signalling pathway.

BRD4 inhibition suppresses cell growth, migration and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibition is a new therapeutic strategy for many malignancies. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of BRD4 inhibition by JQ1 on in vitro cell growth, migration and invasion of salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC). METHODS: The human normal epithelial cells and SACC cells (ACC-LM and ACC-83) were treated with JQ1 at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1 µM. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution was evaluated by Flow cytometry. Immunofluorescence staining was used to examine the expression of BRD4 in SACC cells. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay and western blot assay were performed to examine messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels in SACC cells. Wound- healing assay and transwell assay were used to evaluate the activities of migration and invasion of SACC cells. RESULTS: JQ1 exhibits no adverse effects on proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis of the normal human epithelial cells, while suppressed proliferation and cell cycle, and induced apoptosis of SACC cells, down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of BRD4 in SACC cells, meanwhile reduced protein expressions of c-myc and BCL-2, two known target genes of BRD4. Moreover, JQ1 inhibited SACC cell migration and invasion by regulating key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) characteristics including E-cadherin, Vimentin and Twist. CONCLUSIONS: BRD4 is an important transcription factor in SACC and BRD4 inhibition by JQ1 may be a new strategy for SACC treatment.

Influence of inner circular sealing area impression method on the retention of complete dentures.

The aims of the present study were to describe an impression method of "inner circular sealing area" and to evaluate the effect of the method on retention, aesthetics and comfort of complete dentures, which lack labial base for patients with maxillary protrusions. Three patients were subjected to the experiment, and two sets of complete maxillary dentures were made for each patient; the first set was made without labial base via an inner circular sealing area method (experimental group) and the second had an intact base that was made with conventional methods (control group). Retention force tests were implemented with a tensile strength assessment device to assess the retention and a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the comfort between the two groups. Results showed larger retention force, better aesthetics and more comfort in the experimental group. The improved two-step impression method formed an inner circular sealing area that prevented damage to the peripheral border seal effect of the denture caused by incomplete bases and obtained better denture retention.

Influence of Inner Circular Sealing Area Impression Method on the Retention of Complete Dentures

The aims of the present study were to describe an impression method of "inner circular sealing area" and to evaluate the effect of the method on retention, aesthetics and comfort of complete dentures, which lack labial base for patients with maxillary protrusions. Three patients were subjected to the experiment, and two sets of complete maxillary dentures were made for each patient; the first set was made without labial base via an inner circular sealing area method (experimental group) and the second had an intact base that was made with conventional methods (control group). Retention force tests were implemented with a tensile strength assessment device to assess the retention and a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the comfort between the two groups. Results showed larger retention force, better aesthetics and more comfort in the experimental group. The improved two-step impression method formed an inner circular sealing area that prevented damage to the peripheral border seal effect of the denture caused by incomplete bases and obtained better denture retention.

O objetivo deste caso foi descrever um método de impressão por "área de selamento circular interno" e avaliar o efeito deste método na retenção, estética e conforto de próteses totais sem base labial para pacientes com protrusão maxilar. Três pacientes foram objeto desta experiência e foram feitas duas próteses maxilares completas para cada um deles; a primeira foi elaborada sem base labial pelo método de área de selamento circular interno (grupo experimental) e a outra teve uma base feita pelo método convencional (grupo controle). Foram realizados testes de retenção com estudo de tensão para avaliar a retenção e para avaliação do conforto dos dois grupos, foi empregada a escala analógica visual (EAV). Os resultados demonstraram que o grupo experimental apresentou força de retenção maior, estética melhor e mais conforto. O método modificado de impressão em duas etapas formou uma área de selamento circular interno que evitou danos ao selamento periférico causados por bases incompletas e obteve melhor retenção da prótese.

Differentially expressed genes and signalling pathways are involved in mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to 17-ß estradiol.

Oestrogen is essential for maintaining bone mass, and it has been demonstrated to induce osteoblast proliferation and bone formation. In this study, complementary DNA (cDNA) microarrays were used to identify and study the expression of novel genes that may be involved in MC3T3-E1 cells' response to 17-ß estradiol. MC3T3-E1 cells were inoculated in minimum essential media alpha (α-MEM) cell culture supplemented with 17-ß estradiol at different concentrations and for different time periods. MC3T3-E1 cells treated with 10⁻8 mol⋅L⁻¹ 17-ß estradiol for 5 days exhibited the highest proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity; thus, this group was chosen for microarray analysis. The harvested RNA was used for microarray hybridisation and subsequent real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate the expression levels for selected genes. The microarray results were analysed using both functional and pathway analysis. In this study, microarray analysis detected 5403 differentially expressed genes, of which 1996 genes were upregulated and 3407 genes were downregulated, 1553 different functional classifications were identified by gene ontology (GO) analysis and 53 different pathways were involved based on pathway analysis. Among the differentially expressed genes, a portion not previously reported to be associated with the osteoblast response to oestrogen was identified. These findings clearly demonstrate that the expression of genes related to osteoblast proliferation, cell differentiation, collagens and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß)-related cytokines increases, while the expression of genes related to apoptosis and osteoclast differentiation decreases, following the exposure of MC3T3-E1 cells to α-MEM supplemented with 17-ß estradiol. Microarray analysis with functional gene classification is critical for a complete understanding of complementary intracellular processes. This microarray analysis provides large-scale gene expression data that require further confirmatory studies.

Immunogenicity of a DNA vaccine of Avian Reovirus orally delivered by attenuated Salmonella typhimurium.

This study aimed to assess the ability of a Salmonella typhimurium-mediated Avain Reovirus DNA vaccine in eliciting antibody production. Six-day-old SPF chickens were orally immunized with SL7207 (pVAX-σC) twice at 2-week interval, detectable antibody was generated 2 weeks after immunization and was significantly higher than the control groups (P<0.01) and ten chickens (66.7%) were considered safe in the subsequent challenge. These results show that SL7207 (pVAX-σC) can induce protective antibody in chickens and the newly-constructed vaccine is also effective in protection chickens against ARV infection.