Comparison of three-dimensional printed resin crowns and preformed stainless steel crowns for primary molar restorations: a randomized controlled trial.

The importance of aesthetics in children has increased over time. Therefore, this multicenter randomized clinical trial aimed to analyze and compare three-dimensional (3D)-printed resin crowns (RCs) as a potential alternative to stainless-steel crowns (SSCs) for restoring primary molars with extensive carious lesions. According to the null hypothesis, no statistically significant difference was observed in restoration failure between RC and SSC groups. A total of 56 primary molars after pulp treatment at two dental hospitals were included. After pulp treatment, the teeth were randomly divided into two groups: SSCs (n = 28) and RCs (n = 28). At 1 week and 3, 6 and 12 months, the Quigley-Hein plaque index (QHI), gingival index (GI), occlusal wear, and survival rate were assessed by examination, radiography and alginate impressions. No significant difference in QHI was observed between the two groups. However, the GI at 12 months and occlusal wear in the RC group were significantly higher than those in the SSC group (p < 0.05). The survival rates were 100% in the SSC group and 82.1% in the RC group (p = 0.047). Cracks and discoloration were also observed in the RCs. Within the limitations of this study, 3D-printed RCs are aesthetically superior to SSCs and clinically easy to repair. However, if clinical effectiveness and safety are improved, RCs could potentially become a viable aesthetic alternative in the future.

Influence of limited mouth opening in children on intraoral scanning accuracy: An in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: Although intraoral scanning is highly reliable, little is known about its accuracy in young children with limited mouth-opening ability. AIM: To determine the accuracy of intraoral scans based on the degree of mouth opening. DESIGN: To simulate mouth opening in children with primary dentition, three groups (n = 5 per group) were allocated by maximum mouth opening of 30, 37 and 40 mm. After the primary dentition model was connected to a dental phantom, intraoral scanning was performed using iTero and TRIOS4. The scanned files were digitally evaluated. Root mean square values were calculated to assess trueness and precision. RESULTS: iTero showed deviations of three-dimensional trueness of 0.067 ± 0.008, 0.063 ± 0.001 and 0.065 ± 0.005 mm, and TRIOS4 of 0.07 ± 0.002, 0.064 ± 0.003 and 0.066 ± 0.002 mm in the 30, 37 and 40 mm groups, respectively. There were no significant differences in either mouth opening (p > .017) or the intraoral scanners (p > .05). The same statistical results were obtained for precision, with the exception of the 30 mm of mouth opening. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, limited mouth opening hardly influenced the accuracy of intraoral scanning.

The Cerebral Protective Effect of Novel Erinacines from Hericium erinaceus Mycelium on In Vivo Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Animal Model and Primary Mixed Glial Cells via Nrf2-Dependent Pathways.

Hericium erinaceus, a consumable mushroom, has shown a potential to enhance the production of neuroprotective bioactive metabolites. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often leads to cognitive, physical, and psychosocial impairments, resulting in neuroinflammation and the loss of cortical neurons. In this research, the effects of H. erinaceus mycelium, its derivative erinacine C, along with the underlying mechanisms, were examined in terms of oxidative stress modulation and neurological improvement in a rat model of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered diets containing H. erinaceus mycelium and erinacine C following experimental brain injury; these supplements were continued throughout the recovery phase. The binding activity of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) near antioxidant genes in mixed glial cells was measured by chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR). The motor beam walking test revealed that dietary supplementation of H. erinaceus mycelium resulted in modest improvements in spatial memory while inhibiting neuron cell death and microglial activation according to brain histological examination. These findings were further corroborated by the upregulation of several antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin reductase, and superoxide dismutase) and phospho-CAMP-response element-binding (p-CREB) levels in the mTBI model treated with H. erinaceus mycelium. Erinacine C treatment led to significantly reduced brain inflammation and normalization of mTBI-induced deficits through the modulation of the Nrf2 activation pathway and upregulated expression of numerous Nrf2-binding antioxidant genes such as catalase, thioredoxin reductase, superoxide dismutase, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This study demonstrates the potential of H. erinaceus mycelium and erinacine C in facilitating recovery following mTBI, including the prevention of neuronal injury and inactivation of microglia through the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant pathway in vivo.

Effect of Topical Programmed Death-Ligand1 on Corneal Epithelium in Dry Eye Mouse.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a growing health concern that impacts millions of individuals every year, and is associated with corneal injury, excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. Current therapeutic strategies, including artificial tears and anti-inflammatory agents, are unable to achieve a permanent clinical cure due to their temporary nature or adverse side effects. Therefore, here, we investigated the effectiveness of the topical administration of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in the mouse model of DED. The model was generated in C57BL/6 mice by excising the extra orbital lacrimal gland and causing desiccation stress with scopolamine injections. Subsequently, either phosphate-buffered saline (3 µL/eye) or PD-L1 (0.5 µg/mL) was topically administered for 10 days. Tear volume was evaluated with phenol red thread, and corneal fluorescein staining was observed to quantify the corneal epithelial defect. Corneas were collected for histological analysis, and the expression levels of inflammatory signaling proteins such as CD4, CD3e, IL-17, IL-1ß, pIkB-α, pNF-kB and pERK1/2 were assessed through immunofluorescence and Western blot techniques. Our results demonstrate that desiccating stress-induced corneal epithelial defect and tear secretion were significantly improved by topical PD-L1 and could reduce corneal CD4+ T cell infiltration, inflammation and apoptosis in a DED mouse model by downregulating IL-17 production and ERK1/2-NFkB pathways.

Integrated germline and somatic features reveal divergent immune pathways driving ICB response.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer treatment, however mechanisms determining patient response remain poorly understood. Here we used machine learning to predict ICB response from germline and somatic biomarkers and interpreted the learned model to uncover putative mechanisms driving superior outcomes. Patients with higher T follicular helper infiltrates were robust to defects in the class-I Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC-I). Further investigation uncovered different ICB responses in MHC-I versus MHC-II neoantigen reliant tumors across patients. Despite similar response rates, MHC-II reliant responses were associated with significantly longer durable clinical benefit (Discovery: Median OS=63.6 vs. 34.5 months P=0.0074; Validation: Median OS=37.5 vs. 33.1 months, P=0.040). Characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment reflected MHC neoantigen reliance, and analysis of immune checkpoints revealed LAG3 as a potential target in MHC-II but not MHC-I reliant responses. This study highlights the value of interpretable machine learning models in elucidating the biological basis of therapy responses.

Effect of orodispersible hyaluronic acid film on palatal mucosa wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the healing effect of hyaluronic acid films on palatal wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After making 5-mm diameter palatal wounds, 72 rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, hyaluronic acid gel, and hyaluronic acid film. The animals were sacrificed at 3, 7, and 21 days after the experiment. Clinical, histological, and RT-PCR analyses were performed. Human ex vivo oral mucosa models were used. Histological analysis and pan-cytokeratin staining were performed at 5 days after wound creation. RESULTS: In rat model, both gels and films showed favorable healing on Days 3 and 7 compared with healing in the control (p < 0.05). Film showed remarkable VEGF and α-SMA expression than did the others (p < 0.05). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that film exhibited significantly lower CD68 and greater α-SMA and vimentin expression levels than those in the others (p < 0.05). In human model, re-epithelialization rate of film group was significantly higher than that of the others. Complete epithelial regeneration was confirmed only in film group using pan-cytokeratin staining. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, hyaluronic acid film outperformed gels in terms of palatal wound healing in both models.

Potential beneficial effects of long-term aspirin use on the prevalence of colorectal cancer: a population-based study of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

PURPOSE: Whether long-term aspirin usage is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk needs more evidence. The study evaluated the association between long-term aspirin use and prevalence of CRC in a large, nationally representative database. METHODS: Hospitalized patients aged ≥ 50 years during 2018 were identified in the United States (US) National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Patients without complete information of age, sex, race, income, and insurance status were excluded, as well as those with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or malignancies other than CRC. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the characteristics between patients with and without long-term aspirin use. Logistic regressions were performed to determine the relationship between long-term aspirin use and the presence of CRC. CRC and aspirin use were identified through the administrative International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. RESULTS: Data from 3,490,226 patients were included, in which 688,018 (19.7%) had a record of long-term aspirin use. After 1:1 PSM, there remained 1,376,006 patients, representing 6,880,029 individuals in the US after weighting. After adjusting for confounders, long-term aspirin use was significantly associated with lower CRC odds (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62, 0.67). This association was not changed when stratified by age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and smoking. CONCLUSIONS: From a national inpatient dataset, US adults ≥ 50 years on long-term aspirin are less likely to have CRC, regardless of age, sex, race, BMI, and smoking status.

Effect of intra-alveolar delivery of Frondoside A on inflammatory response of delayed tooth replantation.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Frondoside A is a sea cucumber extract which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of Frondoside A application in the alveolar socket on inflammatory responses after delayed replantation in rat teeth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human periodontal ligament cells were cultured and exposed to Frondoside A. Cell-counting kit-8 assay was performed to evaluate the cell viability and nitric oxide assay was performed to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Frondoside A. Molars were extracted from 32 Sprague-Dawley rats and randomly divided into control and Frondoside A groups. After 30 min of extra-oral dry time, molars were replanted. In the Frondoside A group, Frondoside A solution was applied in the alveolar socket before replantation. The animals were sacrificed after 28 days and histologically and immunohistochemically evaluated. RESULTS: 0.5 µM Frondoside A showed higher cellular viability at 6 h and lower production of nitric oxide compared with other Frondoside A solutions (p < .05). The Frondoside A group demonstrated lower inflammatory resorption scores in both middle 1/3 and apical 1/3 of root compared to the control group (p < .05). The Frondoside A group showed lower levels of expression in both cathepsin K and CD45 compared with the control group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, intra-alveolar delivery of Frondoside A alleviates inflammatory root resorption in delayed replantation of rat teeth.

Three-dimensional analysis of the alveolar ridge profiles of maxillary central incisors in children for autotransplantation.

BACKGROUND: Sufficient alveolar housing is fundamental to ensure the favorable prognosis of autotransplanted teeth. However, little is known about the alveolar ridge profiles of the anterior maxilla in children. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the alveolar ridge profiles of the anterior maxilla in growing children. METHODS: A total of 169 Korean children aged 10-13 years old were included in this retrospective study. Demographic data and cone-beam computed tomography scans of 244 maxillary central incisors were collected. For each tooth, the alveolar ridge thickness was determined at 1-, 3-, and 5-mm levels below the cemento-enamel junction. The alveolar process height and labial concavity were also evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate differences according to age and sex. RESULTS: The alveolar ridge thickness did not differ according to age. The alveolar ridge thickness in males was significantly greater than that in females among those aged 10 and 11 years. The average alveolar process height was 17.43 ± 2.22 mm. The alveolar process height hardly changed with age from 10-13 years, whereas the alveolar process height of males was significantly greater compared with that of females among those aged 10 years. The labial concavity was approximately 150˚, with no significant differences between age and sex. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, the anatomy of the alveolar ridge in the maxillary central incisors showed sufficient capacity as a recipient site for autotransplantation using mandibular premolars, especially in males. These findings serve as a valuable resource for facilitating autotransplantation in children.

Trans-ancestry polygenic models for the prediction of LDL blood levels: an analysis of the United Kingdom Biobank and Taiwan Biobank.

Polygenic risk score (PRS) predictions often show bias toward the population of available genome-wide association studies (GWASs), which is typically of European ancestry. This study aimed to assess the performance differences of ancestry-specific PRS and test the implementation of multi-ancestry PRS to enhance the generalizability of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol predictions in the East Asian (EAS) population. In this study, we computed ancestry-specific and multi-ancestry PRSs for LDL using data obtained from the Global Lipid Genetics Consortium, while accounting for population-specific linkage disequilibrium patterns using the PRS-CSx method in the United Kingdom Biobank dataset (UKB, n = 423,596) and Taiwan Biobank dataset (TWB, n = 68,978). Population-specific PRSs were able to predict LDL levels better within the target population, whereas multi-ancestry PRSs were more generalizable. In the TWB dataset, covariate-adjusted R 2 values were 9.3% for ancestry-specific PRS, 6.7% for multi-ancestry PRS, and 4.5% for European-specific PRS. Similar trends (8.6%, 7.8%, and 6.2%) were observed in the smaller EAS population of the UKB (n = 1,480). Consistent with R 2 values, PRS stratification in EAS regions (TWB) effectively captured a heterogenous variability in LDL blood cholesterol levels across PRS strata. The mean difference in LDL levels between the lowest and highest EAS-specific PRS (EAS_PRS) deciles was 0.82, compared to 0.59 for European-specific PRS (EUR_PRS) and 0.76 for multi-ancestry PRS. Notably, the mean LDL values in the top decile of multi-ancestry PRS were comparable to those of EAS_PRS (3.543 vs. 3.541, p = 0.86). Our analysis of the PRS prediction model for LDL cholesterol further supports the issue of PRS generalizability across populations. Our targeted analysis of the EAS population revealed that integrating non-European genotyping data with a powerful European-based GWAS can enhance the generalizability of LDL PRS.

Biocompatibility and Transplantation Efficacy of the C-Clear Artificial Cornea in a Rabbit Chemical Burn Model.

We investigated the bioavailability and stability of a C-Clear artificial cornea in a rabbit chemical burn model. Thirty-six rabbits were divided into a control group (n = 16) and a chemical burn group that used NaOH solution (n = 20). After lamellar dissection, the central posterior lamella was excised using a 3 mm diameter trephine, and an artificial cornea was transplanted into the lamellar pocket. After 2 weeks, the central anterior lamella was excised using a 3 mm diameter trephine to secure a clean visual axis. We examined the anterior segment of the eyes weekly for 12 weeks after transplantation. Successful subjects whose artificial corneas were maintained stably for 12 weeks were euthanized and underwent histologic examinations. Artificial corneas remained stable for up to 12 weeks in 62.5 and 50% of rabbits in the control and chemical burn groups, respectively. Two rabbits in the chemical burn group showed the formation of a retroprosthetic membrane, and one rabbit with visual axis blockage underwent membrane removal using a Nd:YAG laser. In histologic examinations, adhesion between artificial cornea and peripheral corneal stoma was observed. In conclusion, we confirmed structural stability and biocompatibility of the C-Clear artificial cornea for up to 12 weeks after implantation in control and chemical burn groups.

Short-term clinical outcomes after implantation of monofocal intraocular lens with enhanced intermediate function in eyes with epiretinal membrane.

Our study evaluated the clinical outcomes after implantation of a monofocal intraocular lens (IOL) with enhanced intermediate function in eyes with epiretinal membrane (ERM). Patients with preexisting ERM who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of monofocal IOL with enhanced intermediate function were included retrospectively. According to the ERM grade and central subfield thickness (CST) obtained from preoperative optical coherence tomography, patients were divided into non-fovea-involving and fovea-involving ERM groups. At 1 month after surgery, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA), uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA), contrast sensitivity, defocus curve, and satisfaction questionnaire were evaluated. Postoperative clinical findings were compared with age-matched controls without ERM. A total of 50 patients' eyes (28 and 22 in the non-fovea-involving and fovea-involving ERM groups, respectively) were compared with 42 control eyes. One month post-surgery, significant differences in UDVA, CDVA, and CST (corrected P was < 0.001, = 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively) were observed between the fovea-involving ERM and control group; however, no significant differences in UIVA and UNVA were observed between the two groups. Contrast sensitivity showed inferior results in the fovea-involving group without significance. Photic phenomena were reported less in the fovea-involving group than in the non-fovea-involving group. More than 70% of patients in both ERM groups were satisfied. Implantation of monofocal IOL with enhanced intermediate function could be a good option for patients with ERM that need intermediate vision.

Survival Evidence of Local Control for Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases by Hepatectomy and/or Radiofrequency Ablation.

Hepatectomy and/or local ablation therapy have been recommended for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). However, they still lack strong evidence for their survival benefits, in addition to systemic therapy. This study aims to evaluate the survival evidence of hepatectomy and/or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy in CRLM patients from a large multi-institutional database. A total of 20,251 patients with colorectal cancer, 4521 of whom were with CRLM, were screened for eligibility. Finally, 2612 patients (637 hepatectomy, 93 RFA, 92 combined hepatectomy and RFA, and 1790 non-aggressive treatment) were enrolled. Frequency matching analysis was used to adjust for baseline differences. The 5-year overall survival (OS) was as follows: hepatectomy alone was 47.8%, combined hepatectomy plus RFA was 35.9%, RFA alone was 29.2%, and the non-aggressive treatment group was 7.4%. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that hepatectomy, RFA, and combination were significantly associated with a better OS compared to those without aggressive local therapy (p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that male gender (hazard ratio (HR) 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.81-0.97; p = 0.011), old age (≥60 years) (HR 1.20; 95% CI, 1.09-1.32; p < 0.001), high CEA level (>5 ng/mL) (HR 2.14; 95% CI, 1.89-2.42; p < 0.001), primary right-sided cancer (HR 1.35; 95% CI, 1.22-1.51; p < 0.001), extrahepatic metastasis (HR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.33-1.60; p < 0.001), systemic therapy (HR 0.7; 95% CI, 0.62-0.79; p < 0.001), and aggressive local therapy (hepatectomy vs. non-local therapy HR 0.22; 95% CI, 0.20-0.26; p < 0.001; RFA vs. non-local therapy HR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.29-0.41; p < 0.001) were independent factors associated with OS. In the frequency matching analysis, patients receiving hepatectomy and/or RFA resulted in a better OS than those without (p < 0.001). In conclusion, aggressive local treatment provides survival advantages over systemic therapy alone among CRLM patients.

Biocompatibility and mineralization potential of new calcium silicate cements.

Background/purpose: As calcium silicate cements (CSCs) have been successfully used in various types of vital pulp therapy, many new CSC products have been developed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibilities and mineralization potential of new CSC. The experimental materials were NeoMTA Plus and EndoSequence Root Repair Material-Fast Set Putty (ERRM-FS) which were compared to ProRoot MTA. Materials and methods: In vitro, the effects of the new CSC on stem cells were evaluated. Each CSC was prepared for cell viability testing, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, and calcium ion release assay. In vivo, the exposed pulp model was used for the partial pulpotomy procedure. Thirty-six teeth were treated with three materials: ProRoot MTA, NeoMTA Plus, or ERRM-FS. After four weeks, the teeth were extracted and processed for histologic analysis. Dentin bridge formation, pulp inflammation, and odontoblastic cell layer were evaluated and the area of newly formed calcific barrier of each group was measured. Results: Three CSCs demonstrated similar cell viability on stem cells and the levels of ALP and calcium release were not significantly different between tested materials. ProRoot MTA and ERRM-FS showed better tissue healing process than NeoMTA Plus after partial pulpotomy, in terms of quality of calcific barrier and pulp inflammation. The outcomes from measuring newly formed calcific area demonstrated no significant differences between the materials. Conclusion: NeoMTA Plus and ERRM-FS displayed similar biocompatibilities and mineralization potential compared to ProRoot MTA. Therefore, these new CSCs can be used as desirable alternatives to ProRoot MTA.

Relationship between insomnia and working from home among Korean domestic workers: results from the 5th Korean working condition survey.

BACKGROUND: Social distancing has been increasingly implemented following the COVID-19 pandemic and more people have been working from home. Consequently, the screen time has increased, which can disrupt the natural sleep-wake cycle and delay sleep onset. Given that studies on the health of employees who work from home remain insufficient, particularly with respect to the risk of sleep disorders including insomnia, this study aimed to assess the relationship between working from home and insomnia among workers using data from the 5th Working Conditions Survey conducted in Korea. METHODS: Of 30,108 wage workers, we enrolled 818 employees who worked from home and 4,090 employees who worked from the office, a 1:5 pair sample based on sex and occupational group. Personal and occupational characteristics, working from home, and insomnia were included in the analysis. Age, education, employment status, working years, working hours per week, work-life balance, self-perceived health, depression, and anxiety were all adjusted as potential confounding variables. Conditional logistic regression analysis was performed using working from home as an independent variable and insomnia as a dependent variable to determine the correlation between working from home and insomnia. RESULTS: Working from home was associated with sleep onset latency disorder, OR = 3.23 (95% CI: 2.67-3.91), sleep maintenance disorder, OR = 3.67 (95% CI: 3.02-4.45), and non-restorative sleep, OR = 3.01 (95% CI: 2.46-3.67); working from home had a statistically significant relationship with all three types of insomnia. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of the study, these findings can be used as a fundamental basis for the implementation of policies and guidelines to prevent insomnia in workers who work from home.

Outcomes of robot-assisted versus laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in morbidly obese patients: A propensity score-matched analysis of the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Morbid obesity is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes after robotic versus conventional laparoscopic CRC resection in morbidly obese patients. METHODS: This population-based, retrospective study extracted data from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample during 2005-2018. Adults ≥ 20 years old, with morbid obesity and CRC, and undergoing robotic or laparoscopic resections were identified. Propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to minimize the confounding. Univariate and multivariable regression was conducted to evaluate the associations between outcomes and study variables. RESULTS: After PSM, 1296 patients remained. The risks of any postoperative complication (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.80, 1.22), prolonged length of stay (LOS) (aOR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.01), death (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.11, 3.10), or pneumonia (aOR = 1.13, 95% CI: 0.73, 1.77) were not significantly different between the two procedures after adjustment. Robotic surgery was significantly associated with greater hospital cost (aBeta = 26.26, 95% CI: 16.08, 36.45) than laparoscopic surgery. Stratified analyses revealed that, in patients with tumor located at the colon, robotic surgery was associated with lower risk of prolonged LOS (aOR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54, 0.95). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with morbid obesity, risks of postoperative complication, death, or pneumonia are not significantly different between robotic and laparoscopic CRC resection. Among patients with tumor located at the colon, robotic surgery is associated with lower risk of prolonged LOS. These findings fill the knowledge gap and provide useful information for clinicians on risk stratification and treatment choice.

Use of iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic identification of CHGA and UCHL1 correlated with lymph node metastasis in colorectal carcinoma.

Metastatic dissemination of colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer type, is responsible for CRC deaths. Understanding the transition of lymph node metastasis (LNM) from Stage II to Stage III is beneficial in the prognosis and intervention of CRC. In this study, a quantitative proteomic survey was conducted to investigate the LNM-associated proteins and evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics of these target proteins in CRC. By using the LC-MS/MS iTRAQ technology, we analysed the proteomic changes between LMN II and LMN III. Fresh tumours from the CRC specimens consisting of 12 node-negative (Stage II) and 12 node-positive (Stage III) cases were analysed by LC-MS/MS iTRAQ proteome analysis. Subsequently, tissue microarray with immunohistochemistry staining was conducted to access the clinicopathological characteristics of these proteins in 116 paraffin-embedded CRC samples, each for non-LNM and LNM CRC. To study the effects of the differentially expressed proteins on the potential mechanism, Boyden chamber assay, flow cytometry and shRNA-based assessments were conducted to examine the role of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the invasiveness of CRC cells and others in vivo xenograft mouse model experiments. Forty-eight proteins were found differentially expressed between non-LNM and LNM CRC tissues. Protein abundances of chromogranin-A (CHGA) and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCHL1) were observed in node-positive CRC (p < 0.05). Knockdown of CHGA and UCHL1 significantly regulate cancer behaviours of HCT-116, including inhibition of cell migration, invasiveness, cell cycle G1/S arrest and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Mechanistically, the CHGA and UCHL1 inactivation displayed decreased levels of UCH-L1, chromogranin A, ß-catenin, cyclin E, twist-1/2, vimentin, MMP-9, N-cadherin and PCNA through the activation of the Rho-GTPase/AKT/NFκB pathways. Histone modification of H3K4 trimethylation of CHGA and UCHL1 promoter were increased to activate their transcription through the signalling transduction such as Rho-GTPase, AKT and NFκB pathways. Our results indicated that UCHL1 and chromogranin A are novel regulators in CRC lymph node metastasis to potentially provide new insights into the mechanism of CRC progression and serve as biomarkers for CRC diagnosis at the metastatic stage.

Bisphenol A release from commercially available 3-dimensionally printed resins and human cell apoptosis to bisphenol A: an in-vitro study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) from dental materials may be linked to children's health issues. This study aimed to assess the release of BPA from commercially available 3-dimensional (3D)-printed resin materials and evaluate BPA-related apoptotic effects on human periodontal ligament cells and gingival fibroblasts. Commercially available 3D-printed resin materials for prosthodontic use were selected as follows: NextDent C&B MFH (3D Systems, Rock Hill, SC, USA), DIOnavi-P. MAX (Dio Co., Busan, Korea), and DIOnavi-Denture02 (Dio Co., Busan, Korea). Identical cuboidal samples (1 cm × 1 cm × 0.5 cm) were printed from the materials and cured. BPA release was assessed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). In addition, human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells were exposed to various BPA solutions based on the LC/MS results. Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses were performed to evaluate BPA-related apoptotic effects. The LC/MS analysis confirmed that none of the 3D-printed resin materials released BPA after curing. Both human gingival fibroblasts and periodontal ligament cells showed lower viability after BPA exposure. Regarding apoptosis-related gene expression, Caspase10 (CASP10) expression in periodontal ligament cells was significantly different in the BPA solutions (p < 0.05). The expression of BAX and Capspase8 (CASP8) in gingival fibroblasts was significantly increased by BPA in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this study, the 3D-printed resin materials were not found to release BPA. This finding implies that 3D-printed resin materials are not associated with potential BPA-related risks in children.

Use of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and an oxygen requirement to predict disease severity in patients with COVID-19.

We investigated the association between complete blood count, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in combination with patient characteristics, and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outcomes to identify the best prognostic indicator. We analyzed data of patients with confirmed COVID-19 from the nationwide database of the Japan COVID-19 Task Force between February 2020 and November 2021. A composite outcome was defined as the most severe condition, including noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation, high-flow nasal cannula, invasive mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or death. Of 2425 patients in the analysis, 472 (19.5%) experienced a composite outcome. NLR was the best predictor of composite outcomes, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81, and a sensitivity and specificity of 72.3% and 75.7%, respectively, using a cut-off value of 5.04. The combination of NLR and an oxygen requirement on admission had the highest AUC (0.88). This simple combination may help identify patients at risk of progression to severe disease.

Oral characteristics and dietary habits of preterm children: A retrospective study using National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children.

The rate of preterm birth is increasing worldwide and preterm infants are susceptible to oral health problems. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effect of premature birth on dietary and oral characteristics as well as dental treatment experiences of preterm infants using a nationwide cohort study. Data was retrospectively analyzed from National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children (NHSIC) of the National Health Insurance Service of Korea. 5% sample of children born between 2008 and 2012 who completed first or second infant health screening were included and divided into full-term and preterm-birth groups. Clinical data variables such as dietary habits, oral characteristics, and dental treatment experiences were investigated and comparatively analyzed. Preterm infants showed significantly lower rates of breastfeeding at 4-6 months (p<0.001), delayed start of weaning food at 9-12 months (p<0.001), higher rates of bottle feeding at 18-24 months (p<0.001), poor appetite at 30-36 months (p<0.001) and higher rates of improper swallowing and chewing function at 42-53 months (p = 0.023) than full-term infants. Preterm infants also had eating habits leading to poor oral conditions and higher percentage of absence of dental visit compared to full-term infants (p = 0.036). However, dental treatments including 1-visit pulpectomy (p = 0.007) and 2-visit pulpectomy (p = 0.042) significantly decreased when oral health screening was completed at least once. The NHSIC can be an effective policy for oral health management in preterm infants.