Orthodontic Treatment for Borderline Class III Malocclusion in Adults: Nonextraction Treatment with Anterior Bite Turbo: A Case Report.

Retrusive upper lips, retroclined upper incisors, a shorter midface, and a larger maxillary-mandibular difference are the characteristics of borderline Class III malocclusion. Individuals with borderline Class III malocclusion frequently exhibit certain morphologic, dental, and skeletal traits, which should aid in the diagnosis of the condition. To report the case of a 22-year-old Vietnamese woman who complained of having tense front teeth and lacking confidence when smiling. Medical history did not find anything strange, there was root canal treatment of the first premolar on the left of the upper jaw, asymmetrical concave chin, and right deviation. Orthodontic camouflage treatment using anterior bite turbos in combination with early light short Class III elastics and box elastics was proposed since the patient declined to have orthognathic surgery. In just 10 months of treatment, a Class I molar and canine relationship was created, an anterior crossbite was corrected via mandibular retraction, and severe skeletal malocclusions were successfully treated without orthognathic surgery. Smiling currently showcases the patient's maxillary incisors more prominently, and her lower lip fullness has diminished, giving her a more attractive smile and a significant improvement to her facial profile.

Ethanolic extract from fruiting bodies of Cordyceps militaris HL8 exhibits cytotoxic activities against cancer cells, skin pathogenic yeasts, and postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum.

Cordyceps militaris is a well-known medicinal mushroom in Asian countries. This edible fungus has been widely exploited for traditional medicine and functional food production. C. militaris is a heterothallic fungus that requires both the mating-type loci, MAT1-1 and MAT1-2, for fruiting body formation. However, recent studies also indicated two groups of C. militaris, including monokaryotic strains carrying only MAT1-1 in their genomes and heterokaryotic strains harboring both MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. These strain groups are able to produce fruiting bodies under suitable cultivating conditions. In previous work, we showed that monokaryotic strains are more stable than heterokaryotic strains in fruiting body formation through successive culturing generations. In this study, we report a high cordycepin-producing monokaryotic C. militaris strain (HL8) collected in Vietnam. This strain could form normal fruiting bodies with high biological efficiency and contain a cordycepin content of 14.43 mg/g lyophilized fruiting body biomass. The ethanol extraction of the HL8 fruiting bodies resulted in a crude extract with a cordycepin content of 69.15 mg/g. Assays of cytotoxic activity on six human cancer cell lines showed that the extract inhibited the growth of all these cell lines with the IC50 values of 6.41-11.51 µg/mL. Notably, the extract significantly reduced cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, the extract also exhibited strong antifungal activity against Malassezia skin yeasts and the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum. Our work provides a promising monokaryotic C. militaris strain as a bioresource for medicine, cosmetics, and fruit preservation.

Hybrid Nanoparticle for Co-delivering Paclitaxel and Dihydroartemisinin to Exhibit Synergic Anticancer Therapeutics.

AIM: Anticancer treatment is required to provide effective and safe patient medicines. This research aided in developing and applying nanoparticles (NPs) for cancer treatment. BACKGROUND: The poor solubility of paclitaxel (PTX) restricts its therapeutic efficacy because of allergic side effects caused by formulation excipients. To overcome this, PTX was coupled with artemisinin derivatives and loaded into an NP drug delivery system to enhance its effects while addressing its low solubility. OBJECTIVES: This study prepared and characterized a hybrid PLGA-lecithin NP containing dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and PTX for synergic anticancer therapy. A lyophilization study improved the stability of the NP drug formulations. METHODS: Dual PTX- and DHA-loaded PLGA- and lecithin-based NPs were prepared using a single-step solvent evaporation method. The NP suspensions were lyophilized, and the types and ratios of cryoprotectants were investigated. The physicochemical properties of NPs and lyophilized cakes (Lyo-NPs) were characterized. The stability of the Lyo-NPs was investigated at 2-8°C and room conditions. The anticancer effects of the drug combination, NP suspension, and lyophilized powder were analyzed using an in vitro cytotoxicity assay and an in vivo model. RESULTS: The optimal PTX-DHA loaded PLGA-lecithin-NP was formulated (200 nm, PDI: 0.248 ± 0.003, Zeta potential: -33.60 ± 3.39 mV). Mannitol was selected for lyophilization. Lyo-NPs improved the stability of the NPs (1 year), wherein the physicochemical properties of the NPs were maintained (RDI was close to 1.0). An in-vitro cytotoxicity assay of PTX combined with DHA showed a synergistic anticancer effect (CI <1.0). The suppressive effects of Lyo-NPs on tumor growth in vivo were dose-dependent. While the cocktail of free drugs showed high toxicity (7.5 mg PTX-15 mg DHA/kg) in-vivo, Lyo-NPs showed no statistical differences in hematological and biochemical parameters compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Dual-drug-loaded hybrid PLGA-lecithin NP is a potential system to minimize severe side effects while enhancing antitumor efficacy, in which lyophilization is a key process to increase stability.

Clinical performance of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture lithium disilicate ceramic endocrown restorations: A 2-year study.

Context: Optimal restoration methods for endodontically treated teeth (ETTs) have always remained an ongoing discussion among physicians in this day and age. ETTs have a tendency to fracture when chewing, compared to initial teeth. From the perspective of biology, preserving and restoring tooth structure is critical to maintaining biomechanical, functional, and esthetic harmony. Dental bonding techniques have lessened the necessity for post-and-core restorations in ETTs with severe substance loss. A minimally invasive endodontic restoration technique called "endocrown" was initially introduced by Bindl and Mörmann in 1999. Aims: The aim of the study was to clinically evaluate all-ceramic mandibular molar endocrowns made using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) following 2 years of follow-up. Subjects and Methods: This unblinded study contains 56 patients with 56 mandibular molars, which had severe substance loss. After teeth preparation, lithium disilicate ceramic endocrowns were manufactured with the CEREC CAD/CAM system, and cementation was performed using a composite luting agent. The endocrowns were assessed using the modified United States Public Health Service criteria at baseline, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years following placement. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using a questionnaire. Statistical Analysis Used: This study used descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, and 95% confidence intervals. Data were processed using STATA version 14.0 (StataCorp LLC, USA). Results: Two endocrowns (3.6%) failed throughout the period of observation. The high clinical rating criteria (96.4%, count of 54) and the increased satisfaction percentage (94.6%, count of 53) remained practically stable during the follow-up assessments at 6 months and after 1-2 years. Conclusions: Endocrown offers a less invasive treatment option that may be a better method for endodontically treated mandibular molars. With contemporary CAD/CAM technology and new materials, time in the chair and esthetics optimally improved, bringing satisfaction to the patient.

Perceptions of Online Learning Implementation in Dental Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study of Dental School Faculty Members in Southeast Asia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions of faculty members from dental schools in Southeast Asian countries regarding the implementation of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A previously implemented questionnaire comprising 43 questions was utilized in this study. Lecturers from four universities in Southeast Asia were invited to participate in the study. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0 through several types of comparative and correlation analyses. RESULTS: There were 183 lecturers who participated in the study. The overall responses suggest that the perceived effectiveness of online learning in dentistry was centered on a neutral value. The participants faced challenges when implementing online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the lack of interaction being the most challenging factor. They agreed that online learning had many advantages, specifically in time flexibility and communication. The participants had stronger perceptions relating the advantages and opportunities of online teaching, and recognized that the effectiveness of offline teaching alone was limited. CONCLUSION: The perceptions of Southeast Asian dental school faculty members were inclined toward a positive outlook on blended learning for implementation in dentistry, as a means of providing opportunities to use online learning beyond COVID-19 in the future.

Sesquiterpenoids from the rhizomes of Homalomena pendula and their anti-inflammatory activities.

Sixteen sesquiterpenoids including two new ones, homalolides A - B (1‒2), were firstly isolated from the methanolic extract of the rhizomes of Homalomena pendula collected in Vietnam. The structures and relative stereochemistry of new compounds were elucidated by 1D-/2D-NMR, IR, UV and HRESIMS analyses. The GCMS experiment demonstrated that homalolide A (1) is an artifact due to the methylation during methanolic extraction process. All isolates (1‒16) were tested for their inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Compounds 1, 3, 6‒8, 10‒12 displayed moderate inhibitory effect on NO production with IC50 values ranging from 35.41 to 64.06 µM.

Evaluation of Carbon Dioxide Laser-Assisted Treatment for Gingival Melanin Hyperpigmentation.

BACKGROUND: Smile aesthetics has a vital role to play in an individual's life and one of the factors affecting the beauty of the smile is gingival color. A gingival color change or gingival hyperpigmentation causes an unesthetic smile line, especially in patients with a gummy smile, which is also known as a black gummy smile. Numerous gingival depigmentation methods have been performed successfully for ablating gingival melanin pigmented epithelium. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the treatment efficacy of gingival hyperpigmentation by using a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out with 38 patients at a hospital in Vietnam. Ponnaiyan classification and the Hedin melanin index were used to assess the distribution and extent of gingival pigmentation in the study. Pain assessment was performed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to evaluate the intensity of pain during the laser treatment. In addition, clinical evaluation (i.e., wound healing) of each treatment procedure was conducted using the three level Dummett-Gupta Oral Pigmentation Index (DOPI) assessment. RESULTS: This study showed that less pain was experienced by patients treated by CO2 laser; the rates of no pain, mild pain and moderate pain after treatment were, respectively, 21%, 76% and 2.6%; there was 100% complete epithelization after 1 week. The DOPI rates for turning from a DOPI score of 1, 2 or 3 to a DOPI score of 0 after a 12-week treatment were 87.5%, 76.9% and 24%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using a CO2 laser for gingival melanin pigmentation treatment is a safe and effective procedure.

Influence of germinated brown rice-based flour modified by MAse on type 2 diabetic mice and HepG2 cell cytotoxic capacity.

This study aimed to discover whether using maltogenic amylase (MAse) to modify starch in germinated brown rice flour may enhance slow digestion starch and release more bioactive compounds (BCs) content. To achieve this aim, the starch was modified with four levels of MAse (0 U, 133 U, 266 U and 399 U MAse/g flour) for 1 hr at pH 5 and then spray-dried to make modified flour. The biochemical impacts of the products were then accessed in normal and type 2 diabetic mice for 4 weeks. The result showed that when the starch was modified by MAse 266 U/g, a significant reduction of rapidly digested starch to 22.35% from 61.56%, an increase in slowly digested starch to 33.09% while resistant starch as 2.92% corresponding to the increase of γ-amino butyric acid to 528.1 ± 44.1 mg/L and 120.6 ± 10.9 mg/L of ferulic acid. The extract from modified flour showed very strong cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell (>80% inhibition). The result in vivo showed that the type-2 diabetic mice fed with this modified product could better improve the stability of the glycemic index. Also, atherosclerotic plaque assessment further supports these findings. The results indicated that BCs released considerably couple with the changes in starch properties caused by MAse enhanced the effectiveness of this product to diabetes as well as positive effect on cytotoxic activity against HepG2 cell.

chiro-Inositol Derivatives from Chisocheton paniculatus Showing Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Production.

Six new chiro-inositol derivatives (1-6) were isolated from the leaves of Chisocheton paniculatus collected in Vietnam. Their chemical structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS analyses. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in the RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line. Compound 4 exhibited potent inhibitory activity for NO production with an IC50 value of 7.1 µM.

A study of the aggregation of cyclodextrins: Determination of the critical aggregation concentration, size of aggregates and thermodynamics using isodesmic and K2-K models.

The aggregation of three different cyclodextrins (CDs): 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD), 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin (HP-γ-CD) and sulfobutylether-ß-cyclodextrin (SBE-ß-CD) was studied. The critical aggregation concentration (cac) of these three CDs is quite similar and is situated at ca. 2% (m/v). There was only a small difference in the cac values determined by DLS and 1H NMR. DLS measurements revealed that CDs in solution have three size populations wherein one of them is that of a single CD molecule. The size of aggregates determined by TEM appears to be similar to the size of the aggregates in the second size distribution determined by DLS. Isodesmic and K2-K self-assembly models were used for studying the aggregation process of HP-ß-CD, HP-γ-CD and SBE-ß-CD. The results showed that the aggregation process of these CDs is a cooperative one, where the first step of aggregation is less favorable than the next steps. The determined thermodynamic parameters showed that the aggregation process of all three CDs is spontaneous and exothermic and it is driven by an increase of the entropy of the environment.

A new polyoxygenated cyclohexene and a new megastigmane glycoside from Uvaria grandiflora.

A new polyoxygenated cyclohexene, (-)-3-O-debenzoylzeylenone (1), and a new megastigmane glycoside, grandionoside A (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Uvaria grandiflora collected in Vietnam, together with ten known compounds including polyoxygenated cyclohexenes (3-6), a triterpenoid (7), an alkaloid (8), a long chain alcohol (9), hexenyl glycopyranoside (10), and saponins (11-12). Their chemical structures were elucidated by a combination of extensive NMR spectroscopy with X-ray crystallographic analysis for 1, and chemical conversion for 2. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against the LU-1 and SK-Mel-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 4.68 and 3.63 µM, respectively. Remarkably, the cytotoxicity of 12 against the LU-1, KB, Hep-G2, MKN-7, and SW-480 cell lines was comparable to that of ellipticine, the positive control, with IC50 values ranging from 1.24 to 1.60 µM.

The conflict between in vitro release studies in human biorelevant media and the in vivo exposure in rats of the lipophilic compound fenofibrate.

The performance of four different lipid-based (Tween 80-Captex 200P, Tween 80-Capmul MCM, Tween 80-Caprol 3GO and Tween 80-soybean oil) and one commercially available micronized formulation (Lipanthyl Micronized(®)) of the lipophilic compound fenofibrate was compared in vitro in various biorelevant media and in vivo in rats. In simulated gastric fluid without pepsin (SGF(sp)) and fasted state simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF), only Tween 80-Captex 200P system resulted in a stable fenofibrate concentration, but no supersaturation was obtained. The other three lipid based systems created fenofibrate supersaturation; however they did not maintain it. In fed state simulated intestinal fluid (FeSSIF), all lipid-based formulations resulted in complete dissolution of fenofibrate during the experiment, which represented a supersaturated state for Tween 80-Capmul MCM and Tween 80-Caprol 3GO systems. In both FaSSIF and FeSSIF, all lipid-based formulations yielded a higher fenofibrate concentration than the micronized formulation. Contrary to the in vitro results, no significant difference in the in vivo performance was observed among the four tested lipid-based formulations both in the fasted and the fed states. The in vivo performance of all lipid-based formulations was better than that of Lipanthyl Micronized(®), in the fasted as well as in the fed state. The fact that for the lipid based systems the in vitro differences in pharmaceutical performance were not translated into in vivo differences can be attributed to the continuous excretion of bile in the gastrointestinal tract of rats, causing enhanced solubilizing capacity for lipophilic drugs. This study clearly points to the conflicting situation that might arise during the preclinical phase of the development of lipid based formulations of lipophilic drugs as the performance of such systems is very often evaluated by both in vitro release studies in human biorelevant media as well as in vivo studies in rats. Care must be taken to select a relevant animal model.