[In vitro study on cytotoxicity, osteogenic potential and antibacterial activity of silicate root canal sealers].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility and antibacterial activity of a new type of strontium silicate-based C-Root SP root canal sealer, and to provide a reference for clinical selection of sealers. METHODS: C-Root SP, iRoot SP and AH Plus extracts were prepared, L929 cells and MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in vitro, and the cytotoxicity and osteogenic potential of the three sealers were compared. Fresh sealers were mixed with Enterococcus faecalis solution and the antibacterial activity of the sealer was determined by direct contact text (DCT). SPSS 25.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: At 24, 48, and 72 h, the cytotoxicity of the sealers in each group were significantly different (P＜0.01). Compared with AH Plus, the cytotoxicity of C-Root SP was lower (P＜0.01). C-Root SP was superior to AH Plus in promoting the activity of alkaline phosphatase(ALP) (P＜0.01). iRoot SP was the strongest in promoting the formation of mineralized nodules, followed by C-Root SP, and the weakest was AH Plus(P＜0.01). C-Root SP inhibited the growth of Enterococcus faecalis, and its antibacterial rate was significantly higher than AH Plus(P＜0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The strontium silicate root canal sealer C-Root SP has low cytotoxicity, certain osteogenic potential and antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, so it can be used for root canal filling.

The effects of Micro-429 on inhibition of cervical cancer cells through targeting ZEB1 and CRKL.

MicroRNA-429 (miR-429) has been suggested to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mainly due to targeting of ZEB1 and ZEB2, which are repressors of the cell to cell contact protein, E-cadherin. In this study, we indicated that regulation of miR-429 in cervical cancer cells modulates cell migration, elongation, as well as transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß)-induced stress fiber formation through regulating the cytoskeleton reorganization which is likely independent of the zinc finger E-box binding homeobox (ZEB)/E-cadherin axis. ZEB1 and Crk-like adapter protein (CRKL), as novel targets of miR-429 and direct regulators of the actin cytoskeleton were identified. Remarkably, expression levels of ZEB1 and CRKL were inversely associated with the level of miR-429 in cervical cancer cell lines. In addition, individual knockdown and over-expression of these targeting genes phenocopied the roles of miR-429 over-expression and inhibition on cell elongation, migration, stress fiber formation, and invasion. Targeting of ZEB1 by miR-429 led to a decreased expression and transcriptional activity of CRB3, regulated by interference with the translocation of the CRB3. This finally led to decreasing of the expression of Crumbs 3 (CRB3), which is needed for the formation of stress fiber and contractility. Therefore, miR-429 affects cervical cancer by modulating some EMT-related processes. And in this study, evidences were provided to support a role for miR-429 as a novel target suppressing invasion and migration of human cervical cancer cells through modulation of its targeting genes ZEB1 and CRKL. Taken together, our data indicate that miR-429 plays a pivotal role in cervical cancer progression, which is a potential therapeutic target for patients.

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and variants for in vitro fertilization failure in a Han Chinese population.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups and variants with in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure. A retrospective, comparative study of 260 fresh IVF cycles in a Han Chinese population was performed from July 2011 to April 2014. Seventy-three couples had low fertilization rates (≤30%) or total fertilization failure, and 187 controls with normal fertilization were included. Human sperm mtDNA haplogroups and variants were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR and direct sequencing. One unreported point variant, A15397G, and two novel deletions at positions 8270-8278 and 8276-8284 were found in this study. A homozygous variant, G9053A in MT-ATP6, was detected in 4 of the 73 cases with fertilization failure, whereas this substitution was not detected in the control group (p < 0.01). The frequency of the point 10397 homozygous variant in MT-ND3 in the IVF failure group was markedly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this study showed that the frequencies of point 8701 and 8943 heterozygous variants in MT-ATP6 in the IVF failure group were also markedly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the frequency of haplogroup Z was markedly higher in the IVF failure group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Our results suggested that MT-ATP6 variants might be possible causes of IVF failure, but the 10397 homozygous variant in MT-ND3 might help decrease the risk of developing IVF failure. Furthermore, this study indicated that men with haplogroup Z might inherit a higher risk of IVF failure in the Han Chinese population.

Polymorphisms in the MT-ATP6 and MT-CYB genes in in vitro fertilization failure.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether fertilization failure after in vitro fertilization could be explained by polymorphisms in MT-ATP6 and MT-CYB genes. We performed a prospective comparative study of 111 fresh IVF cycles in Han Chinese between July 2011 and February 2013. Human sperm mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in the MT-CYB and MT-ATP6 genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing. Forty-six couples had low fertilization rates (< or =30%) or total fertilization failure, and 65 controls with normal fertilization. One unreported point mutation (A15472G) was found in this study. There were 7 and 3 polymorphic sites in the MT-ATP6 and MT-CYB, respectively. Interestingly, the frequencies of points 8701 and 15301 homozygous variants in study group were significantly higher than those in control group. However, the frequencies of the points 8701, 9075 and 15,301 heterozygous variants in study group were significantly lower than those in control group (4.35% versus 16.92%, 15.22% versus 32.31% and 6.52% versus 33.84%, respectively, p < 0.05). In addition, the frequency in subjects harboring A8701G and G15301A variants in study group was significantly higher than that in control group (63.04% versus 33.85%, p < 0.05). This study suggests that, in part, polymorphisms in the MT-ATP6 and MT-CYB genes may contribute to the unexpected fertilization failure.