Chronic intermittent hypoxia impaired collagen synthesis in mouse genioglossus via ROS accumulation: A transcriptomic analysis.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by intermittent and recurrent upper airway collapse during sleep that leads to chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). The genioglossus (GG) is the largest dilator muscle, which controls the upper airway and plays an important role in OSA pathology. Elucidating its genetic alterations may help identify potential targets for OSA. However, the genetic aspects of the GG in CIH mice remain unclear. Here, we have conducted an RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis to assess the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the GG between CIH mice and normoxia (NOR) mice. A total of 637 DEGs were identified to be dysregulated in CIH mice compared with control mice. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the DEGs were related to various physiological processes, such as the endogenous stimulus responses, cellular component organization and metabolic processes. Extracellular matrix (ECM)-receptor interaction was the top KEGG pathway in the environmental information processing category with high significance and large fold changes. From the gene weight distributions of collagen (Col)-related biological processes (BPs), we found several significant DEGs, such as Col1a1, Col1a2, Mmp2, Col3a1, Col5a1, Fmod, and Col5a2. A PPI network showed that Col1a1 was linked to ECM-receptor interactions, responses to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Col-related BPs. It was verified in vivo and in vitro that hypoxia can induce excess ROS and reduce Col expression levels. Moreover, we found NAC can effectively scavenge ROS and restore collagen synthesis. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms linking OSA and upper airway muscle injury and may help identify potential therapeutic targets.

[An efficacy comparison between mini-screw implant and transpalatal arch on dentofacial morphology in extraction cases].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects between mini-screw implant and transpalatal arch (TPA) on dentofacial morphology in extraction cases. METHODS: Forty-two cases were divided into two groups. One group (n = 19) had been treated with mini-screw implants and the other group (n = 23) treated with TPA as anchorage control. Sliding technique was used to close extraction space in the two groups. Cephalometric analysis was performed before and after the treatment. The data were analyzed by using independent-samples t test. RESULTS: In the mini-screw implant group, the maxillary incisors were retracted (7.05 +/- 1.89) mm and intruded (1.71 +/- 2.33) mm, The maxillary first molars were distalized (0.45 +/- 3.32) mm and intruded (1.74 +/- 2.66) mm. While in the TPA group, the upper incisors were retracted (4.59 +/- 1.78) mm and extruded (0.93 +/- 1.77) mm. The maxillary first molars were moved (1.65 +/- 1.87) mm mesially and extruded (0.52 +/- 1.59) mm. All the relevant results between the two groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As orthodontic anchorage, mini-screw implants were different from TPA. Mini-screw implant could not only retract the upper incisors but also slightly intrude upper incisors and upper molars.