Two-phase orthodontic treatment of a patient with a low-angle skeletal class II malocclusion: a 7-year follow-up.

Low-angle skeletal class II malocclusions are often observed with sagittal and vertical developmental abnormalities of the mandible. Two-phase orthodontic treatment of functional orthopedic therapy combined with fixed correction is one of the most common methods to treat of skeletal class II malocclusions. This case report describes the two-phase orthodontic treatment of a patient with severe low-angle skeletal class II malocclusion. A Twin Block orthodontic appliance was used to improve mandibular growth, and the adjustment of the occlusal relationship using a fixed appliance after functional therapy. After treatment, a significant improvement was observed in the patient's facial appearance and occlusal relationship. Additionally, a 7-year follow-up confirmed the stability of the treatment results. Although a vertical facial growth direction is difficult to control, the Twin Block orthodontic appliance in adolescents might effectively improve the difference in the sagittal growth of the mandible. Whilst the growth pattern could not be fully controlled, the treatment significantly improved the patient's facial profile and occlusion.

A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review Comparing the Effectiveness of Traditional and Virtual Surgical Planning for Orthognathic Surgery: Based on Randomized Clinical Trials.

PURPOSE: To explore the advantages of virtual surgical planning (VSP) and traditional surgical planning (TSP) to determine whether the current VSP technique is superior to the TSP technique for orthognathic surgery. METHODS: An electronic search was carried out in the CENTRAL, PubMed, and Embase databases to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared the VSP and TSP techniques regarding their surgical accuracy for hard tissue, prediction precision for soft tissue, required time for planning and surgery, cost and patient-reported outcomes. RESULTS: Eight articles from 5 RCTs, involving 199 patients, were identified. The findings showed that the VSP and TSP techniques were similar in surgical accuracy for hard tissue in the sagittal plane, although the VSP technique was significantly more accurate in certain reference areas, especially in the anterior area of the maxilla. Both the VSP and TSP techniques had significantly better surgical accuracy for the maxilla than for the mandible. The VSP technique showed clinically significantly greater precision for soft tissue prediction in the sagittal plane. Patients who were treated via the VSP technique presented a more symmetrical frontal view, regardless of whether hard or soft tissue was involved. The VSP technique required more time for software planning, but it showed an advantage in time savings when considering the entire preoperative process. Accompanied by the use of an accurate computer-aided splint, the VSP technique could effectively reduce the operative time. Apart from the initial financial investment of software and hardware, the total cost of the VSP technique was similar to that of the TSP technique. Patients who were treated via the VSP or TSP technique showed similar improvements in quality-of-life. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, the VSP technique has become a good alternative to the TSP technique for orthognathic surgery, especially regarding frontal-esthetic considerations. Studies reporting indicators with good representativeness and sensitivity using an identical comparative method are recommended.

Association of vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms with metabolic syndrome: a case-control design of population-based cross-sectional study in North China.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MS) increases a risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The Vitamin D Receptor gene (VDR) may be important for developing MS. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the VDR gene polymorphisms and MS in North China. METHODS: A case-control study included 391 participants with MS according to the MS diagnostic criteria of International Diabetes Federation 2005 (IDF2005) and 400 controls was conducted on the basis of a cross sectional study which was performed from 2008 to 2012 in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. Anthropometric data, blood pressure and blood samples were collected in the field investigation. Blood biochemistry analyses were carried out in the laboratory. Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VDR gene, BsmI (rs1544410 A > G) and FokI (rs 2228570 C > T), were genotyped. RESULTS: The difference in the occurrence of genotypes in BsmI between individuals with MS and the control group was significant. Compared with genotype Bb/bb and allele b, genotype BB and allele B showed higher frequencies in MS cases than controls, which suggested they were risk factors. In addition, the genotype BB carriers with MS presented a higher waist circumference, while genotype FF for the FokI polymorphism was correlated with lower BMI in subjects with MS. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that the VDR gene polymorphisms appear to be associated with MS in the Northern Chinese population. Allele B and BB genotype for BsmI are risk factors for MS. The BsmI polymorphism seems to influence waist circumference, while the FokI polymorphism influence BMI in subjects with MS.

Jieduquyuzishen Prescription Attenuates Renal Fibrosis in MRL/lpr Mice via Inhibiting EMT and TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 Pathway.

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) has been used to treat lupus nephritis (LN) and its effectiveness in the treatment of LN has been clinically proven, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be completely understood. This aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of JP on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular epithelial cells and the molecular mechanisms of JP in MRL/lpr mice. In vivo, we observed the therapeutic actions of JP in MRL/lpr mice as well as its antifibrosis effect and potential mechanism. In vitro, we evaluated the role of JP in EMT and its possible mechanism through the EMT of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) and M2c macrophages. HK-2 cells were treated with JP-treated serum, and MRL/lpr mice were treated by JP for 8 weeks. The results showed that JP alleviated disease activity, improved renal function, decreased proteinuria, and improved renal injury and fibrosis in MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, JP suppressed the activation of the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, upregulated the E-cadherin levels, and downregulated the Vimentin and mesenchymal α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) levels in the kidney of MRL/lpr mice. JP was further found to prevent the TGF-ß1 and M2c macrophages-induced EMT of HK-2 cells. Collectively, JP could alleviate the disease activity of MRL/lpr mice, improve renal function, and attenuate renal fibrosis, and its underlying mechanisms may be related to the inhibition of EMT and TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

lncRNA NR2F2-AS1 inhibits the methylation of miR-494 to regulate oral squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the role of lncRNA NR2F2-AS1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (OSCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TCGA datasets were used to explore the differential expression of NR2F2-AS1 in OSCC. To further explore the potential interaction between NR2F2-AS1 and miR-494, SCC090 cells were transfected with the NR2F2-AS1 expression vector, NR2F2-AS1 siRNA, and a miR-494 mimic. The effect of NR2F2-AS1 on miR-494 methylation was evaluated by performing methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to assess the effects of NR2F2-AS1 silencing and miR-494 and NR2F2-AS1 overexpression on OSCC cell proliferation. RESULTS: NR2F2-AS1 expression was downregulated in OSCC and positively correlated with miR-494 expression. In OSCC cells, NR2F2-AS1 overexpression upregulated miR-494 level, while NR2F2-AS1 silencing decreased miR-494 expression. MSP results showed that NR2F2-AS1 overexpression decreased miR-494 methylation while NR2F2-AS1 silencing increased miR-494 methylation. In addition, NR2F2-AS1 silencing increased OSCC cell proliferation rate while overexpression of miR-494 and NR2F2-AS1 decreased OSCC cell proliferation. Furthermore, miR-494 overexpression attenuated the effects of NR2F2-AS1 silencing on cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: NR2F2-AS1 may inhibit miR-494 methylation to regulate cell proliferation in OSCC. AVAILABILITY OF DATA AND MATERIALS: The analyzed data sets generated during the study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Incommensurate smectic phase in close proximity to the high-Tc superconductor FeSe/SrTiO3.

Superconductivity is significantly enhanced in monolayer FeSe grown on SrTiO3, but not for multilayer films, in which large strength of nematicity develops. However, the link between the high-transition temperature superconductivity in monolayer and the correlation related nematicity in multilayer FeSe films is not well understood. Here, we use low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy to study few-layer FeSe thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy. We observe an incommensurate long-range smectic phase, which solely appears in bilayer FeSe films. The smectic order still locally exists and gradually fades away with increasing film thickness, while it suddenly vanishes in monolayer FeSe, indicative of an abrupt smectic phase transition. Surface alkali-metal doping can suppress the smectic phase and induce high-Tc superconductivity in bilayer FeSe. Our observations provide evidence that the monolayer FeSe is in close proximity to the smectic phase, and its superconductivity is likely enhanced by this electronic instability as well.

Stepwise versus single-step mandibular advancement with functional appliance in treating class II patients : A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Difference in the functional orthopedic effect between stepwise mandibular advancement (SWA) and single-step mandibular advancement (SSA) in Angle class II patients remains unclarified. OBJECTIVE: To compare the treatment effects of SWA and SSA on skeletal and dentoalveolar changes in class II patients. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized studies that compared differences in skeletal and dentoalveolar effects on class II patients between SWA and SSA were identified in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science. The grey literature was also searched. The primary outcomes were the mandibular length, L1-MP, and (ANB). Secondary outcomes included Pog sagittal, SNB, overjet, and mandibular plane angle. RESULTS: Seven studies, including three RCTs and four cohort studies, were retrieved. Meta-analyses revealed pooled mean differences (95% confidence interval) of 0.79 mm (0.45 to 1.12 mm) for Pog sagittal, 0.53° (0.19 to 0.87°) for SNB, -0.51° (-0.83 to -0.20°) for ANB, -0.17° (-0.72 to 0.39°) for the mandibular plane angle, -0.41 mm (-0.90 to 0.09 mm) for overjet, -1.87° (-3.23 to -0.52°) for L1-MP, and 1.03 mm (0.63 to 1.42 mm) for the mandibular length. Publication bias was not observed, except for Pog sagittal. The quality of evidence for each outcome was judged as low (mandibular length, SNB and overjet) and very low (Pog sagittal, ANB, L1-MP and mandibular plane angle). CONCLUSIONS: Although the magnitude of differences in clinical practice was limited, SWA might be more appropriate because it produces a greater skeletal change and less dental compensation than SSA. As the level of current evidence is low, more high-quality RCTs are needed.

Jieduquyuziyin Prescription Suppresses Inflammatory Activity of MRL/lpr Mice and Their Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages via Inhibiting Expression of IRAK1-NF-κB Signaling Pathway.

Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) has been used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although the effectiveness of JP in the treatment of SLE has been clinically proven, the underlying mechanisms have yet to be completely understood. We observed the therapeutic actions of JP in MRL/lpr mice and their bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and the potential mechanism of their inhibition of inflammatory activity. To estimate the effect of JP on suppressing inflammatory activity, BMDMs of MRL/lpr and MRL/MP mice were treated with JP-treated serum, and MRL/lpr mice were treated by JP for 8 weeks. Among them, JP and its treated serum were subjected to quality control, and BMDMs were separated and identified. The results showed that in the JP group of BMDMs stimulated by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in MRL/lpr mice, the secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) reduced, and the expressions of Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) and its downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway decreased. Meanwhile, the alleviation of renal pathological damage, the decrease of urinary protein and serum anti-dsDNA contents, the inhibition of TNF-α level, and then the suppression of the IRAK1-NF-κB inflammatory signaling in the spleen and kidney, confirmed that the therapeutic effect of JP. These results demonstrated that JP could inhibit the inflammatory activity of MRL/lpr mice and their BMDMs by suppressing the activation of IRAK1-NF-κB signaling and was supposed to be a good choice for the treatment of SLE.

LncRNA-IUR Sponges miR-24 to Upregulate P53 in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The functions of lncRNA-IUR in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) were investigated in this study. METHODS: RT-qPCR and paired t-test were used to measure and compare expression levels of IUR, miR-24 and p53 in LSCC and non-tumor tissues. Human LSCC cell line UM-SCC-17A was used and transfected by pcDNA3.1 vector to overexpress IUR and miR-24. The transwell assay and wound healing assay illustrated the effect of overexpression of IUR or miR-24 in the cell invasion and migration of LSCC. Subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice was carried out to demonstrate the mechanism between IUR and miR-24 in regulating tumor growth. RESULTS: We found that IUR was downregulated in LSCC. Low expression levels of IUR were correlated with the poor survival of LSCC patients. Overexpression experiments showed that overexpression of IUR led to increased, while overexpression of miR-24 led to decreased expression levels of p53 in LSCC cells. And bioinformatics analysis showed that IUR may sponge miR-24. Cell proliferation assay showed that overexpression of IUR and p53 led to decreased proliferation rate of LSCC cells, while overexpression of miR-24 led to increased proliferation rate of LSCC cells. We also illustrated that overexpression of IUR promoted cell migration and invasion while miR-24 had opposite effects. In addition, subcutaneous tumor model in nude mice showed that overexpression of miR-24 attenuated the effects of overexpression of IUR on the expression of p53 and cancer cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: IUR sponges miR-24 to upregulate p53 in LSCC, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.

Jieduquyuziyin Prescription-Treated Rat Serum Suppresses Activation of Peritoneal Macrophages in MRL/Lpr Lupus Mice by Inhibiting IRAK1 Signaling Pathway.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, and Jieduquyuziyin prescription (JP) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that has been testified to be effective for SLE treatment as an approved hospital prescription for many years in China. However, its mechanism of action in the treatment of this disease is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether JP-treated rat serum can inhibit the activation of peritoneal macrophages in MRL/lpr mice by downregulating the IRAK1 signaling pathway, thereby achieving the effect of improving SLE. The JP-treated rat serum was prepared, and the peritoneal macrophages of MRL/lpr lupus mice were isolated in vitro, and the effect of JP on cell viability was detected by the CCK8 method. After LPS induction and shRNA lentiviral transfection, the effect of JP on the expression of IRAK1 in cells was detected by immunofluorescence staining. The content of TNF-α and IL-6 in the cell supernatant was determined by ELISA. The expression of IRAK1, NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the expression levels of IRAK1, p-IRAK1, TRAF6, IKBα, p-IKBα, IKK + IKK, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB proteins was detected by western blot method. We investigated the role of JP in peritoneal macrophages of the MRL/lpr mouse and identified the possible mechanisms of action. The results showed that JP could reduce the phosphorylation of IRAK1 and its downstream proteins induced by LPS and inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-6. In addition, after the transfection of cells with shRNA lentiviral, the results of JP tended to be consistent. In conclusion, JP may inhibit the activation of peritoneal macrophages in MRL/lpr mice by downregulating the IRAK1-NF-κB signaling pathway, and IRAK1 may be a potential target for JP treatment of SLE.

[Studies on the correlation of 489 cases of bronchial asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis in Datong].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the disease incidence of bronchial asthma (BA) complicated with allergic rhinitis (AR) and the correlation of their age, classification, concomitant symptom. METHOD: Four hundred-nine cases of AR were identified by means of random sampling, physical examination, laboratory test and questionnaire. According to the diagnostic criteria of BA, they were divided into two groups: group I ( control group) including 298 cases suffering from only AR, group II ( experimental group) 191 cases of BA concomittent with AR. RESULT: 1) This study showed that BA concomittent with AR account for 39% of all cases; 2) Incidence of aspirin triad syndrome (asthma, rhinopolyps and aspirin intolerance) was significantly different in two groups (P<0.01); 3) As for age group distribution, there was significant difference between groups in age segment 10-19 and 40-49 (P<0.05); 4) Disease classification: there were significant differences in the incidence of moderate to severe intermittent AR, mild continuous AR, and moderate to severe continuous AR between two groups (P<0.05); 5) Other major concomitant diseases and symptoms distribution; the concomittant occurrence of allergic pharyngitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, secretory tympanitis, hypertrophic rhinitis, dermatosis, discomfort of gastrointestinal tract, and headache of unknown origin were significantly different between two groups (P<0.05). The difference above showed that the occurrence in experimental group was higher than that in control group. CONCLUSION: the incidence of BA complicated with AR were relatively high in Datong, with a peak incidence at age 10 to 19 and 40 to 49. The common types of disease were moderate to severe intermittent AR, mild continuous AR, and moderate to severe continuous AR. The number of patients with BA complicated with AR were growing.