Thermo-responsive behavior of borinic acid polymers: experimental and molecular dynamics studies.

The thermo-responsive properties of borinic acid polymers were investigated by experimental and molecular dynamics simulation studies. The homopolymer poly(styrylphenyl(tri-iso-propylphenyl)borinic acid) (PBA) exhibits an upper critical solution temperature (UCST) in polar organic solvents that is tunable over a wide temperature range by addition of small amounts of H2O. The UCST of a 1 mg mL(-1) PBA solution in DMSO can be adjusted from 20 to 100 °C by varying the H2O content from ∼0-2.5%, in DMF from 0 to 100 °C (∼3-17% H2O content), and in THF from 0 to 60 °C (∼4-19% H2O). The UCST increases almost linearly from the freezing point of the solvent with higher freezing point to the boiling point of the solvent with the lower boiling point. The mechanistic aspects of this process were investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. The latter indicate rapid and strong hydrogen-bond formation between BOH moieties and H2O molecules, which serve as crosslinkers to form an insoluble network. Our results suggest that borinic acid-containing polymers are promising as new "smart" materials, which display thermo-responsive properties that are tunable over a wide temperature range.

A borinic acid polymer with fluoride ion- and thermo-responsive properties that are tunable over a wide temperature range.

A new type of smart borinic acid polymer with luminescence and multiple stimuli-responsive properties is reported. In DMSO with small amounts of water, the homopolymer PBA shows a tunable upper critical solution temperature (UCST). As the amount of water increases from 0 to 2.5 % (v/v), the UCST rises linearly from 20 °C to 100 °C (boiling point of water). Thus, the thermal responsive behavior can be tuned over a wide temperature range. Furthermore, polymer solutions in DMSO show a reversible response to fluoride ions, which can be correlated to the presence of the Lewis acidic borinic acid groups. Upon addition of fluoride, the polymer becomes soluble because the functional R2BOH groups are converted into ionic [R2BF2](-) groups, but turns insoluble again upon addition of H2O, which reverses this process.

Effect of branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomers with different molecular weights on toughness and aging resistance of glycerol plasticized starch.

The thermoplastic starch with glycerol is easy to retrograde and sensitive to hygroscopicity. In this study, branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomers with different molecular weights (P1, P2, and P3) are synthesized, and then mixed with glycerol (G) as the co-plasticizers to prepare thermoplastic starch (CS/PG). The results show that the molecular weight and branching degree of the branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomers increase as reaction time prolongs. Compared with glycerol plasticized starch, the thermoplastic starch films with branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomers/glycerol (10 wt%/20 wt%) have a better toughness, transmittance, and aging resistance, and have a lower crystallinity, hygroscopicity, and thermal stability. The toughness, transmittance, and aging resistance of CS/PG films are positively correlated with the molecular weight of the branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomers. These are due to the fact that the branched 1,4-butanediol citrate oligomer with a high molecular weight could form a stronger hydrogen bond and the more stable cross-linked structure with starch chains than that with a lower molecular weight. The elongation at break of CS/P3G film stored for 3 and 30 d are 98.0 % and 88.1 %, respectively. The mixture of branched butanediol citrate oligomers and glycerol, especially P3/G, has a potential application in the preparation of thermoplastic starch.

Electron-deficient triarylborane block copolymers: synthesis by controlled free radical polymerization and application in the detection of fluoride ions.

Luminescent triarylborane homo and block copolymers with well-defined chain architectures were synthesized via reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization of a vinyl-functionalized borane monomer. The Lewis acid properties of the polymers were exploited in the luminescent detection of fluoride ions. A dual-responsive fluoride sensor was developed by taking advantage of the reversible self-assembly of a PNIPAM-based amphiphilic block copolymer. Anion detection in aqueous solution was realized by introducing positively charged pyridinium moieties along the polymer chain.

Seasonal pollution and surface characteristics of microplastics in surface water in the Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China.

The pollution of freshwater environments with microplastics (MPs) has attracted increasing attention owing to their threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Here, we sampled and analyzed MPs from mainstream, tributary, and backwater areas in the Wanzhou section of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in impoundment and flood periods. Microplastic pollution was the most severe in the backwater areas. The average abundance of MPs reached the highest value in the flood period (5.27±3.47×107 items km-2), which was 3-5 times that in the impoundment period. In the 0.3-5 mm size class, the 1-5 mm fraction was the most abundant, accounting for more than 81% in the flood period and 68% of the total MP particle abundance in the impoundment period in the mainstream and backwater areas. However, 0.3-1 mm MPs contributed more than 50% in the tributaries during the impoundment period. Polystyrene, polypropylene, and polyethylene MPs were detected in foam, fragment, sheet, and line-shaped MP particles. White, opaque, foamed polystyrene MPs contributed 32-81% to total MP particle abundance in the watershed. Microplastic particle surfaces showed signs of damage and oxidation, and ten different elements were found. Oxygen was clustered on the surface of foam and fragment MPs. Microplastic pollution was severe in the Wanzhou watershed. Especially in the backwater areas, oxidized MPs of variable shapes derived mainly from surface runoff in the flood period and sewage discharge in the impoundment period were abundant. The results of this study contribute to understanding seasonal pollution patterns and surface characteristics of MPs in the TGR and similar watersheds.

[Disinfection effects of MTAD on apical isthmus of the root canal system: a scanning electron microscopic evaluation].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the disinfection efficacy of MTAD on Enterococcus faecalis biofilm and smear layer colonization in apical isthums of the root canal system. METHODS: Fifteen extracted human maxillary first premolars with isthmus anatomic structure which confirmed by stereo-microscope were contaminated with E. faecalis in vitro and randomly divided into 5 groups: the first group was not treated serving as a baseline control, the second group was treated by normal saline (NS) serving as negative control, the third group was treated by MTAD , the forth group by 5.25% NaOCl, and the fifth group by 5.25% NaOCl + EDTA. All roots in the latter four groups were instrumented by Protaper rotary files and irrigated with respective irrigant, then the roots were split longitudinally and a scanning electron microscope was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity and smear layer cleaning ability of irrigants on isthmus. RESULTS: In the first group, E. faecalis colonized on the isthmus surface and aggregated together to form biofilm-like microorganism community, some bacteria also colonized in the dentinal tubules. When treated with NS, both smear layer and bacteria remained (median of smear layer score was 5). MTAD can remove partial smear layer, and have limited antibacterial activity, some bacteria embedded in smear layer (the median was 3) and were destroyed; In 5.25% NaOCl treatmentgroup, the smear layer was not removed (median of smear layer score was also 5), but all bacteria on the surface were extinguished. The combined use of 5.25% NaOCl and EDTA produced a cleaner isthmus surface and had marked antimicrobial effect, with the median of smear layer score being only 1. CONCLUSION: MTAD may permeate into the isthmus area of apical root canal system, but only performed a partial effect of disinfection and limited antibacterial activity. Sodium hypochlorite cooperated with EDTA can remove infection effectively in the isthmus area.

A comparative investigation of gelatinized and regenerated starch composites reinforced by microfibrillated cellulose.

This research demonstrated a novel and ecofriendly method for producing regenerated starch (RS)/microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) composite films with a nearly 1.4-fold improvement in tensile strength than traditional gelatinized starch (GS) films. Pure starch was dissolved in 14 wt% urea/4 wt% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution at 0 °C. Then, RS films and their biocomposite films containing MFC were prepared by dialyzing and solution-casting method. Results showed that the tensile strength and elongation at break of RS increased by 44.8% and 82.4%, compared with that of GS film, respectively. Owing to the adequate dispersion, lower viscosity-average molecular weight, higher amylose content, lower crystallinity and smaller crystal grain size, RS/MFC composite films exhibited significantly improved mechanical properties. The novel strategy used in this study will be helpful in preparing regenerated starch materials with excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability as alternatives to petrochemical plastics for the development of sustainable materials.

Stem Cells from Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth (SHEDs) and Dental Pulp Stem Cells (DPSCs) Display a Similar Profile with Pericytes.

BACKGROUND: Pericytes play an important role in forming functional blood vessels and establishing stable and effective microcirculation, which is crucial for vascular tissue engineering. The slow ex vivo expansion rate, limited proliferative capacity, and variability of tissue-specific phenotypes would hinder experimental studies and clinical translation of primary pericytes. In this study, the angiogenic and pericyte functions of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs) and postnatal human dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) were investigated. METHODS: Osteogenic and adipogenic induction assays were performed to evaluate the mesenchymal potential of SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes. An in vitro Matrigel angiogenesis assay was conducted to reveal the ability of SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes to stabilize vascular-like structures. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to evaluate mRNA expression. Flow cytometry, western blotting, and immunostaining were used to assess the protein expression. Wound healing and transwell assays were performed to evaluate the migration ability of SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes. RESULTS: The osteogenic and adipogenic induction assays showed that SHEDs, DPSCs, and pericytes exhibited similar stem cell characteristics. The mRNA expression levels of PDGFR-ß, α-SMA, NG2, and DEMSIN in SHEDs and DPSCs cultured in EC medium were significantly higher than those in the control groups on day 7 (P < 0.05), but significantly higher than those in the pericytes group on day 14 (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry showed that high proportions of SHEDs and DPSCs were positive for various pericyte markers on day 7. The DPSCs, SHEDs, and pericytes displayed strong migration ability; however, there was no significant difference among the groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The SHEDs and DPSCs display a profile similar to that of pericytes. Our study lays a solid theoretical foundation for the clinical use of dental pulp stem cells as a potential candidate to replace pericytes.

Synergistic effects of sodium adipate/triethylene glycol on the plasticization and retrogradation of corn starch.

Starch retrogradation resulted in bad performance and taste of starch products. In this study, the corn starch films modified by sodium adipate and triethylene glycol were prepared by solution casting. The retrogradation of modified starch films were studied by FT-IR, XRD, SEM, tension test and UV-Vis. The results showed that sodium adipate was more effective than triethylene glycol in inhibiting the short-term retrogradation of starch, and triethylene glycol was more effective than sodium adipate in inhibiting the long-term retrogradation of starch. However, the mixture of sodium adipate and triethylene glycol, especially 15% adipic acid and 10% triethylene glycol, showed synergistic effects on the short-term and long-term retrogradation of starch. The starch film with 15% adipic acid and 10% triethylene glycol had the highest elongation at break, the best transmittance, the lowest change rate of elongation at break, and the lowest moisture content among all the recipes.

Effect of sodium citrate/polyethylene glycol on plasticization and retrogradation of maize starch.

Maize starch was plasticized by mixtures of sodium citrate and polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG200) at varied weight ratios (citric acid/PEG200, 25/0, 20/5, 15/10, 10/15, 5/20 and 0/25). The structure and pasting, aging, moisture absorption and thermal properties of the plasticized starches were studied by means of Fourier transformed infrared, X-ray diffraction, rapid viscosity analysis, tension test and thermogravimetric analysis. Comparing with single plasticizer, co-plasticizers with appropriate proportions are more effective in hindering the retrogradation of starch paste and film. The results also showed that the mechanical property and humidity sensitivity of the starch film worsen after the introduction of PEG200 compared with sodium citrate plasticized starch, but the thermal stability and anti-aging property increase. This is consistent with the association ability of plasticizers with starch observed from FTIR. In addition to the simple additive effect of components on some properties, special formulations also show some synergistic effects, such as the co-plasticizer of 20% citric acid and 5% PEG200 has a better comprehensive property for plasticizing the maize starch bulk than sodium citrate or PEG200 alone. The mixture of sodium citrate and PEG200 can be used as a candidate plasticizer for preparing thermoplastic starch for food and packaging industries.

Germanium(II) dications stabilized by azamacrocycles and crown ethers.

A crown for germanium: Neutral aza- and oxamacrocycles enable stabilization of halide-free germanium(II) dications (see structure, Ge teal, N blue, C gray). The resulting structures show a marked dependence upon the denticity, donor type, and ring size of the macrocycle.

Super-tough poly (l-lactide) materials: Reactive blending with maleic anhydride grafted starch and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate.

Super-tough poly (l-lactide) (PLLA) without compromising its biodegradability and biocompatibility was fabricated by reactive blending with PLLA and maleic anhydride grafted starch (MS)/poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). PEGDA as reactive compatibilizer exhibits higher compatibilization efficiency and significant plasticization effect in PLLA matrix. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed that PEGDA monomer successfully located at the molecules of MS and some interesterification reactions occurred between PEGDA and PLLA. The ductility of PLLA materials were significantly improved, for example, the elongation of break increased to 298% at the optimum PLLA/MS/PEGDA content. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) demonstrated the glass transition temperature of blends decreased with the contents of MS/PEGDA increasing. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results revealed that cold crystallization temperature and melting temperature of blends were decreased with the augment of the contents of MS/PEGDA. Wide angle X-ray diffraction (WARD) and DSC certified that a high crystalline article was obtained through practical extrusion process, which could propagate shear yielding deformation to dissipate energy during tensile fracture. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) demonstrated that the blends with PEGDA did not exhibit a visible phase-separated morphology from cryogenic fractured surfaces compared with the blend without PEGDA.

Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Promotes Odonto/Osteogenic Differentiation of Stem Cells from the Apical Papilla via Suppression of Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 Signaling.

INTRODUCTION: Stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) possess strong odonto/osteogenic differentiation potential. This study investigated the effect of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on odonto/osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs and the underlining interplay between cAMP and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). METHODS: SCAPs were stimulated with an activator of cAMP (forskolin) in the presence of either TGF-ß1 or a TGF-ß1 inhibitor. The amounts of calcium mineral deposition and alkaline phosphatase activity were determined. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to elucidate cAMP on the TGF-ß1-mediated odonto/osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs. The effect of cAMP on the phosphorylation of Smad2/Smad3 and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)/P38 induced by TGF-ß1 was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Cotreatment with forskolin and a TGF-ß1 inhibitor enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and deposition of calcium minerals in SCAPs. Moreover, the TGF-ß1 inhibitor synergized the effect of forskolin on the expression of type I collagen and runt-related transcription factor 2. The results of Western blotting revealed that forskolin attenuated the unregulated expression of the phosphorylation of Smad3 and ERK induced by TGF-ß1, and a cAMP inhibitor (H89) antagonized this effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that cAMP signaling exerts its up-regulating effects on the odonto/osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs by interfering with TGF-ß1 signaling via inhibiting Smad3 and ERK phosphorylation.

[Expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand and osteoprotegerin in chronic apical periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of key mediators that regulate bone resorption, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in human periapical granuloma (PG) and radicular cyst (RC) characterized by periapical bone destruction. METHODS: Immunohistochemical technique was performed using monoclonal antibody to detect RANKL and OPG expression in PG (n= 20 ) and RC (n= 20 ). As control group, healthy periodontal ligament tissues (n = 6 ) were obtained from teeth with orthodontic indication of extraction. RESULTS: The RANKL protein expression was significantly higher in PG (43.74 +/- 8.40) and RC (40.33 +/- 7.53) than in control group (15.47 +/- 2.59, P=0.000) , but no statistical significance could be found between PG and RC groups(P=0.161) .The expression of OPG in PG (27.81 +/- 5.17), RC (26.35 +/- 3.86) and control group (24.33 +/- 3.50) show no statistical significance (P >0.05). Moreover, RANKL/OPG ratio in PG (1.59 +/- 0.26) and RC (1.54 +/- 0.24) was much higher than that in control group (0.64 +/- 0.10, P=0.000), however the ratio of RANKL/OPG showed no significant difference between PG and RC groups (P= 0.504) . CONCLUSION: RANKL and OPG were observed in the periapical lesions. RANKL may be responsible for bone resorption in periapical lesions. RANKL and OPG may play an important role in the development of periapical lesions.

Curc-mPEG454, a PEGylated Curcumin Derivative, Improves Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities: a Comparative Study.

We previously demonstrated that a PEGylated curcumin (Curc-mPEG454) significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression and improved the progression of liver fibrosis. The current study systematically evaluates its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in vitro in a comparative study with curcumin, aspirin, NS-398, and vitamin C. RAW264.7 murine macrophages were pretreated with Curc-mPEG454, curcumin, aspirin, NS-398, or vitamin C at the indicated concentration for 2 h; then, the cells were stimulated with 1 µg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators, including IL-6, TNF-α, PGE2, NO, and GSH, and the activities of COX-2, SOD, and CAT, and the transcription factors involved in inflammation, such as NF-κB, c-Jun, and Nrf2, were measured. Curc-mPEG454 showed lower cytotoxicity (IC50 57.8 µM) when compared with that of curcumin (IC50 32.6 µM) and inhibited the release of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MCP-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. At 16 µM, Curc-mPEG454 was most potent in the suppression of COX-2 expression at a transcriptional level rather than in the suppression of the catalytic activity of COX-2. Like curcumin, Curc-mPEG454 significantly reduced intracellular ROS production and enhanced the activities of SOD and CAT and the level of GSH to protect cells from LPS-induced oxidative injury. Further, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidation mechanisms are related to inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation and c-Jun phosphorylation and to activation of Nrf2. Taken together, these findings indicate that PEGylation of curcumin not only improves its biological properties but also interferes with multiple targets involved in the inflammatory response. Curc-mPEG454 is a powerful and beneficial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent that merits further investigation. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Tooth loss and risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke: A dose-response meta analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Conflicting results identifying the association between tooth loss and cardiovascular disease and stroke have been reported. Therefore, a dose-response meta-analysis was performed to clarify and quantitatively assess the correlation between tooth loss and cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Up to March 2017, seventeen cohort studies were included in current meta-analysis, involving a total of 879084 participants with 43750 incident cases. Our results showed statistically significant increment association between tooth loss and cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Subgroups analysis indicated that tooth loss was associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in Asia and Caucasian. Furthermore, tooth loss was associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke in fatal cases and nonfatal cases. Additionally, a significant dose-response relationship was observed between tooth loss and cardiovascular disease and stroke risk. Increasing per 2 of tooth loss was associated with a 3% increment of coronary heart disease risk; increasing per 2 of tooth loss was associated with a 3% increment of stroke risk. Subgroup meta-analyses in study design, study quality, number of participants and number of cases showed consistent findings. No publication bias was observed in this meta-analysis. Considering these promising results, tooth loss might provide harmful health benefits.

Evaluation of the bactericidal effect of Er,Cr:YSGG, and Nd:YAG lasers in experimentally infected root canals.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal effect of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser and the Nd:YAG laser in experimentally infected root canals. Sixty single-rooted teeth with straight canals were selected. After preparation and sterilization, the specimens were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis for 3 weeks. After irradiation by lasers, the number of bacteria in each root canal was examined. The Er,Cr:YSGG laser gave a reduction of 77% after irradiation at 1 W and 96% at 1.5 W, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). The Nd:YAG laser gave a reduction of 97% at 1 W and 98% at 1.5 W, and there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Compared with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser, the Nd:YAG laser is more effective (p < 0.05). In conclusion, both lasers systems have a significant bactericidal effect in infected root canals, and the Nd:YAG laser is more effective than the Er,Cr:YSGG laser.

TGF-ß1-induced differentiation of SHED into functional smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: Adequate vascularization is crucial for supplying nutrition and discharging metabolic waste in freshly transplanted tissue-engineered constructs. Obtaining the appropriate building blocks for vascular tissue engineering (i.e. endothelial and mural cells) is a challenging task for tissue neovascularization. Hence, we investigated whether stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) could be induced to differentiate into functional vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). METHODS: We utilized two cytokines of the TGF-ß family, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1) and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), to induce SHED differentiation into SMCs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to assess mRNA expression, and protein expression was analyzed using flow cytometry, western blot and immunostaining. Additionally, to examine whether these SHED-derived SMCs possess the same function as primary SMCs, in vitro Matrigel angiogenesis assay, fibrin gel bead assay, and functional contraction study were used here. RESULTS: By analyzing the expression of specific markers of SMCs (α-SMA, SM22α, Calponin, and SM-MHC), we confirmed that TGF-ß1, and not BMP4, could induce SHED differentiation into SMCs. The differentiation efficiency was relatively high (α-SMA+ 86.1%, SM22α+ 93.9%, Calponin+ 56.8%, and SM-MHC+ 88.2%) as assessed by flow cytometry. In vitro Matrigel angiogenesis assay showed that the vascular structures generated by SHED-derived SMCs and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were comparable to primary SMCs and HUVECs in terms of vessel stability. Fibrin gel bead assay showed that SHED-derived SMCs had a stronger capacity for promoting vessel formation compared with primary SMCs. Further analyses of protein expression in fibrin gel showed that cultures containing SHED-derived SMCs exhibited higher expression levels of Fibronectin than the primary SMCs group. Additionally, it was also confirmed that SHED-derived SMCs exhibited functional contractility. When SB-431542, a specific inhibitor of ALK5 was administered, TGF-ß1 stimulation could not induce SHED into SMCs, indicating that the differentiation of SHED into SMCs is somehow related to the TGF-ß1-ALK5 signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: SHED could be successfully induced into functional SMCs for vascular tissue engineering, and this course could be regulated through the ALK5 signaling pathway. Hence, SHED appear to be a promising candidate cell type for vascular tissue engineering.

Untargeted saliva metabonomics study of breast cancer based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry with HILIC and RPLC separations.

Breast cancer (BC) is not only the most frequently diagnosed cancer, but also the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. This study aimed to screen the potential salivary biomarkers for breast cancer diagnosis, staging, and biomarker discovery. For the first time, a UPLC-MS based method along with multivariate data analysis, was proposed for the global saliva metabonomics analysis and diagnosis of BC, which used both hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) separations and operated in both positive (ESI+) and negative (ESI-) ionization modes. On account of different polarities of endogenous metabolites, this method was established to overcome the boundedness of a single chromatographic approach. As a result, 18 potential metabolites for diagnosing BC were identified. A nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test, heat map, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were exploited to analyze the data with the purpose of evaluating the predictive power of the 18 biomarkers. Significant differences (P<0.05) were disclosed in terms of the levels of the 18 potential biomarkers between BC patients and healthy controls (HC). Among the 18 biomarkers, three up-regulated metabolites, LysoPC (18:1), LysoPC (22:6) and MG (0:0/14:0/0:0) displayed the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.920, 0.920 and 0.929, respectively, indicating the high accuracy of this method to predict BC. In this study, an integrated metabonomics analysis in human saliva for identifying potential biomarkers to diagnose and stage BC was successfully eastablished, which was non-invasive, reliable, low-cost, and simple. The HILIC was demonstrated to be essential for a comprehensive saliva metabonomics profiling as well as RPLC separation. This saliva metabonomics technique may provide new insight into the discovery and identification of diagnostic biomarkers for BC.

Partial Pulpotomy of Immature Teeth with Apical Periodontitis using Bioceramics and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate: A Report of Three Cases.

Pulpal necrosis of an immature permanent tooth with an open apex poses a challenge for the clinician. The conventional apexification technique using calcium hydroxide has yielded short-term success, but this technique has inevitable shortcomings. Hence, this case series aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using bioceramics (iRoot BP) or mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) for partial pulpotomies. Three boys aged 9 to 11 years old presented with partial pulp necrosis and symptomatic apical periodontitis of the mandibular right and left second premolar. The involved teeth were treated with a partial pulpotomy using either iRoot BP (case 1 and 2) or MTA (case 3). At the 8-month follow-up, no abnormal clinical signs or symptoms were observed. Periapical radiographs revealed a significant reduction in periapical radiolucency, a marked increase in the root canal wall thickness and ongoing closure of the apical opening. The bioceramic material (iRoot BP) and MTA both produced successful outcomes in the partial pulpotomy of immature teeth with partial pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis. However, iRoot BP was superior in terms of ease of clinical application, and would therefore be a better treatment alternative than MTA.