Application of personalized templates in minimally invasive management of coronal dens invaginatus: a report of two cases.

BACKGROUND: Treating the coronal dens invaginatus (CDI) with pulp infection commonly involves the removal of invagination, which increases the risk of perforation and fracture, and compromises the tooth structure. Minimally invasive endodontic management of CDI is highly recommended. This report describes two cases of type II CDI with the application of personalized templates. CASE PRESENTATION: Two cases of type II CDI, affecting the main root canal in a maxillary canine and a lateral incisor, were diagnosed. A guided endodontics (GE) approach was applied. Cone-beam computed tomography and intraoral scans were imported and aligned in a virtual planning software to design debridement routes and templates. The MICRO principle (which involves the aspects of Mechanical (M) debridement, Irrigation (I), Access cavities (C), Rectilinear routes (R), and Obstruction (O)) was proposed for designing optimal debridement routes for future applications. The templates were innovatively personalized and designed to preserve the tooth structure maximally while effectively debriding the root canal. Root canal treatment with supplementary disinfection was then performed. The follow-up of the two patients revealed favorable clinical and radiographic outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The GE approach could be a feasible method for preserving healthy dental structure while effectively debriding the root canal, thereby achieving successful and minimally invasive endodontic treatment for CDI.

Resveratrol May Reduce the Degree of Periodontitis by Regulating ERK Pathway in Gingival-Derived MSCs.

Gingival-derived mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) have strong self-renewal, multilineage differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties and are expected to be applied in anti-inflammatory and tissue regeneration. However, achieving the goal of using endogenous stem cells to treat diseases and even regenerate tissues remains a challenge. Resveratrol is a natural compound with multiple biological activities that can regulate stem cell immunomodulation when acting on them. This study found that resveratrol can reduce inflammation in human gingival tissue and upregulate the stemness of GMSCs in human gingiva. In cell experiments, it was found that resveratrol can reduce the expression of TLR4, TNFα, and NFκB and activate ERK/Wnt crosstalk, thereby alleviating inflammation, promoting the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation ability of GMSCs, and enhancing their immunomodulation. These results provide a new theoretical basis for the application of resveratrol to activate endogenous stem cells in the treatment of diseases in the future.

Spatiotemporal dynamics of brain function during the natural course in a dental pulp injury model.

PURPOSE: Toothache, a common disorder afflicting most people, shows distinct features at different clinical stages. This study aimed to depict metabolic changes in brain and investigate the potential mechanism involved in the aberrant affective behaviors during the natural process of toothache. METHODS: We investigated the spatiotemporal patterns of brain function during the natural course of toothache in a rat model of dental pulp injury (DPI) by using positron emission tomography (PET). RESULTS: Glucose metabolism peaked on the 3rd day and gradually decreased in several brain regions after DPI, which was in line with the behavioral and histological results. PET imaging showed that visual pathway was involved in the regulation of toothache. Meanwhile, the process of emotional regulation underlying toothache was mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartic receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) in the caudal anterior cingulate cortex (cACC). CONCLUSION: Our results revealed the spatiotemporal neurofunctional patterns during toothache process and preliminarily elucidated the role of NR2B in cACC in the regulation of toothache-related affective behaviors.

Therapeutic effect of curcumin on oral diseases: A literature review.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a polyphenol compound extracted from the rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa. It has the feature of being a yellow or orange pigment with a variety of biological properties, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, anti-tumor, anti-bacteria, anti-fungus, and wound healing. Previous studies have reported the role of curcumin in treating different inflammatory diseases and tumors in vitro and in vivo. Recently, it has been demonstrated that curcumin has therapeutic benefits in oral mucosal diseases, periodontal diseases, and mouth neoplasms. In this review, we will focus on the therapeutic effects of curcumin on oral diseases.

The impact of coronavirus lockdown on oral healthcare and its associated issues of pre-schoolers in China: an online cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: The sudden outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic influenced people's daily life. During lockdown of Wuhan city, the oral health and its associated issues of preschool children were investigated and guidance for dental clinics when the epidemic were controlled in the future were also provided. METHODS: A national online survey was conducted among preschool children and completed by their caregivers. The questionnaire related to children's oral health status and care behaviour, caregivers' attitudes. The information was statistically analyzed between Wuhan residents and others residents. RESULTS: 4495 valid questionnaires were collected. In oral health status, during Wuhan lockdown, 60.8%, 35.5% and 18.3% children had self-reported dental caries, toothache and halitosis respectively. In oral health attitudes, respondents who would increase attention to oral health was more than that would decrease. In oral hygiene behaviour, compared to non-Wuhan children, the children in Wuhan became more active in brushing their teeth. In utilization of dental services in the future, less Wuhan residents would choose to have dental visit directly, 28.5% Wuhan residents and 34.7% non-Wuhan residents agreed all of procedures could be done if proper protected. CONCLUSIONS: Oral health status and associated issues of preschool children in Wuhan were significantly different from that of others during lockdown of Wuhan city and in the future. Effective measures should be taken as early as possible to protect children's oral health.

Impact of COVID-19 on the oral health of adults in Wuhan and China: results of a nationwide online cross-sectional questionnaire survey.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 has seriously threatened the health and lives of people. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the oral health of adults in Wuhan and other places of China amid the epidemic and to evaluate attitudes towards dental care in the post-epidemic period. METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey based on a questionnaire of 22 questions was conducted. RESULTS: A total of 3352 valid questionnaires were collected. Participants from Wuhan tended to be relatively psychologically affected and more concerned about future dental treatment. Toothbrushing frequency did not differ significantly between participants from Wuhan and other places and was associated with the prevalence of oral problems people encountered. Gingival bleeding, bad breath and oral ulcers were the three most common oral problems amid the epidemic, and significantly more participants in Wuhan experienced oral problems than other places in China. CONCLUSION: The three most common oral problems amid the epidemic were gingival bleeding, bad breath and oral ulcers. Adults in Wuhan tended to be more seriously affected and suffered more oral problems than people from other places in China. Maintaining good oral health behaviours plays an important role in preventing dental problems. It is crucial to establish and to follow the standard guidelines for the provision of dental care during and after the epidemic.

Prevalence and associated factors of periodontal conditions among 55- to 74-year-old adults in China: results from the 4th National Oral Health Survey.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess periodontal health conditions among 55- to 74-year-old Chinese people and to analyze the factors associated with periodontal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 9054 subjects aged 55-74 years were enrolled from all 31 provinces using a stratified multistage probability sampling method, autonomous regions and municipalities of the Chinese mainland, the response rate was 86.9%. All subjects underwent clinical examinations on the severest site for every tooth and completed a questionnaire that collected information on their sociodemographic characteristics and oral habits. T tests, chi-square tests and binary logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the data. RESULTS: The percentage of people without bleeding on probing, probing depth ≥ 4 mm and attachment loss > 3 mm was 5.0 and 9.3% in the 55- to 64-year-old and the 65- to 74-year-old age group. The prevalence of bleeding on probing was 88.4% among 55 to 64 years old and 82.6% among 65 to 74 years old. Mean number of teeth with bleeding on probing were 13.87 among 55 to 64 years old and 11.25 among 65 to 74 years old. The prevalence of probing depth ≥ 4 mm and attachment loss > 3 mm were 69.3 and 69.9% in people aged 55-64 years and were 64.6 and 74.2% in people aged 65-74 years. Mean number of teeth with probing depth = 4-5 mm and probing depth ≥ 6 mm were 4.48 and 0.36 in 55-64 age group and 3.70 and 0.33 in 65-74 age group. And mean number of teeth with attachment loss > 3 mm were 5.17 among 55 to 64 years old and 5.63 among 65 to 74 years old. Besides, attachment loss > 3 mm was associated with age, gender, smoking, toothbrushing frequency and toothpick use. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis was not highly prevalent among 55- to 74-year-old Chinese adults. Age, gender, smoking, toothbrushing frequency and toothpick use could be risk factors. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Scientific rationale for the study: The periodontal conditions among 55 to 64 and 65 to 74 years old Chinese population were not highly serious, but prevalence of bleeding on probing, periodontal pockets and attachment loss should be drawn enough attention by relevant public health administrations. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The prevalence of periodontal diseases was evaluated in 55- to 64-year-old and 65- to 74-year-old subjects in a nationally representative Chinese sample population. The prevalence of probing depth ≥ 4 mm and AL > 3 mm were high; these values were 69.3% and 69.9%, respectively, in the 55-64 age group and 64.6% and 74.2%, respectively, in the 65-74 age group. In addition, case percentage of AL = 4-5 mm combined with PD < 6 mm were 23.1 and 19.4% among 55- to 64-year-old and 65- to 74-year-old people. And case percentage of AL> 5 mm combined with PD ≥ 6 mm were 11.1% and 12.1% among 55- to 64-year-old and 65- to 74-year-old people, respectively. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The present study provides a reference for the epidemiological analysis of periodontal diseases. To reduce widespread inadequate treatment of periodontal diseases, clinical management should be performed in dental practices. Furthermore, oral health recommendations should be made at multiple levels.

Branched Ubiquitination: Detection Methods, Biological Functions and Chemical Synthesis.

Ubiquitination is a versatile posttranslational modification that elicits signaling roles to impact on various cellular processes and disease states. The versatility is a result of the complexity of ubiquitin conjugates, ranging from a single ubiquitin monomer to polymers with different length and linkage types. Recent studies have revealed the abundant existence of branched ubiquitin chains in which one ubiquitin molecule is connected to two or more ubiquitin moieties in the same ubiquitin polymer. Compared to the homotypic ubiquitin chain, the branched chain is recognized or processed differently by readers and erasers of the ubiquitin system, respectively, resulting in a qualitative or quantitative alteration of the functional output. Furthermore, certain types of branched ubiquitination are induced by cellular stresses, implicating their important physiological role in stress adaption. In addition, the current chemical methodologies of solid phase peptide synthesis and expanding genetic code approach have been developed to synthesize different architectures of branched ubiquitin chains. The synthesized branched ubiquitin chains have shown their significance in understanding the topologies and binding partners of the branched chains. Here, we discuss the recent progresses on the detection, functional characterization and synthesis of branched ubiquitin chains as well as the future perspectives of this emerging field.

A Meta-Analysis of Oral Health Status of Children with Autism.

Purpose: To present a meta-analysis whether the risks of caries and periodontal problems in autistic children are higher than those in healthy children. Study design: A literature search that included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan fang, and Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal (VIP) databases was conducted. The primary outcomes of interest included the DMFT index, Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), and Salivary pH. Quality assessment was performed in accordance with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Dichotomous variables are presented as relative risk (RR), and continuous variables are presented as weighted mean difference (WMD). Results: Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis. Among these 8 studies, six studies compared the DMFT index, three studies compared PI, three studies compared GI, and three studies compared salivary pH. Meta-analysis showed that the mean DMFT index in autistic children was higher than that in healthy children, and the difference was statistically significant {MD = 0.50, 95% CI [0.04-0.96], P<0.00001}. Similarly, PI and GI in autistic children were higher than those in healthy children, and the difference between PI was statistically significant {MD = 0.59, 95%CI [0.36-0.82], P=0.02}, while the difference between GI was not statistically significant {MD = 0.52, 95%CI [0.30-0.75], P=0.08}. But the salivary pH in autistic children was lower than that in healthy children {MD = -0.28, 95%CI [-0.54--0.02], P = 0.02}, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: The present analysis suggests that children with autism have poorer oral hygiene, higher risk of caries, and a lower salivary pH than healthy children.

CPP-ACP May be effective, but not Significantly Greater than using Fluorides Alone, in Preventing and Treating white Spot Lesions Around Orthodontic Brackets.

ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION: Effectiveness of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate-containing products in the prevention and treatment of white spot lesions in orthodontic patients: A systematic review. Pithon MM, Baião FS, Sant'Anna LID, Tanaka OM, Cople-Maia L. J Invest Clin Dent 2019;e12391. SOURCE OF FUNDING: No financial support was reported. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN: Systematic review.

Shaping ability of protaper next compared with waveone in late-model three-dimensional printed teeth.

BACKGROUND: Comparison of the shaping ability of advanced nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) instruments is of great interest to the field of endodontics. However, the models used to study canal preparation still lack uniformity, relevance to reality and complexity. The aim of this study was thus to compare the shaping abilities of the ProTaper Next (PN) and WaveOne (WO) Ni-Ti instruments in three-dimensional (3D)-printed teeth, which may overcome the present defects of most real teeth and model teeth including 3D S-shaped canals. METHODS: Six teeth and their corresponding 3D-printed replicas were prepared using the same kind of Ni-Ti instrument. The pre- and post-preparation volumes, surface areas and transportation of the canals were measured to compare the teeth with their replicas. Twenty 3D-printed teeth with S-shaped canals were used to support the preparation study. The S-shaped canals were then scanned to measure their volumes and surface areas. Next, the two kinds of instruments were used to prepare the 3D-printed canals (n = 10 per group). The volume and surface area of the canals, the transportation along the two curvatures and the percentage of unprepared surface area were measured. Micro-CT and VGstudio2.2 (VG2.2) software were used to perform scans and collect data throughout the research. The paired-samples T test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the real canals and the printed ones post-preparation (P > .05). The printed S-shaped root canals had a unified shape, with a small standard deviation and range. The WO group had higher mean values for the volume and superficial area measurements compared with the PN group (P < .05). No differences in the untouched areas were found between the two systems (P > .05). PN caused less transportation at the apical curve than WO did (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, 3D-printed teeth are suitable for the study of Ni-Ti rotary instruments. Furthermore, the PN rotary system caused less transportation at the apical curve than the WO system did in complicated root canal procedures.

Influence of iRoot SP and mineral trioxide aggregate on the activation and polarization of macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide.

BACKGROUND: Biomaterials could affect the inflammation reaction and wound healing via the activation and polarization of macrophages. However, the influence of iRoot SP and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) on macrophage polarization under inflammatory conditions was not reported although these two root filling materials have been applied extensively in patients undergoing endodontic treatment. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the mechanism how iRoot SP and MTA affect the cell behavior of RAW 264.7 macrophages when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro. METHODS: The gene expression of three main related pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6) was examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in RAW 264.7 macrophages when stimulated by iRoot SP and MTA in the presence of LPS. The protein expression of the M1 and M2 phenotype specific markers, CD11c and CD206, was assessed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry in RAW 264.7 macrophages. RESULTS: LPS promoted the expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages as compared to the control group. Both iRoot SP and MTA were significantly able to enhance the expression of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages as compared to LPS group. LPS could increase the expression of CD11c as compared to the control group while iRoot SP and MTA were able to enhance the expression of both CD11c and CD206 as compared to LPS group. CONCLUSIONS: iRoot SP and MTA could potentially promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 macrophages and induce into M1/M2 phenotype when cultured with LPS.

A comparison of the shaping ability of three nickel-titanium rotary instruments: a micro-computed tomography study via a contrast radiopaque technique in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Micro-CT (µCT) studies that combine simulated canals with meglucamine diatrizoate to evaluate the shaping ability of nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary instruments are lacking in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shaping ability of three new different nickel-titanium rotary instruments in simulated root canals using µCT. METHODS: Thirty simulated root canals with a curvature of 60° were randomly allocated into the following 3 groups (n = 10): Group 1, ProTaper Universal (PTU) rotary system; Group 2, Reciproc single-file system; and Group 3, K3XF rotary system. Pre- and post-instrumented images of simulated canals were scanned with µCT via a radiopaque contrast technique to build a 3-dimensional (3D) model. Canal transportation, volumetric change and centring ability were evaluated in each group. Instrument failure and preparation time were also recorded. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for statistical analysis and the significance level was set at p = 0.05. RESULTS: Reciproc produced greater volume change in the apical part of the canals compared with PTU and K3XF (p < 0.05). K3XF exhibited less transportation and better centring ability at the 2- and 3-mm levels from the apical foramen compared with PTU and Reciproc (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the centring ratio and transportation between PTU and Reciproc. Preparation time was significantly shorter in the Reciproc group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of our study, all of the canals were 3D reconstructed successfully via the radiopaque contrast technique. Reciproc showed enhanced apical volume changes and K3XF exhibited better centring ability when compared with other groups.

The Effect of Regeneration Techniques on Periapical Surgery With Different Protocols for Different Lesion Types: A Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of regeneration techniques (RTs) on the outcome of periapical surgery with different protocols for different lesion types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched from the beginning of time until December 30, 2014. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were systematically evaluated, and a meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Eight randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. A significantly better outcome was found in the combination group (membranes plus bone replacement analogues) (risk ratio [RR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.22 to 0.77; P = .005) and bone replacement analogue-only group (RR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.98; P = .04), whereas no significant beneficial effect was found in the membrane-only group (RR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.17; P = .13). The use of RTs favorably affected the outcome of periapical through-and-through lesions (RR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.18 to 0.84; P = .02) and large lesions (≥10 mm) (RR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.97; P = .04), whereas there was no significant benefit of using RTs for 4-wall lesions (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27 to 1.07; P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: Both the isolated use of bone replacement analogues and the combination of membranes and bone replacement analogues can improve the outcome of periapical surgery, whereas using membranes alone does not have significantly favorable effects. The use of RTs for through-and-through and large lesions should be recommended.

A Randomized Clinical Trial Investigating the Effect of Particle Size of Calcium Sodium Phosphosilicate (CSPS) on the Efficacy of CSPS-containing Dentifrices for the Relief of Dentin Hypersensitivity.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of reducing the particle size of calcium sodium phosphosilicate (CSPS) bioactive glass from ~14 µm (NovaMin®) to ~4 µm (Vitryxx®), and of changing the fluoride source in a 5% CSPS dentifrice from sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP) to sodium fluoride (NaF) on the efficacy of CSPS-containing dentifrices in dentin hypersensitivity (DH) relief. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, examiner-blind, five-treatment arm, parallel group, stratified, exploratory study of NaF dentifrices containing 2.5% or 5% small particle size CSPS (~4 µm), NaF or SMFP dentifrices containing 5% CSPS (~14 µm), and a regular fluoride dentifrice in healthy subjects with DH. Sensitivity to tactile stimulus (Yeaple probe) and evaporative (air) stimulus (Schiff Sensitivity Scale, visual analogue scale) was assessed at baseline and after one, two, four, and eight weeks' twice-daily treatment. The study was not statistically powered to detect significant between-treatment differences. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-three of 134 randomized subjects completed the study. All treatments showed similar, statistically significant (p < 0.007) improvements in DH compared to baseline at Weeks 2, 4, and 8. No trends favoring any specific treatment were observed. Treatments were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent absence of a positive treatment effect for the CSPS-containing dentifrices compared to the regular fluoride dentifrice is inconsistent with other previously reported efficacy studies for CSPS dentifrices.

The prevalence and risk indicators of tooth wear in 12- and 15-year-old adolescents in Central China.

BACKGROUND: Tooth wear has been investigated in numerous countries, and the prevalence has varied. However, the data on tooth wear in China are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of tooth wear and to investigate the relative indicators associated with tooth wear in 12- and 15-year-old adolescents in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, Central China. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken among 720 adolescents in Hubei Province, Central China. The age groups in this study were 12- and 15-year-old, and each group consisted of 360 participants in which females and males represented 50 % each. A modified version of the Basic Erosive Wear Examination (BEWE) tooth wear index was used for the buccal, cervical, occlusal/incisal and lingual surfaces of all of the teeth in the 720 adolescents. All of the participants were asked to answer a questionnaire consisting of questions about their current and historical dietary habits and oral hygiene. RESULTS: The prevalence of tooth wear was 18.6 and 89.4 % in 12- and 15-year-old adolescents, respectively. The prevalence rates of dentin exposure were 1.9 and 5.6 %, respectively. A significantly higher prevalence of tooth wear and dentin exposure in 15-year-old adolescents was found than in 12-year-old adolescents (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011). Several factors such as drinking soft drinks and fruit juices immediately after sports, taking aspirin, reflux, unilateral chewing, tooth brushing once daily or less often, duration of brushing less than 2 min and swimming in the summer were found to be associated with tooth wear. CONCLUSIONS: Tooth wear in 12- and 15-year-old adolescents in Central China is a significant problem and should receive greater attention. The prevalence of tooth wear increases with age and associated with socio-behavioral risk factors.

Construction and validation of nano gold tripods for molecular imaging of living subjects.

Anisotropic colloidal hybrid nanoparticles exhibit superior optical and physical properties compared to their counterparts with regular architectures. We herein developed a controlled, stepwise strategy to build novel, anisotropic, branched, gold nanoarchitectures (Au-tripods) with predetermined composition and morphology for bioimaging. The resultant Au-tripods with size less than 20 nm showed great promise as contrast agents for in vivo photoacoustic imaging (PAI). We further identified Au-tripods with two possible configurations as high-absorbance nanomaterials from various gold multipods using a numerical simulation analysis. The PAI signals were linearly correlated with their concentrations after subcutaneous injection. The in vivo biodistribution of Au-tripods favorable for molecular imaging was confirmed using small animal positron emission tomography (PET). Intravenous administration of cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-Cys (RGDfC) peptide conjugated Au-tripods (RGD-Au-tripods) to U87MG tumor-bearing mice showed PAI contrasts in tumors almost 3-fold higher than for the blocking group. PAI results correlated well with the corresponding PET images. Quantitative biodistribution data revealed that 7.9% ID/g of RGD-Au-tripods had accumulated in the U87MG tumor after 24 h post-injection. A pilot mouse toxicology study confirmed that no evidence of significant acute or systemic toxicity was observed in histopathological examination. Our study suggests that Au-tripods can be reliably synthesized through stringently controlled chemical synthesis and could serve as a new generation of platform with high selectivity and sensitivity for multimodality molecular imaging.

Fabrication and characterization of polydopamine-mediated zein-based nanoparticle for delivery of bioactive molecules.

In this study, a combination of whey protein (hydrophilic coating) and polydopamine (crosslinking agent) was used to improve the stability and functionality of quercetin-loaded zein nanoparticles. There are two key benefits of the core-shell nanoparticles formed. First, the ability of the polydopamine to bind to both zein and whey protein facilitates the formation of a stable core-shell structure, thereby protecting quercetin from any pro-oxidants in the aqueous surroundings. Second, neutral and hydrophilic whey proteins were used for the surface coating of the nanoparticles to further enhance the sustained and slow release of quercetin, facilitating its sustained release into the body at a slow and steady rate. The results of this study will promote the innovative development of precise nutritional delivery systems for zein and provide a theoretical basis for the design and development of dietary supplements based on hydrophobic food nutrient molecules.

Distinct oral-associated gastric microbiota and Helicobacter pylori communities for spatial microbial heterogeneity in gastric cancer.

The gastric microbial community plays a fundamental role in gastric cancer (GC), and the two main anatomical subtypes of GC, non-cardia and cardia GC, are associated with different risk factors (Helicobacter pylori for non-cardia GC). To decipher the different microbial spatial communities of GC, we performed a multicenter retrospective analysis to characterize the gastric microbiota in 223 GC patients, including H. pylori-positive or -negative patients, with tumors and paired adjacent normal tissues, using third-generation sequencing. In the independent validation cohort, both dental plaque and GC tumoral tissue samples were collected and sequenced. The prevalence of H. pylori and oral-associated bacteria was verified using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays in GC tumoral tissues and matched nontumoral tissues. We found that the vertical distribution of the gastric microbiota, at the upper, middle, and lower third sites of GC, was likely an important factor causing microbial diversity in GC tumor tissues. The oral-associated microbiota cluster, which included Veillonella parvula, Streptococcus oralis, and Prevotella intermedia, was more abundant in the upper third of the GC. However, H. pylori was more abundant in the lower third of the GC and exhibited a significantly high degree of microbial correlation. The oral-associated microbiota module was co-exclusive with H. pylori in the lower third site of the GC tumoral tissue. Importantly, H. pylori-negative GC patients with oral-associated gastric microbiota showed worse overall survival, while the increase in microbial abundance in H. pylori-positive GC patients showed no difference in overall survival. The prevalence of V. parvula in both the dental plaque and GC tissue samples was concordant in the independent validation phase. We showed that the oral-associated species V. parvula and S. oralis were correlated with overall survival. Our study highlights the roles of the oral-associated microbiota in the upper third of the GC. In addition, oral-associated species may serve as noninvasive screening tools for the management of GC and an independent prognostic factor for H. pylori-negative GCs. IMPORTANCE: Our study highlights the roles of the oral-associated microbiota in the upper third of gastric cancer (GC).We showed that the oral-associated species Veillonella parvula and Streptococcus oralis were correlated with overall survival. In addition, oral-associated species may serve as noninvasive screening tools for the management of GC and an independent prognostic factor for Helicobacter pylori-negative GCs.

Comparison of Static and Dynamic Navigation in Root End Resection Performed by Experienced and Inexperienced Operators: An In Vitro Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to compare the effects of static navigation (SN), a dynamic navigation system (DNS), and the freehand (FH) technique in root end resection and the differences between these effects according to the level of experience of the operator. METHODS: Maxillary models reconstructed with Mimics software (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) were 3-dimensionally printed and divided according to the experimental technique (FH, SN, or DNS) and the operator (experienced or inexperienced). SN was designed using 3-matic Medical software (Materialise) and printed, and a surgical approach plan for DNS was established and performed using DCARER (Suzhou, China) software. The accuracy, efficiency, and safety of the resections were assayed. RESULTS: The length, angle, volume, and depth deviations of the root end resections were significantly lower in the SN and DNS group compared with the FH group. SN significantly improved the efficiency of both operators, whereas DNS only improved the efficiency of the inexperienced operator. No difference between the SN and DNS groups was found, except for the time required for the surgery. No mishaps occurred during surgery in the SN or DNS group. The number of mishaps with the FH technique when used by the inexperienced operator was significantly higher than that registered for the rest of the groups. No interaction effect between technique and operator experience level was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of operator experience, both SN and DNS could improve the accuracy and safety of root end resection. SN significantly improved the chairside efficiency of both operators, whereas DNS was more helpful for the inexperienced operator.