NLRP3-mediated periodontal ligament cell pyroptosis promotes root resorption.

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms by which periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) convert biomechanical stimulation into inflammatory microenvironment inducing root resorption (RR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: RNA sequencing was employed to explore mechanisms in force-inflammatory signal transduction. Then resorption volume, odontoclastic activity, PDLC pyroptotic ratio and NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis pathway activation were analysed under force and pyroptosis inhibition. Further osteoclast formation, macrophage number and transwell polarization demonstrated the effects of PDLC pyroptosis on osteoclastogenesis and M1 polarization. RESULTS: RNA sequencing revealed that NLRP3-mediated PDLC pyroptosis induced by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)/NLRP3 pathway may be involved in mechano-inflammatory signal transduction. PDLC pyroptosis under force and the expression of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis pathway in force-enhanced PDLCs were significantly increased, both in vivo and in vitro. MCC950 administration was sufficient to reduce PDLC pyroptosis and alleviate RR, odontoclast formation and M1 polarization in vivo. Further in vitro exploration showed that MCC950 treatment reduced PDLC force-promoted pyroptosis and blocked NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis pathway. Moreover, by treating THP-1 with force-pretreated PDLCs or supernatants, NLRP3-mediated PDLC pyroptotic released products induced osteoclast formation and M1 polarization. CONCLUSIONS: NLRP3-mediated PDLC pyroptosis promotes RR. PDLCs transmit excessive force into inflammation signals through TLR4/NFκB/NLRP3 pathway, inducing PDLC pyroptosis, which directly promotes odontoclast formation and subsequent RR or promotes M1 polarization to indirectly trigger odontoclastogenesis and RR.

Distinctive subgingival microbial signatures in older adults with different levels of cognitive function.

AIM: To examine association between subgingival microbial signatures and levels of cognitive impairment in older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed subgingival plaque samples and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences for microbiota among 165 participants (normal controls [NCs]: 40, subjective cognitive decline [SCD]: 40, mild cognitive impairment [MCI]: 49 and dementia: 36). RESULTS: The bacterial richness was lower among individuals with worse cognitive function, and subgingival microbial communities differed significantly among the four groups. Declining cognitive function was associated with decreasing relative abundance of genera Capnocytophaga, Saccharibacteria_genera_incertae_sedis, Lautropia and Granulicatella, and increasing abundance of genus Porphyromonas. Moreover, there were differentially abundant genera among the groups. Random forest model based on subgingival microbiota could distinguish between cognitive impairment and NC (AUC = 0.933, 95% confidence interval 0.873-0.992). Significant correlations were observed between oral microbiota and sex, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score and Mini-Mental State Examination score. Partial correlation analysis showed that Leptotrichia and Burkholderia were closely negatively associated with the MoCA score after adjusting for multiple covariates. Gene function was not significantly different between SCD and NC groups, whereas three homozygous genes were altered in MCI patients and two in dementia patients. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to demonstrate an association between the composition, function and metabolic pathways of subgingival microbiota and different levels of cognitive function among older individuals. Future cohort studies should assess its diagnostic usefulness for cognitive impairment.

Comprehensive 3-dimensional Positional and Morphological Analyses of Condyle and Glenoid Fossa in Patients with Skeletal Class II Malocclusion following Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery.

This study aimed to comprehensively and quantitatively characterize 3-dimensional (3D) positional and morphological changes of the condyle and glenoid fossa in patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion treated with bimaxillary orthognathic surgery. Twenty eligible patients treated at our institution from January 2016 to December 2021 with more than 12 months of postoperative follow-up were retrospectively enrolled. Radiographic data of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for each patient were collected at 3 stages: 1 week preoperatively (T0), immediately after surgery (T1), and at least 12 months postoperatively (T2). Positional changes, surface and volumetric alterations of condyle, and bone remodeling in glenoid fossa were measured and compared based on voxel- and surface registrations in visual 3D methods. Most patients exhibited a tendency for condyles to shift posteriorly, laterally, superiorly, and rotated outward, downward, and forward immediately after surgery. Posterior, medial, superior movement and outward, upward, and backward rotation of condyles were observed during follow-up (T1-T2). Bone resorption frequently occurred in the posterior area of condylar surfaces, while bone remodeling was more common in the anterior region of the glenoid fossa. Reduced volume of the condyle was found in most cases, which was not associated with the amount of mandibular advancement. Overall, the condyle and its corresponding glenoid fossa remained relatively stable during the follow-up. Our results reveal positional and morphological alterations in the condyle and the glenoid fossa after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in patients with skeletal class II malocclusion. These changes predominantly fall within the spectrum of physical adaption.

Oro-dental trauma burden and mouthguard usage among contact sports players: A call for sports dentistry initiatives in Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Contact sports-related oro-dental trauma contributes to a significant proportion of sports injuries among school children. Oro-dental trauma imposes a detrimental impact on the oral health-related quality of life. However, the burden of oro-dental trauma among contact sports players and their practices of mouthguards remains a research gap in Sri Lanka. The current study bridges that while providing evidence for contextual changes such as initiating sports dentistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted among 1340 adolescent contact sports players in Colombo district, Sri Lanka; 63.1% males and 36.9% females (age 13-18), who were enrolled in football, rugby, hockey, boxing, basketball, and martial arts in the school setting. A checklist was administered to obtain demographic information, sports practices, and the use of mouthguards. An oral examination was conducted for those who experienced oro-dental trauma during the last 12 months. RESULTS: Self-reported oro-dental trauma pooled prevalence of the contact sports players was 35.9% (95% CI = 33.3-38.5), with males' preponderance. Dental trauma was present in 23.8% (n = 319), while 15.8% were uncomplicated and 8% were complicated. Soft tissue injuries were present in 12.1% (n = 162). Oro dental trauma (ODT) was highly prevalent among boxing, rugby, and hockey players. Only 20.8% (n = 279) of players used mouthguards. However, 91.0% (n = 254) of them were using ready-made mouthguards. Mouthguard use and the type of mouthguard showed statistically significant associations across the type of oro-dental trauma among contact sports players. CONCLUSIONS: Contact sports-related oro-dental trauma prevalence is as high as 35.9% among Colombo district school children in Sri Lanka. However, their level of mouthguard usage is shallow at 20.8%. Further research is necessary to investigate the reasons behind this, and national guidelines should be developed to prevent and manage sports-related accidental injuries.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0084054 promotes the progression of periodontitis with diabetes via the miR-508-3p/PTEN axis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is an important risk factor for periodontitis, and circular RNA (circRNA) may play an important role in aggravating inflammation and accelerating disease progression by regulating miRNA/mRNA. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of the hsa_circ_0084054/miR-508-3p/PTEN axis in the progression of periodontitis with diabetes. METHODS: First, circRNA sequencing was used to screen the differentially expressed circRNAs of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) treated with high glucose and/or Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro, and the overtly differentially expressed hsa_circ_0084054 was selected and was also verified in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue from periodontitis patients with diabetes. Then, its ring structure was tested by Sanger sequencing, RNase R, and actinomycin D assays. The bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assay, and RIP assay were used to explore the interaction of hsa_circ_0084054/miR-508-3p/PTEN axis, whose effects on inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of PDLCs were evaluated through the measurement of inflammatory factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and Annexin V/PI assay. RESULTS: By high-throughput sequencing, it was found that hsa_circ_0084054 was significantly increased in HG + LPS group compared with control group and LPS group, which was also verified in periodontal ligament (PDL) tissue from periodontitis patients with diabetes. Silencing hsa_circ_0084054 in PDLCs decreased the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α), the levels of ROS and MDA, and the proportion of apoptotic cells; conversely, SOD activity was enhanced. In addition, we found that hsa_circ_0084054 could up-regulate the expression of PTEN through sponge miR-508-3p to inhibit AKT phosphorylation, finally trigger the aggravation of oxidative stress and inflammation in periodontitis patients with diabetes. CONCLUSION: hsa_circ_0084054 can aggravate inflammation and promote the progression of periodontitis with diabetes by regulating miR-508-3p/PTEN signaling axis, which may serve as a new target for the intervention of periodontitis with diabetes.

Surface-Initiated Synthesis of Cell-Specific Glycopolymers Using Live Mammalian Cells as Templates.

Molecular recognition is an important process in life activities where specificity is the key. However, the method to gain specificity are often complex and time-consuming. Herein, a novel, versatile, and effective way is developed to obtain cell-specific glycosurfaces by surface-initiated Cu-mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization (Cu-RDRP) in an open to air fashion. Mammalian cells are used for the first time as live templates to realize cell-sugar monomer-aptation-polymerization which can produce cell-specific glycosurfaces. Both epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) positive cells L929 and EpCAM negative cells Hela as models are used to acquire two cell-specific glycosurfaces, which can distinguish template-cells from others. The strategy is effective and convenient without the need of fixative pretreatment of cells. It is found that the specific capture does not rely on EpCAM antibodies, and the specificity is related to the composition and chain sequence of the glycopolymer brushes rather than surface morphology. In addition, these glycosurfaces keep the ability to identify the target cells after ten regenerative treatments, which provides another advantage for practical applications.

Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes involved in the inflammageing status of gingiva in aged mice.

OBJECTIVE: To identify immune-inflammation-related genes related to susceptibility to periodontitis in the gingiva of aged mice with RNA sequencing. METHODS: Gingival samples from 18-month-old, 8-week-old healthy mice and 8-week-old mice with periodontitis were taken for RNA-seq. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were validated with qRT-PCR using mouse and human gingival samples. RESULTS: 977 (upregulated) and 1824 (downregulated) genes were identified in the old compared with the young mice. 14.2% were related to immune-inflammatory responses. This proportion of overlap (ageing and periodontitis)-DEGs was higher (48.4%). Enrichment analysis of overlap (ageing and periodontitis)-DEGs showed that the top five GO and KEGG terms were related to the immune-inflammatory responses, and disease analysis was more specific to periodontitis. The candidate genes of overlap (ageing and periodontitis)-DEGs selected by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network showed the higher match with clinical data sets. By qRT-PCR, nine candidate genes were identified as hub genes that are associated with susceptibility to periodontitis in the elderly, including CXCL3, CXCL5, CSF3, CSF3R, FPR1, IL1B, OSM, SERPINE1 and SELP. CONCLUSION: Our studies provide insights into the mechanisms by which ageing affects the immune-inflammatory status of gingival tissues, thereby increasing the risk of periodontitis. It may become targets for future prevention of periodontitis.

MicroRNA-4691-3p inhibits the inflammatory response by targeting STING in human dental pulp cells: A laboratory investigation.

AIM: The regulation of human dental pulp inflammation is not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of miR-4691-3p on the cGAS-STING signalling cascade and its downstream cytokines production in human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). METHODOLOGY: Normal dental pulp tissue and pulp tissue with irreversible pulpitis from third molars were collected. HDPCs were isolated from pulp tissue. The expression of STING mRNA and miR-4691-3p was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Bioinformatic computation via TargetScanHuman 8.0 and a luciferase reporter assay was used to identify the targets of miR-4691-3p. A miR-4691-3p mimic and inhibitor were used to upregulate or downregulate miR-4691-3p expression in HDPCs. HDPCs were transfected with c-di-AMP, c-di-GMP, cGAMP, interferon stimulatory DNA (ISD) and bacterial genomic DNA. Immunoblot was performed to detect the phosphorylation of TBK1, p65 and IRF3. Enzyme-linked immunoassay was performed to detect the cytokines including IFN-ß, TNF or IL-6 downstream of cGAS-STING. RESULTS: MiR-4691-3p expression was increased in human dental pulp tissue with irreversible pulpitis. Treatment of HDPCs using recombinant human IFN-ß, TNF or IL-6 also upregulated miR-4691-3p. The bioinformatic prediction and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that STING was a direct target of miR-4691-3p. The miR-4691-3p mimic suppressed STING expression, the phosphorylation of TBK1, p65 and IRF3, and the IFN-ß, TNF or IL-6 production. In contrast, the miR-4691-3p inhibitor enhanced the STING expression, the phosphorylation of TBK1, p65 and IRF3 and the IFN-ß, TNF or IL-6 production. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-4691-3p negatively regulates the cGAS-STING pathway by directly targeting STING. This provides insight to utilize miRNA-dependent regulatory effect to treat endodontic disease as well as STING-dependent systemic inflammatory disease.

Enantiomeric Separation and Degradation of Benoxacor Enantiomers in Horticultural Soil by Normal-Phase and Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

The separation of benoxacor enantiomers on six commercial chiral columns was investigated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) under normal-phase and reversed-phase conditions. The mobile phases included hexane/ethanol, hexane/isopropanol, acetonitrile/water, and methanol/water. The effects of the chiral stationary phases (CSPs), temperature, and mobile phase composition and ratio on the separation of benoxacor enantiomers were examined. Under normal-phase conditions, the two benoxacor enantiomers were completely separated on Chiralpak AD, Chiralpak IC, Lux Cellulose-1, and Lux Cellulose-3 columns and partially separated on a Lux Cellulose-2 column. Under reversed-phase conditions, benoxacor enantiomers were completely separated on a Lux Cellulose-3 column and partially separated on Chiralpak IC and Lux Cellulose-1 columns. Normal-phase HPLC performed better than reversed-phase HPLC for the separation of benoxacor enantiomers. As the column temperature increased from 10 °C to 4 °C, the enthalpy (ΔH) and entropy (ΔS) results indicated that the resolution was strongly affected by the temperature and that the lowest temperature did not always produce the best resolution. An optimized separation method on the Lux Cellulose-3 column was used to investigate the stability of benoxacor enantiomers in solvents and the degradation of benoxacor enantiomers in three types of horticultural soil. Benoxacor enantiomers were stable, and degradation or racemization were not observed in methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, hexane, or water (pH = 4.0, 7.0, and 9.0). In three horticultural soils, the degradation rate of S-benoxacor was faster than that of R-benoxacor, resulting in soil enrichment with R-benoxacor. The results of this study will help to improve the risk assessment of enantiomer levels of benoxacor in the environment.

Development and validation of a novel index to assess the perceived impact of sports-related oro-dental trauma among adolescents: findings from Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Sports-related oro- dental trauma, such as tooth fracture, displacement, mobility, and avulsion, cause significant concern among adolescent players due to detrimental impacts. The current study aims to develop, validate and assess the reliability of a simple index as a questionnaire to assess the impact of sports-related oro-dental trauma both untreated and treated, among adolescent school children in Sri Lanka. METHODS: AODTII, an adolescent oro-dental trauma impact index, was developed and validated using a mixed-method approach. Items for the index were generated by quantitative as well as qualitative analysis of the results from Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaires, personnel interviews with experts and focus group discussions with adolescents. Principal component analysis and Exploratory factor analysis were used to create the index. The index was validated in the Sinhala language, and the reliability of the index was assessed using a separate sample in the school context in the Colombo district. RESULTS: The initial list of 28 items was reduced to 12 by the Principal Component Analysis. Exploratory Factor Analysis categorised the variables into four latent constructs; physical impact, psychosocial effect influenced by peer pressure, the impact of oral health care and the impact caused due to unmet dental trauma treatment need. The cut-off values of the AODTII were based on PCA. The index achieved the Content Validity Ratio of 88.33. The construct validity was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis by developing a structural equation model. It obtained good model fit indices of RMSEA value of 0.067, SRMR of 0.076, CFI of 0.911 and the Goodness of Fit index of 0.95. The homogeneity was ensured with convergent and discriminant validity. The Cronbach's alpha value was 0.768, ensuring reliability. The index assesses the level of impact due to oro- dental trauma and identifies whether the adolescents perceive it significantly or not. CONCLUSION: Twelve-item AODTII emerged as a reliable and valid tool to assess the perceived impact of untreated and treated sports-related oro- dental trauma on Sri Lankan adolescents with implications for its use in other populations. Further research is required to improve the translational value of AODTII. Moreover, the tool is potential as a patient-centred communication tool, clinical adjunct, advocacy tool and a useful OHRQoL index. However, it is needed to be supported end-users' feedback.

Evaluation of Candida albicans Adherence to CAD-CAM Milled, 3D-Printed, and Heat-Cured PMMA Resin and Efficacy of Different Disinfection Techniques: An In Vitro Study.

PURPOSE: Candida albicans has been regarded as the most predominant oral fungal pathogen and the main cause of denture stomatitis. This study aimed to investigate C. albicans adherence to three types of denture base polymers: heat-cured polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), CAD-CAM milled and 3D-printed. The efficacy of four common disinfection techniques, glutaraldehyde, brushing, microwave irradiation, and Polident overnight tablets, were also examined. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sixty blocks of pink acrylic specimens were fabricated from each polymer group. To investigate the C. albicans adherence, as well as the efficacy of different disinfection techniques on removing the yeast from the different materials, specimens were cultured within the fungal culture overnight followed by disinfection. The adhered C. albicans on the materials were then obtained by vortexing in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and the numbers of the yeast in the suspensions were evaluated by measuring the optical density and/or colony-forming units on agar plates. Data were expressed as mean ± SEM (standard error of the mean). Statistical differences were evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the post hoc Tukey HSD tests. RESULTS: Significant differences in C. albicans adherence to the three polymers were noted. CAD-CAM milled and heat-cured PMMA showed significantly less C. albicans adherence compared with 3D printed PMMA. No significant difference was noted between milled and heat-cured PMMA. In the disinfection test, microwave irradiation, mechanical brushing, and Polident tablets were found to be effective in removing fungal attachment on the different denture materials, while glutaraldehyde was found to be the least effective. CONCLUSION: C. albicans adherence to the polymers varies greatly based on the types of PMMA. 3D-printed had the highest fungal biofilm attachment. Microwave irradiation, mechanical brushing, and Polident overnight tablets had comparable results in removing C. albicans from all types of PMMA, while glutaraldehyde was not as effective.

Selective and Efficient Photoextraction of Aqueous Cr(VI) as a Solid-State Polyhydroxy Cr(V) Complex for Environmental Remediation and Resource Recovery.

Aqueous hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) treatment and chromium resource recovery toward Cr-containing wastes are of significant importance and necessity to both wastewater remediation and resource recovery. Herein, via mild photoreaction conditions with isopropanol (IPA) as an electron donor, a catalyst-free strategy for aqueous Cr(VI) extraction to form an insoluble polyhydroxy Cr(V) complex is developed for the first time. Aqueous Cr(VI) with concentration from 5 to 150 ppm can be efficiently extracted with high selectivity even in the presence of coexisting ions, and the total Cr concentration in residue solution can be as low as 0.5 ppm. The Cr resource could be efficiently recovered as pure Cr2O3 by calcinating the resulting Cr(V) precipitate. Outstanding extraction efficiency could be realized with various IPA concentrations (1.3-12.0 mol/L) by coordinately tuning the pH value to promote the formation of Cr(VI)-IPA ester. The formed ester undergoes intramolecular electron transition under visible light irradiation, resulting in a polyhydroxy solid-state Cr(V) intermediate complex. The controlled pH value blocks further reduction of Cr(V) to soluble Cr(III); thus the insoluble Cr(V) intermediate complex is stabilized thermodynamically under ambient conditions. Because of its electric neutrality property and the strong intermolecule interaction via hydrogen bonds, a dioxo-bridged di-nuclear Cr(V) complex {Cr2(µ-O)2(OH)4[OCH(CH3)2]2} is finally precipitated as the main product. Satisfactory extraction and recovery of Cr from chromium-plating wastewater and discarded stainless steel verify that this approach is ideal for both one-step purification of Cr(VI)-containing wastewater and selective resource recovery from Cr-containing solid wastes in practical application.

Bifunctional Phenol-Enabled Sequential Polymerization Strategy for Printable Tough Hydrogels.

Hydrogels are promising material candidates in engineering soft robotics, mechanical sensors, biomimetic regenerative medicine, etc. However, developing multinetwork hydrogels with high mechanical properties and excellent printability are still challenging. Here, a bifunctional phenol-enabled sequential polymerization (BPSP) strategy is reported to fabricate high-performance multinetwork hydrogels under the orthogonal catalysis of efficient ruthenium photochemistry. Benefiting from this bifunctional design, phenols can sequentially polymerize with typical monomers and themselves to fabricate various phenol-containing polymers (Ph-Ps) and Ph-Ps-based multinetwork tough hydrogels, respectively. The as-prepared hydrogels have maximum stress of 0.75 MPa and toughness of 2.2 MJ m- 3 under the critical strain of 800%. These property parameters are a maximum of 16 times higher than those of the phenol-postmodified and phenol-free hydrogels. Moreover, the rapid coupling polymerization of phenols can shorten the gelation times of hydrogels to as low as ≈4 s, which enables its printable property for customizable applications. As a proof of concept, a 3D scaffold-like structure is optimized as highly sensitive mechanical sensors for detecting various human motions.

Evaluation of C-shaped canals in maxillary molars in a Chinese population using CBCT.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of C-shaped root canals in maxillary first (MFMs) and second (MSMs) molars in a Southwestern Chinese population using cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT). METHODS: CBCT images of MFMs (n = 1488) and MSMs (n = 1547) from 1508 subjects enrolled in Guiyang Hospital of Stomatology between July 2018 to February 2021 were evaluated for the incidence and types of C-shaped root canals. Differences by age, sex, left or right side, and bilateral symmetry were also evaluated. RESULTS: C-shaped root canals were present in 2.93% MFMs and MSMs (n = 3035) in the Southwestern Chinese population. A significant higher incidence was observed in the MSMs (5.24%) than in the MFMs (0.54%). Increased incidences were noted in teeth with fused root. Two major types and 5 subtypes of C-shaped canal system of maxillary molars were defined, and the most common type of C-shaped canals is fusion of mesial-buccal (MB) and distal-buccal (DB) canals (Type I subtype C). No significant gender and age differences were noted in the prevalence of C-shaped root canals in this population, and no significant difference was seen in its incidence in the left or right MFMs and MSMs. The bilateral occurrence was observed in 1.27% of the patients. CONCLUSION: C-shaped root canals are more frequently present in MSMs than in MFMs in the Southwestern Chinese population, with Type I subtype C (MB-DB canal fusion) as the most common subtype and low incidence of bilateral symmetry.

Quantitative sensory testing of mandibular somatosensory function following orthognathic surgery-A pilot study in Chinese with class III malocclusion.

BACKGROUND: Somatosensory changes after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) have not been fully studied in Chinese patients by the latest technologies. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive analysis of somatosensory function at the lower lip and chin at different time points following SSRO in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 22 patients (18-27 years; nine men) with skeletal III malocclusion and scheduled for SSRO were recruited. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed at pre-operation (baseline), 1 week (1W), 1, 3 and 6 months (1M, 3M, 6M) post-operatively. Cold detection threshold (CDT), warm detection threshold (WDT), cold pain threshold (CPT), heat pain threshold (HPT), mechanical detection threshold (MDT), mechanical pain threshold (MPT), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and two-point discrimination threshold (2PD) were tested at the lower lip and chin. RESULTS: Except for PPT at both test sides at 1W and 1M, all QST values indicated a significantly reduced sensitivity (p < .05). All values had returned to baseline values at 3M with exception of HPT at the right chin which, however, had recovered at 6M (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Somatosensory function at the lower lip and chin appears to be fully recovered in the majority of young Chinese adults 6 months after SSRO for skeletal class III malocclusion.

[Salivary Metabolic Profiling in Patients with Periodontitis].

Objective: To analyze the salivary metabolic profile of patients with periodontitis through metabolomic techniques and to explore the metabolic patterns associated with periodontal diseases. Methods: Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technique in conjunction with principal component analysis (PCA) analysis and orthogonal partial least squares identification (OPLS-DA) method was used to study the metabolomics of saliva samples from gingivitis patients, periodontitis patients, and healthy controls, with 10 samples for each group. We examined the correlation between migration in metabolic profile and the progression of periodontal diseases. Results: Saliva metabolite profiles of gingivitis and periodontitis patients was significantly different from those of the healthy controls. Significant differences were identified between the different groups for eight salivary metabolites, including arachidonic acid, tyramine, L-arginine, thymine, N-acetylgalactosamine sulfate, prostaglandin E2, L-phenylalanine, and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-riboside (AICAR). In comparison with those of the health controls, the concentration of AICAR in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis was lower and the metabolic trend was down-regulated, while the other metabolites were up-regulated. Conclusion: Salivary metabolic profile changes along with the progression of periodontal diseases. Abnormal metabolism of the periodontal tissue and of pathogenic microorganisms related to periodontal diseases is one of the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis, development and prognosis of periodontal diseases.

The distribution pattern of periprostatic neurovascular bundles examined with successive celloidin slices.

BACKGROUND: Although several distribution patterns of periprostatic neurovascular bundles have been proposed, variant dissection technique based on these patterns still confused surgeons. The aim of this study was to describe the periprostatic neurovascular bundles and their relationship with the fascicles around prostate and provide the accurate morphologic knowledge of periprostatic tissue for prostate operation. METHODS: The pelvic viscera were obtained from 26 adult male cadavers. They were embedded in celloidin and cut into successive slices. The slices were explored with anatomic microscopy. 3-Dimensional reconstruction was achieved with celloidin sections and series software. RESULTS: The prostatic capsule which surrounded the dorsal, bilateral aspect of the prostate was attached ventrally to anterior fibrous muscular stroma (AFMS). The lower part of the striated sphincter completely embraced the urethral; the upper part of this muscle covered the lower ventral surface of prostate. The upper ventral surface of prostate is covered by the circular muscle of detrusor. The levator fascia and the capsule adhered on the most convex region of the lateral prostate, but separated on the other region. The pelvic neurovascular bundles (PNVB) divided into the anterior and posterior divisions. The anterior division continued as dorsal vascular complex (DVC). The distal part of DVC entered into penile hilum. The posterior division continued as neurovascular bundles, and then as the cavernous supply (CS). The distal part of CS joined into pudendal neurovascular bundles. CONCLUSIONS: The capsule and AFMS formed a pocket like complex. There were anterior and posterior neurovascular approaches from PNVB to penile hilum.

The Current Situation and Future Prospects of Simulators in Dental Education.

The application of virtual reality has become increasingly extensive as this technology has developed. In dental education, virtual reality is mainly used to assist or replace traditional methods of teaching clinical skills in preclinical training for several subjects, such as endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, implantology, and dental surgery. The application of dental simulators in teaching can make up for the deficiency of traditional teaching methods and reduce the teaching burden, improving convenience for both teachers and students. However, because of the technology limitations of virtual reality and force feedback, dental simulators still have many hardware and software disadvantages that have prevented them from being an alternative to traditional dental simulators as a primary skill training method. In the future, when combined with big data, cloud computing, 5G, and deep learning technology, dental simulators will be able to give students individualized learning assistance, and their functions will be more diverse and suitable for preclinical training. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of current dental simulators on related technologies, advantages and disadvantages, methods of evaluating effectiveness, and future directions for development.

A Review on Salivary Proteomics for Oral Cancer Screening.

Oral cancer has emerged as a global health problem due to its relatively high incidence and mortality. Human saliva as a diagnostic fluid can offer an easy, inexpensive, safe and non-invasive approach for disease detection. Direct contact between saliva and oral cancer lesions make detection of salivary biomarkers for oral cancer especially attractive. Proteins are important molecules involved in pathological processes of oral cancer growth, apoptosis and metastasis. Proteins such as hormones, antibodies, enzymes and cytokines in saliva secreted by oral cancer cells or by host cells not only provide comprehensive pathological information of oral cancer but also are considered potential targets for non-invasive screening of oral cancer. This article provides a review of potential salivary proteomic biomarkers in oral cancer screening.

Zoledronic acid promotes TLR-4-mediated M1 macrophage polarization in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a detrimental side effect of the long-term administration of bisphosphonates. Although macrophages were reported to be an important mediator of BRONJ, the detailed potential mechanism of BRONJ remains unclear. Here, we reported an elevated TLR-4 expression in macrophages under action of zoledronic acid (ZA), resulting in enhanced M1 macrophage polarization and decreased M2 macrophage polarization both in vitro and in vivo. After inhibiting the TLR-4 signaling pathway, the activation of the TLR-4/NF-κB signaling pathway and the induction of NF-κB nuclear translocation and production of proinflammatory cytokines by ZA were suppressed in macrophages, thereby inhibiting M1 macrophage polarization. By utilizing the TLR-4-/- mice, development of BRONJ was markedly ameliorated, and M1 macrophages were significantly attenuated in the extraction socket tissues in the TLR-4-/- mice. Importantly, the systemic administration of the TLR-4 inhibitor TAK-242 improved the wound healing of the extraction socket and decreased the incidence rate of BRONJ. Taken together, our findings suggest that TLR-4-mediated macrophage polarization participates in the pathogenesis of BRONJ in mice, and TLR-4 may be a potential target for the prevention and therapeutic treatment of BRONJ.-Zhu, W., Xu, R., Du, J., Fu, Y., Li, S., Zhang, P., Liu, L., Jiang, H. Zoledronic acid promotes TLR-4-mediated M1 macrophage polarization in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.