Exploring new avenues of health protection: plant-derived nanovesicles reshape microbial communities.

Symbiotic microbial communities are crucial for human health, and dysbiosis is associated with various diseases. Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have a lipid bilayer structure and contain lipids, metabolites, proteins, and RNA. They offer unique advantages in regulating microbial community homeostasis and treating diseases related to dysbiosis compared to traditional drugs. On the one hand, lipids on PDNVs serve as the primary substances that mediate specific recognition and uptake by bacteria. On the other hand, due to the multifactorial nature of PDNVs, they have the potential to enhance growth and survival of beneficial bacterial while simultaneously reducing the pathogenicity of harmful bacteria. In addition, PDNVs have the capacity to modulate bacterial metabolism, thus facilitating the establishment of a harmonious microbial equilibrium and promoting stability within the microbiota. These remarkable attributes make PDNVs a promising therapeutic approach for various conditions, including periodontitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and skin infection diseases. However, challenges such as consistency, isolation methods, and storage need to be addressed before clinical application. This review aims to explore the value of PDNVs in regulating microbial community homeostasis and provide recommendations for their use as novel therapeutic agents for health protection.

Spatio-temporal pattern and associate factors of intestinal infectious diseases in Zhejiang Province, China, 2008-2021: a Bayesian modeling study.

BACKGROUND: Despite significant progress in sanitation status and public health awareness, intestinal infectious diseases (IID) have caused a serious disease burden in China. Little was known about the spatio-temporal pattern of IID at the county level in Zhejiang. Therefore, a spatio-temporal modelling study to identify high-risk regions of IID incidence and potential risk factors was conducted. METHODS: Reported cases of notifiable IID from 2008 to 2021 were obtained from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Moran's I index and the local indicators of spatial association (LISA) were calculated using Geoda software to identify the spatial autocorrelation and high-risk areas of IID incidence. Bayesian hierarchical model was used to explore socioeconomic and climate factors affecting IID incidence inequities from spatial and temporal perspectives. RESULTS: From 2008 to 2021, a total of 101 cholera, 55,298 bacterial dysentery, 131 amoebic dysentery, 5297 typhoid, 2102 paratyphoid, 27,947 HEV, 1,695,925 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), and 1,505,797 other infectious diarrhea (OID) cases were reported in Zhejiang Province. The hot spots for bacterial dysentery, OID, and HEV incidence were found mainly in Hangzhou, while high-high cluster regions for incidence of enteric fever and HFMD were mainly located in Ningbo. The Bayesian model showed that Areas with a high proportion of males had a lower risk of BD and enteric fever. People under the age of 18 may have a higher risk of IID. High urbanization rate was a protective factor against HFMD (RR = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.88, 0.94), but was a risk factor for HEV (RR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.01-1.10). BD risk (RR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10-1.18) and enteric fever risk (RR = 1.18, 95% CI:1.10-1.27) seemed higher in areas with high GDP per capita. The greater the population density, the higher the risk of BD (RR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.23-1.36), enteric fever (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.00-1.25), and HEV (RR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.09-1.21). Among climate variables, higher temperature was associated with a higher risk of BD (RR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.23-1.41), enteric fever (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.33-1.50), and HFMD (RR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.08-1.38), and with lower risk of HEV (RR = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.78-0.89). Precipitation was positively correlated with enteric fever (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00-1.08), HFMD (RR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.06), and HEV (RR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03-1.08). Higher HFMD risk was also associated with increasing relative humidity (RR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.16-1.24) and lower wind velocity (RR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.84-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: There was significant spatial clustering of IID incidence in Zhejiang Province from 2008 to 2021. Spatio-temporal patterns of IID risk could be largely explained by socioeconomic and meteorological factors. Preventive measures and enhanced monitoring should be taken in some high-risk counties in Hangzhou city and Ningbo city.

The time-dependent variations of zebrafish intestine and gill after polyethylene microplastics exposure.

Microplastics (MPs) are common environmental contaminants that present a growing health concern due to their increasing presence in aquatic and human systems. However, the mechanisms behind MP effects on organisms are unclear. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used as an in vivo model to investigate the potential risks and molecular mechanisms of the toxic effects of polyethylene MPs (45-53 µm). In the zebrafish intestine, 6, 5, and 186 genes showed differential expression after MP treatment for 1, 5, and 10 days, respectively. In the gills, 318, 92, and 484 genes showed differential expression after MP treatment for 1, 5, and 10 days, respectively. In both the intestine and the gills, Gene Ontology (GO) annotation showed that the main enriched terms were biological regulation, cellular process, metabolic process, cellular anatomical entity, and binding. KEGG enrichment analysis on DEGs revealed that the dominant pathways were carbohydrate metabolism and lipid metabolism, which were strongly influenced by MPs in the intestine. The dominant pathways in the gills were immune and lipid metabolism. The respiratory rate of gills, the activity of SOD and GSH in the intestine significantly increased after exposure to MPs compared with the control (p < 0.05), while the activity of SOD did not change in the gills. GSH activity was only significantly increased after MP exposure for 5 days. Also, the MDA content was not changed in the intestine but was significantly decreased in the gills after MP exposure. The activity of AChE significantly decreased only after MPs exposure for 5 days. Overall, these results indicated that MPs pollution significantly induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity, increased respiratory rate, disturbed energy metabolism and stimulated immune function in fish, displaying an environmental risk of MPs to aquatic ecosystems.

Analysis of oral microbial dysbiosis associated with early childhood caries.

BACKGROUND: "Core microbes" play a key role in the development of caries and lead to microbial disorders. Our goal was to detect the core microbes associated with the microbiota imbalance in early childhood caries (ECC). METHODS: Fifteen caries-free children and fifteen high-caries (DMFT ≥ 10) children aged 4-6 years old were recruited according to the diagnostic criteria of caries suggested by the WHO. The 16S rRNA genes from samples of plaque in saliva were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced by the Illumina Miseq platform. The sequencing results were analyzed by professional software to determine the composition and structure of the saliva microorganisms. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the relative abundance of Streptococcus mutans (Wilcoxon rank-sum test, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the groups regarding other species or functional genes. CONCLUSION: S. mutans, together with other pathogens, may play a prominent role and act as "core microbes" in the occurrence and development of early childhood caries.

Mandibular first premolar with five root canals: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the anatomical morphology of the root canal is key for successful root canal treatment. The aims of this case presentation are to report a unique case of root canal treatment involving five root canals in the mandibular first premolar and to highlight the importance of variation in root canals of mandibular first premolars in clinical practice. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old male with intermittent pain in relation to the lower right posterior teeth over 3 weeks was diagnosed with symptomatic pulpitis in tooth #44. Four root canals were found, including mesiobuccal, distobuccal-1, distobuccal-2, and distolingual roots, and the Mtwo rotary system was used for root canal preparation. The four root canals were filled after 2 weeks, when a fifth canal was found, located in the buccal cavity. The fifth canal was confirmed to be the mesiolingual root canal by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and was found to be curved. After completion of the root canal filling, CBCT was performed, and a three-dimensional root canal image was reconstructed. After 1 week of observation, the tooth was repaired using composite resin filling. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case presentation of a fifth canal of the mandibular first premolar and advances our understanding of variations in the anatomy of the mandibular first premolar. This case report provides a reference for the treatment of mandibular first premolars.

Composites of Bacterial Cellulose and Small Molecule-Decorated Gold Nanoparticles for Treating Gram-Negative Bacteria-Infected Wounds.

Bacterial infections, especially multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, are an increasingly serious problem in the field of wound healing. Herein, bacterial cellulose (BC) decorated by 4,6-diamino-2-pyrimidinethiol (DAPT)-modified gold nanoparticles (Au-DAPT NPs) is presented as a dressing (BC-Au-DAPT nanocomposites) for treating bacterially infected wounds. BC-Au-DAPT nanocomposites have better efficacy (measured in terms of reduced minimum inhibition concentration) than most of the antibiotics (cefazolin/sulfamethoxazole) against Gram-negative bacteria, while maintaining excellent physicochemical properties including water uptake capability, mechanical strain, and biocompatibility. On Escherichia coli- or Pseudomonas aeruginosa-infected full-thickness skin wounds on rats, the BC-Au-DAPT nanocomposites inhibit bacterial growth and promote wound repair. Thus, the BC-Au-DAPT nanocomposite system is a promising platform for treating superbug-infected wounds.

Effect of biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents versus biocompatible polymer everolimus-eluting stents: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Biocompatible polymer everolimus-eluting stents (EES) are associated with risk of stent thrombosis (ST); biodegradable polymer drug-eluting stents (BP-DES) were designed to reduce these risks. However, the long-term benefits are not completely clear. METHOD: We undertook a meta-analysis of randomized studies identified in systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database. Primary outcome was the risk of ST. RESULTS: Twelve studies (11,692 patients) were included. Overall, compared with EES, BP-DES were associated with a broadly equivalent risk of definite and probable ST (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.55 to 1.50; P = 0.71; I2 = 0.0%), early ST (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 0.78 to 6.47; P = 0.13; I2 = 0.0%), late ST (OR, 3.57; 95% CI, 0.42 to 30.58; P = 0.25; I2 = 0.0%) and very late ST (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.05 to 5.52; P = 0.57). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.32; P = 0.54; I2 = 0.0%), myocardial infarction (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.30; P = 0.47; I2 = 0.0%), target vessel revascularization (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.21; P = 0.80; I2 = 12.0%), and major adverse cardiac events (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.16; P = 0.53; I2 = 0.0%). Furthermore, angiographic data showed that in-stent and in-segment late luminal loss were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with biocompatible polymer EES, biodegradable polymer stents appear to have equivalent clinical benefits.

Location of Pterygopalatine Fossa and its Relationships to the Structures in Sellar Region.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to locate pterygopalatine fossa (PPF) and the opening of its communicating canals by accessing the relationship between PFF and the endoscopic landmarks such as the tubercular recess (TR) and middle lowest point of sellar floor (SF) as well as analyze the relation between PPF and important structures such as internal carotid artery (ICA) and optic canal (OC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computer topographic angiography (CTA) images of 118 PPF regions were reviewed. The measurement was on coronal, sagittal, and axial planes after multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). The location of PPF and its relationship to the sphenoid sinus, ICA, and OC were studied. The communicating canals of PPF, which were related to the transsphenoid approach, were three-dimensionally measured by the stationary structures, such as the middle lowest point of SF, the sagittal midline, and the top and bottom wall of sphenoid sinus. RESULT: The posterior part of PPF was located by the middle lowest point of SF. The anterior opening of sphenopalatine foramen (SPF), pterygoid canal (PC), palatovaginal canal (PVC), and foramina rotundum (FR) have relative stationary position, which can be located by the landmarks of sellar region during the endoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Pterygopalatine fossa is related to numerous neurovascular structures. Accurate understanding of the radiologic anatomy of PPF is beneficial for the PPF disease diagnosis, the selection of treatment plan and the prognosis evaluation.

Lung microbiota participated in fibrous microplastics (MPs) aggravating OVA-induced asthma disease in mice.

Environmental pollution is one of the risk factors for asthma. Currently, whether micro-plastics could aggravate asthma, is still unclear. In the air, fibrous MPs are the predominant shape. Since fibrous micro-plastics are reported to be detected in the lower respiratory tract and other body parts, the relationship of fibrous MP and asthma, as well as the potential mechanism is not well investigated. In this study, we produced fibrous MPs, whose lengths and widths were in accordance with the natural environment, and further, investigated the potential adverse effect of which on the asthma in a OVA (ovalbumin)-induced mice model, aiming at exploring the true life hazard of MP to the respiratory system. Following nasal exposure to fibrous MPs, the airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and fibrosis were aggravated in asthmatic mice. Fibrous MPs exposure also significantly increased the levels of total IgE, and, cardinal Th2 and Th1 pro-inflammatory cytokines participated in the etiopathogenesis of allergic airway inflammation. In addition, MP fibers exposure induced lung epithelial cells apoptosis, disruption of epithelial barrier integrity and activation of NLRP3 related signaling pathways. Moreover, fibrous MPs significantly altered the bacterial composition at the genus level. Compared to the control group, the relative abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Uncultured were decreased to 4.47% and 0.15% in OVA group, while Blautia and Prevotella were elevated to 4.96% and 2.94%. For the OVA + MPs group, the relative abundance of Blautia and Uncultured were decreased to 2.27% and 0.006%, while Prevotella was increased to 3.05%. Our study highlights the detrimental effect of fibrous MPs on asthmatic population and facilitates an indication of the latent mechanisms of fibrous MPs induced airway pathology.

[Improvement of the mastication function of orthodontics combined with restoration in the treatment of deep overbite with severe lower anterior teeth attrition].

PURPOSE: To observe the effect of orthodontics combined with restoration on masticatory function in deep overbite patients with severe lower anterior teeth attrition. METHODS: From January 2018 to January 2022, a total of 164 deep overbite patients with severe lower anterior teeth attrition were collected and divided into two groups according to different treatment plans: control group(72 patients, with restoration treatment) and experimental group(92 patients, with orthodontics combined with restoration treatment). The chewing efficiency of the two groups was evaluated, temporomandibular joint dysfunction index (DI), muscle palpation index (PI) and cranio-mandibular index (CMI) were calculated. The satisfaction with facial esthetic, the Chinese version of Oral Health Impact Scale-14(OHIP-14) and the repair satisfaction score were evaluated, the occurrence of adverse events between the two groups was compared. SPSS 23.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: After treatment, the chewing efficiency of the experimental group was significantly improved compared to the control group, while the DI, PI, and CMI were significantly reduced compared to the control group(P＜0.05). Compared with the control group, the satisfaction degree with facial esthetic and restoration in the experimental group was significantly higher, while the OHIP-14 score was significantly lower after treatment(P＜0.05). The incidence of adverse events in the experimental group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (6.52% vs 25.00%, P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of orthodontics and restoration treatment can enhance the effectiveness of restoration treatment for deep overbite with severe lower anterior teeth attrition, improve the mastication function and temporomandibular joint balance,satisfaction and quality of life of patients, as well as reduce the risk of adverse events.

Chimeric cellulase matrix for investigating intramolecular synergism between non-hydrolytic disruptive functions of carbohydrate-binding modules and catalytic hydrolysis.

The conversion of renewable cellulosic biomass is of considerable interest for the production of biofuels and materials. The bottleneck in the efficient conversion is the compactness and resistance of crystalline cellulose. Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs), which disrupt crystalline cellulose via non-hydrolytic mechanisms, are expected to overcome this bottleneck. However, the lack of convenient methods for quantitative analysis of the disruptive functions of CBMs have hindered systematic studies and molecular modifications. Here we established a practical and systematic platform for quantifying and comparing the non-hydrolytic disruptive activities of CBMs via the synergism of CBMs and a catalytic module within designed chimeric cellulase molecules. Bioinformatics and computational biology were also used to provide a deeper understanding. A convenient vector was constructed to serve as a cellulase matrix into which heterologous CBM sequences can be easily inserted. The resulting chimeric cellulases were suitable for studying disruptive functions, and their activities quantitatively reflected the disruptive functions of CBMs on crystalline cellulose. In addition, this cellulase matrix can be used to construct novel chimeric cellulases with high hydrolytic activities toward crystalline cellulose.

[Extraction and purification of isocorydine from Dicranostigma leptopodum].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the conditions of extraction and purification of isocorydine from Dicranostigma leptopodum. METHODS: Extraction conditions of isocorydine were selected on the basis of orthogonal experimental design, the static adsorption/desorption experiments were used to evaluate the optimum resin. RESULTS: The optimum extraction parameters were as follows: the ratio of raw materials to solvent 1:15 (g/mL), extraction solvent 1% vitriol, the extraction three times and 1 h each time. LX28 resin exhibited higher adsorption efficiency. CONCLUSION: Under the above optimum conditions, the extraction yield of isocorydine is 0.88%. The purity of isocorydine can reach 85.34% with a yield rate of 68.64%.

Low-dose of polystyrene microplastics induce cardiotoxicity in mice and human-originated cardiac organoids.

Microplastic particles (MP) are prevalent in both industrial production and the natural environment, posing a significant concern for human health. Daily diet, air inhalation, and skin contact are major routines of MP intake in human. The main injury target systems of MPs include the digestive system, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system. However, the study on MPs' adverse effects on the heart is less than other target organs. Previous in vivo studies have demonstrated that MPs can induce heart injuries, including abnormal heart rate, apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, mitochondrial membrane potential change, and fibrin overexpression. To address animal welfare concerns and overcome inter-species variations, this study employed a human pluripotent stem cell-derived in vitro three-dimensional cardiac organoid (CO) model to investigate the adverse effects of MPs on the human heart. The distinct cavities of COs allowed for the observation of MPs' aggregation and spatial distribution following polystyrene-MP (PS) exposure in a dynamic exposure system. After exposure to various concentrations of PS (0.025, 0.25 and 2.5 µg/mL, with the lowest concentration equivalent to human internal exposure levels), the COs exhibited increased oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and collagen accumulation. These findings were consistent with in vivo observations, in terms of increases in the interventricular septal thickness. The expression of hypertrophic-related genes of COs (MYH7B/ANP/BNP/COL1A1) changed noticeably and the cardiac-specific markers MYL2/MYL4/CX43 were also markedly elevated. Our findings revealed the PS could induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo and in vitro, indicating that MP may be an under-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular system.

Effect of Wearing Different Masks on Acoustic, Aerodynamic, and Formant Parameters.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of different types of masks on acoustic, aerodynamic, and formant parameters in healthy people. METHODS: Our study involved 30 healthy participants, 15 of each gender, aged 20-40 years. The tests were conducted under four conditions: without a mask, after wearing a surgical mask, after wearing a head-mounted N95 mask, and after wearing an ear-mounted N95 mask. Voice recording was done with the mask on. The acoustic parameters include mean fundamental frequency (F0), mean intensity, percentage of jitter (local), percentage of shimmer (local), mean noise to harmonic ratio (NHR), aerodynamic parameter, maximum phonation time (MPT), and formant parameters (/a/, /i/, /u/ three vowels F1, F2). RESULTS: The main effect of mask type was significant in MPT, mean F0, mean HNR, /a/F1, /a/F2, /i/F2. However, the effect sizes and power in /a/F2, /i/F2 were low. MPT, mean F0 and mean HNR significantly increased and /a/F1 significantly decreased after wearing the head-mounted n95 mask. The mean F0 and mean HNR increased significantly after wearing the ear-mounted n95 mask. No significant changes were observed in parameters after wearing the surgical mask in this study. When the statistics are performed separately for males and females, the results obtained are similar to those previously obtained for unspecified males and females. CONCLUSION: After wearing the surgical mask, this study found insignificant changes in mean F0, jitter (local), shimmer (local), mean NHR, mean intensity, MPT, and the vowels F1 and F2. This may be due to the looser design of the surgical mask and the relatively small attenuation of sound. N95 masks have a greater effect on vocalization than surgical masks and may cause changes in F0 and HNR after wearing an N95 mask. In the present study, no significant changes in jitter and shimmer were observed after wearing the mask. In addition, there was a significant reduction in /a/F1 after wearing the N95 headgear mask may owing to its high restriction of jaw mobility. In future studies, the change in jaw movement amplitude after wearing the mouthpiece can be added to investigate.

Combined effect of polystyrene microplastics and bisphenol A on the human embryonic stem cells-derived liver organoids: The hepatotoxicity and lipid accumulation.

Human are exposed to microplastics (MP) via inhalation or ingestion daily and inevitably. The liver is an important target organ of MP. Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of commonly used plasticizers. It is added in plastics, but also generally detected in the biological samples of human beings. However, the combined toxic effect of MP and BPA on human liver is unclear. In this study, a novel 3D in vitro model, the liver organoid (LO) derived from human-pluripotent stem cells, has been utilized to explore the 1 µm polystyrene (PS)-induced hepatotoxicity with BPA individually and jointly. Conclusively, all the changes in the cytotoxicity, cellular and molecular makers regarding the energy supplement, hepatic injury, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, disruption in the lipid accumulation, as well as epigenetics regulation induced by BPA or PS on the LOs individually were comparable to previous study. The BPA levels in the culture medium were declined by the added PS. The combined adverse effect of PS and BPA on the LOs was identified to be synergistic upon deteriorated hepatotoxicity and interfered the gene panels related to multiple processes of lipid metabolism, together with the proteins of HNF4A, CD36, ACC1, CPT1A, CYP2E1, ERα and ERß. Specifically, PS didn't change the ERα or ERß individually, but when the LOs were co-exposed to PS and BPA, the ERα further elevated significantly and synergistically. Our findings highlight the metabolic-related health risk due to co-exposure to MP and BPA, even at low-doses equivalent to human internal exposure level. Based on these findings, the potential adverse outcome pathway related to PS and BPA singly and jointly were proposed, predicting two possible outcomes to be hepatic steatosis. Moreover, the ERα and HNF4A were proposed to be potential candidate markers to investigate the "vector-like effect" of PS in the present of BPA.

Application Study of Novel Eggshell/Ag Combined with Pit and Fissure Sealants.

Objective: The study aims to enhance the anti-caries performance of pit and fissure sealants through the synthesis of novel silver nanocomposites, and to evaluate their mechanical properties and biological safety in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The antibacterial properties of synthetic eggshell/Ag were detected by bacterial inhibition zone, minimum bacteriostatic concentration, fluorescence staining and scanning electron microscopy. The synthetic products were then combined with pit and fissure sealants to prepare specimens, and their effects on mechanical properties, antibacterial properties and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Furthermore, an oral mucosal contact model of golden hamsters was established according to the ISO10933 standard to evaluate local stimulation and systemic effects. Results: The novel nanocomposite eggshell/Ag was confirmed to exhibit strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, and that the eggshell/Ag-modified pit and fissure sealant had strong antibacterial properties against common dental caries bacterial biofilms, without any significant change in mechanical properties. The gradient dilution extract showed acceptable cytotoxicity, and in the golden hamster oral contact model, there were no visible abnormalities in local mucosal tissues, blood indices, or liver and kidney histopathology. Conclusions: These findings suggest that eggshell/Ag combined with pit and fissure sealants has strong antibacterial activity and excellent biosafety in vitro and in vivo, making it a promising candidate for clinical applications.

[Clinical study of the effect of combined orthodontic and restoration treatment for introverted deep overbite patients with severe wear].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of combined orthodontic and restoration treatment for introverted deep overbite patients with severe wear. METHODS: A total of 86 introverted deep overbite patients with severe wear admitted to Cangzhou People's Hospital from December 2020 to June 2022 were collected and divided into the control group and the experimental group by gender, age, degree of wear and tear, with 43 cases in each group. The control group received orthodontic treatment, while the experimental group received combined orthodontic and restoration treatment. The gingival index (GI), periodontal index(PI), smile index, temporomandibular joint space [anterior space, superior space, posterior space and In (P/A)], tooth function (chewing function, pronunciation function, dental occlusal function) and chewing efficiency of 2 groups before and after treatment were compared. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 22.0 software package. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the orthodontic treatment time of the experimental group patients was significantly reduced(P＜0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in GI, PI, smile index, buccal gap rate, temporomandibular joint space, swallowing function and chewing efficiency between 2 groups(P＞0.05). After treatment, compared with the control group, the GI, PI, anterior space were significantly reduced(P＜0.05); the smile index, posterior space and In (P/A), chewing function, pronunciation function, tooth occlusion and chewing efficiency significantly increased (P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both orthodontic treatment and combined orthodontic and restoration treatment can be used to treat introverted deep overbite patients with severe wear. However, combination of orthodontic and restoration treatment has significant advantages.

Source apportionment and risk assessment for available occurrence forms of heavy metals in Dongdahe Wetland sediments, southwest of China.

Urban wetland ecosystems are easily influenced by heavy metals (HMs) because of their functional properties. In this study, absolute principal component scores-multivariate linear regression (APCS-MLR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor models were applied for the source apportionment of available occurrence forms of heavy metals (AHMs) of surface sediments in a typical urban wetland of Dianchi Lake, southwest of China. The risk assessment was conducted to evaluate the potential ecological/human health risks of HMs. Results indicated that Zn, Pb, and Cr were the major pollutants affected by anthropogenic activities in sediments and their concentrations were significantly exceeding the background value. Most of the highly AHMs-polluted area was close to the river in wetland, and the concentration distribution of all AHMs were generally low in the southwest and high in the northeast. Both APCS-MLR and PMF models identified three comparable classes of potential sources, namely (1) agricultural fertilizer/insecticide, atmospheric deposition, and traffic emissions; (2) natural transitions; and (3) industrial and sewage wastes. Moreover, the comparison results implied that the PMF model was more feasible for quantifying AHMs sources in wetland sediments since it is capable to analyze one more source, namely plant maintenance and waterfowl feeding, and has higher accuracy in predicting the concentrations of AHMs. In addition, the risk assessment model revealed that all these HMs were within the acceptable ranges of ecological and carcinogenic/non-carcinogenic human health risks. Among these, ingestion was the major exposure pathway of HMs from local areas, followed by dermal exposure and oral or nasal inhalation. However, children were more easily exposed to HMs than adults by ingestion due to their hand-to-mouth behaviors. This study aims to assess the HM pollution status in a plateau urban wetland, and provides a practical case for modeling source apportionment and risk assessment of HMs in wetland sediments.

Inhalable microplastics prevails in air: Exploring the size detection limit.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, including the atmosphere. Yet, the size detection limit in measuring airborne MPs undermines the determination of the human MP exposure level through inhalation and also restricts the understanding of airborne MPs pollution behavior. To comprehensively and accurately assess the MPs pollution features in air, we demonstrate a qualitative and quantitively method using Raman microscopy to characterize the suspended atmospheric MPs. Our methodology has achieved detailed characterization of MPs down to 1 µm and ensured all the MPs to be counted regardless of their transparency. Further, a case study of indoor and outdoor samples from eight sampling sites were conducted in Shanghai, China. Inhalable MPs prevails in all samples with higher concentrations occur indoors. Indoor MPs varied strongly in composition compare to outdoor. Ventilation played an important role in lowering indoor MPs concentrations, and MPs in better ventilated indoors displayed similar distribution patterns as outdoors. MPs detected were mainly Polyethylene, Polyester, Phenolic Resin and Polyvinyl chloride. 77% of the Polyethylene detected were transparent films, suggesting the fragmentation from PE film products, such as plastic bags and cling films. Our work confirmed the widespread existences of inhalable MPs in air and provides solid foundations for future studies to understand the realistic MPs exposure conditions through inhalation.

Egr1/HSP70 Promoter-Driven Activation of Gene Expression for Synergistic Anti-Hepatoma Using PEI-MZF Nanoparticles and Radiation.

INTRODUCTION: Spatially restricted gene expression circumvents the gene expression and gene vector problem by enabling localized amplification. The objective of this study is to construct a spatially restricted gene expression for liver cancer therapy based upon the MFH-absorbing properties of PEI- Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2o4, gene therapy and radiation. METHODS: Mn0.5zn0.5Fe2O4 (MZF) magnetic nanoparticles were prepared by an improved chemical co-precipitation method, modified by polyethylene imine (PEI), and then the structure, modification characters, biocompatibility, temperature rise and control ability and binding efficiency of the plasmid were characterized. Then, the dual-promoter plasmid PCDNA3.1-EGR1-HSP70-HSVTK was constructed. The recombinant vectors were identified by enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing. The TK gene expression level was detected by realtime-PCR assay in HEK293 cells. Also, the HSV-TK gene expression was detected in SMMC7721 cells with the help of PEI-Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4. In vitro anti-tumor experiment, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the cultured SMMC7721 cells treated by different ways. In vivo anti-tumor experiment, the xenografted mice were treated by different ways for three times to detect the antitumor effect. RESULTS: The Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles could be successfully prepared through improved co-precipitation process and showed good biocompatibility. And PEI had been coated on MZF complex. The modified PEI-MZF presented favorable dispensability, responsibility to magnetism, good loading capability and transfect capability. Also, pCDNA3.1-Egr1-Hsp70-HSVTK plasmid had been constructed successfully and could be induced by heat and irradiation. It would be used for further target gene therapy research. The antitumor results in vitro showed: The therapeutic effects of nanosized PEI-MZF-HSV-TK complex could significantly inhibit the proliferation of cultured liver cancer cells (SMC7721), induce cell apoptosis and had a prominent cell cycle disturbance in the S phase in vitro. The results in vivo showed: The combined therapy induced by PEI-MZF-HSV-TK could inhabit the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts by killing and inhabiting the proliferation of the tumor cells. CONCLUSION: The novel site-directed heat/radiation-inducible expression system based upon the hyperthermia (by MFH) and radiation possessed superior antitumor effect in vivo and in vitro.