Preparation of amentoflavone-loaded DSPE-PEG2000 micelles with improved bioavailability and in vitro antitumor efficacy.

To overcome the poor aqueous solubility and enhance the anticancer effects of amentoflavone (AF), a nontoxic and biodegradable amphiphilic copolymer, poly(ethyleneglycol)-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE-PEG2000 ), was introduced to prepare AF micelles using the thin-film hydration method. Amentoflavone was successfully encapsulated into the core, achieving an encapsulation efficiency of 98.80 ± 0.24% and a drug loading efficiency of 2.96 ± 0.12%. The resulting micelles exhibited a spherical shape with a particle size of approximately 25.99 nm. The solubility of AF was significant improved by 412-fold, and cumulative drug release studies showed that AF release was much faster from the micelles compared with the free drug. The release of AF was sustained over time and followed a degradation-based kinetic model, similar to polymeric systems. After oral administration, the AF-loaded micelles demonstrated an enhanced oral bioavailability, which was 3.79 times higher than that of free AF. In vitro evaluations of the micelles' antitumor effects revealed a significantly greater efficacy compared with free AF. These findings highlight the tremendous potential of DSPE-PEG2000 micelles as a drug delivery carrier for improving the solubility and therapeutic efficacy of AF.

Macrophage polarization in aseptic bone resorption around dental implants induced by Ti particles in a murine model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Titanium particles/ions detected in peri-implant tissues have been considered as a potential etiologic factor for crestal bone loss around oral implants. However, the definite impact of titanium wear particles on the health of surrounding structures remains undetermined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of titanium particles-induced foreign body reaction on peri-implant bone level and the related mechanism by using clodronate liposomes to deplete macrophages. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats with custom-made titanium screw implanted in bilateral maxillary first molar area for 4 weeks to obtain osseointegration were randomly divided into four groups. Twenty microgram titanium particles were introduced into the peri-implant tissue to induce aseptic foreign body reaction, and macrophages were depleted by the local injection of 100 µL clodronate liposome immediately and re-injection every 3 days until the sacrifice of the rats (Ti + LipClod group). Titanium-injected rats also treated with phosphate buffer solution (Ti + PBS) or empty liposome (Ti + Lip) as well as rats injected with PBS alone (Control) were included as controls. Eight weeks later, animals were sacrificed and samples containing implants were collected. Half of the samples were analyzed radiologically to measure bone level change, and macrophage markers (CD68, CCR7, CD163) was also characterized by immunofluorescence to evaluate macrophage number, density, and phenotype distribution (CCR7+M1/CD163+M2). The rest of the samples were used to determine the relative mRNA expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and RANKL with real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS: No obvious bacterial contamination was found in all titanium-injected areas, and the implant survival rate was 100% with no implant loss. Compared with Ti + PBS and Ti + Lip group, macrophage density (1.64 ± 0.86%) infiltrated into peri-implant tissue and bone loss (0.17 ± 0.03 mm) around implant decreased significantly in the Ti + LipClod group. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that more macrophage infiltrated into peri-implant tissue in the Ti + PBS and Ti + Lip groups, predominantly with M1 phenotype. In contrast, the macrophage density was lower and M2 phenotype was dominant in the Control group, while macrophages density was significantly reduced and the M1 type macrophages were slightly more than M2 type in the Ti + LipClod group. Accordingly, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL6, and RANKL mRNA expression increased significantly in the Ti + PBS and Ti + Lip groups compared with Control and Ti + LipClod groups. CONCLUSIONS: Titanium particles had a negative effect on peri-implant tissue by activating macrophages which induced an M1 macrophage phenotype promoting local secretion of inflammatory cytokines. It was found that clodronate liposome treatment attenuated the severity of inflammation and bone loss by depletion of macrophages. Therefore, the present study revealed the marked impact of macrophage polarization with respect to peri-implant bone loss caused by titanium particles.

Biodegradable Nanoagents with Short Biological Half-Life for SPECT/PAI/MRI Multimodality Imaging and PTT Therapy of Tumors.

Rapid clearance of nanoagents is a critical criterion for their clinical translation. Herein, it is reported that biodegradable and renal clearable nanoparticles are potentially useful for image-guided photothermal therapy of tumors. The multifunctional nanoparticles with excellent colloidal stability are synthesized through coordination reactions between Fe3+ ions and gallic acid (GA)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in aqueous solution. Detailed characterization reveals that the resulting Fe3+ /GA/PVP complex nanoparticles (FGPNs) integrate strong near-infrared absorption with paramagnetism well. As a result, the FGPNs present outstanding performance for photoacoustic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging of tumors, and outstanding photothermal ablation effect for tumor therapy owing to their high photothermal conversion efficiency. More importantly, the pharmacokinetic behaviors of the FGPNs determined through 125 I labeling suggest that the FGPNs are readily degraded in vivo showing a short biological half-life, and the decomposition products are excreted through either renal clearance pathway or bowel elimination pathway via stomach, which highlights the characteristics of the current multifunctional theranostic agent and their potential in clinical translation.

The efficacy of polidocanol sclerotherapy in mucocele of the minor salivary gland.

OBJECTIVES: Mucocele of the minor salivary gland is usually caused when the duct is injured, mucus leaks into the tissue space and the mucous gland are obstructed, which lead to cystic lesion formation and dilatation. Currently, there are multiple therapeutic methods available with various outcomes. This study aims to provide clinical evidence of polidocanol sclerotherapy for the treatment of mucocele of the minor salivary gland. METHODS: In this study, we injected polidocanol into 112 patients who were diagnosed with mucocele of the minor salivary gland and evaluated the treatment efficacy and safety systematically. RESULTS: Of the 122 cases, 102 cases were cured, eight cases showed remarkable remission, and two cases had partial remission. No recurrence was found during follow-up, and none of the cases showed an invalid effect, resulting in a total cure rate of 91.07%. No severe side effects were observed during treatment or the follow-up period. No significant difference in efficacy between different genders was found (P = 0.490). Polidocanol sclerotherapy for mucocele on the lower lip was more effective compared to mucocele on the inferior surface of the lingual apex (P = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Polidocanol sclerotherapy showed satisfying curative effects for mucocele of the minor salivary gland without causing side effects of anesthesia, trauma, or severe pain.

Long-term outcomes of narrow diameter implants in posterior jaws: A retrospective study with at least 8-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term survival, complications, peri-implant conditions, marginal bone loss, and patient satisfaction of fixed dental prostheses supported by narrow diameter implants (NDIs) in the posterior jaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study with a mean follow-up time of 10.1 years (SD: 2.5 years). Patients receiving NDIs in posterior jaw were reviewed. Implant survival, hardware complication, modified plaque index (mPI), peri-implant probing depth (PPD), percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP%), marginal bone loss (MBL), and patient satisfaction were evaluated. Log-rank test and t test were used to detect the influence of implant location and restoration type. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients with 98 NDIs (Premolar site: 81, Molar site: 17, Single crowns: 33, Splinted restorations: 65) were included. The overall implant survival rates were 96.9% at implant level and 97.0% at patient level. Veneer chipping was the most common hardware complication. The veneer chipping rates were 19.4% at patient level and 18.4% at implant level. All patients showed acceptable oral hygiene. Thus, the average MBL was 1.19 mm at implant level and 1.15 mm at patient level. Eight implants (8.5%) and six patients (9.2%) were diagnosed with peri-implantitis. Fifty-eight patients (89.2%) were satisfied with the esthetics of the restorations, while 55 patients (84.6%) were satisfied with the function of the restorations. CONCLUSION: Narrow diameter implants could be a predictable treatment option in the long term. High survival rates, high patient satisfaction, acceptable complication rates and marginal bone loss could be achieved. Further long-term studies are needed to evaluate the predictability of NDIs in molar sites.

Receptor-Interacting Protein 3/Caspase-8 May Regulate Inflammatory Response and Promote Tissue Regeneration in the Periodontal Microenvironment.

BACKGROUND Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) possess characteristics of multi-potential differentiation and immuno-modulation, and PDLSCs-mediated periodontal tissue regeneration is regarded as a hopeful method for periodontitis treatment. Recent studies demonstrated that RIP3 and caspase8 regulate bacteria-induced innate immune response and programmed necrosis, which is also called necroptosis. This study aimed to determine the role of the RIP3/Caspase8 signal pathway on necroptosis of PDLSCs under the inflammatory microenvironment, both [i]in vitro[/i] and [i]in vivo[/i]. MATERIAL AND METHODS PDLSCs were cultured, and transmission electron microscopy and flow cytometry were used to detect necroptosis. PCR, ALP, and Alizarin Red S staining were used to assess the effect of necroptosis on osteogenesis differentiation of PDLSCs [i]in vitro[/i], while HE and Masson staining were taken after the nude mouse subcutaneous transplant experiment. RESULTS Our research indicates that RIP3/caspase8 can regulate the immune response of PDLSCs, and blockade of RIP3/caspase8 can protect the biological characteristics of the PDLSCs, effectively promoting periodontal tissue regeneration in the inflammatory microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS Inhibiting RIP3/caspase8 can effectively promote periodontal tissue regeneration in the inflammatory microenvironment.

Angular immediate loading: three-dimensional finite element analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the stress distribution in the bone around implants under 0, 5, 10, and 20 degrees of loading. DESIGN: Four mandible models, embedded with cylindrical implants with immediate-load angle of 0, 5, 10, and 20 degrees, were analyzed using the software ANSYS 10.0. The von Mises stress of the implant-bone interface mainly including the implant neck as well as the middle and apex areas was calculated when the implants were loaded with 200-N forces. RESULTS: Stress is mainly concentrated in the bone interface of the implant neck. With the loading implant inclining by 20 degrees, the stress concentrated in the neck of the distal side bone interface is of statistical significance (P < 0.05) when compared with the other groups; when inclined by 0 and 5 degrees, there is no statistical significance; when inclined by 10 degrees, there is statistical significance. The stress in the mesial side of the implant-bone interface is relatively small, and it has no statistical significance in each corresponding site (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The immediate load of the implant mainly increases the stress in the cortical bone around the neck of the implant. It is necessary to pay attention to the impact of the stress at the angle greater than 20 degrees or above on the implant neck; the stress in change is not obvious in the middle and apex areas of the implant as well as in the middle and apex areas of the implant under a lateral force within 20 degrees.

The detection of Gper1 as an important gene promoting jawbone regeneration in the context of estrogen deficiency.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that estrogen deficiency inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of pre-osteoblasts in skeleton by affecting osteogenic signaling, lead to decreased bone mass and impaired regeneration. To explore the mechanisms maintaining bone regeneration under estrogen deficiency, we randomly selected 1102 clinical cases, in which female patients aged between 18 and 75 have underwent tooth extraction in Stomatological Hospital of Tongji University, there is little difference in the healing effect of extraction defects, suggesting that to some extent, the regeneration of jawbone is insensitive to the decreased estrogen level. To illuminate the mechanisms promoting jawbone regeneration under estrogen deficiency, a tooth extraction defect model was established in the maxilla of female rats who underwent ovariectomy (OVX) or sham surgery, and jawbone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were isolated for single-cell sequencing. Further quantitative PCR, RNA interference, alizarin red staining, immunohistochemistry and western blotting experiments demonstrated that in the context of ovariectomy, maxillary defects promoted G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 (Gper1) expression, stimulate downstream cAMP/PKA/pCREB signaling, and facilitate cell proliferation, and thus provided sufficient progenitors for osteogenesis and enhanced the regeneration capacity of the jawbone. Correspondingly, the heterozygous deletion of the Gper1 gene attenuated the phosphorylation of CREB, led to decreased cell proliferation, and impaired the restoration of maxillary defects. This study demonstrates the importance of Gper1 in maintaining jawbone regeneration, especially in the context of estrogen deficiency.

A hybrid robotic system for zygomatic implant placement based on mixed reality navigation.

BACKGROUNDS: Zygomatic implant (ZI) placement surgery is a viable surgical option for patients with severe maxillary atrophy and insufficient residual maxillary bone. Still, it is difficult and risky due to the long path of ZI placement and the narrow field of vision. Dynamic navigation is a superior solution, but it presents challenges such as requiring operators to have advanced skills and experience. Moreover, the precision and stability of manual implantation remain inadequate. These issues are anticipated to be addressed by implementing robot-assisted surgery and achieved by introducing a mixed reality (MR) navigation-guided hybrid robotic system for ZI placement surgery. METHODS: This study utilized a hybrid robotic system to perform the ZI placement surgery. Our first step was to reconstruct a virtual 3D model from preoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. We proposed a series of algorithms based on coordinate transformation, which includes image-phantom registration, HoloLens-tracker registration, drill-phantom calibration, and robot-implant calibration, to unify all objects within the same coordinate system. These algorithms enable real-time tracking of the surgical drill's position and orientation relative to the patient phantom. Subsequently, the surgical drill is directed to the entry position, and the planned implantation paths are superimposed on the patient phantom using HoloLens 2 for visualization. Finally, the hybrid robot system performs the processed of drilling, expansion, and placement of ZIs under the guidance of the MR navigation system. RESULTS: Phantom experiments of ZI placement were conducted using 10 patient phantoms, with a total of 40 ZIs inserted. Out of these, 20 were manually implanted, and the remaining 20 were robotically implanted. Comparisons between the actual implanted ZI paths and the preoperatively planned ZI paths showed that our MR navigation-guided hybrid robotic system achieved a coronal deviation of 0.887 ± 0.213 mm, an apical deviation of 1.201 ± 0.318 mm, and an angular deviation of 3.468 ± 0.339° This demonstrates significantly better accuracy and stability than manual implantation. CONCLUSION: Our proposed hybrid robotic system enables automated ZI placement surgery guided by MR navigation, achieving greater accuracy and stability compared to manual operations in phantom experiments. Furthermore, this system is expected to apply to animal and cadaveric experiments, to get a good ready for clinical studies.

Micro- and nanoplastics interact with conventional pollutants on microalgae: Synthesis through meta-analysis.

Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been found to occur intensively in aquatic environments, along with other conventional pollutants (Po) such as heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, etc. However, our understanding of how MNPs and Po interact on aquatic primary producers is fragmented. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis based on 933 published experimental assessments from 44 studies to examine the coupled effects of MNPs and Po on microalgae. Although the results based on interaction type frequency (the proportion of each interaction type in all results) revealed dominantly additive interactions (56%) for overall physiological performance, an overall antagonistic effect was observed based on the mean interaction effect sizes. A higher proportion of antagonistic interaction type frequency was found in marine species compared to fresh species. The antagonistic effects were particularly significant for growth, oxidative responses, and photosynthesis, which could be attributed to the adsorption effect of MNPs on Po and thus the decreasing concentrations of pollutants in the medium. Larger-sized, negatively charged or uncharged and aged MNPs had higher proportions of antagonistic effects compared to smaller-sized, positively charged and virgin MNPs, due to their stronger adsorption capacity to Po. This study provides a comprehensive insight into the interactive effects of MNPs and Po on microalgae.

Automatic planning of maxillary anterior dental implant based on prosthetically guided and pose evaluation indicator.

PURPOSE: Preoperative planning of maxillary anterior dental implant is a prerequisite to ensuring that the implant achieves the proper three-dimensional (3D) pose, which is essential for its long-term stability. However, the current planning process is labor-intensive and subjective, relying heavily on the surgeon's experience. Consequently, this paper proposes an automatic method for computing the optimal pose of the dental implant. METHODS: The method adopts the principle of prosthetically guided dental implant placement. Initially, the prosthesis coordinate system is established to determine the implant candidate orientations. Subsequently, virtual slices of the maxilla in the buccal-palatal direction are generated according to the prosthesis position. By extracting feature points from the virtual slices, the implant candidate starting points are acquired. Then, a candidate pose set is obtained by combining these candidate starting points and orientations. Finally, a pose evaluation indicator is introduced to determine the optimal implant pose from this set. RESULTS: Twenty-two cases were utilized to validate the method. The results show that the method could determine an ideal pose for the dental implant, with the average minimum distance between the implant and the left tooth root, the right tooth root, the palatal side, and the buccal side being 2.57 ± 0.53 mm, 2.59 ± 0.65 mm, 0.74 ± 0.19 mm, 1.83 ± 0.16 mm, respectively. The planning time was less than 9 s. CONCLUSION: Unlike manual planning, the proposed method can efficiently and accurately complete maxillary anterior dental implant planning, providing a theoretical analysis of the success rate of the implant. Thus, it has great potential for future clinical application.

General Semi-Solid Freeze Casting for Uniform Large-Scale Isotropic Porous Scaffolds: An Application for Extensive Oral Mucosal Reconstruction.

Ice-templated porous biomaterials possess transformative potential in regenerative medicine; yet, scaling up ice-templating processes for broader applications-owing to inconsistent pore formation-remains challenging. This study reports an innovative semi-solid freeze-casting technique that draws inspiration from semi-solid metal processing (SSMP) combined with ice cream-production routines. This versatile approach allows for the large-scale assembly of various materials, from polymers to inorganic particles, into isotropic 3D scaffolds featuring uniformly equiaxed pores throughout the centimeter scale. Through (cryo-)electron microscopy, X-ray tomography, and finite element modeling, the structural evolution of ice grains/pores is elucidated, demonstrating how the method increases the initial ice nucleus density by pre-fabricating a semi-frozen slurry, which facilitates a transition from columnar to equiaxed grain structures. For a practical demonstration, as-prepared scaffolds are integrated into a bilayer tissue patch using biodegradable waterborne polyurethane (WPU) for large-scale oral mucosal reconstruction in minipigs. Systematic analyses, including histology and RNA sequencing, prove that the patch modulates the healing process toward near-scarless mucosal remodeling via innate and adaptive immunomodulation and activation of pro-healing genes converging on matrix synthesis and epithelialization. This study not only advances the field of ice-templating fabrication but sets a promising precedent for scaffold-based large-scale tissue regeneration.

Sleep medicine knowledge, attitudes, and practices among medical students in Guangzhou, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Chinese medical students towards sleep medicine. METHODS: The authors surveyed medical students at Southern Medical University in 2009. Students completed a questionnaire before and after attending a 3-h sleep disorders course. RESULTS: All 324 questionnaires were returned. Less than one half of the students were aware that restless legs syndrome, somniloquy, and teeth grinding are sleep disorders. Only a small percentage of students knew that sleep disorders are related to diabetes, anemia, hyperlipidemia, and attention deficit syndrome. After the 3-h sleep disorders course, the percentage of students who regarded snoring, restless legs syndrome, nightmares, and somniloquy as sleep disorders increased from 64.9 to 92.7 %, 40.8 to 64.4 %, 48.0 to 60.3 %, and 33.5 to 59.9 % (P < 0.001), respectively. Sleep problems were considered to be a significant issue by 93.8 % of the students. The students thought that people with sleep disorders should seek treatment. Of the students, 81.3 % were interested in sleep medicine. The students considered that it is necessary to set up specialized sleep medicine departments to manage sleep disorders. Of the students, 76.8 % thought they or their friends had sleep problems, and 44.8 % consulted physicians about sleep problems. Greater than two thirds of the students (67.1 %) did not have formal education about sleep medicine. Few students were aware of medical schools offering a course in sleep medicine. Most of the students liked learning in the form of elective courses, lectures, or online course. The students also realized that having sleep medicine knowledge is needed as a physician. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese medical students attached importance to sleep disorders, but knew little about sleep disorders. Knowledge of sleep medicine can be improved with a short training course.

[Effect of periodontal therapy on metabolic control and serum biochemical markers in subjects with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of periodontal therapy on periodontal clinical index, metabolic control and serum biochemical markers in subjects with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis comprehensively. METHODS: Forty patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic periodontitis were enrolled, and periodontal clinical parameters, HbA1c, fasting blood glucose (FBG) and serum biochemical markers were tested at baseline and 3 months after initial periodontal therapy. RESULTS: The periodontal clinical parameters (PLI, BI,PD,CAL and BOP) improved significantly 3 months after initial periodontal therapy (P<0.001). The HbA1c also decreased statistically (P=0.014), while there was no change in venous fasting blood glucose. Other serum biochemical markers changed significantly including serum phosphor increased, calcium-phosphorus ratio decreased, triglyceride decreased, Apo A1 increased, lipoprotein a decreased, and serum total bilirubin increased. CONCLUSION: The initial periodontal therapy can significantly improve periodontal clinical parameters and HbA1c control, but the effect on venous fasting blood glucose was not revealed yet. In addition, initial periodontal therapy can also intervene serum phosphorus,calcium-phosphorus ratio, and the metabolism of lipid.

Assessment of gas dispersion near an operating landfill treated by different intermediate covers with soil alone, low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) geomembrane.

This study evaluated the impact area of odiferous gas (i.e., H2S) dispersion near an operating landfill installed with three different intermediate covers, including soil alone, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) geomembrane (GM). By using the finite element method employing Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes and Fick's Law coupled equations, the performance of the different cover cases for reducing odor dispersion was comparatively evaluated considering environmental factors, including topographic, meteorology, and gas emission. The odor dispersion patterns and the size of affected residents were analyzed for the twelve different scenarios varied with the cover type and seasonal variation. According to the results, it was found that the wind speed affected the time of odor dispersions more with the relatively flat terrain conditions around the landfill but barely affected the size of the dispersion area. Moreover, it was found that the higher concentration (100 ppb) of odor gas is mainly located within a 5.0-km distance from the landfill. Among four seasons, the odor covers the largest area in summer, which is mainly due to the landfill producing more odor gas and giving a higher source concentration in summer. The gas dispersion simulation for different covers showed that the type of covering layer significantly affects the impact area boundary of gas odor. The results showed that the odor area of the LLDPE GM cover case is 1.3% of soil alone case, and the case of EVOH GM is 14.5% of LLDPE GM case. At the same time, the number of residents that may be affected by the odor of the LLDPE GM case and EVOH GM case is 4.81% and 0.63% of soil alone case, respectively.

Electroactive scaffolds of biodegradable polyurethane/polydopamine-functionalized graphene oxide regulating the inflammatory response and revitalizing the axonal growth cone for peripheral nerve regeneration.

Long-gap peripheral nerve injury remains a major challenge in regenerative medicine and results in permanent sensory and motor dysfunction. Nerve guidance scaffolds (NGSs) are known as a promising alternative to autologous nerve grafting. The latter, the current "gold standard" in clinical practice, is frequently constrained by the limited availability of sources and the inevitable damage to the donor area. Given the electrophysiological properties of nerves, electroactive biomaterials are being intensively investigated in nerve tissue engineering. In this study, we engineered a conductive NGS compounded of biodegradable waterborne polyurethane (WPU) and polydopamine-reduced graphene oxide (pGO) for repairing impaired peripheral nerves. The incorporation of pGO at the optimal concentration (3 wt%) promoted in vitro spreading of Schwann cells (SCs) with high expression of the proliferation marker S100 protein. In an in vivo study of sciatic nerve transection injury, WPU/pGO NGSs were found to regulate the immune microenvironment by activating macrophage M2 polarization and upregulate growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) to facilitate axonal elongation. Histological and motor function analysis demonstrated that WPU/pGO NGSs had a neuroprosthetic effect close to that of an autograft, which significantly promoted the regeneration of myelinated axons, reduced gastrocnemius atrophy, and enhanced hindlimb motor function. These findings together suggested that electroactive WPU/pGO NGSs may represent a safe and effective strategy to manage large nerve defects.

3D reconstruction for maxillary anterior tooth crown based on shape and pose estimation networks.

PURPOSE: The design of a maxillary anterior tooth crown is crucial to post-treatment aesthetic appearance. Currently, the design is performed manually or by semi-automatic methods, both of which are time-consuming. As such, automatic methods could improve efficiency, but existing automatic methods ignore the relationships among crowns and are primarily used for occlusal surface reconstruction. In this study, the authors propose a novel method for automatically reconstructing a three-dimensional model of the maxillary anterior tooth crown. METHOD: A pose estimation network (PEN) and a shape estimation network (SEN) are developed for jointly estimating the crown point cloud. PEN is a regression network used for estimating the crown pose, and SEN is based on an encoder-decoder architecture and used for estimating the initial crown point cloud. First, SEN adopts a transformer encoder to calculate the shape relationship among crowns to ensure that the shape of the reconstructed point cloud is precise. Second, the initial point cloud is subjected to pose transformation according to the estimated pose. Finally, the iterative method is used to form the crown mesh model based on the point cloud. RESULT: The proposed method is evaluated on a dataset with 600 cases. Both SEN and PEN are converged within 1000 epochs. The average deviation between the reconstructed point cloud and the ground truth of the point cloud is 0.22 mm. The average deviation between the reconstructed crown mesh model and the ground truth of the crown model is 0.13 mm. CONCLUSION: The results show that the proposed method can automatically and accurately reconstruct the three-dimensional model of the missing maxillary anterior tooth crown, which indicates the method has promising application prospects. Furthermore, the reconstruction time takes less than 11 s for one case, demonstrating improved work efficiency.

Interactions of Fibroblast Subtypes Influence Osteoclastogenesis and Alveolar Bone Destruction in Periodontitis.

Background: To analyze the fibroblasts subtypes in the gingival tissues of healthy controls, gingivitis and periodontitis patients, as well as the effects of interaction between subtypes on alveolar bone destruction. Methods: Gingival tissues were divided into three groups according to clinical and radiographic examination, and the immunostaining of EDA+FN was assessed. Fibroblasts from gingiva developed colony formation units (CFUs) and induced Trap+MNCs. The expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes was assessed by real-time PCR. Variances in the gene profiles of CFUs were identified by principal component analysis, and cluster analysis divided CFUs into subtypes. The induction of Trap+MNCs and gene expression were compared among individual or cocultured subtypes. The fibroblast subtypes exerted critical effect on Trap+MNCs formation were selected and edited by CRISPR/Cas to investigate the influence on osteoclastogenesis in the periodontitis in mice. Results: Most periodontitis samples exhibited intensive EDA+FN staining (P < 0.05), and these fibroblasts also induced most Trap+MNCs among three groups; consistently, fibroblasts from periodontitis highly expressed genes facilitating osteoclastogenesis. According to gene profiles and osteoclastogenic induction, four clusters of CFUs were identified. The proportion of clusters was significantly different (P < 0.05) among three groups, and their interaction influenced osteoclastogenic induction. Although Cluster 4 induced less osteoclasts, it enhanced the effects of Clusters 1 and 3 on Trap+MNCs formation (P < 0.05). EDA knockout in Cluster 4 abrogated this promotion (P < 0.05), and decreased osteoclasts and alveolar bone destruction in experimental periodontitis (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Heterogeneous fibroblast subtypes affect the switch or development of periodontitis. A subtype (Cluster 4) played important role during alveolar bone destruction, by regulating other subtypes via EDA+FN paracrine.

Immune-microenvironment modulatory polyurethane-hyaluronic acid hybrid hydrogel scaffolds for diabetic wound treatment.

The healing of wounds in diabetic patients is a huge challenge issue in clinical medicine due to the disordered immune. Recruiting endogenous cells to play a role in the early stage and timely reducing inflammation to promote healing in the middle or late of injuring are both prerequisites for effective treatment. Here, inspired by natural extracellular matrix, three-dimensional porous polyurethane-hyaluronic acid hybrid hydrogel scaffolds (PUHA) were prepared to repair diabetic wound through activate cell immunity by moderate foreign body reaction, provide cell adhesion growth extracellular matrix of hyaluronic acid (HA) and exhibit anti-inflammatory effect of polyurethane (PU). The interaction between PU and HA alters the compact PU hydrogel into macroporous PUHA hydrogel scaffolds with super-swelling, elastic mechanical properties, and controllable degradation, which are suitable for endogenous cells infiltration, growth and immune activation. Additionally, incorporating with RGD, PUHA hydrogel scaffolds with bioactive physicochemical features can evidently reduce the inflammation and modulate the polarization of macrophage apparently both in vitro and in vivo, mainly through downregulation of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction genes, leading to reprogramming immune-microenvironment and rapid diabetic wound healing. This method of gathering cells initially and intervening immune-microenvironment in time provides an expected way to design biomaterials for chronic wound healing.