Association between virus infection and periodontitis: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014.

Periodontitis is a cumulative inflammatory disease associated with multiple health conditions and various systemic diseases. As a common disease, virus infection along with its consequences has become a serious health burden. The study aims to evaluate the relationship between common viruses including hepatitis virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and periodontitis. The data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2014 was adopted and screened through, including 10 714 participants. Generalized linear regression was conducted to verify the relationships between the virus infections and periodontitis. Moreover, we also performed analyses in age and gender subgroups. The results suggested that the infection of HCV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 was significantly associated with the prevalence of periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-1.70; OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13; OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 - 1.11, respectively) and risk of developing moderate or severe periodontitis (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.29-1.77; OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04-1.12; OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10, respectively) after adjusting all relevant co-factors. Subgroup analyses revealed a steady association between periodontitis and hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HSV-1 infection, while the relationship between HSV-2 and HPV infection can also be found in some subgroups. The presence of HCV and HSV infection was found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of periodontitis, including moderate or severe cases. Moreover, the association of periodontitis and HPV infection can also be observed in people < 35 years.

DLX6-AS1 regulates odonto/osteogenic differentiation in dental pulp cells under the control of BMP9 via the miR-128-3p/MAPK14 axis: A laboratory investigation.

AIM: The regenerative capacity of dental pulp relies on the odonto/osteogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells (DPCs), but dynamic microenvironmental changes hinder the process. Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) promotes differentiation of DPCs towards an odonto/osteogenic lineage, forming dentinal-like tissue. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its action remains unclear. This study investigates the role of DLX6 antisense RNA 1 (DLX6-AS1) in odonto/osteogenic differentiation induced by BMP9. METHODOLOGY: Custom RT2 profiler PCR array, quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blots were used to investigate the expression pattern of DLX6-AS1 and its potential signal axis. Osteogenic ability was evaluated using alkaline phosphatase and alizarin red S staining. Interactions between lncRNA and miRNA, as well as miRNA and mRNA, were predicted through bioinformatic assays, which were subsequently validated via RNA immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase reporter assays. Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA with post hoc Tukey HSD tests were employed for data analysis, with a p-value of less than .05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: DLX6-AS1 was upregulated upon BMP9 overexpression in DPCs, thereby promoting odonto/osteogenic differentiation. Additionally, miR-128-3p participated in BMP9-induced odonto/osteogenic differentiation by interacting with the downstream signal MAPK14. Modifying the expression of miR-128-3p and transfecting pcMAPK14/siMAPK14 had a rescue impact on odonto/osteogenic differentiation downstream of DLX6-AS1. Lastly, miR-128-3p directly interacted with both MAPK14 and DLX6-AS1. CONCLUSIONS: DLX6-AS1 could regulate the odonto/osteogenic differentiation of DPCs under the control of BMP9 through the miR-128-3p/MAPK14 axis.

The spatiotemporal matching pattern of Ezrin/Periaxin involved in myoblast differentiation and fusion and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease-associated muscle atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)-associated muscle atrophy still lacks effective treatment. Deletion and mutation of L-periaxin can be involved in CMT type 4F (CMT4F) by destroying the myelin sheath form, which may be related to the inhibitory role of Ezrin in the self-association of L-periaxin. However, it is still unknown whether L-periaxin and Ezrin are independently or interactively involved in the process of muscle atrophy by affecting the function of muscle satellite cells. METHOD: A gastrocnemius muscle atrophy model was prepared to mimic CMT4F and its associated muscle atrophy by mechanical clamping of the peroneal nerve. Differentiating C2C12 myoblast cells were treated with adenovirus-mediated overexpression or knockdown of Ezrin. Then, overexpression of L-periaxin and NFATc1/c2 or knockdown of L-periaxin and NFATc3/c4 mediated by adenovirus vectors were used to confirm their role in Ezrin-mediated myoblast differentiation, myotube formation and gastrocnemius muscle repair in a peroneal nerve injury model. RNA-seq, real-time PCR, immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used in the above observation. RESULTS: For the first time, instantaneous L-periaxin expression was highest on the 6th day, while Ezrin expression peaked on the 4th day during myoblast differentiation/fusion in vitro. In vivo transduction of adenovirus vectors carrying Ezrin, but not Periaxin, into the gastrocnemius muscle in a peroneal nerve injury model increased the numbers of muscle myosin heavy chain (MyHC) I and II type myofibers, reducing muscle atrophy and fibrosis. Local muscle injection of overexpressed Ezrin combined with incubation of knockdown L-periaxin within the injured peroneal nerve or injection of knockdown L-periaxin into peroneal nerve-injured gastrocnemius muscle not only increased the number of muscle fibers but also recovered their size to a relatively normal level in vivo. Overexpression of Ezrin promoted myoblast differentiation/fusion, inducing increased MyHC-I+ and MyHC-II + muscle fiber specialization, and the specific effects could be enhanced by the addition of adenovirus vectors for knockdown of L-periaxin by shRNA. Overexpression of L-periaxin did not alter the inhibitory effects on myoblast differentiation and fusion mediated by knockdown of Ezrin by shRNA in vitro but decreased myotube length and size. Mechanistically, overexpressing Ezrin did not alter protein kinase A gamma catalytic subunit (PKA-γ cat), protein kinase A I alpha regulatory subunit (PKA reg Iα) or PKA reg Iß levels but increased PKA-α cat and PKA reg II α levels, leading to a decreased ratio of PKA reg I/II. The PKA inhibitor H-89 remarkably abolished the effects of overexpressing-Ezrin on increased myoblast differentiation/fusion. In contrast, knockdown of Ezrin by shRNA significantly delayed myoblast differentiation/fusion accompanied by an increased PKA reg I/II ratio, and the inhibitory effects could be eliminated by the PKA reg activator N6-Bz-cAMP. Meanwhile, overexpressing Ezrin enhanced type I muscle fiber specialization, accompanied by an increase in NFATc2/c3 levels and a decrease in NFATc1 levels. Furthermore, overexpressing NFATc2 or knocking down NFATc3 reversed the inhibitory effects of Ezrin knockdown on myoblast differentiation/fusion. CONCLUSIONS: The spatiotemporal pattern of Ezrin/Periaxin expression was involved in the control of myoblast differentiation/fusion, myotube length and size, and myofiber specialization, which was related to the activated PKA-NFAT-MEF2C signaling pathway, providing a novel L-Periaxin/Ezrin joint strategy for the treatment of muscle atrophy induced by nerve injury, especially in CMT4F.

Immortalized cell lines derived from dental/odontogenic tissue.

Stem cells derived from dental/odontogenic tissue have the property of multiple differentiation and are prospective in tooth regenerative medicine and cellular and molecular studies. However, in the face of cellular senescence soon in vitro, the proliferation ability of the cells is limited, so studies are hindered to some extent. Fortunately, immortalization strategies are expected to solve the above issues. Cellular immortalization is that cells are immortalized by introducing oncogenes, human telomerase reverse transcriptase genes (hTERT), or miscellaneous immortalization genes to get unlimited proliferation. At present, a variety of immortalized stem cells from dental/odontogenic tissue has been successfully generated, such as dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), periodontal ligament cells (PDLs), stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), dental papilla cells (DPCs), and tooth germ mesenchymal cells (TGMCs). This review summarized establishment and applications of immortalized stem cells from dental/odontogenic tissues and then discussed the advantages and challenges of immortalization.

SHED-derived exosomes attenuate trigeminal neuralgia after CCI of the infraorbital nerve in mice via the miR-24-3p/IL-1R1/p-p38 MAPK pathway.

BACKGROUND: Microglial activation in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (STN) plays a crucial role in the development of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The involvement of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1, NR1) in TN has been established. Initial evidence suggests that stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) have a potential therapeutic effect in attenuating TN. In this study, we propose that SHED-derived exosomes (SHED-Exos) may alleviate TN by inhibiting microglial activation. This study sought to assess the curative effect of SHED-Exos administrated through the tail vein on a unilateral infraorbital nerve chronic constriction injury (CCI-ION) model in mice to reveal the role of SHED-Exos in TN and further clarify the potential mechanism. RESULTS: Animals subjected to CCI-ION were administered SHED-Exos extracted by differential ultracentrifugation. SHED-Exos significantly alleviated TN in CCI mice (increasing the mechanical threshold and reducing p-NR1) and suppressed microglial activation (indicated by the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß and IBA-1, as well as p-AMPK) in vivo and in vitro. Notably, SHED-Exos worked in a concentration dependent manner. Mechanistically, miR-24-3p-upregulated SHED-Exos exerted a more significant effect, while miR-24-3p-inhibited SHED-Exos had a weakened effect. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays were utilized for target gene prediction and verification between miR-24-3p and IL1R1. Moreover, miR-24-3p targeted the IL1R1/p-p38 MAPK pathway in microglia was increased in CCI mice, and participated in microglial activation in the STN. CONCLUSIONS: miR-24-3p-encapsulated SHED-Exos attenuated TN by suppressing microglial activation in the STN of CCI mice. Mechanistically, miR-24-3p blocked p-p38 MAPK signaling by targeting IL1R1. Theoretically, targeted delivery of miR-24-3p may offer a potential strategy for TN.

The role of MIF in periodontitis: A potential pathogenic driver, biomarker, and therapeutic target.

OBJECTIVE: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease that involves an imbalance in the oral microbiota, activation of inflammatory and immune responses, and alveolar bone destruction. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a versatile cytokine involved in several pathological reactions, including inflammatory processes and bone destruction, both of which are characteristics of periodontitis. While the roles of MIF in cancer and other immune diseases have been extensively characterized, its role in periodontitis remains inconclusive. RESULTS: In this review, we describe a comprehensive analysis of the potential roles of MIF in periodontitis from the perspective of immune response and bone regulation at the cellular and molecular levels. Moreover, we discuss its potential reliability as a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for periodontitis. CONCLUSION: This review can aid dental researchers and clinicians in understanding the current state of MIF-related pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontitis.

Observation and assessment of the immediate use of a silicon hydrogel contact lens after transepithelial corneal cross linking: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Transepithelial corneal crosslinking (CXL) is a novel surgical approach for the treatment of keratoconus, which is a bilateral asymmetrical ophthalmological disease accompanied by progressive corneal ectasia. Silicon hydrogel (SiH) contact lenses have been extensively used in clinical ophthalmologic medicine, as a postoperative ophthalmological intervention. However, the ideal lens application duration after transepithelial CXL remains uncertain. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects and comfort of immediate corneal contact lens use after transepithelial CXL for keratoconus. METHODS: In this prospective study, 60 patients with keratoconus who underwent transepithelial CXL treatment were enrolled from September 2021 to January 2023 with a male:female ratio of 39:21, and an average age of 25.42 ± 5.47 years. The patients were divided randomly into two groups: group A contained 30 patients wearing silicone hydrogel contact lenses for 7 days postoperatively, and group B contained 30 patients wearing the same contact lenses for 3 days. Ten subjective ophthalmologic symptoms were surveyed by the patients, including pain, photophobia, foreign body sensation, tearing, burning, blurred vision, dry eyes, difficulty opening the eyes, astringency, and stinging. Ophthalmologic signs, including corneal edema and conjunctival congestion, were recorded by a single clinician on postoperative days 1, 3, and 7. RESULTS: Each surgical procedure was readily performed without complications, and both groups postoperative day 7 (P = 0.04), where group B scored (0.01 ± 0.41) lesser than group A (0.12 ± 0.29), whilst corneal edema in both groups recorded significantly different on postoperative days 5 and 7 (group A demonstrated the result of 0.17 ± 0.14 and 0.08 ± 0.11 for the respective days, whereas group B indicated 0.10 ± 0.13 and 0.03 ± 0.07 at the corresponding times). CONCLUSIONS: Immediate use of silicone hydrogel corneal lenses after transepithelial CXL effectively alleviates postoperative ocular distress, particularly with a three-day use period as the ideal duration.

The expression of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase in human apical periodontitis: A laboratory investigation.

AIM: As a key DNA sensor, cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) has emerged as a major mediator of innate immunity and inflammation. Human apical periodontitis has yet to be studied for the presence of cGAS. This investigation was conducted to determine if cGAS is involved in the pathological process of human apical periodontitis. METHODOLOGY: Sixty four human periapical lesions, comprising 20 periapical granulomas and 44 radicular cysts, were employed in this investigation. Healthy gingiva (n = 6), dental pulp (n = 3), and apical papilla (n = 3) were used as control samples. The expression of cGAS in the periapical tissues was discovered using immunohistochemical staining. mRNA-Sequencing and qRT-PCR were utilized to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with DNA-sensing signalling in periapical lesions compared to the healthy control. Immunofluorescence labelling was used to identify the co-expression of cGAS, interleukin-1ß, and interleukin-18. RESULTS: A significantly greater expression level of cGAS was discovered in the periapical lesions, with no significant difference between radicular cysts and periapical granulomas. mRNA-Sequencing analysis and qRT-PCR identified differentially expressed mRNA, such as cGAS and its downstream DEGs, between periapical lesions and healthy control tissues. Immunofluorescence labelling further revealed that cGAS, interleukin-1, and interleukin-18 were co-localized. CONCLUSIONS: These observations imply that along with the synthesis of interleukin-1 and interleukin-18, cGAS may be involved in the aetiology of apical periodontitis.

BMP9 is a potential therapeutic agent for use in oral and maxillofacial bone tissue engineering.

Oral and maxillofacial surgery is often challenging due to defective bone healing owing to the microbial environment of the oral cavity, the additional involvement of teeth and esthetic concerns. Insufficient bone volume as a consequence of aging and some oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures, such as tumor resection of the jaw, may further impact facial esthetics and cause the failure of certain procedures, such as oral and maxillofacial implantation. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 9 (BMP9) is one of the most effective BMPs to induce the osteogenic differentiation of different stem cells. A large cross-talk network that includes the BMP9, Wnt/ß, Hedgehog, EGF, TGF-ß and Notch signaling pathways finely regulates osteogenesis induced by BMP9. Epigenetic control during BMP9-induced osteogenesis is mainly dependent on histone deacetylases (HDACs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which adds another layer of complexity. As a result, all these factors work together to orchestrate the molecular and cellular events underlying BMP9-related tissue engineering. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the SMAD-dependent and SMAD-independent BMP9 pathways, with a particular focus on cross-talk and cross-regulation between BMP9 and other major signaling pathways in BMP9-induced osteogenesis. Furthermore, recently discovered epigenetic regulation of BMP9 pathways and the molecular and cellular basis of the application of BMP9 in tissue engineering in current oral and maxillofacial surgery and other orthopedic-related clinical settings are also discussed.

Redefining Molecular Amphipathicity in Reversing the "Coffee-Ring Effect": Implications for Single Base Mutation Detection.

The "coffee ring effect" is a natural phenomenon wherein sessile drops leave ring-shaped structures on the solid surfaces upon drying. It drives a nonuniform deposition of suspended compounds on the substrates, which adversely affects many processes, including surface-assisted biosensing and molecular self-assembly. In this study, we describe how the coffee ring effect can be eliminated by controlling the amphipathicity of the suspended compounds, for example, DNA modified with hydrophobic dye. Specifically, nuclease digestion of the hydrophilic DNA end converts the dye-labeled molecule into an amphipathic molecule (one with comparably weighted hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends) and reverses the coffee ring effect and results in a uniform disk-shaped feature deposition of the dye. The amphipathic product decreases the surface tension of the sessile drops and induces the Marangoni flow, which drives the uniform distribution of the amphipathic dye-labeled product in the drops. As a proof of concept, this strategy was used in a novel enzymatic amplification method for biosensing to eliminate the coffee ring effect on a nitrocellulose membrane and increase assay reliability and sensitivity. Importantly, the reported strategy for eliminating the coffee ring effect can be extended to other sessile drop systems for potentially improving assay reliability and sensitivity.

Urimem facilitates kidney disease biomarker research.

Urine is a body fluid that can be noninvasively acquired and contains important biological information about the patient. Urinary proteins are considered to be the best resource of potential biomarkers for kidney disorders. Urinary proteins can be adsorbed to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) or nitrocellulose membranes, which can then be dried and stored in vacuum bag. This membrane is named Urimem. The membrane can even be stored at room temperature for at least weeks without changing the quantity of eluted proteins. With this simple and inexpensive urimem, it is possible to begin preserving urine sample from all consenting patients during each stage of kidney disease development. Thus, the medical research can be conducted more economically, ultimately benefiting the patients who provided the samples. This can potentially change the landscape of medical research and medical practice.

Comparison of the Outcome of Intentional Replantation in Teeth with or without Periodontal Involvement: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: Intentional replantation (IR) is considered as a viable treatment option to preserve the teeth with apical periodontitis. This study aimed to compare the treatment outcomes of IR in teeth with or without periodontal involvement, and to investigate the influence of related factors. METHODS: A total of 157 teeth with a documented history of IR between September 2012 and November 2022 and a follow-up duration of more than 1 year were included. The samples included 100 teeth with simple apical periodontitis and 57 teeth with combined periodontal-endodontic lesions (CPEL). Clinical and radiographic criteria were used to evaluate treatment outcomes including functional retention and extraction. Chi-square analyses and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare bivariate associations between outcomes and clinical or demographic variables. Kaplan-Meier analyses were used to evaluate the cumulative survival rate of the intentionally replanted teeth. RESULTS: The overall cumulative survival rates were 93.0% at 1 year, 76.7% at 5 years, and 56.2% at 10 years. Among the 100 teeth with simple apical periodontitis, the survival rates were 93.0%, 86.7%, and 78.8% at the same time points. In contrast, 57 teeth with CPEL exhibited survival rates of 93.0%, 65.0%, and 36.9%, respectively. The primary postoperative complications that led to extraction were periodontal involvement (51.9%), tooth fracture (18.5%), external root resorption (18.5%), and persistent apical periodontitis (11.1%). The outcomes of teeth with CPEL were significantly affected by the presence of a sinus tract and crown restoration. In contrast, no significant prognostic factors were identified for teeth without periodontal involvement. CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis of teeth with CPEL is significantly worse than those with simple apical periodontitis. The main reason of extraction was periodontal involvement. Regular periodontal maintenance and appropriate crown restoration may help to improve the prognosis for teeth with CPEL.

[Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Multi-environmental Media and Bellamya aeruginosa of Manao River].

Microplastic pollution poses threats to aquatic ecosystems and human health. In this study, in order to investigate the characteristics of microplastic occurrence in different environmental media, the abundance, particle size, shape, color, and composition types of microplastics in the water column, sediment, riparian zone soil, and the benthic snail Bellamya aeruginosa of the Manao River were analyzed using field sampling, microscopic observation, and Fourier infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the average abundance of microplastics in the surface water of the Manao River was (5.9±0.26) n·L-1; the abundance of microplastics in the upper sediment (by dry weight) was (1.35±0.1) n·g-1, and that in the lower sediment (by dry weight) was (0.93±0.12) n·g-1. The abundance of microplastics in the near riparian zone soil (by dry weight) was (0.68±0.16) n·g-1, and that in the far riparian zone soil (by dry weight) was (0.69±0.14) n·g-1, and the abundance of microplastics in the B. aeruginosa was (2.06±0.25) n·g-1. The analysis results showed that the abundance of microplastics in the upper and lower sediments were positively correlated; the abundance of microplastics in B. aeruginosa was positively correlated with the abundance of microplastics in the upper and lower sediments, respectively; and the abundance of microplastics in the near and far riparian zone soils were also correlated. Most of the microplastics within each environmental medium and B. aeruginosa were <0.1 mm in size, mainly in the form of fibers and fragments, mainly blue and black in color, and mainly composed of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE). It was found that microplastics in riparian zone soils mainly originated from the fragmentation and decomposition of agricultural plastic films. The results of this study shed light on the accumulation of microplastics in macrobenthic organisms through the investigation of microplastics in multi-environmental media and in the B. aeruginosa, which helps us to understand the potential ecological risk of microplastics in a comprehensive manner.

In situ monitoring of cytoplasmic dopamine levels by noble metals decorated carbon fiber tips.

Dopamine (DA), a catecholamine neurotransmitter, is crucial in brain signal transmission. Monitoring cytoplasmic DA levels can reflect changes in metabolic factors and provide valuable information for researching the mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases. However, the in-situ detection of intracellular DA is constrained by its low contents in small-sized single cells. In this work, we report that noble metal (Au, Pt)-modified carbon fiber micro-nanoelectrodes are capable of real-time detection of DA in single cells with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and anti-contamination capabilities. Notably, noble metals can be modified on the electrode surface through electrochemical deposition to enhance the conductivity of the electrode and the oxidation current of DA by 50 %. The nanosensors can work stably and continuously in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) to monitor changes in DA levels upon K+ stimulation. The functionalized carbon fibers based nanosensors will provide excellent prospects for DA analysis in the brains of living animals.

Effect of photon-induced photoacoustic streaming and shock-wave enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming technique on the removal of the smear layer after root canal preparation in curved root canals.

Background/purpose: The efficiency of root canal irrigation has an important impact on the prognosis of root canal treatment. Photon-induced photoacoustic streaming (PIPS) and shock wave enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming (SWEEPS) are the special modality of Er: YAG laser, whether can they improve the efficiency of root canal irrigation remains to be studied. Materials and methods: Fifty human teeth with curved root canals were collected and stored in the thymol solution until used in the study. After traditional endodontic cavities preparation, root canals were prepared to size #35 with a 0.04 taper. The final irrigating techniques were as follows: (I) manual dynamic activation (MDA), (II) ultrasonically activated irrigation (UAI), (III) sonically activated irrigation (SAI), (IV) PIPS, and (V) SWEEPS. Fifty teeth were randomly divided into five groups mentioned above. After root canal preparation, the roots were cleaved longitudinally. The dentine surfaces were photographed from the coronal, middle, and apical third of the root by scanning electron microscopy operated at a low vacuum. Two examiners separately graded each image according to the remained smear layer situations. Results: PIPS and SWEEPS groups showed fewer smear layers remaining than the others in the middle and the apical third (P < 0.05) of the root canal. In contrast, in the coronal third, five groups showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion: PIPS and SWEEPS showed superior smear layer clearing efficiency than traditional irrigating techniques in curved root canals.

The effect of BMP9 on inflammation in the early stage of pulpitis.

BACKGROUND: Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) tends to be associated with various inflammatory responses of diseases, but its relationship with pulpitis remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of BMP9 in pulpitis. METHODOLOGY: A rat model of pulpitis was used to evaluate the expression of BMP9, which was also analysed in Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide (Pg-LPS)-stimulated human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). The effects and mechanism of BMP9 on the regulation of inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) were evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunocytofluorescence. Moreover, the migration ability of THP-1 monocyte-macrophages, treated with inflammatory supernate inhibited by BMP9, was previously tested by a transwell migration assay. Finally, a direct rat pulp capping model was used to evaluate in vivo the influence of the overexpression of BMP9 in pulpitis. RESULTS: The expression of BMP9 decreased after 24 h and increased after 3 and 7 d in rat pulpitis and inflammatory hDPCs. The overexpression of BMP9 inhibited the gene expression of inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2) and the secretion of IL-6 and MMP2 in Pg-LPS-stimulated hDPCs. The level of phosphorylated Smad1/5 was upregulated and the levels of phosphorylated ERK and JNK were downregulated. The inflammatory supernate of hDPCs inhibited by BMP9 reduced the migration of THP-1 cells. In rat pulp capping models, overexpressed BMP9 could partially restrain the development of dental pulp inflammation. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to confirm that BMP9 is involved in the occurrence and development of pulpitis and can partially inhibit its severity in the early stage. These findings provided a theoretical reference for future studies on the mechanism of pulpitis and application of bioactive molecules in vital pulp therapy.

Diagnosis of Odontogenic Maxillary Sinusitis by Cone-beam Computed Tomography: A Critical Review.

INTRODUCTION: This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the current applications of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and other imaging modalities in diagnosing odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS). Furthermore, the clinical operation procedures of radiography modalities in OMS diagnosis were summarized, with the goal of assisting clinicians in improving OMS diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice. METHOD: A comprehensive review of researches that discussed the applications of radiography modalities in the diagnosis of OMS was conducted. Pertinent information was evaluated and organized for this review. RESULTS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) offers a superior, high-resolution, and three-dimensional view of the maxillary tooth-bone-sinus complex compared to conventional radiography modalities. It enables a better understanding and classification of the spatial relationships between root apices/periapical lesions and maxillary sinus. The use of CBCT, combined with the advantages of other radiography modalities and proper image interpretation, is indispensable to enhance OMS diagnostic accuracy and mitigate the risk of missed or misdiagnosis. CONCLUSION: The significance of CBCT in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial conditions has garnered widespread recognition. It provides highly precise diagnostic information and classification basis for OMS. The clinical operation procedures for imaging examination are essential in ensuring the consistency and reliability of the diagnosis.

The Potential Immunomodulatory Roles of Semaphorin 4D in Human Periapical Lesions.

INTRODUCTION: Semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D) is an important immunoregulator in the development of inflammatory diseases. Currently, the role of SEMA4D in human apical periodontitis remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the expression of SEMA4D and its potential immunomodulatory roles in apical periodontitis. METHODS: A total of 31 periapical tissues and 6 healthy gingival tissues were used in this experiment. Hematoxylin-eosin staining, immunohistochemical staining, and multiplex immunofluorescence staining were performed for histologic examination and immunochemical analysis. For data processing, the number of SEMA4D+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD20+ cells was analyzed by QuPath. In addition, the colocalization of SEMA4D with CD4, CD8, and CD20 was detected. RESULTS: Radicular cysts (RCs) (n = 18) and periapical granulomas (PGs) (n = 13) were identified by histologic evaluation. The number of SEMA4D+ cells in PGs was significantly greater than that in RCs (P < .05). T-cell and B-cell infiltration did not differ significantly between RCs and PGs. An increased number of CD20+ cells was observed in both types of apical periodontitis compared to CD8+ cells and CD4+ cells. Additionally, the presence of SEMA4D/CD4 and SEMA4D/CD20 double-positive cells was also markedly higher in PGs than in RCs. CONCLUSION: The expression of SEMA4D and related immune cells showed different characteristics between RCs and PGs. The disparate expression patterns indicated the possible different pathologic states of the 2 types of periapical lesions. This study provides a new perspective on the description of the comprehensive microenvironment of periapical lesions.

Microplastics in infant milk powder.

Microplastics can be found almost everywhere and extensively expose to human. Infants are vulnerable, and the potential risks of microplastics may be greater for infants, however, infants' microplastic exposure is still poorly understood. Since milk powder makes up a significant portion of many infants' diets, we investigated microplastic pollution in infant milk powder and calculated the microplastic exposure from milk powder, feeding bottles and milk powder preparation. On one hand, we studied 13 different types of milk powder with different packaging, processing systems, and milk sources. The boxed milk powder (7 ± 3 items/100 g) was more polluted with microplastics than the canned milk powder (4 ± 3 items/100 g). The inner packaging of the boxed milk powder was plastic and aluminum foil laminated, it emitted 8 ± 2 to 17 ± 1 items/100 g of microplastics, and might be a main source of microplastics in boxed milk powder. On the other hand, we found that when infants consume milk powder, the microplastic exposure from milk powder itself is little, exposure from feeding bottles is 6.8 times higher than that from milk powder and milk powder preparation is 1.7 times higher.

Improvement of Interfacial Properties and Bioactivity of CF/PEEK Composites by Rapid Biomineralization of Hydroxyapatite.

The carbon fiber/hydroxyapatite (CF/HA) reinforcement with a three-dimensional flower-like structure was rapidly fabricated with the biomimetic mineralization method to strengthen the interfacial performance and bioactivity of carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone (CF/PEEK) composites. Silk fibroin (SF), which can construct a robust interphase between CF and PEEK, supported an organic template to regulate the growth of inorganic HA. The interfacial properties were markedly enhanced through mechanical interlocking and interface adhesion induced by increasing roughness and surface energy of CF. Besides, the mineralization time was significantly reduced after the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to the simulated body fluid, and the prepared CF/HA possessed good bioactivity. In this study, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and flexural strength of CF-HA/45/PEEK composites demonstrated an enhancement of 45.9% and 51.2%, respectively, compared to the untreated CF/PEEK composites. It is predicted that this strategy could provide a rapid and convenient route to ameliorate the interfacial performance and bioactivity of CF/PEEK composites simultaneously.