Quality assessment of randomized controlled trial abstracts on drug therapy of periodontal disease from the abstracts published in dental Science Citation Indexed journals in the last ten years.

BACKGROUND: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provide the highest level of evidence and are likely to influence clinical decision-making. This study evaluated the reporting quality of RCT abstracts on drug therapy of periodontal disease and assessed the associated factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Pubmed database was searched for periodontal RCTs published in Science Citation Indexed (SCI) dental journals from 2010/01/01 to 2019/07/17. Information was extracted from the abstracts according to a modified Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guideline checklist. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis and the statistical associations were examined using the linear regression analysis (P<0.05). RESULTS: This study retrieved 1715 articles and 249 of them were finally included. The average overall CONSORT score was 15.6 ± 3.4, which represented 40.9% (±0.6) of CONSORT criteria filling. The reporting rate of some items (trial design, numbers analyzed, confidence intervals, intention-to-treat analysis or per-protocol analysis, harms, registration) was less than 30%. The adequate reporting rate of some items (participants, randomization, numbers analyzed, confidence intervals, intention-to-treat analysis or per protocol analysis) was no more than 4%. None of the abstracts reported funding. According to the multivariable linear regression results, number of authors (P=0.030), word count (P<0.001), continent (P=0.003), structured format (P<0.001), type of periodontal disease (P<0.001) and international collaboration (P=0.023) have a significant association with reporting quality. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of RCT abstracts on drug therapy of periodontal disease in SCI dental journals remained suboptimal. More efforts should be made to improve RCT abstracts reporting quality.

MicroRNA-135b inhibits odontoblast-like differentiation of human dental pulp cells by regulating Smad5 and Smad4.

AIM: To investigate the function of miRNAs in odontoblast-like differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). METHODOLOGY: Integrated comparative miRNA microarray profiling was used to determine the differential miRNAs expression in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs. The abundance of microRNA-135b (miR-135b) was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Bioinformatic analyses combined with luciferase assays were utilized to identify the targets interacting with miR-135b. Overexpression of miR-135b was performed to investigate the role and mechanism in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (anova) or Student's t-test. RESULTS: Thirty-six differentially expressed microRNAs in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs were identified. MiR-135b expression was significantly downregulated during hDPCs differentiation (P < 0.05). In addition, miR-135b was able to bind to the 3'-UTR of the Smad5 and Smad4 and repressed these two genes expression (P < 0.05). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-135b suppressed odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs and attenuated the expression of Smad5 and Smad4 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicated a potential role of miR-135b in mediating odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs and inhibition of miR-135b might be a promising therapeutic way to facilitate dentine tissue engineering.

[Comparison of clinical esthetic effects of two abutments of maxillary anterior dental implants with single crown].

Objective: To compare and evaluate the clinical esthetic effect of angle screw channel abutment and personalized zirconia adhesive abutment for single crown restoration in esthetic area. Methods: A total of 44 patients (21 males and 23 females), aged (37.4±13.5) years (18-67 years) who completed single crown restoration in the esthetic area of the Department of Oral Implantology, Dalian Stomatological Hospital from January 2018 to June 2022 were retrospectively selected. A total of 44 implants were inserted. According to the abutment selected for final restoration, the patients were divided into angle screw channel abutment group and personalized zirconia bonding abutment group, with 22 patients and 22 implants in each group. The implant survival rate, complication rate, pink and white esthetic score and marginal bone resorption were compared between the two groups. Results: Follow-up to 12 months after final restoration, implant survival rates were 100% (22/22) in both groups, and there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of mechanical complications between the two groups [9% (2/22) in the angle screw channel abutment group and 0(0/22) in the personalized zirconia bonding abutment group, χ2=2.10, P=0.148]. In the follow-up appointment 12 months after final restoration, the pink esthetic score of the angle screw channel abutment group (12.95±1.05) was significantly better than that of the personalized zirconia bonding abutment group (11.45±2.02) (t=3.10, P=0.003). There was no significant difference in white esthetic scores between the two groups (t=1.27, P=0.212). There was no significant difference in the marginal bone resorption between the two groups (t=0.32, P=0.749). Conclusions: When a single implant supported restoration is delivered in the esthetic area of the anterior maxilla, high implant survival rate and stability of the marginal bone can be obtained by using the angle screw channel abutment or the personalized zirconia bonding abutment. The clinical efficacy of the angle screw channel system is reliable, and it will provide clinicians with a new treatment option.

Biological Properties of 3D-Printed Zirconia Implants with p-Cell Structures.

Research on 3-dimensional (3D) printed porous zirconia-based dental implants is still in its infancy. This study aimed to evaluate the biological responses of novel zirconia implants with p-cell structures fabricated by 3D printing. The solid zirconia samples exhibited comparable density, 3-point flexural strength, and accelerated aging properties compared to specimens prepared previously by conventional methods. Cell-based experiments showed that the p-cell structure promoted cell proliferation, adhesion, and osteogenesis-related protein expression. Mechanical tests showed that both p-cell and control implants could withstand a torque of 35 Ncm without breaking. The mean maximum breaking loads of p-cell and control implants were 1,222.429 ± 115.591 N and 1,903.857 ± 250.673 N, respectively, which were much higher than the human physiological chewing force and human mean maximum occlusal force. An animal experiment showed that the bone trabeculae around the implants were significantly thicker, more numerous, and denser in the p-cell group than in the control group. This work could provide promising guidance for further exploring 3D printing techniques for porous zirconia bionic implants in dentistry.

p38a MAPK is involved in BMP-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp cells.

AIM: To investigate whether the p38α mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is involved in bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation of human dental pulp cells (HDPCs). METHODOLOGY: Recombinant retrovirus encoding shRNA against p38α MAPK was constructed to investigate the role of p38α MAPK on BMP-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs. HDPCs were transfected with retrovirus expressing sh-p38α. Activation of p38α MAPK was detected by Western blot. The effects of p38α MAPK on BMP-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs were measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and the expression of odontoblastic markers was identified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. The effect of SD-282, a p38a-specific inhibitor, on BMP-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation was also investigated. RESULTS: BMP-2 dose- and time-dependently upregulated phosphorylation of p38α of HDPCs. Compared with BMP-2-treatment group, gene knock-down of p38α MAPK significantly inhibited ALP activity and the formation of mineralized nodules in HDPCs. Moreover, suppression of p38α MAPK repressed the odontoblastic differentiation in HDPCs. Consistently, inhibition of p38α by SD-282 also decreased odontoblastic differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: p38α MAPK is involved in BMP-2-induced odontoblastic differentiation of HDPCs.

Strain improvement for enhanced production of cellulase in Trichoderma viride.

The filamentous fungi Trichoderma species produce extracellular cellulase. The current study was carried out to obtain an industrial strain with hyperproduction of cellulase. The wild-type strain, Trichoderma viride TL-124, was subjected to successive mutagenic treatments with UV irradiation, low-energy ion beam implantation, atmospheric pressure non-equilibrium discharge plasma (APNEDP), and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine to generate about 3000 mutants. Among these mutants, T. viride N879 strain exhibited the greatest relevant activity: 2.38-fold filter paper activity and 2.61-fold carboxymethyl cellulase, 2.18-fold beta-glucosidase, and 2.27-fold cellobiohydrolase activities, compared with the respective wild-type activities, under solid-state fermentation using the inexpensive raw material wheat straw as a substrate. This work represents the first application of APNEDP in eukaryotic microorganisms.

Graphene Oxide Enables the Reosteogenesis of Previously Contaminated Titanium In Vitro.

The main goal of peri-implantitis treatment is to control infection and arrest bone loss, which requires the removal of polymicrobial biofilms on the implant surface and the reduction of tissue invasion. Additionally, prognosis can be improved if reosseointegration occurs on previously contaminated implants. To evaluate whether graphene oxide (GO) can remove polymicrobial biofilms, biofilms were established on titanium surfaces in vitro and treated with different methods: group B, removed only with brushing; group G, treated with different GO concentrations (64, 128, 256, and 512 µg/mL); group GB, combined treatments of groups B and G; and group C, untreated. Subsequently, to evaluate reosteogenesis on previously contaminated titanium, 4 groups were used: groups C, B, GB-256, and GB-512 (treated with 256 and 512 µg/mL of GO, respectively). Intact clean titanium (IC) was used as a control. Additionally, cell behavior on IC treated with GB-256 (IGB-256) and GB-512 (IGB-512) was compared with that of the GB-256 and GB-512 groups, respectively. The results showed that at high concentrations (≥256 µg/mL), GO eliminated residual bacteria and inhibited biofilm reformation after brushing, whereas neither GO nor brushing alone could achieve this. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell viability in groups GB-256 and IC was higher than that in groups GB-512, C, and B (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between group GB-256 and group IC (P > 0.05). Osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in group GB-256 was higher than that in groups IC, GB-512, C, and B. No difference was found between groups IGB-256 and IGB-512 and groups GB-256 and GB-512, respectively (P > 0.05). In conclusion, 256 µg/mL of GO combined with brushing significantly removed polymicrobial biofilms that remained on the previously contaminated titanium surfaces. The bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic potential was regained or even enhanced on the titanium surfaces treated this way in vitro, which might provide a new idea for treating peri-implantitis.

[The anatomy of maxillary sinus in single maxillary posterior edentulous area based on cone-beam CT].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the anatomy of maxillary sinus in single maxillary posterior edentulous area and the contralateral side without loss of tooth, and to investigate the effect of tooth loss on the anatomy of maxillary sinus by cone-beam CT(CBCT). METHODS: A total of 128 patients with single unilateral single maxillary tooth loss were included in the study. CBCT was taken in these patients and the thickness of the maxillary lateral wall, mucosa thickness of sinus floor and sinus septa of the maxillary sinus were recorded and compared with the contralateral side. The bone height from the sinus floor to the ridge crest and the distance between maxillary sinus floor and the vascular anastomosis of maxillary lateral wall were analyzed. RESULTS: The thickness of maxillary sinus lateral wall and maxillary sinus mucosa were 1.59 (1.22), 1.61(1.95) mm in the maxillary posterior edentulous area and significantly less than those of the contralateral side(1.76[1.10], 1.91[2.23] mm)(P<0.05), and the data was demonstrated using median(quartile range). The difference of the mean number of maxillary sinus septa between the two sides was not statistically significant(P>0.05). There was a negative correlation between the bone height from the sinus floor to the ridge crest and the distance between maxillary sinus floor and the vascular anastomosis of maxillary lateral wall (r= -0.343, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The changes of the thickness of lateral wall of maxillary sinus and maxillary sinus mucosa are closely related to tooth loss. The change of the number of maxillary sinus septa is not related to tooth loss. There is a negative correlation between the bone height from the sinus floor to the ridge crest and the distance between maxillary sinus floor and the vascular anastomosis of maxillary lateral wall.

Effects of temperature and temperature shock on the performance and microbial community structure of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor.

Effects of temperature and temperature shock on the performance and microbial community structure of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) treating thermomechanical pulping pressate were studied for 416 days. The results showed that the SAnMBR system were highly resilient to temperature variations in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The residual COD in treated effluent was slightly higher at 55 °C than that at 37 and 45 °C. There were no significant changes in biogas production rate and biogas composition. However, temperature shocks resulted in an increase in biogas production temporarily. The SAnMBR could tolerate the 5 and 10 °C temperature shocks at 37 °C and the temperature variations from 37 to 45 °C. The temperature shock of 5 and 10 °C at 45 °C led to slight and significant disturbance of the performance, respectively. Temperature affected the richness and diversity of microbial populations.