A bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study of the association between rheumatoid arthritis and frailty.

OBJECTIVES: Observational studies have linked rheumatoid arthritis and frailty, but confounding factors and reverse causality make it unclear if there is a causal relationship. The current study used bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) to assess the bidirectional causation between rheumatoid arthritis and frailty. METHODS: The primary analysis used the latest GWAS data for rheumatoid arthritis and frailty index in pure Europeans from large genome-wide association studies. Validation analysis was done to verify the accuracy of the results. The appropriate instrumental variables (IVs) were selected based on the three MR assumptions. The MR methods used were MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), and inverse variance weighted (IVW). The effects of horizontal pleiotropy were examined using the MR-Egger intercept and the MR-PRESSO method. To avoid single SNP bias, a leave-one-out analysis was performed. RESULTS: Genetic predictions suggested that there is a significant association between rheumatoid arthritis and the increased prevalence of frailty (IVW OR=1.01; 95% CI=[1.01-1.02], p=2.47 E-06). It has been verified in validation analysis that rheumatoid arthritis is also associated with frailty (IVW OR=1.03, 95% CI=[1.02-1.04], p=3.30E-17). Notably, genetic predictions suggested that frailty may be associated with the onset or development of rheumatoid arthritis (IVW ß=1.25, SE=0.44, 95% CI=[0.39-2.12], p=4.58E-03). CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides evidence supporting the fact that rheumatoid arthritis can increase the prevalence of frailty. Frailty may be a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis, and whether frailty is involved in triggering the onset or progression of rheumatoid arthritis needs further study.

Prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting after orthognathic surgery: a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common adverse events following orthognathic surgery. It's a distressing feeling for patients and continues to be the cause of postoperative complications such as bleeding, delayed healing, and wound infection. This scoping review aims to identify effective PONV prophylaxis strategies during orthognathic surgery that have emerged in the past 15 years. METHODS: We searched Pubmed, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, and Embase from 2008 to May 2023. Studies meeting the following criteria were eligible for inclusion: (1) recruited patients undergo any orthognathic surgery; (2) evaluated any pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic method to prevent PONV. Studies meeting the following criteria were excluded: (1) case series, review papers, or retrospective studies; (2) did not report our prespecified outcomes. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in this review. Pharmacological methods for PONV prevention include ondansetron and dexamethasone (3 studies), peripheral nerve block technique (4 studies), dexmedetomidine (1 study), pregabalin (2 studies), nefopam (2 studies), remifentanil (1 study), propofol (2 studies), and penehyclidine (1 study). Non-pharmacologic methods include capsicum plaster (1 study), throat packs (2 studies) and gastric aspiration (2 studies). CONCLUSIONS: Based on current evidence, we conclude that prophylactic antiemetics like dexamethasone, ondansetron, and penehyclidine are the first defense against PONV. Multimodal analgesia with nerve block techniques and non-opioid analgesics should be considered due to their notable opioid-sparing and PONV preventive effect. For the non-pharmacological methods, throat packs are not recommended for routine use because of their poor effect and serious complications. More prospective RCTs are required to confirm whether gastric aspiration can prevent PONV effectively for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery.

Selective bioaccumulation of polystyrene nanoplastics in fetal rat brain and damage to myelin development.

Micro(nano)plastic, as a new type of environmental pollutant, have become a potential threat to the life and health of various stages of biology. However, it is not yet clear whether they will affect brain development in the fetal stage. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential effects of nanoplastics on the development of fetal rat brains. To assess the allocation of NPs (25 nm and 50 nm) in various regions of the fetal brain, pregnant rats were exposed to concentrations (50, 10, 2.5, and 0.5 mg/kg) of PS-NPs. Our results provided evidence of the transplacental transfer of PS-NPs to the fetal brain, with a prominent presence observed in several cerebral regions, notably the cerebellum, hippocampus, striatum, and prefrontal cortex. This distribution bias might be linked to the developmental sequence of each brain region. Additionally, we explored the influence of prenatal exposure on the myelin development of the cerebellum, given its the highest PS-NP accumulation in offspring. Compared with control rats, PS-NPs exposure caused a significant reduction in myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) expression, a decrease in myelin thickness, an increase in cell apoptosis, and a decline in the oligodendrocyte population. These effects gave rise to motor deficits. In conclusion, our results identified the specific distribution of NPs in the fetal brain following prenatal exposure and revealed that prenatal exposure to PS-NPs can suppress myelin formation in the cerebellum of the fetus.

Comparison of the biomechanical effects of the post-core crown, endocrown and inlay crown after deep margin elevation and its clinical significance.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare and evaluate the stress distribution of maxillary first premolar residual crowns restored with post-core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns after deep margin elevation, to explore the fitting restoration for residual crowns using finite element analysis. METHODS: A healthy complete right maxillary first premolar from a male adult was scanned by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The finite element model of the tooth was established by reverse engineering software such as Mimics, Geomagic and Hypermesh. On this basis, the residual crown model after deep margin elevation was made, and the experimental group models were divided into three groups, those restored with post core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns. Vertical and oblique static loads were applied to the experimental models to simulate the force on the tooth during mastication (the loading position was located in the central fossa of the occipital surface, and the load was 100 N) using Abaqus software. RESULTS: The peak value and distribution of von Mises stress in each part of the experimental model were observed. After deep margin elevation, the peak dentin von Mises stresses were lower than the tensile strength of normal dentin in the post-core crown, endocrown, and inlay crown groups; the lowest stress results were found in the post-core crown group for the dentin, restoration, enamel, and deep margin elevation (DME) layers under vertical and oblique loading. In terms of stress distribution clouds, the peak stresses in the dentin tissue were located in the apical 1/3 of the root after postcore crown restorations for both loads, while stress concentrations were evident in the cervical and root areas after endocrown and inlay crown restorations; regardless of the load and restoration method, the corresponding stress concentration areas appeared at the junction of the DME and dentin tissue at the loading site of the restorations; CONCLUSIONS: Post-core crowns, endocrowns and inlay crowns can be used to restore residual crowns after deep margin elevation, and post-core crowns can better protect the residual tooth tissue.

Mixture Phases Engineering of PtFe Nanofoams for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution.

Phase engineering is a promising but challenging approach to construct PtFe-based catalysts with efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance. Herein, the authors successfully synthesize PtFe nanofoams with face center cubic (fcc) phase, with simple cubic crystalline (scc) phase and with the mixture phases of fcc and scc phases (PtFe-mix) by hydrogen-assisted calcination for the first time. By benchmarking the HER activity, PtFe-mix exhibits excellent activity in 1.0 m KOH, requiring an overpotential of 28 mV to achieve 10 mA cm-2 , which is better than the commercial Pt/C (34 mV). PtFe-mix also possesses remarkable stability up to 24 h. Density functional theory calculations further verify that PtFe-mix shows a more suitable d-band center and lower energy barrier for the initial water dissociation, facilitating the HER process. This work provides a meaningful strategy to design PtFe-based catalysts with efficient activity for hydrogen evolution.

Overexpression of PnMYB2 from Panax notoginseng induces cellulose and lignin biosynthesis during cell wall formation.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Panax notoginseng PnMYB2 is a transcriptional activator of primary and secondary cell wall formation by promoting the PCW-specific gene CesA3 and key lignin biosynthetic gene CCoAOMT1, respectively. R2R3-MYB transcription factors play important roles in regulation secondary cell wall (SCW) formation. However, there are few reports on the functions of MYB transcription factors which involved in both primary cell wall (PCW) and SCW formation. Here, we isolated an R2R3-MYB transcription factor, PnMYB2, from Panax notoginseng roots which are widely used in Chinese traditional medicines and contain abundant cellulose and lignin. The expression pattern of PnMYB2 was similar to the accumulation pattern of cellulose and lignin contents in different organs. PnMYB2 localized in the nucleus and may function as a transcriptional activator. Overexpression of PnMYB2 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced cellulose and lignin biosynthesis, and remarkably increased thickness of PCW and SCW in the stem of transgenic plants compared with wild-type plants. The expression levels of genes associated with PCW-specific cellulose synthase (CesA) genes and key SCW-specific lignin biosynthetic genes were significantly increased in PnMYB2-overexpressing plants compared to the wild type plants. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid, dual-luciferase reporter assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) results verified that PnMYB2 could bind and activate the promoters of AtCesA3 and PnCesA3, which are the PCW-specific cellulose biosynthetic genes, and AtCCoAOMT1 and PnCCoAOMT1, which are the key lignin biosynthetic genes. These results demonstrated the central role of PnMYB2 in PCW-specific cellulose formation and SCW-specific lignin biosynthesis.

Quantitative Segmentation Analysis of the Radiological Changes by Using ITK-SNAP: Risk Assessment of the Severity and Recurrence of Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw.

Background and purpose: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) severely impairs patients' quality of life and is remarkably refractory to treatment. There are lots of studies about identification of the radiographic features of MRONJ, yet reports about quantitative radiographic analysis for the risk assessment of the severity and recurrence of MRONJ are rarely heard. The aim of this study was to investigate the volumes of osteolytic lesions and radiodensity values of osteosclerotic lesions in MRONJ patients by using ITK-SNAP for severity prediction and prognosis evaluation. Materials and methods: Of 78 MRONJ patients (78 lesions) involved in this retrospective study, 53 were presented as osteolytic lesions and 25 were presented as osteosclerotic changes alone. Comprehensive CBCT images, demographics and clinical data of patients were investigated. The volumetric analysis and radiodensity measurement were performed by ITK-SNAP. SPSS 25.0 were used for statistical analysis. Results: The osteolytic lesion volumes in MRONJ patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates (P=0.004) and patients without osteoporosis (P=0.027) were significantly large. No significant correlation between the volumes and bisphosphonates duration was found (P=0.094). The radiodensity values of osteosclerotic lesions was significantly correlated with bisphosphonates duration (P=0.040). The surrounding area of post-surgical lesions in MRONJ patients with recurrence showed significantly great radiodensity values (P=0.025). No significant correlation between the radiodensity values and the transformation from osteosclerotic lesions to osteolytic lesions was observed (P=0.507). Conclusion: MRONJ patients receiving intravenous bisphosphonates develop into large volumes of osteolytic lesions more easily. Long-term bisphosphonates duration is possibly related with higher bone density of osteosclerotic lesions, while higher density is not associated with the transformation from osteosclerotic lesions to osteolytic lesions. A rise of bone mineral density nearby post-surgical lesions is probably a predictor for MRONJ recurrence.

Multifunctional osthole liposomes and brain targeting functionality with potential applications in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Osthole (Ost) is a coumarin compound and a potential drug for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the effectiveness of Ost is limited by solubility, bioavailability, and low permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In this study, we constructed Ost liposomes with modified CXCR4 on the surface (CXCR4-Ost-Lips), and investigated the intracellular distribution of liposomes in APP-SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, the neuroprotective effect of CXCR4-Ost-Lips was examined in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that CXCR4-Ost-Lips increased intracellular uptake by APP-SH-SY5Y cells and exerted a cytoprotective effect in vitro. The results of Ost brain distribution showed that CXCR4-Ost-Lips prolonged the cycle time of mice and increased the accumulation of Ost in the brain. In addition, CXCR4-Ost-Lips enhanced the effect of Ost in relieving AD-related pathologies. These results indicate that CXCR4-modified liposomes are a potential Ost carrier to treat AD.

Angle-to-Angle Mandibular Defect Reconstruction With Fibula Flap by Using a Mandibular Fixation Device and Surgical Navigation.

PURPOSE: Although free fibula flaps are widely used for mandibular reconstruction, 3-dimensional (3D) position is difficult to control in angle-to-angle mandibular defects. The present study describes a revised approach for angle-to-angle mandibular reconstruction with fibula flaps by using mandibular fixation device and surgical navigation. METHODS: Preoperative maxillofacial and fibular computed tomography (CT) scans were acquired, and CT data were imported into ProPlan CMF software. Virtual mandibulectomy was performed, and 3D fibula image was superimposed on the mandibular defect. The fibula flap was shaped according to virtual parameters and the stereo model. Surgical navigation was used to check and correct shaped segments. Position of the osteotomy lines and relevant parameters regarding the shape of the fibula flap were provided to the surgeon. A mandibular fixation device (Cibei, China) was fixed to bilateral mandibular ramus before mandibulectomy, which maintained normal mandibular width. Under computer navigation guidance, the fibula flap was accurately positioned in 3D direction, and the defect could be precisely reconstructed despite the lack of stable occlusal relationship after osteotomy. RESULTS: Postoperative CT and 3D error analysis revealed that osteotomy lines and reconstruction contour matched well with preoperative planning. Using our method, we precisely recovered the original configuration of the mandible. Bilateral condyles were located in the temporomandibular joint fossae, and normal mandibular width was maintained. Compared with preoperative positions, the average shift on the remaining mandible was 0.803 ±â€Š0.502 mm (largest, 1.886 mm). Average shift in the reconstructed mandible was 0.281 ±â€Š0.300 mm, largest being 2.441 mm. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a novel method for angle-to-angle mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap. A mandibular fixation device combined with computer-assisted techniques involving surgical navigation improved clinical outcomes of this procedure.

Effects of fissure length and angle on the fracture modes of 3D printed teeth model: Insights from DIC-based fracture tests and meshless numerical simulations.

To investigate the influences of teeth fissure properties on their failure modes, 3D Printing technology is used to prepare the teeth models. The strain distributions of the teeth model surfaces at each moment of the loading processes are obtained by the DIC technique. And the progressive failure processes as well as the stress distributions of the teeth models are simulated by the improved Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) Method. Experimental results show that under the action of the steel ball, the teeth models mainly produce two types of cracks: The tensile cracks along the pre-existing fissures and the shear cracks along both sides of the teeth model. The existence of prefabricated fissures greatly reduces the peak strength of the teeth models. Compared with the circumstances containing no pre-existing fissures, the peak strength of d = 1 cm, d = 2 cm and d = 3 cm decreases by 22.33%, 31.79% and 18.94%, respectively, and the peak strength of θ = 30°, θ = 45°, θ = 60° decreases by 10.78%, 44.01% and 34.3%, respectively. Numerical results show that the initiations of tensile cracks are induced by the high tensile stress concentrations at the pre-existing fissure tips, while the shear cracks are caused by the high tensile stress concentrations in the low tensile stress concentration areas after the initiation of tensile cracks. The research results can provide some references for the understandings of teeth failure mechanisms as well as the applications of SPH method into teeth crack propagation simulations.

Effects of nanoplastic exposure during pregnancy and lactation on neurodevelopment of rat offspring.

Microplastics have emerged as a prominent global environmental contaminant, and they have been found in both human placenta and breast milk. However, the potential effects and mechanisms of maternal exposure to microplastics at various gestational stages on offspring neurodevelopment remain poorly understood. This investigation delves into the potential neurodevelopmental ramifications of maternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) during distinct phases of pregnancy and lactation. Targeted metabolomics shows that co-exposure during both pregnancy and lactation primarily engendered alterations in monoamine neurotransmitters within the cortex and amino acid neurotransmitters within the hippocampus. After prenatal exposure to PS-NPs, fetal rats showed appreciably diminished cortical thickness and heightened cortical cell proliferation. However, this exposure did not affect the neurodifferentiation of radial glial cells and intermediate progenitor cells. In addition, offspring are accompanied by disordered neocortical migration, typified by escalated superficial layer neurons proliferation and reduced deep layer neurons populations. Moreover, the hippocampal synapses showed significantly widened synaptic clefts and diminished postsynaptic density. Consequently, PS-NPs culminated in deficits in anxiolytic-like behaviors and spatial memory in adolescent offspring, aligning with concurrent neurotransmitter and synaptic alterations. In conclusion, this study elucidates the sensitive windows of early-life nanoplastic exposure and the consequential impact on offspring neurodevelopment.

Biodegradation of high concentration of nitrobenzene by Pseudomonas corrugata embedded in peat-phosphate esterified polyvinyl alcohol.

Efficiency on biodegradation of high concentration of nitrobenzene (NB) by peat-phosphate esterified polyvinyl alcohol-embedded NB-degrading bacteria Pseudomonas corrugata was conducted compared to free bacteria cells. Its biodegradation kinetics, reuse ability, degradation effect in the absence of the essential element needed for the growth of bacteria and degradation efficiency of the raw water from the contaminated site were also invested. Results show that the degradation rate when the concentration of NB was at 600, 750, and 900 mg/L reached 91.02, 83.23, and 55.9 %, which was higher than that observed in free bacteria at the same concentration levels. Biodegradation kinetics of the material could be well described by first- and zero-order kinetics when the concentration of NB was at 300, 450 mg/L and 600, 750, 900 mg/L, respectively. Stable degradation activity (stayed at a level of approximately 70 %) was displayed during the 11th repeat-batch experiment. The affect of absence of phosphorus in the medium can be abated ascribed to the addition of peat, which contributes with organic matter and other elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus necessary to maintain metabolically active the microorganisms. Effective biodegradation of the raw water from the experimental site revealed that the material can be a potential candidate for treating NB-contaminated wastewater in the practical setting.

Rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study.

Object: Though significant correlations between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and hypothyroidism have been found in earlier observational studies, their underlying causal relationship is still unknown. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used in the current study to assess the bidirectional causation between RA and hypothyroidism. Method: We gathered summary data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of RA and hypothyroidism in people of European descent. Then, using data from the FinnGen consortium, we replicated our findings. Three approaches were employed to assess the causal link between RA and hypothyroidism: MR-Egger, weighted median (WM), and inverse variance weighted (IVW). The pleiotropy and heterogeneity were examined using a variety of techniques, including the MR-Egger intercept, the MR-PRESSO approach, the leave-one-out method, and the Cochran's Q test. Results: The study looked at a bidirectional incidental relationship between RA and hypothyroidism. The risk of hypothyroidism increased with RA (IVW odds ratio (OR) = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-1.39, P = 8.30E-10), as did the risk of secondary hypothyroidism (IVW OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.05-1.21, P = 9.64E-4). The results of reverse MR analysis revealed that hypothyroidism (IVW OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.51-1.88, P = 4.87E-21) and secondary hypothyroidism (IVW OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.50-2.01, P = 1.91E-13) were linked to an increased risk of RA. Additionally, we obtain the same results in the duplicated datasets as well, which makes our results even more reliable. This study revealed no evidence of horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusion: The present study established a bidirectional causal link between RA and hypothyroidism. However, it differs slightly from the findings of prior observational studies, suggesting that future research should concentrate on the interaction mechanisms between RA and hypothyroidism.

Long-term efficacy and safety of the Dumon stent for treatment of benign airway stenosis.

BACKGROUND: The long-term efficacy of the Dumon stent in the treatment of benign airway stenosis is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of the Dumon stent in patients with benign airway stenosis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with benign airway stenosis who were treated with a Dumon stent at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University between March 2014 and October 2021. We included patients with successful removal of silicone stents after implantation. The clinical data and information on bronchoscopic interventional procedures and related complications were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Ninety-nine patients with benign airway stenosis were included. The stent was placed mainly in the trachea (44.4%) and left main bronchus (43.4%). The main type of stenosis was post-tuberculosis bronchial stenosis (57.6%). The overall cure rate was 60.6%. Stent-related complications included retention of secretions (70.7%), granuloma formation (67.7%), stent angulation (21.2%), and stent migration (12.1%). The stent was less effective for left main bronchus stenosis (p = 0.012). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that stent placement for more than 13 months, a stent-intervention number of ⩽ 1 predicted a favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of the Dumon stent for benign airway stenosis need improvement. The stent is less effective for left main bronchus stenosis; regular follow-up is required in such cases. Stent placement for > 13 months and no more than once stent intervention within a 6-month period were associated with a favorable outcome.

[Application of Wechat public platform in teaching reform of prosthodontics].

PURPOSE: To explore the law of development and existing problems in prosthodontics teaching in the new era, through flipped classroom teaching based on WeChat public platform. METHODS: WeChat public number was applied and WeChat groups were set up among the students of grade 2013, and 93 students were divided into 20 WeChat groups, with 4 to 5 students in each group. The main platform on reform of prosthodontics teaching was WeChat app, supplemented by platforms of Lediaocha and Youkaoshi. Teachers published courseware and learning resources with WeChat public number and WeChat groups. Two-dimensional codes on questionnaires and tests which were generated by Lediaocha and Youkaoshi could be published with WeChat and the final learning effectiveness was compared using SPSS 19.0 software package for t test. RESULTS: The results showed that 59.1% students admitted WeChat teaching effective, only 5.4% students believed ineffective. Based upon partial chapters of prosthodontics, the score of classroom test (91.35±4.45) was significantly higher than that of pre-class test(90.14±5.03, P＜0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The reform of flipped classroom based on WeChat platform in prosthodontics have some advantages, such as more flexibility in teaching form and time arrangement, promoting students' learner autonomy, and increasing students' motivation and effects of learning prosthodontics.

Interactive impacts of microplastics and chlorine on biological stability and microbial community formation in stagnant water.

Possibility of human exposure to microplastics (MPs) in water environment has been escalating, and subsequent challenges of MPs to biostability and biosafety in drinking water deserve more attention, especially in stagnant water. The present study explored the integrated impacts of MPs and chlorine on disinfection kinetics, microbial growth, and microbial community formation in drinking water, by setting MPs or microplastic-biofilm (MP-BM) under different disinfection conditions. The following were the primary conclusions: (1) The presence of MP and MP-BM led to the deterioration of water indices (especially turbidity) when chlorine was less than 1 mg/L. (2) MP/MP-BM accelerated the decay of disinfectants and MP-BM consumed more rapidly. Meanwhile, chlorine contributed to the level of BRP, ranging from 4.78 × 105 CFU/mL to 1.42 × 107 CFU/mL. (3) MP/MP-BM and chlorine integrally shaped microbial communities in water samples and biofilm samples. Microbial dissimilarity between isolated and hybrid MP-BM indicated manners of microbial field or non-contact communication. Microbial abundance and OPs were effectively controlled when chlorine was over 1 mg/L. (4) According to time-lag differential equations simulation, impulsive chlorination contributed to controlling microbial risks and DBPs induced by MP/MP-BM and water stagnation.

Photodegradation of azobenzene-based self-assembled monolayers characterized by in-plane birefringence.

Azobenzene-based self-assembled monolayers (azo-SAMs) are photoactive and become orientationally ordered when illuminated with linearly polarized light (LPL), making them attractive as dynamic alignment layers in liquid crystal cells. Azo-SAMs, however, are chemically unstable when exposed to both air and light. We have characterized the photodegradation of a methyl red-based SAM by measuring with a high-sensitivity polarimeter the optical anisotropy induced by illumination with linearly polarized actinic light after the sample is irradiated with circularly polarized light (CPL) in air. The number of unbleached, photoactive molecules in the SAM decays exponentially with CPL exposure time, lowering the reorientation rate during photowriting with LPL. Azo-SAMs in an argon atmosphere, in contrast, are chemically stable and remain photoactive even after exposure to CPL.

Research on the Characteristics of Food Impaction with Tight Proximal Contacts Based on Deep Learning.

OBJECTIVE: Based on deep learning, the characteristics of food impaction with tight proximal contacts were studied to guide the subsequent clinical treatment of occlusal adjustment. At the same time, digital model building, software measurement, and statistical correlation analysis were used to explore the cause of tooth impaction and to provide evidence for clinical treatment. METHODS: Volunteers with (n = 250) and without (n = 250) tooth impaction were recruited, respectively, to conduct a questionnaire survey. Meanwhile, models were made and perfused by skilled clinical physicians for these patients, and characteristics such as adjacent line length, adjacent surface area, tongue abduction gap angle, buccal abduction gap angle, and occlusal abduction gap angle were measured. A normality test, differential analysis, correlation analysis of pathological characteristics of the impaction group, principal component analysis (PCA), and binary logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: The adjacent line length, adjacent surface area, tongue abduction gap angle, buccal abduction gap angle, and occlusal abduction gap angle all met normal distribution. There were statistically significant differences in adjacent line length (p < 0.001), adjacent surface area (p < 0.001), and occlusal abduction gap angle (p < 0.001) between the two groups. After dimensionality reduction by PCA on characteristics, adjacent line length, adjacent surface area, buccal abduction gap angle, and occlusal abduction gap angle had a strong correlation with the principal components. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that adjacent line length and adjacent surface area had positive effects on impaction. The buccal abduction gap angle and occlusal abduction gap angle had a significant negative influence on impaction. CONCLUSION: Adjacent line length, adjacent surface area, buccal abduction gap angle, and occlusal abduction gap angle are independent factors influencing food impaction.

Harnessing Colloidal Self-Assembled Patterns (cSAPs) to Regulate Bacterial and Human Stem Cell Response at Biointerfaces In Vitro and In Vivo.

The generation of complex physicochemical signals on the surface of biomedical materials is still challenging despite the fact that a broad range of surface modification methods have been developed over the last few decades. Colloidal self-assembled patterns (cSAPs) are combinations of unique colloids differing in size and surface chemistry acting as building blocks that can be programmed to generate surface patterns with exquisite control of complexity. This study reports on producing a variety of pre-modified colloids for the fabrication of cSAPs as well as post-assembly modifications to yield complex surfaces. The surface of cSAPs presents hierarchical micro- and nanostructures, localized hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics, and tunable surface functionality imparted by the individual colloids. The selected cSAPs can control bacterial adhesion (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli) and affect the cell cycle of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs). Moreover, in a mouse subcutaneous model, cSAPs with selective [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl)ammonium (SBMA) modification can reduce the inflammatory response after being challenged with bacteria. This study reveals that functionalized cSAPs are versatile tools for controlling cellular responses at biointerfaces, which is instructive for biomaterials or biodevices.

Effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on mandibular bone regeneration and the expression of T helper cell 17/regulat-ory T cell-related factors in mice.

OBJECTIVES: To observe the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on mandibular bone regeneration and the expression of factors related to T helper cell 17 (Th17 cell) and regulatory T cell (Treg cell) in mice. METHODS: Thirty-six 6-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC) and T2DM groups. Fasting blood glucose levels were detected 0 d, 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d after surgery for mandibular defects. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used in observing the bone after 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d of the healing process. Immunohistochemical staining was used in observing the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), forkhead box protein P3 (Foxp3), retinoic acid related orphan receptor gamma T (RORγt), and protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 (PTPN2) after 7 d, 14 d, and 28 d of healing. RESULTS: HE staining showed that the area with new bones in the T2DM group was significantly smaller than that in the NC group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of osteogenesis related proteins ALP and RUNX2 were significantly reduced in the T2DM group. In addition, the number of RORγt positive cells increased, whereas the number of Foxp3 positive cells and the expression PTPN2 decreased significantly in the mandibular bone defect in mice with T2DM. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM significantly inhibit mandibular bone regeneration in mice. Decline in PTPN2 expression and the transition of Treg and Th17 may be the underlying molecular mechanisms.