Vascular Analysis of Soft Tissues Around the Bone Lesion in Osteoradionecrosis, Medication-Related Osteonecrosis, and Infectious Osteomyelitis of the Jaw.

OBJECTIVE: The histopathological differences of the surrounding soft tissues in osteoradionecrosis of the jaw, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw as well as infectious osteomyelitis of the jaw patients were rarely investigated. Here, we focused on the vascular microarchitecture of the soft tissues around bone lesion and compared the microvessel difference of ORNJ, MRONJ, and IOMJ in a quantitative fashion. METHODS: A series of consecutive patients diagnosed as ORNJ, MRONJ, and acute/chronic IOMJ was retrospectively reviewed. All cases received preoperative cone bean computed tomography scans. Immunohistochemistry of CD34 was performed with the streptavidin-peroxidase method and the variables including vascular density, vascular area fraction, mean vessel lumen area, perimeter and diameter of the vessels as well as percentage of lumen less than 400 µm2 were analyzed. RESULTS: The results showed that the vascular-like structures were visible in more cases of acute/chronic IOMJ compared with ORNJ and MRONJ by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Quantitively, our results demonstrated the decreased vascular density, mean perimeter and diameter of the vessels but increased percentage of small vessels in ORNJ and MRONJ patients in contrast with IOMJ patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hypovascularity of surrounding soft tissues could play important roles in the etiology of IOMJ, ORNJ, and MRONJ, and microvessel profile may be a useful pathological diagnostic indicator to differentiate these 3 types of OMJ.

Molecular insights into microbial transformation of bioaerosol-derived dissolved organic matter discharged from wastewater treatment plant.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) are important sources of aerosol-derived dissolved organic matter (ADOM) which may threaten human health via the respiratory system. In this study, aerosols were sampled from a typical WWTP to explore the chemical molecular diversity, molecular ecological network, and potential toxicities of the ADOM in the aerosols. The high fluorescence index (>1.9) and biological index (0.66-1.17) indicated the strong autogenous microbial source characteristics of the ADOM in the WWTP. DOM and microbes in the wastewater were aerosolized due to strong agitation and bubbling in the treatment processes, and contributed to 74 % and 75 %, respectively, of the ADOM and microbes in the aerosols. The ADOM was mainly composed of CHO and CHOS accounting for 35 % and 29 % of the total number of molecules, respectively, with lignin-like (69 %) as the major constituent. 49 % of the ADOM transformations were thermodynamically limited, and intragroup transformations were easier than intergroup transformations. Bacteria in the aerosols involved in ADOM transformations exhibited both cooperative and divergent behaviors and tended to transform carbohydrate-like and amino sugar/protein-like into recalcitrant lignin-like. The microbial compositions were affected by atmosphere temperature and humidity indirectly by modulating the properties of ADOM. Tannin-like, lignin-like, and unsaturated hydrocarbon-like molecules in the ADOM were primary toxicity contributors, facilitating the expression of inflammatory factors IL-ß (2.2-5.4 folds), TNF-α (3.5-7.0 folds), and IL-6 (3.5-11.2 folds), respectively.

Morphometric analysis of paired fibula and mandible for optimal fibular mandibular reconstruction in a Chinese population.

To analyze the morphology of paired fibula and mandible aiming to choose optimal fibular segments for mandibular reconstruction in a Chinses population. A total of 118 cases of paired mandible and fibula was collected. All patients were received preoperative cone beam CT (CBCT) scans for mandibular evaluation and CT-angiographical (CTA) examination of the bilateral lower legs, respectively. The cross-sectional morphological differences between proximal (Side P), middle (Side M) and distal (Side D) segments of fibula and anterior, premolar and molar areas of mandible were compared. The most frequent cross-sectional shape at Side D, Side M and Side P portion of fibula was circular (75.4%), triangular (67.8%) and circular (49.2%), respectively. In anterior, premolar and molar areas of mandible, the most of the cross-section was s-shape (90.82%), straight (83.64%) and oblique (91.89%), respectively. The height and width of upper one third (W1) at Side M were significantly larger than those of Side D and Side P (p < 0.0001). There was significantly difference of width of lower one third (W2) among three groups (p < 0.0001). As for the height and widths of mandible, there was significant difference among anterior, premolar and molar regions (p < 0.0001). The rate of height between Side M of fibula and mandible (H (Side M/area)) was significantly larger than H (Side D/area) and H (Side P/area) (p < 0.01). The ratio of W1 between Side D of fibula and mandible (W1 (Side D/area)) was significantly larger than that of W1 (Side M/area) and W1 (side P/area) (p < 0.05). As for the ratio of W2 between fibula and mandible (W2 (plane/area)), there was significant difference among groups (p < 0.01). The distal and middle segments of fibula were suitable for reconstructing the anterior area of mandible and the proximal segment of fibula was more compatible with the premolar and molar areas of mandible.Clinical Relevance Presurgical morphometric analysis of paired fibula and mandible aids for optimal fibular-based mandibular reconstruction.

Polydopamine-Ag composite surface guides HBMSCs adhesion and proliferation.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) are regarded as an important resource in the field of maxillofacial bone regeneration because of their favorable properties when compared with other stem cells. Hence, finding suitable materials that could extend the application of HBMSCs has become an emerging medical topic and socioeconomic problem. In this work, polydopamine (PDA)-Ag surface was fabricated by PDA assisted photoreduction method, and the obtained PDA-Ag composite surface significantly promoted HBMSCs adhesion and proliferation. This effect is highly related to the amount of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) present on the PDA surface. The behavior of HBMSCs on PDA-Ag surface could be spatially manipulated by controlling the distribution of Ag NPs on PDA surface (by controlling UV light). The general adhesion property allows the PDA-Ag surface to be fabricated on various substrates, making it a simple, general and controllable method for the fabrication of bioactive surface for HBMSCs.

Parathyroid hormone promotes the osteogenesis of lipopolysaccharide-induced human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells through the JNK MAPK pathway.

Periodontitis is a series of inflammatory processes caused by bacterial infection. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) plays a critical role in bone remodeling. The present study aimed to investigate the influences of PTH on human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) pretreated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The proliferative ability was measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry. The optimal concentrations of PTH and LPS were determined using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay, ALP staining, and Alizarin Red staining. Osteogenic differentiation was further assessed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence staining. PTH had no effects on the proliferation of HBMSCs. Also, 100 ng/ml LPS significantly inhibited HBMSC osteogenesis, while 10-9 mol/l PTH was considered as the optimal concentration to reverse the adverse effects. Mechanistically, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation was activated by PTH in LPS-induced HBMSCs. SP600125, a selective inhibitor targeting JNK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, weakened the effects of PTH. Taken together, the findings revealed the role and mechanism of PTH and JNK pathway in promoting the osteogenic differentiation of LPS-induced HBMSCs, which offered an alternative for treating periodontal diseases.