Association between dietary antioxidant quality score and periodontitis: A cross-sectional study.

Background/purpose: Evidence to date linking relation between dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) and periodontitis is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DAQS and periodontitis. Materials and methods: In total, 9457 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009-2014 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The outcome was defined as periodontitis. DAQS was calculated by comparing the daily dietary intake of six micronutrients (vitamin A, C, E, selenium, magnesium and zinc) to the recommended daily intake, which was divided into three groups: low quality (1-2 points), medium quality (3-4 points) and high quality (5-6 points). Weighted logistic regression models were carried out to examine the association of DAQS and periodontitis. Meanwhile, this study investigated the effects of DAQS and periodontitis by stratified specific analyses based on diabetes and dyslipidemia. Results: There were 4951 participants with periodontitis and 4506 non-periodontitis subjects. Compared with periodontitis group, mean DAQS score in participants with non-periodontitis was higher. After adjusting for all possible confounding factors, the results showed that high quality group of DAQS was related to the decreased risk of periodontitis [odds ratio (OR) = 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67-0.95, P = 0.012]. Subgroup analysis showed that the association between high quality group of DAQS and periodontitis was significant in participants without diabetes nor dyslipidemia (OR = 0.58, 95%CI: 0.39-0.87, P = 0.009). Conclusion: Based on data from nationally representative data from the US population, DAQS is found to be associated with periodontitis risk.

Accurate haplotype construction and detection of selection signatures enabled by high quality pig genome sequences.

High-quality whole-genome resequencing in large-scale pig populations with pedigree structure and multiple breeds would enable accurate construction of haplotype and robust selection-signature detection. Here, we sequence 740 pigs, combine with 149 of our previously published resequencing data, retrieve 207 resequencing datasets, and form a panel of worldwide distributed wild boars, aboriginal and highly selected pigs with pedigree structures, amounting to 1096 genomes from 43 breeds. Combining with their haplotype-informative reads and pedigree structure, we accurately construct a panel of 1874 haploid genomes with 41,964,356 genetic variants. We further demonstrate its valuable applications in GWAS by identifying five novel loci for intramuscular fat content, and in genomic selection by increasing the accuracy of estimated breeding value by 36.7%. In evolutionary selection, we detect MUC13 gene under a long-term balancing selection, as well as NPR3 gene under positive selection for pig stature. Our study provides abundant genomic variations for robust selection-signature detection and accurate haplotypes for deciphering complex traits in pigs.

Bond strengths of porcelain to cobalt-chromium alloys made by casting, milling, and selective laser melting.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys have been widely used for metal-ceramic fixed prostheses and can be fabricated using conventionally cast or new computer-aided technology. However, the effect of different manufacturing methods on the metal-ceramic bond strength needs further evaluation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the metal-ceramic bond strength of a Co-Cr alloy made by casting, milling, and selective laser melting (SLM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Co-Cr specimens (25×3×0.5 mm) were prepared using a cast, milled, or SLM method and layered with ceramic (8×3×1.1 mm). Metal-ceramic bond strength was measured by a 3-point bend test according to ISO9693. The area fraction of adherence porcelain (AFAP) was determined by measuring the Si content of the specimens with scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). The metal-ceramic bond strength and AFAP results were analyzed using 1-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test (α=.05). SEM/EDS and metallurgic microscopy were also used to study the specimens' morphology, elemental composition, and metallurgic structure. RESULTS: No significant differences (P>.05) were found for the bond strength among cast, milled, and SLM Co-Cr alloys. The milled and SLM groups showed significantly more porcelain adherence than the cast group (P<.001). The surface morphologies and oxidation characters of cast, milled, and SLM Co-Cr alloys were similar, whereas the metallurgic structures were different. CONCLUSIONS: The bond strength between ceramics and Co-Cr alloys is independent of the manufacturing method. However, milling- and SLM-produced alloys had better porcelain adherence.

The downregulation of ANGPTL4 inhibits the migration and proliferation of tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common malignant cancer in the oral cavity, with a high rate of metastasis to the neck lymphoid node. Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (ANGPTL4) and microvessel density (MVD) may be novel indicators for tumor metastasis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and function of ANGPTL4 in TSCC and the relationship between ANGPTL4 and MVD. METHODS: The expression levels of ANGPTL4 and MVD (CD34) were analyzed in 65 TSCC specimens and the adjacent non-cancerous tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). siRNA was delivered into TSCCA cells to downregulate ANGPTL4 expression. Subsequently, validation with real-time RT-PCR and western blot analyses was performed to analyze ANGPTL4 expression levels. In addition, a proliferation assay, migration and invasion assays were carried out. RESULTS: ANGPTL4 expression was associated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and MVD expression. Cox regression analysis showed that high levels of ANGPTL4 expression were closely associated with poor survival time. In vitro analyses using qRT-PCR and western blot confirmed that ANGPTL4 was successfully inhibited in TSCCA cells. Suppressing ANGPTL4 resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation and migration, but neither invasion nor cisplatin resistance was significantly affected. CONCLUSION: High expression levels of ANGPTL4 are associated with the T stage, lymphatic metastasis, angiogenesis and poor overall survival in TSCC patients. The downregulation of ANGPTL4 inhibits the migration and proliferation of cells in TSCC. Taken together, ANGPTL4 may serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for TSCC.

Effect of silica coating on the bond strength of milled pure titanium to dental porcelain.

The creation of a high bond strength between machined computer-manufactured pure titanium and porcelain remains problematic, and the effects of a silica coating on the bond strength of milled pure titanium bonded to dental porcelain require further investigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of machined pure titanium, with an intermediate coating of silica, to dental porcelain. In this work, 24 specimens of milled pure titanium were prepared and randomly divided into test and control groups, in which the test group was coated with silica using the sol-gel dipping technique. The metal-ceramic bond strength was evaluated, according to ISO 9693 standards, using the three-point bending test, and scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy were used to study the microstructure and elemental composition of the specimens. The bonding strength of the silica-coated group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and more residual porcelain on the metal surface could be observed in the silica-coated group. Therefore, the application of a silica intermediate coating produced using the sol-gel method could significantly improve the bond strength between machined pure titanium and porcelain.

Novosphingobium soli sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain CC-TPE-1(T), was isolated from oil-contaminated soil near an oil refinery located in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain CC-TPE-1(T) showed highest sequence similarity to Novosphingobium naphthalenivorans TUT562(T) (98.1 %), N. panipatense SM16(T) (97.9 %) and N. mathurense SM117(T) (97.6 %) and lower (<97 %) sequence similarity to all other Novosphingobium species. DNA-DNA hybridizations of strain CC-TPE-1(T) with N. naphthalenivorans DSM 18518(T), N. panipatense SM16(T) and N. mathurense SM117(T) showed low relatedness of 30 % (reciprocal 35 %), 29.1 % (reciprocal 30.6 %) and 35 % (reciprocal 23.6 %), respectively. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10, the predominant fatty acid was C(18 : 1)ω7c (49.9 %) and three 2-hydroxy fatty acids, C(14 : 0) 2-OH (8.2 %), C(15 : 0) 2-OH (2.45 %) and C(16 : 0) 2-OH (1.05 %), were detected. Polar lipids consisted mainly of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, two sphingoglycolipids, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and several unidentified lipids, and a yellow pigment was also detected. The polyamine pattern contained the single major compound spermidine. Characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological parameters, pigment analysis and polyamine, ubiquinone, polar lipid and fatty acid compositions revealed that strain CC-TPE-1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium, for which we propose the name Novosphingobium soli sp. nov., with the type strain CC-TPE-1(T) (=DSM 22821(T) =CCM 7706(T) =CCUG 58493(T)).

Algoriphagus olei sp. nov., isolated from oil-contaminated soil.

A motile, Gram-negative, pinkish red-pigmented bacterium (strain CC-Hsuan-617(T)) was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil near an oil refinery located in Kaohsiung County, Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain CC-Hsuan-617(T) clustered with Algoriphagus mannitolivorans (97.5 % sequence similarity), Algoriphagus aquatilis (98.0 %) and Algoriphagus boritolerans (97.5 %), followed by Algoriphagus ornithinivorans (97.1 %) and Algoriphagus alkaliphilus (97.1 %). The fatty acid profile of the novel strain was slightly different from those reported for recognized Algoriphagus species. The quinone system contained menaquinone MK-7 as the predominant component. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown polar lipid, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown aminophospholipid. The main cell polyamine was sym-homospermidine; lesser amounts of spermine and spermidine were also found. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, and physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain CC-Hsuan-617(T) from recognized Algoriphagus species. Strain CC-Hsuan-617(T) is thus considered to represent a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus olei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-Hsuan-617(T) (=BCRC 17886(T)=CCUG 57471(T)).