Modified presurgical nasoalveolar molding for patients with neonatal complete bilateral cleft lip and palate having a severely malpositioned premaxilla.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a modified presurgical nasoalveolar molding (MPNAM) with a premaxillary appliance, connected with two stainless steel wires and evaluate its therapeutic efficacy in newborns with complete bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP). METHOD: A total of 41 patients with neonatal complete BCLP having a severely protruded and deviated premaxilla were retrospectively selected from January 2017 to November 2019. All patients received the MPNAM device with a premaxillary appliance which was worn until cheilorrhaphy. Plaster casts from pre- and post-MPNAM treatments were scanned using a three-dimensional laser scanner, and the changes were recorded. Facial photographs of patients were taken during the treatment. RESULT: The average MPNAM treatment duration was 59.8 days. In all cases, the protrusive and deviated premaxilla was rapidly retracted and set into a suitable position after MPNAM treatment. The relative deviation distance and alveolar cleft width were significantly reduced. Both mid-palatal arch width and posterior arch width were increased. In addition, none of the patients developed any complications during the MPNAM treatment. CONCLUSION: Our MPNAM device was able to rapidly centralize the malpositioned premaxilla and reduce the alveolar cleft defect. This device can be applied in presurgical orthodontic treatments for patients with complete BCLP having a severely protruded and deviated premaxilla.

CircRNA has_circ_0069313 induced OSCC immunity escape by miR-325-3p-Foxp3 axes in both OSCC cells and Treg cells.

INTRODUCTION: CircRNAs are engaged in the tumorigenesis and progression of oral squamous cancer cells (OSCC). However, the function and underlying mechanism of circRNAs on tumor-associated immunity escape are largely unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the expression pattern of has_circ_0069313 in our in-house database and its correlation with OSCC prognosis. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detected PDL1 expression. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization was applied to detect subcellular location of circRNA. A luciferase activity assay was used to detect the interaction of has_circ_0069313 and miR-325-3p and its downstream target, Foxp3. Exosomes were collected to detect the exosomal circRNAs and co-culture assays were performed to detect the function of exosomal circRNAs on Tregs. RESULTS: has_circ_0069313 was upregulated in OSCC tissues and predicts poor prognosis. has_circ_0069313 promotes immunity escape through inhibiting miR-325-3p-induced Foxp3 degradation. has_circ_0069313 is an exosomal circRNA and the transfer of has_circ_0069313 to Treg cells promotes the Treg function through maintaining Foxp3 levels. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that has_circ_0069313 induces OSCC immunity escape via the miR-325-3p-Foxp3 axis in both OSCC cells and Treg cells.

Au@Ag Nanorods-PDMS Wearable Mouthguard as a Visualized Detection Platform for Screening Dental Caries and Periodontal Diseases.

The development of easy-to-use, low-cost, and visualized detection platforms for screening human dental caries and periodontal diseases is in urgent demand. In this work, a Au@Ag nanorods-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (Au@Ag NRs-PDMS) wearable mouthguard, which can visualize the tooth lesion sites through the color change of it at the corresponding locations, is presented. The Au@Ag NRs-PDMS composite exhibits a distinct color response to hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) gas generated by bacterial decay at the lesion sites. Moreover, the Au@Ag NRs-PDMS mouthguard is demonstrated to own desired mechanical properties, excellent chemical stability, as well as good biocompatibility, and can accurately locate the lesion sites in human oral cavity. These findings suggest that the mouthguard has the potential to be utilized on a large scale to help people self-monitor their oral health in daily life, and treat oral diseases locally.

A Transparent, Wearable Fluorescent Mouthguard for High-Sensitive Visualization and Accurate Localization of Hidden Dental Lesion Sites.

Accurate detection and early diagnosis of oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis, can be potentially achieved by detecting the secretion of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) in oral cavities. Current diagnostic approaches for VSCs can detect the existence and concentrations, yet are not capable of locating the dental lesion sites. Herein, the development of a unique approach for accurately locating dental lesion sites using a fluorescent mouthguard consisting of the zinc oxide-poly(dimethylsiloxane) (ZnO-PDMS) nanocomposite to detect the local release of VSCs is reported. The ZnO-PDMS mouthguard displays a highly sensitive and selective response to VSCs, and exhibits high fluorescent stability, good biocompatibility, and low biological toxicity in normal physiological environments. Then, the wearable ZnO-PDMS mouthguard is demonstrated to be able to identify the precise locations of lesion sites in human subjects. Combined with image analysis, the mouthguards successfully uncover the precise locations of dental caries, allowing convenient screening of hidden dental lesion sites that are oftentimes omitted by dentists. Due to low cost, long-term stability, and good patient compliance, the proposed wearable mouthguard is suitable for large-scale production and enables widely applicable, preliminary yet accurate screening of dental lesions prior to dental clinics and routine physical examinations.

Nomogram Based on Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index to Predict Survival of Tongue Cancer Patients Who Underwent Cervical Dissection.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the preoperative systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and to establish a nomogram for prediction of survival of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) patients who underwent primary surgery and cervical dissection. Methods: 120 patients diagnosed with TSCC who underwent primary tumor and neck dissection without preoperative treatment were included to develop the nomogram. This model was externally validated in an independent data cohort of 50 TSCC patients. X-tile software was used to identify the optimal cut-off value. Prognostic factors were identified by Univariate and multivariate analyses. A nomogram based on the multivariate analysis results was built to predict the survival rate and calibration curves and concordance index (C-index) were used to determine predictive and discriminatory capacity. Results: The optimal cut-off value was 569×109/L for SII. In the training cohort, a high preoperative SII (>569) was significantly related to tumor size, histological grade, depth of invasion, lymph node density (LND). A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with a lower SII had a significantly better 5-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) than patients with high SII (80.8% vs. 43.5% and 72.7% vs. 36.2%, respectively, P<0.001). Univariate analyses of training cohort revealed that age, clinical stage, depth of invasion, LND, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and SII were significant prognostic factors for OS. Moreover, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve showed that SII was superior to NLR and PLR for predicting clinical outcomes. However, multivariate analysis found that age, LND, and SII were independent risk factors for OS. The C-index of the nomograms based on independent prognostic factors was 0.716 for OS and 0.723 for DFS. The C-indexes for external validation of OS and DFS were 0.852 and 0.754, respectively. The calibration curves showed good agreement between predicted and actual observations of OS and DFS. Conclusion: SII can serve as a novel independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS of patients with TSCC. The prognostic nomogram based on SII is a reliable model for predicting survival of patients with TSCC after surgery.

An Optical Sensor with Polyaniline-Gold Hybrid Nanostructures for Monitoring pH in Saliva.

Saliva contains important personal physiological information that is related to some diseases, and it is a valuable source of biochemical information that can be collected rapidly, frequently, and without stress. In this article, we reported a new and simple localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) substrate composed of polyaniline (PANI)-gold hybrid nanostructures as an optical sensor for monitoring the pH of saliva samples. The overall appearance and topography of the substrates, the composition, and the wettability of the LSPR surfaces were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, infrared spectra, and contact angles measurement, respectively. The PANI-gold hybrid substrate readily responded to the pH. The response time was very short, which was 3.5 s when the pH switched from 2 to 7, and 4.5 s from 7 to 2. The changes of visible-near-infrared (NIR) spectra of this sensor upon varying pH in solution showed that-for the absorption at given wavelengths of 665 nm and 785 nm-the sensitivities were 0.0299 a.u./pH (a.u. = arbitrary unit) with a linear range of pH = 5-8 and 0.0234 a.u./pH with linear range of pH = 2-8, respectively. By using this new sensor, the pH of a real saliva sample was monitored and was consistent with the parallel measurements with a standard laboratory method. The results suggest that this novel LSPR sensor shows great potential in the field of mobile healthcare and home medical devices, and could also be modified by different sensitive materials to detect various molecules or ions in the future.

A rat model of oral submucous fibrosis induced by bleomycin.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to induce a rat model of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) using bleomycin. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized trial was performed. Bleomycin dilution or phosphate-buffered saline was injected daily into the buccal mucosa of the test and control rats, respectively, for 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Changes in histopathologic features, myofibroblasts, ultrastructure, and the levels of collagen type I and III, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and interferon-γ were measured. RESULTS: Compared with controls, the buccal mucosa of the test rats appeared pale and stiff. There was collagen deposition in the laminae propria. Type I and type III collagen increased steadily, transforming growth factor-beta 1 increased and then decreased, and interferon-γ was gradually reduced. The ultrastructure was also similar to that of OSF. CONCLUSIONS: Using bleomycin, we induced a rat model of OSF that is very similar to human OSF in clinical manifestations, pathology, and ultrastructural changes.

CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma: Evidence from a meta-analysis.

Numerous case-control studies have investigated whether the CYP1A1 gene polymorphism is involved in the occurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); however, the conclusions are inconsistent. In order to further explore the correlation and obtain a strong conclusion, a meta-analysis was performed to systematically assess the association between the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and risk of OSCC. In the present meta-analysis, the odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association. The statistical analyses were performed with STATA 11.0 software. The heterogeneity was assessed by Q test and I2test. The final analysis included 10 studies of 1,505 cases and 1,967 controls. The overall results suggested that the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of OSCC (CC+TC vs. TT: OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.70; P=0.043; CC vs. TC+TT: OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.58-3.58; P<0.001; CC vs. TT: OR, 2.52; 95% CI, 1.60-3.96; P<0.001; and C vs. T: OR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.15-1.83; P<0.001). In a stratified analysis by ethnicity, a statistically significant correlation existed in the Asian population, but not mixed-race and Caucasian populations. In conclusion, despite several limitations, the present meta-analysis established that the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism may be a risk factor for OSCC, particularly among the Asian population.

Eccentric magnetic microcapsules for orientation-specific and dual stimuli-responsive drug release.

In this paper, we fabricated uniform polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) magnetic microcapsules with eccentric internal structures and employed them as a novel delivery system for orientation-specific and dual stimuli-responsive controlled drug release. These eccentric microcapsules contained Fe3O4 nanoparticles in their inner cores. Because of the paramagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles, the eccentric microcapsules could be accurately moved by a magnetic field, leading to the precise control of the microcapsule locations. Also, due to the eccentric structures of the magnetic microcapsules, the capsules exhibited a non-uniform magnetic property; the capsules could be aligned by magnetic fields with their thin walls facing the magnet, resulting in a precise orientation-specific control of the microcapsules. More interestingly, the eccentric magnetic microcapsules demonstrated a dual stimuli-responsive controlled release of inclusions involving a sustained release under ultrasound and an intense release under laser stimulation. Furthermore, we studied the efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX) release from the microcapsules regulated by laser stimulation by performing in vitro cell tests with and without an applied magnetic field. The cell tests showed that the orientation-specific control of the microcapsules under a magnetic field (when the thin walls of the eccentric microcapsules were oriented towards the cell) improved the efficacy of the drug released from the microcapsules. The results suggested that our eccentric magnetic microcapsules hold all the properties needed for a site-specific, orientation-specific and dual stimuli-responsive delivery system, demonstrating a great potential application for multifunctional controlled drug release.

[Design and fabrication of the custom-made titanium condyle by selective laser melting technology].

OBJECTIVE: To design and fabricate the custom-made titanium mandibular condyle by the reverse engineering technology combined with selective laser melting (SLM) technology and to explore the mechanical properties of the SLM-processed samples and the application of the custom-made condyle in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction. METHODS: The three-dimensional model of the mandibular condyle was obtained from a series of CT databases. The custom-made condyle model was designed by the reverse engineering software. The mandibular condyle was made of titanium powder with a particle size of 20-65 µm as the basic material and the processing was carried out in an argon atmosphere by the SLM machine. The yield strength, ultimate strength, bending strength, hardness, surface morphology and roughness were tested and analyzed. The finite element analysis (FEA) was used to analyze the stress distribution. RESULTS: The complex geometry and the surface of the custom-made condyle can be reproduced precisely by the SLM. The mechanical results showed that the yield strength, ultimate strength, bending strength and hardness were (559±14) MPa, (659±32) MPa, (1 067±42) MPa, and (212±4)HV, respectively. The surface roughness was reduced by sandblast treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The custom-made titanium condyle can be fabricated by SLM technology which is time-saving and highly digitized. The mechanical properties of the SLM sample can meet the requirements of surgical implant material in the clinic. The possibility of fabricating custom-made titanium mandibular condyle combined with the FEA opens new interesting perspectives for TMJ reconstruction.

Generation of uniform polymer eccentric and core-centered hollow microcapsules for ultrasound-regulated drug release.

In this paper, a strategy was developed for fabricating uniform polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microcapsules with eccentric and core-centered internal hollow structures, which can be employed as a novel controlled-release system for site-specific drug delivery under ultrasound regulation. This strategy involves the use of a microfluidic device, through which three phases (i.e., an inner water phase containing drug molecules, a middle oil phase of PDMS solution, and an outer water phase) were delivered at independently adjustable flow rates, allowing the formation of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion droplets in a microfluidic device. After baking the as-prepared microcapsules, microcapsules with different inner hollow cores were obtained. The sizes of the inner hollow structures could be tuned, leading to a series of microcapsules with different densities. The densities of these microcapsules were all lower than that of water, which showed a long gastric residence time. Most interestingly, eccentric hollow microcapsules with well-controlled sizes and shapes were also prepared using this method. The eccentric and core-centered hollow microcapsules demonstrated triggered and controlled the release of encapsulation under ultrasound, for which the release profiles were consistent with the theoretical simulation. The results showed that the microcapsules had all the properties of a floating drug delivery system and controlled release system, and demonstrated great potential to be used for controlled release, in particular, for the delivery of drugs that are absorbed primarily in the upper segments of the gastrointestinal tract.