p75NTR antibody-conjugated microspheres: an approach to guided tissue regeneration by selective recruitment of endogenous periodontal ligament cells.

Repairing defects in alveolar bone is essential for regenerating periodontal tissue, but it is a formidable challenge. One promising therapeutic approach involves using a strategy that specifically recruits periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) with high regenerative potential to achieve in situ regeneration of alveolar bone. In this study, we have created a new type of microsphere conjugated with an antibody to target p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), which is made of nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) and chitosan (CS). The goal of this design is to attract p75NTR+hPDLCs selectively and promote osteogenesis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the antibody-conjugated microspheres attracted significantly more PDLCs compared to non-conjugated microspheres. Incorporating nHA not only enhances cell adhesion and proliferation on the surface of the microsphere but also augments its osteoinductive properties. Microspheres effectively recruited p75NTR+ cells at bone defect sites in SD rats, as observed through immunofluorescent staining of p75NTR antibodies. This p75NTR antibody-conjugated nHA/CS microsphere presents a promising approach for selectively recruiting cells and repairing bone defects.

p75NTR promotes tooth rhythmic mineralization via upregulation of BMAL1/CLOCK.

The circadian clock plays a critical role in dentomaxillofacial development. Tooth biomineralization is characterized by the circadian clock; however, the mechanisms underlying the coordination of circadian rhythms with tooth development and biomineralization remain unclear. The p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) is a clock factor that regulates the oscillatory components of the circadian rhythm. This study aims to investigate the impact of p75NTR on the rhythmic mineralization of teeth and elucidate its underlying molecular mechanisms. We generated p75NTR knockout mice to examine the effects of p75NTR deficiency on tooth mineralization. Ectomesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs), derived from mouse tooth germs, were used for in vitro experiments. Results showed a reduction in tooth mineral density and daily mineralization rate in p75NTR knockout mice. Deletion of p75NTR decreased the expression of DMP1, DSPP, RUNX2, and ALP in tooth germ. Odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of EMSCs were activated by p75NTR. Histological results demonstrated predominant detection of p75NTR protein in odontoblasts and stratum intermedium cells during rapid formation phases of dental hard tissue. The mRNA expression of p75NTR exhibited circadian variations in tooth germs and EMSCs, consistent with the expression patterns of the core clock genes Bmal1 and Clock. The upregulation of BMAL1/CLOCK expression by p75NTR positively regulated the mineralization ability of EMSCs, whereas BMAL1 and CLOCK exerted a negative feedback regulation on p75NTR by inhibiting its promoter activity. Our findings suggest that p75NTR is necessary to maintain normal tooth biomineralization. Odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of EMSCs is regulated by the p75NTR-BMAL1/CLOCK signaling axis. These findings offer valuable insights into the associations between circadian rhythms, tooth development, and biomineralization.

Ultrafast oxidative desulfurization of diesel fuel catalyzed by a polyoxometalate-based catalyst immobilized on functionalized Y-SBA-15.

Y-SBA-15 was synthesized by doping yttrium (Y) into SBA-15 using a solvent-free solid-state grinding method, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium phosphomolybdic salt ([Bmim]3PMo12O40, abbreviated as [Bmim]PMoO) was also synthesized. [Bmim]PMoO/Y-SBA-15 was prepared and used for oxidative desulfurization (ODS). The physicochemical characteristics of the catalyst have been characterized by FT-IR, XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption, FESEM, TEM, XPS, contact angle testing, EPR, etc. A lipophilic surface is beneficial for making the catalyst well disperse in an oil phase, and a hydrophilic core can help to store aqueous oxidants. Therefore, the amphiphilic catalyst 25[Bmim]PMoO/10Y-SBA-15 exhibited high catalytic activity in dibenzothiophene (DBT) ODS, and sulfur compounds can be removed completely within 40 min under the following conditions: VOil = 10 mL, mcatalyst = 0.1 g, m[Bmim]PMoO : m[Bmim]PMoO/10Y-SBA-15 = 25%, and O/S = 4 (molar ratio). In addition, the concentration of aromatics exerted little effect on the DBT ODS. Sulfur compounds in real diesel might be reduced to 8 µg g-1. The hydroxyl radical ˙OH and superoxide radical ˙O2- play crucial roles in the ODS reaction, and the ODS reaction mechanism was also proposed.

Serum Metabolomics in Patients with Coexisting NAFLD and T2DM Using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

OBJECTIVE: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently coexist and can act synergistically to drive adverse outcomes of one another. This study aimed to unravel the metabolomic changes in patients with NAFLD and T2DM, to identify potential noninvasive biomarkers, and to provide insights for understanding the link between NAFLD and T2DM. METHODS: Three hundred participants aged 35 to 70 years who were diagnosed with NAFLD (n = 100), T2DM (n = 100), or a comorbidity of NAFLD and T2DM (n = 100) were included in this study. Anthropometrics and routine blood chemistry were assessed after overnight fast. The global serum metabolomic analysis was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. Multivariate data analysis methods were utilized to identify the potential biomarkers. RESULTS: A set of serum biomarkers that could effectively separate NAFLD from NAFLD + T2DM and T2DM from NAFLD + T2DM were identified. We found that patients with coexisting NAFLD and T2DM had significantly higher levels of total protein (TP), triglycerides (TG), glucose in urine, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid than those with NAFLD and had significant increased levels of TP, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, cholinesterase, TG, low-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein A when compared to patients with T2DM. CONCLUSION: The metabolomics results provide evidence that the comorbidity of NAFLD and T2DM considerably altered patients' metabolomics patterns compared to those of patients with only NAFLD or T2DM.

CT observation of L5 pedicle screw fixation shielding by the iliac wing width and height.

OBJECTIVE: The height and width of the iliac wing were measured using three-dimensional computed tomography(3D-CT), and the extent to which the iliac wing occluded the entry point of the 5th lumbar vertebra pedicle screw(L5PS) was observed and graded according to severity. The overall goal was to study the influence of the height and width of the iliac wing on L5PS insertion. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 350 cases (179 males and 171 females) where the L1-S2 region was obtained. We reconstructed 3D-CT in our study for anatomic analysis. The width and height of the iliac wing were measured on CT axial and oblique sagittal images, respectively. The degree of the L5PS entry point was determined by the data of iliac wing width and height, and divided into 0, I, II and III levels. The association between width and height of the iliac wing among males and females was also analyzed in this paper. RESULTS: The incidence of shielding of the L5PS entry point by the height and width of the ilium wing were 20.0 % and 19.4 %, respectively. The overall incidence of obstruction of L5PS by the width of the ilium wing was 27.3 % in males and 12.3 % in females. In total, there were 27, 14, and 8 male patients with level I, II, and III shielding, respectively. There were 12, 7, and 2 females with level I, II, and III shielding, respectively. The overall incidence with which the height of the ilium wing obstructed L5PS was 24.0 % in males and 14.6 % in females, of which there were 23 males with level Ⅰ shielding, 16 males with level Ⅱ shielding, 4 males with level Ⅲ shielding, 13 females with level Ⅰ shielding, 8 females with level Ⅱ shielding, and 4 females with level Ⅲ shielding. CONCLUSIONS: The height of the ilium caused obstruction of the L5PS more frequently than the width of the ilium, and males had a higher incidence of iliac wing occlusion than females at both the height and width. The degree of L5PS entry point shielding by the iliac wing width along the horizontal axis was not completely consistent with that of L5PS shielding on the oblique sagittal plane.

Application of Oral Lactulose in Combination With Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Powder for Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation in Patients With Constipation.

The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of combined application of lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder compared with conventional method in preparing for colonoscopy bowel cleanliness in patients with constipation. Ninety patients, who had constipation and needed to have colonoscopy, were divided into study group and control group with 45 cases in each group, respectively. One day before the colonoscopy, patients in the experimental group were given lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder, whereas the patients in the control group were given oral polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder only. The following parameters were then obtained: time of the first defecation (duration of the time from taking the drugs to the first bowel movement), defecation frequency, completion of bowel cleaning (duration from the first bowel movement to the stool becoming clear), and adverse reaction. Cleansing effect in the study group bowel preparation was significantly better than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Specifically, time of the first defecation and completion of bowel cleaning were statistically shorter in the study group than those in the control group (P < 0.05), and defecation frequency was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Incidence of adverse reaction, however, was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Combined application of lactulose oral solution and polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder is superior to the conventional method of polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder alone for colonoscopy bowel preparation in patients with constipation. Therefore, combined clinical application of the 2 compounds is strongly recommended for colonoscopy bowel preparation in patients with constipation.