LINC00958 promotes the proliferation of TSCC via miR-211-5p/CENPK axis and activating the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is one of the most common oral tumors. Recently, long intergenic noncoding RNA 00958 (LINC00958) has been identified as an oncogene in human cancers. Nevertheless, the role of LINC00958 and its downstream mechanisms in TSCC is still unknown. METHODS: The effect of LINC00958 on TSCC cells proliferation and growth were assessed by CCK-8, colony formation, 5-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridline (EdU) assay and flow cytometry assays in vitro and tumor xenograft model in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target of LINC00958 in TSCC, which was verified by RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase reporter assays. RESULTS: LINC00958 was increased in TSCC tissues, and patients with high LINC00958 expression had a shorter overall survival. LINC00958 knockdown significantly decreased the growth rate of TSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. In mechanism, LINC00958 acted as a ceRNA by competitively sponging miR-211-5p. In addition, we identified CENPK as a direct target gene of miR-211-5p, which was higher in TSCC tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues. Up-regulated miR-211-5p or down-regulated CENPK could abolish LINC00958-induced proliferation promotion in TSCC cells. Furthermore, The overexpression of CENPK promoted the expression of oncogenic cell cycle regulators and activated the JAK/STAT3 signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that LINC00958 is a potential prognostic biomarker in TSCC.

Differential expression of lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA and their related functional networks during the osteogenic/odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells.

Dentin-pulp regeneration requires dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), but the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) during this process remains unclear. Here, we cultured human DPSCs in osteogenic/odontogenic medium for 14 days and analyzed cells via RNA-sequencing. The data were validated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and lncRNA-microRNA (miRNA)-messenger RNA (mRNA) networks were constructed to reveal the potential competing endogenous RNA regulatory role of lncRNAs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis were performed. One lncRNA, SNHG7, was identified and validated by genetic shRNA silencing. A total of 89 lncRNAs, 1,636 mRNAs, and 113 miRNAs were differentially expressed after differentiation. Bioinformatics identified an array of affected signaling pathways including phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B, transforming growth factor-ß, and Wnt. mRNAs were enriched in cell migration, cell differentiation, stem cell development, ossification, and skeletal development. One lncRNA, SNHG7, was indentified to inhibit the odonto/osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs when silenced. In summary, we reveal several lncRNAs that significantly change during DPSC differentiation, including SNHG7. This reveals new targets for dentin-pulp complex regeneration and tissue engineering.

Cone-beam computed tomography investigation of middle mesial canals and isthmuses in mandibular first molars in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: While there is ample research into the anatomy of mandibular molars, little is known regarding isthmuses and middle mesial (MM) canals in Chinese populations. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of MM canals and isthmuses in the mesial root of mandibular first molars using Cone-beam Computed Tomography. METHODS: Cone-beam Computed Tomography images of 357 mature mandibular first molars were retrospectively analyzed. Presence of isthmuses and MM canals, and the length of isthmuses in the mesial root were recorded. Meanwhile, we also recorded possible correlated factors such as demographics, side of mandible, presence of separated distal-lingual roots. RESULTS: Of these 357 teeth, 209 showed evidence of either complete or partial communication in the mesial root. Of these, 11(3.1%) exhibited true MM canals while 198(55.5%) exhibited isthmuses. Sex or side of mandible was not correlated with the prevalence of isthmuses (P > 0.05). However, there was a significant association between the presence of a distal-lingual root and the prevalence of such communication (P < 0.001). The average length of isthmuses was 4.3 ± 3.1 mm. CONCLUSIONS: We detected high rate of isthmuses and low rate of MM canals in mesial roots of mandibular first molars, which is important as such areas should be identified and cleaned during root canal treatment.

[Two-stage closed sinus lift for severe bone deficiency in the posterior maxilla imrpoves long-term clinical outcomes].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of two-stage closed sinus lift for the maxillary sinus with residual bone height (RBH) of 1-3 mm in the posterior maxillary. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients with maxillary posterior tooth loss (1 mm≤RBH≤3 mm and alveolar ridge width ≥5 mm) were treated with two-stage closed sinus lift at the Dental Implantation Center of our hospital between March, 2012 and December, 2014. Coral hydroxyapatite powder and 148 implants were implanted. The superstructure was fixed within 6 months after the operation and the patients were followed up for 1-5 years for assessing the patients' satisfaction, postoperative response, stability and survival rates of the implant, soft tissue condition, bone height of maxillary sinus floor elevation and the marginal bone loss. RESULTS: Perforation of the maxillary sinus floor occurred in 3 (3.85%) of the cases. Twenty-three (30.67%) patients complained of mild pain, and 52 (69.33%) did not experience headache or fever or reported obvious pain or swelling after the operation. The overall response to the operation was favorable. The ISQ value was 58.39±1.39 immediately after the operation, and increased significantly to 81.88±1.22 at 6 months (P < 0.05). During the healing period and the follow-up, none of the implants fell off, and the implant survival rate was 100%. The peri-implant probing depth and modified sulcus bleeding index at 1 year after sinus lifting were similar to those at 5 years after the operation (P > 0.05), but the sinus floor elevation and marginal bone resorption at the two time points differed significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with lateral wall lifting, two-stage close lifting of the maxillary sinus floor is associated with less trauma and less discomfort, and effectively solves the problem of severe alveolar bone height deficiency in the maxillary posterior region to achieve favorable long-term clinical outcomes.

Evaluation of the effect of concentrated growth factor in guided bone regeneration in maxillary anterior tooth defects / 口腔疾病防治

Objective@#To investigate the clinical effect of concentrated growth factor (CGF) applied in guided bone regeneration (GBR) for severe bone deficiency in the anterior maxilla.@*Methods @#Forty patients with bone defects in the anterior maxilla were chosen to be treated with GBR, 20 patients were treated with CGF applied in GBR as the observation group, and the other 20 patients were treated only with GBR as the control group. The evaluation of wound healing was performed after the operation, and bone augmentation was evaluated half a year after the operation.@*Results@#The first-stage healing rate of soft tissue wounds in the observation group was 100% and 75% in the control group, and the primary healing rate in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P=0.017). The changes in bone width of the observation group were （3.70 ± 0.28） mm, and those of the control group were （2.96 ± 0.16） mm. The bone augmentation in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.000). @*Conclusion@#CGF applied in GBR has a good effect on bone augmentation for severe bone deficiency in the anterior maxilla.

[Effect of preoperative anxiety level on postoperative pain sensation in patients receiving implant denture for partial edentulism].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of preoperative anxiety level on postoperative pain sensation in partially edentulous patients undergoing surgery for implant denture. METHODS: Eighty partially edentulous patients receiving implant denture were examined for preoperative anxiety level using State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) questionnaires before implantation surgery. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Present Pain Intensity (PPI) Questionnaire were used to assess the pain sensation in patients immediately after the operation. The correlations of preoperative state anxiety, trait anxiety, and dental anxiety with postoperative VAS score were analyzed. According to the assessment results of STAI, the patients were divided into little or no (score range 20-37) anxiety group (L group), moderate (38-44) anxiety group (M group), and high (45-80) anxiety group (H group) to analyze the effect of state anxiety and trait anxiety levels on postoperative pain sensation. RESULTS: Significantly positive correlations were found between preoperative state anxiety, trait anxiety and dental anxiety among the patients (P<0.01). Postoperative VAS score was positively correlated with trait anxiety score (P<0.01) and differed significantly between different trait anxiety groups (P<0.01). Compared with the patients in M and L groups, those in H group showed a significantly higher VAS score after the operation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The preoperative trait anxiety level is associated with postoperative pain sensation in partially edentulous patients receiving implant denture, suggesting the necessity of preoperative anxiety intervention in clinical practice.