The management of bone defect using long non-coding RNA as a potential biomarker for regulating the osteogenic differentiation process.

Tissue engineered bone brings hope to the treatment of bone defects, and the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells is the key link. Inducing osteogenic differentiation of stem cells may be a potential approach to promote bone regeneration. In recent years, lncRNA has been studied in the field increasingly, which is believed can regulate cell cycle, proliferation, metastasis, differentiation and immunity, participating in a variety of physiology and pathology processes. At present, it has been confirmed that certain lncRNAs regulate the osteogenesis of stem cells and take part in mediating signaling pathways including Wnt/ß-catenin, MAPK, TGF-ß/BMP, and Notch pathways. Here, we provided an overview of lncRNA, reviewed its researches in the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells, emphasized the importance of lncRNA in bone regeneration, and focused on the roles of lncRNA in signaling pathways, in order to make adequate preparations for applying lncRNA to bone tissue Engineering, letting it regulate the osteogenic differentiation of stem cells for bone regeneration.

A 3-Year Clinical Evaluation of Endodontically Treated Posterior Teeth Restored with Resin Nanoceramic Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacture (CAD/CAM)-Fabricated Partial Crowns.

BACKGROUND We aimed to investigate the clinical effects of resin nanoceramic (RNC) computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) partial crowns on posterior teeth after root canal treatment over a 3-year period. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 132 posterior teeth restored with CAD/CAM partial crowns were placed in 128 patients. The observation group (n=66) was restored with RNC restorations, while the control group received lithium disilicate-based glass ceramic (LDGC) CAD restorations. Using Federation dentaire internationale (FDI) World Dental Federation clinical criteria, 2 calibrated evaluators examined the performance of the restorations at baseline, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months. The Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test were adopted to analyze the survival rate. The influence of potential risk factors on the main pattern of failure was studied by univariate Cox regression analysis (alpha=0.05). RESULTS At the 3-year followup, the survival rate of the partial crowns was 83.1% in the RNC group, and 93.5% in the LDGC group (P=0.061). Failures were caused by debonding (66.7%), restoration fracture (26.6%), and tooth fracture (6.7%). No significant differences were found between the 2 materials at 36 months, except for the parameters of "surface luster" (P=0.002) and "occlusal contour and wear" (P=0.009). The RNC group was significantly more likely to debond than the LDGC group (hazard ratio=9.22 [1.17,72.74], P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS RNC CAD/CAM-fabricated partial crowns are a potential clinical alternative for endodontically treated posterior teeth, with a survival rate of 83.1% at the 3-year followup. The main pattern of failure was debonding, which might be influenced by surface pretreatment of the RNC material.

Borderline Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Risk Factor Predicting the Development and Poor Prognosis after Core Decompression for Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head.

OBJECTIVE: It is unclear whether idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is associated with borderline developmental dysplasia of the hip (BDDH). This study aimed to compare the incidence of BDDH between patients with idiopathic ONFH and matched control subjects and determine the influence of BDDH on poor prognosis after core decompression (CD). METHODS: We retrospectively examined 78 consecutive patients (111 hips) with idiopathic ONFH undergoing CD and 1:2 matched with 156 control subjects (222 hips). The anteroposterior pelvic radiographs were used to measure the acetabular anatomical parameters and divide included subjects into BDDH or non-BDDH group. The incidence of BDDH and acetabular anatomical parameters were compared between patients with idiopathic ONFH and matched controls. Clinical outcomes, such as Harris Hip Score (HHS), progression of collapse, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA), were compared between patients with BDDH and without BDDH in the idiopathic ONFH group, with a mean follow-up of 72.1 ± 36.6 months. RESULTS: Patients with idiopathic ONFH had a significantly higher incidence of BDDH than matched controls (29.7% vs 12.2%, p < 0.001). Less acetabular coverage was also found in patients with idiopathic ONFH than in matched controls as demonstrated by lower CEA (28.5° ± 4.7° vs 33.1° ± 5.7°, p < 0.001), AHI (82.4 ± 5.0 vs 86.3 ± 5.4, p < 0.001), ADR (299.6 ± 28.4 vs 318.8 ± 31.3, p < 0.001), and a higher sharp angle (40.0° ± 3.4° vs 37.4° ± 3.7°, p < 0.001). In patients with idiopathic ONFH, the BDDH group had a significantly lower mean HHS at the last follow-up (83.5 ± 17.4 vs 91.6 ± 9.7, p = 0.015) with a different score distribution (p = 0.004), and a lower 5-year survival rate with both clinical failure (66.7%, 95% CI 52.4%-84.9% vs 83.7%, 95% CI 75.2%-93.1%; p = 0.028) and conversion to THA (74.6%, 95% CI 60.7%-91.6% vs 92.1%, 95% CI 85.6%-99.0%; p = 0.008) as the endpoints than the non-BDDH group. CONCLUSION: The incidence of BDDH was significantly higher in patients with idiopathic ONFH than matched controls, and idiopathic ONFH patients who underwent CD with BDDH had lower mean HHS as well as 5-year survival rate than those without BDDH. Therefore, BDDH should be considered a risk factor predicting the development of idiopathic ONFH as well as poor prognosis after CD.

[Distribution of WNT10A gene rs10177996 polymorphism between Han and Uygur populations in Xinjiang area].

PURPOSE: To explore the characteristics of distribution of WNT10A gene rs10177996 polymorphism between Han and Uygur populations in Xinjiang area. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey on 154 Han individuals in Urumqi area and 134 Uygur individuals in Kashgar area was performed. Buccal epithelial cells were harvested using Cotton swab scraping, and DNA was extracted by special kit. After screening, the corresponding SNP segments of qualified samples were propagated by PCR. Dideoxy-mediated chain termination method was used for gene sequencing, and then, genotyping was conducted with corresponding software. Statistical analysis of genetic data was performed by SPSS 23.0 software package. RESULTS: Among Uygur nationality in Kashgar area, the frequencies of CC, CT, TT genetypes in rs10177996 were 8.21%, 30.60% and 61.19%, respectively. The allele frequency of C was 23.51% and T was 76.49%. Among Han nationality in Urumqi area, the frequencies on CC, CT, TT genetypes of rs10177996 were 9.74%, 43.51% and 46.75%, respectively. The allele frequency of C was 31.49% and T was 68.51%. When compared with Han nationality, the frequency of TT was significantly higher in Uygur nationality(P=0.046). When compared with European, the frequency of TT was significantly lower in Uygur nationality (P=0.05). When compared with European, the frequency of TT was significantly lower in Han nationality(P＜0.01). Compared with European, the distribution on C allele frequency was significantly higher, the distribution on T allele frequency was significantly lower in Han nationality (P=0.033). However, there was no significant difference between Han nationality in Urumqi area and Uygur nationality in Kashgar area (P＞0.05), and, between Uygur nationality in Kashgar area and European (P＞0.05). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference in gender between Uygur nationality in Kashgar area and Han nationality in Urumqi area (P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The distributions of WNT10A gene rs10177996 SNP among Han nationality in Urumqi area, Uygur nationality in Kashgar area and the reported European population are obviously different.

Rapid prototyping for tissue-engineered bone scaffold by 3D printing and biocompatibility study.

The prototyping of tissue-engineered bone scaffold (calcined goat spongy bone-biphasic ceramic composite/PVA gel) by 3D printing was performed, and the biocompatibility of the fabricated bone scaffold was studied. Pre-designed STL file was imported into the GXYZ303010-XYLE 3D printing system, and the tissue-engineered bone scaffold was fabricated by 3D printing using gel extrusion. Rabbit bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were cultured in vitro and then inoculated to the sterilized bone scaffold obtained by 3D printing. The growth of rabbit BMSCs on the bone scaffold was observed under the scanning electron microscope (SEM). The effect of the tissue-engineered bone scaffold on the proliferation and differentiation of rabbit BMSCs using MTT assay. Universal testing machine was adopted to test the tensile strength of the bone scaffold. The leachate of the bone scaffold was prepared and injected into the New Zealand rabbits. Cytotoxicity test, acute toxicity test, pyrogenic test and intracutaneous stimulation test were performed to assess the biocompatibility of the bone scaffold. Bone scaffold manufactured by 3D printing had uniform pore size with the porosity of about 68.3%. The pores were well interconnected, and the bone scaffold showed excellent mechanical property. Rabbit BMSCs grew and proliferated on the surface of the bone scaffold after adherence. MTT assay indicated that the proliferation and differentiation of rabbit BMSCs on the bone scaffold did not differ significantly from that of the cells in the control. In vivo experiments proved that the bone scaffold fabricated by 3D printing had no acute toxicity, pyrogenic reaction or stimulation. Bone scaffold manufactured by 3D printing allows the rabbit BMSCs to adhere, grow and proliferate and exhibits excellent biomechanical property and high biocompatibility. 3D printing has a good application prospect in the prototyping of tissue-engineered bone scaffold.

Basic fibroblast growth factor lentiviral vector-transfected sheep bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and non-specific osteogenic gene expression.

In the present study, sheep bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs) were transfected with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-lentivirus in order to investigate the influence of bFGF on osteogenic gene expression. bFGF­transfected BMSCs (experimental group) and non-transfected BMSCs (control group) were also transfected with a green fluorescent protein gene in order to measure the transfection efficiency of the (bFGF)-lentivirus using flow cytometry. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays, the changes in expression from three genes (osteopontin, OPN; osteocalcin, OC; and collagen-I) in BMSCs from the experimental and control groups were measured. Transfection efficiency was 87.3% in the experimental group and 1.1% in the control group. OPN gene expression was high in BMSCs from the experimental group. However, there was no significant difference in OPN expression between BMSCs from the control and experimental group (P>0.05). Collagen-I expression was significantly lower in the experimental group compared with that in the control groups (P<0.05). By contrast, OC expression was significantly higher in BMSCs from the experimental group compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). Changes in osteogenic gene expression indicated that the BMSCs from the experimental group had better osteogenic ability, as compared with the control cells. Therefore, bFGF-transfected cells may be useful seed cells for bone tissue engineering.

[Distribution of subgingival flora after restoration of dentition defect with conical telescopic removable denture in patients with periodontitis].

PURPOSE: To assess the distribution of subgingival flora after restoration of dentition defect with conical telescopic removable denture in patients with periodontitis. METHODS: 36 spots of 18 patients were examined and recorded for periodontal depth (PD) and gingival index(GI). Samples from subgingival pocket were collected, cultured, evaluated and compared between abutment teeth group and nonabutment teeth group. Chi-square test was used to determine the difference in each of these positive detecting rates by SPSS 10.0 software. RESULTS: 3 years after restoration, the GI and PD of abutment teeth were normal, while those of the non-abutment teeth were higher. The positive rate for anaerobe in subgingival pocket after restoration, were significantly higher than that before restoration in both groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Conical telescopic removable denture is efficient in controlling the accumulation and attachment of nosogenetic microorganisms, preventing periodontitis from recurring and is a preferred prosthesis for dentition defect with periodontitis.