Reversible suppression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in vivo by inducible RNA interference.

Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), also known as cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), plays a critical role in many normal physiological functions and modulates a variety of pathological conditions. The ability to turn endogenous COX-2 on and off in a reversible fashion, at specific times and in specific cell types, would be a powerful tool in determining its role in many contexts. To achieve this goal, we took advantage of a recently developed RNA interference system in mice.

Glass ionomer ART sealant and fluoride-releasing resin sealant in fissure caries prevention--results from a randomized clinical trial.

Background: The relative performance of ART sealant and fluoride-releasing resin sealant in preventing fissure caries in permanent molars was compared in a randomized clinical trial conducted in southern China (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01829334).

Methods: After obtaining ethical approval, healthy schoolchildren who had permanent first molars with occlusal fissures which were sound but deep or presented with only incipient caries were recruited for the study.

A novel self-assembled oligopeptide amphiphile for biomimetic mineralization of enamel.

Background: Researchers are looking for biomimetic mineralization of ena/mel to manage dental erosion. This study evaluated biomimetic mineralization of demineralized enamel induced by a synthetic and self-assembled oligopeptide amphiphile (OPA).

Results: The results showed that the OPA self-assembled into nano-fibres in the presence of calcium ions and in neutral acidity.

Three-dimensional reconstruction of thoracic structures: based on Chinese Visible Human.

We managed to establish three-dimensional digitized visible model of human thoracic structures and to provide morphological data for imaging diagnosis and thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. With Photoshop software, the contour line of lungs and mediastinal structures including heart, aorta and its ramus, azygos vein, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, thymus, esophagus, diaphragm, phrenic nerve, vagus nerve, sympathetic trunk, thoracic vertebrae, sternum, thoracic duct, and so forth were segmented from the Chinese Visible Human (CVH)-1 data set. The contour data set of segmented thoracic structures was imported to Amira software and 3D thorax models were reconstructed via surface rendering and volume rendering.

Agarose hydrogel biomimetic mineralization model for the regeneration of enamel prismlike tissue.

Laboratory studies have demonstrated that enamel-like mineralized tissue can be regenerated and used to repair enamel loss. This has implications for the management of noncarious tooth loss resulting from dental erosion, attrition, and abrasion. In this study, we designed a hydrogel biomimetic mineralization model for the regeneration of enamel-like mineralized tissue with a prismatic structure.

A voxel-map quantitative analysis approach for atherosclerotic noncalcified plaques of the coronary artery tree.

Noncalcified plaques (NCPs) are associated with the presence of lipid-core plaques that are prone to rupture. Thus, it is important to detect and monitor the development of NCPs. Contrast-enhanced coronary Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is a potential imaging technique to identify atherosclerotic plaques in the whole coronary tree, but it fails to provide information about vessel walls.

A review of the dental caries status of ethnic minority children in China.

China has 55 ethnic minority groups comprised of 113 million persons, or 7.0% of total population. Dental caries is a major health problem for children in China, and national oral health surveys currently report dental caries based on geographical location rather than by ethnic group.

Biomimetic mineralisation of phosphorylated dentine by CPP-ACP.

Objectives: Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) has the potential to induce the biomimetic mineralisation of dentine collagen fibrils. This study aimed to demonstrate in vitro the ability of CPP-ACP to form apatite crystals on phosphorylated dentine collagen fibrils.

Methods: Dentine slices with a 2-mm thickness were prepared from sound human third molars.

Validity of caries risk assessment programmes in preschool children.

Objectives: Various programmes have been developed for caries risk assessment (CRA). Nevertheless, scientific evidence on their validity is lacking. This study aimed to compare the validity of 4 CRA programmes (CAT, CAMBRA, Cariogram, and NUS-CRA) in predicting early childhood caries.

Current and future research in diagnostic criteria and evaluation of caries detection methods.

The biochemical definition of dental caries is reasonably understood and generally agreed upon, but there is no consensus on a clinical definition among dentists. There are many proposed diagnostic criteria of dental caries in the dental literature. The recently developed International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) has been constructed to allow data comparison between studies.

In vivo imaging of brain infarct with the novel fluorescent probe PSVue 794 in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion model.

The utility of PSVue 794 (PS794), a near-infrared fluorescent dye conjugated to a bis[zinc (II)-dipicolylamine] (Zn-DPA) targeting moiety, in imaging brain infarct was assessed in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion model. Following reperfusion, 1 mM PS794 solution was administered intravenously via a tail vein. Fluorescence images were captured between 6 to 72 hours postinjection using a LI-COR Biosciences Pearl Imaging System.

Oral health status and behaviours of children in Myanmar - a pilot study in four villages in rural areas.

Purpose: To describe the tooth status, periodontal status, oral hygiene and snacking habits of children in four villages in northeastern Myanmar.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a convenient sampling protocol. All children ages 5 and 12 years from four villages were examined by an experienced epidemiologist, and the status of their primary and permanent dentition, respectively, was reported using the diagnostic criteria recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Polydopamine-induced tooth remineralization.

Inspired by mussel bioadhesion in nature, dopamine is extensively used for biomaterial surface modification. In this study, we coated dopamine on demineralized enamel and dentin surfaces to evaluate the effect of polydopamine coating on dental remineralization. Dental slices containing enamel and dentin were first etched with 37% phosphoric acid for 2 min, followed by immersion in a 2 mg/mL freshly prepared solution of dopamine (10 mM Tris buffer, pH 8.

Fluoride and silver concentrations of silver diammine fluoride solutions for dental use.

Objective: To determine the short-term stability of free fluoride ion concentrations and acidity (pH values) of three commercially available SDF solutions over time.

Methods: Three SDF products for caries control were studied: Cariestop-12%, Cariestop-30% and Saforide-38%. Their expected fluoride ion concentrations were 14,200, 35,400 and 44,800 ppm, respectively.

Diurnal variation of ocular exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation based on data from a manikin head.

Measurements were conducted at San Ya, China (18.4°N, 109.7°E, altitude 18 m) to investigate the diurnal variation of ocular exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Novel and conventional assays in determining abundance of Streptococcus mutans in saliva.

Background: Effective caries control and management requires identification of susceptible children for timely intervention. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) is an important biomarker of caries risk.

Ground-based observations of ultraviolet and total solar radiation in Shenyang, northeast China.

Objective: This work explores the diurnal variation of Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and total solar radiation (TSR) in northeast China, using daily observations of UVR and TSR in Shenyang.

Methods: UVR and TSR measurements were carried out from March 1st, 2006 to December 31st, 2009 in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China (41°51' N, 123°27' E).

Results: Both TSR and UVR showed seasonal variation, reaching the highest levels in summer and the lowest in winter.

Biomimetic mineralization of dentin induced by agarose gel loaded with calcium phosphate.

A novel biomimetic mineralization system was designed to induce a layer of hydroxyapatite on a demineralized dentin surface. This system was constructed as follows. A layer of 0.

Omeprazole attenuates hyperoxic injury in H441 cells via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.

Hyperoxia contributes to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants. Earlier we observed that aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-deficient mice are more susceptible to hyperoxic lung injury than AhR-sufficient mice, and this phenomenon was associated with a lack of expression of cytochrome P450 1A enzymes. Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor used in humans with gastric acid-related disorders, activates AhR in hepatocytes in vitro.

Periodontal status of adults with systemic sclerosis: case-control study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue in the skin, blood vessels, and major organs of the body. This project aims to compare the periodontal status of dentate Hong Kong Chinese with and without SSc.

Methods: Thirty-six non-smoking adults with SSc (one male and 35 females: aged 50.

Effects of silver diamine fluoride on dentine carious lesions induced by Streptococcus mutans and Actinomyces naeslundii biofilms.

BACKGROUND. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) has been shown to be a successful treatment for arresting caries. However, the mechanism of SDF is to be elucidated.

Structure of the guanylyltransferase domain of human mRNA capping enzyme.

The enzyme guanylyltransferase (GTase) plays a central role in the three-step catalytic process of adding an (m7)GpppN cap cotranscriptionally to nascent mRNA (pre-mRNAs). The 5'-mRNA capping process is functionally and evolutionarily conserved from unicellular organisms to human. However, the GTases from viruses and yeast have low amino acid sequence identity (∼25%) with GTases from mammals that, in contrast, are highly conserved (∼98%).

Periodontal Status of Adults With Systemic Sclerosis: Case-Control Study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects connective tissue in the skin, blood vessels and major organs of the body. This project aimed to compare the periodontal status of dentate Hong Kong Chinese with and without SSc. Methods: Thirty-six non-smoking adults with SSc (35 women; 50.

Delayed postoperative hemorrhage in 21 patients with intracranial epidermoid cysts.

Object: Intracranial epidermoid cysts are rare, potentially curable, benign lesions that are sometimes associated with severe postoperative complications, including hemorrhage. Delayed hemorrhage, defined as one that occurred after an initial unremarkable postoperative CT scan, contributed to most cases of postoperative hemorrhage in patients with epidermoid cyst. In this study, the authors focus on delayed hemorrhage as one of the severe postoperative complications in epidermoid cyst, report its incidence and its clinical features, and analyze related clinical parameters.

Prevalence and distribution of developmental enamel defects in children with cerebral palsy in Beijing, China.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and distribution of developmental enamel defects in children with cerebral palsy (CP) in Beijing, China.

Design: A total of 135 children aged 1.5-6 years with moderate or severe congenital CP diagnosed in Beijing Boai Hospital from year 2005 to 2009 were recruited.