Application of a semi-active robotic system for implant placement in atrophic posterior maxilla: A retrospective case series.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and safety of a semi-active robotic system for implant placement in atrophic posterior maxilla.

Methods: Patients underwent robot-assisted implant placement in atrophic posterior maxilla were identified and included. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed before surgery.

Deletion of Bmal1 in aggrecan-expressing cells leads to mouse temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

Introduction: Articular cartilage is the major affected tissue during the development of osteoarthritis (OA) in temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The core circadian rhythm molecule Bmal1 regulates chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis; however, its roles in condylar cartilage function and in TMJ OA have not been fully elucidated.

Materials And Methods: TMJ OA mouse model was induced by unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) and Bmal1 protein expression in condylar cartilage were examined by western blot analysis.

Accuracy of dynamic navigation compared to static surgical guides and the freehand approach in implant placement: a prospective clinical study.

Background: Computer-guided implant surgery has improved the quality of implant treatment by facilitating the placement of implants in a more accurate manner. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of implant placement in a clinical setting using three techniques: dynamic navigation, static surgical guides, and freehand placement. We also investigated potential factors influencing accuracy to provide a comprehensive evaluation of each technique's advantages and disadvantages.

A novel approach in biomedical engineering: The use of polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel encapsulating human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for enhanced osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis in bone regeneration.

Developing effective methods for alveolar bone defect regeneration is a significant challenge in orthopedics. Exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSC-Exos) have shown potential in bone repair but face limitations due to undefined application methods and mechanisms. To address this, HUMSC-Exos were encapsulated in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel (Exo@PVA) to create a novel material for alveolar bone repair.

PF127 Hydrogel-Based Delivery of Exosomal CTNNB1 from Mesenchymal Stem Cells Induces Osteogenic Differentiation during the Repair of Alveolar Bone Defects.

Pluronic F127 (PF127) hydrogel has been highlighted as a promising biomaterial for bone regeneration, but the specific molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. Herein, we addressed this issue in a temperature-responsive PF127 hydrogel loaded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes (Exos) (PF127 hydrogel@BMSC-Exos) during alveolar bone regeneration. Genes enriched in BMSC-Exos and upregulated during the osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs and their downstream regulators were predicted by bioinformatics analyses.

A Pilot Investigation Generating an Alternative Therapeutic Strategy Combining Deproteinized Bovine Bone and Gelatin Sponge for a Novel Implant Material in Sinus Floor Elevation Operation.

BACKGROUND Implant placement in the posterior maxilla is typically complicated by a shortage of bone. Gelatin sponge could be combined with an appropriate material to enhance mechanical strength and maintain stability of an implant. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application of bone grafting with bovine bone mixed with gelatin sponge.

Animal Models of Temporomandibular Disorder.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of diseases in the oral and maxillofacial region that can manifest as acute or chronic persistent pain, affecting millions of people worldwide. Although hundreds of studies have explored mechanisms and treatments underlying TMD, multiple pathogenic factors and diverse clinical manifestations make it still poorly managed. Appropriate animal models are helpful to study the pathogenesis of TMD and explore effective treatment measures.

Public awareness and anxiety during COVID-19 epidemic in China: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: The study aims to investigate public awareness of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and measure levels of anxiety during the outbreak.

Method: A total of 2115 subjects from 34 provinces in China were evaluated. A questionnaire was designed, which covers demographic characteristics, knowledge of COVID-19, and factors that influenced anxiety during the outbreak to test public awareness and determine the impact of the outbreak on people's lives.

miR‑144‑3p inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma through the downregulation of the oncogenic gene, EZH2.

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) play important roles in the development and progression of human malignancies, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); however, the unique roles of miRNAs are not yet fully understood in OSCC. The present study aimed to identify novel miRNAs associated with OSCC and to elucidate their functions. Based on a microarray analysis, miR‑144‑3p was found to be one of the most significantly downregulated miRNAs in OSCC tissues.

Acute Synovitis after Trauma Precedes and is Associated with Osteoarthritis Onset and Progression.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a whole-joint disease characterized by cartilage destruction, subchondral bone sclerosis, osteophyte formation, and synovitis. However, it remains unclear which part of the joint undergoes initial pathological changes that drives OA onset and progression. In the present study, we investigated the longitudinal alterations of the entire knee joint using a surgically-induced OA mouse model.

The microRNAs miR-204 and miR-211 maintain joint homeostasis and protect against osteoarthritis progression.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, painful disease. Currently OA is incurable, and its etiology largely unknown, partly due to limited understanding of OA as a whole-joint disease. Here we report that two homologous microRNAs, miR-204 and miR-211, maintain joint homeostasis to suppress OA pathogenesis.

Deletion of Runx2 in condylar chondrocytes disrupts TMJ tissue homeostasis.

Runt-related transcription factor-2 (Runx2) is essential for chondrocyte maturation during cartilage development and embryonic mandibular condylar development. The process that chondrocytes, especially a subgroup of hypertrophic chondrocytes (HC), could transform into bone cells in mandibular condyle growth makes chondrocytes crucially important for normal endochondral bone formation. To determine whether Runx2 regulates postnatal condylar cartilage growth and tissue homeostasis, we deleted Runx2 in chondrocytes in postnatal mice and assessed the consequences on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) cartilage growth and remodeling.

Runx2 is required for postnatal intervertebral disc tissue growth and development.

Runx2 plays an essential role in embryonic disc tissue development in mice. However, the role of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in postnatal disc tissue growth and development has not been defined. In the present studies, we generated Runx2 conditional knockout (KO) mice (Runx2 ), in which Runx2 was deleted in Aggrecan-expressing cells in disc tissue at postnatal 2-weeks of age.

Activation of β-catenin signaling in aggrecan-expressing cells in temporomandibular joint causes osteoarthritis-like defects.

β-Catenin plays a critical role in cartilage formation and development. To further understand the role of β-catenin in osteoarthritis (OA) development in temporomandibular joint (TMJ), we have generated β-catenin conditional activation mice (β-cat(ex3) ) by breeding Agc1-CreER mice with β-catenin mice. Results of histologic analysis showed the progressive TMJ defects in 3- and 6-month-old β-cat(ex3) mice (tamoxifen induction was performed at 2 weeks of age), including decreased chondrocyte numbers in the superficial layer associated with less Alcian blue staining, increased numbers of hypertrophic chondrocytes in deep layers, and rough articular surface.

Deletion of Runx2 in Articular Chondrocytes Decelerates the Progression of DMM-Induced Osteoarthritis in Adult Mice.

Runx2 may play an important role in development of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the specific role of Runx2 in articular chondrocyte function and in OA development in adult mice has not been fully defined. In this study, we performed the destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery at 12-week-old mice to induce OA in adult Runx2 mice, in which Runx2 was specifically deleted in Aggrecan-expressing chondrocytes by administering tamoxifen at 8-weeks of age.

TNF Accelerates Death of Mandibular Condyle Chondrocytes in Rats with Biomechanical Stimulation-Induced Temporomandibular Joint Disease.

Objective: To determine if temporomandibular joint chondrocyte apoptosis is induced in rats with dental biomechanical stimulation and what a role TNF takes.

Methods: Thirty-two rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 8/group) and exposed to incisor mal-occlusion induced by unilateral anterior crossbite biomechanical stimulation. Two groups were sampled at 2 or 4 weeks.