Activation of kappa opioid receptor suppresses post-traumatic osteoarthritis via sequestering STAT3 on the plasma membrane.

Objective: Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) signaling is involved in joint development and inflammation in Osteoarthritis (OA), while the biochemical mechanism remains unclarified. This study aims to investigate downstream molecular events of KOR activation, to provide novel perspectives in OA pathology.

Methods: U50,488H, a selective KOR agonist, was intra-articularly injected in mice upon destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) as OA models, with PBS injection as control.

induced UCHL3 to promote colon cancer progression.

(), a Gram-negative oral anaerobe, was demonstrated to facilitate colonization and progression in colonic tumor, while the underlying mechanism still remains to be clarified. Here, we identified the proteome profile changed by infection in HCT116 cells through label-free quantitative proteomics, and found that deubiquitinase UCHL3 was a key protein that response for infection. By CCK8, colony formation, wound healing assays, and in vivo subcutaneous tumor mouse moudle, we proved that could promote the proliferation and migration of colon cancer, while the process was inhibited by UCHL3 knock down.

Polycaprolactone Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane with Sustained Chlorohexidine Release Capability against Oral Pathogens.

Multiple-pathogen periodontal disease necessitates a local release and concentration of antibacterial medication to control inflammation in a particular location of the mouth cavity. Therefore, it is necessary to effectively load and deliver medicine/antibiotics to treat numerous complex bacterial infections. This study developed chlorhexidine (CHX)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofiber membranes with controlled release properties as periodontal dressings to prevent or treat oral disorders.

Placebo modulation in orthodontic pain: a single-blind functional magnetic resonance study.

Objectives: The mechanism of orthodontic pain modulation with a placebo remains largely unknown. This study aimed to investigate the placebo modulation of brain activity associated with orthodontic pain using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

Methods: This longitudinal fMRI experiment recruited 23 volunteers and a self-contrast method was used.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/tea polyphenol blends for artificial joint applications.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the main causes for the failure of joint arthroplasty. In view of the limited clinical effect of oral/injectable antibiotics and the drug resistance problem, there is a pressing need to develop antibacterial implants with therapeutic antimicrobial properties. In this work, we prepared a highly antibacterial ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) implant by incorporating tea polyphenols.

The dynamics of the oral microbiome and oral health among patients receiving clear aligner orthodontic treatment.

Objectives: This 6-month prospective clinical study assessed the impacts of Invisalign appliances on the oral bacterial community and oral health of patients.

Methods: Salivary samples were obtained from twenty-five adult patients receiving Invisalign aligner treatment before the treatment (Group B) and at a 6-month follow-up (Group P). The bacterial composition of each sample was determined using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA.

Bite force measurements for objective evaluations of orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain in rats.

Objective: To examine the reliability of bite force for evaluating orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain in rats.

Design: Orthodontic tooth movement-induced pain was induced by mounting springs (40 g) between incisors and ipsilateral molars in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Five group sets of animals were used: for the first group set, 20 rats were randomly divided into a force group (n = 10) and a sham group (n = 10); for the second group set, 20 rats were divided into a 20-g group and a 80-g group; for the third group set, 20 rats were randomly divided into either a CFA group (complete freund's adjuvant) (n = 10) receiving periodontal injections of CFA at baseline or a control group (n = 10) receiving periodontal injections of saline at baseline; for the forth group set, 24 rats were randomly divided into the following four groups: force + saline, control + saline, force + antiNGF and control + NGF (NGF: nerve growth factor).

A pilot study of the metabolomic profiles of saliva from female orthodontic patients with external apical root resorption.

Background: Orthodontically induced external apical root resorption (OIEARR) is one of the most severe complications of orthodontic treatment, which is hard to diagnose at early stage by merely radiographic examination. This study aimed to identify salivary metabolic products using unbiased metabolic profiling in order to discover biomarkers that may indicate OIEARR.

Materials And Methods: Unstimulated saliva samples were analyzed from 19 healthy orthodontic patients with EARR (n=8) and non-EARR (n=11).

Comparison of survival time and comfort between 2 clear overlay retainers with different thicknesses: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: The objective of this 2-arm parallel trial was to compare the survival times, failure rates, and comfort of 2 clear overlay retainers with different thicknesses (0.75 and 1.00 mm).

A novel technique of delivering viral vectors to trigeminal ganglia in rats.

The objective of this study was to develop a viable and reliable technique of delivering viral vectors to rat trigeminal ganglia. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats (200-300 g) were used, and lentiviral vectors containing enhanced green fluorescence protein and calcitonin gene-related peptide short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were generated. Following general anesthesia, viral vectors were delivered to rat trigeminal ganglia using the technique described in this study.

The effects of blocking N/OFQ receptors on orofacial pain following experimental tooth movement in rats.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of nociceptin/orphanin FQ peptide receptor (N/OFQ receptor) antagonist on orofacial pain induced by experimental tooth movement in rats.

Methods: A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-300 g were divided into six groups: a control group, force group, force+saline intraperitoneal group, force+saline periodontal group, force+UFP-101 ([Nphe¹,Arg¹⁴,Lys¹⁵]N/OFQ-NH ₂ antagonist for N/OFQ receptor) intraperitoneal group, and force+UFP-1 01 periodontal group. Closed coil springs were ligated between the upper incisors and first molar to exert an orthodontic force (40 g) between the teeth.

The Pleiotropic Effects of PPARs on Vascular Cells and Angiogenesis: Implications for Tissue Engineering.

Angiogenesis is a complex process in which capillaries are produced from blood vessels that already exists. Endothelial cells (ECs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are pivotal for this process and for the maintenance/restorage of the endothelium. Decreased numbers and dysfunction of these cells have been related to growing cardiovascular risks.

DNA methylation is critical for tooth agenesis: implications for sporadic non-syndromic anodontia and hypodontia.

Hypodontia is caused by interactions among genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors during tooth development, but the actual mechanism is unknown. DNA methylation now appears to play a significant role in abnormal developments, flawed phenotypes, and acquired diseases. Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) has been developed as a new method of scanning large-scale DNA-methylation profiles within particular regions or in the entire genome.

The role of periodontal ASIC3 in orofacial pain induced by experimental tooth movement in rats.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the roles of Acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) in orofacial pain following experimental tooth movement.

Materials And Methods: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into the experimental group (40g, n = 30) and the sham group (0g, n = 30). Closed coil springs were ligated between maxillary incisor and molars to achieve experimental tooth movement.

PPARγ and Its Ligands: Potential Antitumor Agents in the Digestive System.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a versatile member of the ligand-activated nuclear hormone receptor superfamily of transcription factors, with expression in several different cell lines, especially in the digestive system. After being activated by its ligand, PPARγ can suppress the growth of oral, esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, biliary, and pancreatic tumor cells, suggesting that PPARγ ligand is a potential anticancer agent in PPARγ-expressing tumors. This review highlights key advances in understanding the effects of PPARγ ligands in the treatment of tumors in the digestive system.

Miscellaneous animal models accelerate the application of mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage regeneration.

Disorders in articular cartilage affect many people, and are one of the leading causes of infirmity and decreased quality of life in adults. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine related to cartilage include a broad range of settings and approaches that seek to repair, augment, replace or regenerate cartilage tissue. Formation of new tissue by cartilageforming cells (chondrogenic cells) is a central feature of each of these goals.

Emerging roles of microRNAs in neural stem cells.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are a small subset of primitive precursors that generate and maintain the main phenotypes of the nervous system. Their ability to undergo long-term proliferation and neural differentiation endows them with great potential in regenerative medicine. Therefore, the mechanisms by which NSCs are regulated have been widely explored to improve their therapeutic efficacy in treating neurologic disorders.

Development course and an application strategy for induced pluripotent stem cells in regenerative medicine.

In 2006, Takahashi and Yamanaka first established induced pluripotent stem cells (iPScs). Since then, numerous improvements have been made in the fields of stem cell research, drug research, modelling of diseases, and the treatment of degenerative diseases. Recently, there has been increasing research involving small molecules for evaluating the efficiency of iPSc generation and reducing the risks of heredity as well as oncogenous problems.

Perspectives on the toxicology of cadmium-based quantum dots.

As the number of applications of quantum dots (QDs) grows, the likelihood of exposure increases. Because these metals have the potential for detrimental environmental and health effects, concerns have been raised over our lack of understanding about the fate of these products. Among various types of QDs, cadmium-based quantum dots attract the greatest attention due to their wide applications.

Toxicity of carbon nanotubes.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) find their extensive application as a promising material in medicine due to unique characteristics. However, such materials have been accompanied with potentially hazardous effects on human health. The toxicity of CNTs may vary depending on their structural characteristics, surface properties and chemical composition.

PAX9 polymorphism and susceptibility to sporadic non-syndromic severe anodontia: a case-control study in southwest China.

Unlabelled: Our research aimed to look into the clinical traits and genetic mutations in sporadic non-syndromic anodontia and to gain insight into the role of mutations of PAX9, MSX1, AXIN2 and EDA in anodontia phenotypes, especially for the PAX9.

Material And Methods: The female proband and her family members from the ethnic Han families underwent complete oral examinations and received a retrospective review. Venous blood samples were obtained to screen variants in the PAX9, MSX1, AXIN2, and EDA genes.

[Relationship between dental calcification stages of the third molar and ages among teenagers in Chengdu].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the stages of calcification of the third molar and age among children in Chengdu.

Methods: The study subjects consisted of children between 2009 and 2011 at the Department of Orthodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University. Panoramic radiographs were obtained.