Progress and perspectives on cell-free regenerative endodontic therapy.

Although teeth with pulpitis/apical periodontitis are saved after successful endodontic therapy, they are devitalized and susceptible to reinfections and fractures. The development of biology-based approaches for dental pulp regeneration or repair is possible today because of recent advances in tissue engineering and biomaterials. Cell-free regenerative endodontic therapy offers a promising strategy for the treatment of necrotic immature permanent teeth in children and adolescents.

Noble Metal-Free FeOOH/LiWO Core-Shell Nanorods for Selective Oxidation of Methane to Methanol with Visible-NIR Light.

Hydroxyl radicals (OH) generated in the photocatalytic process are crucial to the conversion of methane (CH) to value-added methanol (CHOH) at room temperature. However, utilizing noble metal-free catalysts and low-energy photons of solar light, such as visible and near-infrared light (vis-NIR), is difficult to provide more electron states to form OH radicals. Here, we developed FeOOH/LiWO core-shell nanorods via a two-step in/out co-modification of hexagonal tungsten oxide (h-WO): (1) lithium ions intercalating into the hexagonal tunnels of h-WO to form LiWO nanorods and (2) using FeOOH-wrapped LiWO to obtain FeOOH/LiWO core-shell nanorods.

Fabrication and Properties of a Free-Standing Two-Dimensional Titania.

The synthesis of free-standing two-dimensional titania (2-D TiO) with a reduced band gap presents complex challenges to synthetic chemists. Here, we report a free-standing 2-D TiO sheet synthesized via a one-step solvothermal methodology, with a measured optical onset at ∼1.84 eV.

Visible-Near-Infrared-Light-Driven Oxygen Evolution Reaction with Noble-Metal-Free WO-WO Hybrid Nanorods.

Understanding and manipulating the one half-reaction of photoinduced hole-oxidation to oxygen are of fundamental importance to design and develop an efficient water-splitting process. To date, extensive studies on oxygen evolution from water splitting have focused on visible-light harvesting. However, capturing low-energy photons for oxygen evolution, such as near-infrared (NIR) light, is challenging and not well-understood.

Gene transfer-mediated functional restoration for irradiated salivary glands.

Radiation therapy for malignant tumours in the head and neck region are inevitably associated with significant long-term injury to the salivary glands, often resulting in salivary gland hypofunction. The subsequent lack of saliva production leads to many functional and quality-of-life problems for affected patients and there is no effective method to eliminating this problem caused by radiation treatments. Although many studies have been done in animal models, the mechanism of this injury in humans is still unclear.

[Increase of saliva nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis].

Objective: To observe the alterations of saliva nitrate and nitrite level in patients with oral candidiasis.

Methods: Parotid saliva and whole saliva were collected from 33 patients and 34 healthy volunteers. Concentrations of nitrate and nitrite in saliva were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

[Comparative ultrastructural study of parotid gland, lacrimal gland and pituitary gland between miniature pig and mouse].

Objective: To study the ultrastructure of parotid glands, lacrimal glands and pituitary glands between miniature pig and mouse.

Methods: Five adult miniature pigs and 5 mice were studied. Ultrastructure of their parotid glands, lacrimal glands, and pituitary glands was observed.

[Tooth regeneration--dream to reality].

Tooth or dentition missing compromises human health physically and psychiatrically. Although several prosthesis methods are used to restore tooth loss, these restorations are still non-biological methods. It is a dream for human being to regenerate a real tooth for hundreds years.

[Alterations of salivary flow rate and oral main pathogens in miniature pig with bilateral parotid gland atrophy].

Objective: To observe the effect of bilateral parotid gland atrophy on the whole saliva flow rate and the growth of main oral pathogens in different sites of oral cavity.

Methods: Ten healthy miniature pigs were divided into two groups. The parotid glands of test group (n = 5) were bilaterally ablated by methyl violet.

[Preparation and identification of the rabbit antibody against human sialin].

Aim: To prepare the rabbit antibody against human sialin and identify its properties.

Methods: Recombinant expression vector pGEX-5X-1-sialin was constructed, in which the sialin cDNA encoding the 1-38 aa was fused to the C-terminal of the gene encoding the GST protein. The GST-sialin (N1-38) fusion protein was expressed in E.

[Effect of single dose irradiation to parotid gland on the structured and function changes of bilateral parotid glands in miniature pig].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of a solitary megadose protocol of ionizing radiation (IR) to parotid gland on the structured and function changes of bilateral parotid glands in miniature pig.

Methods: Fourteen minipigs were subjected to either 15 or 20 Gy to one parotid gland with a linear accelerator, while another four minipigs served as non-IR controls. Salivary flow rates and salivary chemistries were measured pre-IR, and 4 and 16 weeks post-IR.

[Sialographic, sialoendoscopic and irrigation fluid study in chronic obstructive parotitis].

Objective: To study the sialographic changes and to compare the changes with sialoendoscopic and irrigation fluid findings in chronic obstructive parotitis (COP).

Methods: This study involved 27 patients with a long history of parotid swelling. All patients were examined by X-ray, sialography, and were diagnosed as COP without sialolithiasis.

Morphological characteristics of submandibular glands of miniature pig.

Background: Miniature pig (minipig) is increasingly used as a large animal model for a variety of biomedical studies. Little information is available in the literature on anatomy, histology and sialograghy of the submandibular gland of the minipig. The purpose of this study was to characterize the morphology of a miniature pig's (minipig) submandibular gland as a large animal model for further biomedical studies.

[Tooth tissue engineering: from cells to organ, an odyssey far from finished].

Tooth tissue engineering is an emerging biotechnique that will provide replacemental teeth for patients suffering from different diseases causing tooth loss. Although some attempts have been tried to generate whole tooth both in vivo and in vitro, the lack of the knowledge for tooth initiation and development, as well as for tooth shape controlling mechanisms greatly impede the progress of this technique. This article reviewed and discussed some recent findings in tooth tissue engineering related to the cell resource, the concept of reconstruction and regeneration, the application of artificial scaffolds, together with the methods of organ culture and implantation.

[Effect of irradiation on tooth hard tissue and its resistance to acid].

Objective: To study the effect of irradiation on the susceptibility of radiation caries.

Methods: The structures of 56 teeth enamel and dentin of 63 roots were observed using SEM and the collagen fibre and the resistance to the acid were also investigated after irradiation of 30 Gy, 50 Gy and 70 Gy.

Results: The enamel structure changes were found after irradiation with different doses.

[The study of the relationship of malodor and microbial composition of interdental and subgingival plaques in periodontitis patients].

Objective: The study is to investigate the microbial composition of interdental and subgingival plaques of periodontitis patients with or without malodor, to explore the relationships between periodontitis and oral malodor.

Methods: 20 patients of periodontitis with malodor were chosen from 210 patients of periodontitis, and the clinical parameter of plaque index (PLI), gingival bleeding index (GBI) and probing depth (PD) were measured and compared with the control group which had periodontal disease without malodor. During the experiment, the interdental and subgingival microbial samples in both groups were collected and sent to anaerobic culture for 48 hrs, then the total CFU/ml of each sample were counted, and each type of bacteria was separated and identified.

[Psychiatric and central nervous system involvement in Sjogren's syndrome].

Objective: To study psychiatric features and the manifestations of central nervous system involvement in Chinese patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (PSS).

Methods: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used to study 27 PSS female patients and 57 healthy women. The results from two groups were compared.

[Gene expression and pathological changes of rat submandibular glands after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer].

Objective: To investigate luciferase gene expression and pathological changes of submandibular glands (SMG) of rats after adenovirus-mediated gene transfer.

Methods: Adenovirus-mediated luciferase gene (AdCMVLuc, 10(8) pfu in 50 microl) was injected in to SMG of forty wistar rats. The SMGs were harvested for gene expression measurement and pathological study after 3 days, 1,2,4 and 8 weeks.