Fluoride induces osteoblast autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and .

Fluorosis primarily manifests as bone damage in the form of dental fluorosis and skeletal fluorosis and represents a critical global public health challenge. However, few studies have examined autophagy-related signaling pathways in skeletal fluorosis. This study aimed to investigate the effect of fluoride on autophagy in osteoblasts using comprehensive methods and to explore the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in regulating fluoride-induced autophagy in osteoblasts.

Increased Stiffness of the Superficial Cervical Extensor Muscles in Patients With Cervicogenic Headache: A Study Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Background: Cervicogenic headache (CEH) is a secondary headache caused by lesions of the cervical spine and surrounding soft tissues. Cervical muscle dysfunction may be related to the onset of CEH. However, whether cervical muscle stiffness changes in patients with CEH has not been well studied.

Effects of a GSK-3β inhibitor on the renal expression levels of RANK, RANKL and NF-κB in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) on the expression levels of receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL) and NF-κB in the renal tissues of rats modeling diabetic nephropathy (DN). The rats were allocated at random into three groups, as follows: Normal control group (NC), the DN model group (DNM group) and the DN model lithium chloride (LiCl) intervention group (DNI group). Urinary proteins were examined by staining with the Coomassie Brilliant Blue dye for 24 h.

Potential Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β in Regulation of Myocardin Activity in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, a serine/threonine kinase with an inhibitory role in glycogen synthesis in hepatocytes and skeletal muscle, is also expressed in cardiac and smooth muscles. Inhibition of GSK-3β results in cardiac hypertrophy through reducing phosphorylation and increasing transcriptional activity of myocardin, a transcriptional co-activator for serum response factor. Myocardin plays critical roles in differentiation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

[Expression of calcineurin and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 in testis of rats with chronic fluorosis].

Objective: To discuss the significance of calcineurin (CaN) and nuclear factor of active T cells 1 (NFATc1) in the damage mechanism of the testis of rats with chronic fluorosis.

Methods: Eighteen clear class SD male rats, aging 6 week-old, were randomly divided into 3 groups, 6 rats in each. The rats of control group were fed with tap water (NaF < 1 mg/L) and the experimental rats were exposed to NaF (lower group: 5 mg/L, higher group: 50 mg/L) to established the chronic fluorosis model.

[Influence of chronic fluorosis on the expression of mitochondrial fission protein dynamin-related 1 in the cortical neurons of rats].

Objective: To explore the changes of protein expression of mitochondrial fission gene dynamin-related 1(Drp 1) in the cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis.

Methods: A total of 120 one-month-old SD rats (each weighing approximately 100-120 g at the beginning of the experiment) were randomly divided into three groups, and fed with the different doses of fluoride containing in drinking water (untreated control containing 0 mg/L fluoride, and low-fluoride & high-fluoride supplemented with 10 and 50 mg/L fluoride,respectively). After 3 or 6 months exposure, 20 rats from each group were killed.

[Changed expression of mito-fusion 1 and mitochondrial fragmentation in the cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis].

Objective: To observe the mitochondrial fragmentation and the expression of mito-fusion 1 gene in the cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis, and to reveal their roles in mitochondria damage to neurons due to chronic fluorosis.

Methods: SD rats were divided randomly into three groups of 20 each (a half females and a half males housed individually in stainless-steel cages), and fed with the different doses of fluoride containing in drinking water (untreated control containing 0 mg/L fluoride, and low-fluoride and high supplemented with 10 and 50 mg/L fluoride, respectively). After 3 or 6 months exposure, the mitochondrial morphology of the neurons in rat brains were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), then the expression of mitochondrial fusion gene, Mfn1, were detected by immunohistochemistry and western-blotting, respectively.

[Effect of fluoride on expression of CaN mRNA and protein in bone tissue of rats].

Objective: To investigate the changes of mRNA and protein expression of CaN in the bone of rats with chronic fluorosis, and the mechanism of skeletal fluorosis.

Methods: Thirty-six SD rats were divided into three groups (12 in each group, half male and half female selected according to body weight): control, low-dose and high-dose fluorosis groups. Controls were fed tap water (NaF < 0.

[Expression of mRNA and protein of p38, Osx, PI3K and Akt1 in rat bone with chronic fluorosis].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of mRNA and protein of p38, Osx, PI3K, Akt1 in the rats bone with chronic fluorosis.

Methods: Dental fluorosis were observed and the fluoride contents in the urine and bone were detected by fluorin-ion selective electrode. The morphologic changes and ultrastructure of rats' bone were observed by light and electronic microscopy.

[Alteration of mitochondrial distribution and gene expression of fission 1 protein in cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis].

Objective: To investigate the changes of mitochondrial distribution in axon/soma and the expression of mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1) protein in the cortical neurons of rats with chronic fluorosis.

Methods: Sixty SD rats were divided into 3 groups (20 each) according to weight hierarchy and fed with different concentrations of fluoride in drinking water (0, 10 and 50 mg/L, respectively) for 6 months. Images of mitochondria and tubulin labeled by immunofluorescence COXIV and tubulin-α were captured with fluorescence microscope.

[Effect of endemic fluoride poisoning caused by coal burning on the oxidative stress in rat testis].

Objective: To explore the effect of endemic fluoride poisoning caused by coal burning on the oxidative stress in rat testis.

Methods: Totally 40 male SD rats were equally randomized into four groups control group, low fluorosis group, middle fluorosis group, and high fluorosis group. Rats in all three fluorosis groups were fed with corn dried by burning coal obtained from endemic fluorosis areas with high fluoride, and thus the animal models of fluorosis were established.

Corn baked by burning coal triggered overexpression of osteopontin in hepatocytes of rats following fluorosis.

Objective: To observe the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in hepatocytes of rats fed with corn baked by burning coal from fluorosis areas and a deficiency of calcium/protein intake following fluorosis.

Methods: A total of 48 Wistar rats as objects were randomly assorted into four groups: dose-free fluorine group, which were mainly fed with fluorine-free corn (56% structurally), dose-free fluorine with biased dietary group, which were fed with lower contents of protein (119.41 g/kg) and calcium (0.

[The influence of fluoride on expression of OPGL and M-CSF genes and their proteins in rats with experimental fluorosis and the therapeutic effect of Danlan Xianpeng Liaofu caspule].

Objective: To investigate mRNA and protein expressions of OPGL and M-CSF mRNA in bones of rats with experimental fluorosis induced by intake of fluoride in the drinking water, and to study the antagonizing effects of Danlan Xianpeng Liaofu capsules on the gene expression.

Methods: Totally 72 SD rats were randomly assorted into 6 groups including the control group, the fluoride group, the high-dosage (0.8 g/kg×d), mid-dosage (0.

[The over-expression of serine/threonine kinase 15 protein in oral carcinogenesis].

Objective: To investigate the expression of STK15 and P53 proteins in oral precancerous lesions and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and elucidate the possible role of P53/STK15 switch activation-independent pathway in oral carcinogenesis.

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 8 cases of normal oral epithelium, 27 cases of dysplasia with different degree epithelium dysplasia and 43 cases of OSCC with different differentiation were investigated for the expression of STK15 and P53 proteins by using immunohistochemistry. The clinical and pathological significance of STK15 over-expression in oral carcinogenesis were statistically analyzed by SPSS 12.

[Centrosome amplification and chromosome instability in oral squamous cell carcinomas].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms of chromosome instability (CIN) in OSCC.

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 8 cases of normal oral epithelium and 32 cases of OSCC were examined for centrosome status by using indirect immunofluorescence staining, and chromosome instability (aneuploidy) in some tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The correlation between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in OSCC was statistically analyzed by SPSS12.

[Cyclin E overexpression and centrosome amplification in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity].

Objective: To study the correlation between cyclin E protein overexpression and centrosome amplification in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 normal oral epithelium cases and 46 cases of OSCC were studied. Their centrosome status was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence double staining with antibodies to centrosome protein gamma-tubulin and cytokeratin.