Rapamycin alleviates irradiation-induced parotid injury by enhancing the whole gland homeostasis.

Objectives: Salivary gland injury is one of the most common complications of radiotherapy in head-and-neck cancers. This study investigated the mechanism by which rapamycin prevents irradiation (IR)-induced injury in the parotid glands.

Materials And Methods: Miniature pigs either received (a) no treatment (NT), (b) IR in the right parotid gland for 5 consecutive days (IR), or intraperitoneal administration of rapamycin (Rap) 1 h prior to IR (IR + Rap).

Negative Regulation of LINC01013 by METTL3 and YTHDF2 Enhances the Osteogenic Differentiation of Senescent Pre-Osteoblast Cells Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide.

Senescent pre-osteoblasts have a reduced ability to differentiate, which leads to a reduction in bone formation. It is critical to identify the keys that regulate the differentiation fate of senescent pre-osteoblasts. LINC01013 has an essential role in cell stemness, differentiation, and senescence regulation.

Type 2 diabetes aggravates periodontitis-induced pathological changes in the dental pulp.

Objectives: The inner mechanism of how diabetes affects dental pulp of patients with periodontitis has seldom been reported. We collected clinical samples and explored the influence of diabetes and periodontitis on the pathological change of dental pulp.

Methods: Dental pulp from healthy individuals and patients with periodontitis with or without diabetes were collected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Spatiotemporal expression of fibroblast growth factor 4 and 10 during the morphogenesis of deciduous molars in miniature pigs.

Objective: Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play pivotal roles in mediating interactions between dental epithelium and mesenchyme throughout tooth initiation and morphogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate the roles of FGF4 and FGF10 in the regulation of tooth development.

Design: In this study, we investigated spatiotemporal expression patterns of FGF4 and FGF10 in the third deciduous molars (DM3) of miniature pigs at the cap, early bell, and late bell stages.

Decellularized rat submandibular gland as an alternative scaffold for dental pulp regeneration.

Decellularized extracellular matrix has been recognized as an optimal scaffold for dental pulp regeneration. However, the limited amount of native dental pulp tissue restricts its clinical applications. The submandibular gland shares some basic extracellular matrix components and characteristics with dental pulp.

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Alleviates Irradiation Induced Salivary Gland Hypofunction through Preserving Endothelial Cells and Resident Macrophages.

Radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancers frequently causes long-term hypofunction of salivary glands that severely compromises quality of life and is difficult to treat. Here, we studied effects and mechanisms of Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a versatile signaling sphingolipid, in preventing irreversible dry mouth caused by radiotherapy. Mouse submandibular glands (SMGs) were irradiated with or without intra-SMG S1P pretreatment.

Transient Activation of Hedgehog Signaling Inhibits Cellular Senescence and Inflammation in Radiated Swine Salivary Glands through Preserving Resident Macrophages.

Salivary gland function is commonly and irreversibly damaged by radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. This damage greatly decreases the patient's quality of life and is difficult to remedy. Previously, we found that the transient activation of Hedgehog signaling alleviated salivary hypofunction after radiation in both mouse and pig models through the inhibition of radiation-induced cellular senescence that is mediated by resident macrophages in mouse submandibular glands.

Osseointegration of a novel dental implant in canine.

This study aimed to compare and verify the osseointegration performance of a novel implant (NI) in vivo, which could provide a useful scientific basis for the further development of NIs. Thirty-two NIs treated with hydrofluoric acid and anodization and sixteen control implants (CIs) were placed in the mandibles of 8 beagles. Micro-CT showed that the trabecular number (Tb.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate alleviates irradiation-induced parotid injury in a miniature pig model.

Objectives: Our aim was to verify the alleviation effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in a miniature pig model.

Material And Methods: Thirty male miniature pigs were randomly separated into 10 groups in our experiment. We administered S1P through the parotid duct in a retrograde fashion 2 hr before irradiation (IR).

Development of a New Index to Assess the Difficulty Level of Surgical Removal of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars in an Asian Population.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a straightforward and accurate index of impacted third molar removal difficulty through analyzing various factors to assess the difficulty level of impacted mandibular third molar (IMTM) extraction.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study included 203 patients who required IMTM extraction. All patients were selected using the preset selection criteria.

SFRP2 enhances the osteogenic differentiation of apical papilla stem cells by antagonizing the canonical WNT pathway.

Background: Exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying directed differentiation is helpful in the development of clinical applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Our previous study on dental tissue-derived MSCs demonstrated that secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), a Wnt inhibitor, could enhance osteogenic differentiation in stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs). However, how SFRP2 promotes osteogenic differentiation of dental tissue-derived MSCs remains unclear.

Evaluation of Parotid Salivary Glucose Level for Clinical Diagnosis and Monitoring Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

. To investigate the relationships among blood glucose, mixed saliva glucose, and parotid glucose in type 2 diabetes patients and to evaluate the diagnostic and monitoring value of salivary gland glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes (type 2DM). .

Histone demethylase KDM2B inhibits the chondrogenic differentiation potentials of stem cells from apical papilla.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a reliable resource for tissue regeneration, but the molecular mechanism underlying directed differentiation remains unclear; this has restricted potential MSC applications. Histone methylation, controlled by histone methyltransferases and demethylases, may play a key role in MSCs differentiation. Previous studies determined that KDM2B can regulate the cell proliferation and osteo/dentinogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Shh signaling, negatively regulated by BMP signaling, inhibits the osteo/dentinogenic differentiation potentials of mesenchymal stem cells from apical papilla.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from dental tissues show promise for use in tooth-related tissue regeneration, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their directed differentiation remain unclear, limiting their usefulness. Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling is a major signaling pathway that regulates cell differentiation and osteogenesis. We found that when Shh signaling was activated by human recombinant SHH-N protein or by overexpression of active mutant M2-Smoothened (SMO) in stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs), GLI1, a key downstream transcription factor and a marker of Shh signaling, was upregulated.

[Effect of nerve growth factor on the early phase of osseointegration around oral implants].

Objective: To observe the early bone integration of oral implants after injection of exogenous nerve growth factor (NGF) and investigate the effects of NGF on peri-implant osseointegration.

Methods: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were used in this study to establish bi-mandible implant model. Then local injection of 1 µg NGF was given on the right side of the mandible as experimental group and normal saline only was injected on the left side as control group once a day for seven days.

[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.

Long-term transduction of miniature pig parotid glands using serotype 2 adeno-associated viral vectors.

Background: Previously, using an adenoviral vector, we showed that miniature pigs could provide a valuable and affordable large animal model for pre-clinical gene therapy studies to correct parotid gland radiation damage. However, adenoviral vectors lead to short-term transgene expression and, ideally, a more stable correction is required. In the present study, we examined the suitability of using a serotype 2 adeno-associated viral (AAV2) vector to mediate more stable gene transfer in the parotid glands of these animals.

Effect of same-dose single or dual field irradiation on damage to miniature pig parotid glands.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of single or dual field irradiation (IR) with the same dose on damage to miniature pig parotid glands.

Methodology: Sixteen miniature pigs were divided into two IR groups (n=6) and a control group (n=4). The irradiation groups were subjected to 20 Gy X-radiation to one parotid gland using single-field or dual-field modality by linear accelerator.

[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.

Structural and functional characteristics of irradiation damage to parotid glands in the miniature pig.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a solitary megadose protocol of ionizing radiation (IR) on the structure and function of the miniature pig (minipig) parotid gland.

Methods And Materials: Fourteen minipigs were subjected to either 15 or 20 Gy to one parotid gland with a linear accelerator, whereas 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.