Electronic cigarettes and cardiovascular disease: epidemiological and biological links.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), as alternative nicotine delivery methods, has rapidly increased among youth and adults in recent years. However, cardiovascular safety is an important consideration regarding e-cigarettes usage. e-cigarette emissions, including nicotine, propylene glycol, flavorings, nitrosamine, and metals, might have adverse effects on cardiovascular health.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles restore Th17/Treg homeostasis in periodontitis via miR-1246.

T-cell-mediated immunity is crucial in the immunopathology of periodontitis. The restoration of the homeostasis between the T helper cell 17 (Th17) and regulatory T cell (Treg) subsets by extracellular vesicles (EVs) obtained from human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) promotes new bone formation and suppresses inflammation. Uncovering the functions of hBMSC-derived EVs in the immune microenvironment of periodontal tissue and their underlying regulatory mechanisms may shed new light on developing potential cell-free immunotherapies for periodontal regeneration.

Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles with Applications in Oral Diseases Management.

Controlled drug delivery in the oral cavity poses challenges such as bacterial contamination, saliva dilution, and inactivation by salivary enzymes upon ingestion. Microneedles offer a location-specific, minimally invasive, and retentive approach. Hydrogel-forming microneedles (HFMs) have emerged for dental diagnostics and therapeutics.

N6-methyladenosine of modulates macrophage inflammatory response in different stiffness environments.

Macrophages exhibit diverse functions within various tissues during the inflammatory response, and the physical properties of tissues also modulate the characteristics of macrophages. However, the underlying N6-methyladenosine (mA)-associated molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Accordingly, we examined the potential role of mA in macrophage activation and stiffness sensing.

Prognostic significance of MRI-based late-course tumor volume in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: To validate tumor volume-based imaging markers for predicting local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, who underwent induction chemotherapy followed by definitive intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Methods: We enrolled 145 patients with stage III-IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma in this retrospective study. Pre-treatment tumor volume (V) and late-course volume (LCV) were measured based on the MRIs scanned before treatment and during the first 3 days in the sixth week of radiotherapy, respectively.

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Long Noncoding RNA that Regulates Osteogenesis in Diet-Induced Obesity Mice.

As a precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), obesity adversely alters bone cell functions, causing decreased bone quality. Currently, the mechanisms leading to alterations in bone quality in obesity and subsequently T2D are largely unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) participate in a vast repertoire of biological processes and play essential roles in gene expression and posttranscriptional processes.

A novel adiponectin receptor agonist (AdipoAI) ameliorates type 2 diabetes-associated periodontitis by enhancing autophagy in osteoclasts.

Background And Objective: Type 2 diabetes (T2D)-associated periodontitis is severe and refractory in many cases. Considered an inflammatory disease, T2D predisposes to periodontitis by increasing whole-body inflammation. One mechanism of increased inflammation is thatT2D is mediated by loss of production or function of the anti-inflammatory hormone adiponectin.

NUTM2A-AS1 silencing alleviates LPS-induced apoptosis and inflammation in dental pulp cells through targeting let-7c-5p/HMGB1 axis.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NUTM2A antisense RNA 1 (NUTM2A-AS1) has been reported to be abnormally up-regulated in pulpitis tissues. However, the function of NUTM2A-AS1 in pulpitis remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role and working mechanism of NUTM2A-AS1 in pulpitis using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human dental pulp cells (HDPCs).

Identification and characterization of a novel adiponectin receptor agonist adipo anti-inflammation agonist and its anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo.

Background And Purpose: Adiponectin (APN) is an adipokine secreted from adipocytes that binds to APN receptors AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 and exerts an anti-inflammatory response through mechanisms not fully understood. There is a need to develop small molecules that activate AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 and to be used to inhibit the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemia and other inflammatory disorders.

Experimental Approach: We designed 10 new structural analogues of an AdipoR agonist, AdipoRon (APR), and assessed their anti-inflammatory properties.

Mouth breathing impairs the development of temporomandibular joint at a very early stage.

Objectives: The study aimed to explore the effects of mouth breathing and hypoxia on the condyle of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) via two animal models.

Methods: 24 four-week-old rats were randomly separated into three groups, consisting of eight control rats, eight intermittent hypoxia (IH) rats, and eight intermittent nasal obstruction (INO) rats. We use the IH model and the INO model to simulate children suffering from hypoxia and mouth breathing.

Phase I Trial of Intensity-Modulated Hyperfractionated Radiotherapy Boost with Concurrent Chemotherapy Immediately Following Standard Chemoradiotherapy in Patients Primarily with Advanced Intra-thoracic/Cervical Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Purpose: Local persistence and relapse of disease in the gross tumor volume (GTV) account for the majority of treatment failures after standard chemoradiation therapy. The primary objective of this phase 1 trial was to define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of a hyperfractionated radiation therapy (HFRT) boost to the GTV with concurrent weekly paclitaxel and carboplatin after standard-dose chemoradiation therapy, using image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy techniques.

Methods And Materials: Eligible patients were given weekly doses of paclitaxel (45 mg/m) and carboplatin (area under the curve 1.

Nano-Structure Designing Promotion Osseointegration of Hydroxyapatite Coated Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Implants in Diabetic Model.

Mammalian diabetes mellitus which contains altered microenvironment always impairs diverse cellular processes such as osteogenesis, angiogenesis and tissue regeneration via different mechanisms. For researches in materials science, modifying the ability of osteogenesis and angiogenesis in dental implants shows its significant importance. Nano-structure designing is considered as a facile strategy to improve the surface bioactivity of the implants.

Dosimetric Comparison Between Jaw Tracking and No Jaw Tracking in Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Purpose: This article compares the dosimetric differences between jaw tracking and no jaw tracking technique in static intensity-modulated radiation therapy plans of large and small tumors.

Methods: Eight plans with large tumor (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, volume range: 510.9 to 768.

Metformin Inhibits Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide-Influenced Inflammatory Response in Human Gingival Fibroblasts via Regulating Activating Transcription Factor-3 Expression.

Background: Chronic periodontitis, one of the most prevalent oral diseases, is associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infection and has profound effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2DM). Metformin, a well-known antidiabetic agent, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects on various cells. This study aims to investigate the role of metformin on LPS-influenced inflammatory response in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs).

Phase II Study of Adjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Using Docetaxel/Cisplatin/5-Fluorouracil Before and After Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy With Concurrent Docetaxel in Patients With Completely (R0) Resected Gastric Carcinoma.

Objectives: The Intergroup 0116 study has demonstrated a significant survival benefit for completely resected (R0) gastric cancer patients treated with a fluorouracil/leucovorin chemoradiotherapy regimen. However, this regimen is also toxic and less effective in terms of distant disease control. Therefore, a more efficacious and safer regimen is urgently needed.

The Bifunctional Enzyme SpoT Is Involved in the Clarithromycin Tolerance of Helicobacter pylori by Upregulating the Transporters HP0939, HP1017, HP0497, and HP0471.

Clarithromycin (CLA) is a commonly recommended drug for eradication. However, the prevalence of CLA-resistant is increasing. Although point mutations in the 23S rRNA are key factors for CLA resistance, other factors, including efflux pumps and regulation genes, are also involved in the resistance of to CLA.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on chronic periodontitis by the change of microecology and inflammation.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a pathogen inducing peptic disease, is recently found to be binding to the progress of periodontitis. Most previous studies are case-controlled, and they investigate the risk of H.

Healthy and Inflamed Gingival Fibroblasts Differ in Their Inflammatory Response to Porphyromonas gingivalis Lipopolysaccharide.

Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce the host immune response in periodontitis patients. Human gingival fibroblasts (GFs) play an important role in regulating the host immune response in periodontitis.

Development and clinical application of a length-adjustable water phantom for total body irradiation.

A new type of water phantom which would be specialised for the absorbed dose measurement in total body irradiation (TBI) treatment is developed. Ten millimetres of thick Plexiglas plates were arranged to form a square cube with 300 mm of edge length. An appropriate sleeve-type piston was installed on the side wall, and a tabular Plexiglas piston was positioned inside the sleeve.