End-to-End Automatic Classification of Retinal Vessel Based on Generative Adversarial Networks with Improved U-Net.

The retinal vessels in the human body are the only ones that can be observed directly by non-invasive imaging techniques. Retinal vessel morphology and structure are the important objects of concern for physicians in the early diagnosis and treatment of related diseases. The classification of retinal vessels has important guiding significance in the basic stage of diagnostic treatment.

Application of digital positioning guide plates for the surgical extraction of multiple impacted supernumerary teeth: A case report and review of literature.

Background: An extra tooth in the normal tooth sequence in any region of the dental arch is regarded as a supernumerary tooth (SNT). Due to the large variation in location and morphology, the extraction of impacted SNTs is an extensive and complex procedure with high risks of several complications. This report presents a rare case of seven impacted SNTs in the bilateral upper and lower arch that were successfully extracted with the use of digital positioning guide plates.

Evolving Insights Into the Biological Function and Clinical Significance of Long Noncoding RNA in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most prevalent and aggressive cancers worldwide. The overall survival period of GBM patients is only 15 months even with standard combination therapy. The absence of validated biomarkers for early diagnosis mainly accounts for worse clinical outcomes of GBM patients.

Mouse mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-466f-3p reverses EMT process through inhibiting AKT/GSK3β pathway via c-MET in radiation-induced lung injury.

Background: Radiation-induced lung fibrosis (RILF) is a common complication of thoracic radiotherapy. Alveolar epithelial cells play a crucial role in lung fibrosis via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells own the beneficial properties to repair and regeneration of damaged tissues, however the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Upregulation of mitochondrial dynamics is responsible for osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on self-mineralized collagen membranes.

Collagen membranes crosslinked with high molecular weight polyacrylic acid (HPAA) are capable of self-mineralization via in situ intrafibrillar mineralization. These HPAA-crosslinked collagen membranes (HCM) have been shown to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and enhance bone regeneration in vivo. Nevertheless, the biological triggers involved in those processes and the associated mechanisms are not known.

[Effect of two kinds of surface pretreatments on bending strength to the modified polyetheretherketone].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of sandblasting or acid etching on the three-point bending strength to the modified polyetheretherketone (PEEK).

Methods: Forty-eight bars (15 mm×2 mm×1 mm) of specimens were fabricated from the modified PEEK (BioHPP). They were randomly divided into the following groups: A, B, C and D groups, which were blasted with alumina particles; E, F, and G groups, which were etched with 98% concentrated sulfuric acid; and control group H.

A Polysaccharide Extract from Maitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Grifola frondosa (Agaricomycetes) Ameliorates Learning and Memory Function in Aluminum Chloride-Induced Amnesia in Mice.

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) is an edible mushroom exhibiting high nutritional value in terms of containing health-beneficial bioactive compounds. Previously, we reported that a protein-bound polysaccharide bioactive component of G. frondosa (PGM) could enhance the expression of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor (AMPAR), which is critical for learning and memory.

Long non-coding RNA 1308 promotes cell invasion by regulating the miR-124/ADAM 15 axis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells.

Purpose: Emerging evidence suggests that many differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in tumorigenesis. However, the functional roles of these transcripts and the mechanisms responsible for their deregulation in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain elusive. Here, we identified a novel lncRNA (lncRNA 1308), which was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues and investigated its biological function and potential molecular mechanism.

Long non-coding RNA PVT1-5 promotes cell proliferation by regulating miR-126/SLC7A5 axis in lung cancer.

Dysregulated long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in the development of human cancers. The lncRNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) is reported to be an oncogene in a variety of cancers. However, the roles of PVT1-5 and its related miRNAs in lung cancer are poorly understood.

Quaternary ammonium compounds in dental restorative materials.

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) have been used widely in medicine, owing to their antimicrobial properties. They also have strong permeability, stable performance, low skin irritation, low toxicity, low corrosion, lasting biological effects and so on, comparing with other antimicrobial agents. At the end of last century, polymerizable quaternary ammonium antimicrobial monomers had been synthesized and applied in dentistry, in order to reduce or prevent microbial biofilm formation on dental materials surfaces.

The effects of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate on matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in human pulp cells and odontoblast-like cells in vitro.

Aim: To assess the effects of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) on proliferation and migration of human pulp cells, as well as on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2 and MMP-9) expression in human odontoblast-like cells, contributing to the goal of determining the relationship between resin materials and MMP activity in pulp-dentine complexes.

Methodology: Dental pulp cell cultures were established from pulp tissue of human teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes. Pulp cell differentiation was characterized in the presence of dentine sialophosphoprotein, bone sialoprotein and alkaline phosphatase by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

The antifungal effects and mechanical properties of silver bromide/cationic polymer nano-composite-modified Poly-methyl methacrylate-based dental resin.

Poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based dental resins with strong and long-lasting antifungal properties are critical for the prevention of denture stomatitis. This study evaluated the antifungal effects on Candida albicans ATCC90028, the cytotoxicity toward human dental pulp cells (HDPCs), and the mechanical properties of a silver bromide/cationic polymer nano-composite (AgBr/NPVP)-modified PMMA-based dental resin. AgBr/NPVP was added to the PMMA resin at 0.

[Research advances in the role of interleukin-21 in chronic hepatitis B virus infection].

Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a cytokine mainly secreted by activated CD4+ T cells and natural killer T cells and has multiple effects. It is involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. Recent studies have shown that IL-21 can promote functional activation of various immune cells in the process of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and the gene polymorphisms of IL-21 is associated with the susceptibility to HBV.

[Modification of the composite resin with the hyperbranched polyester and evaluation of the mechanical properties of the modified composite resin].

Objective: To study the effect of hyperbranched polyester(HBP)on mechanical properties of the conventional resin matrix.

Methods: Two hyperbranched monomers(HBP2-X and HBP2-Y)were synthesized and incorporated at 40%(by mass)into a 2∶1(by mass)bisphenol-A diglycidyl methacrylate(Bis-GMA): triethylene glycol dimethacrylate(TEGDMA)resin. Bis-GMA/TEGDMA without the incorporation of hyperbranched polyester was used as control(n=8 per group).