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OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of plasma homocysteine levels with retinal layer thickness in a large community cohort of older adults. METHODS: The Rugao Longevity and Ageing Study is an observational, prospective and community-based cohort study. A total of 989 older adults who underwent spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) were included and analyzed. Foveal, macular retinal nerve fibre layer (mRNFL) and ganglion cell layer plus inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thicknesses were measured by SD-OCT. Plasma homocysteine levels were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between plasma homocysteine and retinal layer thickness while controlling for confounding factors. RESULTS: Of the 989 participants, 500 (50.56%) were men. The mean age was 78.26 (4.58) years, and the mean plasma homocysteine level was 16.38 (8.05) μmol/L. In multivariable analyses, each unit increase in plasma homocysteine was associated with an 8.84 × 10(−2) (95% CI: −16.54 × 10(−2) to −1.15 × 10(−2), p = 0.032) μm decrease in the average inner thickness of the GC-IPL after controlling for confounding factors. The association remained significant even in participants without major cardiovascular disease or diabetes (β = −10.33 × 10(−2), 95% CI: −18.49 × 10(−2) to −2.18 × 10(−2), p = 0.013). No significant associations of plasma homocysteine levels with macular thickness or mRNFL were found in primary and sensitivity analyses (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Increased plasma homocysteine levels are associated with a thinner GC-IPL. Plasma homocysteine may be a risk factor for thinner retinas in older adults.

Using bioactive nanomaterials in clinical treatment has been widely aroused. Nanomaterials provide substantial improvements in the prevention and treatment of oral and maxillofacial diseases. This review aims to discuss new progresses in nanomaterials applied to oral and maxillofacial tissue regeneration and disease treatment, focusing on the use of nanomaterials in improving the quality of oral and maxillofacial healthcare, and discuss the perspectives of research in this arena. Details are provided on the tissue regeneration, wound healing, angiogenesis, remineralization, antitumor, and antibacterial regulation properties of nanomaterials including polymers, micelles, dendrimers, liposomes, nanocapsules, nanoparticles and nanostructured scaffolds, etc. Clinical applications of nanomaterials as nanocomposites, dental implants, mouthwashes, biomimetic dental materials, and factors that may interact with nanomaterials behaviors and bioactivities in oral cavity are addressed as well. In the last section, the clinical safety concerns of their usage as dental materials are updated, and the key knowledge gaps for future research with some recommendation are discussed. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement.

This study examined a single center’s experience with regards to etiology and distribution of fractures treated from July 2015 to August 2016 in Shanghai, China. The medical records of 621 patients with craniomaxillofacial fractures were reviewed. Patient notes and radiographic images were analyzed for detailed injury data. Age, gender, etiology, and site of fracture were examined. Chi-square test was used to analyze the causes of single and multiple fractures. p