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The aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from a sheep model of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) fibrous and bony ankylosis. A sheep model of bilateral TMJ trauma-induced fibrous ankylosis on one side and bony ankylosis on the contralateral side was used. MSCs from fibrous ankylosed callus (FA-MSCs) or bony ankylosed callus (BA-MSCs) at weeks 1, 2, 4, and 8 after surgery were isolated and cultured. MSCs derived from the bone marrow of the mandibular condyle (BM-MSCs) were used as controls. The MSCs from the different sources were characterized morphologically, phenotypically, and functionally. Adherence and trilineage differentiation potential were presented in the ovine MSCs. These cell populations highly positively expressed MSC-associated specific markers, namely CD29, CD44, and CD166, but lacked CD31 and CD45 expressions. The BA-MSCs had higher clonogenic and proliferative potentials than the FA-MSCs. The BA-MSCs also showed higher osteogenic and chondrogenic potentials, but lower adipogenic capacity than the FA-MSCs. In addition, the BA-MSCs demonstrated higher chondrogenic, but lower osteogenic capacity than the BM-MSCs. Our study suggests that inhibition of the osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiations of MSCs might be a promising strategy for preventing bony ankylosis in the future.

High-throughput gene expression profiling has recently emerged as a promising technique that provides insight into cancer subtype classification and improved prediction of prognoses. Immune/inflammatory-related mRNAs may potentially enrich genes to allow researchers to better illustrate cancer microenvironments. Oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OC-SCC) exhibits high morbidity and poor prognosis compared to that of other types of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and these differences may be partially due to differences within the tumor microenvironments. Based on this, we designed an immune-related signature to improve the prognostic prediction of OC-SCC. A cohort of 314 OC-SCC samples possessing whole genome expression data that were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was included for discovery. The GSE41613 database was used for validation. A risk score was established using immune/inflammatory signatures acquired from the training dataset. Principal components analysis, GO analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis were used to explore the bioinformatic implications. When grouped by the dichotomized risk score based on the signature, this classifier could successfully discriminate patients with distinct prognoses within the training and validation cohorts (P<0.05 in both cohorts) and within different clinicopathological subgroups. Similar somatic mutation patterns were observed between high and low risk score groups, and different copy number variation patterns were also identified. Further bioinformatic analyses suggested that the lower risk score group was significantly correlated with immune/inflammatory-related biological processes, while the higher risk score group was highly associated with cell cycle-related processes. The analysis indicated that the risk score was a robust predictor of patient survival, and its functional annotation was well established. Therefore, this bioinformatic-based immune-related signature suggested that the microenvironment of OC-SCC could distinguish among patients with different underlying biological processes and clinical outcomes, and the use of this signature may shed light on future OC-SCC classification and therapeutic design.

OBJECTIVES To study the technical feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in evaluating femoral head perfusion in a rabbit model of steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis. METHODS Twenty rabbits were divided randomly into a control group (n = 8) and an experimental group (n = 12). Rabbits in the experimental group were induced by lipopolysaccharide and methylprednisolone to build a model of steroid-induced femoral head osteonecrosis. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound examinations were performed at 3 and 5 weeks after induction. Then, pathologic examinations and microvessel density (MVD) calculations were performed on the excised rabbit femoral heads. RESULTS The MVD of the experimental group decreased significantly 3 and 5 weeks after induction compared with that of the control group. According to the CEUS examination results, significant differences existed in the ascending slope, descending slope, mean transit time, and time to peak between the groups at 5 weeks (P

Background Traumatic haemarthrosis was hypothesized to be the etiology of temporomandibular (TMJ) ankylosis. Here, taking haematoma absorbance as a control, we aimed to reveal the molecular mechanisms involved in haematoma organizing into ankylosis using transcriptome microarray profiles. Material/methods Disk removal was performed to building haematoma absorbance (HA) in one side of TMJ, while removal of disk and articular fibrous layers was performed to induced TMJ ankylosis through haematoma organization (HO) in the contralateral side in a sheep model. Haematoma tissues harvested at days 1, 4 and 7 postoperatively were examined by histology, and analyzed by Affymetrix OviGene-1_0-ST microarrays. The DAVID were recruited to perform the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis for the different expression genes (DEGs). The DEGs were also typed into protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks to get the interaction data. Six significant genes screened from PPI analysis, were confirmed by real-time PCR. Results We found 268, 223 and 17 DEGs at least twofold at days 1, 4 and 7, respectively. At day 1, genes promoting collagen ossification (POSTN, BGN, LUM, SPARC), cell proliferation (TGF-β), and osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (BMP-2) were up-regulated in the HO side. At day 4, several genes involved in angiogenesis (KDR, FIT1, TEK) shower higher expression in the HO side. While HA was characterized by a continuous immune and inflammatory reaction. Conclusions Our results provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of haematoma in the onset and progress of TMJ ankylosis. The study will contribute to explaining why few injured TMJs ankylose and most do not from the molecular level.

BACKGROUND The type of traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis depends on the degree of severity of TMJ trauma. Here, we performed comprehensive differential molecular profiling between TMJ fibrous and bony ankylosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Six sheep were used and a bilateral different degree of TMJ trauma was performed to induce fibrous ankylosis in one side and bony ankylosis in the other side. The ankylosed calluses were harvested at days 14 and 28 postoperatively and analyzed by Affymetrix OviGene-1_0-ST microarrays. DAVID was used to perform the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis for the different expression genes (DEGs). The DEGs were also typed into protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks to get the interaction data. Ten DEGs, including 7 hub genes from PPI analysis, were confirmed by real-time PCR. RESULTS We found 90 and 323 DEGs at least 2-fold at days 14 and 28, respectively. At day 14, bony ankylosis showed upregulated DEGs, such as TLR8, SYK, NFKBIA, PTPRC, CD86, ITGAM, and ITGAL, indicating a stronger immune and inflammatory response and cell adhesion, while genes associated with anti-adhesion (PRG4) and inhibition of osteoblast differentiation (SFRP1) had higher expression in fibrous ankylosis. At day 28, bony ankylosis showed increased biological process related to new bone formation, while fibrous ankylosis was characterized by a prolonged immune and inflammatory reaction. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a differential gene expression profile between TMJ fibrous and bony ankylosis. Further study of these key genes may provide new ideas for future treatment of TMJ bony ankylosis.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are still a major health threats worldwide. Traditional surveillance methods involving manual surveillance by infection control practitioners (ICPs) for data collection processes are laborious, inefficient, and generate data of variable quality. In this study, we sought to evaluate the impact of surveillance and interaction platform system (SIPS) for HAIs surveillance compared to manual survey in tertiary general hospitals. Methods: A large multi-center study including 21 tertiary general hospitals and 63 wards were performed to evaluate the impact of electronic SIPS for HAIs. Results: We collected 4,098 consecutive patients and found that the hospitals installed with SIPS significantly increased work efficiency of ICPs achieving satisfactory diagnostic performance of HAIs with 0.73 for sensitivity, 0.81 for specificity and 0.81 area under the curve (AUC). However, there were significant heterogeneity own to regions, time of SIPS installation, departments and sample size. Conclusions: SIPS significantly improved ICPs efficiency and HAIs monitoring effectiveness, but there were shortcomings such as untimely maintenance and high cost.

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Microglia, the resident immune cells in the central nervous system, are pivotal in the inflammatory reaction. Activated microglia can induce expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and release significant amounts of nitric oxide (NO) and TNF-alpha, which can damage the dopaminergic neurons. Catalpol, an iridoid glycoside, contained richly in the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa, was found to be neuroprotective in gerbils subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia. But the effect of catalpol on inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration has not been examined. In this study, microglia in mesencephalic neuron-glia cultures were activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the aim of the study was to examine whether catalpol could protect dopaminergic neurons from LPS-induced neurotoxicity. The results showed that catalpol significantly reduced the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), TNF-alpha and NO after LPS-induced microglial activation. Further, catalpol attenuated LPS-induced the expression of iNOS. As determined by immunocytochemical analysis, pretreatment by catalpol dose-dependently protected dopaminergic neurons against LPS-induced neurotoxicity. These results suggest that catalpol exerts its protective effect on dopaminergic neurons by inhibiting microglial activation and reducing the production of proinflammatory factors. Thus, catalpol may possess therapeutic potential against inflammation-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Background Traditional radiography is limited in its ability to give reliable information on the number and morphology of root canals. The application of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides a non-invasive three-dimensional confirmatory diagnosis as a complement to conventional radiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate the root and canal morphology of mandibular premolars in a western Chinese population using CBCT scanning. Methods The sample included 149 CBCT images comprising 178 mandibular first premolars and 178 second premolars. The tooth position, number of roots and canals, and canal configuration according to Vertucci’s classification were recorded. Results The results showed that 98% of mandibular first premolars had one root and 2% had two roots; 87.1% had one canal, 11.2% had two canals and 0.6% had three canals. The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 1.1%. All mandibular second premolars had one root; 97.2% had one canal and 2.2% had two canals. The prevalence of C-shaped canals was 0.6%. Conclusions The prevalence of multiple canals in mandibular first premolars was mainly of Type V, and mandibular second premolars had a low rate of canal variation in this western Chinese population. Root canal bifurcation occurred at the middle or apical third in most bicanal mandibular premolars. CBCT scanning can be used in the management of mandibular premolars with complex canal morphology.

The aim of this study was to determine the consistency and inconsistency between the periapical radiography (PR) and cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) in evaluating the length of root canal obturations (RCOs) in vivo.Thirty-six maxillary and mandibular first and second molars yielding 109 obturated root canals with available PR and CBCT images were analyzed. The inclusion criterion was that the RCO extended 0-2 mm short of the radiographic apex on PR images. Teeth having root canal calcification, apical resorption, or poor quality PR/CBCT images were excluded. Agreement and disagreement between the 2 imaging modalities for obturation length were analyzed using the χ(2) test.A total of 30.3% of the RCOs evaluated by PR as having adequate length were diagnosed by CBCT to have inadequate length. Among these, 13.8% were overextended and 16.5% underextended as diagnosed by CBCT. When the distance from the filling tip to the radiographic apex was 0.5 to 1 mm on the PR image, the discordance rate was the lowest (11.1%) in all evaluated distance groups, significantly lower than with distances of 0-0.5 mm and 1.5-2 mm (P.01). When RCOs were diagnosed as terminating at the facial/lingual side, overextension was the main evaluation result by CBCT in the disagreement evaluation with PR and significantly more frequent than those at the mesial/distal/central side (P.01).CBCT evaluated 30.3% of the RCOs with radiographically adequate length as inadequate. When the RCOs radiographically terminated 0.5-1 mm short of the apex, the evaluation rated adequate for obturation length was comparatively reliable.

C-type lectins can specifically recognize sugars on the surface of microorganisms and cause a series of immune responses to effectively resist pathogenic invasions. In previous work in our laboratory, we obtained a C-type lectin from Helicoverpa armigera (Ha-lectin). It has two different carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) CRD1 and CRD2 arranged in tandem. In this study, recombinant CRD1 and CRD2 were expressed separately in Escherichia coli and purified. They have the ability to agglutinate Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and fungi in the presence of Ca2+. They also have different spectra of sugar binding abilities. The rHa-lectin, rCRD1 and rCRD2 could inhibit the growth in quantity of Bacillus thuringiensis in vivo by increasing hemocyte phagocytosis. These results suggested that Ha-lectin and its two domains could function as a pattern recognition receptor or an opsonin in vivo to promote the hemocyte phagocytosis of pathogens and protect the insect from bacterial infection.

The neuroprotective effects of catalpol, an iridoid glycoside present in the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa, on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+))-induced oxidative stress in cultured mesencephalic neurons, especially dopaminergic neurons, were investigated. Exposure of mesencephalic neurons to 10microM MPP(+) induced a leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and decreased cell viability, measured with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Catalpol increased neuron viability and markedly attenuated MPP(+)-induced dopaminergic neuron death in a dose-dependent manner. In order to clarify the neuroprotective mechanism of catalpol, mitochondrial function, the activities of endogenous antioxidants and the lipid peroxide content were measured. The results indicated that catalpol prevented the MPP(+)-induced inhibition of complex I activity and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, catalpol reduced the content of lipid peroxide and increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. Taken together, the above results suggest that catalpol may be a candidate drug for the treatment of oxidative stress-induced neurodegenerative disease.

We investigated the association of the Val66Met gene polymorphism in the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) gene with aggressive behavior among Southern Han Chinese schizophrenia patients. We used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism to determine the genotypes and the Modified Overt Aggression Scale (MOAS) to measure aggressive behavior. No significant differences in genotype or allele distribution of Val66Met were identified between aggressive and non-aggressive schizophrenia patients.