Search

Background: The worldwide prevalence of eczema has continued to rise over the past decades.This has led to emphasis on the association between air pollution and eczema. This study investigated the relationship between daily exposure to air pollution and the number of eczema outpatient visits in Guangzhou with the overarching goal of providing novel insights on the interventions for eczema aggravation and prevention.Methods: Daily air pollution data, meteorological data, and number of eczema outpatients were obtained from 18th January 2013 to 31st December 2018 in Guangzhou. A generalized additive model with Poisson distribution was used to assess the association between the number of eczema outpatient visits and short-term exposure of PM2.5 and PM10. In addition, the effect of PM2.5 and PM10 by age (Results: A total of 293,343 eczema outpatient visits were recorded. The obtained results indicated that a 10μg/m3 increase of the same day/ lag 1 day/ lag 2 days PM2.5 was associated with increments of 2.33%(RR=1.0233, 95%CI: 1.0206-1.0260, PPP3 increase of PM10 was associated with eczema outpatients risk increments of 1.97%(RR=1.0197, 95%CI: 1.0177-1.0217, PPP2.5 exposure and eczema were observed at lag 0 day with the percent changes being 4.72% (95%CI, 4.18-5.28%, PPPConclusion: Short-term exposure of PM2.5 and PM10 increases the number of eczema outpatients especially among children and the elderly. This study has provided a further understanding of the relationship between air pollutants and eczema, which will benefit disease prevention and lower the health burden.

Background Diabetic patients are more vulnerable to skeletal complications. Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ has a positive regulatory effect on bone turnover under physiologic glucose concentration; however, the regulatory effect in diabetes mellitus has not been investigated yet. Herein, we explored the effects of PPARβ/δ agonist on the regeneration of diabetic bone defects and the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) under a pathological high-glucose condition. Methods We detected the effect of PPARβ/δ agonist on osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs in vitro and investigated the bone healing process in diabetic rats after PPARβ/δ agonist treatment in vivo. RNA sequencing was performed to detect the differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways. Western blot was performed to detect the autophagy-related protein level. Laser confocal microscope (LSCM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) were used to observe the formation of autophagosomes. Results Our results demonstrated that the activation of PPARβ/δ can improve the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs in high-glucose condition and promote the bone regeneration of calvarial defects in diabetic rats, while the inhibition of PPARβ/δ alleviated the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. Mechanistically, the activation of PPARβ/δ up-regulates AMPK phosphorylation, yielding mTOR suppression and resulting in enhanced autophagy activity, which further promotes the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs in high-glucose condition. The addition of AMPK inhibitor Compound C or autophagy inhibitor 3-MA inhibited the osteogenesis of rBMSCs in high-glucose condition, suggesting that PPARβ/δ agonist promotes osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs through AMPK/mTOR-regulated autophagy. Conclusion In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential role of PPARβ/δ as a molecular target for the treatment of impaired bone quality and delayed bone healing in diabetic patients for the first time.

As a typical form of value co-creation, crowdsourcing has been increasingly applied by firms to generate business value. By engaging a crowd, a platform, and other stakeholders, a crowdsourcer can foster the co-creation of a portfolio of value for diverse stakeholders. In analyzing the value co-creation in crowdsourcing, we propose a framework by combining the theories and frameworks in value co-creation and crowdsourcing. The framework examines the key stakeholders, joint purpose, engaged value co-creation processes, contributions, bidirectional relationships of the engagement, and perceived value, exhibiting a holistic view of the value co-creation in a crowdsourcing project. Results of the analysis reveal the business performance of the crowdsourcing project and identify areas of improvement regarding business sustainability. This is a major theoretical contribution of this study. The research design applied a case study approach to empirically investigate a crowdsourcing project. Both the theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Overcoming propylene oxidation Catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane to propylene and water become less selective with increasing conversion because propylene itself is more readily oxidized than propane. Yan et al. created nanoscale tandem catalysts by growing an ∼2-nanometer shell of indium oxide, a selective hydrogen combustion catalyst, over a propane dehydrogenation catalyst, platinum nanoparticles supported on alumina spheres (see the Perspective by Pei and Gong). This overcoat exposed the platinum nanoparticles for propane dehydrogenation. Surface hydrogen atoms were oxidized at the indium oxide–platinum interface. This approach boosted yields of propylene to up to 30%. Science , this issue p. 1257 ; see also p. 1203

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an essential role in both tissue development and homeostasis. Glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) is one of the vital transcriptional factors as well as the direct target gene in the Hh signaling pathway. The cells expressing the Gli1 gene (Gli1+ cells) have been identified as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that are responsible for various tissue developments, homeostasis, and injury repair. This review outlines some recent discoveries on the crucial roles of Gli1+ MSCs in the development and homeostasis of varieties of hard and soft tissues.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness is an important biophysical factor in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs) differentiation. Although there is evidence that Yes-associated protein (YAP) plays an important role in ECM elasticity induced osteogenesis, but the regulatory mechanism and signaling pathways have not been distinctly uncovered. In this study, hBMSCs were cultured on collagen-coated polydimethylsiloxane hydrogels with stiffness corresponding to Young's moduli of 0.5 kPa and 32 kPa, and gene chip analyses revealed the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway was highly correlated with ECM stiffness. Following western blots indicated that AKT phosphorylation was evidently affected in 5th-7th days after ECM stiffness stimulation, while PI3K showed little difference. The AKT activator SC79 and inhibitor MK2206 were utilized to modulate AKT phosphorylation. SC79 and MK2206 caused alteration in the mRNA expression and protein level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) and runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2). On 32 kPa substrates, YAP enrichment in nucleus were significantly promoted by SC79 and remarkably decreased by MK2206. Besides, the ratio of YAP/p-YAP is upregulated by SC79 on both 32 kPa and 0.5 kPa substrates. In conclusion, these findings suggest that AKT is involved in the modulation of ECM stiffness induced osteogenesis, and AKT phosphorylation also influences the subcellular localization and activation of YAP.

When quantum flavor Hall insulator phases of itinerant fermions are disordered by strong quantum fluctuations, the condensation of skyrmion textures of order parameter fields can lead to superconductivity. In this work, we address the mechanism of skyrmion condensation by considering the scattering between (2+1)-dimensional, Weyl fermions and hedgehog type tunneling configurations of order parameters that violate the skyrmion-number conservation law. We show the quantized, flavor Hall conductivity ($\sigma^f_{xy}$) controls the degeneracy of topologically protected, fermion zero-modes, localized on hedgehogs, and the overlap between zero-mode eigenfunctions or 't Hooft vertex determines the nature of pairing. We demonstrate the quantum-disordered, flavor Hall insulators with $\sigma^f_{xy}= 2 N$ lead to different types of charge $2 N e^-$ superconductivity. Some implications for the competition among flavor Hall insulators, the charge $2e^-$ paired states in BCS and pair-density-wave channels, and the composite, charge $4e^-$ superconductors for twisted bilayer graphene are outlined., Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure

Normal development of craniofacial sutures is crucial for cranial and facial growth in all three dimensions. These sutures provide a unique niche for suture stem cells (SuSCs), which are indispensable for homeostasis, damage repair, as well as stress balance. Expansion appliances are now routinely used to treat underdevelopment of the skull and maxilla, stimulating the craniofacial sutures through distraction osteogenesis. However, various treatment challenges exist due to a lack of full understanding of the mechanism through which mechanical forces stimulate suture and bone remodeling. To address this issue, we first identified crucial steps in the cycle of suture and bone remodeling based on the established standard suture expansion model. Observed spatiotemporal morphological changes revealed that the remodeling cycle is approximately 3 to 4 weeks, with collagen restoration proceeding more rapidly. Next, we traced the fate of the Gli1

Tissue clearing techniques turn tissue transparent through a series of chemical and physical treatments. They have provided a useful tool for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging to study tissue spatial organization and interactions. Many tissue clearing methods have been developed in recent years. Each method has its own application range depending on the purposes of the study. Three criteria for selecting an appropriate clearing method include clearing transparency, fluorescence preservation, and broad tissue applicability. PEG-associated solvent system (PEGASOS) emerged recently as a solvent-based tissue clearing method capable of rendering diverse tissues highly transparent while preserving fluorescence. Combined with vascular labeling techniques, PEGASOS method enables 3-D visualization of vasculature in whole tissues at subcellular resolution. Here, we describe the standard PEGASOS passive immersion protocol and several compatible vascular labeling techniques. Methods of 3-D imaging, data processing, and annotations are also briefly introduced.

Traditional two-dimensional histological sections and microcomputed tomography remain to be the major tools for studying craniofacial bones despite the complicated spatial organization of craniofacial organs. Recently, our laboratory developed the Poly(Ethylene Glycol) Associated Solvent System (PEGASOS) tissue clearing method, which can efficiently render hard tissues, including bones and teeth fully transparent without losing endogenous fluorescent signals. Complete tissue transparency enables us to acquire three-dimensional (3D) images of craniofacial bone vasculature, osteogenesis utilizing various labeling strategies, thus to investigate the spatial relationship among different tissues during postnatal craniofacial development. We found out that during the early stage of postnatal development, craniofacial osteogenesis occurs throughout the entire craniofacial bones, including the periosteum, dura, bone marrow, and suture. After 3–4 weeks, craniofacial osteogenesis is gradually restricted to the suture region and remaining bone marrow space. Similarly, craniofacial bone vasculature gradually restricts to the suture region. Osteogenesis is spatially associated with vasculature during the entire postnatal development. Importantly, we demonstrated that in adult calvarial bones, Gli1+ mesenchymal stem cells were also spatially associated with the vasculature. These findings indicate that craniofacial bones share similar osteogenesis mechanism as the long bone despite their distinct osteogenic mechanisms. In addition, the PEGASOS tissue clearing method-based 3D imaging technique is a useful new tool for craniofacial research.

Non-ionic surfactants are widely used in many industrial applications such as detergents, oil recovery, and mineral flotation techniques. Non-ionic surfactants readily adsorb onto the oil-water interface, although they cannot dissociate in solutions like ionic surfactants can. Nonetheless, the electrostatic double-layer (EDL) repulsive force between oil drops coated with the non-ionic surfactant can still provide stability against coalescence. In this work, the interaction forces between two tetradecane drops with diameter of 6.5 µm were measured in the presence of the non-ionic fluorocarbon-based surfactant FS-30 in various salt solutions using optical tweezers. The measured force curves were consistent with the presence of a surface charge, even though the surfactant was non-ionic in nature. The results clearly show that the EDL repulsive force is gradually screened with increasing salt concentration. It was also found that the EDL repulsive force was significantly screened in the divalent cation salt solutions (Ca2+, Ba2+) in comparison to in the monovalent cation salt solutions (Na+). In addition, the absolute value of the measured zeta potential ( − ξ ) of emulsified tetradecane drops gradually decreased with increasing FS-30 concentration. In all experimental processes, the emulsified tetradecane drops coated with FS-30 were stable against coalescence. These findings have significant implications for the stability of emulsions used in the food, cosmetic, and detergent industries.

Background Ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a common air pollutant in developing countries and causes skin conditions, but its effect on eczema in subtropical areas is not clear in China. Object To measure the effect of short-term exposure of NO2 on the incidence of eczema and the change of outpatient visits. Methods Data of daily temperature, air pollutants, and outpatient visits from 2013 to 2018 were collected in a row. The generalized additive model (GAM) and Poisson distribution were used to assess the association between short-term exposure of NO2 and the outpatient visits of patients with eczema. The cumulative exposure effect of lag 0–3 days and the displacement effect of NO2 and other pollutants were considered as well. A single pollutant model was used to examine the independent association, and a two-pollutant model was adopted to control the confounding effect. Results The daily outpatient visits of eczema increased from 75.26 to 190.85 from 2013 to 2018 (P 2 and the related pollutant exerted a stronger influence on the incidence of eczema. The maximum effect of NO2 appeared on the exposed day. (lag 0) and disappeared on day 4 (lag 3). The children and seniors were more vulnerable to NO2 exposure. Conclusion Exposure to NO2 is tightly associated with eczema incidence and outpatient visits. The hospitals should react to the visit fluctuations and adjust physician duty shifts to improve outpatient service efficiency.

The maturation and function of osteoblasts (OBs) rely heavily on the reversible phosphorylation of signaling proteins. To date, most of the work in OBs has focused on phosphorylation by tyrosyl kinases, but little has been revealed about dephosphorylation by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). SHP2 (encoded by PTPN11) is a ubiquitously expressed PTPase. PTPN11 mutations are associated with both bone and cartilage manifestations in patients with Noonan syndrome (NS) and metachondromatosis (MC), although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that SHP2 deletion in bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein-expressing (Bglap+) bone cells leads to massive osteopenia in both trabecular and cortical bones due to the failure of bone cell maturation and enhanced osteoclast activity, and its deletion in Bglap+ chondrocytes results in the onset of enchondroma and osteochondroma in aged mice with increased tubular bone length. Mechanistically, SHP2 was found to be required for osteoblastic differentiation by promoting RUNX2/OSTERIX signaling and for the suppression of osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting STAT3-mediated RANKL production by osteoblasts and osteocytes. These findings are likely to explain the compromised skeletal system in NS and MC patients and to inform the development of novel therapeutics to combat skeletal disorders.

The hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway plays an essential role in both tissue development and homeostasis. Glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) is one of the vital transcriptional factors as well as the direct target gene in the Hh signaling pathway. The cells expressing the Gli1 gene (Gli1

Tissue clearing techniques turn tissue transparent through a series of chemical and physical treatments. They have provided a useful tool for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging to study tissue spatial organization and interactions. Many tissue clearing methods have been developed in recent years. Each method has its own application range depending on the purposes of the study. Three criteria for selecting an appropriate clearing method include clearing transparency, fluorescence preservation, and broad tissue applicability. PEG-associated solvent system (PEGASOS) emerged recently as a solvent-based tissue clearing method capable of rendering diverse tissues highly transparent while preserving fluorescence. Combined with vascular labeling techniques, PEGASOS method enables 3-D visualization of vasculature in whole tissues at subcellular resolution. Here, we describe the standard PEGASOS passive immersion protocol and several compatible vascular labeling techniques. Methods of 3-D imaging, data processing, and annotations are also briefly introduced.

Previous studies have revealed that type II collagen positive (Col2+) cells represent a kind of skeleton stem cells (SSC) and their descendants contribute to chondrocytes, osteoblasts, Cxcl12 (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12)-abundant stromal cells and bone marrow stromal/mesenchymal progenitor cells in postnatal life. To further elucidate the function of Col2+ progenitors, we generated mice with ablation of either embryonic or postnatal Col2+ cells. Embryonic ablation of Col2+ progenitors caused the mouse die at newborn with the absence of all skeleton except partial craniofacial bone, as well as multiple organ development defects and blood vessel loss. Postnatal ablation of Col2+ cells causes mouse growth retardation and collagenopathy phenotype. By examining Col2+ cells ablated mice, we found that, besides contributing to long bone and vertebral bone development, Col2+ cells are also involved in calvaria bone development. Meanwhile, Col2+ cells are the major cells to contribute all skeletal development including spine, rib and long bones. Moreover, our functional study provide evidence that intramembranous ossification is involved in craniofacial bone formation and long bone development, but not participates in spine development.By performing lineage tracing experiments in embryonic or postnatal mice, we discovered that the presence of Col2+ progenitors not only within the bone marrow and growth plate (GP) but also within articular cartilage. Moreover, the number and differentiation ability of Col2+ progenitors were decreased with age in long bone and knee. Furthermore, fate-mapping studies revealed that Col2+ progenitors also contributed to CD31+ blood vessel endothelial development in calvariae bone, long bone and many organs. Interestingly, we found only 25.4% CD31+ blood vessel endothelial in long bone but almost all the CD31+ blood vessel endothelial in calvariae bone are differentiated from Col2+ cells. Consistently, postnatal Col2+ cells differentiated to both chondrocytes and CD31+ blood vessel endothelial cells during bone fracture healing. Therefore, this study reveals that Col2+ progenitors are the major source of endochondral ossification, and they also contribute to vascular development in multiple organs and fracture repair.

Tandem catalysis couples multiple reactions and promises to improve chemical processing, but precise spatiotemporal control over reactive intermediates remains elusive. We used atomic layer deposition to grow In

Tissue clearing technique enables visualization of opaque organs and tissues in 3-dimensions (3-D) by turning tissue transparent. Current tissue clearing methods are restricted by limited types of tissues that can be cleared with each individual protocol, which inevitably led to the presence of blind-spots within whole body or body parts imaging. Hard tissues including bones and teeth are still the most difficult organs to be cleared. In addition, loss of endogenous fluorescence remains a major concern for solvent-based clearing methods. Here, we developed a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-associated solvent system (PEGASOS), which rendered nearly all types of tissues transparent and preserved endogenous fluorescence. Bones and teeth could be turned nearly invisible after clearing. The PEGASOS method turned the whole adult mouse body transparent and we were able to image an adult mouse head composed of bones, teeth, brain, muscles, and other tissues with no blind areas. Hard tissue transparency enabled us to reconstruct intact mandible, teeth, femur, or knee joint in 3-D. In addition, we managed to image intact mouse brain at sub-cellular resolution and to trace individual neurons and axons over a long distance. We also visualized dorsal root ganglions directly through vertebrae. Finally, we revealed the distribution pattern of neural network in 3-D within the marrow space of long bone. These results suggest that the PEGASOS method is a useful tool for general biomedical research.

Population balance of droplets was studied in a square-sectioned pulsed disc and doughnut column with wettable internals. It was found that a liquid film of the dispersed phase was formed on the internals. To describe the interaction between the droplets and the liquid film, three more terms need to be added into the source term of the classic population balance equation (PBE). To determine the source term of the PBE, functions including the droplet-layer coalescence frequency, residual droplet size distribution, droplet dispersion frequency from the liquid layer, droplet breakup frequency, and daughter droplet size distribution were measured experimentally. The droplet-layer coalescence frequency increases as the pulsation intensity decreases because of the longer contacting time. The residual droplet size is around half of the original coalescing droplet and affected little by the pulsation. The droplet dispersion frequency gets higher with the increasing of the pulsation intensity or the thickness of the liquid layer. The droplet breakup frequency is positively related to the energy input and droplet size. The daughter droplet size distribution changes from inverted U-shaped to M-shaped as the pulsation intensity rises. Based on the experimental results, empirical correlations were proposed to calculate these functions. Furthermore, the correlation equations were applied in a simplified population balance model to calculate the droplet number density in the column. The predicted results agree well with the experimental data, which proved the feasibility of the correlations.

Centric relation (CR) is one of the core research contents in orthodontics, prosthodontics, and gnathology, acting as an important physiological factor in reconstructing the occlusion and adjusting the occlusal relationship. For over a century, CR is still a controversial subject in dentistry. CR has been redefined for several times, and recently, its application has been widened in orthodontics, including orthodontic diagnosis, clinical examination and analysis, and treatment goals. The purpose of this article is to review the definition of CR, its relationship with malocclusion, and the application of this relationship in orthodontic treatment.正中关系（CR）一直是口腔正畸学、修复学以及|HE|学研究的核心内容之一，在重建咬合、改善|HE|关系等方面具有重要的生理及临床意义。随着口腔医学研究不断深入，CR被多次重新定义，在正畸学中的应用也更加广泛，与正畸治疗前诊断、检查分析、治疗目标等密切相关。本文就CR的定义及其与错|HE|畸形的关系、在正畸治疗中的应用等方面进行综述。.

Tissue clearing technique enables visualization of opaque organs and tissues in 3-dimensions (3-D) by turning tissue transparent. Current tissue clearing methods are restricted by limited types of tissues that can be cleared with each individual protocol, which inevitably led to the presence of blind-spots within whole body or body parts imaging. Hard tissues including bones and teeth are still the most difficult organs to be cleared. In addition, loss of endogenous fluorescence remains a major concern for solvent-based clearing methods. Here, we developed a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-associated solvent system (PEGASOS), which rendered nearly all types of tissues transparent and preserved endogenous fluorescence. Bones and teeth could be turned nearly invisible after clearing. The PEGASOS method turned the whole adult mouse body transparent and we were able to image an adult mouse head composed of bones, teeth, brain, muscles, and other tissues with no blind areas. Hard tissue transparency enabled us to reconstruct intact mandible, teeth, femur, or knee joint in 3-D. In addition, we managed to image intact mouse brain at sub-cellular resolution and to trace individual neurons and axons over a long distance. We also visualized dorsal root ganglions directly through vertebrae. Finally, we revealed the distribution pattern of neural network in 3-D within the marrow space of long bone. These results suggest that the PEGASOS method is a useful tool for general biomedical research.

Summary Teeth are attached to alveolar bone by the periodontal ligament (PDL), which contains stem cells supporting tissue turnover. Here, we identified Gli1+ cells in adult mouse molar PDL as multi-potential stem cells (PDLSCs) giving rise to PDL, alveolar bone, and cementum. They support periodontium tissue turnover and injury repair. Gli1+ PDLSCs are surrounding the neurovascular bundle and more enriched in the apical region. Canonical Wnt signaling is essential for their activation. Alveolar bone osteocytes negatively regulate Gli1+ PDLSCs activity through sclerostin, a Wnt inhibitor. Blockage of sclerostin accelerates the PDLSCs lineage contribution rate in vivo. Sclerostin expression is modulated by physiological occlusal force. Removal of occlusal force upregulates sclerostin and inhibits PDLSCs activation. In summary, Gli1+ cells are the multipotential PDLSCs in vivo. Osteocytes provide negative feedback to PDLSCs and inhibit their activities through sclerostin. Physiological occlusal force indirectly regulates PDLSCs activities by fine-tuning this feedback loop.

Collagen cross-linking, as a form of collagen post-translational modification, plays a crucial role in maintaining bone mechanical properties as well as in regulating cell biological functions. Shifts in cross-links profile are found apparently correlated to kinds of skeletal pathology and diseases, whereas little is known about the relationship between collagen cross-links and osteogenesis. Here, we hypothesized that the inhibition of collagen cross-links could impair skeletal microstructure and inhibit osteogenesis. A mouse model of collagen cross-linking defects has been established using subcutaneous injection of 350 mg/kg β-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) daily for 4 weeks, and same dose of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) served as control group. The analysis of bone microstructural parameters revealed a significant decrease of bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and increase of bone surface ratio (BS/BV), structure model index (SMI) as well as trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in the experimental group (p

The aim of the present prospective comparative cohort study was to analyze changes in Streptococcus (S.) mutans and Lactobacillus in the saliva of patients with fixed orthodontics. Salivary parameters, including secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were investigated during orthodontic treatment, as well as immune response and inflammatory processes. A total of 15 patients were included and treated with fixed appliances. Whole saliva was obtained at four time-points: Prior to bonding (T1), 3 months after bonding (T2), 6 months after bonding (T3) and 18 months after bonding (T4). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to evaluate changes in total bacteria, S. mutans and Lactobacillus DNA in saliva. ELISA was applied to measure sIgA, MPO and LDH levels. The level of total bacteria remained stable during the 18-month treatment period, and the quantity of Lactobacillus exhibited a slight but non-significant increase. S. mutans remained stable over the first 6 months and significantly increased at T4 (P

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), or cancer cells with stem cell properties, are a rare population of tumor bulk and are recognized to be responsible for cancer recurrence, drug resistance, and metastasis. However, the molecular mechanisms of how to regulate the differentiation and self-renewing of CSCs are poorly understood. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are essential DNA-binding transcriptional regulators with diverse functions in various cellular processes, including differentiation, proliferation, inflammation, migration, and pluripotency. Recent progress has highlighted the significance of KLFs in tumor progression and CSCs. The regulatory functions of KLFs in the development of cancer and CSCs have become a burgeoning area of intense research. In this review, we summarize the current understanding and progress of the transcriptional regulation of KLFs in CSCs and discuss the functional implications of targeting CSCs by KLFs for cancer therapeutics.

Background In recent years, it has been a hot research topic to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) through vibration. This review was therefore aimed to systematically evaluate the available evidences on the efficacy of vibrational stimulus to accelerate OTM. Methods Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy of vibration on OTM acceleration were searched through electronic and manual search. Two review authors independently conducted the study inclusion, quality assessment and data extraction. The quality of synthesized evidence was assessed according to GRADE system. Results Eight clinical trials were included in this systematic review. Four studies found that vibration did not enhance the rate of OTM during alignment phase. Two studies revealed that the use of vibratory stimulation accelerated canine retraction. No deleterious effects including pain perceptions and root resorptions were reported. Conclusions Within the limitations of this review, weak evidence indicates that vibrational stimulus is effective for accelerating canine retraction but not for alignment. The effects of vibration on pain intensity and root resorption during orthodontic treatment are inconclusive. Future high-quality clinical trials are needed before warranting recommendations to clinical application.

Objectives Dental implants are major treatment options for restoring teeth loss. Biological processes at the implant‐tissue interface are critical for implant osseointegration. Superior mechanical properties of the implant constitute a major challenge for traditional histological techniques. It is imperative to develop new technique to investigate the implant‐tissue interface. Materials and methods Our laboratory developed the polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐associated solvent system (PEGASOS) tissue clearing method. By immersing samples into various chemical substances, bones and teeth could be turned to transparent with intact internal structures and endogenous fluorescence being preserved. We combined the PEGASOS tissue clearing method with transgenic mouse line and other labelling technique to investigate the angiogenesis and osteogenesis processes occurring at the implant‐bone interface. Results Clearing treatment turned tissue highly transparent and implant could be directly visualized without sectioning. Implant, soft/hard tissues and fluorescent labels were simultaneously imaged in decalcified or non‐decalcified mouse mandible samples without disturbing their interfaces. Multi‐channel 3‐dimensional image stacks at high resolution were acquired and quantified. The processes of angiogenesis and osteogenesis surrounding titanium or stainless steel implants were investigated. Conclusions Both titanium and stainless steel implants support angiogenesis at comparable levels. Successful osseointegration and calcium precipitation occurred only surrounding titanium, but not stainless steel implants. PEGASOS tissue clearing method provides a novel approach for investigating the interface between implants and hard tissue.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been proposed and evidenced as the initiator of tumor formation and the seeds of metastases. Thereby, the molecular mechanisms regarding modulation of CSCs have been widely explored, aimed to improve treatment for cancer patients. Recent progress has highlighted the effects of Hippo signaling in tumorigenesis and cancer development, including its crucial role in CSC regulation. Although the kernel Hippo signaling cascade has been well studied, its upstream inputs and downstream transcriptional regulation still remain elusive. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the mechanism and regulatory function of Hippo signaling in CSCs, with emphasis on its possible roles in regulation of CSC self-renewal, differentiation and tumorigenesis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the various factors that influence the success rate of miniscrew implants used as orthodontic anchorage. Materials and Methods: Potential confounding variables examined were sex, age, vertical (FMA) and sagittal (ANB) skeletal facial pattern, site of placement (labial and buccal, palatal, and retromandibular triangle), arch of placement (maxilla and mandible), placement soft tissue type, oral hygiene, diameter and length of miniscrew implants, insertion method (predrilled or drill-free), angle of placement, onset and strength of force application, and clinical purpose. The correlations between success rate and overall variables were investigated by logistic regression analysis, and the effect of each variable on the success rate was utilized by variance analysis. Results: One hundred fourteen patients were included with a total of 253 miniscrew implants. The overall success rate was 88.54% with an average loading period of 9.5 months in successful cases. Age, oral hygiene, vertical skeletal facial pattern (FMA), and general placement sites (maxillary and mandibular) presented significant differences in success rates both by logistic regression analysis and variance analysis (P < .05). Conclusion: To minimize the failure of miniscrew implants, proper oral hygiene instruction and effective supervision should be given for patients, especially young (< 12 years) high-angle patients with miniscrew implants placed in the mandible.

Bone remodeling is balanced by bone formation and bone resorption as well as by alterations in the quantities and functions of seed cells, leading to either the maintenance or deterioration of bone status. The existing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), known as a family of short non-coding RNAs, are the key post-transcriptional repressors of gene expression, and growing numbers of novel miRNAs have been verified to play vital roles in the regulation of osteogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and adipogenesis, revealing how they interact with signaling molecules to control these processes. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the roles of miRNAs in regulating bone remodeling as well as novel applications for miRNAs in biomaterials for therapeutic purposes. Short, non-coding microRNAs play a critical role in regulating bone remodeling and provide therapeutic targets for treating bone disease. In a review article, Zhi-He Zhao and colleagues from the State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases at Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, examine the ways in which microRNAs control gene expression in various types of bone cells, including bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts. Through this regulatory function, microRNAs can help tip the balance toward bone synthesis or degradation to spur disease processes and affect healthy development. After highlighting some of the specific molecules and pathways impacted by microRNAs at various stages of bone remodeling, the authors discuss how microRNAs could be delivered into the body, either directly or through some kind of biomaterial, to correct skeletal disease, trauma, osteoporosis, cancer and other disorders affecting bone.