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Objectives: To detect whether early growth response 1 (EGR1) in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs) indicates temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) lesions. Materials and Methods: Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs were detected in eight malocclusion patients without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) signs and 16 malocclusion patients with clinical TMD signs with (eight) or without (eight) imaging signs of TMJ OA. Twelve 6‐week‐old rats were randomized to a control group and a unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) group and were sampled at 4 weeks. The Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs and protein expression levels in different orofacial tissues were measured. Results: Patients with TMD signs with/without TMJ OA diagnosis showed lower Egr1 mRNA expression levels in PBLs than patients without TMD signs. The lower Egr1 mRNA expression was also found in the PBLs of UAC rats, which were induced to exhibit early histo‐morphological signs of TMJ OA lesions. In subchondral bone of UAC rats, EGR1 protein expression was decreased, co‐localization of EGR1 with osterix or dentin matrix protein‐1 was identified, and the number of EGR1 and osterix double‐positive cells was reduced (all p < .05). Conclusion: Egr1 reduction in PBLs potentially indicates subchondral bone OA lesions at an early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc plays a role in joint movement and in load absorbance and distribution. An experimental unilateral anterior crossbite (UAC) prosthesis induces mandibular condylar cartilage degeneration in rats. However, the changes in the articular disc are still unknown. Objective: To describe changes in the TMJ discs of UAC rats. Methods: The discs of fifty‐four Sprague‐Dawley rats, equally distributed into a UAC group and an age‐matched sham‐operated control group at 4, 12 and 20 weeks (n = 9), were evaluated by gross and histomorphological observation and by detection at the mRNA or protein expression levels of the markers related to the matrix elements. Results: No macro‐ or micro‐morphological differences were observed between groups. However, there were catabolic degradative changes at the molecular level in the UAC group, showing a significant reduction in the mRNA and/or protein expression levels of many molecules. The reduction became worse with time (P < 0.05). The reduced molecules included: (a) those related to the extracellular matrix, such as type I collagen, decorin and fibromodulin; (b) those related to chondrogenesis, such as type II collagen and aggrecan; and (c) those related to osteogenesis, such as alkaline phosphatase and runt‐related transcription factor 2. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor did not change. In contrast, fibronectin, which can promote wound healing, and its N‐terminal fragment, which can induce cartilage degradation, were accumulated (P < 0.05). Conclusion: TMJ discs were stimulated to catabolic changes by the aberrant dental occlusion and seemed to go to inanimate with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Two ILs [C n mim][Pro] (n =2, 3) (1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium propionate) were prepared. [•] The vaporization enthalpies for the two ILs were determined using a thermogravimetric approach. [•] A new scale of polarity, δ μ , for the ILs was put forward. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of Vectra 3D facial imaging technology in enhancing orthodontic teaching and training efficiency., Methods: Thirty-two dental students, enrolled in 2014 as five-year and eight-year curriculum in School of Somatology, Air Force Military Medical University were selected as the subjects of this research. As an important teaching facility for training the students to practice orthodontic clinical examinations, 2D and 3D facial imaging systems were selected in this study for the students to collect and analyze the data relating to the facial complexion and appearance. The students were at first instructed to use the traditional 2D facial imaging system for 20 minutes, and then Vectra 3D facial imaging system for another 20 minutes. The students were required to deliberate on the specifically designed questionnaires to input their own assessment on these two modalities. The outcomes were quantitatively analyzed using SPSS 24.0 software package., Results: As to the items 2, 5, 6 and 7 in the questionnaire, which indicated the following queries respectively: whether the use of imaging systems could inspire students' learning interest, whether the results drawn from these two imaging facial systems were accurate and reliable, whether the subjective bias were trivial , and whether these two imaging systems were feasible for orthodontic treatment appraisals. The results showed that there were significant differences in these four items between the two groups（P<0.05). As to the Items 1, 3 and 4 , namely, whether the acquisition of the teaching materials was an easy access, whether these two facial analytical regimes were beneficial for the students to obtain the new knowledge, and whether this specific teaching facility was easy for the students to manage, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05)., Conclusions: Served as a new teaching syllabus facilitation, Vectra three-dimensional facial imaging system demonstrates a more satisfactory impetus for the students to learn than the traditional two-dimensional imaging system. Pragmatically, the analytical data resulted from the former remains more accountable than that of the latter.