Xiaojie Li

ObjectivesTo evaluate the influence of photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunctive pretreatment on marginal microleakage and color stability of different types of all-ceramic restorations.MethodsSixty extracted human premolars were assigned to three groups based on restoration type: veneer, inlay, and crown. Each group was then randomly subdivided into a PDT pretreatment subgroup (100 mg/L methylene blue, 675 nm diode laser, 100 mW, 60 s, approximately 6 J/cm2) or a 75% alcohol pretreatment (control) subgroup. All restorations were cemented using standardized materials and bonding protocols. Following artificial aging, marginal microleakage at the occlusal and cervical margins was assessed using a dye penetration method combined with stereomicroscopic evaluation. Color changes were measured at different time points using spectrophotometry, and color difference values (ΔE) were calculated.ResultsPDT significantly reduced marginal microleakage in the veneer and inlay groups compared with the control (P < 0.05), but not in the crown group (P > 0.05). Within the inlay group, occlusal margins showed lower microleakage than cervical margins after PDT treatment (P < 0.05); no significant site-specific difference was found for veneers. All ΔE values remained below the clinically perceptible threshold (ΔE < 3.3) throughout the study. A transient increase in ΔE was observed for veneers immediately after cementation (P < 0.05), which diminished over time.ConclusionPDT significantly improved the marginal seal of ceramic veneers and inlays without compromising their color stability, suggesting its potential as an adjunctive pretreatment for partial-coverage restorations.

The optimal therapeutic strategy for periodontitis aims to eliminate pathogenic bacteria within periodontal pockets while promoting periodontal tissue regeneration. However, treatment efficacy remains limited due to anatomical constraints within the periodontal environment. Furthermore, antibiotic resistance presents a persistent challenge in clinical management, notwithstanding the status of antibiotics as first-line therapeutics. To thoroughly eliminate bacteria and reduce drug resistance, we prepared a polyphenol-metal coordination hydrogel, namely EGCG-Zn@FG, which consists of a plasma-derived fibrin gel wrapped with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) coordinated with zinc ions. The antibacterial efficacy was synergistically enhanced by the intrinsic antimicrobial properties of EGCG combined with the sustained release of zinc ions. Of particular note, EGCG-Zn@FG demonstrated superior antibacterial activity against Porphyromonas gingivalis compared to EGCG-Zn alone. Meanwhile, EGCG-Zn@FG was also shown to have anti-inflammatory effects by reducing the expression of inflammatory factors (IL-1β and IL-6). It is worth mentioning that EGCG-Zn@FG was also verified to upregulate the expression of osteogenic factors (Col-1, ALP, and Runx-2) through the release of EGCG, promoting alveolar bone repair. In rat models, EGCG-Zn@FG in the treatment area was slowly and continuously released for 24 h after administration. Notably, the administration of EGCG-Zn@FG not only exhibited remarkable capability in mitigating dental inflammation and facilitating bone repair, but also ensured favorable biosafety in periodontitis rat models, thereby highlighting its dual advantages in therapeutic efficacy and biocompatibility. Collectively, these findings validate EGCG-Zn@FG as a promising antibiotic-alternative strategy to address antibiotic resistance in periodontitis while possessing substantial potential for clinical treatment of periodontal disease.

A plasma-derived fibrin hydrogel was developed for sustained release of copper and zinc ions, demonstrating enhanced antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis , reduced inflammation and accelerated bone regeneration in periodontitis.

‘Oral bone’ primarily refers to the bones within the mouth, specifically the jawbones and the alveolar bone that supports teeth. Oral bone tissue defects are commonly caused by trauma, inflammation and surgical excision and their repair represents one of the core challenges in the field of oral medicine. The use of functional biomaterials for tissue regeneration has become a research focus in the field of damaged tissue treatment. However, following the implantation of biomaterials, the immune response induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the open and susceptible environment of oral bone predisposes it to redox imbalance, resulting in ROS accumulation and compromised repair. In response to this challenge, ROS-regulating biomaterials have developed into an effective platform for restoring redox balance. Despite this progress, current research lacks a systematic framework for the mechanism and design of biomaterials specifically addressing the special metabolism of oral bone. This review focuses on the physiological and pathological characteristics of oral bone, explores the interaction mechanisms between the oxidative stress and oral bone defects and provides a functional classification of regulation mechanisms. In addition, this review provides several corresponding suggestions for the development of targeted biomaterials according to the problems of existing ROS-regulating materials applied in oral bone repair.

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to systematically summarize the association between cancer risks and glutathione s-transferases (GSTs) among smokers and drinkers. Methods: Literature was searched through PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and WANFANG published from 2001 to 2022. Stata was used with fixed-effect model or random-effect model to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Sensitivity and heterogeneity calculations were performed, and publication bias was analyzed by Begg and Egger’s test. Regression analysis was performed on the correlated variables about heterogeneity, and the false-positive report probabilities (FPRP) and the Bayesian False Discovery Probability (BFDP) were calculated to assess the confidence of a statistically significant association. Results: A total of 85 studies were eligible for GSTs and cancer with smoking status (19,604 cases and 23,710 controls), including 14 articles referring to drinking status (4409 cases and 5645 controls). GSTM1-null had significant associations with cancer risks (for smokers: OR = 1.347, 95% CI: 1.196–1.516, P < .001; for nonsmokers: OR = 1.423, 95% CI: 1.270–1.594, P < .001; for drinkers: OR = 1.748, 95% CI: 1.093–2.797, P = .02). GSTT1-null had significant associations with cancer risks (for smokers: OR = 1.356, 95% CI: 1.114–1.651, P = .002; for nonsmokers: OR = 1.103, 95% CI: 1.011–1.204, P = .028; for drinkers: OR = 1.423, 95% CI: 1.042–1.942, P = .026; for nondrinkers: OR = 1.458, 95% CI: 1.014–2.098, P = .042). Negative associations were found between GSTP1rs1695(AG + GG/AA) and cancer risks among nondrinkers (OR = 0.840, 95% CI: 0.711–0.985, P = .032). Conclusions: GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null might be related cancers in combination with smoking or drinking, and GSTP1rs1695 might be associated with cancers among drinkers.

We present a case of spurious low WBC count in a liver transplant patient. The patient is a 56-year-old man with liver cancer. His routine blood test revealed a decrease in WBC count: 0.03 x 109/L compared to 19.30 x 109/L before. The WBCs in the blood smear appeared higher than that reported by the XN without any aggregation. We diluted the blood sample to 1:7 with the DCL of the XN. The diluted result matches the blood smear. Dilution mode may be a good choice when there is WNR and WDF discordance, and a smear must be reviewed.

Lycopene prevents bone loss in osteopenic models. However, the role of lycopene in the success rate of dental implants under osteopenic conditions remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether lycopene prevents delayed implant osseointegration in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the following groups: OVX with vehicle (OVX group), OVX with lycopene (OVX + lycopene group) and sham-operated with vehicle (sham group). Twelve weeks after ovariectomy or sham operation, titanium implants were placed into the distal metaphysis of the bilateral femurs of each rat. These rats were subsequently gavaged with lycopene (50 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. After 12 weeks of gavage, all rats were sacrificed, and specimens were harvested. Sample osseointegration was evaluated by biomechanical testing, 3D micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) analysis and histomorphometric analysis. Compared with the OVX group, the OVX + lycopene group showed a 69.3% increase in the maximum push-out force (p < 0.01). Micro-CT data for the femurs in the OVX + lycopene group showed significantly higher bone volume, trabecular thickness and less trabecular space than did those in the OVX group. The bone area (BA) around the implant and bone contact (BC) with the implant were increased by 72.3% (p < 0.01) and 51.4% (p < 0.01) in the OVX + lycopene group, respectively, compared with those in the OVX group. There was no significant difference in the mechanical test, micro-CT scanning and histomorphometric data between the OVX + lycopene and sham groups (p > 0.05). Lycopene improved implant osseointegration, fixation and bone formation under osteopenic conditions, suggesting that lycopene is a promising therapeutic agent to prevent delayed implant osseointegration and bone loss under osteopenic conditions.

// <![CDATA[ $('.header-date').hide();$('#titleAuthors').hide();$('#abstractHeader').hide(); // ]]> Hui Li1, *, Yanyan Xu2, *, Hua Mei3, Liang Peng4, Xiaojie Li5 and Jianzhou Tang4, 5 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School of Jishou University, Jishou 416000, Hunan, China 2Department of Molecular Pathology, Guangzhou Kingmed Center for Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou 510000, China 3Department of Somatic Stem Cell, Hunan Guangxiu Hospital, Changsha 410002, Hunan, China 4Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University, Changsha 410003, Hunan, China 5College of Animal Science and Technology of Hunan Agriculture University, Changsha 410128, Hunan, China *These authors have contributed equally to this work and should be considered as co-first authors Correspondence to: Jianzhou Tang, email: Z20050711@ccsu.edu.cn Keywords: TERT, cancer, risk, meta-analysis, telomerase Received: December 27, 2016 Accepted: February 15, 2017 Published: March 17, 2017