Identification and coregulation pattern analysis of long noncoding RNAs in the mouse brain after Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection.

BACKGROUND: Angiostrongyliasis is a highly dangerous infectious disease. Angiostrongylus cantonensis larvae migrate to the mouse brain and cause symptoms, such as brain swelling and bleeding. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are novel targets for the control of parasitic infections. However, the role of these molecules in A. cantonensis infection has not been fully clarified. METHODS: In total, 32 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups, and the infection groups were inoculated with 40 A. cantonensis larvae by gavage. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and RNA library construction were performed on brain tissues from infected mice. Differential expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs in brain tissues was identified by high-throughput sequencing. The pathways and functions of the differentially expressed lncRNAs were determined by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses. The functions of the differentially expressed lncRNAs were further characterized by lncRNA‒microRNA (miRNA) target interactions. The potential host lncRNAs involved in larval infection of the brain were validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR). RESULTS: The pathological results showed that the degree of brain tissue damage increased with the duration of infection. The transcriptome results showed that 859 lncRNAs and 1895 mRNAs were differentially expressed compared with those in the control group, and several lncRNAs were highly expressed in the middle-late stages of mouse infection. GO and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that the differentially expressed target genes were enriched mainly in immune system processes and inflammatory response, among others, and several potential regulatory networks were constructed. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the expression profiles of lncRNAs in the brains of mice after infection with A. cantonensis. The lncRNAs H19, F630028O10Rik, Lockd, AI662270, AU020206, and Mexis were shown to play important roles in the infection of mice with A. cantonensis infection.

Novel liver vein deprivation technique that promotes increased residual liver volume (with video): A case report.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate volume of future liver remnant (FLR) is a major challenge for hepatobiliary surgeons treating large or multiple liver tumors. As an alternative to associating liver partition and portal vein ligation (ALPPS) for staged hepatectomy and liver venous deprivation (LVD) using stage 1 interventional radiology for vascular embolization combined with stage 2 open liver resection have been used. CASE SUMMARY: A novel modified LVD technique was performed in a patient with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with liver metastases by using stage 1 laparoscopic ligation of the right hepatic vein, right posterior portal vein, and short hepatic veins combined with local excision of three liver metastases in the left hemiliver. The operation was followed three days later by interventional radiology to embolize an anomalous right anterior portal vein to complete LVD. A stage 2 laparoscopic right hemihepatectomy and pancreaticosplenectomy were then carried out. CONCLUSION: The minimally invasive technique promoted a rapid increase, comparable to ALPPS, in volume of the FLR after the stage 1 operation to allow the laparoscopic stage 2 resection to be performed.

[Different Responses of Soil Dissolved Organic Matter to Different Types of Compost].

This study explored the responses of soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the application of different types of compost using a soil sample without compost as a control. Ultraviolet and fluorescence spectrum technology and EEM-PARAFAC was used to analyze DOM structure and driving factors in soil added with different proportion of cow dung compost (SCC), food and kitchen waste compost (SFC), and sludge compost (SCC). Compared with the control group, contents of AN, NH4+-N, DOC, and SOM in soil added with compost were significantly increased, and contents of SOM and DOC increased with the increasing of compost amount. When added compost in the same proportion, contents of AN, NO3--N, and DOC in SCC and SFC were significantly higher than those in SSC, while contents of NH4+-N and SOM were higher in SSC. The results of spectral analysis showed that the structure of conjugated benzene ring, hydrophobic component, quinone group, and chromogenic component in DOM of soil added with compost were significantly increased, the transition of unsaturated organic molecule (π→π*) was more active, the molecular weight of DOM increased, and the degree of humification was enhanced. When the amount of compost added is 5%, the influence of food and kitchen waste compost on DOM structure was greatest among three types of compost. At 10% and 20%, sludge compost had the greatest impact on DOM structure. The results of EEM-PARAFAC analysis showed that the relative content of fulvic acid-like substances with low molecular in DOM of soil added with compost was increased, while the relative content of proteoid-like substances decreased. 2D-COS analysis showed that compost affected the change order of fluorescence components in DOM. SCC and SFC were as follows:proteoid-like > fulvic acid-like > humus-like; in SSC, it was fulvic acid-like > proteoid-like > humus-like. The enhance of humification and the decrease of relative content of protein-like substances in DOM were related to increased DOC and AN, the relative content of humus-like in low molecular weight was positively correlated with the content of NO3--N, and the relative content of macromolecule fulvic acid-like was increased due to the input of SOM from compost.

Application of masticatory control in dental treatment for elderly individuals.

Taiwan transitioned to an aged society in 2018. Appropriate dental treatment is important for elderly individuals. Previously, reconstruction of the dentition was thought to help regain chewing function. However, concerns of the elderly population, such as decline in learning ability and saliva secretion, complicate dental reconstruction. Overlooking the special needs of elderly individuals may lead to impaired chewing function, resulting in nutritional imbalances and increased burden on the digestive tract, causing more health disorders. For the elderly population, treatment must be aimed at restoring as much chewing function as possible with minimal changes. Additionally, regular oral hygiene care, proper design of fixed partial dentures, and implant placement greatly reduce the difficulty in adapting to a new prosthesis. These measures allow us to provide better quality of life for elderly individuals.

Comparison of flexural properties and cytotoxicity of interim materials printed from mono-LCD and DLP 3D printers.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Because few 3D-printing resins have been specifically developed for liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D printers, mono-LCD users may use digital light processing (DLP) 3D-printing resins. However, the suitability of these resins requires evaluation. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate whether 3D-printing resins designed for DLP 3D printers can be used successfully in a mono-LCD 3D printer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 3D printers based on photopolymerization and 3D-printing resin for interim restorations were used in this study. Enlighten AA temp and NextDent C&B MFH were printed from both the MiiCraft Ultra 125 and Phrozen Sonic printers, followed by postpolymerization by using the FormCure and PhrozenCure units for different times. The flexural strength and cytotoxicity of the specimens were evaluated. RESULTS: After postpolymerization treatment, the flexural strength of Enlighten AA temp and NextDent C&B MFH from both 3D printers was over the 50-MPa minimal requirement for the flexural strength of interim resins specified in the International Standards Organization (ISO) 10477 standard. With 15 minutes of FormCure and 1 minute of PhrozenCure postpolymerization, 4 material-printer combinations reached nearly 100% in cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: Interim resins designed for DLP 3D printers can be successfully used in mono-LCD 3D printers if the printed specimens are postpolymerized in a more powerful postpolymerization unit or in a less powerful postpolymerization unit for a longer time.

Bond strength of three chairside crown reline materials to milled polymethyl methacrylate resin.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Information on the bond strength of milled polymethyl methacrylate interim restorations when relined with chairside reline materials is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure the shear bond strength of various combinations of 3 different chairside reline materials bonded to milled polymethyl methacrylate blocks with 3 different types of surface treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Uniform blocks (10×10×22 mm) were milled from tooth-colored polymethyl methacrylate disks (Vivid PMMA; Pearson Dental Supply Co). The surface treatments tested were airborne-particle abrasion with 50-µm particle size aluminosilicate, application of acrylic resin monomer (Jet Liquid; Lang Dental Manufacturing Co) for 180 seconds, and airborne-particle abrasion with monomer application. The control groups were blocks with no surface treatment. The chairside reline materials tested were Jet acrylic resin (Jet Powder; Lang Dental Manufacturing Co), bis-acryl resin (Integrity; Dentsply Sirona), and flowable composite resin (Reveal; Bisco). All materials were applied through a Ø1.5×3-mm bonding ring. Ten specimens for each of the 12 groups were tested in a universal testing machine. Load was applied at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Fracture surfaces were then analyzed for cohesive versus adhesive or mixed failure. Data were analyzed using 2-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer post hoc analysis (α=.05). RESULTS: The mean shear bond strength values ranged from 1.77 ±0.79 MPa to 28.49 ±5.75 MPa. ANOVA revealed that reline material (P<.05), surface treatment (P<.05), and their interactions (P<.05) significantly affected the shear bond strength among the experimental groups. The strongest combination was Jet acrylic resin applied on specimens treated with airborne-particle abrasion and monomer. All 3 failure modalities (adhesive, cohesive, and mixed modes) were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Of the materials tested, the most reliable material to bond to milled polymethyl methacrylate was Jet acrylic resin, and the bond strength values were increased substantially when the milled polymethyl methacrylate surface was airborne-particle abraded and monomer was applied.

[Different Responses of Soil Microbial Community Structure to Irrigation with Treated Wastewater from Domestic and Industrial Sources].

To investigate the long-term effects of irrigation with treated domestic and industrial wastewater on the microbial community structure of the soil, Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was applied. Groundwater irrigated soil was used as a control. The effects of soil environmental factors and their interactions on the microbial community structure were investigated. Compared with the groundwater irrigation, irrigation with treated domestic wastewater can significantly increase the contents of TOC, DOC, Eh, NH4+-N, and TP, whereas irrigation with treated industrial wastewater can increase the contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the soil. Irrigation with treated wastewater also increases the relative abundance of Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes, and reduces the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Tectomicrobia. The effects of treated wastewater from different sources on functional microorganisms in soil are also different; irrigation with treated domestic wastewater can increase the relative abundance of Chloroflexi and Nitrospirae, whereas irrigation with treated industrial wastewater has negative effects on the abundance of Actinobacteria. The results of db-RDA analysis show that TN, TP, DOC, and Eh are the main factors that impact the microbial communities in soils irrigated with treated domestic wastewater (P<0.05), and heavy metals are the main factors that impact the microbial communities in soils irrigated with treated industrial wastewater (P<0.05). Compared with groundwater irrigation, treated wastewater irrigation can change the correlations between soil environmental factors, which in turn affect the microbial community structure. The growth of microorganisms in soils irrigated with treated domestic wastewater is mainly controlled by the increase in the nutrients such as DOC, TN, and TP and changes in soil redox conditions. The abundance of microorganisms in soil irrigated with treated industrial wastewater is significantly correlated with the accumulation of heavy metals.

ASB6 Promotes the Stemness Properties and Sustains Metastatic Potential of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells by Attenuating ER Stress.

Up-regulation of ASB6 has been previously associated with late-stage and poor prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. To explore the cellular and molecular basis of how ASB6 enhances the malignancy of OSCC, we employed the clonogenicity and migration assays, murine pulmonary metastasis model, Western blot, and immunofluorescence microscopy to characterize the phenotypes of OSCC cells with lentiviral-based stable overexpression or knockdown of ASB6. We found that ASB6 overexpression increases, whereas ASB6 knockdown decreases, the potential of tumor-sphere formation, colony formation, and expression of Oct-4 and Nanog. While knockdown of ASB6 decreases cell migration in vitro and lung metastasis in mice, the migratory potential was however not promoted by ASB6 overexpression. ASB6 knockdown down-regulates the level of vimentin, and the loss of filopodia formation became more prominent following CRISPR/Cas9-directed knockout of ASB6. Moreover, ASB6 was up-regulated when cells were grown in selective condition featured with a collateral effect of enhancing intracellular stress, and the level of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was further increased by knockdown of ASB6. Thus, ASB6 may attenuate ER stress that would otherwise accumulate and subsequently impede the potential of cells to acquire or sustain the stemness properties and metastatic capacity, thereby enhancing the malignancy of OSCC by increasing the population of cancer stem or stem-like cells.

Age- and sex-related differences in masseter size and its role in oral functions.

BACKGROUND: The masseter muscle plays a key structural and functional role in the stomatognathic system. Researchers' cumulative evidence has suggested that the variation in the size of a person's masseter muscle may be a critical factor related to individual differences in oral functions. However, researchers have not yet investigated systematically the effect of a person's age and sex on masseter muscle size and the association of masseter muscle size with other clinical metrics, including masticatory performance (MP) and salivary flow rate (SFR). Using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data provides a noninvasive method for assessing masseter muscle volume (MMV). METHODS: Using T1-weighted MRI data, the authors developed a voxel-based method to assess MMV and investigated the associations among MMV, MP, and SFR. RESULTS: The authors acquired T1-weighted MRI data from scans of the heads of 62 healthy adults and assessed MMV by means of using a voxel-based approach. The authors' assessment results had acceptable rates of inter-rater and intrarater reliability. MMV was significantly lower in the older subgroup and in the female subgroup. In addition, the correlation for MMV was significantly positive with MP and stimulated SFR. CONCLUSIONS: The study results revealed evidence that the authors' voxel-based approach, which they designed on the basis of T1-weighted MRI data, would be a reliable method for quantifying MMV. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The findings suggest that the variation in masseter muscle size may be a critical factor to assess individual differences in oral functions.

Age-Related Difference in Functional Brain Connectivity of Mastication.

The age-related decline in motor function is associated with changes in intrinsic brain signatures. Here, we investigated the functional connectivity (FC) associated with masticatory performance, a clinical index evaluating general masticatory function. Twenty-six older adults (OA) and 26 younger (YA) healthy adults were recruited and assessed using the masticatory performance index (MPI) and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). We analyzed the rs-fMRI FC network related to mastication, which was constructed based on 12 bilateral mastication-related brain regions according to the literature. For the OA and the YA group, we identified the mastication-related hubs, i.e., the nodes for which the degree centrality (DC) was positively correlated with the MPI. For each pair of nodes, we identified the inter-nodal link for which the FC was positively correlated with the MPI. The network analysis revealed that, in the YA group, the FC between the sensorimotor cortex, the thalamus (THA) and the cerebellum was positively correlated with the MPI. Consistently, the cerebellum nodes were defined as the mastication-related hubs. In contrast, in the OA group, we found a sparser connection within the sensorimotor regions and cerebellum and a denser connection across distributed regions, including the FC between the superior parietal lobe (SPL), the anterior insula (aINS) and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC). Compared to the YA group, the network of the OA group also comprised more mastication-related hubs, which were spatially distributed outside the sensorimotor regions, including the right SPL, the right aINS, and the bilateral dACC. In general, the findings supported the hypothesis that in OA, higher masticatory performance is associated with a widespread pattern of mastication-related hubs. Such a widespread engagement of multiple brain regions associated with the MPI may reflect an increased demand in sensorimotor integration, attentional control and monitoring for OA to maintain good mastication.

Use of panoramic radiography to predict postsurgical sensory impairment following extraction of impacted mandibular third molars.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to use panoramic radiographic findings to predict postsurgical sensory impairment following the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars. METHODS: There were 120 patients enrolled in this study (55 male and 65 female). A total of 120 impacted mandibular third molars were included due to the proximity between the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) canal and the roots of the impacted third molar on the panoramic radiograph. Seven radiographic signs were the predictor variables: (1) darkening of the root(s); (2) interruption of the radiopaque line of the inferior alveolar canal; (3) diversion of the inferior alveolar canal; (4) dark and bifid apex; (5) deflection of the root(s); (6) narrowing of the inferior alveolar canal; and (7) narrowing of the root(s). The outcome variable was the postoperative IAN sensory impairment. The retrospective cohort study model was used, and univariable and bivariable statistics was computed with the statistically significant level at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Three of the radiographic signs were statistically associated with IAN sensory impairment (p<0.05). They include: (1) interruption of the radiopaque line [sensitivity = 0.92, specificity = 0.45, positive predictive value (PPV) = 0.17, negative predictive value (NPV) = 0.02]; (2) diversion of the IAN canal (sensitivity = 0.77, specificity = 0.84, PPV = 0.37, NPV = 0.03); and (3) narrowing of the IAN canal (sensitivity = 0.69, specificity = 0.65, PPV = 0.19, NPV = 0.05). However, the other four radiographic signs, namely darkening of the root(s), dark and bifid apex, deflection of the root(s), and narrowing of the root(s), were not statistically associated with IAN sensory impairment (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: There are three radiographic signs: (1) interruption of the radiopaque line; (2) diversion of the IAN canal; and (3) narrowing of the IAN canal. These signs are valuable in presurgical evaluation of the risk of postoperative sensory impairment after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar.

Lateral trap-door window approach with maxillary sinus membrane lifting for dental implant placement in atrophied edentulous alveolar ridge.

One of the most challenging and technically sensitive surgical procedures in conjunction with dental implant rehabilitation is sinus membrane lifting to increase the bone height or volume from the maxillary sinus floor. This important preprosthetic surgical technique has been available for >15 years, making possible the creation of bone volume in the edentulous posterior maxilla for the placement of dental implants in surgically compromised cases. Substantial literature exists regarding the most efficacious way to increase the predictability of this surgical procedure, and reduce its associated complications. In this article, we describe the regional anatomy of the maxillary sinus, the evolution of the sinus membrane lifting procedure, the current surgical technique, its survival rate and associated complications, the need for bone graft or bone substitutes, and current advances in the lateral approach through a trap-door window for sinus membrane lifting for dental implants.

[Molecular mechanism of wendan tang in prevention of lipid metabolism disorder in adult rats].

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the molecular mechanism of Wendan Tang in prevention of lipid metabolism disorder in adult rats. METHOD: On the basis of hyperlipidemia rat models, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) in serum, activities of lipase (LA), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (HL) in liver, parts of hemogram and hepatic LDLR mRNA levels were investigated 21 days after the feeding of atherogenic diet. RESULT: Wendan Tang significantly reduced the serum TG, TC and increased the activity of LPL and LA, but caused no chang in HL. The result of RT-PCR test showed that high fat and high cholesterol feeding could significantly induce the reduction of LDLR mRNA levels, while Wendan Tang could increase hepatic LDLR density. CONCLUSION: Wendan Tang can prevent disorder of lipid metabolism by regulating TC, TG, LDL-c through upregaulation of LDLR transcription level and improving antioxidant ability.