Chronic periodontitis (CP) is an inflammatory-destructive disease, and Th17 cells play a vital role in driving and regulating CP. This study aimed to confirm the influence of miR-3917/HLA-DRB1 in the differentiation of CD4+ T cells to Th17 cells. The differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) in CP were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then the target gene of miR-3917 was confirmed by using the RT-qPCR and Dual-Luciferase assay. clinical data of patients with CP and healthy individuals were collected, and intergroup comparisons were performed using ROC and logistic regression analysis. A CD4+T cell differentiation model was established to explore the role of the miR-3917/HLA-DRB1 axis in regulating CD4+T cell differentiation into Th17 cells. STAT3 and RORγt levels were detected by RT-qPCR and WB. Production of IL-17 and IL-21 was determined by ELISA kits. MiR-3917 upregulation and HLA-DRB1 downregulation were detected in patients with CP. Overexpression of miR-3917 promoted the differentiation of CD4+T cells toward Th17 cells, boosted the secretion of IL-17 and IL-21, and elevated the levels of STAT3 and RORγt, whereas inhibition of miR-3917 exerted the opposite effects. Rescue experiment confirmed that miR-3917 increased Th17 cell differentiation by directly targeting and regulating HLA-DRB1. MiR-3917 downregulated HLA-DRB1, thereby promoting Th17 cell differentiation and ultimately aggravating inflammation. These findings suggested that miR-3917 may be involved in CP pathogenesis and might serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for CP.
This randomized clinical trial compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes and post-operative pain of a bioceramic-containing sealer (AH Plus Bioceramic) versus an epoxy resin-based sealer (AH Plus) in primary and secondary root canal treatments over 12-month follow-up. A total of 99 permanent teeth from ASA I or II patients were enrolled and randomly allocated to two groups: group A (AH Plus Bioceramic) and group B (AH Plus). Six patients (8 teeth) were excluded from the analysis due to missed follow-up appointments, leaving 91 teeth (group A: n = 47; group B: n = 44) for evaluation. Standardized endodontic procedures and disinfection protocols were followed. All root canals were obturated using Thermafil Plus in combination with the assigned sealer. Radiographic evaluations were performed at baseline, 1-, 3-, 6- and 12-month follow-ups and periapical index was recorded. The presence or resorption of apical sealer extrusions was also recorded. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale before treatment, at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, one week and one month. At the 12-month follow-up, both sealers demonstrated a high success rate. In group A 87.2
The aim of this study was to assess the clinical efficacy of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) combined with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and bone grafting for site-specific reconstruction of alveolar bone defects in patients with chronic periodontitis and vitamin D deficiency. A total of 34 periodontal surgical sites in patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis and baseline vitamin D deficiency defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25-[OH]D₃) levels < 20 µg/L were included. Sites were randomly assigned to either a study or control group using a random number table. All patients received basic periodontal therapy and standardized vitamin D supplementation. Upon correction of serum 25-[OH]D₃ levels to ≥ 30 µg/L, sites in the study group (n = 17) underwent GTR using sticky bone prepared from i-PRF combined with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (Bio‑Oss®, hereinafter referred to as Bio‑Oss bone powder). Sites in the control group (n = 17) received conventional GTR with bone grafting using physiological saline mixed with Bio-Oss bone powder. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding index (BI), and intrabony defect depth (IBD) were assessed at baseline and 6 months postoperatively. Statistically significant improvements in PD, CAL, BI, and IBD were observed within each group between baseline and 6 months postoperatively (p < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, no statistically significant differences were found between groups for any of the assessed parameters (p > 0.05). However, numerical improvements in PD, CAL, and IBD were greater in the study group than in the control group, although these differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). The use of i-PRF in combination with GTR and bone grafting in patients with chronic periodontitis and baseline vitamin D deficiency resulted in clinically favorable and stable outcomes, comparable to those achieved with conventional GTR and bone grafting. Both treatments demonstrated comparable short-term efficacy at 6 months postoperatively, and both effectively promoted periodontal tissue repair and regeneration. Although the observation group showed a numerical trend toward greater improvements in PD, CAL, and IBD, suggesting a potential to partially compensate for the impaired osteogenic capacity induced by vitamin D deficiency, the between-group differences did not reach statistical significance. Therefore, its clinical advantages require further validation in larger-sample studies. Accordingly, the routine use of i-PRF for additional clinical benefit is not recommended in patients with vitamin D deficiency; instead, vitamin D deficiency should be prioritized for correction before considering whether to combine i-PRF or other adjunctive regenerative measures.
This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy, consistency, and temporal stability of six large language models (LLMs), when answering structured questions on external cervical resorption (ECR) across seven consecutive days, while assessing domain-specific error patterns. Four Base configurations (ChatGPT-5, Gemini, Claude, and Mistral) and two document-grounded (RAG) configurations (NotebookLM and Perplexity Pro) were evaluated using 46 validated dichotomous questions on ECR. Each model was queried using three independent user accounts over seven consecutive days. Accuracy was defined as agreement with predefined gold standard answers. Inter-account consistency and temporal stability were evaluated across accounts and days. Domain-specific error patterns were analyzed. Generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate differences in response accuracy across LLM configurations, clinical domains, user accounts, and evaluation days. Overall accuracy was high (90.8
This study evaluated whether the stage of contamination (before vs. after adhesive polymerization) and the application strategy of a universal adhesive (GLUMA Bond Universal, Kulzer, Hanau, Germany) used in total-etch (TE) or self-etch (SE) mode affect the durability of repair shear bond strength (RSBS) in aged composite after immediate storage (24 h) and artificial aging (10.000 thermocycles). One hundred twenty composite specimens were thermocycled (5.000 cycles) and assigned to 12 groups based on contamination stage (control, pre-adhesive, post-adhesive), adhesive strategy (TE or SE), and aging period (24 h or 10.000 cycles). A fresh blood/saliva mixture was applied for 1 min and rinsed. In post-adhesive groups, re-bonding was performed, with additional re-etching in the TE subgroup. RSBS was measured at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data were analyzed by three-way robust ANOVA based on 20
To evaluate whether off-the-shelf general-purpose multimodal foundation models can achieve clinically meaningful diagnostic performance in detecting secondary caries on interproximal radiographs without domain-specific training, using GPT-5o (OpenAI) and Gemini 2.5 Flash (Google Inc.) as representative publicly accessible models. A comparative exploratory study used 50 interproximal radiographs of posterior teeth obtained from a dental imaging center, yielding 208 teeth. Each tooth was evaluated twice by each model in independent sessions, totaling 416 observations per model. A specialist in restorative dentistry established the reference standard. Models were assessed in a zero-shot setting using a standardized prompt. Diagnostic performance was evaluated at the tooth level using accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1-score, and Cohen’s kappa, with 95
This study was designed as two complementary and exploratory components: (i) to evaluate transcriptional stress responses associated with different 3D fibroblast spheroid formation strategies and thermal challenge, and (ii) to independently assess the functional effects of stem-cell-derived conditioned media on fibroblast regenerative behavior. Oral fibroblasts are crucial for wound healing but face mechanical and thermal stress during dental procedures. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) mediate stress adaptation, but their response may be influenced by the 3D culture method used for in vitro modelling. Separately, stem-cell secretome, delivered via conditioned media (CM), shows promise for enhancing fibroblasts’ regenerative capacity. This study aimed: (i)to investigate the effects of 3D spheroid formation methods and thermal stress on HSP70/90 expression in oral fibroblasts; and (ii)to independently assess the dose-dependent influence of dental pulp (DPSC) and Wharton’s jelly (WJSC) stem cell CM on fibroblast proliferation and wound healing in a 2D monolayer system. For the first objective, oral fibroblasts were cultured as 3D spheroids via manual clumping or self-assembly and subjected to thermal stress, with HSP70/90 expression quantified by RT-qPCR. For the second objective, fibroblast monolayers were treated with graded concentrations (10–80
This study evaluated chemical and mechanical changes in root dentin after exposure to Triton, a new all-in-one continuous chelation solution, compared with conventional sequential irrigation, using Raman spectroscopy and Vickers microhardness testing. Forty human canine roots were decoronated, sectioned longitudinally, and divided into four groups (n = 10): 2.5
This study evaluated the effects of boron-doped nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) formulations, with and without sintering, on enamel surface hardness and Streptococcus mutans biofilm formation under in vitro conditions. Ninety-eight sound human premolars were randomly allocated into seven groups (n = 14): pre-sintered nHA, sintered nHA, 2
This study aimed to investigate the relationship between midpalatal suture maturation and maxillary and mandibular first and second molar development in growing patients and to determine whether any observed association persisted after accounting for chronological age and sex. Cone-beam computed tomography records of 90 growing patients were retrospectively evaluated. Midpalatal suture maturation was classified using the Angelieri method, and molar development was assessed according to the Nolla classification. Associations were evaluated using Spearman rank correlation analysis in the total sample and separately by sex. Ordinal logistic regression was used as the main regression analysis, and binary logistic regression was additionally performed after grouping the stages as non-advanced and advanced maturation. First molars showed almost complete root development from Angelieri Stage B onward, whereas second molars demonstrated a more gradual increase across advancing sutural maturation stages. Mean Nolla values for second molars increased from approximately 6.4–8.0 in Stages A–B to 9.0 or above in Stages D–E. Significant positive correlations were found between midpalatal suture maturation and all evaluated molars, with the strongest correlation observed for the mandibular second molar, followed by the maxillary second molar. In regression analyses, molar development was associated with sutural maturation in unadjusted models; however, after adjustment for chronological age and sex, none of the molar-related associations remained statistically significant following correction for multiple comparisons. Chronological age remained the dominant factor associated with MPS maturation. Molar development, particularly second molar maturation, may reflect the overall maturational trajectory but showed limited independent predictive value and should not be used alone to estimate the morphological status of the midpalatal suture.
This in vitro study evaluated the effects of different polymerization approaches and LED light-curing units on the shear bond strength (SBS) of a bioactive alkasite restorative material to dentin and compared the results with those of a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC). Fifty extracted human premolars were randomly assigned to five groups according to the polymerization protocol. The alkasite material was polymerized either by self-curing or with two different LED light-curing units (VALO Cordless and Bluephase), while the RMGIC was light-cured using the same devices. All specimens were subjected to 5,000 thermal cycles between 5 °C and 55 °C before SBS testing using a universal testing machine. Failure modes were evaluated using stereomicroscopy, and representative specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The mean SBS values were 15.77 ± 5.66 MPa, 15.51 ± 3.16 MPa, and 16.11 ± 4.37 MPa for the self-cured, VALO-cured, and Bluephase-cured alkasite groups, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for the RMGIC groups were 8.97 ± 2.80 MPa and 8.20 ± 2.51 MPa. No significant differences were observed among the alkasite groups or between the RMGIC groups (p > 0.05). However, all alkasite groups demonstrated significantly higher SBS values than the RMGIC groups (p ≤ 0.004). The findings of the present study demonstrate that the bioactive alkasite restorative material provides higher dentin bond strength than the RMGIC, regardless of the polymerization mode or LED light-curing unit used. Furthermore, neither self-curing nor light-curing with different LED devices significantly affected its shear bond strength.
m5C modifications play a critical role in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). NSUN5 is a key methyltransferase that catalyzes m5C modification of mammalian mRNAs. However, its role in OSCC regulation remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential oncogenic activity and molecular mechanisms of NSUN5 in OSCC progression. A total of 34 tumor and adjacent normal tissue samples were collected from patients with OSCC prior to chemotherapy. Seven OSCC cell lines (HN6, SCC-25, CAL-27, SCC-9, SCC-15, SCC-4, and HSC3) were used. qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry analyses were conducted to assess NSUN5 expression in OSCC tumors. The influence of NSUN5 on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion was evaluated using CCK8, colony formation, and wound healing assays. The downstream signaling pathways of NSUN5 in OSCC were identified. The YAP1 expression level was detected, and m5C modification in NSUN5-silenced and control OSCC cells was measured. NSUN5 was found to be upregulated in OSCC tumor tissues and associated with poor patient prognosis. It promotes OSCC cell proliferation, colony formation, and migration in vitro, as well as tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, NSUN5 catalyzes m5C modification of YAP1 mRNA, stabilizing it and increasing its expression. The role of NSUN5 in OSCC progression is dependent on YAP1 mRNA expression levels. This study reveals a novel function of NSUN5 in regulating YAP1 expression and identifies a previously unknown NSUN5/YAP1 pathway in OSCC cells.
This study intended to illustrate the therapeutic effects of puerarin in the treatment of periodontitis, and the involvements of autophagy and Notch signaling pathway. Lipopolysaccharide from Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg-LPS) stimulated human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and ligature-induced periodontitis rats were utilized for in vitro and in vivo investigations, respectively. Cells viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alizarin red staining were employed to monitor osteogenic differentiation. Autophagosome was observed under transmission electron microscopy. Autolysosome was detected by the colocalization of LC3 and LAMP1. Pathological injury in periodontal tissues was assessed by Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining. Notch signaling pathway inhibitor, DAPT, was used to explore the involvements of Notch pathway. Compared to control, level of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and TNF-α) was increased, cell viability was impaired, autophagy (less autophagosomes and autolysosomes, reduced expression of LC3 II/I and Beclin1, and increased p62) was inhibited in Pg-LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs. Puerarin treatments (5, 10, and 20 µM) could reverse such changes caused by Pg-LPS stimulation. In addition, puerarin treatments significantly reversed the reduced ALP activity, calcium deposits and expression of osteogenic markers (OPN, RUNX2 and COL2) in Pg-LPS-stimulated hPDLSCs. Puerarin treatment activated the inhibited Notch pathway in hPDLSCs caused by Pg-LPS. DAPT treatment could offset the roles of puerarin on autophagy and osteogenic differentiation. Similarly, puerarin could improve the pathological injury, promote autophagy and Notch pathway in periodontal tissues of ligature-induced periodontitis rats. Puerarin promoted osteogenic differentiation and autophagy activation in periodontitis, and Notch signal pathway involved in such effects of puerarin in periodontitis.
This study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy, appropriateness of treatment planning, and source citation performance of five large language models ChatGPT-4o (Free), ChatGPT-5.1 Plus, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and DeepSeek-R1 in root resorption scenarios. In December 2025, twelve clinical scenarios were created based on the classification of the European Society of Endodontology and each scenario was presented to all chatbots over four consecutive days. All responses were evaluated using a blinded assessment protocol and a binary scoring system. A total of 720 observations (12 cases × 4 repetitions × 3 criteria per model) were analyzed. The collected data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Cochran Q tests. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, Microsoft Copilot (79.2
To analyze the association between painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD), sleep bruxism, and anxiety symptoms in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 497 adolescents aged 14–19 years. Data were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, painful temporomandibular disorders, sleep bruxism, and anxiety symptoms. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test, and binary logistic regression was performed to evaluate factors associated with painful temporomandibular disorders, with a significance level of 5
This systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) evaluated the efficacy of autologous blood-derived products compared with open flap debridement (OFD) over time in patients with intrabony periodontal defects. Randomized clinical trials were included, and clinical attachment level (CAL) gain, probing depth (PD) reduction, and bone regeneration (BR) were assessed at 6, 9, and 12 months. Study selection followed the PRISMA-NMA guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420250651074). Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2.0, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated with CINeMA. NMA was conducted using a random-effects model integrating direct and indirect comparisons, with treatment ranking based on Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) probabilities. PRF-based protocols, alone or combined with adjunctive agents, were associated with favorable trends in CAL, PD, and BR outcomes, particularly at the 9-month follow-up. Combinations of PRF with alendronate or rosuvastatin achieved high ranking probabilities and may offer additional regenerative benefits; however, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the variability in certainty across comparisons. Although statistically significant differences were not consistently observed at 12 months, some interventions maintained favorable point estimates and ranking probabilities over time. Although sustained statistical superiority was not consistently demonstrated, some interventions showed potentially favorable clinical outcomes that may contribute to periodontal stability. Overall, PRF-based therapies showed promising results, particularly at intermediate follow-up periods; however, the magnitude and durability of these effects remain uncertain. Further well-designed long-term clinical trials are required to clarify their role as adjunctive regenerative therapies.
Three-dimensional (3D) printed surgical guides have improved the transfer of virtual implant planning to the clinical setting. However, autoclave sterilization may expose photopolymer resins to thermal and hygrometric stress, potentially affecting their dimensional stability. This study evaluated whether moist heat sterilization at 121 °C induces dimensional changes in 3D-printed surgical guides that could compromise implant placement accuracy. Ten identical maxillary models were used to fabricate standardized surgical guides based on a single digital plan. Five guides were sterilized in an autoclave at 121 °C (test group), while five were not sterilized (control group). The guides were produced from intraoral scanning and tomography of a randomly selected model and 3D printed from the same digital file. Linear and angular deviations between planned and obtained positions were measured through digital scanning and analyzed using GOM software. Statistical comparisons were performed using paired t-tests, with reference values from previous studies used to define acceptable precision margins. No statistically significant differences were observed between sterilized and non-sterilized guides for angular deviations within 4° (p = 1.000) and 2° (p = 0.203). Linear deviations also remained within acceptable limits, with no significant differences beyond 1 mm (p = 1.000) or 0.68 mm (p = 1.000). These findings indicate that autoclave sterilization at 121 °C does not produce clinically relevant distortions in the precision of 3D-printed surgical guides. However, further studies are needed to evaluate potential material fragility and the impact of alternative sterilization methods.
Although once widely used in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) therapy, unilateral distraction splints (DSs) have raised concern for generating compressive rather than distractive effects on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This finite element analysis investigated the biomechanical behavior of two unilateral splint designs (DS7 and DS567) in a healthy TMJ model, focusing on the influence of ipsilateral masseter force and capsular stiffness. Cone-beam computed tomography data from a healthy adult were used to create anatomical models and unilateral clenching was simulated under three levels of ipsilateral masseter force and three capsule stiffness conditions (baseline, − 5
Abnormal expression of filamin-binding LIM protein 1 (FBLIM1) has been associated with various human cancers, yet its role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains inadequately explored. This study aimed to evaluate the expression profile and prognostic significance of FBLIM1 in HNSCC. Tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues were collected from HNSCC patients to measure FBLIM1 mRNA expression levels using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). In parallel, FBLIM1 expression patterns and correlations with clinical features were analysed using The Cancer Genome Atlas-Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-HNSCC) dataset. Kaplan–Meier survival curve was generated to evaluate the effects of FBLIM1 on overall survival. In silico protein-protein interaction networks and functional enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate the molecular pathways associated with FBLIM1. The expression of FBLIM1 in HNSCC tissues was significantly higher than that in the adjacent normal tissues. Increased FBLIM1 expression was correlated with early clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, poor differentiation, HPV negativity and TP53 mutations. High levels of FBLIM1 were negatively associated with the survival time in HNSCC patients. These data suggest that FBLIM1 overexpression is a crucial factor in HNSCC tumorigenesis and may be a promising prognostic biomarker. Further mechanistic research and functional studies are needed to assess the therapeutic potential of suppressing FBLIM1 in HNSCC.
Post-radiation head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with xerostomia are predisposed to opportunistic oral candidiasis. While resistance to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal agent, is increasingly prevalent, it is not well-characterized among these patients. Thus, we aimed to evaluate fluconazole resistance and associated factors among Candida isolates from this population. Oral Candida isolates from xerostomic post-radiation HNC patients and healthy controls, with demographic, clinical, and biofilm-forming data, were obtained from previous studies. Fluconazole susceptibility was tested using E-test™ and interpreted according to CLSI-M60 guidelines. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney-U test and multivariate regression with significance level at p < 0.05. Fluconazole resistance was observed in 8.8
