BACKGROUND:Currently, research in pediatric dental education is relatively scattered and lacks systematic integration. This study aimed to analyze the status and dynamics of pediatric dental education using bibliometric methods. METHODS:Publications from 1988 to 2024 were searched in the PubMed database. Two investigators screened and identified articles for further study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to analyze and visualize the bibliometric networks. RESULTS:A total of 342 articles were included in the bibliometric analysis. The United States published the largest number of articles. The Journal of Dental Education (n = 85), Pediatric Dentistry (n = 74), and European Journal of Dental Education (n = 25) were the top three journals according to the number of publications. Most literature focused on the postgraduate education (47.66%) and undergraduate education (30.99%) in pediatric dental education. The two most repeatedly used keywords were "pediatric dentistry" and "dental education." Research hot topics in the field of pediatric dental education have focused on "competency-based education," "clinical education," and "advanced dental education." CONCLUSION:Based on bibliometric mapping from 1988 to 2024, this study provides a relatively comprehensive overview of the global landscape of pediatric dental education, highlighting publication trends, influential contributors, and evolving research themes. The analysis reveals the research hotspots of pediatric dental education focused on competency-based education, clinical training, and advanced dental education, reflecting the discipline's movement toward more diversified and technology-enhanced teaching models. TRIAL REGISTRATION:The authors have confirmed clinical trial registration is not needed for this submission.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS:Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) from deciduous teeth (DePDLSCs) can perceive and respond to mechanical signals upon exposure to various environments. The effects of mechanical stress on the biological characteristics and metabolism of DePDLSCs were investigated using in vitro stress loading. METHODS:DePDLSCs were subjected to mechanical stresses of different strengths. Cell proliferation, expression of osteogenic/osteoclastic factors, apoptosis, and oxidative stress levels were evaluated using CCK-8 assays, alkaline phosphatase staining, real-time PCR, flow cytometry, and malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase assays. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to perform nontargeted metabolomic detection and analysis. RESULTS:Under stresses of 75 and 150 kPa, the expression of osteogenesis-related factors OPG, ALP, and RUNX2 decreased, and the ratio of RANKL/OPG significantly increased. A pressure of 150 kPa induced oxidative stress and caused a significant increase in cell apoptosis. Among the differential metabolites screened from the 150 kPa group, spermine, spermidine, ceramide, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, linoleic acid, and docosatrienoic acid were the most significantly upregulated. The metabolites screened from the 75 kPa group were mainly related to glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and mineral absorption, which were common pathways affected in both experimental groups. CONCLUSION:A certain degree of mechanical stress can inhibit the proliferative activity and osteogenic differentiation of DePDLSCs, enhance their osteoclast-inducing ability, and cause elevated levels of cell apoptosis and oxidative stress. The metabolic expression profile of DePDLSCs changed significantly under stress. Understanding changes in cellular activity and metabolic reactions may provide an experimental basis for elucidating the role of mechanical stress in root resorption and periodontal tissue remodelling of deciduous teeth. CLINICAL RELEVANCE:Mechanical stress may affect periodontal tissue remodeling and root resorption of DePDLSc.

Background Indirect pulp capping (IDPC) is a preferred treatment for pulp preservation in primary teeth. However, the survival rate of IDPC in primary teeth and impact factors is still equivocal. Aims To evaluate the survival rate of IDPC in primary teeth with a deep carious lesion approximating the pulp but without irreversible pulpitis or periapical disease. Methods The medical records of children who were diagnosed with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and received IDPC under dental general anaesthesia from January 2015 to December 2020 were screened and collected. The shared frailty model was used to explore potential factors affecting the success rate of IDPC in primary teeth. Results There were 352 children with S ECC and 1,197 teeth were included in the study. A total of 47 children had IDPC that failed in the follow-up period (67 teeth). The survival rates of the teeth treated with IDPC at 48 months was 82.3%. The risk of IDPC primary tooth treatment failure in mandibular teeth was 2.35 times that of maxillary teeth and risk of failure in lesions with mesial surface involvement was 2.76 times higher than those without mesial surface involvement. Conclusion In the present study, the overall survival rate of IDPC did not decrease remarkably with time, regardless of anterior or posterior teeth. The tooth arch position and whether the mesial surface was involved in the carious lesion were found to influence the outcome of IDPC.

OBJECTIVES:This study aimed to evaluate the clinical application value of in-situ crown reattachment technique combined with pulpotomy in the treatment of complicated crown-root fractures in young permanent anterior teeth. METHODS:A prospective study was conducted on 50 children with complicated crown-root fractures in young permanent anterior teeth, who were treated at the Pediatric Dentistry Department, Hospital of Stomatology, Xi'an Jiaotong University from June 2023 to June 2024. All patients underwent in-situ crown reattachment technique combined with pulpotomy. Clinical examinations, radiographic evaluations, and subjective satisfaction surveys (using a Likert scale of 1-10) were conducted at 1, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0. RESULTS:The loss-to-follow-up rate was 12% (6/50), with 44 cases completing the 12 months of evaluation. The clinical success rate was 93.18% (41/44), and the radiographic success rate was 97.73% (43/44). The subjective satisfaction scores showed a significant improvement in masticatory function from 7.03±0.52 at 1 month to 8.07±0.92 at 12 months postoperatively (P<0.05), whereas the scores for aesthetics, comfort, and quality-of-life impact showed no statistically significant differences (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:In-situ crown reattachment technique combined with pulpotomy effectively treats complicated crown-root fractures in young permanent anterior teeth, demonstrating a high short-term clinical success rate, significantly improved masticatory function, and minimally invasive preservation of pulp vitality and root development potential. This technique provides an optimized treatment option for dental trauma in children, although its long-term efficacy requires further validation.

Aim or purpose: Fluoride is commonly present in drinking water and toothpaste for preventing dental caries. However, it may induce neuronal damage as a potential neurotoxin. This study investigates the neuroprotective effects of NAP on NaF-induced apoptosis, establishing a research model to elucidate the relationship between oral fluoride exposure and systemic nervous system health;providind novel insights into the association between oral and nervous system disorders;offering a scientific basis on the use of fluorine-containing oral care products. Materials and methods: A lentivirus vector overexpressing NAP was constructed and transfected into PC12 cells. The cells were divided into four groups: control, NAP-LV, NaF, and NaF +NAP-LV . After NaF treatment, the apoptosis rate was measured by Flow-cytometry;the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved caspase-3, total caspase-3) ,microtubule end-binding proteins (EB1, EB2, EB3) in PC12 cells were analyzed using Western-blotting. Results: Flow cytometry analysis revealed that NAP overexpression significantly suppressed the NaF-induced increase in apoptosis of PC12 cells. Western blot results demonstrated increased Bax expression and decreased Bcl-2 expression upon NAP overexpression in NaF-treated cells. Caspase-3 levels were markedly elevated, but no significant differences in cleaved caspase-3 were observed across groups. EB1 expression was substantially reduced in NaF-treated cells compared to other groups, while EB2 and EB3 levels showed no significant variation among all groups. Conclusions: NAP-LV is capable of inhibiting NaF-induced PC12 cell apoptosis through the upregulation of EB1 expression.

Background: Dens invaginatus (DI) is a developmental dental anomaly whose clinical manifestations and treatment plans vary depending on its type and severity. Type III DI is one of the primary pathways of periradicular infection. This report presents a series of cases of endodontic treatment of type III DI with periradicular lesions in young permanent teeth. Cases: Four cases with type III coronal DI (CDI) and periradicular lesions were included. Following oral and radiographic examinations, the patients underwent endodontic treatment. Among them, three cases accepted endodontic access to invaginations, chemomechanical instrumentation, medication, obturation, and periodontal surgical procedures when clinically indicated. The other patient also underwent main root canal treatment simultaneously. After long-term follow-up (1-3 years), all patients were free of clinical symptoms or positive clinical signs, with evidence of reduced or resolved periapical radiolucency and normal pulp vitality. Conclusions: By disinfecting and obturating the invagination canal, the pulp vitality of the affected type III CDI tooth can be preserved with minimal damage to the tooth structure, thereby promoting further root development in young permanent teeth.

Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma remains difficult to treat because of its marked tumor heterogeneity, highlighting the need to identify molecular subtypes with distinct therapeutic vulnerabilities. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize OSCC molecular subtypes and identify potential therapeutic targets. Materials and methods: We conducted an integrated analysis combining single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing from 709 OSCC cases. Protein interactions were examined using mass spectrometry and immunoprecipitation assays. The functional roles of key regulators were evaluated through in vitro cell proliferation and invasion assays, RNA sequencing of knockdown cell lines, and in vivo xenograft models. Statistical analyses included differential gene expression analysis, pathway enrichment, and IC50 determination for drug sensitivity. Results: We identified a distinct molecular OSCC subtype marked by concurrent activation of the mTORC1 and NF-κB pathways, with TTK emerging as a central regulator of this co-activation. Patients in this subtype exhibited pronounced genomic instability, reflected by increased tumor mutational burden, higher TP53 mutation frequency, copy number amplifications across multiple genomic regions. Mechanistically, mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that TTK directly interacts with the TAK1–TAB protein complex, thereby activating the NF-κB pathway. RNA sequencing of TTK knockdown cell lines demonstrated significant downregulation of both mTOR and NF-κB signaling upon TTK suppression. Functional assays confirmed that TTK inhibition strongly reduced OSCC cell proliferation and invasion and markedly enhanced cisplatin sensitivity in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: Our findings establish TTK as a pivotal mediator defining a high-risk OSCC molecular subtype characterized by simultaneous activation of the mTORC1 and NF-κB pathways and severe genomic instability. The discovery of a direct interaction between TTK and the TAK1–TAB complex provides novel mechanistic insight into NF-κB activation, while its inhibition significantly improves cisplatin sensitivity. These results warrant further clinical evaluation of TTK inhibitors as a promising therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes in aggressive OSCC.

ObjectiveThis systematic review aimed to describe and evaluate the caries patterns among the 21st century preschool children globally.MethodSix electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, EBSCOhost and Scopus) were searched using predetermined terms. Dual independent screening of all retrieved abstracts was performed to identify studies conducted after year 2000 and the caries pattern among preschool children was investigated. Data regarding the prevalence of caries by tooth type and surface were extracted. Meta-analyses, subgroup analyses and meta-regression were carried out with the statistics software Stata using the random-effects model.ResultsA total of 2642 records were screened, and 43 observational studies were finally included. Cavitated caries lesions were commonly found in the maxillary incisors and molars in both arches among preschool children. The highest caries prevalence was found in the maxillary central incisors (29.1%, 95%CI: 25.5%-32.7%) and the mandibular second molars (28.5%, 95%CI: 24.7%-32.3%), while the mandibular lateral incisors had the lowest prevalence (1.7%, 95%CI: 1.5%-2.0%). Occlusal surfaces of the mandibular molars were the most frequently affected by caries, whereas caries hardly affected the lingual surfaces of lower anterior teeth. Caries pattern on the left and right sides was symmetrical. The overall caries prevalence was significantly higher in the maxillary teeth. Caries prevalence was higher in the older children, whereas the caries pattern was not significantly different among children from countries with different human and economic development levels.Conclusion: Cavitated carious lesions were more commonly observed in the maxillary incisors and molars in both arches. The prevalence of caries varies significantly with child's age and primary tooth type. However, preschool children exhibit a similar pattern of caries, regardless of the time, socioeconomic status or geographical location.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of Endoflas and Zinc Oxide Eugenol (ZOE) as root canal filling materials (RCFMs) for the pulpectomy of deciduous teeth by analyzing multiple clinical and radiographic success and failure follow-ups in previously published studies. Data: All clinical studies that investigated the pulpectomy of the deciduous teeth of children aged 3-9 years. Sources: The databases used for source identification included MEDLINE (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. No limitations were imposed on the publication year or language. The selection of studies and extraction of relevant study characteristics were conducted from December 26, 2021, to September 7, 2023. Additionally, the risk of bias (RoB) in the included studies was evaluated by using a RoB instrument (RoB 2). Eligible studies were then combined, and a random-effects model was applied by using the maximum likelihood estimations of log risk ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Study selection: Of the 3913 records found in the abovementioned databases, nine were eligible for systematic review and eight were eligible for meta-analysis. The studies included 628 pulpectomies of deciduous molar teeth in children. The overall results showed that compared with Endoflas, ZOE was associated with a higher risk ratio for clinical evaluation (LOG[RR] = 0.06, CI 0.03-0.09, p-value 0.001) and radiographic evaluation (LOG[RR] = 0.68, CI 0.35-1.00, p-value 0.001). This association was highly significant at 6- and 9-month follow-ups. Conclusion: Compared with ZOE, Endoflas was associated with a lower risk of the clinical and radiographic failure of deciduous teeth pulpectomy and a 6%-6.8% higher risk ratio, especially at 6- and 9-month follow-ups. Clinical significance: This study suggests the superiority of Endoflas over ZOE as an RCFM for deciduous teeth.

This study aimed to illustrate the biological behavior and changes in cell function during the progression of apical periodontitis in deciduous teeth and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Deciduous teeth periodontal ligament stem cells (DePDLSCs) were derived and their identity was confirmed. The viability, inflammation, and osteogenic ability of cells were tested by exposing them to various concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (0-100 μg/mL) using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and ALP activity assay. In addition, osteogenic-induced cells with and without 10 μg/mL LPS were harvested for high-throughput sequencing. Based on sequencing data, proinflammatory factors and ALP expression were measured after interference with the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway activator, 740Y-P. LPS biphasically affected the proliferation and osteogenesis of DePDLSCs. Low concentrations of LPS showed stimulatory effects, whereas inhibitory effects were observed at high concentrations. Sequencing analysis showed that the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was significantly downregulated when DePDLSCs were treated with 10 μg/mL LPS. The LPS-induced inflammation and osteogenesis inhibition of DePDLSCs were partially rescued by 740Y-P treatment. In conclusion, LPS affected DePDLSCs proliferation and osteogenesis in a biphasic manner. Moderate activation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was beneficial for osteogenic differentiation and anti-inflammatory effect in DePDLSCs. This research may provide etiological probes for apical periodontitis and its treatment.

Objective: The effect of miR-626 on the radiosensitivity to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was evaluated in this study. Materials and Methods: The level of miR-626 in OSCC patients was determined by analyzing the data of miRNA microarray GSE113956. miR-626 was overexpressed by miR-626 mimics and knockdown were performed by miR-626 inhibitor. The level of miR-626 was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays were used to detect the effect of miR-626 on the growth of OSCC cells. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis of OSCC cells. Western blot and dual luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the underlying mechanism of miR-626 regulating the radiosensitivity to OSCC. The effect of miR-626 on the radiosensitivity to OSCC were examined in an in vivo xenograft model. Results: The serum miR-626 level of OSCC patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. miR-626 mimics significantly promoted the OSCC cell growth, but the miR-626 inhibitor significantly suppressed the OSCC cell growth. Radiation combined with the miR-626 inhibitor significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of SCC-4 and HSC4 cells. Moreover, miR-626 regulates the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling mediated by TRAF-interacting protein with forkhead-associated domain B. Furthermore, inhibition of miR-626 enhances the radiosensitivity to OSCC in nude mice. Conclusions: miR-626 inhibition enhanced the radiosensitivity to OSCC through the downregulation of NF-κB signaling.

Objective. Currently, the summaries of research on periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are mainly reviews, and the systematic evaluation of all relevant studies is lacking. The aim of our study was to reveal the research status and developmental trends of PDLSCs using bibliometric analyses. Methods. Publications on PDLSC from 2004 to 2023 in the PubMed database were searched and then screened according to certain inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two researchers browsed the included papers and recorded information such as the research type and research model. The VOSviewer software was used to analyze the distribution of authors, journals, and institutions. The contents and directions of PDLSC research were summarized by analyzing high-frequency keywords. The CiteSpace software was used to monitor burst words, determine hot factors, and indicate developmental trends. Results. During the past two decades, the number of studies on PDLSCs increased. China published the most related papers. The primary type of article was basic research. Among core journals, the Journal of Periodontal Research had the highest number of publications. The Fourth Military Medical University (China) was leading in the number of articles on PDLSCs. Research topics mainly included mechanism of periodontal diseases, tissue engineering and regeneration, biological characteristics of PDLSCs, and comparison with other stem cells. Infectious inflammation and mechanical stimulation were important pathological conditions and research topics. Conclusion. The research of PDLSCs is still in a rapid development stage. Our study provides new insights into the current research status and future trend in this field.

OBJECTIVES:This study aims to retrospectively evaluate the survival rate of pulpectomy performed under dental general anesthesia (DGA) through long-term follow-up and to explore the risk factors associated with treatment failure.METHODS:The medical records of the children who were diagnosed with S-ECC and received pulpectomy treatment under general anesthesia (GA) from 1 August 2014 to 1 December 2019, in the Stomatological Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, were collected. Two dentistry postgraduates extracted the necessary information and filled in a predesigned excel form. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The shared frailty model was used to explore possible factors affecting the success rate of pulpectomy in primary teeth.RESULTS:A total of 381 children (mean age 3.49 ± 0.90) with S-ECC and 1220 teeth were included in the study, including 590 primary anterior teeth and 630 primary molars. The overall 35-month survival rate was 38.5%, which was 52.9% for anterior teeth and 31.1% for molars. The overall median survival time was 31 months, in which anterior teeth were 35 months and molars were 26 months. The older the children were, the greater the risk of treatment failure (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.09, 2.24). The risk of pulpectomy failure of primary molars was 1.9 times that of primary anterior teeth (95% CI 1.36, 2.65) and the teeth with abnormal radiological findings before treatment was 1.41 times higher than that of teeth without imaging abnormalities (95% CI 1.74, 3.36).CONCLUSION:The survival rate of primary tooth pulpectomy is acceptable but decreased gradually with time. The failure rate of pulpectomy in primary molars is higher than that of primary anterior teeth. When the primary caries has extended to the pulp and resulted in a nonvital lesion, pulpectomy could be an option for maximum retention of the primary tooth.

Objective Dental avulsion in permanent teeth is considered as one of the most severe types of traumatic dental injuries.Few studies assess the knowledge on management of dental avulsion in un-dergraduate medical students,who would probably provide emergency treatment for patients.This study aims to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of medical students in China regarding dental avulsion,emergency procedures and awareness about prevention of such injuries.Methods A non-probability convenience sampling methodology was employed for sample selection.A specific questionnaire regarding knowledge,experiences and behaviors following dental avulsion was distributed to the first and fifth year students from Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center and Xi'an Medical University in May 2022.Chi-square test was used for data analysis,with a significance level set at P＜0.05.Results 1 095 undergraduate medical students(568 first year students,527 fifth year students)completed the questionnaire.The incidence of tooth avulsion reported by participants was 2.7％,59.3％of first year students and 66.2％of fifth year students chose the proper emergency management for avulsed tooth.29.3％of all students selected the appropriate transportation medium for avulsed tooth,with a higher accuracy among fifth year students.Less than 40％of students chose the correct replantation time and cleaning method.There were not statistically differences in accuracies for emergency management of avulsion,replantation time and rinsing method between two grades.Awareness rates of mouth guard and tooth replantation were low.More than 56.6％of the medical students claimed that they never received any knowledge about dental injuries.Conclusion The results suggest that knowledge of dental avulsion among medical students in China was insufficient.It is necessary to enhance dental trauma education for medical students.

Fluoride can be widely ingested from the environment, and its excessive intake could result in adverse effects. Dental fluorosis is an early sign of fluoride toxicity which can cause esthetic and functional problems. Though apoptosis in ameloblasts is one of the potential mechanisms, the specific signal cascade is in-conclusive. High-throughput sequencing and molecular biological techniques were used in this study to explore the underlying pathogenesis of dental fluorosis, for its prevention and treatment. A fluorosis cell model was established. Viability and apoptosis rate of mouse ameloblast-derived cell line (LS8 cells) was measured using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis. Cells were harvested with or without 2-mM sodium fluoride (NaF) stimulation for high-throughput sequencing. Based on the sequencing data, subcellular structures, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and apoptosis related biomarkers were verified using transmission electron microscopy, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting techniques. Expression of ERS markers, apoptosis related proteins, and enamel formation enzymes were detected using Western blotting after addition of 4-phenylbutyrate (4-PBA). NaF-inhibited LS8 cells displayed time- and dose- dependent viability. Additionally, apoptosis and morphological changes were observed. RNA-sequencing data showed that protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum was obviously affected. ERS and apoptosis were induced by excessive NaF. Downregulation of kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) was also observed. Inhibition of ERS by 4-PBA rescued the apoptotic and functional protein changes in cells. Excessive fluoride induces apoptosis by activating ERS, which is mediated by GRP-78/PERK/CHOP signaling. Key proteinase is present in maturation-stage enamel; KLK4 was also affected by fluoride, but rescued by 4-PBA. This study presents a possibility for therapeutic strategies for dental fluorosis, while further exploration is required.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to retrospectively describe the unplanned retreatment of dental general anesthesia (DGA) in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) and explore potential factors that may influence the outcome of DGA treatment. MethodsMedical records of children with S-ECC who received DGA treatment were screened, and necessary data were extracted. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the DGA survival rate and explore the potential factors affecting the success rate of DGA treatment. ResultsMedical records of 852 children were included; 509 (59.7%) children with 1,212 (10.7%) teeth underwent unplanned retreatment. Restoration failure (30.12%) and new caries (29.46%) accounted for the most significant proportion of all failures. The median survival times were 510 and 1,911 days at the child and tooth levels, respectively. Unplanned retreatment risk was associated with the age of S-ECC children, frequency of follow-up, and fluoride application (hazard ratio = 0.97, 0.78, 0.69, P < 0.001). ConclusionThe treatment outcome of DGA administered to children with S-ECC was satisfactory at the tooth level from the perspective of the incidence of unplanned retreatment. Restoration failure was the main reason for the high unplanned retreatment rate. Strategies for a better outcome of DGA include improving the professional knowledge and skills of pediatric dentists and enhancing compliance of parents/patients. Health education and regular topical fluoride application may improve the success rate of DGA treatment.

This study evaluated the effect of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) on damaged hypertrophic chondrocytes of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD). Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate FGFR3 expression in growth plates from KBD rat models and engineered cartilage. In vitro study, hypertrophic chondrocytes were pretreated by FGFR3 binding inhibitor (BGJ398) for 24 h before incubation at different T-2 toxin concentrations. Differentiation -related genes (Runx2, Sox9, and Col Ⅹ) and ECM degradation -related genes (MMP-13, Col Ⅱ) in the hypertrophic chondrocytes were analyzed using RT-PCR, and the corresponding proteins were analyzed using western blotting. Hypertrophic chondrocytes death was detected by the Annexin V/PI double staining assay. The integrated optical density of FGFR3 staining was increased in knee cartilage of rats and engineered cartilage treated with T-2 toxin. Both protein and mRNA levels of Runx2, Sox9, Col Ⅱ, and Col Ⅹ were decreased in a dose-dependent manner when exposed to the T-2 toxin and significantly upregulated by 1 μM BGJ398. The expression of MMP-1, MMP-9, and MMP-13 increased in a dose-dependent manner when exposed to T-2 toxin and significantly reduced by 1 μM BGJ398. 1 μM BGJ398 could prevent early apoptosis and necrosis induced by the T-2 toxin. Inhibiting the FGFR3 signal could alleviate extracellular matrix degradation, abnormal chondrocytes differentiation, and excessive cell death in T-2 toxin-induced hypertrophic chondrocytes.

Objectives Although many studies have indicated that orbitofrontal cortex plays an important role in the learning and retrieval of memory and subsequent decision-making, the role of ventrolateral orbital cortex (VLO) still remains unclear, especially related to fear and space. Methods Four separate cohorts of rats were used in this study. After sham surgery and electrical lesion of bilateral VLO, four cohorts received active avoidance test, passive avoidance test, Morris water maze and T maze separately. Results Firstly, data shown that electrolytic lesions of bilateral VLO of Sprague-Dawley rats shortened the latency of rats to escape to darkroom in passive avoidance test. Besides, the damage of VLO also resulted in decrease of the number of active avoidance of rats from the third day during 5 consecutive days' training in active avoidance test. What's more, the impairment of VLO significantly shortened the exploring time in the target quadrant of rats in Morris water maze. Furthermore, VLO-lesions group shown lower correct alternation percentage than sham group in T maze. Conclusions These results indicated that not only in the learning and retrieval of fear-related memory, VLO also plays an important role in the learning and retrieval of spatial-related memory guided by visual cues.

Background/Objective: To retrospectively analyze the characteristics, tendencies, and success rates of dental treatments for severe early childhood caries (SECC) under general anesthesia (GA) in in northwest China. Study design: Children diagnosed with SECC were included in this retrospective study. From January 2015 to December 2018, they received dental treatment under GA at Affiliated Stomatology Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. Demographic information, caries status and treatment characteristics were collected from electronic medical record system. Success rates of different treatments at 6-month and 12-month follow up were also analyzed. Results: A total of 846 children (477 male, 369 female) received dental treatment under GA. The case number was increased from 148 in 2015 to 278 in 2018. There were 81.2% and 70.8% of the children participated the 6-month and 12-month follow up. SSC and pulpotomy was the most successful restorations and pulp therapy, with the success rate of 97.09% and 93.98% in 12-month follow up, respectively. The use of crown restorations (including composite resin crown and stainless steel crown) and pulp reservation therapies (including indirect pulp therapy and pulpotomy) were significantly increased while composite resin filling and pulpectomy decreased during 2015 to 2018. Conclusion: There has been an increasing demand for dental treatment under GA for children with SECC in northwest China, with a trend toward younger ages. With better clinical outcomes, crown restorations and pulp reservation therapies were the fastest-growing treatments under GA.

Context Rosmarinic acid (RosA), a natural poly-phenolic compound isolated from a variety of Labiatae herbs, has been reported to have a range of biological effects. Objective To investigate the cardioprotective effects of RosA against myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6J mice were given RosA (100 mg/kg) via intragastric administration. After 1 week of administration, the mice were subjected to 30 min/24 h myocardial I/R injury. The mice were randomly subdivided into 4 groups: Vehicle, RosA, Vehicle + I/R, and RosA + I/R. Infarct size (IS), cardiac function (including EF, FS), histopathology, serum enzyme activities, ROS changes, cis aconitase (ACO) activity, and specific mRNA and protein levels were assessed in vivo. HL-1 cells were pre-treated with or without RosA (50 mu M), followed by stimulation with 9 h/6 h of oxygen and glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R). The cells were randomly subdivided into 4 groups: Vehicle, RosA, Vehicle + OGD/R, and RosA + OGD/R. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, ACO activity, ROS changes and protein levels were measured in vitro. Results Treatment with RosA reduced the following indicators in vivo (p < 0.05): (1) IS (14.5%); (2) EF (-23.4%) and FS (-18.4%); (3) the myocardial injury enzymes CK-MB (20.8 ng/mL) and cTnI (7.7 ng/mL); (4) DHE-ROS: (94.1%); (5) ACO activity (-2.1 mU/mg protein); (6) ogdh mRNA level (122.9%); and (7) OGDH protein level (69.9%). Moreover, treatment with RosA attenuated the following indicators in vitro (p < 0.05): (1) LDH level (191 U/L); (2) DHE-ROS: (165.2%); (3) ACO activity (-3.2 mU/mg protein); (4) ogdh mRNA level (70.0%); and (5) OGDH (110.1%), p-I kappa B-a (56.8%), and p-NF-kappa B (57.7%) protein levels. Conclusions RosA has the potential to treat myocardial I/R injury with potential application in the clinic.