It has been reported that ACE2 is the main host cell receptor of 2019-nCoV and plays a crucial role in the entry of virus into the cell to cause the final infection. To investigate the potential route of 2019-n Cov in...It has been reported that ACE2 is the main host cell receptor of 2019-nCoV and plays a crucial role in the entry of virus into the cell to cause the final infection. To investigate the potential route of 2019-n Cov infection on the mucosa of oral cavity, bulk RNA-seq profiles from two public databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) and Functional Annotation of The Mammalian Genome Cap Analysis of Gene Expression(FANTOM5 CAGE) dataset were collected. RNA-seq profiling data of 13 organ types with para-carcinoma normal tissues from TCGA and 14 organ types with normal tissues from FANTOM5 CAGE were analyzed in order to explore and validate the expression of ACE2 on the mucosa of oral cavity. Further, single-cell transcriptomes from an independent data generated in-house were used to identify and confirm the ACE2-expressing cell composition and proportion in oral cavity. The results demonstrated that the ACE2 expressed on the mucosa of oral cavity. Interestingly, this receptor was highly enriched in epithelial cells of tongue. Preliminarily, those findings have explained the basic mechanism that the oral cavity is a potentially high risk for 2019-nCoV infectious susceptibility and provided a piece of evidence for the future prevention strategy in dental clinical practice as well as daily life.展开更多
Bacteria survive in nature by forming biofilms on surfaces and probably most, if not all, bacteria （and fungi） are capable of forming biofilms. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-pro...Bacteria survive in nature by forming biofilms on surfaces and probably most, if not all, bacteria （and fungi） are capable of forming biofilms. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and extracellular DNA. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to antibiotics, disinfectant chemicals and to phagocytosis and other components of the innate and adaptive inflammatory defense system of the body. It is known, for example, that persistence of staphylococcal infections related to foreign bodies is due to biofilm formation. Likewise, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients are caused by biofilm growing mucoid strains. Gradients of nutrients and oxygen exist from the top to the bottom of biofilms and the bacterial cells located in nutrient poor areas have decreased metabolic activity and increased doubling times. These more or less dormant cells are therefore responsible for some of the tolerance to antibiotics. Biofilm growth is associated with an increased level of mutations. Bacteria in biofilms communicate by means of molecules, which activates certain genes responsible for production of virulence factors and, to some extent, biofilm structure. This phenomenon is called quorum sensing and depends upon the concentration of the quorum sensing molecules in a certain niche, which depends on the number of the bacteria. Biofilms can be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis or early aggressive antibiotic therapy and they can be treated by chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy. Promising strategies may include the use of compounds which can dissolve the biofilm matrix and quorum sensing inhibitors, which increases biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics and phagocytosis.展开更多
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease involving the destruction of both soft and hard tissue in the periodontal region.Although dysbiosis of the local microbial community initiates local inflammation,over-activatio...Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease involving the destruction of both soft and hard tissue in the periodontal region.Although dysbiosis of the local microbial community initiates local inflammation,over-activation of the host immune response directly activates osteoclastic activity and alveolar bone loss.Many studies have reported on the cytokine network involved in periodontitis and its crucial and pleiotropic effect on the recruitment of specific immunocytes,control of pathobionts and induction or suppression of osteoclastic activity.Nonetheless,particularities in the stimulation of pathogens in the oral cavity that lead to the specific and complex periodontal cytokine network are far from clarified.Thus,in this review,we begin with an up-to-date aetiological hypothesis of periodontal disease and summarize the roles of cytokines in the host immune response.In addition,we also summarize the latest cytokine-related therapeutic measures for periodontal disease.展开更多
MicroRNAs （miRNAs） have been clemonstrated to play an important role in regulation of the immunoinflammatory response; however, the function of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation has not been investigated. The objec...MicroRNAs （miRNAs） have been clemonstrated to play an important role in regulation of the immunoinflammatory response; however, the function of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to explore the properties of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation by comparing miRNA profiles of inflamed and healthy gingival tissues. Gingival tissues were obtained from 10 periodontitis patients and 10 healthy subjects. After RNA extraction, miRNA profiles were analyzed by microarray, and expression levels of selected miRNAs were confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Analyses using two computational methods, Targetscan and MicroRNA.org, were combined to identify common targets of these miRNAs. Finally, the individual miRNA expression levels of three toll-like receptor （TLR）-related miRNAs from inflamed and healthy gingival tissues were evaluated by RT-PCR. Ninety-one miRNAs were found to be upregulated and thirty-four downregulated over two-fold in inflamed gingival tissue compared with those in healthy gingival tissue. Twelve selected inflammatory-related miRNAs, hsa-miR-126＊, hsa-miR-20a, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-19a, hsa-let-7f, hsa-miR-203, hsa-miR-17, hsa-miR-223, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-146a, hsa-miR-155, and hsa-miR-205 showed comparable expression levels by microarray and real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses. In addition, the putative inflammation targets of these miRNAs were predicted, and three that were tested （hsa-miRNA-146a, hsa-miRNA-146b, and hsa-miRNA-155）, showed significant differences between inflamed and healthy gingiva. This remarkable difference in miRNA profiles between periodontal diseased and healthy gingiva implicates a probable close relationship between miRNAs and periodontal inflammation. The data also suggest that the regulation of TLRs in periodontal inflammation may involve miRNA pathways.展开更多
Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are chronic diseases affecting a large number of populations worldwide.Changed bone metabolism is one of the important long-term complications associated with diabetes mellitu...Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are chronic diseases affecting a large number of populations worldwide.Changed bone metabolism is one of the important long-term complications associated with diabetes mellitus.Alveolar bone loss is one of the main outcomes of periodontitis,and diabetes is among the primary risk factors for periodontal disease.In this review,we summarise the adverse effects of diabetes on the periodontium in periodontitis subjects,focusing on alveolar bone loss.Bone remodelling begins with osteoclasts resorbing bone,followed by new bone formation by osteoblasts in the resorption lacunae.Therefore,we discuss the potential mechanism of diabetes-enhanced bone loss in relation to osteoblasts and osteoclasts.展开更多
A novel β-coronavirus(2019-nCoV) caused severe and even fatal pneumonia explored in a seafood market of Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, and rapidly spread to other provinces of China and other countries. The 2019-...A novel β-coronavirus(2019-nCoV) caused severe and even fatal pneumonia explored in a seafood market of Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, and rapidly spread to other provinces of China and other countries. The 2019-nCoV was different from SARS-Co V,but shared the same host receptor the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2). The natural host of 2019-nCoV may be the bat Rhinolophus affinis as 2019-nCoV showed 96.2% of whole-genome identity to Bat Co V Ra TG13. The person-to-person transmission routes of 2019-nCoV included direct transmission, such as cough, sneeze, droplet inhalation transmission, and contact transmission, such as the contact with oral, nasal, and eye mucous membranes. 2019-nCoV can also be transmitted through the saliva, and the fecal–oral routes may also be a potential person-to-person transmission route. The participants in dental practice expose to tremendous risk of 2019-nCoV infection due to the face-to-face communication and the exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, and the handling of sharp instruments. Dental professionals play great roles in preventing the transmission of2019-nCoV. Here we recommend the infection control measures during dental practice to block the person-to-person transmission routes in dental clinics and hospitals.展开更多
Formation of biofilm is a survival strategy for bacteria and fungi to adapt to their living environment, especially in the hostile environment. Under the protection of biofilm, microbial cells in biofilm become tolera...Formation of biofilm is a survival strategy for bacteria and fungi to adapt to their living environment, especially in the hostile environment. Under the protection of biofilm, microbial cells in biofilm become tolerant and resistant to antibiotics and the immune responses, which increases the difficulties for the clinical treatment of biofilm infections. Clinical and laboratory investigations demonstrated a perspicuous correlation between biofilm infection and medical foreign bodies or indwelling devices. Clinical observations and experimental studies indicated clearly that antibiotic treatment alone is in most cases insufficient to eradicate biofilm infections. Therefore, to effectively treat biofilm infections with currently available antibiotics and evaluate the outcomes become important and urgent for clinicians. The review summarizes the latest progress in treatment of clinical biofilm infections and scientific investigations, discusses the diagnosis and treatment of different biofilm infections and introduces the promising laboratory progress, which may contribute to prevention or cure of biofilm infections. We conclude that, an efficient treatment of biofilm infections needs a well-established multidisciplinary collaboration, which includes removal of the infected foreign bodies, selection of biofilm-active, sensitive and well-penetrating antibiotics, systemic or topical antibiotic administration in high dosage and combinations, and administration of anti-quorum sensing or biofilm dispersal agents.展开更多
To investigate oral health status in the residents of Sichuan Province, southwest China, a cross-sectional study was performed using the latest Oral Health Survey Basic Methods recommended by the World Health Organiza...To investigate oral health status in the residents of Sichuan Province, southwest China, a cross-sectional study was performed using the latest Oral Health Survey Basic Methods recommended by the World Health Organization. A multistage stratified random cluster-sampling method was used to enroll participants from the following three groups： children aged 3-5 years, adolescents aged 12 years, and people aged 65-74 years. In these three groups, the mean numbers of teeth that were affected by caries were 3.28, 0.86 and 5.13, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of 63.47%, 37.20% and 83.20%, respectively. Relative to the high rate of decayed teeth, the prevalence of fillings was very low in all age groups （0.97%, 7.24% and 5.43%, respectively）, In the 12-year-old adolescent group, only 3.61% had good pit and fissure sealing. In addition, the rate of dental fluorosis was 24.80%, and the Community Fluorosis Index value was 0.39. In the elder group, the community periodontal index was 2.92. The prevalence in the elderly of having lost at least one tooth was 75.54%. Additionally, 4.44% of these participants were edentulous. The incidence of dental prosthesis was 51.75%, the proportion with a removable partial denture, a fixed denture, full dentures, dental implants and an informal fixed bridge was 21.59%, 11.45%, 4.64%, 0 and 16.67%, respectively. In this study, 8.2% of the elderly participants were affected by different types of oral mucosal lesions. Among such lesions, recurrent aphthous ulcers were most prevalent （2.69%） and oral lichen planuses were second （1.6%）. The conclusion presented in this survey is that oral diseases, especially dental caries and periodontal disease, are frequent and common in Sichuan province, China. Moreover, the treatment rate is very low, and primary prevention and treatment options are therefore urgently needed in this population.展开更多
The Hedgehog（Hh） signalling pathway plays many important roles in development,homeostasis and tumorigenesis.The critical function of Hh signalling in bone formation has been identified in the past two decades.Here,w...The Hedgehog（Hh） signalling pathway plays many important roles in development,homeostasis and tumorigenesis.The critical function of Hh signalling in bone formation has been identified in the past two decades.Here,we review the evolutionariiy conserved Hh signalling mechanisms with an emphasis on the functions of the Hh signalling pathway in bone development,homeostasis and diseases.In the early stages of embryonic limb development,Sonic Hedgehog（Shh） acts as a major morphogen in patterning the limb buds.Indian Hedgehog（Ihh） has an essential function in endochondral ossification and induces osteoblast differentiation in the perichondrium.Hh signalling is also involved intramembrane ossification.Interactions between Hh and Wnt signalling regulate cartilage development,endochondral bone formation and synovial joint formation.Hh also plays an important role in bone homeostasis,and reducing Hh signalling protects against age-related bone loss.Disruption of Hh signalling regulation leads to multiple bone diseases,such as progressive osseous heteroplasia.Therefore,understanding the signalling mechanisms and functions of Hh signalling in bone development,homeostasis and diseases will provide important insights into bone disease prevention,diagnoses and therapeutics.展开更多
By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the opti...By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the optimal result of tooth preparation.With successful application of microscope in endodontics for>30 years,there is a full expectation of microscopic dentistry.However,as relatively little progress has been made in the application of microscopic dentistry in prosthodontics,the following assumptions have been proposed:Is it suitable to choose the tooth preparation technique under the naked eye in the microscopic vision?Is there a more accurate preparation technology intended for the microscope?To obtain long-term stable therapeutic effects,is it much easier to achieve maximum tooth preservation and retinal protection and maintain periodontal tissue and oral function health under microscopic vision?Whether the microscopic prosthodontics is a gimmick or a breakthrough in obtaining an ideal tooth preparation should be resolved in microscopic tooth preparation.This article attempts to illustrate the concept,core elements,and indications of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation,physiological basis of dental pulp,periodontium and functions involved in tool preparation,position ergonomics and visual basis for dentists,comparison of tooth preparation by naked eyes and a microscope,and comparison of different designs of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation techniques.Furthermore,a clinical protocol for microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation based on target restorative space guide plate has been put forward and new insights on the quantity and shape of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation has been provided.展开更多
Bacterial biofilms can be viewed as a specific type of persistent bacterial infection. After initial invasion, microbes can attach to living and non-living surfaces, such as prosthetics and indwelling medical devices,...Bacterial biofilms can be viewed as a specific type of persistent bacterial infection. After initial invasion, microbes can attach to living and non-living surfaces, such as prosthetics and indwelling medical devices, and form a biofilm composed of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, and other components. In hosts, bioffim formation may trigger drug resistance and inflammation, resulting in persistent infections. The clinical aspects of biofilm formation and leading strategies for hiofilm inhihitors will be discussed in this mini-review.展开更多
Guided bone regeneration(GBR)is an effective and simple method for bone augmentation,which is often used to reconstruct the alveolar ridge when the bone defect occurs in the implant area.Titanium mesh has expanded the...Guided bone regeneration(GBR)is an effective and simple method for bone augmentation,which is often used to reconstruct the alveolar ridge when the bone defect occurs in the implant area.Titanium mesh has expanded the indications of GBR technology due to its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility,so that the GBR technology can be used to repair alveolar ridges with larger bone defects,and can obtain excellent and stable bone augmentation results.Currently,GBR with titanium mesh has various clinical applications,including different clinical procedures.Bone graft materials,titanium mesh covering methods,and titanium mesh fixing methods are also optional.Moreover,the research of GBR with titanium mesh has led to multifarious progresses in digitalization and material modification.This article reviews the properties of titanium mesh and the difference of titanium mesh with other barrier membranes;the current clinical application of titanium mesh in bone augmentation;common complications and management and prevention methods in the application of titanium mesh;and research progress of titanium mesh in digitization and material modification.Hoping to provide a reference for further improvement of titanium mesh in clinical application and related research of titanium mesh.展开更多
Nowadays,orthodontic treatment has become increasingly popular.However,the biological mechanisms of orthodontic tooth movement(OTM)have not been fully elucidated.We were aiming to summarize the evidences regarding the...Nowadays,orthodontic treatment has become increasingly popular.However,the biological mechanisms of orthodontic tooth movement(OTM)have not been fully elucidated.We were aiming to summarize the evidences regarding the mechanisms of OTM.Firstly,we introduced the research models as a basis for further discussion of mechanisms.Secondly,we proposed a new hypothesis regarding the primary roles of periodontal ligament cells(PDLCs)and osteocytes involved in OTM mechanisms and summarized the biomechanical and biological responses of the periodontium in OTM through four steps,basically in OTM temporal sequences,as follows:(1)Extracellular mechanobiology of periodontium:biological,mechanical,and material changes of acellular components in periodontium under orthodontic forces were introduced.(2)Cell strain:the sensing,transduction,and regulation of mechanical stimuli in PDLCs and osteocytes.(3)Cell activation and differentiation:the activation and differentiation mechanisms of osteoblast and osteoclast,the force-induced sterile inflammation,and the communication networks consisting of sensors and effectors.(4)Tissue remodeling:the remodeling of bone and periodontal ligament(PDL)in the compression side and tension side responding to mechanical stimuli and root resorption.Lastly,we talked about the clinical implications of the updated OTM mechanisms,regarding optimal orthodontic force(OOF),acceleration of OTM,and prevention of root resorption.展开更多
We investigated the compensatory trends of mesiodistal angulation of first molars in malocclusion cases. We compared differences in the angulation of first molars in different developmental stages, malocclusion classi...We investigated the compensatory trends of mesiodistal angulation of first molars in malocclusion cases. We compared differences in the angulation of first molars in different developmental stages, malocclusion classifications and skeletal patterns. The medical records and lateral cephalogrammes of 1 403 malocclusion cases taken before treatment were measured to evaluate compensation of molar angulation in relation to the skeletal jaw. The cases were stratified by age, Angle classification and skeletal patterns. Differences in the mesiodistal angulation of the first molars were compared among the stratifications. We observed three main phenomena. First,angulation of the upper first molar varied significantly with age and tipped most distally in cases aged,12 years and least distally in cases aged.16 years. The lower first molar did not show such differences. Second, in Angle Class II or skeletal Class II cases, the upper first molar was the most distally tipped, the lower first molar was the most mesially tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in Class III cases. Third, in high-angle cases, the upper and lower first molars were the most distally tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in low-angle cases. These data suggest that the angulation of the molars compensated for various growth patterns and malocclusion types. Hence, awareness of molar angulation compensation would help to adjust occlusal relationships, control anchorage and increase the chances of long-term stability.展开更多
Periodontal disease has been recently linked to a variety of systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm delivery, and oral cancer. The most common bacteria associated with periodontal diseas...Periodontal disease has been recently linked to a variety of systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm delivery, and oral cancer. The most common bacteria associated with periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis） has not yet been studied in the malignant gingival tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of R gingivalis in specimens from squamous cell carcinoma patients. We have performed immunohistochemical staining to investigate the presence of R gingivafis and Streptococcus gordonii （S. gordonii）, a non invasive oral bacteria, in paraffin embedded samples of gingival squamous cell carcinoma （n=10） and normal gingiva （n=5）. Staining for R gingivalis revealed the presence of the bacteria in normal gingival tissues and gingival carcinoma, with higher levels （more than 33%, P〈0.05） detected in the carcinoma samples. The staining intensity was also significantly enhanced in the malignant tissue by 2 folds （P〈0.023） compared to specimens stained for the non-invasive S. gordonii. R gingivalis is abundantly present in malignant oral epithelium suggesting a potential association of the bacteria with gingival squamous cell carcinoma.展开更多
microRNAs （miRNAs） are a class of non-coding RNAs that function as endogenous triggers of the RNA interference pathway. Studies have shown that thousands of human protein-coding genes are regulated by miRNAs, indica...microRNAs （miRNAs） are a class of non-coding RNAs that function as endogenous triggers of the RNA interference pathway. Studies have shown that thousands of human protein-coding genes are regulated by miRNAs, indicating that miRNAs are master regulators of many important biological processes, such as cancer development, miRNAs frequently have deregulated expression in many types of human cancers, and play critical roles in tumorigenesis, which functions either as tumor suppressors or as oncogenes. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are highly related with cancer progression, including initiating, growth, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, miRNAs are shown to be responsible for the cancer-related inflam- mation, anti-cancer drug resistance, and regulation of cancer stem ceils. Therefore, miRNAs have generated great interest as a novel strategy in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here we review the versatile roles of miRNAs in cancers and their potential applications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment as biomarkers.展开更多
For a long time, oral disease is one of the major problems of the public health for its high prevalence and incidence throughout the world, which is especially true for low-income populations. Since China＇s economic ...For a long time, oral disease is one of the major problems of the public health for its high prevalence and incidence throughout the world, which is especially true for low-income populations. Since China＇s economic reform in 1978, great changes have taken place in China. These changes have significant impact on and have been reflected in oral disease trends in China. This paper provides an overview and assessment of the oral health status in China. It focuses on changes in the nation＇s demographic profile, in the marketplace, the oral disease status and trends. The paper also suggests some possible measures and strategies for bettering oral health in future China.展开更多
In modern medicine,bone and dental loss and defects are common and widespread morbidities,for which regenerative therapy has shown great promise.Mesenchymal stem cells,obtained from various sources and playing an esse...In modern medicine,bone and dental loss and defects are common and widespread morbidities,for which regenerative therapy has shown great promise.Mesenchymal stem cells,obtained from various sources and playing an essential role in organ development and postnatal repair,have exhibited enormous potential for regenerating bone and dental tissue.Currently,mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based bone and dental regeneration mainly includes two strategies: the rescue or mobilization of endogenous MSCs and the application of exogenous MSCs in cytotherapy or tissue engineering.Nevertheless,the efficacy of MSCbased regeneration is not always fulfilled,especially in diseased microenvironments.Specifically,the diseased microenvironment not only impairs the regenerative potential of resident MSCs but also controls the therapeutic efficacy of exogenous MSCs,both as donors and recipients.Accordingly,approaches targeting a diseased microenvironment have been established,including improving the diseased niche to restore endogenous MSCs,enhancing MSC resistance to a diseased microenvironment and renormalizing the microenvironment to guarantee MSC-mediated therapies.Moreover,the application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as cell-free therapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy.In this review,we summarize current knowledge regarding the tactics of MSC-based bone and dental regeneration and the decisive role of the microenvironment,emphasizing the therapeutic potential of microenvironment-targeting strategies in bone and dental regenerative medicine.展开更多
Genetic studies have revealed a critical role of Distal-homeobox (Dlx) genes in bone formation,and our previous study showed that Dlx2 overexpressing in neural crest cells leads to profound abnormalities of the cranio...Genetic studies have revealed a critical role of Distal-homeobox (Dlx) genes in bone formation,and our previous study showed that Dlx2 overexpressing in neural crest cells leads to profound abnormalities of the craniofacial tissues.The aim of this study was to investigate the role and the underlying molecular mechanisms of Dlx2 in osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells.Initially,we observed upregulation of Dlx2 during the early osteogenesis in BMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cells.Moreover,Dlx2 overexpression enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and extracellular matrix mineralization in BMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cell line.In addition,micro-CT of implanted tissues in nude mice confirmed that Dlx2 overexpression in BMSCs promoted bone formation in vivo.Unexpectedly,Dlx2 overexpression had little impact on the expression level of the pivotal osteogenic transcription factors Runx2,Dlx5,Msx2,and Osterix,but led to upregulation of Alp and Osteocalcin (OCN),both of which play critical roles in promoting osteoblast maturation.Importantly,luciferase analysis showed that Dlx2 overexpression stimulated both OCN and Alp promoter activity.Through chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay and site-directed mutagenesis analysis,we provide molecular evidence that Dlx2 transactivates OCN and Alp expression by directly binding to the Dlx2-response cis-acting elements in the promoter of the two genes.Based on these findings,we demonstrate that Dlx2 overexpression enhances osteogenic differentiation in vitro and accelerates bone formation in vivo via direct upregulation of the OCN and Alp gene,suggesting that Dlx2 plays a crucial role in osteogenic differentiation and bone formation.展开更多
Early childhood caries （ECC） is a term used to describe dental caries in children aged 6 years or younger. Oral streptococci, such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sorbrinus, are considered to be the main e...Early childhood caries （ECC） is a term used to describe dental caries in children aged 6 years or younger. Oral streptococci, such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sorbrinus, are considered to be the main etiological agents of tooth decay in children. Other bacteria, such as Prevotella spp. and Lactobacillus spp., and fungus, that is, Candida albicans, are related to the development and progression of ECC. Biomolecules in saliva, mainly proteins, affect the survival of oral microorganisms by multiple innate defensive mechanisms, thus modulating the oral microflora. Therefore, the protein composition of saliva can be a sensitive indicator for dental health. Resistance or susceptibility to caries may be significantly correlated with alterations in salivary protein components. Some oral microorganisms and saliva proteins may serve as useful biomarkers in predicting the risk and prognosis of caries. Current research has generated abundant information that contributes to a better understanding of the roles of microorganisms and salivary proteins in ECC occurrence and prevention. This review summarizes the microorganisms that cause caries and tooth-protective salivary proteins with their potential as functional biomarkers for ECC risk assessment. The identification of biomarkers for children at high risk of ECC is not only critical for early diagnosis but also important for preventing and treating the disease.展开更多
基金This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81520108009,81991502,81771081,and 81991500)the 111 Project of MOE(B14038),China.
文摘It has been reported that ACE2 is the main host cell receptor of 2019-nCoV and plays a crucial role in the entry of virus into the cell to cause the final infection. To investigate the potential route of 2019-n Cov infection on the mucosa of oral cavity, bulk RNA-seq profiles from two public databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) and Functional Annotation of The Mammalian Genome Cap Analysis of Gene Expression(FANTOM5 CAGE) dataset were collected. RNA-seq profiling data of 13 organ types with para-carcinoma normal tissues from TCGA and 14 organ types with normal tissues from FANTOM5 CAGE were analyzed in order to explore and validate the expression of ACE2 on the mucosa of oral cavity. Further, single-cell transcriptomes from an independent data generated in-house were used to identify and confirm the ACE2-expressing cell composition and proportion in oral cavity. The results demonstrated that the ACE2 expressed on the mucosa of oral cavity. Interestingly, this receptor was highly enriched in epithelial cells of tongue. Preliminarily, those findings have explained the basic mechanism that the oral cavity is a potentially high risk for 2019-nCoV infectious susceptibility and provided a piece of evidence for the future prevention strategy in dental clinical practice as well as daily life.
文摘Bacteria survive in nature by forming biofilms on surfaces and probably most, if not all, bacteria （and fungi） are capable of forming biofilms. A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and extracellular DNA. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to antibiotics, disinfectant chemicals and to phagocytosis and other components of the innate and adaptive inflammatory defense system of the body. It is known, for example, that persistence of staphylococcal infections related to foreign bodies is due to biofilm formation. Likewise, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients are caused by biofilm growing mucoid strains. Gradients of nutrients and oxygen exist from the top to the bottom of biofilms and the bacterial cells located in nutrient poor areas have decreased metabolic activity and increased doubling times. These more or less dormant cells are therefore responsible for some of the tolerance to antibiotics. Biofilm growth is associated with an increased level of mutations. Bacteria in biofilms communicate by means of molecules, which activates certain genes responsible for production of virulence factors and, to some extent, biofilm structure. This phenomenon is called quorum sensing and depends upon the concentration of the quorum sensing molecules in a certain niche, which depends on the number of the bacteria. Biofilms can be prevented by antibiotic prophylaxis or early aggressive antibiotic therapy and they can be treated by chronic suppressive antibiotic therapy. Promising strategies may include the use of compounds which can dissolve the biofilm matrix and quorum sensing inhibitors, which increases biofilm susceptibility to antibiotics and phagocytosis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant numbers:81621062 and 81730030)
文摘Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease involving the destruction of both soft and hard tissue in the periodontal region.Although dysbiosis of the local microbial community initiates local inflammation,over-activation of the host immune response directly activates osteoclastic activity and alveolar bone loss.Many studies have reported on the cytokine network involved in periodontitis and its crucial and pleiotropic effect on the recruitment of specific immunocytes,control of pathobionts and induction or suppression of osteoclastic activity.Nonetheless,particularities in the stimulation of pathogens in the oral cavity that lead to the specific and complex periodontal cytokine network are far from clarified.Thus,in this review,we begin with an up-to-date aetiological hypothesis of periodontal disease and summarize the roles of cytokines in the host immune response.In addition,we also summarize the latest cytokine-related therapeutic measures for periodontal disease.
基金supported by the Science and Tech- nology Commission of Shanghai (Project No. 08JC 1414600)the Doctoral Innovation Fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (Project No. BXJ201030) the Shanghai Health Bureau Science Fund for Young Scholars (Project No. 2010165)
文摘MicroRNAs （miRNAs） have been clemonstrated to play an important role in regulation of the immunoinflammatory response; however, the function of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to explore the properties of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation by comparing miRNA profiles of inflamed and healthy gingival tissues. Gingival tissues were obtained from 10 periodontitis patients and 10 healthy subjects. After RNA extraction, miRNA profiles were analyzed by microarray, and expression levels of selected miRNAs were confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Analyses using two computational methods, Targetscan and MicroRNA.org, were combined to identify common targets of these miRNAs. Finally, the individual miRNA expression levels of three toll-like receptor （TLR）-related miRNAs from inflamed and healthy gingival tissues were evaluated by RT-PCR. Ninety-one miRNAs were found to be upregulated and thirty-four downregulated over two-fold in inflamed gingival tissue compared with those in healthy gingival tissue. Twelve selected inflammatory-related miRNAs, hsa-miR-126＊, hsa-miR-20a, hsa-miR-142-3p, hsa-miR-19a, hsa-let-7f, hsa-miR-203, hsa-miR-17, hsa-miR-223, hsa-miR-146b, hsa-miR-146a, hsa-miR-155, and hsa-miR-205 showed comparable expression levels by microarray and real-time quantitative RT-PCR analyses. In addition, the putative inflammation targets of these miRNAs were predicted, and three that were tested （hsa-miRNA-146a, hsa-miRNA-146b, and hsa-miRNA-155）, showed significant differences between inflamed and healthy gingiva. This remarkable difference in miRNA profiles between periodontal diseased and healthy gingiva implicates a probable close relationship between miRNAs and periodontal inflammation. The data also suggest that the regulation of TLRs in periodontal inflammation may involve miRNA pathways.
基金funded by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research(grant no. DE021921)
文摘Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are chronic diseases affecting a large number of populations worldwide.Changed bone metabolism is one of the important long-term complications associated with diabetes mellitus.Alveolar bone loss is one of the main outcomes of periodontitis,and diabetes is among the primary risk factors for periodontal disease.In this review,we summarise the adverse effects of diabetes on the periodontium in periodontitis subjects,focusing on alveolar bone loss.Bone remodelling begins with osteoclasts resorbing bone,followed by new bone formation by osteoblasts in the resorption lacunae.Therefore,we discuss the potential mechanism of diabetes-enhanced bone loss in relation to osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
基金This study was supported by Special Funds for Prevention and Control of COVID-19 of Sichuan University(2020scunCoV-10008,XZ).
文摘A novel β-coronavirus(2019-nCoV) caused severe and even fatal pneumonia explored in a seafood market of Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, and rapidly spread to other provinces of China and other countries. The 2019-nCoV was different from SARS-Co V,but shared the same host receptor the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2). The natural host of 2019-nCoV may be the bat Rhinolophus affinis as 2019-nCoV showed 96.2% of whole-genome identity to Bat Co V Ra TG13. The person-to-person transmission routes of 2019-nCoV included direct transmission, such as cough, sneeze, droplet inhalation transmission, and contact transmission, such as the contact with oral, nasal, and eye mucous membranes. 2019-nCoV can also be transmitted through the saliva, and the fecal–oral routes may also be a potential person-to-person transmission route. The participants in dental practice expose to tremendous risk of 2019-nCoV infection due to the face-to-face communication and the exposure to saliva, blood, and other body fluids, and the handling of sharp instruments. Dental professionals play great roles in preventing the transmission of2019-nCoV. Here we recommend the infection control measures during dental practice to block the person-to-person transmission routes in dental clinics and hospitals.
基金supported by Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University
文摘Formation of biofilm is a survival strategy for bacteria and fungi to adapt to their living environment, especially in the hostile environment. Under the protection of biofilm, microbial cells in biofilm become tolerant and resistant to antibiotics and the immune responses, which increases the difficulties for the clinical treatment of biofilm infections. Clinical and laboratory investigations demonstrated a perspicuous correlation between biofilm infection and medical foreign bodies or indwelling devices. Clinical observations and experimental studies indicated clearly that antibiotic treatment alone is in most cases insufficient to eradicate biofilm infections. Therefore, to effectively treat biofilm infections with currently available antibiotics and evaluate the outcomes become important and urgent for clinicians. The review summarizes the latest progress in treatment of clinical biofilm infections and scientific investigations, discusses the diagnosis and treatment of different biofilm infections and introduces the promising laboratory progress, which may contribute to prevention or cure of biofilm infections. We conclude that, an efficient treatment of biofilm infections needs a well-established multidisciplinary collaboration, which includes removal of the infected foreign bodies, selection of biofilm-active, sensitive and well-penetrating antibiotics, systemic or topical antibiotic administration in high dosage and combinations, and administration of anti-quorum sensing or biofilm dispersal agents.
基金funded by a grant from Scientific Research in the Public Interest(201502002)conducted by the Department of Preventive Dentistry,West China Hospital of Stomatology,Sichuan University,China
文摘To investigate oral health status in the residents of Sichuan Province, southwest China, a cross-sectional study was performed using the latest Oral Health Survey Basic Methods recommended by the World Health Organization. A multistage stratified random cluster-sampling method was used to enroll participants from the following three groups： children aged 3-5 years, adolescents aged 12 years, and people aged 65-74 years. In these three groups, the mean numbers of teeth that were affected by caries were 3.28, 0.86 and 5.13, respectively, resulting in a prevalence of 63.47%, 37.20% and 83.20%, respectively. Relative to the high rate of decayed teeth, the prevalence of fillings was very low in all age groups （0.97%, 7.24% and 5.43%, respectively）, In the 12-year-old adolescent group, only 3.61% had good pit and fissure sealing. In addition, the rate of dental fluorosis was 24.80%, and the Community Fluorosis Index value was 0.39. In the elder group, the community periodontal index was 2.92. The prevalence in the elderly of having lost at least one tooth was 75.54%. Additionally, 4.44% of these participants were edentulous. The incidence of dental prosthesis was 51.75%, the proportion with a removable partial denture, a fixed denture, full dentures, dental implants and an informal fixed bridge was 21.59%, 11.45%, 4.64%, 0 and 16.67%, respectively. In this study, 8.2% of the elderly participants were affected by different types of oral mucosal lesions. Among such lesions, recurrent aphthous ulcers were most prevalent （2.69%） and oral lichen planuses were second （1.6%）. The conclusion presented in this survey is that oral diseases, especially dental caries and periodontal disease, are frequent and common in Sichuan province, China. Moreover, the treatment rate is very low, and primary prevention and treatment options are therefore urgently needed in this population.
基金supported by an intramural research programme,NHGRI,National Institutes of Health(NIH)the National Science Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars of China(grant no.813220170)+1 种基金the Innovation Team of Sichuan Province(2015TD0011)the China Scholarship Council
文摘The Hedgehog（Hh） signalling pathway plays many important roles in development,homeostasis and tumorigenesis.The critical function of Hh signalling in bone formation has been identified in the past two decades.Here,we review the evolutionariiy conserved Hh signalling mechanisms with an emphasis on the functions of the Hh signalling pathway in bone development,homeostasis and diseases.In the early stages of embryonic limb development,Sonic Hedgehog（Shh） acts as a major morphogen in patterning the limb buds.Indian Hedgehog（Ihh） has an essential function in endochondral ossification and induces osteoblast differentiation in the perichondrium.Hh signalling is also involved intramembrane ossification.Interactions between Hh and Wnt signalling regulate cartilage development,endochondral bone formation and synovial joint formation.Hh also plays an important role in bone homeostasis,and reducing Hh signalling protects against age-related bone loss.Disruption of Hh signalling regulation leads to multiple bone diseases,such as progressive osseous heteroplasia.Therefore,understanding the signalling mechanisms and functions of Hh signalling in bone development,homeostasis and diseases will provide important insights into bone disease prevention,diagnoses and therapeutics.
基金supported by a funding from Chengdu Science and Technology Benefiting Project(Grant number 2016-HM02-00018-SF)
文摘By removing a part of the structure,the tooth preparation provides restorative space,bonding surface,and finish line for various restorations on abutment.Preparation technique plays critical role in achieving the optimal result of tooth preparation.With successful application of microscope in endodontics for>30 years,there is a full expectation of microscopic dentistry.However,as relatively little progress has been made in the application of microscopic dentistry in prosthodontics,the following assumptions have been proposed:Is it suitable to choose the tooth preparation technique under the naked eye in the microscopic vision?Is there a more accurate preparation technology intended for the microscope?To obtain long-term stable therapeutic effects,is it much easier to achieve maximum tooth preservation and retinal protection and maintain periodontal tissue and oral function health under microscopic vision?Whether the microscopic prosthodontics is a gimmick or a breakthrough in obtaining an ideal tooth preparation should be resolved in microscopic tooth preparation.This article attempts to illustrate the concept,core elements,and indications of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation,physiological basis of dental pulp,periodontium and functions involved in tool preparation,position ergonomics and visual basis for dentists,comparison of tooth preparation by naked eyes and a microscope,and comparison of different designs of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation techniques.Furthermore,a clinical protocol for microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation based on target restorative space guide plate has been put forward and new insights on the quantity and shape of microscopic minimally invasive tooth preparation has been provided.
文摘Bacterial biofilms can be viewed as a specific type of persistent bacterial infection. After initial invasion, microbes can attach to living and non-living surfaces, such as prosthetics and indwelling medical devices, and form a biofilm composed of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, and other components. In hosts, bioffim formation may trigger drug resistance and inflammation, resulting in persistent infections. The clinical aspects of biofilm formation and leading strategies for hiofilm inhihitors will be discussed in this mini-review.
基金This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81970986,81771125,X.C.and 11872135,12072055 C.W.)。
文摘Guided bone regeneration(GBR)is an effective and simple method for bone augmentation,which is often used to reconstruct the alveolar ridge when the bone defect occurs in the implant area.Titanium mesh has expanded the indications of GBR technology due to its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility,so that the GBR technology can be used to repair alveolar ridges with larger bone defects,and can obtain excellent and stable bone augmentation results.Currently,GBR with titanium mesh has various clinical applications,including different clinical procedures.Bone graft materials,titanium mesh covering methods,and titanium mesh fixing methods are also optional.Moreover,the research of GBR with titanium mesh has led to multifarious progresses in digitalization and material modification.This article reviews the properties of titanium mesh and the difference of titanium mesh with other barrier membranes;the current clinical application of titanium mesh in bone augmentation;common complications and management and prevention methods in the application of titanium mesh;and research progress of titanium mesh in digitization and material modification.Hoping to provide a reference for further improvement of titanium mesh in clinical application and related research of titanium mesh.
基金the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(project No.31971247).
文摘Nowadays,orthodontic treatment has become increasingly popular.However,the biological mechanisms of orthodontic tooth movement(OTM)have not been fully elucidated.We were aiming to summarize the evidences regarding the mechanisms of OTM.Firstly,we introduced the research models as a basis for further discussion of mechanisms.Secondly,we proposed a new hypothesis regarding the primary roles of periodontal ligament cells(PDLCs)and osteocytes involved in OTM mechanisms and summarized the biomechanical and biological responses of the periodontium in OTM through four steps,basically in OTM temporal sequences,as follows:(1)Extracellular mechanobiology of periodontium:biological,mechanical,and material changes of acellular components in periodontium under orthodontic forces were introduced.(2)Cell strain:the sensing,transduction,and regulation of mechanical stimuli in PDLCs and osteocytes.(3)Cell activation and differentiation:the activation and differentiation mechanisms of osteoblast and osteoclast,the force-induced sterile inflammation,and the communication networks consisting of sensors and effectors.(4)Tissue remodeling:the remodeling of bone and periodontal ligament(PDL)in the compression side and tension side responding to mechanical stimuli and root resorption.Lastly,we talked about the clinical implications of the updated OTM mechanisms,regarding optimal orthodontic force(OOF),acceleration of OTM,and prevention of root resorption.
基金supported by the Specific Research Project of Health Pro Bono Sector, Ministry of Health, China (200802056)
文摘We investigated the compensatory trends of mesiodistal angulation of first molars in malocclusion cases. We compared differences in the angulation of first molars in different developmental stages, malocclusion classifications and skeletal patterns. The medical records and lateral cephalogrammes of 1 403 malocclusion cases taken before treatment were measured to evaluate compensation of molar angulation in relation to the skeletal jaw. The cases were stratified by age, Angle classification and skeletal patterns. Differences in the mesiodistal angulation of the first molars were compared among the stratifications. We observed three main phenomena. First,angulation of the upper first molar varied significantly with age and tipped most distally in cases aged,12 years and least distally in cases aged.16 years. The lower first molar did not show such differences. Second, in Angle Class II or skeletal Class II cases, the upper first molar was the most distally tipped, the lower first molar was the most mesially tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in Class III cases. Third, in high-angle cases, the upper and lower first molars were the most distally tipped, and opposite angulation compensation was observed in low-angle cases. These data suggest that the angulation of the molars compensated for various growth patterns and malocclusion types. Hence, awareness of molar angulation compensation would help to adjust occlusal relationships, control anchorage and increase the chances of long-term stability.
基金supported by National Institute of Health/National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research training grant T32DE007200
文摘Periodontal disease has been recently linked to a variety of systemic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, preterm delivery, and oral cancer. The most common bacteria associated with periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis （P. gingivalis） has not yet been studied in the malignant gingival tissues. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of R gingivalis in specimens from squamous cell carcinoma patients. We have performed immunohistochemical staining to investigate the presence of R gingivafis and Streptococcus gordonii （S. gordonii）, a non invasive oral bacteria, in paraffin embedded samples of gingival squamous cell carcinoma （n=10） and normal gingiva （n=5）. Staining for R gingivalis revealed the presence of the bacteria in normal gingival tissues and gingival carcinoma, with higher levels （more than 33%, P〈0.05） detected in the carcinoma samples. The staining intensity was also significantly enhanced in the malignant tissue by 2 folds （P〈0.023） compared to specimens stained for the non-invasive S. gordonii. R gingivalis is abundantly present in malignant oral epithelium suggesting a potential association of the bacteria with gingival squamous cell carcinoma.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China grants (No. 30872889, 81072215, 81001210, 81172580)Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars, State Education Ministry (No. 20098-8-2)+1 种基金State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Open Funding (SKLODOF2010-05)the Fundamental Research Funds of the Central Universities of China (2011)
文摘microRNAs （miRNAs） are a class of non-coding RNAs that function as endogenous triggers of the RNA interference pathway. Studies have shown that thousands of human protein-coding genes are regulated by miRNAs, indicating that miRNAs are master regulators of many important biological processes, such as cancer development, miRNAs frequently have deregulated expression in many types of human cancers, and play critical roles in tumorigenesis, which functions either as tumor suppressors or as oncogenes. Recent studies have shown that miRNAs are highly related with cancer progression, including initiating, growth, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Furthermore, miRNAs are shown to be responsible for the cancer-related inflam- mation, anti-cancer drug resistance, and regulation of cancer stem ceils. Therefore, miRNAs have generated great interest as a novel strategy in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Here we review the versatile roles of miRNAs in cancers and their potential applications for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment as biomarkers.
文摘For a long time, oral disease is one of the major problems of the public health for its high prevalence and incidence throughout the world, which is especially true for low-income populations. Since China＇s economic reform in 1978, great changes have taken place in China. These changes have significant impact on and have been reflected in oral disease trends in China. This paper provides an overview and assessment of the oral health status in China. It focuses on changes in the nation＇s demographic profile, in the marketplace, the oral disease status and trends. The paper also suggests some possible measures and strategies for bettering oral health in future China.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1101400 to Y.J.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31800817 to S.L., 31870970 to J.Z.)
文摘In modern medicine,bone and dental loss and defects are common and widespread morbidities,for which regenerative therapy has shown great promise.Mesenchymal stem cells,obtained from various sources and playing an essential role in organ development and postnatal repair,have exhibited enormous potential for regenerating bone and dental tissue.Currently,mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based bone and dental regeneration mainly includes two strategies: the rescue or mobilization of endogenous MSCs and the application of exogenous MSCs in cytotherapy or tissue engineering.Nevertheless,the efficacy of MSCbased regeneration is not always fulfilled,especially in diseased microenvironments.Specifically,the diseased microenvironment not only impairs the regenerative potential of resident MSCs but also controls the therapeutic efficacy of exogenous MSCs,both as donors and recipients.Accordingly,approaches targeting a diseased microenvironment have been established,including improving the diseased niche to restore endogenous MSCs,enhancing MSC resistance to a diseased microenvironment and renormalizing the microenvironment to guarantee MSC-mediated therapies.Moreover,the application of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as cell-free therapy has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy.In this review,we summarize current knowledge regarding the tactics of MSC-based bone and dental regeneration and the decisive role of the microenvironment,emphasizing the therapeutic potential of microenvironment-targeting strategies in bone and dental regenerative medicine.
基金supported by grant (81771036) from National Natural Science Foundation of China (to S.G.S.)grant (81741028) from National Natural Science Foundation of China (to J.D.)grant (17410710500) Shanghai International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Projects Laser Micromachine and Vascularization of TCP/PCL Scaffolds (to W.Z.)
文摘Genetic studies have revealed a critical role of Distal-homeobox (Dlx) genes in bone formation,and our previous study showed that Dlx2 overexpressing in neural crest cells leads to profound abnormalities of the craniofacial tissues.The aim of this study was to investigate the role and the underlying molecular mechanisms of Dlx2 in osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells.Initially,we observed upregulation of Dlx2 during the early osteogenesis in BMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cells.Moreover,Dlx2 overexpression enhanced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and extracellular matrix mineralization in BMSCs and MC3T3-E1 cell line.In addition,micro-CT of implanted tissues in nude mice confirmed that Dlx2 overexpression in BMSCs promoted bone formation in vivo.Unexpectedly,Dlx2 overexpression had little impact on the expression level of the pivotal osteogenic transcription factors Runx2,Dlx5,Msx2,and Osterix,but led to upregulation of Alp and Osteocalcin (OCN),both of which play critical roles in promoting osteoblast maturation.Importantly,luciferase analysis showed that Dlx2 overexpression stimulated both OCN and Alp promoter activity.Through chromatin-immunoprecipitation assay and site-directed mutagenesis analysis,we provide molecular evidence that Dlx2 transactivates OCN and Alp expression by directly binding to the Dlx2-response cis-acting elements in the promoter of the two genes.Based on these findings,we demonstrate that Dlx2 overexpression enhances osteogenic differentiation in vitro and accelerates bone formation in vivo via direct upregulation of the OCN and Alp gene,suggesting that Dlx2 plays a crucial role in osteogenic differentiation and bone formation.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China81400502(Qiong Zhang)the Young Teacher Research Start Funding of Sichuan University 2016SCU11049(Yuan Zhou)
文摘Early childhood caries （ECC） is a term used to describe dental caries in children aged 6 years or younger. Oral streptococci, such as Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sorbrinus, are considered to be the main etiological agents of tooth decay in children. Other bacteria, such as Prevotella spp. and Lactobacillus spp., and fungus, that is, Candida albicans, are related to the development and progression of ECC. Biomolecules in saliva, mainly proteins, affect the survival of oral microorganisms by multiple innate defensive mechanisms, thus modulating the oral microflora. Therefore, the protein composition of saliva can be a sensitive indicator for dental health. Resistance or susceptibility to caries may be significantly correlated with alterations in salivary protein components. Some oral microorganisms and saliva proteins may serve as useful biomarkers in predicting the risk and prognosis of caries. Current research has generated abundant information that contributes to a better understanding of the roles of microorganisms and salivary proteins in ECC occurrence and prevention. This review summarizes the microorganisms that cause caries and tooth-protective salivary proteins with their potential as functional biomarkers for ECC risk assessment. The identification of biomarkers for children at high risk of ECC is not only critical for early diagnosis but also important for preventing and treating the disease.
