CircRNA CDR1as (CDR1as) has been demonstrated to play important roles in a variety of inflammation-related diseases by acting as miRNA sponges. The present study is aimed at investigating the potential roles of CDR1as in the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) under an inflammatory condition induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Human periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) were isolated from periodontal ligament tissue, and PDLSCs were sorted from PDLCs based on the STRO-1 expression through fluorescence-activated cell sorting. We further found that CDR1as was significantly downregulated in LPS-treated PDLSCs compared to untreated cells, as well as in normal periodontal ligament tissues compared to periodontitis tissues. Knockdown of CDR1as promoted LPS-induced proliferative inhibition of PDLSCs, whereas overexpression of CDR1as alleviated the LPS-induced proliferative ability of PDLSCs. Mechanistically, CDR1as functioned as an miR-7 sponge to activate the ERK signal pathway to mediate the inhibition effect of LPS on cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings revealed the effects of the interacting pair of CDR1as/miR-7 on the proliferation ability of PDLSCs within their surrounding inflammatory microenvironment of periodontitis.

Although percutaneous titanium implants have become one of the best choices as retainers in the facial defects, peri-implantitis still occurs at a significant rate. This unwanted complication occurs due to adhesion of bacteria and subsequent biofilm formation. To solve this problem, we have developed a novel antibiotic nanodelivery system based on self-decomposable silica nanoparticles. In this study, silica-gentamycin (SG) nanoparticles were successfully fabricated using an innovative one-pot solution. The nanoparticles were incorporated within a gelatin matrix and cross-linked on microarc-oxidized titanium. To characterize the SG nanoparticles, their particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, in vitro drug release, and decomposition process were sequentially evaluated. The antibacterial properties against the gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, including bacterial viability, antibacterial rate, and bacteria morphology, were analyzed using SG-loaded titanium specimens. Any possible influence of released gentamycin on the viability of human fibroblasts, which are the main component of soft tissues, was investigated. SG nanoparticles from the antibacterial titanium coating continuously released gentamycin and inhibited S. aureus growth. In vitro investigation showed that the obtained nanodelivery system has good biocompatibility. Therefore, this design can be further investigated as a method to prevent infection around percutaneous implants.

Osteosarcoma (OS) often occurs in children and often undergoes metastasis, resulting in lower survival rates. Information on the complexity and pathogenic mechanism of OS is limited, and thus, the development of treatments involving alternative molecular and genetic targets is hampered. We categorized transcriptome data into metastasis and nonmetastasis groups, and 400 differential RNAs (230 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and 170 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)) were obtained by the edgeR package. Prognostic genes were identified by performing univariate Cox regression analysis and the Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis. We then examined the correlation between the expression level of prognostic lncRNAs and mRNAs. Furthermore, microRNAs (miRNAs) corresponding to the coexpression of lncRNA-mRNA was predicted, which was used to construct a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory network. Finally, multivariate Cox proportional risk regression analysis was used to identify hub prognostic genes. Three hub prognostic genes (ABCG8, LOXL4, and PDE1B) were identified as potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for OS. Furthermore, transcriptions factors (TFs) (DBP, ESX1, FOS, FOXI1, MEF2C, NFE2, and OTX2) and lncRNAs (RP11-357H14.16, RP11-284N8.3, and RP11-629G13.1) that were able to affect the expression levels of genes before and after transcription were found to regulate the prognostic hub genes. In addition, we identified drugs related to the prognostic hub genes, which may have potential clinical applications. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) confirmed that the expression levels of ABCG8, LOXL4, and PDE1B coincided with the results of bioinformatics analysis. Moreover, the relationship between the hub prognostic gene expression and patient prognosis was also validated. Our study elucidated the roles of three novel prognostic biomarkers in the pathogenesis of OS as well as presenting a potential clinical treatment for OS.

Three-dimensional printing polyetheretherketone (PEEK) provides a new choice for dental prostheses, while its appropriate bonding procedure and adhesive performance are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the adhesive performance of printed polyetheretherketone (PEEK) after acid etching to veneering resin. In total, 182 PEEK specimens (including 91 printed and 91 milled specimens) were distributed to 14 subgroups (n = 13/subgroup), according to the manufacturing process and surface treatment. The specimens were polished and etched with sulfuric acid for 0, 5, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 300 s, respectively. Two specimens in each subgroup were observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for surface and cross-section morphology separately. Then, the specimens were treated with a bonding primer, and one specimen in each subgroup was prepared for cross-sectional observation under SEM. The residual 10 specimens of each subgroup bonded with veneering resin were tested with the shear bond strength tests (SBS) and failure modes analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA followed by the SNK-q post hoc test (p < 0.05). The etched pores on the PEEK surface were broadened and deepened under SEM over time. Printed PEEK etched for 30 s obtained the best SBS-to-veneering-resin ratio (27.90 ± 3.48 MPa) among the printed subgroups (p < 0.05) and had no statistical differences compared with milled PEEK etched for 30 s. The SBS of the milled subgroups etched from 5 to 120 s were over 29 MPa without significant between-group statistical differences. Hence, printed PEEK can be coarsened effectively by 30 s of sulfuric acid etching. The adhesion efficacy of printed PEEK to veneering resin was qualified for clinical requirements of polymer-based fixed dentures.