Periodontitis leads to progressive destruction of periodontal supporting tissues, and conventional anti-infective therapies often fail to simultaneously achieve infection control and tissue regeneration. Due to the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, the development of novel bioactive molecules with both anti-infective and pro-regenerative properties has become a focus of research. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), characterized by multi-target antimicrobial mechanisms and immunomodulatory functions, have attracted considerable attention in periodontal tissue regeneration. Current evidence indicates that AMPs not only inhibit periodontal pathogens and biofilm formation, but they also regulate macrophage polarization, suppress inflammatory cytokine release, and activate signaling pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin and MAPK/ERK. These effects promote osteogenic differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, while enhancing angiogenesis through VEGF induction, thereby establishing a favorable immune microenvironment for periodontal regeneration. Despite these promising findings, the in vivo stability, dosage safety, and long-term mechanisms of AMPs remain to be fully elucidated. Future studies should focus on clarifying the molecular mechanisms by which AMPs regulate the periodontal immune microenvironment and angiogenesis-osteogenesis coupled regeneration. In addition, integrating structural optimization, advanced delivery systems, and artificial intelligence-assisted peptide discovery may accelerate the development and clinical translation of novel antimicrobial peptides.

Objective:To study the effects of obesity on alveolar bone loss and gut microbiota in mice with periodontitis.Methods:Twenty-four seven-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups based on table of random numbers ( n=6 in each group): normal-fat diet group (NFD group), high-fat diet group (HFD group), normal-fat diet and periodontitis group (NFD_PD group) and high-fat diet and periodontitis group (HFD_PD group). NFD and HFD groups were fed with normal or high-fat diet for twelve weeks respectively; NFD_PD and HFD_PD groups were induced to periodontitis by ligating the bilateral maxillary second molars with 5-0 silk thread at the fourth week after feeding with normal or high-fat diet respectively. The body weight was measured weekly. The mice were euthanized for collecting the samples at the end of the 12th week. Liver, kidneys, perirenal and retroperitoneal fat were weighed. Serum was collected to detect the level of serum lipids and inflammatory factors. The right maxilla bones were scanned by micro-CT. HE staining was performed to observe the periodontal tissue. The cecum contents were collected for gut microbiota 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the abundance of gut microbiota and serum inflammatory level and CT value. Results:After 12 weeks of high-fat diet fed, the body weight of HFD group [(26.52±1.96) g] was significantly higher than that of NFD group [(20.95±0.63) g] ( t=6.63, P<0.001). The body weight of HFD_PD group [(23.82±1.12) g] was significantly higher than that of NFD_PD group [(20.73±0.47) g] ( t=6.23, P=0.001). The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in HFD group and HFD_PD group were significantly higher than those in NFD group and NFD_PD group ( P<0.01). The distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) on the mesial site of maxillary second molar in HFD_PD group [(647.46±47.46) μm] was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group [(440.48±68.08) μm] ( t=5.58, P<0.001). HE staining showed that the maxillary second molar attachment loss, collagen fiber destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration were more significant serious in HFD_PD group compared with NFD_PD group. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) of serum in HFD_PD group [(17.11±1.92), (31.61±3.20) and (204.42±35.96) ng/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those in NFD_PD group [(10.44±1.65), (19.96±2.09) and (147.36±10.76) ng/L, respectively] ( P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.004). The 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the Bacteroides/Firmicutes ratio in HFD_PD group (4.00±3.30) was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group (0.62±0.19) ( t=2.50, P=0.030). The abundance of Oscillospira in HFD_PD group [(12.25±0.05) %] was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group [(2.80±0.01) %] ( t=4.64, P<0.001). The abundance of Parabacteroides in HFD_PD group [(0.25±0.27)% ] was significantly lower than that in NFD_PD group [(2.04±0.02)%] ( t=2.32, P=0.043). The β-diversity analysis of gut microbiota based on Bray-Curtis distance showed that samples of HFD_PD group and NFD_PD group were obviously grouped. Correlation analysis showed that the abundance of Oscillospira was positively correlated with IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1 concentration and CEJ-ABC value in serum significantly ( r values were 0.80, 0.79, 0.80, 0.89, P<0.05). The abundance of Parabacteroides was negatively correlated with IL-1β, IL-6 concentration and CEJ-ABC value in serum significantly ( r values were -0.71, -0.71, -0.86, -0.95, P<0.05). Conclusions:Obesity promotes alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis mice and changes the gut microbiota. Oscillospira and Parabacteroides may play a key role.

Patients with periodontal disease often require combined periodontal-orthodontic interventions to restore periodontal health, function, and aesthetics, ensuring both patient satisfaction and long-term stability. Managing these patients involving orthodontic tooth movement can be particularly challenging due to compromised periodontal soft and hard tissues, especially in severe cases. Therefore, close collaboration between orthodontists and periodontists for comprehensive diagnosis and sequential treatment, along with diligent patient compliance throughout the entire process, is crucial for achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Moreover, long-term orthodontic retention and periodontal follow-up are essential to sustain treatment success. This expert consensus, informed by the latest clinical research and practical experience, addresses clinical considerations for orthodontic treatment of periodontal patients, delineating indications, objectives, procedures, and principles with the aim of providing clear and practical guidance for clinical practitioners.
Humans ; Consensus ; Orthodontics, Corrective/standards* ; Periodontal Diseases/complications* ; Tooth Movement Techniques/methods* ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Cemental tear is a rare and indetectable condition unless obvious clinical signs present with the involvement of surrounding periodontal and periapical tissues. Due to its clinical manifestations similar to common dental issues, such as vertical root fracture, primary endodontic diseases, and periodontal diseases, as well as the low awareness of cemental tear for clinicians, misdiagnosis often occurs. The critical principle for cemental tear treatment is to remove torn fragments, and overlooking fragments leads to futile therapy, which could deteriorate the conditions of the affected teeth. Therefore, accurate diagnosis and subsequent appropriate interventions are vital for managing cemental tear. Novel diagnostic tools, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), microscopes, and enamel matrix derivatives, have improved early detection and management, enhancing tooth retention. The implementation of standardized diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols, combined with improved clinical awareness among dental professionals, serves to mitigate risks of diagnostic errors and suboptimal therapeutic interventions. This expert consensus reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, potential predisposing factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of cemental tear, aiming to provide a clinical guideline and facilitate clinicians to have a better understanding of cemental tear.
Humans ; Dental Cementum/injuries* ; Consensus ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Tooth Fractures/therapy*

With the growing emphasis on maternal and child oral health, the significance of managing oral health across preconception, pregnancy, and infancy stages has become increasingly apparent. Oral health challenges extend beyond affecting maternal well-being, exerting profound influences on fetal and neonatal oral development as well as immune system maturation. This expert consensus paper, developed using a modified Delphi method, reviews current research and provides recommendations on maternal and child oral health management. It underscores the critical role of comprehensive oral assessments prior to conception, diligent oral health management throughout pregnancy, and meticulous oral hygiene practices during infancy. Effective strategies should be seamlessly integrated across the life course, encompassing preconception oral assessments, systematic dental care during pregnancy, and routine infant oral hygiene. Collaborative efforts among pediatric dentists, maternal and child health workers, and obstetricians are crucial to improving outcomes and fostering clinical research, contributing to evidence-based health management strategies.
Humans ; Pregnancy ; Female ; Infant ; Consensus ; Mouth Diseases/therapy* ; Pregnancy Complications/therapy* ; Oral Health ; Infant, Newborn ; Delphi Technique ; Oral Hygiene

Objective: To investigate the role of butyric acid-producing bacteria in long bone homeostasis in mice with periodontitis under a high-fat/high-sugar diet and to provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis and related bone metabolic diseases. Methods: This study has been approved by the Animal Welfare and Ethics Committee of the Experimental Animal Center. Initially, 14 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group) and the LIG group (the periodontitis group). Mice in the LIG group had experimental periodontitis induced by ligating the second maxillary molars bilaterally and were fed a high-fat and high-sugar diet. After 8 weeks, samples were collected. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) was used to analyze alveolar bone resorption and various parameters of the proximal tibia trabecular bone, including bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). After decalcification, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed on maxillary bone sections to assess periodontal tissue inflammation and connective tissue destruction. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect related genes in the distal femur and proximal tibia bone tissues, including osteocalcin (OCN), osteogenic transcription factor (Osterix), osteoprotegerin (OPG), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (RANK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANK-L). Subsequently, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + butyric acid-producing bacteria (BP) group, and LIG + BP group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Finally, the other 28 mice were randomly divided into the CON group (the control group), LIG group (the periodontitis group), CON + sodium butyrate (SB) group, and LIG + SB group. The breeding, sampling, and sample detection methods remained the same. Results: ①Periodontitis modeling was successful. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group exhibited significant alveolar bone resorption of the maxillary second molar, aggravated periodontal tissue inflammation, and connective tissue destruction. ②Periodontitis exacerbated long bone resorption in mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet. Compared with the CON group, the LIG group had significantly lower BMD, BV/TV, Tb.N, and Tb.Th (P<0.05), and significantly higher Tb.Sp (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that the trabeculae in the LIG group were sparse and disordered, with some areas showing fractures or dissolution. The expression of osteoblast markers (OCN, Osterix, OPG) was significantly lower in the LIG group (P<0.05), while the expression of the osteoclast marker TRAP showed an increasing trend (P>0.05). The ratio of RANK-L/OPG was significantly higher in the LIG group compared with the CON group (P<0.05). ③ Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BMD and Tb.Th were significantly higher in the LIG + BP group. HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + BP group compared with the LIG group. The expression of OCN and Osterix was significantly higher in the LIG + BP group, while the expression of osteoclast-specific genes (OSCAR, RANK, RANK-L) was significantly lower (P<0.05). ④ Supplementation with butyrate alleviates periodontitis-induced disruption of long bone homeostasis in mice fed a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Compared with the LIG group, BV/TV and Tb.N were significantly higher in the LIG + SB group, and Tb.Sp was significantly lower (P<0.05). HE staining of the proximal tibia showed that bone resorption was mitigated in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group. The expression of Osterix, OPG, OSCAR, TRAP, and RANK was significantly lower in the LIG + SB group compared with the LIG group (P<0.05). Conclusion Periodontitis disrupts the long bone homeostasis of mice fed a high-fat high-sugar diet, aggravating long bone resorption. Supplementation with butyric acid-producing bacteria or butyrate can effectively alleviate the disruption of long bone homeostasis caused by periodontitis.

Objective:To study the effects of obesity on alveolar bone loss and gut microbiota in mice with periodontitis.Methods:Twenty-four seven-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups based on table of random numbers ( n=6 in each group): normal-fat diet group (NFD group), high-fat diet group (HFD group), normal-fat diet and periodontitis group (NFD_PD group) and high-fat diet and periodontitis group (HFD_PD group). NFD and HFD groups were fed with normal or high-fat diet for twelve weeks respectively; NFD_PD and HFD_PD groups were induced to periodontitis by ligating the bilateral maxillary second molars with 5-0 silk thread at the fourth week after feeding with normal or high-fat diet respectively. The body weight was measured weekly. The mice were euthanized for collecting the samples at the end of the 12th week. Liver, kidneys, perirenal and retroperitoneal fat were weighed. Serum was collected to detect the level of serum lipids and inflammatory factors. The right maxilla bones were scanned by micro-CT. HE staining was performed to observe the periodontal tissue. The cecum contents were collected for gut microbiota 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between the abundance of gut microbiota and serum inflammatory level and CT value. Results:After 12 weeks of high-fat diet fed, the body weight of HFD group [(26.52±1.96) g] was significantly higher than that of NFD group [(20.95±0.63) g] ( t=6.63, P<0.001). The body weight of HFD_PD group [(23.82±1.12) g] was significantly higher than that of NFD_PD group [(20.73±0.47) g] ( t=6.23, P=0.001). The serum levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein in HFD group and HFD_PD group were significantly higher than those in NFD group and NFD_PD group ( P<0.01). The distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar bone crest (CEJ-ABC) on the mesial site of maxillary second molar in HFD_PD group [(647.46±47.46) μm] was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group [(440.48±68.08) μm] ( t=5.58, P<0.001). HE staining showed that the maxillary second molar attachment loss, collagen fiber destruction and inflammatory cell infiltration were more significant serious in HFD_PD group compared with NFD_PD group. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) of serum in HFD_PD group [(17.11±1.92), (31.61±3.20) and (204.42±35.96) ng/L, respectively] were significantly higher than those in NFD_PD group [(10.44±1.65), (19.96±2.09) and (147.36±10.76) ng/L, respectively] ( P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.004). The 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed that the Bacteroides/Firmicutes ratio in HFD_PD group (4.00±3.30) was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group (0.62±0.19) ( t=2.50, P=0.030). The abundance of Oscillospira in HFD_PD group [(12.25±0.05) %] was significantly higher than that in NFD_PD group [(2.80±0.01) %] ( t=4.64, P<0.001). The abundance of Parabacteroides in HFD_PD group [(0.25±0.27)% ] was significantly lower than that in NFD_PD group [(2.04±0.02)%] ( t=2.32, P=0.043). The β-diversity analysis of gut microbiota based on Bray-Curtis distance showed that samples of HFD_PD group and NFD_PD group were obviously grouped. Correlation analysis showed that the abundance of Oscillospira was positively correlated with IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1 concentration and CEJ-ABC value in serum significantly ( r values were 0.80, 0.79, 0.80, 0.89, P<0.05). The abundance of Parabacteroides was negatively correlated with IL-1β, IL-6 concentration and CEJ-ABC value in serum significantly ( r values were -0.71, -0.71, -0.86, -0.95, P<0.05). Conclusions:Obesity promotes alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis mice and changes the gut microbiota. Oscillospira and Parabacteroides may play a key role.

Objective To investigate the effects of neurotrophic factor Neuritin overexpression on the angiogenic effects of chicken embryonic allantoic membrane (CAM) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs),and to provide a new direction for the treatment of angiogenic diseases. Methods Thirty fresh yellow-skinned breeding eggs were selected to establish a CAM model,which were divided into three groups by randomized numerical table method:positive control group (bFGF),negative control group (NS) and experimental group (Neuritin),with 10 eggs in each group. The positive control group was loaded with 2500 U/mL of bFGF,the experimental group was loaded with 10 μg/mL of Neuritin protein,and the negative control group was loaded with NS. 10 μL loading volume was loaded into each group,and all CAMs were incubated at the same temperature,relative humidity,and time,and the vascular branching,number,and size of the CAMs in each group were recorded after 72 h of incubation. Fresh umbilical cords from healthy pregnant women were selected to produce primary HUVECs,which were divided into three groups:transfected with recombinant plasmid (HUVEC-neu group),transfected with empty vector (HUVEC-3.1 group),and untransfected (HUVEC group). Primary HUVECs in the HUVEC-neu group were transfected with the recombinant plasmid Neuritin,and those in the HUVEC-3.1 group were transfected with the empty vector. HUVEC-3.1 group was transfected with the empty vector plasmid,and HUVEC group was not given any special treatment,and all three groups received the same culture regimen. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of Neuritin in HUVEC-3.1 and HUVEC-neu groups. CCK-8 assay,cell scratch assay,Transwell assay,and tube formation assay were used to detect protein expression level of Neuritin in HUVEC-3.1 group and HUVEC-neu group,and HUVEC-neu groups for cell proliferation,migration and tube formation. Results (1) The number of CAM vessel branch points and microvessels in the experimental group was significantly increased compared with that in the negative control group (P<0.01),but there was no statistically significant difference in the number of large and medium-sized vessels between the two groups (P>0.05);(2) Neuritin was successfully overexpressed in HUVECs in the HUVEC-neu group. (3) Compared with the HUVEC-3.1 group,the proliferation vigor of cells in the HUVEC-neu group was decreased (P<0.05),but their migration and tube formation abilities were significantly enhanced (P<0.01). Conclusion Neuritin overexpression promotes angiogenesis and participates in the regulation of neovascularization by affecting cell prolif-eration,migration,and tube formation ability.

Objective:To explore the serum miRNA-144-5p (miR-144-5p) level in liver cancer patients and its relationship with clinical characteristics, as well as the target genes of miR-144-5p and the possible pathogenic mechanisms.Methods:The morning fasting serum samples were retrospectively collected from 100 newly diagnosed liver cancer patients (liver cancer group) before any treatment in Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital from June 2019 to June 2020, as well as 100 healthy individuals (healthy control group) during physical examinations in the same period. The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction method was used to measure the transcription level expression of miR-144-5p in serum. The high and low expressions of miR-144-5p in patients were determined based on the median relative expression level of miR-144-5p; the distribution differences between patients with high and low expressions of miR-144-5p among different clinical pathological features were compared. The online tools miRDB, TargetScan 8.0 and miRWalk were used to predict potential target genes for miR-144-5p, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed through a bioinformatics platform, and complementary sequences between miR-144-5p and target genes were analyzed using RNA22 software.Results:The median age of the liver cancer group was 54 years old, ranging from 38 to 74 years old, including 80 males (80.0%) and 20 females (20.0%); the median age of the healthy control group was 46 years old, ranging from 34 to 66 years old, including 69 males (69.0%) and 31 females (31.0%); there was no statistically significant difference in age and gender composition between the two groups (both P > 0.05). The median transcription level relative expression of miR-144-5p in liver cancer patients was lower than that in the healthy control group [ M ( Q1, Q3)] [0.311 (0.066, 2.270) vs. 1.067 (0.263, 3.620)], and the difference was statistically significant ( Z = -4.16, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with low expression of miR-144-5p was higher in the group with maximum diameter of tumor > 5 cm compared to the group with maximum diameter of tumor ≤5 cm [59.3% (35/59) vs. 36.6% (15/41)] and in the group with metastasis compared to the group without metastasis [60.4% (29/48) vs. 40.4% (21/52)], and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of patients with high and low expressions of miR-144-5p among different subgroups based on gender, age >55 years, presence of hepatitis, cirrhosis, alpha fetoprotein >400 μ g/L, and differentiation degree (all P > 0.05). According to predictions, there were 34 miR-144-5p target genes shared by the three bioinformatics online tools. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that these target genes were associated with ubiquitination, primarily enriched in the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis pathway (hsa04120) and the mTOR signaling pathway (hsa04150). RNA22 software analysis showed that miR-144-5p mainly had complementary sequences with 3' untranslated regions of UBR5 and UBE4A genes. Conclusions:The serum miR-144-5p level in liver cancer patients is relatively low, and its expression level may be related to tumor size and metastasis. miR-144-5p may affect the occurrence and development of liver cancer by regulating ubiquitination level through target genes such as UBR5 and UBE4A.

Objective To investigate the effects of neurotrophic factor Neuritin overexpression on the angiogenic effects of chicken embryonic allantoic membrane (CAM) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs),and to provide a new direction for the treatment of angiogenic diseases. Methods Thirty fresh yellow-skinned breeding eggs were selected to establish a CAM model,which were divided into three groups by randomized numerical table method:positive control group (bFGF),negative control group (NS) and experimental group (Neuritin),with 10 eggs in each group. The positive control group was loaded with 2500 U/mL of bFGF,the experimental group was loaded with 10 μg/mL of Neuritin protein,and the negative control group was loaded with NS. 10 μL loading volume was loaded into each group,and all CAMs were incubated at the same temperature,relative humidity,and time,and the vascular branching,number,and size of the CAMs in each group were recorded after 72 h of incubation. Fresh umbilical cords from healthy pregnant women were selected to produce primary HUVECs,which were divided into three groups:transfected with recombinant plasmid (HUVEC-neu group),transfected with empty vector (HUVEC-3.1 group),and untransfected (HUVEC group). Primary HUVECs in the HUVEC-neu group were transfected with the recombinant plasmid Neuritin,and those in the HUVEC-3.1 group were transfected with the empty vector. HUVEC-3.1 group was transfected with the empty vector plasmid,and HUVEC group was not given any special treatment,and all three groups received the same culture regimen. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of Neuritin in HUVEC-3.1 and HUVEC-neu groups. CCK-8 assay,cell scratch assay,Transwell assay,and tube formation assay were used to detect protein expression level of Neuritin in HUVEC-3.1 group and HUVEC-neu group,and HUVEC-neu groups for cell proliferation,migration and tube formation. Results (1) The number of CAM vessel branch points and microvessels in the experimental group was significantly increased compared with that in the negative control group (P<0.01),but there was no statistically significant difference in the number of large and medium-sized vessels between the two groups (P>0.05);(2) Neuritin was successfully overexpressed in HUVECs in the HUVEC-neu group. (3) Compared with the HUVEC-3.1 group,the proliferation vigor of cells in the HUVEC-neu group was decreased (P<0.05),but their migration and tube formation abilities were significantly enhanced (P<0.01). Conclusion Neuritin overexpression promotes angiogenesis and participates in the regulation of neovascularization by affecting cell prolif-eration,migration,and tube formation ability.