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PurposeThis study was performed to investigate the incidence and configuration of the bifid mandibular canal in a Korean population by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.Materials and MethodsCBCT images of 1933 patients (884 male and 1049 female) were evaluated using PSR-9000N and Alphard-Vega 3030 Dental CT units (Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Ltd, Kyoto, Japan). Image analysis was performed by using OnDemand3D software (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). The bifid mandibular canal was identified and classified into four types, namely, the forward canal, buccolingual canal, dental canal, and retromolar canal. Statistical analysis was performed by using the chi-squared test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsBifid mandibular canals were observed in 198 (10.2%) of 1933 patients. The most frequently observed type of bifid mandibular canal was the retromolar canal (n=104, rate: 52.5%) without any significant difference among the incidence of each age and gender. The mean diameter of the accessory canal was 1.27 mm (range: 0.27-3.29 mm) without any significant difference among the mean diameter of each type of the bifid mandibular canal. The mean length of the bifid mandibular canals was 14.97mm(range: 2.17-38.8 mm) with only a significant difference between the dental canal and the other types.ConclusionThe bifid mandibular canal is not uncommon in Koreans and has a prevalence of 10.2% as indicated in the present study. It is suggested that a CBCT examination be recommended for detecting a bifid canal.

Highlights d H 2 O 2 generation is mediated by interaction of Nox4 with p22 phox -SH3YL1 d SH3YL1-Nox4 regulates pro-inflammatory cytokine production and tubular damage d SH3YL1-Nox4 complex plays an important role in LPSinduced acute kidney injury

Recent studies have suggested that renal Nox is important in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Therefore, we investigated the effect of a novel pan-NOX-inhibitor, APX-115, on diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic mice. Eight- week-old db/m and db/db mice were treated with APX-115 for 12 weeks. APX-115 was administered by oral gavage at a dose of 60 mg/kg per day. To compare the effects of APX-115 with a dual Nox1/Nox4 inhibitor, db/db mice were treated with GKT137831 according to the same protocol. APX-115 significantly improved insulin resistance in diabetic mice, similar to GKT137831. Oxidative stress as measured by plasma 8-isoprostane level was decreased in the APX-115 group compared with diabetic controls. All lipid profiles, both in plasma and tissues improved with Nox inhibition. APX-115 treatment decreased Nox1, Nox2, and Nox4 protein expression in the kidney. APX-115 decreased urinary albumin excretion and preserved creatinine level. In diabetic kidneys, APX-115 significantly improved mesangial expansion, but GKT137831 did not. In addition, F4/80 infiltration in the adipose tissue and kidney decreased with APX-115 treatment. We also found that TGF-β stimulated ROS generation in primary mouse mesangial cells (pMMCs) from wild-type, Nox1 KO, and Duox1 KO mice, but did not induce Nox activity in pMMCs from Nox2 knockout (KO), Nox4 KO, or Duox2 KO mice. These results indicate that activating Nox2, Nox4, or Duox2 in pMMCs is essential for TGF-β-mediated ROS generation. Our findings suggest that APX-115 may be as effective or may provide better protection than the dual Nox1/Nox4 inhibitor, and pan-Nox inhibition with APX-115 might be a promising therapy for diabetic nephropathy.

Highly ordered mesoporous Fe2O3–ZrO2 mixed bimetal oxides (FeZr) without any additional chemical promoters were first applied to produce the value-added hydrocarbons by CO hydrogenation through Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) reaction of syngas. To enhance a catalytic activity and structural stability, an irreducible ZrO2 as a structural promoter was incorporated in the ordered mesoporous Fe2O3 structures with a different Zr/Fe molar ratio from 0 to 1 prepared by using a hard template of KIT-6. When an optimal amount of zirconia (Zr/Fe molar ratio = 0.25) was incorporated in the ordered mesoporous Fe2O3 frameworks, the catalytic activity was significantly improved and almost 10 times higher than the mesoporous monometallic Fe2O3. The highly ordered mesoporous structures were stably preserved even under reductive FTS reaction conditions. The ordered mesoporous FeZr catalysts showed a higher C5+ selectivity even at a higher CO conversion above 80%. This improved catalytic activity and stability on the optimized FeZr catalyst were mainly attributed to the facile formation of active iron carbide species such as the stable χ-Fe5C2 with insignificant structural collapses through a formation of strongly interacted iron nanoparticles with the ZrO2 structural promoter with a suppressed inactive coke deposition in the highly ordered FeZr mesopores.