Biofilms are complex microbial microcolonies consisting of planktonic and dormant bacteria bound to a surface. The bacterial cells within the biofilm are embedded within the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) consisting mainly of exopolysaccharides, secreted proteins, lipids, and extracellular DNA. This structural matrix poses a major challenge against common treatment options due to its extensive antibiotic-resistant properties. Because biofilms are so recalcitrant to antibiotics, they pose a unique challenge to patients in a nosocomial setting, mainly linked to lower respiratory, urinary tract, and surgical wound infections as well as the medical devices used during treatment. Another unique property of biofilm is its ability to adhere to both biological and man-made surfaces, allowing growth on human tissues and organs, hospital tools, and medical devices, etc. Based on prior understanding of bacteriophage structure, mechanisms, and its effects on bacteria eradication, leading research has been conducted on the effects of phages and its individual proteins on biofilm and its role in overall biofilm removal while also revealing the obstacles this form of treatment currently have. The expansion in the phage host-species range is one that urges for improvement and is the focus for future studies. This review aims to demonstrate the advantages and challenges of bacteriophage and its components on biofilm removal, as well as potential usage of phage cocktail, combination therapy, and genetically modified phages in a clinical setting.

Aim To evaluate the effect of special implant site preparation methods in improving primary implant stability in low‐density bone. Material and Methods This meta‐analysis included studies published in English and Mandarin Chinese up to March 31, 2022 from MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Wanfang databases. The primary stability of five site preparation methods were measured using implant stability quotient. The random‐effects model was chosen for data analysis. Grading of recommendations assessment, development, and evaluation assessment was adopted as a collective grading of the overall body of evidence. Results 12 of the 17 studies included in the meta‐analysis were randomized control trials. Three studies investigated osseodensification drilling (OD), eight studies examined osteotome technique (OT), five studies explored piezosurgery (PS), and four studies were conducted on under‐drilling (UD). Meta‐analysis showed a statistically significant increase in primary stability for the OD (mean difference [MD], 10.25; 95% CI: 4.97–15.52; p < 0.001), OT (MD, 6.34; 95% CI: 2.26–10.42; p = 0.002), and UD (MD, 11.43; 95% CI: 5.17–17.68; p < 0.001) groups when compared to the conventional drilling group, while the PS group did not (MD, 1.50; 95% CI: −2.54–5.54; p = 0.47). Conclusion Significantly higher primary implant stability was shown in the OD, UD, and OT groups compared to the conventional drilling group. PS displayed the least favorable primary stability and when compared to conventional drilling, was not statistically significant.

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Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with frequent metastatic spread and poor prognosis. The disease can occur at any age with unexpected biological behavior. Recent genome-wide studies of ACC have contributed to our understanding of the disease, but diagnosis of ACC remains a challenge, even for multidisciplinary expert teams. Patients with ACC are frequently diagnosed in advanced stages and have limited therapeutic options. Therefore, for earlier diagnosis and better clinical management of adrenocortical carcinoma, specific, sensitive, and minimal invasive markers are urgently needed. Over several decades, great efforts have been made in discovering novel and reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers including microRNAs, steroid profilings, circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNAs and radiomics. In this review, we will summarize these novel noninvasive biomarkers and analyze their values for diagnosis, predicting prognosis, and disease monitoring. Current problems and possible future application of these non-invasive biomarkers will also be discussed.

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Many researches indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) were involved in the malignant progression of tumors, including Adrenocortical Carcinoma (ACC). However, as for most lncRNAs, their biological behaviors and molecular mechanism remain unclear in ACC. In the present research, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify pathologically relevant gene, including lncRNAs. By comparing their expressions in GSE61359 tumors and normal controls, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1234 (LINC01234) was selected to investigate the clinical significance, biological function, and mechanism in ACC. Data mining revealed that LINC01234 expression was significantly up-regulated in ACC patients, and a shorter survival time presents in patients with higher LINC01234 expression compared to that in patients with lower LINC01234 expression. Further, LINC01234 silencing resulted in cells growth arrest in vitro and in vivo. Mechanism studies suggested that LINC01234 silencing induced cell cycle arrest, and bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) overexpression could restore this phenomenon. Further research showed that LINC01234 could mediate BRD4 expression through competitively sequestering microRNA (miR)-140-3p, as evidenced by the positive correlation of LINC01234 with BRD4 and inverse correlation with miR-140-3p expression. Luciferase activity assay also verified the targeting relationship between LINC01234, BRD4 and miR-140-3p. And up-regulated LINC01234 in ACC cells significantly reversed the degradation of BRD4 by miR-140-3p. Collectively, we deduce that LINC01234 functions as a ceRNA to regulate BRD4 expression by sponging miR-140-3p in ACC progress. Our findings have the potential to provide a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of ACC.

AimTo assess marginal bone level change (MBLc), clinical outcomes for soft tissue, and survival rates for immediately restored implants with simultaneous guided bone regeneration (GBR).Materials and MethodsElectronic and manual searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for studies that investigated immediately restored implants in simultaneously grafted sites with a mean follow‐up of over 12 months. MBLc was the primary outcome. Soft tissue clinical parameters and implant survival rate (ISR) were the secondary outcomes.ResultsTwenty‐five studies (5 randomized controlled trials, 6 prospective studies, 2 retrospective studies, and 12 case series) were included, from which 692 immediately restored implants were analyzed. For studies that investigated bone grafts in the gap between the implant and the peripheral bone wall, the weighted mean MBLc was −0.73 ± 1.52 mm (range: −1.50 to 0.26 mm) for 475 implants. Pink esthetic score (PES) was improved in eight studies and the weighted cumulative ISR was 98.99% (Median: 100%) in 622 implants. Mean MBLc was −1.19 ± 0.26 mm for 30 implants in studies that reported gap with dehiscence and/or fenestration augmentation. Weighted cumulative ISR was 97.25% in 70 implants. A meta‐analysis was not possible due to the lack of studies with an eligible control group. Therefore, the data should be interpreted with caution.ConclusionLess marginal bone loss and more predictable soft tissue parameters can be achieved for immediately restored implants with simultaneous peri‐implant gap filling compared with gap with dehiscence/fenestration grafting. Increased ISR for implants with gap filling was observed. However, more evidence is needed to confirm whether immediate provisional prostheses should be utilized when bone defects are simultaneously augmented around the implants.