Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert significant roles at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) differentiate into dentin/bone-like tissues under certain conditions. So far, whether lncRNA-H19 can affect the proliferative behaviors and osteo/odontogenesis of SCAPs, as well as its specific mechanism remain to be elucidated. Here, SCAPs were isolated and transfected with the lentiviruses or packaging vectors. Our results showed that lncRNA-H19 had no significant effect on the proliferative behaviors of SCAPs, as presented by CCK-8 assay, EdU assay and flow cytometry (FCM). Furthermore, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining, Western blot assay (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in vivo bone formation assay were conducted to verify the biological influences of H19 on SCAPs. Overexpression of H19 led to the enhanced osteo/odontogenesis of SCAPs, whereas knockdown of H19 inhibited these effects. Mechanistically, H19 competitively bound to miR-141 and prevented SPAG9 from miRNA-mediated degradation, thus significantly elevating phosphorylated levels of p38 and JNK and facilitating the committed differentiation of SCAPs. Taken together, the osteo/odontogenesis of SCAPs was upregulated by overexpression of H19 via miR-141/SPAG9 pathway.

The calcined tooth powder (CTP), a type of allogeneic biomimetic mineralized material, has been confirmed that can promote new bone formation when obtained at high temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of the conditioned medium of calcined tooth powder (CTP-CM) on the osteogenic and odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) and the underlying mechanisms involved. First, ALP activity assay determined that 200 μg/mL was the optimal concentration of CTP-CM for the following experiments. CTP-CM had no significant effect on the proliferation of hDPSCs as indicated by CCK-8 and FCM analysis. Both the gene and protein (DSPP/DSPP, RUNX2/RUNX2, OCN/OCN, OSX/OSX, OPN/OPN, ALP/ALP, and COL-1/COL-1) expression levels increased in the CTP-CM-induced hDPSC group as compared with those in the control group at day 3 or 7, showing the positive regulation of CTP-CM on the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. Mechanistically, MAPK signaling pathways were activated after the CTP-CM treatment, and the inhibitors targeting MAPK were identified which weakened the effects of CTM-CM on the committed differentiation of hDPSCs. These findings could lead to the creation of stem cell therapies for dental regeneration.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the distinct expression pattern of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) during osteogenesis. Materials & methods: Isolated SCAPs were cultured in growth medium or osteogenic medium, respectively. Total RNA was extracted and submitted to RNA-sequencing. Expression profiles of circRNAs and constructed circRNA–miRNA–mRNA networks were determined. Results: A total of 333 unregulated circRNAs and 317 downregulated circRNAs in osteogenic differentiation were detected. Bioinformatics analysis identified that several biological pathways may be associated with osteogenic differentiation of SCAPs. Moreover, ten circRNAs, 21 miRNAs and 19 mRNAs were selected to construct competing endogenous RNA networks. Conclusion: This study revealed that expression profiles of circRNAs were significantly altered and specific circRNAs might function as competing endogenous RNAs in SCAPs during osteogenic differentiation.

Objectives The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the success rate, utility, practicality and results of pre-operative CT (computed tomography)–guided semi-rigid single hook-wire placement and the pathology results of small pulmonary nodules (SPN). Materials and methods Seventy-four patients with 81 small pulmonary nodules underwent CT-guided semi-rigid single hook wire localization consecutively between 2016 and 2017 were reviewed. VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery) resection of lung tissue containing each pulmonary nodule and were performed in the direction of hook wire. The success rate and utility of the localization, hook wire related complications, the histopathology of SPN are analyzed. Results The semi-rigid hook wire was performed successfully in all 81 small pulmonary nodules within mean time of 10 min (8–13 min, SD: 1.58 min). Compared with solid nodules, GGOs (ground-glass opacity) were more frequently malignant ( p < 0.05), with an OR (odds ratio) 8.59 (95%CI, 0.967, 412.845). Of the pure GGOs, 9 (25%) nodules were classified as AIS, 10 (27.8%) nodules were classified as MIA and 22 (57.9%) of the mGGOs were lung cancer. According to multivariate analysis, the malignant hazard was as high as 6.533-fold higher in nodules with a size larger than 10 mm compared with those smaller than 10 mm. GGOs with tiny blood vessels showed a statistically significant correlation with malignancy. Surprisingly, no statistically significant difference in the incidence of lung cancer in age. No major complication occurred. Conclusions Preoperative localization of small pulmonary nodules using semi-rigid single hook wire was found to be practical and safe, which allows for proper diagnosis. Incidental small pulmonary nodule, especially GGO larger than 10 mm needs to be taken seriously.

Fluoride (sodium fluoride) is thought to be essential in the development of tooth, and research shows that fluoride can modulate the differentiation of dental stem cells. However, the effects of fluoride on the committed differentiation of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, SCAPs were isolated from healthy extracted human third molars with immature roots and then were cultured with NaF conditioned media. Cell Counting Kit‐8, EdU staining, and flow cytometry were performed to detected the proliferation activity. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Alizarin Red staining, Western blot assay, and real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction were applied to assess the osteo/odontogenic differentiation NaF‐treated SCAPs. Western blot assay and transmission electron microscope were used to evaluate the autophagy involved in the differentiation of SCAPs. ALP activity, ALP protein, and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression showed that 0.5 mM was the optimal concentration for the induction of SCAPs by NaF. 0.5 mM NaF‐treated SCAPs induced more mineralized nodules as compared with untreated cells. Moreover, the osteo/odontogenic markers (RUNX2, OSX, DSP, and OCN) in mRNA levels were upregulated while the protein levels of these markers increased considerably in 0.5 mM NaF‐treated SCAPs. Furthermore, the autophagy‐related proteins (LC3, ATG5, and Beclin1) increased in NaF‐treated SCAPs, and the osteo/odontogenic makers significantly decreased while silencing ATG5 to block autophagy. In all, sodium fluoride can regulate the osteo/odontogenic differentiation of SCAPs by modulating autophagy.

BackgroundPropofol has been reported to protect vascular endothelial cells against oxidative stress. In this study we investigated its effect on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and examined the possible signaling pathways.MethodsHUVECs were pretreated with propofol (1, 5, 25, and 50 µM) for 30 min and then co-incubated with 0.4 mM H2O2 for 4 h. Cell viability was assessed using a Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell apoptosis was analyzed using flow cytometry with annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and evaluated by quantifying caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 expression levels. The expression levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphorylated (p)-p38 MAPK, cJun-N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated (p)-JNK, Akt and phosphorylated Akt [(p)-Akt] (Ser473) were measured by western blotting.ResultsH2O2 treatment induced the activation of caspase-3, downregulated Bcl-2 expression, and up-regulated Bax expression, all of which were dose-dependently attenuated by propofol pretreatment. Furthermore, propofol significantly ameliorated H2O2-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt in HUVECs.ConclusionsPropofol can protect HUVECs against H2O2-induced apoptosis via a mechanism that may involve p38 MAPK, JNK, and Akt signaling pathways.

Peripheral primitive neuroendodermal tumors (PNETs) and Ewing's sarcoma belong to the Ewing family of tumors and are small round-cell malignancies originating from spinal cord cells. These tumors account for 5% of all small round-cell malignant neoplasms. PNETs that arise from the lung parenchyma without pleural or chest wall involvement are very rare. We report a case of an adult female with a large pulmonary PNET who had given birth just 1 month prior to the diagnosis. She had cough and expectoration for 6 months, and the preoperative examination showed no metastases. Thus, we performed radical pneumonectomy and lymph node dissection. The patient recovered well without surgical complications and was discharged 7 days after the surgery. Postoperative pathology confirmed that the tumor was a small round-cell malignancy, and the tumor cells were positive for CD99, Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (FLI-1), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), which was consistent with the diagnosis of a PNET. For primary large pulmonary PNETs, radical pneumonectomy may be a safe surgical method, worthy of further application in clinical practice.

Background A pathologically confirmed negative margin is required when performing sublobar resection in patients with early stage peripheral lung adenocarcinoma. However, the optimal margin distance to ensure complete tumor resection while preserving healthy lung tissue remains unknown. We aimed to establish a reliable distance range for negative margins. Methods A total of 52 intraoperative para-cancer tissue specimens from patients with peripheral lung adenocarcinoma with pathological tumors ≤2 cm in size were examined. Depending on the distance from the tumor edge (D), the para-cancer tissues were divided into the following five groups: D < 0.5 cm (group I); 0.5 cm ≤ D < 1.0 cm (group II); 1.0 cm ≤ D < 1.5 cm (group III); 1.5 cm ≤ D < 2.0 cm (group IV); and D ≥ 2.0 cm (group V). During pathological examination of the specimens under a microscope, the presence of atypical adenomatous hyperplasia or more severe lesions was considered unsafe, whereas the presence of normal lung tissue or benign hyperplasia was considered safe. Results Group V, in which the margin was the farthest from the tumor edge, was the safest. There were significant safety differences in between groups I and V (χ2 = 26.217, P < 0.001). Significant safety differences also existed between groups II and V (χ2 = 9.420, P < 0.005). There were no significant safety differences between group III or IV and group V (P = 0.207; P = 0.610). Conclusions We suggest that when performing sublobar resection in patients with early stage peripheral lung adenocarcinoma with pathological tumor sizes ≤2 cm, the resection margin distance should be ≥1 cm to ensure a negative margin.