This study aims to evaluate the short-term clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction of anterior and pterygoid implants in the rehabilitation of edentulous maxilla with posterior atrophy.

Given a minimum follow-up of 1 year, 25 patients with fixed maxillary rehabilitation over anterior and pterygoid implants were enrolled in this retrospective study. The implant survival rates, peri-implant soft tissue status (including probing depth, modified sulcus bleeding index, and plaque index), marginal bone loss, and patient satisfaction were measured.

The survival rates for anterior and pterygoid implants at 1-year follow-up were 96.5% and 97.8%, respectively (

>0.05). No statistically significant difference in probing depth, modified sulcus bleeding index, and plaque index was observed between the two types of implants (

>0.05). The marginal bone losses of anterior implants were 0.62 mm± 0.44 mm (mesial) and 0.61 mm± 0.40 mm (distal), and those of pterygoid implants were 0.64 mm± 0.46 mm (mesial) and 0.68 mm± 0.41 mm (distal) mm. These results showed no statistical difference in mesial and distal sites (

>0.05). Patients indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the full-arch prostheses supported by anterior and pterygoid implants.

For the edentulous maxilla with posterior atrophy, full-arch fixed prostheses supported by anterior and pterygoid implants has an acceptable short-term clinical outcome and excellent patient satisfaction. It may be considered as a predictable and feasible method for maxillary rehabilitation.

For the edentulous maxilla with posterior atrophy, full-arch fixed prostheses supported by anterior and pterygoid implants has an acceptable short-term clinical outcome and excellent patient satisfaction. It may be considered as a predictable and feasible method for maxillary rehabilitation.

This study investigated the effects of different implant surface properties on the biological behavior of Schwann cells.

Schwann cells (SCs) were cultured on three types of implant surfaces including smooth polished (SMO), sand-blasted, large grit, acid-etched (SLA), and chemically-modified SLA (modSLA). At different time points, the morphology and adhesion of SCs on the implant surfaces were observed by scanning electron microscope. Cell proliferation activity was detected by MTT method. The expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Changes in the mRNA levels of NGF and BDNF were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

SCs adhered, stretched, and proliferated well on the three types of implant surfaces. On the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days, the OD values of the SMO group were higher than those of the SLA group and the modSLA group, and the difference was statistically significant (

<0.05). On the 3rd day, the expression and mRNA levels of NGF and BDNF in the SLA group and the modSLA group were higher than those in the SMO group (

<0.05); in particular, the levels in the modSLA group were higher than those in the SLA group (

<0.05).

Different implant surface properties have different effects on the biological behavior of SCs. Proliferation of SCs is significantly promoted by smooth surface, while secretion and gene expression of neurotrophic factors are significantly promoted by modSLA surface at early stage.

Different implant surface properties have different effects on the biological behavior of SCs. Proliferation of SCs is significantly promoted by smooth surface, while secretion and gene expression of neurotrophic factors are significantly promoted by modSLA surface at early stage.

The effect of Vps4b gene mutation on the expressions of cytokeratin 14 (CK14) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the Hertwig’s epithelial root sheath (HERS) is investigated.

The bilateral mandibular tissues of mouse on postnatal days 5, 9, 11, 15, and 19 were removed. The mandibular first molar tissue sections were obtained after paraffin embedding. The CK14 and PCNA expressions in the epithelial root sheath of the normal mouse and Vps4b knockout mouse were compared through immunohistochemistry.

On postnatal day 5, the normal mouse began to form HERS and had a strong positive PCNA expression in the HERS cells; on postnatal day 9, the HERS structure was continuous, and PCNA was positive in the HERS cells; on postnatal day 11, a small portion of HERS began to break, and PCNA was weakly positive in the HERS cells; on postnatal day 15, HERS continued to fracture; PCNA was weakly and positively expressed in the HERS cells on the root surface; on postnatal day 19, the tooth root reached normal physiological length, and PCNA was positively expressed in the HERS cells of the terminal part. Similar to the normal mouse, the gene knockout mouse also formed a HERS structure on postnatal day 5. Triapine However, HERS began to break on postnatal day 9. On postnatal day 19, only a few fragments of HERS were found on the root surface, and the root development was immature. Moreover, the expression intensity of PCNA in the gene knockout mouse was decreased.

The Vps4b gene mutation may change the CK14 and PCNA expressions, leading to abnormal root development.

The Vps4b gene mutation may change the CK14 and PCNA expressions, leading to abnormal root development.

This study aims to investigate the effects of ionizing radiation on the secretion of the paracellular pathway in rat submandibular glands (SMGs) and reveal the changes in the tight junction (TJ) protein claudin-4.

A total of 24 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and irradiation groups. The irradiation groups were further divided into 1, 4, and 12 weeks groups after irradiation. One-time 20 Gy irradiation was given to the SMG area on the experimental side of the irradiation group. At 1, 4, and 12 weeks after irradiation, the secretion of SMGs was measured using the Schirmer’s test. The pathological changes in the gland tissues were observed under light microscopy after hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining. The changes in the TJ ultrastructure were observed under transmission electron microscopy. The immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of muscarinic acetylcholine M3 receptor, aquaporin 5 (AQP5), and claudin-4 protein.

At 1, 4, and 12 weeks after irradiation, the secretion of SMGs in the irradiation group was significantly decreased and lower than that in the control group (

<0.