Reconstruction of upper and lower lip defects poses a considerable challenge to plastic and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. The upper and lower lips are important dynamic structures of the lower third of the face and play a key role in maintaining facial aesthetics, speech, swallowing, and expression. Therefore, the repair of defects after lip cancer resection should not only restore the continuity of the tissue, but also consider the lip morphology, the function of the orbicularis oris muscle, and the sensation. This article focuses on the application of cross-lip flaps, cheek advancement flaps, rotation advancement lip flaps, and free flaps in the repair and reconstruction of lip defects, and summarizes the key points for postoperative aesthetic and functional evaluation.
To investigate the effect of N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10) on the healing of tooth extraction sockets in mice.
A mouse model of tooth extraction socket healing was established, and the expression of NAT10 in extraction socket tissues at different time points was evaluated. A total of 48 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Following tooth extraction, the experimental group received local injection of the NAT10 inhibitor Remodelin, whereas the control group received vehicle treatment. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunofluorescence staining, and Micro-CT were performed to evaluate extraction socket healing. Jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (JBMMSCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro. NAT10 expression was inhibited using Remodelin, and the effects on osteogenic differentiation were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and alizarin red S (ARS) staining.
HE staining demonstrated that newly formed bone appeared in the extraction sockets on day 7 after tooth extraction, whereas bone matrix mineralization and bone remodeling occurred from day 14 to day 21. RT-qPCR analysis showed that NAT10 expression reached its peak on day 3 after tooth extraction. Following Remodelin treatment, NAT10 expression in extraction socket tissues was markedly reduced. Immunofluorescence staining, HE staining, and Micro-CT analyses revealed that, compared with the control group, the experimental group exhibited fewer RUNX2-positive cells, reduced new bone formation, decreased bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), and delayed extraction socket bone healing. In vitro experiments showed that inhibition of NAT10 downregulated the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins in JBMMSCs, reduced ALP and ARS staining intensity, and impaired osteogenic differentiation.
NAT10 maintained the osteogenic differentiation ability of JBMMSCs to some extent, and was beneficial to bone healing after tooth extraction in mice.
To investigate the changes in local iron ion levels following mandibular bone defects and evaluate the effect of desferrioxamine (DFO) on bone defect repair, as well as to preliminarily explore the underlying mechanism by which DFO promotes osteogenic differentiation.
A mouse mandibular bone defect model was established. Local iron deposition was evaluated by Prussian blue staining and tissue iron content assay. DFO was locally administered, and bone defect repair was assessed using Micro-CT. An iron overload microenvironment was established in vitro using ferric ammonium citrate (FAC). Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blotting, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, and alizarin red S staining. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and mitophagy-related molecules was detected by immunofluorescence staining, RT-qPCR, and Western blotting. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated HIF-1α knockdown and the mitophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) were used to further investigate the underlying mechanism.
Increased local iron deposition and significantly elevated tissue iron content were observed following mandibular bone defects in mice. Local administration of DFO promoted new bone formation and improved bone microarchitectural parameters in the defect area. In vitro, the iron overload microenvironment suppressed the expression of osteogenesis-related genes and proteins, reduced ALP activity, and inhibited mineralized nodule formation, whereas DFO partially reversed these effects. Furthermore, DFO upregulated the expression of HIF-1α and mitophagy-related molecules. The promotive effect of DFO on osteogenic differentiation was markedly attenuated after HIF-1α knockdown or treatment with 3-MA.
Iron ion levels are elevated in the bone defect area. Iron overload impairs osteogenic differentiation, while DFO counteracts this inhibition via mitophagy-mediated enhancement of osteogenesis.
To construct folic acid (FA)-modified liposomes (LPs) loaded with 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) using microfluidic technology and to evaluate their physicochemical properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and reparative potential in periodontal inflammatory bone defects.
FA-modified, 4-OI-loaded targeted liposomes (4-OI/FA-LPs) were prepared using a microfluidic approach and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analysis, and zeta potential measurement. Encapsulation efficiency (EE), drug loading (DL), and in vitro drug-release behavior were determined by ultrafiltration centrifugation and equilibrium dialysis. The biocompatibility of 4-OI/FA-LPs was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were used as an in vitro inflammatory model, and the inflammation-regulating effects of 4-OI/FA-LPs were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunofluorescence staining. A ligature-induced mouse model of periodontitis was established, and the effects of 4-OI/FA-LPs on alveolar bone resorption and periodontal tissue damage were evaluated by Micro-CT and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining.
The 4-OI/FA-LPs exhibited a regular spherical morphology with uniform distribution, an average particle size of 138.80±0.60 nm, and a negative surface charge. The EE and DL capacity were 81.94% and 4.49%, respectively, and sustained release of 4-OI was observed for up to 2 weeks. The CCK-8 assay demonstrated good biocompatibility of 4-OI/FA-LPs. RT-qPCR showed that, compared with the LPS group, 4-OI/FA-LPs significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and MMP13 while upregulating Arg-1 mRNA expression. Immunofluorescence analysis showed decreased iNOS expression and increased Arg-1 expression. Micro-CT and HE staining revealed that 4-OI/FA-LPs alleviated alveolar bone resorption and periodontal tissue damage in mice with periodontitis and improved bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV).
The 4-OI/FA-LPs were successfully constructed and exhibited favorable physicochemical properties and biocompatibility. The LPs attenuated inflammatory responses and alleviated periodontitis-related alveolar bone resorption, suggesting potential for promoting the repair of periodontal inflammatory bone defects.
To investigate the clinical value of serum microRNA-942-5p (miR-942-5p) and microRNA-675-5p (miR-675-5p) expression levels in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of oral cancer.
A total of 116 patients with oral cancer admitted to Huanggang Central Hospital from February 2020 to February 2022 were enrolled as the observation group, and 120 healthy individuals undergoing routine physical examination during the same period were recruited as the control group. Serum expression levels of miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with oral cancer occurrence. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of serum miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p for oral cancer. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to assess the correlation between the expression levels of the two miRNAs. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate their association with patient prognosis.
Compared with the control group, the relative expression levels of serum miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p in the observation group were both decreased (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p were significantly associated with the occurrence of oral cancer (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between serum miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p levels in patients with oral cancer (r=0.516, P<0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for miR-942-5p, miR-675-5p, and their combination in diagnosing oral cancer was 0.802, 0.768, and 0.846, respectively. Combined detection showed superior diagnostic performance compared with either marker alone (Z=2.201, 3.205, both P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that patients with low expression of miR-942-5p or miR-675-5p had significantly lower 2-year survival rates than those with high expression (P<0.05).
Serum miR-942-5p and miR-675-5p levels are decreased in patients with oral cancer. Combined detection of these two biomarkers may have good value in the auxiliary diagnosis of oral cancer, and their expression levels are associated with patient prognosis.
To investigate the prognostic value of cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), explore their associations with the tumor microenvironment (TME), and construct a prognostic prediction model.
Transcriptomic and clinical data of OSCC were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Prognosis-related CRGs were identified by univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Unsupervised consensus clustering was performed based on prognosis-related CRGs and their differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA), single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were conducted to investigate the biological functions of the identified genes. A prognostic risk model was established using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)-Cox regression analysis and evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The relationship between risk scores and immune cell infiltration was assessed using the CIBERSORT algorithm.
A total of 15 prognosis-related CRGs were identified in OSCC. Based on the expression profiles of prognosis-related CRGs, patients were classified into three molecular subtypes with significantly different overall survival outcomes (P=0.002). Subsequently, 24 DEGs were identified, and patients were further categorized into two gene subtypes with significantly different overall survival (P<0.001). Functional enrichment analyses revealed that these DEGs were mainly involved in pathways related to cell cycle, DNA replication, amino acid biosynthesis, and platinum drug resistance. A prognostic risk model consisting of THBS1 and DEFB1 was established and demonstrated certain predictive performance in the training cohort, validation cohort, and entire cohort. In addition, risk scores were significantly associated with the infiltration levels of multiple immune cells and TME characteristics.
CRGs are closely associated with the prognosis and TME of patients with OSCC. The prognostic model based on CRGs exhibits certain predictive performance and may provide a reference for prognostic evaluation and mechanistic studies in OSCC.
To investigate the imaging characteristics of Stafne bone cavity (SBC) through retrospective case analysis and to provide a reference for clinical diagnosis and treatment.
Imaging data from 22 patients with SBC were retrospectively analyzed. Fourteen patients underwent panoramic radiography and 19 underwent cone beam CT (CBCT). Imaging data in digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) format from the CBCT scans were imported into Mimics Medical 21.0 software for three-dimensional reconstruction and volumetric measurement of the lesions.
SBC was identified in 12 of 14 panoramic radiographs (85.71%), whereas all 19 CBCT scans successfully demonstrated the lesion (100%). All 19 SBCs were located between the mandibular canal and the inferior border of the mandible. A total of 16 lesions (84.21%) did not contact the inferior border of the mandible, whereas 3 lesions (15.79%) were in contact with it. Regarding the relationship with the mandibular canal, 9 lesions (47.37%) showed no contact, 6 lesions (31.58%) contacted the canal with an intact canal wall, and 4 lesions (21.05%) contacted the canal and caused discontinuity of the canal wall. According to the Friedrich classification, 2 lesions (10.53%) were classified as type 0, 10 (52.63%) as typeⅠ, 6 (31.58%) as typeⅡ, and 1 (5.26%) as typeⅢ. The lesion volume ranged from 62.58 to 3 189.31 mm3, with a mean volume of 582.74 mm3.
Imaging examination is pivotal for SBC diagnosis. Compared to panoramic radiography, which has limitations in bucco-lingual visualization, CBCT offers clear advantages in three-dimensional localization, neurovascular relationship assessment, and quantitative volumetric analysis. Small-field-of-view CBCT is recommended as an important follow-up modality for SBC monitoring.
Inflammasomes are cytoplasmic supramolecular complexes, important components of the body's innate immune system, playing an important role in recognizing exogenous microbial invasion or endogenous damage signals. Periodontitis and atherosclerosis are both chronic inflammatory diseases, and the association between them has attracted increasing attention. Inflammasomes play important regulatory roles in the development and progression of systemic inflammatory diseases. This article reviews the key inflammasomes and their regulatory mechanisms, which play vital roles in periodontitis and atherosclerosis.
Maxillary transverse deficiency is a common skeletal malocclusion that can lead to problems such as dental crowding and posterior crossbite.Skeletal expansion is the primary therapeutic approach for this condition, and the treatment outcome of the commonly used rapid maxillary expansion (RME) is largely dependent on midpalatal suture maturity (MPSM). This article reviews the current qualitative and quantitative methods for evaluating MPSM, analyzes the influencing factors of age, sex, skeletal maturity, and anatomical morphology, and explores the research progress and clinical application prospects of artificial intelligence (AI) in MPSM evaluation.
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), also known as sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a benign proliferative disorder of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. It can occur at non-specific anatomical sites, rarely involves the salivary glands, and is highly prone to misdiagnosis in clinical practice. Currently, no consensus has been reached regarding its treatment. This article reports a rare case of RDD involving the salivary glands and reviews the relevant literature to discuss its clinical manifestations, etiology, and treatment, aiming to improve oral clinicians' understanding, diagnosis, and management of this disease.
Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common benign tumor of the salivary glands, but it is extremely rare for it to originate from the cheek, and preoperative diagnosis is challenging. This article reports the diagnosis and treatment process of a case of PA in the left cheek of a young female patient, and reviews relevant literature to systematically explore the clinical and imaging manifestations, differential diagnosis, and other aspects of PA in the cheek, with the aim of providing a reference for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.
