This study aimed to examine the effects of surface anesthetics on the somatosensory function in a capsaicin - induced tongue pain model and included 14 healthy women. To establish the tongue pain model, 0.2 mL of 0.1％ capsaicin cream was applied to the tongue tip along with Vaseline（as control）, 2％ lidocaine HCl and 20％ benzocaine as（as surface anesthetics）. The numerical rating scale（NRS）for pain induced by capsaicin, mechanical detection threshold（MDT）, and mechanical pain threshold（MPT）were measured before capsaicin application（pre）in three sessions, NRS scores were significantly higher immediately post - capsaicin application, immediately, and 5 min post - drug application than pre（p<0.05）. In three sessions, the NRS scores were significantly lower immediately and 5, 15, 30 and 60 min post - drug application than that immediately post - capsaicin application（p<0.05）. In both local anesthetics sessions, the MDT immediately, 5 and 15 min post - drug application were significantly higher than that immediately post - capsaicin application（p<0.01）. In the 2％ lidocaine HCl session, the MPT immediately and 5 min post - drug application were significantly higher than immediately post - capsaicin application（p<0.01）. Thus, the application of 2％ lidocaine HCl and 20％ benzocaine induced temporary changes in the detect tactile and pain thresholds of the tongue pain model, suggesting that they contribute to pain reduction. The 2％ lidocaine HCI may be a better aid in the diagnosis of neuropathic pain than 20％ benzocaine.

Biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans is dependent on quorum-sensing mechanism mediated by the competence stimulating peptide（CSP）. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the genes based upon previous microarray analysis were regulated by CSP and to discuss the role of the genes for the development of biofilm. RT-PCR analysis using wild-type UA159, and a comC, comD, comE and comX mutants were utilized to examine expression of these genes. Further, the transcriptional levels of these genes in comC mutant induced by CSP were analyzed. We identified newly 9 CSP - induced genes. In addition, a different temporal expression pattern was found for the competence regulatory genes during the induction of competence following synthesized CSP exposure. The identified genes associated with the RGP （rhamnose - glucose polysaccharide, cell whole antigen）synthesis pathway（SMU832 and SMU833）and cell wall biosynthesis（PknB）. Many of the genes regulated by CSP might play an important role in the various stages of biofilm formation by S. mutans.

Follicular dendritic cell-secreted protein（FDC-SP）is expressed in tonsils, follicular dendritic cells, junctional epithelium and periodontal ligament. Functions of microRNAs （miRNAs）are post-transcriptional gene regulation and RNA silencing through binding to the 3’-untranslated region（3’-UTR）of mRNA. To analyze the effects of miR-223 on the expression of FDC-SP with or without stimulation by TNF-α in human gingival epithelial Ca9-22 cells, we conducted real-time PCR, luciferase（LUC）assays using -948FDC-SP+3’-UTR constructs that were inserted by two kinds of miR-223 binding sites of FDC-SP 3’-UTR in the downstream of the LUC gene, and Western blotting. Stimulation of Ca9-22 cells with TNF-α increased miR-223 expression, and transfection of Ca9-22 cells with a miR-223 expression plasmid also increased miR-223 expression. FDC-SP mRNA and protein levels increased by TNF-α were inhibited by overexpression of miR-223, and FDC-SP mRNA level was further increased by miR-223 inhibitor. Inhibitor of κB kinase α（IKKα）and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase 5（MKP-5）mRNA and protein levels were increased by TNF-α, and then decreased by mir-223 overexpression. LUC activities of -948FDC-SP+exon 4-5 and -948FDC-SP+1-984 were increased by TNF-α and almost completely inhibited by transfection with a miR-223 expression plasmid. U0126（MEK1/2 inhibitor）, BMS345541（IKKα and IKKβ inhibitor）and IMD0354（IKKβ inhibitor）inhibited TNF-α induced LUC activities of - 948FDC - SP+exon 4 - 5. These studies demonstrated that miR–223 suppresses TNF-α- induced FDC-SP expression by targeting to FDC-SP, IKKα and MKP5 in human gingival epithelial cells.

Exosomes, also known as extracellular vesicles, are produced from variety of sources, including body fluids and cultured cells. Etiology of periodontitis is complex, and microRNAs（miRNAs）in the exosomes may play an important role for medical condition. The purpose of this study was to analyze the expression profiles of miRNAs in the exosomes from human gingival fibroblasts（HGF）with or without stimulation by inflammatory cytokines. Total RNAs were isolated from exosomes. Expression profiles of miRNAs was studied by miRNA microarrays, GeneSpring GX, Ingenuity Pathways Analysis（IPA）and TargetScan databases. MiRNA expression levels were confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Exosomes from the conditioned medium of HGF stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-α（TNF-α）or interleukin - 1β（IL-1β）contained 18 or 23 overexpressed miRNAs. Three most overexpressed miRNAs in the exosomes were hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR-23a-3p and hsa-let-7c-5p for TNF-α or hsa-miR-24-3p, hsa-miR -3665-5p and hsa-miR-6089-3p for IL-1β stimulation. In IPA analysis, hsa - miR-3665-5p was involved in hereditary disorder, neurological disease, organismal injury and abnormalities, hsa-miR-149-3p was associated with cardiac dilation and enlargement, cardiovascular disease and hsa-miR-455-3p was related to cellular development, skeletal, muscular and cardiovascular system development and function. These findings suggest that miRNAs in the exosomes from HGF stimulated by TNF-α or IL-1β might be associated with skeletal, muscular and cardiovascular development and function and inflammation of periodontium.

The highest occurrence of avulsion of permanent incisors typically happens between the ages of 7 and 9 years. Since school teachers frequently oversee children in this age range, it is crucial for all individuals responsible for supervising children to be adequately prepared to respond in the event of these dental emergencies. The study aimed to assess the understanding and perspectives of primary school teachers regarding avulsion and its treatment in Sangamner, Maharashtra, India. So as to integrate trauma training programs into dental education in schools. The research was carried out with 300 primary school teachers. They were chosen through a random sampling method. The study’s objectives were communicated to all participating school teachers, and consent was obtained from each teacher involved. A custom - designed study form, which included demographic information and 12 specifically crafted close - ended questions, was distributed personally to the teachers. Completed questionnaires were returned within thirty minutes. The study’s data was statistically analyzed using chi - square tests and SPSS version 16（IBM, Chicago 2007）. The chi - square test was employed to assess the relationship between teachers’ knowledge and their teaching experience. The significance level was established at P ≤ 0.05. The teachers’ general understanding of managing traumatic injuries in emergency situations was lacking. The study’s findings led to the conclusion that it is essential to develop and implement more informative promotional programs to enhance the knowledge and awareness of this community group, who typically serve as the first line of support for dental trauma in schools.

Streptococcus gordonii, an initial attachment bacterium, forms a scaffold for oral biofilm formation and has been detected in the human mouths. S. gordonii is a nonpathogenic species associated with infective endocarditis. Extracellular DNA（eDNA） released by the bacteria contributes to biofilm formation. Short - chain fatty acids （SCFAs）increase the initial attachment and aggregation, and biofilm formation of Actinomyces spp. However, their relationship with other initially adhering bacteria remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the effects of butyric acid（a SCFA）on the initial attachment and aggregation, and biofilm formation of S. gordonii. Butyric acid inhibited biofilm formation by S. gordonii but promoted initial attachment and aggregation. However, under conditions that mimicked the pH during butyric acid addition using HCl, initial attachment and aggregation were not promoted. In addition, initial attachment and aggregation promotion of S. gordnoii, facilitated by butyric acid addition, was inhibited by adding DNA degradation enzymes（DNase I）. The initial attachment and aggregation of bacteria were live/dead stained and observed using a confocal laser microscope. Butyric acid increased the number of live and dead bacteria. In contrast, DNase I decreased the numbers of live and dead bacteria. Thus, butyric acid, which is present in the oral cavity at concentrations that can be reached, promotes the initial attachment and aggregation of S. gordonii.