The relationship between the molecular properties of dietary polyphenols and their affinities for bovine milk proteins (BMP) was investigated. The affinities of polyphenols for BMP were determined by means of fluorescence titration. The affinities of polyphenols for BMP increased with increasing partition coefficient and decreased with increasing hydrogen bond acceptor number of the polyphenol. From this point, the hydrophobic force played an important role in the binding interaction between polyphenols. It was found that the topological polar surface area value decreases with increasing binding constant of the polyphenol for BMP, which illustrates that the glycosylation of hydroxyl groups in polyphenols weakens their binding affinity for BMP. A strong correlation between Mulliken electronegativity and binding affinity was found (R = 0.64626), and Mulliken electronegativity values were found to increase with increasing binding constant of polyphenols for BMP. This illustrates that electrostatic interactions play a key role in binding dietary polyphenols to BMP.

ObjectiveRunt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) plays an important role in bone metabolism; however, the relationship between Runx2 and periodontitis remains unclear. We investigated Runx2 expression in the gingiva of patients to explore its role in periodontitis.MethodsGingival samples of patients were collected, including healthy samples (control group) and periodontitis samples (P group). Periodontitis samples were divided into three groups based on the periodontitis stage. Samples with stage I and grade B periodontitis were in the P1 group, stage II and grade B in the P2 group, and stage III or IV and grade B in the P3 group. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were performed to detect Runx2 levels. The probing (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) were recorded.ResultsRunx2 expression levels in the P and P3 groups were higher than those in the control group. In addition, Runx2 expression was positively correlated with CAL and PD (r1 = 0.435, r2 = 0.396).ConclusionThe high expression level of Runx2 in the gingiva of patients with periodontitis may be correlated with the pathogenesis of periodontitis.