This study aimed to assess generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL), pain intensity, and anxiety levels and the relationship between the three aspects in healthy young Chinese orthodontic patients in the early stage of orthodontic treatment. We enrolled 252 eligible participants (10–29 years old) to complete validated Chinese versions of questionnaires, including the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (S-AI), the visual analogue scale (VAS), and the Short-Form 36-Item Health Survey (SF-36) at baseline and on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 30 after initial archwire placement (SF-36 only at baseline and day 30). The response rate was 96% (243 of 252). SF-36 had moderate reliability (Cronbach's alpha coefficient exceeding 0.7, good fit on day 30). Statistical significant changes were observed in physical function (P < 0.01), body pain (P = 0.01), and general health (P < 0.01) domains. Spearman correlation coefficients for SF-36 with S-AI were −0.131~−0.515 (P < 0.05); SF-36 with VAS were −0.141~−0.273 (P < 0.05), indicating significant but moderate negative correlations between HRQoL and pain/anxiety. Overall, the application of SF-36 in assessing HRQoL is reluctantly suitable for young Chinese orthodontic patients in the early stage of orthodontic treatment. Early treatment-related pain and anxiety are important factors in HRQoL.

BackgroundLeonurine, a major bioactive component from Herba leonuri, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leonurine on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) as a therapeutic approach for treating osteoporosis.Materials and MethodsRat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were isolated from 4-weeks-old Sprague–Dawley rats. The cytocompatibility of leonurine on rBMSCs was tested via CCK-8 assays and flow cytometric analyses. The effects of leonurine on rBMSC osteogenic differentiation were analyzed via ALP staining, Alizarin red staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. Additionally, autophagy-related markers were examined via qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses of rBMSCs during osteogenic differentiation with leonurine and with or without 3-methyladenine (3-MA) as an autophagic inhibitor. Finally, the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway was evaluated during rBMSC osteogenesis.ResultsLeonurine at 2–100 μM promoted the proliferation of rBMSCs. ALP and Alizarin red staining results showed that 10 μM leonurine promoted rBMSC osteoblastic differentiation, which was consistent with the qRT-PCR and Western blot results. Compared with those of the control group, the mRNA and protein levels of Atg5, Atg7, and LC3 were upregulated in the rBMSCs upon leonurine treatment. Furthermore, leonurine rescued rBMSC autophagy after inhibition by 3-MA. Additionally, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was activated in rBMSCs upon leonurine treatment.ConclusionLeonurine promotes the osteoblast differentiation of rBMSCs by activating autophagy, which depends on the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Our results suggest that leonurine may be a potential treatment for osteoporosis.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) is a member of the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) family. It is the designation of molecules consisting of random co-polymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3- hydroxyhexanoate. PHBHHx plays a significant role in the field of biomedical materials. It has good physical, chemical and mechanical properties, making it potentially useful for a wide range of biomaterials applications. In addition, it has also shown better biocompatibility with different cell types. This paper will introduce the physical, chemical and biological properties of PHBHHx, including biodegradation, hydrophilicity, surface properties and cytocompatibility. The development of PHBHHx in tissue-engineering applications will be discussed. PHBHHx used to repair bone, cartilage, tendons, nerves and vessels will be the focus of discussion.