Background Astragaloside IV (AS‐IV), a natural herbal compound from Astragalus membranaceus, has inhibitory effects on receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclastogenesis, and RANKL signal helps to regulate odontoblast differentiation. However, whether and how AS‐IV affects odontoblastic differentiation remains unclear. Methods Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated MDPC‐23 cells and rat pulpitis were treated with AS‐IV, cell viability, and LDH leakage was analyzed by CCK‐8 assay and LDH Leakage assay. The production of TNF‐α and IL‐6 was determined by ELISA and qRT‐PCR assay. The expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected using an ALP assay kit, and the expression of dentin sialophos‐phoprotein (DSPP), dentin matrix protein‐1 (DMP1), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2), and phosphorylated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (p‐ERK) was determined by western blot. Results AS‐IV dose dependently increased in cell viability and decreased the overproduction of TNF‐α and IL‐6 in LPS‐stimulated MDPC‐23 cells. AS‐IV also counteracted LPS‐induced downregulation of ALP, DSPP, and DMP1 in MDPC‐23 cells. Furthermore, AS‐IV significantly decreased the expression of FGF2 and p‐ERK in LPS‐stimulated MDPC‐23 cells. More important, the addition of FGF2 partly neutralized AS‐IV‐mediated inhibition of FGF2/ERK signaling, abolished AS‐IV‐induced reduction of TNF‐α and IL‐6, and counteracted AS‐IV‐induced upregulation of DSPP and DMP‐1 in these cells. Meanwhile, AS‐IV inhibited the excessive production of TNF‐α and IL‐6, suppressed the downregulation of DSPP and DMP1, and disturbed the up‐regulation of FGF2 and p‐ERK in the pulp tissues of rat pulpitis model. Conclusions AS‐IV exerted anti‐inflammatory and pro‐differentiation effects in LPS‐stimulated MDPC‐23 cells and rat pulpitis via inhibiting the FGF2/ERK signaling pathway.

Background:This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of orthodontic and orthognathic treatment (OOT) for patients with oral and maxillofacial deformities (OMDF) systematically.Methods:This study will comprehensively search Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inceptions to the July 1, 2019. Grey literature will be explored via searching dissertations, Google scholar and conference abstracts. Two team members will independently perform all citations, data extraction, and methodological quality. We will also utilize RevMan 5.3 Software for statistical analysis.Results:This study will provide high quality evidence of OOT for OMDF. The primary outcomes consist of number of patients cured; proportion of patients healed; and time to complete healing within trial period. Secondary outcomes include quality of life (often assessed as any relevant scales, such as 36-Item Short Form Survey), costs, and complications.Conclusion:This study will provide evidence for judging whether OOT is effective treatment for OMDF.Systematic review registration:CRD42019144610.