A Questionnaire Study on Attitudes toward Birth and Child-rearing of University Students in Japan, China,and South Korea

This study examines the attitudes of young Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans toward birth and child-rearing. The survey targeted four-year university students (n＝1,668) who responded to an anonymous survey using self-report questionnaires between December 2012 and April 2013. The collection rates were 72.5%, 94.7%, and 96.5% for the Japanese, Chinese, and South Korean students, respectively. Correlations among the respondentsʼ attributes, medical and scientific literacy levels, and views of preferred qualities of children were analyzed using chi-square test, supplemented by residual analysis (significance level set at p＜0.05). Participants were asked whether they were willing to use the following methods for obtaining preferred qualities in their children:(1) choosing a spouse (43.2%, 72.6%, and 85.1% of the Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans, respectively, agreed);(2) using a sperm bank (cryobank) (5.8%, 60.1%, and 81.7% of the Japanese, Chines, and South Koreans, respectively, agreed);and (3) using an egg cell bank (ova bank or cryobank) (5.3%, 47.2%, and 70.3% of the Japanese, Chinese, and South Koreans, respectively, agreed). The proportion of affirmative responses (indicating “eugenic inclination”) to these statements was significantly higher among the Chinese and South Korean participants than their Japanese counterparts (p＜0.001). Significant differences were also found in the attitudes of the 3 groups toward methods for obtaining the preferred qualities for their children:prenatal diagnosis, pre-implantation diagnosis, the environment during pregnancy, and child-rearing

Cystamine induces AIF-mediated apoptosis through glutathione depletion

AbstractCystamine and its reduced form cysteamine showed protective effects in various models of neurodegenerative disease, including Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. Other lines of evidence demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of cysteamine on duodenal mucosa leading to ulcer development. However, the mechanism for cystamine cytotoxicity remains poorly understood. Here, we report a new pathway in which cystamine induces apoptosis by targeting apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). By screening of various cell lines, we observed that cystamine and cysteamine induce cell death in a cell type-specific manner. Comparison between cystamine-sensitive and cystamine-resistant cell lines revealed that cystamine cytotoxicity is not associated with unfolded protein response, reactive oxygen species generation and transglutaminase or caspase activity; rather, it is associated with the ability of cystamine to trigger AIF nuclear translocation. In cystamine-sensitive cells, cystamine suppresses the levels of intracellular glutathione by inhibiting γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase expression that triggers AIF translocation. Conversely, glutathione supplementation completely prevents cystamine-induced AIF translocation and apoptosis. In rats, cysteamine administration induces glutathione depletion and AIF translocation leading to apoptosis of duodenal epithelium. These results indicate that AIF translocation through glutathione depletion is the molecular mechanism of cystamine toxicity, and provide important implications for cystamine in the neurodegenerative disease therapeutics as well as in the regulation of AIF-mediated cell death

Improvement of Biological Effects of Root-Filling Materials for Primary Teeth by Incorporating Sodium Iodide

Therapeutic iodoform (CHI3) is commonly used as a root-filling material for primary teeth; however, the side effects of iodoform-containing materials, including early root resorption, have been reported. To overcome this problem, a water-soluble iodide (NaI)-incorporated root-filling material was developed. Calcium hydroxide, silicone oil, and NaI were incorporated in different weight proportions (30:30:X), and the resulting material was denoted DX (D5~D30), indicating the NaI content. As a control, iodoform instead of NaI was incorporated at a ratio of 30:30:30, and the material was denoted I30. The physicochemical (flow, film thickness, radiopacity, viscosity, water absorption, solubility, and ion releases) and biological (cytotoxicity, TRAP, ARS, and analysis of osteoclastic markers) properties were determined. The amount of iodine, sodium, and calcium ion releases and the pH were higher in D30 than I30, and the highest level of unknown extracted molecules was detected in I30. In the cell viability test, all groups except 100% D30 showed no cytotoxicity. In the 50% nontoxic extract, D30 showed decreased osteoclast formation compared with I30. In summary, NaI-incorporated materials showed adequate physicochemical properties and low osteoclast formation compared to their iodoform-counterpart. Thus, NaI-incorporated materials may be used as a substitute for iodoform-counterparts in root-filling materials after further (pre)clinical investigation

Physicochemical, Pre-Clinical, and Biological Evaluation of Viscosity Optimized Sodium Iodide-Incorporated Paste

This study aimed to investigate the impact of different viscosities of silicone oil on the physicochemical, pre-clinical usability, and biological properties of a sodium iodide paste. Six different paste groups were created by mixing therapeutic molecules, sodium iodide (D30) and iodoform (I30), with calcium hydroxide and one of the three different viscosities of silicone oil (high (H), medium (M), and low (L)). The study evaluated the performance of these groups, including I30H, I30M, I30L, D30H, D30M, and D30L, using multiple parameters such as flow, film thickness, pH, viscosity, and injectability, with statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the D30L group demonstrated superior outcomes compared to the conventional iodoform counterpart, including a significant reduction in osteoclast formation, as examined through TRAP, c-FOS, NFATc1, and Cathepsin K (p < 0.05). Additionally, mRNA sequencing showed that the I30L group exhibited increased expression of inflammatory genes with upregulated cytokines compared to the D30L group. These findings suggest that the optimized viscosity of the sodium iodide paste (D30L) may lead to clinically favorable outcomes, such as slower root resorption, when used in primary teeth. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the D30L group shows the most satisfactory outcomes, which may be a promising root-filling material that could replace conventional iodoform-based pastes

Physicochemical, Biological, and Antibacterial Properties of Four Bioactive Calcium Silicate-Based Cements

Calcium silicate-based cement (CSC) is a pharmaceutical agent that is widely used in dentistry. This bioactive material is used for vital pulp treatment due to its excellent biocompatibility, sealing ability, and antibacterial activity. Its drawbacks include a long setting time and poor maneuverability. Hence, the clinical properties of CSC have recently been improved to decrease its setting time. Despite the widespread clinical usage of CSC, there is no research comparing recently developed CSCs. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare the physicochemical, biological, and antibacterial properties of four commercial CSCs: two powder–liquid mix types (RetroMTA® [RETM]; Endocem® MTA Zr [ECZR]) and two premixed types (Well-Root™ PT [WRPT]; Endocem® MTA premixed [ECPR]). Each sample was prepared using circular Teflon molds, and tests were conducted after 24 h of setting. The premixed CSCs exhibited a more uniform and less rough surface, higher flowability, and lower film thickness than the powder–liquid mix CSCs. In the pH test, all CSCs showed values between 11.5 and 12.5. In the biological test, cells exposed to ECZR at a concentration of 25% showed greater cell viability, but none of the samples showed a significant difference at low concentration (p > 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase staining revealed that cells exposed to ECZR underwent more odontoblast differentiation than the cells exposed to the other materials; however, no significant difference was observed at a concentration of 12.5% (p > 0.05). In the antibacterial test, the premixed CSCs showed better results than the powder–liquid mix CSCs, and ECPR yielded the best results, followed by WRPT. In conclusion, the premixed CSCs showed improved physical properties, and of the premixed types, ECPR exhibited the highest antibacterial properties. For biological properties, none of these materials showed significant differences at 12.5% dilution. Therefore, ECPR may be a promising material with high antibacterial activity among the four CSCs, but further investigation is needed for clinical situations

Complete mitogenome and phylogenetic analysis of two species (Mareca penelope and Mareca falcate)

We determined the complete mitogenomes of two wigeons, Mareca penelope (16,603 bp) and Mareca falcata (16,597 bp) of the family Anatidae using Illumina next-generation sequencing to better understand phylogenetic relationships. Both species consisted of 37 genes (13 protein-coding genes), two ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs, and one control region. A + T content (M. penelope 51.25%, M. falcata 51.2%) was slightly higher than G + C content (M. penelope 48.75%, M. falcata 48.8%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 13 concatenated PCG sequences indicated that M. penelope and M. falcata belong to the Mareca genus, with high bootstrap values

Potential oncogenic role and prognostic implication of microRNA-155-5p in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Altered microRNA expression is associated with cancer progression. This study investigated the prognostic significance of microRNA-155-5p (miR-155-5p), a well-known oncomiR, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods: miR-155-5p expression was assessed using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction in 68 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded OSCC specimens. E-Cadherin immunohistochemistry was conducted to correlate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) with miR- 155-5p expression. Results: Elevated miR-155-5p was associated with higher pathological TNM stage (p=0.048) and relapse (p=0.029). High miR-155-5p expression, along with angiolymphatic invasion and advanced stage, was a statistically significant prognostic factor for poorer diseasefree survival. In patients with stage I-II disease, high miR-155-5p was the only significant prognostic factor (p=0.033). A significant negative correlation was observed between miR-155-5p and E-cadherin expression (p=0.015), suggesting a possible role for miR-155-5p in EMT. Conclusion: miR-155-5p expression might contribute to EMT-associated OSCC progression and serve as a biomarker for predicting relapse, especially for patients with early-stage OSCC.Y

Clinicopathologic implications of the miR-197/PD-L1 axis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Immune escape of a tumor from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is induced by PD-L1, which is suppressed by miR-197. We investigated the clinicopathologic implications of the miR-197/PD-L1 axis and its effects on TILs and the clinicopathologic features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We used RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in 68 OSCC patients to analyze the correlations between tumoral expression of miR-197 and PD-L1 and the degree of tumoral invasion by TILs (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, PD-1+, FoxP3+, and CD20+ lymphocytes). PD-L1 levels correlated inversely with miR-197 but correlated positively with TILs. The aggressive features of OSCC, including high stage, angiolymphatic invasion, perineural invasion, and death, were associated with TIL depletion. High T stage (T4) tumors also had low PD-L1 but had high miR-197 expression. In a univariate survival analysis of the full cohort, high miR-197 was associated with poor overall survival, whereas high PD-L1 expression (2+) associated with good overall survival. In a multivariate analysis stratified based on miR-197 (median), high PD-L1 expression (2+) was an independent favorable prognostic factor for overall survival (P = 0.040) in the miR-197(high) subgroup but not the miR-197(low) subgroup. These findings may have clinicopathologic implications for the miR-197/PD-L1 axis and TILs in OSCC.Y