To investigate the levels of the Twist and Vimentin proteins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the clinical significance of Twist and Vimentin.

Eighty-five samples of OSCC and fifteen samples of normal oral mucosa were collected. Immunohistochemistry (SP method) was used to detect the expression of proteins, including Twist and vimentin. The relationship among these proteins and clinical pathological parameters was analyzed using SPSS statistical software.

In the normal group, 13.3% (2/15) of samples were positive for the Twist protein; this value was significantly lower than that in OSCC group (80.0%, 66/85) (χ²＝26.98, P < 0.001). The expression of Twist was associated with clinical stage (χ²＝5.40, P＝0.02) and lymph node metastasis (χ²＝8.35, P＝0.006), while no correlations were found between the expression of Twist and sex (χ²＝0.23, P＝0.63), age (χ²＝0.31, P＝0.58), location (χ²＝1.46, P＝0.235) or degree of differentiation (χ²＝1.52, P＝0.47). Additionally, 6.7% of samples (1/15) were positive for vimentin; this value was significantly lower than that in OSCC group (74.1%, 63/85) (χ²＝20.71, P < 0.001). The expression of vimentin was associated with clinical stage (χ²＝4.51, P＝0.034) and lymph node metastasis (χ²＝6.75, P＝0.009), while no correlations were found between the expression of vimentin and sex (χ²＝0.40, P＝0.53), age (χ²＝0.17, P＝0.68), location (χ²＝0.74， P＝0.39) or degree of differentiation (χ²＝4.58, P＝ 0.10). Spearman correlation analyses showed that Twist protein expression was positively correlated with vimentin (r＝ 0.578, P＜0.05).

Our data demonstrate that in OSCC, Twist and vimentin levels were upregulated, and Twist protein expression was positively correlated with vimentin, which indicates that both Twist and vimentin may be involved in the occurrence of OSCC.

To explore the role of apoliprotein D (APOD) in the proliferation and migration of human dental pulp cells (DPCs) and to provide a basis for the use of APOD to promote pulp regeneration.

APOD expression in human dental pulp cells was inhibited by siRNA. The inhibition effect of APOD was confirmed by qPCR and Western blot. After APOD inhibition, colony formation experiments and CCK8 assays were employed to confirm the proliferation ability of dental pulp cells. Transwell assays were used to verify the cell migration ability after the inhibition of APOD expression.

After inhibiting APOD expression, the colony formation rate in the si-apod group was reduced compared with the NC group, and the difference was statistically significant (t＝7.624, P＝0.002). The CCK8 experiment showed that the OD value in the si-apod group decreased at 3, 5 and 7 d compared with that in the NC group (P < 0.05). Transwell results showed that the number of cell divisions was 57.25 ± 4.03 in the si-apod group and 154.50 ± 8.39 in the NC group, and the difference was statistically significant (t＝10.45, P < 0.001).

Inhibition of APOD expression in dental pulp cells inhibits their proliferation and migration ability.

To investigate the efficiency of different concentrations of genipin and silk fibroin (SF): chitosan (CS) ratios on the package and release of SF-CS composite microspheres.

Selected the microspheres with a SF: CS ratio of 1:1 to encapsulate different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and compared their encapsulation efficiency and sustained-release rate with those of pure chitosan microspheres. SF-CS microspheres were prepared with emulsion cross-linking technique. The microspheres were observed by scanning electron microscope. Size distribution was measured by a laser particle size analyzer. X-ray diffractometry (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetricanalyzer (TGA) were used to analyze their structural characteristics. BCA method was used for determination of the drug entrapment, loading rate and cumulative release of the total drug.

The five types of microspheres (m (CS): m (SF) = 1:0.5, 0.1 g or 0.5 g genipin; m (CS): m (SF) = 1:1, 0.05 g or 1 g genipin; m (CS): m (SF) = 1:2, 0.5 g eniping) had a more spherical shape and smooth surface with particle size between 70-147 μm. The microspheres prepared with m (CS): m (SF) of 1:1 and 0.05 g genipin in the presence of 10 mg, 20 mg, or 50 mg BSA of BSA burst-released (30.79±3.43)%, (34.41±4.46)%, or (41.75±0.96)% of the entrapped BSA on the first day, and cumulatively released (75.20±2.52)%, (79.16±4.31)%, and (89.04±4.68)% in 21 d, respectively. The pure CS microspheres prepared in the presence of 10 mg BSA burst-released (39.53±1.76)% on the first day and cumulatively released (83.57±2.33)% of the total encapsulated BSA in 21 d.

The SF-CS composite microspheres had a higher sustained release rate than the pure CS microspheres and may be a better drug carrier.