OBJECTIVE: this article aims to analyze the expression of TNF-α, RANKL, and osteoclast cells count after application of DDMM as GBR in mandibular bone defects.

METHODOLOGY: this is an experimental study with a post-test only control group design, which began with the randomization of 120 rats into five groups: K(-), without membrane implantation; K(+), PPCM; P1, DDMM; P2, DDMM + bone graft; P3, PPCM + bone graft. The expression of TNF-α, RANKL, and osteoclast cells count were observed, followed by analysis using a one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey HSD comparison test.

RESULTS: there were significant differences in the expression of TNF-α, RANKL, and osteoclast cells count in all study groups (p=0.000). TNF-α showed a decreasing difference with the highest expression in the K(-) group on day 3 of 12.00±2.16. RANKL expression increased on day 14 and decreased on day 21 in all groups. The osteoclast cells count generally showed a critical period with the highest increase in the K(-) group on day 14 of 73.00±0.00.

METHODS: The polyphenolic compounds in SCFE were identified with Reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Meanwhile, murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, measuring leptin levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid and triglyceride (TG) contents were utilized during anti-adipogenic activity assessments. Concurrently, the effects of SCFE on adipogenic transcription factors were established with quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS: The RP-HPLC results indicated three polyphenolic compounds in SCFE, including one flavonoid (naringin) and two phenolic acids (syringic and p-coumaric). Although SCFE treatments (250-1000 μg/mL) did not result in cell toxicity, they significantly reduced dose-dependent lipid accumulation, ROS production, and TG and leptin levels relative to control-differentiated adipocytes. Moreover, SCFE suppressed sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP-α) gene expressions during preadipocyte differentiation into adipocytes.

METHODS: MyBFF@school is a school-based, cluster randomized controlled trial (C-RCT) study. The investigators selected government schools from Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan by stratified proportionate random sampling based on the multi-ethnic population and the urban-rural location of schools. Subsequently, the schools were assigned randomly to intervention and control groups. The intervention schools underwent MyBFF@school program, whereas the control followed standard school curriculum for a duration of six months. The intervention modules replaced the existing two physical education classes and one co-curriculum activity per week. Three assessments i.e. at baseline, month-3 and month-6 were conducted. Anthropometric, clinical examination, blood, physical fitness, nutrition, and psychology parameters were collected.

RESULTS: Twenty-three out of 1,196 primary schools (seven interventions and 16 controls) and 15 out of 416 secondary schools (six interventions and nine controls). The investigators screened 11,950 primary (age 9-11 years) and 10,866 secondary (age 13, 14, 16 years) schoolchildren. The investigators found 3,516 primary schoolchildren (29.4%) and 2,910 secondary schoolchildren (26.8%) had BMI z-score of more than + 1SD who were eligible for the study. Of these, 39.7% (N = 1397) of the primary and 35.8% (N = 1041) of the secondary schoolchildren agreed to participate in the study. The mean (SD) characteristics for the participating primary and secondary schoolchildren were: BMI z-score, + 2.29 (± 0.81) and + 2.10 (± 0.71); waist circumference, 75.06 (± 9.6) cm and 85.5 (± 10.9) cm; percentage body fat, 37.8% (± 6.5%) and 39.2% (± 7.3%); and muscle mass, 14.7 (± 2.9) and 23.1 (± 5.2) kg respectively.

CONCLUSION: MyBFF@school program, a school-based multi-pronged intervention was designed to combat childhood obesity. Screening of 22,816 primary and secondary schoolchildren found 29.4% of primary schoolchildren and 26.8% of secondary schoolchildren to be overweight and obese which reflected the urgency for an effective intervention.

METHODS: This is a school-based, cluster randomized controlled trial involving selected primary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. A total of 1,397 primary-school students aged 9-11 with a body mass index (BMI) z -score (corrected for age) greater than + 1 standard deviation based on the World Health Organization 2007 Growth Reference were assigned to intervention ( n = 647 ) and control ( n = 750 ) groups. BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC), percentage body fat (PBF), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were assessed at baseline and after three and six months of the study. Analyses of all outcomes except for the baseline characteristics were conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of oral alveolar lymphangioma on the anterior maxillary alveolar ridge of an 11-day-old infant of non-black descent. The lesion presented as a pedunculated, reddish, lobular mass in the anterior maxilla. Given its atypical presentation and the potential for feeding difficulties, an excisional biopsy was performed. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically through biopsy and supported by immunohistochemical staining.