BACKGROUND Odontogenic fibroma is a rare mesenchymal odontogenic tumor. It can be classified as central odontogenic fibroma (COF) or peripheral odontogenic fibroma (POF) based on clinical features. There are several variants of COF, including amyloid, ossifying, and giant cell. It grows slowly and exhibits painless cortical expansion of the jawbone. Radiographically, COF appears as a radiolucent unilocular or multilocular lesion with well-defined borders. COF may be associated with unerupted or displaced teeth and root resorption. CASE REPORT A 35-year-old man was referred to our hospital for submandibular swelling. Panoramic radiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a unilocular area of bone resorption with a well-defined border and equal enhancement from the canine to first molar on the right side of the mandible. Root resorption of the first premolar and root separation of the first and second premolars were also evident. The lesion was asymptomatic. Histopathological examination of a biopsy of the lesion was suggestive of OF. Enucleation of the tumor, curettage of the bone around the tumor, and extraction of the premolar were then performed. Histopathological examination of the tumor showed fibrous connective tissue with inactive-looking odontogenic epithelial islands and strands, amyloid deposit, intercalation of Langerhans cells into the tumor epithelium, and no calcification. The final diagnosis of amyloid variant of COF was made. The postoperative course is going well. CONCLUSIONS Herein we describe and discuss the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of the amyloid variant of COF. This report will enhance understanding of this extremely rare variant.BACKGROUND Long-non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG15 has been reported to be an aberrantly expressed lncRNA in patients with ischemic stroke, but its role in neuronal injury following ischemic stroke remains unclear. We hypothesized that this lncRNA is associated with the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS A mouse model of ischemic stroke was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). A neurogenic mouse cell line Neuro-2a (N2a) was subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) for in vitro experiments. Expression of SNHG15, microRNA-18a (miR-18a), and CXCL13 in mouse brain and in OGD-treated N2a cells was determined. Altered expression of SNHG15 and miR-18a was introduced to detect their roles in N2a cell viability and apoptosis. Targeting relationships between miR-18a and SNHG15 or CXCL13 were validated by luciferase assays.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2606368.html  Cells were treated with the ERK/MEK antagonist U0126 to assess the role of the ERK/MEK signaling pathway in N2a cell growth. RESULTS SNHG15 and CXCL13 were overexpressed and miR-18a was underexpressed in MCAO-induced mice and OGD-treated N2a cells. Silencing of SNHG15 or overexpression of miR-18a promoted cell viability, while decreased cell apoptosis induced by OGD; however, subsequent disruption of the ERK/MEK signaling pathway reversed these effects. SNHG15 was found to bind to miR-18a, which could further target CXCL13. CONCLUSIONS Silencing of SNHG15 led to CXCL13 upregulation through sequestering miR-18a and the following ERK/MEK activation, thus enhancing viability while reducing apoptosis of N2a cells. SNHG15 may serve as a novel target for ischemic stroke treatment.BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most prevalent malignant tumor in China after lung cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, and breast cancer, and has a high mortality rate. Though there are a series of therapeutic strategies is now available for HCC in clinical practice, the 5-year survival rate after surgery is still low. In addition, multi-drug resistance (MDR) is one of the most important factors responsible for the low survival rate and poor therapy response in HCC. Hence, novel treatment strategies and molecules for HCC need to be developed. MATERIAL AND METHODS We assessed the effect of asiaticoside, a natural product derived from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban, on HCC cell proliferation and drug resistance. RESULTS Our data indicated that asiaticoside significantly inhibited the proliferation of HCC cell lines QGY-7703 and Bel-7402 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, asiaticoside significantly induced apoptosis in QGY-7703 and Bel-7402 cells. Treatment with asiaticoside also caused G1 cell cycle arrest in QGY-7703 and Bel-7402 cells. Western blot assay results indicated that the mechanism underlying the effects of asiaticoside involves inhibiting the activity of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK/ERK pathways. Furthermore, asiaticoside significantly antagonized P-gp-mediated MDR in HCC cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that asiaticoside has the potential to be applied in the treatment of HCC patients, but further evidence is needed to confirm our results, particularly in vivo efficacy.
  In this report, we aimed to analyze the outcome results of our patients who underwent percutaneous trigeminal tractotomy (TR) and nucleotomy (NC) procedures, which are defined as destructive procedures targeting the descending trigeminal tractus and nucleus caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus, respectively, for intractable craniofacial pain.
 
  The medical records of a total of 12 patients who underwent a total of 14 computed tomography (CT)-guided TR-NC procedures at our clinics between 2005 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed.
 
  A significant increase in patients' performance status (p = 0.015) as well as a significant decrease in the VAS score (p < 0.001) were achieved. Grade I pain relief (VAS = 0, no pain) was established in 66.7% of the patients, whereas grade II pain relief was observed in the remaining patients. Two of the patients suffered from recurrent pain after the initial procedure. Both patients underwent a second trigeminal TR-NC procedure, and grade I pain relief was re-established. The mean VAS score at 3-month follow-up was 1.4 ± 1.1, whereas this score at 6-month follow-up was 2 ± 1.3. The trigeminal TR-NC procedure resulted in a significant decrease in patients' VAS scores at 3- and 6-month follow-up visits compared with preoperative VAS scores (p < 0.001). Transient ataxia was noted in only one patient (8.3%) early after the procedure.
 
  The results presented in the current study support the efficacy of the percutaneous CT-guided trigeminal TR-NC procedure in the management of intractable facial pain in selected patients. The use of CT guidance allows direct visualization of the target area, thereby enhancing the safety and success of the procedure.
 The results presented in the current study support the efficacy of the percutaneous CT-guided trigeminal TR-NC procedure in the management of intractable facial pain in selected patients. The use of CT guidance allows direct visualization of the target area, thereby enhancing the safety and success of the procedure.