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Although English-medium instruction (EMI) has been implemented and developed rapidly in higher education, little is known about its learning process and effects. This study employed a systematic approach to explore how diverse factors affect student performance in English and disciplinary learning. We conducted a survey to collect students' self-report of their learning in the EMI programmes and used partial least square structural equation modelling in evaluation. The findings demonstrate three personal factors (prior knowledge, effort, and interest) and three environmental factors (course, teacher, and resource) have effects on student performance. We find that effort has the strongest direct impact on learning outcomes, prior knowledge the second, while course factor the least. Interest has an indirect effect on outcomes through the mediating effect of effort, and teacher and resource factors have indirect effects on outcomes mediated by course. In addition, prior knowledge has a larger impact on English performance than on subject achievement. The present study theoretically and methodologically contributes to the research field of EMI by systematically examining the learning process of EMI and constructing a structural model of complex relationships of multiple factors affecting student performance in EMI programmes. This study also provides implications for EMI practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Periodontitis is induced by the imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity, which leads to periodontal tissue destruction. Macrophages play a vital role in periodontitis. However, the hypoxic periodontal environment will also induce macrophage apoptosis within a short time. Apoptotic bodies (ABs) are the major products generated from apoptotic cells, but whether macrophage‐derived ABs play a regulatory role as their mother cells in periodontitis remains unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ABs on osteoblasts. Method: ABs derived from hypoxia‐induced macrophages were co‐cultured with osteoblasts and the impact of ABs on osteoblast differentiation in vitro was assessed. In vivo, periodontitis model was established and macrophages‐derived ABs were injected into the gingival sulcus. The effects of ABs on periodontal bone resorption were determined. Results: The results showed that ABs significantly inhibit osteoblast differentiation and promoted alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis. MicroRNA (miRNAs) array analysis was performed and revealed that miR‐483‐5p is the key miRNA in ABs. Dual luciferase reporter assays were performed and confirmed that miR‐483‐5p targeted Col1A1 mRNA and attenuated its expression. Conclusion: Macrophage‐derived ABs inhibit osteoblast differentiation via the transfer of miR‐483‐5p, which downregulates Col1A1 expression and finally suppresses osteogenic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the regulatory role of neutrophils as the first line of host immune defense in the periodontal microenvironment of mice. Methods: A systematic search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect databases for articles published between 2012 and 2023. In this review, articles investigating the effect of neutrophils on alveolar bone resorption in a mouse model of periodontitis were selected and evaluated according to eligibility criteria. Important variables that may influence outcomes were analyzed. Results: Eleven articles were included in this systematic review. The results showed that because of their immune defense functions, the functional homeostasis of local neutrophils is critical for periodontal health. Neutrophil deficiency aggravates alveolar bone loss. However, several studies have shown that excessive neutrophil infiltration is positively correlated with alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis in mice. Therefore, the homeostasis of neutrophil function needs to be considered in the treatment of periodontitis. Conclusions: Pooled analysis suggests that neutrophils play a bidirectional role in periodontal tissue remodeling in mouse periodontitis models. Therefore, targeted regulation of local neutrophil function provides a novel strategy for the treatment of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of reuterin, a bioactive isolated from the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) on periodontal tissue regeneration, and provide a new strategy for periodontitis treatment in the future. Background: Data discussing the present state of the field: Probiotics are essential for maintaining oral microecological balance. Our previous study confirmed that probiotic L. reuteri extracts could rescue the function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and promote soft tissue wound healing by neutralizing inflammatory Porphyromonas gingivalis—LPS. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by bacteria seriously leading to tooth loss. In this study, we isolated and purified reuterin from an extract of L. reuteri to characterize from the extracts of L. reuteri to characterize its role in promoting periodontal tissue regeneration and controlling inflammation in periodontitis. Methods: Chromatographic analysis was used to isolate and purify reuterin from an extract of L. reuteri, and HNMR was used to characterize its structure. The inflammatory cytokine TNFα was used to simulate the inflammatory environment. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) were treated with TNFα and reuterin after which their effects were characterized using scratch wound cell migration assays to determine the concentration of reuterin, an experimental periodontitis model in rats was used to investigate the function of reuterin in periodontal regeneration and inflammation control in vivo. Real‐time PCR, dye transfer experiments, image analysis, alkaline phosphatase activity, Alizarin red staining, cell proliferation, RNA‐sequencing and Western Blot assays were used to detect the function of PDLSCs. Results: In vivo, local injection of reuterin promoted periodontal tissue regeneration of experimental periodontitis in rats and reduced local inflammatory response. Moreover, we found that TNFα stimulation caused endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in PDLSCs, which resulted in decreased osteogenic differentiation. Treatment with reuterin inhibited the ER stress state of PDLSCs caused by the inflammatory environment and restored the osteogenic differentiation and cell proliferation functions of inflammatory PDLSCs. Mechanistically, we found that reuterin restored the functions of inflammatory PDLSCs by inhibiting the intercellular transmission of ER stress mediated by Cx43 in inflammatory PDLSCs and regulated osteogenic differentiation capacity. Conclusion: Our findings identified reuterin isolated from extracts of the probiotic L. reuteri, which improves tissue regeneration and controls inflammation, thus providing a new therapeutic method for treating periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of ultrasonicated Lactobacillus rhamnosus extract in osteoclast differentiation and its underlying mechanism, providing new strategies for the treatment of periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Osteoclasts were induced using macrophage colony‐stimulating factor and receptor activator for nuclear factor‐κB ligand. Lactobacillus rhamnosus extracts were obtained via ultrasonic crushing and ultracentrifugation. The effects of the LGG extract on osteoclast differentiation were evaluated, and the related signaling pathways were examined using western blotting. A mouse periodontitis model was established, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus extract was injected into the gingival sulcus to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus extract on alveolar bone resorption. Results: At 50 μg/mL, Lactobacillus rhamnosus extract inhibited osteoclast differentiation with no effect on apoptosis and proliferation. This phenomenon was achieved by deactivating the NF‐κB/c‐Fos/NFATc1 signaling pathway through toll‐like receptor 2. The in vivo results showed that the local injection of Lactobacillus rhamnosus extract suppressed osteoclast differentiation and alveolar bone resorption. Conclusion: The ultrasonicated extract of Lactobacillus rhamnosus inhibited osteoclast differentiation by suppressing the activation of the NF‐κB/c‐Fos/NFATc1 pathway. Furthermore, it inhibited the destruction of the alveolar bone, providing a new strategy for the use of probiotics in the treatment of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased fructose consumption has been elucidated to contribute to metabolic diseases. Bone is a dynamic organ that undergoes constant remodeling. However, the effects of fructose on bone health are still in dispute. Here, we identified fructose deteriorated bone mineral density while promoting the abundance of bone marrow adipose tissue. Fructose remarkably promoted the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells' (BMMSCs) adipogenic commitment at the expense of osteogenic commitment. Fructose boosted the glycolysis of BMMSCs and inhibited phosphorylation of adenosine 5ʹ-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which played a crucial role in bone-fat alteration. Our results suggested that fructose potentiated bone loss and marrow adipose tissue accumulation by suppressing AMPK activation in BMMSCs. Understanding fructose which affected bone metabolism was thus of primary importance in order to establish preventative measures or treatments for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]