Influence of surface conditioning on bonding to polyetheretherketon (PEEK).

Objective: The purpose of the study was the evaluation of the bond strength of a provisional resin to a polyetheretherketon (PEEK) using different surface treatments and conditioning methods.

Methods: PEEK disks were polished with 600grit rotating silicon carbide papers. Plexiglas tubes were filled and bonded with a provisional resin (Luxatemp Fluorescence) to the PEEK disks which were air-abraded either with 110μm alumina particles (Rocatec Pre) and conditioned with the primers Ecusit Composite Repair, Luxatemp Glaze & Bond or Clearfil Ceramic Primer or they were tribochemically silica-coated (Rocatec Plus) and silanated with Espe Sil or Clearfil Ceramic Primer.

The novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor AKN-028 has significant antileukemic activity in cell lines and primary cultures of acute myeloid leukemia.

Aberrantly expressed tyrosine kinases have emerged as promising targets for drug development in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We report that AKN-028, a novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), is a potent FMS-like receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) inhibitor (IC(50)=6 nM), causing dose-dependent inhibition of FLT3 autophosphorylation. Inhibition of KIT autophosphorylation was shown in a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line overexpressing KIT.

Humanized c-Myc mouse.

Background: A given tumor is usually dependent on the oncogene that is activated in the respective tumor entity. This phenomenon called oncogene addiction provides the rationale for attempts to target oncogene products in a therapeutic manner, be it by small molecules, by small interfering RNAs (siRNA) or by antigen-specific T cells. As the proto-oncogene product is required also for the function of normal cells, this raises the question whether there is a therapeutic window between the adverse effects of specific inhibitors or T cells to normal tissue that may limit their application, and their beneficial tumor-specific therapeutic action.

Acid/base front propagation in saturated porous media: 2D laboratory experiments and modeling.

We perform laboratory scale reactive transport experiments involving acid-basic reactions between nitric acid and sodium hydroxide. A two-dimensional experimental setup is designed to provide continuous on-line measurements of physico-chemical parameters such as pH, redox potential (Eh) and electrical conductivity (EC) inside the system under saturated flow through conditions. The electrodes provide reliable values of pH and EC, while sharp fronts associated with redox potential dynamics could not be captured.

Clinical performance of conical and electroplated telescopic double crown-retained partial dentures: a randomized clinical study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to quantify and compare the clinical performance of cast conical double crown-retained removable partial dentures (C-RPDs) and electroplated double crown-retained removable partial dentures (EP-RPDs).

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 RPDs were placed in 54 patients. Participants were randomly assigned to two study groups (C-RPD and EP-RPD).

Stromal interferon-γ signaling and cross-presentation are required to eliminate antigen-loss variants of B cell lymphomas in mice.

To study mechanisms of T cell-mediated rejection of B cell lymphomas, we developed a murine lymphoma model wherein three potential rejection antigens, human c-MYC, chicken ovalbumin (OVA), and GFP are expressed. After transfer into wild-type mice 60-70% of systemically growing lymphomas expressing all three antigens were rejected; lymphomas expressing only human c-MYC protein were not rejected. OVA expressing lymphomas were infiltrated by T cells, showed MHC class I and II upregulation, and lost antigen expression, indicating immune escape.

Phase 1 clinical trial of HER2-specific immunotherapy with concomitant HER2 kinase inhibition [corrected].

Background: Patients with HER2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer, despite initially benefiting from the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab and the EGFR/HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor lapatinib, will eventually have progressive disease. HER2-based vaccines induce polyclonal antibody responses against HER2 that demonstrate enhanced anti-tumor activity when combined with lapatinib in murine models. We wished to test the clinical safety, immunogenicity, and activity of a HER2-based cancer vaccine, when combined with lapatinib.

Value of fecal calprotectin in the evaluation of patients with abdominal discomfort: an observational study.

Background: The evaluation of patients with abdominal discomfort is challenging and patient selection for endoscopy based on symptoms is not reliable. We evaluated the diagnostic value of fecal calprotectin in patients with abdominal discomfort.

Methods: In an observational study, 575 consecutive patients with abdominal discomfort referred for endoscopy to the Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology at the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland, were enrolled in the study.

Effect of EpCAM, CD44, CD133 and CD166 expression on patient survival in tumours of the ampulla of Vater.

Background: Carcinomas of the Vaterian system are rare and presumably arise from pre-existing adenomas. According to the cancer stem cell (CSC) hypothesis, only a small subset of tumor cells has the ability to initiate and develop tumor growth. In colorectal cancer, CD44, CD133, CD166 and EpCAM have been proposed to represent CSC marker proteins and their expression has been shown to correlate with patient survival.

Elastic deformation and energy loss of flapping fly wings.

During flight, the wings of many insects undergo considerable shape changes in spanwise and chordwise directions. We determined the origin of spanwise wing deformation by combining measurements on segmental wing stiffness of the blowfly Calliphora vicina in the ventral and dorsal directions with numerical modelling of instantaneous aerodynamic and inertial forces within the stroke cycle using a two-dimensional unsteady blade elementary approach. We completed this approach by an experimental study on the wing's rotational axis during stroke reversal.

Patient, primary care physician and specialist expectations of primary care physician involvement in cancer care.

Background: In Canada, many health authorities recommend that primary care physicians (PCP) stay involved throughout their patients' cancer journey to increase continuity of care. Few studies have focused on patient and physician expectations regarding PCP involvement in cancer care.

Objective: To compare lung cancer patient, PCP and specialist expectations regarding PCP involvement in coordination of care, emotional support, information transmission and symptom relief at the different phases of cancer.

Future perspectives in melanoma research. Meeting report from the "Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA. Naples, December 6th-7th 2010".

Progress in understanding the molecular basis of melanoma has made possible the identification of molecular targets with important implications in clinical practice. In fact, new therapeutic approaches are emerging from basic science and it will be important to implement their rapid translation into clinical practice by active clinical investigation. The first meeting of Melanoma Research: a bridge Naples-USA, organized by Paolo A.

Family residents' interventions during in-hospital call.

Background: Family medicine residents in Canada and other countries have traditionally performed in-hospital calls. With the advent of competency-based objectives, it was necessary to document what interventions were performed. This study documented the interventions that were performed by family medicine residents at the Université de Montréal during their time on call in the hospital, the time needed for those interventions, and the extent to which they were supervised.

Turbo segmentation of textured images.

We consider the problem of semi-supervised segmentation of textured images. Existing model-based approaches model the intensity field of textured images as a Gauss-Markov random field to take into account the local spatial dependencies between the pixels. Classical Bayesian segmentation consists of also modeling the label field as a Markov random field to ensure that neighboring pixels correspond to the same texture class with high probability.

Influence of surface conditioning and cleaning methods on resin bonding to zirconia ceramic.

Objectives: The purpose of this laboratory study was to evaluate the influence of different surface conditioning, new ceramic primers and cleaning methods on the bond strength of luting resin to zirconia ceramic (e.max ZirCAD).

Methods: A total of 96 zirconia ceramic discs were divided into six groups (n=16) according to surface conditioning, cleaning methods and ceramic primers.

Family physician involvement in cancer care follow-up: the experience of a cohort of patients with lung cancer.

Purpose: There has been little research describing the involvement of family physicians in the follow-up of patients with cancer, especially during the primary treatment phase. We undertook a prospective longitudinal study of patients with lung cancer to assess their family physician's involvement in their follow-up at the different phases of cancer.

Methods: In 5 hospitals in the province of Quebec, Canada, patients with a recent diagnosis of lung cancer were surveyed every 3 to 6 months, whether they had metastasis or not, for a maximum of 18 months, to assess aspects of their family physician's involvement in cancer care.

Association between patient satisfaction with complete dentures and oral health-related quality of life: two-year longitudinal assessment.

The objective was to evaluate the development of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with complete dentures and the association between OHRQoL and patient satisfaction. Fifty-two patients (mean age, 66.3, 48.

Family physician involvement in cancer care and lung cancer patient emotional distress and quality of life.

Purpose: This study aims to describe emotional distress and quality of life (QoL) of patients at different phases of their lung cancer and the association with their family physician (FP) involvement.

Methods: A prospective study on patients with lung cancer was conducted in three regions of Quebec, Canada. Patients completed, at baseline, several validated questionnaires regarding their psychosocial characteristics and their perceived level of FP involvement.

Influence of contamination on resin bond strength to nano-structured alumina-coated zirconia ceramic.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of contamination and subsequent cleaning on the bond strength and durability of an adhesive resin to nano-structured alumina-coated zirconia ceramic. Zirconia ceramic disks were coated with nano-structured alumina, utilizing the hydrolysis of aluminum nitride powder. After immersion in saliva or the use of a silicone disclosing agent, specimens were cleaned with phosphoric acid etching or with tap water rinsing only.

Optimization of isochromanone based urotensin II receptor agonists.

A series of novel isochromanone based urotensin II receptor agonists have been synthesized and evaluated for their activity using a functional cell based assay (R-SAT). Several potent and efficacious derivatives were identified, with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-6,7-dimethyl-3-(2-dimethylaminoethyl)isochroman-1-one being the most potent compound showing an EC₅₀-value of 51 nM, thereby being the most potent compound so far within the isochromanone series. In addition, two other heterocyclic systems (isochromanes and tetrahydroisoquinolinones) were investigated and these derivatives were found to be both potent and efficacious.

Role of tumor size in the pre-operative management of rectal cancer patients.

Background: Clinical management of rectal cancer patients relies on pre-operative staging. Studies however continue to report moderate degrees of over/understaging as well as inter-observer variability. The aim of this study was to determine the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of tumor size for predicting T and N stages in pre-operatively untreated rectal cancers.

Four-year clinical results of fixed dental prostheses with zirconia substructures (Cercon): end abutments vs. cantilever design.

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of three- to four-unit posterior all-ceramic fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) made of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia-polycrystal ceramic frameworks (CerconBase; Degudent). Fifty-eight restorations were placed in 48 patients. Twenty-four FDPs had an end abutment design (EAD) replacing 3 premolars and 21 molars.

Locomotor performance in the Drosophila brain mutant drop-dead.

Mutation of the drop-dead gene in Drosophila causes early death of the adult animal. After hatching from pupae, drop-dead mutants increasingly lose body control and typically die within ten days. Drop-dead carries an X-chromosomal recessive mutation that causes brain degeneration, due to a loss in glia function.