Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery Resection without Intraoperative Fluoroscopy after CT-Guided Microcoil Localization of Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules.

The aim of this brief report is to determine the safety and reliability of minimally invasive video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) resection without the aid of intraoperative fluoroscopy after computed tomography (CT)-guided microcoil localization of small peripheral pulmonary nodules. Twenty patients with peripheral lung nodules underwent percutaneous needle localization with a microcoil that was tagged back to the visceral pleural surface. Same-day VATS resection was performed without the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy.

Inhibition of oral cancer growth in vitro is modulated through differential signaling pathways by over-the-counter proanthocyanidin supplements.

Background: Approximately 30,000 people are diagnosed with oral cancer annually in the United States. Recent evidence suggests that nutrition may play a more complex role in the prevention of oral cancers than previously believed. Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a class of compounds found in normal dietary foods that exhibit chemopreventive properties and chemotherapeutic potential.

Analysis of primary risk factors for oral cancer from select US states with increasing rates.

Objectives: To examine the primary risk factor for oral cancer in the US, smoking and tobacco use, among the specific US states that experienced short-term increases in oral cancer incidence and mortality.

Methods: Population-based data on oral cancer morbidity and mortality in the US were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database for analysis of recent trends. Data were also obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to measure current and former trends of tobacco usage.

Recent admissions trends at UNLV-SDM: perspectives on recruitment of female and minority students at a new dental school.

As the U.S. population continues to become more diverse, there has been a movement toward the recruitment of more diverse students into the dental profession.

Cranberry and grape seed extracts inhibit the proliferative phenotype of oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Proanthocyanidins, compounds highly concentrated in dietary fruits, such as cranberries and grapes, demonstrate significant cancer prevention potential against many types of cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate cranberry and grape seed extracts to quantitate and compare their anti-proliferative effects on the most common type of oral cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma. Using two well-characterized oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, CAL27 and SCC25, assays were performed to evaluate the effects of cranberry and grape seed extract on phenotypic behaviors of these oral cancers.

Analysis of oral cancer epidemiology in the US reveals state-specific trends: implications for oral cancer prevention.

Background: Downward trends have been observed in oral cancer incidence and mortality in the US over the past 30 years; however, these declines are not uniform within this population. Several studies have now demonstrated an increase in the incidence and mortality from oral cancers among certain demographic groups, which may have resulted from increased risks or risk behaviors. This study examines the underlying data that comprise these trends, to identify specific populations that may be at greater risk for morbidity and mortality from oral cancers.

Research enrichment: evaluation of structured research in the curriculum for dental medicine students as part of the vertical and horizontal integration of biomedical training and discovery.

Background: Research programs within medical and dental schools are important vehicles for biomedical and clinical discovery, serving as effective teaching and learning tools by providing situations in which predoctoral students develop problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. Although research programs at many medical and dental schools are well-established, they may not be well integrated into the predoctoral curriculum to effectively support the learning objectives for their students.

Methods: A series of structured seminars, incorporating faculty research, was designed for first-year dental students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine to reinforce and support the concepts and skills taught in concurrent courses.

High risk HPV types 18 and 16 are potent modulators of oral squamous cell carcinoma phenotypes in vitro.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been confirmed as the primary etiological factor that transforms cervical epithelia into cancer. The presence of HPV in oral cancers suggests that HPV may play a similar role in transforming the oral epithelia. A high degree of variability in the prevalence of HPV in oral cancers has been found, however, raising questions regarding its role in the transformation and development of oral cancers.

The integration seminar: a first-year dental course integrating concepts from the biomedical, professional, and clinical sciences.

This study describes the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a seminar course designed to facilitate discussion and understanding of cross-disciplinary concepts by first-year dental students. Dental and medical schools are implementing integrated curricula in which clinical courses are taught early in the curriculum and the clinical and basic sciences are taught not only concurrently, but in an integrated manner. This first-year course, Integration Seminar, was developed to cross traditional subject and departmental boundaries with the intent of fostering dental care providers who understand the interdependence of the major concepts within these areas.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma proliferative phenotype is modulated by proanthocyanidins: a potential prevention and treatment alternative for oral cancer.

Background: Despite the recently reported drop in the overall death rate from cancer, the estimated survival rate and number of deaths from oral cancer remain virtually unchanged. Early detection efforts, in combination with strategies for prevention and risk-reduction, have the potential to dramatically improve clinical outcomes. The identification of non-toxic, effective treatments, including complementary and alternative therapies, is critical if the survival rate is to be improved.

Creating an evidence-based admissions formula for a new dental school: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine.

This article reports development of an evidence-based admissions formula that effectively incorporates the admissions criteria most likely to influence dental school performance. This study utilized peer-reviewed literature and analysis of admissions and performance data from the first three classes of students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine (UNLV-SDM). We used Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and ANOVA to determine the strength and direction of association between admissions variables, both singly and in combination, and performance measures.

Transfection of oral squamous cell carcinoma with human papillomavirus-16 induces proliferative and morphological changes in vitro.

Background: Human papillomavirus has been implicated in virtually all cervical cancers and is believed to be the primary etiological factor that transforms cervical epithelia. The presence of HPV in oral cancers suggests that HPV may play a similar role in transforming the oral epithelia. The prevalence of HPV in oral cancers is highly variable, however, presenting problematic issues regarding the etiology of oral cancers, which must be investigated more thoroughly.