Association study indicates combined effect of interleukin-10 and angiotensin-converting enzyme in basal cell carcinoma development.

Cytokines involved in inflammatory and immune response have been associated with risk for development of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). In this study, three functional DNA polymorphisms affecting gene expression were investigated in 54 BCC patients and 111 healthy controls: interleukin-1b (IL-1b) +3953C/T, interleukin-10 (IL-10) - 1082G/A and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphisms. Significant increase of the variant alleles was observed in IL-10 - 1082G (P = 0.

Influence of gender of the teaching staff on students' acceptance of a virtual implant planning course.

Acceptance of new technology is influenced by a number of situational and social factors. So far, only limited data are available on the influence of the teaching staff's gender on the acceptance of virtual dental implant planning by students. This study aimed at assessing the influence of the teaching staff's gender on the acceptance of a virtual implant planning course by male and female undergraduate dental students and their general attitude toward implantology.

Effect of Olmesartan on the Level of Oral Cancer Risk Factor PAI1.

Aim: To study if the angiotensin receptor blocker olmesartan reduces levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI1), a risk factor for oral cancer, in a mouse model and therefore whether it could be used in the treatment of this malignancy.

Materials And Methods: Twelve transgenic PAI1 mice aged 16-20 weeks were divided in two groups each containing six animals. One group was given olmesartan every day for 30 days in drinking water in an amount corresponding to their weight, 0.

Masticatory Rehabilitation of a Patient With Cleft Lip and Palate Malformation Using a Maxillary Full-Arch Reconstruction With a Prefabricated Fibula Flap.

For full-arch reconstruction of an atrophied cleft maxilla with missing premaxilla, a prefabricated microvascular free bony flap is a relevant option. A fibula flap was prefabricated in a cleft patient who received six dental implants and an epithelial layer. Six weeks later, maxillary reconstruction was performed.

Case History Report: Immediate Rehabilitation with a Prefabricated Fibula Flap Following Removal of a Locally Aggressive Maxillary Tumor.

The present clinical case history report describes an interdisciplinary treatment protocol that combines maxillary tumor resection with immediate reconstruction to achieve functional rehabilitation. A fibula flap that received four dental implants and a split-thickness graft epithelial layer was prefabricated for a 31-year-old man. The flap was designed so that it could be adapted to fit in different extents of tumor resection.

Gender trends in authorship in oral and maxillofacial surgery literature: A 30-year analysis.

The aim of the present study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the gender distribution of first and senior authorships in important oral and maxillofacial journals over the 30-year period from 1980 to 2010. Articles published in three representative oral and maxillofacial surgery journals were selected. The years 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010 were chosen as representative points in time for article selection.

Proliferating fibroblasts and HeLa cells co-cultured in vitro reciprocally influence growth patterns, protein expression, chromatin features and cell survival.

Aim: to identify biological interactions between proliferating fibroblasts and HeLa cells in vitro.

Materials And Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated from both normal and tumour human tissues. Coverslip co-cultures of HeLa and fibroblasts in various ratios with medium replacement every 48 h were studied using fixed cell staining with dyes such as Giemsa and silver staining, with immunochemistry for Ki-67 and E-cadherin, with dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme reaction, as well as live cell staining for non-specific esterases and lipids.

Alterations in miRNA expression patterns in whole blood of OSCC patients.

Background/aim: Aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression in blood of cancer patients is a common finding. The present study aimed at evaluating the differences in miRNA expression in whole blood samples of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients compared to healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Microarray based miRNA profiling was performed on whole blood samples of 20 OSCC patients and 20 healthy volunteers and the differences in expression patterns between the two groups were evaluated.

Skeletal stability and complications in transantral maxillary distraction in patients with cleft lip and palate.

The current prospective study aimed at assessing skeletal stability and complications arising from transantral maxillary distraction adopted for advancements of less than 12 mm in patients with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate malformations.The recruited patients with cleft lip, alveolus, and palate were followed up for 12 months. Lateral skull radiographs were obtained before surgery (T0), at the end of the activation period of the distractors (T1), and after completion of the follow-up interval (T2).

Do cleft lip and palate patients opt for secondary corrective surgery of upper lip and nose, frequently?

Purpose: This prospective study was aimed at assessing cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients' opinions and attitudes towards their upper lip and nose and the number of secondary corrective surgical interventions electively undertaken to upper lip and nose that were carried out during a 2 year follow-up period.

Materials And Methods: During a 2 year follow-up period CLP outpatients were recruited for the study who attended follow-up examinations at a cleft lip and palate craniofacial center and received a recommendation for secondary corrective facial surgery. The participants filled in a questionnaire that included questions regarding the patients' opinions and attitudes towards appearance of lip and nose and need for secondary corrective facial surgery.

Effect of thrombosis-related gene polymorphisms upon oral cancer: a regression analysis.

It is well-known that there is an interplay between hemostasis, thrombosis and cancer. Functional DNA polymorphisms in genes encoding factors related to thrombosis have been associated with increased risk for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present study investigated the possible combinatory effect of 10 such polymorphisms as primary risk predictors for OSCC in a European population.

The relevance of EGFR overexpression for the prediction of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.

The present study evaluated the relevance of EGFR overexpression in prediction of malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLP). The retrospective study comprised paraffin-embedded tissue samples of OLP that transformed into oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (n=53) and tissue samples of OLP that did not transform into OSCC (n=45) during a follow-up period of 5 years. EGFR overexpression was assessed immunohistochemically.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus in saliva and cervix of sexually active women.

Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is strongly associated with cervical cancer and possibly with some oropharyngeal cancers. However, the relation between oral and cervical HPV infection is not fully understood. This study evaluates the prevalence rate and type-concordance of HPVs in these areas.

Association of angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with decreased risk for basal cell carcinoma.

The incidence of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is significantly reduced in individuals treated with inhibitors of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) that produces angiotensin II. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible association of a functional polymorphism in the ACE gene, which affects its transcription, with risk for BCC. In DNA samples of 92 patients with BCC and 103 healthy controls of Greek origin and comparable age and gender, we studied the ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism.

Single horizontal Y-V vermilion plasty including orbicularis oris muscle repair for secondary correction of the whistling defect: a universal technique.

Objectives: The present prospective study aimed at objectively evaluating the relevance of a single horizontal Y-V vermilion plasty including orbicularis oris muscle repair for secondary correction of whistling deformities in unilateral as well as bilateral cleft lip cases.

Study Design: Ten patients were included in the study (mean age 20.2 ± 6.

Superficial skin sensitivity impairment and skeletal stability after sagittal split ramus osteotomy.

Adjustable osteosynthesis miniplates are used to facilitate positioning of the mandible after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) to avoid skeletal relapse and occlusal discrepancies. The short Obwegeser BSSO reduces neurosensory disturbances. Adjustable osteosynthesis plates suited for the Obwegeser BSSO are not commercially available.

Prevalence of thrombosis-related DNA polymorphisms in a healthy Greek population.

Genetic association studies have revealed a correlation between DNA variations in genes encoding factors of the haemostatic system and thrombosis-related disease. This study investigated the prevalence of 13 such genetic risk factors in a sample (N=400 alleles) of the Hellenic population of Greece. Some of these polymorphisms [coagulation factor V (F5) Leiden, coagulation factor II (F2) G20210A, 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, coagulation factor XIII A1 subunit (F13A1) Val34Leu, serpine1 (SERPINE1) 4G/5G, angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D, angiotensinogen (AGT) Met325Thr, integrin A2 (ITGA2) C807T] have been previously studied in Hellenic populations of Greece and Cyprus, while others such as coagulation factor XII (F12) C46T, plasma carboxypeptidase B2 (CPB2) C1040T, platelet glycoprotein Ib α polypeptide (GP1BA) VNTR, thrombomodulin (THBD) -A33G and protein Z (PROZ) - A13G have not.

Oral carcinogenesis is not achieved in different carcinogen-treated PAI-1 transgenic and wild-type mouse models.

Aim: In an effort to assess the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in oral squamous cancer development and progression, two different carcinogen treatment protocols were conducted.

Materials And Methods: Protocol I included mice from a PAI-1 transgenic (Tg) breed (n=56) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=56), divided into one control group and two main experimental groups, treated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) for 8 and 16 weeks, respectively. Protocol II included the same number and types of animals and groups, which were similarly treated with 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO) in drinking water.

Acceptance of virtual dental implant planning software in an undergraduate curriculum: a pilot study.

Background: Advances in healthcare such as virtual dental implant planning have the capacity to result in greater accuracy, speed, and efficiencies leading to improvement in patient care. It has been suggested that the acceptance of new technology is influenced by a variety of factors including individual differences, social and situational influences, user beliefs, and user attitudes. Despite the large volume of work in this area, only limited research has been conducted in the field of dental education.

Evaluation of MAGE-A expression and grade of dysplasia for predicting malignant progression of oral leukoplakia.

The risk of the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia (OLP) is difficult to predict by histopathology. Melanoma-associated antigen-A (MAGE-A) expression is restricted to malignant cells and may be useful for the more accurate estimation of the potential malignant transformation of pre-malignant lesions. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the expression of MAGE-A can be used to predict the malignant transformation of OLP.

Detection of MAGE-A expression predicts malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia.

The study aimed at checking if MAGE-A expression in oral leukoplakia (OLP) lesions is related to malignant transformation. The 48 samples of OLP that transformed to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (group 1) and 50 samples of OLP that did not transform to OSCC (group 2) were included in the study. The expression of MAGE-A was restricted to group 1.

Spaced education activates students in a theoretical radiological science course: a pilot study.

Background: The present study aimed at determining if the addition of spaced education to traditional face-to-face lectures increased the time students kept busy with the learning content of a theoretical radiological science course.

Methods: The study comprised two groups of 21 third-year dental students. The students were randomly assigned to a "traditional group" and a "spaced education group".

The interplay between hemostasis and malignancy: the oral cancer paradigm.

Accumulating evidence has revealed the role of various components of the coagulatory system in different stages of carcinogenesis including precancerous and initial stages, tumor growth, angiogenesis, stroma generation, and metastasis of malignant cells. This comprehensive review discusses major points of evidence, in addition to recent findings on specific factors associated with the paradigm of oral squamous cell carcinoma. During carcinogenesis, angiogenesis is favored by local conditions of hypoxia, cell-to-cell interactions, and by expression of paracrine growth factors and inflammatory cytokines.

Acceptance of technology-enhanced learning for a theoretical radiological science course: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Technology-enhanced learning (TEL) gives a view to improved education. However, there is a need to clarify how TEL can be used effectively. The study compared students' attitudes and opinions towards a traditional face-to-face course on theoretical radiological science and a TEL course where students could combine face-to-face lectures and e-learning modules at their best convenience.