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. The purpose of this study was to assess the current and historical trends in diversity among dental school applicants and enrollees at a new dental institution, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, School of Dental Medicine (UNLV-SDM). Applicant and enrollment data for the first four cohorts, sorted by gender and ethnicity, were retrieved and summarized by the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at UNLV-SDM. The principal findings of this analysis revealed enrollment of females at UNLV-SDM was relatively consistent during this time interval, although significantly lower than the U.S. average of all dental schools. The enrollment of minorities at UNLV-SDM, however, was consistent and comparable to the U.S. average, although these percentages were disproportionately smaller than the percentage of minorities in the general population. Based upon these findings, a new model for outreach and recruitment of females and minorities was recently created, based in part upon evidence of successful strategies by dental educators at other institutions, in order to increase the enrollment of female and underrepresented minority students.     

Transmission of bone strain in the craniofacial bones of edentulous human skulls upon dental implant loading

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Little is known about how craniofacial bones that are distant from dental implants are loaded. Whether bone experiences different strain when implants of different diameters are loaded is unknown. PURPOSE: This study was designed to (1) characterize bone strain both adjacent to and distant from dental implants and (2) compare bone strain in response to the same loads on small-diameter and large-diameter implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On 4 edentulous, dry adult human skulls, the buccopalatal midpoint of the edentulous occlusal surface was marked unilaterally in the maxillary first molar area with a round bur. A hole for implant placement was prepared, and 2 self-tapping titanium implants (3.75 x 7 mm and 4 x 7 mm) were placed in the same location and at the same orientation, one after the other. A 4-mm-long titanium abutment was connected to the implant. Each implant was loaded 10 degrees lateral to its longitudinal axis, simulating a lateral occlusal force in 3 of the skulls. In skull 2, loading was along the longitudinal axis of the implant and simulated a vertical occlusal force. The magnitude of the ramp forces was 0 to 100 N. Uniaxial strain gages and/or 3-element strain rosettes were implanted in the supramolar cortical bone, the supraincisor cortical bone, the zygomaticomaxillary suture, and the zygomaticotemporal suture. All strain gages/rosettes were excited with 500 mV DC, and the output signals were recorded with a strain conditioner. Tensile strain was expressed as positive values and compressive strain as negative values. Student t tests were used to test for normal distribution of bone strain within each skull; Wilcoxon tests were applied for skewed distribution between small- and large-diameter implants and between 50-N and 100-N loads (P相似文献   

Type IV gypsum compatibility with five addition-reaction silicone impression materials

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The compatibility of current addition-reaction silicone impression materials and Type IV gypsum products is not completely understood. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare surface detail reproduction between various combinations of contemporary addition-reaction silicone impression materials and Type IV gypsum products. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Under standardized conditions, 300 impressions were made of a ruled stainless steel die (ADA specification 19), using 5 addition-reaction silicones (Examix-NDS, Doric-ES Flo-Light, Panasil Contact Plus, Extrude Wash, and President Plus Jet). Fifteen impressions of each material were poured with each Type IV gypsum product (Silky-Rock, Fuji Rock, Suprastone, or Vel-Mix). Using x12 magnification, 2 independent examiners scored the reproducibility of a 20-microm line in both the impression and the resultant casts. Statistical analysis was performed using 2-way analysis of variance and post hoc Bonferroni testing (alpha = .05). RESULTS: All impression materials tested fully reproduced the 20-microm line. Different impression materials showed different compatibility with different Type IV gypsum products. Only 25% of the Type IV gypsum casts completely reproduced the resultant 20-microm line with fine margins, and 88% of the completely reproduced casts were made from Suprastone. CONCLUSION: Not all combinations of impression material and Type IV gypsum products used exhibited similar compatibility.     

A prospective study of the prevalence of periapical pathology in severely worn teeth

The aim of this article was to carry out a prospective audit on a convenience sample of all new patients referred to the toothwear clinic at Cardiff University Dental Hospital to establish the prevalence of undiagnosed periapical pathology. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The low prevalence value for undiagnosed periapical pathology in patients with advanced toothwear suggests that, for many patients, toothwear is a slow process which allows the defence mechanisms of the pulp to counteract the effects of wear. It also questions the necessity of taking routine radiographs of teeth with wear into dentine, in the absence of clinical symptoms. This would reduce the total radiation dose delivered to the patient and preserve valuable healthcare resources.     

颞下颌关节髁突软骨的三维微观区域形貌及其纳米弹性性能

目的:探讨颞下颌关节(temporomandibular joint,TMJ)髁突纤维软骨在纳米量级的区域形貌及其材料性能分布的特点。方法:采用原子力显微镜(atomic force microscope,AFM)及纳(诺)压痕测量法,对9只6周龄正常新西兰白兔双侧TMJ的18侧下颌髁突软骨不同区域的三维微观形貌及其纳米弹性模量进行测量和分析。结果:兔下颌髁突关节软骨的不同区域具有明显不同的三维微观形貌和弹性材料性能。髁突前部和内侧表现出更显著的三维微观形貌特征。正常TMJ左、右侧髁突软骨相对应各区域具有相同的弹性模量,髁突不同部位软骨的弹性模量〔前内侧:(2.83±0.33)MPa,前外侧:(1.68±0.15)MPa,后内侧:(1.17±0.08)MPa,后外侧:(0.91±0.06)MPa〕则存在明显差异(P<0.01)。结论:正常TMJ左、右侧髁突软骨的材料力学性能对称一致。在咀嚼过程中,具有最大弹性模量的髁突前内侧软骨可能在TMJ中承担最大的压力,为关节的功能承载区。TMJ髁突软骨表面的三维微观区域形貌和纳米弹性性能的不同或许反映了关节的不同功能需要。     

Protein kinases in vascular smooth muscle tone--role in the pulmonary vasculature and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is an adaptive mechanism that in the normal animal diverts blood away from poorly ventilated areas of the lung, thereby maintaining optimal ventilation-perfusion matching. In global hypoxia however, such as in respiratory disease or at altitude, it causes detrimental increases in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary artery (PA) pressure. The precise intracellular pathways and mechanisms underlying HPV remain unclear, although it is now recognised that both an elevation in smooth muscle intracellular [Ca2+] and a concomitant increase in Ca2+ sensitivity are involved. Several key intracellular protein kinases have been proposed as components of the signal transduction pathways leading to development of HPV, specifically Rho kinase, non-receptor tyrosine kinases (NRTK), p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase, and protein kinase C (PKC). All of these have been implicated to a greater or lesser extent in pathways leading to Ca2+ sensitisation, and in some cases regulation of intracellular [Ca2+] as well. In this article, we review the role of these key protein kinases in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) constriction, applying what is known in the systemic circulation to the pulmonary circulation and HPV. We conclude that the strongest evidence for direct involvement of protein kinases in the mechanisms of HPV concerns a central role for Rho kinase in Ca2+ sensitisation, and a potential role for Src-family kinases in both modulation of Ca2+ entry via capacitative Ca2+ entry (CCE) and activation of Rho kinase, though others are likely to have indirect or modulatory influences. In addition, we speculate that Src family kinases may provide a central interface between the proposed hypoxia-induced generation of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria and both the elevation in intracellular [Ca2+] and Rho kinase mediated Ca2+ sensitisation.     

Surgical training for anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate

Anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate has been proposed as a potentially superior benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery than conventional transurethral resection of prostate. However, the learning curve of the procedure is steep, hence limiting its generalisability worldwide. In order to overcome the learning curve, a proper surgical training is extremely important. This review article discussed about various aspects of surgical training in anatomical endoscopic enucleation of the prostate. In summary, no matter what surgical technique or energy modality you use, the principle of anatomical enucleation should be followed. When one starts to perform prostate enucleation, a 50 to 80 g prostate appears to be the ‘best case’ to begin with. Mentorship is extremely important to shorten the learning curve and to prevent drastic complications from the procedure. A proficiency-based progression training programme with the use of simulation and training models should be the best way to teach and learn about prostate enucleation. Enucleation ratio efficacy is the preferred measure for assessing skill level and learning curve of prostate enucleation. Morcellation efficiency is commonly used to assess morcellation performance, but the importance of safety rather than efficiency must be emphasised.