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Objective: The objective of the study was to elucidate the association between cranial base (Bjork‐Jarabak analysis), midsagittal cross‐sectional area of the airway in the pharyngeal region (MCSA‐PR) data and pharyngeal‐airway volume (PAV) and develop a model that could help clinicians predict PAV using two‐dimensional (2D) data (Bjork polygon and MCSA‐PR). Materials and Methods: Pre‐treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 82 women were categorized into three anteroposterior skeletal groups based on ANB angle: Class I (n = 29), 1.5° ≤ ANB≤5.1°; Class II (n = 26), ANB >5.1°; Class III (n = 27), ANB <1.5°. The Bjork polygon, MCSA‐PR data from cephalograms and PAV data from MRI scans were examined. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with pairwise comparisons conducted using the Bonferroni‐corrected Mann–Whitney U‐test for the Kruskal–Wallis test and Bonferroni‐corrected multiple comparison test for one‐way ANOVA. Forward multiple linear regression was used to create model equations for predicting PAV. Results: MCSA‐PR and anterior (N‐S) and posterior (S‐Ar) cranial‐base lengths were positively correlated with the PAV. We developed four models; three operated at the group level, and one encompassed the entire sample. Notably, all models could effectively explain the variance in the PAV data. The model for the Class I group was the strongest (adjusted R2 = 0.77). Conclusion: Our findings indicate the remarkable potential of the MCSA‐PR, N‐S and Bjork sum angles (BSA) as predictors of the PAV and the relevance of 2D cephalometric and cranial‐base parameters in predicting the three‐dimensional (3D) pharyngeal‐airway size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduced a debate-style tutorial exercise into the third-year tutorial classes with the purpose of developing the students' logic, broadening their vision and encouraging them to express their opinions in public, before an audience. The issues for debate included medical (dental) and non-medical topics. Two separate debate exercises were performed and each session concluded with an open debate. The groups' performance was evaluated by the audience, which included students and tutors. The groups received high scores; their understanding of the subjects was superior and they provided logical arguments using good presentation skills. The program appeared to have had the desired results. Thus, it was suggested that the introduction of debates into the curriculums of lower classes would be effective in teaching students new ways of thinking about problems. This would prepare them suitably for future education. (Contains 2 tables and 2 figures.)

The conventional markers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), α-fetoprotein (AFP) and des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP), have several limitations; both have low sensitivity in patients with early-stage HCC; low sensitivity for AFP with HCC after eliminating hepatitis C virus (HCV); low specificity for DCP in patients with non-viral HCC, which is increasing worldwide; low specificity for AFP in patients with liver injury; and low specificity for DCP in patients treated with warfarin. To overcome these issues, the identification of novel biomarkers is an unmet need. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of serum protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) for detecting these HCCs. PKCδ levels were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 363 chronic liver disease (CLD) patients with and without HCC. In both viral and non-viral CLD, PKCδ can detect HCCs with high sensitivity and specificity, particularly in the very early stages. Notably, the value and sensitivity of PKCδ were not modified by HCV elimination status. Liver injury and warfarin administration, which are known to cause false-positive results for conventional markers, did not modify PKCδ levels. PKCδ is an enhanced biomarker for the diagnosis of HCC that compensates for the drawbacks of conventional markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling stem cell behavior at the material interface is crucial for the development of novel technologies in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. The composition and presentation of bio-factors on a surface strongly influence the activity of stem cells. Herein, we designed an electroactive surface that mimics the initial process of trabecular bone formation, by immobilizing chondrocyte-derived plasma membrane nanofragments (PMNFs) on its surface for rapid mineralization within 2 days. Moreover, the electroactive surface was based on the conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy), which enabled dynamic control of the presentation of PMNFs on the surface via electrochemical redox switching, further resulting in the formation of bone minerals with different morphologies. Furthermore, bone minerals with contrasting surface morphologies had differential effects on the differentiation of human bone marrow-derived stem cells (hBMSCs) cultured on the surface. Together, this electroactive surface showed multifunctional characteristics, not only allowing dynamic control of PMNF presentation but also promoting the formation of bone minerals with different morphologies within 2 days. This electroactive substrate could be valuable for more precise control of stem cell growth and differentiation, and further development of more suitable microenvironments containing bone apatite for housing a bone marrow stem cell niche, such as biochips/bone-on-chips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dual‐specificity tyrosine‐regulated kinase 2 (DYRK2) is a protein kinase that phosphorylates p53‐Ser46 and induces apoptosis in response to DNA damage. However, the relationship between DYRK2 expression and chemosensitivity after DNA damage in colorectal cancer has not been well investigated. The aim of the present study was to examine whether DYRK2 could be a novel marker for predicting chemosensitivity after 5‐fluorouracil‐ and oxaliplatin‐induced DNA damage in colorectal cancer. Here we showed that DYRK2 knockout decreased the chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in p53 wild‐type colorectal cancer cells, whereas the chemosensitivity remained unchanged in p53‐deficient/mutated colorectal cancer cells. In addition, no significant differences in chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil and oxaliplatin between scramble and siDYRK2 p53(−/−) colorectal cancer cells were observed. Conversely, the combination of adenovirus‐mediated overexpression of DYRK2 with 5‐fluorouracil or oxaliplatin enhanced apoptosis and chemosensitivity through p53‐Ser46 phosphorylation in p53 wild‐type colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, DYRK2 knockout decreased chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in p53 wild‐type xenograft mouse models. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that DYRK2 expression was associated with chemosensitivity to 5‐fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in p53 wild‐type colorectal cancer, suggesting the importance of evaluating the p53 status and DYRK2 expression as a novel marker in therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to first identify the timing and location of early mineralization of mouse first molar, and subsequently, to characterize the nucleation site for mineral formation in dentin from a materials science viewpoint and evaluate the effect of environmental cues (pH) affecting early dentin formation. Early dentin mineralization in mouse first molars began in the buccal central cusp on post-natal day 0 (P0), and was first hypothesized to involve collagen fibers. However, elemental mapping indicated the co-localization of phospholipids with collagen fibers in the early mineralization area. Co-localization of phosphatidylserine and annexin V, a functional protein that binds to plasma membrane phospholipids, indicated that phospholipids in the pre-dentin matrix were derived from the plasma membrane. A 3-dimensional in vitro biomimetic mineralization assay confirmed that phospholipids from the plasma membrane are critical factors initiating mineralization. Additionally, the direct measurement of the tooth germ pH, indicated it to be alkaline. The alkaline environment markedly enhanced the mineralization of cell membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that cell membrane phospholipids are nucleation sites for mineral formation, and could be important materials for bottom-up approaches aiming for rapid and more complex fabrication of dentin-like structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]