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Purpose: To determine the efficacy of various finishing and polishing techniques on the surface roughness of two computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) materials, lithium disilicate (IPS e.max), lithium disilicate reinforced with lithium aluminosilicate (Straumann® n!ce™), and a stackable low‐fusing nanofluorapatite glass ceramic (Ceram). Materials and Methods: Flat specimens (n = 12) per treatment group were fabricated 2 mm thick, 15 mm in length, and 12mm in width. Samples were either glazed or polished. Glazing was accomplished with either Ivoclar IPS e.max CAD crystall glaze spray or IPS e.max Ceram glaze paste, according to manufacturer instructions. Three different polishing systems were tested: Brasseler Dialite HP, Ivoclar OptraFine, and Komet LD/ZR. Polishing was performed using a Kavo adjustable slow speed electric contra‐angle handpiece mounted to an oscillating Toothbrush Dentifrice Assessment Instrument. Surface roughness data was collected using a benchtop stylus profilometer and analyzed for statistical significance using two‐way ANOVA (α = 0.05). Representative scanning electron micrograph images were generated for all samples. Results: Overall there was no significant difference in Ra when comparing types of ceramic (p = 0.9315, F = 0.071). However, there was a statistically significant difference when comparing groups of finishing treatments (p < 0.001, F = 113.5) and also when comparing finishing treatment with ceramic type (p < 0.001, F = 11.13). No significant difference was found with IPS e.max CAD crystall glaze spray on Straumann® n!ce™ versus IPS e.max Ceram glaze paste on IPS e.max Ceram (p = 0.8745) or IPS e.max CAD crystall glaze spray on IPS e.max versus IPS e.max Ceram glaze paste on IPS e.max Ceram (p = 0.3373). Significant differences in Ra of Straumann® n!ce™ were found when comparing Brasseler with Ivoclar (p = 0.0014) and Ivoclar with Komet (p = 0.047). No significant difference was observed between Brasseler and Komet (p = 0.8099). Conclusions: It appears that the degree of surface roughness depends upon the specific finishing system and ceramic combination used. Straumann® n!ce™ is more efficiently polished using Brasseler Dialite HP or Komet LD/ZR polishing systems. Ivoclar crystal glaze spray was found to be equally as effective on Straumann® n!ce™ and IPS e.max as IPS e.max Ceram glaze paste on IPS e.max Ceram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esophageal cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide with a distinct geographical distribution. Although the molecular genetics and evolution of this disease have been widely studied over past years, the molecular mechanism of esophageal carcinogenesis is still not well understood. MicroRNAs are now being implicated as playing an important role in the multi-stage progression of tumorigenesis. A number of recent studies have reported that microRNAs shed new light on the pathology of esophageal cancer and herald the potential for exploring novel biomarkers for both diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In this review, we focus on the role of microRNAs in esophageal cancer, as both oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and their clinical potency as biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis., (© Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty. Ltd.)

Late life depression principally affects individuals with other medical and psychosocial problems, including cognitive dysfunction, disability, medical illnesses, and social isolation. The clinical associations of late life depression have guided the development of hypotheses on mechanisms predisposing, initiating, and perpetuating specific mood syndromes. Comorbidity studies have demonstrated a relationship between frontostriatal impairment and late life depression. Further research has the potential to identify dysfunctions of specific frontostriatal systems critical for antidepressant response and to lead to novel pharmacological treatments and targeted psychosocial interventions. The reciprocal interactions of depression with disability, medical illnesses, treatment adherence, and other psychosocial factors complicate the care of depressed older adults. Growing knowledge of the clinical complexity introduced by the comorbidity of late life depression can guide the development of comprehensive treatment models. Targeting the interacting clinical characteristics associated with poor outcomes has the potential to interrupt the spiral of deterioration of depressed elderly patients. Treatment models can be most effective if they focus on amelioration of depressive symptoms, but also on treatment adherence, prevention of relapse and recurrence, reduction of medical burden and disability, and improvement of the quality of life of patients and their families.

A major factor in the context of evaluating depression in the elderly is the role of medical problems. With aging there is a rapid increase in the prevalence of a number of medical disorders, including cancer, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and arthritis. In this article, we hope to bring clarity to the definition of comorbidity and then discuss a number of medical disorders as they relate to depression. We evaluate medical comorbidity as a risk factor for depression as well as the converse, that is, depression as a risk factor for medical illness. Most of the disorders that we focus on occur in the elderly, with the exception of HIV infection. This review focuses exclusively on unipolar disorder. The review summarizes the current state of the art and also makes recommendations for future directions.