Evaluation of an online website-based platform for cephalometric analysis

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our study was to assess the reproducibility of linear and angular measurements of cephalogram tracings made with an online website-based platform CephX® vs. tracings made using the FACAD® computer software.

METHODS

Thirty cephalometric radiographs were selected randomly to be used in this study. A total of 16 landmarks and 16 measurements (8 linear and 8 angular) were defined. We used paired t-test to compare mean differences between both methods. Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman analyses were used to evaluate reproducibility of measurements. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

RESULTS

We did not find a statistically significant mean difference between the two methods except for two angular measurements SNA, FMA and one linear measurement Pg to NB. The highest magnitude of the difference between sample means was 1.9° and 0.78 mm for the angular and linear measurements respectively. The SE value was less than 0.1° for the angular measurements and less than 0.3 mm for the linear measurements. All parameters except POG to NB showed moderate to almost perfect agreement (>0.90).

CONCLUSION

The measurements obtained by both softwares FACAD® and CephX® are reproducible. Although significant differences were detected for some measurements, all differences were not clinically significant.

Adhesive Bonding to Computer-aided Design/ Computer-aided Manufacturing Esthetic Dental Materials: An Overview

AIM

To review the adhesive bonding to different computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) esthetic restorative materials.

BACKGROUND

The use of CAD/CAM esthetic restorative materials has gained popularity in recent years. Several CAD/ CAM esthetic restorative materials are commercially available. Adhesive bonding is a major determinant of success of CAD/ CAM restorations. Review result: An account of the currently available bonding strategies are discussed with their rationale in various CAD/ CAM materials.

CONCLUSION

Different surface treatment methods as well as adhesion promoters can be used to achieve reliable bonding of CAD/CAM restorative materials. Selection of bonding strategy to such material is determined based on its composition. Further evidence is required to evaluate the effect of new surface treatment methods, such as nonthermal atmospheric plasma and self-etching ceramic primer on bonding to different dental ceramics.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

An understanding of the currently available bonding strategies to CA/CAM materials can help the clinician to select the most indicated system for each category of materials.

DDX17 (P72), a Sox2 binding partner, promotes stem-like features conferred by Sox2 in a small cell population in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

We have previously demonstrated the existence of two phenotypically distinct cell subsets in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (BC) based on their differential response to a Sox2 reporter (SRR2), with reporter responsive (RR) cells being more tumorigenic and stem-like than reporter unresponsive (RU) cells. To delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenotypic dichotomy, we tested our hypothesis that Sox2, which is a key regulator of the RR phenotype, is under the control of its binding partners. In this study, we focused on DDX17, known to be a transcription co-activator and found to be a Sox2 binding partner by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Using immunoprecipitation, we confirmed the binding between DDX17 and Sox2, although this interaction was largely restricted to RR cells. While DDX17 was found in both the cytoplasm and nuclei in RU cells, it is confined to the nuclei in RR cells. siRNA knockdown of DDX17 in RR cells substantially decreased the Sox2-SRR2 binding and significantly decreased the SRR2 reporter activity without affecting the protein level of Sox2. Using ChIP-PCR, DDX17 knockdown also significantly decreased the binding of Sox2 to genomic SRR2, as well as 3 of its specific gene targets including MUC15, CCND1 and CD133. Correlating with these findings, siRNA knockdown of DDX17 significantly reduced soft agar colony formation and mammosphere formation in RR cells but not RU cells. To conclude, DDX17 is a Sox2-binding protein in ER-positive BC. In RR but not RU cells, DDX17 enhances the tumorigenic and stem-like features of Sox2 by promoting its binding to its target genes.