Does facial soft tissue protect against zygomatic fractures?: results of a finite element analysis

Introduction: Zygomatic fractures form a major entity in craniomaxillofacial traumatology. Few studies have dealt with biomechanical basics and none with the role of the facial soft tissues. Therefore this study should investigate, whether facial soft tissue plays a protecting role in lateral midfacial trauma

Knowledge and attitudes of libyan dental students about HIV/AIDS infection and HIV-positive patients

Introduction: Though the possibility of contracting infection from human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV) infected patient is very slim, dental professionals show high reluctance to treat such patients. Their attitude and behavior is a reflection of their understanding about the disease. Aim: The aim of the survey was to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of dental students toward HIV/acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome (AIDS), oral indicators, ethical aspects of its treatment, and their inclination to treat HIV/AIDS patients. This is the first attempt of such evaluation among Libyan students to the best of our knowledge. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire among 101 dental students comprising 3 rd year, the final year and BDS interns in Faculty of Dentistry, Sebha University, Sebha, Libya. The results were analyzed for statistical significance using SPSS version 17.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results and Discussion: The response rate to the questionnaire was 100%. Statistical significant correlations were observed in attitudes toward the curriculum, modes of transmission, treatment of HIV-infected patient, information of HIV status to patients, rights to reject treatment of infected patients, stress on treating and resuscitation of such patients. Conclusion: Our study reflects the knowledge status and positive attitude of Libyan students toward management of HIV. Sincere efforts should be made to improve the modes of educating the students about the HIV infection and its dental implications

Whole-genome analysis informs breast cancer response to aromatase inhibition

To correlate the variable clinical features of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer with somatic alterations, we studied pre-treatment tumour biopsies accrued from patients in a study of neoadjuvant aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy by massively parallel sequencing and analysis. Eighteen significantly mutated genes were identified, including five genes (RUNX1, CBFB, MYH9, MLL3 and SF3B1) previously linked to hematopoietic disorders. Mutant MAP3K1 was associated with Luminal A status, low grade histology and low proliferation rates whereas mutant TP53 associated with the opposite pattern. Moreover, mutant GATA3 correlated with suppression of proliferation upon AI treatment. Pathway analysis demonstrated mutations in MAP2K4, a MAP3K1 substrate, produced similar perturbations as MAP3K1 loss. Distinct phenotypes in ER+ breast cancer are associated with specific patterns of somatic mutations that map into cellular pathways linked to tumor biology but most recurrent mutations are relatively infrequent. Prospective clinical trials based on these findings will require comprehensive genome sequencing