Microarrays de DNA en el cáncer oral

Uno de los principales objetivos en la investigación sobre el cáncer en la actualidad es el estudio de marcadores que puedan predecir el pronóstico o la respuesta al tratamiento de forma individual. El número de genes implicados en los distintos pasos de la carcinogénesis oral aumenta a medida que se investiga sobre el tema. Los microarrays de DNA permiten el análisis simultáneo de la expresión de cientos de genes de un tejido en un solo experimento. El formato paralelo del ensayo permite el estudio de diferencias en la expresión genética entre células normales y enfermas, puesto que la actividad de cada gen en el microarray puede ser comparada en dos poblaciones celulares distintas. El objetivo de este trabajo es hacer una breve revisión de los estudios realizados por diversos autores que han intentado identificar genes relacionados con el cáncer oral, así como clasificarlo en subgrupos según los patrones de expresión genética; lo que permitirá una precoz detección, mejor diagnóstico y pronóstico del cáncer oral.One of the principal aims of modern cancer research is to identify markers allowing individual prediction of prognosis or response to treatment. In this connection, the number of genes thought to be involved in the different stages of different types of oral cancer increases apace. DNA microarrays allow simultaneous evaluation of the expression of hundreds of genes in a single assay. The parallel format of microassay slides is designed to allow rapid comparison of gene expression between two samples, for example tumor cells and healthy cells. This article reviews studies that have aimed to identify genes related to oral cancer, and to classify these genes into groups that are commonly co-expressed. These studies suggest that DNA microarrays are set to become routine tools in the detection, diagnosis, characterization and treatment of oral cancers

Landscape- and field-scale control of spatial variation of soil properties in Mediterranean montane meadows

Las figuras que contiene el documento se localizan al final del mismoSoil properties of terrestrial ecosystems are controlled by a variety of factors that operate at different scales. We tested the role of abiotic and biotic factors that potentially influence spatial gradients of total ion content, acidity, carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorous in topsoil. We studied a network of Mediterranean montane meadows that spans a 2000-m altitudinal gradient. The analyzed factors were grouped into two spatial scales: a landscape scale (climate and land form) and a field scale (topography, soil texture, soil moisture, and plant community composition). Total ion content and acidity are the major and independent variation trends of soil geochemistry. Soil acidity, carbon, and nitrogen increased along the altitudinal gradient whereas there was no relationship between total ion content and phosphorous and elevation. Climate had no direct influence on the analyzed gradients; all effects of climate were indirect through plant community composition and/or soil moisture. The results point to three types of models that explain the gradients of soil chemical composition: (1) a predominantly biotic control of carbon and nitrogen, (2) a predominantly abiotic control of acidity, and (3) a combined biotic and abiotic control of total ionic content. No direct or indirect effects explained the gradient of phosphorous. In our study region (central Spain), climate is predicted to turn more arid and soils will lose moisture. According to our models, this will result in less acid and fertile soils, and any change in plant community composition will modify gradients of soil carbon, nitrogen, total ion content, and acidity

Aplicaciones de la citología exfoliativa en el diagnóstico del cáncer oral

La citología exfoliativa es una técnica sencilla, no agresiva y bien aceptada por los pacientes, por lo que podría ser útil en el diagnóstico precoz del cáncer oral. Sin embargo, su utilización como método diagnóstico de atipias epiteliales y especialmente del carcinoma oral de células escamosas ha perdido importancia, sobre todo debido a su baja sensibilidad representada por el elevado número de resultados falsos negativos. Se atribuye esta baja sensibilidad a diversos factores, entre ellos: toma inadecuada de la muestra, error en la técnica e interpretación subjetiva de los hallazgos citológicos. Afortunadamente, en los últimos tiempos, el desarrollo del análisis cuantitativo, la citomorfología, el análisis del ADN, la detección de marcadores tumorales y el análisis molecular ha contribuido al resurgir de esta técnica. El objetivo de este trabajo es hacer una breve revisión sobre las aplicaciones de la citología exfoliativa en el diagnóstico del cáncer oral.Exfoliative cytology is a simple non-aggressive technique that is well accepted by the patient, and that is therefore an attractive option for the early diagnosis of oral cancer, including epithelial atypias and especially squamous cell carcinoma. However, traditional exfoliative cytology methods show low sensitivity (i.e. a high proportion of false negatives) in the diagnosis of these pathologies. This low sensitivity is attributable to various factors, including inadequate sampling, procedural errors, and the need for subjective interpretation of the findings. More recently, the continuing development of automated cytomorphometric methods, DNA content determination, tumour marker detection, and diverse molecular-level analyses has contributed to renewed interest in exfoliative cytology procedures for the diagnosis of oral cancer. The present study briefly reviews developments in these areas

The museum beyond its physical limits: the arrival of virtual visitors

[EN] In this article we present the project, developed by the Museum of Pontevedra in collaboration with Madpixel, which aims to provide the virtual and physical visitor with the possibility of exploring the exhibition space and the collections in super high resolution in a suggestive and attractive way, accessing new narratives through an innovative digital experience. The initiative, designed by Madpixel through its Second Canvas platform, also offers an interactive experience by combining the exploration of images and the narrative resource of storytelling, generating a direct and amusing discourse with different levels of scope. This allows the virtual visitor to choose the degree of depth that best suits their personal interests, being able to select between a welcome tour, a self-guided tour of the collection in 360º in gigapixel resolution with sixty-two essential works with additional content (technical sheet, descriptive sheet and details), or the possibility of seven interactive and guided thematic itineraries. These itineraries approach the visitors to some of the most unique works and also offer a different look at them, addressing forgotten or uncomfortable heritages, such as the heritage of silenced artists, or the legacy that was created during the repression, fear and exile resulting from the Spanish Civil War. The initiative, designed by Madpixel through its Second Canvas platform, also offers an interactive experience by combining the exploration of images and the narrative resource of storytelling, generating a direct and amusing discourse with different levels of scope. This allows the virtual visitor to choose the degree of depth that best suits their personal interests, being able to select between a welcome tour, a self-guided tour of the collection in All this can be enjoyed in person or online from anywhere in the world. Additionally, we added the novelty of online and interactive guided tours in real time for groups, a tool that aims to establish cultural bridges and to consolidate links with other territories, especially with the Galician diaspora and exile.[ES] En este artículo presentamos el proyecto desarrollado por el Museo de Pontevedra en colaboración con Madpixel con el fin de facilitar al visitante virtual y físico la posibilidad de explorar en súper alta resolución el espacio expositivo y las colecciones de una forma sugerente y atractiva, accediendo a nuevas narrativas a través de una innovadora experiencia digital.La iniciativa, diseñada por Madpixel mediante su plataforma Second Canvas, ofrece, además, una experiencia interactiva mediante la combinación de la exploración de las imágenes y el recurso narrativo del storytelling, generador de un discurso directo y ameno con diferentes niveles de alcance. Ello permite al visitante virtual elegir el grado de profundización que más se adecúe a sus intereses personales, pudiendo escoger entre un tour de bienvenida, una visita libre por la colección en 360º en resolución gigapixel con sesenta y dos obras esenciales con contenido adicional (ficha técnica, descriptiva y detalles), o la posibilidad de siete itinerarios temáticos guiados e interactivos. Estos, además de facilitar el acercamiento a algunas de las obras más singulares, ofrecen una mirada diferente sobre ellas, abordando patrimonios olvidados o incómodos, como el de las artistas silenciadas, o aquel que fue gestado durante la represión, el miedo y el exilio derivados de la guerra civil española.Todo ello puede ser disfrutado de forma presencial o telemática desde cualquier parte del mundo. A ello habría que sumar la novedad de la realización de visitas guiadas online e interactivas en tiempo real para grupos, una herramienta que pretende establecer puentes culturales y consolidar vínculos con otros territorios, especialmente con la diáspora y el exilio gallego. García Arredondo, I.; Castaño García, JM.; Rey García, J.; Tilve Otero, P. (2022). El museo más allá de sus límites físicos: la llegada de los visitantes virtuales. En CIMED22 - II Congreso internacional de museos y estrategias digitales. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 57-69. https://doi.org/10.4995/CIMED22.2022.15575576

Evaluation of the surgical difficulty in lower third molar extraction

The ability to predict the surgical difficulty of lower third molar extraction facilitates the design of treatment plans by minimizing complications and improving the preparation of patients and assistants in terms of the postoperative management of inflammation and pain. The aims of this study were to evaluate the value of panoramic radiographs in predicting lower third molar extraction difficulty and technique and to determine if the experience of the practitioner had any influence on this predictive ability. Fourteen dental practitioners with varying levels of experience evaluate the difficulty of lower third molar extraction in a group of patients using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) and a modified version of a surgical difficulty scale. The results were then compared to postoperative scores calculated using the same scale. A tendency to underestimate the difficulty of procedures that was more pronounced in observers with greater levels of experience was observed. A low level of agreement between preoperative and postoperative evaluations using the surgical difficulty scale as well as an association between difficulty assessed preoperatively using the VAS and difficulty assessed postoperatively using the surgical difficulty scale was also found. The use of panoramic radiographs does not allow practitioners to accurately predict lower third molar extraction difficulty and technique, regardless of their level of experience

An analysis of oral biopsies extracted from 1995 to 2009, in an oral medicine and surgery unit in Galicia (Spain)

Objective: To conduct an analysis of the frequency of oral lesions in biopsies over a 14-year period in the Oral Medicine, Oral Surgery and Implantology Unit. Material and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of biopsies removed from 1995-2009, recording data regarding age, sex, location of the lesions, biopsy types, anatomical and pathological diagnosis and definitive diagnosis. Results: Of the 562 patients studied, the average age was 51.8 years, with a standard deviation of 18.5 (range 5-96). The distribution by sex was 318 (56.6%) women and 244 (43.4%) men. The most common diagnostic category was mucosal pathologies in 37.9% of cases, followed by odontogenic cysts in 27.8%. Malignant tumors accounted for 3.9% of cases, oral squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent malignancy, appearing in 22 cases. Bisphosphonate- related osteonecrosis of the jaws was the most common injury within the bone lesions group. Conclusion: Following the performance of 647 biopsies on 562 patients, we can say that the most common injury was radicular cysts (appearing in 108 cases), having found statistical differences in relation to the patients' sex and age. © Medicina Oral S. L

Dental implants placed on bone subjected to vertical alveolar distraction show the same performance as those placed on primitive bone

Introduction: Vertical osteogenic alveolar distraction (VOAD) allows for the augmentation of the alveolar ridge for the placement of dental implants in atrophic alveolar ridges. The goal of this paper is to assess long-term peri- implant bone resorption in implants placed on bones subjected to VOAD, comparing it with a group of patients who had implants placed directly on the alveolar bone without previous bone regeneration. Material and Methods: We conducted a follow-up study on 32 patients who were divided into two groups: The Distraction Group (14 patients), and the Distraction-Free Group (18 patients), who received a total of 100 implants. Peri-implant bone loss was measured by means of panoramic X-rays, at the time of loading and one year later, and in 35 implants of each group after 3 years of functional loading. Results: The peri-implant bone resorption (PBR) average observed in the Distraction Group at the time of prosthetic placement is higher (0.50±0.09 mm) than in the Distraction-Free Group (0.25±0.06 mm), showing statistically significant results (p=0.047). PBR levels 1 year after loading were the same for both groups (0.66 mm). At 3 years, they were higher in the Distraction Group (1.03 ± 0.22 mm vs. 0.68 ± 0.08 mm)

Correlation between clinical and pathologic diagnosis in oral leukoplakia in 54 patients

The main aim of this study was to establish a correlation between the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of oral leukoplakia with a particular focus on epithelial dysplasia. We reviewed the medical records of 54 patients with a clinical and histologic diagnosis of oral leukoplakia who were seen at our center between 2002 and 2008. We found that the disease was more common in men (59.3%) than in women and we also detected a significantly greater prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption in men. The mean age of the patients was 62.57 years. Three patients had been histologically diagnosed with invasive cancer and 4 with carcinoma in situ. The most common lesion site for leukoplakias with severe dysplasia and invasive carcinoma was the lateral aspect of the tongue, the floor of the mouth, and the gums. It is therefore essential to include these sites in the clinical examination to aid early diagnosis. A higher degree of dysplasia should be suspected in non-homogeneous leukoplakias. While dysplasia is associated with a greater risk of malignant transformation, it is also important to monitor leukoplakias without dysplastic features as they can occasionally be the site of carcinoma

IR characterization of Ln2−xSrxCoO4 (x≥1; Ln=La, Nd) oxides

[Abstract] We have recorded the FTIR spectra of powder samples of Ln2−xSrxCoO4 (Ln=La, Nd) at room temperature. We have identified the infrared active modes (3A2u+4Eu), and analyzed how they change as a function of Ln and the Sr doping. We correlate the obtained results with structural data obtained from powder X-ray diffraction studies and with the electronic properties displayed by these samples