Three-point vs one-point palpation of temporomandibular joint. A clinical trial study

Background: Palpation is a crucial component of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) examination in identifying tenderness. One-finger one-point palpation has a high tendency for inappropriate application and misinterpretation. Objective: To evaluate three-point vs one-point palpation in determination of TMJ tenderness. Patients and Methods: The study included fourth and fifth-year students in the College of Dentistry/Hawler Medical University. All students were examined using both one-point and three-point techniques. Two essential elements were recorded for each TMJ: tenderness and clicking. Results: A total of 76 students (152 TMJs); 40 female and 37 male, were included. One-point TMJ tenderness was present in 41 (26.7%) and three-point TMJ tenderness was present in 114 (75%) TMJs (P=0.0001), with a sensitivity of 75% and specificity of 73%. Clicking, in three-point, 14 (9.21%), in one-point, 22 (14.47%) TMJs were with (P=0.2136) with a sensitivity of 18.42% and specificity of 71%. Conclusion: Three-point technique can be used for palpation of TMJ, especially for detection of joint tenderness. Better not to be used for clicking evaluation

Microenvironmental Modulation of Decorin and Lumican in Temozolomide-Resistant Glioblastoma and Neuroblastoma Cancer Stem-Like Cells

The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor-initiating cells can lead to cancer recurrence in a permissive cell–microenvironment interplay, promoting invasion in glioblastoma (GBM) and neuroblastoma (NB). Extracellular matrix (ECM) small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) play multiple roles in tissue homeostasis by remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM) components and modulating intracellular signaling pathways. Due to their pan-inhibitory properties against receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), SLRPs are reported to exert anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. However, their roles seem to be tissue-specific and they are also involved in cancer cell migration and drug resistance, paving the way to complex different scenarios. The aim of this study was to determine whether the SLRPs decorin (DCN) and lumican (LUM) are recruited in cell plasticity and microenvironmental adaptation of differentiated cancer cells induced towards stem-like phenotype. Floating neurospheres were generated by applying CSC enrichment medium (neural stem cell serum-free medium, NSC SFM) to the established SF-268 and SK-N-SH cancer cell lines, cellular models of GBM and NB, respectively. In both models, the time-dependent synergistic activation of DCN and LUM was observed. The highest DCN and LUM mRNA/protein expression was detected after cell exposure to NSC SFM for 8/12 days, considering these cells as SLRP-expressing (SLRP+) CSC-like. Ultrastructural imaging showed the cellular heterogeneity of both the GBM and NB neurospheres and identified the inner living cells. Parental cell lines of both GBM and NB grew only in soft agar + NSC SFM, whereas the secondary neurospheres (originated from SLRP+ t8 CSC-like) showed lower proliferation rates than primary neurospheres. Interestingly, the SLRP+ CSC-like from the GBM and NB neurospheres were resistant to temozolomide (TMZ) at concentrations >750 μM. Our results suggest that GBM and NB CSC-like promote the activation of huge quantities of SLRP in response to CSC enrichment, simultaneously acquiring TMZ resistance, cellular heterogeneity, and a quiescent phenotype, suggesting a novel pivotal role for SLRP in drug resistance and cell plasticity of CSC-like, allowing cell survival and ECM/niche modulation potential.This study was supported by Fundació la Marató TV3, Project n° 111431

Fibre Thermal Damage in Ring Spinning

Synthetic fibres are more susceptible to thermal damage and have to be processed at lower spindle speeds than cotton on ring spinning machines. Blends of polyester-cotton were spun using ring spinning machine at various spindle speeds. Analysis of the properties of the yarns and the fibres in the yarn revealed that spinning fibre blends with a high polyester content at higher spindle speeds resulted in weaker yarns. Thermal damage of the polyester fibre in the yarn could be seen from SEM photographs. Blending polyester with cotton significantly reduced the risk of thermal damage to the polyester fibre. Yarn hairiness decreased with the increase of spindle speed, but this reduction could not be attributed to fibre thermal damage alone.</jats:p