Proteomic profiling of proteins associated with the rejuvenation of Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.

BACKGROUND: Restoration of rooting competence is important for rejuvenation in Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl and is achieved by repeatedly grafting Sequoia shoots after 16 and 30 years of cultivation in vitro. RESULTS: Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis revealed three proteins that differentially accumulated in different rejuvenation stages, including oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 2 (OEE2), glycine-rich RNA-binding protein (RNP), and a thaumatin-like protein. OEE2 was found to be phosphorylated and a phosphopeptide (YEDNFDGNSNVSVMVpTPpTDK) was identified. Specifically, the protein levels of OEE2 increased as a result of grafting and displayed a higher abundance in plants during the juvenile and rejuvenated stages. Additionally, SsOEE2 displayed the highest expression levels in Sequoia shoots during the juvenile stage and less expression during the adult stage. The expression levels also steadily increased during grafting. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate a positive correlation between the gene and protein expression patterns of SsOEE2 and the rejuvenation process, suggesting that this gene is involved in the rejuvenation of Sequoia sempervirens.

Assessment of orthodontic treatment outcomes: early treatment versus late treatment.

This investigation compares the treatment outcome of early treatment (in the mixed dentition) with that of late treatment (early permanent dentition) using objective evaluation criteria. Pretreatment and post-treatment records of all patients (n = 512) completed from 1998 to 2000 in the graduate orthodontics clinic at the Indiana University School of Dentistry (IUSD) were evaluated by the American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO OGS) and Comprehensive Clinical Assessment (CCA) method developed at IUSD. Two definitions of early treatment were used in this study: (1) all patients started in the mixed dentition with early-treatment objectives and (2) female individuals were <10 years and male individuals were <10.5 years of age when treatment began. Comparison of the final results between early- vs late-treatment groups showed that the early-treatment group had significantly longer treatment time and worse CCA scores than the late-treatment group, regardless of the definition of the early-treatment group or whether the early-debond (premature treatment termination) cases were included or not. There was no significant difference between early- and late-treatment groups regarding the ABO OGS score, which indicated that the CCA method is more sensitive in detecting compromised outcomes for patients with long treatment times. Prematurely terminated treatment was more prevalent in the early-treatment group than in the late-treatment group. In this large sample of consecutive patients (n = 512), the disadvantages of early treatment was prolonged treatment time, worse CCA score, and a higher incidence of premature termination of treatment, which was attributed to patient/parent "burn-out."

Comprehensive clinical evaluation as an outcome assessment for a graduate orthodontics program.

To supplement the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) objective grading system (OGS) for posttreatment dental casts and panoramic radiographs, a comprehensive clinical assessment (CCA) method was developed to assess facial form, dental esthetics, vertical dimension, arch form, periodontium preservation, root resorption, and treatment efficiency. The sum of the CCA and the ABO OGS scores was defined as the clinical outcome. To determine a 3-year baseline for treatment outcomes in a graduate orthodontic program, the posttreatment records of 521 consecutive patients were evaluated. The mean ABO OGS score for the entire sample was 34.4 points: 32.4, 33.1, and 37.8 points for 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. The mean CCA score for the entire sample was 4.67 points: 2.96, 5.13, and 6.15 points for 1998, 1999, and 2000, respectively. Corresponding ABO OGS and CCA scores showed a progressive decrease in the quality of finished cases that was associated with a treatment time increase from 28.9 to 39.3 months. Overall, longer active treatment times resulted in a diminished clinical outcome, primarily due to "patient burn-out." Scoring of all finished cases is an effective means for determining clinical outcomes. However, the data suggest that, in initiating a clinical grading program, it is important to establish a multiyear baseline. Patients who are progressing well in treatment tend to be finished by the time the current class graduates, and the problem patients are transferred. Because long treatment times are associated with diminished clinical outcomes, it is often in the best interest of the uncooperative patient to terminate treatment rather than extend active mechanics in an attempt to achieve a better result.