Radiographic Evaluation of Sleep-Disordered Breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea are becoming more prevalent in today's population. Management of these conditions can be difficult and this diagnosis is often overlooked by clinicians. An increased awareness and understanding of craniofacial structures and anatomic relationships can aid the clinician in identifying at-risk patients, and improve treatment outcomes. An airway review of 3-dimensional computed tomography imaging can identify (1) anatomic variations that contribute to obstructive airway complications, and (2) measurable dimensions to identify at risk patients. This article provides instruction on the key anatomic landmarks and imaging protocols for radiographic airway evaluation.

Formation of supported lipid bilayers on indium tin oxide for dynamically-patterned membrane-functionalized microelectrode arrays.

Supported lipid bilayers (SLBs) are ideal platforms for the study of membrane proteins and function. Assembly of functional SLBs in an array format would lead to a breakthrough in high-throughput screening of membrane-associated processes, e.g., drugs binding to transmembrane proteins. We report the formation of SLBs from the rupture of anionic vesicles in the presence of Ca(2+) ions on ITO-coated surfaces and characterise the assembly and SLB properties. Furthermore, the formation, manipulation and regeneration of SLBs adsorbed on ITO microelectrode array spots using an electric potential switch are demonstrated. This platform enables addressable assembly and the study of electrochemically mediated membrane processes in a microarray format which can be regenerated in situ.

Single-unit implants versus conventional treatments for compromised teeth: a brief review of the evidence.

The goal of preserving the natural dentition has long provided the foundation for clinical decision making in dentistry. Current trends in implant dentistry have weakened this paradigm as many practitioners have moved quickly to adopt implant dentistry as a new standard of care; however, the rapidity of this shift is a cause for concern among others. Many short-term studies have reported favorable data supporting the growth of single-unit implant dentistry, but the lack of standardized outcome evaluations and broadly conceived dimensions of performance makes it difficult to compare these reports. Thus, even with the exciting new treatment options implant dentistry offers patients and practitioners, all due consideration should first be given to treatments aimed at preserving and restoring compromised teeth before pursuing extraction and replacement. This article examines this premise from five perspectives: form, function, survival, management of complications, and quality of life.