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ePaper created 2014-07-29, 09:08:59 | version 1.30.01
48 I implants2_2014 NEWS A Finnish team of researchers has discovered a gene mutation in ameloblastoma, which is a tu- mour of the jaw.The finding could significantly im- prove treatment, as a targeted drug for the muta- tion in question already exists. Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic tumour with a high tendency to re- curaftertreatment.Itismostoftenfoundinthepos- terior region of the mandible. Ameloblastomas are treated with surgery, often resultingintissuedeficienciesinthejawsandthe lossofseveralteeth.Asuitabledrugtherapycould reducetheneedforsurgeryandtherecurrenceof ameloblastoma; however, finding such a treat- ment requires a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the tumour. Researchers have been searching for the mutation that causes ameloblastoma for decades, and this mutation has now been found in a patient living in the east- ern part of Finland. The team who made the discovery includes re- searchersfromtheUniversityofTurkuandtheUni- versity of Eastern Finland.According to the leaders of the team, Professor of Medical Biochemistry KlausEleniusattheUniversityofTurkuandProfes- sor of Oral Diagnostic Sciences Kristiina Heikin- heimoattheUniversityofEasternFinland,thefind- ing is a scientific breakthrough. The significance of the finding is further empha- sised by the fact that it has direct implications for treatment, as a targeted drug for the mutation in question already exists. Researchers find Mutation in jaw tumour The Academy of Prosthodontics held its 2014 in- ternational congress in Europe for the first time in collaboration with the Swiss Society for Recon- structive Dentistry. About 500 participants joined the event in Bern in Switzerland, at which leading expertsinprostheticsfromtheUSmetupwiththeir European colleagues to discuss their treatment philosophies. Founded in 1918, the Academy of Prosthodontics is one the oldest specialty organi- sations in prosthetic dentistry. Its annual meeting usually takes place in the US or Canada.This year, however, the organisers opted for the congress centre at the Kursaal Bern, the largest conference complexandeventvenueintheregion.The two-day scientific programme saw prac- tice-related clinical lectures by expert panellists from both sides of the Atlantic. TwentyspeakersfromtheUSandSwitzer- land,as well as from Italy,Germany,Spain and the UK,elaborated on the essential principles of mod- ernprostheticsindentistry,includingdigitalisation and aesthetic aspects of conventional and implant prosthetics. The lectures were held in English. However,simultaneous interpreting was available inFrenchandGerman.Alongsidethescientificpro- gramme,attendeeshadtheopportunitytovisitthe congress dental exhibition. Annual meeting of European and North America prosthetics The Belgian company LayerWise produced patient-specific titanium implants as part of a pioneering facial reconstruction. Motorcyclist Stephen Power was severely injured in an acci- dent near Cardiff,UK.A specialist team success- fully dealt with all facial injuries, with the excep- tionofhisleftcheekandeyesocket.Thepatient’s cheekbone was too far out and his eye was sunk in and dropped.Due to the close proximity of crit- ical and sensitive anatomical structures, the team applied the latest 3-D computer-aided practices by PDR and innovative 3-D printing of the titanium implant and fixation plate by Layer- Wise. The company manufactured the implant and fixation plate in medical-grade titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) in accordance with the ISO 13485 standard, produced the floor plate, and polished itsuppersurfacetominimizefrictionwithsofttis- sues.Thefloorplatewasfixatedtothezygomatic bone through the plate’s dedicated slip with at- tachment holes. After his recovery, Stephan Power experiences the results of the surgery as ‘totally life changing’. Instead of using a hat and glasses to mask his injuries,he is now able to do day-to-day things,go and see people,walk in the street,and even go to any public areas. Metal 3-D printing helped Rebuild motorbike crash survivor’s face