JOURNAL OF THE CALIFORNIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION
December 2009

The December Journal of the California Dental Association covers various student-led research projects at each of the five dental schools in California that were in existence at the time this issue was planned.

Gene Delivery to Oral Cancer Cells by Nonviral Vectors: Why Some Cells Are Resistant to Transfection
The use of cationic lipid-DNA complexes for gene therapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma may be limited by the resistance of some cell types to transfection. Using fluorescence microscopy, fluorometry and luciferase luminescence, the authors examined whether the variability arises from the intracellular fate of lipoplexes.
Cassidy Lavorini-Doyle, DDS; Senait Gebremedhin, BS; Krystyna Konopka, PhD, MD; and Nejat Düzgüneş, PhD

Digital Multimedia Instruction Enhances Teaching Oral and Maxillofacial Suturing
The aim of this study was to develop an educational resource that provides a more comprehensive instruction on basic intraoral suturing techniques and to test its effectiveness as a teaching tool.
J.M. Weaver, BS; Mei Lu, DDS, MS, PhD; K.L. McCloskey, BS; E.S. Herndon, BS; and W. Tanaka, DDS

Dental Enamel: Genes Define Biomechanics
The purpose of this article is to review selected advances, highlighting dental student research contributions, in the understanding of the genetic, molecular, and structural aspects of enamel biology.
Rick J. Rauth, DDS, MS; Karen S. Potter, DDS; Amanda Y.-W. Ngan, DDS, MS; Deema M. Saad, BS; Rana Mehr, BS; Vivian Q. Luong, BS; Verna L. Schuetter; Vetea G. Miklus, DDS, MS; PeiPei Chang, DDS; Michael L. Paine, BDS, PhD; Rodrigo S. Lacruz, PhD; Malcolm L. Snead, DDS, PhD; and Shane N. White, BDentSc, MS, MA, PhD

Modulation of EGFR by Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines
Oral cancer is the sixth most frequent cancer worldwide. The authors present data suggesting that the avβ6 integrin, which is a marker for aggressive oral cancer, may regulate epidermal growth factor receptor expression.
Dongmin Dang, MD; Stephen Sadler; and Daniel M. Ramos, DDS, PhD

Role of the Transcription Factor NFIC in Odontoblast Gene Expression
The transcription factor NFI-C  is essential for root development. The purpose of this study was to understand the role of NFI-C in dentinogenesis.
Mi Young Kim; Julia Reyna, PhD; Li-Sha Chen, BS; and Maggie Zeichner-David, PhD

The Editor/
Rogers Hornsby and the Gecko
By Kerry K. Carney, DDS

Impressions/

Risk Management Case Study/
Implant Failure: Attempting Procedures Beyond Skill Level

Dr. Bob/
Mouthin’ Off
By Robert E. Horseman, DDS

Continuing Education Courses/
CE Listings: January - June 2010