BackgroundOral cancers can be preceded by clinically evident oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs). The current study evaluated the rate and the time of malignant transformation in the various OPMDs in a cohort of patients from southern Taiwan. Parameters possibly indicative for malignant transformation of OPMDs, such as epidemiological and etiological factors, and clinical and histopathological features were also described.MethodsWe followed-up 5071 patients with OPMDs—epithelial dysplasia with oral submucous fibrosis, epithelial dysplasia with hyperkeratosis/epithelial hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis/epithelial hyperplasia, oral submucous fibrosis, lichen planus, and verrucous hyperplasia—between 2001 and 2010 for malignant transformation.ResultsTwo hundred nineteen of these 5071 OPMD patients (202 men, 17 women; mean age: 51.25 years; range: 30–81 years) developed oral cancers (179 squamous cell carcinomas; 40 verrucous carcinomas) in the same sites as the initial lesions at least 6 months after their initial biopsies. The overall transformation rate was 4.32% (mean duration of transformation: 33.56 months; range: 6–67 months). Additionally, the mean time of malignant transformation was significantly shorter for lesions with than without epithelial dysplasia. The risk of malignant transformation was 1.89 times higher for epithelially dysplastic than non-dysplastic lesions. The anatomical site of OPMD and the presence of epithelial dysplasia were significantly associated with malignant transformation. The hazard rate ratio was 1.87 times larger for tongue lesions than for buccal lesions.ConclusionPatients with OPMDs require long-term follow up.

Penetration of adhesive into the wood cell and lumens is an important factor that may enhance the durability of the adhesive bonds. In this study, the diffusion of adhesive polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) into the cell wall of various types of wood was evaluated making use of micro-CT. Compression shear block tests were also applied to examine the mechanical performance of the bond. In adhesive assemblies examined, cell walls at the immediate surface which were damaged during machine planning were full of adhesives. As the penetration of PVAc increased, the variation in the observed bind strengths was not substantial. Bonded with the same type of glue, black spruce appeared to have lower shear strength than Douglas fir and lodgepole pine. Moreover, gravity seemed to play a role in the glue penetration. During clamping and adhesive curing, the substrate on the lower of the shear block specimen had a deeper glue penetration. There are some correlations between glue penetration and glue line thickness measured using micro-CT.

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