BACKGROUND: Removable partial dentures (RPDs) are widely used as a repair means and have a wide application scope. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of using design software in the preclinical teaching of removable partial dentures (RPDs). METHODS: Unreal Engine software was used to build the RPD framework design teaching and training software. All 131 undergraduate students majoring in stomatology in the class of 2018, Kunming Medical University, were randomly divided into three groups and received either traditional experiment teaching, flipped classroom teaching, or software teaching for RPD design. The application effect of the software in the preclinical teaching of RPD design was evaluated by analyzing the examination results and through the use of a questionnaire survey. RESULTS: The differences in the theoretical examination scores among the traditional teaching group, the flipped classroom group, and the software teaching group were not statistically significant (P> 0.05), while the average design scores of upper Kennedy Class I and lower Kennedy Class II subclass II in the software teaching group were significantly higher than those in the traditional teaching group (P< 0.05). Overall, 75% of the students in the software teaching group reported that this teaching method could improve their learning initiative, a higher percentage than in the traditional teaching group (55.8%, P< 0.05). Meanwhile, 90.9% of the students in the software teaching group reported that the software could make RPD-related theoretical knowledge more visual and intuitive, and 93.2% of these students felt it was helpful for understanding the RPD three-dimensional (3D) spatial structure. These percentages were higher than those in the traditional teaching and flipped classroom groups (P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the preclinical teaching of RPD design, software training helped the students better understand the 3D structure of RPDs and establish clear design ideas, and it may also be valuable for in-depth research and promotion purposes.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the differential proteins that interact with protein kinase C‑δ (PKC‑δ) in hyperthermia‑induced apoptosis as well as thermotolerance in Tca8113 cells, and furthermore, to investigate the mechanisms of these processes in tumor cells. Activation of PKC‑δ was previously indicated to be involved in the heat sensitivity and thermal resistance of tongue squamous carcinoma cells. Tca8113 cell apoptosis was induced by incubation at 43˚C for 80 min and the thermotolerant Tca8113 cells (TT‑Tca8113) were generated through a gradient temperature‑elevating method. The apoptotic rate of the cells was determined by flow cytometry, while cleavage and activation of PKC‑δ were analyzed by western blot analysis. The proteins that interacted with PKC‑δ in the Tca8113 and TT‑Tca8113 cells were identified by co‑immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry. Co‑immunoprecipitation analysis followed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis were utilized to identify the pro‑ and anti‑apoptotic proteins that interacted with PKC‑δ. Significant cell apoptosis was observed in Tca8113 cells following hyperthermia, and the apoptotic rate was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Marked PKC‑δ cleavage fragmentation was also identified. By contrast, the apoptotic rate of the TT‑Tca8113 cells was not significantly increased following hyperthermia and no PKC‑δ cleavage fragmentation was observed. Among the proteins interacting with PKC‑δ, 39 were found to be involved in the promotion of apoptosis and 16 in the inhibition of apoptosis of Tca8113 cells; these proteins were known to be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, transcription and intracellular protein transport. The results of the present study provided evidence that PKC‑δ is a crucial factor in the heat sensitivity and thermal resistance of tongue squamous carcinoma cells and elucidated the underlying molecular basis, which may aid in the improvement of hyperthermic cancer treatments.

This study aims to measure and analyze the lip and tooth dynamic esthetic characteristics at rest and during speech in order to provide a reference for its esthetic design and restoration among the Hani and Han populations in Yunnan Province, China. Methods: Subjects of Hani and Han ethnicity in Yunnan were selected using multistage stratified sampling and inclusive criteria. The lip and tooth dynamic esthetic characteristics of the subjects at rest and during the pinyin pronunciation of "me", "yi", "fu", and "si" were recorded using digital photography and analyzed with computer software. Results: No statistical difference was detected between the Hani and Han groups in the upper central-incisor display, when pronouncing the pinyin "yi". Furthermore, there were no statistical differences in lip dynamic esthetic parameters between the Hani and Han groups, except for the distance between the upper and lower lips when pronouncing "si". There were three kinds of correlation between the upper central-incisor edge and lower lip: separation, contact, and overlap. Conclusion: The display of upper central incisors and the mouth width of Hani people are larger than those of Han people when at rest. When the pinyin "si" is pronounced, the display of upper central incisors and the upper-lower lip distance of Hani people is less than that of Han people due to labial muscle movement.