Objectives: This study aims to assess dental hygienists’ level of digital literacy and its effect on occupational self-efficacy and organizational commitment. Methods: The online survey results, obtained from 307 respondents, were statistically analyzed using frequency analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis with the IBM SPSS 20.0 software. Results: The factors affecting the technology portion of digital literacy included age (P＜0.001), years in career (P＜0.001), number of personnel in workplace (P=0.009), level of education (P=0.001), region of workplace (P=0.002), and form of workplace (P=0.021). The factors affecting the application portion of digital literacy included age (P＜0.001), years in career (P=0.009), and number of personnel in the workplace (P=0.008). The level of occupational self-efficacy positively affected the technology portion of digital literacy, while organizational commitment positively affected the technology portion and negatively affected the application portion of digital literacy. Conclusions Although this study has limitations, it carries significance as a survey of dental hygienists’ digital literacy standing. To adapt to and function in the current society of digital informatics, ongoing education and research on digital literacy are warranted.

Williams–Beuren syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder that results from microdeletion at chromosome 7, which harbors the elastin gene. Clinical findings include arteriopathy, aortic stenosis, hypertension, and laxities and contractures in different joints throughout the body. While many components of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) normally contain elastin, there are few reports on TMJ manifestations of WS. This study reports a TMJ ankylosis case in a WS patient and shares insight on a possible link between development of TMJ ankylosis and elastin deficiency in WS patients. A WS patient presented with bilateral TMJ ankylosis and was successfully treated with TMJ gap arthroplasty. Hypermobility of TMJ and lack of elastin in retrodiscal tissue can induce anterior disc displacement without reduction. Due to lack of elastin, which has a significant role in the compensatory and reparatory mechanism of TMJ, WS patients might be prone to TMJ ankylosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of facilitating target delineation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients undergoing stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for lung tumors by lung expansion and respiratory motion management. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective single-institutional trial of patients who were diagnosed with either primary lung cancer or lung metastases and received SABR with a dose of 40 to 60 Gy in 4 fractions. Four-dimensional computed tomography simulations were conducted for each patient: once without CPAP and again with CPAP. Results: Thirty-two patients with 39 tumors were analyzed, after the withdrawal of five patients due to discomfort. For 26 tumors separated from the diaphragm, CPAP significantly increased the superoinferior distance between the tumor and the diaphragm (5.96 cm vs. 8.06 cm; p < 0.001). For 13 tumors located adjacent to the diaphragm, CPAP decreased the overlap of planning target volume (PTV) with the diaphragm significantly (6.32 cm3 vs. 4.09 cm3; p = 0.002). PTV showed a significant reduction with CPAP (25.06 cm3 vs. 22.52 cm3, p = 0.017). In dosimetric analyses, CPAP expanded lung volume by 58.4% with a significant reduction in mean dose and V5 to V40. No more than grade 2 adverse events were reported. Conclusion This trial demonstrated significant improvement of CPAP in target delineation uncertainties for lung SABR, with dosimetric benefits, a favorable safety profile and tolerability. Further investigation is warranted to explore the role of CPAP as a novel strategy for respiratory motion management.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of facilitating target delineation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients undergoing stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for lung tumors by lung expansion and respiratory motion management. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective single-institutional trial of patients who were diagnosed with either primary lung cancer or lung metastases and received SABR with a dose of 40 to 60 Gy in 4 fractions. Four-dimensional computed tomography simulations were conducted for each patient: once without CPAP and again with CPAP. Results: Thirty-two patients with 39 tumors were analyzed, after the withdrawal of five patients due to discomfort. For 26 tumors separated from the diaphragm, CPAP significantly increased the superoinferior distance between the tumor and the diaphragm (5.96 cm vs. 8.06 cm; p < 0.001). For 13 tumors located adjacent to the diaphragm, CPAP decreased the overlap of planning target volume (PTV) with the diaphragm significantly (6.32 cm3 vs. 4.09 cm3; p = 0.002). PTV showed a significant reduction with CPAP (25.06 cm3 vs. 22.52 cm3, p = 0.017). In dosimetric analyses, CPAP expanded lung volume by 58.4% with a significant reduction in mean dose and V5 to V40. No more than grade 2 adverse events were reported. Conclusion This trial demonstrated significant improvement of CPAP in target delineation uncertainties for lung SABR, with dosimetric benefits, a favorable safety profile and tolerability. Further investigation is warranted to explore the role of CPAP as a novel strategy for respiratory motion management.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of facilitating target delineation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients undergoing stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for lung tumors by lung expansion and respiratory motion management. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective single-institutional trial of patients who were diagnosed with either primary lung cancer or lung metastases and received SABR with a dose of 40 to 60 Gy in 4 fractions. Four-dimensional computed tomography simulations were conducted for each patient: once without CPAP and again with CPAP. Results: Thirty-two patients with 39 tumors were analyzed, after the withdrawal of five patients due to discomfort. For 26 tumors separated from the diaphragm, CPAP significantly increased the superoinferior distance between the tumor and the diaphragm (5.96 cm vs. 8.06 cm; p < 0.001). For 13 tumors located adjacent to the diaphragm, CPAP decreased the overlap of planning target volume (PTV) with the diaphragm significantly (6.32 cm3 vs. 4.09 cm3; p = 0.002). PTV showed a significant reduction with CPAP (25.06 cm3 vs. 22.52 cm3, p = 0.017). In dosimetric analyses, CPAP expanded lung volume by 58.4% with a significant reduction in mean dose and V5 to V40. No more than grade 2 adverse events were reported. Conclusion This trial demonstrated significant improvement of CPAP in target delineation uncertainties for lung SABR, with dosimetric benefits, a favorable safety profile and tolerability. Further investigation is warranted to explore the role of CPAP as a novel strategy for respiratory motion management.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of facilitating target delineation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients undergoing stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for lung tumors by lung expansion and respiratory motion management. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective single-institutional trial of patients who were diagnosed with either primary lung cancer or lung metastases and received SABR with a dose of 40 to 60 Gy in 4 fractions. Four-dimensional computed tomography simulations were conducted for each patient: once without CPAP and again with CPAP. Results: Thirty-two patients with 39 tumors were analyzed, after the withdrawal of five patients due to discomfort. For 26 tumors separated from the diaphragm, CPAP significantly increased the superoinferior distance between the tumor and the diaphragm (5.96 cm vs. 8.06 cm; p < 0.001). For 13 tumors located adjacent to the diaphragm, CPAP decreased the overlap of planning target volume (PTV) with the diaphragm significantly (6.32 cm3 vs. 4.09 cm3; p = 0.002). PTV showed a significant reduction with CPAP (25.06 cm3 vs. 22.52 cm3, p = 0.017). In dosimetric analyses, CPAP expanded lung volume by 58.4% with a significant reduction in mean dose and V5 to V40. No more than grade 2 adverse events were reported. Conclusion This trial demonstrated significant improvement of CPAP in target delineation uncertainties for lung SABR, with dosimetric benefits, a favorable safety profile and tolerability. Further investigation is warranted to explore the role of CPAP as a novel strategy for respiratory motion management.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of facilitating target delineation of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients undergoing stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) for lung tumors by lung expansion and respiratory motion management. Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective single-institutional trial of patients who were diagnosed with either primary lung cancer or lung metastases and received SABR with a dose of 40 to 60 Gy in 4 fractions. Four-dimensional computed tomography simulations were conducted for each patient: once without CPAP and again with CPAP. Results: Thirty-two patients with 39 tumors were analyzed, after the withdrawal of five patients due to discomfort. For 26 tumors separated from the diaphragm, CPAP significantly increased the superoinferior distance between the tumor and the diaphragm (5.96 cm vs. 8.06 cm; p < 0.001). For 13 tumors located adjacent to the diaphragm, CPAP decreased the overlap of planning target volume (PTV) with the diaphragm significantly (6.32 cm3 vs. 4.09 cm3; p = 0.002). PTV showed a significant reduction with CPAP (25.06 cm3 vs. 22.52 cm3, p = 0.017). In dosimetric analyses, CPAP expanded lung volume by 58.4% with a significant reduction in mean dose and V5 to V40. No more than grade 2 adverse events were reported. Conclusion This trial demonstrated significant improvement of CPAP in target delineation uncertainties for lung SABR, with dosimetric benefits, a favorable safety profile and tolerability. Further investigation is warranted to explore the role of CPAP as a novel strategy for respiratory motion management.