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Objective: To investigate the blood flow distribution in the repaired lip of cleft patients using a laser Doppler imager and to evaluate the difference in blood flow of the scar tissue between unilateral cleft lip patients with and without cleft palate. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with either unilateral cleft lip only (CL group, n = 8) or cleft lip and palate (CLP group, n = 12) were used as subjects. The blood flow of the upper lip was two-dimensionally visualized by a color scale alongside the corresponding photo image of the tissue surface with laser Doppler imaging. The upper lip photo image was divided into five regions: scar, white lip on the cleft side, white lip on the noncleft side, red lip on the cleft side, and red lip on the noncleft side. The average flux score (AFS), which is proportional to blood flow, was analyzed in each region. Results: The AFS for the scar region was significantly (P < .05) lower than in the other four regions. The AFS for the red lip on the cleft side was not significantly different from that for the noncleft side. The white lip revealed a significantly (P < .05) higher score on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. The AFS ratio (AFS in the scar region/AFS in the white lip region) was significantly (P < .01) lower in the CLP group than in the CL group. Conclusions: These results suggest that blood flow distribution in the repaired lip might be affected by the anatomic features of the cleft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the local administration of three kinds of bisphosphonates – etidronate, alendronate, and pamidronate – on orthodontic root resorption. Both right and left molars of 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were experimentally moved by interproximal insertion of the elastic band. Each bisphosphonate solution was injected into the palatal subperiosteum area adjacent to the upper first molar every third day during experimental period. Rats were sacrificed after 1, 3, 7, and 14 days of elastic band insertion, and samples prepared from tissues were histomorphometrically analyzed by light or scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM analysis revealed that the local injection caused a significant reduction in mechanically induced root pit formation in all bisphosphonate treatment groups after 14 days, in parallel with the reduction in the number of odontoclasts. However, on day 3, treatment with etidronate and alendronate transiently increased root pit formation due to the increase of the odontoclast number. At that time, the strong immunoreactive signals of interleukine-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in etidronate and alendronate treatment groups were observed in odontoclasts, osteoclasts, and periodontal ligament cells compared with control groups. These results suggested that topical application of the bisphosphonates following experimental induction of tooth movement in rats reduced the root resorption and odontoclast formation, being mediated by IL-1β and TNF-α expression. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively compare the stability of the mandible following the surgical orthodontic treatment by sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and orthodontic multi-bracket treatment using fixation methods with poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) or titanium screws. The sample examined was 23 subjects with PLLA screws (PLLA group) and 22 subjects with titanium screws (Titan group). Lateral cephalometric radiographs were reviewed before surgery (T0), 2–3 days after surgery (T1), 1 month after surgery (T2), and after postoperative orthodontic treatment (T3) and changes in the position of bony segments were examined by cephalometric linear and angular measurements. A similar movement of the mandible following setback surgery was indicated, and statistical analysis showed no significant differences in skeletal changes between the two groups during whole postoperative periods. However, a relapse following surgical counterclockwise rotation of the distal segment in PLLA group tended to be slightly greater during T1–T2 compared with Titan group. These results suggest that a use of the PLLA screw fixation may not influence on the stability of bony segments after mandibular setback surgery by SSRO during the postoperative period, although a slight tendency for clockwise rotation of the distal segment was indicated in patients with PLLA screws. It is suggested that fixation of bony segments with PLLA screws after SSRO may be effective in properly selected cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mechanical stress is thought to regulate the expression of genes in the periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Using a microarray approach, we recently identified a regulator of G-protein signaling 2 (RGS2) as an up-regulated gene in the PDL cells under compressive force. The RGS protein family is known to turn off G-protein signaling. G-protein signaling involves the production of cAMP, which is thought to be one of the biological mediators in response to mechanical stress. Here, we investigated the role of RGS2 in the PDL cells under mechanical stress. PDL cells derived from the ligament tissues of human premolar teeth were cultured in collagen gels and subjected to static compressive force. Compressive force application time-dependently enhanced RGS2 expression and intracellular cAMP levels. To examine the interrelationship between RGS2 and cAMP, the PDL cells were treated with 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine (DDA), an inhibitor of adenyl cyclase, or antisense S-oligonucleotide (S-ODN) to RGS2 under compressive force. DDA dose-dependently inhibited RGS2 stimulated by compressive force. Blockage of RGS2 by antisense S-ODN elevated the cAMP levels compared with controls. These results indicate that cAMP stimulates RGS2 expression, which in turn leads to a decrease in the cAMP production by inactivating the G-protein signaling in the mechanically stressed PDL cells. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary dental care, an increasing number of adult patients are seeking orthodontic treatment. In such adult patients, a combined orthodontic and other specialized therapy often offers the best option for achieving a predictable outcome to solve complex clinical problems. This case report demonstrates a combined therapy with orthodontic, periodontic, and implant-prosthodontic treatments in a 56-year six-month-old female patient with mild diastemata in the maxillary anterior region and a missing left maxillary second premolar caused by a periodontal disease with medium bone loss. The patient had improved her oral hygiene condition through periodontal treatment before orthodontic treatment. The patient was orthodontically treated with a maxillary lingual arch and a maxillary edgewise orthodontic appliance. Active orthodontic treatment was completed in 18 months, and an implant-supported prosthesis was placed with a single crown in the region of the left maxillary second premolar. The treatment outcomes, including the periodontal condition and the dental implant treatment, were stable at two years after the active orthodontic treatment. We demonstrate that combined orthodontic-periodontic-implant- prosthodontic treatment can achieve an improved masticatory function, esthetics, occlusion, and periodontal condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]