Challenges associated with regeneration of orbital floor bone.

Orbital floor fractures are a serious consequence of craniofacial trauma and account for ∼60%-70% of all orbital fractures. Unfortunately, the body's natural response to orbital floor defects generally may not restore proper function and facial aesthetics, which is complicated by the thin bone and adjacent sinuses. Current clinical treatments include alloplastic implants and autologous grafts; however, each has associated disadvantages and sequelae.

Macroporous hydrogels upregulate osteogenic signal expression and promote bone regeneration.

The objective of this work was to investigate the effects of macroporous hydrogel architecture on the osteogenic signal expression and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). In particular, we have proposed a tissue engineering approach for orbital bone repair based on a cyclic acetal biomaterial formed from 5-ethyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-beta,beta-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-ethanol diacrylate (EHD) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). The EHD monomer and PEGDA polymer may be fabricated into macroporous EH-PEG hydrogels by radical polymerization and subsequent porogen leaching, a novel technique for hydrophilic gels.

Characterization of cyclic acetal hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for craniofacial tissue engineering.

Cyclic acetal hydrogels are a novel group of biomaterials which may facilitate osteogenic differentiation of encapsulated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) because of their neutral degradation products. Here, we have incorporated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within cyclic acetal hydrogels to create cyclic acetal nanocomposites for craniofacial tissue engineering applications. We hypothesized that inclusion of nanosized hydroxyapatite particles within cyclic acetal hydrogels would upregulate osteogenic signal expression of encapsulated BMSCs, due to enhanced cell adhesion, and therefore promote osteodifferentiation.

Cyclic acetal hydroxyapatite nanocomposites for orbital bone regeneration.

We have incorporated hydroxyapatite nanoparticles within cyclic acetal hydrogels to create nanocomposites that can be used to repair surgically created orbital floor defects in a rabbit animal model. Nanosized hydroxyapatite particles may improve tissue engineering scaffold properties because they have similar length scale of many cellular and molecular components and therefore can enhance cellular adhesion and migration. We hypothesize that inclusion of nanosized hydroxyapatite particles (20-70 nm) within cyclic acetal hydrogels would support bone defect repair.

Tissue response and orbital floor regeneration using cyclic acetal hydrogels.

Orbital floor injuries are a common form of traumatic craniofacial injury that may not heal properly through the body's endogenous response. Reconstruction is often necessary, and an optimal method does not exist. We propose a tissue engineering approach for orbital bone repair based upon a cyclic acetal biomaterial formed from 5-ethyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-beta,beta-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-ethanol diacrylate (EHD) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA).

Deep neck infections: clinical considerations in aggressive disease.

Deep neck infections are common and occur as a consequence of several etiologies. Antibiotic therapy, interventional radiology, and patient support modalities have become increasingly sophisticated, although surgery continues to be the mainstay of treatment for most patients. Today, neck infections are rarely life threatening when sound and timely management is applied.

Cyclic acetal hydrogel system for bone marrow stromal cell encapsulation and osteodifferentiation.

Many systems have been proposed for the encapsulation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) within degradable hydrogels. Here, we use a novel cyclic acetal-based biomaterial formed from 5-ethyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-beta,beta-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-2-ethanol diacrylate (EHD) and poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA). A cyclic acetal-based hydrogel may be preferred as cyclic acetals hydrolytically degraded into diols and carbonyls as primary degradation products, which may not affect local acidity, unlike other widely investigated polymers.

Application of intermaxillary fixation screws in maxillofacial trauma.

Purpose: The use of intermaxillary fixation (IMF) in the treatment of maxillofacial trauma represents the cornerstone of fracture reduction and immobilization. Many modalities of IMF have been described; recently IMF screws have been introduced into clinical practice, however, hardware failure can occur. We performed a retrospective study evaluating hardware-associated complications for self-drilling/tapping IMF screws.

Management of the dental patient with renal disease.

The kidneys are essential organs responsible for a multitude of bodily functions. One of the most important roles involves the regulations of intravascular volume and concentration of fluids in the body by producing urine. In addition, the kidneys are involved in regulation of blood pressure, detoxification of harmful substances, secretion of hormones, the control of acid/base balance and concentration of several electrolytes, and many other functions.