Physiologic Timeline of Cranial-Base Suture and Synchondrosis Closure.

Background: Fusion of cranial-base sutures/synchondroses presents a clinical conundrum, given their often unclear "normal" timing of closure. This study investigates the physiologic fusion timelines of cranial-base sutures/synchondroses.

Methods: Twenty-three age intervals were analyzed in subjects aged 0 to 18 years.

Intravenous and Intra-amniotic In Utero Transplantation in the Murine Model.

In utero transplantation (IUT) is a unique and versatile mode of therapy that can be used to introduce stem cells, viral vectors, or any other substances early in the gestation. The rationale behind IUT for therapeutic purposes is based on the small size of the fetus, the fetal immunologic immaturity, the accessibility and proliferative nature of the fetal stem or progenitor cells, and the potential to treat a disease or the onset of symptoms prior to birth. Taking advantage of these normal developmental properties of the fetus, the delivery of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) via an IUT has the potential to treat congenital hematologic disorders such as sickle cell disease, without the required myeloablative or immunosuppressive conditioning required for postnatal HSC transplants.

Relaxin affects the dentofacial sutural tissues.

This is a report of an exploratory study of how the hormone relaxin might modulate the remodeling of connective tissue within the craniofacial sutures and periodontal tissues. Relaxin is a hormone that was discovered to be produced by the pregnant female. It is responsible for the relaxing of the pubic symphysis; the birth canal is widened for parturition.