Picibanil (OK-432) in the treatment of head and neck lymphangiomas in children.

Background: Picibanil (OK-432) is a lyophilized mixture of group A Streptococcus pyogenes with antineoplastic activity. Because of its capacity to produce a selective fibrosis of lymphangiomas (LMs), it has been approved by Japanese administration in 1995 for the treatment of LMs.

Materials And Methods: We treated 15 children (age range: 6-60 months) affected by head and neck macrocystic LMs with intracystic injections (single dose of 0.

Effects of demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft on gene expression of osteoblastlike MG63 cells.

Demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft (DFDBA) is widely used in periodontal regeneration procedures as a scaffold for new bone formation in periodontal defects. How this biomaterial alters osteoblast activity to promote bone formation is poorly understood. We therefore attempted to address this question by using microarray techniques to identify genes that are differently regulated in osteoblasts exposed to DFDBA.

Clinical outcome of 285 Medpor grafts used for craniofacial reconstruction.

Porous polyethylene (Medpor) is an alloplastic material worldwide used for craniofacial reconstruction. To evaluate complications and risk factors associated with this synthetic graft, a retrospective study was performed. A series of 285 Medpor grafts were placed in 187 patients.