Glucocorticoids increase excitotoxic injury and inflammation in the hippocampus of adult male rats.

Background/aims: Stress exacerbates neuron loss in many CNS injuries via the actions of adrenal glucocorticoid (GC) hormones. For some injuries, this GC endangerment of neurons is accompanied by greater immune cell activation in the CNS, a surprising outcome given the potent immunosuppressive properties of GCs.

Methods: To determine whether the effects of GCs on inflammation contribute to neuron death or result from it, we tested whether nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could protect neurons from GCs during kainic acid excitotoxicity in adrenalectomized male rats.

Maxillary hypoplasia in the cleft patient: contribution of orthodontic dental space closure to orthognathic surgery.

Background: Cleft lip and palate surgery in the developing child is known to be associated with maxillary hypoplasia. However, the effects of nonsurgical manipulations on maxillary growth have not been well investigated. The authors present the contribution of orthodontic dental space closure with canine substitution to maxillary hypoplasia and the need for orthognathic surgery.

Volumetric assessment of cleft lip and palate defects using cone beam computed tomography.

A possible avenue to improve the clinical success of bone graft procedures in cleft lip and palate cases is to predetermine the bone donor site and the volume of graft material required for the recipient site. This study utilized cone beam computed tomography to generate three-dimensional reconstructions and volumetrically assess unilateral cleft lip and palate defects. Access to this information can assist in determining an optimal donor site for secondary alveolar bone grafting.