Guided bone regeneration to repair an alveolar bone defect in a girl whose cleft lip and palate had been repaired.

We report the case of a girl aged 10 years whose alveolar bony defect was closed with a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, which was incorporated in bone after 4 months. We suggest that the principle of guided bone regeneration can be used to repair cleft defects provided that the mucoperiosteal flaps are handled carefully and that good anti-infective measures are taken to prevent early exposure and microbial contamination of the membrane barrier.

Effects of cyclic tensile forces on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in murine osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

It has been reported that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), expressed by osteoblasts, can induce osteoclast recruitment and thus affects bone remodeling. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cyclic tensile forces on the expression of VEGF and macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. VEGF and M-CSF gene expression and protein concentration were determined by real-time PCR and enzyme-linked immunoassay.

Bactericidal effects of acidic electrolyzed water on the dental unit waterline.

Many studies have been conducted in the United States regarding the microbial contamination of dental unit waterline, but not in Japan. Recently, acidic electrolyzed water has been used in the medical and dental fields. In this study, we investigated the bactericidal effects of the temporary inflow of acidic electrolyzed water on microbial contamination of the dental unit waterline.

Effects of sex hormone disturbances on craniofacial growth in newborn mice.

It is well-known that sex hormones influence bone metabolism. However, it remains unclear as to how sex hormones affect bone growth in newborn mice. In this study, we performed orchiectomy (ORX) and ovariectomy (OVX) on newborn mice, and examined the effects on craniofacial growth morphometrically.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and the effects on bone remodeling during experimental tooth movement.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has an ability to induce functional osteoclasts as well as neovascularization. We recently reported that the number of osteoclasts was enhanced by the injection of recombinant human VEGF (rhVEGF) with the application of mechanical force for experimental tooth movement. In this study, the expression of VEGF was detected in osteoblasts on the tension side of the alveolar bone.

Effect of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on femoral bone modeling in growing mice.

The time-dependent effects of daily dosing of IGF-I (1.21 mg/g) on the linear growth of the femur were investigated in mice. The femoral length and volume and the number of osteoclasts were significantly greater after IGF-I injection as compared to the non-injected control, suggesting that the IGF-I imbalance might cause a quick turnover cycle of the bone resulting in the altered femoral modeling.