Dental implants and grafting success remain high despite large variations in maxillary sinus mucosal thickening.

Background: Although mucosal thickening is the most common radiographic finding observed regarding sinus pathology, the knowledge regarding its clinical significance on the outcomes of dental implants and grafting in the maxillary sinuses is still limited. We hypothesized that mucosal thickening would not alter the predictability for sinus floor augmentation and dental implant placement. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the outcomes of dental implant placement in sinus-augmented areas with preexisting sinus mucosal thickening.

GFP Knockdown by Cationic Nanogel-siRNA Polyplexes.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool to treat diseases and elucidate target gene function. Prior to clinical implementation, however, challenges including the safe, efficient and targeted delivery of siRNA must be addressed. Here, we report cationic nanogel nanostructured polymers (NSPs) prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) for and siRNA delivery in mammalian models.

Expression of Evc2 in craniofacial tissues and craniofacial bone defects in Evc2 knockout mouse.

Objective: Our objectives were to determine the expression of EVC2 in craniofacial tissues and investigate the effect of Evc2 deficiency on craniofacial bones using Evc2 knockout (KO) mouse model.

Design: Evc2 KO mice were generated by introducing a premature stop codon followed by the Internal Ribosomal Entry Site fused to β-galactosidase (LacZ). Samples from wild-type (WT), heterozygous (Het) and homozygous Evc2 KO mice were prepared.

Silencing bcl-2 expression in epithelial cancer cells using "smart" particles.

Short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted against anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein proved to knockdown its expression and trigger cancer cell death. We used degradable, pH-sensitive, comb-like [P(EAA-co-BMA)-b-PNASI-g-P(HMA-co-TMAEMA)] polymer to condense anti-Bcl-2 siRNA into "smart" particles, which proved to shuttle their cargo past the endosomal membrane and into the cytoplasm of HeLa and UM-SCC-17B cancer cells. HeLa and UM-SCC-17B cancer cells were treated with anti-Bcl-2 particles followed by quantifying Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels using qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively.

Migraine and the Mu-opioidergic system-Can we directly modulate it? Evidence from neuroimaging studies.

Migraine is a chronic trigeminal pain condition that affects the daily lives of a large part of our population. Its debilitating headache attacks, with increased sensitivity to multiple forms of stimuli, force many patients to rely on over the counter analgesics and resort to abuse of prescription medications, particularly opioid agonists. In the latter case, the indiscriminate medication-driven activation of the opioid system can lead to undesired side effects, such as the augmentation of hyperalgesia and allodynia, as well as the chronification of the attacks.

AcvR1-mediated BMP signaling in second heart field is required for arterial pole development: implications for myocardial differentiation and regional identity.

BMP signaling plays an essential role in second heart field-derived heart and arterial trunk development, including myocardial differentiation, right ventricular growth, and interventricular, outflow tract and aortico-pulmonary septation. It is mediated by a number of different BMP ligands, and receptors, many of which are present simultaneously. The mechanisms by which they regulate morphogenetic events and degree of redundancy amongst them have still to be elucidated.

In vitro anti-caries effect of fluoridated hydroxyapatite-coated preformed metal crowns.

Aim: To synthesise fluoridated hydroxyapatite (FA) crystals directly on preformed metal crowns (PMCs) and evaluate the anti-cariogenic properties in an in vitro model.

Methods: FA crystals were grown on etched PMCs and stainless steel discs and characterised by SEM. FA-coated discs allowed fluoride release to be assessed from a known surface area of FA crystals.

Establishment of left-right asymmetry in vertebrate development: the node in mouse embryos.

Establishment of vertebrate left-right asymmetry is a critical process for normal embryonic development. After the discovery of genes expressed asymmetrically along the left-right axis in chick embryos in the mid 1990s, the molecular mechanisms responsible for left-right patterning in vertebrate embryos have been studied extensively. In this review article, we discuss the mechanisms by which the initial symmetry along the left-right axis is broken in the mouse embryo.

Salivary diagnostics for periodontal diseases.

Background: and Overview The use of salivary diagnostics continues to develop and advance the field of risk determination for periodontal diseases. Researchers are investigating genetic, microbial and protein biomarkers with the objective of translating findings to such aspects of clinical care as broad patient screening, monitoring and treatment planning.

Methods: /st> In this review, the author briefly explores currently available salivary diagnostics used to identify bacteria prevalent in periodontal disease, and focuses on the future development and use of a variety of rapid disease detection platforms, such as lab-on-a-chip, as a point-of-care device for identification of patients' risk.

Twenty-five years of PTHrP progress: from cancer hormone to multifunctional cytokine.

Twenty-five years ago a "new" protein was identified from cancers that caused hypercalcemia. It was credited for its ability to mimic parathyroid hormone (PTH), and hence was termed parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP). Today it is recognized for its widespread distribution, its endocrine, paracrine, and intracrine modes of action driving numerous physiologic and pathologic conditions, and its central role in organogenesis.

Posterior insular molecular changes in myofascial pain.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) include craniocervical pain conditions with unclear etiologies. Central changes are suspected; however, few neuroimaging studies of TMD exist. Single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS) was used before and after pressure-pain testing to assess glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), N-acetylaspartate (NAA), and choline (Cho) levels in the right and left posterior insulae of 11 individuals with myofascial TMD and 11 matched control individuals.

Growth factor delivery: how surface interactions modulate release in vitro and in vivo.

Biomaterial scaffolds have been extensively used to deliver growth factors to induce new bone formation. The pharmacokinetics of growth factor delivery has been a critical regulator of their clinical success. This review will focus on the surface interactions that control the non-covalent incorporation of growth factors into scaffolds and the mechanisms that control growth factor release from clinically relevant biomaterials.

Bone repair cells for craniofacial regeneration.

Reconstruction of complex craniofacial deformities is a clinical challenge in situations of injury, congenital defects or disease. The use of cell-based therapies represents one of the most advanced methods for enhancing the regenerative response for craniofacial wound healing. Both somatic and stem cells have been adopted in the treatment of complex osseous defects and advances have been made in finding the most adequate scaffold for the delivery of cell therapies in human regenerative medicine.

A curriculum for the new dental practitioner: preparing dentists for a prospective oral health care environment.

The emerging concept of prospective health care would shift the focus of health care from disease management to disease prevention and health management. Dentistry has a unique opportunity to embrace this model of prospective and collaborative care and focus on the management of oral health. Academic dentistry must better prepare future dentists to succeed in this new health care environment by providing them with the scientific and technical knowledge required to understand and assess risk and practice disease prevention.

Biomechanical stimulation of osteoblast gene expression requires phosphorylation of the RUNX2 transcription factor.

Bone can adapt its structure in response to mechanical stimuli. At the cellular level, this involves changes in chromatin organization, gene expression, and differentiation, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we report on the involvement of RUNX2, a bone-related transcription factor, in this process.

Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use and periodontal health in 15- to 44-year-old US females.

Background: It has been suggested that progestins may have an inflammatory component and/or increase in prostaglandin synthesis. Thus, extended progestin use may be associated with higher risk of periodontal diseases. This study investigates the association between depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injectable contraception and the prevalence of periodontal diseases among US premenopausal females.

The role of sensory fiber demography in trigeminal and postherpetic neuralgias.

In this study, we systematically investigated fiber demography, based on function and distribution, from the periphery to their destinations in the various central (sub) nuclei in the trigeminal brainstem nuclear sensory complex. Conventional and novel compelling information is provided, demonstrating that the ratio and somatotopy of types A and C sensory fibers at the site of a lesion can elucidate important puzzles in TNP disorders. For instance, we explain how of a major shift in the fibers' direction and ratio at the level of the trigeminal root entry zone (REZ) influences the pathophysiology of pre- and typical trigeminal neuralgia.

The impact of vitamin D status on periodontal surgery outcomes.

Vitamin D regulates calcium and immune function. While vitamin D deficiency has been associated with periodontitis, little information exists regarding its effect on wound healing and periodontal surgery outcomes. This longitudinal clinical trial assessed outcomes of periodontal surgery and teriparatide administration in vitamin-D-sufficient and -insufficient individuals.

Implications of cultured periodontal ligament cells for the clinical and experimental setting: a review.

The periodontal ligament (PDL) is a key contributor to the process of regeneration of the periodontium. The heterogeneous nature of the PDL tissue, its development during early adulthood, and the different conditions to which the PDL tissue is exposed to in vivo impart on the PDL unique characteristics that may be of consequence during its cultivation in vitro. Several factors affecting the in vivo setting influence the behaviour of PDL fibroblasts in culture.

Cellular transduction gradients via vapor-deposited polymer coatings.

Spatiotemporal control of gene delivery, particularly signaling gradients, via biomaterials poses significant challenges because of the lack of efficient delivery systems for therapeutic proteins and genes. This challenge was addressed by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) polymerization in a counterflow set-up to deposit copolymers bearing two reactive chemical gradients. FTIR spectroscopy verified the formation of compositional gradients.