Distraction osteogenesis in dog with a tooth-borne device: Histological and histomorphometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: The distraction osteogenesis (DO) is the biological process of new bone formation between the surfaces of bone segments gradually separated by incremental traction. However, the lack of solid experimental studies using the tooth-borne distractor does not allow comparing this technique with the classical procedures. This study aimed to establish the effect of two different activation protocols in new bone formation, with a new intraoral tooth-borne device for dog mandibular distraction osteogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Nine beagle dogs were split into 3 similar groups, Group A the control, Group B subjected to two daily activations of 0.5 mm and Group C subjected to a single daily activation of 1 mm. The distraction period was 10 days followed by a 12 weeks consolidation period. Samples where then processed and embedded in methylmethacrylate and ground to a thickness of 20µm. Toluidine blue stains were done on all specimens and histological and histomorphometric evaluation of bone tissue formed within distraction gap was performed. The statistical analysis in this manuscript was performed with IBM®-SPSS® v.20 statistics software and R software version 3.1.0. The level of significance adopted was 5 % (α=0.05). RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was detected by histomorphometric evaluation between the two experimental groups in what concerns the bone volume. However, significant differences were found in the coefficients of variation between the medial and buccal areas, and the buccal and lingual areas. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the mandible can be lengthened successfully using a tooth-borne distractor. Moreover, it suggested that a decrease from once to twice-daily activations might negatively change the quality and structure of newly formed bone and prompt it to instability. Key words:Retrognathia, bone regeneration, osteogenesis, distraction.

3D virtual planning in orthognathic surgery and CAD/CAM surgical splints generation in one patient with craniofacial microsomia: a case report.

OBJECTIVE: In this case report, the feasibility and precision of tridimensional (3D) virtual planning in one patient with craniofacial microsomia is tested using Nemoceph 3D-OS software (Software Nemotec SL, Madrid, Spain) to predict postoperative outcomes on hard tissue and produce CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) surgical splints. METHODS: The clinical protocol consists of 3D data acquisition of the craniofacial complex by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and surface scanning of the plaster dental casts. The ''virtual patient'' created underwent virtual surgery and a simulation of postoperative results on hard tissues. Surgical splints were manufactured using CAD/CAM technology in order to transfer the virtual surgical plan to the operating room. Intraoperatively, both CAD/CAM and conventional surgical splints are comparable. A second set of 3D images was obtained after surgery to acquire linear measurements and compare them with measurements obtained when predicting postoperative results virtually. RESULTS: It was found a high similarity between both types of surgical splints with equal fitting on the dental arches. The linear measurements presented some discrepancies between the actual surgical outcomes and the predicted results from the 3D virtual simulation, but caution must be taken in the analysis of these results due to several variables. CONCLUSIONS: The reported case confirms the clinical feasibility of the described computer-assisted orthognathic surgical protocol. Further progress in the development of technologies for 3D image acquisition and improvements on software programs to simulate postoperative changes on soft tissue are required.

3D virtual planning in orthognathic surgery and CAD/CAM surgical splints generation in one patient with craniofacial microsomia: a case report

Objective: In this case report, the feasibility and precision of tridimensional (3D) virtual planning in one patient with craniofacial microsomia is tested using Nemoceph 3D-OS software (Software Nemotec SL, Madrid, Spain) to predict postoperative outcomes on hard tissue and produce CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) surgical splints. Methods: The clinical protocol consists of 3D data acquisition of the craniofacial complex by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and surface scanning of the plaster dental casts. The ''virtual patient'' created underwent virtual surgery and a simulation of postoperative results on hard tissues. Surgical splints were manufactured using CAD/CAM technology in order to transfer the virtual surgical plan to the operating room. Intraoperatively, both CAD/CAM and conventional surgical splints are comparable. A second set of 3D images was obtained after surgery to acquire linear measurements and compare them with measurements obtained when predicting postoperative results virtually. Results: It was found a high similarity between both types of surgical splints with equal fitting on the dental arches. The linear measurements presented some discrepancies between the actual surgical outcomes and the predicted results from the 3D virtual simulation, but caution must be taken in the analysis of these results due to several variables. Conclusions: The reported case confirms the clinical feasibility of the described computer-assisted orthognathic surgical protocol. Further progress in the development of technologies for 3D image acquisition and improvements on software programs to simulate postoperative changes on soft tissue are required.

Objetivo: neste relato de caso, de um paciente com microssomia craniofacial, testou-se a viabilidade e a precisão do planejamento virtual tridimensional (3D) utilizando o software Nemoceph 3D-OS (Software Nemotec SL, Madri, Espanha) para prever os resultados pós-operatórios em tecidos duros e produzir splints cirúrgicos CAD/CAM. Métodos: o protocolo clínico usado consistiu na aquisição de dados 3D do complexo craniofacial por meio de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) e digitalização dos modelos de gesso. O "paciente" criado virtualmente foi submetido à cirurgia virtual e obteve-se uma simulação dos resultados pós-operatórios nos tecidos duros. Os splintscirúrgicos foram confeccionados usando-se a tecnologia CAD/CAM, e permitiram que o planejamento cirúrgico virtual fosse transferido para a sala cirúrgica. No transoperatório, tanto os splints CAD/CAM quanto os splints cirúrgicos convencionais mostraram-se similares. Um segundo conjunto de imagens 3D foi obtido após a cirurgia, para que medidas lineares pudessem ser obtidas e comparadas com as medidas feitas na simulação virtual dos resultados pós-operatórios. Resultados: foi encontrada uma forte semelhança entre os dois tipos desplints cirúrgicos, que se adaptaram da mesma forma nas arcadas dentárias. As medidas lineares mostraram algumas discrepâncias entre os resultados cirúrgicos reais e os resultados previstos na simulação virtual 3D; porém, a análise desses resultados requer cautela, em virtude da presença de inúmeras variáveis que podem neles interferir. Conclusões: o caso relatado no presente estudo confirma a viabilidade clínica do protocolo descrito de cirúrgica ortognática assistida por computador. Porém, ainda se faz necessária uma maior evolução no desenvolvimento de tecnologias para a aquisição de imagens 3D e nos softwares que simulam as alterações pós-operatórias nos tecidos moles.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308 genotypes influence inflammatory activity and TNF-alpha serum concentrations in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Considering the relevance of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the pathophysiology of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), it is likely that polymorphisms in its promoter area may be relevant in disease susceptibility and activity. We investigated if clinical measures of JIA activity and TNF-alpha serum concentrations were associated with TNF-alpha -308 genotypes. METHODS: Portuguese patients with JIA in 5 pediatric rheumatology centers were recruited consecutively, along with a control group of healthy subjects. Demographic and clinical data and blood samples were collected from each patient. DNA was extracted for analysis of TNF-alpha gene promoter polymorphisms at position -308 by restriction fragment-length polymorphism. RESULTS: One hundred fourteen patients and 117 controls were evaluated; 57% of patients presented the oligoarticular subtype, 25% the polyarticular subtype, 8% the systemic subtype, and 9% had enthesitis-related arthritis and 5% psoriatic arthritis. Twenty-four percent of the patients presented the -308 GA/AA genotypes and 76% the -308 GG genotype, similar to findings in controls. Patients with the -308 GA/AA genotype had higher degree of functional impairment, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 100-mm visual analog scale score for disease activity, and TNF-alpha levels compared to those with the -308 GG genotype. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha -308 GA/AA genotypes were found to be related to higher inflammatory activity and worse measures of disease activity in Portuguese patients with JIA. They were not associated with susceptibility to JIA.

Contribution for new genetic markers of rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity: sequencing of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene promoter.

The objective of this study was to assess whether clinical measures of rheumatoid arthritis activity and severity were influenced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) promoter genotype/haplotype markers. Each patient's disease activity was assessed by the disease activity score using 28 joint counts (DAS28) and functional capacity by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score. Systemic manifestations, radiological damage evaluated by the Sharp/van der Heijde (SvdH) score, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug use, joint surgeries, and work disability were also assessed. The promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene, between nucleotides -1,318 and +49, was sequenced using an automated platform. Five hundred fifty-four patients were evaluated and genotyped for 10 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, but 5 of these markers were excluded due to failure to fall within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium or to monomorphism. Patients with more than 10 years of disease duration (DD) presented significant associations between the -857 SNP and systemic manifestations, as well as joint surgeries. Associations were also found between the -308 SNP and work disability in patients with more than 2 years of DD and radiological damage in patients with less than 10 years of DD. A borderline effect was found between the -238 SNP and HAQ score and radiological damage in patients with 2 to 10 years of DD. An association was also found between haplotypes and the SvdH score for those with more than 10 years of DD. An association was found between some TNF-alpha promoter SNPs and systemic manifestations, radiological progression, HAQ score, work disability, and joint surgeries, particularly in some classes of DD and between haplotypes and radiological progression for those with more than 10 years of DD.