Moving the mandible in orthognathic surgery - A multicenter analysis.

Orthognathic surgery has always been a classical focus of maxillofacial surgery. Since more than 100 years, various surgical techniques for mandibular repositioning have been developed and clinically tested. Since the establishment of plate and screw osteosynthesis, orthognathic surgery became more stable and safe. Nowadays, different surgical methods for mobilising the mandible are existing. This international multicenter analysis (n = 51 hospitals) is providing first evidence based data for the current use of different surgical methods. The dominating techniques were Obwegeser/dal Pont (61%) followed by Hunsuck/Epker (37%) and Perthes/Schlössmann (29%). The main osteosynthesis materials were plates (82%), bicortical screws (23.5%), or a combination of both (5.9%). 47% of all centers reported to use several surgical methods at the same time, depending on the anatomical problem and the surgeon's preference. This shows that different surgical methods seem to work as comparable, safe, and reliable procedures in everydays clinical practise. On this basis, further prospective studies could evaluate possible advantages for our patients.

Functional relevance of the cannabinoid receptor 2 - heme oxygenase pathway: a novel target for the attenuation of portal hypertension.

AIMS: In liver cirrhosis, inflammation triggers portal hypertension. Kupffer cells (KC) produce vasoconstrictors upon activation by bacterial constituents. Here, we hypothesize that the anti-inflammatory action of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonists JWH-133 and GP 1a attenuate portal hypertension. MAIN METHODS: In vivo measurements of portal pressures and non-recirculating liver perfusions were performed in rats 4weeks after bile duct ligation (BDL). Zymosan (150µg/ml, isolated liver perfusion) or LPS (4mg/kgb.w., in vivo) was infused to activate the KC in the absence or presence of JWH-133 (10mg/kgb.w.), GP 1a (2.5mg/kgb.w.) or ZnPP IX (1µM). Isolated KC were treated with Zymosan (0.5mg/ml) in addition to JWH-133 (5µM). The thromboxane (TX) B2 levels in the perfusate and KC media were determined by ELISA. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and CB2 were analyzed by Western blot or confocal microscopy. KEY FINDINGS: JWH-133 or GP 1a pre-treatment attenuated portal pressures following KC activation in all experimental settings. In parallel, HO-1 expression increased with JWH-133 pre-treatment. However, the inhibition of HO-1 enhanced portal hypertension, indicating the functional role of this novel pathway. In isolated KC, the expression of CB2 and HO-1 increased with Zymosan, LPS and JWH-133 treatment while TXB2 production following KC activation was attenuated by JWH-133 pre-treatment. SIGNIFICANCE: JWH-133 or GP 1a treatment attenuates portal hypertension. HO-1 induction by JWH-133 plays a functional role. Therefore, the administration of JWH-133 or GP 1a represents a promising new treatment option for portal hypertension triggered by microbiological products.

Role of cysteinyl-leukotrienes for portal pressure regulation and liver damage in cholestatic rat livers.

Kupffer cells (KCs) have a major role in liver injury, and cysteinyl-leukotrienes (Cys-LTs) are known to be involved as well. The KC-mediated pathways for the production and secretion of Cys-LT in cholestatic liver injury have not yet been elucidated. Here, we hypothesized that KC activation by Toll-like receptor ligands results in Cys-LT-mediated microcirculatory alterations and liver injury in acute cholestasis. We hypothesized further that this situation is associated with changes in the secretion and production of Cys-LT. One week after bile duct ligation (BDL), livers showed typical histological signs of cholestatic liver injury. Associated microcirculatory disturbances caused increased basal and maximal portal pressure following KC activation. These differences were determined in BDL livers compared with sham-operated livers in vivo (KC activation by LPS 4 mg/kg b.w.) and in isolated perfused organs (KC activation by Zymosan A, 150 µg/ml). Treatment with the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor MK-886 alone did not alter portal perfusion pressure, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) efflux, or bile duct proliferation in BDL animals. Following KC activation, portal perfusion pressure increased. The degree of cell injury was attenuated by MK-886 (3 µM) treatment as estimated by LDH efflux. In normal rats, a large amount of Cys-LT efflux was found in the bile. Only a minor amount was found in the effluent perfusate. In BDL livers, the KC-mediated Cys-LT efflux into the sinusoidal system increased, although the absolute Cys-LT level was still grossly lower than the biliary excretion in sham-operated livers. In conclusion, our results indicate that treatment with Cys-LT inhibitors might be a relevant target for attenuating cholestatic liver damage.

Portal pressure regulation following Kupffer cell activation: control of prostaglandin production by heme oxygenases.

BACKGROUND: Portal pressure (PP) results from the interplay of vasoconstrictors and vasodilators. Recently, we have shown that Kupffer cell (KC) activation increases PP. AIMS: The role of the vasodilating compounds nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO) was studied. The hypothesis of the present study was that these vasodilators counteract the PP increase following KC activation. METHODS: Livers of rats weighing 180-200 g were isolated and perfused. KCs were activated by zymosan A (cell wall particles from yeast; 150 µg/ml). The effects of NO and guanylate cyclase (GC) were evaluated by the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME; 0.3 mM, and the GC inhibitor 4H-8-bromo-1,2,4-oxadiazolo(3,4-d)benz(b)(1,4)oxazin-1-one (NS-2028, 1.0 µM); the effects of the heme oxygenase (HO) derived compound CO were evaluated by direct administration of CO or inhibition of HO by zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX, 1.0 µM). RESULTS: In isolated perfused rat livers, administration of L-NAME or NS-2028 further raised PP increase following KC activation. This effect could be reduced by the cGMP analogue 8-Br-cGMP. Inhibition of HO caused marked amplification of PP increase in zymosan-treated organs. CO prevented this PP increase cGMP independently. Interestingly, KC activation and simultaneous inhibition of HO augmented the production of prostaglandins D2 and F2α and of thromboxane A2. Accordingly, indomethacin blunted the increase of PP in zymosan/ZnPP-treated livers. CONCLUSIONS: NO restricts the initial PP increase after KC activation by GC-mediated cGMP. CO from heme degradation limits the increase of PP after KC activation eicosanoid dependently, but cGMP independently.