Tensile force produced by a lipoma in the masseteric space possibly causing hyperostosis of the angle of the mandible.

BACKGROUND: A lipoma is a benign tumor which may occur in the adipose tissue of any part of the body. The tumor is most commonly found on the trunk and extremities. Although it is the most common tumor of mesenchymal origin in the head and neck, its incidence is relatively rare. Lipoma of the head and neck is usually located in subcutaneous tissue. It is rarely deep seated with osseous involvement and rarely occurs in children, especially below the age of 10. CASE REPORT: The case of a painless mass of one-year history in the right parotidomasseteric region of an eight-year-old boy is presented. The mass was revealed to be a classical lipoma in the masseteric space, possibly causing hyperostosis of the angle of the mandible. After removal of the mass and a spherical protuberance in the angle of the mandible, the boy recovered and no recurrence was noted after one-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperostosis is a rare phenomenon with lipoma. In this case, the hypothesis was posed that the tensile force produced by the lipoma in the masseteric space possibly caused hyperostosis of the angle of the mandible. To the authors' knowledge, a classical lipoma arising from the deep fascial space resulting in osseous change has not been described in the literature before.

Designer self-assembling peptide scaffold stimulates pre-osteoblast attachment, spreading and proliferation.

A new peptide scaffold was made by mixing pure RADA16 (Ac-RADARADARADARADA-CONH2) and designer peptide RGDA16 (Ac-RADARGDARADARGDA-CONH2) solutions, and investigate any effect on attachment, spreading and proliferation of pre-osteoblast (MC3T3-E1). The peptides, RADA16 and RGDA16, were custom-synthesized. They were solubilized in deionized water at a concentration of 10 mg/ml (1% w/v), the RGDA16 peptide solution was mixed 1:1 with RADA16 solution and a new peptide solution RGDAmix was produced. The RGDAmix and RADA16 solution were directly loaded in 96-well plates and cover slips, and two different peptide scaffolds were formed with the addition of maintenance medium (alpha-MEM) in several minutes. About 1.0 x 10(4) MC3T3-E1 cells were seeded on each hydrogel scaffold, and then the cell morphological changes were observed using a fluorescence microscope at 1 h, 3 h and 24 h timepoint, respectively. Cell attachment was evaluated 1 h, 3 h and 24 h after cell seeding and cell proliferation was determined 4d, 7d and 14d after cell seeding. The RGDAmix scaffold significantly promoted the initial cell attachment compared with the RADA16 scaffold. MC3T3-E1 cells adhered and spread well on both scaffolds, however, cells spread better on the RGDAmix scaffold than on the RADA16 scaffold. Cell proliferation was greatly stimulated when cultured on RGDAmix scaffold. The RGD sequence contained peptide scaffold RGDAmix significantly enhances MC3T3-E1 cells attachment, spreading and proliferation.

[Expression of c-fos, OPG, OPGL in rabbit mandibular distraction osteogenesis zone].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible signal transduction mechanism of the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure in osteocytes. METHODS: An animal model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis in rabbits was established. The expressions of c-fos, OPG and OPGL were detected by ultrasensitive S-P immunohistochemical method. RESULT: At 4 and 8 days after distraction, distraction zone showed strong positive staining of c-fos, which were apparently higher than that in distraction zone of 2, 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. At 4 and 8 days after distraction and 2 weeks after consolidation, the expression of OPG was strong, and then wore off gradually at 4 and 6 weeks after consolidation. Weak signals of OPGL could be detected at 6 weeks after consolidation only. CONCLUSION: c-fos, OPG and OPGL are important regulators in distraction osteogenesis. c-fos is interrelated with the mechanical stress induced by the distraction procedure closely, OPG promotes new bone formation, while OPGL plays a more active role in bone remodeling.

Radiographic and surgical template for placement of orthodontic microimplants in interradicular areas: a technical note.

PURPOSE: In recent years, microimplants have gained popularity in orthodontics. Microimplants are primarily placed in complex sites where critical anatomic structures, such as roots of teeth, may be damaged, so precise surgical planning is required prior to placement. The goal of this report was to introduce a newly developed technique for the placement of microimplants in interradicular areas and evaluate its accuracy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The planned placement site is radiographed using a radiographic template and film holder fabricated by the investigators. The resultant radiograph is clipped and attached to the radiographic template to make a surgical template to guide the placement of the microimplant. Forty-one patients, 15 men and 26 women ranging in age from 21 to 29 years, were enrolled in this study. On 1 side of the arch, this novel technique was used for implant placement, and on the other side, an established method reported by Maino and associates (i.e., the control technique) was used. RESULTS: A total of 116 microimplants 2 mm wide and 9 mm long were placed interradicularly in 41 patients. Twelve of 58 microimplants were placed unsuccessfully in the control group, versus 2 of 58 in the test group. Statistical analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the 2 techniques in terms of success rate (P < .05). DISCUSSION: Presurgical diagnosis of bone quantity and transfer of the information to the surgical sites are vital in microimplant placement. Radiographic templates modified for surgical purposes have the advantage of transferring radiographic information directly to the surgical site. CONCLUSION: This study, although limited in some respects, demonstrated that microimplant placement can be improved using the newly developed technique described.

[Change in Toll-like receptor 4 expression on interstitial macrophages in acute lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To observe changes in the level of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and the expression of TLR4 protein in interstitial macrophages in serious thoracic injury. METHODS: A rat model of severe thoracic trauma was reproduced,then interstitial macrophages were isolated and collected by enzymatic digestion before and after trauma cultured. TLR4 mRNA and the expression of TLR4 protein were measured by Northern and Western blotting before trauma and 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 hours after trauma. RESULTS: A stable and reliable severe thoracic trauma model was successfully reproduced with 400 kPa impact on the up-right chest of rat by a multiple-function collision apparatus. The expression was up-regulated by trauma and the highest expression of interstitial macrophages occurred 8, 16 hours after the trauma, and returned to normal range at 24 hours. CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of TLR4 might participate in the pathological process of excessive inflammation after trauma to the lung.

[The relationship between lymphangiogenesis and cervical lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To probe the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and cervical lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: The microlymphatic vessel density was detected with enzyme histo-chemical method in 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa; 355 lymphnodes were detected with immunohistochemically using monoantibody AE3. RESULTS: The mean MLVD was 14.04 +/- 6.92 in tumor group, or 5.48 +/- 2.62 in normal group. The difference was (P < 0.001). The percentage of tumor with expression CK was 48.9%. The mean MLVD was 16.94 +/- 5.43 in CK positive group, or 11.26 +/- 5.00 in CK negative group, There was difference significant (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Lymphangiogenesis plays a key role in cervical lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

[Expression related to vascular endothelial growth factor C and induced nitride oxide synthesizase in lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and induced nitride oxide synthesizase (iNOS) expression in lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Samples were obtained from 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 15 cases with normal oral mucosa, VEGF-C and iNOS mRNA expression were detected by RT-PCR method. Lymph node micrometastasis of 10 normal lymph nodes and 355 lymph nodes from 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma was detected with immunohistochemical reaction in cytokeratin antibody. RESULTS: The percentages in tumors with higher expression were 57.4% for VEGF-C, 68.1% for iNOS (P < 0.05). They were significantly higher than that of normal groups. Significant positive relationship was found between VEGF-C and iNOS (P < 0.01). The positive rate of cytokeratin (CK) was 48.9%. Significant positive relationship was found between VEGF-C and CK, iNOS and CK (P < 0.01). The expression rates of CK in positive group of VEGF-C and iNOS were 63.0%, 65.6% respectively, and were significant higher than negative groups. CONCLUSION: Expression of VEGF-C and iNOS in lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma is significant related.

[Effect of severe thoracic trauma combined with endotoxin challenge on phagocytosis function of alveolar macrophages and pulmonary interstitial macrophages].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the difference of phagocytosis between alveolar macrophages and pulmonary interstitial macrophages, and to investigate their responses to severe thoracic trauma with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. METHODS: A rat model of severe thoracic trauma was reproduced by thoracic impact machine. The alveolar macrophages and interstitial macrophages were isolated before injury and at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24 hours after injury respectively. The dynamic changes of these macrophage phagocytosis were tested by malachite green colorimetry. RESULTS: Macrophage phagocytosis function was increased during the early stage after trauma (2 and 4 hours) and then decreased. The phagocytosis function of alveolar macrophages was stronger than that of interstitial macrophages in all time points before and after trauma. After challenge with LPS, no further significant effect on the alveolar macrophages was found, while LPS challenge could stimulate the phagocytosis of interstitial macrophages. CONCLUSION: Alveolar macrophages and pulmonary interstitial macrophages are functional heterogeneous, and their response to trauma and combined with endotoxin challenge are different. The results indicate that the two subgroups of macrophages play different roles in immune function disorder after trauma.