Changes in the occlusal function of orthognathic patients with vertical malformations after combined orthodontic surgical therapy: a prospective clinical study.

The aim of this study was to assess the changes in occlusal patterns during combined surgical and orthodontic therapy in patients with vertical jaw malformations. Twenty-six orthognathic patients (18 female, eight male; median age 25 years, interquartile range 11.5 years) and 10 control patients (five female, five male; median age 29.8 years, interquartile range 13.5 years) recruited from neutral configured patients attending the Department of Orthodontics, were investigated. Based on cephalometry, the patients were grouped into vertical skeletal configurations of either open, deep, or natural bite cases. Registrations of the occlusal contacts were taken using a digital occlusal sensor immediately before surgery and at 9 months after the surgical intervention. Before the intervention, open and deep bite patients showed significantly less efficient occlusal patterns than the untreated controls regarding total tooth contact (P < 0.001), time of occlusion (P = 0.002), occlusal asymmetry (P = 0.001), anterior tooth contact (P < 0.001), and posterior tooth contact (P < 0.001). After surgery, the parameters in the deep bite patients were similar to those in the controls; however, in open bite patients, total tooth contact (P = 0.003), occlusal asymmetry (P = 0.011), and posterior tooth contact (P = 0.035) differed significantly. In conclusion, combined orthodontic and surgical correction of vertical malocclusions was found to improve occlusal function in patients with deep bite to the level of controls.

Influence of TGF-ß1 on tumor transition in oral cancer cell and BMSC co-cultures.

OBJECTIVES: TGF-ß1 signaling modulates epithelial mesenchymal transitions (EMT) of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSC) are able to exert a regulating influence on the expression of markers of EMT in HNSCC cells. It was thus the aim of this study to test the hypothesis that TGF-ß1 modulates the interactions of tumor transition between BMSCs and HNSCC, affecting the expression of E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Twist, MMP14 and beta-catenin. Furthermore, we analyzed alterations in the AKT-signaling of tumor and stroma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from iliac bone marrow aspirates and co-cultured in trans-well permeable membrane wells with tumor cells of the established HNSCC cell line PCI-13. Following the induction with TGF-ß1 under serum free conditions the expression of Vimentin and E-Cadherin was assessed via immunofluorescence. A quantitative RT-PCR analysis of tumor transition markers E-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, Twist, MMP14 and beta-catenin was performed. Changes in AKT-Signaling were identified via protein analysis. RESULTS: In non-induced co-cultures, BMSC were able to suppress Vimentin in PCI-13 as a marker of tumor transition. In TGF-ß1 induced co-cultures PCI-13 significantly increased the expression of Vimentin, Twist, Snail, MMP14, GSK3a, PRAS40, 4E-BP1, and AMPKa compared to monolayer controls. TGF-ß1 co-cultured BMSC demonstrated a significant increase of Snail, PRAS40, mTOR, GSK3a/b, Bad, PDK1 and 4E-BP1. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-ß1 was able to attenuate the modulating influence of BMSC in co-culture and drive the co-culture towards a progressive tumor transition, affecting the expression of markers of EMT, AKT-Signaling and proliferative checkpoints.