Application of computer-aided design and 3D-printed template for accurate bone augmentation in the aesthetic region of anterior teeth.

PURPOSE: To explore the outcomes of bone augmentation in the aesthetic zone of the anterior teeth using computer-aided design and a 3D-printed template. METHODS: Ten patients with severe bone defects in the aesthetic zone of anterior teeth were included in the study; CT data were collected before surgery. The design of the osteotomy line in the bone defect area was determined under computer simulation. The position parameters and osteotomy line of the free bone were determined via virtual surgery. A 3D-printed template was prepared to guide the accurate placement of the bone graft. Reexamination was conducted to evaluate the position of the bone graft immediately after the operation and the resorbed capacity of the bone graft before implant restoration. RESULTS: The position of the bone graft was consistent with the preoperative design. The amount of bone graft resorbed was within the acceptable range three months after the operation, and the effect of implant restoration was satisfactory. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Use of computer-aided design and a 3D-printed template can be an effective approach for accurate bone augmentation in the aesthetic zone of the anterior teeth.

Presentation, Management, and Outcome of Lingual Thyroglossal Duct Cyst in Pediatric and Adult Populations.

Lingual thyroglossal duct cysts (LTDCs) are rare congenital anomalies of the neck. The authors described the presentation, management, and outcome of LTDC in pediatric and adult cases through a retrospective observational analysis between 2008 and 2018. Data included patients' demographics, main complaint, preoperative investigations, surgical management, and recurrences. Seventeen patients were included: 8 pediatric and 9 adult patients. The most common presenting symptom was foreign body sensation (35.3%). In all, 50% (4/8) of the children had respiratory problems, while the most common symptom in adults was difficulty swallowing (8/9). Five patients were of recurrent LTDC; 3 referred patients were suspected of having recurrent epiglottic cysts. The total misdiagnosis rate was 35.3% (6/17): 14.3% (1/7) in children and 55.6% (5/9) in adults. Fiber optic laryngoscopic examination revealed that LTDCs mostly occurred at the base of the tongue (53.3%) and vallecula epiglottica (33.3%). Ultrasound examination revealed low to anechoic masses on the root of the tongue; 50% were regular in shape and 50% were irregular. All pediatric patients had regular masses (100%), but most adults had irregular masses (85.7%). In total, 76.5% of the patients underwent the Sistrunk procedure, and 23.5% underwent marsupialization alone. The mean follow-up length was 37.5 ±â€Š32.8 months. All patients were well at follow-up. In conclusion, direct laryngoscopy and ultrasound examination are essential for diagnosis as LTDCs can be confused with vallecular cysts. Surgical treatment such as marsupialization or the Sistrunk operation must be performed thoroughly.

Effects of sleep deprivation on action potential and transient outward potassium current in ventricular myocytes in rats.

BACKGROUND: Sleep deprivation contributes to the development and recurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. However, the electrophysiological changes in ventricular myocytes in sleep deprivation are still unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Sleep deprivation was induced by modified multiple platform technique. Fifty rats were assigned to control and sleep deprivation 1, 3, 5, and 7 days groups, and single ventricular myocytes were enzymatically dissociated from rat hearts. Action potential duration (APD) and transient outward current (Ito) were recorded using whole-cell patch clamp technique. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the phases of APD of ventricular myocytes in 3, 5, and 7 days groups were prolonged and APD at 20% and 50% level of repolarization (APD20 and APD50) was significantly elongated (The APD20 values of control, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days groups: 5.66±0.16 ms, 5.77±0.20 ms, 8.28±0.30 ms, 11.56±0.32 ms, 13.24±0.56 ms. The APD50 values: 50.66±2.16 ms, 52.77±3.20 ms, 65.28±5.30 ms, 83.56±7.32 ms, 89.24±5.56 ms. P<0.01, n=18). The current densities of Ito significantly decreased. The current density-voltage (I-V) curve of Ito was vitally suppressed downward. The steady-state inactivation curve and steady-state activation curve of Ito were shifted to left and right, respectively, in sleep deprivation rats. The inactivation recovery time of Ito was markedly retarded and the time of closed-state inactivation was markedly accelerated in 3, 5, and 7 days groups. CONCLUSIONS: APD of ventricular myocytes in sleep deprivation rats was significantly prolonged, which could be attributed to decreased activation and accelerated inactivation of Ito.

The expression and functional role of a FOXC1 related mRNA-lncRNA pair in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

The Fork head box C1 (FOXC1) gene is overexpressed in multiple malignant tumors and is functionally correlated with tumor progression. However, its' role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still unclear. Recent studies have revealed that many long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) cooperate with adjacent coding genes and form a functional "lncRNA-mRNA pair". In this study, we report a new lncRNA FOXC1 upstream transcript (FOXCUT) that was remarkably overexpressed in 23 OSCC patients, as was the adjacent FOXC1 gene. The expressions of FOXC1 and FOXCUT were positively correlated. When the expression of FOXCUT was down-regulated by small interfering RNA (siRNA), the expression of FOXC1 was also decreased. Moreover, in OSCC cells Tca8113 and SCC-9, down-regulation of either FOXC1 or FOXCUT by siRNA could inhibit cell proliferation and cell migration in vitro and was accompanied with a reduction of MMP2, MMP7, MMP9, and VEGF-A. In conclusion, FOXC1 may be co-amplified with FOXCUT in OSCC, and both of them may be functionally involved in the tumor progression of OSCC. This provides evidence that both FOXC1 and FOXCUT may serve as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in OSCC patients who overexpress this "lncRNA-mRNA pair".