Extracellular Matrix in Human Craniofacial Development

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a highly dynamic amalgamation of structural and signaling molecules whose quantitative and qualitative modifications drive the distinct programmed morphologic changes required for tissues to mature into their functional forms. The craniofacial complex houses a diverse array of tissues, including sensory organs, glands, and components of the musculoskeletal, neural, and vascular systems, alongside several other highly specialized tissues to form the most complex part of the vertebrate body. Through cell-ECM interactions, the ECM coordinates the cell movements, shape changes, differentiation, gene expression changes, and other behaviors that sculpt developing organs. In this review, we focus on several common key roles of the ECM to shape developing craniofacial organs and tissues. We summarize recent advances in our understanding of the ability of the ECM to biochemically and biomechanically orchestrate major events of craniofacial development, and we discuss how dysregulated ECM dynamics contributes to disease and disorders. As we expand our understanding of organ-specific matrix functionality and composition, we will improve our ability to rationally modify matrices to promote regeneration and/or prevent degenerative outcomes in vitro and in vivo.

MusMorph, a database of standardized mouse morphology data for morphometric meta-analyses

Complex morphological traits are the product of many genes with transient or lasting developmental effects that interact in anatomical context. Mouse models are a key resource for disentangling such effects, because they offer myriad tools for manipulating the genome in a controlled environment. Unfortunately, phenotypic data are often obtained using laboratory-specific protocols, resulting in self-contained datasets that are difficult to relate to one another for larger scale analyses. To enable meta-analyses of morphological variation, particularly in the craniofacial complex and brain, we created MusMorph, a database of standardized mouse morphology data spanning numerous genotypes and developmental stages, including E10.5, E11.5, E14.5, E15.5, E18.5, and adulthood. To standardize data collection, we implemented an atlas-based phenotyping pipeline that combines techniques from image registration, deep learning, and morphometrics. Alongside stage-specific atlases, we provide aligned micro-computed tomography images, dense anatomical landmarks, and segmentations (if available) for each specimen (N=10,056). Our workflow is open-source to encourage transparency and reproducible data collection. The MusMorph data and scripts are available on FaceBase (www.facebase.org, doi.org/10.25550/3-HXMC) and GitHub (https://github.com/jaydevine/MusMorph).

Management of an orthognathic surgery treatment in a skeletal class III patient: case report.

Introduction: The treatment established as the gold standard for skeletal deformities of the craniofacial complex is orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery, to achieve occlusal stability, facial harmony, improved mastication, phonation and breathing. The conventional orthognathic surgery protocol consists of 3 phases: pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery and post-surgical orthodontics. Case Report: 18 year old female patient with skeletal class III. She presents occasional pain, crepitation and luxation of the temporomandibular joint, laterognathia. Treatment: Conventional orthognathic surgery of both jaws with unilateral sagittal osteotomy. Results: The objectives of the treatment plan were achieved 1 year and 9 months after starting orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: With a good diagnosis and treatment planning orthodontic - maxillofacial surgery ensures excellent results, as well as bone stability and occlusal harmony post-surgery.

MORPHOMETRIC PATTERNS OF MAXILLAR Y APICAL BASE VARIABILITY IN PEOPLE WITH VARIOUS DENTAL ARCHES AT PHYSIOLOGICAL OCCLUSION

Morphometric data on the structure of the craniofacial complex are reliable and diagnostically significant values that are of applied nature in terms of practical dentistry. Within this study, analysis of conebeam computed tomograms, biometric indicators of plaster models obtained from the jaws of 83 people (aged 21–35) with physiological occlusion and various types of dental, gnathic dental arches, the degree of proportion between the maxillary apical base and the inter-canine distance were identified. Depending on the dental arch type, the patients were divided into three groups. The morphometric study in the CBCT frontal plane was the distance between the canines tearing tubercles and the inter-canine distance in the apical area. The study outcomes revealed discrepancies between the calculated and actual indicators of the apical base width for all types of dental arches in people with physiological occlusion. In case of mesotrusive dental arches (incisional angle — 127–143°), the width of the apical base corresponded to the width of the dental arches between the canines, while the differences in indicators were not statistically significant. In people with retrusive dental arches (incisional angle exceeding 144°), the width of the dental arch was found to be significantly above the width of the apical bases. As far as protrusive dental arches are concerned (incisional angle below 126°), these patients featured predominance of the apical bases width over the inter-canine distance. The obtained data add to that already available in research literature regarding the relationships and dimensional features pertaining to the craniofacial complex structures, as well as have applied value in orthodontic clinical practice

“A Century of Orthodontic Progress” – Innovations in Orthodontics

Innovation is the roadmap towards improvement .Creation, implementation and execution of new ideas, methods and technology aiming at efficiency and improvement is known as innovation. Innovation is the roadmap towards improvement. The speciality of orthodontics has obtained new dimensions due to innovations such as holistic orthodontic approach, Laser assisted orthodontics, digitization in diagnosis and treatment planning, nanotechnology, genetically driven orthodontic treatment plans with gene therapy, interactive self ligating bracket and flash free adhesive coated appliance system, robotic wire bending, 3D bioprinted scaffolds to treat osseous defects of the craniofacial complex, forensic orthodontics, mobile apps in orthodontics and dentoalveolar distraction modalities. These innovations have lead to an accurate treatment with reduced clinician efforts, enhanced treatment precision and better patient compliance. The future of orthodontic speciality with these adjunts is bright and progressive. With reduced clinician’s efforts and improved patient’s compliance these advancement are certainly a boon to our orthodontic speciality

The cell surface hyaluronidase TMEM2 plays an essential role in mouse neural crest cell development and survival

Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a migratory population that gives rise to a diverse cell lineage, including the craniofacial complex, the peripheral nervous system, and a part of the heart. Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the extracellular matrix, and its tissue levels are dynamically regulated in during development. Although the synthesis of HA has been shown to exert substantial influence on embryonic morphogenesis, the functional importance of the catabolic side of HA turnover is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the transmembrane hyaluronidase TMEM2 plays an essential role in NCC development and the morphogenesis of their derivatives. Wnt1-Cre–mediated Tmem2 knockout (Tmem2CKO) mice exhibit severe craniofacial and cardiovascular abnormalities. Analysis of Tmem2 expression using Tmem2 knock-in reporter mice reveals that Tmem2 is expressed at the site of NCC delamination in the neural tube and in Sox9-positive emigrating NCCs, suggesting that Tmem2 is critical for NCC development. Consistent with this possibility, linage tracing analysis reveals that the contribution of Wnt1-Cre–labeled cells to NCC derivatives is significantly reduced in a Tmem2-deficient background. Moreover, the emigration of NCCs from the neural tube is greatly reduced in Tmem2CKO mice. In vitro assays demonstrate that Tmem2 expression is essential for the ability of mouse O9-1 NCCs to form focal adhesion on and migrate into HA-containing substrates. Tmem2CKO mice also exhibit increased apoptotic cell death in NCC-derived tissues. Collectively, our data demonstrate that Tmem2 is essential for normal development of NCC-derivatives, including the craniofacial complex, and that TMEM2-mediated HA degradation allows NCCs to generate a tissue environment suitable for efficient focal adhesion assembly and migration. This study reveals the hitherto unrecognized functional importance of the catabolic side of HA metabolism in embryonic development and highlights the pivotal role of Tmem2 in the process.

Radial symmetry molding skull roundness: a human fetal MR study

The aim of this study consists in evaluating the morphological integration and molding shape of the human fetal craniofacial complex development on MR sagittal images. The sella point has been used as a reference point to build eleven dimensional parameters encompassing the craniofacial complex. Data and measurements obtained were statistically analyzed by PCA. The designed rays were significantly correlated, normally distributed and characterized by linearity over the overall fetal development. These findings showed that the craniofacial units are clustering together, whereas craniobasal and craniopharyngeal traits are spread. The data analysis supported the efficacy of specific morphological traits to evaluate differences emerging during the modeling growth processes. Skull modeling seems to be characterized by a rotational symmetry around the sella as inertial point. We firstly present the intriguing hypothesis through which the skull development grows along a dihedral angle symmetry made of a both rotational and reflection vector.

Facial asymmetry: A review

The term “asymmetry” is used to make reference to dissimilarity between homologous elements, altering the balance between the structures. Facial asymmetry is common in the overall population and is often presented subclinically. The assessment of facial asymmetry includes the interview of the patient with the orthodontist, extra-oral and intra-oral clinical examination. Depending upon the careful diagnosis the treatment options are selected from asymmetrical orthodontic mechanics to orthodontic surgery, depending upon the patient’s age, primary etiology of disease. When the amount of asymmetry is significant, the problem is usually visible, which has a detrimental impact on one's facial and smile aesthetics. Facial asymmetry in the craniofacial complex ranges from barely discernible to obvious differences between the right and left half of the face.

The Versatility of Autologous Fat Transplantation in Abnormalities of the Craniofacial-Complex and Facial Esthetics

In the historical pursuit of soft tissue augmentation, fat has seemed a natural choice for plastic surgeons. The use of fat transfer to replace volume or camouflage soft tissues is an increasingly popular method in craniofacial surgery and facial esthetics. Craniofacial malformations undoubtedly have a certain psychosocial effect. Children of early age are particularly vulnerable to comments, teasing, and harassment related to their appearance; therefore, improving the facial image is of great importance. We believe that volumetric lipoinjection represents an excellent alternative to obtain greater facial esthetic harmony, which directly increases patient self-esteem in children and adults.