Cleft Lip and Palate in Ectodermal Dysplasia

Identification and functional study of a novel variant of PAX9 causing tooth agenesis

OBJECTIVES

To search for pathogenic gene of a family with non-syndromic tooth agenesis, and explore the possible pathogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Chinese family with non-syndromic tooth agenesis was recruited and screened for the pathogenic variants by whole exome sequencing technology and co-segregation analysis. The subcellular localization of wild-type and mutant protein was detected by immunofluorescence assay. Cycloheximide chase assay was performed to examine the difference in degradation rate between mutant protein and wild-type one. Dual-luciferase reporter assays were conducted to explore the alterations of mutant protein in the regulation of downstream target genes.

RESULTS

A novel missense variant of PAX9 (c.296C>A:p.A99D) was found in this family. Bioinformatics software showed β-return and the random coil were shortened in the p.A99D. The variant did not affect the subcellular localization of PAX9, but the degradation rate of p.A99D was accelerated (p < 0.05). p.A99D inhibited the activation of downstream target gene BMP4 (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

This novel variant expands the pathogenic gene spectrum. The variant impaired the protein structure, accelerated the degradation of protein, and inhibited the activation of the downstream target gene BMP4, an upstream molecule in the TGF-β/BMP pathway, which may contribute to tooth agenesis in this family.

Prosthetic rehabilitation of a patient with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate syndrome through a hybrid workflow: A case report with 2-year follow-up

AIM

Ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate (EEC) syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects ectodermal derived structures, including teeth, nails, hair, and sweat glands. Prosthetic rehabilitation of patients with EEC syndrome is essential towards improving their overall quality of life.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the case shown, a telescopic retained overdenture was made on the lower jaw based on digital impression of a patient with EEC syndrome associated with cleft lip and cleft palate. Due to the congenital anomalies and limited mouth opening, the impression was taken with intraoral scanner, and after designing the telescopes on the digital model, the primary and secondary telescopes were confectioned by selective laser sintering.

CONCLUSION

Combining digital dental technology and conventional clinical prosthetic treatment methods, results in a well-functioning overdenture even in such complicated situations. The prosthodontic rehabilitation of patients with ECC helps to restore the masticatory and phonetic functions, increases the patient's self-esteem, and prevents further psychological trauma caused by hypodontia.

GRHL2 and AP2a coordinate early surface ectoderm lineage commitment during development

Ectodermal dysplasias including skin abnormalities and cleft lip/palate result from improper surface ectoderm (SE) patterning. However, the connection between SE gene regulatory networks and disease remains poorly understood. Here, we dissect human SE differentiation with multiomics and establish GRHL2 as a key mediator of early SE commitment, which acts by skewing cell fate away from the neural lineage. GRHL2 and master SE regulator AP2a balance early cell fate output, with GRHL2 facilitating AP2a binding to SE loci. In turn, AP2a restricts GRHL2 DNA binding away from de novo chromatin contacts. Integration of these regulatory sites with ectodermal dysplasia-associated genomic variants annotated within the Biomedical Data Commons identifies 55 loci previously implicated in craniofacial disorders. These include ABCA4/ARHGAP29 and NOG regulatory regions where disease-linked variants directly affect GRHL2/AP2a binding and gene transcription. These studies elucidate the logic underlying SE commitment and deepen our understanding of human oligogenic disease pathogenesis.

High quality nursing based on childlike interest in children with cleft lip and palate: application assessment after operation

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of high-quality nursing based on the concept of childlike interest in children with cleft lip and palate following operation on healing time, degree of pain, psychological state, quality of life, and the occurrence of complications.

Methods

A series of 62 children with cleft lip and palate was treated in our hospital from January 2019 to March 2021. The patients were randomly divided into observation group (31 cases, given high-quality nursing based on childlike interest) and control group (31 cases, given routine nursing intervention). The healing time and hospital stay of the two groups were recorded. The degree of pain, psychological state and quality of life of the two groups before and after intervention were compared, and the occurrence of complications was closely monitored.

Results

Compared with the control group, the healing time and hospital stay of the study group were significantly shorter after the intervention (P < 0.05). Before the intervention, no significant difference was identified in pain score between the two groups (P < 0.05), after the intervention, however, the pain score of the study group was significantly lower compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) scores of the two groups were comparable before intervention (P > 0.05), while after intervention the SDS and SAS scores of the two groups were lower than those before treatment. Compared with the control group, the SDS and SAS scores of the study group were remarkably lower (P < 0.05). Before the intervention, the quality of life scores of the two groups were comparable (P > 0.05), while after the intervention, the scores of quality of life in the two groups were associated with lower outcomes. Compared with the control group, the scores of quality of life in the study group were significant lower (P < 0.05). After the intervention, there were evident fewer incidence of complications in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

High quality nursing based on childlike interest exerted beneficial outcomes in terms of shortening the healing time and hospital stay, reducing the degree of pain and complications, as well as improving the psychological state and quality of life of children harboring cleft lip and palate. Additionally, its high safety feature contributes to the wide application for clinical practice.