Salivary biomarker C-reactive protein levels in children with sleep problems and Class II malocclusion before and after twin-block therapy

Context

Disturbances in sleep affects the overall quality of a child's life, with several short- and long-lasting consequences. Hence, early diagnosis and monitoring is crucial in the management of sleep disorders in children.

Aims

The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a group of children with Class II malocclusion and sleep problems before and after twin-block appliance therapy.

Settings and Design

The study was a prospective clinical study with a 9-month follow-up period.

Subjects and Methods

Eleven children aged 8-12 years with skeletal Class II malocclusion and at least one sleep disorder were enrolled in the study. All children were subjected to a recording of their sleep history and a clinical as well as radiographic examination. Pretreatment levels of salivary CRP were recorded. A twin-block appliance was custom made and delivered to every child. At the end of 9-month follow-up, all children were recalled for a re-evaluation of salivary biomarker levels.

Statistical Analysis

Pretreatment and posttreatment changes in biomarker levels were assessed statistically using the students paired t-test.

Results

Levels of salivary biomarker CRP were significantly decreased in children following myofunctional therapy using a twin-block appliance (P < 0.001). There was a considerable improvement in the clinical symptoms such as a decrease in snoring and noisy breathing in most children post-twin-block therapy.

Conclusion

The measurement of salivary biomarker CRP could be used as an alternative and noninvasive method to evaluate prognosis of oral myofunctional therapy for children with sleep disordered breathing.

Assessment of Dentofacial Characteristics and Pharyngeal Airway in Children with Class II Malocclusion and Mouth Breathing

Background In growing patients with skeletal discrepancies, early diagnosis, evidence-based explanation of etiology, and assessment of functional factors can be vital for the restoration of normal craniofacial growth and the stability of treatment needs.

Aims The aim of the study was to assess dentofacial characteristics as well as upper and lower pharyngeal airway in children with skeletal class II malocclusion with mouth breathing, and to investigate possible significant relationships and correlations among the studied cephalometric variables and the airway morphology in these children.

Materials and Methods Sixty untreated children, aged 9 to 13 years, were divided into three groups according to clinical findings and cephalometric analysis of dentofacial characteristics as well as the presence of mouth breathing habit: Group I (20 children with normal jaw relation/class I), Group II (20 children with skeletal class II), and Group III (20 children with skeletal class II with confirmed mouth breathing habit). Cephalometric variables and upper/lower airway widths were recorded. Intergroup comparison of all measurements was performed by post hoc Tukey test, and Pearson's correlation was used to determine the correlation among the variables.

Results Significant changes existed in more than half of the dentofacial measurements among the three groups. Significantly greater skeletal anteroposterior jaw discrepancy and mandibular retrognathism were found in both groups II and III as determined by specific anteroposterior determinants. Children in group III showed significantly increased angle between Sella-Nasion and mandibular plane (SN-MP) angle, y-axis, and a vertical growth pattern. Significant increases in dental measurements, namely upper incisor to Nasion- point A (NA), lower incisor to Nasion - point B (NB), and overjet, were found in group II and group III, while overbite showed a significant decrease. Upper pharyngeal airway width was found to be significantly decreased in group III followed by a smaller though significant decrease in group II. No significant differences were found in lower pharyngeal airway width between the groups. There were statistically significant dentofacial characteristics that showed fair to good correlation with the upper airway width.

Conclusion Children with skeletal class II malocclusion with and without mouth breathing showed significant differences in dentofacial measurements and a significantly narrower upper pharyngeal airway as compared with children with normal jaw/class I relation.

Poly(I:C) transfection induces a pro-inflammatory cascade in murine mammary carcinoma and fibrosarcoma cells

Germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors [PRRs] in mammalian cells function in the detection of molecular patterns associated with pathogen invasion or cellular damage. A PRR subset is activated by the atypical presence and location of double-stranded RNA [dsRNA] or its synthetic analogue polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], triggering pro-inflammatory signalling and death in many cell types. Poly(I:C) has been tested as a sole or combination cancer therapy in preclinical studies and clinical trials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of poly(I:C) transfection via electroporation on cell lines from a cancer of epithelial origin, 4T1 mammary carcinoma, and a cancer of mesenchymal origin, WEHI 164 fibrosarcoma. The effects of the poly(I:C) delivery on cell metabolism implicate the induction of cell death. A pro-inflammatory response was demonstrated by mRNA upregulation and the secretion of Type I interferon and several cytokines and chemokines. The mRNAs of dsRNA sensor DExD/H-box helicase 58/retinoic acid-inducible gene I protein [Ddx58/RIG-I] and sensor/co-sensor DEAH-box helicase 9 [Dhx9] were not regulated, but the mRNAs of RNA sensors toll-like receptor 3 [TLR3], interferon-induced with helicase C domain 1/melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 [Ifih1/MDA5] and Z-DNA binding protein 1 [Zbp1] and co-sensors DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 60 [Ddx60] and interferon-inducible protein 204 [Ifi204] were upregulated in both cell lines. The mRNAs encoding signalling pathways components were present or upregulated in both cell types. These data demonstrate that RNA sensing effects can be amplified by electroporation delivery, potentially expanding the practicality of this immunotherapeutic approach.

Comparison of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous posterior teeth with varying levels of root resorption

Background

Stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) are regarded as an attractive cell source for tissue regeneration. However, the effect of different levels of root resorption on the characteristics of SHED remains less understood. Thus, the tooth source that is most suitable for the isolation of SHEDs needs to be determined. To compare cellular and biological characteristics of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous posterior teeth with varying levels of root resorption.

Methods

The pulp was obtained from the deciduous posterior teeth depending on the level of root resorption, and isolated SHEDs were grouped as follows: Teeth with 0 to 1/3^rd root resorption as SHEDs (G1) and 1/3^rd to 2/3^rd root resorption as SHEDs (G2). Teeth were also collected from >2/3^rd root resorption status, but failed to establish primary culture of SHED as the availability of pulp tissue was too less. Later, isolated SHEDs were compared on their morphology, viability, growth kinetics, colony-forming ability, expression of cell surface markers and in vitro differentiation into osteocytes and adipocytes.

Results

No major differences were observed in terms of cellular morphology, viability, proliferation rate, colony-forming ability, cell surface markers expression, and mesenchymal lineage differentiation of SHEDs isolated from posterior teeth with 0 to 1/3^rd and 1/3^rd to 2/3^rd root resorption. However, SHED from teeth with 0 to 1/3^rd root resorption (G1) displayed relatively higher proliferation capacity and expression of selected markers.

Conclusions

Collectively, SHEDs (G1) and SHEDs (G2) showed comparable cellular and biological characteristics that enable their possible applications in regenerative therapies.

Augmentation of Narrow Anterior Alveolar Ridge Using Autogenous Block Onlay Graft in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Tooth loss due to trauma often triggers residual alveolar resorption to a greater degree in the sagittal direction leading to atrophy. However, in a pediatric patient, if this defect is left untreated, it can cause further atrophy leading to collapse of the arch. In the maxillary anterior area, this is also of esthetic concern. Hence, it is viable to reconstruct the alveolar defects and restore the alveolar anatomy with superior quality of bone while the patient is still in growing phase to avoid any structural and dental malformation, as well as to provide a more novel treatment like dental implant at a later stage when growth ceases. Modes for successfully augmenting the bone are diverse. Among these, barrier membrane with guided bone regeneration, distraction osteogenesis, and bone block graft is ubiquitous. The current case report deals with the management of horizontal atrophic anterior maxillary region using autologous block bone graft harvested from mandibular symphysis, to augment the alveolar ridge and aid in esthetic and functional restoration of alveolar anatomy by restoring the defect with the bone of superior quality as well as preparing the site for receiving implant prosthesis in future when growth ceases.

How to cite this article: Bhandary M, Hegde AM, Shetty R, et al. Augmentation of Narrow Anterior Alveolar Ridge Using Autogenous Block Onlay Graft in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021;14(2):311–314.

Evaluation of Plaque pH Changes Following Consumption of Health Drinks by Children: A Pilot Study

INTRODUCTION

With increased trend among people to choose a healthy diet, there is an increased consumption of health drinks by children. Thus, it is important to know their cariogenicity.

AIM

To evaluate the effect of consumption of health drinks viz., Horlicks, Boost and Complan on plaque pH in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consisted of four groups: Group I (control)- 10% sucrose solution, Group II- Horlicks, Group III- Boost, Group IV- Complan. Samples of plaque from representative teeth were collected and pH was measured using an electrode outside the mouth. After baseline pH was recorded, children were given their respective drinks and were asked to consume slowly over a period of three to five minutes following swish with 20 ml of the test drink for one minute. The pH was then recorded after 10, 20, 30, 40 and 60 minutes of the post consumption period. Obtained values were subjected to one-way ANOVA test for multiple group comparison followed by Post-Hoc Tukey's test for group wise comparison.

RESULTS

Twenty minutes after consumption of Complan and Boost, pH was decreased, but not to the critical pH value as in case of sucrose. The pH was found to be slightly increased, 20 minutes post Horlicks consumption. Post 60 minutes consumption of all the drinks including sucrose solution, the pH was increased in comparison to post 20 minutes. However, 60 minutes post consumption of Boost and Horlicks, pH increased above the baseline.

CONCLUSION

Consumption of health drinks viz., Complan and Boost did not lower the plaque pH to the level of critical pH. Consumption of Horlicks increased the plaque pH.

Test for equality of intraclass correlation coefficients under unequal family sizes

The likelihood ratio test, the large-sample z-test, and the large-sample z-test have been proposed to test for the equality of two intraclass correlation coefficients under unequal family sizes based on two independent multinomial samples. It has been found on the basis of simulation studies that the likelihood ratio test consistently and reliably produces results superior to those of the large-sample z-test and large-sample z-test in terms of power for various combinations of intraclass correlation coefficient values.