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The aim of the study was to investigate the association between environmental factors and nonsyndromic cleft of the lip and/or palate (NSCL/P) in Yantai District, China. A retrospective case-control study was carried out. A total of 236 NSCL/P children were selected from Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of Yantai Stomatological Hospital between September 2013 and December 2016 as cases; 209 controls were chosen from other diagnosis in the same department during the same period. The 2 groups matched age and sex. The parents of participants were inquired regarding the risk factors, and the answers were filled in a questionnaire by physicians. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analysis the data. There was significantly increased NSCL/P risk with high maternal age (P =0.002), family history (P = 0.001), abortion history (P = 0.033), poor parental education level (P = 0.008), maternal smoking (P = 0.044), maternal alcohol (P = 0.039), common cold or fever (P = 0.035), drug use (P = 0.006), and maternal stress (P = 0.049). Reduced NSCL/P risk was found with folic acid supplementation (P = 0.005), adequate maternal age (P = 0.002), and high parental education (P = 0.001). The proper amount of folic acid, the appropriate age of childbearing, and the high education were the protective factors of NSCL/P, whereas family history, abortion history, drug use during pregnancy, maternal tobacco and alcohol, and maternal stress were the risk factors for NSCL/P in Yantai District, China.

The objective of the study was to discuss the biocompatibility of the vascular endothelial growth factor-silk fibroin-chitosan (VEGF-SF-CS) scaffolds. To offer an ideal scaffold for bone tissue engineering, the author added vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into silk fibroin-chitosan (SF-CS) scaffold directly to reconstruct a three-dimensional scaffold for the first time, SF-CS scaffold was loaded with VEGF and evaluated as a growth factor-delivery device. Human fetal osteoblast cell was seeded on the VEGF-SF-CS scaffolds and SF-CS scaffolds. On VEGF-SF-CS and SF-CS scaffolds, the cell adhesion rate was increased as time went on. Scanning electron microscopy: the cells grew actively and had normal multiple fissions, granular and filamentous substrates could be seen around the cells, and cell microfilaments were closely connected with the scaffolds. The cells could not only show the attached growth on surfaces of the scaffolds, but also extend into the scaffolds. Cell Counting Kit-8 and alkaline phosphatase analysis proved that the VEGF could significantly promote human fetal osteoblast1.19 cells growth and proliferation in the SF-CS scaffolds, but the enhancement of osteoblasts cell proliferation and activity by VEGF was dependent on time.

Purpose: The combination treatment for mix infantile hemangiomas (IHs) using oral propranolol with topical timolol maleate was not well documented in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of oral propranolol along with topical timolol maleate or oral propranolol alone for treating mixed IHs in the oral and maxillofacial regions., Methods: Between March 2013 and June 2014, a total of 31 patients with mixed IHs in the oral and maxillofacial regions were recruited to the study and randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Fourteen patients in the experimental group (A) were treated with oral proranolol in combination with topical timolol maleate, and 17 patients in the control group (B) underwent orally proranolol treatment alone. The maximal treatment duration was planned for 8 months. Ultrasonography and serial photographs based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used to assess the effects of treatment before and after treatment, as well as adverse effects after medication were evaluated and managed accordingly., Results: All patients completed treatment. Among the most patients, there was obvious fading of color or decrease in size of the IHs when compared with pretreatment. There was significant reduction of color fading in A (mean VAS score: 8.36 ± 1.39) than that in B (7.18 ± 1.71) (P = 0.043) after the end of treatment, whereas the reduction of sizes in A (8.00 ± 1.75) had no significant difference than that in B (7.59 ± 1.80) (P= .51). The treatment duration of A (5.64 ± 1.45) was shorter than that of B (6.71 ± 1.10) (P= .037). No major collateral effects were observed in both the groups throughout the course of treatment., Conclusions: Oral proranolol combined with topical timolol maleate was well tolerated and effective treatment, mild side effects, and especially gave rise to better clinical response in the treatment of mixed IHs than oral propranolol alone.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) has been demonstrated to have a close relationship with inflammation in the body. Although most researchers confirmed that TNF-α can have an effect on the expression of osteoblast specific genes, they had not elucidated the regulation of inflammatory factors in osteogenic gene expression during the process of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) differentiating to osteoblast. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TNF-α at different concentrations on osteogenetic differentiation of BMMSCs. In this study, BMMSCs proliferation was analyzed by using cell counting kit-8 assay, cell osteogenic differentiation was evaluated by means of alkaline phosphatase activity assay and Von Koaas staining and the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of bone morphogenetic proteins-2 (BMP-2) and drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 1 (Smad1) was measured through real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that a low concentration of TNF-α at short-term promotes the osteogenetic differentiation of BMMSCs and increases the mRNA expression of BMP-2 and Smad1, but inhibits the osteogenetic differentiation of BMMSCs and the expression of BMP-2 and Smad1 at long term. In addition, regardless of a short or long time, a high concentration of TNF-α inhibits the osteogenetic differentiation of BMMSCs and the expression of Smad1, but results in a high expression of BMP-2.

The aim of our study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oral propranolol for the treatment of parotid infantile hemangiomas. Between October 2009 and January 2013, propranolol was given orally to 30 infants with proliferating hemangiomas at a dose of 1.0 to 1.5 mg/kg per day in our department. The patients included 12 male infants and 18 female infants, aged between 2 and 13 months, with a median of 5.9 months. The lesions were located in the parotid region and measured from 1.5 cm × 2 cm × 0.5 cm to 6 cm × 8 cm × 3 cm in volume. Oral propranolol was administered once daily for a mean duration of 22.7 weeks (range, 14-32 wk). Follow-up times were from 1 to 10 months (median, 6.4 mo). Changes in the color and size of the tumor were recorded using hemisphere measurements and digital photographs. The treatment results were scored according to a 4-point scale. Overall response was graded scale 4 (excellent) in 18 patients, scale 3 (good) in 11 patients, scale 2 (moderate) in 1 patient, and scale 1 (poor) in none. No major collateral effects and rebounds were observed in any of the patients. Oral propranolol was a well-tolerated and effective treatment with mild adverse effects for parotid infantile hemangiomas.

Background: The purpose of the article was to assess the clinical results of mattress cerclage combined with electrochemical therapy and pingyangmycin injection after embolization in treating arteriovenous malformations (AVMs)., Methods: During the period from January 2008 to December 2012, a total of 26 patients with AVMs were treated through mattress cerclage combined with electrochemical therapy and pingyangmycin injection after embolization and were retrospectively examined. The size of the lesions ranged from 2.5 cm × 3 cm to 8 cm × 10 cm. The follow-up time varied from 8 months to 24 months. The clinical outcome was evaluated using a 4-grade scale., Results: All the lesions decreased in size after the treatment. The clinical follow-up showed excellent response in 20 of the 26 patients, whereas the remaining 6 patients also had satisfactory response. The most common complication was swelling, followed by pain and fever, without serious adverse effects being encountered., Conclusions: Mattress cerclage combined with electrochemical therapy and pingyangmycin injection after embolization was a reliable method for AVMs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects and safety of intralesional injection of high concentration of bleomycin A5 for huge (more than 5 cm in diameter) macrocystic lymphatic malformations (LMs) in the cervical region. Thirty-two patients with huge macrocystic LMs were treated with percutaneous injection of bleomycin A5 in our department between 2006 and 2011. Among them, 13 patients had unilateral submandibular lesions, and 19 patients had lesions in anterior cervical regions. The age of patients ranged from 10 months to 29 years (mean age, 11.4 y). The concentration of the drug was as high as 2.7 mg/mL (8 mg/3 mL) with an addition of dexamethasone. The mean sessions of injection were 1.6 (1-3 sessions). Repeated injection interval was 4 to 6 weeks. The follow-up period was 6 months to 4 years after the last treatment, and the mean follow-up time was 18 months. The results were evaluated based on clinical examination and Doppler ultrasonography scan. The clinical follow-up showed excellent response in 28 of the 32 patients, whereas 4 of the 32 patients also had a satisfactory response. No serious complications were encountered. Intralesional injection of high concentration of bleomycin A5 was an effective and safe treatment of huge macrocystic LMs in the cervical region and can obtain satisfactory results esthetically and functionally without surgery.