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Objecives The use of three-dimensional computed tomography (3D- CT) analyses represents a substantial improvement in planning treatment. The aim of this study is to introduce a new three-dimensional (3D) analysis of clinical value for evaluating asymmetry in cases of craniofacial syndrome. Subjects and methods Virtual 3D models were reconstructed from CT images of 62 normal subjects (35 males and 27 females), more than 18 years old. Measurements of asymmetrical skeletal and dentoalveolar relationships were evaluated and standardized data obtained. The feasibility of the new 3D craniofacial analysis was then evaluated on one patient with severe maxillomandibular asymmetry in the form of hemifacial microsomia. Results Standardized 3D data from the analysis were obtained and classified into 6 maxillary measurements, eight mandibular measurements and seven dentoalveolar process measurements. No significant differences were found between males and females ( U-Mann-Whitney test, P > 0.05). Useful data of clinical value was provided for planning orthodontic and surgical treatment of asymmetries, as well as a diagnostic chart. Conclusion This method is useful for the clinical evaluation of asymmetry in craniofacial syndromes. The use of 3D analysis facilitates surgical and orthodontic treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine - on the basis of the most recent yearly listings - whether there were any common measurable variables associated with the smiles of the world's most influential people. A total of 168 subjects were selected from the lists of Time magazine's 100 most influential people during the period 2006-2010. Smiling frontal view photographs were obtained. Thirty-six variables for each subject were traced and measured using photogrammetric analysis to obtain qualitative and quantitative proportions and measurements. Differences with respect to gender, occupation and year of listing were tested to 95% significance, using the Student's t-test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The chi-squared test was used for qualitative variables. Irrespective of gender or occupation, the similar quantifiable characteristics of the smiles of the most influential subjects were the following: vertical upper lip proportion, smile width, incisor exposure, buccal corridor ratio, smile symmetry index and intra-dental proportions ( P > 0·05). Other qualitative standards were as follows: smile symmetry, the buccal corridors and smile arc, direction of occlusal cant and the degree of deviation between maxillary and facial midlines. Differences were found for gingival display and smile height parameters ( P = 0·001). The smiles of the world's most influential people revealed common standards, regardless of occupation or gender, which may play a decisive role in the expressions of influential faces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of environmental factors, such as tobacco, alcohol and folic acid intake, obesity, stressful events, low blood levels of zinc and fever during pregnancy, on the incidence of cleft lip and/or palate (CL±P). An electronic search was performed in the Cochrane Reviews, the ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed and Scopus, along with a manual search to identify other relevant case–control and cohort studies. Quality assessments and an evaluation of publication bias were undertaken. Statistical heterogeneity was examined, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated using the random effects model. Of 372 articles initially retrieved, 28 studies were selected as eligible for meta-analysis. No evidence of publication bias was found using funnel plot analysis and the Egger linear regression method. Many studies were classified as low quality due to inadequate case–control data. On the basis of this research, maternal factors most associated with CL±P were: tobacco (OR 1.48), alcohol (OR 1.28), folic acid intake (OR 0.77), obesity (OR 1.26), stressful events (OR 1.41), low blood zinc levels (OR 1.82), and fever during pregnancy (OR 1.30). Folic acid intake by the mother reduced the risk of CL±P in offspring (OR 0.77). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]