Craniofacial malformations have been recorded since time immemorial. While observational studies have assisted in the recognition of syndromes, little light has been shed on the causal mechanisms which interfere with craniofacial development. Animal studies in which malformations occur spontaneously or have been induced by teratogenic agents have permitted step-by-step investigation of such com...

Craniofacial deformities with multifactorial etiologies, such as cleft palate and facial dysmorphism, represent some of the most frequent congenital birth defects seen in humans. Their pathogeneses are often related to cranial neural crest (CNC) cells. During CNC cell migration, changes in cell shape and formation, as well as maintenance of subcellular structures, such as filopodia and lamellip...

Early piscine life stages are sensitive to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, which can cause pericardial effusion and craniofacial malformations. We previously reported that certain combinations of PAHs cause synergistic developmental toxicity, as observed with coexposure to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) and cytochrome P4501A inhibitor alpha-napht...

Positional skull deformities may be present at birth or may develop during the first few months of life. Since the early 1990s, US pediatricians have seen an increase in the number of children with cranial asymmetry, particularly unilateral flattening of the occiput, likely attributable to parents following the American Academy of Pediatrics "Back to Sleep" positioning recommendations aimed at ...

INTRODUCTION Apert Syndrome is a congenital condition characterised by primary craniosynostosis, midfacial malformations and complex symmetrical malformations of the hands and feet. The hands demonstrate one of the most complex collections of congenital upper limb deformities, posing a significant challenge for the paediatric hand surgeon. This study examines the extant literature and current p...

Stem cell therapy offers potential in the regeneration of craniofacial bone defects; however, it has not been studied clinically. Tissue repair cells (TRCs) isolated from bone marrow represent a mixed stem and progenitor population enriched in CD90- and CD14-positive cells. In this phase I/II, randomized, controlled feasibility trial, we investigated TRC cell therapy to reconstruct localized cr...

The face is a reflection of our genome. Facial deformities are oftentimes harbingers of an underlying disease states. For example, decreased Hedgehog activity in the developing craniofacial region causes holoprosencephaly and close-set eyes (hypotelorism). We found that excessive Hedgehog activity, caused by truncating the primary cilia on cranial neural crest cells, led to hypertelorism and fr...

The face is a reflection of our genome. Facial deformities are oftentimes harbingers of an underlying disease states. For example, decreased Hedgehog activity in the developing craniofacial region causes holoprosencephaly and close-set eyes (hypotelorism). We found that excessive Hedgehog activity, caused by truncating the primary cilia on cranial neural crest cells, led to hypertelorism and fr...

Positional skull deformities may be present at birth or may develop during the first few months of life. Since the early 1990s, US pediatricians have seen an increase in the number of children with cranial asymmetry, particularly unilateral flattening of the occiput, likely attributable to parents following the American Academy of Pediatrics “Back to Sleep” positioning recommendations aimed at ...

Cleft lip or palate is one of the most common types of craniomaxillofacial birth anomalies. Midface deficiency is a common feature of cleft lip and palate patients due to scar tissue of the lip and palate closure. Cleft lip and palate patients should be carefully evaluated by the craniofacial team in order to detect potentially serious deformities. Craniofacial team is involved with diagnosis o...