The present study was designed to evaluate the use of inverted-L osteotomy of ramus combined with iliac bone graft for the treatment of mandibular hypoplasia inadult patients.

Intraoral or extraoralinverted-L osteotomy of ramus and iliac crest bone grafting were used for the treatment of mandibular hypoplasia in 11 adult patients (aged 19 to 29 years) from 2010 to 2016. Data were collected from the patients' records, photographs andradiographs.

The height and width of the mandibular ramus were significantly augmented by inverted-L osteotomy and iliac crest bone grafting with minimal complications in all patients, resulting in remarkable improvements both in facial appearance and occlusion.

Our preliminary results showed that the inverted-L osteotomy of ramus and iliac crest bone grafting is safe and effective, and should be considered as a good alternative for the patients with mandibular hypoplasia.

To design a novel biomimetic micro/nano hierarchical interface on endosseous titanium implants and investigate its effect on the biological activity of bone marrow mesenchymal cells.

Electrochemical anodization and spark plasma sintering were used to modify smooth titanium (untreated Ti group) with a microporous trabecular bone-like architecture (micro-Ti group) and TiO₂ nanotube architecture (nano-TiO₂ group). Additionally, electrochemical anodization was employed to prepare TiO₂ nanotubes on microporous trabecular bone-like architectures, which formed a novel biomimetic hierarchical interface (micro/nano-TiO₂ group). Four groups of titanium samples were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle (CA). Bone marrow mesenchymal cells (BMMCs) were seeded on four groups of titanium samples. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to observe cell morphology. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. The expression of focal adhesion proteins (F-actin; vinculin; osteocalcin, OCN; osteopontin, OPN) were observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). The mRNA expression levels of osteogenic factors (runt-related transcription factor 2, RUNX2; osteocalcin, OCN; osteopontin, OPN; collagen Ⅰ, COL Ⅰ) were assessed by qRT-PCR.

The micro/nano- TiO₂ group featured a hydrophilic surface (CA＝9° ± 2.1°). The results of the MTT assay indicated that the relative cell proliferation rates for the nano- TiO₂ and micro/nano-TiO₂ samples were significantly increased compared with those for the untreated-Ti and micro-Ti samples (P＜0.001) after 5-9 days. The ALP results indicated that the micro/nano-TiO₂ sample gained the highest value at 14 days. After 72 h of incubation, the expression of osteocalcin (OCN) and osteopontin (OPN) on micro/nano-TiO₂ was the strongest. After 24 h incubation, the expression of F-actin on micro/nano-TiO₂ was the strongest. In comparison with untreated-Ti and micro-Ti samples, the mRNA expression levels of all the osteogenic factors (runt-related transcription factor 2, RUNX2; osteocalcin, OCN; osteopontin, OPN; Collagen Ⅰ, COL Ⅰ) were markedly increased on the nano-TiO₂ and micro/nano-TiO₂ samples, the mRNA expression levels of collagen Ⅰ (COL Ⅰ) were significantly different between the nano-TiO₂ and micro/nano-TiO₂ samples versus the untreated-Ti and micro-Ti samples (P＜0.001).

The novel biomimetic micro/nano hierarchical interface has a positive effect on cell attachment, viability and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal cells.

To investigate the effects of intra-articular injection of alendronate on the mandibular condyle in ovariectomized rats.

Sixty female rats were randomly divided into five groups: ovariectomy with vehicle treatment alone, early alendronate treatment at ovariectomy, late alendronate treatment at 4 weeks after ovariectomy, shamoperation with vehicle treatment, and the normal control rats. The changes in subchondral bone were evaluated by microcomputed tomography (Micro-CT), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Compared with late alendronate treatment, early alendronate treatment improved microstructural properties of the subchondral bone, with higher bone volume ratio (46.4 + 2.5 vs 37.5 + 2.1; P= 0.038), increased trabecular thickness (47.3 + 1.7 vs 34.6 + 1.4; P= 0.029), elevated trabecular number (8.5 + 0.6 vs 6.2 + 0.3; P= 0.041) and lower trabecular separation (30.2 + 1.6 vs 37.7 + 2.6; P= 0.034). Fewer TRAP-positive cells (4.2 + 0.2 vs 6.8 + 0.4; P= 0.019) and a higher OPG/RANKL ratio (0.38 + 0.01 vs 0.25 + 0.03; P= 0.043) in the subchondral bone were observed in the animals with early treatment group compared to late treatment or ovariectomy/vehicle treatment group.

Our results suggest the therapeutic potential of intra-articular alendronate injection in the treatment of osteoporosis-associated temporomandibular disorders.