• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to elucidate the anatomical development of physiologic suture closure processes in infants using three dimensional reconstructed computed tomography (CT). Methods : A consecutive series of 243 infants under 12 months of age who underwent three dimensional CT were included in this study. Four major cranial sutures (sagittal, coronal, lambdoidal and metopic suture) were classified into four suture closure grades (grade 0=no closure along the whole length, grade 1=partial or intermittent closure, grade 2=complete closure with visible suture line, grade 3=complete fusion (ossification) without visible suture line), and measured for its closure degree (suture closure rates; defined as percentage of the length of closed suture line divided by the total length of suture line). Results : Suture closure grade under 12 months of age comprised of grade 0 (n=195, 80.2%), grade 1 (n=24, 9.9%) and grade 2 (n=24, 9.9%) in sagittal sutures, whereas in metopic sutures they were grade 0 (n=61, 25.1%), grade 1 (n=167, 68.7%), grade 2 (n=6, 24%) and grade 3 (n=9, 3.7%). Mean suture closure rates under 12 months of age was 58.8% in metopic sutures, followed by coronal (right : 43.8%, left : 41.1%), lambdoidal (right : 27.2%, left : 25.6%) and sagittal sutures (15.6%), respectively. Conclusion : These quantitative descriptions of cranial suture closure may help understand the process involved in the cranial development of Korean infants.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.497-500
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• 1999

A 4 years old male mixed breed dog, which weighed 25.5 kg, referred to Veterinary Teaching Hospital at College of Veterinary Medicine in Chonnam National University, because of chronic hindleg lameness. Click sound by flexion and extension of stifle joint, positive reaction by cranial drawer movement, fat pad sign and tibial position in cranial drawer position on the lateral radiographic view, medial patellar luxation (grade II), and lameness score 2.5 at standing and 2 at walking in right hindleg were showed. Under general anesthesia with enflurane, after medial arthrotomy, it was performed to remove remnants of cranial cruciate ligament and torn medial menisci and joint closed. In modified retinacular imbrication technique, one lateral fabellar/tuberosity suture, one medial fabellar/tuberosity suture, and one imbrication suture adjacent to the patella were placed. At 9 days after operation, lameness score 0 was observed and general condition was excellent.

• Journal of International Society for Simulation Surgery
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2015

Purpose The head of infants under 24 months old who has Craniosynostosis grows extraordinarily that makes head shape unusual. To diagnose the Craniosynostosis, surgeon has to inspect computed tomography(CT) images of the patient in person. It's very time consuming process. Moreover, without a surgeon, it's difficult to diagnose the Craniosynostosis. Therefore, we developed technique which detects Craniosynostosis automatically from the CT volume. Materials and Methods At first, rotation correction is performed to the 3D CT volume for detection of the Craniosynostosis. Then, cranial area is extracted using the iterative thresholding method we proposed. Lastly, we diagnose Craniosynostosis by analyzing centroid relationships of clusters of cranial bone which was divided by cranial suture. Results Using this automatical cranial detection technique, we can diagnose Craniosynostosis correctly. The proposed method resulted in 100% sensitivity and 90% specificity. The method perfectly diagnosed abnormal patients. Conclusion By plugging-in the software on CT machine, it will be able to warn the possibility of Craniosynostosis. It is expected that early treatment of Craniosynostosis would be possible with our proposed algorithm.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.217-228
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• 2003

Co-ordinate growth of the brain and skull is achieved through a series of tissue interactions between the developing brain, the growing bones of the skull and the sutures that unite the bones. Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of cranial sutures, presumably involves disturbance of these interactions. Bmp2, one of bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps), is involved in the regulation of the shapes of individual bones and the relative proportions of the skeleton. Mutations in the homeobox gene Msx2, known as a downstream gene of Bmp, cause Boston-type human craniosynostosis. The phenotype of Dlx5 homozygote mutant mouse presents craniofacial abnormalities including a delayed ossification of calvarial bone. These facts suggest important roles of Bmp2, Msx2 and Dlx5 genes in the cranial bone growth and suture morphogenesis. To elucidate the function of these molecules in the early morphogenesis of mouse cranial sutures, we first analyzed by in situ hybridization the expression of Bmp2(E15-18), Msx2 and Dlx5 genes in the developing sagittal suture of calvaria during the embryonic stage. Bmp2 mRNA was intensely expressed in the osteogenic fronts and also at the low level in the periosteum of parietal bones during embryonic stage, Msx2 mRNA was intensely expressed in the sutural mesenchyme and mildly expressed in the dura mater during the embryonic stage. Dlx5 mRNA was intensely expressed osteogenic fronts and parietal bones. To further examine the role of Bmp signaling in cranial suture, we did in vitro experiments in E15.5 mouse calvarial explants. Interestingly, implantation of Bmp2-soaked beads onto the osteogenic fronts after 48 hours organ culture resulted in the increase of the tissue thickness and cell number around Bmp2 beads, compared to BSA control beads. In addition Bmp2 induced etopic expressions of Msx2 and Dlx5 genes. On the other hand, overexpression of FGF2 did not induce the expression of Msx2 and Dlx5. Taken together, these data indicate that Bmp2 signaling molecule has a important role in regulating the cranial bone growth and early morphogenesis of cranial suture. We also suggest that Bmp signaling is involved in all the stages of osteogenesis of cranial bones and the maintenance of cranial suture by regulating Msx2 and Dlx5 genes, and that Msx2 and Dlx5 genes are specific transcription factors of Bmp signaling pathway.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.652-663
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• 1999

Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of cranial sutures, presumably involves disturbance of the interactions between different tissues within the cranial sutures. Interestingly, point mutaions in the genes encoding for the fibroblast growth factor receptors(FGFRs), especially FGFR2, cause various types of human craniosynostosis syndromes. To elucidate the function of these genes in the early morphogenesis of mouse cranial sutures, we first analyzed by in situ hybridization the expression of FGFR2(BEK) and osteopontin, an early marker of osteogenic differentiation, in the sagittal suture of calvaria during embryonic(E15-E18) and postnatal stage(P1-P3). FGFR2(BEK) was intensely expressed in the osteogenic fronts, whose cells undergo differentiation into osteoprogenitor cells that ultimately lay down the bone matrix. Osteopontin was expressed throughout the parietal bones excluding the osteogenic fronts, the periphery of the parietal bones. To further examine the role of FGF-mediated FGFR signaling in cranial suture, we did in vitro experiments in E15.5 mouse calvarial explants. Interestingly, implantation of FGF2 soaked beads onto both the osteogenic fronts and mid-mesenchyme of sagittal suture after 36 hours organ culture resulted in the increase of the tissue thickness and cell number around FGF2 beads, moreover FGF4-soaked beads implanted onto the osteogenic fronts stimulated suture closure due to an accelerated bone growth, compared to FGF4 beads placed onto mid-mesenchyme of sagittal suture and BSA control beads. In addition FGF2 induced the ectopic expression of osteopontin and Msx1 genes. Taken together, these data indicate that FGF-mediated FGFR signaling has a important role in regulating the cranial bone growth and maintenance of cranial suture, and suggest that FGF-mediated FGFR signaling is involved in regulating the balance between the cell proliferation and differentiation through inducing the expression of osteopontin and Msx1 genes.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.377-393
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• 2001

In order to study the closure stage of cranial sutures and its correlations with age, the ectocranial closure stage of coronal suture, sagittal suture, and lambdoidal suture of 67 skulls was measured. Among the skulls kept at the department of anatomy, college of medicine, Yonsei University, the ones with ages identified were used for this study. These measurements of suture closure were conducted by 4 examiners independently. The sutures were further divided by Frederic's method into 16 suture parts. The closure stages were classified by five stages of Broca-Ribbe. The following results were obtained: 1. The inter-observer reliability among 4 examiners showed high intraclass correlation coefficient of over 0.75(mean : 0.856) in all suture parts. Therefore, the determination of closure stage wasn't influenced by the subjective view of each examiner. 2. In all suture parts, the closure stage increased proportionally with age.(p<0.01) In terms of each suture part, the S2 part of sagittal suture showed the highest correlation(68.1%) while the L1-R part of lambdoidal suture showed the lowest correlation(51.3%). In addition, in terms of suture types, the correlation with age decreased in the order of sagittal suture(60.0%), coronal suture(57.7%), and lambdoidal suture (55.7%). In general, the average value of suture closure stages had 57.8% correlation with age(p<0.01). 3. The most frequent suture closure stage according to age group was '0' for ages below 30, '0' and '1' for ages within the 30's, '1' and '2' for ages within the 40's, and '2' for ages within the 50's. With older age groups, the frequency of '3' and '4' increased, and the suture closure stage increased proportionally with age. 4. The mean age by closure stage of each suture were within the 40's for the closure stage of '1', within the 50's for the closure stage of '2', and from 50's through 60's for the closure stage of '3'. The standard deviation was over 10 for all closure stages. In addition, at the same suture closure stage, the mean age according to the coronal suture was higher than the ages according to the sagittal suture or lambdoidal suture. Especially, C1-R, C1-L, C2-R, and C2-L parts showed the highest age when at the same suture closure stage. 5. The values appropriate for age estimations using suture closure stages of 16 suture parts were calculated, and a calculator for age estimation ($R^2=0.6944$, p<0.01) by ectocranial suture closure stage for Koreans is presented. From the above results, the method of using the closure stage of sutures of the skull to estimate age can be useful in individual identification of forensic science. Further extensive and accurate research using larger samples would be worthy of study.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.171-180
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• 2003

The development of calvarial bones is tighly co-ordinated with the growth of the brain and needs of harmonious interactions between different tissues within the calvarial sutures. Premature fusion of cranial sutures, known as craniosynostosis, presumably involves disturbance of these interactions. Mutations in the homeobox-containg gene Msx2 cause human craniosynostosis syndrome. Msx genes, which are consist of Msx1, Msx2 and Msx3, are homeobox-containg transcripton factors, and were originally identified as homologue of Drosophila msh(muscle segment homeobox) gene. Msx1 and Msx2 genes, expressed mostly in overlapping patterns at multiple site of tissue interactions during vertebrate development, are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during organogenesis, targets of BMP and FGF signaling. To elucidate the function of Msx genes in the early morphogenesis of mouse cranial suture, we analyzed the expression of them by in situ hybridization during embryonic(E15-E18) stage, and did vivo experiments in E15.5 mouse using rhBMP-2, rhFGF-2 protein soaked bead. In the sagittal suture, Msx1 was expressed in the mesenchyme of suture and the dura mater, Msx2 was intensely expressed in the sutural mesenchyme and the dura mater. In the coronal suture both of Msx genes were expressed intensely in the sutural mesenchyme and expressed in the periosteum also. Msx1 had a broader expression pattern than Msx2. BMP2 beads induced expression of both Msx1 and Msx2, FGF2 beads induced expression of Msx1, but not Msx2. Taken together, these data suggest that Msx1 and Msx2 genes have important role in regulating the morphogenesis and maintenance of embryonic cranial suture. Both of Msx genes are expressed similarly but because of their upstream signaling, they function dependently or cooperatively according to change of signaling molecule.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed to find out the physiological mechanism of craniosacral therapy, especially in CV4 technique and cranial rhythmic impulses. Methods : Recent studies were reviewed for cranial rhythmic impulses, and the ancient and present text were reviewed for the therapy of sub-occiput and cranial-suture part. Results and Conclusions : 1. Suboccipital muscles releasing may have made CV4 technique to effect. 2. The mechanism of the meridians of acupuncture and craniosacral system can be cooperative together in many parts of the clinical treatments. 3. Arterial vasomotor waves have a frequency similar to reports of cranial rhythmic impulses. The methods which have relation to heart rate variability, will be useful for the study of craniosacral therapy.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2000

Cleidocranial dysplasia (previously known as cleidocranial dysostosis) is a well-known, rare and hereditary skeletal disorder characterized by a variety of dental abnormalities and as its name implies, striking involvement of the cranial vaults and clavicles. A 17-year-old female who presented with short stature and prolonged retention of deciduous teeth, subsequent delay in eruption of permanent teeth is described. She could touch her shoulders together at the midline anteriorly. Diagnostic procedures showed hypoplasia of the maxillary and zygomatic bones, open fontanelles and sutures, and aplasia of the clavicles. The paranasal sinuses were absent or underdeveloped. Characteristically, she had near parallel-sided borders in the ascending ramus of the mandible and abnormal-shaped, the slender pointed coronoid process. The zygomatic arches had a downward bend and discontinuity at the zygomaticotemporal suture area. Radiographic and clinical investigations of her cranial and skeletal abnormalities revealed features of cleidocranial dysplasia.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.249-254
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• 1984

This is a case report of Crouzon's disease as a kind of craniofacial dysostosis by premature closure of unilateral coronal suture, showed plagiocephalic skull. 5-year-old boy was visited for the treatment of dental caries and oral examination. Physical examination showed hypertelorism, internal strabismus, and saddle nose. Intraoral radiographs showed congenital missing of upper right and left deciduous and permanent lateral incisors. Cephalometric analysis showed shortening the posterior cranial base length, clockwise growth pattern and class III and open bite tendency. Posterior-anterior and submentovertex view showed multiple radiolucencies-digital impression on inner surface of cranial vault. Maxillo-facial and neuro-surgical treatment was required to improvement of facial esthetics and optic complications. Continuous examination was needed to the growth and development.