OBJECTIVES: This study investigates facial directional asymmetry (DA) in early childhood. Using 3D imaging, it aims to assess the DA progression in healthy controls and children with unilateral cleft lip (CL) and unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) following early neonatal cheiloplasty and palatoplasty. MATERIALS & METHODS: The sample consisted of 105 children (groups: cleft 42, control 63) aged 0.2-2 years. DA was analysed using geometric morphometrics, including 3D landmark-based and polygonal mesh analyses. Multivariate statistics were used for assessing DA significance and age group differences. RESULTS: Controls showed no DA in landmarks and only mild protrusion of the right hemiface, increasing with age. In groups with cleft, DA was more pronounced in UCLP and especially in the middle of the face. While older UCLP children showed more asymmetrical faces, DA in children with CL became more comparable to that in controls with increasing age. Older children showed no statistical difference between control and CL in the landmark and polygonal maps parts. CONCLUSIONS: After surgical treatment, a DA pattern was identified, and it was specific for both cleft types and age categories. For both diagnoses, the most notable feature is the protrusion at the cleft site, likely related to post-surgical scarring, but in the UCLP group, it is also the hypoplastic nasal wing and a growth insufficiency of the cheek on the cleft side. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 3D methodologies provide insight into asymmetry progression and surgical outcomes, supporting improved cleft management for enhanced aesthetic and functional results.

• Klíčová slova
• 3D landmarks-based methods, Directional asymmetry, Facial development with cleft, Geometric morphometrics, Infancy & toddlerhood, Polygonal mesh analyses,
• MeSH
• asymetrie obličeje * diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• rozštěp patra * chirurgie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• rozštěp rtu * chirurgie   diagnostické zobrazování   MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné * MeSH
• Check Tag
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

OBJECTIVES: The study followed the modelling of postnatal growth of a healthy palate of the Central European (Czech) population sample based on transverse data on sex and age from 6 to 19 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digitised 3D models of 212 healthy palatal surfaces were evaluated using 3D geometric morphometrics and superimpositions. The individuals were grouped based on age (preschool, younger and older school age, younger and older adolescents, young adults) and sex (♂ n = 101, ♀ n = 111). RESULTS: Female palatal development was non-linear and was interrupted between the 10-12 years and then proceeded intensively until the age of 15 when it ceased. In contrast, male-modelled growth was consistent throughout the follow-up and continued linearly until at least 19 years of age. The palate did not widen further with increasing age, and primarily palatal vaulting and heightening were found. The characteristics and distribution of areas with extensive modelled growth changes were comparable in females and males, as confirmed by the location of principal components (PC1 and PC2) within modal space and growth trajectories. The extent of sexual dimorphism increased from 15 years of age due to pubertal spurt combined with earlier completion of palatal development in females. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed modelled healthy palatal development from 6 years of age to early adulthood, which might be utilised as reference standards for the Central European population sample. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The comparison of normal reference subjects with patients with cranio-maxillo-facial dysmorphologies represents the first step in diagnosing and establishing effective therapy.

• Klíčová slova
• Central European population, Geometric morphometrics, Healthy palatal development, Modelled palatal growth, Palatal variability, Sexual dimorphism,
• MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• obličej * MeSH
• patro * MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The nonsyndromic cleft is one of the most frequent congenital defects in humans. Clinical data demonstrated improved and almost scarless neonatal healing of reparative surgery. Based on our previous results on crosstalk between neonatal fibroblasts and adult keratinocytes, the present study focused on characterization of fibroblasts prepared from cleft lip tissue samples of neonates and older children, and compared them with samples isolated from normal adult skin (face and breast) and scars. Although subtle variances in expression profiles of children and neonates were observed, the two groups differed significantly from adult cells. Compared with adult cells, differences were observed in nestin and smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression at the protein and transcript level. Furthermore, fibroblast to myofibroblast differentiation drives effective wound healing and is largely regulated by the cytokine, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Dysregulation of the TGF-β signalling pathway, including low expression of the TGF-β receptor II, may contribute to reducing scarring in neonates. Fibroblasts of facial origin also exhibited age independent differences from the cells prepared from the breast, reflecting the origin of the facial cells from neural crest-based ectomesenchyme.

• MeSH
• aktiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• biologické modely MeSH
• buněčná diferenciace MeSH
• cytokiny genetika   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fibroblasty cytologie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• kůže cytologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• nestin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• rozštěp rtu patologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• zákroky plastické chirurgie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dítě MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• kojenec MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mladiství MeSH
• mladý dospělý MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• novorozenec MeSH
• předškolní dítě MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aktiny MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• cytokiny MeSH
• nestin MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta MeSH