Objective: To analyze and identify changes in the maxillary dental arch before and after cheiloplasty in a group of unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) infants. Design: This is a cohort study. Material and Method: Study models from 16 infants with nonsyndromic UCLP, who were treated at Khon Kaen University, were taken before (T1) and after cheiloplasty (T2). The dental models underwent a process of scanning through a 3D scanner, from which 9 linear and 2 angular landmarks were evaluated. Paired t test was used to compare the measurement statistically between T1 and T2. Results: Alveolar cleft gap (G-L), anterior basal angle (∠GC-CC′), and anterior arch curvature angle on greater segment (∠GIC) were significantly decreased ( P < .05). Contrarily, anterior ridge length of greater segment (C-I), anterior ridge length of lesser segment (L-C′), and posterior arch width (T-T′) were significantly increased ( P < .05) after cheiloplasty. While, anterior portion of greater segment (I-G), anterior arch width (C-C′), anterior arch depth (I⊥CC′), arch length (G⊥TT′), and arch circumference (T-C-I-G-L-C′-T′) showed no significant difference. The measurements were tested using the Intraclass correlation coefficient. The coefficients indicated high reliability. Conclusion: Cleft gap significantly decreased after lip repair, and the anterior part of maxillary dental arch was also bent palatally after cheiloplasty without any other intervention except cheiloplasty. More studies are needed to assess the amount of lip pressure. If any convincing force is presented, an appliance to prevent undesirable pressure is indicated.

Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a common pruritic skin condition, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is a major pruritogenic cytokine that plays a role in inducing pruritus in various skin diseases. Aim. To 1) compare serum IL-31 levels among CSU patients, psoriasis patients with pruritic symptoms, and healthy subjects, 2) examine the correlations between serum IL-31 levels and disease severity, and 3) compare IL-31 levels in patients with and without CSU-associated auto-antibodies. Methods Patients with CSU, psoriasis with pruritic symptoms, and healthy volunteers were recruited in the study. Serum IL-31 levels were measured with commercial kits. Baseline characteristics, urticaria activity score, psoriasis area severity index, pruritic intensity score, and related laboratory results were collected. Results Sixty-five CSU patients, 30 psoriasis patients who had pruritus, and 31 healthy subjects participated in our study. The CSU patients had significantly higher mean serum IL-31 levels than the psoriasis patients (252.4 ± 115.5 vs 121.4 ± 16.6 pg/mL, P < 0.001). Both CSU and psoriasis patients also had significantly higher mean serum IL-31 when compared with the healthy subjects. Serum IL-31 levels of CSU and psoriasis patients did not differ significantly according to disease or itching severity. Thyroid antibodies and antinuclear antibodies were positive in 22 (33.8%) and 28 (43.1%) CSU patients, respectively. The CSU patients with ANA titers ≥1:160 had significantly higher mean serum IL-31 levels than in those who were negative for ANA and those with titers of 1:80 ( P < 0.003 and P < 0.008, respectively). Conclusion Higher serum IL-31 levels were found in patients with CSU and psoriasis with pruritic symptoms. This suggests that IL-31 has a possible role in the pathogenesis of CSU and psoriasis with pruritic symptoms.

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