Laura Barritt - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Laura Barritt

The alveolar processes of the mandible and maxilla develop in response to tooth eruption and serv... more The alveolar processes of the mandible and maxilla develop in response to tooth eruption and serve as the principal mechanism of tooth support. When teeth are lost or extracted, the result is resorption of the alveolar bone. The rate of resorption is variable between individuals but will progress over time. During dissection, varying examples of alveolar resorption are observed in edentulous donors. A 76-year-old female donor presented an extreme case of alveolar bone resorption during dissection in our Head and Neck Anatomy course. The body of the mandible in this case was extremely short, with a vertical height in the molar region of 5mm and 8mm in the canine area. The dissection revealed the superior surface of the bone to have an open groove containing the inferior alveolar nerve and vessels. The maxilla also demonstrated severe resorption. This loss of bone has significant implications for restoration of function by dental implants or removable prosthesis. It is not unusual to find resorption that has significantly reduced the height of the mandibular body to the extent that the mental foramen opens superiorly on the bone. However, an open mandibular canal with the neurovascular bundle exposed throughout the dental arch is much more unusual. Individuals with this degree of resorption present great challenges in treatment. There is no means to provide retention for a mandibular removable prosthesis. Pressure of prosthesis on the inferior alveolar and mental nerves would potentially produce pain and paresthesia and/or numbness. Placement of dental implants is complicated at best. To provide minimal requirements for implant placement would require vertical augmentation of the mandible along with transposition/reposition of the inferior alveolar nerve

The FASEB Journal, 2006

In recent years, the use of web-based education as an instructional method has increased at unive... more In recent years, the use of web-based education as an instructional method has increased at universities. Web-based technology is considered a useful tool for teaching outside the classroom and off...

Anatomical Sciences Education, 2017

In dental education, the anatomical sciences, which include gross anatomy, histology, embryology,... more In dental education, the anatomical sciences, which include gross anatomy, histology, embryology, and neuroanatomy, encompass an important component of the basic science curriculum. At Creighton University School of Dentistry, strength in anatomic science education has been coupled with a solid applicant pool to develop a novel Master of Science in Oral Biology, Anatomic Sciences track degree program. The program provides a heavy emphasis on developing teaching skills in predoctoral students as well as exposure to research processes to encourage the cohort to pursuing a career in academic dentistry. The individuals considered for this program are applicants for admission to the School of Dentistry that have not been accepted into the entering dental class for that year. The students undertake a two year curriculum, studying anatomic sciences with a special emphasis on teaching. The students also must complete a research project that requires a thesis. The students in the program are guaranteed acceptance to dental school upon successful completion of the program. After six years, the first ten students have received their Master of Science degrees and continued in dental school. The program is favorably viewed by the faculty and participating students. It is also considered successful by metrics. Nine of the ten graduates have said they would like to participate in academic dentistry in some capacity during their careers. Anat Sci Educ 00: 000-000.

xPharm: The Comprehensive Pharmacology Reference, 2007

Reference Module in Biomedical Sciences, 2014

Otitis related disorders constitute a broad class of inflammatory conditions that may involve the... more Otitis related disorders constitute a broad class of inflammatory conditions that may involve the outer, middle, or inner ear. Each area is susceptible to pathogenic contamination and may produce a range of complex problems. Otic inflammatory disorders, such as otitis externa, acute otitis media, chronic suppurative otitis media, labyrinthitis, and vestibular neuritis, exhibit a complex pattern of disease pathogenesis, often with distinct clinical manifestations. The close anatomical proximity of the three otic regions to each other, the nasopharynx, and the brain, contributes to the spread of infection and increases the risk of associated complications. This article summarizes the common inflammatory conditions associated with the outer, middle, and inner ear, and reviews recent information regarding the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical presentation, treatment, and associated complications resulting from the spread of infection.

Clinical Anatomy, 2005

The inferior alveolar artery is the major blood supply to the mandible and mandibular teeth. This... more The inferior alveolar artery is the major blood supply to the mandible and mandibular teeth. This artery has a very consistent path, originating from the maxillary artery and passing inferiorly until it enters the mandibular foramen, accompanied by the inferior alveolar nerve and vein. During routine dissection of a 90-year-old female cadaver, a unique origin of the inferior alveolar artery was observed on the left side. The artery branched off the external carotid artery, just superior to the stylohyoid and posterior belly of the digastric muscle in the posterior region of the submandibular triangle. From its starting point the artery passed superiorly in the stylomandibular fascia and made a curving arch into the pterygomandibular space to enter the mandibular foramen with the inferior alveolar nerve. The position and branching pattern of the maxillary artery were otherwise typical. The inferior alveolar artery on the right side displayed a normal branching pattern within the infratemporal fossa. Results of surgical procedures in this area, such as sliding osteotomy of the mandible, could be impacted by this anomaly.

Clinical Advances in Periodontics, 2016

INTRODUCTION Biologic materials, such as enamel matrix derivative (EMD), are often used to improv... more INTRODUCTION Biologic materials, such as enamel matrix derivative (EMD), are often used to improve the regenerative outcome of periodontal treatment. On occasion, unintended effects of such treatment may occur. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first case report to document the development and treatment of a bony exostosis subsequent to a subepithelial connective tissue (CT) graft with the addition of EMD. CASE PRESENTATION A healthy female patient received a CT graft and the application of EMD for the treatment of gingival recession at a maxillary premolar. In the following year, a bony exostosis developed and was excised using a piezoelectric surgical device and examined histologically. At the 1-year follow-up, the lesion had not recurred. CONCLUSION The use of EMD in conjunction with a CT graft represents a new potential contributing factor in the etiology of bony exostoses occurring after gingival augmentation procedures that warrants additional investigation.

Molecular Brain Research

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) are composed of a diverse set of ... more Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G-proteins) are composed of a diverse set of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, which couple cell surface receptors to intracellular effectors, such as adenylyl cyclase, phospholipase Cbeta, and ion channels. Both the Galpha and the Gbetagamma dimers mediate effector activity and are believed to contribute to the complexity of the signaling pathway. Molecular and immunocytochemical techniques were employed to determine diversity of Gbeta and Ggamma subunit expression in the murine inner ear. PCR-based assessment of lambdaZAP unidirectional cDNA libraries, representing the cochlea and inner ear hair cells, indicated all five known Gbeta subunits were present in the cochlea, while only a subset of Ggamma isoforms were found. New or novel G-protein beta and gamma subunits were not detected. cDNAs representing Gbeta1-4 and Ggamma2, Ggamma3, Ggamma5, Ggamma8olf subunit transcripts were isolated. In addition, cDNAs corresponding to the Gbeta5 and Ggamma11 isoforms exhibited restricted expression to inner and outer hair cells, respectively. Antisera specific for Gbeta3, Gbeta4, Ggamma3, Ggamma5 and Ggamma11 stained spiral ganglion and neurosensory hair cells. A unique finding was the variable topological distribution of Ggamma3 in the spiral ganglion cells along the cochlear axis. Collectively, our results demonstrate a complementary as well as differential distribution pattern for Gbeta and Ggamma isoforms exists in the inner ear. The co-localization of various G-protein isoforms within the same cell type suggests specific combinatorial Gbeta and Ggamma subunit associations may preferentially be formed. Thus, the detection of multiple subunits presumably reflects the extent of the functional diversity of inner ear signaling pathways and should provide specificity of G-protein mediated pathways.

Objectives: Palatal development is a complex process involving several layers of molecular contro... more Objectives: Palatal development is a complex process involving several layers of molecular control. Recent studies have shown that small non-coding RNAs, including small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and highly conserved microRNAs (miRNAs), are actively involved in the regulation of gene expression at multiple levels. Biogenesis of functional siRNAs and miRNAs from double-stranded RNA precursors requires the action of Dicer, an RNase III family member. Mutations in the Dicer allele have been shown to cause several developmental defects in plants and animals and more recently has been linked to a number of different types of human diseases. In the mouse, mutation of Dicer leads to early embryonic lethality. In order to examine the role of Dicer and miRNAs in palatogenesis and orofacial development, a tissue-specific conditional Dicer knockout (Dicer KO) mouse was generated. Methods: Bone and cartilage staining, as well as tissue analysis of mutant and wild type (WT) litermates have been ...

Objective: Recent studies in mice carrying conditional and tissue-specific deletions of Dicer, an... more Objective: Recent studies in mice carrying conditional and tissue-specific deletions of Dicer, an RNAse III family member, have highlighted its importance in regulating the expression of signaling molecules involved in cell survival, differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis. Although these studies demonstrate a critical role for Dicer and its dependent microRNAs (miRNAs) in the development of various tissues, information regarding Dicer and miRNA expression and function during mammalian palatogenesis and orofacial development is limited. In this study the disruption of small RNA biogenesis early in craniofacial development was mediated by Pax2-Cre-driven conditional knockout (CKO) of Dicer. Method: Bone and cartilage staining, as well as cell (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, apoptosis, and proliferation) and molecular (RT-QPCR) assays of wild type (WT) and mutant mice dissected tissues have been performed to characterize and mechanistically analyze the orofacia...

Indian Journal of Human Genetics, 2012

Orofacial clefts are common worldwide and result from insufficient growth and/or fusion during th... more Orofacial clefts are common worldwide and result from insufficient growth and/or fusion during the genesis of the derivatives of the first pharyngeal arch and the frontonasal prominence. Recent studies in mice carrying conditional and tissue-specific deletions of the human ortholog Dicer1, an RNAse III family member, have highlighted its importance in cell survival, differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis. Nevertheless, information regarding Dicer1 and its dependent microRNAs (miRNAs) in mammalian palatogenesis and orofacial development is limited. To describe the craniofacial phenotype, gain insight into potential mechanisms underlying the orofacial defects in the Pax2-Cre/Dicer1 CKO mouse, and shed light on the role of Dicer1 in mammalian palatogenesis. Histological and molecular assays of wild type (WT) and Pax2-Cre/Dicer1(loxP/loxP) (Dicer1 CKO) mice dissected tissues have been performed to characterize and analyze the orofacial dysmorphism in Pax2-Cre/Dicer1(loxP/loxP) mouse. Dicer1 CKO mice exhibit late embryonic lethality and severe craniofacial dysmorphism, including a secondary palatal cleft. Further analysis suggest that Dicer1 deletion neither impacts primary palatal development nor the initial stages of secondary palatal formation. Instead, Dicer1 is implicated in growth, differentiation, mineralization, and survival of cells in the lateral palatal shelves. Histological and molecular analysis demonstrates that secondary palatal development becomes morphologically arrested prior to mineralization around E13.5 with a significant increase in the expression levels of apoptotic markers (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01). Pax2-Cre-mediated Dicer1 deletion disrupts lateral palatal outgrowth and bone mineralization during palatal shelf development, therefore providing a mammalian model for investigating the role of miRNA-mediated signaling pathways during palatogenesis.