Biodegradable Polydioxanone Microspheres for Transcatheter Arterial Embolization: Proof of Principle

PurposeTo evaluate feasibility, embolization success, biodegradability, reperfusion, and biocompatibility of biodegradable microspheres (MS) made from polydioxanone (PDO) for transcatheter arterial embolization.Materials and MethodsUnilateral selective renal embolization of a segmental artery was performed in 16 New Zealand White rabbits with PDO-MS (100–150 μm and 90–315 μm). Animals were randomly assigned to different observation periods and underwent control digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and MR imaging immediately (n = 3), 1 week (n = 2), 4 weeks (n = 2), 8 weeks (n = 2), 12 weeks (n = 5), and 16 weeks (n = 2) after embolization. Kidneys were harvested for macroscopic and histologic analysis of embolization success, biodegradability, and biocompatibility.ResultsEmbolization was technically successful in 15 of 16 animals. One animal died of anesthesia-related circulatory failure. The 100–150 μm MS were injected easily through 3-F catheters; the 90–315 μm MS tended to clog with intermittent catheter obstruction. DSA and MR imaging showed successful target embolization in 13 of 15 animals. In 2 animals, the entire kidney was affected owing to catheter clogging, including a reflux of MS while flushing. Control DSA and MR imaging showed increasing vascular reperfusion with time. Macroscopic and histologic analysis revealed necrosis/infarction in areas in which embolization was achieved. MS were extensively degraded after 16 weeks, and overall inflammatory reaction was mild.ConclusionsBiodegradable PDO-MS induced effective embolization of target vessels while demonstrating good biocompatibility. MS increasingly dissolved at 16 weeks, partial reperfusion started at week 1, and complete reperfusion started at week 8, thus offering possible advantages as a temporary embolic agent.     

Microbe-metabolite-host axis,two-way action in the pathogenesis and treatment of human autoimmunity

The role of microorganism in human diseases cannot be ignored. These microorganisms have evolved together with humans and worked together with body's mechanism to maintain immune and metabolic function. Emerging evidence shows that gut microbe and their metabolites open up new doors for the study of human response mechanism. The complexity and interdependence of these microbe-metabolite-host interactions are rapidly being elucidated. There are various changes of microbial levels in models or in patients of various autoimmune diseases (AIDs). In addition, the relevant metabolites involved in mechanism mainly include short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), and polysaccharide A (PSA). Meanwhile, the interaction between microbes and host genes is also a factor that must be considered. It has been demonstrated that human microbes are involved in the development of a variety of AIDs, including organ-specific AIDs and systemic AIDs. At the same time, microbes or related products can be used to remodel body's response to alleviate or cure diseases. This review summarizes the latest research of microbes and their related metabolites in AIDs. More importantly, it highlights novel and potential therapeutics, including fecal microbial transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics. Nonetheless, exact mechanisms still remain elusive, and future research will focus on finding a specific strain that can act as a biomarker of an autoimmune disease.     

Differential localization of laminin gamma and integrin beta in primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the differential immunolocalization of laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) in primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium. METHODS: The gingival epithelium was obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats and was cultured in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium (DK-SFM). Western blotting analysis, immunofluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and immuno-gold labeling for laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) were employed. CLSM images for laminin and integrin were analyzed in horizontal (x-y axis) and in vertical (x-z axis) sections. RESULTS: Both laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) were detected by Western blot analysis in the gingival epithelium. Immunolocalization of laminin gamma(2) was distinct in the cytoplasm to form one or two irregular rings in gingival epithelial cells. By contrast, integrin beta(4) was localized diffusely in the cytoplasm. F-actin (indicating actin filaments) was clearly discernible at the periphery of the cytoplasm to form a cellular fringe. In x-z axis images obtained by CLSM, laminin gamma(2) was recognized as large foci in the most inner portion just above the basal plasma membrane. Integrin beta(4) existed in the area where F-actin was labeled surrounding the membrane. Immuno-electron microscopy showed that 10nm colloidal gold particles indicating laminin gamma(2) were mainly localized at the extracellular portion and in the peripheral cytoplasm, whereas integrin beta(4) was distributed in the cytoplasm close to the basal plasma membrane but not in extracellular regions. CONCLUSIONS: In primary cultures of the rat gingival epithelium, both laminin gamma(2) and integrin beta(4) may be produced by the epithelium, and irregular rings of laminin gamma(2) are formed in areas where gingival cells adhere to the extracellular matrix.     

Early morphogenesis of heterodont dentition in minipigs

The minipig provides an excellent experimental model for tooth morphogenesis because its diphyodont and heterodont dentition resemble that of humans. However, little information is available on the processes of tooth development in the pig. The purpose of this study was to classify the early stages of odontogenesis in minipigs from the initiation of deciduous dentition to the late bell stage when the successional dental lamina begins to develop. To analyze the initiation of teeth anlagens and the structural changes of dental lamina, a three-dimensional (3D) analysis was performed. At the earliest stage, 3D reconstruction revealed a continuous dental lamina along the length of the jaw. Later, the dental lamina exhibited remarkable differences in depth, and the interdental lamina was shorter. The dental lamina grew into the mesenchyme in the lingual direction, and its inclined growth was underlined by asymmetrical cell proliferation. After the primary tooth germ reached the late bell stage, the dental lamina began to disintegrate and fragmentize. Some cells disappeared during the process of lamina degradation, while others remained in small islands known as epithelial pearls. The minipig can therefore, inter alia, be used as a model organism to study the fate of epithelial pearls from their initiation to their contribution to pathological structures, primarily because of the clinical significance of these epithelial rests.     

Utility of radiographic crestal lamina dura for predicting periodontitis disease-activity

Abstract. The relationship between radiographic crestal lamina dura and periodontitis disease-activity was studied longitudinally in 51 treated adult patients on a systematic 3-month maintenance program. The presence or absence of crestal lamina dura at 1809 interproximal sites was scored from periapical and bitewing radiographs taken at baseline of a 36-month maintenance care period. Semi-annual clinical evaluations by 2 independent examiners were carried out on each patient, with disease recurrence defined as sites revealing a 3 mm increase in probing depth from baseline, or a 2 mm increase in probing depth together with a 2 mm loss of relative attachment level from an occlusal stent. Over the 36-month study period, 23 (45%) patients exhibited disease recurrence at 55 (3%) interproximal tooth sites scored for baseline crestal lamina dura. Absence of detectable baseline crestal lamina dura yielded high sensitivity (87–100%), but low specificity (17%) and low positive predictive values (0.8–3.2%), for localized periodontitis recurrence. In contrast, no sites exhibiting an intact baseline crestal lamina dura demonstrated periodontitis recurrence up to 24 months from baseline (100% positive predictive values). Presence of radiographic crestal lamina dura was positively associated with clinical periodontal stability (summary odds ratio for sites = 2.6, P = 0.0004), and negatively associated with periodontitis recurrence (summary odds ratio for sites = 0.4, P = 0.0004), for the 36-month study period. Evaluation of radiographic crestal lamina dura status appears valuable for assessing the risk of periodontitis disease-activity at interproximal tooth sites in patients on maintenance care programs.     

保留颈后方韧带复合体对颈椎后路单开门椎板成形术椎板开门角度的影响

目的探讨保留颈后方韧带复合体对术后椎板开门角度及神经功能改善率产生的影响。方法对28例脊髓型颈椎病患者采用后路单开门颈椎椎板成形术。根据不同治疗术式分为两组:17例采用不保留颈后方韧带复合体术式为A组,11例采用保留颈后方韧带复合体单开门术式为B组。通过术后2周及末次随访时(≥10个月)CT影像学资料测得椎板开门角;同时评定神经功能改善情况。结果术后2周椎板开门角:A组为38.0°~44.0°(40.3°±1.0°),B组为37.2°~42.5°(40.7°±0.7°),差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。末次随访时椎板开门角:A组为34.8°~45.0°(39.0°±3.1°),B组为34.0°~36.5°(35.7°±0.4°),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组术后2周及末次随访时神经功能改善率:A组为27.8%~37.0%(32.4%±4.3%)及53.3%~68.0%(59.7%±5.6%),B组为26.3%~38.2%(32.1%±5.0%)及44.4%~67.0%(58.5%±5.9%),两组比较差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。两种术式术后2周及末次随访时再关门率均为0。结论保留颈后方韧带复合体单开门术式的椎板开门角度小于不保留颈后方韧带复合体术式。两组的神经功能改善率无差异。     

The molecular phenotypes of ureteral telocytes are layer-specific

Telocytes (TC) are the delicate interstitial (stromal) cells defined by their long, thin and moniliform processes termed telopodes. Numerous studies determined that different subsets of telocytes populate almost all tissues and attempted to relate these subsets to various functions, from cell signaling to tissue repair and regeneration. Extremely few studies addressed the urinary tract though few data on the molecular pattern of the urinary TCs actually exist. We therefore hypothesized that subsets of urinary TCs co-localize within the human ureter and we aimed at performing an immunohistochemical study to evaluate the tissue-specific molecular pattern of TCs. On sample tissues of proximal ureter drawn from ten human adult patients during surgery were applied primary antibodies against CD34, CD105, von Willebrand Factor, the heavy chain of smooth muscle myosin (SMM) and c-erbB-2. The molecular pattern indicated three different subsets of ureteral TCs which are neither endothelial nor epithelial in nature: (a) type I: the CD34-/CD105+ TCs of the superficial layer of lamina propria; (b) type II: the CD34+/CD105± myoid TCs of the deep layer of lamina propria and (c) type III: the CD34+/CD105+ perivascular TCs. Although apparently different, all these subsets of TCs could belong to the stem/progenitor niche of the ureter.     

On the positive correlation between the percentage of acute fracture of medial orbital wall and the degree of injury of affected medial rectus muscle by CT image

Aim

To study the correlation between the percentage of acute fracture of unilateral medial orbital wall and the degree of injury of medial rectus muscle on the same side and to explore the possibility of evaluating the degree of injury of medial rectus muscle according to the percentage of fracture of medial orbital wall on the same side undergoing examination and diagnosis of ocular trauma by use of CT scan.

Method

To measure the span length of fracture of medial orbital wall, to calculate the fracture percentage, to measure the maximum widths of muscle belly of medial rectus muscle on affected and contralateral sides on CT images and to analyse statistically.

Results

There is a significant positive correlation between the fracture percentage of medial orbital wall and the increase in amplitude of width of medial rectus muscle on the same side.

Conclusion

The injury of medial rectus muscle was aggravated by the greater percentage of fracture of medial orbital wall, which could be used to assess the degree of injury of medial rectus muscle suffering fracture of lamina orbitalis.