Human placental mesenchymal stem cells improve stroke outcomes via extracellular vesicles-mediated preservation of cerebral blood flow.

Background: Besides long-term trans-differentiation into neural cells, benefits of stem cell therapy (SCT) in ischemic stroke may include secretion of protective factors, which partly reflects extracellular vesicle (EVs) released by stem cell. However, the mechanism(s) by which stem cells/EVs limit stroke injury have yet to be fully defined.

Methods: We evaluated the protection effect of human placenta mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSC) as a potential form of SCT in experimental ischemic stroke 'transient middle cerebral artery occusion (MCAO)/reperfusion' mice model.

Obstructive sleep apnea intensifies stroke severity following middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder caused by transient obstruction of the upper airway and results in intermittent hypoxia, sleep fragmentation, sympathetic nervous system activation, and arousal which can have an adverse effect on cardiovascular disease. It is theorized that OSA might intensify stroke injury. Our goal here was to develop a new model of experimental OSA and test its ability to aggravate behavioral and morphological outcomes following transient brain ischemia/reperfusion.

Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Introduced by Biliary Stents or Local Immersion in Porcine Bile Duct Anastomoses.

Biliary complications (strictures and leaks) represent major limitations in living donor liver transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising modality to prevent biliary complications because of immunosuppressive and angiogenic properties. Our goal was to evaluate the safety of adipose-derived MSC delivery to biliary anastomoses in a porcine model.

Brain Endothelial Cells Release Apical and Basolateral Microparticles in Response to Inflammatory Cytokine Stimulation: Relevance to Neuroinflammatory Stress?

Microparticles (MP) are regarded both as biomarkers and mediators of many forms of pathology, including neurovascular inflammation. Here, we characterized vectorial release of apical and basolateral MPs (AMPs and BMPs) from control and TNF-α/IFN-γ treated human brain endothelial monolayers, studied molecular composition of AMPs and BMPs and characterized molecular pathways regulating AMP and BMP release. The effects of AMPs and BMPs on blood-brain barrier properties and human brain microvascular smooth muscle tonic contractility were also evaluated.

Antibiotics in 3D-printed implants, instruments and materials: benefits, challenges and future directions.

3D printing is an additive manufacturing technology, which permits innovative approaches for incorporating antibiotics into 3D printed constructs. Antibiotic-incorporating applications in medicine have included medical implants, prostheses, along with procedural and surgical instruments. 3D-printed antibiotic-impregnated devices offer the advantages of increased surface area for drug distribution, sequential layers of antibiotics produced through layer-by-layer fabrication, and the ability to rapidly fabricate constructs based on patient-specific anatomies.

Three-Dimensional Printing Antimicrobial and Radiopaque Constructs.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing holds tremendous potential as a tool for patient-specific devices. This proof-of- concept study demonstrated the feasibility, antimicrobial properties, and computed tomography(CT) imaging characteristics of iodine/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) 3D meshes and stents. Under scanning electron microscopy, cross-linked PVA displays smoother and more compacted filament arrangements.

3D Printing for Bio-Synthetic Biliary Stents.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an additive manufacturing method that holds great potential in a variety of future patient-specific medical technologies. This project validated a novel crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol (XL-PVA) 3D printed stent infused with collagen, human placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs), and cholangiocytes. The biofabrication method in the present study examined 3D printing and collagen injection molding for rapid prototyping of customized living biliary stents with clinical applications in the setting of malignant and benign bile duct obstructions.

3D printing of surgical hernia meshes impregnated with contrast agents: in vitro proof of concept with imaging characteristics on computed tomography.

Background: Selected medical implants and other 3D printed constructs could potentially benefit from the ability to incorporate contrast agents into their structure. The purpose of the present study is to create 3D printed surgical meshes impregnated with iodinated, gadolinium, and barium contrast agents and characterize their computed tomography (CT) imaging characteristics. Commercial fused deposition layering 3D printing was used to construct surgical meshes impregnated with imaging contrast agents in an in vitro model.

High-throughput scaffold-free microtissues through 3D printing.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures and 3D bioprinting have recently gained attention based on their multiple advantages over two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which have less translational potential to recapitulate human physiology. 3D scaffold supports, cell aggregate systems and hydrogels have been shown to accurately mimic native tissues and support more relevant cell-cell interactions for studying effects of drugs and bioactive agents on cells in 3D. The development of cost-effective, high-throughput and scaffold-free microtissue assays remains challenging.

Three-Dimensional Printing of Cell Exclusion Spacers (CES) for Use in Motility Assays.

Purpose: Cell migration/invasion assays are widely used in commercial drug discovery screening. 3D printing enables the creation of diverse geometric restrictive barrier designs for use in cell motility studies, permitting on-demand assays. Here, the utility of 3D printed cell exclusion spacers (CES) was validated as a cell motility assay.

Personalized Bioactive Nasal Supports for Postoperative Cleft Rhinoplasty.

Purpose: After cleft lip and palate surgical procedures, patients often need nostril supports to help the reconstructed nostrils retain their shape during healing. Many postoperative nasal stents use a one-size-fits-all approach, in which a standard rubber tube retainer is trimmed and used to support the healing nares. The purpose of this study was to examine photogrammetry and 3-dimensional (3D) printing as a fabrication tool for postoperative patient-specific nasal supports that can be loaded with bioactive agents for localized delivery.