Roles of Macrophages and Their Interactions with Schwann Cells After Peripheral Nerve Injury.

The adult peripheral nervous system has a significant ability for regeneration compared to the central nervous system. This is related to the unique neuroimmunomodulation after peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Unlike the repair of other tissues after injury, Schwann cells (SCs) respond immediately to the trauma and send out signals to precisely recruit macrophages to the injured site.

Olfactory ensheathing cells seeded decellularized scaffold promotes axonal regeneration in spinal cord injury rats.

Spinal cord decellularized (DC) scaffolds can promote axonal regeneration and restore hindlimb motor function of spinal cord defect rats. However, scarring caused by damage to the astrocytes at the margin of injury can hinder axon regeneration. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) integrate and migrate with astrocytes at the site of spinal cord injury, providing a bridge for axons to penetrate the scars and grow into lesion cores.

Quantitative regression analysis of the cutaneous vascular territories in a rat model.

Background: The rat skin flap model has been widely used in experimental flap survival studies; however, most of these have been qualitative studies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quantitative relationship between the diameter of a cutaneous artery and the area of skin that it supplies, and also to explore the factors that influence this relationship.

Methods: Thirty rats were injected with lead oxide and gelatin and then radiographed.

Functional total heel reconstruction with a fibular osteomyocutaneous flap.

The fibular osteocutaneous flap is a versatile option for a range of reconstructive challenges. In this report, a novel osteocutaneous fibular flap in which a V-shaped strut of fibula was used to reconstruct the weight-bearing function of the calcaneus has been described. The case raised interesting questions about the vascularity of the fibular flap, which we addressed with an anatomic study of the lower leg.

A mini pig model for visualization of perforator flap by using angiography and MIMICS.

Background: Research performed using animal models has assisted in the understanding of flap anatomy and physiology. Pigs' vasculature in the skin is anatomically and physiologically similar to human, making it an ideal model for research. Until now, most vascular imaging studies are of two-dimensions.

Three-dimensional angiography of the superior gluteal artery and lumbar artery perforator flap.

Background: Three-dimensional angiography was first proposed by Cornelius and advanced by Voigt in 1975. Since then, a variety of improvements have been made. The three-dimensional evaluation of perforator flaps is no longer a clinical curiosity but an absolute necessity.