Low-Dose Gamma Radiation Sterilization for Decellularized Tracheal Grafts.

One of the main key aspects in ensuring that a transplant evolves correctly is the sterility of the medium. Decellularized tracheal transplantation involves implanting an organ that was originally in contact with the environment, thus not being sterile from the outset. While the decellularization protocol (through detergent exposition [2% sodium dodecyl sulfate], continuous stirring, and osmotic shocks) is conducted in line with aseptic measures, it does not provide sterilization.

Novel Tissue-Engineered Multimodular Hyaluronic Acid-Polylactic Acid Conduits for the Regeneration of Sciatic Nerve Defect.

The gold standard for the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries, the autograft, presents several drawbacks, and engineered constructs are currently suitable only for short gaps or small diameter nerves. Here, we study a novel tissue-engineered multimodular nerve guidance conduit for the treatment of large nerve damages based in a polylactic acid (PLA) microfibrillar structure inserted inside several co-linear hyaluronic acid (HA) conduits. The highly aligned PLA microfibers provide a topographical cue that guides axonal growth, and the HA conduits play the role of an epineurium and retain the pre-seeded auxiliary cells.

A Standardised Approach to the Biomechanical Evaluation of Tracheal Grafts.

The ideal tracheal substitute must have biomechanical properties comparable to the native trachea, but currently there is no standardised approach to evaluating these properties. Here we propose a novel method for evaluating and comparing the properties of tracheal substitutes, thus systematising both measurement and data curation. This system was tested by comparing native rabbit tracheas to frozen and decellularised specimens and determining the histological characteristics of those specimens.

High-Speed Video Microscopy for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Diagnosis: A Study of Ciliary Motility Variations with Time and Temperature.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disease resulting from a defect in ciliary function that generates, among other issues, chronic upper and lower respiratory tract infections. European guidelines recommend studying ciliary function (pattern (CBP) and frequency (CBF)), together with characteristic clinical symptoms, as one of the definitive tests. However, there is no "gold standard".

Decellularized tracheal prelamination implant: A proposed bilateral double organ technique.

In tracheal replacement transplantation, prelamination is a critical stage. Nowadays, the most widely used prelamination technique is the prethoracic fascia flap with lateral thoracic artery. We propose a flap based on the internal thoracic artery, which allows a relatively non-aggressive double organ implant, and we have tested its efficacy in decellularized tracheas.

Understanding Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Experience From a Mediterranean Diagnostic Reference Centre.

Background: Due to the lack of a gold standard diagnostic test, reference centres with experienced personnel and costly procedures are needed for primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) diagnostics. Diagnostic flowcharts always start with clinical symptoms. Therefore, the aim of this work is to define differential clinical criteria so that only patients clinically compatible with PCD are referred to reference centres.

Treatment with albumin-hydroxyoleic acid complex restores sensorimotor function in rats with spinal cord injury: Efficacy and gene expression regulation.

Sensorimotor dysfunction following incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) is often characterized by paralysis, spasticity and pain. Previously, we showed that intrathecal (i.t.

Human platelet-rich plasma improves the nesting and differentiation of human chondrocytes cultured in stabilized porous chitosan scaffolds.

The clinical management of large-size cartilage lesions is difficult due to the limited regenerative ability of the cartilage. Different biomaterials have been used to develop tissue engineering substitutes for cartilage repair, including chitosan alone or in combination with growth factors to improve its chondrogenic properties. The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate the benefits of combining activated platelet-rich plasma with a stabilized porous chitosan scaffold for cartilage regeneration.

Role of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension: possible relevance of miR-23a.

Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPAH) is a rare disease characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to heart failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that control the expression of genes, including some involved in the progression of IPAH, as studied in animals and lung tissue. These molecules circulate freely in the blood and their expression is associated with the progression of different vascular pathologies.

Pseudogranulomatous Spitz nevus: a variant of Spitz nevus with heavy inflammatory infiltrate mimicking a granulomatous dermatitis.

Spitz nevus is a benign melanocytic proliferation that shows relatively characteristic clinicopathologic features. Despite this, Spitz nevus is clinically confused with many other lesions, and histopathologically it is sometimes difficult to distinguish it from melanoma. However, Spitz nevus rarely causes differential diagnostic problems with granulomatous dermatitis.

Epidermal growth factor receptor copy number in potentially malignant oral disorders and oral squamous cell carcinoma: a short communication and preliminary study.

Introduction: This preliminary study compared the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) copy number in patients with potentially malignant oral disorders (PMODs) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Material And Methods: Group 1 comprised 20 patients with oral leukoplakia and group 2 comprised 19 cases of OSCC. We estimated the EGFR copy number in both groups using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assays.

[Primary ciliary dyskinesia. Ciliopathies].

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a genetically inherited syndrome characterized by cilia immotility or dysmotility. Deficiency in mucociliary clearance produces chronic respiratory infections since birth, male sterility by spermatozoid immotility and situs inversus in 40-50% of patients (Kartagener's syndrome). Diagnosis is made by analyzing cilia motility with high-speed digital video and ciliar ultrastructure.

Gene expression profiling of facilitated L-LTP in VP16-CREB mice reveals that BDNF is critical for the maintenance of LTP and its synaptic capture.

Expression of VP16-CREB, a constitutively active form of CREB, in hippocampal neurons of the CA1 region lowers the threshold for eliciting the late, persistent phase of long-term potentiation (L-LTP) in the Schaffer collateral pathway. This VP16-CREB-mediated L-LTP differs from the conventional late phase of LTP in not being dependent on new transcription. This finding suggests that in the transgenic mice the mRNA transcript(s) encoding the protein(s) necessary for this form of L-LTP might already be present in CA1 neurons in the basal condition.

Thalassospira lucentensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new marine member of the alpha-Proteobacteria.

A novel bacterium from the Mediterranean Sea was isolated under oligotrophic conditions at in situ temperature after prolonged continuous culture. The isolates were initially characterized by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Similarity searches of one of the isolates, QMT2T, indicated high sequence identity to the well-characterized Rhodospirillum rubrum, [Aquaspirillum] itersonii and [Oceanospirillum] pusillum micro-organisms, which are representatives of the alpha-subclass of the Proteobacteria.