Real-Time Subcutaneous Arterial Navigation for Thinning of an Anterolateral Thigh Flap Using Photoacoustic Imaging and Projection Mapping: A Case Report.

Thinning of anterolateral thigh flap is challenging. Anatomical studies have shown variations in arterial branching patterns in the subcutaneous layer, which were suspected to be the reason for the high frequency of thinning failures. We attempted to visualize subcutaneous arterial courses preoperatively and perform thinning of perforator flaps using this information appropriately.

Noninvasive visualization of the midline-crossing arterial variation in the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap using photoacoustic tomography for application in patients with abdominal scars.

Background: The importance of the subcutaneous arterial network crossing the midline in transverse abdominal flaps has been reported. Photoacoustic tomography can be used to noninvasively visualize subcutaneous vascular networks. We applied this novel technology preoperatively in patients undergoing breast reconstruction to detect individual variations in the midline-crossing arteries.

PreFlap: From Photoacoustic Tomography Images to Vascular Mapping Sheets for Improved Preoperative Flap Evaluation.

Objective: Advancements in technology have improved image acquisition and processing in the field of medical imaging, giving medical doctors the tools to implement effective medical care. In plastic surgery, despite advances in anatomical knowledge and technology, problems in preoperative planning for flap surgery remain.

Methods: In this study, we propose a new protocol to analyze three-dimensional (3D) Photoacoustic tomography images and generate two-dimensional (2D) mapping sheets that can help surgeons identify perforators and the perfusion territory during preoperative planning.

Preoperative visualization of midline-crossing subcutaneous arteries in transverse abdominal flaps using photoacoustic tomography.

Background: Photoacoustic tomography is a noninvasive vascular imaging modality that uses near-infrared pulsed laser light and ultrasound to visualize vessels. We previously demonstrated the utility of photoacoustic tomography for anterolateral thigh flap surgery involving body-attachable vascular mapping sheets. However, it was not possible to obtain clear separate images of arteries and veins.

Three-dimensional analysis of load-dependent changes in the orientation of dermal collagen fibers in human skin: A pilot study.

The availability of quantitative structural data on the orientation of collagen fibers is of crucial importance for understanding the behavior of connective tissues. These fibers can be visualized using a variety of imaging techniques, including second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. However, characterization of the collagen network requires the accurate extraction of parameters from imaging data.

Hydrostatic pressure can induce apoptosis of the skin.

We previously showed that high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment at 200 MPa for 10 min induced complete cell death in skin and skin tumors via necrosis. We used this technique to treat a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and reused the inactivated nevus tissue as a dermis autograft. However, skin inactivated by HHP promoted inflammation in a preclinical study using a porcine model.

A comparison of the wound healing process after the application of three dermal substitutes with or without basic fibroblast growth factor impregnation in diabetic mice.

Pelnac Gplus, Integra, and Terudermis are approved artificial dermis products in Japan. Previously, we proved that Pelnac Gplus was able to sustain basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and accelerated wound healing by releasing impregnated bFGF. In this study, we impregnated Pelnac Gplus, Integra, and Terudermis with bFGF and compared the binding activity and wound-healing process.

Anti-platelet adhesion and in situ capture of circulating endothelial progenitor cells on ePTFE surface modified with poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) and hemocompatible peptide 1 (HCP-1).

We recently reported in vitro suppression of platelet adhesion on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) by surface grafting of poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC). However, this may be inadequate for long-term hemocompatibility of blood-contacting biomaterials, and it has led us to develop a strategy of circulating mononuclear cell-capture. ePTFE was treated with argon (Ar) plasma, and grafted with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) and methacrylic acid (MAA), by glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)-anchored graft polymerization.

The Implication of Spatial Statistics in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Response to Nanotubular Architectures.

Introduction: In recent years there has been ample interest in nanoscale modifications of synthetic biomaterials to understand fundamental aspects of cell-surface interactions towards improved biological outcomes. In this study, we aimed at closing in on the effects of nanotubular TiO surfaces with variable nanotopography on the response on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Although the influence of TiO nanotubes on the cellular response, and in particular on hMSC activity, has already been addressed in the past, previous studies overlooked critical morphological, structural and physical aspects that go beyond the simple nanotube diameter, such as spatial statistics.

High Hydrostatic Pressure Therapy Annihilates Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Murine Model.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is one of the most common skin cancers. In the treatment of cSCC, it is necessary to remove it completely, and reconstructive surgery, such as a skin graft or a local or free flap, will be required, depending on the size, with donor-site morbidity posing a burden to the patient. The high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) technique has been developed as a physical method of decellularizing various tissues.

Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in small-diameter artificial blood vessel.

In the tissue engineering research field, the presence of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the peripheral blood of adults represents a promising cell source to grow autologous endothelium on blood-contacting devices. Materials functionalized with EPC-specific molecules are an intriguing strategy to induce the homing and differentiation of the trapped EPCs into endothelial cells to generate a non-thrombogenic surface. Although the EPCs have been identified in adult peripheral blood about 30 years ago, in the subsequent literatures, the term "EPCs" has encompassed different cell populations with a mixed ability to contribute to the formation of blood vessels.

Collagen/Gelatin Sponges (CGSs) Provide Both Protection and Release of bFGF: An Study.

It has been reported that collagen/gelatin sponges (CGSs) are able to sustain the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) for approximately 10 days via the formation of ion complexes between bFGF and gelatin. CGSs impregnated with bFGF have been proven to promote dermis-like tissue formation in various studies and clinical trials. However, the bioactivities of bFGF released from CGSs have not been explored .

Evolution of Phage Display Approaches to Select Highly Specific Hemocompatible Peptides.

The ideal blood-contacting surface would support endothelial cell lining and suppress platelet adhesion, but, in synthetic biomaterials, these issues often conflict with each other. The reconciliation of this dichotomy may arise by modifying the biomaterial surfaces with "smart" peptides. Phage display is a powerful method for discovering unique peptides capable of binding to target molecules, but the selection of peptides binding to intact cells is an intricate process.

The sustained release of basic fibroblast growth factor accelerates angiogenesis and the engraftment of the inactivated dermis by high hydrostatic pressure.

We developed a novel skin regeneration therapy combining nevus tissue inactivated by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) in the reconstruction of the dermis with a cultured epidermal autograft (CEA). The issue with this treatment is the unstable survival of CEA on the inactivated dermis. In this study, we applied collagen/gelatin sponge (CGS), which can sustain the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), to the inactivated skin in order to accelerate angiogenesis.

A surface graft polymerization process on chemically stable medical ePTFE for suppressing platelet adhesion and activation.

An effective surface grafting method for chemically inert and elaborately porous medical expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) was developed. Although surface graft polymerization onto basic polymeric biomaterials has been widely studied, successful modification of the ePTFE surface has been lacking due to its high chemical resistance. Herein, we succeeded in surface graft polymerization onto ePTFE through glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) as a bridge linkage following argon (Ar) plasma treatment.

Design of in situ porcine closed-circuit system for assessing blood-contacting biomaterials.

The overall pre-clinical process of determining the blood compatibility of any medical device involves several stages. Although the primary purpose is to protect the patients, laboratory testing has been over-utilized for many years with a huge number of unnecessary animal tests being done routinely. Recently, the elimination of needless testing has become important in controlling the cost of healthcare and in addressing many issues related to the ethics of animal research.

Novel peptides for small-caliber graft functionalization selected by a phage display of endothelial-positive/platelet-negative combined selection.

Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in the world. While transplantation of autologous vessels remains a viable option, often patients may have a limited availability of suitable veins/arteries. Nowadays, despite the efforts of research made towards developing synthetic vessels, the small-diameter conduits have not fully met clinical needs.

Reliable assessment and quantification of the fluorescence-labeled antisense oligonucleotides in vivo.

The availability of fluorescent dyes and the advances in the optical systems for in vivo imaging have stimulated an increasing interest in developing new methodologies to study and quantify the biodistribution of labeled agents. However, despite these great achievements, we are facing significant challenges in determining if the observed fluorescence does correspond to the quantity of the dye in the tissues. In fact, although the far-red and near-infrared lights can propagate through several centimetres of tissue, they diffuse within a few millimetres as consequence of the elastic scattering of photons.

Quick nuclear transportation of siRNA and in vivo hepatic ApoB gene silencing with galactose-bearing polymeric carrier.

Since previous studies have linked the genetic mutations of Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) to the low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, it can be believed that the knockdown of ApoB by siRNA silencing is a useful method to reduce the cardiovascular disease. However, the spontaneous uptake of siRNA is hindered, and thus vectors are necessary to aid its transfer into the cells. Among the synthetic non-viral vectors, cationic polymers are extensively investigated as possible candidates for efficient and specific gene delivery, because they can be easily modified to get different set of properties.

Cilomilast enhances osteoblast differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and bone formation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2.

A rapid and efficient method to stimulate bone regeneration would be useful in orthopaedic stem cell therapies. Rolipram is an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4), which mediates cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) degradation. Systemic injection of rolipram enhances osteogenesis induced by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) in mice.

Quantitative assessments of residual stress fields at the surface of alumina hip joints.

In-depth and in-plane response functions of photo- and electro-stimulated probes have been modeled and quantitatively evaluated in order to assess their suitability to detect the highly graded residual stress fields generated at the surface of alumina hip joints. Optical calibrations revealed large differences in probe size, which strongly affected the detected magnitude of residual stress. A comparison between the responses of Raman and fluorescence probes in polycrystalline alumina showed that the depth of those probes spread to an extent in the order of the tens of microns even with using a confocal probe configuration.

Stress perturbation method for the assessment of cathodoluminescence probe response functions.

A method to determine the in-plane cathodoluminescence (CL) probe response function (PRF) (i.e., the function characterizing the in-plane luminescence intensity distribution within the electron probe volume) is proposed, which is based on "perturbing" the spectral position of a selected luminescence band using a highly graded stress field.

Stress dependence of optically active diamagnetic point defects in silicon oxynitride.

The cathodoluminescence (CL) spectrum arising from diamagnetic point defects of silicon oxynitride lattice was analyzed to extract quantitative information on local stress fields stored on the surface of a silicon nitride polycrystal. A calibration procedure was preliminarily made to obtain a relationship between CL spectral shift and applied stress, according to the piezo-spectroscopic effect. In this calibration procedure, we used the uniaxial stress field developed in a rectangular bar loaded in a four-point flexural jig.