Visible light-curable methacrylated glycol chitosan hydrogel patches for prenatal closure of fetal myelomeningocele.

In this study, we prepared visible light-curable methacrylated glycol chitosan (MGC) hydrogel patches for the prenatal treatment of fetal myelomeningocele (MMC) and investigated their feasibility using a retinoic acid-induced fetal MMC rat model. 4, 5, and 6 w/v% of MGC were selected as candidate precursor solutions, and photo-cured for 20 s, because the resulting hydrogels were found to possess concentration dependent tunable mechanical properties and structural morphologies. Moreover, these materials exhibited no foreign body reactions with good adhesive properties in animal studies.

Guided cortical and cancellous bone formation using a minimally invasive technique of BMSC- and BMP-2-laden visible light-cured carboxymethyl chitosan hydrogels.

A cavity defect inside the bone is formed by deformed cancellous bone from the fixation of the cortical bone, and consequently, abnormal bone healing occurs. Therefore, repairing cancellous bone defects is a remarkable topic in orthopedic surgery. In this study, we prepared bone marrow-derived stem cell (BMSC)-laden and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-laden visible light-cured carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) hydrogels for cortical and cancellous bone healing.

3D printing of cell-laden visible light curable glycol chitosan bioink for bone tissue engineering.

Although chitosan is the second most abundant natural polymer on earth, with a wide range of biomaterial applications, its poor water solubility limits general printing process. We selected water-soluble methacrylated glycol chitosan (MeGC) as an alternative and prepared a MeGC-based MG-63 cell-laden bioink for 3D printing using a visible light curing system. Optimal cell-laden 3D printing of MeGC was completed at 3% using 12 μM of riboflavin as a photoinitiator under an irradiation for 70 s, a 26-gauge nozzle, a pneumatic pressure of 120 kPa, and a printing speed of 6 mm/s, as confirmed by printability, protein adsorption, cell viability, cell proliferation, and osteogenic capability.

Injectable basic fibroblast growth factor-loaded alginate/hyaluronic acid hydrogel for rejuvenation of geriatric larynx.

Increase in the geriatric population has led to an increase in the number of elderly patients with laryngeal atrophy and dysfunction. Symptoms of voice change, dysphagia, and aspiration pneumonia negatively influence patient's health status, quality of life, and life span. Injection laryngoplasty used to treat laryngeal dysfunctions does not recover intrinsic functions of the larynx.

Central Pontine Myelinolysis Induced by Alcohol Withdrawal: A Case Report.

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) is a demyelinating disorder characterized by the loss of myelin in the center of the basis pons, and is mainly caused by the rapid correction of hyponatremia. We report the case of a young woman who presented with gait disturbance and alcohol withdrawal, and who was eventually diagnosed with CPM. Generally, the cause and pathogenesis of CPM in chronic alcoholics remain unclear.

Change of Bone Mineral Density and Relationship to Clinical Parameters in Male Stroke Patients.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics that significantly contribute to a decreased bone mineral density (BMD), the BMD changes and clinical characteristics of men who experienced a stroke between the ages of 50 years and 65 years were studied between 3 months and 4 months after the stroke.

Methods: Subjects had a brain hemorrhage or a cerebral infarction. Only men aged 50 years to 65 years were included to eliminate postmenopausal osteoporosis and to eliminate the influence of senile osteoporosis.

Different Movement of Hyolaryngeal Structures by Various Application of Electrical Stimulation in Normal Individuals.

Objective: To identify the differences in the movement of the hyoid bone and the vocal cord with and without electrical stimulation in normal subjects.

Methods: Two-dimensional motion analysis using a videofluoroscopic swallowing study with and without electrical stimulation was performed. Surface electrical stimulation was applied during swallowing using electrodes placed at three different locations on each subject.

Her2 genotype and breast cancer progression in Korean women.

The amplification and overexpression of Her2 proto-oncogene have been found to be associated with the development and progression of human breast cancer. A polymorphic valine allele at codon 655 of the Her2 gene (Her2(V655)) was suggested by some authors to be a susceptible genetic factor for the development of breast cancer. The Her2 polymorphism at codon 655 was investigated in 304 Korean women including 177 patients with breast cancer.