Termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido e sua relação com os procedimentos de preenchimento labial / Free and informed consent terms and its relationship with lip filling procedures

Introdução: Na medida em que envelhecemos os lábios estreitam-se, ocasionando perda de volume e contorno e como forma de minimizar este efeito fisiológico o preenchimento labial de escolha utilizado é o ácido hialurônico. É possível perceber efeitos adversos advindos do emprego deste material, e pelo fato da informação ao paciente ser assegurada pelo Código de Defesa do Consumidor e pelo fato da necessidade dos Cirurgiões-Dentistas terem de esclarecer seus pacientes, o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido tornase necessário. Objetivo: identificar, por meio de aplicação de questionário, a percepção de profissionais que trabalham com Harmonização Orofacial em relação a necessidade do emprego do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). O questionário apresentou 6 perguntas objetivas, que foram disponibilizadas na plataforma Google Forms®. Material e Método: os dados obtidos foram tabulados em uma planilha eletrônica do programa Microsoft Excel e após analisados descritivamente através de tabelas de frequência, porcentagens e gráficos estatísticos. Resultados: dentre os entrevistados foi constatado que a maioria, 87,5% dos especialistas em Harmonização Orofacial realizam o procedimento de preenchimento labial em sua rotina clínica, e 12,5% não. Conclusão: no presente estudo identificamos que os especialistas realizam o emprego do TCLE, em sua maioria, porém, alguns destes ainda negligenciam o seu uso(AU)

Introduction: As we age, the lips become thinner and to minimize this effect, the lip filler used is hyaluronic acid. It is possible to notice adverse effects arising from the use of this material, and it is extremely important that Dental Surgeons have to clarify their patients, the Free and Informed Consent Form becomes necessary. Objective: to identify, through the application of a questionnaire, the perception of professionals who work with Orofacial Harmonization in relation to the need to use the Free and Informed Consent Form (TCLE). The questionnaire presented 6 objective questions, which were made available on the Google Forms® platform. Materials and Methods: the data obtained were tabulated in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed descriptively using frequency tables, percentages and graphs. Results: among those interviewed, it was found that the majority, 87.5% of specialists in Orofacial Harmonization perform the lip filling procedure in their clinical routine, and 12.5% do not. With the high percentage of 59.4%, it was possible to verify that the majority of professionals perform 1 to 3 procedures per month; 31.3% perform 4 to 9 procedures per month; and 9.4% of 10 or more monthly procedures. Conclusion: in the present study it was possible to identify that the majority of specialists in Orofacial Harmonization use the informed consent form, however, some of them still neglect its use(AU)

Co-delivery of oncolytic virus and chemotherapeutic modality: Vincristine against prostate cancer treatment: A potent viro-chemotherapeutic approach.

Prostate cancer is a prevalent carcinoma among males, and conventional treatment options are often limited. Cytotoxic chemotherapy, despite its drawbacks, remains a mainstay. We propose a targeted co-delivery approach using nanoscale delivery units for Oncolytic measles virus (OMV) and vincristine (VC) to enhance treatment efficacy. The HA-coated OMV + VC-loaded TCs nanoformulation is designed for targeted oncolytic activity in prostate cancer. The CD44 expression analysis in prostate cancer cell lines indicates a significantly high expression in PC3 cells. The optimization of nanoformulations using Design of Expert (DOE) is performed, and the preparation and characterization of HA-coated OMV + VC-loaded TCs nanoformulations are detailed showing average particle size 397.2 ± 0.01 nm and polydispersity index 0.122 with zeta potential 19.7 + 0.01 mV. Results demonstrate successful encapsulation efficiency with 2.4 × 106 TCID50/Ml and sustained release of OMV and VC from the nanoformulation for up to 72 h. In vitro, assays reveal potent anticancer activity at 10 ± 0.71% cell viability in PC3 cells compared to 73 ± 0.66% in HPrEC and significant morphological changes at 90 µg/ml in dose and time-dependent manner. The co-formulation showed positive cell death 49.5 ± 0.02% at 50 µg PI/ml in PBS and 54.3% cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, 8.1% G0/G1 and 5.7% at S phase, with significant mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) at 50 µg/ml, as assessed by flow cytometry (FACS). The surface-integrating ligand approach enhances the targeted delivery of the oncolytic virus and chemotherapeutic drug, presenting a potential alternative for prostate cancer treatment and suggested that co-administering VC and OMV in a nanoformulation could improve therapeutic outcomes while reducing chemotherapeutic drug doses.

Cadmium nanocluster as a safe nanocarrier: biodistribution in BALB/c mice and application to carry crocin to breast cancer cell lines.

Aim: Metal nanoclusters are emerging nanomaterials applicable for drug delivery. Here, the toxicity and oxidative stress induction of divalent cationic cadmium (Cd2+) was compared with a Cd in the form of nanocluster. Then, it was used for targeted drug delivery into breast cancer cell lines. Methods: Using a green chemistry route, a Cd nanocluster (Cd-NC) was synthesized based on bovine serum albumin. After characterization, its genotoxicity and oxidative stress induction were studied in both in vitro and in vivo. After that, it was conjugated with hyaluronic acid (HA). The efficiency of hyaloronized-Cd-CN (HA-Cd-NC) for loading and releasing crocin (Cro), an anticancer phytochemical, was studied. Finally, it was applied for cell death induction in a panel of breast cancer cell lines. Results: The comet assay results indicated that, unlike Cd2+ and potassium permanganate (KMnO4), no genotoxicity and oxidative stress was induced by Cd-NC in vitro. Then, the pharmacokinetics of this Cd-NC was studied in vivo. The data showed that Cd-NC has accumulated in the liver and excreted from the feces of mice. Unlike Cd2+, no toxicity and oxidative stress were induced by this Cd-NC in animal tissues. Then, the Cd-NC was targeted toward breast cancer cells by adding HA, a ligand for the CD44 cell surface receptor. After that, Cro was loaded on HA-Cd-NC and it was used for the treatment of a panel of human breast cancer cell lines with varying degrees of CD44. The half-maximal drug inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Cro was significantly decreased when it was loaded on HA-Cd-NC, especially in MDA-MB-468 with a higher degree of CD44 at the surface. These results indicate the higher toxicity of Cro toward breast cancers when carried out by HA-Cd-NC. Conclusions: The Cd-NC was completely safe and is a promising candidate for delivering anticancer drugs/phytochemicals into the targeted breast tumors.

Fast Self-Healing Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel with a Double-Dynamic Network for Skin Wound Repair.

Developing extracellular matrix-derived hydrogel with a fast self-healing capacity to provide a sustainable moist environment able to accelerate wound healing is highly desired for full-thickness skin wound repair. In this study, a fast self-healing hyaluronic acid hydrogel with a dual dynamic network was constructed through a primary reversible acylhydrazone bond formed between aldehyde-modified hyaluronic acid, 3,3'-dithiobis (propionyl hydrazide) (DTP), and secondary dynamic ionic interactions between κ-carrageenan (KC) and K+. Because of the presence of various dynamic covalent bonds such as the acylhydrazone bond, disulfide bond, and noncovalent bonds including hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions, as well as the notable thermoreversible nature of KC, the resultant hydrogel could be self-healed rapidly within 30 min under physiological temperature with a self-healing efficiency of 100%, which was significantly better than other hyaluronic acid hydrogels, as reported previously. Besides, the hydrogel displayed excellent cytocompatibility. According to this study, the hydrogel was administered into the wounds and achieved a superior performance of promoting full-thickness skin wound healing by increasing granulation tissue formation, deposition of collagen as well as the acceleration of re-epithelialization and neovascularization, compared to commercial products, e.g., gauze and 3 M hydrocolloid. We also anticipate that this strategy of double-dynamic network cross-linking can be adopted to fabricate self-healing materials for multiple applications.

Hyaluronic acid modified indocyanine green nanoparticles: a novel targeted strategy for NIR-II fluorescence lymphatic imaging.

The lymphatic system, alongside blood circulation, is crucial for maintaining bodily equilibrium and immune surveillance. Despite its importance, lymphatic imaging techniques lag behind those for blood circulation. Fluorescence imaging, particularly in the near-infrared-II (NIR-II) region, offers promising capabilities with centimeter-scale tissue penetration and micron-scale spatial resolution, sparking interest in visualizing the lymphatic system. Although indocyanine green (ICG) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a near-infrared-I (NIR-I) region fluorescent dye, its limitations include shallow penetration depth and low signal-to-noise ratio. Research suggests that ICG's fluorescence emission tail in the second near-infrared window holds potential for high-quality NIR-II imaging. However, challenges like short circulation half-life and concentration-dependent aggregation hinder its wider application. Here we developed HA@ICG nanoparticles (NPs), a superior ICG-based NIR-II fluorescent probe with excellent biocompatibility, prolonging in vivo imaging, and enhancing photostability compared to ICG alone. Leveraging LYVE-1, a prominent lymphatic endothelial cell receptor that binds specifically to hyaluronic acid (HA), our nanoprobes exhibit exceptional performance in targeting lymphatic system imaging. Moreover, our findings demonstrate the capability of HA@ICG NPs for capillary imaging, offering a means to assess local microcirculatory blood supply. These compelling results underscore the promising potential of HA@ICG NPs for achieving high-resolution bioimaging of nanomedicines in the NIR-II window.

Comparative analysis of in vivo bio-integration of three hyaluronic acid-based fillers for 26 weeks: a histological study.

Stabilized hyaluronic acid (HA), produced through diverse cross-linking technology and formulated as an injectable gel, has found widespread utilization in aesthetic industry. Cross-linked HA essentially constitutes a gel particle composition formed by numerous viscoelastic particulates. Various product formulations yield HA gels with distinct properties, including particle size, viscoelasticity, and interaction forces between particles. While previous studies have primarily concentrated on the biological safety and macroscopic expression of fillers, limited research exists on the internal mechanisms governing their macro-performance. This study selected three common dermal fillers for analysis, establishing an animal model to assess their in vivo interaction with surrounding tissues and explore their internal mechanisms. The findings revealed that particle size plays a crucial role in tissue integration.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Promotes the Expansion of Human Myoblasts and Favors the In Vitro Generation of Human Muscle Reserve Cells in a Deeper State of Quiescence.

Stem cell therapy holds significant potential for skeletal muscle repair, with in vitro-generated human muscle reserve cells (MuRCs) emerging as a source of quiescent myogenic stem cells that can be injected to enhance muscle regeneration. However, the clinical translation of such therapies is hampered by the need for fetal bovine serum (FBS) during the in vitro generation of human MuRCs. This study aimed to determine whether fresh allogeneic human platelet-rich plasma (PRP) combined or not with hyaluronic acid (PRP-HA) could effectively replace xenogeneic FBS for the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of human primary myoblasts. Cells were cultured in media supplemented with either PRP or PRP-HA and their proliferation rate, cytotoxicity and myogenic differentiation potential were compared with those cultured in media supplemented with FBS. The results showed similar proliferation rates among human myoblasts cultured in PRP, PRP-HA or FBS supplemented media, with no cytotoxic effects. Human myoblasts cultured in PRP or PRP-HA showed reduced fusion ability upon differentiation. Nevertheless, we also observed that human MuRCs generated from PRP or PRP-HA myogenic cultures, exhibited increased Pax7 expression and delayed re-entry into the cell cycle upon reactivation, indicating a deeper quiescent state of human MuRCs. These results suggest that allogeneic human PRP effectively replaces FBS for the ex vivo expansion and differentiation of human myoblasts and favors the in vitro generation of Pax7High human MuRCs, with important implications for the advancement of stem cell-based muscle repair strategies.

Collagen-based hydrogels induce stem cell chondrogenesis and hyaline cartilage regeneration: An in vivo study.

Injectable, self-crosslinking collagen-based hydrogels are beneficial for chondrocytes to secrete matrix, positioning them as promising candidates for cartilage tissue engineering. However, previous studies lacked insight into the ability of cell-free collagen-based hydrogels to achieve in situ hyaline cartilage regeneration. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of collagen-based hydrogels (Col and ColHA) to induce chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells and in situ hyaline cartilage regeneration. Both Col and ColHA hydrogels self-crosslinked in situ and exhibited similar physical properties. In vitro experiments showed they supported the survival, adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of bone marrow stem cells (BMSCs). Moreover, both hydrogels induced ectopic differentiation of BMSCs into chondrocytes when implanted subcutaneously into the back of nude mice. ColHA hydrogel notably enhanced type II collagen secretion. The results of repairing cartilage defects in situ revealed both hydrogels facilitated hyaline cartilage regeneration and maintained cartilage phenotype without exogenous BMSCs. Hydrogels encapsulating BMSCs expedited cartilage repair, and ColHA/BMSC constructs showed better mechanical properties, suggesting their potential for cartilage repair applications. This study implies that collagen-based hydrogels are good candidates for hyaline cartilage regeneration.

Prediction of the minimum amount of anti-adhesive agent required for entire intra-abdominal cavity using fluorescent dye.

PURPOSE: Studies on the appropriate amount of anti-adhesive agents for preventing postoperative adhesion are lacking. This animal study aimed to investigate the distribution of an anti-adhesive agent in the abdominal cavity and estimate the necessary amount to cover the entire cavity. METHODS: Fluorescent dye Flamma-552 was conjugated to Guardix-sol to create Guardix-Flamma, which was laparoscopically applied to the abdominal cavity of two 10-kg pigs in different amounts: 15 mL for G1 and 35 mL for G2. After 24 hours, the distribution of Guardix-Flamma was examined under the near-infrared mode of the laparoscope, and the thickness was measured in tissues from the omentum, small, and large intestine by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The average area of the abdominal cavity in 10 kg pigs was 2,755 cm2. Guardix-Flamma fluorescence was detected in the greater omentum, ascites in the pelvis, and right quadrant area in G1, whereas in G2, it was detected everywhere. On average, the total thickness of G1 and G2 were 12.68 ± 9.80 µm and 18.16 ± 15.57 µm, respectively. Guardix-Flamma thickness applied to the omentum, small, and large intestines of G2 were 1.31-, 1.45-, and 1.49-times thicker than those of G1, respectively, and were all statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The entire abdominal cavity of the 10 kg pig was not evenly covered with 15 mL of Guardix. Although 35 mL of Guardix is sufficient to cover the same area with an average thickness of 18 µm, further studies should evaluate the minimum thickness required for an effective anti-adhesive function.

Thermo-assisted fabrication of a novel shape-memory hyaluronic acid sponge for non-compressible hemorrhage control.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a major component of skin extracellular matrix, provides an excellent framework for hemostatic design; however, there still lacks HA materials tailored with superior mechanical properties to address non-compressible hemorrhages. Here, we present a solvent-free thermal approach for constructing a shape-memory HA sponge for this application. Following facile thermal incubation around 130 °C, HA underwent cross-linking via esterification with poly(acrylic acid) within the sponge pre-shaped through a prior freeze-drying process. The resulting sponge system exhibited extensively interconnected macropores with a high fluid absorption capacity, excellent shape-memory property, and robust mechanical elasticity. When introduced to whole blood in vitro, the HA sponges demonstrated remarkable hemostatic properties, yielding a shorter coagulation time and lower blood clotting index compared to the commercial gelatin sponge (GS). Furthermore, in vivo hemostatic studies involving two non-compressible hemorrhage models (rat liver volume defect injury or femoral artery injury) achieved a significant reduction of approximately 64% (or 56%) and 73% (or 70%) in bleeding time and blood loss, respectively, which also outperformed GS. Additionally, comprehensive in vitro and in vivo evaluations suggested the good biocompatibility and biodegradability of HA sponges. This study highlights the substantial potential for utilizing the designed HA sponges in massive bleeding management.

Delayed hypersensitivity reaction after hyaluronic acid filler (VCY-20).

Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler, a transient injectable used for rejuvenating facial treatments, has become increasingly popular over time since it doesn't require surgery. Although these procedures are generally safe, there are some application-related complications. These issues fall into three categories: reactions with early, delayed, or late onset. This case report features a 55-year-old female patient who developed widespread facial edema as a result of a delayed hypersensitivity reaction that happened after HA filler was applied.

Human Neural Stem Cell Expansion in Natural Polymer Scaffolds Under Chemically Defined Condition.

The maintenance and expansion of human neural stem cells (hNSCs) in 3D tissue scaffolds is a promising strategy in producing cost-effective hNSCs with quality and quantity applicable for clinical applications. A few biopolymers have been extensively used to fabricate 3D scaffolds, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, alginate, and chitosan, due to their bioactive nature and availability. However, these polymers are usually applied in combination with other biomolecules, leading to their responses difficult to ascribe to. Here, scaffolds made of chitosan, alginate, hyaluronic acid, or collagen, are explored for hNSC expansion under xeno-free and chemically defined conditions and compared for hNSC multipotency maintenance. This study shows that the scaffolds made of pure chitosan support the highest adhesion and growth of hNSCs, yielding the most viable cells with NSC marker protein expression. In contrast, the presence of alginate, hyaluronic acid, or collagen induces differentiation toward immature neurons and astrocytes even in the maintenance medium and absence of differentiation factors. The cells in pure chitosan scaffolds preserve the level of transmembrane protein profile similar to that of standard culture. These findings point to the potential of using pure chitosan scaffolds as a base scaffolding material for hNSC expansion in 3D.

Nasal filling guided by high frequency ultrasound: Reducing risks.

BACKGROUND: Given the significant increase in the quantity of cosmetic procedures utilizing hyaluronic acid fillers, including in the nasal region, the initial evaluation of patients using high frequency ultrasound becomes a crucial instrument in evaluating and handling nonsurgical rhinoplasty. AIMS: The aim of this article is to introduce an assessment methodology for nasal filling guided by high frequency ultrasound. PATIENTS/METHODS: A prospective and single-center study was conducted with 12 Latin American patients. The patients underwent nasal filling with hyaluronic acid following high power ultrasound mapping. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the evaluation of the GAIS scale, all patients reported improvement with the treatment. No infections, nodules, ischemia, or other relevant adverse effects were noted. Real-time ultrasound-guided filler techniques have been developed to reduce the risk of vascular compromise, confirming the distribution pattern of blood vessels. It's also crucial to visualize the cannula at the same moment as the vessels, even if the previous vascular mapping was performed. Therefore, the utilization of high frequency ultrasound can act as a pivotal tool in augmenting procedure safety.

Histological evaluation of different concentrations of hyaluronic-acid-added zinc oxide eugenol on rat molar pulp.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), known for diverse properties, was investigated for its potential in dental pulp therapy. This study investigated the potential of HA in dental pulp therapy by examining the physical properties and effects of zinc oxide eugenol (ZOE) pulpotomy materials containing varying HA concentrations on rat molar teeth. In vitro tests assessed compressive strength and hardness of ZOE materials blended with HA (0.5%, 1%, 3%) and HA gels (0.54%, 0.8%). 120 samples, encompassing the control group, underwent compressive strength testing, while 60 samples were designated for hardness assessment. In vivo experiments on rat molars studied histological effects of HA-containing ZOE on dental pulp over 1 week and 1 month. Gels with HA concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 0.54% were used in pulpotomy on 22 rats. Each rat underwent the procedure on four teeth, with one tooth serving as a control, totaling 88 teeth subjected to the intervention. In the analyses, SPSS 22.0 was used and the significance level was set at P = 0.05. Findings showed that HA at 0.5% maintained compressive strength, but higher concentrations decreased mechanical properties significantly (P = 0.001). Histological assessments indicated better outcomes with lower HA concentrations in terms of odontoblast layer continuity (P = 0.005 at 1 month) and pulp vitality (P = 0.001 at 1 week and P = 0.018 at 1 month). The study suggests HA holds promise for pulpotomy and regenerative endodontic treatments, but further research is needed to understand long-term clinical implications.

Transcutaneous Laryngeal Ultrasound for Assessing Hyaluronic Acid Status in Patients Undergoing Injection Laryngoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Injection laryngoplasty (IL) with hyaluronic acid (HA) is an effective treatment for patients with glottic insufficiency. The duration of HA maintenance in the vocal fold remains unknown. In this study, transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) was used to evaluate the absorption and migration of HA after IL. Subsequent management might be provided based on the TLUS finding. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) or vocal fold atrophy were recruited. All patients underwent IL with HA in an office-based setting along with TLUS to monitor the status of HA. The schedule of TLUS included assessments before and after IL until non-visualization. RESULTS: The study population comprised 38 women and 17 men. Of the patients, 54.1% underwent IL for UVFP, whereas 45.9% underwent IL for vocal fold atrophy. Multivariate Cox regression analysis for factors affecting HA absorption revealed that the cause of injection was the most important independent predictor (hazard ratio [HR], 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-4.46; p = 0.040). The duration of HA maintenance was significantly longer in patients with UVFP than in those with vocal fold atrophy (8.77 vs. 4.70 months, HR, 2.33; 95% CI, 5.47-8.18; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: TLUS is an objective assessment method for patients undergoing IL with HA. Subsequent tailor-made management could be offered based on the TLUS findings during follow-up. For patients at high risk of upper respiratory tract infection or who are intolerant to flexible nasopharyngoscopy, TLUS can be used as an alternative tool to evaluate the condition of the glottis after IL with HA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Infiltrative Treatment of Morton's Neuroma: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Morton's neuroma (MN) is one of the most frequent neurological pathologies in feet, affecting approximately 4% of the general population. The treatment of MN can be surgical, conservative, and infiltrative, with different substances used in the injections for MN, as steroids, sclerosing solutions, and others. This review aims to evaluate the efficacy of current infiltrative therapy for Morton's neuroma and, additionally, to define adverse effects of this therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, Epistemonikos, Web of Science (WOS), SPORTSDiscus and Cochrane Library. This search involved the application of all types of infiltrative treatment applicable to MN. The search was limited to original data describing clinical outcomes and pain using the Visual Analogue pain Scale (VAS) or the Johnson Satisfaction Scale, between February and June 2023. RESULTS: Twelve manuscripts were selected (six randomized controlled trials and six longitudinal observational studies) involving 1,438 patients. Capsaicin was reported to produce a VAS score reduction of 51.8%. Corticosteroids also reported a high level of efficacy. Alcohol and Hyaluronic Acid injections are well tolerated, but the effects of their application need further research. There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Corticosteroids, sclerosant injections, hyaluronic acid and capsaicin have been shown to be effective in reducing the pain related to MN.

Enzymatically stable, non-cell adhesive, implantable polypyrrole/thiolated hyaluronic acid bioelectrodes for in vivo signal recording.

Implantable bioelectrodes have attracted significant attention for precise in vivo signal transduction with living systems. Conductive polymers, including polypyrrole (PPy), have been widely used as bioelectrodes due to their large surface areas, high charge injections, and versatilities for modification. Especially, several natural biopolymers, such as hyaluronic acid (HA), can be incorporated into conductive polymers to produce biomimetic electrodes with better biocompatibility. However, HA-incorporated PPy electrodes (PPy/HA) frequently lose their original performances after implantation in the body because of the deterioration of material properties, such as degradation of natural biopolymers in the electrode. Here, thiolated HA (HA-SH) was synthesized and introduced into PPy electrodes (PPy/HA-SH) to enhance the enzymatic stabilities of PPy electrodes against hyaluronidase (HAase) and endow these electrodes with robust resistances to non-specific cell adhesion, thereby enabling prolonged signal transmission. Unlike PPy/HA, PPy/HA-SH resisted cell adhesion even in the presence of HAase. Subcutaneous implantation studies revealed that PPy/HA-SH formed less fibrotic scar tissue and permitted more sensitive and stable signal recording for up to 15 days after implantation as compared to PPy/HA. These findings hold significance for the design and advancement of biocompatible implantable bioelectrodes for a wide range of applications, such as neural electrodes, cardiac pacemakers, and biosensors.

Effect of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Combined With Hyaluronic Acid on Bone Formation in Dental Implant Sockets: An In Vivo Study in Sheep.

OBJECTIVES: The goal was to evaluate the effect of the combined growth factor of hyaluronic acid (HA) and advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) on acceleration and maturation of bone formation around titanium dental implants in the bone-free space (jumping distance) of an over-preparation socket. MATERIALS AND METHODS:  Thirty-two titanium dental implants were placed in four sheep and distributed into one control group (A) and three experimental groups (B, C, and D) in two different time periods. Each sheep received eight implants. The eight implants in each sheep were distributed into four groups. The first period was one month after the initial placement, 16 implants were used in two sheep. The second period was three months after the initial placement; another 16 implants were used in the other two sheep. All implants were placed in over-prepared implant sockets, resulting in minimal primary stability. In Group A: the space between the dental implant and the bone of the inner wall of the socket was left without a growth substrate material. In Group B: we added HA between the dental implant and the bone of the inner wall of the socket. In Group C: we added A-PRF between the dental implant and the bone of the inner wall of the socket. In Group D: we added a combination of HA and A-PRF between the dental implant and the bone of the inner wall of the socket. Data was collected for each group at one month and three months at the same time. A high-resolution, desktop micro-CT system (Bruker Skyscan 1275, Kontich, Belgium) was used to scan the specimens. The NRecon software (ver. 1.6.10.4, SkyScan) and CTAn (SkyScan) were used for the visualization and quantitative measurement of the samples. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of the four study groups in the same period. A post hoc test was used after ANOVA to compare the means of two samples at the same time. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: After one month and three months of using combined HA and A-PRF on Group D, significant acceleration was observed in bone formation in all tests around dental implants compared with other groups, while no significant acceleration was observed when they were used separately; all three study groups showed significant results when compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Our data showed that using a combination of HA and A-PRF had a significant effect on the acceleration of the bone formation and ossification process when added to bone-free space (jumping distance) around implants while leaving space without any growth substrates might delay the bone ossification process.

The correlation between serum levels of laminin, type IV collagen, type III procollagen N-terminal peptide and hyaluronic acid with the progression of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis.

COVID-19 patients often suffer from post-COVID-19 acute sequelae (PASC). Pulmonary fibrosis has the most significant long-term impact on the respiratory health of patients, known as post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis (PC19-PF). PC19-PF can be caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or COVID-19-induced pneumonia. Individuals who experience COVID-19 pneumonia symptoms (including cough, shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, and desaturation) for at least 12 weeks after diagnosis, almost all develop PC19-PF. Extracellular matrix molecules: laminin (LN), type IV collagen (IV Col), procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) are involved in the development and progression of PC19-PF. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the progression of PC19-PF and serum levels of laminin, IV COL, PIIINP, and hyaluronic acid. This retrospective study included 162 PC19-PF patients treated and 160 healthy controls who received treatment at Shenzhen Longgang District Third People's Hospital, Hebei PetroChina Central Hospital and Changzhi People's Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023. Serum levels of LN, IV COL, PIIINP, and HA were detected by chemiluminescence immunoassay using commercial kits. Predicted forced vital capacity percentage (FVC% pred), predicted carbon monoxide lung diffusion capacity percentage (DLCO% pred), high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scores were assessed, and patient mortality was compared with healthy controls. Serum levels of LN, IV Col, PIIINP, and HA were significantly higher in PC19-PF or CTD-ILD patients than in healthy controls (all p < 0.05), and they were further elevated in acute exacerbation cases (all p < 0.01). In patients, HA was positively associated with HRCT scores and negatively associated with FVC% pred and DLCO% pred (all p < 0.05). Serum levels of LN, IV COL, PIIINP, and HA were significantly lower in surviving patients than in those who deceased (all p > 0.05). Serum levels of LN, IV C, PIIINP, and HA may affect the progression of PC19-PF and may serve as indicators of PC19-PF severity.