RESUMO
Female cancer patients who have undergone chemotherapy have an elevated risk of developing ovarian dysfunction and failure. Experimental approaches to treat iatrogenic infertility are evolving rapidly; however, challenges and risks remain that hinder clinical translation. Biomaterials have improved in vitro follicle maturation and in vivo transplantation in mice, but there has only been marginal success for early-stage human follicles. Here, we developed methods to obtain an ovarian-specific extracellular matrix hydrogel to facilitate follicle delivery and establish an in situ ovary (ISO), which offers a permissive environment to enhance follicle survival. We demonstrate sustainable follicle engraftment, natural pregnancy, and the birth of healthy pups after intraovarian microinjection of isolated exogenous follicles into chemotherapy-treated (CTx) mice. Our results confirm that hydrogel-based follicle microinjection could offer a minimally invasive delivery platform to enhance follicle integration for patients post-chemotherapy.
RESUMO
The patellar tendon is an integral part of the knee extensor mechanism and has been historically described as a single tendon. A doubled patellar tendon is an exceedingly rare finding. We present a case of a crossed doubled patellar tendon in a 70-year-old male with a history of right knee pain, which to our knowledge has only been reported once before in the literature. The presence of a doubled patellar tendon has a potential influence on surgical planning and in the etiology of anterior knee pain.