A single Angiofil-latex injection for both radiological and anatomical assessment of arterial territories in the limbs.

INTRODUCTION: Postmortem evaluation of the human vascular system has a long history, with advancements ranging from dissections to modern imaging techniques like computed tomography (CT scan). This study designs a novel combination of Angiofil, a liquid radiopaque polymer, and latex, a flexible cast material, for cadaveric vascular analysis. MATERIAL & METHODS: The aim was to synergize the advantages of both components, providing accurate radiological images and optimal dissection conditions. Three arterial territories (lateral circumflex femoral artery, profunda brachii artery, and radial artery) were injected and assessed through CT scans and dissections. RESULTS: The Angiofil-latex mixture allowed successful visualization of the vascular networks, offering a simple, reproducible, and non-toxic approach. Quantitative assessments of the three territories, including diameters and lengths, showed comparable results between CT scan and dissection. DISCUSSION: The technique precision and versatility make it an accessible and valuable tool for anatomical studies, potentially extending its application to MRI analyses. Overall, the Angiofil-latex combination presents a cost-effective solution for researchers, offering enhanced visibility and detailed anatomical insights for various applications, including anatomical variation studies.

HLA Awareness in tissue decellularization: A paradigm shift for enhanced biocompatibility, studied on the model of the human fascia lata graft.

Last twenties, tissue engineering has rapidly advanced to address the shortage of organ donors. Decellularization techniques have been developed to mitigate immune rejection and alloresponse in transplantation. However, a clear definition of effective decellularization remains elusive. This study compares various decellularization protocols using the human fascia lata model. Morphological, structural and cytotoxicity/viability analyses indicated that all the five tested protocols were equivalent and met Crapo's criteria for successful decellularization. Interestingly, only the in vivo immunization test on rats revealed differences. Only one protocol exhibited Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) content below 1% residual threshold, the only criterion preventing rat immunization with an absence of rat anti-human IgG switch after one month (N=4 donors for each of the 7 groups, added by negative and positive controls, n=28). By respecting a refined set of criteria, i.e. lack of visible nuclear material, <50ng DNA/mg dry weight of extracellular matrix, and <1% residual HLA content, the potential for adverse host reactions can be drastically reduced. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the importance of considering not only nuclear components but also major histocompatibility complex in decellularization protocols and proposes new guidelines to promote safer clinical development and use of bioengineered scaffolds.