Intrasynovial autograft for reconstruction of chronic large rotator cuff tears in a rabbit model: biomechanical, computed tomography, and histological results.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff (RC) tears are a common cause of shoulder dysfunction and pain, posing significant challenges for orthopedic surgeons. Grafts have been proposed as a solution to augment or bridge torn tendons, but optimal clinical outcomes are not always achieved due to poor graft integration, suboptimal mechanical properties, and immunological reactions. The aim of this study was to investigate the biomechanical, CT and histological results of RC reconstruction using an intrasynovial tendon autograft, in a chronic large tear subscapularis rabbit model. METHODS: Twenty-six adult male Zealand white rabbits were used in this study. Large defects in the subscapularis tendons were produced bilaterally in 20 rabbits. After 6 weeks, secondary procedures were performed to the right shoulder of the rabbits, which were reconstructed with an intrasynovial interposition autograft (graft group). The left shoulder did not undergo any further treatment (defect group). The specimens were randomly divided into two equal time groups and underwent biomechanical testing, CT analysis, and histological evaluation at 6, and 12 weeks after reconstruction. In addition, 6 rabbits that were not operated, were used as a control group. RESULTS: At 12 weeks post-repair, the graft group exhibited a significant increase in ultimate failure load compared to the defect group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the 12-week graft group demonstrated comparable stiffness to that of the control group. CT analysis indicated no significant progression of intramuscular fat accumulation in both graft groups, in contrast to the 12-week defect group when compared to the control group. Finally, histological evaluation revealed a gradual integration of the graft with the host tissue at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that intrasynovial flexor tendon autografts hold promise as an effective interposition graft for the reconstruction of chronic large RC tears, as they improve the biomechanical and biological properties of the repaired tendon. Nonetheless, further investigations in preclinical large animal models are warranted to validate and extrapolate these findings to human studies.

In vivo assessment of early effects of diamond-tipped microdermabrasion through the lens of line-field confocal optical coherence tomography.

BACKGROUND: Microdermabrasion is a cosmetic procedure that has gained popularity for skin rejuvenation by causing repetitive intraepidermal injury to stimulate the proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen production. Various clinical studies have demonstrated microdermabrasion's effectiveness in skin rejuvenation; however, most of these studies rely on clinical observation and scoring by observers rather than histologic or microscopic analysis. In our single-center prospective study, we used line-field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC-OCT), to non-invasively visualize the early effects of one microdermabrasion treatment on the facial epidermal and dermal structure. AIM: Using LC-OCT, this study aims to elucidate the microscopic and histological effects of microdermabrasion on epidermal and dermal structures, including epidermal thickness, as well as collagen and vascular patterns. PATIENTS/METHODS: Eight volunteers (Fitzpatrick skin types II-V) underwent one treatment of microdermabrasion. LC-OCT and VISIA imaging were performed before and 10 min after microdermabrasion, and at 48-h follow-up. Subjective evaluations of skin texture and adverse reactions were assessed 1 week posttreatment via a telephone call. RESULTS: Compared to LC-OCT images before treatment, images captured after one treatment of microdermabrasion showed a decrease in thickness and number of undulations in the stratum corneum. In the superficial dermis, enhancement in fibrillar collagen, as demonstrated by an increased prominence of crisscrossing hyper-refractile strands, was visualized. This was consistent with subjective and objective improvement in facial rhytids calculated by VISIA skin analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment monitoring with LC-OCT demonstrated consistent histopathological changes with clinical visual improvement. Therefore, LC-OCT, has the potential to enable long-term histopathological monitoring of microdermabrasion and other cosmetic procedures without biopsy.

Secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma in multiple osteochondromas: a retrospective single-institution case series.

BACKGROUND: Multiple osteochondromas is genetic disorder characterized by the formation of multiple benign cartilage-capped bone tumors, named osteochondromas, during skeletal development. The most feared complication is the secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma, a malignant cartilaginous neoplasm that arises from the chondroid cap of pre-existent osteochondromas. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients diagnosed and followed up from 1960 to 2019 to describe the clinical and pathological features of individuals affected by peripheral chondrosarcoma in multiple osteochondromas, to evaluate follow up information and individual outcome and to compare the results with literature. Data, including age, gender, site, histological grade, cartilage cap thickness, surgical treatments, surgical margins, genotype mutational status as well as treatment details were captured from the hospital electronic health records and from Registry of Multiple Osteochondromas. In addition, a complete histological review of all hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections has been performed by expert pathologists. RESULTS: One hundred five of the screened cases were included in the present study. The age at diagnosis of SPC ranges from 13 to 63, with median age at diagnosis of 34 years. The site most frequently affected by malignant degeneration was the pelvis (46 patients, 44%) with higher incidence in male patients (32 males vs.14 females). The second one was lower limbs (including femur, fibula, or tibia), identified in 35 patients. Histological information - available for 103 patients - showed: 59 patients with grade 1; 40 patients had a grade 2 and 4 patients had a grade 3. The most common surgical treatment was the complete resection, followed by debulking, amputation and partial resection. Most of cases did not have recurrence of the disease. Outcome in disease-free survival highlights that a worse course of the disease was associated with histological grade 2 or 3, and partial resection surgery. In most of analyzed cases (94%) a pathogenic variant was identified. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study gives an overview of the secondary peripheral chondrosarcomas, confirming that this disease represents an impacting complication for multiple osteochondromas patients and suggests that malignant transformation can occur also in younger patient, in a not irrelevant number of cases.

A machine learning approach for quantifying age-related histological changes in the mouse kidney.

The ability to quantify aging-related changes in histological samples is important, as it allows for evaluation of interventions intended to effect health span. We used a machine learning architecture that can be trained to detect and quantify these changes in the mouse kidney. Using additional held out data, we show validation of our model, correlation with scores given by pathologists using the Geropathology Research Network aging grading scheme, and its application in providing reproducible and quantifiable age scores for histological samples. Aging quantification also provides the insights into possible changes in image appearance that are independent of specific geropathology-specified lesions. Furthermore, we provide trained classifiers for H&E-stained slides, as well as tutorials on how to use these and how to create additional classifiers for other histological stains and tissues using our architecture. This architecture and combined resources allow for the high throughput quantification of mouse aging studies in general and specifically applicable to kidney tissues.

Histological implications of high-power laser use in the oral soft tissue lesions: a systematic review.

The objective of this study was to describe the histological artifacts caused by high-power laser use compared to cold scalpel surgery in oral soft tissue lesions. Clinical studies that evaluated and compared histological artifacts resulting from the use of high-power lasers and cold scalpels in oral soft tissue lesions biopsies were retrieved from seven databases and four grey literatures, up to July 2022. The risk of bias was investigated using the ROBINS-I tool. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Seven studies were eligible for qualitative analysis. Based on the results obtained, those four studies had a low risk of bias, and three studies had an unclear risk of bias. The certainty of the evidence was classified as low. Limited evidence showed that epithelial artifacts such as loss of intraepithelial and subepithelial adhesions, accompanied by pyknotic, fusiform, and/or hyperchromic nuclei, were more common when a high-power laser device was used. Four articles reported that the use of high-power lasers did not interfere with the histopathological diagnosis of oral soft tissue lesions. Due to the heterogeneity of the data, a meta-analysis was not performed. Compared to the use of cold scalpels, histological artifacts, particularly those observed in epithelial tissue, are more common when high-powered lasers are used in oral lesions biopsies. The eligibility criteria and adequate indications of high-power lasers in different oral soft tissue lesion treatments must be respected to avoid tissue artifacts that impair precise histopathological diagnosis.

Neuroprotective Effects of Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy.

This study was designed to provide evidence of the neuroprotective of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs) in oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). In vivo, hADSCs were intravitreally injected into OIR mice. Various assessments, including HE (histological evaluation), TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining, electroretinogram (ERG) analysis, and retinal flat-mount examination, were performed separately at postnatal days 15 (P15) and 17 (P17) to evaluate neurological damage and functional changes. Western blot analysis of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was conducted at P17 to elucidate the neuroprotective mechanism. The P17 OIR group exhibited a significant increase in vascular endothelial cell nuclei and neovascularization that breached the ILM (inner limiting membrane) to the P17 control group. In addition, the retinal nonperfusion areas in the P17 OIR group and the number of apoptotic retinal cells in the P15 OIR group were significantly higher than in the corresponding hADSCs treatment group and control group. There was no significant thickness change in the inner nuclear layer (INL) but the outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the P17 OIR treatment group compared with the P17 OIR group. The cell density in the INL and ONL at P17 in the hADSCs treatment group was not significantly different from the OIR group. The amplitude of a-wave and b-wave in scotopic ERG analysis for the P17 OIR group was significantly lower than in the P17 hADSCs treatment group and the P17 control group. Furthermore, the latency of the a-wave and b-wave in the P17 OIR group was significantly longer than in the P17 hADSCs treatment group and the P17 control group. In addition, the expression levels of CNTF and BDNF in the P17 OIR group were statistically higher than those in the P17 control group, whereas the expression of GDNF was statistically lower in the P17 OIR group, compared with the P17 control group. The expression of CNTF and GDNF in the P17 hADSCs treatment group was statistically higher than in the P17 OIR group. However, the expression of BDNF in the P17 hADSCs treatment group was statistically lower than in the P17 OIR group. This study provides evidence for the neuroprotective effects of hADSCs in OIR.

Acute and Sub-Chronic Intraperitoneal Toxicity Studies of the Elsholtzia ciliata Herbal Extract in Balb/c Mice.

Elsholtzia ciliata essential oil (E. ciliata) has been reported to have an impact on the cardiovascular system. However, its toxicity remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to evaluate the toxicological aspects of the E. ciliata extract. Male Balb/c mice were subjected to either acute (a single dose administered for 24 h) or sub-chronic (daily dose for 60 days) intraperitoneal injections of the E. ciliata extract. The mice were assessed for blood hematological/biochemical profiles, mitochondrial functions, and histopathological changes. Additionally, in vitro cytotoxicity assessments of the E. ciliata extract were performed on immobilized primate kidney cells (MARC-145, Vero) and rat liver cells (WBF344) to evaluate cell viability. The control groups received an equivalent volume of olive oil or saline. Our results demonstrated no significant detrimental effects on hematological and biochemical parameters, mitochondrial functions, cellular cytotoxicity, or pathological alterations in vital organs following the intraperitoneal administration of the E. ciliata extract over the 60-day sub-chronic toxicity study. In general, E. ciliata displayed no indications of toxicity, suggesting that the E. ciliata extract is a safe natural product with a well-defined therapeutic and protective index (found to be 90 and 54, respectively) in Balb/c mice.

Behaviour of the Peri-Implant Soft Tissue with Different Rehabilitation Materials on Implants.

(1) Background: Mucointegration seems to gain interest when talking about success in the maintenance of dental implants. As we well know, collagen fibres cannot be inserted due to the lack of root structure on the implant surface, so the structural integration of peri-implant tissues that provide a firm seal around implants seems to be of interest when it comes to ensuring the survival of dental implants. To achieve a good epithelial barrier, the physicochemical characteristics of the surfaces of the restorative materials are of vital importance; therefore, the objective of this study is to analyse the histological behaviour of the peri-implant soft tissues in three different restorative materials. (2) Methods: Histological analysis of biopsied peri-implant keratinised mucosa, inflammatory epithelium and connective tissue in contact with a reinforced composite (BRILLIANT Crios), a cross-linked polymethylmethacrylate (TELIO CAD), and a hybrid ceramic (Vita Enamic), restored on a customised Atlantis-type abutment (Dentsply Sirona) between 60 and 180 days after restoration. (3) Results: A greater number of cells per mm2 of keratinised epithelium is observed in the reinforced composite, which could indicate greater surface roughness with greater inflammatory response. In this way, the greater number of lymphocytes and the lateral cellular composition of the inflammatory cells confirm the greater inflammatory activity towards that material. The best material to rehabilitate was hybrid ceramic, as it shows a better cellular response. (4) Conclusions: Knowing the limitations of the proposed study, despite the fact that greater inflammation is observed in the reinforced composite relative to the other materials studied, no statistically significant differences were found.

Time since death: The histological chronotanatognostic.

The time since death is an important aspect of forensic medicine; however, there is not an accurate single method to determine this data. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate parameters and procedures based on the morphological analysis of cells and tissues to determine the time since death, using animal models. Pigs were chosen in this research because of their similarities with human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology. We identified the cells and tissue alterations in the viscera of pig cadavers according to the time since death, also describing the changes in the temperature of the organs and the bodies. The environmental temperature during the sample collection was also registered. The viscera analysis was performed for 24 h, with a 2-h variation period. After the sample collection, microscope slides were prepared for optical microscopy analysis. Through this 24-h analysis, we observed that the pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine presented more cellular alterations than the other organs. The alterations observed in the other viscera have significance when analyzed in combination. The meninges presented higher stability and few changes in 24 h, which could be relevant in an investigation of the time since death in a period greater than 24 h. Our results showed that histological evaluation is an excellent method to determine the time since death.

The effect of neural network architecture on virtual H&E staining: Systematic assessment of histological feasibility.

Conventional histopathology has relied on chemical staining for over a century. The staining process makes tissue sections visible to the human eye through a tedious and labor-intensive procedure that alters the tissue irreversibly, preventing repeated use of the sample. Deep learning-based virtual staining can potentially alleviate these shortcomings. Here, we used standard brightfield microscopy on unstained tissue sections and studied the impact of increased network capacity on the resulting virtually stained H&E images. Using the generative adversarial neural network model pix2pix as a baseline, we observed that replacing simple convolutions with dense convolution units increased the structural similarity score, peak signal-to-noise ratio, and nuclei reproduction accuracy. We also demonstrated highly accurate reproduction of histology, especially with increased network capacity, and demonstrated applicability to several tissues. We show that network architecture optimization can improve the image translation accuracy of virtual H&E staining, highlighting the potential of virtual staining in streamlining histopathological analysis.

An Assessment of Blood Vessel Remodeling of Nanofibrous Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Vascular Grafts in a Rat Animal Model.

The development of an ideal vascular prosthesis represents an important challenge in terms of the treatment of cardiovascular diseases with respect to which new materials are being considered that have produced promising results following testing in animal models. This study focuses on nanofibrous polycaprolactone-based grafts assessed by means of histological techniques 10 days and 6 months following suturing as a replacement for the rat aorta. A novel stereological approach for the assessment of cellular distribution within the graft thickness was developed. The cellularization of the thickness of the graft was found to be homogeneous after 10 days and to have changed after 6 months, at which time the majority of cells was discovered in the inner layer where the regeneration of the vessel wall was found to have occurred. Six months following implantation, the endothelialization of the graft lumen was complete, and no vasa vasorum were found to be present. Newly formed tissue resembling native elastic arteries with concentric layers composed of smooth muscle cells, collagen, and elastin was found in the implanted polycaprolactone-based grafts. Moreover, the inner layer of the graft was seen to have developed structural similarities to the regular aortic wall. The grafts appeared to be well tolerated, and no severe adverse reaction was recorded with the exception of one case of cartilaginous metaplasia close to the junctional suture.

Quantitative Analysis of the Histological Features of Tuberous Breast.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberous breast deformity (TB) is a condition mostly characterized by breast stenosis, areolar widening and glandular asymmetry. The most accredited hypothesis describes an abnormal thickening of the fascia corporis that might influence an alteration in the glandular development, limiting the horizontal growth of breast parenchyma. Alterations in the extracellular matrix components (ECM) might be involved in the abnormal breast development. PATIENTS: The aim of our case control study is to use histological specimens to analyze qualitative and quantitative differences in collagen fibers, elastic fibers and vessel densities in TB and normal breasts of 20 patients using a software for digital pathology. RESULTS: The quantitative findings showed increasing concentrations of collagen fibers and decreasing elastic fibers in TB, compared to normal breasts. No difference was seen in vessel density among the two groups. The qualitative findings highlighted differences in the distribution of the ECM among the TB specimens. Collagen fibers showed a packed appearance rather a scattered distribution, while elastic fibers visibly presented a reduction and a focal distribution of their concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The study proposes a correlation between abnormalities in ECM concentrations and TB, resulting in a higher degree of fibrosis and in the characteristic stenotic and less elastic morphology of the deformity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Comparison of the caecal microbial community structure and physiological indicators of healthy and infection Eimeria tenella chickens during peak of oocyst shedding.

Eimeria tenella (E. tenella), an important intestinal parasite of chicken caeca, causes coccidiosis and brings large economic losses to the poultry industry annually. Gut microorganismal alterations directly affect the health of the body. To understand how E. tenella affects its host, we analysed the changes in caecal microbial diversity and the physiological and morphological changes during the peak of oocyst shedding. Infected and healthy chickens differed significantly in caecal pathology and blood indicators. At the genus level, the abundances of Faecalibacterium, Clostridium, Lachnoclostridium, Gemmiger, Flavonifractor, Pseudoflavonifractor and Oscillibacter were significantly decreased in the infected samples, whereas Escherichia, Nocardia and Chlamydia were significantly increased. Functional gene pathways related to replication, recombination and repair, and transcription were significantly decreased, and functional genes related to metabolism were highly significantly reduced in the infected samples. Furthermore, in the infected samples, E. tenella reduced the haemoglobin levels and red blood cell counts, greatly reduced the beneficial bacteria and increased the potentially pathogenic bacteria. This study provides a research basis for further understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of E. tenella and provides insight for potential new drug development.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS First simultaneous description of caecal microbiota and physiological indicators during E. tenella infection.Metagenomics used to explore functional properties of chicken caecal microbiota during E. tenella infection.Caecal microbial compositions and functional genes altered significantly after infection.Blood indicators and caecal morphology were significantly altered in the infected group.

Histological Preparation and Evaluation of Cartilage Specimens.

In this chapter, an introduction is given into histological techniques to research related to hyaline cartilage and subchondral bone. Emphasis is placed on the importance to investigate cartilage and bone as a unit, which includes the transition zone of the calcified cartilage and tidemark. Reasons for the appropriate selection of histological methods are presented such as when to use (decalcified) specimens for routine paraffin embedding including immunohistology, cryosections of cartilage alone, or non-decalcified specimens for embedding in polymethylmethacrylate with or without additional biomaterials. Appropriate staining methods are also outlined. Apart from detailed laboratory protocols for different embedding and staining methods including open communication about difficulties related to the various techniques, also practical instructions for state-of-the-art evaluation methods and their strengths and weaknesses are given. Sample figures for scoring methods are included.

Assessment of soft and hard tissue characteristics of ridge preservation at molar extraction sites with severe periodontitis: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Changes in alveolar bone dimension after tooth extraction may affect placement of the subsequent implant, resulting in ridge deficiency that can adversely impact long-term implant stability or aesthetics. Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) was effective in reducing the amount of ridge resorption following tooth extraction. There is sparse evidence regarding the benefit of ARP at periodontally compromised molar extraction sockets. This study will be a randomized trial to assess the soft tissue contour, radiographical, and histological changes of ARP at molar extraction sites in order to compare severe periodontitis cases with natural healing results and determine the most beneficial and least traumatic clinical treatment for such patients. METHODS: This research is designed as a two-group parallel randomized controlled trial. The total number of tooth extraction sites will be 70 after calculation with power analysis. Teeth will be randomly assigned to two groups with the test group conducting ridge preservation and the control group healing naturally. Periodontal examination, cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) data, and stereolithographic (STL) files obtained by intraoral scanning will be collected through the follow-up period, and bone biopsy samples would be obtained during implant surgery. The primary outcomes are the vertical and horizontal change of alveolar ridge measured on CBCT images, soft tissue contour changes evaluated by superimposing the digital impressions, alterations of mucosa thickness (as measured by superimposing the CBCT data and STL files), histological features of implant sites and periodontal parameter changes. The secondary outcomes are patient-reported post-operative reaction and conditions of simultaneous bone graft or sinus lifting procedures during implantation. DISCUSSION: This study will provide information about hard and soft tissue dimension changes and histomorphology evaluation following ARP and natural healing in periodontally compromised molar sites, which may contribute to complement the missing information of ARP at periodontally compromised molar extraction sockets. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Chinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR) ChiCTR2200056335. Registered on February 4, 2022, Version 1.0.

Progression of histological lesions after ABO incompatible kidney transplantation.

Recent large meta-analyses suggested a poorer long-term patients' and grafts' outcomes after ABO incompatible (ABOi) living-donor kidney transplantation (LDKT) compared to ABO compatible LDKT. However, little is known about the long-term histological pattern after ABOi LDKT. We compared the histological features observed on protocol biopsies from 03/11 to 11/19 in 94 ABOi LDKT (including 14 with preformed Donor Specific Antibodies, pDSAs), 27 LDKT ABO compatible (ABOc) with pDSAs, and 21 ABOc without pDSAs) during the first five years post transplantation. During the first 5 years post-transplantation, a progression of chronic lesions (patients with a ci >0 raised from 11% to 65%, p<0.0001, patients with a ct >0 raised from 29% to 78%, p<0.0001) was observed in ABOi LDKT without pDSAs. Histological patterns of evolution were comparable to those observed in ABOc kidney transplant patients. Microvascular inflammation was lower in ABOi LDKT without pDSAs compared to those with pDSAs (ABOi or ABOc). At last follow-up, 28 months, IQR (15-48) post-transplantation, 29 patients (36%) had a severe graft dysfunction (defined by a CKD-epi eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73m²). The donor age was a predictive factor for the development of severe kidney allograft dysfunction at last follow-up (HR= 1.05, 95% CI [1.05-1.10], p= 0.03). Hence, long-term histological analysis of ABOi LDKT shows only an increase of chronic interstitial and tubular atrophy changes, without active lesions. These data confirm that ABOi LDKT programs can be securely developed.

The use of optical coherence tomography for skin evaluation in healthy rats.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive diagnostic techniques allow for morphological and morphometric in vivo evaluation of the skin. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a method that allows visualization of dermal structures up to several 100 µm with a resolution of 3-7.5 µm. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was the morphological and morphometric assessment of rats' skin using SD-OCT. ANIMALS: Fifteen male Wistar rats, aged 3 and 8 months, weighing 350-450 g. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The skin of the plantar metatarsal area of the right pelvic limb was assessed. The measurements were performed using Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) scans and histological images. RESULTS: Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography could determine the boundary between the epidermis and the dermis. Apart from the stratum corneum (SC), it did not allow for the differentiation of the individual epidermal layers. In the SD-OCT and in the histological examination, the mean thicknesses of the layers (µm ± SD) were (respectively): SC 33.053 ± µm(SD 5.85, 29.675 ± 5.54; epidermis 88.2 ± 7.97, 65.126 ± 13.23; dermis 259.86 ± 18.29, 166.05 ± 31.88 µm. There was a correlation between the total epidermal SD-OCT and histological measurements (r = 0.43, p = 0.05). Bland-Altman plots revealed a bias of -19.18 (95% confidence interval) -39.21 to 0.84 µm) in the case of live epidermis (stratum granulosum, stratum spinous, stratum basale). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography can be used to evaluate rat epidermis and dermis. The method enables the differentiation of the SC, as well as the epidermis and the dermis. SD-OCT and histological thickness dimensions of the epidermis and skin differ.

Contexte - Les techniques de diagnostic non invasives permettent une évaluation morphologique et morphométrique in vivo de la peau. La tomographie par cohérence optique (OCT) est une méthode qui permet de visualiser les structures dermiques jusqu'à plusieurs centaines de micromètres avec une résolution de 3 à 7,5 µm. Objectifs - Le but de l'étude était l'évaluation morphologique et morphométrique de la peau des rats par SD-OCT. Animaux - Quinze rats Wistar mâles, âgés de 3 et 8 mois, pesant 350-450 g. Matériels et méthodes - La peau de la zone métatarsienne plantaire du membre pelvien droit a été évaluée. Les mesures ont été réalisées à l'aide de scaners SD-OCT (Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography) et d'images histologiques Résultats - Le SD-OCT a pu déterminer la frontière entre l'épiderme et le derme. En dehors de la couche cornée (SC), il n'a pas permis la différenciation des couches épidermiques individuelles. Au SD-OCT et à l'examen histologique, les épaisseurs moyennes des couches (µm ± SD) étaient (respectivement) : SC 33,053 ± µm (SD 5,85, 29,675 ± 5,54 ; épiderme 88,2 ± 7,97, 65,126 ± 13,23 ; derme 259,86 ± 18,29, 166,05 ± 31,88 µm). Il y avait une corrélation entre le SD-OCT épidermique total et les mesures histologiques (r = 0,43, P = 0,05) Les tracés de Bland-Altman ont révélé un biais de -19,18 (intervalle de confiance à 95 %) -39,21 à 0,84 µm) dans le cas d'épiderme vivant (stratum granulosum, stratum spinous, stratum basale). Conclusions et pertinence clinique - Le SD-OCT peut être utilisé pour évaluer l'épiderme et le derme de rat. La méthode permet de différencier le SC, ainsi que l'épiderme et le derme. Le SD-OCT et les dimensions d'épaisseur histologiques de l'épiderme et de la peau diffèrent.

Introducción - las técnicas de diagnóstico no invasivas permiten la evaluación morfológica y morfométrica in vivo de la piel. La tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT) es un método que permite la visualización de estructuras dérmicas de hasta varios cientos de micrómetros con una resolución de 3 a 7,5 µm. Objetivos - El objetivo del estudio fue la evaluación morfológica y morfométrica de la piel de ratas mediante SD-OCT. Animales - Quince ratas Wistar macho, de 3 y 8 meses de edad, con un peso de 350 a 450 g. Materiales y métodos - Se evaluó la piel de la zona metatarsiana plantar del miembro pélvico derecho. Las mediciones se realizaron utilizando escaneos SD-OCT (Tomografía de Coherencia Óptica de Dominio Espectral) e imágenes histológicas. Resultados - SD-OCT pudo determinar el límite entre la epidermis y la dermis. Aparte del estrato córneo (SC), no permitía la diferenciación de las capas epidérmicas individuales. En la SD-OCT y en el examen histológico, los espesores medios de las capas (µm ± SD) fueron (respectivamente): SC 33.053 ± µm (SD 5.85, 29.675 ± 5.54; epidermis 88.2 ± 7.97, 65.126 ± 13.23; dermis 259.86 ± 18,29, 166,05 ± 31,88 µm. Hubo una correlación entre el SD-OCT epidérmico total y las mediciones histológicas (r = 0,43, P = 0,05). Las gráficas de Bland-Altman revelaron un sesgo de -19,18 (intervalo de confianza del 95 %) -39,21 a 0,84 µm) en el caso de epidermis viva (estrato granuloso, estrato espinoso, estrato basal). Conclusiones y relevancia clínica- SD-OCT se puede utilizar para evaluar la epidermis y la dermis de rata. El método permite diferenciar el SC, así como la epidermis y la dermis. Las dimensiones de grosor de la epidermis y la piel difieren entre SD-OCT y la histología.

Contexto - Técnicas diagnósticas não invasivas permitem a avaliação morfológica e morfométrica in vivo da pele. A tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT) é um método que possibilita a visualização de estruturas dérmicas de até centenas de micrômetros com uma resolução de 3-7,5 µm. Objetivos - O objetivo do estudo foi a avaliação morfométrica e morfológica da pele de ratos utilizando SD-OCT. Animais - Quinze ratos Wistar machos, de três a oito meses de idade, pesando de 350 a 450 g. Materiais e métodos - A pele da região metatársica plantar do membro pélvico direito foi avaliada. As mensurações foram realizadas utilizando o SD-OCT (Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography) e imagens histológicas. Resultados - A SD-OCT foi capaz de determinar o limite entre derme e epiderme. A exceção do estrato córneo (SC), não foi possível a diferenciação das camadas da epiderme individualmente. Na SD-OCT e na avaliação histológica, as espessuras médias das camadas fora, (µm ± DP), respectivamente: SC 33,053 ± 5,85; 29,675 ± 5,54; epiderme 88,2 ± 7,97; 65,126 ± 13,23; derme 259,86 ± 18,29; 166,05 ± 31,88 µm. Houve correlação entre SD-OCT e avaliação histológica nas mensurações da epiderme total (r = 0,43, P = 0,05). Os gráficos de Bland-Altman revelaram um viés de -19,8% (95% de intervalo de confiança) - 39,21 a 0,84 µm) no caso da epiderme viva (estrato espinhoso, estrato granuloso e estrato basal). Conclusões e relevância clínica - SD-OCT pode ser utilizada para avaliar a derme e a epiderme de ratos. Este método permite a diferenciação do SC, bem como da derme e epiderme. Pode haver discrepância na espessura da epiderme e da pele na SD-OCT e análise histológica.

Gentiopicroside PLGA Nanospheres: Fabrication, in vitro Characterization, Antimicrobial Action, and in vivo Effect for Enhancing Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

Purpose: Gentiopicroside (GPS), an adequate bioactive candidate, has a promising approach for enhancing wound healing due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Its poor aqueous solubility negatively affects oral absorption accompanied by low bioavailability due to intestinal/hepatic first-pass metabolism. Our aim in this study is to fabricate GPS into appropriate nanocarriers (PLGA nanospheres, NSs) to enhance its solubility and hence its oral absorption would be improved. Methods: Normal and ODS silica gel together with Sephadex LH20 column used for isolation of GPS from Gentiana lutea roots. Crude GPS would be further processed for nanospheres fabrication using a single o/w emulsion solvent evaporation technique followed by in vitro optimization study to examine the effect of two formulation variables: polymer (PLGA) and stabilizer (PVA) concentrations on the physical characterizations of prepared NSs. Possible GPS-PLGA chemical and physical interactions have been analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The optimum GPS-PLGA NSs have been chosen for antimicrobial study to investigate its inhibitory action on Staphylococcus aureus compared with unloaded GPS NSs. Also, a well-designed in vivo study on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats has been performed to examine the wound healing effect of GPS-PLGA NSs followed by histological examination of wound incisions at different day intervals throughout the study. Results: The optimum GPS PLGA NSs (F5) with well-controlled particle size (250.10±07.86 nm), relative high entrapment efficiency (83.35±5.71), and the highest % cumulative release (85.79±8.74) have increased the antimicrobial activity as it exhibited a higher inhibitory effect on bacterial growth than free GPS. F5 showed a greater enhancing impact on wound healing and a significant stimulating effect on the synthesis of collagen fibers compared with free GPS. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate that loading GPS into PLGA NSs is considered a promising strategy ensuring optimum GPS delivery for potential management of wounds.

Histological Examination of Retrieved ePTFE Membranes Following Regenerative Surgery of Intrabony Defects Treated with Platelet-rich Plasma and Bone Substitutes.

PURPOSE: Regenerative periodontal therapy using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone substitutes with guided tissue regeneration (GTR) have been proposed as a therapeutic method to enhance the outcome of regenerative surgery. This includes light microscopic evaluation of retrieved ePTFE membranes to assess formation of new connective tissue attachment, and following the regeneration process. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the histological findings of retrieved ePTFE membranes using PRP and bone substitutes, the effect of PRP on graft materials, and the correlation of the findings with the clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two (72) patients with chronic periodontitis, each of whom had one deep intrabony defect, were randomly included in two studies and treated using the same type of membrane and different bone substitutes. In the first study, 17 cases were treated with a natural bone mineral and a non-resorbable membrane (NBM + GTR), and 17 cases were treated with PRP + NBM + GTR. In the second study, 19 patients were treated with ß-tricalcium phosphate and a non-resorbable membrane (ß-TCP + GTR), and 19 patients were treated with PRP + ß-TCP + GTR. In both studies, tissue integration of the retrieved ePTFE membranes and attached remnants were evaluated histologically. RESULTS: Histological scores showed that membranes combined with NBM are better integrated than membranes combined with ß-TCP; the difference between the two decreased with the addition of PRP. The application of PRP had no significant effect on the quality of membrane integration combined with NBM, whilst significantly improving the integration quality when combined with ß-TCP. No correlations were detected between the histological scores and the clinical attachment level (CAL) gain in any of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that: a) application of ß-TCP and PRP may enhance membrane integration and periodontal healing, and b) histological examination of retrieved membranes may provide valuable additional information with regard to the clinical findings.

PGNMID and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody: a therapeutic challenge.

Monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS) designates disorders induced by a monoclonal protein secreted by plasma cells or B-cell clones in patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria for multiple myeloma or other B-cell malignancies. Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits (PGNMID) is a form MGRS. Until now, no guidelines to decide the best therapeutic approach to manage PGNMID exist, and most patients progress to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) without therapy. Recently, daratumumab has showed an acceptable improvement in proteinuria and renal function in patients with PGNMID. We report the clinical outcome and the histological renal evolution and treatment complication of our patient, who was initially treated with a combination regimen including bortezomib, dexamethasone, and cyclophosphamide and then with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody-based regimen.