The role of laser power and pullback velocity in the endovenous laser ablation efficacy: an experimental study.

Endovenous laser ablation is an effective and minimally invasive alternative to surgical removal of incompetent veins. However, many controversies concerning optimal laser parameters usage in this procedure still remain. The purpose of this experimental study was to assess the adequate parameters required for vein wall destruction and to evaluate the role of fiber pullback velocity on vessel wall degradation. Varicose vein segments were treated with 1470-nm diode laser 3 to 9.5 W in power. The fiber moved through the vein at a velocity of 0.7 or 1.5 mm/s; the applied linear endovenous energy density (LEED) was 40-95 J/cm. The temperature of the vein surface in the course of laser irradiation was controlled by IR thermography. The intact collagen in treated vein specimens was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The increase in the surface temperature with applied energy was found to be about three times slower for the pullback velocity of 0.7 mm/s than that of 1.5 mm/s. The collagen in the tissue was totally denatured in the case of the surface temperature of about 91 °C. The critical values of LEED ensured complete degradation of vein wall were of 53 and 71.5 J/cm for velocities of 1.5 and 0.7 mm/s, respectively. Our experimental study supports the conception that it is laser power and pullback velocity rather than LEED value that determine the temperature as well the collagen framework degradation and therefore the thermal response of procedure.

Express Analysis of Cartilage Tissue Using Multivariate Analysis of IR Spectra.

The aim of the study was to develop a diagnostic method for the quantitative determination of the main components of cartilage tissue of various types based on multivariate IR spectral analysis and verification of data using classical chemical analysis. Materials and Methods: Cartilages of the nasal septum, knee joint, rib, and nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disc, as well as trypsinized and defective cartilage samples, were examined as samples. The IR spectra of the cartilage samples, as well as calibration mixtures of collagen and chondroitin sulfate, were obtained. The IR spectra were collected using the attenuated total reflectance techniques, and their processing was performed using the TQ Analyst software and the principal component regression calibration technique. Based on calibration dependence, the Ksp coefficient was determined as the ratio of the mass fractions of collagen and chondroitin sulfate. Its value was compared with the value of Kchem, equal to the ratio of the mass fractions of collagen and chondroitin sulfate, obtained using the classical chemical analysis of these substances. Results: The IR spectra of cartilage tissues are a superposition of the IR spectra of collagen and chondroitin sulfate and qualitatively reflect their composition. A change in the ratio between the relative intensities of the characteristic bands of compounds in the IR spectrum is obvious only with a significant change in the content of these compounds in cartilage. This change occurs after trypsinization, when Ksp increases from 0.88±0.05 (Kchem~0.8) to 4.55. The use of a calibration model with a complete analysis of the cartilage IR spectrum made it possible to determine the difference in the ratio of the main components in the matrix of different samples in the absence of obvious changes in the IR spectra. Thus, a statistically significant decrease in the content of chondroitin sulfate in degraded articular cartilage (Ksp=4.4±1.8; Kchem~5.5) was shown compared with intact samples (Ksp=2.8±1.1; Kchem~2.6). Conclusion: IR spectrometric express analysis of cartilage tissue employing the principal component regression method allows a correct determination of the ratio of the main components in the cartilage matrix, those of collagen and glycosaminoglycans. The proposed technique includes one measurement, does not require prolonged and laborious sample preparation, does not require long, multi-stage and laborious chemical manipulations to determine each of the components, and makes it possible to determine the features and changes in the composition for a large set of samples of cartilage tissue of different types. In future, this approach can be used for non-invasive diagnostics of cartilage tissue.

Development of a Two-Layer Porous Scaffold Based on Porcine Nasal Septal Cartilage for Orthopedics.

The aim of the study was to design a construct based on a nasal septal cartilage plate providing required cell differentiation in different layers to replace a deep osteochondral defect and develop an algorithm of chemical and physical effect sequence to create non-immunogenic two-layer porous structure with requisite elasto-mechanical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plates derived from porcine nasal septal hyaline cartilage covered by perichondrium were multi-stage treated including freezing, equilibrating in a hypotonic saline solution (type I specimens); trypsinization, point IR-laser effect, re-trypsinization (type II specimens); a stabilizing effect of crosslinking agents - glyceraldehyde/ribose in an acidic medium - washing (type III specimens).For all type specimens:there were established stability parameters (collagen denaturation temperature using a thermal analysis; and Young's modulus using a mechanical analysis);there were determined morphological characteristics using light and polarization microscopy with classical staining and nonlinear optical microscopy in second-harmonic generation mode. RESULTS: Thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties in type I specimens slightly differed from those of the initial nasoseptal system. A considerable part of cells had destroyed membranes.In type II specimens, thermal stability of collagen frame was significantly lower; Young's modulus decreased more than fourfold compared to type I specimens. Collagen structure of hyaline cartilage appeared to be disarranged, although the morphological differences of the hyaline part and perichondrium preserved. The construct matrix was almost completely decellularized. Successive exposure to laser radiation and trypsin resulted in the formation of partial holes in the matrix, ~100 µm in diameter.In type III specimens, both the thermal stability of the collagen frame and Young's modulus (E) increased. Glyceraldehyde was more effective than ribose, E having reached the value typical for intact hyaline cartilage. Collagen fibers in type III specimens were thicker than in type I and II specimens. The morphological differences of the hyaline part and perichondrium and partial holes were preserved. CONCLUSION: Due to sequential treatment by salts, trypsin, IR-laser radiation, and nontoxic crosslinking agents, nasal septal cartilage plate forms porous acellular construction consisting of two layers formed by type I (from perichondrium) and type II (from hyaline part) collagen fibers. In the present construction, stability, mechanical properties, and size of the partial holes can be assigned for cell colonization. It enables to use the construction to replace articular cartilage defects.

Stabilization of scleral collagen by glycerol aldehyde cross-linking.

The paper aims at the evaluation of prospects for using glyceraldehyde as a cross-linking agent for the scleral tissue. Stability parameters (denaturation temperature, Young's modulus, ultimate tensile stress, proteolytic resistance) and analytical parameter (fluorescence intensity) were determined during the glycation process of isolated rabbit sclera. The analysis of fluorescence spectral characteristic provided information about some glycation products. The glyceraldehyde treatment was resulted in a significant increase in thermal stability, proteolytic resistance and improvement of biomechanical characteristics (Young's modulus, ultimate tensile stress). Unique properties of the reaction between scleral collagen and glyceraldehyde are observed at short cross-linking times. The appearance of intermediate collagen fraction with lowest thermal and proteolytic stability was detected.