Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), has been used frequently in regenerative or translational medicine. In addition, recent advances in 3D printing technologies have opened the door to 3D bio-printing, which uses cells, biocompatible materials, and scaffolding simultaneously to generate 3D functional tissues. Although tissue generation by bio-printing such as multilayered skin, bone, bladder, and vascular grafts has shown good results, there are still several challenges related to printing of entire organs, particularly modulation of vascular formation during organ regeneration. This article provides a background and introduction to bio-printing for creation of artificial organs and tissues.
Artificial Organs ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bioprinting ; Regeneration* ; Skin ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; Translational Medical Research ; Transplants ; Urinary Bladder

Using KAIS 0.15 Telsla resistive magnetic imaging system, ECG gated magnetic resonance (MR) image of variouscardiovascular disease was obtained in 10 patients. The findings of MR image of the cardiovascular disesase wereanlaysed and the results were as follows: 1. In 6 cases of acquired and congenital cardiac disease, there were 2cases of myocardial infarction, 1 case of mitral stenosis and 3 cases of corrected transpossition of greatvessels. The others were 3 cases of aortic disease and 1 case of pericardial effusion with lymphoma. 2. Myocardialthinning left ventricular aneurysm were detected in MR images of myocardial infarction. The left atrium was welldelineated and enlarged in the case of mitral stenosis. And segmental analysis was possible in the cases ofcorrected transposition since all cardiac structures were well delineated anatomically. 3. In aortic disease, thefindings of MR image were enlarged lumen, compressed cardic chambers in ascending aortic aneurysm, intimal flap,enhanced false lumen in dissecting aneurysm and irregular narrowing of aorta with arterial obstruction inTakayasu's arteritis. 4. Pericardial effusion revealed a conspicuous contrast with neighboring meidastinal fat andcardiac wall due to it low signal encircling cardiac wall. 5. ECG gated MR image is an accurate non-invasive imaging modality for the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and better results of its clinical application areexpected in the futher development in the imaging system and more clinical experiences.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aorta ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Aortic Diseases ; Arteritis ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Atria ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pericardial Effusion

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Osteomalacia*

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal circulation (ECC) can induce alterations in blood viscoelasticity and cause red blood cell (RBC) aggregation. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of pump flow pulsatility on blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation. METHODS: Mongrel dogs were randomly assigned to two groups: a nonpulsatile pump group (n=6) or a pulsatile pump group (n=6). After ECC was started at a pump flow rate of 80 mL/kg/min, cardiac fibrillation was induced. Blood sampling was performed before and at 1, 2, and 3 hours after ECC commencement. To eliminate bias induced by hematocrit and plasma, all blood samples were adjusted to a hematocrit of 45% using baseline plasma. Blood viscoelasticity, plasma viscosity, hematocrit, arterial blood gas analysis, central venous O2 saturation, and lactate were measured. RESULTS: The blood viscosity and aggregation index decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC and then remained low during ECC in both groups, but blood elasticity did not change during ECC. Blood viscosity, blood elasticity, plasma viscosity, and the aggregation index were not significantly different in the groups at any time. Hematocrit decreased abruptly 1 hour after ECC in both groups due to dilution by the priming solution used. CONCLUSION: After ECC, blood viscoelasticity and RBC aggregation were not different in the pulsatile and nonpulsatile groups in the adult dog model. Furthermore, pulsatile flow did not have a more harmful effect on blood viscoelasticity or RBC aggregation than nonpulsatile flow.
Adult ; Animals ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Viscosity ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Dogs ; Elasticity ; Erythrocytes* ; Extracorporeal Circulation* ; Hematocrit ; Hematology ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Plasma ; Pulsatile Flow ; Viscosity

BACKGROUND: Previous study suggested that beef tallow extract including cis-9-cetylmyristoleate was a safe and effective treatment for patients with osteoarthritis. We used extract of vegetable oils containing cetyl myristoleate. This study assessed the effect of this supplementation on knee pain and function in patients with osteoarthritis. METHODS: The 70 patients who manifested the symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis of knee were randomly assigned to placebo (36) and plant-fatty acids complex (FAC) group (34). Two capsules of placebo (corn starch 350 mg) and plant-FAC (12% cetyl myristoleate in 350 mg) were orally administered to placebo and plant-FAC group three times a day for 60 day, respectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster's Universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) were assessed before and after the intervention and we monitored any adverse effects. RESULTS: The 6 of 36 patients (16.7%) in the placebo and the 5 of 34 patients (14.7%) in the plant-FAC group were missed due to low compliance. In the plant-FAC group, the VAS score was improved by mean 0.76 (P = 0.03) but the improvement was lower than that of placebo group. The KWOMAC was improved by mean 8.90 and 8.13 in the plant-FAC and placebo group, respectively. But the independent t-test showed no statistical significance (P = 0.47). CONCLUSION: We failed to show the superiority of plant-FAC to placebo on the pain and function of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Capsules ; Compliance ; Fats ; Fatty Acids ; Humans ; Knee ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Plant Oils ; Starch ; Vegetables ; Waxes

BACKGROUND: Previous study suggested that beef tallow extract including cis-9-cetylmyristoleate was a safe and effective treatment for patients with osteoarthritis. We used extract of vegetable oils containing cetyl myristoleate. This study assessed the effect of this supplementation on knee pain and function in patients with osteoarthritis. METHODS: The 70 patients who manifested the symptoms and signs of osteoarthritis of knee were randomly assigned to placebo (36) and plant-fatty acids complex (FAC) group (34). Two capsules of placebo (corn starch 350 mg) and plant-FAC (12% cetyl myristoleate in 350 mg) were orally administered to placebo and plant-FAC group three times a day for 60 day, respectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Korean version of Western Ontario and McMaster's Universities Osteoarthritis Index (KWOMAC) were assessed before and after the intervention and we monitored any adverse effects. RESULTS: The 6 of 36 patients (16.7%) in the placebo and the 5 of 34 patients (14.7%) in the plant-FAC group were missed due to low compliance. In the plant-FAC group, the VAS score was improved by mean 0.76 (P = 0.03) but the improvement was lower than that of placebo group. The KWOMAC was improved by mean 8.90 and 8.13 in the plant-FAC and placebo group, respectively. But the independent t-test showed no statistical significance (P = 0.47). CONCLUSION: We failed to show the superiority of plant-FAC to placebo on the pain and function of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
Capsules ; Compliance ; Fats ; Fatty Acids ; Humans ; Knee ; Ontario ; Osteoarthritis ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; Plant Oils ; Starch ; Vegetables ; Waxes

Using KAIS 0.15 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging system, ECG gated magnetic resonance image (MRI) of cardiovascular system was obtained in 8 normal volunteers and 10 patients with various cardiovascular diseases diagnosed at Seoul National University Hospital. The findings of cardiovascular MRI were analysed and the results were as follows ; 1) ECG gated MRI revealed datailed normal anatomy of heart including both atrioventricles and great vessels in axial, sagittal and coronary sections with natural contrast of moving blood without contrast media. 2) Dynamic changes of both ventricular walls in systolic and diastolic phase were revealed in sequential axial MRI, and increased signals were detected in left ventricle and descending aorta due to slow flow in end diastole. 3) Left ventricular aneurysm and myocardial thinning were shown in 2 cases of myocardial infarction. Enlarged left atrium was noted in 1 cases of mitral stenosis. Segmental analysis was possible in 3 cases of corrected transposition of great vessels. 4) Enlarged lumen, intimal flap and irregular luminal narrowing were detected in each of ascending aortic aneurysm, dissecting aneurysm and Takayasu's arteritis respectively. Pericardial effusion due to lymphoma revealed low signal encircling heart in contrast with neighboring mediastinal structures and cardiac wall. 5) MRI is a new promising modality in the diagnosis of cardiovascular system, which has potentiality to give a hemodynamic information in addition to the anatomical detalis.
Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Aortic Aneurysm ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cardiovascular System* ; Contrast Media ; Diagnosis ; Diastole ; Electrocardiography ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart ; Heart Atria ; Heart Ventricles ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Myocardial Infarction ; Pericardial Effusion ; Phenobarbital ; Seoul ; Takayasu Arteritis ; Transposition of Great Vessels

We report a rare case of neuro-Behcet's disease (NBD) presenting as an inflammatory pseudotumor in the brain. A 52-yr-old woman was evaluated for subacute dizziness and headache. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed a right cerebellar mass, which disappeared 2 weeks later. After a year, recurrent mucocutaneous manifestations of Beh et's disease were observed. Immunosuppressant and steroid maintenance treatment were started. She experienced two more neurologic attacks and brain MR imaging revealed an enhancing mass in the right temporal lobe. The second attack showed a good response to steroid pulse therapy, but the third attack did not respond to steroid and her neurologic signs suggested an impending transtentorial hernia. The right temporal lobectomy was performed for the purpose of life-saving. The pathologic finding of the mass was a chronic inflammatory vasculitis, compatible with NBD.
Behcet Syndrome/*diagnosis/surgery ; Brain Diseases/*diagnosis/surgery ; Brain Neoplasms/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell/*diagnosis/surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High dose systemic steroid therapy is currently the mainstay of the treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). However, it makes a glycemic control worse in patients with diabetes. Intratympanic steroid injection (ITSI) can result in reduced systemic steroid toxicity and higher perilymph steroid level selectively. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy of ITSI (IT group) with that of systemic steroid (IV group) on SSNHL with diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty eight SSNHL patients who were diagnosed with diabetes were divided into the IV group (19 patients) and the IT group (19 patients). In the IV group, prednisolone was administrated intravenously for 7 days followed by tapered doses orally for 7 days. In the IT group, dexamethasone was administrated 4 times within a 2 week-period. Hearing outcome was assessed before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the IV group, 10 patients (58.8%) showed an improvement in the pure tone audiogram (PTA), with a mean improvement of 17.6 dB (p=0.023). In the IT group, 16 patients (84.2%) showed improvement in the PTA, with the mean improvement of 25.1 dB (p=0.000). But there was no significant difference in hearing gain and the recovery rate between the two groups. And it is more difficult to control blood sugar in the IV group rather than in the IT group. CONCLUSION: ITSI treatment is as effective as the systemic steroid treatment for SSNHL patients with diabetes and it can avoid a significant side effect of systemic steroids. So it could be considered as an initial treatment for the SSNHL patient with diabetes.
Blood Glucose ; Dexamethasone ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; Humans ; Perilymph ; Prednisolone ; Steroids

We report herein a case of benign cardiac schwannoma in the interatrial septum. A 42-year-old woman was transferred from a clinic because of cardiomegaly as determined by chest X-ray. A transthoracic echocardiography and chest computed tomography examination revealed a huge mass in the pericardium compressing the right atrium, superior vena cava (SVC), left atrium, and superior pulmonary vein. To confirm that the tumor originated from either heart or mediastinum, cine magnetic resonance imaging was performed, but the result was not conclusive. To facilitate surgical planning, we used 3D printing. Using a printed heart model, we decided that tumor resection under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) through sternotomy would be technically feasible. At surgery, a huge tumor in the interatrial septum was confirmed. By incision on the atrial roof between the aorta and SVC, tumor enucleation was performed successfully under CPB. Pathology revealed benign schwannoma. The patient was discharged without complication. 3D printing of the heart and tumor was found to be helpful when deciding optimal surgical approach.
Adult ; Atrial Septum/pathology/surgery ; Cardiomegaly/*etiology/radiography ; *Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Female ; Heart Atria/pathology ; Heart Neoplasms/pathology/*surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine ; Neurilemmoma/*pathology/surgery ; *Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Sternotomy ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Superior/pathology