OBJECTIVETo investigate the injury in the corneal nerve and cornea of rats exposed to n-hexane.

METHODSThirty-two SD male rats were randomly divided into one control group and four n-hexane groups. The four n-hexane groups inhaled 35.2 g/m(3) n-hexane statically for 1, 3, 7 and 14 d respectively, while the rats in the control group inhaled air. The corneal nerve damage was investigated with golden staining and transmission electron microscope. Histopathological and ultrastructure changes of cornea were analyzed also.

RESULTSThe concentration of n-hexane in blood of rats in different experimental groups was (242.91 +/- 59.68), (668.77 +/- 221.74), (1021.21 +/- 545.71) and (1140.42 +/- 468.44) microg/L, increased gradiently with time exposed to n-hexane. In the rats exposed to n-hexane for 7 and 14 d, there appeared fewer corneal nerve bundles and lower density of nerve fiber at the center of cornea, under electron microscope, the lamellar sheath of nerve fiber in the corneal epitheliums appeared intermittent, the neuroplasm of endings was partly lysed and became vacuolar, the microfilament and racuole of neuraxon decreased. In the group exposed to n-hexane for 14 d, the microvillus of cornea epithelium were decreased. In some basal cells there appeared pyknotic nucleus and vacuole, mitochondria were swollen or disappeared.

CONCLUSIONThe structure of corneal nerve and cornea is damaged in the rats exposed to n-hexane, thus leading to dysfunction of cornea.

Histidine triad nucleotide-binding protein 1 (HINT1) is a member of a superfamily of histidine triad proteins named by the conserved nucleotide-binding motif histidine-x-histidine-x-histidine-xx, in which x represents hydrophobic amino acid. HINT1 is implicated in pathological progress of many human diseases including cancer and schizophrenia; however, little is known about the essential role and pathological consequences of HINT1 in cellular physiology and diseases. Therefore, we summarize the structure, distribution, and physiological function of HINT1 in cells and tissues as well as the correlation between HINT1 and human diseases.
Disease ; Humans ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; physiology

Skin grafting is often required for diabetic ulcerative foot lesions. In skin grafting, effective regional or local anesthesia into the donor and recipient areas plays a significant role in continuous control of pain. We report on a technique of ultrasound-guided nerve block on the femoral, sciatic, and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves in large split-thickness skin grafting for ulcer of the foot and leg.
Anesthesia, Local ; Femoral Nerve ; Foot* ; Humans ; Leg* ; Nerve Block* ; Sciatic Nerve ; Skin Transplantation* ; Tissue Donors ; Ulcer*

nerve tissues, were still unclear. This study observed the histological changes and the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) after distraction osteogenesis. Unilateral mandibular distraction (0.5 mm twice per day for 10 days) was performed in eight mongrel dogs. Two animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days after completion of distraction, respectively. The distracted IAN and contralateral control nerve were harvested and processed for histological and innunohistochemical examinations. The signs of acute nerve injuries, such as demyelination and partial discontinuation of nerver fiber, were observed in the distracted IAN on 7 and 14 days after distraction. The initial remyelination and regeneration of distracted IAN were showed at 14 days after completion of distraction. At 56 days later, the histologic features of distracted IAN was similar to those of the normal control IAN. The expression of NGF was significantly increased in most distracted nerve tissues on 7, 14 and 28 days after distraction. On 56 days after distraction, the expression of NGF returned to the normal level. This study suggested that the acute IAN injury caused by mandibular distraction were mostly recovered during consolidation period. The NGF was seemed to be induced from Schwann cell and damaged nerve tissues, and it may have important roles in the initial healing of damaged nerves.]]>
Animals ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Dogs ; Mandibular Nerve ; Nerve Growth Factor ; Nerve Tissue ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Regeneration

Artificial nerve guidance conduits (NGCs) are synthetic nerve grafts that are capable of providing the structural and nutritional support for nerve regeneration. The ideal NGCs have plenty of requirements on biocompatibility, mechanical strength, topological structure, and conductivity. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously improve the design of NGCs and establish a better therapeutic strategy for peripheral nerve injury in order to meet clinical needs. Although current NGCs have made certain process in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury, their nerve regeneration and functional outcomes on repairing long-distance nerve injury remain unsatisfactory. Herein, we review the nerve conduit design from four aspects, namely raw material selection, structural design, therapeutic factor loading and self-powered component integration. Moreover, we summarize the research progress of NGCs in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury, in order to facilitate the iterative updating and clinical transformation of NGCs.
Humans ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/therapy* ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Nerve Regeneration/physiology* ; Sciatic Nerve

This case report describes an unusual communicating branch from radial to ulnar nerves in the axilla region on the right side of the Korean cadaver of a 59-year-old male. The brachial plexus containing the communicating branch were extracted en bloc. The extracted specimens were immersed in Guanidine-HCl (0.2 M) for two weeks and then treated several times with an ultrasonic cleaner for an hour to soften the connective tissue around the nerve bundles. The spinal root origins of this communicating branch were found to be largely C7 and some C8. Unexpectedly, the branches of the ulnar nerve innervated the medial two-third of the medial head of the triceps brachii muscle on the right side in the same cadaver. Numbers of nerve fibers of the communicating branch and the main distributing branch of the ulnar nerve to the triceps brachii muscle were 523 and 525, respectively. This result implies that nerve fibers moving from the radial to the ulnar nerves may innervate the original distributing territories of the radial nerve. Another possibility is that a part of radial muscular branch to the triceps beachii muscle may be fused to the ulnar nerve in their distributing territories.
Axilla ; Brachial Plexus ; Cadaver ; Connective Tissue ; Head ; Muscles ; Nerve Fibers ; Radial Nerve ; Spinal Nerve Roots ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of modified end-to-side neurorrhaphy on functional recovery, by modulating the epineurial window and contact areas with a donor nerve, using a rat median nerve and finger flexors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four experimental groups (n=10) were used: a large epineurial window and a spiral circumferential contact with the donor nerve (Group A): a large epineurial window and half a contact with the donor nerve (Group B): a small epineurial window and half a contact with the donor nerve (Group C): and a nontransferred control (Group D). Grasping testing, muscle contractility testing, and a histological study were performed. RESULTS: Twenty weeks after surgery, the grasping strength, tetanic force and nerve fiber count were significantly higher in group A than group C. The modified end-to-side repair can enhance axonal sprouting from an intact nerve, and improve functional recovery. CONCLUSION: Either the epineurial window surface area or the contact configuration with the donor nerve is an important factor in an end-to-side coaptation model.
Animals ; Axons ; Fingers ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Regeneration* ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Rats* ; Tissue Donors

A new balloon dissector, a modification of a Foley catheter, was devised and it can be used either as a dissector or a tissue expander. Since most operating time was spent in balloon manipulation (inflation/deflation), the duct for saline injection was made to be wider than the Foley catheter. As a result, the balloon could be inflated faster than before. In order to reduce the scar at the donor site, harvest of the sural nerve using endoscopic technique is currently applied, but utilization of this method is technically difficult and requires a long operating time. For these reasons, new our method of using a balloon dissector was devised. The balloon dissector can also be used for immediate intraoperative tissue expansion for the reconstruction of small skin defects without distortion. We have found that the advantages of using the new balloon dissector include a reduction in operating time, preservation of the perforating vessels, and primary closure with less tension. In addition, this simple and inexpensive instrument is cost-beneficial to patients.
Catheters ; Cicatrix ; Humans ; Skin ; Sural Nerve ; Tissue Donors ; Tissue Expansion ; Tissue Expansion Devices

Peripheral nerve injuries remain a challenge for reconstructive surgeons with many patients obtaining suboptimal results. Understanding the level of injury is imperative for successful repair. Current methods for distinguishing healthy from damaged nerve are time consuming and possess limited efficacy. Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) is an emerging optical biopsy technology that enables dynamic, high resolution, sub-surface imaging of live tissue. Porcine sciatic nerve was either left undamaged or briefly clamped to simulate injury. Diluted fluorescein was applied topically to the nerve. CLE imaging was performed by direct contact of the probe with nerve tissue. Images representative of both damaged and undamaged nerve fibers were collected and compared to routine H&E histology. Optical biopsy of undamaged nerve revealed bands of longitudinal nerve fibers, distinct from surrounding adipose and connective tissue. When damaged, these bands appear truncated and terminate in blebs of opacity. H&E staining revealed similar features in damaged nerve fibers. These results prompt development of a protocol for imaging peripheral nerves intraoperatively. To this end, improving surgeons' ability to understand the level of injury through real-time imaging will allow for faster and more informed operative decisions than the current standard permits.
Biopsy* ; Blister ; Connective Tissue ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Fluorescein ; Histological Techniques ; Humans ; Microscopy ; Nerve Fibers ; Nerve Tissue ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Sciatic Nerve ; Trauma, Nervous System

Neurofibromas are common benign tumors and can originate from any nerve tissue in the body. A solitary neurofibroma in breast parenchyma has rarely been reported, however. We report a neurofibroma originating from breast parenchyma in a 61-year old woman. On mammography, the mass appeared as a well marginated and circumscribed mass, suggesting a benign tumor, and after excisional biopsy, was pathologically proven to be a neurofibroma.
Biopsy ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue ; Neurofibroma*