In the 20th century, free tissue transfers have been successfully introduced using microvascular anastomosis techniques. Transplants not only include whole organs such as the kidney, liver and lung, but also bone, muscle and skin. However, there are a limited number of organs available for transplantation. This leads to the patient not only suffering from the malfunctioning tissue or organ, but also from the psychological trauma of an indefinite waiting period. The rapidly evolving field of tissue engineering is beginning to have an impact on free tissue transfers including organ. Small biopsy specimens can be grown into a large number of cells. These cultured cells can then be seeded onto biodegradable polymers, which serve several purposes. Firstly, the polymers function as a cell delivery system that enables the transplantation of a large numbers of cells into an organism. Secondly, they create a three-dimensional space for cell growth and serve as a template, thereby providing a structure for the extracellular matrix. These approaches have been demonstrated as practical strategies for the reconstruction of many tissues such as the liver, intestines, heart valve leaflets, bone and cartilage.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering/trends* ; Bone and Bones ; Capillaries ; Cartilage ; Heart Valves ; Human ; Intestine, Small/physiopathology ; Liver, Artificial ; Regeneration

AIMTo show whether molecular motor dynein on a microtubule track, molecular motor myosin Va, motor recruiter myosin Va, VIIa-Rab27a/b interacting protein (MyRIP), and vesicle receptor Rab27b on an F-actin track were present during human and monkey spermiogenesis involving intramanchette transport (IMT).

METHODSSpermiogenic cells were obtained from three men with obstructive azoospermia and normal adult cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis). Immunocytochemical detection and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of the proteins were carried out. Samples were analyzed by light microscope.

RESULTSUsing RT-PCR, we found that dynein, myosin Va, MyRIP and Rab27b were expressed in monkey testis. These proteins were localized to the manchette, as shown by immunofluorescence, particularly during human and monkey spermiogenesis.

CONCLUSIONWe speculate that during primate spermiogenesis, those proteins that compose microtubule-based and actin-based vesicle transport systems are actually present in the manchette and might possibly be involved in intramanchette transport.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; physiology ; Dyneins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Macaca fascicularis ; Male ; Microtubules ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Myosin Type V ; metabolism ; Myosins ; metabolism ; Spermatids ; cytology ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; physiology ; Testis ; cytology ; metabolism ; Transport Vesicles ; physiology ; Vesicular Transport Proteins ; metabolism ; rab GTP-Binding Proteins ; metabolism

Methods: A total of 400 patients (175 men, 225 women) who underwent PLIF were observed for >1 year. Factors investigated included the frequency of cage retropulsion and surgical revision. In addition, physical (age, sex, disease), surgical (fusion and PLIF levels, cage number, grade 2 osteotomy), and comorbid (DISH, existing vertebral fracture) factors were compared between patients with and without cage retropulsion. Factors related to surgical revision during the observation period were also considered. Results: Cage retropulsion occurred in 15 patients and surgical revision was performed in 11. Revisions included the replacement of pedicle screws (PSs) with larger screws in all patients and supplementary implants in 10. Among the patients with cage retropulsion, the average PLIF level was 2.7, with DISH present in nine patients and existing vertebral fractures in six. Factors affecting cage retropulsion were diagnoses of osteoporotic vertebral fracture, multilevel fusion, single-cage insertion, grade 2 osteotomy, presence of DISH, and existing vertebral fracture. Multivariable analysis indicated that retropulsion of a fusion cage occurred significantly more frequently in patients with DISH and multilevel PLIF. Conclusions DISH and multilevel PLIF were significant risk factors affecting cage retropulsion. Revision surgery for cage retropulsion revealed PS loosening, suggesting that implant replacement was necessary to prevent repeat cage retropulsion after revision.

Methods: We observed 141 patients (61 men, 80 women; average age, 65.8 years) who had undergone PLIF and checked for the presence of L5/S interbody fusion. We investigated factors such as age, gender, the presence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), fusion level, and grade 2 osteotomy, as well as pre-, post-, and post−preoperative L5/S disk height and angle, lumbar lordosis, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and pelvic incidence (PI), comparing those with and without L5/S interbody fusion. In addition, we analyzed the patients classified into short-level (n=111) and multi-level fusion groups (n=30). Results: Overall, the L5/S interbody fusion rate was 70% (short-level, 78%; multi-level, 40%). Age and pre- and post−preoperative L5/S disk angle were significantly different in each fusion level group. DISH presence, grade 2 osteotomy, and postoperative VAS and JOA scores were significantly different in the short-level fusion group, whereas PI was significantly different in the multi-level fusion group. Conclusions Incomplete union after L5/S PLIF correlates with advanced age, many fusion levels, and a large value of preoperative and a small value of post−preoperative L5/S disk angles.

Methods: In this study, 63 patients (21 men and 42 women) who underwent surgical treatment for OVF were enrolled. Of these patients, 26 had DISH (D+) and 37 did not have DISH (D-). Patient demographic characteristics and surgical, clinical, and radiological findings were compared between those with and without DISH. The change in their ability to perform ADL after surgery was also evaluated. Results: Age, number of comorbidities, and 1-year mortality rate were significantly higher in the D+ group (p<0.05). Postoperative Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were significantly higher in patients with impaired (n=6, p=0.04) abilities to perform ADL, and improvements in VAS scores were significantly higher in patients with unchanged abilities to perform ADL (n=54, p=0.03) after surgery. The average postoperative VAS scores were 2.2 for the D+ group and 2.3 for the D- group, which were not significantly different. Conclusions The frequency of OVF with DISH was higher in elderly men with multiple comorbidities and contributed to a higher 1-year mortality rate than those in patients without DISH. However, preoperative and postoperative VAS scores and improvements in VAS scores were similar between those with and without DISH. Postoperative impaired ability to perform ADL was associated with old age, high postoperative VAS scores, and little improvements in VAS scores, which were limitedly influenced by DISH. Surgical treatment of OVF combined with DISH is effective and appropriate for elderly patients.