Objectives The purpose of this in vitro study was to clinically assess the feasibility of a three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic (EM) navigator, including sensorized catheters and guidewires, to ...determine any reduction in radiation dose and contrast medium injection. Methods The study was performed using a navigator prototype developed at the EndoCAS center. The system includes catheters and guidewires simultaneously tracked with an EM localizer (Aurora, Northern Digital, Waterloo, Canada). Tests were performed on a commercial abdominal aortic aneurysm model. Fifteen operators were asked to cannulate renal arteries using the conventional fluoroscopic guidance and the EM navigator without fluoroscopic support. Each trial was video-recorded and analyzed for timing and success of completing the cannulation task by two blinded and independent observers. Performances were also qualitatively evaluated using the Imperial College Endovascular Cannulation Scoring Tool (IC3ST). Moreover, a questionnaire was administered to participants to evaluate the navigator potentialities. Results Quantitative analysis results show no significant difference between the fluoroscopic and EM guidance regarding the total procedure time (median 2.36 minutes interquartile range {IQR} = 1.26–4.7) vs. 2.95 min IQR = 1.35–5.38, respectively; p = .93); number of total hits with catheter/guidewire tip to vessels wall (median 5.50 IQR = 2.00–10.00 vs. 3.50 IQR = 2.50–7.00, respectively; p = .65); and number of attempts at cannulation (median 4.0 IQR = 2.00–5.00 vs. 4.0 IQR = 2.00–5.00, respectively; p = .72. Moreover, there was no significant difference between the IC3ST score obtained using the EM navigator and the traditional method (average 22.37 STD = 7.95 vs. 21.58 STD = 6.86; p = .92). Finally, questionnaire results indicate a general agreement concerning the navigator usefulness, which clearly shows the positions of instruments inside the 3D model of the patient's anatomy. Participants also agreed that the navigator can reduce the amount of contrast media delivered to the patient, as well as fluoroscopy time. Conclusions This work provides proof of concept that simultaneous EM navigation of guidewires and catheters is feasible without the use of live fluoroscopic images.
In Parkinson's disease, together with the classic loss of dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta, neuropathological studies and biochemical findings documented the occurrence of a ...concomitant significant cell death in the locus coeruleus. This review analyzes the latest data obtained from experimental parkinsonism indicating that, the loss of norepinephrine in Parkinson's disease might worsen the dopamine nigrostriatal damage. Within this latter context, basic research provided a new provocative hypothesis on the significance of locus coeruleus in conditioning the natural history of Parkinson's disease. In particular, the loss of a trophic influence of these neurons might be crucial in increasing the sensitivity of nigrostriatal dopamine axons to various neurotoxic insults. In line with this, recently, it has been shown that locus coeruleus activity plays a pivotal role in the expression of various immediate early genes and in inducing the phosphorilation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding proteins, suggesting a role of the nucleus in sustaining a protective effect.
In this study, starting from human dental pulp cells cultured in vitro, we simulated reparative dentinogenesis using a medium supplemented with different odontogenic inductors. The differentiation of ...dental pulp cells in odontoblast-like cells was evaluated by means of staining, and ultramorphological, biochemical and biomolecular methods. Alizarin red staining showed mineral deposition while transmission electron microscopy revealed a synthesis of extracellular matrix fibers during the differentiation process. Biochemical assays demonstrated that the differentiated phenotype expressed odontoblast markers, such as Dentin Matrix Protein 1 (DMP1) and Dentin Sialoprotein (DSP), as well as type I collagen. Quantitative data regarding the mRNA expression of DMP1, DSP and type I collagen were obtained by Real Time PCR. Immunofluorescence data demonstrated the various localizations of DSP and DMP1 during odontoblast differentiation. Based on our results, we obtained odontoblast-like cells which simulated the reparative dentin processes in order to better investigate the mechanism of odontoblast differentiation, and dentin extracellular matrix deposition and mineralization.
Abstract Despite their importance in anatomy, physiology, pathology and surgery, the fasciae and the fascial spaces have been poorly described in classic textbooks. This little attention depends on ...the fact that these fasciae vary in thickness and composition, especially at the cervical level. Indeed, in the main literature they have been described in different forms. Furthermore, the definition itself of the fascia is not consistent in a variety of authors. As a consequence, different criteria have been used to define and classify the fascial systems. In this paper, a brief terminological history and the most common nomenclatures and classifications of the fascia have been summarized.
Achilles tendon analysis represent
s
one of the most frequently requested ultrasonographic evaluations, due to the high incidence of tendinopathy. Various authors have described inflammatory features ...of the paratenon recruited 22 subjects complaining of pain in the mid-portion of the Achilles tendon and 22 healthy subjects. Both groups underwent ultrasonographic examination and Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment-Achilles questionnaire administration. It was found statistically significant inter-group differences of the paratenon (
p
= 0.0001) as well as tendon thickness (
p
< 0.0001). Our results show that Achilles symptoms could also be associated with an increase in the paratenon thickness. We suggest that clinicians should carefully analyze paratenon thickness when evaluating patients with Achillodynia using ultrasound. It may be that the paratenon, when thickened, may explain some of the painful symptoms reported by patients and it is associated with a tendinopathy process, hence we suggest careful analysis in patients with Achillodynia.
Purpose
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the role of deep fascia mobility in musculoskeletal dynamics and chronic pain mechanisms; however, no strategies have been presented so far ...to study in vivo fascial motion in 3D. This paper presents a semiautomatic method, based on ultrasound (US) imaging, enabling a 3D evaluation of fascia mobility.
Methods
The proposed approach relies on the acquisition of 3D US datasets at rest and during a voluntary muscular contraction and consists of two phases: 3D US dataset analysis and generation of a displacement vector field using a block matching technique (Phase 1) and validation and filtering of the resulting displacement vector field for outliers removal (Phase 2). The accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method were preliminarily tested on different 3D US datasets, undergoing either simulated (procedural) or real (muscular contraction) deformations.
Results
As for the simulated deformation, estimated displacement vectors resulting from Phase 1 presented a mean magnitude percentage error of 8.05 % and a mean angular error of
4
.
78
∘
which, after Phase 2, were reduced by 69.44 and by 83.05 %, respectively. Tests on real deformations further validated the effectiveness of Phase 2 in the removal of outliers from the displacement vector field.
Conclusions
Obtained results preliminarily demonstrate the viability of the proposed algorithm for the analysis of fascia mobility. Such analysis can enable clinicians to better understand the fascia role in musculoskeletal dynamics and disorder. Further experiments are needed to optimize the method in consideration of the anatomical region to be studied.
The effects of training are dependent on complex, adaptive changes which are induced by acute physical exercise at different levels. In particular, evidence shows that the ...hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, as well as the sympatho-adrenomedullary system, is mainly involved in mediating the physiological effects of physical exercise. The aim of the present study was to investigate, through a morphological and biochemical approach, the effects of training on the adrenal gland of mice, following two different protocols consisting of either low- or high-intensity training. Mice were run daily on a motorised treadmill for 8 weeks, at a velocity corresponding to 60% (low-intensity exercise) or 90% (high-intensity exercise) of the maximal running velocity previously determined by an incremental exercise test. We found that physical exercise produced an increase in the adrenal gland size compared with the control (sedentary) mice. The increase was 31.04% for mice that underwent high-intensity exercise and 10.08% for mice that underwent low intensity exercise, and this appeared to be the result of an increase in the area of both the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. Morphological analysis of the adrenal cortex showed that both types of exercise produced an increase in cytoplasmic vacuoles in steroidogenic cells, appearing more abundant after high-intensity exercise. No change was found in the reticulate zone. In the adrenal medulla, despite the absence of morphological changes, immunohistochemistry for tyrosine hydroxylase, dopamine β-hydroxylase and phenyl-ethanolamine-N-methyltransferase demonstrated an increased immunopositivity for these cathecolamine-synthesizing enzymes after intense exercise. These results were confirmed by immunoblot accompanied by densitometric analysis.
Cryopreservation is the only method for long-term storage of viable cells and tissues used for cellular therapy, stem cell transplantation and/or tissue engineering. However, the freeze-thaw process ...strongly contributes to cell and tissue damage through several mechanisms, including oxidative stress, cell injury from intracellular ice formation and altered physical cellular properties. Our previous proteomics investigation was carried out on Wharton’s Jelly Stem Cells (WJSCs) having similar properties to adult mesenchymal stem cells and thus representing a rich source of primitive cells to be potentially used in regenerative medicine. The aim of the present work was to investigate molecular changes that occur in WJSCs proteome in different experimental conditions: fresh primary cell culture and frozen cell. To analyze changes in protein expression of WJSCs undergoing different culturing procedures, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis (2DE followed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS nanoESI-Q-TOF MS coupled with nanoLC) between WJSCs from fresh and frozen cell culturing, respectively. Frozen WJSCs showed qualitative and quantitative changes compared to cells from fresh preparation, expressing proteins involved in replication, cellular defence mechanism and metabolism, that could ensure freeze-thaw survival. The results of this study could play a key role in elucidating possible mechanisms related to maintaining active proliferation and maximal cellular plasticity and thus making the use of WJSCs in cell therapy safe following bio-banking.
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