Development of Acellular Respiratory Mucosal Matrix Using Porcine Tracheal Mucosa

BACKGROUND@#Respiratory mucosa defects result in airway obstruction and infection, requiring subsequent functionalrecovery of the respiratory epithelium. Because site-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) facilitates restoration of organfunction by promoting cellular migration and engraftment, previous studies considered decellularized trachea an idealECM; however, incomplete cell removal from cartilage and mucosal-architecture destruction are frequently reported. Here,we developed a decellularization protocol and applied it to the respiratory mucosa of separated porcine tracheas. @*METHODS@#The trachea was divided into groups according to decellularization protocol: native mucosa, freezing–thawing (FT), FT followed by the use of Perasafe-based chemical agents before mucosal separation (wFTP), after mucosalseparation (mFTP), and followed by DNase decellularization (mFTD). Decellularization efficacy was evaluated by DNAquantification and hematoxylin and eosin staining, and ECM content of the scaffold was evaluated by histologic analysisand glycosaminoglycan and collagen assays. Biocompatibility was assessed by cell-viability assay and in vivotransplantation. @*RESULTS@#The mFTP mucosa showed low antigenicity and maintained the ECM to form a proper microstructure.Additionally, tonsil-derived stem cells remained viable when cultured with or seeded onto mFTP mucosa, and the in vivohost response showed a constructive pattern following implantation of the mFTP scaffolds. @*CONCLUSION@#These results demonstrated that xenogenic acellular respiratory mucosa matrix displayed suitable biocompatibilityas a scaffold material for respiratory mucosa engineering.

Development of Acellular Respiratory Mucosal Matrix Using Porcine Tracheal Mucosa

BACKGROUND@#Respiratory mucosa defects result in airway obstruction and infection, requiring subsequent functionalrecovery of the respiratory epithelium. Because site-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) facilitates restoration of organfunction by promoting cellular migration and engraftment, previous studies considered decellularized trachea an idealECM; however, incomplete cell removal from cartilage and mucosal-architecture destruction are frequently reported. Here,we developed a decellularization protocol and applied it to the respiratory mucosa of separated porcine tracheas. @*METHODS@#The trachea was divided into groups according to decellularization protocol: native mucosa, freezing–thawing (FT), FT followed by the use of Perasafe-based chemical agents before mucosal separation (wFTP), after mucosalseparation (mFTP), and followed by DNase decellularization (mFTD). Decellularization efficacy was evaluated by DNAquantification and hematoxylin and eosin staining, and ECM content of the scaffold was evaluated by histologic analysisand glycosaminoglycan and collagen assays. Biocompatibility was assessed by cell-viability assay and in vivotransplantation. @*RESULTS@#The mFTP mucosa showed low antigenicity and maintained the ECM to form a proper microstructure.Additionally, tonsil-derived stem cells remained viable when cultured with or seeded onto mFTP mucosa, and the in vivohost response showed a constructive pattern following implantation of the mFTP scaffolds. @*CONCLUSION@#These results demonstrated that xenogenic acellular respiratory mucosa matrix displayed suitable biocompatibilityas a scaffold material for respiratory mucosa engineering.

Thinning and drilling laser-assisted hatching in thawed embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: In frozen and thawed embryos, the zona pellucida (ZP) can be damaged due to hardening. Laser-assisted hatching (LAH) of embryos can increase the pregnancy rate. This study compared thinning and drilling of the ZP before frozen embryo transfer (FET). METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated into two groups for LAH using thinning or drilling on day 2 after thawing. Twenty-five percent of the ZP circumference and 50% of the ZP thickness was removed in the thinning group, and a hole 40 µm in diameter was made in the drilling group. RESULTS: A total of 171 in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection FET cycles, including 85 cycles with drilling LAH and 86 cycles with thinning LAH, were carried out. The thinning group had a similar β-human chorionic gonadotropin-positive rate (38.4% vs. 29.4%), implantation rate (16.5% vs. 14.4%), clinical pregnancy rate (36.0% vs. 25.9%), miscarriage rate (5.8% vs. 2.4%), ongoing pregnancy rate (30.2% vs. 23.5%), and multiple pregnancy rate (7.0% vs. 10.6%) to the drilling LAH group. There were no significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between subgroups defined based on age (older or younger than 35 years) or ZP thickness (greater or less than 17 µm) according to the LAH method. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that partial ZP thinning or drilling resulted in similar outcomes in implantation and pregnancy rates using thawed embryos, irrespective of women's age or ZP thickness.

Changes in hoof kinetics and kinematics at walk in response to hoof trimming: pressure plate assessment

Appropriate hoof preparation and symmetry are linked to the well-being of the horse. Previous studies have shown the efficacy of pressure plates (PPs) in delivering objective biomechanical analysis. We aimed to assess the effect of hoof trimming on hoof biomechanics using a PP. Nine clinically sound Arabian horses were walked across a PP while foot strike was recorded by a digital camera. Kinetic and kinematic parameters were recorded before and after trimming. Changes were considered significant when p < 0.05. Vertical force (p = 0.026) and contact pressure (p = 0.006) increased after trimming. Stance-phase duration (p = 0.006), swing-phase duration (p = 0.023), and gait-cycle duration (p = 0.007) decreased significantly post-trimming. The observed changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters were related to hoof trimming. The reported results underline the importance of farriery practice and its effect on hoof biomechanics, which should be considered by both farriers and veterinarians.