40 research outputs found
Preservation and sterilization methods of the meniscal allografts : literature review
Nowadays, there are four types of meniscal
allografts known: fresh, cryopreserved, deep-frozen
and lyophilized ones but only two of them are widely
used in clinical practice. Use of different types of
meniscal allografts still remains controversial due to
preparation method, their biomechanical properties as
well as cost which is connected with processing and
storage. The main aim of this review is to present the
current status of knowledge concerning meniscal
allograft preservation and sterilization, especially the
advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Authors wanted to show a broad spectrum of methods
used and conceptions presented by other authors. The
second aim is to gather available information about
meniscal preservation and sterilization methods in one
paper. Deep-frozen and cryopreserved meniscal allografts
are the most frequently used ones in the clinical
practice. The use of fresh grafts stays controversial but
also has many followers. Lyophilized grafts in turn are
not applied at present due to some serious drawbacks
including reduction of tensile strength, poor rehydration,
graft shrinkage and post-transplantation joint
effusion as well as increased risk of meniscal size
reduction. An application of sterilizing agents make
the meniscal allograft free from the bacteria and
viruses, but also it may cause serious structure changes.
Therefore, choosing just one ideal method of meniscal
allograft preservation and sterilization is complicated
and should be based on broad knowledge and experience
of surgeon performing the transplantation
A moment from before 365 Ma frozen in time and space
This study presents a detailed analysis of an exceptionally well-preserved articulated specimen of the trilobite Trimerocephalus from the Late Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains in Poland. X-ray microtomography reveals the oldest direct evidence for a moulting episode known from the fossil record. The process of moulting as well as associated features observed in the investigated specimen are interpreted by comparison with extinct and extant Xiphosurida arthropods, which survived global P/T extinction and are among the closest extant relatives of trilobites. A very special moment frozen in time and space millions years ago provides rare insights into the behavior and physiology of these long-extinct arthropods
X-ray microtomography (XMT) of fossil brachiopod shell interiors for taxonomy
The ability to see and understand the three-dimensional structure of an investigated object plays a key role in studying fossil remains. All living organisms are formed in three-dimensions, but unfortunately fossilization processes often reduce overall shape, making it difficult to gather information about real overall appearance, functionality, and inner structure. Here, using a specimen of the brachiopod Tere bratula terebratula we demonstrate a non-destructive technique for exploring the 3-D internal structure of fossil remains. The use of tomography allows the construction of a set of transverse serial sections in the manner used by brachiopod researchers for decades
X-ray microtomography analysis of the aluminum alloy composite reinforced by SiC after Friction Stir Processing
Despite many years of using friction stir processing (FSP), there are many unexplained aspects concerning the processes which appear during FSP: determining the direction of flow and mixing of the materials and the degree of mixing and microstructure fragmentation in specific areas. This paper presents the impact of FSP on the micro- and macrostructure of the composite with hypo-eutectic Si matrix reinforced by SiC particles. The analysis of the structure of the processed area in FSP in the relation to the microstructure of the base material has been made using x-ray microtomography. The results of these studies have been juxtaposed with studies using microscopic methods (light microscopy and SEM). The microtomography images revealed an additional separation on the advancing side and the weld nugget, where on the basis of a 3D reconstruction a layer microstructure on the direction of linear movement of the tool has been demonstrated. The analyses have revealed a limited flow of the material above the weld nugget. The main advantages of the research method applied were the possibility to show the invisible or barely visible elements of the microstructure using standard test methods and the ability to analyze the microstructure changes uninterruptedly in different directions in the volume of the material
Neandertal-like traits visible in the internal structure of non-supranuchal fossae of some recent Homo sapiens: The problem of their identification in hominins and phylogenetic implications
Although recently the internal structure of the non-supranuchal fossa of Homo sapiens has
been described and compared to that observed in the Neandertal suprainiac fossa, until now it
has not been examined in any modern human children. In this study, the internal structure of
this fossa in the occipital bones of three children (two aged 3–4 years and one aged 5 years ±
16 months) and one adult individual representing recent Homo sapiens from Australia was analysed
and compared to that of the Neandertal suprainiac fossa. In order to analyse the internal
composition of the fossae of the examined specimens, initially, high-resolution micro-CT datasets
were obtained for their occipital bones; next, 3D topographic maps of the variation in thickness
of structural layers of the occipital bones were made and 2D virtual sections in the median
region of these fossae were prepared. In the fossa of one immature individual, the thinning of
the diploic layer characteristic of a Neandertal suprainiac fossa was firmly diagnosed. The
other Neandertal-like trait, concerning the lack of substantial thinning of the external table of the
bone in the region of the fossa, was established in two individuals (one child and one adult) due
to the observation of an irregular pattern of the thickness of this table in the other specimens,
suggesting the presence of an inflammatory process. Our study presents, for the first time,
Neandertal-like traits (but not the whole set of features that justifies the autapomorphic status
of the Neandertal supraniac fossa) in the internal structure of non-supranuchal fossae of some
recent Homo sapiens. We discuss the phylogenetic implications of the results of our analysis
and stress the reasons that use of the 3D topographic mapping method is important for the correct
diagnosis of Neandertal traits of the internal structure of occipital fossae
SEM-EDS and X-ray micro Computed Tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)
Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture
SEM-EDS and X-ray micro computed tomography studies of skeletal surface pattern and body structure in the freshwater sponge Spongilla lacustris collected from Goczalkowice reservoir habit (Southern Poland)
Introduction. Freshwater sponges are common animals of most aquatic ecosystems. They feed by filtering small particles from the water, and so are thought to be sensitive indicators of pollution. Sponges are strongly associated with the abiotic environment and are therefore used as bioindicators for monitoring of water quality in water habitats. Among the freshwater sponges, Spongilla lacustris is one of the classic models used to study evolution, gene regulation, development, physiology and structural biology in animal water systems. It is also important in diagnostic of aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to characterize and visualize three-dimensional architecture of sponge body and measure skeleton elements of S. lacustris from Goczalkowice reservoir for identification purposes. Material and methods. The scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (SEM- -EDS) and X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to provide non-invasive visualization of the three-dimensional architecture of Spongilla lacustris body. Results. We showed that sponge skeleton was not homogeneous in composition and comprised several forms of skeleton organization. Ectosomal skeleton occurred as spicular brushes at apices of primary fibres with cementing spongin material. Choanosomal skeletal architecture was alveolate with pauci- to multispicular primary fibres connected by paucispicular transverse fibres, made by megascleres embedded in a scanty spongin matrix both in the choanosome and at the sponge surface. In contrast, microscleres were irregularly scattered in choanosome and skeletal surface. Furthermore, SEM-EDS studies showed that the distribution of silica in megascleres and microscleres was observed along the spicules and sponge surface areas. Conclusions. In conclusion, we showed that the combination of SEM-EDS and micro-CT microscopy techniques allowed obtaining a complete picture of the sponge spatial architecture
Prediction of Young's modulus of trabeculae in microscale using macro-scale's relationships between bone density and mechanical properties
According to the literature, there are many mathematical relationships between density of the trabecular bone and mechanical properties obtained in macro-scale testing. In micro-scale, the measurements provide only the ranges of Young's modulus of trabeculae, but there are no experimentally tested relationships allowing the calculation of the distribution of Young's modulus of trabeculae within these experimental ranges. This study examined the applicability of relationships between bone density and mechanical properties obtained in macro-scale testing for the calculation of Young's modulus distribution in micro-scale. Twelve cubic specimens from eleven femoral heads were cut out and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanned. A mechanical compression test and Digital Image Correlation (DIC) measurements were performed to obtain the experimental displacement and strain full-field evaluation for each specimen. Five relationships between bone density and Young's modulus were selected for the test; those were given by Carter and Hayes (1977), Ciarelli et al. (2000), Kaneko et al. (2004), Keller (1994) for the human femur, and Li and Aspden, 1997. Using these relationships, five separate finite element (FE) models were prepared, with different distribution of Young's modulus of trabeculae for each specimen. In total, 60 FE analyses were carried out. The obtained displacement and strain full-field measurements from numerical calculations and experiment were compared. The results indicate that the highest accuracy of the numerical calculation was obtained for the Ciarelli et al. (2000) relationship, where the relative error was 17.87% for displacements and 50.94 % for strains. Therefore, the application of the Ciarelli et al. (2000) relationship in the microscale linear FE analysis is possible, but mainly to determine bone displacement
Bioresorbable Stent in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
The exact causes of failure of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction are still
unknown. A key to successful ACL reconstruction is the prevention of bone tunnel enlargement
(BTE). In this study, a new strategy to improve the outcome of ACL reconstruction was analyzed
using a bioresorbable polylactide (PLA) stent as a catalyst for the healing process. The study included
24 sheep with 12 months of age. The animals were randomized to the PLA group (n = 16) and
control group (n = 8), subjected to the ACL reconstruction with and without the implantation of
the PLA tube, respectively. The sheep were sacrificed 6 or 12 weeks post-procedure, and their knee
joints were evaluated by X-ray microcomputed tomography with a 50 m resolution. While the
analysis of tibial and femoral tunnel diameters and volumes demonstrated the presence of BTE in both
groups, the enlargement was less evident in the PLA group. Also, the microstructural parameters
of the bone adjacent to the tunnels tended to be better in the PLA group. This suggested that the
implantation of a bioresorbable PLA tube might facilitate osteointegration of the tendon graft after
the ACL reconstruction. The beneficial e ects of the stent were likely associated with osteogenic and
osteoconductive properties of polylactide
Effects of Polylactide Copolymer Implants and Platelet-Rich Plasma on Bone Regeneration within a Large Calvarial Defect in Sheep
The aim of this study was to verify whether L-lactide/DL-lactide copolymer 80/20 (PLDLLA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
trigger bone formation within critical-sized calvarial defects in adult sheep ( = 6). Two craniectomies, each ca. 3 cm in
diameter, were created in each animal. The first craniectomy was protected with an inner polylactide membrane, filled with
PRP-polylactide granules, and covered with outer polylactide membrane. The second control craniectomy was left untreated.
The animals were euthanized at 6, 7, 17, 19, 33, and 34 weeks after surgery, and the quality and the rate of reossification were
assessed histomorphometrically and microtomographically.The study demonstrated that application of implantsmade of PLDLLA
80/20 combined with an osteopromotive substance (e.g., PRP) may promote bone healing in large calvarial defect in sheep. These
promising proof-of-concept studies need to be verified in the future on a larger cohort of animals and over a longer period of time
in order to draw definitive conclusions