Ganglioside promotes the bridging of sciatic nerve defects in cryopreserved peripheral nerve allografts

Biomimetic Photocurable Three-Dimensional Printed Nerve Guidance Channels with Aligned Cryomatrix Lumen for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Repair and regeneration of critically injured peripheral nerves is one of the most challenging reconstructive surgeries. Currently available and FDA approved nerve guidance channels (NGCs) are suitable for small gap injuries, and their biological performance is inferior to that of autografts. Development of biomimetic NGCs with clinically relevant geometrical and biological characteristics such as topographical, biochemical, and haptotactic cues could offer better regeneration of the long-gap complex nerve injuries. Here, in this study, we present the development and preclinical analysis of three-dimensional (3D) printed aligned cryomatrix-filled NGCs along with nerve growth factor (NGF) (aCG + NGF) for peripheral nerve regeneration. We demonstrated the application of these aCG + NGF NGCs in the enhanced and successful regeneration of a critically injured rat sciatic nerve in comparison to random cryogel-filled NGCs, multichannel and clinically preferred hollow conduits, and the gold standard autografts. Our results indicated similar effect of the aCG + NGF NGCs viz-a-viz that of the autografts, and they not only enhanced the overall regenerated nerve physiology but could also mimic the cellular aspects of regeneration. This study emphasizes the paradigm that these biomimetic 3D printed NGCs will lead to a better functional regenerative outcome under clinical settings.

Ultrasound findings of mild neonatal periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage after different treatments

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the ultrasound findings of mild neonatal periventricular-intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) after different treatments, and to evaluate the neurological outcomes of mild PIVH with Gesell Development Diagnosis Scale (GDDS).

METHODS

A total of 194 newborns with grade I-II PIVH were recruited, and findings of cranial ultrasound examination before and 1 month after birth were included for analysis. The echo intensity and size of the lesions were recorded.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the echo intensity among three groups of grade I PIVH patients (P>0.05). There was significant difference in the echo intensity among three groups of grade II PIVH patients, and the ganglioside had the best therapeutic efficacy (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the area change among three groups of grade I PIVH patients (P>0.05). However, significant difference was observed in the area change among three groups of grade II PIVH patients, and ganglioside had a better efficacy than cerebrolysin and control agent (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between cerebrolysin and control groups (P>0.05). GDDS evaluation showed no significant difference among three groups (P>0.05), and all the patients recovered completely.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of different treatments for mild PIVH can be reflected in the ultrasound findings. Mild PIVH children generally have a good neurological prognosis.