Pericytes and glial cells are known to collaborate in dental pulp tissue repair. Cell‐based therapies that stimulate these stromal components may be of therapeutic relevance for partially vital dental pulp conditions. This study aimed to examine the early effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) in pericytes from experimentally injured pulp tissue. To accomplish this, we used the Nestin‐GFP/NG2‐DsRed mice, which could allow the identification of distinct pericyte phenotypes. We discovered the presence of two pericytes subsets within the dental pulp, the Nestin +NG2+ (type‐2) and Nestin−NG2+ (type‐1). Upon injury, PBM treatment led to a significant increase in Nestin+ cells and pericytes. This boost was mainly conferred by the more committed pericyte subset (NestinNG2+). PBM also stimulated terminal blood vessels sprouting adjacent to the injury site while maintaining signs of pulp vitality. In vitro, PBM induced VEGF upregulation, improved dental pulp cells proliferation and migration, and favored their mineralization potential. Herein, different subsets of perivascular cells were unveiled in the pulp tissue. PBM enhanced not only NG2+ cells but nestin‐expressing progenitors in the injured dental pulp.

This work aims to develop a low-cost human hand prosthesis manufactured through additive manufacturing. The methodology used for the development of the prosthesis used affordable and low-cost materials in the market. Tensile testing was performed to estimate the mechanical properties in order to verify the resistance of the printing material used. Afterwards, the mechanical feasibility study executed on the device was performed using finite element method. In conclusion, we can observe fundamental factors that influence the 3D printing process, especially in relation to its printing parameters and mechanical properties. Maximum stress, yield stress, modulus of elasticity, elongation, and hardness are the prominent properties that should be considered when choosing the polymeric material. The numerical simulation showed that the structure of the prosthesis did not present plastic deformations to the applied loads, proving its mechanical viability.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the short-and long-term benefits, the continuous use of orthotics causes impairments due to movement restriction, such as disuse atrophy of ankle plantar flexor muscles. Consequently, an inefficient push-off might be present, generating kinematic compensations in distant regions of the ankle (e.g. pelvis), due to force transmission thru interactions of the body kinetic chain. Thus, the objective of present pilot study is to verify whether there is a difference between conventional polypropylene ankle foot orthosis (AFO) and tridimensional (3D) printing AFO with and without ankle external propulsion system, in pelvis kinematics during the gait of children with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS: This pilot study investigated the plegic lower limb kinematic data, during self-selected walking speed, of five children with hemiplegic CP (5 to 17 years old) were collected with a 3D motion analysis system. One-way ANOVA repeated measures was used to compared pelvis frontal and transverse plane amplitudes in two hinged AFO on three conditionsconventional, 3D printing with and without propulsion system. RESULTS: Pelvis amplitude in transverse plane showed differences between conditions (p = 0,04), indicating that AFO with propulsion system increases pelvic rotation during gait. That is, more energy might reach pelvis coming from the ankle, through 3D printing AFO with propulsion system, increasing pelvis transverse plane movement, and facilitating the swing of the contralateral limb forward. Pelvis frontal plane amplitude was not significant (p = 0,16). CONCLUSION: Gait analysis demonstrated differences in the transverse plane amplitude of the pelvis, when comparing the three AFO conditions. The assistance of a propulsion system simulating the action of the triceps sural muscle might be able to increase pelvic rotation in the transverse plane, positively impacting gait pattern. Pelvic rotation may influence other gait parameters such as step length and symmetry between limbs, which should be investigated in the future.

No abstract

Inside Front Cover: The cover image is based on the Research Article Nestin and NG2 transgenes reveal two populations of perivascular cells stimulated by photobiomodulation by Alexander Birbrair et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.30680.