Three-dimensional (3D) printing is perceived as an innovative tool for change in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine based on research outcomes on the development of artificial organs and tissues. With advances in such technology, research is underway into 3D-printed artificial scaffolds for tissue recovery and regeneration. In this study, we fabricated artificial scaffolds by coating bone demineralized and decellularized extracellular matrix (bdECM) onto existing 3D-printed polycaprolactone/tricalcium phosphate (PCL/TCP) to enhance osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity. After injecting adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in an aggregate form found to be effective in previous studies, we examined the effects of the scaffold on ossification during mandibular reconstruction in beagle dogs. Ten beagles were divided into two groups: group A (PCL/TCP/bdECM + ADSC injection; n = 5) and group B (PCL/TCP/bdECM; n = 5). The results were analyzed four and eight weeks after intervention. Computed tomography (CT) findings showed that group A had more diffuse osteoblast tissue than group B. Evidence of infection or immune rejection was not detected following histological examination. Goldner trichrome (G/T) staining revealed rich ossification in scaffold pores. ColI, Osteocalcin, and Runx2 gene expressions were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Group A showed greater expression of these genes. Through Western blotting, group A showed a greater expression of genes that encode ColI, Osteocalcin, and Runx2 proteins. In conclusion, intervention group A, in which the beagles received the additional ADSC injection together with the 3D-printed PCL/TCP coated with bdECM, showed improved mandibular ossification in and around the pores of the scaffold.

Background Very few recent nationwide studies have assessed the epidemiology of cleft lip with or without palate (CL/P). The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence, risk of premature births, mortality and cause of death of CL/P. Methods This nationwide population-based cohort study evaluated all 5 747 830 live births in South Korea, including CL/P infants, from 2006 to 2018. The prevalence with trend analysis, risk of premature births, mortality and cause of death of CL/P with or without associated syndromes (non-syndromic, syndromic CL/P) and subgroups (cleft lip only, cleft palate only, cleft lip with palate) were evaluated. Results Among 5 747 830 live births, 11 284 children were identified as having CL/P during the study period. The annual prevalence was 1.96 per 1000 births. The prevalence ratio, which shows the trend during the period, was 1.021. Both non-syndromic and syndromic CL/P children had higher risk of premature births compared with children without CL/P (odds ratio: non-syndromic 1.43, syndromic 5.29). The mortality rates per 1000 person-years were 0.39 for children without CL/P, 0.98 for non-syndromic CL/P children and 12.20 for syndromic CL/P children. The causes of deaths were not different for children without CL/P in non-syndromic CL/P, but the most common cause of deaths was cardiovascular anomalies in syndromic CL/P. Conclusion The reported prevalence of 1.96 per 1000 births is one of the highest prevalences worldwide. CL/P children had high risks of premature births and risk of mortality. The most common cause of deaths was cardiovascular anomalies.

Background In addition to vascular endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are subject to continuous shear stress because of blood circulation. The angiogenic properties of VSMCs in extracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) may exceed those of normal blood vessels if the body responds more sensitively to mechanical stimuli. This study was performed to investigate the hypothesis that rapid angiogenesis may be achieved by mechanical shear stress.Methods VSMCs were obtained from six patients who had AVMs and six normal controls. The target genes were set to angiopoietin-2 (AGP2), aquaporin-1 (AQP1), and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1). Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR were implemented to identify the expression levels for target genes. Immunofluorescence was also conducted.Results Under the shear stress condition, mean relative quantity values of AGP2, AQP1, and TGFBR1 in AVM tissues were 1.927±0.528, 1.291±0.031, and 2.284±1.461 when compared with neutral conditions. The expression levels of all three genes in AVMs were higher than those in normal tissue except for AQP1 under shear stress conditions. Immunofluorescence also revealed increased staining of shear stress-induced genes in the normal tissue and in AVM tissue.Conclusions Shear stress made the VSMCs of AVMs more sensitive. Although the pathogenesis of AVMs remains unclear, our study showed that biomechanical stimulation imposed by shear stress may aggravate angiogenesis in AVMs.

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