Objective To review the research advances of the tracheal prosthesis. Methods The articles concerned in recent years were extensively reviewed. Results There were still many arguments about the use of tracheal substitutes. Avariety of artificial trachea had been designed and assessed, but so far none of them had been satisfactory for clinical use. The failures were mainly due to their high mortality and incidence of complication such as prosthetic defluvium, granuloma formation, local infection, air leakage, anastomotic stenosis or obstruction. Conclusion The major causes of the poor effectiveness by the use of tracheal prosthesis are closely related to its biological compatibilities. The selected biomaterials and the design of prosthesis hold the key to a breakthrough in research and clinical use of tracheal prosthesis.
Objective To isolate，culture and expand bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells （MSCs） in vitro，induce MSCs to differentiate directionally towards chondrocytes，and provide experimental basis for clinical application of MSCs and construction of tissue engineering tracheal cartilage. Methods Cultured MSCs were isolated from bone marrow of Sprague-Dawley rats，purified using adherence separation，and identified by flow cytometry analysis. Transforming growth factor β1 （TGF-β1）and insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1） were used as main induction factors to induce MSCs to differentiate directionally towards chondrocytes. The expression of collagen typeⅡwas evaluated by immunocytochemical staining 21 days after induction. Light microscope and electron microscope were used to observe tiny and ultrastructural changes of the cells before and after induction. Results The expression of collagen typeⅡwas positive by immunocytochemical staining 21 days after induction. MSCs were fusiform before induction under light microscope and electron microscope. After induction，the cells became larger，polygon，star-shaped or triangular. Transmission electron microscope showed that the cells had abundant organelles，larger nuclei and more nucleoli after induction. Conclusion Abundant organelles，larger nuclei and more nucleoli are the ultrastructure changes of chondrocytes differentiated from MSCs，indicating that the cells are active in differentiation and metabolism.
Objective To review the research of the artificial tracheal prosthesis in the past decade so as to provide theoretical references for the development of the artificial tracheal prosthesis. Methods The l iterature about the artificial tracheal prosthesis was extensively reviewed and analyzed. Results Many new materials are used for the research of artificialtracheal prosthesis which have excellent biocompatibil ity and stabil ity of the structural characteristics. And many compl ications such as migration, obstruction, and infection have been resolved, but so far none of the new materials has been used for cl inical treatment successfully. Conclusion The choice of the materials for artificial tracheal prosthesis is the key to succeed. Biodegradable polymer materials with its unique biological properties become the new direction of the tracheal prosthesis research.
More and more solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN) are discovered with the development of imaging technology. Early and appropriate evaluation of SPN is of great importance for following treatment and patients' prognosis, as early differentiation between benign and malignant is difficult, while its possibility of being malignant does exist. In this review, we make a comprehensive evaluation about diagnostic value of some risk factors of solitary pulmonary nodules, including age, nodule diameter, doubling time, nodule location, air bronchogram, ground-glass opacitie, vacuole, lobulation, spiculation, vascular convergence, pleural indentation, nodule calcification, past medical history, smoking history, past symptoms and nodule density. Future perspective of diagnostic strategies is also discussed.
Patients with pathological tracheal loss more than a certain length may need tracheal transplantation.Traditional natural tissue and autologous tissue have failed to produce satisfactory clinical outcomes to replace the trachea because of local infection，tracheal stenosis，tracheomalacia，immune rejection et al. In recent years，the emergence oftissue engineering trachea provides a new idea for tracheal transplantation. But scientists have not yet reached a consensus about how to choose ideal extracellular matrix to construct tissue engineering trachea. At present research and applicationof tissue engineering trachea，extracellular matrices mainly include allogenic trachea，allogenic aorta and biologicalcomposite materials. Each allogenic matrix or biological composite material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore，this article mainly summarizes recent application and research progress of extracellular matrix in long segmental tracheal defect and its future perspective.
Decellularized tissue engineering scaffolds appear to have the properties of similar structure and mechanical characteristics to native tissues，good biocompatibility，suitability for cell adhesion，growth and angiogenesis induction，and non-immunogenicity. Genipin has anti-inflammatory，antithrombotic and antioxidative features which can considerably suppress vascular and endothelial inflammatory activation，increase mechanical strength of biological scaffolds，inhibit inflammatory response and decrease degradation rate of biological scaffolds. By cross-linking with decellularized matrices，Genipin can further improve corresponding performance of tissue engineering matrices，which is very helpful to promote the application of tissue engineering into clinical practice of cardiothoracic surgery. This review focuses on recent research process and possible prospects of Genipin cross-linking in tissue engineering in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.
Objective To summarize the recent research situation and progress of decellularized matrix in tissue engineered trachea transplantation and to forecast the possible perspects. Methods Recent original articles about study and application for decellularized matrix in tissue engineered trachea were reviewed. The application and study of different decellularized matrices involved in animals or patients with tracheal lesions were elaborated. Results Decellularized matrices researched and applied in tissue engineered trachea include jejunum, urinary bladder, aorta, and trachea. Conclusion Decellularized urinary bladder matrix and jejunal matrix appears to be efficacious method for the patch repair of partial circumferential tracheal defects. The application of decellularized aortic matrix may need more study, and decellularized tracheal matrix has a bright future in long tracheal defects.
Objective To review the recent research progress of the bioreactor biophysical factors in cartilage tissue engineering. Methods The related literature concerning the biophysical factors of bioreactor in cartilage tissue engineering was reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. Results Oxygen concentration, hydrostatic pressure, compressive force, and shear load in the bioreactor system have no unified standard parameters. Hydrostatic pressure and shear load have been in controversy, which restricts the application of bioreactors. Conclusion The biophysical factors of broreactor in cartilage tissue engineering have to be studied deeply.
Objective To summarize the recent progress of construction methods of engineered cell sheet and to forecast the possible prospect. Methods The recent original articles about investigation and appl ication of engineered cell sheet were reviewed. Several common methods were selected and expounded. Results The construction methods of engineered cell sheet mainly include temperature-responsive culture dish, salmon atelocollagen, magnetic force, surface roughness, and polyelectrolytes, which may overcome the l imits of traditional tissue engineering methods. Conclusion The construction methods of engineered cell sheet are feasible and have a bright future in the cl inical appl ication.
Objective To review the recent research progress of base and clinical application of tracheal replacement. Methods Literature concerning tracheal prosthesis and the current achievements were extensively and comprehensively reviewed. Results Most tracheal lesions can be resected and achieve primary reconstruction, but the resectable length was limited.Tracheal replacement was an efficient and feasible way to substitutethe defects resulting from extended resection. Conclusion Newtechniques such as tissue engineering, tracheal transplantation, new tracheal prosthesis of biomaterials break fresh ground for the more rapid development of tracheal surgery.