-
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental... 2021Three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture systems have rapidly emerged as powerful tools to study organ development and disease. The lung is a complex and highly... (Review)
Review
Three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture systems have rapidly emerged as powerful tools to study organ development and disease. The lung is a complex and highly specialized organ that comprises more than 40 cell types that offer several region-specific roles. During organogenesis, the lung goes through sequential and morphologically distinctive stages to assume its mature form, both structurally and functionally. As branching takes place, multipotent epithelial progenitors at the distal tips of the growing/bifurcating epithelial tubes progressively become lineage-restricted, giving rise to more differentiated and specialized cell types. Although many cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to branching morphogenesis have been explored, deeper understanding of biological processes governing cell-fate decisions and lung patterning is still needed. Given that these distinct processes cannot be easily analyzed , 3D culture systems have become a valuable platform to study organogenesis . This minireview focuses on the current lung organoid systems that recapitulate developmental events occurring before and during branching morphogenesis. In addition, we also discuss their limitations and future directions.
PubMed: 33748115
DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.631579 -
The Spine Journal : Official Journal of... Mar 2022The lumbar sinuvertebral nerve (SVN) innervates the outer posterior intervertebral disc (IVD); it is thought to mediate discogenic low-back pain (LBP). Controversy,...
BACKGROUND CONTEXT
The lumbar sinuvertebral nerve (SVN) innervates the outer posterior intervertebral disc (IVD); it is thought to mediate discogenic low-back pain (LBP). Controversy, however, exists on its origins at higher (L1-L2) versus lower (L3-L5) lumbar levels. Additionally, lack of knowledge regarding its foraminal and intraspinal branching patterns and extensions may lead to iatrogenic damage.
PURPOSE
To systematically describe the origins of the L2 and L5 SVNs, their morphological variation in the intervertebral foramen (IVF) and intraspinal distribution.
STUDY DESIGN
Dissection-based study of 20 SVNs with histological confirmation in five embalmed human cadavers.
METHODS
The origin, branching pattern and distribution of the L2 and L5 SVNs was investigated bilaterally in five human cadavers using dorsal and anterolateral dissection approaches. Parameters studied included somatic and/or autonomic SVN root contributions, foraminal SVN morphology and course, diameter, branching point, intraspinal distribution and IVD innervation pattern. Nerve tissue was confirmed by immunostaining for neurofilament and S100 proteins.
RESULTS
The SVN and its origins was identified in all except one IVF at L2 and in all foramina at L5. At L2, the SVN arose in nearly 90% of sides from both somatic and autonomic roots and at L5 in 40% of sides. The remaining SVNs were formed by purely autonomic roots. The SVN arose from significantly more roots at L2 than L5 (3.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; p=.022). Four different SVN morphologies could be discerned in the L2 IVF: single filament (22%), multiple (parallel or diverging) filament (33%), immediate splitting (22%) and plexiform (22%) types, whereas the L5 SVN consisted of single (90%) and multiple (10%) filament types. SVN filaments were significantly thicker at L2 than L5 (0.48 ± 0.06 mm vs. 0.33 ± 0.02 mm, respectively; p=.043). Ascending SVN filaments coursed roughly parallel to the exiting spinal nerve root trajectory at L2 and L5. Branching of the SVN into ascending and descending branches occurred mostly intraspinal both at L2 and L5. Spinal canal distribution was also similar for L2 and L5 SVNs. Lumbar posterior IVDs were innervated by the descending branch of the parent SVN and ascending branch of the subjacent SVN.
CONCLUSIONS
The SVN at L2 originates from both somatic and autonomic roots in 90% of cases and at L5 in 40% of cases. The remaining SVNs are purely autonomic. In the IVF, the L2 SVN is morphologically heterogeneous, but generally consists of numerous filaments, whereas at L5 90% contains a single SVN filament. The L2 SVN is formed by more roots and is thicker than the L5 SVN. Intraspinal SVN distribution is confined to its level of origin; lumbar posterior IVDs are innervated by corresponding and subjacent SVNs (ie, two spinal levels).
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Our findings indicate that L5 discogenic LBP may be mediated both segmentally and nonsegmentally in 40% of cases and nonsegmentally in 60% of cases. Failure of lower lumbar discogenic pain treatment may be the result of only interrupting the nonsegmental pathway, but not the segmental one as well. Relating SVN anatomy to microsurgical spinal approaches may prevent iatrogenic damage to the SVN and the formation of postsurgical back pain.
Topics: Humans; Intervertebral Disc; Low Back Pain; Lumbar Vertebrae; Lumbosacral Region; Spinal Nerves
PubMed: 34737065
DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2021.10.021 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Nov 2022A controversy on bridging covered stent (BCS) choice, between self-expanding (SECS) and balloon-expandable (BECS) stents, still exists in branched endovascular repair....
BACKGROUND
A controversy on bridging covered stent (BCS) choice, between self-expanding (SECS) and balloon-expandable (BECS) stents, still exists in branched endovascular repair. This study aimed to determine the primary target vessel (TV) patency in patients treated with the t-Branch device and identify factors impairing the outcomes.
METHODS
A retrospective study was undertaken, including patients treated with the t-Branch (Cook Medical, Bloomington, IN, USA) between 2014 and 2019 (early 2014-2016; late 2017-2019). The endpoint was the primary patency (CT: celiac trunk, SMA, superior mesenteric artery, RRA: right renal artery, LRA: left renal artery) during the follow-up. Any branch instability event was assessed. The factors affecting the patency were determined using multivariable regression models and Kaplan-Meier analyses.
RESULTS
In total, 2018 TVs were analyzed; 1542 SECSs and 476 BECSs. The CT patency was 99.8% (SE 0.2%) at the 1st month, with no other event. The SMA patency was 97.8% (SE 1) at the 12th month. The RRA patency was 96.7% (SE 2) at the 24th month. The LRA patency was 99% (SE 0.4) at the 6th month. Relining was the only factor independently associated with the SMA patency (OR 8.27; 95% CI 1.4-4.9; = 0.02). The freedom from instability was 62% (SE 4.3%) and 45% (SE 5.4%) at the 24th month and 36th month. No significant difference was identified between the BECSs and SECSs in the early or late experience.
CONCLUSION
BCS for the t-Branch branches performed with a good primary patency during the short-term follow-up. The type of BCS did not influence the patency. Relining might be protective for SMA patency.
PubMed: 36362739
DOI: 10.3390/jcm11216513 -
The Journal of Neuroscience : the... May 2022The brain requires efficient information transfer between neurons and large-scale brain regions. Brain connectivity follows predictable organizational principles. At the...
The brain requires efficient information transfer between neurons and large-scale brain regions. Brain connectivity follows predictable organizational principles. At the cellular level, larger supragranular pyramidal neurons have larger, more branched dendritic trees, more synapses, and perform more complex computations; at the macroscale, region-to-region connections display a diverse architecture with highly connected hub areas facilitating complex information integration and computation. Here, we explore the hypothesis that the branching structure of large-scale region-to-region connectivity follows similar organizational principles as the neuronal scale. We examine microscale connectivity of basal dendritic trees of supragranular pyramidal neurons (300+) across 10 cortical areas in five human donor brains (1 male, 4 female). Dendritic complexity was quantified as the number of branch points, tree length, spine count, spine density, and overall branching complexity. High-resolution diffusion-weighted MRI was used to construct white matter trees of corticocortical wiring. Examining complexity of the resulting white matter trees using the same measures as for dendritic trees shows heteromodal association areas to have larger, more complex white matter trees than primary areas ( < 0.0001) and macroscale complexity to run in parallel with microscale measures, in terms of number of inputs ( = 0.677, = 0.032), branch points ( = 0.797, = 0.006), tree length ( = 0.664, = 0.036), and branching complexity ( = 0.724, = 0.018). Our findings support the integrative theory that brain connectivity follows similar principles of connectivity at neuronal and macroscale levels and provide a framework to study connectivity changes in brain conditions at multiple levels of organization. Within the human brain, cortical areas are involved in a wide range of processes, requiring different levels of information integration and local computation. At the cellular level, these regional differences reflect a predictable organizational principle with larger, more complexly branched supragranular pyramidal neurons in higher order regions. We hypothesized that the 3D branching structure of macroscale corticocortical connections follows the same organizational principles as the cellular scale. Comparing branching complexity of dendritic trees of supragranular pyramidal neurons and of MRI-based regional white matter trees of macroscale connectivity, we show that macroscale branching complexity is larger in higher order areas and that microscale and macroscale complexity go hand in hand. Our findings contribute to a multiscale integrative theory of brain connectivity.
Topics: Brain; Dendrites; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Neurons; Pyramidal Cells; White Matter
PubMed: 35422441
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1572-21.2022 -
Anatomy & Cell Biology Dec 2020Nerve entrapment and blood circulation impairment associated with the medial side of the ankle are not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomical...
Nerve entrapment and blood circulation impairment associated with the medial side of the ankle are not uncommon. The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomical basis of neurovascular structures of the medial ankle which comprised the number, origin, branching pattern, and branching point. Forty feet of fresh cadavers were examined by using 2 reference lines: the malleolar-calcaneal (MC) and navicular-calcaneal (NC) axes. We recorded number, origin, length of the 2 axes, the locations and widths of neurovascular structures on MC and NC axes, the branching point of neurovascular structures, and the branching pattern of neurovascular structures was recorded and was separated into 5 types. The posterior tibial nerve (PTN) bifurcated to plantar and calcaneal nerves and branched proximally to the tarsal tunnel (TT). The posterior tibial artery bifurcated to plantar and calcaneal arteries and branched inferiorly to PTN and within the TT. The calcaneal nerves and arteries had more variation of number and origin. The most common branching point of calcaneal nerves and arteries is within the TT, except the medial calcaneal nerve. It branched proximally to the TT. The anatomical knowledge from this study is important for the diagnosis and treatment of clinicians.
PubMed: 32814704
DOI: 10.5115/acb.20.087 -
Journal of Biosciences 2023When a conidium (vegetative spore) or ascospore (sexually produced spore) of the filamentous fungus germinates, it produces a long narrow filamentous multinucleate cell...
When a conidium (vegetative spore) or ascospore (sexually produced spore) of the filamentous fungus germinates, it produces a long narrow filamentous multinucleate cell called a hypha. Hyphae grow by elongation, they can branch, and the tips of branches can also rejoin by fusion. Growth, branching, and fusion create an interconnected web, called a mycelium, within which cytoplasmic continuity is maintained. Some researchers have focused their studies on hyphal elongation and branching, others on formation of conidia and ascospores, and still others, prominently Andre Fleißner, Nick Read, Louise Glass, and colleagues, on tip fusion. Each of these fundamental processes contributes to the development of species-characteristic mycelial morphology. Using the fluorescently tagged proteins MAK-2 and SO, they made the startling discovery that when tips of freshly germinated and genetically identical conidia (germlings) came within 15 μm of each other, each tip took turns to send and receive a molecular signal in an oscillatory back-and-forth manner.
Topics: Spores, Fungal; Mycelium; Cell Communication; Cytoplasm; Neurospora crassa
PubMed: 36721877
DOI: No ID Found -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023The quality of seedlings is an important factor for development of the pear industry. A strong seedling with few branches and suitable internodes is ideal material as a...
The quality of seedlings is an important factor for development of the pear industry. A strong seedling with few branches and suitable internodes is ideal material as a rootstock for grafting and breeding. Several branching mutants of pear rootstocks were identified previously. In the present study, 'QAU-D03' ( L.) and it's mutants were used to explore the mechanism that affects branch formation by conducting phenotypic trait assessment, hormone content analysis, and transcriptome analysis. The mutant plant (MP) showed fewer branches, shorter 1-year-old shoots, and longer petiole length, compared to original plants (OP), i.e., wild type. Endogenous hormone analysis revealed that auxin, cytokinin, and jasmonic acid contents in the stem tips of MP were significantly higher than those of the original plants. In particular, the jasmonic acid content of the MP was 1.8 times higher than that of the original plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed that , which is a transcriptional regulatory gene downstream of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, was expressed more highly in the MP than in the original plants, whereas the expression levels of and were reduced in the MP compared with that of the original plants. In response to treatment with exogenous methyl jasmonate, the original plants phenotype was consistent with that of the MP in developing less branches. These results indicate that jasmonic acid negatively regulates branch growth of pear trees and that jasmonic acid downstream regulatory genes play a crucial role in regulating branching.
PubMed: 36824194
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1105521 -
Heliyon Apr 2023To date, there is no unified approach to the lobar, zonal, and segmental structure of the kidney vasculature. There is no recognizable approach to define basic...
INTRODUCTION
To date, there is no unified approach to the lobar, zonal, and segmental structure of the kidney vasculature. There is no recognizable approach to define basic characteristics in regard to the lobes and segments identifying of the kidney. The branching of the renal artery has often been the subject of scientific research. This study aimed to analyze the arterial anatomy on the basis of zonal and segmental topography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study is a prospective cadaver study on autopsy material using corrosion casting and CT imaging techniques. The arterial vasculature was visualized using corrosive casting. In this study, 116 vascular casts were included. We identified the number of arteries in the kidney hilum, their topography, branching variations of the renal artery, and local blood supply zones of renal masses considering and renal artery branches. We used a micro-CT BRUKER SkyScan 1178, digital camera, Mimics-8.1, and R.
RESULTS
This study has shown that RA divides into two or three zonal arteries, forming a two- or three-zonal vascular supply system. In the case of the two-zonal system, 54.3% of cases accounted for RA branching into ventral and dorsal arteries, whereas 15.5% of cases referred to superior polar and inferior polar zonal arteries. The three-zonal system implies 4 types of RA branching: 1) superior polar, ventral, and dorsal zonal branches (12.9%); 2) ventral, dorsal, and inferior polar zonal branches (9.5%); 3) two ventral and one dorsal zonal branches (5.2%), and 4) superior polar, central, and inferior polar zonal branches (2.5%).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this research make us reconsider Grave's classification theory.
PubMed: 37101622
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15315 -
Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 2023The use of inner-branch aortic stent grafts in the treatment of complex aortic pathologies aims at broad applicability and stable bridging stent sealing compared to...
PURPOSE
The use of inner-branch aortic stent grafts in the treatment of complex aortic pathologies aims at broad applicability and stable bridging stent sealing compared to other endovascular technologies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the early outcomes with a single manufacturer custom-made and off-the-shelf inner-branched endograft in a mixed patient cohort.
METHODS
This retrospective, monocentric study between 2019 and 2022 included 44 patients treated with inner-branched aortic stent grafts (iBEVAR) as custom-made device (CMD) or off-the-shelf device (E-nside) with at least four inner branches. The primary endpoints were technical and clinical success.
RESULTS
Overall, 77% ( = 34) and 23% ( = 10) of the patients (mean age 77 ± 6.5 years, = 36 male) were treated with a custom-made iBEVAR with at least four inner branches and an off-the-shelf graft, respectively. Treatment indications were thoracoabdominal pathologies in 52.2% ( = 23), complex abdominal aneurysms in 25% ( = 11), and type Ia endoleaks in 22.7% ( = 10). Preoperative spinal catheter placement was performed in 27% ( = 12) of patients. Implantation was entirely percutaneous in 75% ( = 33). Technical success was 100%. Target vessel success manifested at 99% (178/180). There was no in-hospital mortality. Permanent paraplegia developed in 6.8% ( = 3) of patients. The mean follow-up was 12 months (range 0-52 months). Three late deaths (6.8%) occurred, one related to an aortic graft infection. Kaplan-Meier estimated 1-year survival manifested at 95% and branch patency at 98% (177/180). Re-intervention was necessary for a total of six patients (13.6%).
CONCLUSIONS
Inner-branch aortic stent grafts provide a feasible option for the treatment of complex aortic pathologies, both elective (custom-made) and urgent (off-the-shelf). The technical success rate is high with acceptable short-term outcomes and moderate re-intervention rates comparable to existing platforms. Further follow-up will evaluate long-term outcomes.
PubMed: 37396572
DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1188501