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This paper investigates non-invasive techniques for annular two-phase flow analysis, focusing on liquid film characterization to understand the interfacial phenomena that are crucial for heat and mass transfer. Limited methods allow the study of the temporal and spatial evolution of liquid film, such as Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF). However, this method possesses optical challenges, leading to the need for improved techniques to mitigate refraction and reflection, such as Refractive Index Matching (RIM). This study utilizes an experimental annular flow facility to analyze both RIM and non-RIM PLIF over a range of liquid Reynolds numbers from 4200 to 10,400. Three configurations-PLIF RIM90, PLIF RIM40, and PLIF nRIM40-are compared from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. In the quantitative analysis, key variables of the liquid film are measured, namely mean film thickness, disturbance wave height, and frequency. Variations in the analyzed variables indicate minor deviations, which are not likely to be caused by the technique used. However, all three methodologies exhibited errors that are estimated to be within a maximum of 10%, with a mean value of approximately 8%.

The objective of this study was to analyze the proprioceptive innervation of human lips, especially of the orbicularis oris muscle, since it is classically accepted that facial muscles lack typical proprioceptors, that is, muscle spindles, but recently this has been doubted. Upper and lower human lips (n = 5) from non-embalmed frozen cadavers were immunostained for detection of S100 protein (to identify nerves and sensory nerve formations), myosin heavy chain (to label muscle fibers within muscle spindles), and the mechano-gated ion channel PIEZO2. No muscle spindles were found, but there was a high density of sensory nerve formations, which were morphologically heterogeneous, and in some cases resemble Ruffini-like and Pacinian sensory corpuscles. The axons of these sensory formations displayed immunoreactivity for PIEZO2. Human lip muscles lack typical proprioceptors but possess a dense sensory innervation which can serve the lip proprioception., (© 2023 The Authors. The Anatomical Record published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

Different techniques are used to analyze annular flow, but the more interesting ones are those techniques that do not perturb the flow and provide enough resolution to clearly distinguish the interfacial phenomena that take place at the interface, especially the disturbance waves (DW) and the ripple waves (DW). The understanding of these events is important because it influences the heat and mass transfer taking place through the thin film formed near the walls in this flow regime. The laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) and the three-electrode conductance probe are two commonly used techniques to study experimentally annular flow phenomena. In this paper, a set of experiments at different temperatures of 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C and different liquid Reynolds numbers have been performed in the annular flow regime, the characteristic of the DW and RW as average height and frequency of these waves has been measured by both techniques LIF and conductance probes. In addition, we also measured the mean film thickness. It was found that the mean film thickness and the DW height are practically the same when measured by both techniques; however, the height of the RW is smaller when measured by the conductance probe and this difference diminishes when the temperature increases., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Background: The lips are a vital component of the face and are densely innervated to perform various functions. The lip edges are covered with mucocutaneous tissue called vermilion which is particularly receptive to touch and temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate the somatosensory innervation of human lips, focusing on sensory corpuscles and the presence of mechano-gated (ASIC2, PIEZO2, and TRPV4) and thermosensing (TRPV1, TRPM2, and RPM8) ion channels within them., Methods: Twelve intact lips (6 upper and 6 lower) were obtained from non-embalmed frozen cadavers (five females and seven males) with an age range of 60-80 years. The specimens were divided into three zones (medial, lateral, and median). The morphotypes of sensory corpuscles and their immunohistochemical profile was analysed. The occurrence of ion channels involved in mechanosensation and temperature detection was examined using various antibodies. Sensory corpuscle density was quantified in vermilion sections, and statistical analyses were conducted to assess differences between the upper and lower lips, as well as between females and males (p < 0.05)., Results: Different morphotypes of sensory corpuscles were identified: Ruffini-like associated with hair follicles, Meissner and glomerular corpuscles in the vermilion, and less classifiable sensory corpuscles within the mucosa. The density of sensory corpuscles in the vermilion was higher in the upper lip than in the lower lip; glomerular corpuscles predominated in the medial and median segments, whereas Meissner corpuscles were more abundant in the lateral segment. No sex-related differences were observed in the density or distribution of the two main corpuscular morphotypes. In contrast, the axons of both the glomeruli and Meissner corpuscles regularly displayed ASIC2 and PIEZO2 immunoreactivity, whereas immunoreactivity for TRPV1, TRPV4, TRPM2, and TRPV8 was absent., Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the sensory corpuscles of the vermilion are a mixture of those typical of glabrous skin mucocutaneous tissues. The presence of PIEZO2 and ASIC2 in their axons suggests that these sensory corpuscles function as mechanosensors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hardware complications (loosening of screws, infection, or exposure of the plate) in mandibular reconstruction with vascularized osseous free flaps impose significant morbidity, and frequently require revision surgery. Purpose of this study was to identify possible contributing factors for hardware complications., Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study involving case series of patients who underwent microvascular mandible reconstructions between 2000 and 2020. Patient demographics, pathological, clinical, and treatment-related factors were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analyses., Results: Ninety-one patients were enrolled, encompassing 63 reconstructions with fibular free flaps, 26 reconstructions with scapular, and 2 reconstructions with iliac flaps. Rate of hardware complications and plate exposure was 14.3% and 7.7%, respectively, with a median follow-up time for extrusion of 29 months. In univariate analysis, preoperative radiotherapy (odds ratio [OR] = 6.57, p = .01), and secondary mandible reconstruction (OR = 4.3, p = .04) were significant predictors of hardware complications, and plate exposure was most frequently found in secondary reconstruction (37.5%, OR = 11.8, p = .04). Hypertension was the most commonly found comorbidity (24%), and it trended toward significance regarding plate exposure (p = .05). Only secondary mandible reconstruction was associated with osteosynthesis complications (OR = 12.53, p = .01) and plate exposure (OR = 23.86, p = .005) on multivariate analysis, while preoperative radiation therapy did not retain its relevance on plate exposure., Conclusion: Secondary mandible reconstructions with vascularized osseous free flaps have a higher risk of osteosynthesis complications than primary reconstructions., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The human palmar aponeurosis is involved in hand proprioception, and it contains different sensory corpuscle morphotypes that serve this role. In palmar fibromatosis (classically referred to as Dupuytren's disease), the palmar aponeurosis undergoes fibrous structural changes that, presumably, also affect the nervous system, causing altered perception. We analysed the various sensory nerve formation morphotypes in the palmar aponeuroses of healthy subjects and patients with palmar fibromatosis. To do this, we used immunohistochemistry for corpuscular constituents and the putative mechanoproteins PIEZO2 and acid-sensing ion channel 2. Free nerve endings and Golgi-Mazzoni, Ruffini, paciniform and Pacinian corpuscles were identified in both the healthy and the pathological conditions. The densities of the free nerve endings and Golgi-Mazzoni corpuscles were slightly increased in the pathological tissues. Furthermore, the Pacinian corpuscles were enlarged and displayed an altered shape. Finally, there was also morphological and immunohistochemical evidence of occasional denervation of the Pacinian corpuscles, although no increase in their number was observed. Both PIEZO2 and acid-sensing ion channel 2 were absent from the altered corpuscles. These results indicate that the human palmar aponeurosis is richly innervated, and the free nerve endings and sensory corpuscles within the palmar aponeurosis undergo quantitative and qualitative changes in patients with palmar fibromatosis, which may explain the sensory alterations occasionally reported for this pathology., (© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.)

This study aimed to assess the functional swallowing outcomes in cohort of oral cancer patients treated with tumor resection and reconstruction by means of microvascular free flaps. Duration from onset to the last examination was classified into three periods: less than 12 months, from 13 to 24 months, and more than 24 months. Type of feeding, dysphagia, and laryngeal aspiration were the dependent variables, and the study was mainly focused on the data from the multivariate analysis. Fifty-one patients were included in the study. Twenty-one patients had dysphagia, 11 showed stasis in vallecula and pyriform sinuses, 9 experienced laryngeal penetration, and 8 aspirations. Surgery combined with radiochemotherapy was associated with a higher prevalence of dysphagia (p = 0.03). Frequency of dysphagia was higher in the first year after treatment and less frequent after 24 months (p = 0.003). Dysphagia was associated with laryngeal penetration (p = 0.001), and this with aspiration (p < 0.0005). In conclusion, as it seems that the method of reconstruction has a major influence on swallowing, when there are relevant alternatives in the way the reconstruction is done, always the approach should be chosen that reduces dysphagia to a minimum., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2021 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this paper we perform an analysis of the conductance probes used in two-phase flow applications especially for two-phase flow tomography of annular flow, to measure the waves produced in the interface with different boundary conditions without perturbing the flow, and in addition we examine the holdup applications as measuring the average void fraction in a given region. The method used to obtain the detector conductance between the electrodes is to solve analytically the generalized Laplace equation in 3D with the boundary conditions of the problem, and then to obtain the average potential difference between the detector electrodes. Then, dividing the current intensity circulating between the emitter and the receiver electrodes by the average potential difference yields the probe conductance, which depends on the geometric and physical characteristics of the measured system and the probe. This conductance is then non-dimensionalized by dividing by the conductance of the pipe full of water. In this way a set of analytical expression have been obtained for the conductance of two-plate sensors with different geometries and locations. We have performed an exhaustive comparison of the results obtained using the equations deduced in this paper with the experimental data from several authors in different cases with very good agreement. In some cases when the distribution of bubbles is not homogeneous, we have explored the different alternatives of the effective medium theory (EMT) in terms of the self-consistent EMT and the non-consistent EMT.

Background: The Chievitz's organ or juxta-oral organ is a mysterious bilateral structure, phylogenetically preserved, which develops from the mouth epithelium as an invagination that loses connection to it in the prenatal period. It is located laterally to the walls of the oral cavity in an imprecise anatomical location and receives abundant innervation from the buccal nerve. Structurally it consists of non-keratinizing squamous-like neuroepithelial cells surrounded by two layers of connective tissue with nerve fibers and different morphotypes of sensory corpuscles. Its function is completely unknown although based on its rich innervation it is assumed that works as a mechanoreceptor., Methods: We have performed immunohistochemistry for axonal and Schwann cells, and the putative mechanoproteins ASIC2, TRPV4 and Piezo2 in sections of fetal juxta-oral organ., Results: Intraparenchymatous nerve fibers and sensory corpuscles were observed as well as immunoreactivity for Piezo2 in both nerve fibers and epithelial parenchymatous cells., Conclusions: We add indirect evidence that the juxtaoral organ is a mechanoreceptor because in addition to its dense innervation, the epithelial cells and sensory nerve fibers display immunoreactivity for the mechanogated ion channel Piezo2. Based on current knowledge, the functional and clinical importance of the juxta-oral organ should be further investigated., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: The aim of this study was to review the characteristics of 'implant presence-triggered osteonecrosis' (IPTO) in the literature and identify possible differences between IPTOs and 'implant surgery-triggered osteonecrosis' (ISTO)., Materials and Methods: Reviews using PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were performed from 2009-2018; the focus was on medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) and dental implants. In addition, the hospital records of all patients presented in our department with IPTO were retrospectively reviewed. In both studies, the following data were collected: the number of patients with ISTO or IPTO, age, gender, location, stage of MRONJ, number of implants involved in MRONJ, the elapsed time between the placement of the implants and the development of MRONJ, applied treatment and the presence of mandibular fractures and progress., Results: The literature review provided 111 articles. Nine of the articles were selected for bibliographic review. The number of osteonecrosis cases was significantly higher in the IPTO group (74 cases) compared with the ISTO group (27 cases). The duration of the anti-resorptive treatment (oral and intravenous) was also longer in the IPTO group. In our centre, seven patients with IPTO were chosen; however, no patients with ISTO were selected. The significant differences between the patients in our series and the information collected in the literature for the IPTO group were the time of ingestion of alendronate, the elapsed time from the placement of the implants to the development of the MRONJ and the number of implants linked to the development of a complication., Conclusions: The use of antiresorptives causes osteonecrosis in patients with implants that are subjected to functional loading, and this occurs at a higher frequency than what is observed after implant placement surgery., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

In this paper first, we review the physical root bases of chemical reaction networks as a Markov process in multidimensional vector space. Then we study the chemical reactions from a microscopic point of view, to obtain the expression for the propensities for the different reactions that can happen in the network. These chemical propensities, at a given time, depend on the system state at that time, and do not depend on the state at an earlier time indicating that we are dealing with Markov processes. Then the Chemical Master Equation (CME) is deduced for an arbitrary chemical network from a probability balance and it is expressed in terms of the reaction propensities. This CME governs the dynamics of the chemical system. Due to the difficulty to solve this equation two methods are studied, the first one is the probability generating function method or z-transform, which permits to obtain the evolution of the factorial moment of the system with time in an easiest way or after some manipulation the evolution of the polynomial moments. The second method studied is the expansion of the CME in terms of an order parameter (system volume). In this case we study first the expansion of the CME using the propensities obtained previously and splitting the molecular concentration into a deterministic part and a random part. An expression in terms of multinomial coefficients is obtained for the evolution of the probability of the random part. Then we study how to reconstruct the probability distribution from the moments using the maximum entropy principle. Finally, the previous methods are applied to simple chemical networks and the consistency of these methods is studied.

The aim of this study was to determine whether there exists a higher prevalence of tinnitus in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) than in patients without TMDs. A systematic review was conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE for articles published between January 1992 and April 2018 in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Studies were included in this review only if they assessed TMDs using the research diagnostic criteria (RDC)/TMD or DC/TMD. A total of five studies were included in the systematic review, and a random-effects meta-analysis of three of the studies was conducted. In all of the selected studies, the prevalence of tinnitus was higher in patients with TMDs (35.8% to 60.7%) than in patients without TMDs (9.7% to 26.0%). The odds ratio of suffering from tinnitus among patients with TMDs was 4.45 (95% CI 1.64-12.11. P = 0.003). Thus, despite the limitations of the included studies, this review demonstrates that the prevalence of tinnitus in TMD patients is significantly higher than that in patients without TMD., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Periostin is a secreted matricellular protein that primarily interacts with type I collagen and fibronectin extracellular matrix proteins, and is widely distributed in tissues rich in collagen-rich connective tissues, including the periodontal ligament. Its expression in these tissues is especially regulated by mechanical load. While the expression and regulation of periostin in the teeth of murine models and cell lines is well known, its presence in human teeth is poorly documented. Here we update and summarize the available data on the distribution of periostin in the human periodontal ligament, gingiva and dental pulp.

Background/aims: The composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the central nervous system (CNS) has several features that make it unique. For instance, it is remarkable for the presence of proteoglycans such as versican, brevican, and neurocan, some of which have been identified as substrates of different members of the ADAMTS family of secreted metalloproteases. Previous studies have associated ADAMTSs with the repair of the CNS, including recovery following degradation of glial scar tissue and the stimulation of axonal growth after brain injury. However, the involvement of ADAMTSs in diseases of the CNS is complex and not understood fully, and a current challenge is unraveling the precise roles of these metalloproteases in the brain., Methods: ADAMTS12 and neurocan gene expression was examined by quantitative PCR. Western blot analysis was employed to detect ADAMTS12 and neurocan protein expression in cell lines, and immunostaining techniques were used to detect neurocan in mouse brain tissues. Neurocan cleavage using recombinant ADAMTS1, ADAMTS4, ADAMTS5, and ADAMTS12 metalloproteases was evaluated by western blotting. Cell adhesion and migration were assessed using uncoated culture dishes or dishes coated with Matrigel or ECM components., Results: We identified neurocan as a novel component of brain ECM that can be cleaved by ADAMTS12. In addition, we showed that neurocan cleavage by ADAMTS12 altered the adhesive properties of the human neuroglioma H4 cell line. Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis of Adamts12-deficient mice revealed the significant accumulation of neurocan in the brain of neonatal mice., Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest that ADAMTS12 could be involved in the repair of the CNS through its ability to degrade neurocan. Moreover, it can be inferred that alterations in neurocan degradation processes could be associated with the pathogenesis of neurological disorders., Competing Interests: The authors declare that no conflicts of interest exist., (© Copyright by the Author(s). Published by Cell Physiol Biochem Press.)

Background/aims: Different components of the tumor microenvironment can be either tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressive agents depending on factors which are not fully understood. Fibulins are components of the extracellular matrix from different tissues and constitute a clear example of this dual function. In fact, fibulins may either support tumor growth or abolish progression of malignant cells depending on the crosstalk between tumor cells and their surrounding stroma through mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. Among all fibulins, fibulin-5 contains a particular structural hallmark which consists in the presence of a RGD motif within its architecture. Previous reports have highlighted the importance of the interaction of this motif with integrins, and not only in normal functions but also in a tumor context., Methods: Site-Directed Mutagenesis technique was employed to introduce the change RGD to RGE (RGD-to-RGE) within Fbln5 cDNA sequence. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay or by counting Ki-67 positive cell nuclei. Cell adhesion was analysed using culture plates coated with different extracellular matrix components. Cell invasion was evaluated using 24-well Matrigel-coated invasion chambers, and mammosphere formation was monitored using ultralow attachment culture plates. BALB/c mice were employed to induce subcutaneous tumors., Results: The RGD-to-RGE change alters the capacity of breast cancer cells to adhere to different extracellular matrix proteins as well as to α v β 3 and α 5 β 1 integrins, and promotes protumor effects using different cell-based assays. Moreover, 4T1 cells, a mouse breast cancer cell line model, shows an increased capacity to generate tumors when exogenously expresses fibulin-5 with a RGD-to-RGE change, and such capacity is similar to that shown for 4T1 cells with an interfered Fbln5 gene., Conclusion: These data highlight the importance of the RGD motif of fibulin-5 to induce antitumor effects and provide new insights into the involvement of fibulins in tumor processes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© Copyright by the Author(s). Published by Cell Physiol Biochem Press.)

The facemask is a widely used device in the treatment of Class III malocclusion and is intended to anteriorly displace the superior maxilla or stimulate its growth in that direction. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of treatment using orthopedic maxillary expansion with facemask therapy in patients with Class III malocclusion. Sixty-four patients, with a mean age of 8.14 ± 1.18 years at the start of treatment and a mean age of 9.78 ± 1.19 years at the end, were treated using orthopedic maxillary expansion and associated facemask therapy. The patients were evaluated using lateral head teleradiography before and after treatment, and the differences were analyzed. In addition, binary logistic regression was used as a model for predicting successful treatment. When comparing the changes achieved by treatment, statistically significant favorable changes were found at the skeletal level. Furthermore, an improvement in the airways at all levels was detected. Orthopedic maxillary expansion associated with facemask therapy has proven effective in treating early skeletal Class III malocclusion.

The occurrence of Pacinian corpuscles associated to lymph nodes is an anatomical rarity and very scarce information exists in this regard. Here we examined immunohistochemically four Pacinian corpuscles found in the close vicinity of the hiliar blood vessels of lymph nodes (2 cervical, 1 axillary, and 1 inguinal) during routine surgical pathology. Pacinian corpuscles were normally arranged and displayed a pattern of protein distribution as follows: the axon was positive for neurofilament proteins and neuron specific enolase, the inner core cells showed intense S100 protein and vimentin immunostaining while they were negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein, type IV collagen and glucose transporter 1; vimentin, type IV collagen, and glucose transporter 1 were also observed also in the outer-core and the capsule. These results are in agreement with those reported for cutaneous Pacinian corpuscles, demonstrating that the immunohistochemical profile of these corpuscles is independent of its anatomical localization. The possible functional significance of Pacinian corpuscles in lymph nodes is discussed. Anat Rec, 300:2233-2238, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

This paper describes all the procedures and methods currently used at UPV (Universitat Politécnica de Valencia) and UJI (University Jaume I) for the development and use of sensors for multi-phase flow analysis in vertical pipes. This paper also describes the methods that we use to obtain the values of the two-phase flow magnitudes from the sensor signals and the validation and cross-verification methods developed to check the consistency of the results obtained for these magnitudes with the sensors. First, we provide information about the procedures used to build the multi-sensor conductivity probes and some of the tests performed with different materials to avoid sensor degradation issues. In addition, we provide information about the characteristics of the electric circuits that feed the sensors. Then the data acquisition of the conductivity probe, the signal conditioning and the data processing including the device that have been designed to automatize all the measurement process of moving the sensors inside the channels by means of stepper electric motors controlled by computer are shown in operation. Then, we explain the methods used for bubble identification and categorization. Finally, we describe the methodology used to obtain the two-phase flow information from the sensor signals. This includes the following items: void fraction, gas velocity, Sauter mean diameter and interfacial area concentration. The last part of this paper is devoted to the conductance probes developed for the annular flow analysis, which includes the analysis of the interfacial waves produced in annular flow and that requires a different type of sensor.

The endoneurial and/or perineurial origin of the outer core; i.e. the concentric and continuous lamellae located outside the complex formed by the axon and the Schwann-related cells, in human Pacinian corpuscles is still debated. Here we used immunohistochemistry coupled with a battery of antibodies to investigate the expression of perineurial (Glucose transporter 1 and epithelial membrane antigen) or endoneurial (CD34 antigen) markers in human digital Pacinian corpuscles. CD34 immunoreactivity was restricted to one layer immediately outside the inner core, whereas the proper outer core displayed antigens typical of the perineurial cells. These results demonstrate an intermediate endoneurial layer that divides the Pacinian corpuscles into two distinct compartments: the avascular inner neural compartment (formed by the axon and the Schwann-related cells that form the inner core), and the outer non-neural compartment (formed by the outer core). The functional relevance of these findings, if any, remains to be clarified., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

The human craniofacial muscles innervated by the facial nerve typically lack muscle spindles. However these muscles have proprioception that participates in the coordination of facial movements. A functional substitution of facial proprioceptors by cutaneous mechanoreceptors has been proposed but at present this alternative has not been demonstrated. Here we have investigated whether other kinds of sensory structures are present in two human facial muscles (zygomatic major and buccal). Human checks were removed from Spanish cadavers, and processed for immunohistochemical detection of nerve fibers (neurofilament proteins and S100 protein) and two putative mechanoproteins (acid-sensing ion channel 2 and transient receptor potential vanilloid 4) associated with mechanosensing. Nerves of different calibers were found in the connective septa and within the muscle itself. In all the muscles analysed, capsular corpuscle-like structures resembling elongated or round Ruffini-like corpuscles were observed. Moreover the axon profiles within these structures displayed immunoreactivity for both putative mechanoproteins. The present results demonstrate the presence of sensory structures in facial muscles that can substitute for typical muscle spindles as the source of facial proprioception., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The innocuous transcutaneous stimulation of nerves supplying the outer ear has been demonstrated to be as effective as the invasive direct stimulation of the vagus nerve for the treatment of some neurological and nonneurological disturbances. Thus, the precise knowledge of external ear innervation is of maximal interest for the design of transcutaneous auricular nerve stimulation devices. We analyzed eleven outer ears, and the innervation was assessed by Masson's trichrome staining, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence (neurofilaments, S100 protein, and myelin-basic protein). In both the cavum conchae and the auditory canal, nerve profiles were identified between the cartilage and the skin and out of the cartilage. The density of nerves and of myelinated nerve fibers was higher out of the cartilage and in the auditory canal with respect to the cavum conchae. Moreover, the nerves were more numerous in the superior and posterior-inferior than in the anterior-inferior segments of the auditory canal. The present study established a precise nerve map of the human cavum conchae and the cartilaginous segment of the auditory canal demonstrating regional differences in the pattern of innervation of the human outer ear. These results may provide additional neuroanatomical basis for the accurate design of auricular transcutaneous nerve stimulation devices.

The neuromasts are the morphofunctional unit of the lateral line system serving as mechanosensors for water flow and movement. The mechanisms underlying the detection of the mechanical stimuli in the vertebrate mechanosensory cells remain poorly understood at the molecular level, and no information is available on neuromasts. Mechanotransduction is the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal via activation of ion channels. The acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are presumably involved in mechanosensation, and therefore are expected to be expressed in the mechanoreceptors. Here we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the occurrence and distribution of ASICs in the cephalic neuromasts of the adult zebrafish. Specific immunoreactivity for ASIC1 and ASIC4 was detected in the hair cells while ASIC2 was restricted to the nerves supplying neuromasts. Moreover, supporting and mantle cells; i.e., the non-sensory cells of the neuromasts, also displayed ASIC4. For the first time, these results demonstrate the presence of the putative mechanoproteins ASIC1, ASIC2 and ASIC4 in neuromasts, suggesting a role for these ion channels in mechanosensation., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Cervical chondrocutaneous remnants are congenital, benign, and rare neck masses. We present here for the first time the immunohistochemical profile of Pacinian corpuscles present in cervical chondrocutaneous remnants, removed, and localized in the territory of the second branchial arch from a 5-year-old girl. We have performed immunohistochemistry to analyze these sensory corpuscles using a battery of antibodies including markers for each corpuscle constituent. The central axon was immunoreactive for neurofilaments, neuron-specific enolase, and neural cell adhesion molecule; the Schwann-related cells forming the inner core displayed immunoreactivity for S100 protein, vimentin, and neural cell adhesion molecule; the outer core and the capsule were positive for vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and glucose transporter 1. These results are discussed in topographical differences. Moreover, a brief update about the structure, protein composition, and development of Pacinian corpuscles was performed.

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are a family of H(+)-gated voltage-insensitive ion channels that respond to extracellular acidification by regulating transmembrane Ca(2+) flux. Moreover, ASICs can also be gated by mechanical forces and may function as mechanosensors. The cells of the intervertebral disc (IVD) have an unusual acidic and hyperosmotic microenvironment. Changes in the pH and osmolarity determine the viability of IVD cells and the composition of the extracellular matrix, and both are the basis of IVD degeneration. In this study, the expression of ASICs (ASIC1, ASIC2, ASIC3 and ASIC4) mRNAs and proteins in human healthy and degenerated IVD was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. The distribution of ASIC proteins was determined by immunohistochemistry. The mRNAs for all ASICs were detected in normal human IVD, and significantly increased levels were found in degenerated IVD. Western blots demonstrated the presence of proteins with estimated molecular weights of approximately 68-72 kDa. In both the annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) of normal IVD, ASIC2 is the most frequently expressed ASIC followed by ASIC3, ASIC1 and ASIC4. In the AF of degenerated IVD, there was a significant increase in the number of ASIC1 and ASIC4 positive cells, whereas in the NP, we found significant increase of expression of ASIC1, ASIC2 and ASIC3. These results describe the occurrence and localization of different ASICs in human healthy IVD, and their increased expression in degenerated IVD, thus suggesting that ASICs may be involved in IVD degeneration.

The mammalian skin has developed sensory structures (mechanoreceptors) that are responsible for different modalities of mechanosensitivity like touch, vibration, and pressure sensation. These specialized sensory organs are anatomically and functionally connected to a special subset of sensory neurons called mechanosensory neurons, which electrophysiologically correspond with Aβ fibers. Although mechanosensory neurons and cutaneous mechanoreceptors are rather well known, the biology of the sense of touch still remains poorly understood. Basically, the process of mechanosensitivity requires the conversion of a mechanical stimulus into an electrical signal through the activation of ion channels that gate in response to mechanical stimuli. These ion channels belong primarily to the family of the degenerin/epithelium sodium channels, especially the subfamily acid-sensing ion channels, and to the family of transient receptor potential channels. This review compiles the current knowledge on the occurrence of putative mechanoproteins in mechanosensory neurons and mechanoreceptors, as well as the involvement of these proteins on the biology of touch. Furthermore, we include a section about what the knock-out mice for mechanoproteins are teaching us. Finally, the possibilities for mechanotransduction in mechanoreceptors, and the common involvement of the ion channels, extracellular membrane, and cytoskeleton, are revisited., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Brain death implies the complete cessation of activity in both cerebral hemispheres and in the brainstem; this leads to severe physiopathological disorders that make donor maintenance complex and involve the concomitant risk of rapid organ deterioration. The heart is one of the target organs in this process of multiple organ failure. Myocardial stunning occurs due to a "catecholamine storm" and subsequent release of many proinflammatory mediators, free oxygen radicals, and electrolyte imbalance secondary to insipid diabetes and hypothermia. Cardiac arrest during the maintenance of a donor after brain death is relatively frequent. The shortage of organs for transplantation has led to the broadening of the criteria for organ donation to include donation after cardiac death or non heart beating donation, among others.

Maintaining organ viability from extraction to transplantation is crucial to ensure the function and survival of the graft. In recent years, maintaining organ viability has become more challenging because the shortage of donors has led to broader criteria for donor acceptability and consequently to organs with greater compromise. Organ damage occurs primarily as a result of ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is associated to additional damage from the preservation process. To minimize this damage, different techniques of organ preservation are used with the aim of optimizing organ function once perfusion is restored. Static cold storage is the most commonly used method of preservation because it is extremely simple, nearly universally available, and easy to transport. However, static cold storage may be unable to prevent the deterioration of the quality of organs from donors included under the broader criteria. In this article, we describe current preservation techniques; we place special emphasis on continuous machine perfusion.

Normal development of the lung requires coordinated activation of cascades of signaling pathways initiated by growth factors signaling through their receptors. TrkB and its ligands, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4, belong to the neurotrophin family of growth factors, which are expressed in a large variety of non-neuronal tissues including the lung. Aberrant neurotrophin signaling underlies the pathogenesis of several lung-related pathologies, including asthma and lung cancer, however, little is known about the role of neurotrophins in the embryonic development of the lung. To fill this gap in knowledge, we analyzed the pattern of TrkB expression in the murine lung and we observed that TrkB is expressed in alveolar macrophages, type II pneumocytes, neuroepithelial bodies and nerves. Analysis of the structure of lung from mice deficient in TrkB revealed that absence of TrkB signaling results in thinner bronchial epithelium and apparent larger air space, and, more importantly, lack of neuroepithelial bodies, an important reduction in the density of nerve fibres in the bronchial smooth muscle, submucous plexus in bronchioles, and pulmonary artery walls. These findings suggest TrkB is essential for the normal development of the lung and the nervous system in the lung.

Objective: To know if the determination of the angiotensin converting enzyme in serum (SACE) and lung (LACE) may be useful as a marker of acute lung injury (ALI) in the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)., Method: By reproducing in a experimental model of ALI with oleic acid in dogs which simulate the early stage of ARDS, we have correlated the pathologic and analytical changes observed with the results of the determinations of SACE and LACE., Results: We have found sequential pulmonary lesions (congestion, edema, hemorrhage polynuclear infiltration and thrombosis) and biological alteration (hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension, early leukopenia and final leukocytosis, thrombopenia and hypofibrinogenemia) that reproduce the typical changes of ARDS, together with the decrease of SACE--slow and progressive--and LACE--abrupt in the onset and maintained during the experiment--., Conclusions: The LACE is a good marker of the beginning of the lesion because its decrease coincides with the first pathological changes (congestion) and with the hypoxemia, pulmonary hypertension and leukopenia, maintained without changes, during the whole experiment. On the other hand, the SACE corresponds as an inespecifical reactant, marker of acute inflammation and loss of pulmonary endothelium, because its progressive decrease evolutioned with the pathological lesions and the analytical changes. In conclusion, the sequential determination of SACE has a prognostic and evolutive value in comparison with the LACE, which has a diagnostic value from the beginning of the experiment of ALI and maintained throughout.