The current work aimed to carry out an in vivo study of the λ-carrageenin-induced inflammation in the skin of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). The fish were injected intramuscularly with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, as control) or λ-carrageenin (1% in PBS), and the injection zone was evaluated by real-time ultrasonography (Vevo Lab, VisualSonics) at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h post-injection (p.i.). Results demonstrated that the skin thickness was increased in fish injected with λ-carrageenin and sampled at 1.5, 3, and 6 h p.i. However, the skin thickness of the injected area decreased to the normal values in those fish sampled at 12 and 24 h p.i. In addition, fish injected with λ-carrageenin and analysed at 1.5, 3, and 6 h p.i. showed, in the underlying muscle at the injection place, several hyperechoic small foci surrounded by an anechoic area which were not observed in control fish. Furthermore, the fish were analysed by X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The analysis of the micro-CT acquisitions revealed also a dark area in the place of the injection with λ-carrageenin at 1.5, 3, and 6 h. These areas were smaller in fish analysed at longer times (12 h p.i.) and were almost disappeared in fish sampled at 24 h p.i. These areas had an average density of -850 to -115 HU, which did not correspond with any tissue density of the rest of the body. Furthermore, similar dark areas at the injection zones were never observed in control fish. Present results support the use of both non-invasive techniques to study the inflammatory process in fish of commercial interest such as gilthead seabream.

The aim of this study was to manufacture and evaluate the effect of a biphasic calcium silicophosphate (CSP) scaffold ceramic, coated with a natural demineralized bone matrix (DBM), to evaluate the efficiency of this novel ceramic material in bone regeneration. The DBM-coated CSP ceramic was made by coating a CSP scaffold with gel DBM, produced by the partial sintering of different-sized porous granules. These scaffolds were used to reconstruct defects in rabbit tibiae, where CSP scaffolds acted as the control material. Micro-CT and histological analyses were performed to evaluate new bone formation at 1, 3, and 5 months post-surgery. The present research results showed a correlation among the data obtained by micro-CT and the histomorphological results, the gradual disintegration of the biomaterial, and the presence of free scaffold fragments dispersed inside the medullary cavity occupied by hematopoietic bone marrow over the 5-month study period. No difference was found between the DBM-coated and uncoated implants. The new bone tissue inside the implants increased with implantation time. Slightly less new bone formation was observed in the DBM-coated samples, but it was not statistically significant. Both the DBM-coated and the CSP scaffolds gave excellent bone tissue responses and good osteoconductivity.

Our goal was to analyze the main anatomical structures of the dolphin external nose and nasal cavity from fetal developmental stages to adult. Endoscopy was used to study the common development of the external nose and the melon, and nasal mucosa. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and anatomical sections were correlated with anatomical sections. Computed tomography (CT) was used to generate 3D reconstructions of the nasal bones and nasal cavities to study its development. Dissections, histological and pathological studies were carried out on the nasal mucosa to understand its function. These results were compared with the horse. Endoscopy showed an external nose with two lips and the upper lip is divided by a groove due to the nasal septum and an obstruction of right nasal cavity was diagnosed in a newborn. Two diverticula (air sacs) were found in the nasal vestibule and an incisive recess (premaxillary sac) in the nasal cavity. These findings were corroborated by 3D reconstructions of the nasal cavities, MRI, anatomical sections and dissections. The presphenoid and ethmoid bones were fused at early stages of fetal development. The ethmoid is the last bone to ossify in the nasal cavity.

The aim of the study is to determine the existing correlation between high-resolution 3D imaging technique obtained through Micro Computed Tomography (mCT) and histological-histomorphometric images to determine in vivo bone osteogenic behavior of bioceramic scaffolds. A Ca-Si-P scaffold ceramic doped and non-doped (control) with a natural demineralized bone matrix (DBM) were implanted in rabbit tibias for 1, 3, and 5 months. A progressive disorganization and disintegration of scaffolds and bone neoformation occurs, from the periphery to the center of the implants, without any differences between histomorphometric and radiological analysis. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) between DMB-doped and non-doped materials where only detected through mathematical analysis of mCT. In this way, average attenuation coefficient for DMB-doped decreased from 0.99 ± 0.23 Hounsfield Unit (HU) (3 months) to 0.86 ± 0.32 HU (5 months). Average values for non-doped decreased from 0.86 ± 0.25 HU (3 months) to 0.66 ± 0.33 HU. Combination of radiological analysis and mathematical mCT seems to provide an adequate in vivo analysis of bone-implanted biomaterials after surgery, obtaining similar results to the one provided by histomorphometric analysis. Mathematical analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) would allow the conducting of long-term duration in vivo studies, without the need for animal sacrifice, and the subsequent reduction in variability.

The Symmetry Editorial Office retracts the article titled “Intraosteal Behavior of Porous Scaffolds: The mCT Raw-Data Analysis as a Tool for Better Understanding”

Dopaminergic neuronal cell death, associated with intracellular α-synuclein (α-syn)-rich protein aggregates (termed ‘Lewy bodies’), is a well-established characteristic of Parkinson’s disease. Much evidence, accumulated from multiple experimental models has suggested that α-syn plays a role in PD pathogenesis, not only as a trigger of pathology but also as a mediator of disease progression through pathological spreading. Here we have used a machine learning-based approach to identify unique signatures of neurodegeneration in monkeys induced by distinct α-syn pathogenic structures derived from PD patients. Unexpectedly, our results show that, in non-human primates, a small amount of singular α-syn aggregates is as toxic as larger amyloid fibrils present in the LBs, thus reinforcing the need for preclinical research in this species. Furthermore, our results provide evidence supporting the true multifactorial nature of PD as multiple causes can induce similar outcome regarding dopaminergic neurodegeneration.