• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.169-173
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• 2007

During laser irradiation, mechanically deformed cartilage undergoes a temperature dependent phase transformation resulting in accelerated stress relaxation. Clinically, laser-assisted cartilage reshaping may be used to recreate the underlying cartilaginous framework in structures such as ear, larynx, trachea, and nose. Therefore, research and identification of the biophysical transformations in cartilage accompanying laser heating are valuable to identify critical laser dosimetry and phase transformation of cartilage for many clinical applications. quasi-elastic light scattering was investigated using Ho : YAG laser $(\lambda=2.12{\mu}m\;;\;t_p\sim450{\mu}s)$ and Nd:YAG Laser $(\lambda=1.32{\mu}m\;;\;t_p\sim700{\mu}s)$ for heating sources and He : Ne $(\lambda=632.8nm)$ laser, high-power diode pumped laser $(\lambda=532nm)$, and Ti : $Al_2O_3$ femtosecond laser $(\lambda=850nm)$ for light scattering sources. A spectrometer and infrared radiometric sensor were used to monitor the backscattered light spectrum and transient temperature changes from cartilage following laser irradiation. Analysis of the optical, thermal, and quasi-elastic light scattering properties may indicate internal dynamics of proteoglycan movement within the cartilage framework during laser irradiation.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.260-267
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• 2021

Background: Elastic ear cartilage is a good source of tissue for support or augmentation in plastic and reconstructive surgery. However, the amount of ear cartilage is limited and excessive use of cartilage can cause deformation of the auricular framework. This animal study investigated the potential of periosteal chondrogenesis in an ear cartilage defect model. Methods: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were used in the present study. Four ear cartilage defects were created in both ears of each rabbit, between the central artery and marginal veins. The defects were covered with perichondrium (group 1), periosteum taken from the calvarium (group 2), or periosteum taken from the tibia (group 3). No coverage was performed in a control group (group 4). All animals were sacrificed 6 weeks later, and the ratio of neo-cartilage to defect size was measured. Results: Significant chondrogenesis occurred only in group 1 (cartilage regeneration ratio: mean±standard deviation, 0.97±0.60), whereas the cartilage regeneration ratio was substantially lower in group 2 (0.10±0.11), group 3 (0.08±0.09), and group 4 (0.08±0.14) (p= 0.004). Instead of chondrogenesis, osteogenesis was observed in the periosteal graft groups. No statistically significant differences were found in the amount of osteogenesis or chondrogenesis between groups 2 and 3. Group 4 showed fibrous tissue accumulation in the defect area. Conclusion: Periosteal grafts showed weak chondrogenic potential in an ear cartilage defect model of rabbits; instead, they exhibited osteogenesis, irrespective of their embryological origin.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1995 no.05
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• pp.27-33
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• 1995

A time-dependent large deformation fracture theory is developed for application to soft biological tissues. The theory uses the quasilinear viscoelastic theory of Fung, and particularizes it to constitutive assumptions on polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) (Part I) and cartilage (Part II). This constitutive theory is used in a general viscoelastic theory by Christensen and Naghdi and an energy balance to develop an expression for the fracture toughness of the materials. Experimental methods are developed for measuring the required constitutive parameters and fracture data for the materials. Elastic stress and reduced relaxation functions were determined using tensile and shear tests at high loading rates with rise times of 25-30 msec, and test times of 150 sec. The developed method was validated, using an engineering material, PVC to separate the error in the testing method from the inherent variation of the biological tissues. It was found that the the proposed constitutive modeling can predict the nonlinear stress-strain and the time-dependent behavior of the material. As an approximation method, a pseudo-elastic theory using the J-integral concept, assuming that the material is a time-independent large deformation elastic material, was also developed and compared with the time-dependent fracture theory. For PVC. the predicted fracture toughness is $1.2{\pm}0.41$ and $1.5{\pm}0.23\;kN/m$ for the time-dependent theory and the pseudo-elastic theory, respectively. The methods should be of value in quantifying fracture properties of soft biological tissues. In Part II, an application of the developed method to a biological soft tissue was made by using bovine humeral articular cartilage.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.304-314
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Ear cartilage malformations are commonly encountered problems in reconstructive surgery, since cartilage has low self-regenerating capacity. Malformations that impose psychological and social burden on one's life are currently treated using ear prosthesis, synthetic implants or autologous flaps from rib cartilage. These approaches are challenging because not only they request high surgical expertise, but also they lack flexibility and induce severe donor-site morbidity. Through the last decade, tissue engineering gained attention where it aims at regenerating human tissues or organs in order to restore normal functions. This technique consists of three main elements, cells, growth factors, and above all, a scaffold that supports cells and guides their behavior. Several studies have investigated different scaffolds prepared from both synthetic or natural materials and their effects on cellular differentiation and behavior. Methods and Results: In this study, we investigated a natural scaffold (alginate) as tridimensional hydrogel seeded with progenitors from different origins such as bone marrow, perichondrium and dental pulp. In contact with the scaffold, these cells remained viable and were able to differentiate into chondrocytes when cultured in vitro. Quantitative and qualitative results show the presence of different chondrogenic markers as well as elastic ones for the purpose of ear cartilage, upon different culture conditions. Conclusions: We confirmed that auricular perichondrial cells outperform other cells to produce chondrogenic tissue in normal oxygen levels and we report for the first time the effect of hypoxia on these cells. Our results provide updates for cartilage engineering for future clinical applications.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 1993

The transplantation of cartilage, especially auricular cartilage, has assumed a role of importance in the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery. From long years ago, many reports have appeared in the literature describing the experimental and clinical results of the use of cartilage. At present, the evidence for survival of autograft of cartilage is admitted, But, the results for interrelationship between the bone and cartilage grafts with or without perichondrium is not so conclusive. The purpose of this study were observed as to whether autogenous cartilage grafts were fixed by means of tie with 4-0 vicryl and fibrin adhesive on the femur or microscopic findings of union state in 16 rabbits. We sacrified the experimental animals after 1, 2, 4, 6 weeks postoperatively and made the specimens as a routine laboratory procedures and stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin stain, Verhoeff-van Gieson elastic fiber stain, and alcian blue periodic acid-Schiff(AB-PAS) for mucopolysaccharide. Histologic evaluation was performed under microscope. The obtaind results were as follows : 1. Fibrous union was formed between the grafting cartilage and the femur, nor any findings of calcification and formation of new bone. 2. Partial fibrous adhesion was observed in fibrin adhesive groups on 6 weeks postoperatively. 3. Appositional growth has performed more in fibrin adhesive groups than tie groups. 4. There are little difference in both for new copillary proliferation and fibroblast activations. 5. Degenerative changes have apperared more in tie groups than adhesive groups, but not related to the healing periods.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evacuate the effect of different types of Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds on the formation of human auricular and septal cartilages. All of the scaffolds were formed in a tubular shape for potential application for artificial trachea or esophagus with either 110,000 g/mol PLGA. 220,000 g/mol PLGA. or a combination of both. In order to maintain the tubular shape in vivo, two methods were used. One method was inserting polyethylene tube at the center of scaffolds made of 110,000 g/mol PLGA. The other method involved combination of the two different molecular weight PLGA's. The inner surface of tubular shaped scaffold made with 110,000 g/mol PLGA was coated with 220,000 9/mol PLGA to give more mechanical rigidity. Elastic cartilage was taken from the ear of a patient aged under 20 nears old and hyaline cartilage was taken from the nasal septum. The chondrocytes were then isolated. After second passage, the chondrocytes were seeded on the PLGA scaffolds followed by in vitro culture for one week. The cells-PLGA scaffold complex were implanted subcutaneously on the back of nude mice for 8 weeks. The tissue engineered cartilages were separated from nude mice and examined histologically after staining with the Hematoxylin Eosin. The morphology of the scaffolds were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The pores were well formed and uniformly distributed in the various PLGA scaffolds. After 8 weeks in vivo culture, cartilage was well formed with 110,000 g/mol PLGA. however lumen had collapsed. In contrast. a minimal amount of neocartilage was formed with 220,000 g/mol PLGA, while the architecture of scaffold and lumen were well preserved. Elastic cartilage formed more neocartilage than hyaline. Hyaline and elastic neocartilage were well formed on 110,000 g/mol PLGA with the polyethylene tube, exhibiting mature chondrocytes and preservation of the tubular shape. It was found that 110,000 g/mol PLGA was more appropriate for cartilage formation but higher molecular weight polymer was necessary to maintain the three dimensional shape of the scaffold.

• Anatomy and Cell Biology
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.374-381
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• 2023

Although the epiglottis plays a vital role in deglutition, histological studies of the epiglottis and surrounding ligaments associated with swallowing dysfunction are limited. Therefore, we performed histological observations to clarify age-related changes in the morphological characteristics of the epiglottis and surrounding structures. Tissue samples comprising the epiglottis and surrounding structures were collected from corpses that were both orally fed and tubefed during their lifetimes. Following hematoxylin and eosin, Elastica Van Gieson, and immunohistochemical staining procedures, the chondrocytes, connective tissue, and glandular tissue were observed under the epiglottis epithelium, and intervening adipose tissue was observed in the surrounding area. Fatty degeneration of acinar cells was also observed in the glandular tissue, possibly because of aging. Bundles of elastic fibers were present around the vascular wall in the peri-epiglottic ligament, but some were reduced. Furthermore, large amounts of collagen fibers ran toward and through the cartilage, whereas the mesh-like elastic fibers stopped in front of the cartilage. Microfibrils considered to be oxytalan fibers, which are thinner and shorter than elastic fibers, were observed around the vascular wall and in the fiber bundles. Age-related changes included connective tissue fibrosis shown by the large amount of collagen fibers, atrophy of salivary glands, and an accompanying increase in adipose tissue. Regarding stretchability and elasticity, the elastic fibers may have an auxiliary function for laryngeal elevation during deglutition. This suggests that disuse atrophy of the laryngeal organs with or without oral intake might reduce the amount of elastic fiber in older adults.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2011

Purpose: The focal ossification of auricular cartilage is an unusual clinical entity in which the ear becomes partially or totally rigid and immalleable. This condition may result from cold injury, local trauma, inflammation, or various systemic diseases. Patients may feel mild discomfort, but there are usually no other serious symptoms. We present a case of focal ossification of auricular cartilage in which the cause is unknown. Methods: A healthy 58-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of hard mass of right posterior auricular area. He denied any precipitating historical events like cold injury and inflammation. Routine testing did not demonstrate systemic abnormalities. Ultrasonographic examination revealed a $22{\times}10{\times}11mm$ sized heterogenous isoechoic mass showing an acoustic shadow. Results: Excisional biopsy was performed under local anesthesia. Histological examination revealed the ossification with deposition of trabecular bone in normal elastic cartilage. The patient was healed without any problems and satisfied with the result. Conclusion: We report clinical experience of focal ossification of auricular cartilage, which is quite a rare clinical entity. It should be considered that there is the possibility of ossification of cartilage when it meets the benign mass of the ear.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2013.05a
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• pp.1493-1494
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• 2013

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.154-157
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• 2002

A cyto-indentation technique was used to obtain the biomechanical compressive compliance property of an chondrocyte cell attached to glass surface, which was tried to generate joint cartilage by tissue engineering. Piezo-transducer system and dual photo-diode system were used to conduct mechanical indentation through displacement-controlled testing and the measurement of corresponding cell reaction force. The Poisson's ratio of 0.37 was quoted from other report. The compressive compliance of chondrocyte, that was determined by elastic contact theory, was 1.38${\pm}$0.057 kPa. This value is 30% higher than that of MG63 osteoblast-like cell. The cyto-indentation technique employed in this study is so precise that it can quantify the biomechanical property of single cell.