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BACKGROUND: The study of the physical properties of scaffolds has always been a hot topic in the field of tissue engineering research. However, for vascular stimulating scaffolds, in addition to meeting the basic performance of the scaffold, other methods are also needed to promote the regeneration of blood vessels within the scaffold, in order to achieve the ultimate goal of repairing bone tissue. OBJECTIVE: A visualization analysis was carried out on the literature published in and outside China on scaffold stimulation for bone tissue engineering, to explore the research hotspots and research status in this field, and to provide a reference for subsequent studies. METHODS: Using the CNKI database and Web of Science core database as retrieval databases, the relevant literature on vascular scaffolds for bone tissue engineering was retrieved. The literature that did not conform to the research object was removed. The obtained data were imported into CiteSpace 6.1.R2 software. Visualization analysis was performed on authors, national institutions, and keywords in the research field. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) China, the United States, and Germany were the top three countries with the most articles on scaffold stimulation for bone tissue engineering. (2) The top 3 institutions in the CNKI database were Southern Medical University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and Donghua University. In the core database of Web of Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sichuan University and Chinese Academy of Sciences ranked the top 3 in terms of the number of institutional publications. (3) The top 3 keywords in the CNKI database were “tissue engineering, vascularization, angiogenesis”. The top 3 keywords in the Web of Science core database were “mesenchymal stem cell, scaffold, vascularization”. (4) Through the analysis of co-citation and highly cited references, the main concerns were as follows: vascularization strategies: scaffold design, angiogenic factor delivery, in vitro co-culture, and in vivo prevascularization. Technology: 3D printing, electrospinning, vascular transplantation, vascular fusion. Mechanisms: immune regulation and macrophages, drug/ growth factor delivery, the relationship between endothelial cells and osteoblasts, the paracrine relationship between bone cells and endothelial cells, signaling molecular pathways, angiogenesis, and anti-angiogenesis molecules. (5) The researches concerning vascular stimulating scaffolds in bone tissue engineering in and outside China attach great importance to the application of stem cells and 3D printing technology. Current research focuses on biological 3D printing technology, scaffold modification methods, and the development and application of intelligent biomaterials based on bone repair mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive inflammation of spinal stiffness deformity caused by tissue ossification and fibrosis. The posture of ankylosing spondylitis patients is abnormal and their activities are limited that minor injuries can lead to thoracolumbar fractures. Traditional medical image observation limits doctors’ preoperative decision planning and postoperative disease prevention for ankylosing spondylitis treatment. OBJECTIVE: Based on the spinal model of ankylosing spondylitis patients before and after posterior spinal cancellous ossification osteotomy (“Y” osteotomy for short), to explore the biomechanical changes of “Y” osteotomy and fixation in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. METHODS: Based on the preoperative and postoperative CT images of an ankylosing spondylitis patient who went to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, a three-dimensional spine model (T11-S1) before and after “Y” osteotomy (L3 osteotomy) was reconstructed in Mimics 19.0 software. A 7.5 Nm torque was applied to the top of T11 vertebral body to simulate the movement of the spine under six conditions: flexion, extension, left bending, right bending, left rotation and right rotation. Finally, the range of motion of each vertebral body, the stress of each intervertebral disc, and the stress of the screw rod system were simulated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After “Y” type osteotomy and posterior fixation, the range of motion of all vertebrae in the spine decreased, and the loss rate of upper vertebrae was large (L1: 77.95%). (2) The maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc before operation occurred at the L1-L2 segment (0.55 MPa), and the maximum stress of the spinal intervertebral disc after operation occurred at the T11-T12 segment (0.50 MPa), and the stress of intervertebral disc below T12 was far less than that before operation. (3) The maximum stress of the screw rod system (166.67 MPa) occurred in the upper and middle segments of the rod body and the root of the pedicle screw. (4) In conclusion, the “Y” type posterior fixation operation enhances the stability of the spine and reduces the range of motion of the spine. The vertebral body decompression of the fixed segment is great and the stress-shielding phenomenon of the lower vertebral body is significant. The stiffness of the rod body and the stress concentration area of the pedicle screw should be strengthened to avoid the fracture of the rod caused by stress fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with chronic rheumatic immunity.Soft tissue ossification and fusion and spinal stiffness can cause biomechanical changes. OBJECTIVE: To reconstruct the lumbar-sacral intervertebral disc in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis by finite element analysis,and to study the range of motion of each segment of T11-S1 and the biomechanical characteristics of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. METHODS: The imaging data were obtained from an ankylosing spondylitis patient with lumbar kyphosis.The original CT image data of continuously scanned spine were imported into Mimics 21.0 in DICOM format,and T11-S1 was reconstructed respectively. The established model was imported into 3-Matic software in the format of "Stl" to reconstruct the intervertebral disc,and the fibrous interve rtebral disc model was obtained. The improved model was further imported into Hypermesh software,and the ve rtebra,nucleus pulposus,annulus fibrosus and ligament were mesh-divided.After the material properties were given,the model was imported into ABAQUS software to observe the range of motion of each ve rtebral body in seven different working conditions of T11-S1, and analyze the biomechanical characteristics of each segment of annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) The range of motion of L1 vertebrae was higher than that of other vertebrae under six different working conditions:extension,forward flexion,rotation (left and right),and lateral flexion (left and right). The maximum range of motion was 2.18° during L1 vertebral flexion,and the minimum range of motion was 0.12° during L5 vertebral extension. (2) The annular fiber flexion at L2-L3 segments was greater than the extension (P ＜0.05),and the annular fiber flexion at L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments was less than the extension (P ＜0.05). The left rotation of L1-L2 annular fibers was greater than the right rotation (P ＜0.05). The left flexion of the annulus was greater than the right flexion in L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4,L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments (P ＜0.05). (3) The nucleus pulposus stresses of T11-L12,L1-L2,L2-L3,L3-L4 and L4-L5 segments in forward flexion were greater than in extension (P ＜0.05). The left rotation of T12-L1and L3-L4 segments was smaller than the right rotation (P ＜0.05),and that of T11-T12、L1-L2,and L2-L3 segments was larger than the right rotation (P ＜0.05). The left flexion was larger than the right flexion in the T11-S1 segment. (4) It is concluded that in ankylosing spondylitis patients with lumbar kyphosis, the minimum range of motion of the vertebral body is located at the L5 vertebral body in extension.To prevent fractures, it is recommended to avoid exercise in the extension position. During the onset of lumbar kyphosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, the maximum stress of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus is located in the L1-L2 segment, which is fixed and will not alter with the change of body position. The late surgical treatment and correction of deformity should focus on releasing the pressure of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus in this segment to avoid the rupture of the annulus fibrosus and the injury of the nucleus pulposus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The asymmetrical biomechanical environment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis can lead to further wedge deformation of the vertebral body, which may affect cardiopulmonary function and compress nerves in severe cases. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis with different degrees of scoliosis should be treated with exercise, bracing, and surgery. However, the mechanical mechanism of selecting an orthopedic approach remains unclear due to the individual variability of patients. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biomechanical mechanism of different orthopedic modalities for the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis to provide a basis for clinical selection of treatment modalities based on the spine model of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients. METHODS: Based on the CT images of an adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patient, a scoliosis model (C7-L5) was reconstructed in Mimics software in three dimensions, and lateral thrust force was applied at the T8/T9 thorax and vertical distraction force was applied over the C7 vertebra with the magnitude of 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 N. The intervertebral disc stress and vertebral displacement in concave and convex sides, and Cobb angle of the spine were analyzed under two orthopedic modalities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) With lateral thrust, there was no significant change in the C7T1-T7T8 intervertebral disc. The concave and convex stress of T7T8- L4L5 segment decreased first and then increased with the increase of lateral thrust force. The correction effect of lateral thrust on the segment near T8T9 was obvious and weakened with the extension of the segment to the cephalic and caudal ends. At 120 N of lateral thrust, the thoracic Cobb angle changed from 53.2° to 32.5° and the lumbar Cobb angle changed from 50.2° to 43.9°. (2) With the vertical distraction, the thoracic intervertebral disc stresses first decreased and then increased, and all the lumbar disc stresses decreased. The C7 displacement was the most obvious, and the correction effect gradually diminished with the segment extended to the caudal end. At a vertical distraction force of 120 N, the thoracic Cobb angle changed from 53.2° to 39.4° and the lumbar Cobb angle changed from 50.2° to 47.6°. (3) It is concluded that both orthopedic modalities provide improvement in the degree of scoliosis, with the thoracic correction being greater than the lumbar correction. Also, the asymmetric stress distribution on the concave and convex sides is improved, which contributes to normal bone growth. A vertical distraction approach is appropriate for larger Cobb angles, and a lateral thrust approach is appropriate for smaller Cobb angles. The results of this study help to understand the mechanism of spinal orthosis and provide a theoretical basis for the choice of orthopedic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]