Development of a device useful to reproducibly produce large quantities of viable and uniform stem cell spheroids with controlled diameters.

Three-dimensional cellular aggregates can mimic the natural microenvironment of tissues and organs and obtaining them through controlled and reproducible processes is mandatory for scaling up and implementing drug cytotoxicity and efficacy tests, as well as tissue engineering protocols. The purpose of this work was to develop and evaluate the performance of a device with two different geometries fabricated by additive manufacturing. The methodology was based on casting a microwell array insert using a non-adhesive hydrogel to obtain highly regular microcavities to standardize spheroid formation and morphology.

Chondrogenesis of human amniotic fluid stem cells in Chitosan-Xanthan scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.

Articular chondral lesions, caused either by trauma or chronic cartilage diseases such as osteoarthritis, present very low ability to self-regenerate. Thus, their current management is basically symptomatic, progressing very often to invasive procedures or even arthroplasties. The use of amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs), due to their multipotentiality and plasticity, associated with scaffolds, is a promising alternative for the reconstruction of articular cartilage.

[Microdissection testicular sperm extraction (MD-TESE) - a new sperm recovery technique helping men with non-obstructive azoospermia].

The most severe form of male infertility is non obstructive azoospermia (NOA), where spermatogenesis is impaired or absent. If testicular sperm can be retrieved, men with NOA can become biological fathers with IVF/ ICSI. In Sweden, testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) is the most common method used to retrieve sperm but is only successful in up to 34% of procedures.

Differentiation of dental pulp stem cells into chondrocytes upon culture on porous chitosan-xanthan scaffolds in the presence of kartogenin.

Adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) into chondrocytes were investigated in this work with the purpose of broadening the array of cell alternatives to the therapy of cartilage lesions related to tissue engineering approaches. A porous chitosan-xanthan (C-X) matrix was used as scaffold and kartogenin was used as a selective chondrogenic differentiation promoter. The scaffold was characterized regarding aspect and surface morphology, absorption and stability in culture medium, thickness, porosity, thermogravimetric behavior, X-ray diffraction, mechanical properties and indirect cytocompatibility.

Comparison of the properties of membranes produced with alginate and chitosan from mushroom and from shrimp.

Dense and porous chitosan-alginate membranes (1:1 in mass) useful as coverages of skin wounds treated through cell therapy were produced using chitosan of different chain sizes from fungal (white mushrooms) and animal (shrimp shells) sources. Porous materials were obtained by adding the surfactant Poloxamer 188 to the formulations. The influence of chitosan type on membranes physicochemical properties and toxicity to fibroblasts was evaluated.

Cytologic screening and human papilloma virus test in women undergoing artificial fertilization.

Background: Infertile women in Sweden are offered in vitro fertilization (IVF) within the frame of the social security system. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of genital human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in relation to the results of cytologic screening and to the infertility in these women.

Material And Methods: Two hundred and fourteen women, mean age 32 years (range 20-40), admitted to the Center for Reproduction at Uppsala University Hospital for investigation of infertility and IVF were studied.