Evaluation of neurologic deficit without apparent cause: the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.

Background/objective: A patient presenting with an acute neurologic deficit with no apparent etiology presents a diagnostic dilemma. A broad differential diagnosis must be entertained, considering both organic and psychiatric causes.

Methods: A case report and thorough literature review of acute paraplegia after a low-energy trauma without a discernible organic etiology.

Osteogenic protein-1 : a review of its utility in spinal applications.

The potentially revolutionary effect that bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) could have on orthopaedic surgery has fueled an exhaustive research effort that continues today. Upwards of 1.5 million bone-grafting operations take place in the US annually, with the anterior and posterior iliac crest being the most common donor site for autologous bone graft.

Particulate endocytosis mediates biological responses of human mesenchymal stem cells to titanium wear debris.

Continual loading and articulation cycles undergone by metallic (e.g., titanium) alloy arthroplasty prostheses lead to liberation of a large number of metallic debris particulates, which have long been implicated as a primary cause of periprosthetic osteolysis and postarthroplasty aseptic implant loosening.

Optimization of high-efficiency transfection of adult human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro.

With the advent of recent protocols to isolate multipotent human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), there is a need for efficient transfection methodologies for these cells. Most standard transfection methods yield poor transfection efficiencies for MSCs (<1%). Here we have optimized a high-efficiency transfection technique for low passage MSCs derived from adult human bone marrow.

A three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering using human mesenchymal stem cells.

The utilization of adult stem cells in tissue engineering is a promising solution to the problem of tissue or organ shortage. Adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are undifferentiated, multipotential cells which are capable of giving rise to chondrocytes when maintained in a three-dimensional culture and treated with members of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family of growth factors. In this study, we fabricated a nanofibrous scaffold (NFS) made of a synthetic biodegradable polymer, poly(-caprolactone) (PCL), and examined its ability to support in vitro chondrogenesis of MSCs.

Chronic treatment with carvedilol improves ventricular function and reduces myocyte apoptosis in an animal model of heart failure.

Background: Beta blocker treatment has emerged as an effective treatment modality for heart failure. Interestingly, beta-blockers can activate both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic pathways. Nevertheless, the mechanism for improved cardiac function seen with beta-blocker treatment remains largely unknown.

Mg-ATPase and Ca+ activated myosin AtPase activity in ventricular myofibrils from non-failing and diseased human hearts--effects of calcium sensitizing agents MCI-154, DPI 201-106, and caffeine.

We investigated the effects of two purported calcium sensitizing agents, MCI-154 and DPI 201-106, and a known calcium sensitizer caffeine on Mg-ATPase (myofibrillar ATPase) and myosin ATPase activity of left ventricular myofibrils isolated from non-failing, idiopathic (IDCM) and ischemic cardiomyopathic (ISCM) human hearts (i.e. failing hearts).

Myofibrillar responsiveness to cAMP, PKA, and caffeine in an animal model of heart failure.

We investigated whether an alteration of myofilament calcium responsiveness and contractile activation may in part contribute to heart failure. A control group of Broad Breasted White turkey poults was given regular feed without additive, whereas the experimental group was given the control ration with 700 ppm of furazolidone at 1 week of age for 3 weeks (DCM). At 4 weeks of age, left ventricular trabeculae carneae were isolated from hearts and calcium-force relationships studied.