A highly versatile biopolymer-based platform for the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes enables functional analysis in vitro and 3D printing of heart patches.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) represent a valuable tool for in vitro modeling of the cardiac niche and possess great potential in tissue engineering applications. However, conventional polystyrene-based cell culture substrates have adverse effects on cardiomyocytes in vitro due to the stress applied by a stiff substrate on contractile cells. Ultra-high viscosity alginates offer a unique versatility as tunable substrates for cardiac cell cultures due to their biocompatibility, flexible biofunctionalization, and stability.

The Potential of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as Complementary Medicine for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Complementary and alternative medicine has the potential to enrich conventional therapy to improve the treatment of various diseases. Patients that suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, which requires a constant need for medication, have to deal with the adverse effects of repeated application. Natural products such as Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) possess the potential to improve symptoms of inflammatory diseases.

A complete workflow for the differentiation and the dissociation of hiPSC-derived cardiospheres.

Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) are an invaluable tool for both basic and translational cardiovascular research. The potential that these cells hold for therapy, disease modeling and drug discovery is hampered by several bottlenecks that currently limit both the yield and the efficiency of cardiac induction. Here, we present a complete workflow for the production of ready-to-use hiPSC-CMs in a dynamic suspension bioreactor.

Treatment of unresectable carcinoma of the esophagus or the gastroesophageal junction by mesh stents with or without radiochemotherapy.

The palliative treatment of malignant stenoses of the upper gastrointestinal tract by self-expanding metal stents is a novel procedure with effective relief of dysphagia in most patients. There is little follow-up information with respect to the factors influencing clinical outcome and survival rates. Survival rates of 40 consecutive patients treated with 53 mesh stents were analyzed with regard to their degree of dysphagia (grades 0-3), quality of life (Karnofsky score), and the effect of additional radiation and chemotherapy.

[Sialic acid--an acute phase reactant and a concomitant of tumors].

Sialic acid is an acute phase reagent with tumour burden reflecting fluctuations of serum level. The parameter is unsuitable for an early recognition of cancer. Sialic acid could be used as a parameter in questions concerning tumour burden: the diagnosis of tumour stage, the control of growth after therapy, the prediction of recidivation.

[Lezius nailing under controversy? Experiences with Lezius-Herzer curved nailing in 1,062 pertrochanteric femoral fractures].

Curved nailing according to Lezius and Herzer was applied to 700 of 1,062 cases of pertrochanteric fractures of the femur at the Surgical Department of the "Carl Gustav Carus" Medical Academy, Dresden, between 1964 and 1985. Complications are described, and results are generally compared with other surgical techniques used to handle pertrochanteric fractures of the femur. Lezius nailing, when compared to other methods, has proved to be a simple and reliable approach, primarily under the aspect of geriatric traumatology, and should be used on a much wider scale.

[CEA determination in the follow-up of colorectal cancers].

CEA follow-up checks of 135 patients with colorectal carcinoma are described in a retrospective analysis. Unambiguous correlations were found to exist between clinical tumour staging and CEA findings in the context of both primary findings and recurrences and metastasation. Typical courses are described of 107 patients who received curative treatment.