Chemical imaging of articular cartilage sections with Raman mapping, employing uni- and multi-variate methods for data analysis.

Raman mapping in combination with uni- and multi-variate methods of data analysis is applied to articular cartilage samples. Main differences in biochemical composition and collagen fibers orientation between superficial, middle and deep zone of the tissue are readily observed in the samples. Collagen, non-collagenous proteins, proteoglycans and nucleic acids can be distinguished on the basis of their different spectral characteristics, and their relative abundance can be mapped in the label-free tissue samples, at so high a resolution as to permit the analysis at the level of single cells.

Inhomogeneity of rat vertebrae trabecular architecture by high-field 3D mu-magnetic resonance imaging and variable threshold image segmentation.

Purpose: To analyze the 3D microarchitecture of rat lumbar vertebrae by micro-magnetic resonance imaging (micro-MRI).

Materials And Methods: micro-MR images (20 x 20 x 20 microm(3) apparent voxel size) were acquired with a three-dimensional spin-echo pulse sequence on four lumbar vertebrae of two rats. Apparent microarchitectural parameters like trabecular bone fraction (BV/TV), specific bone surface (BS/TV), mean intercept length (MIL), and Euler number per unit volume (Euler density, E(V)) were calculated using a novel semiquantitative variable threshold segmentation technique.

Urinary levels of glycosaminoglycans in patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity.

Introduction And Hypothesis: We assessed whether urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) may be affected by a condition of detrusor overactivity (DO).

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 24-h urinary excretion of GAGs in 25 patients (mean age 63.81 years) with DO and in 14 healthy controls (mean age 65.

Galectin-1 in cartilage: expression, influence on chondrocyte growth and interaction with ECM components.

Galectin-1 is a 14 kDa beta-galactoside binding protein, capable of forming lattice-like structures with glycans of cellular glycoconjugates and inducing intracellular signaling. The expression of Galectin-1 in porcine cartilage is described in this work for the first time. Immunocytochemical methods revealed distinct distribution patterns for both articular and growth plate cartilage.

Alginate/lactose-modified chitosan hydrogels: a bioactive biomaterial for chondrocyte encapsulation.

A new bioactive scaffold was prepared from a binary polysaccharide mixture composed of a polyanion (alginate) and a polycation (a lactose-modified chitosan, chitlac). Its potential use for articular chondrocytes encapsulation and cartilage reconstructive surgery applications has been studied. The hydrogel combines the ability of alginate to act as a 3D supporting structure with the capability of the second component (chitlac) to provide interactions with porcine articular chondrocytes.