Induced pluripotent stem cells have similar immunogenic and more potent immunomodulatory properties compared with bone marrow-derived stromal cells in vitro.

Aim: To evaluate the in vitro immunogenic and immunomodulatory properties of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) compared with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs).

Materials & Methods: Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) were isolated from C3HeB/FeJ and C57BL/6J mice, and reprogrammed to generate iPSCs. Mixed leukocyte reactions were performed using MHC-matched and -mismatched responder leukocytes and stimulator leukocytes, iPSCs or MSCs.

Considerations for the use of platelet-rich plasma in orthopedics.

The use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is expanding to numerous medical fields, including orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. The popularity of this new treatment option has prompted a rapid increase in research endeavors; however, the differences in application technique and the composition of PRP have made it difficult to compare results or make any firm conclusions regarding efficacy. The purpose of this article is twofold.

Gene expression differences predict treatment outcome of merkel cell carcinoma patients.

Due to the rarity of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), prospective clinical trials have not been practical. This study aimed to identify biomarkers with prognostic significance. While sixty-two patients were identified who were treated for MCC at our institution, only seventeen patients had adequate formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival tissue and followup to be included in the study.

Characterization of temperate phages infecting Clostridium difficile isolates of human and animal origins.

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive pathogen infecting humans and animals. Recent studies suggest that animals could represent potential reservoirs of C. difficile that could then transfer to humans.

Equine bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells are heterogeneous in MHC class II expression and capable of inciting an immune response in vitro.

Introduction: The horse is a valuable species to assess the effect of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in regenerative treatments. No studies to date have examined recipient response to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched equine MSCs. The purposes of this study were to immunophenotype MSCs from horses of known MHC haplotype and to compare the immunogenicity of MSCs with differing MHC class II expression.

Prevention of Clostridium difficile spore formation by sub-inhibitory concentrations of tigecycline and piperacillin/tazobactam.

Background: Sporulation of Clostridium difficile during infection and persistence of spores within the gut could partly explain treatment failures and recurrence. However, the influence of antibiotics on sporulation is unclear. The objective of our study was to evaluate the impact of ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, piperacillin/tazobactam, tigecycline, and vancomycin on C.

White matter injury and autistic-like behavior predominantly affecting male rat offspring exposed to group B streptococcal maternal inflammation.

The impact of the group B streptococcus (GBS)-induced maternal inflammation on offspring's brain has not yet been investigated despite GBS being one of the most frequent bacteria colonizing or infecting pregnant women. According to our hypothesis GBS-induced maternal immune activation plays a role in offspring perinatal brain damage and subsequent neurodisabilities such as autism. Using a new preclinical rat model of maternal inflammation triggered by inactivated GBS, we demonstrated placental, neuropathological and behavioral impacts on offspring.

Platelet-rich plasma for articular cartilage repair.

Platelet concentrates have been gaining popularity for a number of applications in orthopedic surgery as a way to enhance both healing of various tissues and reduce pain. One major area of focus has been the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on stem cells and chondrocytes and the potential for PRP to enhance cartilage regeneration as well as reduce catabolic factors that lead to cartilage degradation. This article provides an up-to-date review of the current literature regarding the effect of PRP on articular cartilage and its use in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

The anti-inflammatory and matrix restorative mechanisms of platelet-rich plasma in osteoarthritis.

Background: Intra-articular (IA) treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for osteoarthritis (OA) results in improved patient-reported pain and function scores.

Purpose: To measure the effects of PRP and high molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) on the expression of anabolic and catabolic genes and on the secretion of nociceptive and inflammatory mediators from OA cartilage and synoviocytes.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Identification of cartilage injury using quantitative multiphoton microscopy.

Objective: Cartilage injury can lead to post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Immediate post-trauma cellular and structural changes are not widely understood. Furthermore, current cellular-resolution cartilage imaging techniques require sectioning of cartilage and/or use of dyes not suitable for patient imaging.

Increasing platelet concentrations in leukocyte-reduced platelet-rich plasma decrease collagen gene synthesis in tendons.

Background: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used for the treatment of tendinopathy. There are numerous PRP preparations, and the optimal combination of platelets and leukocytes is not known.

Hypothesis: Within leukocyte-reduced PRP (lrPRP), there is a plateau effect of platelet concentration, with increasing platelet concentrations being detrimental to extracellular matrix synthesis.

Under-ice ambient noise in Eastern Beaufort Sea, Canadian Arctic, and its relation to environmental forcing.

This paper analyzes an 8-month time series (November 2005 to June 2006) of underwater noise recorded at the mouth of the Amundsen Gulf in the marginal ice zone of the western Canadian Arctic when the area was >90% ice covered. The time-series of the ambient noise component was computed using an algorithm that filtered out transient acoustic events from 7-min hourly recordings of total ocean noise over a [0-4.1] kHz frequency band.

Plasma and synovial fluid concentration of doxycycline following low-dose, low-frequency administration, and resultant inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-13 from interleukin-stimulated equine synoviocytes.

Reasons For Study: To determine whether low-dose, low-frequency doxycycline administration is capable of achieving chondroprotective concentrations within synovial fluid (SF) while remaining below minimum inhibitory concentration 90 (MIC90 ) of most equine pathogens and would be an option in the management of osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To determine whether low-dose, low-frequency oral administration of doxycycline can attain in vivo SF concentrations capable of chondroprotective effects through reduction of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 activity, while remaining below MIC90 of most equine pathogens.

Study Design: Descriptive pharmacokinetic study with crossover design.

Therapeutic use of stem cells in horses: which type, how, and when?

Stem cells are commonly used in equine practice to treat musculoskeletal disorders including tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and more recently laminitis. As the field of regenerative medicine continues to advance, equine practitioners need contemporary information regarding the choice of stem cell type and recommendations regarding clinical implementation of stem cell therapies. Clinicians must also be aware of the limitation in current knowledge regarding stem cells, and the impending regulatory laws that may limit the use of equine stem cells in clinical patients.

Doxycycline concentration over time after storage in a compounded veterinary preparation.

Objective: To determine the concentration of doxycycline compounded from doxycycline hyclate tablets into liquid formulations for oral administration in veterinary species and stored for 28 days.

Design: Evaluation study.

Sample: Doxycycline hyclate tablets (100 mg) crushed and mixed with a 50:50 mixture of syrup and suspension vehicles for oral administration to produce 3 batches each of 2 doxycycline formulations: 33.

Correlation of meniscal T2* with multiphoton microscopy, and change of articular cartilage T2 in an ovine model of meniscal repair.

Objective: To correlate meniscal T2* relaxation times using ultra-short echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with quantitative microscopic methods, and to determine the effect of meniscal repair on post-operative cartilage T2 values.

Design: A medial meniscal tear was created and repaired in the anterior horn of one limb of 28 crossbred mature ewes. MR scans for morphological evaluation, meniscal T2* values, and cartilage T2 values were acquired at 0, 4 and 8 months post-operatively for the Tear and Non-Op limb.

Platelet-rich plasma in the pathologic processes of cartilage: review of basic science evidence.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to systematically review the basic science evidence for the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of pathologic processes of cartilage, both as an adjunct to cartilage repair and as a conservative management strategy for osteoarthritis, with the intent of determining the effect of PRP and whether a proof of concept for its use has been established to facilitate further investigation at a clinical level.

Methods: Using the terms "platelet-rich plasma OR PRP OR autologous conditioned plasma OR ACP AND cartilage OR chondrocytes OR chondrogenesis OR osteoarthritis OR arthritis" we searched EMBASE and PubMed/Medline in April 2012. Two authors performed the search, 3 authors independently assessed the studies for inclusion, and 2 authors extracted the data.

Importance of prophages to evolution and virulence of bacterial pathogens.

Bacteriophages, or simply phages, are viruses infecting bacteria. With an estimated 10 ( 31) particles in the biosphere, phages outnumber bacteria by a factor of at least 10 and not surprisingly, they influence the evolution of most bacterial species, sometimes in unexpected ways. "Temperate" phages have the ability to integrate into the chromosome of their host upon infection, where they can reside as "quiescent" prophages until conditions favor their reactivation.

The effect of fluid overload in the presence of an epidural on the strength of colonic anastomoses.

Background: Despite the beneficial effects of epidurals in intra-abdominal surgery, the incidence of anastomotic leak remains controversial when used. Moreover, studies have also shown that fluid overload may be deleterious to anastomoses. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effects of varying intraoperative fluid protocols, in the presence of an epidural, on the burst pressure strength of colonic anastomoses.

Comparison of Three Methods to Quantify Repair Cartilage Collagen Orientation.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if the noninvasive or minimally invasive and nondestructive imaging techniques of quantitative T2-mapping or multiphoton microscopy (MPM) respectively, could detect differences in cartilage collagen orientation similar to polarized light microscopy (PLM). It was hypothesized that MRI, MPM, and PLM would all detect quantitative differences between repair and normal cartilage tissue.

Methods: Osteochondral defects in the medial femoral condyle were created and repaired in 5 mature goats.

Magnetic interference of cardiac pacemakers from a surgical magnetic drape.

Sterile magnetic drapes are frequently used during surgery to hold metal instruments on the sterile field. Magnetic fields may potentially interfere with the function of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators. In this study, we evaluated the potential magnetic interference of magnetic drapes on pacemaker function.

Optimization of leukocyte concentration in platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of tendinopathy.

Background: Numerous methods are available for platelet-rich plasma (PRP) generation, but evidence defining the optimum composition is lacking. We hypothesized that leukocyte-reduced PRP would result in lower inflammatory cytokine expression compared with concentrated-leukocyte PRP and that maintaining the platelet:white blood cell (WBC) ratio would compensate for the effect of increased WBC concentration.

Methods: Blood and flexor digitorum superficialis tendons were collected from young adult horses.

The Augmentation of a Collagen/Glycosaminoglycan Biphasic Osteochondral Scaffold with Platelet-Rich Plasma and Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate for Osteochondral Defect Repair in Sheep: A Pilot Study.

Objective: This study investigates the combination of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or concentrated bone marrow aspirate (CBMA) with a biphasic collagen/glycosaminoglycan (GAG) osteochondral scaffold for the treatment of osteochondral defects in sheep.

Design: Acute osteochondral defects were created in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and the lateral trochlea sulcus (LTS) of 24 sheep (n = 6). Defects were left empty or filled with a 6 × 6-mm scaffold, either on its own or in combination with PRP or CBMA.

Novel high-molecular-weight, R-type bacteriocins of Clostridium difficile.

Clostridium difficile causes one of the leading nosocomial infections in developed countries, and therapeutic choices are limited. Some strains of C. difficile produce phage tail-like particles upon induction of the SOS response.