Self-assembled composite matrix in a hierarchical 3-D scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

It is of high clinical relevance in bone tissue engineering that scaffolds promote a high seeding efficiency of cells capable of osteogenic differentiation, such as human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We evaluated the effects of a novel polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold on hMSC seeding efficiency, proliferation, distribution and differentiation. Porous PCL meshes prepared by fused deposition modeling (FDM) were embedded in matrix of hyaluronic acid, methylated collagen and terpolymer via polyelectrolyte complex coacervation.

Diagnosing autism spectrum disorders in adults: the use of Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) module 4.

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) module 4 was investigated in an independent sample of high-functioning adult males with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to three specific diagnostic groups: schizophrenia, psychopathy, and typical development. ADOS module 4 proves to be a reliable instrument with good predictive value. It can adequately discriminate ASD from psychopathy and typical development, but is less specific with respect to schizophrenia due to behavioral overlap between autistic and negative symptoms.

Biologic role of activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule overexpression in breast cancer cell lines and clinical tumor tissue.

The activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) is overexpressed in many mammary tumors, but controversial results about its role and prognostic impact in breast cancer have been reported. Therefore, we evaluated the biologic effects of ALCAM expression in two breast cancer cell lines and a larger cohort of mammary carcinomas. By stable transfections, MCF7 cells with ALCAM overexpression and MDA-MB231 cells with reduced ALCAM levels were generated and analyzed in functional assays and cDNA microarrays.

A new Pharmaceutical Aerosol Deposition Device on Cell Cultures (PADDOCC) to evaluate pulmonary drug absorption for metered dose dry powder formulations.

Absorption studies with aerosol formulation delivered by metered dose inhalers across cell- and tissue-based in vitro models of the pulmonary epithelia are not trivial due to the complexity of the processes involved: (i) aerosol generation and deposition, (ii) drug release from the carrier, and (iii) absorption across the epithelial air-blood barrier. In contrast to the intestinal mucosa, pulmonary epithelia are only covered by a thin film of lining fluid. Submersed cell culture systems would not allow to studying the deposition of aerosol particles and their effects on this delicate epithelial tissue.

Maternal obesity in ewes results in reduced fetal pancreatic β-cell numbers in late gestation and decreased circulating insulin concentration at term.

About 30% of U.S. women of reproductive age are obese, a condition linked to offspring obesity and diabetes.

The Pharmaceutical Aerosol Deposition Device on Cell Cultures (PADDOCC) in vitro system: design and experimental protocol.

The development of aerosol medicines typically involves numerous tests on animals, due to the lack of adequate in vitro models. A new in vitro method for testing pharmaceutical aerosol formulations on cell cultures was developed, consisting of an aerosolisation unit fitting a commercial dry powder inhaler (HandiHaler(c), Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany), an air-flow control unit (Akita(c), Activaero, Germany) and a custom-made sedimentation chamber. This chamber holds three Snapwell(c) inserts with monolayers of pulmonary epithelial cells.

Chitosan/siRNA nanoparticles biofunctionalize nerve implants and enable neurite outgrowth.

Microstructured 20 μm thick polymer filaments used as nerve implants were loaded with chitosan/siRNA nanoparticles to promote nerve regeneration and ensure local delivery of nanotherapeutics. The stable nanoparticles were rapidly internalized by cells and did not affect cell viability. Target mRNA was successfully reduced by 65-75% and neurite outgrowth was enhanced even in an inhibitory environment.

Structured populations of the oriental fruit moth in an agricultural ecosystem.

Intercontinental trade has led to multiple introductions of invasive pest species at a global scale. Molecular analyses of the structure of populations support the understanding of ecological strategies and evolutionary patterns that promote successful biological invasions. The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita (= Cydia) molesta, is a cosmopolitan and economically destructive pest of stone and pome fruits, expanding its distribution range concomitantly with global climate warming.

Fibrosis in endstage human heart failure: severe changes in collagen metabolism and MMP/TIMP profiles.

Objectives: We studied fibrosis, collagen metabolism, MMPs/TIMPs and cytokine expression in various forms of human heart failure (HF) by quantitative immunofluorescent microscopy, Western blot, zymography, RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. In explanted human hearts with HF due to either dilated (DCM, n=6) or ischemic (ICM-BZ-borderzone, ICM-RZ-remote zone, n=7) or inflammatory (myocarditis, MYO, n=6) cardiomyopathy and 8 controls MMP2, 8, 9, 19, and TIMP1, 2, 3, 4 as well as procollagens I and III (PINP, PIIINP), mature collagen III (IIINTP) and the cross-linked collagen I degradation product (ICTP) were measured.

Results: In comparison with controls, MMPs and TIMPs were significantly upregulated ranging (from highest to lowest) from ICM-BZ, DCM, ICM-RZ, MYO for all MMPs with the exception of MMP9 (highest in DCM), and for TIMPs from ICM-BZ, ICM-RZ, DCM and MYO.

Maternal obesity and overnutrition alter fetal growth rate and cotyledonary vascularity and angiogenic factor expression in the ewe.

In pregnant sheep, maternal:fetal exchange occurs across placentomes composed of placental cotyledonary and uterine caruncular tissues. Recently, we reported that fetal weights of obese (OB) ewes [fed a diet of 150% of National Research Council (NRC) recommendations] were approximately 30% greater than those of control (C) ewes (fed a diet 100% of NRC recommendations) at midgestation (MG), but fetal weights were similar in late gestation (LG). Transplacental nutrient exchange is dependent on placental blood flow, which itself is dependent on placental vascularity.

Long foraging distances impose high costs on offspring production in solitary bees.

1. Solitary bees are central place foragers returning to their nests several times a day with pollen and nectar to provision their brood cells. They are especially susceptible to landscape changes that lead to an increased spatial separation of suitable nesting sites and flower rich host plant stands.

New generation of chitosan-encapsulated ZnO quantum dots loaded with drug: synthesis, characterization and in vitro drug delivery response.

The objective of the study is to describe a new approach of combining quantum dots technology with anti-cancer drug therapy. In this regard, we communicate the preliminary research on the synthesis of blue-light emitting ZnO quantum dots (QDs) combined with biodegradable chitosan (N-acetylglucosamine) for tumor-targeted drug delivery. The results presented here indicate that the proposed new generation of QDs loaded with anti-cancer agents and encapsulated with biocompatible polymer represent a potential platform to deliver tumor-targeted drugs and document the delivery process, if desired.

Deposition of nonsarcomeric alpha-actinin in cardiomyocytes from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or chronic pressure overload.

Nonsarcomeric alpha-actinin (ACTN-1)-positive clusters have been detected in human myocardium structurally jeopardized by dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophy due to aortic stenosis, or chronic hibernation, but have never been detected in normal tissue. To systematically investigate these clusters, immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, Northern blot and Western blot were performed in human myocardium, isolated rat cardiomyocytes and rabbit smooth muscle cells. ACTN-1-positive clusters were localized in the perinuclear area of cardiomyocytes surrounded by rough endoplasmic reticulum.

Controlled and extended drug release behavior of chitosan-based nanoparticle carrier.

Controlled drug release is presently gaining significant attention. In this regard, we describe here the synthesis (based on the understanding of chemical structure), structural morphology, swelling behavior and drug release response of chitosan intercalated in an expandable layered aluminosilicate. In contrast to pure chitosan, for which there is a continuous increase in drug release with time, the chitosan-aluminosilicate nanocomposite carrier was characterized by controlled and extended release.

The effect of translocation on movement behaviour--a test of the assumptions of behavioural studies.

Animal movement behaviour is intensively investigated with capture-mark-recapture studies. For the analysis of such experiments, the influence of marking technique, handling and translocation of marked animals on movement pattern is of crucial importance since it may mask or overrule the effects of the main research question. Here we present a capture-mark-recapture experiment on the movement behaviour of the blue-winged grasshopper Oedipoda caerulescens.

Inhalative nanomedicine--opportunities and challenges.

Inhalation therapy is still limited by the low bioavailability of the administered drugs. Advantages of the pulmonary administration site like large resorption area, low enzymatic equipment, and circumvention of the first pass effect are set into perspective by the rigid barrier properties of the alveolar region. As a consequence, the systemic bioavailability of peptides and proteins is still relatively limited, even when administered by modern pharmaceutical aerosol technologies.

[The influence of quality management on job satisfaction and work load--exemplary study in a German hospital].

Surveys among employees are getting more and more relevant in hospital settings since an increase in both (1) efficiency and (2) quality in connection with (3) enhanced patient orientation will only be achieved, if at the same time the employees' health status and satisfaction are taken into account. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the satisfaction of employees in a single hospital enquired in 2002 with that of 2005. Particular consideration was given to their view of quality management.

Expression of Jun and Fos proteins in ovarian tumors of different malignant potential and in ovarian cancer cell lines.

Jun and Fos proteins form the transcription factor activating protein 1 (AP-1). They play a role in cell proliferation, malignant transformation and invasion in various tumors. The aim of the current study was to characterize the role of AP-1 in ovarian cancer.

Pulmonary drug delivery: medicines for inhalation.

Mankind has inhaled substances for medical and other reasons for thousands of years, notably resulting in the cultural manifestations of tobacco and opium smoking. Over the course of time concepts of pulmonary application, including inhalation devices and drug formulations, have been and still are being continuously developed. State of the art instruments even allow for individualized drug application by adaptation of the inhalation procedure to the breathing pattern of the patient.

C-Fos expression is a molecular predictor of progression and survival in epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Members of the Fos protein family dimerise with Jun proteins to form the AP-1 transcription factor complex. They have a central function in proliferation and differentiation of normal tissue as well as in oncogenic transformation and tumour progression. We analysed the expression of c-Fos, FosB, Fra-1 and Fra-2 to investigate the function of Fos transcription factors in ovarian cancer.

Simulation of roller compaction with subsequent tableting and characterization of lactose and microcrystalline cellulose.

Tablets are by far the most common solid oral dosage forms, and many drugs need to be granulated before they can be tableted. Increasingly roller compaction is being used as a dry granulation technique; however it is a very time and material intensive method. Thus some mini roller compactors and simulations of the roller compaction process have been developed as a means of studying the technique at small scale.

Adult rat cardiac myocytes in culture: 'Second-floor' cells and coculture experiments.

Objective: To compare adult rat cardiomyocytes in primary culture for up to 28 days with those in primary culture for 10 days plus up to 18 days in a coculture (CC) system. The phenomenon of 'second-floor' cells in primary cultures and the behaviour of CC myocytes were studied over varying times with regard to protein content and attachment to underlying cells.

Methods: Qualitative confocal microscopy and quantitation using the Imaris program (Bitplane, Switzerland) for the measurement of the fluorescence intensity in the confocal microscope were used.

Influence of hydroxyapatite crystallization temperature and concentration on stress transfer in wet-spun nanohydroxyapatite-chitosan composite fibres.

Hydroxyapatite possesses appropriate osteoconductivity and biocompatibility for hard-tissue replacement implants but suffers from brittleness. One approach to overcome this problem is to incorporate nanometre hydroxyapatite (nHA) into a polymer matrix, such as chitosan, to yield a hydroxyapatite-chitosan (HC) composite. Here, a novel HC composite was synthesized and its elastic properties were investigated by varying (1) nHA concentration and (2) crystallization temperature (T), where T is a parameter which influences the morphology of the crystals.