Preliminary studies for the development of a second generation granulocytapheresis (G-CAP) column. Part II: in vitro and ex vivo studies.

Our previous studies concluded Egyptian cotton was the most appropriate material for making a second generation granulocytapheresis (G-CAP) column as structural dimensions of the cotton fibers are able to attract granulocytes. Unfortunately, it is considered to be blood incompatible as its fibers are of non-synthetic origins. In this study we examined the alteration of the removal rates of blood cells with different surface modifications of Egyptian cotton to enhance its blood compatibility.

Molecular surgery for the treatment of malignant tumors: bioincompatible material apheresis for cancer therapy?

Controlled immunological shock, induced by bioincompatible material apheresis for cancer (BIC MAC) therapy, produces an immunoactive status in experimental subjects. However, in order to provide a safe, painless, effective, and reproducible BIC MAC therapy, it is mandatory to provide general anesthesia with endotracheal intubation not only during apheresis procedures of 1-h duration but also for an additional 5 h. Using this procedure, there was no mortality experienced during animal experiments.

Role of bone marrow-derived monocytes/macrophages in the repair of mucosal damage caused by irradiation and/or anticancer drugs in colitis model.

Mucosal damage is a common side effect of many cancer treatments, especially radiotherapy and intensive chemotherapy, which often induce bone marrow (BM) suppression. We observed that acetic acid- (AA-) induced mucosal damage in the colon of mice was worsened by simultaneous treatment with irradiation or 5-FU. However, irradiation 14 days prior to the AA treatment augmented the recovery from mucosal damage, suggesting that the recovery from BM suppression had an advantageous effect on the mucosal repair.

The need to change our objective for artificial heart development: from totally implantable permanent ventricular assist devices to wearable therapeutic ventricular assist devices.

As a therapeutic VAD to be combined with drugs, apheresis, and cellular implants, it is advisable to develop a wearable VAD for less than 6 months of application. Such an example was shown by describing the therapeutic BCM Gyro centrifugal VAD.