Multiple differentiation capacity of STRO-1+/CD146+ PDL mesenchymal progenitor cells.

Although mesenchymal progenitor cells can be isolated from periodontal ligament (PDL) tissues using stem cell markers STRO-1 and CD146, the proportion of these cells that have the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell lineages remains to be determined. This study was designed to quantify the proportions of primary human PDL cells that can undergo multilineage differentiation and to compare the magnitude of these capabilities relative to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and parental PDL (PPDL) cells. PDL mesenchymal progenitor (PMP) cells were isolated from PPDL cells using the markers STRO-1 and CD146.

Laparoscopic hernia repair--the best option?

For 100 years the Bassini-type repair for inguinal hernia was the standard method. The Lichtenstein "tension free" mesh repair replaced it on the grounds of much lower recurrence rates, < 5% vs approximately 15%. However, open procedures all have significant long-term discomfort rates of up to 53%.

Structural factors that mediate scleral stiffness.

Purpose: The intent of this study was to correlate measures of structurally relevant biochemical constituents with tensile mechanical behavior in porcine and human posterior sclera.

Methods: Posterior scleral strips 6 x 25 mm were harvested from 13 young porcine and 10 aged human eyes and stored frozen at -20 degrees C. Mechanical hysteresis from 10 consecutive load cycles to a peak stress of 1.

Modification of the omega-meson lifetime in nuclear matter.

Information on hadron properties in the nuclear medium has been derived from the photoproduction of omega mesons on the nuclei C, Ca, Nb, and Pb using the Crystal Barrel/TAPS detector at the ELSA tagged photon facility in Bonn. The dependence of the omega-meson cross section on the nuclear mass number has been compared with three different types of models: a Glauber analysis, a Boltzmann-Uehling-Uhlenbeck analysis of the Giessen theory group, and a calculation by the Valencia theory group. In all three cases, the inelastic omega width is found to be 130-150 MeV/c(2) at normal nuclear matter density for an average 3-momentum of 1.

A multicenter phase II study of XRP6258 administered as a 1-h i.v. infusion every 3 weeks in taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer patients.

Background: XRP6258 is a novel taxoid with a low affinity for P-glycoprotein. This multicenter phase II study assessed the activity of XRP6258 in the treatment of taxane-resistant metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Patients And Methods: XRP6258 was administered as a 1-h i.

[Clinical features and diagnosis of tuberculosis].

Recently, major advances have been accomplished in the diagnosis of active tuberculosis. A comprehensive diagnostic approach for a patient with possible tuberculosis includes a detailed medical history and clinical examination as well as the results of radiological, microbiological, immunological, molecular-biological and histological methods. In concert, these results enable the clinician to rapidly develop a decision with a high probability for the diagnosis or exclusion of active tuberculosis.

A phase II multicenter study of oxaliplatin in combination with paclitaxel in poor prognosis patients who failed cisplatin-based chemotherapy for germ-cell tumors.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine feasibility and efficacy of the combination regimen oxaliplatin and paclitaxel in patients with cisplatin (CDDP)-refractory germ-cell tumors (GCT).

Patients And Methods: Patients with either a cisplatin absolute-refractory GCT defined as progressive disease (PD) during or within 1 month of CDDP administration or with a poor prognosis relapse, defined as PD between the second and the sixth month after CDDP administration, were treated with a combination of oxaliplatin (130 mg/m(2)) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) administered every 21 days. Primary end point was efficacy.

Biomechanical comparison of three fixation techniques for unstable thoracolumbar burst fractures. Laboratory investigation.

Object: Increased structural stability is considered sufficient justification for higher-risk surgical procedures, such as circumferential fixation after severe spinal destabilization. However, there is little biomechanical evidence to support such claims, particularly after traumatic lumbar burst fracture. The authors sought out to compare the biomechanical performance of the following 3 fixation strategies for spinal reconstruction after decompression for an unstable thoracolumbar burst fracture: 1) short-segment anterolateral fixation; 2) circumferential fixation; and 3) extended anterolateral fixation.

Chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells in three-dimensional alginate gels.

We characterized the temporal changes in chondrogenic genes and developed a staging scheme for in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in three-dimensional (3D) alginate gels. A time-dependent accumulation of glycosaminoglycans, aggrecan, and type II collagen was observed in chondrogenic but not in basal constructs over 24 days. qRT-PCR demonstrated a largely characteristic temporal pattern of chondrogenic markers and provided a basis for staging the cellular phenotype into four stages.

Bilateral iliac artery dissection following severe complex unstable pelvic fracture.

The case of an 18-year-old polytrauma patient with a complete disruption of the right external iliac artery and a dissection of the left external iliac artery mainly caused by bilateral complex pelvic fractures type C, a subluxated horizontal fracture of the right acetabulum, and a transforaminal sacrum fracture is described.

Lactic acid and proteoglycans as metabolic markers for discogenic back pain.

Study Design: Disc tissue was removed at surgery from 9 patients with discogenic pain and 9 deformity patients with scoliosis undergoing anterior and posterior spinal fusion. These samples were then analyzed using ex vivo proton high resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) NMR spectroscopy to produce metabolic profiles for comparison between the 2 patient groups.

Objective: The goal of this study was to use quantitative ex vivo HR-MAS NMR spectroscopy to identify biochemical markers associated with discogenic back pain.

ISSLS prize winner: repeated disc injury causes persistent inflammation.

Study Design: An in vivo rat model of disc degeneration with emphasis on characterizing acute and chronic cytokine production.

Objective: To compare the morphologic and proinflammatory response between a single and triple-stab injury in attempts to establish mechanisms of chronic disc inflammation.

Summary Of Background Data: The features that distinguish physiologic (asymptomatic) from pathologic (symptomatic) degeneration are unclear.

Quantitative analysis of structural disorder in intervertebral disks using second harmonic generation imaging: comparison with morphometric analysis.

A novel signal processing algorithm for quantifying structural disorder in biological tissue using second harmonic generation (SHG) imaging is described. Both the magnitude and the pattern of disorder in collagenous tissues can be determined with this method. Mathematical models are used to determine the range of disordered states over which the algorithm can be used, because highly disordered biological samples do not generate second harmonic signals.

Acute coronary syndrome associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome.

A 41 -year old female patient was admitted with acute onset of dyspnea and chest pain. Previous history revealed asthma, chronic sinusitis and eosinophilic proctitis. Electrocardiogram showed anterior ST-segment elevations and inferior ST-segment depression.

No mid-term difference in mosaicplasty in previously treated versus previously untreated patients with osteochondral lesions of the talus.

Introduction: Osteochondral transplantations, albeit technically challenging, appear promising not only in knee joint lesions, but also in the treatment of talus lesions. We hypothesized that in patients suffering osteochondral lesions of the talus, favorable outcomes are obtained in patients undergoing primary mosaicplasty as compared to patients undergoing secondary mosaicplasty.

Materials And Methods: Over a 3-year period (1998-2001), 14 patients (six male, eight female, median age 22 years) were treated with an autologous osteochondral transplantation of the talus.

Role of matrix metalloproteinase 13 in both endochondral and intramembranous ossification during skeletal regeneration.

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is important during bone development and repair. Because matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13, collagenase-3) plays a role in long bone development, we have examined its role during adult skeletal repair. In this study we find that MMP13 is expressed by hypertrophic chondrocytes and osteoblasts in the fracture callus.

Glucosamine HCl alters production of inflammatory mediators by rat intervertebral disc cells in vitro.

Background Context: Studies on cartilage have shown anti-inflammatory effects of glucosamine related to inhibition of inflammatory mediators. Intradiscal injection of glucosamine has been proposed as a treatment for chronic discogenic low back pain. However, there have been no studies of the direct effects of glucosamine on disc cells.

[Updates on gemcitabine on metastatic breast cancer].

Gemcitabine is one of the key products actually used in metastatic breast cancer. Thanks to its favourable toxicity profile, gemcitabine can be used in combination with a number of drugs. Recently published and presented results from different trials may modify our perception and strategies regarding metastatic breast cancer.

Development and calibration of a new point-of-care test for the determination of NT-proBNP in whole blood.

A new point-of-care test for the determination of NT-proBNP in whole blood was developed based on the existing gold-label rapid immunoassay technology of the Roche Cardiac reader system. The novel gold-labelled monoclonal antibody recognizes NT-proBNP at amino acid sequence 27 to 31, the biotinylated polyclonal antibody recognizes sequence 39 to 50. In a model assay based upon the reference method Elecsys proBNP and with an R & D lot of the point-of-care test, this newly selected and developed combination of antibodies showed a very good correlation with the standard Elecsys proBNP assay with correlations of 0.

Recovery, viability and clinical toxicity of thawed and washed haematopoietic progenitor cells: analysis of 952 autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantations.

Cryopreservation and thawing of haematopoietic stem cells are associated with cell loss and infusion-related toxicities. We analysed viability, total nucleated cell (TNC) and CD34+ cell recovery, and infusion-related toxicities of 952 thawed and washed products. Mean TNC and CD34+ viable cells recoveries were 55.

Biological and mechanical consequences of transient intervertebral disc bending.

Degenerative mechanisms for the intervertebral disc are unclear, particularly those associated with cumulative trauma. This research focuses on how mechanical loading at levels below those known to cause acute trauma can lead to cellular injury. Mouse-tail discs were subjected to static bending for 1 week, then allowed to recover unloaded for 3 weeks and 3 months.

Magnetic resonance angiography with blood-pool contrast agents: future applications.

Blood pool agents remain in the intravascular space for a longer time period. Therefore the optimal imaging window for vascular structures is widened to about 30 minutes. Gadofosveset trisodium (Vasovist, Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) is the first blood-pool contrast agent approved in Europe for contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of vessels in the abdomen, pelvis and lower extremity in adults.

The short-term effects of electrosurgical ablation on proinflammatory mediator production by intervertebral disc cells in tissue culture.

Background Context: Percutaneous discectomy can be performed by a variety of methods. One method, electrosurgical ablation, has been shown in a chronic animal model to alter the expression of inflammatory cytokines in degenerated discs.

Purpose: To determine whether electrosurgical ablation has an acute direct effect on proinflammatory mediator production by disc cells.