Biomimetic Cardiac Tissue Models for In Vitro Arrhythmia Studies.

Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Many arrhythmias are caused by reentry, a phenomenon where excitation waves circulate in the heart. Optical mapping techniques have revealed the role of reentry in arrhythmia initiation and fibrillation transition, but the underlying biophysical mechanisms are still difficult to investigate in intact hearts.

Biomechanical Behaviors and Degradation Properties of Multilayered Polymer Scaffolds: The Phase Space Method for Bile Duct Design and Bioengineering.

This article reports the electrospinning technique for the manufacturing of multilayered scaffolds for bile duct tissue engineering based on an inner layer of polycaprolactone (PCL) and an outer layer either of a copolymer of D,L-lactide and glycolide (PLGA) or a copolymer of L-lactide and ε-caprolactone (PLCL). A study of the degradation properties of separate polymers showed that flat PCL samples exhibited the highest resistance to hydrolysis in comparison with PLGA and PLCL. Irrespective of the liquid-phase nature, no significant mass loss of PCL samples was found in 140 days of incubation.

Angiogenic Modification of Microfibrous Polycaprolactone by pCMV-VEGF165 Plasmid Promotes Local Vascular Growth after Implantation in Rats.

Insufficient vascular growth in the area of artificial-material implantation contributes to ischemia, fibrosis, the development of bacterial infections, and tissue necrosis around the graft. The purpose of this study was to evaluate angiogenesis after implantation of polycaprolactone microfiber scaffolds modified by a pCMV-VEGF165-plasmid in rats. Influence of vascularization on scaffold degradation was also examined.

Scaffolds Based on Silk Fibroin with Decellularized Rat Liver Microparticles: Investigation of the Structure, Biological Properties and Regenerative Potential for Skin Wound Healing.

The development of advanced biomaterials and constructs for accelerated recovery of damaged tissues is a key direction in regenerative medicine. Biocompatible scaffolds based on natural biopolymers are widely used for these tasks. Organ decellularization enables obtaining a cell-free extracellular matrix (ECM) with preserved composition and biological activity.

Engineering of Tracheal Grafts Based on Recellularization of Laser-Engraved Human Airway Cartilage Substrates.

Objective: Implantation of tissue-engineered tracheal grafts represents a visionary strategy for the reconstruction of tracheal wall defects after resections and may develop into a last chance for a number of patients with severe cicatricial stenosis. The use of a decellularized tracheal substrate would offer an ideally stiff graft, but the matrix density would challenge efficient remodeling into a living cartilage. In this study, we hypothesized that the pores of decellularized laser-perforated tracheal cartilage (LPTC) tissues can be colonized by adult nasal chondrocytes (NCs) to produce new cartilage tissue suitable for the repair of tracheal defects.

Misdiagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer in patients with undiagnosed skin malignancies.

A growing number of studies report dermal malignancies mimicking diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). We reviewed clinical cases reporting malignant tumours misdiagnosed to be DFU aiming to identify factors contributing to misdiagnosis. We systematically searched in PubMed for clinical cases reporting on misdiagnosis of DFU in patients with cancer.

A Comparative Analysis of the Structure and Biological Properties of Films and Microfibrous Scaffolds Based on Silk Fibroin.

A comparative analysis of the structure and biological properties of silk fibroin constructions was performed. Three groups of constructions were obtained: films obtained by casting an aqueous solution of silk fibroin and electrospun microfibrous scaffolds based on silk fibroin, with the addition of 30% gelatin per total protein weight. The internal structures of the films and single fibers of the microfibrous scaffolds consisted of densely packed globule structures; the surface area to volume ratios and volume porosities of the microfibrous scaffolds were calculated.

Pharmacokinetic Properties of the Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid 5F-APINAC and Its Influence on Metabolites Associated with Neurotransmission in Rabbit Plasma.

The strong psychoactive effects of synthetic cannabinoids raise the need for the deeper studying of their neurometabolic effects. The pharmacokinetic properties of 5F-APINAC and its influence on metabolomics profiles associated with neurotransmission were investigated in rabbit plasma. Twelve rabbits divided into three groups received 1-mL 5F-APINAC at 0.

Frontiers in urethra regeneration: current state and future perspective.

Despite the positive achievements attained, the treatment of male urethral strictures and hypospadiases still remains a challenge, particularly in cases of severe urethral defects. Complications and the need for additional interventions in such cases are common. Also, shortage of autologous tissue for graft harvesting and significant morbidity in the location of harvesting present problems and often lead to staged treatment.

Plasma Sarcosine Measured by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Distinguishes Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Prostate Cancer from Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.

Objective: Sarcosine was postulated in 2009 as a biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa). Here, we assess plasma sarcosine as a biomarker that is complementary to prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Methods: Plasma sarcosine was measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in adults classified as noncancerous controls (with benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH], n = 36), with prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN, n = 16), or with PCa (n = 27).

Extension of Maximal Lifespan and High Bone Marrow Chimerism After Nonmyeloablative Syngeneic Transplantation of Bone Marrow From Young to Old Mice.

The goal of this work was to determine the effect of nonablative syngeneic transplantation of young bone marrow (BM) to laboratory animals (mice) of advanced age upon maximum duration of their lifespan. To do this, transplantation of 100 million nucleated cells from BM of young syngeneic donors to an old nonablated animal was performed at the time when half of the population had already died. As a result, the maximum lifespan (MLS) increased by 28 ± 5%, and the survival time from the beginning of the experiment increased 2.

A Novel Lipopeptaibol Emericellipsin A with Antimicrobial and Antitumor Activity Produced by the Extremophilic Fungus .

Soil fungi are known to contain a rich variety of defense metabolites that allow them to compete with other organisms (fungi, bacteria, nematodes, and insects) and help them occupy more preferential areas at the expense of effective antagonism. These compounds possess antibiotic activity towards a wide range of other microbes, particularly fungi that belong to different taxonomical units. These compounds include peptaibols, which are non-ribosomal synthesized polypeptides containing non-standard amino acid residues (alpha-aminoisobutyric acid mandatory) and some posttranslational modifications.

Insulin receptor in the brain: Mechanisms of activation and the role in the CNS pathology and treatment.

While the insulin receptor (IR) was found in the CNS decades ago, the brain was long considered to be an insulin-insensitive organ. This view is currently revisited, given emerging evidence of critical roles of IR-mediated signaling in development, neuroprotection, metabolism, and plasticity in the brain. These diverse cellular and physiological IR activities are distinct from metabolic IR functions in peripheral tissues, thus highlighting region specificity of IR properties.

Genetically-modified bone mesenchymal stem cells with TGF-β improve wound healing and reduce scar tissue formation in a rabbit model.

Extensive scar tissue formation often occurs after severe burn injury, trauma, or as one of complications after surgical intervention. Despite significant therapeutic advances, it is still a significant challenge to manage massive scar tissue formation while also promoting normal wound healing. The goal of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) that were genetically modified to overexpress transforming growth factor-beta 3 (TGF-β), an inhibitor of myofibroblast proliferation and collagen type I deposition, on full-thickness cutaneous wound healing in a rabbit model.

Cyclic AMP Pathway Suppress Autoimmune Neuroinflammation by Inhibiting Functions of Encephalitogenic CD4 T Cells and Enhancing M2 Macrophage Polarization at the Site of Inflammation.

Although it has been demonstrated that cAMP pathway affect both adaptive and innate cell functions, the role of this pathway in the regulation of T-cell-mediated central nervous system (CNS) autoimmune inflammation, such as in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), remains unclear. It is also unclear how cAMP pathway affects the function of CD4 T cells at the site of inflammation. We found that adenylyl cyclase activator Forskolin besides inhibition of functions autoimmune CD4 T cells also upregulated microRNA (miR)-124 in the CNS during EAE, which is associated with M2 phenotype of microglia/macrophages.

Human endometrial stem cells: High-yield isolation and characterization.

Background: Menstrual blood is only recently and still poorly studied, but it is an abundant and noninvasive source of highly proliferative mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, no appropriate isolation method has been reported due to its high viscosity and high content of clots and desquamated epithelium.

Methods: We studied three different isolation approaches and their combinations: ammonium-containing lysing buffer, distilled water and gradient-density centrifugation.

Urethral reconstruction with autologous urine-derived stem cells seeded in three-dimensional porous small intestinal submucosa in a rabbit model.

Background: Urethral reconstruction is one of the great surgical challenges for urologists. A cell-based tissue-engineered urethra may be an alternative for patients who have complicated long strictures and need urethral reconstruction. Here, we demonstrated the feasibility of using autologous urine-derived stem cells (USCs) seeded on small intestinal submucosa (SIS) to repair a urethral defect in a rabbit model.

The potential role of tissue-engineered urethral substitution: clinical and preclinical studies.

Urethral strictures and anomalies remain among the difficult problems in urology, with urethroplasty procedures being the most effective treatment options. The two major types of urethroplasty are anastomotic urethroplasty and widening the urethral lumen using flaps or grafts (i.e.