Design and assembly procedures for large-sized biohybrid scaffolds as patches for myocardial infarct.

Objective: To assemble a biohybrid cardiac patch consisting of a large (5 × 5 cm) elastomer scaffold whose pores are filled with a self-assembling peptide (SAP) gel entrapping adipose stem cells, to be used as a novel implant in a big animal model (sheep) of myocardial infarction. The study focuses on the way to determine optimal procedures for incorporating the SAP solution and the cells in the patch to ensure cell colonization and a homogeneous cell distribution in the construct before implantation. The problems associated with the scale-up of the different procedures raised by the large size of the construct are discussed.

Myeloid leukemia with t(7;21)(p22;q22) and 5q deletion.

The rare but recurrent RUNX1-USP42 fusion gene is the result of a t(7;21)(p22;q22) chromosomal translocation and has been described in 6 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and one case of refractory anemia with excess of blast. In the present study, we present the molecular genetic analysis and the clinical features of a t(7;21)(p22;q22)-positive AML case. PCR amplified two RUNX1-USP42 cDNA fragments but no reciprocal USP42-RUNX1 fragment indicating that the RUNX1-USP42 is the leukemogenic fusion gene.

[Intubation training on the deceased newborn--parents' opinion?].

Intubation of neonates is a technically challenging procedure requiring training on newly deceased newborns. There has been disagreement as to whether informed consent from parents should be obtained before such training is conducted. In a survey conducted among parents who had lost one or more children, we asked if they would consent to health personnel training intubation on their deceased child.