Induced resistance to herbivory and the intelligent plant.

Plant induced responses to environmental stressors are increasingly studied in a behavioral ecology context. This is particularly true for plant induced responses to herbivory that mediate direct and indirect defenses, and tolerance. These seemingly adaptive alterations of plant defense phenotypes in the context of other environmental conditions have led to the discussion of such responses as intelligent behavior.

Volatile-mediated plant-plant communication and higher-level ecological dynamics.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in general and herbivory-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) in particular are increasingly understood as major mediators of information transfer between plant tissues. Recent findings have moved the field of plant communication closer to a detailed understanding of how plants emit and perceive VOCs and seem to converge on a model that juxtaposes perception and emission mechanisms. These new mechanistic insights help to explain how plants can integrate different types of information and how environmental noise can affect the transmission of information.

TGF- Signalling is Suppressed under Pro-Hypertrophic Conditions in MSC Chondrogenesis Due to TGF- Receptor Downregulation.

Background And Objectives: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) become hypertrophic in long term despite chondrogenic differentiation following the pathway of growth plate chondrocytes. This terminal differentiation leads to phenotypically unstable cartilage and was mirrored in vitro by addition of hypertrophy inducing medium. We investigated how intrinsic TGF- signaling is altered in pro-hypertrophic conditions.

Autologous mesenchymal stem cells or meniscal cells: what is the best cell source for regenerative meniscus treatment in an early osteoarthritis situation?

Background: Treatment of meniscus tears within the avascular region represents a significant challenge, particularly in a situation of early osteoarthritis. Cell-based tissue engineering approaches have shown promising results. However, studies have not found a consensus on the appropriate autologous cell source in a clinical situation, specifically in a challenging degenerative environment.

Are applied growth factors able to mimic the positive effects of mesenchymal stem cells on the regeneration of meniscus in the avascular zone?

Meniscal lesions in the avascular zone are still a problem in traumatology. Tissue Engineering approaches with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) showed successful regeneration of meniscal defects in the avascular zone. However, in daily clinical practice, a single stage regenerative treatment would be preferable for meniscus injuries.

Thyroid hormone-induced hypertrophy in mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis is mediated by bone morphogenetic protein-4.

Chondrogenic differentiating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) express markers of hypertrophic growth plate chondrocytes. As hypertrophic cartilage undergoes ossification, this is a concern for the application of MSCs in articular cartilage tissue engineering. To identify mechanisms that elicit this phenomenon, we used an in vitro hypertrophy model of chondrifying MSCs for differential gene expression analysis and functional experiments with the focus on bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling.

Effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein in an in vitro hypertrophy model for mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis.

Purpose: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) express markers of hypertrophic chondrocytes during chondrogenic differentiation. We tested the suitability of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), a regulator of chondrocyte hypertrophy in embryonic cartilage development, for the suppression of hypertrophy in an in vitro hypertrophy model of chondrifying MSCs.

Methods: Chondrogenesis was induced in human MSCs in pellet culture for two weeks and for an additional two weeks cultures were either maintained in standard chondrogenic medium or transferred to a hypertrophy-enhancing medium.

Insulin is essential for in vitro chondrogenesis of mesenchymal progenitor cells and influences chondrogenesis in a dose-dependent manner.

Purpose: Insulin is a commonly used additive in chondrogenic media for differentiating mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The indispensability of other bioactive factors like TGF-β or dexamethasone in these medium formulations has been shown, but the role of insulin is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether insulin is essential for MSC chondrogenesis and if there is a dose-dependent effect of insulin on MSC chondrogenesis.

Anabolic/Catabolic balance in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis: identifying molecular targets.

Osteoarthritis is the most common degenerative musculoskeletal disease. In healthy cartilage, a low turnover of extracellular matrix molecules occurs. Proper balance of anabolic and catabolic activities is thus crucial for the maintenance of cartilage tissue integrity and for the repair of molecular damages sustained during daily usage.

Hypertrophy in mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis: effect of TGF-beta isoforms and chondrogenic conditioning.

Induction of chondrogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with TGF-beta leads to a hypertrophic phenotype. The hypertrophic maturation of the chondrocytes is dependent on the timed removal of TGF-beta and sensitive to hypertrophy-promoting agents in vitro. In this study, we have investigated whether TGF-beta3, which has been shown to be more prochondrogenic compared to TGF-beta1, similarly enhances terminal differentiation in an in vitro hypertrophy model of chondrogenically differentiating MSCs.

Harvesting human adipose tissue-derived adult stem cells: resection versus liposuction.

Background: Adipose tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), which can be used for tissue-engineering purposes. The aim of our study was to determine the more suitable procedure, surgical resection or liposuction, for harvesting human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hASC) with regard to viability, cell count and differentiation potential.

Methods: After harvesting hASC, trypan blue staining and cell counting were carried out.

In vitro adipose tissue engineering using an electrospun nanofibrous scaffold.

Electrospun 3-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds share morphologic similarities to collagen fibrils, and promote favorable biologic responses of seeded cells. In this study, we have fabricated a 3-dimensional nanofibrous scaffold made of poly L-lactic acid, and examined its ability to support and maintain the adipogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. After a 21-day incubation, oil red O staining of constructs treated with adipogenic supplements revealed positive adipose-like staining, compared with lack of staining in untreated cultures.

Functional characterization of hypertrophy in chondrogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are promising candidate cells for cartilage tissue engineering. Expression of cartilage hypertrophy markers (e.g.

Biomechanical evaluation of different suture anchors for the stabilization of anterior labrum lesions.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the biomechanical performance of different devices for anterior shoulder reconstruction in a clinically relevant human cadaver shoulder model.

Type Of Study: Biomechanical cadaveric study.

Methods: The soft tissue, except for the joint capsule, was dissected from 28 fresh-frozen human shoulder specimens.

Effect of "ionized" wrist bracelets on musculoskeletal pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To assess objectively the perceived benefits of wearing an "ionized" wrist bracelet to treat muscle or joint pain.

Subjects And Methods: This study was performed at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla, in 2000 and 2001. In a randomized, double-blind design, 305 participants wore an ionized bracelet and 305 wore a placebo bracelet for 4 weeks.