What extreme laboratory values can be obtained that (some) patients can survive with?

Objectives: We wanted to have a more substantiated idea about the extreme values which are possible in patients not dying or being moribund.

Methods: for nine regular analytes the five most extreme results registered between 2014 and 2018 in our database were searched. Results had to have been confirmed by multiple analyses in different samples.

Introduction of Specific 3D Micromorphologies in Collagen Scaffolds Using Odd and Even Dicarboxylic Acids.

The construction of scaffolds and subsequent incorporation of cells and biologics have been widely investigated to regenerate damaged tissues. Scaffolds act as a template to guide tissue formation, and their characteristics have a considerable impact on the regenerative process. Whereas many technologies exist to induce specific two-dimensional (2D) morphologies into biomaterials, the introduction of three-dimensional (3D) micromorphologies into individual pore walls of scaffolds produced from biological molecules such as collagen poses a challenge.

A salt-based method to adapt stiffness and biodegradability of porous collagen scaffolds.

Type I collagen scaffolds for tissue reconstruction often have impaired mechanical characteristics such as limited stiffness and lack of strength. In this study, a new technique is presented to fine-tune stiffness and biodegradability of collagen scaffolds by treatment with concentrated salt solutions. Collagen scaffolds were prepared by a casting, freezing and lyophilization process.

Providing direction improves function: Comparison of a radial pore-orientated acellular collagen scaffold to clinical alternatives in a surgically induced rabbit diaphragmatic tissue defect model.

Gore-Tex® is a widely used durable patch for repair of congenital diaphragmatic defects yet may result in complications. We compared Gore-Tex with a composite of a radial pore-orientated collagen scaffold (RP-Composite) and clinically used porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS; Surgisis®) in a rabbit model for diaphragmatic hernia. The growing rabbit mimics the rapid rib cage growth and reherniation rates seen in children.

Unidirectional BMP2-loaded collagen scaffolds induce chondrogenic differentiation.

Microfracture surgery may be improved by the implantation of unidirectional collagen scaffolds that provide a template for mesenchymal stem cells to regenerate cartilage. Incorporation of growth factors in unidirectional scaffolds may further enhance cartilage regeneration. In scaffolds, immobilization of growth factors is required to prolong in vivo activity, to limit diffusion and to reduce the amount of growth factor needed for safe clinical application.

Augmented cartilage regeneration by implantation of cellular versus acellular implants after bone marrow stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Bone marrow stimulation may be applied to regenerate focal cartilage defects, but generally results in transient clinical improvement and formation of fibrocartilage rather than hyaline cartilage. Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strive to develop new solutions to regenerate hyaline cartilage tissue. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of current literature and assesses the efficacy of articular cartilage regeneration by implantation of cell-laden versus cell-free biomaterials in the knee and ankle joint in animals after bone marrow stimulation.

Improved cartilage regeneration by implantation of acellular biomaterials after bone marrow stimulation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Microfracture surgery may be applied to treat cartilage defects. During the procedure the subchondral bone is penetrated, allowing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to migrate towards the defect site and form new cartilage tissue. Microfracture surgery generally results in the formation of mechanically inferior fibrocartilage.

Scaffolds for whole organ tissue engineering: Construction and in vitro evaluation of a seamless, spherical and hollow collagen bladder construct with appendices.

Unlabelled: The field of regenerative medicine has developed promising techniques to improve current neobladder strategies used for radical cystectomies or congenital anomalies. Scaffolds made from molecularly defined biomaterials are instrumental in the regeneration of tissues, but are generally confined to small flat patches and do not comprise the whole organ. We have developed a simple, one-step casting method to produce a seamless large hollow collagen-based scaffold, mimicking the shape of the whole bladder, and with integrated anastomotic sites for ureters and urethra.

Versatile wedge-based system for the construction of unidirectional collagen scaffolds by directional freezing: practical and theoretical considerations.

Aligned unidirectional collagen scaffolds may aid regeneration of those tissues where alignment of cells and extracellular matrix is essential, as for instance in cartilage, nerve bundles, and skeletal muscle. Pores can be introduced by ice crystal formation followed by freeze-drying, the pore architecture reflecting the ice crystal morphology. In this study we developed a wedge-based system allowing the production of a wide range of collagen scaffolds with unidirectional pores by directional freezing.

Gelatin-methacrylamide hydrogels as potential biomaterials for fabrication of tissue-engineered cartilage constructs.

Gelatin-methacrylamide (gelMA) hydrogels are shown to support chondrocyte viability and differentiation and give wide ranging mechanical properties depending on several cross-linking parameters. Polymer concentration, UV exposure time, and thermal gelation prior to UV exposure allow for control over hydrogel stiffness and swelling properties. GelMA solutions have a low viscosity at 37 °C, which is incompatible with most biofabrication approaches.