Characterization of human telomerase reverse transcriptase immortalized anterior cruciate ligament cell lines.

Background: The anterior-cruciate-ligament (ACL) contains mesenchymal stem cells (ACL-MSCs), suggesting the feasibility of regenerative treatments of this tissue. The immortalization of isolated cells results in cell-lines applicable to develop cell-based therapies. Immortal cell lines eliminate the need for frequent cell isolation from donor tissues.

Hypoxic expression of NLRP3 and VEGF in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells: contribution of P2Y receptor signaling.

Retinal hypoxia is a major condition of the chronic inflammatory disease age-related macular degeneration. Extracellular ATP is a danger signal which is known to activate the NLRP3 inflammasome in various cell systems. We investigated in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells whether hypoxia alters the expression of inflammasome-associated genes and whether purinergic receptor signaling contributes to the hypoxic expression of key inflammatory (NLRP3) and angiogenic factor (VEGF) genes.

Early onset necrotising enterocolitis in association with congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a term baby.

We report a case of a male, term newborn with known left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) who presented with circulatory compromise requiring maximal inotropic support in the first 24 hours of life. Repeat X-ray at 24 hours showed pneumatosis intestinalis. Emergency laparotomy was performed for suspected necrotising enterocolitis.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated from the Anterior Cruciate Ligament: Characterization and Comparison of Cells from Young and Old Donors.

Purpose: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) share multiple characteristics of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), allowing their use for regenerative therapies. Injuries to the ACL can affect people of all ages. This study assesses whether the regenerative potential of ACL-derived MSCs (ACL-MSCs) from old donors is as high as the potential of ACL-MSCs from young donors.

P2Y1 Receptor Signaling Contributes to High Salt-Induced Priming of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells.

Background: Systemic hypertension is a risk factor of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a chronic inflammatory disease. Acute hypertension is caused by increased extracellular osmolarity after intake of dietary salt (NaCl). We determined in cultured human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells whether high extracellular NaCl alters the gene expression of inflammasome-associated proteins, and whether autocrine/paracrine purinergic (P2) receptor signaling contributes to the NaCl-induced NLRP3 gene expression.

Osmotic expression of aldose reductase in retinal pigment epithelial cells: involvement of NFAT5.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is associated with osmotic stress resulting from hyperglycemia and intracellular sorbitol accumulation. Systemic hypertension is a risk factor of diabetic retinopathy. High intake of dietary salt increases extracellular osmolarity resulting in systemic hypertension.

Osmotic induction of placental growth factor in retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro: contribution of NFAT5 activity.

One risk factor of neovascular age-related macular degeneration is systemic hypertension; hypertension is mainly caused by extracellular hyperosmolarity after consumption of dietary salt. In retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, high extracellular osmolarity induces vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A (Hollborn et al. in Mol Vis 21:360-377, 2015).

Characterization of bursa subacromialis-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: The bursa subacromialis (BS) provides the gliding mechanism of the shoulder and regenerates itself after surgical removal. Therefore, we explored the presence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) within the human adult BS tissue and characterized the BS cells compared to MSCs from bone marrow (BMSCs) on a molecular level.

Methods: BS cells were isolated by collagenase digest from BS tissues derived from patients with degenerative rotator cuff tears, and BMSCs were recovered by adherent culture from bone-marrow of patients with osteoarthritis of the hip.

Synergistic effect of Indian hedgehog and bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene transfer to increase the osteogenic potential of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: To stimulate healing of large bone defects research has concentrated on the application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods: In the present study, we induced the overexpression of the growth factors bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and/or Indian hedgehog (IHH) in human MSCs by adenoviral transduction to increase their osteogenic potential. GFP and nontransduced MSCs served as controls.

Mesenchymal stem cell characteristics of human anterior cruciate ligament outgrowth cells.

When ruptured, the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the human knee has limited regenerative potential. However, the goal of this report was to show that the cells that migrate out of the human ACL constitute a rich population of progenitor cells and we hypothesize that they display mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) characteristics when compared with adherent cells derived from bone marrow or collagenase digests from ACL. We show that ACL outgrowth cells are adherent, fibroblastic cells with a surface immunophenotype strongly positive for cluster of differentiation (CD)29, CD44, CD49c, CD73, CD90, CD97, CD105, CD146, and CD166, weakly positive for CD106 and CD14, but negative for CD11c, CD31, CD34, CD40, CD45, CD53, CD74, CD133, CD144, and CD163.

BMP12 and BMP13 gene transfer induce ligamentogenic differentiation in mesenchymal progenitor and anterior cruciate ligament cells.

Background Aims: To date there are only very few data available on the ligamentogenic differentiation capacity of mesenchymal stromal/progenitor cells (MSC) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibroblasts.

Methods: We describe the in vitro potential of MSC and ACL cells to undergo ligamentogenic differentiation upon transduction with adenoviral vectors encoding the human cDNA for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 12 and BMP13, also known as growth and differentiation factors (GDF) 6 and 7, respectively.

Results: Transgene expression for at least 14 days was confirmed by Western blot analyzes.

Transarterial nephrectomy: the current status of experimental and clinical studies.

Introduction: Open nephrectomy is associated with significant morbidity. For several years, minimally invasive alternatives have been developed such as laparoscopic nephrectomy or transarterial renal ablation. This paper focuses on the different principles of vaso-occlusion and further improvements of the technique such as capillary chemoembolization in experimental as well as clinical studies.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema in enterovirus 71 encephalitis is not uniformly fatal but causes severe morbidity in survivors.

During the Australian summer of 2000/2001, there was an outbreak of enterovirus 71 infection in Sydney. Between December 2000 and May 2001, approximately 200 children presented to Sydney Children's Hospital with hand-foot-and-mouth disease and 18 experienced neurologic complications. Four presented with acute invasive central nervous system disease and severe pulmonary edema.

Survival after pulmonary edema due to enterovirus 71 encephalitis.

Background: A distinctive pattern of enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection, characterized by fever, exanthem, acute pulmonary edema (PE), brainstem encephalitis, and flaccid paresis, affects infants and young children. Most die rapidly owing to respiratory failure and fulminant PE.

Method: The authors report short- and long-term outcome of six survivors of the acute illness.

[Rare complication of a heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II].

History And Clinical Findings: A 63-year-old man was admitted to a surgery department with fracture of the acetabulum and luxation of the hip joint. Eight days after intracondylar nail-extension during subcutaneous heparin prophylaxis he developed a dramatic deterioration of his condition with severe abdominal pain and fever and was admitted to our hospital.

Investigations: White cell count was 12,000/microliter, C-reactive protein 7.

Toxic shock syndrome associated with newly diagnosed type I diabetes.

Studies of two post-mortem pancreata of children at the onset of type I diabetes have suggested activation and expansion of islet infiltrating T cells by a superantigen. We present the first reported case of a superantigen mediated disease, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), occurring at the diagnosis of type I diabetes. A 12-year-old girl presented with TSS and newly diagnosed diabetes with ketoacidosis.

Influence of 3-methylcholanthrene on the redox-state of liver and red muscles in vivo.

It was observed, that following an injection of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC), the tissue redox-state potential is modified expressively both in liver and in red muscles. In the liver in the first day an oxidosis develops, which is followed by redosis, but in the muscle a redosis can be observed already in the first day. It is a meaningful fact, that MC influences biochemical processes in the early phase of its effect not only in the liver but also in the red muscle.

Model of redox regulation of hyper- or hypothyreoidism.

Since the triiodothyronine (T3) shifts the tissue metabolism to oxidative direction, one should await that in hyperthyreoidism caused by T3 an oxidosis will be formed, whilst in hypothyreoidism called forth by subtotal thyreoidectomy, redosis will be emerged. However, according to our experiments these interrelationships proved to be inverse. These "paradoxal" changes of redox-state are the consequences of the flowing redox compensations elicited by the tissue redox-buffer capacity (RBC).

Correlations between positive and negative aeroions, tissue redox-state potential and heart frequency in rats.

It was observed in rats that following positive aeroionization the redox-state potential (E'0) in skeletal muscles and liver was decreased, and the heart frequency increased. After negative ionization these interrelationships took place inversely. It was also established that upon adding an oxidant (menadione) i.

[Intra-arterial DSA of the pelvic/leg vasculature using a 57 cm image intensifier].

100 consecutive intraarterial DSA's of the lower extremities obtained with a 57 cm image intensifier were evaluated retrospectively by 2 radiologists and 3 surgeons. The studies were considered diagnostic in 95% of the cases. The results, advantages and possible disadvantages are presented and compared to those associated with conventional film angiography and with i.

[Digital image intensifier radiography: imaging qualities and initial use in the gastrointestinal area].

We determined the quality of digital radiographs delivered by a large image intensifier (diameter 54 cm) and by a conventional fluoroscopic unit with a 33 cm image intensifier, and compared them to that of 100 mm spot films obtained from the same units. A special image processor was available allowing 25 images/s using a 512/512 matrix or 7.5 images/s with a 1024 X 1024 matrix.

Computer processed fluoroscopic images for digital intravenous renal angiography.

We investigated intravenous digital angiography using computer processed fluoroscopic images. Computer processed fluoroscopy (CPF) was compared to conventional digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in 39 patients referred for renal vessel evaluation. For assessment of CPF the anterior-posterior images were compared with the corresponding digital subtraction angiograms.