Monitoring of freezing patterns within 3D collagen-hydroxyapatite scaffolds using infrared thermography.

The importance of cryopreservation in tissue engineering is unceasingly increasing. Preparation, cryopreservation, and storage of tissue-engineered constructs (TECs) at an on-site location offer a convenient way for their clinical application and commercialization. Partial freezing initiated at high sub-zero temperatures using ice-nucleating agents (INAs) has recently been applied in organ cryopreservation.

Health-related quality of life in patients with class II and class III obesity.

Background: Severe obesity may substantially impact quality of life. We estimated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with class II and class III obesity, and explored the impact of patient characteristics and co-morbidities on quality of life.

Methods: 110 patients with BMI > or = 35 kg/m2 presenting for evaluation for bariatric surgery were asked to complete the EuroQoL questionnaire.

Impact of age, sex and body mass index on outcomes at four years after gastric banding.

Background: Adjustable gastric banding for weight reduction in severely obese persons allows reversible individualized restriction during postoperative follow-up. It is unknown whether preoperative age, sex and BMI might modulate treatment outcome.

Methods: 404 severely obese patients (79% women; age 42 +/- 0.