99mTc-besilesomab (Scintimun) in peripheral osteomyelitis: comparison with 99mTc-labelled white blood cells.

Purpose: The diagnosis of osteomyelitis is a challenge for diagnostic imaging. Nuclear medicine procedures including white blood cell imaging have been successfully used for the identification of bone infections. This multinational, phase III clinical study in 22 European centres was undertaken to compare anti-granulocyte imaging using the murine IgG antibody besilesomab (Scintimun) with (99m)Tc-labelled white blood cells in patients with peripheral osteomyelitis.

Design and characterization of a new bioreactor for continuous ultra-slow uniaxial distraction of a three-dimensional scaffold-free stem cell culture.

A computer controlled dynamic bioreactor for continuous ultra-slow uniaxial distraction of a scaffold-free three-dimensional (3D) mesenchymal stem cell pellet culture was designed to investigate the influence of stepless tensile strain on behavior of distinct primary cells like osteoblasts, chondroblasts, or stem cells without the influence of an artificial culture matrix. The main advantages of this device include the following capabilities: (1) Application of uniaxial ultra-slow stepless distraction within a range of 0.5-250 μm/h and real-time control of the distraction distance with high accuracy (mean error -3.

PDE4D and PDE4B function in distinct subcellular compartments in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Signaling through cAMP regulates most cellular functions. The spatiotemporal control of cAMP is, therefore, crucial for differential regulation of specific cellular targets. Here we investigated the consequences of PDE4B or PDE4D gene ablation on cAMP signaling at a subcellular level using mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

Blinded-read of bone scintigraphy: the impact on diagnosis and healing time for stress injuries with emphasis on the foot.

Aim: This study evaluated the use of bone scintigraphy (BS) for the diagnosis of stress fractures in athletes and its validity for the prediction of healing time, with a focus on foot injuries.

Methods: In our retrospective study, 84 athletes with a total of 93 suspected stress fractures (foot, n = 66; others, n = 27) were included. A blinded-read of BS was performed by 3 observers.

Selective targeting of histone methylation.

Histones are post-translationally modified by multiple histone-modifying enzymes, which in turn influences gene expression. Much of the work in the field to date has focused on genetic, biochemical and structural characterization of these enzymes. The most recent genome-wide methods provide insights into specific recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes in vivo and, therefore, onto mechanisms of establishing a differential expression pattern.

Conserved expression and functions of PDE4 in rodent and human heart.

PDE4 isoenzymes are critical in the control of cAMP signaling in rodent cardiac myocytes. Ablation of PDE4 affects multiple key players in excitation-contraction coupling and predisposes mice to the development of heart failure. As little is known about PDE4 in human heart, we explored to what extent cardiac expression and functions of PDE4 are conserved between rodents and humans.

Comparing handrim biomechanics for treadmill and overground wheelchair propulsion.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To compare handrim biomechanics recorded during overground propulsion with those recorded during propulsion on a motor-driven treadmill.

Setting: Biomechanics laboratory.

Autism spectrum features in Smith-Magenis syndrome.

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS; OMIM 182290) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a well-defined pattern of anomalies. The majority of cases are due to a common deletion in chromosome 17p11.2 that includes the RAI1 gene.

Chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells: role of tissue source and inducing factors.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are an attractive cell source for cell therapy in cartilage. Although their therapeutic potential is clear, the requirements and conditions for effective induction of chondrogenesis in MSCs and for the production of a stable cartilaginous tissue by these cells are far from being understood. Different sources of MSCs have been considered for cartilage tissue engineering, mainly based on criteria of availability, as for adipose tissue, or of proximity to cartilage and the joint environment in vivo, as for bone marrow and synovial tissues.

Influence of depression symptoms on serum tumor necrosis factor-α of patients with chronic low back pain.

Introduction: Patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) have high rates of comorbid psychiatric disorders, mainly depression. Recent evidence suggests that depressive symptoms and pain, as interacting factors, have an effect on the circulating levels of inflammatory markers relevant to coronary artery disease. Our previous work showed a higher serum level of an inflammatory marker tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) in patients with cLBP, which did not correlate with intensity of low back pain alone.

Lipid and lipoprotein profile in HIV-infected patients treated with lopinavir/ritonavir as a component of the first combination antiretroviral therapy.

We characterized lipid and lipoprotein changes associated with a lopinavir/ritonavir-containing regimen. We enrolled previously antiretroviral-naive patients participating in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. Fasting blood samples (baseline) were retrieved retrospectively from stored frozen plasma and posttreatment (follow-up) samples were collected prospectively at two separate visits.

Morphology, size distribution, and aggregate structure of lipopolysaccharide and lipid A dispersions from enterobacterial origin.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from Gram-negative bacteria are strong elicitors of the human immune systems. There is strong evidence that aggregates and not monomers of LPS play a decisive role at least in the initial stages of cell activation of immune cells such as mononuclear cells. In previous reports, it was shown that the biologically most active part of enterobacterial LPS, hexa-acyl bisphosphorylated lipid A, adopts a particular supramolecular conformation, a cubic aggregate structure.

Enhanced biochemical and biomechanical properties of scaffolds generated by flock technology for cartilage tissue engineering.

Natural cartilage shows column orientation of cells and anisotropic direction of collagen fibers. However, matrices presently used in matrix-assisted autologous chondrocyte implantation do not show any fiber orientation. Our aim was to develop anisotropic scaffolds with parallel fiber orientation that were capable to support a cellular cartilaginous phenotype in vitro.

Genome-wide analysis using ChIP to identify isoform-specific gene targets.

Recruitment of transcriptional and epigenetic factors to their targets is a key step in their regulation. Prominently featured in recruitment are the protein domains that bind to specific histone modifications. One such domain is the plant homeodomain (PHD), found in several chromatin-binding proteins.

Discrimination between cells of murine and human origin in xenotransplants by species specific genomic in situ hybridization.

Xenotransplantation of human cells into immune compromised host species is an important experimental setup to follow the faith of implanted cells and the contribution of host cells to tissue regenerates. In this context, it is of major relevance to discriminate between transplanted and host cells. Labeling techniques of donor cells frequently reach only part of the cells, have the risk of influencing their natural biological activity and may allow label transmission to host cells via vesicles or phagocytosis.

Human articular chondrocytes secrete parathyroid hormone-related protein and inhibit hypertrophy of mesenchymal stem cells in coculture during chondrogenesis.

Objective: The use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has shown promise in cell-based cartilage regeneration. A yet-unsolved problem, however, is the unwanted up-regulation of markers of hypertrophy, such as alkaline phosphatase (AP) and type X collagen, during in vitro chondrogenesis and the formation of unstable calcifying cartilage at heterotopic sites. In contrast, articular chondrocytes produce stable, nonmineralizing cartilage.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part II: Biomimetic potential and applications.

In order to evaluate the biomedical potential of three-dimensional chitinous scaffolds of poriferan origin, chondrocyte culturing experiments were performed. It was shown for the first time that freshly isolated chondrocytes attached well to the chitin scaffold and synthesized an extracellular matrix similar to that found in other cartilage tissue engineering constructs. Chitin scaffolds also supported deposition of a proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix of chondrocytes seeded bioconstructs in an in vivo environment.

Three-dimensional chitin-based scaffolds from Verongida sponges (Demospongiae: Porifera). Part I. Isolation and identification of chitin.

Marine invertebrate organisms including sponges (Porifera) not only provide an abundant source of biologically active secondary metabolites but also inspire investigations to develop biomimetic composites, scaffolds and templates for practical use in materials science, biomedicine and tissue engineering. Here, we presented a detailed study of the structural and physico-chemical properties of three-dimensional skeletal scaffolds of the marine sponges Aiolochroia crassa, Aplysina aerophoba, A. cauliformis, A.

Correlation of hypoxic signalling to histological grade and outcome in cartilage tumours.

Aims: The molecular mechanisms underlying the progression of central chondrosarcoma are so far poorly understood. The aim of this study was to identify genes involved in the progression of these tumours by comparison of gene expression and correlation of expression profiles to histological grade and clinical outcome.

Methods And Results: Array-based gene expression profiling of 19 chondrosarcoma samples was performed.

The effect of two point mutations in GDF-5 on ectopic bone formation in a beta-tricalciumphosphate scaffold.

The osteoinductivity of human growth-and-differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) is well established, but a reduced amount of ectopic bone is formed compared to other members of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family like BMP-2. We hypothesized that swap of two BMP-receptor-interacting residues of GDF-5 to amino acids present in BMP-2 (methionine to valine at the sites 453 and 456) may improve the bone formation capacity of the mutant GDF-5. Heterotopic bone formation of a mutant GDF-5 coated beta-TCP carrier was compared to carriers coated with similar amounts (10 microg) of GDF-5 and BMP-2 in SCID mice.

Comparison of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue for bone regeneration in a critical size defect of the sheep tibia and the influence of platelet-rich plasma.

Aim of the present study was to compare the osteogenic potential of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) and adipose-tissue derived stem cells (ASC) and to evaluate the influence of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the osteogenic capacity of ASC in a large animal model. Ovine BMSC (BMSC-group) and ASC (ASC-group) were seeded on mineralized collagen sponges and implanted into a critical size defect of the sheep tibia (n=5 each). In an additional group, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was used in combination with ASC (PRP-group).

Chondrogenic pre-induction of human mesenchymal stem cells on beta-TCP: enhanced bone quality by endochondral heterotopic bone formation.

New techniques to heal bone defects include the combination of bone substitute materials with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). To find solutions not hampered by low material resorbability or high donor variability of human MSC, the potency of such composites is usually evaluated by heterotopic bone formation assays in immunocompromised animals. The aim of this study was to investigate whether resorbable phase-pure beta-tricalcium-phosphate (beta-TCP) could support heterotopic bone formation by MSC comparable to partially resorbable hydroxyapatite/tricalcium-phosphate (HA/TCP).

Influence of acarbose on blood glucose and breath hydrogen after carbohydrate load with sucrose or starch.

A monocentric, open, randomised, single-dose, six-period crossover trial was carried out in healthy volunteers under fasting conditions to establish the most appropriate study design for a pivotal bioequivalence trial with acarbose (CAS 56180-94-0) regarding a) dosage of the drug, b) type of carbohydrate load, c) type of primary endpoint, and d) sample size. 50 g sucrose or 50 g starch were used as carbohydrate load. Acarbose was administered in doses of 50 and 200 mg.