A 2-year professional master of health science program at the University of Toronto provides a unique integrated educational program to train allied health science personnel to practice as physician extenders and health care professionals in two high-demand clinical laboratory disciplines, Pathologists' Assistant (PA) and Clinical Embryologist (CE). This report describes an integrated graduate program developed and delivered in a research-intensive laboratory medicine department. The core courses in fundamental biomedical science and in general medical laboratory function and operations formed the foundation on which the requisite clinical skills required to practice as a PA or CE were subsequently delivered as comprehensive CE and PA specialty courses and practicums.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Bioengineered cartilage is a developing therapeutic to repair cartilage defects. The matrix must be rich in collagen type II and aggrecan and mechanically competent, withstanding compressive and shearing loads. Biomechanical properties in native articular cartilage depend on the zonal architecture consisting of 3 zones: superficial, middle, and deep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSenescence, particularly in the nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of disc degeneration, however, the mechanism(s) of annulus fibrosus (AF) cell senescence is still not well understood. Both TNFα and H2O2, have been implicated as contributors to the senescence pathways, and their levels are increased in degenerated discs when compared to healthy discs. Thus, the objective of this study is to identify factor(s) that induces inner AF (iAF) cell senescence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical embryologists are responsible for the handling, evaluation, and care of human gametes and preimplantation embryos within the context of an assisted reproductive technology laboratory. They are integral members of a team of professionals who provide care for fertility patients. Despite the increasing recognition of clinical embryologists as professionals, training requirements, continuing professional development, and appropriate credentialing have lagged in several countries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn osteoarthritis (OA), a disease characterized by progressive articular cartilage degradation and calcification, the articular chondrocyte phenotype changes and this correlates with actin cytoskeleton alterations suggesting that it regulates gene expression essential for proper phenotype. This study reports that OA is associated with the loss of adseverin, an actin capping and severing protein. Adseverin deletion (Adseverin) in mice compromised articular chondrocyte function, by reducing F-actin and aggrecan expression and increasing apoptosis, Indian hedgehog, Runx2, MMP13, and collagen type X expression, and cell proliferation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol
August 2021
Objective: Protocols designed to facilitate N95 filtering facepiece respirator (FFR) decontamination by commercial sterilization devices do not recommend that operators verify the device's performance against pathogens deposited on FFRs. Here, we compared the treatment efficacy of 4 hydrogen peroxide-based systems that were authorized for N95 decontamination during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Suspensions prepared from ATCC 29213 and 44300, ATCC 6633, a vancomycin-resistant isolate (VRE), ATCC 25922, and ATCC 27853 colonies were inoculated onto nine 1-cm areas on a 3M 1805, 1860, 1860S, 1870+, 8210, 8110S, or 9105S FFR.
Background: Chondrocyte migration in native cartilage is limited and has been implicated as one of the reasons for the poor integration of native implants. Through use of an in vitro integration model, it has previously been shown that cells from bioengineered cartilage can migrate into the native host cartilage during integration. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment further enhanced integration of bioengineered cartilage to native cartilage in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of noninvasive fetal RhD blood group genotyping in nonalloimmunized and alloimmunized pregnancies in Canada.
Study Design And Methods: We developed two probabilistic state-transition (Markov) microsimulation models to compare fetal genotyping followed by targeted management versus usual care (i.e.
Tissue Eng Part C Methods
January 2022
A tissue-engineered biological disk replacement has been proposed as a promising approach for the treatment of degenerative disk disease. A perfusion bioreactor would be a logical consideration to facilitate this scale-up as such reactors have been shown to improve nutrient delivery and provide beneficial mechanical forces that support the cultivation of large three-dimensional constructs. It was hypothesized that perfusion culture of tissue-engineered intervertebral disk (IVD) tissues would be capable of generating outer annulus fibrosus (oAF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) tissues comparable with established spinner reactor or static cultures, respectively, without compromising cellular viability, nutrient delivery, and tissue formation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntervertebral disc degeneration is an irreversible process associated with accumulation of senescent nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. This study investigates the hypothesis that Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-treated senescent NP cells propagate senescence of neighboring healthy cells via a paracrine effect that involves p-Stat3 signaling and the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). NP cells isolated from bovine caudal intervertebral disc (IVD) were treated with TNF-α to induce senescence which was confirmed by demonstrating upregulation of senescence-associated β-galactosidase and p16.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Ubiquitously found in all life forms, inorganic polyphosphates (polyP) are linear polymers of repeated orthophosphate units. Present in intervertebral disc tissue, polyP was previously shown to increase extracellular matrix production in nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. However, the effects of polyP on human annulus fibrosus (hAF) cell metabolism is not known.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for evidence-based approaches to decontamination and reuse of N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs). We sought to determine whether vapourized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) reduced SARS-CoV-2 bioburden on FFRs without compromising filtration efficiency. We also investigated coronavirus HCoV-229E as a surrogate for decontamination validation testing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInorganic polyphosphates (polyP) are polymers composed of phosphate residues linked by energy-rich phosphoanhydride bonds. As polyP can bind calcium, the hypothesis of this study is that polyP enters chondrocytes and exerts its anabolic effect by calcium influx through calcium channels. PolyP treatment of cartilage tissue formed in 3D culture by bovine chondrocytes showed an increase in proteoglycan accumulation but only when calcium was also present at a concentration of 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) signaling is required for chondrogenesis. In animal models of osteoarthritis (OA), TGFβ receptor alterations are detected in chondrocytes in severe OA cartilage. It is not known whether such changes are dependent on the grade of human OA and if they affect chondrogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrent treatments for degenerative disc disease do not restore full biological functionality of the intervertebral disc (IVD). As a result, regenerative medicine approaches are being developed to generate a biological replacement that when implanted will restore form and function of the degenerated IVD. Tissue-engineered models to date have focused on the generation of nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus IVD components.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The actin cytoskeleton regulates cell shape and plays a role in regulating chondrocyte phenotype. Most studies investigating regulation of the chondrocyte phenotype by the actin cytoskeleton use chondrocytes isolated from full-thickness (FT) cartilage, which has a heterogeneous cell population. Superficial zone chondrocytes (SZC) have an elongated morphology and account for 10-20% of chondrocytes, while the remaining chondrocytes in the deeper zones appear more rounded.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To make recommendations on the indications for molecular testing regarding the diagnosis, prediction of prognosis, and treatment selection in adult patients with s oft tissue sarcomas (STS) excluding gastrointestinal stromal tumour.
Materials And Methods: This guideline was developed by the Cancer Care Ontario's Program in Evidence-Based Care (PEBC) and the Sarcoma Disease Site Group (DSG). The medline, embase, and Cochrane Library databases, main guideline websites, abstracts of relevant annual meetings, and PROSPERO databases were searched (January 2005 to October 2016).
Cell-based therapies, defined here as the delivery of cells in vivo to treat disease, have recently gained increasing public attention as a potentially promising approach to restore structure and function to musculoskeletal tissues. Although cell-based therapy has the potential to improve the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, there is also the possibility of misuse and misrepresentation of the efficacy of such treatments. The medical literature contains anecdotal reports and research studies, along with web-based marketing and patient testimonials supporting cell-based therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell-based therapies, defined here as the delivery of cells in vivo to treat disease, have recently gained increasing public attention as a potentially promising approach to restore structure and function to musculoskeletal tissues. Although cell-based therapy has the potential to improve the treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system, there is also the possibility of misuse and misrepresentation of the efficacy of such treatments. The medical literature contains anecdotal reports and research studies, along with web-based marketing and patient testimonials supporting cell-based therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nucleus pulposus (NP) is composed of NP and notochord cell. It is a paucicellular tissue and if it is to be used as a source of cells for tissue engineering the cell number will have to be expanded by cell passaging. The hypothesis of this study is that passaged NP and notochordal cells grown in three-dimensional (3D) culture in the presence of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) will show enhanced NP tissue formation compared with cells grown in the absence of this growth factor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Autologous chondrocyte implantation, which uses passaged chondrocytes, commonly leads to the formation of fibrocartilage. When chondrocytes are passaged to increase cell numbers, they lose their phenotype and ability to form hyaline cartilage. The use of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) to redifferentiate passaged chondrocytes has been validated in vitro; however, it is unknown if redifferentiated chondrocytes will enhance defect repair when implanted in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Tissue Eng Regen Med
August 2019
Chondrocytes dedifferentiate as a result of monolayer culture for cell number expansion. This is associated with the development of an elongated shape, increased actin polymerization, development of stress fibres, and expression of contractile molecules. Given the changes in actin status with dedifferentiation, the hypothesis of this study was that adseverin, an actin severing and capping protein, plays a role in regulating chondrocyte phenotype and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFENMD-2076, an aurora-A kinase inhibitor with anti-angiogenic properties, has shown activity in solid and hematologic malignancies. We investigated oral ENMD-2076 in an open-label, single-arm phase II study using 275 mg daily on a 28-day cycle in patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) receiving ≤1 line of prior therapy. Primary endpoint was 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) with ≤15% indicating no interest, and ≥40% indicating further interest in ENMD-2076.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) promote wound healing, including after radiotherapy (RT) and surgery. The use of MSCs in regenerative medicine in the context of malignancy, such as to enhance wound healing post-RT/surgery in patients with soft tissue sarcomas (STSs), requires safety validation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of human MSCs on STS growth in vitro and local recurrence and metastasis in vivo.
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