Assessing student perception of the integration of portable wireless ultrasound imaging in undergraduate anatomy education.

Anatomy is the foundation of many physiology and healthcare-related degrees. With limited access to cadavers in many universities, it is essential to investigate techniques that could be utilized to support and enhance the teaching of anatomy. Ultrasound is used clinically to aid the diagnosis of a wide range of conditions by visualizing the anatomy of the patient.

Effects of Chemical and Radiation Sterilisation on the Biological and Biomechanical Properties of Decellularised Porcine Peripheral Nerves.

There is a clinical need for novel graft materials for the repair of peripheral nerve defects. A decellularisation process has been developed for porcine peripheral nerves, yielding a material with potentially significant advantages over other devices currently being used clinically (such as autografts and nerve guidance conduits). Grafts derived from xenogeneic tissues should undergo sterilisation prior to clinical use.

Ex-vivo recellularisation and stem cell differentiation of a decellularised rat dental pulp matrix.

Implementing the principles of tissue engineering within the clinical management of non-vital immature permanent teeth is of clinical interest. However, the ideal scaffold remains elusive. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of decellularising rat dental pulp tissue and evaluate the ability of such scaffold to support stem cell repopulation.

Decellularisation and histological characterisation of porcine peripheral nerves.

Peripheral nerve injuries affect a large proportion of the global population, often causing significant morbidity and loss of function. Current treatment strategies include the use of implantable nerve guide conduits (NGC's) to direct regenerating axons between the proximal and distal ends of the nerve gap. However, NGC's are limited in their effectiveness at promoting regeneration Current NGCs are not suitable as substrates for supporting either neuronal or Schwann cell growth, as they lack an architecture similar to that of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) of the nerve.

An anatomical study of porcine peripheral nerve and its potential use in nerve tissue engineering.

Current nerve tissue engineering applications are adopting xenogeneic nerve tissue as potential nerve grafts to help aid nerve regeneration. However, there is little literature that describes the exact location, anatomy and physiology of these nerves to highlight their potential as a donor graft. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise the structural and extracellular matrix (ECM) components of porcine peripheral nerves in the hind leg.

Development and characterization of acellular porcine pulmonary valve scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Currently available replacement heart valves all have limitations. This study aimed to produce and characterize an acellular, biocompatible porcine pulmonary root conduit for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract e.g.

The use of antithrombotic therapies in reducing synthetic small-diameter vascular graft thrombosis.

Background: Thrombosis of synthetic small-diameter bypass grafts remains a major problem. The aim of this article is to review the antithrombotic strategies that have been used in an attempt to reduce graft thrombogenicity.

Methods: A PubMed/MEDLINE search was performed using the search terms "vascular graft thrombosis," "small-diameter graft thrombosis," "synthetic graft thrombosis" combined with "antithrombotic," "antiplatelet," "anticoagulant," "Dacron," "PTFE," and "polyurethane.

Development and characterization of acellular allogeneic arterial matrices.

Surgeons have used cryopreserved vascular allografts successfully for many years to treat arterial occlusive disease and to repair arterial aneurysms. Vascular allografts demonstrate high patency rates but contain viable cells, which may evoke a rejection response following implantation. Removing the cells could prevent such a response and negate the need for cryopreservation and ultra-low temperature storage.

Factors influencing the oxygen consumption rate of aortic valve interstitial cells: application to tissue engineering.

This study investigated the factors influencing the oxygen metabolism of aortic valve interstitial cells (VICs). Porcine VICs in cell suspension at different passages, and adhered to coverslips at different confluencies, as well as fresh porcine valve leaflets, were incubated in an oxygen respiration chamber at 37 degrees C in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium. The consumption rates at different oxygen concentrations were evaluated based on the Michaelis-Menten equation, and the corresponding maximum consumption rate (V(max)) and the Michaelis-Menten equation constant K(m) were determined.

Cytocompatibility of poly(1,2 propandiol methacrylate) copolymer hydrogels and conetworks with or without alkyl amine functionality.

The cytocompatibility and adhesion of cells to biomaterials are key to their success in the clinic. Here we report a study of the toxicity, cell-adhesive properties and biocompatibility of a range of alkyl-aminated hydrogels and amphiphilic conetworks comprising 1,2-propandiol-3-methacrylate (GMA) as the hydrophilic component. Previously we had shown that addition of amines containing alkyl spacers of at 3-6 carbons or addition of oligo(butyl methacrylate) sequences to crosslinked polyGMA hydrogels could be used to produce a step change in cell adhesion.

Investigation of the antiadhesive properties of human mesothelial cells cultured in vitro on implantable surgical materials.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the interactions of Permacol, Prolene mesh, Surgisis Gold, and Alloderm with human mesothelial cells in vitro. The capacity of primary human mesothelial cells to adhere to the surface of Alloderm, Surgisis Gold, Prolene mesh, and Permacol as well as support the proliferation and viability of the seeded cells was determined. Production of antifibrinolytic, fibrinolytic, and inflammatory mediators (IL-8, TPA, MMP-1, PAI-1, and TGF-beta) was assessed over an 8-day period.

Biocompatibility and potential of acellular human amniotic membrane to support the attachment and proliferation of allogeneic cells.

The aim of this study was to determine the biocompatibility of an acellular human amniotic membrane biomaterial, which may have clinical utility for cell delivery. Human amniotic membrane was decellularized using 0.03% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), with hypotonic tris buffer and protease inhibitors and nuclease treatment.

Development and characterisation of a full-thickness acellular porcine bladder matrix for tissue engineering.

The aim of this study was to produce a natural, acellular matrix from porcine bladder tissue for use as a scaffold in developing a tissue-engineered bladder replacement. Full-thickness, intact porcine bladders were decellularised by distention and immersion in hypotonic buffer containing 0.1% (w/v) SDS and nuclease enzymes.

Production of an acellular amniotic membrane matrix for use in tissue engineering.

A clinical need exists for an immunologically compatible surgical patch with a wide range of uses including soft tissue replacement, body wall repair, cardiovascular applications, and as a wound dressing. This study aimed to produce an acellular matrix from human amniotic membrane for future assessment as a surgical patch and a delivery system for epithelial cells. A novel detergent-based protocol was modified to remove all cellular components from amnion to render it non-immunogenic.