Radiographic alveolar bone level and levels of serum 25-OH-Vitamin D in ethnic Norwegian and Tamil periodontitis patients and their periodontally healthy controls.

Background: Studies suggest association between low serum 25-OH-Vitamin D (VitD) and chronic destructive periodontal diseases. The main sources of VitD is sun exposure and fat fish. Subjects with dark skin will therefore generate less VitD as response to sun exposure.

Retention of endothelium on ovine collagen biomatrix vascular conduits under physiological shear stress.

This study evaluates the adhesion of endothelial cells to 4 mm internal diameter, ovine collagen biomatrix vascular conduits. The biomatrix conduit is formed in a living animal and the wall consists of a complete, naturally produced matrix reinforced with polyester mesh. We propose that the microarchitecture of the matrix lining the lumen may promote endothelial cell attachment without pretreatment with adhesive proteins or extra cellular matrix components.

Adherence of human saphenous vein endothelial cell monolayers to tissue-engineered biomatrix vascular conduits.

This study investigates the adherence and retention under in vitro flow conditions of endothelium grown on the luminal surface of 4-mm-internal-diameter, biomatrix vascular conduits. The biomatrix vascular conduits are produced in living animals and consist of a naturally formed extracellular matrix wall incorporating a polyester mesh. We propose that the microarchitecture of the luminal surface may be conducive to endothelial cell (EC) seeding and to the formation of a firmly adherent endothelium without prior treatment of the surface with cell adhesives.

Performance of a new vascular xeno prosthesis.

To date no prosthetic vascular prosthesis performs as well as the autologous saphenous vein in diameters of 6 mm and less. The purpose of this study was to compare the in vitro and in vivo performance of a new glutaraldehyde stabilized, narrow diameter (4 mm), vascular prosthesis fashioned from bovine ureters (Flonova) with the saphenous vein and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) prostheses. The methods used for the comparative in vitro analysis of the bovine ureter and saphenous vein were modifications of tests recommended by the American National Standards for Vascular Prostheses.

Collagen organization in mandrel-grown vascular grafts.

The organization of collagen in custom-built biosynthetic vascular prostheses (Omniflow Vascular Graft), which are suitable for peripheral revascularization, has been examined. The grafts were a glutaraldehyde-tanned ovine-collagen composite with a polymer mesh reinforcement. Comparisons were made between grafts using different mesh fiber polymers and knit patterns.