Comparison of articular cartilage repair by autologous chondrocytes with and without in vitro cultivation.

Objective: autologous chondrocyte implantation usually requires in vitro cell expansion before implantation. We compared the efficacy of cartilage regeneration by in vitro-expanded chondrocytes at high density and freshly harvested chondrocytes at low density.

Design: surgically created osteochondral defects at weight-bearing surface of femoral condyles of domestic pigs were repaired by biphasic cylindrical porous plugs of DL-poly-lactide-co-glycolide and beta-tricalcium phosphate.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus: cerebral hemodynamic, metabolism measurement, discharge score, and long-term outcome.

Background: Regional CBF study has been reported effective in the selection of patient with NPH. However, controversial outcome had been reported. We sought to determine if the combination of rCBF measurement, cerebrovascular reactivity, and regional metabolism were positive predictors of shunt responsiveness in NPH syndrome.

Lateral modulation of BOLD activation in unstimulated regions of the human visual cortex.

After staring at a blank region surrounded by a dynamic background for a few seconds, observers report a twinkle aftereffect in the unstimulated blank region. The significance of this twinkle aftereffect is that it occurs at a location that received no stimulation, and therefore reflects a rebound from lateral inhibition within the dynamic processing system. To study this inhibitory rebound effect, the blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation in the visual cortex was measured while the observers were viewing a flickering pin-wheel pattern alternating with a blank test.

Echinacoside rescues the SHSY5Y neuronal cells from TNFalpha-induced apoptosis.

We investigated the neuroprotective effect of echinacoside, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of Cistanches salsa, a Chinese herbal medicine, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma (SHSY5Y) cells. Treatment of cultured SHSY5Y cells with TNFalpha 100 ng ml(-1) for 36 h stimulated apoptosis, as demonstrated by typical morphological changes, cell viability, DNA laddering, annexin-V binding, intracellular reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activity. However, simultaneous treatment with echinacoside (1, 10 or 100 microg ml(-1)) attenuated the TNFalpha-mediated apoptosis.

Comparison of histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate and Euro-Collins solutions for lung preservation using the minipig in situ warm ischemia model.

Background And Purpose: Reperfusion injury remains a common problem in lung transplantation. This study compared the effect of lung preservation with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK), a relatively low potassium solution, and Euro-Collins (EC) solution by using a minipig in situ model of warm ischemia.

Methods: The left lungs of 5 minipigs were selectively flushed with EC solution.