A totally recombinant fibrin matrix for mesenchymal stem cell culture and delivery.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely studied for tissue engineering and treating diseases in laboratories, clinical trials, and clinics. Fibrin matrices are often used to culture MSCs or increase the retention of MSCs at the injection site. However, fibrins made with the human plasma derived fibrinogen have high cost and risk of human pathogen transmission.

Contraception and fertility awareness among women with solid organ transplants.

Objective: To assess the contraception and fertility counseling provided to women with solid organ transplants.

Methods: A telephone survey of 309 women aged 19-49 years who had received a solid organ transplant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center was performed. Of the 309 eligible women, 183 responded.

Enterocutaneous fistula associated with ePTFE mesh: case report and review of the literature.

A case of enterocutaneous fistula secondary to the erosion of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prosthesis into the jejunum is described. This case is unusual secondary to the long experience with ePTFE and the lack of published cases similar to this one. The technical details of this case reveal extenuating circumstances associated with the fistula formation, and it is concluded that this particular case does not provide sufficient evidence to implicate ePTFE, by itself, as an etiologic agent for gastrointestinal fistulization.

Technical note: assay of cell quantity in the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix with a tetrazolium reagent.

Determination of cell quantity in three-dimensional culture systems, such as the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix, can be difficult secondary to the abundance of extracellular collagen. The WST-1 assay, which can quantitate cellular processes in monolayer culture, was tested as a measure of relative cell quantity in a three dimensional culture system, the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix. The assay had acceptable accuracy and precision, and was not affected by the extracellular matrix.

Modeling dermal granulation tissue with the linear fibroblast-populated collagen matrix: a comparison with the round matrix model.

Background: Wound contraction typically is not symmetrical; for example, a square-shaped wound will not yield a square scar. Interestingly, the round fibroblast-populated collagen matrix has been used as a model of wound contraction, even though contraction in this model is mostly symmetrical.

Objective: We wanted to compare the round versus linear fibroblast-populated collagen matrix to see which would be a better model of dermal granulation tissue.

Gout treatment: what is evidence-based and how do we determine and promote optimized clinical care?

Gout, a common form of inflammatory arthritis, has been markedly understudied relative to other rheumatologic conditions. As a result, evidence guiding clinical management in gout has traditionally been lacking. Burgeoning data suggests that quality of gout care in gout is frequently suboptimal.

Modulation of FAK, Akt, and p53 by stress release of the fibroblast-populated collagen matrix.

Background: Fibroblast survival in a three-dimensional collagen matrix is dependent in part upon the rigid anchorage of the matrix to tissue culture plastic. We hypothesized that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and protein kinase B (Akt) would be activated and that the p53 level would be low in the rigidly anchored (attached) collagen matrix; loss of anchorage (detachment) was hypothesized to have the opposite effects.

Materials And Methods: Human foreskin fibroblasts were cultured in attached bovine collagen matrices for 48 h before detachment as free-floating matrices.

The fibroblast-populated collagen matrix as a model of wound healing: a review of the evidence.

The fibroblast-populated collagen matrix (FPCM) has been utilized as an in vitro model of wound healing for more than 2 decades. It offers a reasonable approximation of the healing wound during the phases of established granulation tissue and early scar. The gross and microscopic morphology of the FPCM and the healing wound are similar at analogous phases.

The association of race/ethnicity with the receipt of traditional and alternative arthritis-specific health care.

Background: The role of race/ethnicity in the receipt of arthritis-specific health care has not been well defined.

Objective: To examine the association of race/ethnicity with the utilization of arthritis health care among community-dwelling older adults.

Research Design: We used a computer-assisted telephone interview.

Health related quality of life in women with elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To examine the association of elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with health related quality of life in a population based cohort of older women.

Methods: A nested case-control study of elderly onset RA within the Iowa Women's Health Study (IWHS), a prospective cohort established in 1986 of 41,000 women aged 55 to 69 years. A supplemental questionnaire was mailed to 122 RA cases and 1132 frequency matched controls from the cohort.

The chemistry and biological effects of malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts.

This article represents the proceedings of a workshop at the 2000 ISBRA Meeting in Yokohama, Japan. The chairs were Geoffrey M. Thiele and Simon Worrall.