Sample records for tissue samples derived

  1. Detection of Fusobacterium nucleatum in chorionic tissues of high-risk pregnant women.

    PubMed

    Tateishi, Fumi; Hasegawa-Nakamura, Kozue; Nakamura, Toshiaki; Oogai, Yuichi; Komatsuzawa, Hitoshi; Kawamata, Kazuya; Douchi, Tsutomu; Hatae, Masayuki; Noguchi, Kazuyuki

    2012-05-01

    This study was undertaken to investigate the existence of a periodontopathic bacterium, Fusobacterium nucleatum, in chorionic tissues of pregnant women, and the effects of F. nucleatum on human chorion-derived cells. Oral and chorionic tissue samples were collected from 24 high-risk pregnant women and 15 normal pregnant women. The presence of F. nucleatum in the samples was detected using polymerase chain reaction. Chorion-derived cells and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 or TLR-4 gene-silenced chorion-derived cells were stimulated with F. nucleatum lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Interleukin (IL)-6 and corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in the culture supernatants were measured using ELISA. F. nucleatum was detected in all oral samples and seven chorionic tissues from the high-risk pregnant women, but was not detected in chorionic tissues from the normal pregnant women. F. nucleatum LPS significantly increased IL-6 and CRH secretion by chorion-derived cells. The F. nucleatum LPS-induced IL-6 and CRH levels were significantly reduced in TLR-2 or TLR-4 gene-silenced chorion-derived cells. We suggest that F. nucleatum is detected in chorionic tissues of high-risk pregnant women, but not in chorionic tissues of normal pregnant women, and that F. nucleatum induces IL-6 and CRH production via both TLR-2 and TLR-4 in chorion-derived cells. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  2. Overcoming sampling depth variations in the analysis of broadband hyperspectral images of breast tissue (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kho, Esther; de Boer, Lisanne L.; Van de Vijver, Koen K.; Sterenborg, Henricus J. C. M.; Ruers, Theo J. M.

    2017-02-01

    Worldwide, up to 40% of the breast conserving surgeries require additional operations due to positive resection margins. We propose to reduce this percentage by using hyperspectral imaging for resection margin assessment during surgery. Spectral hypercubes were collected from 26 freshly excised breast specimens with a pushbroom camera (900-1700nm). Computer simulations of the penetration depth in breast tissue suggest a strong variation in sampling depth ( 0.5-10 mm) over this wavelength range. This was confirmed with a breast tissue mimicking phantom study. Smaller penetration depths are observed in wavelength regions with high water and/or fat absorption. Consequently, tissue classification based on spectral analysis over the whole wavelength range becomes complicated. This is especially a problem in highly inhomogeneous human tissue. We developed a method, called derivative imaging, which allows accurate tissue analysis, without the impediment of dissimilar sampling volumes. A few assumptions were made based on previous research. First, the spectra acquired with our camera from breast tissue are mainly shaped by fat and water absorption. Second, tumor tissue contains less fat and more water than healthy tissue. Third, scattering slopes of different tissue types are assumed to be alike. In derivative imaging, the derivatives are calculated of wavelengths a few nanometers apart; ensuring similar penetration depths. The wavelength choice determines the accuracy of the method and the resolution. Preliminary results on 3 breast specimens indicate a classification accuracy of 93% when using wavelength regions characterized by water and fat absorption. The sampling depths at these regions are 1mm and 5mm.

  3. Determination of the complex refractive index segments of turbid sample with multispectral spatially modulated structured light and models approximation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Meitav, Omri; Shaul, Oren; Abookasis, David

    2017-09-01

    Spectral data enabling the derivation of a biological tissue sample's complex refractive index (CRI) can provide a range of valuable information in the clinical and research contexts. Specifically, changes in the CRI reflect alterations in tissue morphology and chemical composition, enabling its use as an optical marker during diagnosis and treatment. In the present work, we report a method for estimating the real and imaginary parts of the CRI of a biological sample using Kramers-Kronig (KK) relations in the spatial frequency domain. In this method, phase-shifted sinusoidal patterns at single high spatial frequency are serially projected onto the sample surface at different near-infrared wavelengths while a camera mounted normal to the sample surface acquires the reflected diffuse light. In the offline analysis pipeline, recorded images at each wavelength are converted to spatial phase maps using KK analysis and are then calibrated against phase-models derived from diffusion approximation. The amplitude of the reflected light, together with phase data, is then introduced into Fresnel equations to resolve both real and imaginary segments of the CRI at each wavelength. The technique was validated in tissue-mimicking phantoms with known optical parameters and in mouse models of ischemic injury and heat stress. Experimental data obtained indicate variations in the CRI among brain tissue suffering from injury. CRI fluctuations correlated with alterations in the scattering and absorption coefficients of the injured tissue are demonstrated. This technique for deriving dynamic changes in the CRI of tissue may be further developed as a clinical diagnostic tool and for biomedical research applications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the estimation of the spectral CRI of a mouse head following injury obtained in the spatial frequency domain.

  4. Crosslinking effect of dialdehyde starch (DAS) on decellularized porcine aortas for tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Wang, Xu; Gu, Zhipeng; Qin, Huanhuan; Li, Li; Yang, Xu; Yu, Xixun

    2015-08-01

    Biological tissue-derived biomaterials must be chemically modified to avoid immediate degradation and immune response before being implanted in human body to replace malfunctioning organs. DAS with active aldehyde groups was employed to replace glutaraldehyde (GA), a most common synthetic crosslinking reagent in clinical practice, to fix bioprostheses for lower cytotoxicity. The aim of this research was to evaluate fixation effect of DAS. The tensile strength, crosslinking stability, cytotoxicity especially the anti-calcification capability of DAS-fixed tissues were investigated. The tensile strength and resistance to enzymatic degradation of samples were increased after DAS fixation, the values maintained stably in D-Hanks solution for several days. Meanwhile, ultrastructure of samples preserved well and the anti-calcification capability of samples were improved, the amount of positive staining points in the whole visual field of 15% DAS-fixed samples was only 0.576 times to GA-fixed ones. Moreover, both unreacted DAS and its hydrolytic products were nontoxic in cytotoxicity study. The results demonstrated DAS might be an effective crosslinking reagent to fix biological tissue-derived biomaterials in tissue engineering. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. An evaluation of the clinical potential of tissue diffraction studies

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Speller, R.; Abuchi, S.; Zheng, Y.; Vassiljev, N.; Konstantinidis, A.; Griffiths, J.

    2015-09-01

    Medical imaging is a long established part of patient management in the treatment of disease. However, in most cases it only provides anatomical detail and does not provide any form of tissue characterisation. This is particularly true for X-ray imaging. Recent studies on tissue diffraction have shown that true molecular signatures can be derived for different tissue types. Breast cancer samples and liver tissue have been studied. It has been shown that diffraction profiles can be traced away from the primary tumour in excised breast tissue samples and that potentially 3mm fat nodules in liver tissue can be identified in patients at acceptable doses.

  6. Biobanking of fresh frozen tissue from clinical surgical specimens: transport logistics, sample selection, and histologic characterization.

    PubMed

    Botling, Johan; Micke, Patrick

    2011-01-01

    Access to high-quality fresh frozen tissue is critical for translational cancer research and molecular -diagnostics. Here we describe a workflow for the collection of frozen solid tissue samples derived from fresh human patient specimens after surgery. The routines have been in operation at Uppsala University Hospital since 2001. We have integrated cryosection and histopathologic examination of each biobank sample into the biobank manual. In this way, even small, macroscopically ill-defined lesions can be -procured without a diagnostic hazard due to the removal of uncharacterized tissue from a clinical -specimen. Also, knowledge of the histomorphology of the frozen tissue sample - tumor cell content, stromal components, and presence of necrosis - is pivotal before entering a biobank case into costly molecular profiling studies.

  7. Polarimetric signature imaging of anisotropic bio-medical tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wu, Stewart H.; Yang, De-Ming; Chiou, Arthur; Nee, Soe-Mie F.; Nee, Tsu-Wei

    2010-02-01

    Polarimetric imaging of Stokes vector (I, Q, U, V) can provide 4 independent signatures showing the linear and circular polarizations of biological tissues and cells. Using a recently developed Stokes digital imaging system, we measured the Stokes vector images of tissue samples from sections of rat livers containing normal portions and hematomas. The derived Mueller matrix elements can quantitatively provide multi-signature data of the bio-sample. This polarimetric optical technology is a new option of biosensing technology to inspect the structures of tissue samples, particularly for discriminating tumor and non-tumor biopsy. This technology is useful for critical disease discrimination and medical diagnostics applications.

  8. Fluorescence suppression using wavelength modulated Raman spectroscopy in fiber-probe-based tissue analysis.

    PubMed

    Praveen, Bavishna B; Ashok, Praveen C; Mazilu, Michael; Riches, Andrew; Herrington, Simon; Dholakia, Kishan

    2012-07-01

    In the field of biomedical optics, Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for probing the chemical composition of biological samples. In particular, fiber Raman probes play a crucial role for in vivo and ex vivo tissue analysis. However, the high-fluorescence background typically contributed by the auto fluorescence from both a tissue sample and the fiber-probe interferes strongly with the relatively weak Raman signal. Here we demonstrate the implementation of wavelength-modulated Raman spectroscopy (WMRS) to suppress the fluorescence background while analyzing tissues using fiber Raman probes. We have observed a significant signal-to-noise ratio enhancement in the Raman bands of bone tissue, which have a relatively high fluorescence background. Implementation of WMRS in fiber-probe-based bone tissue study yielded usable Raman spectra in a relatively short acquisition time (∼30  s), notably without any special sample preparation stage. Finally, we have validated its capability to suppress fluorescence on other tissue samples such as adipose tissue derived from four different species.

  9. Analytical and Clinical Validation of a Digital Sequencing Panel for Quantitative, Highly Accurate Evaluation of Cell-Free Circulating Tumor DNA

    PubMed Central

    Zill, Oliver A.; Sebisanovic, Dragan; Lopez, Rene; Blau, Sibel; Collisson, Eric A.; Divers, Stephen G.; Hoon, Dave S. B.; Kopetz, E. Scott; Lee, Jeeyun; Nikolinakos, Petros G.; Baca, Arthur M.; Kermani, Bahram G.; Eltoukhy, Helmy; Talasaz, AmirAli

    2015-01-01

    Next-generation sequencing of cell-free circulating solid tumor DNA addresses two challenges in contemporary cancer care. First this method of massively parallel and deep sequencing enables assessment of a comprehensive panel of genomic targets from a single sample, and second, it obviates the need for repeat invasive tissue biopsies. Digital SequencingTM is a novel method for high-quality sequencing of circulating tumor DNA simultaneously across a comprehensive panel of over 50 cancer-related genes with a simple blood test. Here we report the analytic and clinical validation of the gene panel. Analytic sensitivity down to 0.1% mutant allele fraction is demonstrated via serial dilution studies of known samples. Near-perfect analytic specificity (> 99.9999%) enables complete coverage of many genes without the false positives typically seen with traditional sequencing assays at mutant allele frequencies or fractions below 5%. We compared digital sequencing of plasma-derived cell-free DNA to tissue-based sequencing on 165 consecutive matched samples from five outside centers in patients with stage III-IV solid tumor cancers. Clinical sensitivity of plasma-derived NGS was 85.0%, comparable to 80.7% sensitivity for tissue. The assay success rate on 1,000 consecutive samples in clinical practice was 99.8%. Digital sequencing of plasma-derived DNA is indicated in advanced cancer patients to prevent repeated invasive biopsies when the initial biopsy is inadequate, unobtainable for genomic testing, or uninformative, or when the patient’s cancer has progressed despite treatment. Its clinical utility is derived from reduction in the costs, complications and delays associated with invasive tissue biopsies for genomic testing. PMID:26474073

  10. Objective Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer by Tissue Protein Profile Analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Patil, Ajeetkumar; Bhat, Sujatha; Rai, Lavanya; Kartha, V. B.; Chidangil, Santhosh

    2011-07-01

    Protein profiles of homogenized normal cervical tissue samples from hysterectomy subjects and cancerous cervical tissues from biopsy samples collected from patients with different stages of cervical cancer were recorded using High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Laser Induced Fluorescence (HPLC-LIF). The Protein profiles were subjected to Principle Component Analysis to derive statistically significant parameters. Diagnosis of sample types were carried out by matching three parameters—scores of factors, squared residuals, and Mahalanobis Distance. ROC and Youden's Index curves for calibration standards were used for objective estimation of the optimum threshold for decision making and performance.

  11. CancerLocator: non-invasive cancer diagnosis and tissue-of-origin prediction using methylation profiles of cell-free DNA.

    PubMed

    Kang, Shuli; Li, Qingjiao; Chen, Quan; Zhou, Yonggang; Park, Stacy; Lee, Gina; Grimes, Brandon; Krysan, Kostyantyn; Yu, Min; Wang, Wei; Alber, Frank; Sun, Fengzhu; Dubinett, Steven M; Li, Wenyuan; Zhou, Xianghong Jasmine

    2017-03-24

    We propose a probabilistic method, CancerLocator, which exploits the diagnostic potential of cell-free DNA by determining not only the presence but also the location of tumors. CancerLocator simultaneously infers the proportions and the tissue-of-origin of tumor-derived cell-free DNA in a blood sample using genome-wide DNA methylation data. CancerLocator outperforms two established multi-class classification methods on simulations and real data, even with the low proportion of tumor-derived DNA in the cell-free DNA scenarios. CancerLocator also achieves promising results on patient plasma samples with low DNA methylation sequencing coverage.

  12. Positron Spectroscopy Investigation of Normal Brain Section and Brain Section with Glioma Derived from a Rat Glioma Model

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Yang, SH.; Ballmann, C.; Quarles, C. A.

    2009-03-10

    The application of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Doppler broadening spectroscopy (DBS) to the study of animal or human tissue has only recently been reported [G. Liu, et al. phys. stat. sol. (C) 4, Nos. 10, 3912-3915 (2007)]. We have initiated a study of normal brain section and brain section with glioma derived from a rat glioma model. For the rat glioma model, 200,000 C6 cells were implanted in the basal ganglion of adult Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were sacrificed at 21 days after implantation. The brains were harvested, sliced into 2 mm thick coronal sections, and fixedmore » in 4% formalin. PALS lifetime runs were made with the samples soaked in formalin, and there was not significant evaporation of formalin during the runs. The lifetime spectra were analyzed into two lifetime components. While early results suggested a small decrease in ortho-Positronium (o-Ps) pickoff lifetime between the normal brain section and brain section with glioma, further runs with additional samples have showed no statistically significant difference between the normal and tumor tissue for this type of tumor. The o-Ps lifetime in formalin alone was lower than either the normal tissue or glioma sample. So annihilation in the formalin absorbed in the samples would lower the o-Ps lifetime and this may have masked any difference due to the glioma itself. DBS was also used to investigate the difference in positronium formation between tumor and normal tissue. Tissue samples are heterogeneous and this needs to be carefully considered if PALS and DBS are to become useful tools in distinguishing tissue samples.« less

  13. Identification of Stevioside Using Tissue Culture-Derived Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) Leaves

    PubMed Central

    Karim, Md. Ziaul; Uesugi, Daisuke; Nakayama, Noriyuki; Hossain, M. Monzur; Ishihara, Kohji; Hamada, Hiroki

    2015-01-01

    Stevioside is a natural sweetener from Stevia leaf, which is 300 times sweeter than sugar. It helps to reduce blood sugar levels dramatically and thus can be of benefit to diabetic people. Tissue culture is a very potential modern technology that can be used in large-scale disease-free stevia production throughout the year. We successfully produced stevia plant through in vitro culture for identification of stevioside in this experiment. The present study describes a potential method for identification of stevioside from tissue culture-derived stevia leaf. Stevioside in the sample was identified using HPLC by measuring the retention time. The percentage of stevioside content in the leaf samples was found to be 9.6%. This identification method can be used for commercial production and industrialization of stevia through in vitro culture across the world. PMID:28008268

  14. Evidence for plant-derived xenomiRs based on a large-scale analysis of public small RNA sequencing data from human samples.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Qi; Liu, Yuanning; Zhang, Ning; Hu, Menghan; Zhang, Hao; Joshi, Trupti; Xu, Dong

    2018-01-01

    In recent years, an increasing number of studies have reported the presence of plant miRNAs in human samples, which resulted in a hypothesis asserting the existence of plant-derived exogenous microRNA (xenomiR). However, this hypothesis is not widely accepted in the scientific community due to possible sample contamination and the small sample size with lack of rigorous statistical analysis. This study provides a systematic statistical test that can validate (or invalidate) the plant-derived xenomiR hypothesis by analyzing 388 small RNA sequencing data from human samples in 11 types of body fluids/tissues. A total of 166 types of plant miRNAs were found in at least one human sample, of which 14 plant miRNAs represented more than 80% of the total plant miRNAs abundance in human samples. Plant miRNA profiles were characterized to be tissue-specific in different human samples. Meanwhile, the plant miRNAs identified from microbiome have an insignificant abundance compared to those from humans, while plant miRNA profiles in human samples were significantly different from those in plants, suggesting that sample contamination is an unlikely reason for all the plant miRNAs detected in human samples. This study also provides a set of testable synthetic miRNAs with isotopes that can be detected in situ after being fed to animals.

  15. Identifying DNA Methylation Features that Underlie Prostate Cancer Disparities

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    Report We will continue to recruit African American patients and bank their prostate tissue . We will continue dissecting tumor samples into tumor...in prostate tumors and adjacent normal tissue derived from both AA and EA individuals. We will determine if DNA methylation patterns in prostate... tissue (both cancerous and normal tissue ) differ between AA and EA individuals. We will also identify methylation features that differ between tumor

  16. Application of FTA technology for sampling, recovery and molecular characterization of viral pathogens and virus-derived transgenes from plant tissues.

    PubMed

    Ndunguru, Joseph; Taylor, Nigel J; Yadav, Jitender; Aly, Haytham; Legg, James P; Aveling, Terry; Thompson, Graham; Fauquet, Claude M

    2005-05-18

    Plant viral diseases present major constraints to crop production. Effective sampling of the viruses infecting plants is required to facilitate their molecular study and is essential for the development of crop protection and improvement programs. Retaining integrity of viral pathogens within sampled plant tissues is often a limiting factor in this process, most especially when sample sizes are large and when operating in developing counties and regions remote from laboratory facilities. FTA is a paper-based system designed to fix and store nucleic acids directly from fresh tissues pressed into the treated paper. We report here the use of FTA as an effective technology for sampling and retrieval of DNA and RNA viruses from plant tissues and their subsequent molecular analysis. DNA and RNA viruses were successfully recovered from leaf tissues of maize, cassava, tomato and tobacco pressed into FTA Classic Cards. Viral nucleic acids eluted from FTA cards were found to be suitable for diagnostic molecular analysis by PCR-based techniques and restriction analysis, and for cloning and nucleotide sequencing in a manner equivalent to that offered by tradition isolation methods. Efficacy of the technology was demonstrated both from sampled greenhouse-grown plants and from leaf presses taken from crop plants growing in farmer's fields in East Africa. In addition, FTA technology was shown to be suitable for recovery of viral-derived transgene sequences integrated into the plant genome. Results demonstrate that FTA is a practical, economical and sensitive method for sampling, storage and retrieval of viral pathogens and plant genomic sequences, when working under controlled conditions and in the field. Application of this technology has the potential to significantly increase ability to bring modern analytical techniques to bear on the viral pathogens infecting crop plants.

  17. Genetic differences between blood- and brain-derived viral sequences from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected patients: evidence of conserved elements in the V3 region of the envelope protein of brain-derived sequences.

    PubMed Central

    Korber, B T; Kunstman, K J; Patterson, B K; Furtado, M; McEvilly, M M; Levy, R; Wolinsky, S M

    1994-01-01

    Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) sequences were generated from blood and from brain tissue obtained by stereotactic biopsy from six patients undergoing a diagnostic neurosurgical procedure. Proviral DNA was directly amplified by nested PCR, and 8 to 36 clones from each sample were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of intrapatient envelope V3-V5 region HIV-1 DNA sequence sets revealed that brain viral sequences were clustered relative to the blood viral sequences, suggestive of tissue-specific compartmentalization of the virus in four of the six cases. In the other two cases, the blood and brain virus sequences were intermingled in the phylogenetic analyses, suggesting trafficking of virus between the two tissues. Slide-based PCR-driven in situ hybridization of two of the patients' brain biopsy samples confirmed our interpretation of the intrapatient phylogenetic analyses. Interpatient V3 region brain-derived sequence distances were significantly less than blood-derived sequence distances. Relative to the tip of the loop, the set of brain-derived viral sequences had a tendency towards negative or neutral charge compared with the set of blood-derived viral sequences. Entropy calculations were used as a measure of the variability at each position in alignments of blood and brain viral sequences. A relatively conserved set of positions were found, with a significantly lower entropy in the brain-than in the blood-derived viral sequences. These sites constitute a brain "signature pattern," or a noncontiguous set of amino acids in the V3 region conserved in viral sequences derived from brain tissue. This brain-derived signature pattern was also well preserved among isolates previously characterized in vitro as macrophage tropic. Macrophage-monocyte tropism may be the biological constraint that results in the conservation of the viral brain signature pattern. Images PMID:7933130

  18. Selective sensitivity of Mueller imaging for tissue scattering over absorption changes in cancer mimicking phantoms

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fathima, Adeeba; Sharma B. S., Mahima; N., Sujatha

    2018-03-01

    Tissue characterization using optical polarimetry, especially Mueller imaging is receiving sustained interest due to its potential in achieving optical contrast between normal and malignant variations. This is particularly important in identifying the margin of malignant growth in suspected tissue regions for accurate surgical removal, or in aiding the sampling procedure during biopsy. The sensitivity of Mueller matrix derived depolarization index to the combined effects of changes in scattering and absorption occurring in a cancerous growth is illustrated in this study. Depolarization imaging is shown to be useful in demarcating the boundary of two regions of differing optical properties using a tissue phantom, modeled according to the changes expected during cancerous growth in tissue. Tissue scattering and absorption are expected to generally increase with the nuclear size change and crowding as well as angiogenesis associated with malignancy. We have observed that there is selective sensitivity for the Mueller elements and derived depolarization index to tissue scattering over absorption in the object field. Although the scattering and absorption are expected to increase and decrease depolarization respectively, the optical contrast of Mueller images and the derived depolarization index between normal and cancerous tissue is found appreciable in this region.

  19. Biphasic Finite Element Modeling Reconciles Mechanical Properties of Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Constructs Across Testing Platforms.

    PubMed

    Meloni, Gregory R; Fisher, Matthew B; Stoeckl, Brendan D; Dodge, George R; Mauck, Robert L

    2017-07-01

    Cartilage tissue engineering is emerging as a promising treatment for osteoarthritis, and the field has progressed toward utilizing large animal models for proof of concept and preclinical studies. Mechanical testing of the regenerative tissue is an essential outcome for functional evaluation. However, testing modalities and constitutive frameworks used to evaluate in vitro grown samples differ substantially from those used to evaluate in vivo derived samples. To address this, we developed finite element (FE) models (using FEBio) of unconfined compression and indentation testing, modalities commonly used for such samples. We determined the model sensitivity to tissue radius and subchondral bone modulus, as well as its ability to estimate material parameters using the built-in parameter optimization tool in FEBio. We then sequentially tested agarose gels of 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% weight/weight using a custom indentation platform, followed by unconfined compression. Similarly, we evaluated the ability of the model to generate material parameters for living constructs by evaluating engineered cartilage. Juvenile bovine mesenchymal stem cells were seeded (2 × 10 7 cells/mL) in 1% weight/volume hyaluronic acid hydrogels and cultured in a chondrogenic medium for 3, 6, and 9 weeks. Samples were planed and tested sequentially in indentation and unconfined compression. The model successfully completed parameter optimization routines for each testing modality for both acellular and cell-based constructs. Traditional outcome measures and the FE-derived outcomes showed significant changes in material properties during the maturation of engineered cartilage tissue, capturing dynamic changes in functional tissue mechanics. These outcomes were significantly correlated with one another, establishing this FE modeling approach as a singular method for the evaluation of functional engineered and native tissue regeneration, both in vitro and in vivo.

  20. Detection of Acetaminophen-Protein Adducts in Decedents with Suspected Opioid-Acetaminophen Combination Product Overdose.

    PubMed

    Thomas, Karen C; Wilkins, Diana G; Curry, Steven C; Grey, Todd C; Andrenyak, David M; McGill, Lawrence D; Rollins, Douglas E

    2016-09-01

    Acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of drug-induced liver failure in the United States. Acetaminophen-protein adducts have been suggested as a biomarker of hepatotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether protein-derived acetaminophen-protein adducts are quantifiable in postmortem samples. Heart blood, femoral blood, and liver tissue were collected at autopsy from 22 decedents suspected of opioid-acetaminophen overdose. Samples were assayed for protein-derived acetaminophen-protein adducts, acetaminophen, and selected opioids found in combination products containing acetaminophen. Protein-derived APAP-CYS was detected in 17 of 22 decedents and was measurable in blood that was not degraded or hemolyzed. Heart blood concentrations ranged from 11 ng/mL (0.1 μM) to 7817 ng/mL (28.9 μM). Protein-derived acetaminophen-protein adducts were detectable in liver tissue for 20 of 22 decedents. Liver histology was also performed for all decedents, and no evidence of centrilobular hepatic necrosis was observed. © 2016 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

  1. Analysis of type II diabetes mellitus adipose-derived stem cells for tissue engineering applications

    PubMed Central

    Minteer, Danielle Marie; Young, Matthew T; Lin, Yen-Chih; Over, Patrick J; Rubin, J Peter; Gerlach, Jorg C

    2015-01-01

    To address the functionality of diabetic adipose-derived stem cells in tissue engineering applications, adipose-derived stem cells isolated from patients with and without type II diabetes mellitus were cultured in bioreactor culture systems. The adipose-derived stem cells were differentiated into adipocytes and maintained as functional adipocytes. The bioreactor system utilizes a hollow fiber–based technology for three-dimensional perfusion of tissues in vitro, creating a model in which long-term culture of adipocytes is feasible, and providing a potential tool useful for drug discovery. Daily metabolic activity of the adipose-derived stem cells was analyzed within the medium recirculating throughout the bioreactor system. At experiment termination, tissues were extracted from bioreactors for immunohistological analyses in addition to gene and protein expression. Type II diabetic adipose-derived stem cells did not exhibit significantly different glucose consumption compared to adipose-derived stem cells from patients without type II diabetes (p > 0.05, N = 3). Expression of mature adipocyte genes was not significantly different between diabetic/non-diabetic groups (p > 0.05, N = 3). Protein expression of adipose tissue grown within all bioreactors was verified by Western blotting.The results from this small-scale study reveal adipose-derived stem cells from patients with type II diabetes when removed from diabetic environments behave metabolically similar to the same cells of non-diabetic patients when cultured in a three-dimensional perfusion bioreactor, suggesting that glucose transport across the adipocyte cell membrane, the hindrance of which being characteristic of type II diabetes, is dependent on environment. The presented observation describes a tissue-engineered tool for long-term cell culture and, following future adjustments to the culture environment and increased sample sizes, potentially for anti-diabetic drug testing. PMID:26090087

  2. Precise Detection of IDH1/2 and BRAF Hotspot Mutations in Clinical Glioma Tissues by a Differential Calculus Analysis of High-Resolution Melting Data

    PubMed Central

    Hatae, Ryusuke; Yoshimoto, Koji; Kuga, Daisuke; Akagi, Yojiro; Murata, Hideki; Suzuki, Satoshi O.; Mizoguchi, Masahiro; Iihara, Koji

    2016-01-01

    High resolution melting (HRM) is a simple and rapid method for screening mutations. It offers various advantages for clinical diagnostic applications. Conventional HRM analysis often yields equivocal results, especially for surgically obtained tissues. We attempted to improve HRM analyses for more effective applications to clinical diagnostics. HRM analyses were performed for IDH1R132 and IDH2R172 mutations in 192 clinical glioma samples in duplicate and these results were compared with sequencing results. BRAFV600E mutations were analyzed in 52 additional brain tumor samples. The melting profiles were used for differential calculus analyses. Negative second derivative plots revealed additional peaks derived from heteroduplexes in PCR products that contained mutations; this enabled unequivocal visual discrimination of the mutations. We further developed a numerical expression, the HRM-mutation index (MI), to quantify the heteroduplex-derived peak of the mutational curves. Using this expression, all IDH1 mutation statuses matched those ascertained by sequencing, with the exception of three samples. These discordant results were all derived from the misinterpretation of sequencing data. The effectiveness of our approach was further validated by analyses of IDH2R172 and BRAFV600E mutations. The present analytical method enabled an unequivocal and objective HRM analysis and is suitable for reliable mutation scanning in surgically obtained glioma tissues. This approach could facilitate molecular diagnostics in clinical environments. PMID:27529619

  3. Systematic evaluation of RNA quality, microarray data reliability and pathway analysis in fresh, fresh frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples.

    PubMed

    Wimmer, Isabella; Tröscher, Anna R; Brunner, Florian; Rubino, Stephen J; Bien, Christian G; Weiner, Howard L; Lassmann, Hans; Bauer, Jan

    2018-04-20

    Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are valuable resources commonly used in pathology. However, formalin fixation modifies nucleic acids challenging the isolation of high-quality RNA for genetic profiling. Here, we assessed feasibility and reliability of microarray studies analysing transcriptome data from fresh, fresh-frozen (FF) and FFPE tissues. We show that reproducible microarray data can be generated from only 2 ng FFPE-derived RNA. For RNA quality assessment, fragment size distribution (DV200) and qPCR proved most suitable. During RNA isolation, extending tissue lysis time to 10 hours reduced high-molecular-weight species, while additional incubation at 70 °C markedly increased RNA yields. Since FF- and FFPE-derived microarrays constitute different data entities, we used indirect measures to investigate gene signal variation and relative gene expression. Whole-genome analyses revealed high concordance rates, while reviewing on single-genes basis showed higher data variation in FFPE than FF arrays. Using an experimental model, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of FFPE-derived microarrays and fresh tissue-derived RNA-Seq datasets yielded similarly affected pathways confirming the applicability of FFPE tissue in global gene expression analysis. Our study provides a workflow comprising RNA isolation, quality assessment and microarray profiling using minimal RNA input, thus enabling hypothesis-generating pathway analyses from limited amounts of precious, pathologically significant FFPE tissues.

  4. Patient-derived Models of Human Breast Cancer: Protocols for In vitro and In vivo Applications in Tumor Biology and Translational Medicine

    PubMed Central

    DeRose, Yoko S.; Gligorich, Keith M.; Wang, Guoying; Georgelas, Ann; Bowman, Paulette; Courdy, Samir J.; Welm, Alana L.; Welm, Bryan E.

    2013-01-01

    Research models that replicate the diverse genetic and molecular landscape of breast cancer are critical for developing the next generation therapeutic entities that can target specific cancer subtypes. Patient-derived tumorgrafts, generated by transplanting primary human tumor samples into immune-compromised mice, are a valuable method to model the clinical diversity of breast cancer in mice, and are a potential resource in personalized medicine. Primary tumorgrafts also enable in vivo testing of therapeutics and make possible the use of patient cancer tissue for in vitro screens. Described in this unit are a variety of protocols including tissue collection, biospecimen tracking, tissue processing, transplantation, and 3-dimensional culturing of xenografted tissue, that enable use of bona fide uncultured human tissue in designing and validating cancer therapies. PMID:23456611

  5. Role of Mitochondrial Inheritance on Prostate Cancer Outcome in African American Men. Addendum

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-11-01

    DNA sequencing technique developed by our collaborator using single amplicon long-range PCR that permits deep coverage (10,000-20,000X on average) of...the mitochondrial genome. We have sequenced 652 samples derived from frozen fully using this technology. The additional DNA samples derived from...paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue were more challenging, but have now been sequenced . Mapping of DNA variants in our sequenced genomes to mitochondrial

  6. Equilibrium Passive Sampling of POP in Lipid-Rich and Lean Fish Tissue: Quality Control Using Performance Reference Compounds.

    PubMed

    Rusina, Tatsiana P; Carlsson, Pernilla; Vrana, Branislav; Smedes, Foppe

    2017-10-03

    Passive sampling is widely used to measure levels of contaminants in various environmental matrices, including fish tissue. Equilibrium passive sampling (EPS) of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in fish tissue has been hitherto limited to application in lipid-rich tissue. We tested several exposure methods to extend EPS applicability to lean tissue. Thin-film polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) passive samplers were exposed statically to intact fillet and fish homogenate and dynamically by rolling with cut fillet cubes. The release of performance reference compounds (PRC) dosed to passive samplers prior to exposure was used to monitor the exchange process. The sampler-tissue exchange was isotropic, and PRC were shown to be good indicators of sampler-tissue equilibration status. The dynamic exposures demonstrated equilibrium attainment in less than 2 days for all three tested fish species, including lean fish containing 1% lipid. Lipid-based concentrations derived from EPS were in good agreement with lipid-normalized concentrations obtained using conventional solvent extraction. The developed in-tissue EPS method is robust and has potential for application in chemical monitoring of biota and bioaccumulation studies.

  7. Overcoming confounded controls in the analysis of gene expression data from microarray experiments.

    PubMed

    Bhattacharya, Soumyaroop; Long, Dang; Lyons-Weiler, James

    2003-01-01

    A potential limitation of data from microarray experiments exists when improper control samples are used. In cancer research, comparisons of tumour expression profiles to those from normal samples is challenging due to tissue heterogeneity (mixed cell populations). A specific example exists in a published colon cancer dataset, in which tissue heterogeneity was reported among the normal samples. In this paper, we show how to overcome or avoid the problem of using normal samples that do not derive from the same tissue of origin as the tumour. We advocate an exploratory unsupervised bootstrap analysis that can reveal unexpected and undesired, but strongly supported, clusters of samples that reflect tissue differences instead of tumour versus normal differences. All of the algorithms used in the analysis, including the maximum difference subset algorithm, unsupervised bootstrap analysis, pooled variance t-test for finding differentially expressed genes and the jackknife to reduce false positives, are incorporated into our online Gene Expression Data Analyzer ( http:// bioinformatics.upmc.edu/GE2/GEDA.html ).

  8. Iophenoxic acid derivatives as markers of oral baits to wildlife. New tools for their detection in tissues of a game species and safety considerations for human exposure.

    PubMed

    Sage, Mickael; Fourel, Isabelle; Lahoreau, Jennifer; Siat, Vivien; Berny, Philippe; Rossi, Sophie

    2013-05-01

    The bait-marker iophenoxic acid (IPA) and its derivatives are increasingly used for evaluating and optimizing the cost-effectiveness of baiting campaigns on wildlife, particularly on game species such as the wild boar. We aimed to determine whether concentrations of the three main IPA derivatives ethyl, methyl and propyl-IPA measured on thoracic liquid extracts (TLE) of hunted wild boars may be representative of two exposure doses, 40 and 200 mg, from 20 to 217 days after ingestion. Then we developed a method of detection of the three IPA derivatives by LC/ESI-MS-MS in muscle and liver to evaluate the suitability of these two other tissues for monitoring the marked bait consumption and for measuring available residues in the meat of marked animals. Three semi-captive wild boars received 40 mg of each IPA derivative, three received 200 mg, and three, as controls, did not receive IPA. Blood serum was sampled 20, 197 or 217 days after IPA exposure according to animals and to the derivative. Wild boars were shot by gun after the different times of serum sampling times, and TLE, muscle and liver were sampled. Our results suggest that TLE is not a relevant tissue for quantitatively expressing IPA exposure. Due to interference, no analytical method was validated on TLE containing digestive material. On the other hand, quantifications in the muscle and particularly in the liver could discriminate wild boars that had ingested the two IPA doses from 20 days until 7 months after exposure, especially for the two long term markers ethyl and propyl-IPA. So IPA quantifications in the liver sampled on hunted animals appear to be a reliable tool for monitoring bait consumption in the field at a large scale. Nevertheless, whatever the ingested dose, ethyl- and propyl-IPA concentrations measured in the muscle and the liver of tested animals until 217 days after exposure, remained higher than 0.01 mg/kg, the Maximal Residue Limit (MRL) is recommended for molecules for which no toxicological data are available. Based on the range of IPA residues available in these two tissues, implications for humans consuming marked animals are discussed.

  9. Global transcriptional profiling reveals similarities and differences between human stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte clusters and heart tissue.

    PubMed

    Synnergren, Jane; Améen, Caroline; Jansson, Andreas; Sartipy, Peter

    2012-02-27

    It is now well documented that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. These cells constitute a promising source of material for use in drug development, toxicity testing, and regenerative medicine. To assess their utility as replacement or complement to existing models, extensive phenotypic characterization of the cells is required. In the present study, we used microarrays and analyzed the global transcription of hESC-derived cardiomyocyte clusters (CMCs) and determined similarities as well as differences compared with reference samples from fetal and adult heart tissue. In addition, we performed a focused analysis of the expression of cardiac ion channels and genes involved in the Ca(2+)-handling machinery, which in previous studies have been shown to be immature in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Our results show that hESC-derived CMCs, on a global level, have a highly similar gene expression profile compared with human heart tissue, and their transcriptional phenotype was more similar to fetal than to adult heart. Despite the high similarity to heart tissue, a number of significantly differentially expressed genes were identified, providing some clues toward understanding the molecular difference between in vivo sourced tissue and stem cell derivatives generated in vitro. Interestingly, some of the cardiac-related ion channels and Ca(2+)-handling genes showed differential expression between the CMCs and heart tissues. These genes may represent candidates for future genetic engineering to create hESC-derived CMCs that better mimic the phenotype of the cardiomyocytes present in the adult human heart.

  10. Is gliomatosis peritonei derived from the associated ovarian teratoma?

    PubMed

    Kwan, Man-Yee; Kalle, Wouter; Lau, Gene T C; Chan, John K C

    2004-06-01

    Gliomatosis peritonei, a rare condition that occurs almost exclusively in the setting of ovarian immature teratoma, is characterized by the occurrence of nodules of mature glial tissues in the peritoneum. It is controversial whether glial tissues are derived from maturation of the associated teratomatous tissue that has implanted in the peritoneum, or glial differentiation of subperitoneal stem cells. In this study, we employed the unique genetic characteristics of ovarian teratomas (often with a duplicated set of maternal chromosomes and thus homozygous at many polymorphic microsatellite loci) versus normal tissues (heterozygous pattern due to presence of maternal and paternal genetic materials) to investigate the origin of gliomatosis peritonei. DNA samples were extracted from microdissected paraffin-embedded tissues, including the glial implants, the associated ovarian teratomas, and normal tissues, to determine their patterns of microsatellite loci in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction system. Two cases were not informative because the ovarian teratoma showed a heterozygous microsatellite pattern. In the 5 informative cases, the normal tissues showed a heterozygous pattern in the microsatellite loci, the associated teratomas showed a homozygous pattern, and the glial tissues showed a heterozygous pattern. Thus, gliomatosis peritonei is genetically unrelated to the associated teratoma but is probably derived from nonteratomatous cells, such as through metaplasia of submesothelial cells.

  11. Development of Three PCR Assays for the Differentiation between Echinococcus shiquicus, E. granulosus (G1 genotype), and E. multilocularis DNA in the Co-Endemic Region of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, China

    PubMed Central

    Boufana, Belgees; Umhang, Gérald; Qiu, Jiamin; Chen, Xingwang; Lahmar, Samia; Boué, Franck; Jenkins, David; Craig, Philip

    2013-01-01

    To investigate echinococcosis in co-endemic regions, three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays based on the amplification of a fragment within the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (ND1) mitochondrial gene were optimized for the detection of Echinococcus shiquicus, Echinococcus granulosus G1, and Echinococcus multilocularis DNA derived from parasite tissue or canid fecal samples. Specificity using parasite tissue-derived DNA was found to be 100% except for E. shiquicus primers that faintly detected E. equinus DNA. Sensitivity of the three assays for DNA detection was between 2 and 10 pg. Ethanol precipitation of negative PCR fecal samples was used to eliminate false negatives and served to increase sensitivity as exemplified by an increase in detection from 0% to 89% of E. shiquicus coproDNA using necropsy-positive fox samples. PMID:23438764

  12. A fractal derivative model for the characterization of anomalous diffusion in magnetic resonance imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Liang, Yingjie; Ye, Allen Q.; Chen, Wen; Gatto, Rodolfo G.; Colon-Perez, Luis; Mareci, Thomas H.; Magin, Richard L.

    2016-10-01

    Non-Gaussian (anomalous) diffusion is wide spread in biological tissues where its effects modulate chemical reactions and membrane transport. When viewed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), anomalous diffusion is characterized by a persistent or 'long tail' behavior in the decay of the diffusion signal. Recent MRI studies have used the fractional derivative to describe diffusion dynamics in normal and post-mortem tissue by connecting the order of the derivative with changes in tissue composition, structure and complexity. In this study we consider an alternative approach by introducing fractal time and space derivatives into Fick's second law of diffusion. This provides a more natural way to link sub-voxel tissue composition with the observed MRI diffusion signal decay following the application of a diffusion-sensitive pulse sequence. Unlike previous studies using fractional order derivatives, here the fractal derivative order is directly connected to the Hausdorff fractal dimension of the diffusion trajectory. The result is a simpler, computationally faster, and more direct way to incorporate tissue complexity and microstructure into the diffusional dynamics. Furthermore, the results are readily expressed in terms of spectral entropy, which provides a quantitative measure of the overall complexity of the heterogeneous and multi-scale structure of biological tissues. As an example, we apply this new model for the characterization of diffusion in fixed samples of the mouse brain. These results are compared with those obtained using the mono-exponential, the stretched exponential, the fractional derivative, and the diffusion kurtosis models. Overall, we find that the order of the fractal time derivative, the diffusion coefficient, and the spectral entropy are potential biomarkers to differentiate between the microstructure of white and gray matter. In addition, we note that the fractal derivative model has practical advantages over the existing models from the perspective of computational accuracy and efficiency.

  13. Application of FTA technology for sampling, recovery and molecular characterization of viral pathogens and virus-derived transgenes from plant tissues

    PubMed Central

    Ndunguru, Joseph; Taylor, Nigel J; Yadav, Jitender; Aly, Haytham; Legg, James P; Aveling, Terry; Thompson, Graham; Fauquet, Claude M

    2005-01-01

    Background Plant viral diseases present major constraints to crop production. Effective sampling of the viruses infecting plants is required to facilitate their molecular study and is essential for the development of crop protection and improvement programs. Retaining integrity of viral pathogens within sampled plant tissues is often a limiting factor in this process, most especially when sample sizes are large and when operating in developing counties and regions remote from laboratory facilities. FTA is a paper-based system designed to fix and store nucleic acids directly from fresh tissues pressed into the treated paper. We report here the use of FTA as an effective technology for sampling and retrieval of DNA and RNA viruses from plant tissues and their subsequent molecular analysis. Results DNA and RNA viruses were successfully recovered from leaf tissues of maize, cassava, tomato and tobacco pressed into FTA® Classic Cards. Viral nucleic acids eluted from FTA cards were found to be suitable for diagnostic molecular analysis by PCR-based techniques and restriction analysis, and for cloning and nucleotide sequencing in a manner equivalent to that offered by tradition isolation methods. Efficacy of the technology was demonstrated both from sampled greenhouse-grown plants and from leaf presses taken from crop plants growing in farmer's fields in East Africa. In addition, FTA technology was shown to be suitable for recovery of viral-derived transgene sequences integrated into the plant genome. Conclusion Results demonstrate that FTA is a practical, economical and sensitive method for sampling, storage and retrieval of viral pathogens and plant genomic sequences, when working under controlled conditions and in the field. Application of this technology has the potential to significantly increase ability to bring modern analytical techniques to bear on the viral pathogens infecting crop plants. PMID:15904535

  14. Modelling Simple Experimental Platform for In Vitro Study of Drug Elution from Drug Eluting Stents (DES)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kalachev, L. V.

    2016-06-01

    We present a simple model of experimental setup for in vitro study of drug release from drug eluting stents and drug propagation in artificial tissue samples representing blood vessels. The model is further reduced using the assumption on vastly different characteristic diffusion times in the stent coating and in the artificial tissue. The model is used to derive a relationship between the times at which the measurements have to be taken for two experimental platforms, with corresponding artificial tissue samples made of different materials with different drug diffusion coefficients, to properly compare the drug release characteristics of drug eluting stents.

  15. Applications of QCL mid-IR imaging to the advancement of pathology

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sreedhar, Hari; Varma, Vishal K.; Bird, Benjamin; Guzman, Grace; Walsh, Michael J.

    2017-03-01

    Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) spectroscopic imaging is a novel technique with many potential applications to histopathology. Like traditional Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) imaging, QCL spectroscopic imaging derives biochemical data coupled to the spatial information of a tissue sample, and can be used to improve the diagnostic and prognostic value of assessment of a tissue biopsy. This technique also offers advantages over traditional FT-IR imaging, specifically the capacity for discrete frequency and real-time imaging. In this work we present applications of QCL spectroscopic imaging to tissue samples, including discrete frequency imaging, to compare with FT-IR and its potential value to pathology.

  16. Specimen Sample Preservation for Cell and Tissue Cultures

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Meeker, Gabrielle; Ronzana, Karolyn; Schibner, Karen; Evans, Robert

    1996-01-01

    The era of the International Space Station with its longer duration missions will pose unique challenges to microgravity life sciences research. The Space Station Biological Research Project (SSBRP) is responsible for addressing these challenges and defining the science requirements necessary to conduct life science research on-board the International Space Station. Space Station will support a wide range of cell and tissue culture experiments for durations of 1 to 30 days. Space Shuttle flights to bring experimental samples back to Earth for analyses will only occur every 90 days. Therefore, samples may have to be retained for periods up to 60 days. This presents a new challenge in fresh specimen sample storage for cell biology. Fresh specimen samples are defined as samples that are preserved by means other than fixation and cryopreservation. The challenge of long-term storage of fresh specimen samples includes the need to suspend or inhibit proliferation and metabolism pending return to Earth-based laboratories. With this challenge being unique to space research, there have not been any ground based studies performed to address this issue. It was decided hy SSBRP that experiment support studies to address the following issues were needed: Fixative Solution Management; Media Storage Conditions; Fresh Specimen Sample Storage of Mammalian Cell/Tissue Cultures; Fresh Specimen Sample Storage of Plant Cell/Tissue Cultures; Fresh Specimen Sample Storage of Aquatic Cell/Tissue Cultures; and Fresh Specimen Sample Storage of Microbial Cell/Tissue Cultures. The objective of these studies was to derive a set of conditions and recommendations that can be used in a long duration microgravity environment such as Space Station that will permit extended storage of cell and tissue culture specimens in a state consistent with zero or minimal growth, while at the same time maintaining their stability and viability.

  17. Rapid Mueller matrix polarimetry imaging based on four photoelastic modulators with no moving parts (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gribble, Adam; Alali, Sanaz; Vitkin, Alex

    2016-03-01

    Polarized light has many applications in biomedical imaging. The interaction of a biological sample with polarized light reveals information about its composition, both structural and functional. For example, the polarimetry-derived metric of linear retardance (birefringence) is dependent on tissue structural organization (anisotropy) and can be used to diagnose myocardial infarct; circular birefringence (optical rotation) can measure glucose concentrations. The most comprehensive type of polarimetry analysis is to measure the Mueller matrix, a polarization transfer function that completely describes how a sample interacts with polarized light. To derive this 4x4 matrix it is necessary to observe how a tissue interacts with different polarizations. A well-suited approach for tissue polarimetry is to use photoelastic modulators (PEMs), which dynamically modulate the polarization of light. Previously, we have demonstrated a rapid time-gated Stokes imaging system that is capable of characterizing the state of polarized light (the Stokes vector) over a large field, after interacting with any turbid media. This was accomplished by synchronizing CCD camera acquisition times relative to two PEMs using a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Here, we extend this technology to four PEMs, yielding a polarimetry system that is capable of rapidly measuring the complete sample Mueller matrix over a large field of view, with no moving parts and no beam steering. We describe the calibration procedure and evaluate the accuracy of the measurements. Results are shown for tissue-mimicking phantoms, as well as initial biological samples.

  18. Tylosin depletion in edible tissues of turkeys.

    PubMed

    Montesissa, C; De Liguoro, M; Santi, A; Capolongo, F; Biancotto, G

    1999-10-01

    The depletion of tylosin residues in edible turkey tissues was followed after 3 days of administration of tylosin tartrate at 500 mg l-1 in drinking water, to 30 turkeys. Immediately after the end of the treatment (day 0) and at day 1, 3, 5 and 10 of withdrawal, six turkeys (three males and three females) per time were sacrificed and samples of edible tissues were collected. Tissue homogenates were extracted, purified and analysed by HPLC according to a method previously published for the analysis of tylosin residues in pig tissues. In all tissues, tylosin residues were already below the detection limits of 50 micrograms kg-1 at time zero. However, in several samples of tissues (skin + fat, liver, kidney, muscle), from the six turkeys sacrificed at that time, one peak corresponding to an unknown tylosin equivalent was detected at measurable concentrations. The identification of this unknown compound was performed by LC-MS/MS analysis of the extracts from incurred samples. The mass fragmentation of the compound was consistent with the structure of tylosin D (the alcoholic derivative of tylosin A), the major metabolite of tylosin previously recovered and identified in tissues and/or excreta from treated chickens, cattle and pigs.

  19. Quality assessment of DNA derived from up to 30 years old formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue for PCR-based methylation analysis using SMART-MSP and MS-HRM.

    PubMed

    Kristensen, Lasse S; Wojdacz, Tomasz K; Thestrup, Britta B; Wiuf, Carsten; Hager, Henrik; Hansen, Lise Lotte

    2009-12-21

    The High Resolution Melting (HRM) technology has recently been introduced as a rapid and robust analysis tool for the detection of DNA methylation. The methylation status of multiple tumor suppressor genes may serve as biomarkers for early cancer diagnostics, for prediction of prognosis and for prediction of response to treatment. Therefore, it is important that methodologies for detection of DNA methylation continue to evolve. Sensitive Melting Analysis after Real Time - Methylation Specific PCR (SMART-MSP) and Methylation Sensitive - High Resolution Melting (MS-HRM) are two methods for single locus DNA methylation detection based on HRM. Here, we have assessed the quality of DNA extracted from up to 30 years old Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissue for DNA methylation analysis using SMART-MSP and MS-HRM. The quality assessment was performed on DNA extracted from 54 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) samples derived from FFPE tissue, collected over 30 years and grouped into five years intervals. For each sample, the methylation levels of the CDKN2A (p16) and RARB promoters were estimated using SMART-MSP and MS-HRM assays designed to assess the methylation status of the same CpG positions. This allowed for a direct comparison of the methylation levels estimated by the two methods for each sample. CDKN2A promoter methylation levels were successfully determined by SMART-MSP and MS-HRM in all 54 samples. Identical methylation estimates were obtained by the two methods in 46 of the samples. The methylation levels of the RARB promoter were successfully determined by SMART-MSP in all samples. When using MS-HRM to assess RARB methylation five samples failed to amplify and 15 samples showed a melting profile characteristic for heterogeneous methylation. Twenty-seven of the remaining 34 samples, for which the methylation level could be estimated, gave the same result as observed when using SMART-MSP. MS-HRM and SMART-MSP can be successfully used for single locus methylation studies using DNA derived from up to 30 years old FFPE tissue. Furthermore, it can be expected that MS-HRM and SMART-MSP will provide similar methylation estimates when assays are designed to analyze the same CpG positions.

  20. Characterization of the Tissue and Stromal Cell Components of Micro-Superficial Enhanced Fluid Fat Injection (Micro-SEFFI) for Facial Aging Treatment.

    PubMed

    Rossi, Martina; Roda, Barbara; Zia, Silvia; Vigliotta, Ilaria; Zannini, Chiara; Alviano, Francesco; Bonsi, Laura; Zattoni, Andrea; Reschiglian, Pierluigi; Gennai, Alessandro

    2018-06-14

    New microfat preparations provide material suitable for use as a regenerative filler for different facial areas. To support the development of new robust techniques for regenerative purposes, the cellular content of the sample should be considered. To evaluate the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell components of micro-superficial enhanced fluid fat injection (SEFFI) samples via a technique to harvest re-injectable tissue with minimum manipulation. The results were compared to those obtained from SEFFI samples. Microscopy analysis was performed to visualize the tissue structure. Micro-SEFFI samples were also fractionated using Celector ®, an innovative non-invasive separation technique, to provide an initial evaluation of sample fluidity and composition. SVFs obtained from SEFFI and micro-SEFFI were studied. Adipose stromal cells (ASCs) were isolated and characterized by proliferation and differentiation capacity assays. Microscopic and quality analyses of micro-SEFFI samples by Celector® confirmed the high fluidity and sample cellular composition in terms of red blood cell contamination, the presence of cell aggregates and extracellular matrix fragments. ASCs were isolated from adipose tissue harvested using SEFFI and micro-SEFFI systems. These cells were demonstrated to have a good proliferation rate and differentiation potential towards mesenchymal lineages. Despite the small sizes and low cellularity observed in micro-SEFFI-derived tissue, we were able to isolate stem cells. This result partially explains the regenerative potential of autologous micro-SEFFI tissue grafts. In addition, using this novel Celector® technology, tissues used for aging treatment were characterized analytically, and the adipose tissue composition was evaluated with no need for extra sample processing.

  1. Compression Stiffening of Brain and its Effect on Mechanosensing by Glioma Cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pogoda, Katarzyna

    The stiffness of tissues, often characterized by their time-dependent elastic properties, is tightly controlled under normal condition and central nervous system tissue is among the softest tissues. Changes in tissue and organ stiffness occur in some physiological conditions and are frequently symptoms of diseases such as fibrosis, cardiovascular disease and many forms of cancer. Primary cells isolated from various tissues often respond to changes in the mechanical properties of their substrates, and the range of stiffness over which these responses occur appear to be limited to the tissue elastic modulus from which they are derived. Our goal was to test the hypotheses that the stiffness of tumors derived from CNS tissue differs from that of normal brain, and that transformed cells derived from such tumors exhibit mechanical responses that differ from those of normal glial cells. Unlike breast and some other cancers where the stroma and the tumor itself is substantially stiffer than the surrounding normal tissue, our data suggest that gliomas can arise without a gross change in the macroscopic tissue stiffness when measured at low strains without compression. However, both normal brain and glioma samples stiffen with compression, but not in elongation and increased shear strains. On the other hand, different classes of immortalized cells derived from human glioblastoma show substantially different responses to the stiffness of substrates in vitrowhen grown on soft polyacrylamide and hyaluronic acid gels. This outcome supports the hypothesis that compression stiffening, which might occur with increased vascularization and interstitial pressure gradients that are characteristic of tumors, effectively stiffens the environment of glioma cells, and that in situ, the elastic resistance these cells sense might be sufficient to trigger the same responses that are activated in vitro by increased substrate stiffness.

  2. Correlation of MRI-derived adipose tissue measurements and anthropometric markers with prevalent hypertension in the community.

    PubMed

    Lorbeer, Roberto; Rospleszcz, Susanne; Schlett, Christopher L; Heber, Sophia D; Machann, Jürgen; Thorand, Barbara; Meisinger, Christa; Heier, Margit; Peters, Annette; Bamberg, Fabian; Lieb, Wolfgang

    2018-07-01

    To compare the correlations of MRI-derived adipose tissue measurements and anthropometric markers, respectively, with prevalent hypertension in a community-based sample, free of clinical cardiovascular disease. MRI-derived adipose tissue measurements were obtained in 345 participants (143 women; age 39-73 years) of the KORA FF4 survey from Southern Germany using a 3-Tesla machine and included total adipose tissue (TAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT), hepatic fat fraction (HFF), pancreatic fat fraction (PFF) as well as pericardial adipose tissue (PAT). In addition, the anthropometric markers body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-height ratio (WHtR) as well as blood pressure measurements were obtained. The prevalence of hypertension was 33.6% (women: 28%, men: 38%). VAT and PAT had the highest area under the curve (AUC) values for identifying individuals with prevalent hypertension (AUC: 0.75; 0.73, respectively), whereas WHtR and waist circumference were best performing anthropometric markers (AUC: 0.72; 0.70, respectively). A 1SD increment of TAT was associated with the highest odd for hypertension in the age-adjusted and sex-adjusted model (OR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.67-2.91, P < 0.001) and in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.45-2.66, P < 0.001). TAT was the only MRI-derived adipose tissue measurement that was associated with hypertension independently of the best performing anthropometric marker waist circumference in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.00-3.72, P = 0.049). MRI-derived adipose tissue measurements perform similarly in identifying prevalent hypertension compared with anthropometric markers. Especially, TAT, VAT and PAT as well as WHtR and waist circumference were highly correlated with prevalent hypertension.

  3. Relationship of In Vivo MR Parameters to Histopathological and Molecular Characteristics of Newly Diagnosed, Nonenhancing Lower-Grade Gliomas.

    PubMed

    Luks, Tracy L; McKnight, Tracy Richmond; Jalbert, Llewellyn E; Williams, Aurelia; Neill, Evan; Lobo, Khadjia A; Persson, Anders I; Perry, Arie; Phillips, Joanna J; Molinaro, Annette M; Chang, Susan M; Nelson, Sarah J

    2018-06-05

    The goal of this research was to elucidate the relationship between WHO 2016 molecular classifications of newly diagnosed, nonenhancing lower grade gliomas (LrGG), tissue sample histopathology, and magnetic resonance (MR) parameters derived from diffusion, perfusion, and 1 H spectroscopic imaging from the tissue sample locations and the entire tumor. A total of 135 patients were scanned prior to initial surgery, with tumor cellularity scores obtained from 88 image-guided tissue samples. MR parameters were obtained from corresponding sample locations, and histograms of normalized MR parameters within the T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery lesion were analyzed in order to evaluate differences between subgroups. For tissue samples, higher tumor scores were related to increased normalized apparent diffusion coefficient (nADC), lower fractional anisotropy (nFA), lower cerebral blood volume (nCBV), higher choline (nCho), and lower N-acetylaspartate (nNAA). Within the T2 lesion, higher tumor grade was associated with higher nADC, lower nFA, and higher Cho to NAA index. Pathological analysis confirmed that diffusion and metabolic parameters increased and perfusion decreased with tumor cellularity. This information can be used to select targets for tissue sampling and to aid in making decisions about treating residual disease. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. UGT2B17 and SULT1A1 gene copy number variation (CNV) detection by LabChip microfluidic technology.

    PubMed

    Gaedigk, Andrea; Gaedigk, Roger; Leeder, J Steven

    2010-05-01

    Gene copy number variations (CNVs) are increasingly recognized to play important roles in the expression of genes and hence on their respective enzymatic activities. This has been demonstrated for a number of drug metabolizing genes, such as UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 2B17 (UGT2B17) and sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1), which are subject to genetic heterogeneity, including CNV. Quantitative assays to assess gene copy number are therefore becoming an integral part of accurate genotype assessment and phenotype prediction. In this study, we evaluated a microfluidics-based system, the Bio-Rad Experion system, to determine the power and utility of this platform to detect UGT2B17 and SULT1A1 CNV in DNA samples derived from blood and tissue. UGT2B17 is known to present with 0, 1 or 2 and SULT1A1 with up to 5 gene copies. Distinct clustering (p<0.001) into copy number groups was achieved for both genes. DNA samples derived from blood exhibited less inter-run variability compared to DNA samples obtained from liver tissue. This variability may be caused by tissue-specific PCR inhibitors as it could be overcome by using DNA from another tissue, or after the DNA had undergone whole genome amplification. This method produced results comparable to those reported for other quantitative test platforms.

  5. Comparison of plasma ctDNA and tissue/cytology-based techniques for the detection of EGFR mutation status in advanced NSCLC: Spanish data subset from ASSESS.

    PubMed

    Arriola, E; Paredes-Lario, A; García-Gomez, R; Diz-Tain, P; Constenla, M; García-Girón, C; Márquez, G; Reck, M; López-Vivanco, G

    2018-04-05

    The analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in many patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) has provided the opportunity for successful treatment with specific, targeted EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. However, this therapeutic decision may be challenging when insufficient tumor tissue is available for EGFR mutation testing. Therefore, blood surrogate samples for EGFR mutation analysis have been suggested. Data were collected from the Spanish cohort of patients in the large, non-interventional, diagnostic ASSESS study (NCT01785888) evaluating the utility of circulating free tumor-derived DNA from plasma for EGFR mutation testing. The incidence of EGFR mutation in Spain and the level of concordance between matched tissue/cytology and plasma samples were evaluated. In a cohort of 154 eligible patients, EGFR mutations were identified in 15.1 and 11.0% of tumor and plasma samples, respectively. The most commonly used EGFR mutation testing method for the tumor tissue samples was the QIAGEN Therascreen ® EGFR RGQ PCR kit (52.1%). Fragment Length Analysis + PNA LNA Clamp was used for the plasma samples. The concordance rate for EGFR mutation status between the tissue/cytology and plasma samples was 88.8%; the sensitivity was 45.5%, and the specificity was 96.7%. The high concordance between the different DNA sources for EGFR mutation testing supports the use of plasma samples when tumor tissue is unavailable.

  6. Expression and localization of endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) in human pancreas and pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

    PubMed

    Morales, Angélica; Vilchis, Felipe; Chávez, Bertha; Chan, Carlos; Robles-Díaz, Guillermo; Díaz-Sánchez, Vicente

    2007-10-01

    Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF) was recently identified as the first tissue-specific angiogenic molecule. EG-VEGF (the gene product of PROK-1) appears to be expressed exclusively in steroid-producing organs such as the ovary, testis, adrenals and placenta. Since the human pancreatic cells retain steroidogenic activity, in the present study we ascertained whether this angiogenic factor is expressed in normal pancreas and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Tissue samples from normal males (n=5), normal females (n=5) and from surgically resected adenocarcinomas (n=2) were processed for RT-PCR and immunohistochemical studies. Results from semi-quantitative analysis by RT-PCR suggest a distinct expression level for EG-VEGF in the different tissue samples. The relative amount of EG-VEGF mRNA in pancreas was more abundant in female adenocarcinoma (0.89) followed by male adenocarcinoma (0.71), than normal female (0.64) and normal male (0.38). The expression of mRNA for EG-VEGF in normal tissue was significantly higher in females than in males. All samples examined showed specific immunostaining for EG-VEGF. In male preparations, the positive labeling was localized predominantly within the pancreatic islets while in female preparations the main staining was detected towards the exocrine portion. Specific immunolabeling was also observed in endothelial cells of pancreatic blood vessels. Our data provide evidence that the human pancreas expresses the EG-VEGF, a highly specific mitogen which regulates proliferation and differentiation of the vascular endothelium. The significance of this finding could be interpreted as either, EG-VEGF is not exclusive of endocrine organs, or the pancreas should be considered as a functional steroidogenic tissue. The extent of the expression of EG-VEGF appears to have a dimorphic pattern in normal and tumoral pancreatic tissue.

  7. Discrimination and similarity evaluation of tissue-cultured and wild Dendrobium species using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Nai-dong; Chen, Han; Li, Jun; Sang, Mang-mang; Ding, Shen; Yu, Hao

    2015-04-01

    The FTIR method was applied to evaluate the similarity of tissue-cultured and wild Dendrobium huoshanense C.Z. Tang et S.J. Cheng, Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo and Dendrobium moniliforme (Linn.) Sw and discriminate different Dendrobium species, especially D. huoshanense and its main goldbrick Dendrobium henanense J.L. Lu et L.X. Gao. Despite the general pattern of the IR spectra, different intensities, shapes and peak positions were found in the IR spectra of these samples, especially in the range of 1800-600 cm-1, which could be used to discriminate them. The methanol, aqueous extracting procedure and the second derivative transformation obviously enlarged the tiny spectral differences among these samples. The similarity evaluation based on the IR spectra and the second derivative IR spectrum revealed that the similarity of the methanol extracts between tissue-cultured and wild Dendrobiums might be lower than that between different Dendrobium species. The similarities of the powders and aqueous extracts between tissue-cultured and wild Dendrobiums were higher than those between different Dendrobium species. The further principal component analysis showed that the first three components explained 99.7%, 87.7% and 85.1% of data variance for powder, methanol extract and aqueous extract, respectively, demonstrating a good discrimination between samples. Our research suggested that the variations of secondary metabolites between different origins of the investigated Dendrobiums might be higher than what we had supposed. Tissue culture techniques were widely used in the conversation of rare and endangered medicinal amedica, however, our study suggested that the chemical constituents of tissue-cultured plants might be quite different from their wild correspondences.

  8. Murine Endogenous Retroviruses Are Detectable in Patient-Derived Xenografts but Not in Patient-Individual Cell Lines of Human Colorectal Cancer.

    PubMed

    Bock, Stephanie; Mullins, Christina S; Klar, Ernst; Pérot, Philippe; Maletzki, Claudia; Linnebacher, Michael

    2018-01-01

    Endogenous retroviruses are remnants of retroviral infections. In contrast to their human counterparts, murine endogenous retroviruses (mERV) still can synthesize infectious particles and retrotranspose. Xenotransplanted human cells have occasionally been described to be mERV infected. With genetic engineered mice and patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) on the rise as eminent research tools, we here systematically investigated, if different tumor models harbor mERV infections. Relevant mERV candidates were first preselected by next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis of spontaneous lymphomas triggered by colorectal cancer (CRC) PDX tissue. Two primer systems were designed for each of these candidates (AblMLV, EcoMLV, EndoPP, MLV, and preXMRV) and implemented in an quantitative real-time (RT-qPCR) screen using murine tissues ( n = 11), PDX-tissues ( n = 22), PDX-derived cell lines ( n = 13), and patient-derived tumor cell lines ( n = 14). The expression levels of mERV varied largely both in the PDX samples and in the mouse tissues. No mERV signal was, however, obtained from cDNA or genomic DNA of CRC cell lines. Expression of EcoMLV was higher in PDX than in murine tissues; for EndoPP it was the opposite. These two were thus further investigated in 40 additional PDX. In addition, four patient-derived cell lines free of any mERV expression were subcutaneously injected into immunodeficient mice. Outgrowing cell-derived xenografts barely expressed EndoPP. In contrast, the expression of EcoMLV was even higher than in surrounding mouse tissues. This expression gradually vanished within few passages of re-cultivated cells. In summary, these results strongly imply that: (i) PDX and murine tissues in general are likely to be contaminated by mERV, (ii) mERV are expressed transiently and at low level in fresh PDX-derived cell cultures, and (iii) mERV integration into the genome of human cells is unlikely or at least a very rare event. Thus, mERVs are stowaways present in murine cells, in PDX tissues and early thereof-derived cell cultures. We conclude that further analysis is needed concerning their impact on results obtained from studies performed with PDX but also with murine tumor models.

  9. Ex vivo MR spectroscopic measure differentiates tumor from treatment effects in GBM

    PubMed Central

    Srinivasan, Radhika; Phillips, Joanna J.; VandenBerg, Scott R.; Polley, Mei-Yin C.; Bourne, Gabriela; Au, Alvin; Pirzkall, Andrea; Cha, Soonmee; Chang, Susan M.; Nelson, Sarah J.

    2010-01-01

    The motivation of this study was to address the urgent clinical problem related to the inability of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging measures to differentiate tumor progression from treatment effects in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). While contrast enhancement on MR imaging (MRI) is routinely used for assessment of tumor burden, therapy response, and progression-free survival in GBM, it is well known that changes in enhancement following treatment are nonspecific to tumor. To address this issue, the objective of this study was to investigate whether MR spectroscopy can provide improved biomarker surrogates for tumor following treatment. High-resolution metabolic profiles of tissue samples obtained from patients with GBM were directly correlated with their pathological assessment to determine metabolic markers that correspond to pathological indications of tumor or treatment effects. Acquisition of tissue samples with image guidance enabled the association of ex vivo biochemical and pathological properties of the tissue samples with in vivo MR anatomical and structural properties derived from presurgical MR images. Using this approach, we found that metabolic concentration levels of [Myo-inositol/total choline (MCI)] in tissue samples are able to differentiate tumor from nontumor and treatment-induced reactive astrocytosis with high significance (P < .001) in newly diagnosed and recurrent GBM. The MCI index has a sensitivity of 93% to tumor in recurrent GBM and delineates the contribution of cellularity that originates from tumor and astrocytic proliferation following treatment. Low levels of MCI for tumor were associated with a reduced apparent diffusion coefficient and elevated choline-N-acetyl-aspartate index derived from in vivo MR images. PMID:20647244

  10. Rapid quantification of inflammation in tissue samples using perfluorocarbon emulsion and fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance

    PubMed Central

    Ahrens, Eric T.; Young, Won-Bin; Xu, Hongyan; Pusateri, Lisa K.

    2016-01-01

    Quantification of inflammation in tissue samples can be a time-intensive bottleneck in therapeutic discovery and preclinical endeavors. We describe a versatile and rapid approach to quantitatively assay macrophage burden in intact tissue samples. Perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsion is injected intravenously, and the emulsion droplets are effectively taken up by monocytes and macrophages. These ‘in situ’ labeled cells participate in inflammatory events in vivo resulting in PFC accumulation at inflammatory loci. Necropsied tissues or intact organs are subjected to conventional fluorine-19 (19F) NMR spectroscopy to quantify the total fluorine content per sample, proportional to the macrophage burden. We applied these methods to a rat model of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) exhibiting extensive inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS), particularly in the spinal cord. In a cohort of EAE rats, we used 19F NMR to derive an inflammation index (IFI) in intact CNS tissues. Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm intracellular colocalization of the PFC droplets within CNS CD68+ cells having macrophage morphology. The IFI linearly correlated to mRNA levels of CD68 via real-time PCR analysis. This 19F NMR approach can accelerate tissue analysis by at least an order of magnitude compared with histological approaches. PMID:21548906

  11. Metabolite Analysis and Histology on the Exact Same Tissue: Comprehensive Metabolomic Profiling and Metabolic Classification of Prostate Cancer

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huan, Tao; Troyer, Dean A.; Li, Liang

    2016-08-01

    We report a method of metabolomic profiling of intact tissue based on molecular preservation by extraction and fixation (mPREF) and high-performance chemical isotope labeling (CIL) liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). mPREF extracts metabolites by aqueous methanol from tissue biopsies without altering tissue architecture and thus conventional histology can be performed on the same tissue. In a proof-of-principle study, we applied dansylation LC-MS to profile the amine/phenol submetabolome of prostate needle biopsies from 25 patient samples derived from 16 subjects. 2900 metabolites were consistently detected in more than 50% of the samples. This unprecedented coverage allowed us to identify significant metabolites for differentiating tumor and normal tissues. The panel of significant metabolites was refined using 36 additional samples from 18 subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed area-under-the-curve (AUC) of 0.896 with sensitivity of 84.6% and specificity of 83.3% using 7 metabolites. A blind study of 24 additional validation samples gave a specificity of 90.9% at the same sensitivity of 84.6%. The mPREF extraction can be readily implemented into the existing clinical workflow. Our method of combining mPREF with CIL LC-MS offers a powerful and convenient means of performing histopathology and discovering or detecting metabolite biomarkers in the same tissue biopsy.

  12. Study of Biological Pigments by Single Specimen Derivative Spectrophotometry

    PubMed Central

    Goldstein, Jack M.

    1970-01-01

    The single specimen derivative (SSD) method provides an absolute absorption spectrum of a substance in the absence of a suitable reference. Both a reference and a measuring monochromatic beam pass through a single sample, and the specimen itself acts as its own reference. The two monochromatic beams maintain a fixed wavelength difference upon scanning, and the difference in absorbance of the two beams is determined. Thus, the resulting spectrum represents the first derivative of the conventional type absorption spectrum. Tissues and cell fractions have been examined at room and liquid N2 temperature and chromophoric molecules such as the mitochondrial cytochromes and blood pigments have been detectable in low concentrations. In the case of isolated cellular components, the observed effects of substrates and inhibitors confirm similar studies by conventional spectrophotometry. The extension of the SSD concept to the microscopic level has permitted the study of the tissue compartmentalization and function of cytochromes and other pigments within layered tissue. PMID:4392452

  13. 3D resolved mapping of optical aberrations in thick tissues

    PubMed Central

    Zeng, Jun; Mahou, Pierre; Schanne-Klein, Marie-Claire; Beaurepaire, Emmanuel; Débarre, Delphine

    2012-01-01

    We demonstrate a simple method for mapping optical aberrations with 3D resolution within thick samples. The method relies on the local measurement of the variation in image quality with externally applied aberrations. We discuss the accuracy of the method as a function of the signal strength and of the aberration amplitude and we derive the achievable resolution for the resulting measurements. We then report on measured 3D aberration maps in human skin biopsies and mouse brain slices. From these data, we analyse the consequences of tissue structure and refractive index distribution on aberrations and imaging depth in normal and cleared tissue samples. The aberration maps allow the estimation of the typical aplanetism region size over which aberrations can be uniformly corrected. This method and data pave the way towards efficient correction strategies for tissue imaging applications. PMID:22876353

  14. A High-Throughput Method for Direct Detection of Therapeutic Oligonucleotide-Induced Gene Silencing In Vivo

    PubMed Central

    Coles, Andrew H.; Osborn, Maire F.; Alterman, Julia F.; Turanov, Anton A.; Godinho, Bruno M.D.C.; Kennington, Lori; Chase, Kathryn; Aronin, Neil

    2016-01-01

    Preclinical development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapeutics requires a rapid, accurate, and robust method of simultaneously quantifying mRNA knockdown in hundreds of samples. The most well-established method to achieve this is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), a labor-intensive methodology that requires sample purification, which increases the potential to introduce additional bias. Here, we describe that the QuantiGene® branched DNA (bDNA) assay linked to a 96-well Qiagen TissueLyser II is a quick and reproducible alternative to qRT-PCR for quantitative analysis of mRNA expression in vivo directly from tissue biopsies. The bDNA assay is a high-throughput, plate-based, luminescence technique, capable of directly measuring mRNA levels from tissue lysates derived from various biological samples. We have performed a systematic evaluation of this technique for in vivo detection of RNAi-based silencing. We show that similar quality data is obtained from purified RNA and tissue lysates. In general, we observe low intra- and inter-animal variability (around 10% for control samples), and high intermediate precision. This allows minimization of sample size for evaluation of oligonucleotide efficacy in vivo. PMID:26595721

  15. Non-lethal sampling of walleye for stable isotope analysis: a comparison of three tissues

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Chipps, Steven R.; VanDeHey, J.A.; Fincel, M.J.

    2012-01-01

    Stable isotope analysis of fishes is often performed using muscle or organ tissues that require sacrificing animals. Non-lethal sampling provides an alternative for evaluating isotopic composition for species of concern or individuals of exceptional value. Stable isotope values of white muscle (lethal) were compared with those from fins and scales (non-lethal) in walleye, Sander vitreus (Mitchill), from multiple systems, size classes and across a range of isotopic values. Isotopic variability was also compared among populations to determine the potential of non-lethal tissues for diet-variability analyses. Muscle-derived isotope values were enriched compared with fins and depleted relative to scales. A split-sample validation technique and linear regression found that isotopic composition of walleye fins and scales was significantly related to that in muscle tissue for both δ13C and δ15N (r2 = 0.79–0.93). However, isotopic variability was significantly different between tissue types in two of six populations for δ15N and three of six populations for δ13C. Although species and population specific, these findings indicate that isotopic measures obtained from non-lethal tissues are indicative of those obtained from muscle.

  16. Comparative biomarker expression and RNA integrity in biospecimens derived from radical retropubic and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies.

    PubMed

    Ricciardelli, Carmela; Bianco-Miotto, Tina; Jindal, Shalini; Dodd, Thomas J; Cohen, Penelope A; Marshall, Villis R; Sutherland, Peter D; Samaratunga, Hemamali; Kench, James G; Dong, Ying; Wang, Hong; Clements, Judith A; Risbridger, Gail P; Sutherland, Robert L; Tilley, Wayne D; Horsfall, David J

    2010-07-01

    Knowledge of preanalytic conditions that biospecimens are subjected to is critically important because novel surgical procedures, tissue sampling, handling, and storage might affect biomarker expression or invalidate tissue samples as analytes for some technologies. We investigated differences in RNA quality, gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, and immunoreactive protein expression of selected prostate cancer biomarkers between tissues from retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Sections of tissue microarray of 23 RALP and 22 RRP samples were stained with antibodies to androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as intersite controls, and 14 other candidate biomarkers of research interest to three laboratories within the Australian Prostate Cancer BioResource tissue banking network. Quantitative real-time PCR was done for AR, PSA (KLK3), KLK2, KLK4, and HIF1A on RNA extracted from five RALP and five RRP frozen tissue cores. No histologic differences were observed between RALP and RRP tissue. Biomarker staining grouped these samples into those with increased (PSA, CK8/18, CKHMW, KLK4), decreased (KLK2, KLK14), or no change in expression (AR, ghrelin, Ki67, PCNA, VEGF-C, PAR2, YB1, p63, versican, and chondroitin 0-sulfate) in RALP compared with RRP tissue. No difference in RNA quality or gene expression was detected between RALP and RRP tissue. Changes in biomarker expression between RALP and RRP tissue exist at the immunoreactive protein level, but the etiology is unclear. Future studies should account for changes in biomarker expression when using RALP tissues, and mixed cohorts of RALP and RRP tissue should be avoided.

  17. Malignant Tumors and Forensics – Dilemmas and Proposals

    PubMed Central

    Budimlija, Zoran; Lu, Connie; Axler-DiPerte, Grace; Seifarth, Jessica; Popiolek, Dorota; Fogt, Franz; Prinz, Mechthild

    2009-01-01

    Aim To evaluate the effect of genetic instability and degradation in archived histology samples from cancerous tumors and to investigate the validity of short tandem repeat (STR) typing of these samples and its potential effect on human identification. Methods Two hundred and twenty eight slides of archival pathology tissues from 13 different types of malignant tumors were compared with healthy tissues from the same individuals. DNA analysis was performed using standard techniques for forensic STR analysis, PowerPlex®16 and Identifiler® on 2 distinct sample sets. Genetic instability was assessed by comparing reference tissues with cancerous tissues derived from the same individual. Loss of heterozygosity, a ≥50% reduction in heterozygosity ratio between healthy and diseased samples, and microsatellite instability, the presence of an additional allele not present in reference tissue, were assessed. The quality of profiles obtained with respect to completeness among the archived samples and degradation using the 2 platforms were also compared. Results Profiles obtained using the Identifiler® system were generally more complete, but showed 3-fold higher levels of instability (86%) than those obtained using PowerPlex® 16 (27%). Instances of genetic instability were distributed throughout all loci in both multiplex STR systems. Conclusion After having compared 2 widely used forensic chemistries, we suggest individual validation of each kit for use with samples likely to exhibit instability combined with fixation induced degradation or artifact. A “one size fits all” approach for interpretation of these samples among commercially available multiplexes is not recommended. PMID:19480018

  18. Successful Application of Microarray Technology to Microdissected Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Coudry, Renata A.; Meireles, Sibele I.; Stoyanova, Radka; Cooper, Harry S.; Carpino, Alan; Wang, Xianqun; Engstrom, Paul F.; Clapper, Margie L.

    2007-01-01

    The establishment of a reliable method for using RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue would provide an opportunity to obtain novel gene expression data from the vast amounts of archived tissue. A custom-designed 22,000 oligonucleotide array was used in the present study to compare the gene expression profile of colonic epithelial cells isolated by laser capture microdissection from FFPE-archived samples with that of the same cell population from matched frozen samples, the preferred source of RNA. Total RNA was extracted from FFPE tissues, amplified, and labeled using the Paradise Reagent System. The quality of the input RNA was assessed by the Bioanalyzer profile, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and agarose gel electrophoresis. The results demonstrate that it is possible to obtain reliable microarray data from FFPE samples using RNA acquired by laser capture microdissection. The concordance between matched FFPE and frozen samples was evaluated and expressed as a Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with values ranging from 0.80 to 0.97. The presence of ribosomal RNA peaks in FFPE-derived RNA was reflected by a high correlation with paired frozen samples. A set of practical recommendations for evaluating the RNA integrity and quality in FFPE samples is reported. PMID:17251338

  19. Effects of sterilization on poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels.

    PubMed

    Kanjickal, Deenu; Lopina, Stephanie; Evancho-Chapman, M Michelle; Schmidt, Steven; Donovan, Duane

    2008-12-01

    The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the development of polymeric biomaterials. These biomaterials have to undergo a sterilization procedure before implantation. However, many sterilization procedures have been shown to profoundly affect polymer properties. Poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels have gained increasing importance in the controlled delivery of therapeutics and in tissue engineering. We evaluated the effect of ethylene oxide (EtO), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and gamma sterilization of poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels on properties relevant to controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering. We observed that the release of cyclosporine (CyA) (an immunosuppressive drug that is effective in combating tissue rejection following organ transplantation) was significantly affected by the type of sterilization. However, that was not the case with rhodamine B, a dye. Hence, the drug release characteristics were observed to be dependent not only on the sterilization procedure but also on the type of agent that needs to be delivered. In addition, differences in the swelling ratios for the sterilized and unsterilized hydrogels were statistically significant for 1:1 crosslinked hydrogels derived from the 8000 MW polymer. Significant differences were also observed for gamma sterilization for 1:1 crosslinked hydrogels derived from the 3350 MW polymer and also the 2:1 crosslinked hydrogels derived from the 8000 MW polymer. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies revealed that the roughness parameter for the unsterilized and EtO-sterilized PEG hydrogels remained similar. However, a statistically significant reduction of the roughness parameter was observed for the H(2)O(2) and gamma-sterilized samples. Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies on the unsterilized and the sterilized samples revealed the presence of the peroxy and the triphenyl methyl carbon radical in the samples. The gamma and the H(2)O(2)-sterilized samples were observed to have a much higher concentration of the radical pecies when compared with the EtO and the unsterilized samples. (c) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res, 2008.

  20. ctDNA Determination of EGFR Mutation Status in European and Japanese Patients with Advanced NSCLC: The ASSESS Study.

    PubMed

    Reck, Martin; Hagiwara, Koichi; Han, Baohui; Tjulandin, Sergei; Grohé, Christian; Yokoi, Takashi; Morabito, Alessandro; Novello, Silvia; Arriola, Edurne; Molinier, Olivier; McCormack, Rose; Ratcliffe, Marianne; Normanno, Nicola

    2016-10-01

    To offer patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced NSCLC appropriate EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment, mutation testing of tumor samples is required. However, tissue/cytologic samples are not always available or evaluable. The large, noninterventional diagnostic ASSESS study (NCT01785888) evaluated the utility of circulating free tumor-derived DNA (ctDNA) from plasma for EGFR mutation testing. ASSESS was conducted in 56 centers (in Europe and Japan). Eligible patients (with newly diagnosed locally advanced/metastatic treatment-naive advanced NSCLC) provided diagnostic tissue/cytologic and plasma samples. DNA extracted from tissue/cytologic samples was subjected to EGFR mutation testing using local practices; designated laboratories performed DNA extraction/mutation testing of blood samples. The primary end point was level of concordance of EGFR mutation status between matched tissue/cytologic and plasma samples. Of 1311 patients enrolled, 1288 were eligible. Concordance of mutation status in 1162 matched samples was 89% (sensitivity 46%, specificity 97%, positive predictive value 78%, and negative predictive value 90%). A group of 25 patients with apparent false-positive plasma results was overrepresented for cytologic samples, use of less sensitive tissue testing methodologies, and smoking habits associated with high EGFR mutation frequency, indicative of false-negative tumor results. In cases in which plasma and tumor samples were tested with identical highly sensitive methods, positive predictive value/sensitivity were generally improved. These real-world data suggest that ctDNA is a feasible sample for EGFR mutation analysis. It is important to conduct mutation testing of both tumor and plasma samples in specialized laboratories, using robust/sensitive methods to ensure that patients receive appropriate treatments that target the molecular features of their disease. Copyright © 2016 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Second harmonic sound field after insertion of a biological tissue sample

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Dong; Gong, Xiu-Fen; Zhang, Bo

    2002-01-01

    Second harmonic sound field after inserting a biological tissue sample is investigated by theory and experiment. The sample is inserted perpendicular to the sound axis, whose acoustical properties are different from those of surrounding medium (distilled water). By using the superposition of Gaussian beams and the KZK equation in quasilinear and parabolic approximations, the second harmonic field after insertion of the sample can be derived analytically and expressed as a linear combination of self- and cross-interaction of the Gaussian beams. Egg white, egg yolk, porcine liver, and porcine fat are used as the samples and inserted in the sound field radiated from a 2 MHz uniformly excited focusing source. Axial normalized sound pressure curves of the second harmonic wave before and after inserting the sample are measured and compared with the theoretical results calculated with 10 items of Gaussian beam functions.

  2. Lifetime fluorescence spectroscopy for in situ investigation of osteogenic differentiation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marcu, Laura; Elbarbary, Amir; Zuk, Patricia; De Ugarte, Daniel A.; Benhaim, Prosper; Kurt, Hamza; Hedrick, Marc H.; Ashjian, Peter

    2003-07-01

    Time-Resolved Laser-Induced Fluorescence Spectroscopy (TR-LIFS) represents a potential tool for the in-situ characterization of bioengineered tissues. In this study, we evaluate the application of TR-LIFS to non-intrusive monitoring of matrix composition during osteogenetic differentiation. Human adipose-derived stem cells, harvested from 3 patients, were induced in osteogenic media for 3, 5, and 7 weeks. Samples were subsequently collected and probed for time-resolved fluorescence emission with a pulsed nitrogen laser. Fluorescence parameters, derived from both spectral- and time-domain, were used for sample characterization. The samples were further analyzed using Western blot analysis and computer-based densitometry. A significant change in the fluorescence parameters was detected for samples beyond 3 weeks of osteogenic differentiation. The spectroscopic observations: 1) show increase of collagen I when contrasted against the time-resolved fluorescence spectra of commercially available collagens; and 2) are in agreement with Western blot analysis that demonstrated significant increase in collagen I content between 3- vs. 5-weeks and 3- vs. 7-weeks and no changes for collagens III, IV, and V. Our results suggest that TR-LIFS can be used as a non-invasive means for the detection of specific collagens in maturing connective tissues.

  3. An Array-Based Analysis of MicroRNA Expression Comparing Matched Frozen and Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Human Tissue Samples

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Xiao; Chen, Jiamin; Radcliffe, Tom; LeBrun, Dave P.; Tron, Victor A.; Feilotter, Harriet

    2008-01-01

    MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that suppress gene expression at the posttranscriptional level via an antisense RNA-RNA interaction. miRNAs used for array-based profiling are generally purified from either snap-frozen or fresh samples. Because tissues found in most pathology departments are available only in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) states, we sought to evaluate miRNA derived from FFPE samples for microarray analysis. In this study, miRNAs extracted from matched snap-frozen and FFPE samples were profiled using the Agilent miRNA array platform (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA). Each miRNA sample was hybridized to arrays containing probes interrogating 470 human miRNAs. Seven cases were compared in either duplicate or triplicate. Intrachip and interchip analyses demonstrated that the processes of miRNA extraction, labeling, and hybridization from both frozen and FFPE samples are highly reproducible and add little variation to the results; technical replicates showed high correlations with one another (Kendall tau, 0.722 to 0.853; Spearman rank correlation coefficient, 0.891 to 0.954). Our results showed consistent high correlations between matched frozen and FFPE samples (Kendall tau, 0.669 to 0.815; Spearman rank correlation coefficient, 0.847 to 0.948), supporting the use of FFPE-derived miRNAs for array-based, gene expression profiling. PMID:18832457

  4. Human Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cryopreservation and Thawing Decrease α4-Integrin Expression.

    PubMed

    Irioda, Ana Carolina; Cassilha, Rafael; Zocche, Larissa; Francisco, Julio Cesar; Cunha, Ricardo Correa; Ferreira, Priscila Elias; Guarita-Souza, Luiz Cesar; Ferreira, Reginaldo Justino; Mogharbel, Bassam Felipe; Garikipati, Venkata Naga Srikanth; Souza, Daiany; Beltrame, Mirian Perlingeiro; de Carvalho, Katherine Athayde Teixeira

    2016-01-01

    Aim. The effects of cryopreservation on adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells are not clearly documented, as there is a growing body of evidence about the importance of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells for regenerative therapies. The aim of this study was to analyze human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells phenotypic expression (CD34, CD45, CD73, CD90, CD105, and CD49d), colony forming unit ability, viability, and differentiation potential before and after cryopreservation. Materials and Methods. 12 samples of the adipose tissue were collected from a healthy donor using the liposuction technique. The cell isolation was performed by enzymatic digestion and then the cells were cultured up to passage 2. Before and after cryopreservation the immunophenotype, cellular viability analysis by flow cytometer, colony forming units ability, differentiation potential into adipocytes and osteoblasts as demonstrated by Oil Red O and Alizarin Red staining, respectively. Results. The immunophenotypic markers expression was largely preserved, and their multipotency was maintained. However, after cryopreservation, the cells decreased α4-integrin expression (CD49d), cell viability, and number of colony forming units. Conclusions. These findings suggest that ADMSC transplanted after cryopreservation might compromise the retention of transplanted cells in the host tissue. Therefore, further studies are warranted to standardize protocols related to cryopreservation to attain full benefits of stem cell therapy.

  5. Ex vivo characterization of normal and adenocarcinoma colon samples by Mueller matrix polarimetry.

    PubMed

    Ahmad, Iftikhar; Ahmad, Manzoor; Khan, Karim; Ashraf, Sumara; Ahmad, Shakil; Ikram, Masroor

    2015-05-01

    Mueller matrix polarimetry along with polar decomposition algorithm was employed for the characterization of ex vivo normal and adenocarcinoma human colon tissues by polarized light in the visible spectral range (425-725 nm). Six derived polarization metrics [total diattenuation (DT ), retardance (RT ), depolarization(ΔT ), linear diattenuation (DL), retardance (δ), and depolarization (ΔL)] were compared for normal and adenocarcinoma colon tissue samples. The results show that all six polarimetric properties for adenocarcinoma samples were significantly higher as compared to the normal samples for all wavelengths. The Wilcoxon rank sum test illustrated that total retardance is a good candidate for the discrimination of normal and adenocarcinoma colon samples. Support vector machine classification for normal and adenocarcinoma based on the four polarization properties spectra (ΔT , ΔL, RT ,and δ) yielded 100% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, while both DTa nd DL showed 66.6%, 33.3%, and 83.3% accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, respectively. The combination of polarization analysis and given classification methods provides a framework to distinguish the normal and cancerous tissues.

  6. Adipose-Derived Stromal Vascular Fraction Differentially Expands Breast Progenitors in Tissue Adjacent to Tumors Compared to Healthy Breast Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Chatterjee, Sumanta; Laliberte, Mike; Blelloch, Sarah; Ratanshi, Imran; Safneck, Janice; Buchel, Ed

    2015-01-01

    Background: Autologous fat grafts supplemented with adipose-derived stromal vascular fraction are used in reconstructive and cosmetic breast procedures. Stromal vascular fraction contains adipose-derived stem cells that are thought to encourage wound healing, tissue regeneration, and graft retention. Although use of stromal vascular fraction has provided exciting perspectives for aesthetic procedures, no studies have yet been conducted to determine whether its cells contribute to breast tissue regeneration. The authors examined the effect of these cells on the expansion of human breast epithelial progenitors. Methods: From patients undergoing reconstructive breast surgery following mastectomies, abdominal fat, matching tissue adjacent to breast tumors, and the contralateral non–tumor-containing breast tissue were obtained. Ex vivo co-cultures using breast epithelial cells and the stromal vascular fraction cells were used to study the expansion potential of breast progenitors. Breast reduction samples were collected as a source of healthy breast cells. Results: The authors observed that progenitors present in healthy breast tissue or contralateral non–tumor-containing breast tissue showed significant and robust expansion in the presence of stromal vascular fraction (5.2- and 4.8-fold, respectively). Whereas the healthy progenitors expanded up to 3-fold without the stromal vascular fraction cells, the expansion of tissue adjacent to breast tumor progenitors required the presence of stromal vascular fraction cells, leading to a 7-fold expansion, which was significantly higher than the expansion of healthy progenitors with stromal vascular fraction. Conclusions: The use of stromal vascular fraction might be more beneficial to reconstructive operations following mastectomies compared with cosmetic corrections of the healthy breast. Future studies are required to examine the potential risk factors associated with its use. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, V. PMID:26090768

  7. Accuracy, safety, and tolerability of tissue collection by Cytosponge vs endoscopy for evaluation of eosinophilic esophagitis.

    PubMed

    Katzka, David A; Geno, Debra M; Ravi, Anupama; Smyrk, Thomas C; Lao-Sirieix, Pierre; Miremadi, Ahmed; Miramedi, Ahmed; Debiram, Irene; O'Donovan, Maria; Kita, Hirohito; Kephart, Gail M; Kryzer, Lori A; Camilleri, Michael; Alexander, Jeffrey A; Fitzgerald, Rebecca C

    2015-01-01

    Management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) requires repeated endoscopic collection of mucosal samples to assess disease activity and response to therapy. An easier and less expensive means of monitoring of EoE is required. We compared the accuracy, safety, and tolerability of sample collection via Cytosponge (an ingestible gelatin capsule comprising compressed mesh attached to a string) with those of endoscopy for assessment of EoE. Esophageal tissues were collected from 20 patients with EoE (all with dysphagia, 15 with stricture, 13 with active EoE) via Cytosponge and then by endoscopy. Number of eosinophils/high-power field and levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin were determined; hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed. We compared the adequacy, diagnostic accuracy, safety, and patient preference for sample collection via Cytosponge vs endoscopy procedures. All 20 samples collected by Cytosponge were adequate for analysis. By using a cutoff value of 15 eosinophils/high power field, analysis of samples collected by Cytosponge identified 11 of the 13 individuals with active EoE (83%); additional features such as abscesses were also identified. Numbers of eosinophils in samples collected by Cytosponge correlated with those in samples collected by endoscopy (r = 0.50, P = .025). Analysis of tissues collected by Cytosponge identified 4 of the 7 patients without active EoE (57% specificity), as well as 3 cases of active EoE not identified by analysis of endoscopy samples. Including information on level of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin did not increase the accuracy of diagnosis. No complications occurred during the Cytosponge procedure, which was preferred by all patients, compared with endoscopy. In a feasibility study, the Cytosponge is a safe and well-tolerated method for collecting near mucosal specimens. Analysis of numbers of eosinophils/high-power field identified patients with active EoE with 83% sensitivity. Larger studies are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of this method of esophageal tissue collection. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01585103. Copyright © 2015 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Quantitatively characterizing microstructural variations of skin tissues during ultraviolet radiation damaging process based on Mueller matrix polarimetry

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sheng, Wei; He, Honghui; Dong, Yang; Ma, Hui

    2018-02-01

    As one of the most fundamental features of light, polarization can be used to develop imaging techniques which can provide insight into the optical and structural properties of tissues. Especially, the Mueller matrix polarimetry is suitable to detect the changes in collagen and elastic fibres, which are the main compositions of skin tissue. Here we demonstrate a novel quantitative, non-contact and in situ technique to monitor the microstructural variations of skin tissue during ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induced photoaging based on Mueller matrix polarimetry. Specifically, we measure the twodimensional (2D) backscattering Mueller matrices of nude mouse skin samples, then calculate and analyze the Mueller matrix derived parameters during the skin photoaging and self-repairing processes. To induce three-day skin photoaging, the back skin of each mouse is irradiated with UVR (0.05J/cm2) for five minutes per day. After UVR, the microstructures of the nude mouse skin are damaged. During the process of UV damage, we measure the backscattering Mueller matrices of the mouse skin samples and examine the relationship between the Mueller matrix parameters and the microstructural variations of skin tissue quantitatively. The comparisons between the UVR damaged groups with and without sunscreens show that the Mueller matrix derived parameters are potential indicators for fibrous microstructure variation in skin tissue. The pathological examinations and Monte Carlo simulations confirm the relationship between the values of Mueller matrix parameters and the changes of fibrous structures. Combined with smart phones or wearable devices, this technique may have a good application prospect in the fields of cosmetics and dermatological health.

  9. An improved method for assaying phosphocholine and glycerophosphocholine in mouse tissue.

    PubMed

    Murai, S; Saito, H; Shirato, R; Kawaguchi, T

    2001-01-01

    To measure the levels of phosphocholine (PCh) and glycerophosphocholine (GPCh) in the tissues and organs of mice, we developed a simple and rapid method using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD) and an immobilized enzyme column. Under our modifications of the separation procedure of Klein et al. [Neurochem. Int. 2 (1993) 293], PCh and GPCh in the hydrophilic phase of the homogenate samples were selectively hydrolyzed into free choline by alkaline phosphatase and a 0.4-N perchloric acid solution, respectively, and the resulting hydrolyzed mixtures were directly injected into the HPLC system for analysis. The present method permits PCh or GPCh assay within 5 min in one chromatographic run. Recoveries from tissue samples were 97% for PCh and 101% for GPCh. The percentages of the crossover reaction to the authentic PCh and GPCh were 0.4% and 3.8%, respectively. The within-run coefficients of variation for choline derived from PCh and GPCh in the tissue samples were 1.2% and 1.4%, respectively. The method is effective and has been applied to the measurement of PCh and GPCh levels in several tissues of mice.

  10. Tie2 Expressing Monocytes in the Spleen of Patients with Primary Myelofibrosis

    PubMed Central

    Campanelli, Rita; Fois, Gabriela; Catarsi, Paolo; Poletto, Valentina; Villani, Laura; Erba, Benedetta Gaia; Maddaluno, Luigi; Jemos, Basilio; Salmoiraghi, Silvia; Guglielmelli, Paola; Abbonante, Vittorio; Di Buduo, Christian Andrea; Balduini, Alessandra; Iurlo, Alessandra; Barosi, Giovanni; Rosti, Vittorio; Massa, Margherita

    2016-01-01

    Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is a Philadelphia-negative (Ph−) myeloproliferative disorder, showing abnormal CD34+ progenitor cell trafficking, splenomegaly, marrow fibrosis leading to extensive extramedullary haematopoiesis, and abnormal neoangiogenesis in either the bone marrow or the spleen. Monocytes expressing the angiopoietin-2 receptor (Tie2) have been shown to support abnormal angiogenic processes in solid tumors through a paracrine action that takes place in proximity to the vessels. In this study we investigated the frequency of Tie2 expressing monocytes in the spleen tissue samples of patients with PMF, and healthy subjects (CTRLs), and evaluated their possible role in favouring spleen angiogenesis. We show by confocal microscopy that in the spleen tissue of patients with PMF, but not of CTRLs, the most of the CD14+ cells are Tie2+ and are close to vessels; by flow cytometry, we found that Tie2 expressing monocytes were Tie2+CD14lowCD16brightCDL62−CCR2− (TEMs) and their frequency was higher (p = 0.008) in spleen tissue-derived mononuclear cells (MNCs) of patients with PMF than in spleen tissue-derived MNCs from CTRLs undergoing splenectomy for abdominal trauma. By in vitro angiogenesis assay we evidenced that conditioned medium of immunomagnetically selected spleen tissue derived CD14+ cells of patients with PMF induced a denser tube like net than that of CTRLs; in addition, CD14+Tie2+ cells sorted from spleen tissue derived single cell suspension of patients with PMF show a higher expression of genes involved in angiogenesis than that found in CTRLs. Our results document the enrichment of Tie2+ monocytes expressing angiogenic genes in the spleen of patients with PMF, suggesting a role for these cells in starting/maintaining the pathological angiogenesis in this organ. PMID:27281335

  11. Detection of KRAS G12D in colorectal cancer stool by droplet digital PCR

    PubMed Central

    Olmedillas-López, Susana; Lévano-Linares, Dennis César; Alexandre, Carmen Laura Aúz; Vega-Clemente, Luz; Sánchez, Edurne León; Villagrasa, Alejandro; Ruíz-Tovar, Jaime; García-Arranz, Mariano; García-Olmo, Damián

    2017-01-01

    AIM To assess KRAS G12D mutation detection by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in stool-derived DNA from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS In this study, tumor tissue and stool samples were collected from 70 patients with stage I-IV CRC diagnosed by preoperative biopsy. KRAS mutational status was determined by pyrosequencing analysis of DNA obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissues. The KRAS G12D mutation was then analyzed by ddPCR in FFPE tumors and stool-derived DNA from patients with this point mutation. Wild-type (WT) tumors, as determined by pyrosequencing, were included as controls; analysis of FFPE tissue and stool-derived DNA by ddPCR was performed for these patients as well. RESULTS Among the total 70 patients included, KRAS mutations were detected by pyrosequencing in 32 (45.71%), whereas 38 (54.29%) had WT tumors. The frequency of KRAS mutations was higher in left-sided tumors (11 located in the right colon, 15 in the left, and 6 in the rectum). The predominant point mutation was KRAS G12D (14.29%, n = 10), which was more frequent in early-stage tumors (I-IIA, n = 7). In agreement with pyrosequencing results, the KRAS G12D mutation was detected by ddPCR in FFPE tumor-derived DNA, and only a residual number of mutated copies was found in WT controls. The KRAS G12D mutation was also detected in stool-derived DNA in 80% of all fecal samples from CRC patients with this point mutation. CONCLUSION ddPCR is a reliable and sensitive method to analyze KRAS G12D mutation in stool-derived DNA from CRC patients, especially at early stages. This non-invasive approach is potentially applicable to other relevant biomarkers for CRC management. PMID:29093617

  12. In-depth investigation of archival and prospectively collected samples reveals no evidence for XMRV infection in prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Lee, Deanna; Das Gupta, Jaydip; Gaughan, Christina; Steffen, Imke; Tang, Ning; Luk, Ka-Cheung; Qiu, Xiaoxing; Urisman, Anatoly; Fischer, Nicole; Molinaro, Ross; Broz, Miranda; Schochetman, Gerald; Klein, Eric A; Ganem, Don; Derisi, Joseph L; Simmons, Graham; Hackett, John; Silverman, Robert H; Chiu, Charles Y

    2012-01-01

    XMRV, or xenotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV)-related virus, is a novel gammaretrovirus originally identified in studies that analyzed tissue from prostate cancer patients in 2006 and blood from patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in 2009. However, a large number of subsequent studies failed to confirm a link between XMRV infection and CFS or prostate cancer. On the contrary, recent evidence indicates that XMRV is a contaminant originating from the recombination of two mouse endogenous retroviruses during passaging of a prostate tumor xenograft (CWR22) in mice, generating laboratory-derived cell lines that are XMRV-infected. To confirm or refute an association between XMRV and prostate cancer, we analyzed prostate cancer tissues and plasma from a prospectively collected cohort of 39 patients as well as archival RNA and prostate tissue from the original 2006 study. Despite comprehensive microarray, PCR, FISH, and serological testing, XMRV was not detected in any of the newly collected samples or in archival tissue, although archival RNA remained XMRV-positive. Notably, archival VP62 prostate tissue, from which the prototype XMRV strain was derived, tested negative for XMRV on re-analysis. Analysis of viral genomic and human mitochondrial sequences revealed that all previously characterized XMRV strains are identical and that the archival RNA had been contaminated by an XMRV-infected laboratory cell line. These findings reveal no association between XMRV and prostate cancer, and underscore the conclusion that XMRV is not a naturally acquired human infection.

  13. A curated collection of tissue microarray images and clinical outcome data of prostate cancer patients

    PubMed Central

    Zhong, Qing; Guo, Tiannan; Rechsteiner, Markus; Rüschoff, Jan H.; Rupp, Niels; Fankhauser, Christian; Saba, Karim; Mortezavi, Ashkan; Poyet, Cédric; Hermanns, Thomas; Zhu, Yi; Moch, Holger; Aebersold, Ruedi; Wild, Peter J.

    2017-01-01

    Microscopy image data of human cancers provide detailed phenotypes of spatially and morphologically intact tissues at single-cell resolution, thus complementing large-scale molecular analyses, e.g., next generation sequencing or proteomic profiling. Here we describe a high-resolution tissue microarray (TMA) image dataset from a cohort of 71 prostate tissue samples, which was hybridized with bright-field dual colour chromogenic and silver in situ hybridization probes for the tumour suppressor gene PTEN. These tissue samples were digitized and supplemented with expert annotations, clinical information, statistical models of PTEN genetic status, and computer source codes. For validation, we constructed an additional TMA dataset for 424 prostate tissues, hybridized with FISH probes for PTEN, and performed survival analysis on a subset of 339 radical prostatectomy specimens with overall, disease-specific and recurrence-free survival (maximum 167 months). For application, we further produced 6,036 image patches derived from two whole slides. Our curated collection of prostate cancer data sets provides reuse potential for both biomedical and computational studies. PMID:28291248

  14. [Study of near infrared spectral preprocessing and wavelength selection methods for endometrial cancer tissue].

    PubMed

    Zhao, Li-Ting; Xiang, Yu-Hong; Dai, Yin-Mei; Zhang, Zhuo-Yong

    2010-04-01

    Near infrared spectroscopy was applied to measure the tissue slice of endometrial tissues for collecting the spectra. A total of 154 spectra were obtained from 154 samples. The number of normal, hyperplasia, and malignant samples was 36, 60, and 58, respectively. Original near infrared spectra are composed of many variables, for example, interference information including instrument errors and physical effects such as particle size and light scatter. In order to reduce these influences, original spectra data should be performed with different spectral preprocessing methods to compress variables and extract useful information. So the methods of spectral preprocessing and wavelength selection have played an important role in near infrared spectroscopy technique. In the present paper the raw spectra were processed using various preprocessing methods including first derivative, multiplication scatter correction, Savitzky-Golay first derivative algorithm, standard normal variate, smoothing, and moving-window median. Standard deviation was used to select the optimal spectral region of 4 000-6 000 cm(-1). Then principal component analysis was used for classification. Principal component analysis results showed that three types of samples could be discriminated completely and the accuracy almost achieved 100%. This study demonstrated that near infrared spectroscopy technology and chemometrics method could be a fast, efficient, and novel means to diagnose cancer. The proposed methods would be a promising and significant diagnosis technique of early stage cancer.

  15. Semiautomated Device for Batch Extraction of Metabolites from Tissue Samples

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Metabolomics has become a mainstream analytical strategy for investigating metabolism. The quality of data derived from these studies is proportional to the consistency of the sample preparation. Although considerable research has been devoted to finding optimal extraction protocols, most of the established methods require extensive sample handling. Manual sample preparation can be highly effective in the hands of skilled technicians, but an automated tool for purifying metabolites from complex biological tissues would be of obvious utility to the field. Here, we introduce the semiautomated metabolite batch extraction device (SAMBED), a new tool designed to simplify metabolomics sample preparation. We discuss SAMBED’s design and show that SAMBED-based extractions are of comparable quality to extracts produced through traditional methods (13% mean coefficient of variation from SAMBED versus 16% from manual extractions). Moreover, we show that aqueous SAMBED-based methods can be completed in less than a quarter of the time required for manual extractions. PMID:22292466

  16. Isolating Viral and Host RNA Sequences from Archival Material and Production of cDNA Libraries for High-Throughput DNA Sequencing

    PubMed Central

    Xiao, Yongli; Sheng, Zong-Mei; Taubenberger, Jeffery K.

    2015-01-01

    The vast majority of surgical biopsy and post-mortem tissue samples are formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE), but this process leads to RNA degradation that limits gene expression analysis. As an example, the viral RNA genome of the 1918 pandemic influenza A virus was previously determined in a 9-year effort by overlapping RT-PCR from post-mortem samples. Using the protocols described here, the full genome of the 1918 virus at high coverage was determined in one high-throughput sequencing run of a cDNA library derived from total RNA of a 1918 FFPE sample after duplex-specific nuclease treatments. This basic methodological approach should assist in the analysis of FFPE tissue samples isolated over the past century from a variety of infectious diseases. PMID:26344216

  17. The effect of diabetes on the wound healing potential of adipose-tissue derived stem cells.

    PubMed

    Kim, Sue Min; Kim, Yun Ho; Jun, Young Joon; Yoo, Gyeol; Rhie, Jong Won

    2016-03-01

    To investigate whether diabetes mellitus affects the wound-healing-promoting potential of adipose tissue-derived stem cells, we designed a wound-healing model using diabetic mice. We compared the degree of wound healing between wounds treated with normal adipose tissue-derived stem cells and wounds treated with diabetic adipose tissue-derived stem cells. We evaluated the wound-healing rate, the epithelial tongue distance, the area of granulation tissue, the number of capillary and the number of Ki-67-stained cells. The wound-healing rate was significantly higher in the normal adipose tissue-derived stem cells group than in the diabetic adipose tissue-derived stem cells group; it was also significantly higher in the normal adipose tissue-derived stem cells group than in the control group. Although the diabetic adipose tissue-derived stem cells group showed a better wound-healing rate than the control group, the difference was not statistically significant. Similar trends were observed for the other parameters examined: re-epithelisation and keratinocyte proliferation; granulation tissue formation; and dermal regeneration. However, with regard to the number of capillary, diabetic adipose tissue-derived stem cells retained their ability to promote neovasculisation and angiogenesis. These results reflect the general impairment of the therapeutic potential of diabetic adipose tissue-derived stem cells in vivo. © 2016 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Uniform neural tissue models produced on synthetic hydrogels using standard culture techniques.

    PubMed

    Barry, Christopher; Schmitz, Matthew T; Propson, Nicholas E; Hou, Zhonggang; Zhang, Jue; Nguyen, Bao K; Bolin, Jennifer M; Jiang, Peng; McIntosh, Brian E; Probasco, Mitchell D; Swanson, Scott; Stewart, Ron; Thomson, James A; Schwartz, Michael P; Murphy, William L

    2017-11-01

    The aim of the present study was to test sample reproducibility for model neural tissues formed on synthetic hydrogels. Human embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived precursor cells were cultured on synthetic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels to promote differentiation and self-organization into model neural tissue constructs. Neural progenitor, vascular, and microglial precursor cells were combined on PEG hydrogels to mimic developmental timing, which produced multicomponent neural constructs with 3D neuronal and glial organization, organized vascular networks, and microglia with ramified morphologies. Spearman's rank correlation analysis of global gene expression profiles and a comparison of coefficient of variation for expressed genes demonstrated that replicate neural constructs were highly uniform to at least day 21 for samples from independent experiments. We also demonstrate that model neural tissues formed on PEG hydrogels using a simplified neural differentiation protocol correlated more strongly to in vivo brain development than samples cultured on tissue culture polystyrene surfaces alone. These results provide a proof-of-concept demonstration that 3D cellular models that mimic aspects of human brain development can be produced from human pluripotent stem cells with high sample uniformity between experiments by using standard culture techniques, cryopreserved cell stocks, and a synthetic extracellular matrix. Impact statement Pluripotent stem (PS) cells have been characterized by an inherent ability to self-organize into 3D "organoids" resembling stomach, intestine, liver, kidney, and brain tissues, offering a potentially powerful tool for modeling human development and disease. However, organoid formation must be quantitatively reproducible for applications such as drug and toxicity screening. Here, we report a strategy to produce uniform neural tissue constructs with reproducible global gene expression profiles for replicate samples from multiple experiments.

  19. Hydrogel-beta-TCP scaffolds and stem cells for tissue engineering bone.

    PubMed

    Weinand, Christian; Pomerantseva, Irina; Neville, Craig M; Gupta, Rajiv; Weinberg, Eli; Madisch, Ijad; Shapiro, Frederic; Abukawa, Harutsugi; Troulis, Maria J; Vacanti, Joseph P

    2006-04-01

    Trabecular bone is a material of choice for reconstruction after trauma and tumor resection and for correction of congenital defects. Autologous bone grafts are available in limited shapes and sizes; significant donor site morbidity is another major disadvantage to this approach. To overcome these limitations, we used a tissue engineering approach to create bone replacements in vitro, combining bone-marrow-derived differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) suspended in hydrogels and 3-dimensionally printed (3DP) porous scaffolds made of beta-tricalcium-phosphate (beta-TCP). The scaffolds provided support for the formation of bone tissue in collagen I, fibrin, alginate, and pluronic F127 hydrogels during culturing in oscillating and rotating dynamic conditions. Histological evaluation including toluidine blue, alkaline phosphatase, and von Kossa staining was done at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks. Radiographic evaluation and high-resolution volumetric CT (VCT) scanning, expression of bone-specific genes and biomechanical compression testing were performed at 6 weeks. Both culture conditions resulted in similar bone tissue formation. Histologically collagen I and fibrin hydrogels specimens had superior bone tissue, although radiopacities were detected only in collagen I samples. VCT scan revealed density values in all but the Pluronic F127 samples, with Houndsfield unit values comparable to native bone in collagen I and fibrin glue samples. Expression of bone-specific genes was significantly higher in the collagen I samples. Pluronic F127 hydrogel did not support formation of bone tissue. All samples cultured in dynamic oscillating conditions had slightly higher mechanical strength than under rotating conditions. Bone tissue can be successfully formed in vitro using constructs comprised of collagen I hydrogel, MSCs, and porous beta-TCP scaffolds.

  20. Molecular Diagnosis of Orthopedic-Device-Related Infection Directly from Sonication Fluid by Metagenomic Sequencing

    PubMed Central

    Sanderson, Nicholas D.; Atkins, Bridget L.; Brent, Andrew J.; Cole, Kevin; Foster, Dona; McNally, Martin A.; Oakley, Sarah; Peto, Leon; Taylor, Adrian; Peto, Tim E. A.; Crook, Derrick W.; Eyre, David W.

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT Culture of multiple periprosthetic tissue samples is the current gold standard for microbiological diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (PJI). Additional diagnostic information may be obtained through culture of sonication fluid from explants. However, current techniques can have relatively low sensitivity, with prior antimicrobial therapy and infection by fastidious organisms influencing results. We assessed if metagenomic sequencing of total DNA extracts obtained direct from sonication fluid can provide an alternative rapid and sensitive tool for diagnosis of PJI. We compared metagenomic sequencing with standard aerobic and anaerobic culture in 97 sonication fluid samples from prosthetic joint and other orthopedic device infections. Reads from Illumina MiSeq sequencing were taxonomically classified using Kraken. Using 50 derivation samples, we determined optimal thresholds for the number and proportion of bacterial reads required to identify an infection and confirmed our findings in 47 independent validation samples. Compared to results from sonication fluid culture, the species-level sensitivity of metagenomic sequencing was 61/69 (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 77 to 94%; for derivation samples 35/38 [92%; 95% CI, 79 to 98%]; for validation samples, 26/31 [84%; 95% CI, 66 to 95%]), and genus-level sensitivity was 64/69 (93%; 95% CI, 84 to 98%). Species-level specificity, adjusting for plausible fastidious causes of infection, species found in concurrently obtained tissue samples, and prior antibiotics, was 85/97 (88%; 95% CI, 79 to 93%; for derivation samples, 43/50 [86%; 95% CI, 73 to 94%]; for validation samples, 42/47 [89%; 95% CI, 77 to 96%]). High levels of human DNA contamination were seen despite the use of laboratory methods to remove it. Rigorous laboratory good practice was required to minimize bacterial DNA contamination. We demonstrate that metagenomic sequencing can provide accurate diagnostic information in PJI. Our findings, combined with the increasing availability of portable, random-access sequencing technology, offer the potential to translate metagenomic sequencing into a rapid diagnostic tool in PJI. PMID:28490492

  1. Prognostic impact of a compartment-specific angiogenic marker profile in patients with pancreatic cancer.

    PubMed

    Kahlert, Christoph; Fiala, Maria; Musso, Gabriel; Halama, Niels; Keim, Sophia; Mazzone, Massimiliano; Lasitschka, Felix; Pecqueux, Mathieu; Klupp, Fee; Schmidt, Thomas; Rahbari, Nuh; Schölch, Sebastian; Pilarsky, Christian; Ulrich, Alexis; Schneider, Martin; Weitz, Juergen; Koch, Moritz

    2014-12-30

    Pancreatic cancer consists of a heterogenous bulk of tumor cells and stroma cells which contribute to tumor progression by releasing angiogenic factors. Those factors can be detected as circulating serum factors. We performed a compartment-specific analysis of tumor-derived and stroma-derived angiogenic factors to identify biomarkers and molecular targets for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Kryo-frozen tissue from primary ductal adenocarcinomas (n = 51) was laser-microdissected to isolate tumor and stroma tissue. Expression of 17 angiogenic factors (angiopoietin-2, follistatin, GCSF, HGF, interleukin-8, leptin, PDGF-BB, PECAM-1, VEGF, matrix metalloproteinase -1, -2, -3, -7, -9, -10, -12, and -13) was analyzed using a multiplex elisa assay for tissue-derived proteins and corresponding serum. Our study reveals a compartment-specific expression profile for several angiogenic factors and matrix metalloproteinases. ROC analysis of corresponding serum samples reveals MMP-7 and MMP-12 as strong classifiers for the diagnosis of patients with pancreatic cancer vs. healthy control donors. High expression of tumor-derived PDGF-BB and MMP-1 correlates with prolonged survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. In conclusion, a distinct expression patterns for angiogenic cytokines and MMPs in pancreatic cancer and surrounding stroma may implicate them as novel targets for cancer treatment. Tumor-derived PDGF-BB and MMP-1 are significant and independent prognostic markers for poor survival.

  2. Analyses of chlorogenic acids and related cinnamic acid derivatives from Nicotiana tabacum tissues with the aid of UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS based on the in-source collision-induced dissociation method.

    PubMed

    Ncube, Efficient N; Mhlongo, Msizi I; Piater, Lizelle A; Steenkamp, Paul A; Dubery, Ian A; Madala, Ntakadzeni E

    2014-01-01

    Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are a class of phytochemicals that are formed as esters between different derivatives of cinnamic acid and quinic acid molecules. In plants, accumulation of these compounds has been linked to several physiological responses against various stress factors; however, biochemical synthesis differs from one plant to another. Although structurally simple, the analysis of CGA molecules with modern analytical platforms poses an analytical challenge. The objective of the study was to perform a comparison of the CGA profiles and related derivatives from differentiated tobacco leaf tissues and undifferentiated cell suspension cultures. Using an UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS fingerprinting method based on the in-source collision induced dissociation (ISCID) approach, a total of 19 different metabolites with a cinnamic acid core moiety were identified. These metabolites were either present in both leaf tissue and cell suspension samples or in only one of the two plant systems. Profile differences point to underlying biochemical similarities or differences thereof. Using this method, the regio- and geometric-isomer profiles of chlorogenic acids of the two tissue types of Nicotiana tabacum were achieved. The method was also shown to be applicable for the detection of other related molecules containing a cinnamic acid core.

  3. Spectroscopic optical coherence tomography for ex vivo brain tumor analysis

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lenz, Marcel; Krug, Robin; Dillmann, Christopher; Gerling, Alexandra; Gerhardt, Nils C.; Welp, Hubert; Schmieder, Kirsten; Hofmann, Martin R.

    2017-02-01

    For neurosurgeries precise tumor resection is essential for the subsequent recovery of the patients since nearby healthy tissue that may be harmed has a huge impact on the life quality after the surgery. However, so far no satisfying methodology has been established to assist the surgeon during surgery to distinguish between healthy and tumor tissue. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) potentially enables non-contact in vivo image acquisition at penetration depths of 1-2 mm with a resolution of approximately 1-15 μm. To analyze the potential of OCT for distinction between brain tumors and healthy tissue, we used a commercially available Thorlabs Callisto system to measure healthy tissue and meningioma samples ex vivo. All samples were measured with the OCT system and three dimensional datasets were generated. Afterwards they were sent to the pathology for staining with hematoxylin and eosin and then investigated with a bright field microscope to verify the tissue type. This is the actual gold standard for ex vivo analysis. The images taken by the OCT system exhibit variations in the structure for different tissue types, but these variations may not be objectively evaluated from raw OCT images. Since an automated distinction between tumor and healthy tissue would be highly desirable to guide the surgeon, we applied Spectroscopic Optical Coherence Tomography to further enhance the differences between the tissue types. Pattern recognition and machine learning algorithms were applied to classify the derived spectroscopic information. Finally, the classification results are analyzed in comparison to the histological analysis of the samples.

  4. A method for measuring total thiaminase activity in fish tissues

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Zajicek, James L.; Tillitt, Donald E.; Honeyfield, Dale C.; Brown, Scott B.; Fitzsimons, John D.

    2005-01-01

    An accurate, quantitative, and rapid method for the measurement of thiaminase activity in fish samples is required to provide sufficient information to characterize the role of dietary thiaminase in the onset of thiamine deficiency in Great Lakes salmonines. A radiometric method that uses 14C-thiamine was optimized for substrate and co-substrate (nicotinic acid) concentrations, incubation time, and sample dilution. Total thiaminase activity was successfully determined in extracts of selected Great Lakes fishes and invertebrates. Samples included whole-body and selected tissues of forage fishes. Positive control material prepared from frozen alewives Alosa pseudoharengus collected in Lake Michigan enhanced the development and application of the method. The method allowed improved discrimination of thiaminolytic activity among forage fish species and their tissues. The temperature dependence of the thiaminase activity observed in crude extracts of Lake Michigan alewives followed a Q10 = 2 relationship for the 1-37??C temperature range, which is consistent with the bacterial-derived thiaminase I protein. ?? Copyright by the American Fisheries Society 2005.

  5. Preparation and Immunoaffinity Depletion of Fresh Frozen Tissue Homogenates for Mass Spectrometry-Based Proteomics in the Context of Drug Target/Biomarker Discovery.

    PubMed

    Prieto, DaRue A; Chan, King C; Johann, Donald J; Ye, Xiaoying; Whitely, Gordon; Blonder, Josip

    2017-01-01

    The discovery of novel drug targets and biomarkers via mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analysis of clinical specimens has proven to be challenging. The wide dynamic range of protein concentration in clinical specimens and the high background/noise originating from highly abundant proteins in tissue homogenates and serum/plasma encompass two major analytical obstacles. Immunoaffinity depletion of highly abundant blood-derived proteins from serum/plasma is a well-established approach adopted by numerous researchers; however, the utilization of this technique for immunodepletion of tissue homogenates obtained from fresh frozen clinical specimens is lacking. We first developed immunoaffinity depletion of highly abundant blood-derived proteins from tissue homogenates, using renal cell carcinoma as a model disease, and followed this study by applying it to different tissue types. Tissue homogenate immunoaffinity depletion of highly abundant proteins may be equally important as is the recognized need for depletion of serum/plasma, enabling more sensitive MS-based discovery of novel drug targets, and/or clinical biomarkers from complex clinical samples. Provided is a detailed protocol designed to guide the researcher through the preparation and immunoaffinity depletion of fresh frozen tissue homogenates for two-dimensional liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC-MS/MS)-based molecular profiling of tissue specimens in the context of drug target and/or biomarker discovery.

  6. Adipose tissue-derived stem cell response to the differently processed 316L stainless steel substrates.

    PubMed

    Faghihi, Shahab; Zia, Sonia; Taha, Masoumeh Fakhr

    2012-12-01

    Stainless steel (SS) is one of the most applicable materials in fabrication of cardiac implants. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of atomic structure of polycrystalline stainless steel on the response of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs). Samples are prepared from differently processed extruded rod and rolled sheet of 316L SS having different crystallographic structure. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated (200) and (111) orientations with distinct volume fractions in the specimens. Morphology and ADSCs behavior including adhesion, proliferation and differentiation are assessed. The expression of cardiac specific protein (cardiac troponin I) and genes of differentiating cardiomyocytes is analyzed by immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. The number of attached and grown cells on the rod sample is higher than the sheet sample also the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of ADSCs grown on the samples demonstrates higher cell density and spreading pattern on the surface of rod sample. In differentiated ADSCs on the rod sample the expression of all genes except ANF are detectable, while on the sheet sample only the MEF2C and β-MHC are expressed. This study shows that the cellular response is influenced by the crystal structure of the substrate therefore; the skill to alter the structure of substrate may lend itself to engineer a biomaterial which could be suitable for differentiation of stem cells into a definite lineage. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Human dental pulp stem cells derived from cryopreserved dental pulp tissues of vital extracted teeth with disease demonstrate hepatic-like differentiation.

    PubMed

    Chen, Y K; Huang, Anderson H C; Chan, Anthony W S; Lin, L M

    2016-06-01

    Reviewing the literature, hepatic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) from cryopreserved dental pulp tissues of vital extracted teeth with disease has not been studied. This study is aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that hDPSCs from cryopreserved dental pulp tissues of vital extracted teeth with disease could possess potential hepatic differentiation. Forty vital extracted teeth with disease recruited for hDPSCs isolation, stem cell characterization and hepatic differentiation were randomly and equally divided into group A (liquid nitrogen-stored dental pulp tissues) and group B (freshly derived dental pulp tissues). Samples of hDPSCs isolated from groups A and B but without hepatic growth factors formed negative controls. A well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was employed as a positive control. All the isolated hDPSCs from groups A and B showed hepatic-like differentiation with morphological change from a spindle-shaped to a polygonal shape and normal karyotype. Differentiated hDPSCs and the positive control expressed hepatic metabolic function genes and liver-specific genes. Glycogen storage of differentiated hDPSCs was noted from day 7 of differentiation-medium culture. Positive immunofluorescence staining of low-density lipoprotein and albumin was observed from day 14 of differentiation-medium culture; urea production in the medium was noted from week 6. No hepatic differentiation was observed for any of the samples of the negative controls. We not only demonstrated the feasibility of hepatic-like differentiation of hDPSCs from cryopreserved dental pulp tissues of vital extracted teeth with disease but also indicated that the differentiated cells possessed normal karyotype and were functionally close to normal hepatic-like cells. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  8. A lead isotope distribution study in swine tissue using ICP-MS

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    May, T.W.; Wiedmeyer, Ray H.; Brown, L.D.; Casteel, S.W.

    1999-01-01

    In the United States lead is an ubiquitous environmental pollutant that is a serious human health hazard, especially for women of childbearing age, developing fetuses, and young children. Information concerning the uptake and distribution of lead to maternal and fetal tissues during pregnancy is poorly documented. A study was designed using domestic swine and lead isotope enrichment methodology to focus on maternal absorption and distribution of lead into bone and soft tissues, including the fetal compartment, under varying conditions of oral lead exposure and during altered physiological states (pregnant vs unbred). Total lead levels and Pb207/Pb206 ratios in bone (femur and vertebra), blood, and soft tissues (liver, kidney, brain) were determined by ICP-MS. Lead in fetal tissues derived from maternal bone could be differentiated from that derived from exogenous dosing. Unbred swine absorbed much less lead than pregnant females receiving the same dose. The accuracy and precision of ICP-MS at the instrumental level and for the entire method (sample collection, digestion, and analysis) were evaluated for both Pb207/Pb206 ratios and total lead. Several changes were suggested in method design to improve both instrumental and total method precision.

  9. Re-generation of tissue about an animal-based scaffold: AMS studies of the fate of the scaffold

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rickey, Frank A.; Elmore, David; Hillegonds, Darren; Badylak, Stephen; Record, Rae; Simmons-Byrd, Abby

    2000-10-01

    Small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is an unusual tissue, which shows great promise for the repair of damaged tissues in humans. When the SIS is used as a surgical implant, the porcine-derived material is not rejected by the host immune system, and in fact stimulates the constructive re-modeling of damaged tissue. In dogs, these SIS scaffolds have been used to grow new arteries, tendons, and urinary bladders. Moreover, the SIS scaffold tissue seems to disappear from the implant region after a few months. The fate of this SIS tissue is of considerable importance if it is to be used in human tissue repair. SIS is obtained from pigs. We have labeled the SIS in several pigs by intraveneous administration of 14C enriched proline from the age of three weeks until they reach market weight. The prepared SIS was then implanted in dogs as scaffolds for urinary bladder patches. During the remaining life of each dog, blood, urine and feces samples were collected on a regular schedule. AMS analyses of these specimens were performed to measure the elimination rate of the SIS. At different intervals, the dogs were sacrificed. Tissue samples were analyzed by AMS to determine the whole-body distribution of the labeled SIS.

  10. Body-on-a-chip systems for animal-free toxicity testing.

    PubMed

    Mahler, Gretchen J; Esch, Mandy B; Stokol, Tracy; Hickman, James J; Shuler, Michael L

    2016-10-01

    Body-on-a-chip systems replicate the size relationships of organs, blood distribution and blood flow, in accordance with human physiology. When operated with tissues derived from human cell sources, these systems are capable of simulating human metabolism, including the conversion of a prodrug to its effective metabolite, as well as its subsequent therapeutic actions and toxic side-effects. The system also permits the measurement of human tissue electrical and mechanical reactions, which provide a measure of functional response. Since these devices can be operated with human tissue samples or with in vitro tissues derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), they can play a significant role in determining the success of new pharmaceuticals, without resorting to the use of animals. By providing a platform for testing in the context of human metabolism, as opposed to animal models, the systems have the potential to eliminate the use of animals in preclinical trials. This article will review progress made and work achieved as a direct result of the 2015 Lush Science Prize in support of animal-free testing. 2016 FRAME.

  11. Fabrication and characterization of DTBP-crosslinked chitosan scaffolds for skin tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Adekogbe, Iyabo; Ghanem, Amyl

    2005-12-01

    Chitosan, the deacetylated derivative of chitin, is a promising scaffold material for skin tissue engineering applications. It is biocompatible and biodegradable, and the degradation products are resorbable. However, the rapid degradation of chitosan and its low mechanical strength are concerns that may limit its use. In this study, chitosan with 80%, 90% and 100% degree of deacetylation (DDA) was crosslinked with dimethyl 3-3, dithio bis' propionimidate (DTBP) and compared to uncrosslinked scaffolds. The scaffolds were characterized with respect to important tissue engineering properties. The tensile strength of scaffolds made from 100% DDA chitosan was significantly higher than for scaffolds made from 80% and 90% DDA chitosan. Crosslinking of scaffolds with DTBP increased the tensile strength. Crosslinking with DTBP had no significant effect on water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) or water absorption but had significant effect on the pore size and porosity of the samples. All samples showed a WVTR and pore size distribution suitable for skin tissue engineering; however, the water absorption and porosity were lower than the optimal values for skin tissue engineering. The biodegradation rate of scaffolds crosslinked with DTBP and glutaraldehyde (GTA) were reduced while no significant effect was observed in biodegradation of the samples made from 100% DDA chitosan whether crosslinked or uncrosslinked after 24 days of degradation.

  12. Concurrent Isolation of 3 Distinct Cardiac Stem Cell Populations From a Single Human Heart Biopsy.

    PubMed

    Monsanto, Megan M; White, Kevin S; Kim, Taeyong; Wang, Bingyan J; Fisher, Kristina; Ilves, Kelli; Khalafalla, Farid G; Casillas, Alexandria; Broughton, Kathleen; Mohsin, Sadia; Dembitsky, Walter P; Sussman, Mark A

    2017-07-07

    The relative actions and synergism between distinct myocardial-derived stem cell populations remain obscure. Ongoing debates on optimal cell population(s) for treatment of heart failure prompted implementation of a protocol for isolation of multiple stem cell populations from a single myocardial tissue sample to develop new insights for achieving myocardial regeneration. Establish a robust cardiac stem cell isolation and culture protocol to consistently generate 3 distinct stem cell populations from a single human heart biopsy. Isolation of 3 endogenous cardiac stem cell populations was performed from human heart samples routinely discarded during implantation of a left ventricular assist device. Tissue explants were mechanically minced into 1 mm 3 pieces to minimize time exposure to collagenase digestion and preserve cell viability. Centrifugation removes large cardiomyocytes and tissue debris producing a single cell suspension that is sorted using magnetic-activated cell sorting technology. Initial sorting is based on tyrosine-protein kinase Kit (c-Kit) expression that enriches for 2 c-Kit + cell populations yielding a mixture of cardiac progenitor cells and endothelial progenitor cells. Flowthrough c-Kit - mesenchymal stem cells are positively selected by surface expression of markers CD90 and CD105. After 1 week of culture, the c-Kit + population is further enriched by selection for a CD133 + endothelial progenitor cell population. Persistence of respective cell surface markers in vitro is confirmed both by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Three distinct cardiac cell populations with individualized phenotypic properties consistent with cardiac progenitor cells, endothelial progenitor cells, and mesenchymal stem cells can be successfully concurrently isolated and expanded from a single tissue sample derived from human heart failure patients. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  13. Opposite Effects of Soluble Factors Secreted by Adipose Tissue on Proliferating and Quiescent Osteosarcoma Cells.

    PubMed

    Avril, Pierre; Duteille, Franck; Ridel, Perrine; Heymann, Marie-Françoise; De Pinieux, Gonzague; Rédini, Françoise; Blanchard, Frédéric; Heymann, Dominique; Trichet, Valérie; Perrot, Pierre

    2016-03-01

    Autologous adipose tissue transfer may be performed for aesthetic needs following resection of osteosarcoma, the most frequent primary malignant tumor of bone, excluding myeloma. The safety of autologous adipose tissue transfer regarding the potential risk of cancer recurrence must be addressed. Adipose tissue injection was tested in a human osteosarcoma preclinical model induced by MNNG-HOS cells. Culture media without growth factors from fetal bovine serum were conditioned with adipose tissue samples and added to two osteosarcoma cell lines (MNNG-HOS and MG-63) that were cultured in monolayer or maintained in nonadherent spheres, favoring a proliferation or quiescent stage, respectively. Proliferation and cell cycle were analyzed. Adipose tissue injection increased local growth of osteosarcoma in mice but was not associated with aggravation of lung metastasis or osteolysis. Adipose tissue-derived soluble factors increased the in vitro proliferation of osteosarcoma cells up to 180 percent. Interleukin-6 and leptin were measured in higher concentrations in adipose tissue-conditioned medium than in osteosarcoma cell-conditioned medium, but the authors' results indicated that they were not implicated alone. Furthermore, adipose tissue-derived soluble factors did not favor a G0-to-G1 phase transition of MNNG-HOS cells in nonadherent oncospheres. This study indicates that adipose tissue-soluble factors activate osteosarcoma cell cycle from G1 to mitosis phases, but do not promote the transition from quiescent G0 to G1 phases. Autologous adipose tissue transfer may not be involved in the activation of dormant tumor cells or cancer stem cells.

  14. The retinoblastoma gene is frequently altered leading to loss of expression in primary breast tumours.

    PubMed

    Varley, J M; Armour, J; Swallow, J E; Jeffreys, A J; Ponder, B A; T'Ang, A; Fung, Y K; Brammar, W J; Walker, R A

    1989-06-01

    We have analysed the organisation of the retinoblastoma (RB1) gene in 77 primary breast carcinomas, in metastatic tissue derived from 16 of those primary tumours, and in a variety of benign breast lesions. Expression of RB1 was also assessed in most samples by immunohistochemical detection of the RB1 protein in tissue sections. Structural abnormalities to RB1 were detected in DNA from 15/77 (19%) of primary breast carcinomas examined. Where DNA was available from metastatic tissue derived from such primary tumours, the same aberration could be detected. No alterations were seen in benign breast lesions. 16/56 (29%) of tumours examined for expression by immunohistochemical methods showed a proportion of tumour cells to be completely negative for the RB1 protein. All tumours in which a structural alteration to RB1 was detected had a proportion of negative cells, except for one case where all cells were positive. Several primary tumour samples were identified where there was no detectable structural change to the gene, but there was loss of expression in some tumour cells. The data presented here demonstrate that changes to the RB1 gene leading to loss of expression of both alleles are frequent in primary human breast tumours.

  15. Real-time detection of BRAF V600E mutation from archival hairy cell leukemia FFPE tissue by nanopore sequencing.

    PubMed

    Vacca, Davide; Cancila, Valeria; Gulino, Alessandro; Lo Bosco, Giosuè; Belmonte, Beatrice; Di Napoli, Arianna; Florena, Ada Maria; Tripodo, Claudio; Arancio, Walter

    2018-02-01

    The MinION is a miniaturized high-throughput next generation sequencing platform of novel conception. The use of nucleic acids derived from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples is highly desirable, but their adoption for molecular assays is hurdled by the high degree of fragmentation and by the chemical-induced mutations stemming from the fixation protocols. In order to investigate the suitability of MinION sequencing on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples, the presence and frequency of BRAF c.1799T > A mutation was investigated in two archival tissue specimens of Hairy cell leukemia and Hairy cell leukemia Variant. Despite the poor quality of the starting DNA, BRAF mutation was successfully detected in the Hairy cell leukemia sample with around 50% of the reads obtained within 2 h of the sequencing start. Notably, the mutational burden of the Hairy cell leukemia sample as derived from nanopore sequencing proved to be comparable to a sensitive method for the detection of point mutations, namely the Digital PCR, using a validated assay. Nanopore sequencing can be adopted for targeted sequencing of genetic lesions on critical DNA samples such as those extracted from archival routine formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. This result let speculating about the possibility that the nanopore sequencing could be trustably adopted for the real-time targeted sequencing of genetic lesions. Our report opens the window for the adoption of nanopore sequencing in molecular pathology for research and diagnostics.

  16. Blood from a turnip: tissue origin of low-coverage shotgun sequencing libraries affects recovery of mitogenome sequences

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Barker, F. Keith; Oyler-McCance, Sara; Tomback, Diana F.

    2015-01-01

    Next generation sequencing methods allow rapid, economical accumulation of data that have many applications, even at relatively low levels of genome coverage. However, the utility of shotgun sequencing data sets for specific goals may vary depending on the biological nature of the samples sequenced. We show that the ability to assemble mitogenomes from three avian samples of two different tissue types varies widely. In particular, data with coverage typical of microsatellite development efforts (∼1×) from DNA extracted from avian blood failed to cover even 50% of the mitogenome, relative to at least 500-fold coverage from muscle-derived data. Researchers should consider possible applications of their data and select the tissue source for their work accordingly. Practitioners analyzing low-coverage shotgun sequencing data (including for microsatellite locus development) should consider the potential benefits of mitogenome assembly, including internal barcode verification of species identity, mitochondrial primer development, and phylogenetics.

  17. Role of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in the progression of renal disease.

    PubMed

    Donizetti-Oliveira, Cassiano; Semedo, Patricia; Burgos-Silva, Marina; Cenedeze, Marco Antonio; Malheiros, Denise Maria Avancini Costa; Reis, Marlene Antônia Dos; Pacheco-Silva, Alvaro; Câmara, Niels Olsen Saraiva

    2011-03-01

    To analyze the role of adipose tissue-derived stem cells in reducing the progression of renal fibrosis. adipose tissue-derived stem cells were isolated from C57Bl/6 mice and characterized by cytometry and differentiation. Renal fibrosis was established after unilateral clamping of the renal pedicle for 1 hour. Four hours after reperfusion, 2.105 adipose tissue-derived stem cells were administered intraperitoneally and the animals were followed for 24 hours during 6 weeks. In another experimental group, 2.105adipose tissue-derived stem cells were administered only after 6 weeks of reperfusion, and they were euthanized and studied 4 weeks later. Twenty-four hours after reperfusion, the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells displayed reduced renal and tubular dysfunction and an increase of the regenerative process. Renal expression of IL-6 and TNF mRNA were decreased in the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells, while the levels of IL-4, IL-10, and HO-1 were increased, despite the fact that adipose tissue-derived stem cells were not observed in the kidneys via SRY analysis. In 6 weeks, the kidneys of non-treated animals decreased in size, and the kidneys of the animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells remained at normal size and display less deposition of type 1 collagen and FSP-1. The renal protection observed in animals treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells was followed by a drop in serum levels of TNF-α, KC, RANTES, and IL-1a. Treatment with adipose tissue-derived stem cells after 6 weeks, when the animals already displayed established fibrosis, demonstrated an improvement in functional parameters and less fibrosis analyzed by Picrosirius stain, as well as a reduction of the expression of type 1 collagen and vimentin mRNA. Treatment with adipose tissue-derived stem cells may deter the progression of renal fibrosis by modulation of the early inflammatory response, likely via reduction of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

  18. Skin-infiltrating, interleukin-22-producing T cells differentiate pediatric psoriasis from adult psoriasis.

    PubMed

    Cordoro, Kelly M; Hitraya-Low, Maria; Taravati, Keyon; Sandoval, Priscila Munoz; Kim, Esther; Sugarman, Jeffrey; Pauli, Mariela L; Liao, Wilson; Rosenblum, Michael D

    2017-09-01

    Evidence from adult psoriasis studies implicates an imbalance between regulatory and effector T cells, particularly T H -17-producing T cells, in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Little is known about the immunopathology of psoriasis in children. We sought to functionally characterize the inflammatory cell profiles of psoriatic plaques from pediatric patients and compare them with healthy, age-matched controls and adult psoriasis patients. Skin samples from pediatric psoriasis patients and healthy controls were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry to determine the dominant immune cell subsets present and cytokines produced. Lesional tissue from pediatric psoriasis patients had significantly increased interleukin (IL) 22 derived from CD4 + and CD8 + cells compared with the tissues from healthy pediatric controls and adult psoriasis patients. Tissue from pediatric psoriasis patients had significantly less elevation of IL-17 derived from CD4 + and CD8 + cells compared with the tissue from adult psoriasis patients. In contrast with the lesions from adult patients, lesional skin in pediatric patients with psoriasis did not have increases in regulatory T cells. This is a pilot study, thus the sample size is small. Significant differences in IL-17 and IL-22 expression were observed in the pediatric psoriasis patients compared with pediatric healthy controls and adult psoriasis patients. IL-22 might be relevant in the pathogenesis of pediatric psoriasis and represents a potential treatment target unique to pediatric psoriasis. Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Extracellular Recordings of Patterned Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes on Aligned Fibers.

    PubMed

    Li, Junjun; Minami, Itsunari; Yu, Leqian; Tsuji, Kiyotaka; Nakajima, Minako; Qiao, Jing; Suzuki, Masato; Shimono, Ken; Nakatsuji, Norio; Kotera, Hitetoshi; Liu, Li; Chen, Yong

    2016-01-01

    Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) hold high potential for use in drug assessment and myocardial regeneration. To create tissue-like constructs of CMs for extracellular monitoring, we placed aligned fibers (AFs) on the surface of a microelectrode array and then seeded hiPSC-CMs for subsequent monitoring for 14 days. As expected, the CMs organized into anisotropic and matured tissue and the extracellular recordings showed reduced premature beating higher signal amplitude and a higher probability of T-wave detection as compared to the culture without fibers. The CMs on the aligned fibers samples also exhibited anisotropic propagation of the field potential. These results therefore suggest that the hiPSC-CMs cultured on AFs can be used more reliably for cell based assays.

  20. Extracellular Recordings of Patterned Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes on Aligned Fibers

    PubMed Central

    Minami, Itsunari; Yu, Leqian; Nakajima, Minako; Qiao, Jing; Shimono, Ken; Nakatsuji, Norio; Kotera, Hitetoshi; Chen, Yong

    2016-01-01

    Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) hold high potential for use in drug assessment and myocardial regeneration. To create tissue-like constructs of CMs for extracellular monitoring, we placed aligned fibers (AFs) on the surface of a microelectrode array and then seeded hiPSC-CMs for subsequent monitoring for 14 days. As expected, the CMs organized into anisotropic and matured tissue and the extracellular recordings showed reduced premature beating higher signal amplitude and a higher probability of T-wave detection as compared to the culture without fibers. The CMs on the aligned fibers samples also exhibited anisotropic propagation of the field potential. These results therefore suggest that the hiPSC-CMs cultured on AFs can be used more reliably for cell based assays. PMID:27446217

  1. Application of a novel sorting system for equine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)

    PubMed Central

    Radtke, Catherine L.; Nino-Fong, Rodolfo; Esparza Gonzalez, Blanca P.; McDuffee, Laurie A.

    2014-01-01

    The objective of this study was to validate non-equilibrium gravitational field-flow fractionation (GrFFF), an immunotag-less method of sorting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into subpopulations, for use with MSCs derived from equine muscle tissue, periosteal tissue, bone marrow, and adipose tissue. Cells were collected from 6 young, adult horses, postmortem. Cells were isolated from left semitendinosus muscle tissue, periosteal tissue from the distomedial aspect of the right tibia, bone marrow aspirates from the fourth and fifth sternebrae, and left supragluteal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Aliquots of 800 × 103 MSCs from each tissue source were separated and injected into a ribbon-like capillary device by continuous flow (GrFFF proprietary system). Cells were sorted into 6 fractions and absorbencies [optical density (OD)] were read. Six fractions from each of the 6 aliquots were then combined to provide pooled fractions that had adequate cell numbers to seed at equal concentrations into assays. Equine muscle tissue-derived, periosteal tissue-derived, bone marrow-derived, and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells were consistently sorted into 6 fractions that remained viable for use in further assays. Fraction 1 had more cuboidal morphology in culture when compared to the other fractions. Statistical analysis of the fraction absorbencies (OD) revealed a P-value of < 0.05 when fractions 2 and 3 were compared to fractions 1, 4, 5, and 6. It was concluded that non-equilibrium GrFFF is a valid method for sorting equine muscle tissue-derived, periosteal tissue-derived, bone marrow-derived, and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells into subpopulations that remain viable, thus securing its potential for use in equine stem cell applications and veterinary medicine. PMID:25355998

  2. Comparison of the image-derived radioactivity and blood-sample radioactivity for estimating the clinical indicators of the efficacy of boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): 4-borono-2-18F-fluoro-phenylalanine (FBPA) PET study.

    PubMed

    Isohashi, Kayako; Shimosegawa, Eku; Naka, Sadahiro; Kanai, Yasukazu; Horitsugi, Genki; Mochida, Ikuko; Matsunaga, Keiko; Watabe, Tadashi; Kato, Hiroki; Tatsumi, Mitsuaki; Hatazawa, Jun

    2016-12-01

    In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), positron emission tomography (PET) with 4-borono-2- 18 F-fluoro-phenylalanine (FBPA) is the only method to estimate an accumulation of 10 B to target tumor and surrounding normal tissue after administering 10 B carrier of L-paraboronophenylalanine and to search the indication of BNCT for individual patient. Absolute concentration of 10 B in tumor has been estimated by multiplying 10 B concentration in blood during BNCT by tumor to blood radioactivity (T/B) ratio derived from FBPA PET. However, the method to measure blood radioactivity either by blood sampling or image data has not been standardized. We compared image-derived blood radioactivity of FBPA with blood sampling data and studied appropriate timing and location for measuring image-derived blood counts. We obtained 7 repeated whole-body PET scans in five healthy subjects. Arterialized venous blood samples were obtained from the antecubital vein, heated in a heating blanket. Time-activity curves (TACs) of image-derived blood radioactivity were obtained using volumes of interest (VOIs) over ascending aorta, aortic arch, pulmonary artery, left and right ventricles, inferior vena cava, and abdominal aorta. Image-derived blood radioactivity was compared with those measured by blood sampling data in each location. Both the TACs of blood sampling radioactivity in each subject, and the TACs of image-derived blood radioactivity showed a peak within 5 min after the tracer injection, and promptly decreased soon thereafter. Linear relationship was found between blood sampling radioactivity and image-derived blood radioactivity in all the VOIs at any timing of data sampling (p < 0.001). Image-derived radioactivity measured in the left and right ventricles 30 min after injection showed high correlation with blood radioactivity. Image-derived blood radioactivity was lower than blood sampling radioactivity data by 20 %. Reduction of blood radioactivity of FBPA in left ventricle after 30 min of FBPA injection was minimal. We conclude that the image-derived T/B ratio can be reliably used by setting the VOI on the left ventricle at 30 min after FBPA administration and correcting for underestimation due to partial volume effect and reduction of FBPA blood radioactivity.

  3. Connective tissue graft vs. emdogain: A new approach to compare the outcomes.

    PubMed

    Sayar, Ferena; Akhundi, Nasrin; Gholami, Sanaz

    2013-01-01

    The aim of this clinical trial study was to clinically evaluate the use of enamel matrix protein derivative combined with the coronally positioned flap to treat gingival recession compared to the subepithelial connective tissue graft by a new method to obtain denuded root surface area. Thirteen patients, each with two or more similar bilateral Miller class I or II gingival recession (40 recessions) were randomly assigned to the test (enamel matrix protein derivative + coronally positioned flap) or control group (subepithelial connective tissue graft). Recession depth, width, probing depth, keratinized gingival, and plaque index were recorded at baseline and at one, three, and six months after treatment. A stent was used to measure the denuded root surface area at each examination session. Results were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Wilcoxon, Friedman, paired-sample t test. The average percentages of root coverage for control and test groups were 63.3% and 55%, respectively. Both groups showed significant keratinized gingival increase (P < 0.05). Recession depth decreased significantly in both groups. Root surface area was improved significantly from baseline with no significant difference between the two study groups (P > 0.05). The results of Friedman test were significant for clinical indices (P < 0.05), except for probing depth in control group (P = 0.166). Enamel matrix protein derivative showed the same results as subepithelial connective tissue graft with relatively easy procedure to perform and low patient morbidity.

  4. Ectopic bone formation during tissue-engineered cartilage repair using autologous chondrocytes and novel plasma-derived albumin scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Robla Costales, David; Junquera, Luis; García Pérez, Eva; Gómez Llames, Sara; Álvarez-Viejo, María; Meana-Infiesta, Álvaro

    2016-10-01

    The aims of this study were twofold: first, to evaluate the production of cartilaginous tissue in vitro and in vivo using a novel plasma-derived scaffold, and second, to test the repair of experimental defects made on ears of New Zealand rabbits (NZr) using this approach. Scaffolds were seeded with chondrocytes and cultured in vitro for 3 months to check in vitro cartilage production. To evaluate in vivo cartilage production, a chondrocyte-seeded scaffold was transplanted subcutaneously to a nude mouse. To check in vivo repair, experimental defects made in the ears of five New Zealand rabbits (NZr) were filled with chondrocyte-seeded scaffolds. In vitro culture produced mature chondrocytes with no extracellular matrix (ECM). Histological examination of redifferentiated in vitro cultures showed differentiated chondrocytes adhered to scaffold pores. Subcutaneous transplantation of these constructs to a nude mouse produced cartilage, confirmed by histological study. Experimental cartilage repair in five NZr showed cartilaginous tissue repairing the defects, mixed with calcified areas of bone formation. It is possible to produce cartilaginous tissue in vivo and to repair experimental auricular defects by means of chondrocyte cultures and the novel plasma-derived scaffold. Further studies are needed to determine the significance of bone formation in the samples. Copyright © 2016 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Ultrasound-assisted liposuction provides a source for functional adipose-derived stromal cells.

    PubMed

    Duscher, Dominik; Maan, Zeshaan N; Luan, Anna; Aitzetmüller, Matthias M; Brett, Elizabeth A; Atashroo, David; Whittam, Alexander J; Hu, Michael S; Walmsley, Graham G; Houschyar, Khosrow S; Schilling, Arndt F; Machens, Hans-Guenther; Gurtner, Geoffrey C; Longaker, Michael T; Wan, Derrick C

    2017-12-01

    Regenerative medicine employs human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for their multi-lineage plasticity and their pro-regenerative cytokine secretome. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) are concentrated in fat tissue, and the ease of harvest via liposuction makes them a particularly interesting cell source. However, there are various liposuction methods, and few have been assessed regarding their impact on ASC functionality. Here we study the impact of the two most popular ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) devices currently in clinical use, VASER (Solta Medical) and Lysonix 3000 (Mentor) on ASCs. After lipoaspirate harvest and processing, we sorted for ASCs using fluorescent-assisted cell sorting based on an established surface marker profile (CD34 + CD31 - CD45 - ). ASC yield, viability, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity and in vivo regenerative performance were assessed. Both UAL samples demonstrated equivalent ASC yield and viability. VASER UAL ASCs showed higher osteogenic and adipogenic marker expression, but a comparable differentiation capacity was observed. Soft tissue healing and neovascularization were significantly enhanced via both UAL-derived ASCs in vivo, and there was no significant difference between the cell therapy groups. Taken together, our data suggest that UAL allows safe and efficient harvesting of the mesenchymal stromal cellular fraction of adipose tissue and that cells harvested via this approach are suitable for cell therapy and tissue engineering applications. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Relative mRNA expression of prostate-derived E-twenty-six factor and E-twenty-six variant 4 transcription factors, and of uridine phosphorylase-1 and thymidine phosphorylase enzymes, in benign and malignant prostatic tissue

    PubMed Central

    CAVAZZOLA, LUCIANE ROSTIROLA; CARVALHAL, GUSTAVO FRANCO; DEVES, CANDIDA; RENCK, DAIANA; ALMEIDA, RICARDO; SANTOS, DIóGENES SANTIAGO

    2015-01-01

    Prostate cancer is the most frequent urological tumor, and the second most common cancer diagnosed in men. Incidence and mortality are variable and appear to depend on behavioral factors and genetic predisposition. The prostate-derived E-twenty-six factor (PDEF) and E-twenty-six variant 4 (ETV4) transcription factors, and the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and uridine phosphorylase-1 (UP-1) enzymes, are reported to be components of the pathways leading to tumorigenesis and/or metastasis in a number of tumors. The present study aimed to analyze the mRNA expression levels of these proteins in prostatic cancerous and benign tissue, and their association with clinical and pathological variables. Using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, the mRNA expression levels of PDEF, ETV4, TP and UP-1 were studied in 52 tissue samples (31 of benign prostatic hyperplasia and 21 of prostate adenocarcinomas) obtained from patients treated by transurethral resection of the prostate or by radical prostatectomy. Relative expression was assessed using the ∆-CT method. Data was analyzed using Spearman's tests for correlation. P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference. The results revealed that PDEF, ETV4, UP-1 and TP were expressed in 85.7, 90.5, 95.2 and 100% of the prostate cancer samples, and in 90.3, 96.8, 90.3 and 96.8% of the benign samples, respectively. PDEF and ETV4 exhibited a significantly higher relative expression level in the tumor samples compared with their benign counterparts. The relative expression of TP and UP-1 did not differ significantly between benign and cancerous prostate tissues. The relative expression of TP was moderately and significantly correlated with the expression of ETV4 in the benign tissues. The relative expression of UP-1 was significantly lower in T3 compared with T1 and T2 cancers. These findings indicate that PDEF, ETV4, TP and UP-1 are typically expressed in benign and malignant prostatic tissues. Further studies are necessary to define the role of these proteins as therapeutic targets in prostate cancer. PMID:26137165

  7. Differences in placental telomere length suggest a link between racial disparities in birth outcomes and cellular aging

    PubMed Central

    JONES, Christopher W.; GAMBALA, Cecilia; ESTEVES, Kyle C.; WALLACE, Maeve; SCHLESINGER, Reid; O’QUINN, Marguerite; KIDD, Laura; THEALL, Katherine P.; DRURY, Stacy S.

    2017-01-01

    BACKGROUND Health disparities begin early in life and persist across the life course. Despite current efforts Black women exhibit greater risk for pregnancy complications and negative perinatal outcomes compared to White women. The placenta, a complex multi-tissue organ, serves as the primary transducer of bidirectional information between the mother and fetus. Altered placental function is linked to multiple racially disparate pregnancy complications, however little is known about racial differences in molecular factors within the placenta. Several pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, exhibit racial disparities and are associated with shorter placental telomere length, an indicator of cellular stress and aging. Cellular senescence and telomere dynamics are linked to the molecular mechanisms associated with the onset of labor and parturition. Further, racial differences in telomere length are found in a range of different peripheral tissues. Together these factors suggest that exploration of racial differences in telomere length of the placenta may provide novel mechanistic insight into racial disparities in birth outcomes. OBJECTIVE This study examined whether telomere length measured in four distinct fetally-derived tissues were significantly different between Blacks and Whites. The study had two hypotheses: (1) that telomere length measured in different placental tissue types would be correlated and (2) that across all sampled tissues telomere length would differ by race. STUDY DESIGN In a prospective study, placental tissue samples were collected from the amnion, chorion, villus, and umbilical cord from Black and White singleton pregnancies (N=46). Telomere length was determined using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in each placental tissue. Demographic and pregnancy-related data were also collected. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample overall and among Black and White women separately. The overall impact of race was assessed by multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models that included empirically relevant covariates. RESULTS Telomere length was significantly correlated across all placental tissues. Pairwise analyses of placental tissue telomere length revealed significantly longer telomere length in the amnion compared to the chorion (t=−2.06, p=0.043). Overall telomere length measured in placenta samples from Black mothers were significantly shorter than those from White mothers (β=−0.09, p=0.04). Controlling for relevant maternal and infant characteristics strengthened the significance of the observed racial differences (β=−0.12, p=0.02). Within tissue analyses revealed that the greatest difference by race was found in chorionic telomere length (t=−2.81, p=0.007). CONCLUSION These findings provide the first evidence of racial differences in placental telomere length. Telomere length was significantly shorter in placental samples derived from Black mothers compared to White. Given previous studies reporting that telomere length, cellular senescence, and telomere dynamics are molecular factors contributing to the rupture of the amniotic sac, onset of labor, and parturition, our findings of shorter telomere length in placentas from Black mothers suggests that accelerated cellular aging across placental tissues may be relevant to the increased risk of preterm delivery in Blacks. Our results suggest that racial differences in cellular aging in the placenta contribute to the earliest roots of health disparities. PMID:27865975

  8. New procedure of quantitative mapping of Ti and Al released from dental implant and Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn as physiological elements in oral mucosa by LA-ICP-MS.

    PubMed

    Sajnóg, Adam; Hanć, Anetta; Koczorowski, Ryszard; Barałkiewicz, Danuta

    2017-12-01

    A new procedure for determination of elements derived from titanium implants and physiological elements in soft tissues by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is presented. The analytical procedure was developed which involved preparation of in-house matrix matched solid standards with analyte addition based on certified reference material (CRM) MODAS-4 Cormorant Tissue. Addition of gelatin, serving as a binding agent, essentially improved physical properties of standards. Performance of the analytical method was assayed and validated by calculating parameters like precision, detection limits, trueness and recovery of analyte addition using additional CRM - ERM-BB184 Bovine Muscle. Analyte addition was additionally confirmed by microwave digestion of solid standards and analysis by solution nebulization ICP-MS. The detection limits are in range 1.8μgg -1 to 450μgg -1 for Mn and Ca respectively. The precision values range from 7.3% to 42% for Al and Zn respectively. The estimated recoveries of analyte addition line within scope of 83%-153% for Mn and Cu respectively. Oral mucosa samples taken from patients treated with titanium dental implants were examined using developed analytical method. Standards and tissue samples were cryocut into 30µm thin sections. LA-ICP-MS allowed to obtain two-dimensional maps of distribution of elements in tested samples which revealed high content of Ti and Al derived from implants. Photographs from optical microscope displayed numerous particles with µm size in oral mucosa samples which suggests that they are residues from implantation procedure. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  9. Acylcarnitine Profiles in Plasma and Tissues of Hyperglycemic NZO Mice Correlate with Metabolite Changes of Human Diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Daniel, Hannelore

    2018-01-01

    The New Zealand obese (NZO) mouse is a polygenic model for obesity and diabetes with obese females and obese, diabetes-prone males, used to study traits of the metabolic syndrome like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), obesity, and dyslipidaemia. By using LC-MS/MS, we here examine the suitability of this model to mirror tissue-specific changes in acylcarnitine (AC) and amino acid (AA) species preceding T2DM which may reflect patterns investigated in human metabolism. We observed high concentrations of fatty acid-derived ACs in 11 female mice, high abundance of branched-chain amino acid- (BCAA-) derived ACs in 6 male mice, and slight increases in BCAA-derived ACs in the remaining 6 males. Principal component analysis (PCA) including all ACs and AAs confirmed our hypothesis especially in plasma samples by clustering females, males with high BCAA-derived ACs, and males with slight increases in BCAA-derived ACs. Concentrations of insulin, blood glucose, NEFAs, and triacylglycerols (TAGs) further supported the hypothesis of high BCAA-derived ACs being able to mirror the onset of diabetic traits in male individuals. In conclusion, alterations in AC and AA profiles overlap with observations from human studies indicating the suitability of NZO mice to study metabolic changes preceding human T2DM. PMID:29854816

  10. GAPDH, β-actin and β2-microglobulin, as three common reference genes, are not reliable for gene expression studies in equine adipose- and marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Nazari, Fatemeh; Parham, Abbas; Maleki, Adham Fani

    2015-01-01

    Quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is one of the most important techniques for gene-expression analysis in molecular based studies. Selecting a proper internal control gene for normalizing data is a crucial step in gene expression analysis via this method. The expression levels of reference genes should be remained constant among cells in different tissues. However, it seems that the location of cells in different tissues might influence their expression. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has any effect on expression level of three common reference genes (GAPDH, β-actin and β2-microglobulin) in equine marrow- and adipose- derived undifferentiated MSCs and consequently their reliability for comparative qRT-PCR. Adipose tissue (AT) and bone marrow (BM) samples were harvested from 3 mares. MSCs were isolated and cultured until passage 3 (P3). Total RNA of P3 cells was extracted for cDNA synthesis. The generated cDNAs were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The PCR reactions were ended with a melting curve analysis to verify the specificity of amplicon. The expression levels of GAPDH were significantly different between AT- and BM- derived MSCs (p < 0.05). Differences in expression level of β-actin (P < 0.001) and B2M (P < 0.006.) between MSCs derived from AT and BM were substantially higher than GAPDH. In addition, the fold change in expression levels of GAPDH, β-actin and B2M in AT-derived MSCs compared to BM-derived MSCs were 2.38, 6.76 and 7.76, respectively. This study demonstrated that GAPDH and especially β-actin and B2M express in different levels in equine AT- and BM- derived MSCs. Thus they cannot be considered as reliable reference genes for comparative quantitative gene expression analysis in MSCs derived from equine bone marrow and adipose tissue.

  11. Alu-derived cis-element regulates tumorigenesis-dependent gastric expression of GASDERMIN B (GSDMB).

    PubMed

    Komiyama, Hiromitsu; Aoki, Aya; Tanaka, Shigekazu; Maekawa, Hiroshi; Kato, Yoriko; Wada, Ryo; Maekawa, Takeo; Tamura, Masaru; Shiroishi, Toshihiko

    2010-02-01

    GASDERMIN B (GSDMB) belongs to the novel gene family GASDERMIN (GSDM). All GSDM family members are located in amplicons, genomic regions often amplified during cancer development. Given that GSDMB is highly expressed in cancerous cells and the locus resides in an amplicon, GSDMB may be involved in cancer development and/or progression. However, only limited information is available on GSDMB expression in tissues, normal and cancerous, from cancer patients. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms that regulate GSDMB expression in gastric tissues are poorly understood. We investigated the spatiotemporal expression patterns of GSDMB in gastric cancer patients and the 5' regulatory sequences upstream of GSDMB. GSDMB was not expressed in the majority of normal gastric-tissue samples, and the expression level was very low in the few normal samples with GSDMB expression. Most pre-cancer samples showed moderate GSDMB expression, and most cancerous samples showed augmented GSDMB expression. Analysis of genome sequences revealed that an Alu element resides in the 5' region upstream of GSDMB. Reporter assays using intact, deleted, and mutated Alu elements clearly showed that this Alu element positively regulates GSDMB expression and that a putative IKZF binding motif in this element is crucial to upregulate GSDMB expression.

  12. Human-tissue-related inventions: ownership and intellectual property rights in international collaborative research in developing countries.

    PubMed

    Andanda, P A

    2008-03-01

    There are complex unresolved ethical, legal and social issues related to the use of human tissues obtained in the course of research or diagnostic procedures and retained for further use in research. The question of intellectual property rights over commercially viable products or procedures that are derived from these samples and the suitability or otherwise of participants relinquishing their rights to the samples needs urgent attention. The complexity of these matters lies in the fact that the relationship between intellectual property rights and ownership or rights pertaining to the samples on which the intellectual property right is based may either be overlooked or taken for granted. What equally makes the matter complex is that samples may be obtained from participants in developing countries and exported to developed countries for analysis and research. It is important for research ethics committees to tread carefully when reviewing research protocols that raise such issues for purposes of ensuring that appropriate benefit sharing agreements, particularly with developing countries, are in place. This paper attempts to analyse the key questions related to ownership and intellectual property rights in commercially viable products derived from human tissue samples. Patent law is used as a point of reference as opposed to other forms of intellectual property rights such as industrial designs because it is the right that most inventors apply for in respect of human tissue-related inventions. The key questions are formulated following a systematic analysis of peer reviewed journal articles that have reported original investigations into relevant issues in this field. Most of the cases and reported studies that are referred to in this paper do not directly deal with HIV/AIDS research but the underlying principles are helpful in HIV/AIDS research as well. Pertinent questions, which members of ethics review committees should focus on in this regard are discussed and suggestions on appropriate approaches to the issues are proposed in the form of specific questions that an ethics review committee should consider. Specific recommendations regarding areas for further research and action are equally proposed.

  13. Significance of CD133 positive cells in four novel HPV-16 positive cervical cancer-derived cell lines and biopsies of invasive cervical cancer.

    PubMed

    Javed, Shifa; Sharma, Bal Krishan; Sood, Swati; Sharma, Sanjeev; Bagga, Rashmi; Bhattacharyya, Shalmoli; Rayat, Charan Singh; Dhaliwal, Lakhbir; Srinivasan, Radhika

    2018-04-02

    Cervical cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in women in the developing world. Cancer Stem cells (CSC) have been implicated in treatment resistance and metastases development; hence understanding their significance is important. Primary culture from tissue biopsies of invasive cervical cancer and serial passaging was performed for establishing cell lines. Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) assay was performed for comparison of cell lines with their parental tissue. Tumorsphere and Aldefluor assays enabled isolation of cancer stem cells (CSC); immunofluorescence and flow cytometry were performed for their surface phenotypic expression in cell lines and in 28 tissue samples. Quantitative real-time PCR for stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, MTT cytotoxicity assay, cell cycle analysis and cell kinetic studies were performed. Four low-passage novel cell lines designated RSBS-9, - 14 and - 23 from squamous cell carcinoma and RSBS-43 from adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix were established. All were HPV16+. VNTR assay confirmed their uniqueness and derivation from respective parental tissue. CSC isolated from these cell lines showed CD133 + phenotype. In tissue samples of untreated invasive cervical cancer, CD133 + CSCs ranged from 1.3-23% of the total population which increased 2.8-fold in radiation-resistant cases. Comparison of CD133 + with CD133 - bulk population cells revealed increased tumorsphere formation and upregulation of stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers with no significant difference in cisplatin sensitivity. Low-passage cell lines developed would serve as models for studying tumor biology. Cancer Stem Cells in cervical cancer display CD133 + phenotype and are increased in relapsed cases and hence should be targeted for achieving remission.

  14. A validated UPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of linezolid and a novel oxazolidinone derivative (PH027) in plasma and its application to tissue distribution study in rabbits.

    PubMed

    Hedaya, Mohsen A; Thomas, Vidhya; Abdel-Hamid, Mohamed E; Kehinde, Elijah O; Phillips, Oludotun A

    2017-01-01

    Linezolid is the first approved oxazolidinone antibacterial agent, whereas PH027 is a novel compound of the same class that exhibits good in vitro antibacterial activity. The objective of this study was to develop an UPLC-MS/MS assay for the analysis of linezolid and PH027 in plasma and to apply the method for comparative pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution studies of both compounds. Plasma samples and calibrators were extracted with diethyl ether after addition of the internal standard solution. After evaporation of the ether layer, the residue was reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into UPLC-MS/MS. The mobile phase consisted of 2mM ammonium acetate buffer solution and acetonitrile (70:30) at a flow rate of 0.2ml/min. Separation was achieved using UPLC BEH C 18 column, and quantitative determination of the analytes was performed using multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning mode. The method was validated by analyzing quality control tissue homogenate samples, and was applied to analyze tissue homogenate samples obtained following IV injections of linezolid and PH027 in rabbits. The developed UPLC-MS/MS method was linear in the concentration range of 50-5000ng/ml. Validation of the method proved that the method's precision, selectivity and stability were all within the acceptable limits. Linezolid and PH027 concentrations were accurately determined in the quality control tissue homogenate samples, and analysis of samples obtained following IV administration of the two compounds showed that the tissue to plasma concentration ratio of PH027 was higher than that of linezolid probably due to its higher lipophilicity. The developed UPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of linezolid and PH027 in rabbit's plasma can accurately determine the concentrations of these compounds in different tissues. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Detection of wild-type EGFR amplification and EGFRvIII mutation in CSF-derived extracellular vesicles of glioblastoma patients.

    PubMed

    Figueroa, Javier M; Skog, Johan; Akers, Johnny; Li, Hongying; Komotar, Ricardo; Jensen, Randy; Ringel, Florian; Yang, Isaac; Kalkanis, Steven; Thompson, Reid; LoGuidice, Lori; Berghoff, Emily; Parsa, Andrew; Liau, Linda; Curry, William; Cahill, Daniel; Bettegowda, Chetan; Lang, Frederick F; Chiocca, E Antonio; Henson, John; Kim, Ryan; Breakefield, Xandra; Chen, Clark; Messer, Karen; Hochberg, Fred; Carter, Bob S

    2017-10-19

    RNAs within extracellular vesicles (EVs) have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for patients with cancer and are identified in a variety of biofluids. Glioblastomas (GBMs) release EVs containing RNA into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Here we describe a multi-institutional study of RNA extracted from CSF-derived EVs of GBM patients to detect the presence of tumor-associated amplifications and mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). CSF and matching tumor tissue were obtained from patients undergoing resection of GBMs. We determined wild-type (wt)EGFR DNA copy number amplification, as well as wtEGFR and EGFR variant (v)III RNA expression in tumor samples. We also characterized wtEGFR and EGFRvIII RNA expression in CSF-derived EVs. EGFRvIII-positive tumors had significantly greater wtEGFR DNA amplification (P = 0.02) and RNA expression (P = 0.03), and EGFRvIII-positive CSF-derived EVs had significantly more wtEGFR RNA expression (P = 0.004). EGFRvIII was detected in CSF-derived EVs for 14 of the 23 EGFRvIII tissue-positive GBM patients. Conversely, only one of the 48 EGFRvIII tissue-negative patients had the EGFRvIII mutation detected in their CSF-derived EVs. These results yield a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 98% for the utility of CSF-derived EVs to detect an EGFRvIII-positive GBM. Our results demonstrate CSF-derived EVs contain RNA signatures reflective of the underlying molecular genetic status of GBMs in terms of wtEGFR expression and EGFRvIII status. The high specificity of the CSF-derived EV diagnostic test gives us an accurate determination of positive EGFRvIII tumor status and is essentially a less invasive "liquid biopsy" that might direct mutation-specific therapies for GBMs. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

  16. Identification of CRASH, a gene deregulated in gynecological tumors.

    PubMed

    Evtimova, Vesna; Zeillinger, Robert; Kaul, Sepp; Weidle, Ulrich H

    2004-01-01

    We have identified CRASH, a human asparaginase-like protein which is composed of 308 amino acids and exhibits 32% homology to human aspartylglucosaminadase at the amino acid level. Database analysis revealed that the gene corresponding to CRASH is composed of 7 exons and 6 introns. Steady-state level of CRASH mRNA was found to be increased in 5 cell lines derived from metastatic lesions compared with 2 cell lines derived from primary mammary carcinoma and HMEC (human mammary epithelial cells). We found that the mRNA level of CRASH correlates with the metastatic propensity of several isogenic human colon cancer and pancreatic carcinoma cell lines. CRASH corresponds to a recently identified sperm autoantigen and furthermore we have demonstrated inducibility of CRASH mRNA by androgen and progesterone. Investigation of several types of human cancers and their corresponding normal tissues revealed high levels of CRASH mRNA in uterine, mammary and ovarian tumors compared with the corresponding normal tissues. CRASH mRNA expression was analysed in breast cancer samples with disclosed clinico-pathological features and corresponding normal tissues. The levels of CRASH mRNA were significantly up-regulated in tumors compared with normal breast tissues and correlate with lack of estrogen receptor expression of the tumors.

  17. Tissue dispersion measurement techniques using optical coherence tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Photiou, Christos; Pitris, Costas

    2017-02-01

    Dispersion, a result of wavelength-dependent index of refraction variations, causes pulse-width broadening with detrimental effects in many pulsed-laser applications. It is also considered to be one of the major causes of resolution degradation in Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). However, dispersion is material dependent and, in tissue, Group Velocity Dispersion (GVD) could be used, for example, to detect changes associated with early cancer and result in more accurate disease diagnosis. In this summary we compare different techniques for estimating the GVD from OCT images, in order to evaluate their accuracy and applicability in highly scattering samples such as muscle and adipose tissue. The methods investigated included estimation of the GVD from (i) the point spread function (PSF) degradation, (ii) the shift (walk-off) between images taken at different center wavelengths and (iii) the second derivative of the spectral phase. The measurements were degraded by the presence of strong Mie scattering and speckle noise with the most robust being the PSF degradation and the least robust the phase derivative method. If the GVD is to be used to provide sensitive diagnostic information from highly scattering human tissues, it would be preferable to use the resolution degradation as an estimator of GVD.

  18. Estimation of whole body fat from appendicular soft tissue from peripheral quantitative computed tomography in adolescent girls

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Vinson R.; Blew, Rob M.; Farr, Josh N.; Tomas, Rita; Lohman, Timothy G.; Going, Scott B.

    2013-01-01

    Objective Assess the utility of peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) for estimating whole body fat in adolescent girls. Research Methods and Procedures Our sample included 458 girls (aged 10.7 ± 1.1y, mean BMI = 18.5 ± 3.3 kg/m2) who had DXA scans for whole body percent fat (DXA %Fat). Soft tissue analysis of pQCT scans provided thigh and calf subcutaneous percent fat and thigh and calf muscle density (muscle fat content surrogates). Anthropometric variables included weight, height and BMI. Indices of maturity included age and maturity offset. The total sample was split into validation (VS; n = 304) and cross-validation (CS; n = 154) samples. Linear regression was used to develop prediction equations for estimating DXA %Fat from anthropometric variables and pQCT-derived soft tissue components in VS and the best prediction equation was applied to CS. Results Thigh and calf SFA %Fat were positively correlated with DXA %Fat (r = 0.84 to 0.85; p <0.001) and thigh and calf muscle densities were inversely related to DXA %Fat (r = −0.30 to −0.44; p < 0.001). The best equation for estimating %Fat included thigh and calf SFA %Fat and thigh and calf muscle density (adj. R2 = 0.90; SEE = 2.7%). Bland-Altman analysis in CS showed accurate estimates of percent fat (adj. R2 = 0.89; SEE = 2.7%) with no bias. Discussion Peripheral QCT derived indices of adiposity can be used to accurately estimate whole body percent fat in adolescent girls. PMID:25147482

  19. Identification of organ tissue types and skin from forensic samples by microRNA expression analysis.

    PubMed

    Sauer, Eva; Extra, Antje; Cachée, Philipp; Courts, Cornelius

    2017-05-01

    The identification of organ tissues in traces recovered from scenes and objects with regard to violent crimes involving serious injuries can be of considerable relevance in forensic investigations. Molecular genetic approaches are provably superior to histological and immunological assays in characterizing organ tissues, and micro-RNAs (miRNAs), due to their cell type specific expression patterns and stability against degradation, emerged as a promising molecular species for forensic analyses, with a range of tried and tested indicative markers. Thus, herein we present the first miRNA based approach for the forensic identification of organ tissues. Using quantitative PCR employing an empirically derived strategy for data normalization and unbiased statistical decision making, we assessed the differential expression of 15 preselected miRNAs in tissues of brain, kidney, lung, liver, heart muscle, skeletal muscle and skin. We show that not only can miRNA expression profiling be used to reliably differentiate between organ tissues but also that this method, which is compatible with and complementary to forensic DNA analysis, is applicable to realistic forensic samples e.g. mixtures, aged and degraded material as well as traces generated by mock stabbings and experimental shootings at ballistic models. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  20. High Quality Genomic Copy Number Data from Archival Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Leiomyosarcoma: Optimisation of Universal Linkage System Labelling

    PubMed Central

    Salawu, Abdulazeez; Ul-Hassan, Aliya; Hammond, David; Fernando, Malee; Reed, Malcolm; Sisley, Karen

    2012-01-01

    Most soft tissue sarcomas are characterized by genetic instability and frequent genomic copy number aberrations that are not subtype-specific. Oligonucleotide microarray-based Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (array CGH) is an important technique used to map genome-wide copy number aberrations, but the traditional requirement for high-quality DNA typically obtained from fresh tissue has limited its use in sarcomas. Although large archives of Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumour samples are available for research, the degradative effects of formalin on DNA from these tissues has made labelling and analysis by array CGH technically challenging. The Universal Linkage System (ULS) may be used for a one-step chemical labelling of such degraded DNA. We have optimised the ULS labelling protocol to perform aCGH on archived FFPE leiomyosarcoma tissues using the 180k Agilent platform. Preservation age of samples ranged from a few months to seventeen years and the DNA showed a wide range of degradation (when visualised on agarose gels). Consistently high DNA labelling efficiency and low microarray probe-to-probe variation (as measured by the derivative log ratio spread) was seen. Comparison of paired fresh and FFPE samples from identical tumours showed good correlation of CNAs detected. Furthermore, the ability to macro-dissect FFPE samples permitted the detection of CNAs that were masked in fresh tissue. Aberrations were visually confirmed using Fluorescence in situ Hybridisation. These results suggest that archival FFPE tissue, with its relative abundance and attendant clinical data may be used for effective mapping for genomic copy number aberrations in such rare tumours as leiomyosarcoma and potentially unravel clues to tumour origins, progression and ultimately, targeted treatment. PMID:23209738

  1. Multi-mycotoxin analysis of animal feed and animal-derived food using LC-MS/MS system with timed and highly selective reaction monitoring.

    PubMed

    Zhao, Zhiyong; Liu, Na; Yang, Lingchen; Deng, Yifeng; Wang, Jianhua; Song, Suquan; Lin, Shanhai; Wu, Aibo; Zhou, Zhenlei; Hou, Jiafa

    2015-09-01

    Mycotoxins have the potential to enter the human food chain through carry-over of contaminants from feed into animal-derived products. The objective of the study was to develop a reliable and sensitive method for the analysis of 30 mycotoxins in animal feed and animal-derived food (meat, edible animal tissues, and milk) using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In the study, three extraction procedures, as well as various cleanup procedures, were evaluated to select the most suitable sample preparation procedure for different sample matrices. In addition, timed and highly selective reaction monitoring on LC-MS/MS was used to filter out isobaric matrix interferences. The performance characteristics (linearity, sensitivity, recovery, precision, and specificity) of the method were determined according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and 401/2006/EC. The established method was successfully applied to screening of mycotoxins in animal feed and animal-derived food. The results indicated that mycotoxin contamination in feed directly influenced the presence of mycotoxin in animal-derived food. Graphical abstract Multi-mycotoxin analysis of animal feed and animal-derived food using LC-MS/MS.

  2. Identification of marine-derived lipids in juvenile coho salmon and aquatic insects through fatty acid analysis

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Heintz, Ron A.; Wipfli, Mark S.; Hudson, John P.

    2010-01-01

    The energetic benefits enjoyed by consumers in streams with salmon runs depend on how those benefits are accrued. Adult Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. deliver significant amounts of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus) and carbon to streams when they spawn and die; these nutrient additions can have demonstrable effects on primary production in streams. Consumption of carcass tissues or eggs provides for direct energy subsidies to consumers and may have significant effects on their condition. In this study, comparisons of juvenile coho salmon O. kisutch and aquatic insects exposed to terrestrial and marine energy sources demonstrated that direct consumption of marine-derived lipids had a significant effect on the lipid reserves of consumers. Direct consumption of marine-derived tissues was verified through fatty acid analysis. Selected aquatic insects and juvenile coho salmon were reared for 6 weeks in experimental streams supplied with terrestrial or marine energy sources. Chironomid midges, nemourid stoneflies, and juvenile coho salmon exposed to the marine energy source altered their fatty acid compositions by incorporating the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that are characteristic of marine fish. The fatty acid composition of baetid mayflies was unaffected. The direct movement of specific fatty markers indicated that direct consumption of marine-derived tissues led to increased energy reserves (triacylglycerols) in consumers. Similar results were obtained for juvenile coho salmon sampled from natural streams before and after the arrival of adult salmon runs. These data indicate that marine-derived lipids from anadromous fish runs are an important source of reserve lipids for consumers that overwinter in streams.

  3. Molecular weight profiles of proanthocyanidin polymers

    Treesearch

    Vincent M. Williams; Lawrence J. Porter; Richard W. Hemingway

    1983-01-01

    The MW profiles of proanthocyanidin polymers (condensed tannins) from 32 samples representing a wide range of plant tissues of many different species have been obtained by gel permeation chromatography of the peracetate derivatives. The tannins vary widely in MW, with M values for the peracetates in the range 1600-5500. The MW profiles vary greatly from those with...

  4. The Roots of Plantation Cottonwood: Their Characteristics and Properties

    Treesearch

    John K. Francis

    1985-01-01

    The root biomass and its distribution and the growth rate of roots of pulpwood-size cottonwood (Popolus deltoides) in plantations were estimated by excavation and sampling. About 27 percent of the total biomass was in root tissue. Equations for predicting stump-taproot dry weight from d.b.h. and top dry weight were derived. Lateral roots in two...

  5. Comparative analysis of human UCB and adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells for their differentiation potential into brown and white adipocytes.

    PubMed

    Rashnonejad, Afrooz; Ercan, Gulinnaz; Gunduz, Cumhur; Akdemir, Ali; Tiftikcioglu, Yigit Ozer

    2018-06-01

    The differentiation potential of umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (UCB-MSCs) into brown and white adipocytes in comparison to Adipose tissue derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) were investigated in order to characterize their potency for future cell therapies. MSCs were isolated from ten UCB samples and six liposuction materials. MSCs were differentiated into white and brown adipocytes after characterization by flow cytometry. Differentiated adipocytes were stained with Oil Red O and hematoxylin/eosin. The UCP1 protein levels in brown adipocytes were investigated by immunofluoresence and western blot analysis. Cells that expressed mesenchymal stem cells markers (CD34-, CD45-, CD90+ and CD105+) were successfully isolated from UCB and adipose tissue. Oil Red O staining demonstrated that white and brown adipocytes obtained from AD-MSCs showed 85 and 61% of red pixels, while it was 3 and 1.9%, respectively for white and brown adipocytes obtained from UCB-MSCs. Fluorescence microscopy analysis showed strong uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) signaling in brown adipocytes, especially which were obtained from AD-MSCs. Quantification of UCP1 protein amount showed 4- and 10.64-fold increase in UCP1 contents of brown adipocytes derived from UCB-MSCs and AD-MSCs, respectively in comparison to undifferentiated MSCs (P < 0.004). UCB-MSCs showed only a little differentiation tendency into adipocytes means it is not an appropriate stem cell type to be differentiated into these cell types. In contrast, high differentiation efficiency of AD-MSCs into brown and white adipocytes make it appropriate stem cell type to use in future regenerative medicine of soft tissue disorders or fighting with obesity and its related disorders.

  6. Ex vivo validation of a stoichiometric dual energy CT proton stopping power ratio calibration

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xie, Yunhe; Ainsley, Christopher; Yin, Lingshu; Zou, Wei; McDonough, James; Solberg, Timothy D.; Lin, Alexander; Teo, Boon-Keng Kevin

    2018-03-01

    A major source of uncertainty in proton therapy is the conversion of Hounsfield unit (HU) to proton stopping power ratio relative to water (SPR). In this study, we measured and quantified the accuracy of a stoichiometric dual energy CT (DECT) SPR calibration. We applied a stoichiometric DECT calibration method to derive the SPR using CT images acquired sequentially at 80 kVp and 140 kVp . The dual energy index was derived based on the HUs of the paired spectral images and used to calculate the effective atomic number (Z eff), relative electron density ({{ρ }e} ), and SPRs of phantom and biological materials. Two methods were used to verify the derived SPRs. The first method measured the sample’s water equivalent thicknesses to deduce the SPRs using a multi-layer ion chamber (MLIC) device. The second method utilized Gafchromic EBT3 film to directly compare relative ranges between sample and water after proton pencil beam irradiation. Ex vivo validation was performed using five different types of frozen animal tissues with the MLIC and three types of fresh animal tissues using film. In addition, the residual ranges recorded on the film were used to compare with those from the treatment planning system using both DECT and SECT derived SPRs. Bland-Altman analysis indicates that the differences between DECT and SPR measurement of tissue surrogates, frozen and fresh animal tissues has a mean of 0.07% and standard deviation of 0.58% compared to 0.55% and 1.94% respectively for single energy CT (SECT) and SPR measurement. Our ex vivo study indicates that the stoichiometric DECT SPR calibration method has the potential to be more accurate than SECT calibration under ideal conditions although beam hardening effects and other image artifacts may increase this uncertainty.

  7. The Prostate Cancer Biorepository Network (PCBN)

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    site includes blood (serum, plasma, and buffy coat), prostatectomy tissues (frozen), biopsies and metastatic tissue from rapid autopsies (paraffin...embedded material and tissue microarrays (TMAs)), prostate cancer patient derived xenografts (PDX) and derived specimens (DNA and RNA) from prostate...Genitourinary Cancer Biorepository set up a rapid autopsy program to provide access to metastatic tissue and create patient derived xenograft (PDX

  8. Fetal tissue banking for transplantation: characteristics of the donor population and considerations for donor and tissue screening.

    PubMed

    Newman-Gage, H; Bravo, D; Holmberg, L; Mason, J; Eisenhower, M; Nekhani, N; Fantel, A

    2000-01-01

    We initiated this study to evaluate the suitability for therapeutic use in transplantation of tissues obtained from human abortuses. We have developed protocols for the collection, handling and preservation of hepatic stem cells from electively aborted embryos and have developed methods for assessment of the cells so derived and processed. In this paper we present our findings regarding screening of potential donors, acquisition of fetal tissues, and assessment of the tissues for potentially infectious contaminants. We assess the suitability of the tissue donors according to current standards used for donors of commonly transplanted tissues (e.g., bone grafts, skin grafts and heart valves) and present data regarding the real availability of tissues from elective abortion procedures that would meet those standard tissue banking criteria.We specifically evaluated the donor's willingness to provide a blood sample for testing, conducted a detailed interview similar to those used for typical organ and tissue donors, and assessed the type and incidence of contamination in collected tissues. We find that although many women are willing to consent to use of the tissues for transplantation, attrition from the study for various reasons results in few fetal organs ultimately realistically available for transplantation. Typical reasons for attrition include: unwillingness to have a blood sample drawn or tested, positive serology results, social/medical high risk factors for acquisition of transmissible disease, no identifiable organs available, and unacceptable microbial contamination. Thus, although it might seem that due to the numbers of abortions performed annually, that there would be substantial numbers of suitable tissues available, only a small proportion are truly suitable for transplantation.

  9. Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles.

    PubMed

    van Haaften, Rachel I M; Schroen, Blanche; Janssen, Ben J A; van Erk, Arie; Debets, Jacques J M; Smeets, Hubert J M; Smits, Jos F M; van den Wijngaard, Arthur; Pinto, Yigal M; Evelo, Chris T A

    2006-04-11

    Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results. In the present study we compared microarray data obtained from amplified mRNA derived from biopsies of rat cardiac left ventricle and non-amplified mRNA derived from the same organ. Biopsies were linearly amplified to acquire enough material for a microarray experiment. Both amplified and unamplified samples were hybridized to the Rat Expression Set 230 Array of Affymetrix. Analysis of the microarray data showed that unamplified material of two different left ventricles had 99.6% identical gene expression. Gene expression patterns of two biopsies obtained from the same parental organ were 96.3% identical. Similarly, gene expression pattern of two biopsies from dissimilar organs were 92.8% identical to each other.Twenty-one percent of reporters called present in parental left ventricular tissue disappeared after amplification in the biopsies. Those reporters were predominantly seen in the low intensity range. Sequence analysis showed that reporters that disappeared after amplification had a GC-content of 53.7+/-4.0%, while reporters called present in biopsy- and whole LV-samples had an average GC content of 47.8+/-5.5% (P <0.001). Those reporters were also predicted to form significantly more (0.76+/-0.07 versus 0.38+/-0.1) and longer (9.4+/-0.3 versus 8.4+/-0.4) hairpins as compared to representative control reporters present before and after amplification. This study establishes that the gene expression profile obtained after amplification of mRNA of left ventricular biopsies is representative for the whole left ventricle of the rat heart. However, specific gene transcripts present in parental tissues were undetectable in the minute left ventricular biopsies. Transcripts that were lost due to the amplification process were not randomly distributed, but had higher GC-content and hairpins in the sequence and were mainly found in the lower intensity range which includes many transcription factors from specific signalling pathways.

  10. Biologically relevant effects of mRNA amplification on gene expression profiles

    PubMed Central

    van Haaften, Rachel IM; Schroen, Blanche; Janssen, Ben JA; van Erk, Arie; Debets, Jacques JM; Smeets, Hubert JM; Smits, Jos FM; van den Wijngaard, Arthur; Pinto, Yigal M; Evelo, Chris TA

    2006-01-01

    Background Gene expression microarray technology permits the analysis of global gene expression profiles. The amount of sample needed limits the use of small excision biopsies and/or needle biopsies from human or animal tissues. Linear amplification techniques have been developed to increase the amount of sample derived cDNA. These amplified samples can be hybridised on microarrays. However, little information is available whether microarrays based on amplified and unamplified material yield comparable results. In the present study we compared microarray data obtained from amplified mRNA derived from biopsies of rat cardiac left ventricle and non-amplified mRNA derived from the same organ. Biopsies were linearly amplified to acquire enough material for a microarray experiment. Both amplified and unamplified samples were hybridized to the Rat Expression Set 230 Array of Affymetrix. Results Analysis of the microarray data showed that unamplified material of two different left ventricles had 99.6% identical gene expression. Gene expression patterns of two biopsies obtained from the same parental organ were 96.3% identical. Similarly, gene expression pattern of two biopsies from dissimilar organs were 92.8% identical to each other. Twenty-one percent of reporters called present in parental left ventricular tissue disappeared after amplification in the biopsies. Those reporters were predominantly seen in the low intensity range. Sequence analysis showed that reporters that disappeared after amplification had a GC-content of 53.7+/-4.0%, while reporters called present in biopsy- and whole LV-samples had an average GC content of 47.8+/-5.5% (P <0.001). Those reporters were also predicted to form significantly more (0.76+/-0.07 versus 0.38+/-0.1) and longer (9.4+/-0.3 versus 8.4+/-0.4) hairpins as compared to representative control reporters present before and after amplification. Conclusion This study establishes that the gene expression profile obtained after amplification of mRNA of left ventricular biopsies is representative for the whole left ventricle of the rat heart. However, specific gene transcripts present in parental tissues were undetectable in the minute left ventricular biopsies. Transcripts that were lost due to the amplification process were not randomly distributed, but had higher GC-content and hairpins in the sequence and were mainly found in the lower intensity range which includes many transcription factors from specific signalling pathways. PMID:16608515

  11. The Pyrolytic Profile of Lyophilized and Deep-Frozen Compact Part of the Human Bone

    PubMed Central

    Lodowska, Jolanta; Wolny, Daniel; Kurkiewicz, Sławomir; Węglarz, Ludmiła

    2012-01-01

    Background. Bone grafts are used in the treatment of nonunion of fractures, bone tumors and in arthroplasty. Tissues preserved by lyophilization or deep freezing are used as implants nowadays. Lyophilized grafts are utilized in the therapy of birth defects and bone benign tumors, while deep-frozen ones are applied in orthopedics. The aim of the study was to compare the pyrolytic pattern, as an indirect means of the analysis of organic composition of deep-frozen and lyophilized compact part of the human bone. Methods. Samples of preserved bone tissue were subjected to thermolysis and tetrahydroammonium-hydroxide- (TMAH-) associated thermochemolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Results. Derivatives of benzene, pyridine, pyrrole, phenol, sulfur compounds, nitriles, saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, and fatty acids (C12–C20) were identified in the pyrolytic pattern. The pyrolyzates were the most abundant in derivatives of pyrrole and nitriles originated from proteins. The predominant product in pyrolytic pattern of the investigated bone was pyrrolo[1,2-α]piperazine-3,6-dione derived from collagen. The content of this compound significantly differentiated the lyophilized graft from the deep-frozen one. Oleic and palmitic acid were predominant among fatty acids of the investigated samples. The deep-frozen implants were characterized by higher percentage of long-chain fatty acids than lyophilized grafts. PMID:22619606

  12. Investigating a continuous shear strain function for depth-dependent properties of native and tissue engineering cartilage using pixel-size data.

    PubMed

    Motavalli, Mostafa; Whitney, G Adam; Dennis, James E; Mansour, Joseph M

    2013-12-01

    A previously developed novel imaging technique for determining the depth dependent properties of cartilage in simple shear is implemented. Shear displacement is determined from images of deformed lines photobleached on a sample, and shear strain is obtained from the derivative of the displacement. We investigated the feasibility of an alternative systematic approach to numerical differentiation for computing the shear strain that is based on fitting a continuous function to the shear displacement. Three models for a continuous shear displacement function are evaluated: polynomials, cubic splines, and non-parametric locally weighted scatter plot curves. Four independent approaches are then applied to identify the best-fit model and the accuracy of the first derivative. One approach is based on the Akaiki Information Criteria, and the Bayesian Information Criteria. The second is based on a method developed to smooth and differentiate digitized data from human motion. The third method is based on photobleaching a predefined circular area with a specific radius. Finally, we integrate the shear strain and compare it with the total shear deflection of the sample measured experimentally. Results show that 6th and 7th order polynomials are the best models for the shear displacement and its first derivative. In addition, failure of tissue-engineered cartilage, consistent with previous results, demonstrates the qualitative value of this imaging approach. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  13. Determination of Oxytetracycline from Salmon Muscle and Skin by Derivative Spectrophotometry.

    PubMed

    Toral, M Inés; Sabay, Tamara; Orellana, Sandra L; Richter, Pablo

    2015-01-01

    A method was developed for the identification and quantification of oxytetracycline residues present in salmon muscle and skin using UV-Vis derivative spectrophotometry. With this method, it was possible to reduce the number of steps in the procedure typically required for instrumental analysis of a sample. The spectral variables, order of the derivative, scale factor, smoothing factor, and analytical wavelength were optimized using standard solutions of oxytetracycline dissolved in 900 mg/L oxalic acid in methanol. The matrix effect was significant; therefore, quantification for oxytetracycline residues was carried out using drug-free salmon muscle and skin samples fortified with oxytetracycline. The LOD and LOQ were found to be 271 and 903 μg/kg, respectively. The precision and accuracy of the method were validated using drug-free salmon muscle and skin tissues fortified at three different concentrations (8, 16, and 32 mg/kg) on 3 different days. The recoveries at all fortified concentrations were between 90 and 105%, and RSDs in all cases were less than 6.5%. This method can be used to screen out compliant samples and thereby reduce the number of suspect positive samples that will require further confirmatory analysis.

  14. EGFR T790M mutation testing of non-small cell lung cancer tissue and blood samples artificially spiked with circulating cell-free tumor DNA: results of a round robin trial.

    PubMed

    Fassunke, Jana; Ihle, Michaela Angelika; Lenze, Dido; Lehmann, Annika; Hummel, Michael; Vollbrecht, Claudia; Penzel, Roland; Volckmar, Anna-Lena; Stenzinger, Albrecht; Endris, Volker; Jung, Andreas; Lehmann, Ulrich; Zeugner, Silke; Baretton, Gustavo; Kreipe, Hans; Schirmacher, Peter; Kirchner, Thomas; Dietel, Manfred; Büttner, Reinhard; Merkelbach-Bruse, Sabine

    2017-10-01

    The European Commision (EC) recently approved osimertinib for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR T790M mutations. Besides tissue-based testing, blood samples containing cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used to interrogate T790M status. Herein, we describe the conditions and results of a round robin trial (RRT) for T790M mutation testing in NSCLC tissue specimens and peripheral blood samples spiked with cell line DNA mimicking tumor-derived ctDNA. The underlying objectives of this two-staged external quality assessment (EQA) approach were (a) to evaluate the accuracy of T790M mutations testing across multiple centers and (b) to investigate if a liquid biopsy-based testing for T790M mutations in spiked blood samples is feasible in routine diagnostic. Based on a successfully completed internal phase I RRT, an open RRT for EGFR T790M mutation testing in tumor tissue and blood samples was initiated. In total, 48 pathology centers participated in the EQA. Of these, 47 (97.9%) centers submitted their analyses within the pre-defined time frame and 44 (tissue), respectively, 40 (plasma) successfully passed the test. The overall success rates in the RRT phase II were 91.7% (tissue) and 83.3% (blood), respectively. Thirty-eight out of 48 participants (79.2%) successfully passed both parts of the RRT. The RRT for blood-based EGFR testing initiated in Germany is, to the best of our knowledge, the first of his kind in Europe. In summary, our results demonstrate that blood-based genotyping for EGFR resistance mutations can be successfully integrated in routine molecular diagnostics complementing the array of molecular methods already available at pathology centers in Germany.

  15. Engineering vascularized soft tissue flaps in an animal model using human adipose–derived stem cells and VEGF+PLGA/PEG microspheres on a collagen-chitosan scaffold with a flow-through vascular pedicle

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Qixu; Hubenak, Justin; Iyyanki, Tejaswi; Alred, Erik; Turza, Kristin C.; Davis, Greg; Chang, Edward I.; Branch-Brooks, Cynthia D.; Beahm, Elisabeth K.; Butler, Charles E.

    2015-01-01

    Insufficient neovascularization is associated with high levels of resorption and necrosis in autologous and engineered fat grafts. We tested the hypothesis that incorporating angiogenic growth factor into a scaffold–stem cell construct and implanting this construct around a vascular pedicle improves neovascularization and adipogenesis for engineering soft tissue flaps. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid/polyethylene glycol (PLGA/PEG) microspheres containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were impregnated into collagen-chitosan scaffolds seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). This setup was analyzed in vitro and then implanted into isolated chambers around a discrete vascular pedicle in nude rats. Engineered tissue samples within the chambers were harvested and analyzed for differences in vascularization and adipose tissue growth. In vitro testing showed that the collagen-chitosan scaffold provided a supportive environment for hASC integration and proliferation. PLGA/PEG microspheres with slow-release VEGF had no negative effect on cell survival in collagen-chitosan scaffolds. In vivo, the system resulted in a statistically significant increase in neovascularization that in turn led to a significant increase in adipose tissue persistence after 8 weeks versus control constructs. These data indicate that our model—hASCs integrated with a collagen-chitosan scaffold incorporated with VEGF-containing PLGA/PEG microspheres supported by a predominant vascular vessel inside a chamber—provides a promising, clinically translatable platform for engineering vascularized soft tissue flap. The engineered adipose tissue with a vascular pedicle could conceivably be transferred as a vascularized soft tissue pedicle flap or free flap to a recipient site for the repair of soft-tissue defects. PMID:26410787

  16. Engineering vascularized soft tissue flaps in an animal model using human adipose-derived stem cells and VEGF+PLGA/PEG microspheres on a collagen-chitosan scaffold with a flow-through vascular pedicle.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Qixu; Hubenak, Justin; Iyyanki, Tejaswi; Alred, Erik; Turza, Kristin C; Davis, Greg; Chang, Edward I; Branch-Brooks, Cynthia D; Beahm, Elisabeth K; Butler, Charles E

    2015-12-01

    Insufficient neovascularization is associated with high levels of resorption and necrosis in autologous and engineered fat grafts. We tested the hypothesis that incorporating angiogenic growth factor into a scaffold-stem cell construct and implanting this construct around a vascular pedicle improves neovascularization and adipogenesis for engineering soft tissue flaps. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic-acid/polyethylene glycol (PLGA/PEG) microspheres containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were impregnated into collagen-chitosan scaffolds seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs). This setup was analyzed in vitro and then implanted into isolated chambers around a discrete vascular pedicle in nude rats. Engineered tissue samples within the chambers were harvested and analyzed for differences in vascularization and adipose tissue growth. In vitro testing showed that the collagen-chitosan scaffold provided a supportive environment for hASC integration and proliferation. PLGA/PEG microspheres with slow-release VEGF had no negative effect on cell survival in collagen-chitosan scaffolds. In vivo, the system resulted in a statistically significant increase in neovascularization that in turn led to a significant increase in adipose tissue persistence after 8 weeks versus control constructs. These data indicate that our model-hASCs integrated with a collagen-chitosan scaffold incorporated with VEGF-containing PLGA/PEG microspheres supported by a predominant vascular vessel inside a chamber-provides a promising, clinically translatable platform for engineering vascularized soft tissue flap. The engineered adipose tissue with a vascular pedicle could conceivably be transferred as a vascularized soft tissue pedicle flap or free flap to a recipient site for the repair of soft-tissue defects. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Experimental Determination of the Permeability in the Lacunar-Canalicular Porosity of Bone

    PubMed Central

    Gailani, Gaffar; Benalla, Mohammed; Mahamud, Rashal; Cowin, Stephen C.; Cardoso, Luis

    2010-01-01

    Permeability of the mineralized bone tissue is a critical element in understanding fluid flow occurring in the lacunar-canalicular porosity (PLC) compartment of bone and its role in bone nutrition and mechanotransduction. However, the estimation of bone permeability at the tissue level is affected by the influence of the vascular porosity (PV) in macroscopic samples containing several osteons. In this communication, both analytical and experimental approaches are proposed to estimate the lacunar-canalicular permeability in a single osteon. Data from an experimental stress-relaxation test in a single osteon is used to derive the PLC permeability by curve fitting to theoretical results from a compressible transverse isotropic poroelastic model of a porous annular disk under a ramp loading history (Cowin and Mehrabadi 2007; Gailani and Cowin 2008). The PLC tissue intrinsic permeability in the radial direction of the osteon was found to be dependent on the strain rate used and within the range of O(10−24)−O(10−25). The reported values of PLC permeability are in reasonable agreement with previously reported values derived using FEA and nanoindentation approaches. PMID:19831477

  18. Expansion of Multipotent Stem Cells from the Adult Human Brain

    PubMed Central

    Murrell, Wayne; Palmero, Emily; Bianco, John; Stangeland, Biljana; Joel, Mrinal; Paulson, Linda; Thiede, Bernd; Grieg, Zanina; Ramsnes, Ingunn; Skjellegrind, Håvard K.; Nygård, Ståle; Brandal, Petter; Sandberg, Cecilie; Vik-Mo, Einar; Palmero, Sheryl; Langmoen, Iver A.

    2013-01-01

    The discovery of stem cells in the adult human brain has revealed new possible scenarios for treatment of the sick or injured brain. Both clinical use of and preclinical research on human adult neural stem cells have, however, been seriously hampered by the fact that it has been impossible to passage these cells more than a very few times and with little expansion of cell numbers. Having explored a number of alternative culturing conditions we here present an efficient method for the establishment and propagation of human brain stem cells from whatever brain tissue samples we have tried. We describe virtually unlimited expansion of an authentic stem cell phenotype. Pluripotency proteins Sox2 and Oct4 are expressed without artificial induction. For the first time multipotency of adult human brain-derived stem cells is demonstrated beyond tissue boundaries. We characterize these cells in detail in vitro including microarray and proteomic approaches. Whilst clarification of these cells’ behavior is ongoing, results so far portend well for the future repair of tissues by transplantation of an adult patient’s own-derived stem cells. PMID:23967194

  19. Protein 3-Nitrotyrosine in Complex Biological Samples: Quantification by High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography/Electrochemical Detection and Emergence of Proteomic Approaches for Unbiased Identification of Modification Sites

    PubMed Central

    Nuriel, Tal; Deeb, Ruba S.; Hajjar, David P.; Gross, Steven S.

    2008-01-01

    Nitration of tyrosine residues by nitric oxide (NO)-derived species results in the accumulation of 3-nitrotyrosine in proteins, a hallmark of nitrosative stress in cells and tissues. Tyrosine nitration is recognized as one of the multiple signaling modalities used by NO-derived species for the regulation of protein structure and function in health and disease. Various methods have been described for the quantification of protein 3-nitrotyrosine residues, and several strategies have been presented toward the goal of proteome-wide identification of protein tyrosine modification sites. This chapter details a useful protocol for the quantification of 3-nitrotyrosine in cells and tissues using high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Additionally, this chapter describes a novel biotin-tagging strategy for specific enrichment of 3-nitrotyrosine-containing peptides. Application of this strategy, in conjunction with high-throughput MS/MS-based peptide sequencing, is anticipated to fuel efforts in developing comprehensive inventories of nitrosative stress-induced protein-tyrosine modification sites in cells and tissues. PMID:18554526

  20. Rapid solid-phase immunoassay for 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha on microplates

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Schramm, W.; Smith, R.H.; Jackson, T.M.

    1990-03-01

    We describe, for the measurement of 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha in biological media, a solid-phase immunoassay with immobilized antibodies that requires a total processing time of less than 2 h with hands-on time less than 30 min for 40 samples. The method combines the convenience of the microplate format with the sensitivity of radiolabeled prostaglandin derivatives as tracers in a competitive immunoassay. The intra- and interassay variations at 50% displacement of the radiolabeled prostaglandin derivative as tracer were 9.0% and 11.8%, respectively. At 50% displacement of the radiolabeled tracer, the sensitivity is about 20 pg per well. Optimal incubation timemore » is between 60 and 90 min. Nonspecific binding was less than 1% if about 8 pg of tracer (approximately 25,000 counts/min per well) was used. Inhibition curves of samples in different dilutions were parallel to standard curves. The variation of bound radiolabeled prostaglandin derivative within the wells of one microplate (n = 96) was less than 3%. Human plasma samples and medium from tissue culture assayed for 6-keto prostaglandin F1 alpha correlated well with results obtained with a solid-phase assay based on use of magnetic particles (r = 0.99, n = 24) for culture-medium samples; r = 0.99; n = 26 for plasma samples.« less

  1. Continuous human cell lines and method of making same

    DOEpatents

    Stampfer, Martha R.

    1989-01-01

    Substantially genetically stable continuous human cell lines derived from normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) and processes for making and using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the cell lines are derived by treating normal human mammary epithelial tissue with a chemical carcinogen such as benzo[a]pyrene. The novel cell lines serve as useful substrates for elucidating the potential effects of a number of toxins, carcinogens and mutagens as well as of the addition of exogenous genetic material. The autogenic parent cells from which the cell lines are derived serve as convenient control samples for testing. The cell lines are not neoplastically transformed, although they have acquired several properties which distinguish them from their normal progenitors.

  2. Human iPSC-derived neurons and lymphoblastoid cells for personalized medicine research in neuropsychiatric disorders.

    PubMed

    Gurwitz, David

    2016-09-01

    The development and clinical implementation of personalized medicine crucially depends on the availability of high-quality human biosamples; animal models, although capable of modeling complex human diseases, cannot reflect the large variation in the human genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. Although the biosamples available from public biobanks that store human tissues and cells may represent the large human diversity for most diseases, these samples are not always sufficient for developing biomarkers for patient-tailored therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders. Postmortem human tissues are available from many biobanks; nevertheless, collections of neuronal human cells from large patient cohorts representing the human diversity remain scarce. Two tools are gaining popularity for personalized medicine research on neuropsychiatric disorders: human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons and human lymphoblastoid cell lines. This review examines and contrasts the advantages and limitations of each tool for personalized medicine research.

  3. Should we treat the ionome as a combination of individual elements, or should we be deriving novel combined traits?

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    It has been more than 10 years since the concept of the ionome, all of the mineral nutrients in a cell tissue or organism, was introduced. In the intervening years, ionomics, high throughput elemental profiling, has been used to analyze over 400,000 samples from at least 7 different organisms. There...

  4. Derivation of Xeno-Free and GMP-Grade Human Embryonic Stem Cells – Platforms for Future Clinical Applications

    PubMed Central

    Aizenman, Einat; Kirshberg, Sophie; Ilouz, Nili; Gil, Yaniv; Berman-Zaken, Yael; Perlman, Temima Schnitzer; Geva, Nitshia; Levy, Ora; Arbell, Daniel; Simon, Alex; Ben-Meir, Assaf; Shufaro, Yoel; Laufer, Neri; Reubinoff, Benjamin E.

    2012-01-01

    Clinically compliant human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) should be developed in adherence to ethical standards, without risk of contamination by adventitious agents. Here we developed for the first time animal-component free and good manufacturing practice (GMP)-compliant hESCs. After vendor and raw material qualification, we derived xeno-free, GMP-grade feeders from umbilical cord tissue, and utilized them within a novel, xeno-free hESC culture system. We derived and characterized three hESC lines in adherence to regulations for embryo procurement, and good tissue, manufacturing and laboratory practices. To minimize freezing and thawing, we continuously expanded the lines from initial outgrowths and samples were cryopreserved as early stocks and banks. Batch release criteria included DNA-fingerprinting and HLA-typing for identity, characterization of pluripotency-associated marker expression, proliferation, karyotyping and differentiation in-vitro and in-vivo. These hESCs may be valuable for regenerative therapy. The ethical, scientific and regulatory methodology presented here may serve for development of additional clinical-grade hESCs. PMID:22745653

  5. Adipose-Derived Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Applications

    PubMed Central

    Dai, Ru; Wang, Zongjie; Samanipour, Roya; Koo, Kyo-in; Kim, Keekyoung

    2016-01-01

    Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) are a mesenchymal stem cell source with properties of self-renewal and multipotential differentiation. Compared to bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs), ASCs can be derived from more sources and are harvested more easily. Three-dimensional (3D) tissue engineering scaffolds are better able to mimic the in vivo cellular microenvironment, which benefits the localization, attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of ASCs. Therefore, tissue-engineered ASCs are recognized as an attractive substitute for tissue and organ transplantation. In this paper, we review the characteristics of ASCs, as well as the biomaterials and tissue engineering methods used to proliferate and differentiate ASCs in a 3D environment. Clinical applications of tissue-engineered ASCs are also discussed to reveal the potential and feasibility of using tissue-engineered ASCs in regenerative medicine. PMID:27057174

  6. A quantitative and non-contact technique to characterise microstructural variations of skin tissues during photo-damaging process based on Mueller matrix polarimetry.

    PubMed

    Dong, Yang; He, Honghui; Sheng, Wei; Wu, Jian; Ma, Hui

    2017-10-31

    Skin tissue consists of collagen and elastic fibres, which are highly susceptible to damage when exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), leading to skin aging and cancer. However, a lack of non-invasive detection methods makes determining the degree of UVR damage to skin in real time difficult. As one of the fundamental features of light, polarization can be used to develop imaging techniques capable of providing structural information about tissues. In particular, Mueller matrix polarimetry is suitable for detecting changes in collagen and elastic fibres. Here, we demonstrate a novel, quantitative, non-contact and in situ technique based on Mueller matrix polarimetry for monitoring the microstructural changes of skin tissues during UVR-induced photo-damaging. We measured the Mueller matrices of nude mouse skin samples, then analysed the transformed parameters to characterise microstructural changes during the skin photo-damaging and self-repairing processes. Comparisons between samples with and without the application of a sunscreen showed that the Mueller matrix-derived parameters are potential indicators for fibrous microstructure in skin tissues. Histological examination and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed the relationship between the Mueller matrix parameters and changes to fibrous structures. This technique paves the way for non-contact evaluation of skin structure in cosmetics and dermatological health.

  7. The lipid-reactive oxygen species phenotype of breast cancer. Raman spectroscopy and mapping, PCA and PLSDA for invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. Molecular tumorigenic mechanisms beyond Warburg effect.

    PubMed

    Surmacki, Jakub; Brozek-Pluska, Beata; Kordek, Radzislaw; Abramczyk, Halina

    2015-04-07

    Vibrational signatures of human breast tissue (invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma) were used to identify, characterize and discriminate structures in normal (noncancerous) and cancerous tissues by confocal Raman imaging, Raman spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. The most important differences between normal and cancerous tissues were found in regions characteristic for vibrations of carotenoids, fatty acids, proteins, and interfacial water. Particular attention was paid to the role played by unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives. K-means clustering and basis analysis followed by PCA and PLSDA is employed to analyze Raman spectroscopic maps of human breast tissue and for a statistical analysis of the samples (82 patients, 164 samples). Raman maps successfully identify regions of carotenoids, fatty acids, and proteins. The intensities, frequencies and profiles of the average Raman spectra differentiate the biochemical composition of normal and cancerous tissues. The paper demonstrates that Raman imaging has reached a clinically relevant level in regard to breast cancer diagnosis applications. The sensitivity and specificity obtained directly from PLSLD and cross validation are equal to 90.5% and 84.8% for calibration and 84.7% and 71.9% for cross-validation respectively.

  8. Adipose-derived stem cells and periodontal tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Tobita, Morikuni; Mizuno, Hiroshi

    2013-01-01

    Innovative developments in the multidisciplinary field of tissue engineering have yielded various implementation strategies and the possibility of functional tissue regeneration. Technologic advances in the combination of stem cells, biomaterials, and growth factors have created unique opportunities to fabricate tissues in vivo and in vitro. The therapeutic potential of human multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are harvested from bone marrow and adipose tissue, has generated increasing interest in a wide variety of biomedical disciplines. These cells can differentiate into a variety of tissue types, including bone, cartilage, fat, and nerve tissue. Adipose-derived stem cells have some advantages compared with other sources of stem cells, most notably that a large number of cells can be easily and quickly isolated from adipose tissue. In current clinical therapy for periodontal tissue regeneration, several methods have been developed and applied either alone or in combination, such as enamel matrix proteins, guided tissue regeneration, autologous/allogeneic/xenogeneic bone grafts, and growth factors. However, there are various limitations and shortcomings for periodontal tissue regeneration using current methods. Recently, periodontal tissue regeneration using MSCs has been examined in some animal models. This method has potential in the regeneration of functional periodontal tissues because the various secreted growth factors from MSCs might not only promote the regeneration of periodontal tissue but also encourage neovascularization of the damaged tissues. Adipose-derived stem cells are especially effective for neovascularization compared with other MSC sources. In this review, the possibility and potential of adipose-derived stem cells for regenerative medicine are introduced. Of particular interest, periodontal tissue regeneration with adipose-derived stem cells is discussed.

  9. High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of novel triazole antifungal agents in tissue. Application to tissue distribution studies.

    PubMed

    Khan, J K; Montaseri, H; Poglod, M; Bu, H Z; Daneshtalab, M; Micetich, R G

    2000-08-01

    A simple and rugged reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet absorbance detection at 263 nm was developed and validated for the analysis of novel triazole antifungal agents SYN-2869 and its derivatives in tissues. The method involved homogenization with 0.01 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) for lung, brain and spleen tissues. The liver and kidneys were homogenized with acetonitrile:acetone (1:1). The plasma proteins were precipitated with ice-cold acetonitrile and supernatent was evaporated to dryness. The reconstituted samples were injected onto an HPLC system. SYN-2869 was separated from the matrix components on a symmetry C(18) column using a aqueous mobile phase of acetonitrile and water with a flow rate of 1 mL/min. A step gradient of 40-80% acetonitrile eluted SYN-2869 and the internal standard (SYN-2506). The linear range was 0.5-10 microgram/g (r(2) > 0.99). The limit of quantitation was 0.5 microgram/g. The inter-day precision and accuracy for SYN 2869 standard concentration were from 2.6 to 7.4% and from -1.56 to +3.29%, respectively. The method was applied to tissue samples collected from single intravenous administration to mice to evaluate the distribution of these novel antifungal agents to different tissues. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  10. Quantitative assessment of soft tissue deformation using digital speckle pattern interferometry: studies on phantom breast models.

    PubMed

    Karuppanan, Udayakumar; Unni, Sujatha Narayanan; Angarai, Ganesan R

    2017-01-01

    Assessment of mechanical properties of soft matter is a challenging task in a purely noninvasive and noncontact environment. As tissue mechanical properties play a vital role in determining tissue health status, such noninvasive methods offer great potential in framing large-scale medical screening strategies. The digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI)-based image capture and analysis system described here is capable of extracting the deformation information from a single acquired fringe pattern. Such a method of analysis would be required in the case of the highly dynamic nature of speckle patterns derived from soft tissues while applying mechanical compression. Soft phantoms mimicking breast tissue optical and mechanical properties were fabricated and tested in the DSPI out of plane configuration set up. Hilbert transform (HT)-based image analysis algorithm was developed to extract the phase and corresponding deformation of the sample from a single acquired fringe pattern. The experimental fringe contours were found to correlate with numerically simulated deformation patterns of the sample using Abaqus finite element analysis software. The extracted deformation from the experimental fringe pattern using the HT-based algorithm is compared with the deformation value obtained using numerical simulation under similar conditions of loading and the results are found to correlate with an average %error of 10. The proposed method is applied on breast phantoms fabricated with included subsurface anomaly mimicking cancerous tissue and the results are analyzed.

  11. The healing effect of bone marrow-derived stem cells in acute radiation syndrome.

    PubMed

    Mortazavi, Seyed Mohammad Javad; Shekoohi-Shooli, Fatemeh; Aghamir, Seyed Mahmood Reza; Mehrabani, Davood; Dehghanian, Amirreza; Zare, Shahrokh; Mosleh-Shirazi, Mohammad Amin

    2016-01-01

    To determine the effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on regeneration of bone marrow and intestinal tissue and survival rate in experimental mice with acute radiation syndrome (ARS). Forty mice were randomly divided into two equal groups of A receiving no BMSC transplantation and B receiving BMSCs. BMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow and cultured in DMEM media. Both groups were irradiated with 10 Gy (dose rate 0.28 Gy/ min) (60)CO during 35 minutes with a field size of 35×35 for all the body area. Twenty-four hours after γ irradiation, 150×10(3) cells of passage 5 in 150 µl medium were injected intravenously into the tail. Animals were euthanized one and two weeks after cell transplantation. They were evaluated histologically for any changes in bone marrow and intestinal tissues. The survival rate in mice were also determined. A significant increase for bone marrow cell count and survival rate were observed in group B in comparison to group A. Histological findings denoted to a healing in sample tissues. BMSCs could significantly reduce the side effects of ARS and increase the survival rate and healing in injured tissue. As such their transplantation may open a window in treatment of patients with ARS.

  12. Concordance of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements between circulating tumor cells and tumor in non-small cell lung cancer

    PubMed Central

    Lim, Tony KH; Tan, Daniel Shao-Weng; Chua, Yong Wei; Ang, Mei Kim; Pang, Brendan; Lim, Chwee Teck; Takano, Angela; Lim, Alvin Soon-Tiong; Leong, Man Chun; Lim, Wan-Teck

    2016-01-01

    Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is routinely evaluated by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) testing on biopsy tissues. Testing can be challenging however, when suitable tissue samples are unavailable. We examined the relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTC) as a surrogate for biopsy-based FISH testing. We assessed paired tumor and CTC samples from patients with ALK rearranged lung cancer (n = 14), ALK-negative lung cancer (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 5) to derive discriminant CTC counts, and to compare ALK rearrangement patterns. Blood samples were enriched for CTCs to be used for ALK FISH testing. ALK-positive CTCs counts were higher in ALK-positive NSCLC patients (3–15 cells/1.88 mL of blood) compared with ALK-negative NSCLC patients and healthy donors (0–2 cells/1.88 mL of blood). The latter range was validated as the ‘false positive’ cutoff for ALK FISH testing of CTCs. ALK FISH signal patterns observed on tumor biopsies were recapitulated in CTCs in all cases. Sequential CTC counts in an index case of lung cancer with no evaluable tumor tissue treated with crizotinib showed six, three and eleven ALK-positive CTCs per 1.88 mL blood at baseline, partial response and post-progression time points, respectively. Furthermore, ALK FISH rearrangement suggestive of gene copy number increase was observed in CTCs following progression. Recapitulation of ALK rearrangement patterns in the tumor on CTCs, suggested that CTCs might be used to complement tissue-based ALK testing in NSCLC to guide ALK-targeted therapy when suitable tissue biopsy samples are unavailable for testing. PMID:26993609

  13. Concordance of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements between circulating tumor cells and tumor in non-small cell lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Tan, Chye Ling; Lim, Tse Hui; Lim, Tony Kh; Tan, Daniel Shao-Weng; Chua, Yong Wei; Ang, Mei Kim; Pang, Brendan; Lim, Chwee Teck; Takano, Angela; Lim, Alvin Soon-Tiong; Leong, Man Chun; Lim, Wan-Teck

    2016-04-26

    Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is routinely evaluated by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) testing on biopsy tissues. Testing can be challenging however, when suitable tissue samples are unavailable. We examined the relevance of circulating tumor cells (CTC) as a surrogate for biopsy-based FISH testing. We assessed paired tumor and CTC samples from patients with ALK rearranged lung cancer (n = 14), ALK-negative lung cancer (n = 12), and healthy controls (n = 5) to derive discriminant CTC counts, and to compare ALK rearrangement patterns. Blood samples were enriched for CTCs to be used for ALK FISH testing. ALK-positive CTCs counts were higher in ALK-positive NSCLC patients (3-15 cells/1.88 mL of blood) compared with ALK-negative NSCLC patients and healthy donors (0-2 cells/1.88 mL of blood). The latter range was validated as the 'false positive' cutoff for ALK FISH testing of CTCs. ALK FISH signal patterns observed on tumor biopsies were recapitulated in CTCs in all cases. Sequential CTC counts in an index case of lung cancer with no evaluable tumor tissue treated with crizotinib showed six, three and eleven ALK-positive CTCs per 1.88 mL blood at baseline, partial response and post-progression time points, respectively. Furthermore, ALK FISH rearrangement suggestive of gene copy number increase was observed in CTCs following progression. Recapitulation of ALK rearrangement patterns in the tumor on CTCs, suggested that CTCs might be used to complement tissue-based ALK testing in NSCLC to guide ALK-targeted therapy when suitable tissue biopsy samples are unavailable for testing.

  14. Modeling ramp-hold indentation measurements based on Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Hongmei; zhe Zhang, Qing; Ruan, Litao; Duan, Junbo; Wan, Mingxi; Insana, Michael F.

    2018-03-01

    Interpretation of experimental data from micro- and nano-scale indentation testing is highly dependent on the constitutive model selected to relate measurements to mechanical properties. The Kelvin-Voigt fractional derivative model (KVFD) offers a compact set of viscoelastic features appropriate for characterizing soft biological materials. This paper provides a set of KVFD solutions for converting indentation testing data acquired for different geometries and scales into viscoelastic properties of soft materials. These solutions, which are mostly in closed-form, apply to ramp-hold relaxation, load-unload and ramp-load creep-testing protocols. We report on applications of these model solutions to macro- and nano-indentation testing of hydrogels, gastric cancer cells and ex vivo breast tissue samples using an atomic force microscope (AFM). We also applied KVFD models to clinical ultrasonic breast data using a compression plate as required for elasticity imaging. Together the results show that KVFD models fit a broad range of experimental data with a correlation coefficient typically R 2  >  0.99. For hydrogel samples, estimation of KVFD model parameters from test data using spherical indentation versus plate compression as well as ramp relaxation versus load-unload compression all agree within one standard deviation. Results from measurements made using macro- and nano-scale indentation agree in trend. For gastric cell and ex vivo breast tissue measurements, KVFD moduli are, respectively, 1/3-1/2 and 1/6 of the elasticity modulus found from the Sneddon model. In vivo breast tissue measurements yield model parameters consistent with literature results. The consistency of results found for a broad range of experimental parameters suggest the KVFD model is a reliable tool for exploring intrinsic features of the cell/tissue microenvironments.

  15. Dual-window dual-bandwidth spectroscopic optical coherence tomography metric for qualitative scatterer size differentiation in tissues.

    PubMed

    Tay, Benjamin Chia-Meng; Chow, Tzu-Hao; Ng, Beng-Koon; Loh, Thomas Kwok-Seng

    2012-09-01

    This study investigates the autocorrelation bandwidths of dual-window (DW) optical coherence tomography (OCT) k-space scattering profile of different-sized microspheres and their correlation to scatterer size. A dual-bandwidth spectroscopic metric defined as the ratio of the 10% to 90% autocorrelation bandwidths is found to change monotonically with microsphere size and gives the best contrast enhancement for scatterer size differentiation in the resulting spectroscopic image. A simulation model supports the experimental results and revealed a tradeoff between the smallest detectable scatterer size and the maximum scatterer size in the linear range of the dual-window dual-bandwidth (DWDB) metric, which depends on the choice of the light source optical bandwidth. Spectroscopic OCT (SOCT) images of microspheres and tonsil tissue samples based on the proposed DWDB metric showed clear differentiation between different-sized scatterers as compared to those derived from conventional short-time Fourier transform metrics. The DWDB metric significantly improves the contrast in SOCT imaging and can aid the visualization and identification of dissimilar scatterer size in a sample. Potential applications include the early detection of cell nuclear changes in tissue carcinogenesis, the monitoring of healing tendons, and cell proliferation in tissue scaffolds.

  16. Sensitivity and specificity of univariate MRI analysis of experimentally degraded cartilage

    PubMed Central

    Lin, Ping-Chang; Reiter, David A.; Spencer, Richard G.

    2010-01-01

    MRI is increasingly used to evaluate cartilage in tissue constructs, explants, and animal and patient studies. However, while mean values of MR parameters, including T1, T2, magnetization transfer rate km, apparent diffusion coefficient ADC, and the dGEMRIC-derived fixed charge density, correlate with tissue status, the ability to classify tissue according to these parameters has not been explored. Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity with which each of these parameters was able to distinguish between normal and trypsin- degraded, and between normal and collagenase-degraded, cartilage explants were determined. Initial analysis was performed using a training set to determine simple group means to which parameters obtained from a validation set were compared. T1 and ADC showed the greatest ability to discriminate between normal and degraded cartilage. Further analysis with k-means clustering, which eliminates the need for a priori identification of sample status, generally performed comparably. Use of fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering to define centroids likewise did not result in improvement in discrimination. Finally, a FCM clustering approach in which validation samples were assigned in a probabilistic fashion to control and degraded groups was implemented, reflecting the range of tissue characteristics seen with cartilage degradation. PMID:19705467

  17. TMA Navigator: network inference, patient stratification and survival analysis with tissue microarray data

    PubMed Central

    Lubbock, Alexander L. R.; Katz, Elad; Harrison, David J.; Overton, Ian M.

    2013-01-01

    Tissue microarrays (TMAs) allow multiplexed analysis of tissue samples and are frequently used to estimate biomarker protein expression in tumour biopsies. TMA Navigator (www.tmanavigator.org) is an open access web application for analysis of TMA data and related information, accommodating categorical, semi-continuous and continuous expression scores. Non-biological variation, or batch effects, can hinder data analysis and may be mitigated using the ComBat algorithm, which is incorporated with enhancements for automated application to TMA data. Unsupervised grouping of samples (patients) is provided according to Gaussian mixture modelling of marker scores, with cardinality selected by Bayesian information criterion regularization. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis is available, including comparison of groups identified by mixture modelling using the Mantel-Cox log-rank test. TMA Navigator also supports network inference approaches useful for TMA datasets, which often constitute comparatively few markers. Tissue and cell-type specific networks derived from TMA expression data offer insights into the molecular logic underlying pathophenotypes, towards more effective and personalized medicine. Output is interactive, and results may be exported for use with external programs. Private anonymous access is available, and user accounts may be generated for easier data management. PMID:23761446

  18. Menstrual Blood as a Potential Source of Endometrial Derived CD3+ T Cells

    PubMed Central

    Sabbaj, Steffanie; Hel, Zdenek; Richter, Holly E.; Mestecky, Jiri; Goepfert, Paul A.

    2011-01-01

    Studies of T cell-mediated immunity in the human female genital tract have been problematic due to difficulties associated with the collection of mucosal samples. Consequently, most studies rely on biopsies from the lower female genital tract or remnant tissue from hysterectomies. Availability of samples from healthy women is limited, as most studies are carried out in women with underlying pathologies. Menstruation is the cyclical sloughing off of endometrial tissue, and thus it should be a source of endometrial cells without the need for a biopsy. We isolated and phenotyped T cells from menstrual and peripheral blood and from endometrial biopsy-derived tissue from healthy women to determine the types of T cells present in this compartment. Our data demonstrated that T cells isolated from menstrual blood are a heterogeneous population of cells with markers reminiscent of blood and mucosal cells as well as unique phenotypes not represented in either compartment. T cells isolated from menstrual blood expressed increased levels of HLA-DR, αEβ7 and CXCR4 and reduced levels of CD62L relative to peripheral blood. Menstrual blood CD4+ T cells were enriched for cells expressing both CCR7 and CD45RA, markers identifying naïve T cells and were functional as determined by antigen-specific intracellular cytokine production assays. These data may open new avenues of investigation for cell mediated immune studies involving the female reproductive tract without the need for biopsies. PMID:22174921

  19. Small RNA profiling of low biomass samples: identification and removal of contaminants

    DOE PAGES

    Heintz-Buschart, Anna; Yusuf, Dilmurat; Kaysen, Anne; ...

    2018-05-14

    Here, sequencing-based analyses of low-biomass samples are known to be prone to misinterpretation due to the potential presence of contaminating molecules derived from laboratory reagents and environments. DNA contamination has been previously reported, yet contamination with RNA is usually considered to be very unlikely due to its inherent instability. Small RNAs (sRNAs) identified in tissues and bodily fluids, such as blood plasma, have implications for physiology and pathology, and therefore the potential to act as disease biomarkers. Thus, the possibility for RNA contaminants demands careful evaluation.

  20. Small RNA profiling of low biomass samples: identification and removal of contaminants

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Heintz-Buschart, Anna; Yusuf, Dilmurat; Kaysen, Anne

    Here, sequencing-based analyses of low-biomass samples are known to be prone to misinterpretation due to the potential presence of contaminating molecules derived from laboratory reagents and environments. DNA contamination has been previously reported, yet contamination with RNA is usually considered to be very unlikely due to its inherent instability. Small RNAs (sRNAs) identified in tissues and bodily fluids, such as blood plasma, have implications for physiology and pathology, and therefore the potential to act as disease biomarkers. Thus, the possibility for RNA contaminants demands careful evaluation.

  1. Enhanced cellular infiltration of human adipose-derived stem cells in allograft menisci using a needle-punch method.

    PubMed

    Nordberg, Rachel C; Charoenpanich, Adisri; Vaughn, Christopher E; Griffith, Emily H; Fisher, Matthew B; Cole, Jacqueline H; Spang, Jeffrey T; Loboa, Elizabeth G

    2016-10-28

    The meniscus plays a crucial role in knee joint stability, load transmission, and stress distribution. Meniscal tears are the most common reported knee injuries, and the current standard treatment for meniscal deficiency is meniscal allograft transplantation. A major limitation of this approach is that meniscal allografts do not have the capacity to remodel and maintain tissue homeostasis due to a lack of cellular infiltration. The purpose of this study was to provide a new method for enhanced cellular infiltration in meniscal allografts. Twenty medial menisci were collected from cadaveric human sources and split into five experimental groups: (1) control native menisci, (2) decellularized menisci, (3) decellularized menisci seeded with human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC), (4) decellularized needle-punched menisci, and (5) decellularized needle-punched menisci seeded with hASC. All experimental allografts were decellularized using a combined method with trypsin EDTA and peracetic acid. Needle punching (1-mm spacing, 28 G microneedle) was utilized to improve porosity of the allograft. Samples were recellularized with hASC at a density of 250 k/g of tissue. After 28 days of in vitro culture, menisci were analyzed for mechanical, biochemical, and histological characteristics. Menisci maintained structural integrity and material properties (compressive equilibrium and dynamic moduli) throughout preparations. Increased DNA content was observed in the needle-punched menisci but not in the samples without needle punching. Histology confirmed these results, showing enhanced cellular infiltration in needle-punched samples. The enhanced infiltration achieved in this study could help meniscal allografts better remodel post-surgery. The integration of autologous adipose-derived stem cells could improve long-term efficacy of meniscal transplantation procedures by helping to maintain the meniscus in vivo.

  2. Automated determination of polyamines by high-performance liquid chromatography with simple sample preparation.

    PubMed

    van Eijk, H M; Rooyakkers, D R; Deutz, N E

    1996-04-12

    Recently, a new fully endcapped reversed-phase packing material, Inertsil, was introduced, especially suitable for the determination of basic compounds. We used this packing material to separate ophthaldialdehyde (OPA) derivatives of amino acid derivatives completely from the OPA derivatives of spermine (SPM), spermidine (SPD), putrescine (PUT) and cadaverine (CAD). The obtained separation made the commonly used off-line extraction procedure redundant and thus an on-line sample clean-up was introduced. This enabled automation of the procedure resulting in a better reproducibility and a more efficient use of equipment. Furthermore, no studies are required to determine the extraction recovery. The present method has a cycle time of 30 min. A linear response for each polyamine was found up to 250 pmol, with an R2 ranging from 0.9981 (SPM) to 0.9998 (CAD). The limit of detection, calculated at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, was 0.1 pmol, corresponding to a plasma concentration of 0.1 mumol/l. The coefficient of variation (C.V.) for the peak area was below 3% and for retention times below 0.5% (n = 15). In order to evaluate the applicability of the method, three different types of sample were chromatographed, e.g. urine (obtained from healthy human volunteers), pig plasma and sulfosalicylic acid homogenates of pig intestine biopsies. Tissue homogenates and urine-specimen could easily be quantitated, while plasma concentrations were just above the limit of detection, resulting in a plasma C.V. ranging from 4.8% (SPM) to 13.6% (SPD) and a tissue C.V. ranging from 2.1% (SPM) to 8.5% (CAD), The urinary C.V.s were not determined. In conclusion, the present method provides an easy way to measure polyamine concentrations for most applications.

  3. Challenging the Cancer Molecular Stratification Dogma: Intratumoral Heterogeneity Undermines Consensus Molecular Subtypes and Potential Diagnostic Value in Colorectal Cancer.

    PubMed

    Dunne, Philip D; McArt, Darragh G; Bradley, Conor A; O'Reilly, Paul G; Barrett, Helen L; Cummins, Robert; O'Grady, Tony; Arthur, Ken; Loughrey, Maurice B; Allen, Wendy L; McDade, Simon S; Waugh, David J; Hamilton, Peter W; Longley, Daniel B; Kay, Elaine W; Johnston, Patrick G; Lawler, Mark; Salto-Tellez, Manuel; Van Schaeybroeck, Sandra

    2016-08-15

    A number of independent gene expression profiling studies have identified transcriptional subtypes in colorectal cancer with potential diagnostic utility, culminating in publication of a colorectal cancer Consensus Molecular Subtype classification. The worst prognostic subtype has been defined by genes associated with stem-like biology. Recently, it has been shown that the majority of genes associated with this poor prognostic group are stromal derived. We investigated the potential for tumor misclassification into multiple diagnostic subgroups based on tumoral region sampled. We performed multiregion tissue RNA extraction/transcriptomic analysis using colorectal-specific arrays on invasive front, central tumor, and lymph node regions selected from tissue samples from 25 colorectal cancer patients. We identified a consensus 30-gene list, which represents the intratumoral heterogeneity within a cohort of primary colorectal cancer tumors. Using a series of online datasets, we showed that this gene list displays prognostic potential HR = 2.914 (confidence interval 0.9286-9.162) in stage II/III colorectal cancer patients, but in addition, we demonstrated that these genes are stromal derived, challenging the assumption that poor prognosis tumors with stem-like biology have undergone a widespread epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Most importantly, we showed that patients can be simultaneously classified into multiple diagnostically relevant subgroups based purely on the tumoral region analyzed. Gene expression profiles derived from the nonmalignant stromal region can influence assignment of colorectal cancer transcriptional subtypes, questioning the current molecular classification dogma and highlighting the need to consider pathology sampling region and degree of stromal infiltration when employing transcription-based classifiers to underpin clinical decision making in colorectal cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(16); 4095-104. ©2016 AACRSee related commentary by Morris and Kopetz, p. 3989. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  4. Single cell analysis in native tissue: Quantification of the retinoid content of hepatic stellate cells

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Galler, Kerstin; Requardt, Robert Pascal; Glaser, Uwe; Markwart, Robby; Bocklitz, Thomas; Bauer, Michael; Popp, Jürgen; Neugebauer, Ute

    2016-04-01

    Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are retinoid storing cells in the liver: The retinoid content of those cells changes depending on nutrition and stress level. There are also differences with regard to a HSC’s anatomical position in the liver. Up to now, retinoid levels were only accessible from bulk measurements of tissue homogenates or cell extracts. Unfortunately, they do not account for the intercellular variability. Herein, Raman spectroscopy relying on excitation by the minimally destructive wavelength 785 nm is introduced for the assessment of the retinoid state of single HSCs in freshly isolated, unprocessed murine liver lobes. A quantitative estimation of the cellular retinoid content is derived. Implications of the retinoid content on hepatic health state are reported. The Raman-based results are integrated with histological assessments of the tissue samples. This spectroscopic approach enables single cell analysis regarding an important cellular feature in unharmed tissue.

  5. Single cell analysis in native tissue: Quantification of the retinoid content of hepatic stellate cells

    PubMed Central

    Galler, Kerstin; Requardt, Robert Pascal; Glaser, Uwe; Markwart, Robby; Bocklitz, Thomas; Bauer, Michael; Popp, Jürgen; Neugebauer, Ute

    2016-01-01

    Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are retinoid storing cells in the liver: The retinoid content of those cells changes depending on nutrition and stress level. There are also differences with regard to a HSC’s anatomical position in the liver. Up to now, retinoid levels were only accessible from bulk measurements of tissue homogenates or cell extracts. Unfortunately, they do not account for the intercellular variability. Herein, Raman spectroscopy relying on excitation by the minimally destructive wavelength 785 nm is introduced for the assessment of the retinoid state of single HSCs in freshly isolated, unprocessed murine liver lobes. A quantitative estimation of the cellular retinoid content is derived. Implications of the retinoid content on hepatic health state are reported. The Raman-based results are integrated with histological assessments of the tissue samples. This spectroscopic approach enables single cell analysis regarding an important cellular feature in unharmed tissue. PMID:27063397

  6. First Insights into Human Fingertip Regeneration by Echo-Doppler Imaging and Wound Microenvironment Assessment.

    PubMed

    Jafari, Paris; Muller, Camillo; Grognuz, Anthony; Applegate, Lee Ann; Raffoul, Wassim; di Summa, Pietro G; Durand, Sébastien

    2017-05-13

    Fingertip response to trauma represents a fascinating example of tissue regeneration. Regeneration derives from proliferative mesenchymal cells (blastema) that subsequently differentiate into soft and skeletal tissues. Clinically, conservative treatment of the amputated fingertip under occlusive dressing can shift the response to tissue loss from a wound repair process towards regeneration. When analyzing by Immunoassay the wound exudate from occlusive dressings, the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were higher in fingertip exudates than in burn wounds (used as controls for wound repair versus regeneration). Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were highly expressed in both samples in comparable levels. In our study, pro-inflammatory cytokines were relatively higher expressed in regenerative fingertips than in the burn wound exudates while chemokines were present in lower levels. Functional, vascular and mechanical properties of the regenerated fingertips were analyzed three months after trauma and the data were compared to the corresponding fingertip on the collateral uninjured side. While sensory recovery and morphology (pulp thickness and texture) were similar to uninjured sides, mechanical parameters (elasticity, vascularization) were increased in the regenerated fingertips. Further studies should be done to clarify the importance of inflammatory cells, immunity and growth factors in determining the outcome of the regenerative process and its influence on the clinical outcome.

  7. First Insights into Human Fingertip Regeneration by Echo-Doppler Imaging and Wound Microenvironment Assessment

    PubMed Central

    Jafari, Paris; Muller, Camillo; Grognuz, Anthony; Applegate, Lee Ann; Raffoul, Wassim; di Summa, Pietro G.; Durand, Sébastien

    2017-01-01

    Fingertip response to trauma represents a fascinating example of tissue regeneration. Regeneration derives from proliferative mesenchymal cells (blastema) that subsequently differentiate into soft and skeletal tissues. Clinically, conservative treatment of the amputated fingertip under occlusive dressing can shift the response to tissue loss from a wound repair process towards regeneration. When analyzing by Immunoassay the wound exudate from occlusive dressings, the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) were higher in fingertip exudates than in burn wounds (used as controls for wound repair versus regeneration). Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were highly expressed in both samples in comparable levels. In our study, pro-inflammatory cytokines were relatively higher expressed in regenerative fingertips than in the burn wound exudates while chemokines were present in lower levels. Functional, vascular and mechanical properties of the regenerated fingertips were analyzed three months after trauma and the data were compared to the corresponding fingertip on the collateral uninjured side. While sensory recovery and morphology (pulp thickness and texture) were similar to uninjured sides, mechanical parameters (elasticity, vascularization) were increased in the regenerated fingertips. Further studies should be done to clarify the importance of inflammatory cells, immunity and growth factors in determining the outcome of the regenerative process and its influence on the clinical outcome. PMID:28505080

  8. Human umbilical cord derived matrix: A scaffold suitable for tissue engineering application.

    PubMed

    Dan, Pan; Velot, Émilie; Mesure, Benjamin; Groshenry, Guillaume; Bacharouche, Jalal; Decot, Véronique; Menu, Patrick

    2017-01-01

    Human tissue derived natural extracellular matrix (ECM) has great potential in tissue engineering. We sought to isolate extracellular matrix derived from human umbilical cord and test its potential in tissue engineering. An enzymatic method was applied to isolate and solubilized complete human umbilical cord derived matrix (hUCM). The obtained solution was analyzed for growth factors, collagen and residual DNA contents, then used to coat 2D and 3D surfaces for cell culture application. The hUCM was successfully isolated with trypsin digestion to acquire a solution containing various growth factors and collagen but no residual DNA. This hUCM solution can form a coating on 2D and 3D substrates suitable cell culture. We developed a new matrix derived from human source that can be further used in tissue engineering.

  9. Transmission geometry laserspray ionization vacuum using an atmospheric pressure inlet.

    PubMed

    Lutomski, Corinne A; El-Baba, Tarick J; Inutan, Ellen D; Manly, Cory D; Wager-Miller, James; Mackie, Ken; Trimpin, Sarah

    2014-07-01

    This represents the first report of laserspray ionization vacuum (LSIV) with operation directly from atmospheric pressure for use in mass spectrometry. Two different types of electrospray ionization source inlets were converted to LSIV sources by equipping the entrance of the atmospheric pressure inlet aperture with a customized cone that is sealed with a removable glass plate holding the matrix/analyte sample. A laser aligned in transmission geometry (at 180° relative to the inlet) ablates the matrix/analyte sample deposited on the vacuum side of the glass slide. Laser ablation from vacuum requires lower inlet temperature relative to laser ablation at atmospheric pressure. However, higher inlet temperature is required for high-mass analytes, for example, α-chymotrypsinogen (25.6 kDa). Labile compounds such as gangliosides and cardiolipins are detected in the negative ion mode directly from mouse brain tissue as intact doubly deprotonated ions. Multiple charging enhances the ion mobility spectrometry separation of ions derived from complex tissue samples.

  10. Transmission Geometry Laserspray Ionization Vacuum Using an Atmospheric Pressure Inlet

    PubMed Central

    2015-01-01

    This represents the first report of laserspray ionization vacuum (LSIV) with operation directly from atmospheric pressure for use in mass spectrometry. Two different types of electrospray ionization source inlets were converted to LSIV sources by equipping the entrance of the atmospheric pressure inlet aperture with a customized cone that is sealed with a removable glass plate holding the matrix/analyte sample. A laser aligned in transmission geometry (at 180° relative to the inlet) ablates the matrix/analyte sample deposited on the vacuum side of the glass slide. Laser ablation from vacuum requires lower inlet temperature relative to laser ablation at atmospheric pressure. However, higher inlet temperature is required for high-mass analytes, for example, α-chymotrypsinogen (25.6 kDa). Labile compounds such as gangliosides and cardiolipins are detected in the negative ion mode directly from mouse brain tissue as intact doubly deprotonated ions. Multiple charging enhances the ion mobility spectrometry separation of ions derived from complex tissue samples. PMID:24896880

  11. A DNA methylation map of human cancer at single base-pair resolution.

    PubMed

    Vidal, E; Sayols, S; Moran, S; Guillaumet-Adkins, A; Schroeder, M P; Royo, R; Orozco, M; Gut, M; Gut, I; Lopez-Bigas, N; Heyn, H; Esteller, M

    2017-10-05

    Although single base-pair resolution DNA methylation landscapes for embryonic and different somatic cell types provided important insights into epigenetic dynamics and cell-type specificity, such comprehensive profiling is incomplete across human cancer types. This prompted us to perform genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of 22 samples derived from normal tissues and associated neoplasms, including primary tumors and cancer cell lines. Unlike their invariant normal counterparts, cancer samples exhibited highly variable CpG methylation levels in a large proportion of the genome, involving progressive changes during tumor evolution. The whole-genome sequencing results from selected samples were replicated in a large cohort of 1112 primary tumors of various cancer types using genome-scale DNA methylation analysis. Specifically, we determined DNA hypermethylation of promoters and enhancers regulating tumor-suppressor genes, with potential cancer-driving effects. DNA hypermethylation events showed evidence of positive selection, mutual exclusivity and tissue specificity, suggesting their active participation in neoplastic transformation. Our data highlight the extensive changes in DNA methylation that occur in cancer onset, progression and dissemination.

  12. Hydrogel derived from decellularized porcine adipose tissue as a promising biomaterial for soft tissue augmentation.

    PubMed

    Tan, Qiu-Wen; Zhang, Yi; Luo, Jing-Cong; Zhang, Di; Xiong, Bin-Jun; Yang, Ji-Qiao; Xie, Hui-Qi; Lv, Qing

    2017-06-01

    Decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds from human adipose tissue, characterized by impressive adipogenic induction ability, are promising for soft tissue augmentation. However, scaffolds from autologous human adipose tissue are limited by the availability of tissue resources and the time necessary for scaffold fabrication. The objective of the current study was to investigate the adipogenic properties of hydrogels of decellularized porcine adipose tissue (HDPA). HDPA induced the adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) in vitro, with significantly increased expression of adipogenic genes. Subcutaneous injection of HDPA in immunocompetent mice induced host-derived adipogenesis without cell seeding, and adipogenesis was significantly enhanced with ADSCs seeding. The newly formed adipocytes were frequently located on the basal side in the non-seeding group, but this trend was not observed in the ADSCs seeding group. Our results indicated that, similar to human adipose tissue, the ECM scaffold derived from porcine adipose tissue could provide an adipogenic microenvironment for adipose tissue regeneration and is a promising biomaterial for soft tissue augmentation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 1756-1764, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Three Dimensional Projection Environment for Molecular Design and Surgical Simulation

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2011-08-01

    bypasses the cumbersome meshing process . The deformation model is only comprised of mass nodes, which are generated by sampling the object volume before...force should minimize the penetration volume, the haptic feedback force is derived directly. Additionally, a post- processing technique is developed to...render distinct physi-cal tissue properties across different interaction areas. The proposed approach does not require any pre- processing and is

  14. Gene expression profile in mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissues and bone marrow

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Su-Hwan; Kim, Young-Sung; Lee, Su-Yeon; Kim, Kyoung-Hwa; Lee, Yong-Moo; Kim, Won-Kyung

    2011-01-01

    Purpose The aim of this study is to compare the gene expression profile in mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissues and bone marrow for characterization of dental stem cells. Methods We employed GeneChip analysis to the expression levels of approximately 32,321 kinds of transcripts in 5 samples of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) (n=1), periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) (n=2), and dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) (n=2). Each cell was sorted by a FACS Vantage Sorter using immunocytochemical staining of the early mesenchymal stem cell surface marker STRO-1 before the microarray analysis. Results We identified 379 up-regulated and 133 down-regulated transcripts in BMSCs, 68 up-regulated and 64 down-regulated transcripts in PDLSCs, and 218 up-regulated and 231 down-regulated transcripts in DPSCs. In addition, anatomical structure development and anatomical structure morphogenesis gene ontology (GO) terms were over-represented in all three different mesenchymal stem cells and GO terms related to blood vessels, and neurons were over-represented only in DPSCs. Conclusions This study demonstrated the genome-wide gene expression patterns of STRO-1+ mesenchymal stem cells derived from dental tissues and bone marrow. The differences among the expression profiles of BMSCs, PDLSCs, and DPSCs were shown, and 999 candidate genes were found to be definitely up- or down-regulated. In addition, GOstat analyses of regulated gene products provided over-represented GO classes. These data provide a first step for discovering molecules key to the characteristics of dental stem cells. PMID:21954424

  15. Absence of tissue factor is characteristic of lymphoid malignancies of both T- and B-cell origin

    PubMed Central

    Cesarman-Maus, Gabriela; Braggio, Esteban; Lome-Maldonado, Carmen; Morales-Leyte, Ana Lilia; Fonseca, Rafael

    2014-01-01

    Summary Background Thrombosis is a marker of poor prognosis in individuals with solid tumors. The expression of tissue factor (TF) on the cell surface membrane of malignant cells is a pivotal molecular link between activation of coagulation, angiogenesis, metastasis, aggressive tumor behavior and poor survival. Interestingly, thrombosis is associated with shortened survival in solid, but not in lymphoid neoplasias. Objectives We sought to study whether the lack of impact of thrombosis on survival in lymphoid neoplasias could be due to a lack of tumor-derived TF expression. Methods We analyzed TF gene (F3) expression in lymphoid (N=114), myeloid (N=49) and solid tumor (N=856) cell lines using the publicly available dataset from the Broad-Novartis Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (http://www.broadinstitute.org/ccle/home), and in 90 patient-derived lymphoma samples. TF protein expression was studied by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results In sharp contrast to wide F3 expression in solid tumors (74.2%), F3 was absent in all low and high grade T- and B-cell lymphomas, and in most myeloid tumors, except for select acute myeloid leukemias with monocytic component. IHC confirmed the absence of TF protein in all indolent and high-grade B-cell (0/90) and T-cell (0/20) lymphomas, and acute leukemias (0/11). Conclusions We show that TF in lymphomas does not derive from the malignant cells, since these do not express either F3 or TF protein. Therefore, it is unlikely that thrombosis in patients with lymphoid neoplasms is secondary to tumor-derived tissue factor. PMID:24491425

  16. Prenatally fabricated autologous human living heart valves based on amniotic fluid derived progenitor cells as single cell source.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, Dörthe; Achermann, Josef; Odermatt, Bernhard; Breymann, Christian; Mol, Anita; Genoni, Michele; Zund, Gregor; Hoerstrup, Simon P

    2007-09-11

    A novel concept providing prenatally tissue engineered human autologous heart valves based on routinely obtained fetal amniotic fluid progenitors as single cell source is introduced. Fetal human amniotic progenitors were isolated from routinely sampled amniotic fluid and sorted using CD133 magnetic beads. After expansion and differentiation, cell phenotypes of CD133- and CD133+ cells were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and flowcytometry. After characterization, CD133- derived cells were seeded onto heart valve leaflet scaffolds (n=18) fabricated from rapidly biodegradable polymers, conditioned in a pulse duplicator system, and subsequently coated with CD133+ derived cells. After in vitro maturation, opening and closing behavior of leaflets was investigated. Neo-tissues were analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Extracellular matrix (ECM) elements and cell numbers were quantified biochemically. Mechanical properties were assessed by tensile testing. CD133- derived cells demonstrated characteristics of mesenchymal progenitors expressing CD44 and CD105. Differentiated CD133+ cells showed features of functional endothelial cells by eNOS and CD141 expression. Engineered heart valve leaflets demonstrated endothelialized tissue formation with production of ECM elements (GAG 80%, HYP 5%, cell number 100% of native values). SEM showed intact endothelial surfaces. Opening and closing behavior was sufficient under half of systemic conditions. The use of amniotic fluid as single cell source is a promising low-risk approach enabling the prenatal fabrication of heart valves ready to use at birth. These living replacements with the potential of growth, remodeling, and regeneration may realize the early repair of congenital malformations.

  17. Continuous human cell lines and method of making same

    DOEpatents

    Stampfer, M.R.

    1985-07-01

    Substantially genetically stable continuous human cell lines derived from normal human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) and processes for making and using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the cell lines are derived by treating normal human mammary epithelial tissue with a chemical carcinogen such as benzo(a)pyrene. The novel cell lines serve as useful substrates for elucidating the potential effects of a number of toxins, carcinogens and mutagens as well as of the addition of exogenous genetic material. The autogenic parent cells from which the cell lines are derived serve as convenient control samples for testing. The cell lines are not neoplastically transformed, although they have acquired several properties which distinguish them from their normal progenitors. 2 tabs.

  18. Creation of a virtual cutaneous tissue bank

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    LaFramboise, William A.; Shah, Sujal; Hoy, R. W.; Letbetter, D.; Petrosko, P.; Vennare, R.; Johnson, Peter C.

    2000-04-01

    Cellular and non-cellular constituents of skin contain fundamental morphometric features and structural patterns that correlate with tissue function. High resolution digital image acquisitions performed using an automated system and proprietary software to assemble adjacent images and create a contiguous, lossless, digital representation of individual microscope slide specimens. Serial extraction, evaluation and statistical analysis of cutaneous feature is performed utilizing an automated analysis system, to derive normal cutaneous parameters comprising essential structural skin components. Automated digital cutaneous analysis allows for fast extraction of microanatomic dat with accuracy approximating manual measurement. The process provides rapid assessment of feature both within individual specimens and across sample populations. The images, component data, and statistical analysis comprise a bioinformatics database to serve as an architectural blueprint for skin tissue engineering and as a diagnostic standard of comparison for pathologic specimens.

  19. Maximizing fluorescence collection efficiency in multiphoton microscopy

    PubMed Central

    Zinter, Joseph P.; Levene, Michael J.

    2011-01-01

    Understanding fluorescence propagation through a multiphoton microscope is of critical importance in designing high performance systems capable of deep tissue imaging. Optical models of a scattering tissue sample and the Olympus 20X 0.95NA microscope objective were used to simulate fluorescence propagation as a function of imaging depth for physiologically relevant scattering parameters. The spatio-angular distribution of fluorescence at the objective back aperture derived from these simulations was used to design a simple, maximally efficient post-objective fluorescence collection system. Monte Carlo simulations corroborated by data from experimental tissue phantoms demonstrate collection efficiency improvements of 50% – 90% over conventional, non-optimized fluorescence collection geometries at large imaging depths. Imaging performance was verified by imaging layer V neurons in mouse cortex to a depth of 850 μm. PMID:21934897

  20. Impaired coordination between signaling pathways is revealed in human colorectal cancer using single-cell mass cytometry of archival tissue blocks

    PubMed Central

    Simmons, Alan J.; Scurrah, Cherie’ R.; McKinley, Eliot T.; Herring, Charles A.; Irish, Jonathan M.; Washington, Mary K.; Coffey, Robert J.; Lau, Ken S.

    2016-01-01

    Cellular heterogeneity poses a significant challenge to understanding tissue level phenotypes and confounds conventional bulk analyses. To facilitate the analysis of signaling at the single-cell level in human tissues, we applied mass cytometry using CyTOF (Cytometry Time-of-Flight) to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) normal and diseased intestinal specimens. We developed and validated a technique called FFPE-DISSECT (Disaggregation for Intracellular Signaling in Single Epithelial Cells from Tissue), a single-cell approach for characterizing native signaling states from embedded solid tissue samples. We applied FFPE-DISSECT coupled to mass cytometry and found differential signaling by tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in intestinal enterocytes, goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells, implicating the role of the downstream RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK signaling pathway in dictating goblet cell identity. In addition, application of FFPE-DISSECT, mass cytometry, and data-driven computational analyses to human colon specimens confirmed reduced differentiation in colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to normal colon, and revealed quantitative increases in inter- and intra-tissue heterogeneity in CRC with regards to the modular regulation of signaling pathways. Specifically, modular co-regulation of the kinases P38 and ERK, the translation regulator 4EBP1, and the transcription factor CREB in the proliferative compartment of the normal colon was loss in CRC, as evidenced by their impaired coordination over samplings of single cells in tissue. Our data suggest that this single-cell approach, applied in conjunction with genomic annotation, such as microsatellite instability and mutations in KRAS and BRAF, allows rapid and detailed characterization of cellular heterogeneity from clinical repositories of embedded human tissues. FFPE-DISSECT coupled of mass cytometry can be used for deriving cellular landscapes from archived patient samples, beyond CRC, and as a high resolution tool for disease characterization and subtyping. PMID:27729552

  1. Genotype, development and tissue-derived variation of cell-wall properties in the lignocellulosic energy crop Miscanthus

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    da Costa, Ricardo M. F.; Lee, Scott J.; Allison, Gordon G.

    Species and hybrids of the genus Miscanthus contain attributes that make them front-runners among current selections of dedicated bioenergy crops. A key trait for plant biomass conversion to biofuels and biomaterials is cell-wall quality; however, knowledge of cell-wall composition and biology in Miscanthus species is limited. This study presents data on cell-wall compositional changes as a function of development and tissue type across selected genotypes, and considers implications for the development of miscanthus as a sustainable and renewable bioenergy feedstock. Cell-wall biomass was analysed for 25 genotypes, considering different developmental stages and stem vs. leaf compositional variability, by Fourier transformmore » mid-infrared spectroscopy and lignin determination. In addition, a Clostridium phytofermentans bioassay was used to assess cell-wall digestibility and conversion to ethanol. Important cell-wall compositional differences between miscanthus stem and leaf samples were found to be predominantly associated with structural carbohydrates. Lignin content increased as plants matured and was higher in stem tissues. Although stem lignin concentration correlated inversely with ethanol production, no such correlation was observed for leaves. Leaf tissue contributed significantly to total above-ground biomass at all stages, although the extent of this contribution was genotype-dependent. In conclusion, it is hypothesized that divergent carbohydrate compositions and modifications in stem and leaf tissues are major determinants for observed differences in cell-wall quality. The findings indicate that improvement of lignocellulosic feedstocks should encompass tissue-dependent variation as it affects amenability to biological conversion. For gene-trait associations relating to cell-wall quality, the data support the separate examination of leaf and stem composition, as tissue-specific traits may be masked by considering only total above-ground biomass samples, and sample variability could be mostly due to varying tissue contributions to total biomass.« less

  2. Genotype, development and tissue-derived variation of cell-wall properties in the lignocellulosic energy crop Miscanthus

    DOE PAGES

    da Costa, Ricardo M. F.; Lee, Scott J.; Allison, Gordon G.; ...

    2014-04-15

    Species and hybrids of the genus Miscanthus contain attributes that make them front-runners among current selections of dedicated bioenergy crops. A key trait for plant biomass conversion to biofuels and biomaterials is cell-wall quality; however, knowledge of cell-wall composition and biology in Miscanthus species is limited. This study presents data on cell-wall compositional changes as a function of development and tissue type across selected genotypes, and considers implications for the development of miscanthus as a sustainable and renewable bioenergy feedstock. Cell-wall biomass was analysed for 25 genotypes, considering different developmental stages and stem vs. leaf compositional variability, by Fourier transformmore » mid-infrared spectroscopy and lignin determination. In addition, a Clostridium phytofermentans bioassay was used to assess cell-wall digestibility and conversion to ethanol. Important cell-wall compositional differences between miscanthus stem and leaf samples were found to be predominantly associated with structural carbohydrates. Lignin content increased as plants matured and was higher in stem tissues. Although stem lignin concentration correlated inversely with ethanol production, no such correlation was observed for leaves. Leaf tissue contributed significantly to total above-ground biomass at all stages, although the extent of this contribution was genotype-dependent. In conclusion, it is hypothesized that divergent carbohydrate compositions and modifications in stem and leaf tissues are major determinants for observed differences in cell-wall quality. The findings indicate that improvement of lignocellulosic feedstocks should encompass tissue-dependent variation as it affects amenability to biological conversion. For gene-trait associations relating to cell-wall quality, the data support the separate examination of leaf and stem composition, as tissue-specific traits may be masked by considering only total above-ground biomass samples, and sample variability could be mostly due to varying tissue contributions to total biomass.« less

  3. Genotype, development and tissue-derived variation of cell-wall properties in the lignocellulosic energy crop Miscanthus.

    PubMed

    da Costa, Ricardo M F; Lee, Scott J; Allison, Gordon G; Hazen, Samuel P; Winters, Ana; Bosch, Maurice

    2014-10-01

    Species and hybrids of the genus Miscanthus contain attributes that make them front-runners among current selections of dedicated bioenergy crops. A key trait for plant biomass conversion to biofuels and biomaterials is cell-wall quality; however, knowledge of cell-wall composition and biology in Miscanthus species is limited. This study presents data on cell-wall compositional changes as a function of development and tissue type across selected genotypes, and considers implications for the development of miscanthus as a sustainable and renewable bioenergy feedstock. Cell-wall biomass was analysed for 25 genotypes, considering different developmental stages and stem vs. leaf compositional variability, by Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy and lignin determination. In addition, a Clostridium phytofermentans bioassay was used to assess cell-wall digestibility and conversion to ethanol. Important cell-wall compositional differences between miscanthus stem and leaf samples were found to be predominantly associated with structural carbohydrates. Lignin content increased as plants matured and was higher in stem tissues. Although stem lignin concentration correlated inversely with ethanol production, no such correlation was observed for leaves. Leaf tissue contributed significantly to total above-ground biomass at all stages, although the extent of this contribution was genotype-dependent. It is hypothesized that divergent carbohydrate compositions and modifications in stem and leaf tissues are major determinants for observed differences in cell-wall quality. The findings indicate that improvement of lignocellulosic feedstocks should encompass tissue-dependent variation as it affects amenability to biological conversion. For gene-trait associations relating to cell-wall quality, the data support the separate examination of leaf and stem composition, as tissue-specific traits may be masked by considering only total above-ground biomass samples, and sample variability could be mostly due to varying tissue contributions to total biomass. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company.

  4. Oral Mucosa Harbors a High Frequency of Endothelial Cells: A Novel Postnatal Cell Source for Angiogenic Regeneration.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Jian; Rogers, Jason H; Lee, Scott H; Sun, DongMing; Yao, Hai; Mao, Jeremy J; Kong, Kimi Y

    2017-01-15

    Endothelial progenitor cells/endothelial cells (EPCs/ECs) have great potential to treat pathological conditions such as cardiac infarction, muscle ischemia, and bone fractures, but isolation of EPC/ECs from existing cell sources is challenging due to their low EC frequency. We have isolated endothelial progenitor (EP)-like cells from rat oral mucosa and characterized their yield, immunophenotype, growth, and in vivo angiogenic potential. The frequency of EP-like cells derived from oral mucosa is thousands of folds higher than EPCs derived from donor-match bone marrow samples. EP-like cells from oral mucosa were positive for EC markers CD31, VE-Cadherin, and VEGFR2. Oral mucosa-derived EP-like cells displayed robust uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein and formed stable capillary networks in Matrigel. Subcutaneously implanted oral mucosa-derived EP-like cells anastomosed with host blood vessels, implicating their ability to elicit angiogenesis. Similar to endothelial colony-forming cells, EP-like cells from oral mucosa have a significantly higher proliferative rate than human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These findings identify a putative EPC source that is easily accessible in the oral cavity, potentially from discarded tissue specimens, and yet with robust yield and potency for angiogenesis in tissue and organ regeneration.

  5. Oral Mucosa Harbors a High Frequency of Endothelial Cells: A Novel Postnatal Cell Source for Angiogenic Regeneration

    PubMed Central

    Zhou, Jian; Rogers, Jason H.; Lee, Scott H.; Sun, DongMing; Yao, Hai; Mao, Jeremy J.

    2017-01-01

    Endothelial progenitor cells/endothelial cells (EPCs/ECs) have great potential to treat pathological conditions such as cardiac infarction, muscle ischemia, and bone fractures, but isolation of EPC/ECs from existing cell sources is challenging due to their low EC frequency. We have isolated endothelial progenitor (EP)-like cells from rat oral mucosa and characterized their yield, immunophenotype, growth, and in vivo angiogenic potential. The frequency of EP-like cells derived from oral mucosa is thousands of folds higher than EPCs derived from donor-match bone marrow samples. EP-like cells from oral mucosa were positive for EC markers CD31, VE-Cadherin, and VEGFR2. Oral mucosa-derived EP-like cells displayed robust uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein and formed stable capillary networks in Matrigel. Subcutaneously implanted oral mucosa-derived EP-like cells anastomosed with host blood vessels, implicating their ability to elicit angiogenesis. Similar to endothelial colony-forming cells, EP-like cells from oral mucosa have a significantly higher proliferative rate than human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These findings identify a putative EPC source that is easily accessible in the oral cavity, potentially from discarded tissue specimens, and yet with robust yield and potency for angiogenesis in tissue and organ regeneration. PMID:27832737

  6. Non-contact monitoring during laser surgery by measuring the incision depth with air-coupled transducers

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Oyaga Landa, Francisco Javier; Deán-Ben, Xosé Luís.; Montero de Espinosa, Francisco; Razansky, Daniel

    2017-03-01

    Lack of haptic feedback during laser surgery hampers controlling the incision depth, leading to a high risk of undesired tissue damage. Here we present a new feedback sensing method that accomplishes non-contact realtime monitoring of laser ablation procedures by detecting shock waves emanating from the ablation spot with air-coupled transducers. Experiments in soft and hard tissue samples attained high reproducibity in real-time depth estimation of the laser-induced cuts. The advantages derived from the non-contact nature of the suggested monitoring approach are expected to greatly promote the general applicability of laser-based surgeries.

  7. Peripheral Motor and Sensory Nerve Conduction following Transplantation of Undifferentiated Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells in a Biodegradable U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Approved Nerve Conduit.

    PubMed

    Klein, Silvan M; Vykoukal, Jody; Li, De-Pei; Pan, Hui-Lin; Zeitler, Katharina; Alt, Eckhard; Geis, Sebastian; Felthaus, Oliver; Prantl, Lukas

    2016-07-01

    Conduits preseeded with either Schwann cells or stem cells differentiated into Schwann cells demonstrated promising results for the outcome of nerve regeneration in nerve defects. The concept of this trial combines nerve repair by means of a commercially available nerve guidance conduit and preseeding with autologous, undifferentiated, adipose tissue-derived stem cells. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells were harvested from rats and subsequently seeded onto a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved type I collagen conduit. Sciatic nerve gaps 10 mm in length were created, and nerve repair was performed by the transplantation of either conduits preseeded with autologous adipose tissue-derived stem cells or acellular (control group) conduits. After 6 months, the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity were assessed. Nerves were removed and examined by hematoxylin and eosin, van Gieson, and immunohistochemistry (S100 protein) staining for the quality of axonal regeneration. Nerve gaps treated with adipose tissue-derived stem cells showed superior nerve regeneration, reflected by higher motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity values. The motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity were significantly greater in nerves treated with conduits preseeded with adipose tissue-derived stem cells than in nerves treated with conduits alone (p < 0.05). Increased S100 immunoreactivity was detected for the adipose tissue-derived stem cell group. In this group, axon arrangement inside the conduits was more organized. Transplantation of adipose tissue-derived stem cells significantly improves motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in peripheral nerve gaps. Preseeded conduits showed a more organized axon arrangement inside the conduit in comparison with nerve conduits alone. The approach used here could readily be translated into a clinical therapy. Therapeutic, V.

  8. Development of an ex vivo cellular model of rheumatoid arthritis: critical role of CD14-positive monocyte/macrophages in the development of pannus tissue.

    PubMed

    Nozaki, Toshiko; Takahashi, Kyoko; Ishii, Osamu; Endo, Sachio; Hioki, Kyoji; Mori, Toshihito; Kikukawa, Tadahiro; Boumpas, Dimitrios T; Ozaki, Shoichi; Yamada, Hidehiro

    2007-09-01

    To establish an ex vivo cellular model of pannus, the aberrant overgrowth of human synovial tissue (ST). Inflammatory cells that infiltrated pannus tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were collected without enzyme digestion, and designated as ST-derived inflammatory cells. Single-cell suspensions of ST-derived inflammatory cells were cultured in medium alone. Levels of cytokines produced in culture supernatants were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. ST-derived inflammatory cells were transferred into the joints of immunodeficient mice to explore whether these cells could develop pannus. CD14 and CD2 cells were depleted by negative selection. Culture of ST-derived inflammatory cells from 92 of 111 patients with RA resulted in spontaneous reconstruction of inflammatory tissue in vitro within 4 weeks. Ex vivo tissue contained fibroblasts, macrophages, T cells, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells. On calcium phosphate-coated slides, ST-derived inflammatory cell cultures showed numerous resorption pits. ST-derived inflammatory cell cultures continuously produced matrix metalloproteinase 9 and proinflammatory cytokines associated with osteoclastogenesis, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-8, and macrophage colony-stimulating factor. More importantly, transferring ST-derived inflammatory cells into the joints of immunodeficient mice resulted in the development of pannus tissue and erosive joint lesions. Both in vitro development and in vivo development of pannus tissue by ST-derived inflammatory cells were inhibited by depleting CD14-positive, but not CD2-positive, cells from ST-derived inflammatory cells. These findings suggest that overgrowth of inflammatory cells from human rheumatoid synovium simulates the development of pannus. This may prove informative in the screening of potential antirheumatic drugs.

  9. Shifts in stable-isotope signatures confirm parasitic relationship of freshwater mussel glochidia attached to host fish

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Fritts, Mark W.; Fritts, Andrea K.; Carleton, Scott A.; Bringolf, Robert B.

    2013-01-01

    The parasitic nature of the association between glochidia of unionoidean bivalves and their host fish (i.e. the role of fish hosts in providing nutritional resources to the developing glochidia) is still uncertain. While previous work has provided descriptions of development of glochidia on fish hosts, earlier studies have not explicitly documented the flow of nutrition from the host fish to the juvenile mussel. Therefore, our objective was to use stable isotope analysis to quantitatively document nutrient flow between fish and glochidia. Glochidia were collected from nine adult Lampsilis cardium and used to inoculate Micropterus salmoides(n = 27; three fish per maternal mussel) that produced juvenile mussels for the experiment. Adult mussel tissue samples, glochidia, transformed juvenile mussels and fish gill tissues were analysed for δ15N and δ13C isotope ratios. We used a linear mixing model to estimate the fraction of juvenile mussel tissue derived from the host fish's tissue during attachment. Our analyses indicate a distinct shift in both C and N isotopic ratios from the glochidial stage to the juvenile stage during mussel attachment and development. Linear mixing model analysis indicated that 57.4% of the δ15N in juvenile tissues were obtained from the host fish. This work provides novel evidence that larval unionoideans are true parasites that derive nutrition from host fish during their metamorphosis into the juvenile stage.

  10. Enrichment of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) reactive mucosal T cells in the human female genital tract.

    PubMed

    Posavad, C M; Zhao, L; Dong, L; Jin, L; Stevens, C E; Magaret, A S; Johnston, C; Wald, A; Zhu, J; Corey, L; Koelle, D M

    2017-09-01

    Local mucosal cellular immunity is critical in providing protection from HSV-2. To characterize and quantify HSV-2-reactive mucosal T cells, lymphocytes were isolated from endocervical cytobrush and biopsy specimens from 17 HSV-2-infected women and examined ex vivo for the expression of markers associated with maturation and tissue residency and for functional T-cell responses to HSV-2. Compared with their circulating counterparts, cervix-derived CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were predominantly effector memory T cells (CCR7-/CD45RA-) and the majority expressed CD69, a marker of tissue residency. Co-expression of CD103, another marker of tissue residency, was highest on cervix-derived CD8+ T cells. Functional HSV-2 reactive CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were detected in cervical samples and a median of 17% co-expressed CD103. HSV-2-reactive CD4+ T cells co-expressed IL-2 and were significantly enriched in the cervix compared with blood. This first direct ex vivo documentation of local enrichment of HSV-2-reactive T cells in the human female genital mucosa is consistent with the presence of antigen-specific tissue-resident memory T cells. Ex vivo analysis of these T cells may uncover tissue-specific mechanisms of local control of HSV-2 to assist the development of vaccine strategies that target protective T cells to sites of HSV-2 infection.

  11. Enamel matrix derivative enhances tissue formation around scaffolds used for tissue engineering of ligaments.

    PubMed

    Messenger, Michael P; Raïf, El M; Seedhom, Bahaa B; Brookes, Steven J

    2010-02-01

    The following in vitro translational study investigated whether enamel matrix derivative (EMD), an approved biomimetic treatment for periodontal disease (Emdogain) and hard-to-heal wounds (Xelma), enhanced synovial cell colonization and protein synthesis around a scaffold used clinically for in situ tissue engineering of the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Synovial cells were enzymatically extracted from bovine synovium and dynamically seeded onto polyethylene terephthalate (PET) scaffolds. The cells were cultured in low-serum medium (0.5% FBS) for 4 weeks with either a single administration of EMD at the start of the 4 week period or multiple administrations of EMD at regular intervals throughout the 4 weeks. Samples were harvested and evaluated using the Hoechst DNA assay, BCA protein assay, cresolphthalein complexone calcium assay, SDS-PAGE, ELISA and electron microscopy. A significant increase in cell number (DNA) (p < 0.01), protein content (p < 0.01) and TGFbeta1 synthesis (p < 0.01) was observed with multiple administrations of EMD. Additionally, SDS-PAGE showed an increase in high molecular weight proteins, characteristic of the fibril-forming collagens. Electron microscopy supported these findings, showing that scaffolds treated with multiple administrations of EMD were heavily coated with cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) that enveloped the fibres. Multiple administrations of EMD to synovial cell-seeded scaffolds enhanced the formation of tissue in vitro. Additionally, it was shown that EMD enhanced TGFbeta1 synthesis of synovial cells, suggesting a potential mode of action for EMD's capacity to stimulate tissue regeneration.

  12. Three-dimensional epithelial tissues generated from human embryonic stem cells.

    PubMed

    Hewitt, Kyle J; Shamis, Yulia; Carlson, Mark W; Aberdam, Edith; Aberdam, Daniel; Garlick, Jonathan A

    2009-11-01

    The use of pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells for tissue engineering may provide advantages over traditional sources of progenitor cells because of their ability to give rise to multiple cell types and their unlimited expansion potential. We derived cell populations with properties of ectodermal and mesenchymal cells in two-dimensional culture and incorporated these divergent cell populations into three-dimensional (3D) epithelial tissues. When grown in specific media and substrate conditions, two-dimensional cultures were enriched in cells (EDK1) with mesenchymal morphology and surface markers. Cells with a distinct epithelial morphology (HDE1) that expressed cytokeratin 12 and beta-catenin at cell junctions became the predominant cell type when EDK1 were grown on surfaces enriched in keratinocyte-derived extracellular matrix proteins. When these cells were incorporated into the stromal and epithelial tissue compartments of 3D tissues, they generated multilayer epithelia similar to those generated with foreskin-derived epithelium and fibroblasts. Three-dimensional tissues demonstrated stromal cells with morphologic features of mature fibroblasts, type IV collagen deposition in the basement membrane, and a stratified epithelium that expressed cytokeratin 12. By deriving two distinct cell lineages from a common hES cell source to fabricate complex tissues, it is possible to explore environmental cues that will direct hES-derived cells toward optimal tissue form and function.

  13. Quantitative assessment of soft tissue deformation using digital speckle pattern interferometry: studies on phantom breast models

    PubMed Central

    Karuppanan, Udayakumar; Unni, Sujatha Narayanan; Angarai, Ganesan R.

    2017-01-01

    Abstract. Assessment of mechanical properties of soft matter is a challenging task in a purely noninvasive and noncontact environment. As tissue mechanical properties play a vital role in determining tissue health status, such noninvasive methods offer great potential in framing large-scale medical screening strategies. The digital speckle pattern interferometry (DSPI)–based image capture and analysis system described here is capable of extracting the deformation information from a single acquired fringe pattern. Such a method of analysis would be required in the case of the highly dynamic nature of speckle patterns derived from soft tissues while applying mechanical compression. Soft phantoms mimicking breast tissue optical and mechanical properties were fabricated and tested in the DSPI out of plane configuration set up. Hilbert transform (HT)-based image analysis algorithm was developed to extract the phase and corresponding deformation of the sample from a single acquired fringe pattern. The experimental fringe contours were found to correlate with numerically simulated deformation patterns of the sample using Abaqus finite element analysis software. The extracted deformation from the experimental fringe pattern using the HT-based algorithm is compared with the deformation value obtained using numerical simulation under similar conditions of loading and the results are found to correlate with an average %error of 10. The proposed method is applied on breast phantoms fabricated with included subsurface anomaly mimicking cancerous tissue and the results are analyzed. PMID:28180134

  14. Tissue-Specific Methylation of Long Interspersed Nucleotide Element-1 of Homo Sapiens (L1Hs) During Human Embryogenesis and Roles in Neural Tube Defects.

    PubMed

    Wang, L; Chang, S; Guan, J; Shangguan, S; Lu, X; Wang, Z; Wu, L; Zou, J; Zhao, H; Bao, Y; Qiu, Z; Niu, B; Zhang, T

    2015-01-01

    Epigenetic regulation of long interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) retrotransposition events plays crucial roles during early development. Previously we showed that LINE-1 hypomethylation in neuronal tissues is associated with pathogenesis of neural tube defect (NTD). Herein, we further evaluated LINE-1 Homo sapiens (L1Hs) methylation in tissues derived from three germ layers of stillborn NTD fetuses, to define patterns of tissue specific methylation and site-specific hypomethylation at CpG sites within an L1Hs promoter region. Stable, tissue-specific L1Hs methylation patterns throughout three germ layer lineages of the fetus, placenta, and maternal peripheral blood were observed. Samples from maternal peripheral blood exhibited the highest level of L1Hs methylation (64.95%) and that from placenta showed the lowest (26.82%). Between samples from NTDs and controls, decrease in L1Hs methylation was only significant in NTD-affected brain tissue at 7.35%, especially in females (8.98%). L1Hs hypomethylation in NTDs was also associated with a significant increase in expression level of an L1Hs-encoded transcript in females (r = -0.846, p = 0.004). This could be due to genomic DNA instability and alternation in chromatins accessibility resulted from abnormal L1Hs hypomethylation, as showed in this study with HCT-15 cells treated with methylation inhibitor 5-Aza.

  15. Exploring the origins of echo-time-dependent quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) measurements in healthy tissue and cerebral microbleeds.

    PubMed

    Cronin, Matthew J; Wang, Nian; Decker, Kyle S; Wei, Hongjiang; Zhu, Wen-Zhen; Liu, Chunlei

    2017-04-01

    Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is increasingly used to measure variation in tissue composition both in the brain and in other areas of the body in a range of disease pathologies. Although QSM measurements were originally believed to be independent of the echo time (TE) used in the gradient-recalled echo (GRE) acquisition from which they are derived; recent literature (Sood et al., 2016) has shown that these measurements can be highly TE-dependent in a number of brain regions. In this work we systematically investigate possible causes of this effect through analysis of apparent frequency and QSM measurements derived from data acquired at multiple TEs in vivo in healthy brain regions and in cerebral microbleeds (CMBs); QSM data acquired in a gadolinium-doped phantom; and in QSM data derived from idealized simulated phase data. Apparent frequency measurements in the optic radiations (OR) and central corpus callosum (CC) were compared to those predicted by a 3-pool white matter model, however the model failed to fully explain contrasting frequency profiles measured in the OR and CC. Our results show that TE-dependent QSM measurements can be caused by a failure of phase unwrapping algorithms in and around strong susceptibility sources such as CMBs; however, in healthy brain regions this behavior appears to result from intrinsic non-linear phase evolution in the MR signal. From these results we conclude that care must be taken when deriving frequency and QSM measurements in strong susceptibility sources due to the inherent limitations in phase unwrapping; and that while signal compartmentalization due to tissue microstructure and content is a plausible cause of TE-dependent frequency and QSM measurements in healthy brain regions, better sampling of the MR signal and more complex models of tissue are needed to fully exploit this relationship. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. The effects of dynamic compression on the development of cartilage grafts engineered using bone marrow and infrapatellar fat pad derived stem cells.

    PubMed

    Luo, Lu; Thorpe, Stephen D; Buckley, Conor T; Kelly, Daniel J

    2015-09-21

    Bioreactors that subject cell seeded scaffolds or hydrogels to biophysical stimulation have been used to improve the functionality of tissue engineered cartilage and to explore how such constructs might respond to the application of joint specific mechanical loading. Whether a particular cell type responds appropriately to physiological levels of biophysical stimulation could be considered a key determinant of its suitability for cartilage tissue engineering applications. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dynamic compression on chondrogenesis of stem cells isolated from different tissue sources. Porcine bone marrow (BM) and infrapatellar fat pad (FP) derived stem cells were encapsulated in agarose hydrogels and cultured in a chondrogenic medium in free swelling (FS) conditions for 21 d, after which samples were subjected to dynamic compression (DC) of 10% strain (1 Hz, 1 h d(-1)) for a further 21 d. Both BM derived stem cells (BMSCs) and FP derived stem cells (FPSCs) were capable of generating cartilaginous tissues with near native levels of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) content, although the spatial development of the engineered grafts strongly depended on the stem cell source. The mechanical properties of cartilage grafts generated from both stem cell sources also approached that observed in skeletally immature animals. Depending on the stem cell source and the donor, the application of DC either enhanced or had no significant effect on the functional development of cartilaginous grafts engineered using either BMSCs or FPSCs. BMSC seeded constructs subjected to DC stained less intensely for collagen type I. Furthermore, histological and micro-computed tomography analysis showed mineral deposition within BMSC seeded constructs was suppressed by the application of DC. Therefore, while the application of DC in vitro may only lead to modest improvements in the mechanical functionality of cartilaginous grafts, it may play an important role in the development of phenotypically stable constructs.

  17. Exosome-Like Vesicles Derived from Adipose Tissue Provide Biochemical Cues for Adipose Tissue Regeneration.

    PubMed

    Dai, Minjia; Yu, Mei; Zhang, Yan; Tian, Weidong

    2017-11-01

    There is an emerging need for soft tissue replacements in the field of reconstructive surgery for the treatment of congenital deformities, posttraumatic repair, and cancer rehabilitation. Previous studies have shown that the bioactive adipose tissue extract can induce adipogenesis without additional stem cells or growth factors. In this study, we innovatively investigated whether exosome-like vesicles derived from adipose tissue (ELV-AT) could direct stem cell differentiation and trigger adipose tissue regeneration. In vitro, ELV-AT can induce adipogenesis of adipose-derived stem cells and promote proliferation, migration, and angiogenic potential of the aorta endothelial cells. In vivo, ELV-AT were transplanted to a chamber on the back of nude mice and neoadipose tissues were formed. Our findings indicated that ELV-AT could be used as a cell-free therapeutic approach for adipose tissue regeneration.

  18. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells enhance bioprosthetic mesh repair of ventral hernias.

    PubMed

    Altman, Andrew M; Abdul Khalek, Feras J; Alt, Eckhard U; Butler, Charles E

    2010-09-01

    Bioprosthetic mesh used for ventral hernia repair becomes incorporated into the musculofascial edge by cellular infiltration and vascularization. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells promote tissue repair and vascularization and may increase the rate or degree of tissue incorporation. The authors hypothesized that introducing these cells into bioprosthetic mesh would result in adipose tissue-derived stem cell engraftment and proliferation and enhance incorporation of the bioprosthetic mesh. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells were isolated from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of syngeneic Brown Norway rats, expanded in vitro, and labeled with green fluorescent protein. Thirty-six additional rats underwent inlay ventral hernia repair with porcine acellular dermal matrix. Two 12-rat groups had the cells (1.0 x 10(6)) injected directly into the musculofascial/porcine acellular dermal matrix interface after repair or received porcine acellular dermal matrix on which the cells had been preseeded; the 12-rat control group received no stem cells. At 2 weeks, adipose tissue-derived stem cells in both stem cell groups engrafted, survived, migrated, and proliferated. Mean cellular infiltration into porcine acellular dermal matrix at the musculofascial/graft interface was significantly greater in the preseeded and injected stem cell groups than in the control group. Mean vascular infiltration of the porcine acellular dermal matrix was significantly greater in both stem cell groups than in the control group. Preseeded and injected adipose tissue-derived stem cells engraft, migrate, proliferate, and enhance the vascularity of porcine acellular dermal matrix grafts at the musculofascial/graft interface. These cells can thus enhance incorporation of porcine acellular dermal matrix into the abdominal wall after repair of ventral hernias.

  19. SABRE: a method for assessing the stability of gene modules in complex tissues and subject populations.

    PubMed

    Shannon, Casey P; Chen, Virginia; Takhar, Mandeep; Hollander, Zsuzsanna; Balshaw, Robert; McManus, Bruce M; Tebbutt, Scott J; Sin, Don D; Ng, Raymond T

    2016-11-14

    Gene network inference (GNI) algorithms can be used to identify sets of coordinately expressed genes, termed network modules from whole transcriptome gene expression data. The identification of such modules has become a popular approach to systems biology, with important applications in translational research. Although diverse computational and statistical approaches have been devised to identify such modules, their performance behavior is still not fully understood, particularly in complex human tissues. Given human heterogeneity, one important question is how the outputs of these computational methods are sensitive to the input sample set, or stability. A related question is how this sensitivity depends on the size of the sample set. We describe here the SABRE (Similarity Across Bootstrap RE-sampling) procedure for assessing the stability of gene network modules using a re-sampling strategy, introduce a novel criterion for identifying stable modules, and demonstrate the utility of this approach in a clinically-relevant cohort, using two different gene network module discovery algorithms. The stability of modules increased as sample size increased and stable modules were more likely to be replicated in larger sets of samples. Random modules derived from permutated gene expression data were consistently unstable, as assessed by SABRE, and provide a useful baseline value for our proposed stability criterion. Gene module sets identified by different algorithms varied with respect to their stability, as assessed by SABRE. Finally, stable modules were more readily annotated in various curated gene set databases. The SABRE procedure and proposed stability criterion may provide guidance when designing systems biology studies in complex human disease and tissues.

  20. Role of sediment size and biostratinomy on the development of biofilms in recent avian vertebrate remains

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Peterson, Joseph E.; Lenczewski, Melissa E.; Clawson, Steven R.; Warnock, Jonathan P.

    2017-04-01

    Microscopic soft tissues have been identified in fossil vertebrate remains collected from various lithologies. However, the diagenetic mechanisms to preserve such tissues have remained elusive. While previous studies have described infiltration of biofilms in Haversian and Volkmann’s canals, biostratinomic alteration (e.g., trampling), and iron derived from hemoglobin as playing roles in the preservation processes, the influence of sediment texture has not previously been investigated. This study uses a Kolmogorov Smirnov Goodness-of-Fit test to explore the influence of biostratinomic variability and burial media against the infiltration of biofilms in bone samples. Controlled columns of sediment with bone samples were used to simulate burial and subsequent groundwater flow. Sediments used in this study include clay-, silt-, and sand-sized particles modeled after various fluvial facies commonly associated with fossil vertebrates. Extant limb bone samples obtained from Gallus gallus domesticus (Domestic Chicken) buried in clay-rich sediment exhibit heavy biofilm infiltration, while bones buried in sands and silts exhibit moderate levels. Crushed bones exhibit significantly lower biofilm infiltration than whole bone samples. Strong interactions between biostratinomic alteration and sediment size are also identified with respect to biofilm development. Sediments modeling crevasse splay deposits exhibit considerable variability; whole-bone crevasse splay samples exhibit higher frequencies of high-level biofilm infiltration, and crushed-bone samples in modeled crevasse splay deposits display relatively high frequencies of low-level biofilm infiltration. These results suggest that sediment size, depositional setting, and biostratinomic condition play key roles in biofilm infiltration in vertebrate remains, and may influence soft tissue preservation in fossil vertebrates.

  1. Direct comparison of progenitor cells derived from adipose, muscle, and bone marrow from wild-type or craniosynostotic rabbits

    PubMed Central

    GM, Cooper; EL, Lensie; JJ, Cray; MR, Bykowski; GE, DeCesare; MA, Smalley; MP, Mooney; PG, Campbell; JE, Losee

    2010-01-01

    Background Reports have identified cells capable of osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow, muscle, and adipose tissues, but there are few direct comparisons of these different cell-types. Also, few have investigated the potential connection between a tissue-specific pathology and cells derived from seemingly unrelated tissues. Here, we compare cells isolated from wild-type rabbits or rabbits with nonsyndromic craniosynostosis, defined as the premature fusion of one or more of the cranial sutures. Methods Cells were derived from bone marrow, adipose, and muscle of 10 day-old wild-type rabbits (WT; n=17) or from age-matched rabbits with familial nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (CS; n=18). Cells were stimulated with bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) and alkaline phosphatase expression and cell proliferation were assessed. Results In WT rabbits, cells derived from muscle had more alkaline phosphatase activity than cells derived from either adipose or bone marrow. The cells derived from CS rabbit bone marrow and muscle were significantly more osteogenic than WT. Adipose-derived cells demonstrated no significant differences. While muscle-derived cells were most osteogenic in WT rabbits, bone marrow-derived cells were most osteogenic in CS rabbits. Conclusions Results suggest that cells from different tissues have different potentials for differentiation. Furthermore, cells derived from rabbits with craniosynostosis were different from wild-type derived cells. Interestingly, cells derived from the craniosynostotic rabbits were not uniformly more responsive compared with wild-type cells, suggesting that specific tissue-derived cells may react differently in individuals with craniosynostosis. PMID:20871482

  2. Use of FTA® card methodology for sampling and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in Africa.

    PubMed

    Boué, Franck; El Berbri, Ikhlass; Hormaz, Vanessa; Boucher, Jean-Marc; El Mamy, Ahmed Bezeid; Traore, Abdallah; Fihri, Ouafaa Fassi; Petavy, Anne-Françoise; Dakkak, Allal; Umhang, Gérald

    2017-02-01

    Cystic Echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus widely distributed in Africa. Monitoring of this parasite requires access to cyst samples on intermediate hosts observed at the slaughterhouse. In order to facilitate sampling in the field and analysis, the French National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp. has developed a tissue derived from DNA sampling with FTA ® card technology. The DNA samples were taken by applying the FTA ® paper on the germinal layer after opening the cysts. The sampling technique was validated using frozen cysts (n = 76) stored in the laboratory and from field samples (n = 134) taken at the slaughterhouse by veterinarian technicians during meat inspection in Morocco, Mali and Mauritania. DNA was extracted after several weeks of storage at room temperature. PCR assays were performed using primers for generic cestode (cox1) and amplified fragments were sequenced. All samples taken in the lab and 80% of field samples were capable of molecular characterization. Cyst-derived DNA from FTA ® samples can be useful for easy sampling, storage and rapid, safe and cheap shipment. The use of the FTA methodology will facilitate studies in the field to investigate the presence and genetic characterization of E. granulosus sensu lato in African countries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Propionibacterium acnes: Disease-Causing Agent or Common Contaminant? Detection in Diverse Patient Samples by Next-Generation Sequencing

    PubMed Central

    Friis-Nielsen, Jens; Vinner, Lasse; Hansen, Thomas Arn; Richter, Stine Raith; Fridholm, Helena; Herrera, Jose Alejandro Romero; Lund, Ole; Brunak, Søren; Izarzugaza, Jose M. G.; Mourier, Tobias; Nielsen, Lars Peter

    2016-01-01

    Propionibacterium acnes is the most abundant bacterium on human skin, particularly in sebaceous areas. P. acnes is suggested to be an opportunistic pathogen involved in the development of diverse medical conditions but is also a proven contaminant of human clinical samples and surgical wounds. Its significance as a pathogen is consequently a matter of debate. In the present study, we investigated the presence of P. acnes DNA in 250 next-generation sequencing data sets generated from 180 samples of 20 different sample types, mostly of cancerous origin. The samples were subjected to either microbial enrichment, involving nuclease treatment to reduce the amount of host nucleic acids, or shotgun sequencing. We detected high proportions of P. acnes DNA in enriched samples, particularly skin tissue-derived and other tissue samples, with the levels being higher in enriched samples than in shotgun-sequenced samples. P. acnes reads were detected in most samples analyzed, though the proportions in most shotgun-sequenced samples were low. Our results show that P. acnes can be detected in practically all sample types when molecular methods, such as next-generation sequencing, are employed. The possibility of contamination from the patient or other sources, including laboratory reagents or environment, should therefore always be considered carefully when P. acnes is detected in clinical samples. We advocate that detection of P. acnes always be accompanied by experiments validating the association between this bacterium and any clinical condition. PMID:26818667

  4. Determination of sulfonamide residues in the tissues of food animals using automated precolumn derivatization and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

    PubMed

    Salisbury, Craig D C; Sweet, Jason C; Munro, Roger

    2004-01-01

    A liquid chromatographic method for the determination of sulfachloropyridazine, sulfadiazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfadoxine, sulfaethoxypyridazine, sulfamethazine, sulfaquinoxaline, and sulfathiazole residues in the muscle, liver, and kidney of food animals using sulfapyridine as internal standard is reported. Tissues are extracted using a modified version of AOAC Official Method 983.31 (Sulfonamide Residues in Animal Tissues). The sample extract is reconstituted in pH 3.0 buffer-acetonitrile (60 + 40) and filtered into an autosampler vial. Using a programmable autosampler of a liquid chromatograph, a portion of the sample is derivatized precolumn with fluorescamine. The sulfonamide derivatives are separated by liquid chromatography using a C18 column with a mobile phase of 0.02M phosphoric acid-acetonitrile (60.5 + 39.5) and detected by fluorescence (excitation, 405 nm; emission, 495 nm). The method was applied to swine and cattle muscle, liver, and kidney; sheep and horse muscle and kidney; and chicken muscle and liver. The mean values for samples fortified with sulfonamides at levels between 0.05 and 0.2 microg/g agreed within 96-99% of spiked levels, with coefficients of variation ranging from 4-10%. The limit of detection (LOD) for all sulfonamides was 0.01 microg/g, with the exception of sulfaquinoxaline, for which the LOD was 0.015 microg/g.

  5. [Assessment Method of Remnant α-1, 3-galactosyle Epitopes in Animal Tissue-derived Biomaterials].

    PubMed

    Shan, Yongqiang; Xu, Liming; Ke, Linnan; Lu, Yan; Shao, Anliang; Zhang, Na; Zeng, Bixin

    2015-06-01

    The aim of this study was to establish an assessment method for determining α-Gal (α-1, 3-galactosyle) epitopes contained in animal tissue or animal tissue-derived biological materials with ELISA inhibition assay. Firstly, a 96 well plate was coated with Gal α-1, 3-Gal/bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a solid phase antigen and meanwhile, the anti-α-Gal M86 was used to react with α-Gal antigens which contained in the test materials. Then, the residual antibodies (M86) in the supernatant of M86-Gal reaction mixture were measured using ELISA inhibition assay by the α-Gal coating plate. The inhibition curve of the ELISA inhibition assay, the R2 = 0.999, was well established. Checking using both α-Gal positive materials (rat liver tissues) and α-Gal negative materials (human placenta tissues) showed a good sensitivity and specificity. Based on the presently established method, the α-Gal expression profile of rat tissues, decellular animal tissue-derived biological materials and porcine dermal before and after decellular treatment were determined. The M86 ELISA inhibition assay method, which can quantitatively determine the α-Gal antigens contained in animal tissues or animal tissue-derived biomaterials, was refined. This M86 specific antibody based-ELISA inhibition assay established in the present study has good sensitivity and specificity, and could be a useful method for determining remnant α-1, 3Gal antigens in animal tissue-derived biomaterials.

  6. Novel bone metabolism-associated hormones: the importance of the pre-analytical phase for understanding their physiological roles.

    PubMed

    Lombardi, Giovanni; Barbaro, Mosè; Locatelli, Massimo; Banfi, Giuseppe

    2017-06-01

    The endocrine function of bone is now a recognized feature of this tissue. Bone-derived hormones that modulate whole-body homeostasis, are being discovered as for the effects on bone of novel and classic hormones produced by other tissues become known. Often, however, the data regarding these last generation bone-derived or bone-targeting hormones do not give about a clear picture of their physiological roles or concentration ranges. A certain degree of uncertainty could stem from differences in the pre-analytical management of biological samples. The pre-analytical phase comprises a series of decisions and actions (i.e., choice of sample matrix, methods of collection, transportation, treatment and storage) preceding analysis. Errors arising in this phase will inevitably be carried over to the analytical phase where they can reduce the measurement accuracy, ultimately, leading discrepant results. While the pre-analytical phase is all important, in routine laboratory medicine, it is often not given due consideration in research and clinical trials. This is particularly true for novel molecules, such as the hormones regulating the endocrine function of bone. In this review we discuss the importance of the pre-analytical variables affecting the measurement of last generation bone-associated hormones and describe their, often debated and rarely clear physiological roles.

  7. Quantitation of polyamines in cultured cells and tissue homogenates by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of their benzoyl derivatives.

    PubMed

    Verkoelen, C F; Romijn, J C; Schroeder, F H; van Schalkwijk, W P; Splinter, T A

    1988-04-08

    A rapid and simple method, originally described by Redmond and Tseng [J. Chromatogr., 170 (1979) 479] was applied to the analysis of di- and polyamines in cultured human tumour cells and human tumour xenografts. Optimization of the procedures and evaluation of the characteristic features of the assay are described. The (modified) procedure employs precolumn derivatization with benzoyl chloride, extraction of the derivatives by chloroform, separation by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography under isocratic conditions and detection by ultraviolet absorbance measurement at 229 nm. The complete analysis was accomplished within 10 min per sample. The detection limit was ca. 1 pmol. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 2.5-4.4% and 3.4-13.1%, respectively. The presence of well known inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis, such as DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine and methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), did not interfere with the assay, and disturbance by cyclohexylamine could be avoided by changing the polarity of the mobile phase. The method proved to be very suitable because it is rapid, simple, requires a minimum of sample pretreatment, and still provides sufficient sensitivity to quantitate polyamines in relatively small amounts of cells (10(5) cells) or tumour tissues (less than 1 mg), even after treatment with inhibitors of polyamine biosynthesis.

  8. Clinical Significance of SASH1 Expression in Glioma.

    PubMed

    Yang, Liu; Zhang, Haitao; Yao, Qi; Yan, Yingying; Wu, Ronghua; Liu, Mei

    2015-01-01

    SAM and SH3 domain containing 1 (SASH1) is a recently discovered tumor suppressor gene. The role of SASH1 in glioma has not yet been described. We investigated SASH1 expression in glioma cases to determine its clinical significance on glioma pathogenesis and prognosis. We produced tissue microarrays using 121 patient-derived glioma samples and 30 patient-derived nontumor cerebral samples. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to evaluate SASH1 expression. We used Fisher's exact tests to determine relationships between SASH1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics; Cox regression analysis to evaluate the independency of different SASH1 expression; Kaplan-Meier analysis to determine any correlation of SASH1 expression with survival rate. SASH1 expression was closely correlated with the WHO glioma grade. Of the 121 cases, 66.9% with low SASH1 expression were mostly grade III-IV cases, whereas 33.1% with high SASH1 expression were mostly grades I-II. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between SASH1 expression and postoperative survival. SASH1 was widely expressed in normal and low-grade glioma tissues. SASH1 expression strongly correlated with glioma grades, showing higher expression at a lower grade, which decreased significantly as grade increased. Furthermore, SASH1 expression was positively correlated with better postoperative survival in patients with glioma.

  9. Fukushima derived radiocesium in subsistence-consumed northern fur seal and wild celery

    DOE PAGES

    Ruedig, Elizabeth; Duncan, Colleen; Dickerson, Bobette; ...

    2015-11-28

    In July 2014, our investigative team traveled to St. Paul Island, Alaska to measure concentrations of radiocesium in wild-caught food products, primarily northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released radiocesium into the atmosphere and into the western Pacific Ocean; other investigators have detected Fukushima-derived radionuclides in a variety of marine products harvested off the western coast of North America. We tested two subsistence-consumed food products from St. Paul Island, Alaska for Fukushima-derived radionuclides: 54 northern fur seal, and nine putchki (wild celery, Angelica lucida) plants. Individual northern fur seal samples were below minimummore » detectable activity concentrations of 137Cs and 134Cs, but when composited, northern fur seal tissues tested positive for trace quantities of both isotopes. Radiocesium was detected at an activity concentration of 37.2 mBq 134Cs kg -1 f.w. (95% CI: 35.9–38.5) and 141.2 mBq 137Cs kg -1f.w. (95% CI: 135.5–146.8). The measured isotopic ratio, decay-corrected to the date of harvest, was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.25–0.28). The Fukushima nuclear accident released 134Cs and 137Cs in roughly equal quantities, but by the date of harvest in July 2014, this ratio was 0.2774, indicating that this population of seals has been exposed to small quantities of Fukushima-derived radiocesium. Activity concentrations of both 134Cs and 137Cs in putchki were below detection limits, even for composited samples. Northern fur seal is known to migrate between coastal Alaska and Japan and the trace 134Cs in northern fur seal tissue suggests that the population under study had been minimally exposed Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Despite this inference, the radionuclide quantities detected are small and no impact is expected as a result of the measured radiation exposure, either in northern fur seal or human populations consuming this species.« less

  10. Fukushima derived radiocesium in subsistence-consumed northern fur seal and wild celery

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Ruedig, Elizabeth; Duncan, Colleen; Dickerson, Bobette

    In July 2014, our investigative team traveled to St. Paul Island, Alaska to measure concentrations of radiocesium in wild-caught food products, primarily northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released radiocesium into the atmosphere and into the western Pacific Ocean; other investigators have detected Fukushima-derived radionuclides in a variety of marine products harvested off the western coast of North America. We tested two subsistence-consumed food products from St. Paul Island, Alaska for Fukushima-derived radionuclides: 54 northern fur seal, and nine putchki (wild celery, Angelica lucida) plants. Individual northern fur seal samples were below minimummore » detectable activity concentrations of 137Cs and 134Cs, but when composited, northern fur seal tissues tested positive for trace quantities of both isotopes. Radiocesium was detected at an activity concentration of 37.2 mBq 134Cs kg -1 f.w. (95% CI: 35.9–38.5) and 141.2 mBq 137Cs kg -1f.w. (95% CI: 135.5–146.8). The measured isotopic ratio, decay-corrected to the date of harvest, was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.25–0.28). The Fukushima nuclear accident released 134Cs and 137Cs in roughly equal quantities, but by the date of harvest in July 2014, this ratio was 0.2774, indicating that this population of seals has been exposed to small quantities of Fukushima-derived radiocesium. Activity concentrations of both 134Cs and 137Cs in putchki were below detection limits, even for composited samples. Northern fur seal is known to migrate between coastal Alaska and Japan and the trace 134Cs in northern fur seal tissue suggests that the population under study had been minimally exposed Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Despite this inference, the radionuclide quantities detected are small and no impact is expected as a result of the measured radiation exposure, either in northern fur seal or human populations consuming this species.« less

  11. Fukushima derived radiocesium in subsistence-consumed northern fur seal and wild celery.

    PubMed

    Ruedig, Elizabeth; Duncan, Colleen; Dickerson, Bobette; Williams, Michael; Gelatt, Thomas; Bell, Justin; Johnson, Thomas E

    2016-02-01

    In July 2014, our investigative team traveled to St. Paul Island, Alaska to measure concentrations of radiocesium in wild-caught food products, primarily northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus). The 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident released radiocesium into the atmosphere and into the western Pacific Ocean; other investigators have detected Fukushima-derived radionuclides in a variety of marine products harvested off the western coast of North America. We tested two subsistence-consumed food products from St. Paul Island, Alaska for Fukushima-derived radionuclides: 54 northern fur seal, and nine putchki (wild celery, Angelica lucida) plants. Individual northern fur seal samples were below minimum detectable activity concentrations of (137)Cs and (134)Cs, but when composited, northern fur seal tissues tested positive for trace quantities of both isotopes. Radiocesium was detected at an activity concentration of 37.2 mBq (134)Cs kg(-1) f.w. (95% CI: 35.9-38.5) and 141.2 mBq (137)Cs kg(-1) f.w. (95% CI: 135.5-146.8). The measured isotopic ratio, decay-corrected to the date of harvest, was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.25-0.28). The Fukushima nuclear accident released (134)Cs and (137)Cs in roughly equal quantities, but by the date of harvest in July 2014, this ratio was 0.2774, indicating that this population of seals has been exposed to small quantities of Fukushima-derived radiocesium. Activity concentrations of both (134)Cs and (137)Cs in putchki were below detection limits, even for composited samples. Northern fur seal is known to migrate between coastal Alaska and Japan and the trace (134)Cs in northern fur seal tissue suggests that the population under study had been minimally exposed Fukushima-derived radionuclides. Despite this inference, the radionuclide quantities detected are small and no impact is expected as a result of the measured radiation exposure, either in northern fur seal or human populations consuming this species. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  12. Variation in primary and culture-expanded cells derived from connective tissue progenitors in human bone marrow space, bone trabecular surface and adipose tissue.

    PubMed

    Qadan, Maha A; Piuzzi, Nicolas S; Boehm, Cynthia; Bova, Wesley; Moos, Malcolm; Midura, Ronald J; Hascall, Vincent C; Malcuit, Christopher; Muschler, George F

    2018-03-01

    Connective tissue progenitors (CTPs) embody the heterogeneous stem and progenitor cell populations present in native tissue. CTPs are essential to the formation and remodeling of connective tissue and represent key targets for tissue-engineering and cell-based therapies. To better understand and characterize CTPs, we aimed to compare the (i) concentration and prevalence, (ii) early in vitro biological behavior and (iii) expression of surface-markers and transcription factors among cells derived from marrow space (MS), trabecular surface (TS), and adipose tissues (AT). Cancellous-bone and subcutaneous-adipose tissues were collected from 8 patients. Cells were isolated and cultured. Colony formation was assayed using Colonyze software based on ASTM standards. Cell concentration ([Cell]), CTP concentration ([CTP]) and CTP prevalence (P CTP ) were determined. Attributes of culture-expanded cells were compared based on (i) effective proliferation rate and (ii) expression of surface-markers CD73, CD90, CD105, SSEA-4, SSEA-3, SSEA-1/CD15, Cripto-1, E-Cadherin/CD324, Ep-CAM/CD326, CD146, hyaluronan and transcription factors Oct3/4, Sox-2 and Nanog using flow cytometry. Mean [Cell], [CTP] and P CTP were significantly different between MS and TS samples (P = 0.03, P = 0.008 and P= 0.0003), respectively. AT-derived cells generated the highest mean total cell yield at day 6 of culture-4-fold greater than TS and more than 40-fold greater than MS per million cells plated. TS colonies grew with higher mean density than MS colonies (290 ± 11 versus 150 ± 11 cell per mm 2 ; P = 0.0002). Expression of classical-mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) markers was consistently recorded (>95%) from all tissue sources, whereas all the other markers were highly variable. The prevalence and biological potential of CTPs are different between patients and tissue sources and lack variation in classical MSC markers. Other markers are more likely to discriminate differences between cell populations in biological performance. Understanding the underlying reasons for variation in the concentration, prevalence, marker expression and biological potential of CTPs between patients and source tissues and determining the means of managing this variation will contribute to the rational development of cell-based clinical diagnostics and targeted cell-based therapies. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Multiplexed color-coded probe-based gene expression assessment for clinical molecular diagnostics in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded human renal allograft tissue.

    PubMed

    Adam, Benjamin; Afzali, Bahman; Dominy, Katherine M; Chapman, Erin; Gill, Reeda; Hidalgo, Luis G; Roufosse, Candice; Sis, Banu; Mengel, Michael

    2016-03-01

    Histopathologic diagnoses in transplantation can be improved with molecular testing. Preferably, molecular diagnostics should fit into standard-of-care workflows for transplant biopsies, that is, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) processing. The NanoString(®) gene expression platform has recently been shown to work with FFPE samples. We aimed to evaluate its methodological robustness and feasibility for gene expression studies in human FFPE renal allograft samples. A literature-derived antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) 34-gene set, comprised of endothelial, NK cell, and inflammation transcripts, was analyzed in different retrospective biopsy cohorts and showed potential to molecularly discriminate ABMR cases, including FFPE samples. NanoString(®) results were reproducible across a range of RNA input quantities (r = 0.998), with different operators (r = 0.998), and between different reagent lots (r = 0.983). There was moderate correlation between NanoString(®) with FFPE tissue and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) with corresponding dedicated fresh-stabilized tissue (r = 0.487). Better overall correlation with histology was observed with NanoString(®) (r = 0.354) than with qRT-PCR (r = 0.146). Our results demonstrate the feasibility of multiplexed gene expression quantification from FFPE renal allograft tissue. This represents a method for prospective and retrospective validation of molecular diagnostics and its adoption in clinical transplantation pathology. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  14. Differential protein abundance of a basolateral MCT1 transporter in the human gastrointestinal tract.

    PubMed

    Al-Mosauwi, Hashemeya; Ryan, Elizabeth; McGrane, Alison; Riveros-Beltran, Stefanie; Walpole, Caragh; Dempsey, Eugene; Courtney, Danielle; Fearon, Naomi; Winter, Desmond; Baird, Alan; Stewart, Gavin

    2016-12-01

    Bacterially derived short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), such as butyrate, are vital in maintaining the symbiotic relationship that exists between humans and their gastrointestinal microbial populations. A key step in this process is the transport of SCFAs across colonic epithelial cells via MCT1 transporters. This study investigated MCT1 protein abundance in various human intestinal tissues. Initial RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expected MCT1 RNA expression pattern of colon > small intestine > stomach. Using surgical resection samples, immunoblot analysis detected higher abundance of a 45 kDa MCT1 protein in colonic tissue compared to ileum tissue (P < 0.001, N = 4, unpaired t-test). Importantly, MCT1 abundance was found to be significantly lower in sigmoid colon compared to ascending colon (P < 0.01, N = 8-11, ANOVA). Finally, immunolocalization studies confirmed MCT1 to be abundant in the basolateral membranes of surface epithelial cells of the ascending, transverse, and descending colon, but significantly less prevalent in the sigmoid colon (P < 0.05, N = 5-21, ANOVA). In conclusion, these data confirm that basolateral MCT1 protein abundance is correlated to levels of bacterially derived SCFAs along the human gastrointestinal tract. These findings highlight the importance of precise tissue location in studies comparing colonic MCT1 abundance between normal and diseased states. © 2016 International Federation for Cell Biology.

  15. mRNA-Seq Reveals Novel Molecular Mechanisms and a Robust Fingerprint in Graves' Disease

    PubMed Central

    Sachidanandam, Ravi; Morshed, Syed; Latif, Rauf; Shi, Ruijin; Davies, Terry F.

    2014-01-01

    Context: The immune response in autoimmune thyroid disease has been shown to occur primarily within the thyroid gland in which the most abundant antigens can be found. A variety of capture molecules are known to be expressed by thyroid epithelial cells and serve to attract and help retain an intrathyroidal immune infiltrate. Objective: To explore the entire repertoire of expressed genes in human thyroid tissue, we have deep sequenced the transcriptome (referred to as mRNA-Seq). Design and Patients: We applied mRNA-Seq to thyroid tissue from nine patients with Graves' disease subjected to total thyroidectomy and compared the data with 12 samples of normal thyroid tissue obtained from patients having a thyroid nodule removed. The expression for each gene was calculated from the sequencing data by taking the median of the coverage across the length of the gene. The expression levels were quantile normalized and a gene signature was derived from these. Results: On comparison of expression levels in tissues derived from Graves' patients and controls, there was clear evidence for overexpression of the antigen presentation pathway consisting of HLA and associated genes. We also found a robust disease signature and discovered active innate and adaptive immune signaling networks. Conclusions: These data reveal an active immune defense system in Graves' disease, which involves novel molecular mechanisms in its pathogenesis and development. PMID:24971664

  16. Quality Control of RNA Preservation and Extraction from Paraffin-Embedded Tissue: Implications for RT-PCR and Microarray Analysis

    PubMed Central

    Pichler, Martin; Zatloukal, Kurt

    2013-01-01

    Analysis of RNA isolated from fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues is widely used in biomedical research and molecular pathological diagnostics. We have performed a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the impact of factors in the pre-analytical workflow, such as different fixatives, fixation time, RNA extraction method and storage of tissues in paraffin blocks, on several downstream reactions including complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and microarray hybridization. We compared the effects of routine formalin fixation with the non-crosslinking, alcohol-based Tissue Tek Xpress Molecular Fixative (TTXMF, Sakura Finetek), and cryopreservation as gold standard for molecular analyses. Formalin fixation introduced major changes into microarray gene expression data and led to marked gene-to-gene variations in delta-ct values of qRT-PCR. We found that qRT-PCR efficiency and gene-to-gene variations were mainly attributed to differences in the efficiency of cDNA synthesis as the most sensitive step. These differences could not be reliably detected by quality assessment of total RNA isolated from formalin-fixed tissues by electrophoresis or spectrophotometry. Although RNA from TTXMF fixed samples was as fragmented as RNA from formalin fixed samples, much higher cDNA yield and lower ct-values were obtained in qRT-PCR underlining the negative impact of crosslinking by formalin. In order to better estimate the impact of pre-analytical procedures such as fixation on the reliability of downstream analysis, we applied a qRT-PCR-based assay using amplicons of different length and an assay measuring the efficiency of cDNA generation. Together these two assays allowed better quality assessment of RNA extracted from fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues and should be used to supplement quality scores derived from automated electrophoresis. A better standardization of the pre-analytical workflow, application of additional quality controls and detailed sample information would markedly improve the comparability and reliability of molecular studies based on formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples. PMID:23936242

  17. Chitosan/silk fibroin-based, Schwann cell-derived extracellular matrix-modified scaffolds for bridging rat sciatic nerve gaps.

    PubMed

    Gu, Yun; Zhu, Jianbin; Xue, Chengbin; Li, Zhenmeiyu; Ding, Fei; Yang, Yumin; Gu, Xiaosong

    2014-02-01

    Extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a prominent role in establishing and maintaining an ideal microenvironment for tissue regeneration, and ECM scaffolds are used as a feasible alternative to cellular and molecular therapy in the fields of tissue engineering. Because of their advantages over tissue-derived ECM scaffolds, cultured cell-derived ECM scaffolds are beginning to attract attention, but they have been scarcely studied for peripheral nerve repair. Here we aimed to develop a tissue engineered nerve scaffold by reconstituting nerve cell-derived ECM with natural biomaterials. A protocol was adopted to prepare and characterize the cultured Schwann cell (SC)-derived ECM. A chitosan conduit and silk fibroin (SF) fibers were prepared, cultured with SCs for ECM deposition, and subjected to decellularization, followed by assembly into a chitosan/SF-based, SC-derived ECM-modified scaffold, which was used to bridge a 10 mm rat sciatic nerve gap. The results from morphological analysis as well as electrophysiological examination indicated that regenerative outcomes achieved by our developed scaffold were similar to those by an acellular nerve graft (namely a nerve tissue-derived ECM scaffold), but superior to those by a plain chitosan/SF scaffold. Moreover, blood and histopathological parameters confirmed the safety of scaffold modification by SC-derived ECM. Therefore, a hybrid scaffold based on joint use of acellular and classical biomaterials represents a promising approach to nerve tissue engineering. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Glycosylated proteins preserved over millennia: N-glycan analysis of Tyrolean Iceman, Scythian Princess and Warrior

    PubMed Central

    Ozcan, Sureyya; Kim, Bum Jin; Ro, Grace; Kim, Jae-Han; Bereuter, Thomas L.; Reiter, Christian; Dimapasoc, Lauren; Garrido, Daniel; Mills, David A.; Grimm, Rudolf; Lebrilla, Carlito B.; An, Hyun Joo

    2014-01-01

    An improved understanding of glycosylation will provide new insights into many biological processes. In the analysis of oligosaccharides from biological samples, a strict regime is typically followed to ensure sample integrity. However, the fate of glycans that have been exposed to environmental conditions over millennia has not yet been investigated. This is also true for understanding the evolution of the glycosylation machinery in humans as well as in any other biological systems. In this study, we examined the glycosylation of tissue samples derived from four mummies which have been naturally preserved: – the 5,300 year old “Iceman called Oetzi”, found in the Tyrolean Alps; the 2,400 year old “Scythian warrior” and “Scythian Princess”, found in the Altai Mountains; and a 4 year old apartment mummy, found in Vienna/Austria. The number of N-glycans that were identified varied both with the age and the preservation status of the mummies. More glycan structures were discovered in the contemporary sample, as expected, however it is significant that glycan still exists in the ancient tissue samples. This discovery clearly shows that glycans persist for thousands of years, and these samples provide a vital insight into ancient glycosylation, offering us a window into the distant past. PMID:24831691

  19. In vivo Degradation of Three-Dimensional Silk Fibroin Scaffolds

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Yongzhong; Rudym, Darya D.; Walsh, Ashley; Abrahamsen, Lauren; Kim, Hyeon-Joo; Kim, Hyun Suk; Kirker-Head, Carl; Kaplan, David L.

    2011-01-01

    Three-dimensional porous scaffolds prepared from regenerated silk fibroin using either an all aqueous process or a process involving an organic solvent, hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) have shown promise in cell culture and tissue engineering applications. However, their biocompatibility and in vivo degradation has not been fully established. The present study was conducted to systematically investigate how processing method (aqueous vs. organic solvent) and processing variables (silk fibroin concentration and pore size) affect the short-term (up to 2 months) and long-term (up to 1 year) in vivo behavior of the protein scaffolds in both nude and Lewis rats. The samples were analyzed by histology for scaffold morphological changes and tissue ingrowth, and by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry for immune responses. Throughout the period of implantation, all scaffolds were well-tolerated by the host animals and immune responses to the implants were mild. Most scaffolds prepared from the all aqueous process degraded to completion between two and six months, while those prepared from organic solvent (hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP)) process persisted beyond one year. Due to widespread cellular invasion throughout the scaffold, the degradation of aqueous-derived scaffolds appears to be more homogeneous than that of HFIP-derived scaffolds. In general and especially for the HFIP-derived scaffolds, a higher original silk fibroin concentration (e.g. 17%) and smaller pore size (e.g. 100–200 µm) resulted in lower levels of tissue ingrowth and slower degradation. These results demonstrate that the in vivo behavior of the three-dimensional silk fibroin scaffolds is related to the morphological and structural features that resulted from different scaffold preparation processes. The insights gained in this study can serve as a guide for processing scenarios to match desired morphological and structural features and degradation time with tissue-specific applications. PMID:18502501

  20. Presence of S100A8/Gr1-Positive Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Primary Tumors and Visceral Organs Invaded by Breast Carcinoma Cells.

    PubMed

    Tanriover, Gamze; Eyinc, Mehmet Berk; Aliyev, Elnur; Dilmac, Sayra; Erin, Nuray

    2018-04-26

    Increased S100A8/A9 expression in Gr1-positive cells has been shown in myeloid-derived suppressor cells and may play a role in the formation of a metastatic milieu. We aimed to determine S100A8/A9 expression alone and with coexpression of Gr1 (a myeloid marker) in primary tumor and visceral tissues invaded by metastatic breast carcinoma. Female BALB/c mice were injected with 4TLM, 4THM, and 67NR orthotopically. Confluent cells (75%-80%) were used. Primary tumor, lung, liver, and spleen tissue samples were removed 26 days after injection. Peripheral blood smears and metastasis assay were performed, as was immunohistochemistry and staining. S100A8/A9 immunoreactivity alone or coexpressed with Gr1 was found in primary tumors formed by 4TLM and 4THM cells, which was markedly higher than in primary tumors formed by nonmetastatic 67NR cells. Similarly, liver and lung tissues obtained from mice injected with 4TLM or 4THM cells were invaded by S100A8/A9-positive and Gr1-positive cells. Double-positive cells were markedly fewer in liver and lung tissues of animals injected with 67NR cells. S100A8/A9-positive cells were mostly localized in red pulp of spleens. We observed an increased number of neutrophils in the peripheral blood of mice injected with metastatic breast carcinoma cells. Tumor-derived factors may increase S100A8/A9-positive cells locally and systemically, and S100A8/A9-positive cells may provide an appropriate milieu for the formation of metastasis. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Local delivery of allogeneic bone marrow and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for cutaneous wound healing in a porcine model.

    PubMed

    Hanson, Summer E; Kleinbeck, Kyle R; Cantu, David; Kim, Jaeyhup; Bentz, Michael L; Faucher, Lee D; Kao, W John; Hematti, Peiman

    2016-02-01

    Wound healing remains a major challenge in modern medicine. Bone marrow- (BM) and adipose tissue- (AT) derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are of great interest for tissue reconstruction due to their unique immunological properties and regenerative potential. The purpose of this study was to characterize BM and AT-MSCs and evaluate their effect when administered in a porcine wound model. MSCs were derived from male Göttingen Minipigs and characterized according to established criteria. Allogeneic BM- or AT-MSCs were administered intradermally (1 x 10(6) cells) into partial-thickness wounds created on female animals, and covered with Vaseline® gauze or fibrin in a randomized pattern. Animals were euthanized at 7, 10, 14 and 21 days. Tissues were analyzed visually for healing and by microscopic examination for epidermal development and remodelling. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the presence of male DNA in the specimens. All wounds were healed by 14 days. MSC-injected wounds were associated with improved appearance and faster re-epithelialization compared to saline controls. Evaluation of rete ridge depth and architecture showed that MSC treatment promoted a faster rate of epidermal maturation. Male DNA was detected in all samples at days 7 and 10, suggesting the presence of MSCs. We showed the safety, feasibility and potential efficacy of local injection of allogeneic BM- and AT-MSCs for treatment of wounds in a preclinical model. Our data in this large animal model support the potential use of BM- and AT-MSC for treatment of cutaneous wounds through modulation of healing and epithelialization. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  2. Lignin dimers: Structures, distribution, and potential geochemical applications

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goñi, Miguel A.; Hedges, John I.

    1992-11-01

    An extensive suite of thirty lignin-derived phenolic dimers and fourteen additional monomers has been identified among the CuO reaction products of twenty-four different vascular plant tissues. The various lignin dimers are characterized by five different types of linkages between phenolic units, including direct 5,5'-ring-ring bonding, as well as β,1-diketone, α,1-monoketone, α,5-monoketone, and α,2-methyl sidechain-ring couplings. The new lignin-derived monomeric CuO reaction products include vanillyl and syringyl glyoxalic acids and vanillyl phenols with formyl and carboxyl functional groups attached at various ring positions. The distribution of all these novel compounds in twenty-four different vascular plant tissues indicates important differences in the structure and chemical composition of the lignin macromolecule among these sources. The abundances of these compounds in a selected set of sedimentary samples suggest that the lignin dimers and novel lignin monomers can characterize the ultrastructure, sources, and diagenetic state of sedimentary lignin in ways not possible from the routinely utilized lignin monomers alone.

  3. Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy of chondroitin sulfate

    PubMed Central

    Shi, Changcheng; Ma, Yuting; Zhang, Jin; Wei, Dongshan; Wang, Huabin; Peng, Xiaoyu; Tang, Mingjie; Yan, Shihan; Zuo, Guokun; Du, Chunlei; Cui, Hongliang

    2018-01-01

    Chondroitin sulfate (CS), derived from cartilage tissues, is an important type of biomacromolecule. In this paper, the terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) was investigated as a potential method for content detection of CS. With the increase of the CS content, the THz absorption coefficients of the CS/polyethylene mixed samples linearly increase. The refractive indices of the mixed samples also increase when the CS content increases. The extinction coefficient of CS demonstrates the THz frequency dependence to be approximately the power of 1.4, which can be explained by the effects of CS granular solids on THz scattering. PMID:29541526

  4. Real-time shear velocity imaging using sonoelastographic techniques.

    PubMed

    Hoyt, Kenneth; Parker, Kevin J; Rubens, Deborah J

    2007-07-01

    In this paper, a novel sonoelastographic technique for estimating local shear velocities from propagating shear wave interference patterns (termed crawling waves) is introduced. A relationship between the local crawling wave spatial phase derivatives and local shear wave velocity is derived with phase derivatives estimated using an autocorrelation technique. Results from homogeneous phantoms demonstrate the ability of sonoelastographic shear velocity imaging to quantify the true underlying shear velocity distributions as verified using time-of-flight measurements. Heterogeneous phantom results reveal the capacity for lesion detection and shear velocity quantification as validated from mechanical measurements on phantom samples. Experimental results obtained from a prostate specimen illustrated feasibility for shear velocity imaging in tissue. More importantly, high-contrast visualization of focal carcinomas was demonstrated introducing the clinical potential of this novel sonoelastographic imaging technique.

  5. Absorption, Distribution, and Excretion of 14C-APX001 after Single-Dose Administration to Rats and Monkeys

    PubMed Central

    Mansbach, Robert; Shaw, Karen J; Hodges, Michael R; Coleman, Samantha; Fitzsimmons, Michael E

    2017-01-01

    Abstract Background APX001 is a small-molecule therapeutic agent in clinical development for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI). Methods The absorption, distribution and excretion profiles of [14C]APX001-derived radioactivity were determined in rats (albino and pigmented) and monkeys. Rats (some implanted with bile duct cannulae) were administered a single 100 mg/kg oral dose or a 30 mg/kg intravenous (IV) dose. Monkeys were administered a single 6 mg/kg IV dose. Samples of blood, urine, feces and bile, as well as carcasses, were collected through 168 hours after dosing. Samples were analyzed for total radioactivity content by liquid scintillation counting, and carcasses were analyzed by quantitative whole-body autoradiography. Results [14C]APX001-derived radioactivity was rapidly and extensively absorbed and extensively distributed to most tissues for both routes of administration in both species. In rats, tissues with the highest radioactivity Cmax values included bile, abdominal fat, reproductive fat, subcutaneous fat, and liver, but radioactivity was also detected in tissues associated with IFI, including lung, brain and eye. In monkeys, the highest Cmax values were in bile, urine, uveal tract, bone marrow, abdominal fat, liver, and kidney cortex. Liver and kidney were the tissues with highest radioactivity, but as in the rat, radioactivity was also detected in lung, brain and eye tissues. In pigmented rats, radiocarbon was densely distributed into pigmented tissue and more slowly cleared than from other tissues. Mean recovery of radioactivity in rats was approximately 95–100%. In bile duct-intact rats, >90% of radioactivity was recovered in feces. In cannulated rats, biliary excretion of radioactivity was the major route of elimination and accounted for 88.8% of the dose, whereas urinary and fecal excretion of radioactivity was minor and accounted for 2.56% and 5.42% of the dose, respectively. In monkeys, the overall recovery of radioactivity was 87.6%, and was eliminated in feces (49.8% of dose) and to a lesser extent in urine (20.6% of dose). Conclusion Together, the results indicate that APX001-related radioactivity is extensively distributed to major tissues (including tissues relevant to IFI) in both rats and monkeys and cleared primarily by biliary/fecal excretion. Disclosures R. Mansbach, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Consultant, Consulting fee; K. J. Shaw, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals Inc.: Employee, Salary; M. R. Hodges, Amplyx Pharmaceuticals: Employee, Salary; S. Coleman, Covance Laboratories: Employee, Salary; M. E. Fitzsimmons, Covance Laboratories: Employee, Salary

  6. Branched-chain amino acids as biomarkers in diabetes.

    PubMed

    Giesbertz, Pieter; Daniel, Hannelore

    2016-01-01

    Numerous human studies have consistently demonstrated that concentrations of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in plasma and urine are associated with insulin resistance and have the quality to predict diabetes development. However, it is not known how altered BCAA levels link to insulin action and diabetes. This review addresses some recent findings in BCAA metabolism and discusses their role as reporter molecules of insulin sensitivity and diabetes and their possible contribution to disease progression. Changes in plasma and urine levels result mainly from altered metabolism in tissues and recent studies have thus focused on organ-specific changes in BCAA handling using animal models and human tissue samples. A decreased mitochondrial oxidation has been demonstrated in peripheral tissues and that was shown to be associated with an increased inflammatory tone and changes in adipokine levels (adiponectin and leptin). These changes appear already before insulin resistance is established. Key findings demonstrating the discordance between changes in BCAA and insulin resistance are derived from studies using insulin sensitizers and from data collected in patients undergoing Roux-en-Y bypass bariatric surgery. Intermediates derived from BCAA breakdown rather than BCAA itself were recently proposed to contribute to the development of insulin resistance and studies now explore the biomarker qualities of these metabolites. Understanding the mechanisms and putative causalities in the alterations in BCAA levels as found in obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes is crucial for any intervention options but also for the use of BCAA and derivatives as biomarkers in clinical routine.

  7. Platelet-Rich Blood Derivatives for Stem Cell-Based Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

    PubMed Central

    Kaushik, Gaurav; Leijten, Jeroen; Khademhosseini, Ali

    2016-01-01

    Platelet rich blood derivatives have been widely used in different fields of medicine and stem cell based tissue engineering. They represent natural cocktails of autologous growth factor, which could provide an alternative for recombinant protein based approaches. Platelet rich blood derivatives, such as platelet rich plasma, have consistently shown to potentiate stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Here, we review the spectrum of platelet rich blood derivatives, discuss their current applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, reflect on their effect on stem cells, and highlight current translational challenges. PMID:27047733

  8. Feasibility of pig and human-derived aortic valve interstitial cells seeding on fixative-free decellularized animal pericardium.

    PubMed

    Santoro, Rosaria; Consolo, Filippo; Spiccia, Marco; Piola, Marco; Kassem, Samer; Prandi, Francesca; Vinci, Maria Cristina; Forti, Elisa; Polvani, Gianluca; Fiore, Gianfranco Beniamino; Soncini, Monica; Pesce, Maurizio

    2016-02-01

    Glutaraldehyde-fixed pericardium of animal origin is the elective material for the fabrication of bio-prosthetic valves for surgical replacement of insufficient/stenotic cardiac valves. However, the pericardial tissue employed to this aim undergoes severe calcification due to chronic inflammation resulting from a non-complete immunological compatibility of the animal-derived pericardial tissue resulting from failure to remove animal-derived xeno-antigens. In the mid/long-term, this leads to structural deterioration, mechanical failure, and prosthesis leaflets rupture, with consequent need for re-intervention. In the search for novel procedures to maximize biological compatibility of the pericardial tissue into immunocompetent background, we have recently devised a procedure to decellularize the human pericardium as an alternative to fixation with aldehydes. In the present contribution, we used this procedure to derive sheets of decellularized pig pericardium. The decellularized tissue was first tested for the presence of 1,3 α-galactose (αGal), one of the main xenoantigens involved in prosthetic valve rejection, as well as for mechanical tensile behavior and distensibility, and finally seeded with pig- and human-derived aortic valve interstitial cells. We demonstrate that the decellularization procedure removed the αGAL antigen, maintained the mechanical characteristics of the native pig pericardium, and ensured an efficient surface colonization of the tissue by animal- and human-derived aortic valve interstitial cells. This establishes, for the first time, the feasibility of fixative-free pericardial tissue seeding with valve competent cells for derivation of tissue engineered heart valve leaflets. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries. Annual Report, October 1, 1993--September 30, 1994

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Kathren, R.L.; Harwick, L.A.

    1995-08-01

    This report summarizes the salient activities and progress of the United States Transuranium. and Uranium Registries for the period October 1, 1993 through September 30, 1994, along with details of specific programs areas including the National Human Radiobiology Tissue Repository (NHRTR) and tissue radiochemistry analysis project. Responsibility for tissue radioanalysis was transferred from Los Alamos National Laboratory to Washington State University in February 1994. The University of Washington was selected as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control laboratory and a three way intercomparison with them and LANL has been initiated. The results of the initial alpha spectrometry intercomparison showed excellent agreement amongmore » the laboratories and are documented in full in the Appendices to the report. The NHRTR serves as the initial point of receipt for samples received from participants in the USTUR program. Samples are weighed, divided, and reweighed, and a portion retained by the NHRTR as backup or for use in other studies. Tissue specimens retained in the NHRTR are maintained frozen at -70 C and include not only those from USTUR registrants but also those from the radium dial painter and thorium worker studies formerly conducted by Argonne National Laboratory. In addition, there are fixed tissues and a large collection of histopathology slides from all the studies, plus about 20,000 individual solutions derived from donated tissues. These tissues and tissue related materials are made available to other investigators for legitimate research purposes. Ratios of the concentration of actinides in various tissues have been used to evaluate the biokinetics, and retention half times of plutonium and americium. Retention half times for plutonium in various soft tissues range from 10-20 y except for the testes for which a retention half time of 58 y was observed. For americium, the retention half time in various soft tissues studied was 2.2-3.5 y.« less

  10. Active spice-derived components can inhibit inflammatory responses of adipose tissue in obesity by suppressing inflammatory actions of macrophages and release of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 from adipocytes.

    PubMed

    Woo, Hae-Mi; Kang, Ji-Hye; Kawada, Teruo; Yoo, Hoon; Sung, Mi-Kyung; Yu, Rina

    2007-02-13

    Inflammation plays a key role in obesity-related pathologies such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and several types of cancer. Obesity-induced inflammation entails the enhancement of the recruitment of macrophages into adipose tissue and the release of various proinflammatory proteins from fat tissue. Therefore, the modulation of inflammatory responses in obesity may be useful for preventing or ameliorating obesity-related pathologies. Some spice-derived components, which are naturally occurring phytochemicals, elicit antiobesity and antiinflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated whether active spice-derived components can be applied to the suppression of obesity-induced inflammatory responses. Mesenteric adipose tissue was isolated from obese mice fed a high-fat diet and cultured to prepare an adipose tissue-conditioned medium. Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with the adipose tissue-conditioned medium with or without active spice-derived components (i.e., diallyl disulfide, allyl isothiocyanate, piperine, zingerone and curcumin). Chemotaxis assay was performed to measure the degree of macrophage migration. Macrophage activation was estimated by measuring tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), nitric oxide, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) concentrations. The active spice-derived components markedly suppressed the migration of macrophages induced by the mesenteric adipose tissue-conditioned medium in a dose-dependent manner. Among the active spice-derived components studied, allyl isothiocyanate, zingerone, and curcumin significantly inhibited the cellular production of proinflammatory mediators such as TNF-alpha and nitric oxide, and significantly inhibited the release of MCP-1 from 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our findings suggest that the spice-derived components can suppress obesity-induced inflammatory responses by suppressing adipose tissue macrophage accumulation or activation and inhibiting MCP-1 release from adipocytes. These spice-derived components may have a potential to improve chronic inflammatory conditions in obesity.

  11. An adipoinductive role of inflammation in adipose tissue engineering: key factors in the early development of engineered soft tissues.

    PubMed

    Lilja, Heidi E; Morrison, Wayne A; Han, Xiao-Lian; Palmer, Jason; Taylor, Caroline; Tee, Richard; Möller, Andreas; Thompson, Erik W; Abberton, Keren M

    2013-05-15

    Tissue engineering and cell implantation therapies are gaining popularity because of their potential to repair and regenerate tissues and organs. To investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines in new tissue development in engineered tissues, we have characterized the nature and timing of cell populations forming new adipose tissue in a mouse tissue engineering chamber (TEC) and characterized the gene and protein expression of cytokines in the newly developing tissues. EGFP-labeled bone marrow transplant mice and MacGreen mice were implanted with TEC for periods ranging from 0.5 days to 6 weeks. Tissues were collected at various time points and assessed for cytokine expression through ELISA and mRNA analysis or labeled for specific cell populations in the TEC. Macrophage-derived factors, such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), appear to induce adipogenesis by recruiting macrophages and bone marrow-derived precursor cells to the TEC at early time points, with a second wave of nonbone marrow-derived progenitors. Gene expression analysis suggests that TNFα, LCN-2, and Interleukin 1β are important in early stages of neo-adipogenesis. Increasing platelet-derived growth factor and vascular endothelial cell growth factor expression at early time points correlates with preadipocyte proliferation and induction of angiogenesis. This study provides new information about key elements that are involved in early development of new adipose tissue.

  12. Inferring the expression variability of human transposable element-derived exons by linear model analysis of deep RNA sequencing data.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Wensheng; Edwards, Andrea; Fan, Wei; Fang, Zhide; Deininger, Prescott; Zhang, Kun

    2013-08-28

    The exonization of transposable elements (TEs) has proven to be a significant mechanism for the creation of novel exons. Existing knowledge of the retention patterns of TE exons in mRNAs were mainly established by the analysis of Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) data and microarray data. This study seeks to validate and extend previous studies on the expression of TE exons by an integrative statistical analysis of high throughput RNA sequencing data. We collected 26 RNA-seq datasets spanning multiple tissues and cancer types. The exon-level digital expressions (indicating retention rates in mRNAs) were quantified by a double normalized measure, called the rescaled RPKM (Reads Per Kilobase of exon model per Million mapped reads). We analyzed the distribution profiles and the variability (across samples and between tissue/disease groups) of TE exon expressions, and compared them with those of other constitutive or cassette exons. We inferred the effects of four genomic factors, including the location, length, cognate TE family and TE nucleotide proportion (RTE, see Methods section) of a TE exon, on the exons' expression level and expression variability. We also investigated the biological implications of an assembly of highly-expressed TE exons. Our analysis confirmed prior studies from the following four aspects. First, with relatively high expression variability, most TE exons in mRNAs, especially those without exact counterparts in the UCSC RefSeq (Reference Sequence) gene tables, demonstrate low but still detectable expression levels in most tissue samples. Second, the TE exons in coding DNA sequences (CDSs) are less highly expressed than those in 3' (5') untranslated regions (UTRs). Third, the exons derived from chronologically ancient repeat elements, such as MIRs, tend to be highly expressed in comparison with those derived from younger TEs. Fourth, the previously observed negative relationship between the lengths of exons and the inclusion levels in transcripts is also true for exonized TEs. Furthermore, our study resulted in several novel findings. They include: (1) for the TE exons with non-zero expression and as shown in most of the studied biological samples, a high TE nucleotide proportion leads to their lower retention rates in mRNAs; (2) the considered genomic features (i.e. a continuous variable such as the exon length or a category indicator such as 3'UTR) influence the expression level and the expression variability (CV) of TE exons in an inverse manner; (3) not only the exons derived from Alu elements but also the exons from the TEs of other families were preferentially established in zinc finger (ZNF) genes.

  13. Experimental inoculation of domestic cats (Felis domesticus) with Sarcocystis neurona or S. neurona-like merozoites.

    PubMed

    Butcher, M; Lakritz, J; Halaney, A; Branson, K; Gupta, G D; Kreeger, J; Marsh, A E

    2002-07-29

    Sarcocystis neurona is the parasite most commonly associated with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Recently, cats (Felis domesticus) have been demonstrated to be an experimental intermediate host in the life cycle of S. neurona. This study was performed to determine if cats experimentally inoculated with culture-derived S. neurona merozoites develop tissue sarcocysts infectious to opossums (Didelphis virginiana), the definitive host of S. neurona. Four cats were inoculated with S. neurona or S. neurona-like merozoites and all developed antibodies reacting to S. neurona merozoite antigens, but tissue sarcocysts were detected in only two cats. Muscle tissues from the experimentally inoculated cats with and without detectable sarcocysts were fed to laboratory-reared opossums. Sporocysts were detected in gastrointestinal (GI) scrapings of one opossum fed experimentally infected feline tissues. The study results suggest that cats can develop tissue cysts following inoculation with culture-derived Sarcocystis sp. merozoites in which the particular isolate was originally derived from a naturally infected cat with tissue sarcocysts. This is in contrast to cats which did not develop tissue cysts when inoculated with S. neurona merozoites originally derived from a horse with EPM. These results indicate present biological differences between the culture-derived merozoites of two Sarcocystis isolates, Sn-UCD 1 and Sn-Mucat 2.

  14. World Endometriosis Research Foundation Endometriosis Phenome and Biobanking Harmonisation Project: IV. Tissue collection, processing, and storage in endometriosis research

    PubMed Central

    Fassbender, Amelie; Rahmioglu, Nilufer; Vitonis, Allison F.; Viganò, Paola; Giudice, Linda C.; D’Hooghe, Thomas M.; Hummelshoj, Lone; Adamson, G. David; Becker, Christian M.; Missmer, Stacey A.; Zondervan, Krina T.; Adamson, G.D.; Allaire, C.; Anchan, R.; Becker, C.M.; Bedaiwy, M.A.; Buck Louis, G.M.; Calhaz-Jorge, C.; Chwalisz, K.; D'Hooghe, T.M.; Fassbender, A.; Faustmann, T.; Fazleabas, A.T.; Flores, I.; Forman, A.; Fraser, I.; Giudice, L.C.; Gotte, M.; Gregersen, P.; Guo, S.-W.; Harada, T.; Hartwell, D.; Horne, A.W.; Hull, M.L.; Hummelshoj, L.; Ibrahim, M.G.; Kiesel, L.; Laufer, M.R.; Machens, K.; Mechsner, S.; Missmer, S.A.; Montgomery, G.W.; Nap, A.; Nyegaard, M.; Osteen, K.G.; Petta, C.A.; Rahmioglu, N.; Renner, S.P.; Riedlinger, J.; Roehrich, S.; Rogers, P.A.; Rombauts, L.; Salumets, A.; Saridogan, E.; Seckin, T.; Stratton, P.; Sharpe-Timms, K.L.; Tworoger, S.; Vigano, P.; Vincent, K.; Vitonis, A.F.; Wienhues-Thelen, U.-H.; Yeung, P.P.; Yong, P.; Zondervan, K.T.

    2014-01-01

    Objective To harmonize standard operating procedures (SOPs) and standardize the recording of associated data for collection, processing, and storage of human tissues relevant to endometriosis. Design An international collaboration involving 34 clinical/academic centers and three industry collaborators from 16 countries on five continents. Setting In 2013, two workshops were conducted followed by global consultation, bringing together 54 leaders in endometriosis research and sample processing from around the world. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) Consensus SOPs were based on: 1) systematic comparison of SOPs from 24 global centers collecting tissue samples from women with and without endometriosis on a medium or large scale (publication on >100 cases); 2) literature evidence where available, or consultation with laboratory experts otherwise; and 3) several global consultation rounds. Main Outcome Measure(s) Standard recommended and minimum required SOPs for tissue collection, processing, and storage in endometriosis research. Result(s) We developed “recommended standard” and “minimum required” SOPs for the collection, processing, and storage of ectopic and eutopic endometrium, peritoneum, and myometrium, and a biospecimen data collection form necessary for interpretation of sample-derived results. Conclusion(s) The EPHect SOPs allow endometriosis research centers to decrease variability in tissue-based results, facilitating between-center comparisons and collaborations. The procedures are also relevant to research into other gynecologic conditions involving endometrium, myometrium, and peritoneum. The consensus SOPs are based on the best available evidence; areas with limited evidence are identified as requiring further pilot studies. The SOPs will be reviewed based on investigator feedback and through systematic triannual follow-up. Updated versions will be made available at: http://endometriosisfoundation.org/ephect. PMID:25256928

  15. Decellularized Tissue and Cell-Derived Extracellular Matrices as Scaffolds for Orthopaedic Tissue Engineering

    PubMed Central

    Cheng, Christina W.; Solorio, Loran D.; Alsberg, Eben

    2014-01-01

    The reconstruction of musculoskeletal defects is a constant challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. Musculoskeletal injuries such as fractures, chondral lesions, infections and tumor debulking can often lead to large tissue voids requiring reconstruction with tissue grafts. Autografts are currently the gold standard in orthopaedic tissue reconstruction; however, there is a limit to the amount of tissue that can be harvested before compromising the donor site. Tissue engineering strategies using allogeneic or xenogeneic decellularized bone, cartilage, skeletal muscle, tendon and ligament have emerged as promising potential alternative treatment. The extracellular matrix provides a natural scaffold for cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. Decellularization of in vitro cell-derived matrices can also enable the generation of autologous constructs from tissue specific cells or progenitor cells. Although decellularized bone tissue is widely used clinically in orthopaedic applications, the exciting potential of decellularized cartilage, skeletal muscle, tendon and ligament cell-derived matrices has only recently begun to be explored for ultimate translation to the orthopaedic clinic. PMID:24417915

  16. Cutin-derived CuO reaction products from purified cuticles and tree leaves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Goñi, Miguel A.; Hedges, John I.

    1990-11-01

    Long chain (C 16-C 18) hydroxy fatty acids are obtained among the nonlignin-derived reaction products from the CuO oxidation of a variety of geochemical samples. In order to investigate the origin of these acids, the CuO reaction products of isolated cuticles and whole leaves were investigated. The reaction products from the CuO oxidation of purified apple ( Malus pumila) cuticle include 16-hydroxy-hexadecanoic acid, 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid, 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadec-12-enoic acid, and 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid as major components. The distribution of these cutin-derived CuO reaction products is similar to the monomer compositions deduced from traditional methods of cutin analysis. Oxidation of whole English Holly ( Ilex aquifolium) leaves yields cutin-derived acidic reaction products (in addition to lignin-derived phenols) similar to those obtained from oxidation of the corresponding isolated cuticles, indicating that CuO oxidation of bulk plant tissue is a viable procedure of cutin analysis in geochemical applications.

  17. Following damage, the majority of bone marrow-derived airway cells express an epithelial marker.

    PubMed

    MacPherson, Heather; Keir, Pamela A; Edwards, Carol J; Webb, Sheila; Dorin, Julia R

    2006-12-19

    Adult-derived bone marrow stem cells are capable of reconstituting the haematopoietic system. However there is ongoing debate in the literature as to whether bone marrow derived cells have the ability to populate other tissues and express tissue specific markers. The airway has been an organ of major interest and was one of the first where this was demonstrated. We have previously demonstrated that the mouse airway can be repopulated by side population bone marrow transplanted cells. Here we investigate the frequency and phenotypic nature of these bone marrow derived cells. Female mice were engrafted with male whole bone marrow or side population (SP) cells and subjected to detergent-induced damage after 3 months. Donor cells were identified by Y chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridisation and their phenotype was assessed by immunohistochemistry on the same sections. Slides were visualised by a combination of widefield and deconvolved microscopy and whole cells were analysed on cytospin preparations. The frequencies of engraftment of male cells in the airway of mice that show this (9/10), range from 1.0-1.6% with whole marrow and 0.6-1.5% with SP cells. Undamaged controls have only between 0.1 and 0.2% male cells in the trachea. By widefield microscopy analysis we find 60.2% (53/88) of male donor derived cells express cytokeratins as a marker of epithelial cells. These results were reinforced using deconvolved microscopy and scored by two independent investigators. In addition cytospin analysis of cells dissociated from the damaged trachea of engrafted mice also reveals donor derived Y chromosome positive cells that are immunopositive for cytokeratin. Using cytokeratin and the universal haematopoietic marker CD45 immunohistochemistry, we find the donor derived cells fall into four phenotypic classes. We do not detect cytokeratin positive cells in whole bone marrow using cytokeratin immunostaining and we do not detect any cytokeratin mRNA in SP or bone marrow samples by RT-PCR. The appearance of bone marrow derived cells in the tracheal epithelium is enriched by detergent-induced tissue damage and the majority of these cells express an epithelial marker. The cytokeratin positive donor derived cells in the tracheal epithelium are not present in the injected donor cells and must have acquired this novel phenotype in vivo.

  18. Following damage, the majority of bone marrow-derived airway cells express an epithelial marker

    PubMed Central

    MacPherson, Heather; Keir, Pamela A; Edwards, Carol J; Webb, Sheila; Dorin, Julia R

    2006-01-01

    Background Adult-derived bone marrow stem cells are capable of reconstituting the haematopoietic system. However there is ongoing debate in the literature as to whether bone marrow derived cells have the ability to populate other tissues and express tissue specific markers. The airway has been an organ of major interest and was one of the first where this was demonstrated. We have previously demonstrated that the mouse airway can be repopulated by side population bone marrow transplanted cells. Here we investigate the frequency and phenotypic nature of these bone marrow derived cells. Methods Female mice were engrafted with male whole bone marrow or side population (SP) cells and subjected to detergent-induced damage after 3 months. Donor cells were identified by Y chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridisation and their phenotype was assessed by immunohistochemistry on the same sections. Slides were visualised by a combination of widefield and deconvolved microscopy and whole cells were analysed on cytospin preparations. Results The frequencies of engraftment of male cells in the airway of mice that show this (9/10), range from 1.0 – 1.6% with whole marrow and 0.6 – 1.5% with SP cells. Undamaged controls have only between 0.1 and 0.2% male cells in the trachea. By widefield microscopy analysis we find 60.2% (53/88) of male donor derived cells express cytokeratins as a marker of epithelial cells. These results were reinforced using deconvolved microscopy and scored by two independent investigators. In addition cytospin analysis of cells dissociated from the damaged trachea of engrafted mice also reveals donor derived Y chromosome positive cells that are immunopositive for cytokeratin. Using cytokeratin and the universal haematopoietic marker CD45 immunohistochemistry, we find the donor derived cells fall into four phenotypic classes. We do not detect cytokeratin positive cells in whole bone marrow using cytokeratin immunostaining and we do not detect any cytokeratin mRNA in SP or bone marrow samples by RT-PCR. Conclusion The appearance of bone marrow derived cells in the tracheal epithelium is enriched by detergent-induced tissue damage and the majority of these cells express an epithelial marker. The cytokeratin positive donor derived cells in the tracheal epithelium are not present in the injected donor cells and must have acquired this novel phenotype in vivo. PMID:17177981

  19. Validation of osteogenic properties of Cytochalasin D by high-resolution RNA-sequencing in mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and adipose tissues.

    PubMed

    Samsonraj, Rebekah; Paradise, Christopher R; Dudakovic, Amel; Sen, Buer; Nair, Asha A; Dietz, Allan B; Deyle, David R; Cool, Simon M; Rubin, Janet; van Wijnen, Andre

    2018-06-08

    Differentiation of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) involves a series of molecular signals and gene transcription events required for attaining cell lineage commitment. Modulation of the actin cytoskeleton using cytochalasin D (CytoD) drives osteogenesis at early time points in bone marrow-derived MSCs, and also initiates a robust osteogenic differentiation program in adipose-derived MSCs. To understand the molecular basis for these pronounced effects on osteogenic differentiation, we investigated global changes in gene expression in CytoD-treated murine and human MSCs by high-resolution RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. A three-way bioinformatic comparison between human adipose-derived, human bone marrow-derived and mouse bone marrow-derived MSCs revealed significant upregulation of genes linked to extracellular matrix organization, cell adhesion and bone metabolism. As anticipated, the activation of these differentiation related genes is accompanied by a downregulation of nuclear and cell cycle-related genes presumably reflecting cytostatic effects of CytoD. We also identified eight novel CytoD activated genes - VGLL4, ARHGAP24, KLHL24, RCBTB2, BDH2, SCARF2, ACAD10, HEPH - which are commonly upregulated across the two species and tissue sources of our MSC samples. We selected the Hippo-pathway related VGLL4 gene, which encodes the transcriptional co-factor Vestigial-like 4, for further study because this pathway is linked to osteogenesis. VGLL4 siRNA depletion reduces mineralization of adipose-derived MSCs during CytoD-induced osteogenic differentiation. Together, our RNA-seq analyses suggest that while the stimulatory effects of CytoD on osteogenesis are pleiotropic and depend on the biological state of the cell type, a small group of genes including VGLL4 may contribute to MSC commitment towards the bone lineage.

  20. Growth factor effects on costal chondrocytes for tissue engineering fibrocartilage

    PubMed Central

    Johns, D.E.; Athanasiou, K.A.

    2010-01-01

    Tissue engineered fibrocartilage could become a feasible option for replacing tissues like the knee meniscus or temporomandibular joint disc. This study employed five growth factors insulin-like growth factor-I, transforming growth factor-β1, epidermal growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and basic fibroblast growth factor in a scaffoldless approach with costal chondrocytes, attempting to improve biochemical and mechanical properties of engineered constructs. Samples were quantitatively assessed for total collagen, glycosaminoglycans, collagen type I, collagen type II, cells, compressive properties, and tensile properties at two time points. Most treated constructs were worse than the no growth factor control, suggesting a detrimental effect, but the IGF treatment tended to improve the constructs. Additionally, the 6wk time point was consistently better than 3wks, with total collagen, glycosaminoglycans, and aggregate modulus doubling during this time. Further optimization of the time in culture and exogenous stimuli will be important in making a more functional replacement tissue. PMID:18597118

  1. Metabolic changes associated with shoot formation in tobacco callus cultures

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Grady, K.L.

    1982-08-01

    Callus tissue derived from Nicotiana tabacum L. stem pith parenchyma cells was grown either on medium which maintains the callus in an undifferentiated state, or on medium which induces the formation of shoots. Two complementary types of studies were performed with the goal of establishing metabolic markers for the initiation of shoot formation: one designed to characterize the flow of radioactive sucrose into various metabolic pools, and one which allowed measurement of intermediary metabolite concentrations. In the former, callus tissue was incubated in (U-/sup 14/C)sucrose for periods up to one hour, and patterns of metabolite labelling in tissue grown onmore » shoot-forming and non-shoot-forming media were compared. In the latter studies, tissue was grown for an entire subculture period on non-shoot-forming medium labelled with (U-/sup 14/C)sucrose, then subcultured to labelled non-shoot-forming or shoot-forming media, and sampled at intervals during the first week of growth. 189 references.« less

  2. Distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae in select tissues of experimentally infected and field-collected Gulf Coast ticks.

    PubMed

    Edwards, Kristine T; Goddard, Jerome; Varela-Stokes, Andrea

    2011-05-01

    Salivary glands, midgut, Malpighian tubules, and ovaries were dissected from infected, colony-derived Amblyomma maculatum (Gulf Coast ticks) injected as nymphs with either Rickettsia parkeri (a spotted fever group rickettsia [SFGR]; treatment) or phosphate-buffered saline (negative control). For comparison, similar tissues were dissected from hemolymph-positive, field-collected ticks. Tissues were analyzed by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests. All phosphate-buffered saline-injected ticks were IFA negative, whereas SFGR were detected by IFA in 100% of the salivary glands and ovaries and 78 and 75% of midgut and Malpighian tubule samples, respectively, of R. parkeri-injected ticks. Nearly 22% (10/46) of the field-collected ticks were hemolymph positive. Of those, SFGR were detected by IFA in 80% of the salivary glands, 67% of the ovaries, and 60% in the midgut and Malpighian tubules. This is the first study to assess the distribution of SFGR in select tissues of A. maculatum ticks.

  3. Bi-PROF

    PubMed Central

    Gries, Jasmin; Schumacher, Dirk; Arand, Julia; Lutsik, Pavlo; Markelova, Maria Rivera; Fichtner, Iduna; Walter, Jörn; Sers, Christine; Tierling, Sascha

    2013-01-01

    The use of next generation sequencing has expanded our view on whole mammalian methylome patterns. In particular, it provides a genome-wide insight of local DNA methylation diversity at single nucleotide level and enables the examination of single chromosome sequence sections at a sufficient statistical power. We describe a bisulfite-based sequence profiling pipeline, Bi-PROF, which is based on the 454 GS-FLX Titanium technology that allows to obtain up to one million sequence stretches at single base pair resolution without laborious subcloning. To illustrate the performance of the experimental workflow connected to a bioinformatics program pipeline (BiQ Analyzer HT) we present a test analysis set of 68 different epigenetic marker regions (amplicons) in five individual patient-derived xenograft tissue samples of colorectal cancer and one healthy colon epithelium sample as a control. After the 454 GS-FLX Titanium run, sequence read processing and sample decoding, the obtained alignments are quality controlled and statistically evaluated. Comprehensive methylation pattern interpretation (profiling) assessed by analyzing 102-104 sequence reads per amplicon allows an unprecedented deep view on pattern formation and methylation marker heterogeneity in tissues concerned by complex diseases like cancer. PMID:23803588

  4. A DNA methylation map of human cancer at single base-pair resolution

    PubMed Central

    Vidal, E; Sayols, S; Moran, S; Guillaumet-Adkins, A; Schroeder, M P; Royo, R; Orozco, M; Gut, M; Gut, I; Lopez-Bigas, N; Heyn, H; Esteller, M

    2017-01-01

    Although single base-pair resolution DNA methylation landscapes for embryonic and different somatic cell types provided important insights into epigenetic dynamics and cell-type specificity, such comprehensive profiling is incomplete across human cancer types. This prompted us to perform genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of 22 samples derived from normal tissues and associated neoplasms, including primary tumors and cancer cell lines. Unlike their invariant normal counterparts, cancer samples exhibited highly variable CpG methylation levels in a large proportion of the genome, involving progressive changes during tumor evolution. The whole-genome sequencing results from selected samples were replicated in a large cohort of 1112 primary tumors of various cancer types using genome-scale DNA methylation analysis. Specifically, we determined DNA hypermethylation of promoters and enhancers regulating tumor-suppressor genes, with potential cancer-driving effects. DNA hypermethylation events showed evidence of positive selection, mutual exclusivity and tissue specificity, suggesting their active participation in neoplastic transformation. Our data highlight the extensive changes in DNA methylation that occur in cancer onset, progression and dissemination. PMID:28581523

  5. The Crosstalk between Tissue Engineering and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Recent Advances and Future Directions.

    PubMed

    Pacheco, Daniela P; Reis, Rui L; Correlo, Vítor M; Marques, Alexandra P

    2015-01-01

    Tissue-engineered constructs made of biotechnology-derived materials have been preferred due to their chemical and physical composition, which offers both high versatility and a support to enclose/ incorporate relevant signaling molecules and/or genes known to therapeutically induce tissue repair. Herein, a critical overview of the impact of different biotechnology-derived materials, scaffolds, and recombinant signaling molecules over the behavior of cells, another element of tissue engineered constructs, as well its regulatory role in tissue regeneration and disease progression is given. Additionally, these tissue-engineered constructs evolved to three-dimensional (3D) tissue-like models that, as an advancement of two-dimensional standard culture methods, are expected to be a valuable tool in the field of drug discovery and pharmaceutical research. Despite the improved design and conception of current proposed 3D tissue-like models, advanced control systems to enable and accelerate streamlining and automation of the numerous labor-intensive steps intrinsic to the development of tissue-engineered constructs are still to be achieved. In this sense, this review intends to present the biotechnology- derived materials that are being explored in the field of tissue engineering to generate 3D tissue-analogues and briefly highlight their foremost breakthroughs in tissue regeneration and drug discovery. It also aims to reinforce that the crosstalk between tissue engineering and pharmaceutical biotechnology has been fostering the outcomes of tissue engineering approaches through the use of biotechnology-derived signaling molecules. Gene delivery/therapy is also discussed as a forefront area that represents another cross point between tissue engineering and pharmaceutical biotechnology, in which nucleic acids can be considered a "super pharmaceutical" to drive biological responses, including tissue regeneration.

  6. Tissue reservoirs of antiviral T cell immunity in persistent human CMV infection

    PubMed Central

    Gordon, Claire L.; Thome, Joseph J.C.; Igarashi, Suzu

    2017-01-01

    T cell responses to viruses are initiated and maintained in tissue sites; however, knowledge of human antiviral T cells is largely derived from blood. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) persists in most humans, requires T cell immunity to control, yet tissue immune responses remain undefined. Here, we investigated human CMV-specific T cells, virus persistence and CMV-associated T cell homeostasis in blood, lymphoid, mucosal and secretory tissues of 44 CMV seropositive and 28 seronegative donors. CMV-specific T cells were maintained in distinct distribution patterns, highest in blood, bone marrow (BM), or lymph nodes (LN), with the frequency and function in blood distinct from tissues. CMV genomes were detected predominantly in lung and also in spleen, BM, blood and LN. High frequencies of activated CMV-specific T cells were found in blood and BM samples with low virus detection, whereas in lung, CMV-specific T cells were present along with detectable virus. In LNs, CMV-specific T cells exhibited quiescent phenotypes independent of virus. Overall, T cell differentiation was enhanced in sites of viral persistence with age. Together, our results suggest tissue T cell reservoirs for CMV control shaped by both viral and tissue-intrinsic factors, with global effects on homeostasis of tissue T cells over the lifespan. PMID:28130404

  7. Tissue reservoirs of antiviral T cell immunity in persistent human CMV infection.

    PubMed

    Gordon, Claire L; Miron, Michelle; Thome, Joseph J C; Matsuoka, Nobuhide; Weiner, Joshua; Rak, Michael A; Igarashi, Suzu; Granot, Tomer; Lerner, Harvey; Goodrum, Felicia; Farber, Donna L

    2017-03-06

    T cell responses to viruses are initiated and maintained in tissue sites; however, knowledge of human antiviral T cells is largely derived from blood. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) persists in most humans, requires T cell immunity to control, yet tissue immune responses remain undefined. Here, we investigated human CMV-specific T cells, virus persistence and CMV-associated T cell homeostasis in blood, lymphoid, mucosal and secretory tissues of 44 CMV seropositive and 28 seronegative donors. CMV-specific T cells were maintained in distinct distribution patterns, highest in blood, bone marrow (BM), or lymph nodes (LN), with the frequency and function in blood distinct from tissues. CMV genomes were detected predominantly in lung and also in spleen, BM, blood and LN. High frequencies of activated CMV-specific T cells were found in blood and BM samples with low virus detection, whereas in lung, CMV-specific T cells were present along with detectable virus. In LNs, CMV-specific T cells exhibited quiescent phenotypes independent of virus. Overall, T cell differentiation was enhanced in sites of viral persistence with age. Together, our results suggest tissue T cell reservoirs for CMV control shaped by both viral and tissue-intrinsic factors, with global effects on homeostasis of tissue T cells over the lifespan. @Gordon et al.

  8. Procurement of Human Tissues for Research Banking in the Surgical Pathology Laboratory: Prioritization Practices at Washington University Medical Center

    PubMed Central

    Chernock, Rebecca D.; Leach, Tracey A.; Kahn, Ajaz A.; Yip, James H.; Rossi, Joan; Pfeifer, John D.

    2011-01-01

    Academic hospitals and medical schools with research tissue repositories often derive many of their internal human specimen acquisitions from their site's surgical pathology service. Typically, such acquisitions come from appropriately consented tissue discards sampled from surgical resections. Because the practice of surgical pathology has patient care as its primary mission, competing needs for tissue inevitably arise, with the requirement to preserve adequate tissue for clinical diagnosis being paramount. A set of best-practice gross pathology guidelines are summarized here, focused on the decision for tissue banking at the time specimens are macroscopically evaluated. These reflect our collective experience at Washington University School of Medicine, and are written from the point of view of our site biorepository. The involvement of trained pathology personnel in such procurements is very important. These guidelines reflect both good surgical pathology practice (including the pathologic features characteristic of various anatomic sites) and the typical objectives of research biorepositories. The guidelines should be helpful to tissue bank directors, and others charged with the procurement of tissues for general research purposes. We believe that appreciation of these principles will facilitate the partnership between surgical pathologists and biorepository directors, and promote both good patient care and strategic, value-added banking procurements. PMID:23386925

  9. ALK status testing in non-small-cell lung carcinoma by FISH on ThinPrep slides with cytology material.

    PubMed

    Minca, Eugen C; Lanigan, Christopher P; Reynolds, Jordan P; Wang, Zhen; Ma, Patrick C; Cicenia, Joseph; Almeida, Francisco A; Pennell, Nathan A; Tubbs, Raymond R

    2014-04-01

    Oncogenic anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangements in non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC) provide the basis for targeted therapy with crizotinib and other specific ALK inhibitors. Treatment eligibility is conventionally determined by the Food and Drug Administration-approved companion diagnostic fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay on paraffin-embedded tissue (PET). On limited samples such as fine needle aspiration-derived cytoblocks, FISH for ALK is often uninformative. FISH performed on liquid-based ThinPrep slides (ThinPrep-FISH) may represent a robust alternative. Two hundred thirty cytology samples from 217 patients with advanced NSCLC, including a consecutive series of 179 specimens, were used to generate matched ThinPrep slides and paraffin cytoblocks. The same ThinPrep slides used for cytologic diagnosis were assessed by standard ALK break-apart two-color probe FISH, after etching of tumor areas. Ultrasensitive ALK immunohistochemistry (IHC) on corresponding cytoblocks [D5F3 antibody, OptiView signal amplification] served as the reference data set. ThinPrep-FISH ALK signals were robust in 228 of 230 cases and not compromised by nuclear truncation inherent in paraffin-embedded tissue-FISH; only two samples displayed no signals. Nine of 178 informative cases (5%) in the consecutive series and 18 of 228 informative cases (7.8%) overall were ALK rearranged by ThinPrep-FISH. In 154 informative matched ThinPrep-FISH and cytoblock-IHC samples, 152 were concordant (10, 6.5% ALK status positive; 142, 92.2% ALK status negative), and two (1.3%) were ThinPrep-FISH positive but IHC negative (sensitivity 100%, specificity 98.6%, overall agreement 98.7%). Detection of ALK gene rearrangements in liquid cytology ThinPrep slides derived from patients with NSCLC can be confidently used for clinical ALK molecular testing.

  10. Complementary IMAC enrichment methods for HLA-associated phosphopeptide identification by mass spectrometry

    PubMed Central

    Abelin, Jennifer G; Trantham, Paisley D; Penny, Sarah A; Patterson, Andrea M; Ward, Stephen T; Hildebrand, William H; Cobbold, Mark; Bai, Dina L; Shabanowitz, Jeffrey; Hunt, Donald F

    2015-01-01

    Phosphorylation events within cancer cells often become dysregulated, leading to oncogenic signaling and abnormal cell growth. Phosphopeptides derived from aberrantly phosphorylated proteins that are presented on tumors and not on normal tissues by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules are promising candidates for future cancer immunotherapies, because they are tumor specific and have been shown to elicit cytotoxic T cell responses. Robust phosphopeptide enrichments that are suitable for low input amounts must be developed to characterize HLA-associated phosphopeptides from clinical samples that are limited by material availability. We present two complementary mass spectrometry–compatible, iron(III)-immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) methods that use either nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) or iminodiacetic acid (IDA) in-house-fabricated columns. We developed these protocols to enrich for subfemtomole-level phosphopeptides from cell line and human tissue samples containing picograms of starting material, which is an order of magnitude less material than what is commonly used. In addition, we added a peptide esterification step to increase phosphopeptide specificity from these low-input samples. To date, hundreds of phosphopeptides displayed on melanoma, ovarian cancer, leukemia and colorectal cancer have been identified using these highly selective phosphopeptide enrichment protocols in combination with a program called ‘CAD Neutral Loss Finder’ that identifies all spectra containing the characteristic neutral loss of phosphoric acid from phosphorylated serine and threonine residues. This methodology enables the identification of HLA-associated phosphopeptides presented by human tissue samples containing as little as nanograms of peptide material in 2 d. PMID:26247297

  11. CURRENT USE AND FUTURE NEEDS OF BIODOSIMETRY IN STUDIES OF LONG-TERM HEALTH RISK FOLLOWING RADIATION EXPOSURE

    PubMed Central

    Simon, Steven L.; Bouville, André; Kleinerman, Ruth

    2009-01-01

    Biodosimetry measurements can potentially be an important and integral part of the dosimetric methods used in long-term studies of health risk following radiation exposure. Such studies rely on accurate estimation of doses to the whole body or to specific organs of individuals in order to derive reliable estimates of cancer risk. However, dose estimates based on analytical dose reconstruction (i.e., models) or personnel monitoring measurements, e.g., film-badges, can have substantial uncertainty. Biodosimetry can potentially reduce uncertainty in health risk studies by corroboration of model-based dose estimates or by using them to assess bias in dose models. While biodosimetry has begun to play a more significant role in long-term health risk studies, its use is still generally limited in that context due to one or more factors including, inadequate limits of detection, large inter-individual variability of the signal measured, high per-sample cost, and invasiveness. Presently, the most suitable biodosimetry methods for epidemiologic studies are chromosome aberration frequencies from fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of peripheral blood lymphocytes and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements made on tooth enamel. Both types of measurements, however, are usually invasive and require difficult to obtain biological samples. Moreover, doses derived from these methods are not always directly relevant to the tissues of interest. To increase the value of biodosimetry to epidemiologic studies, a number of issues need to be considered including limits of detection, effects of inhomogenous exposure of the body, how to extrapolate from the tissue sampled to the tissues of interest, and how to adjust dosimetry models applied to large populations based on sparse biodosimetry measurements. The requirements of health risk studies suggest a set of characteristics that, if satisfied by new biodosimetry methods, would increase the overall usefulness of biodosimetry to determining radiation health risks. PMID:20065672

  12. Cell supermarket: Adipose tissue as a source of stem cells

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    Adipose tissue is derived from numerous sources, and in recent years has been shown to provide numerous cells from what seemingly was a population of homogeneous adipocytes. Considering the types of cells that adipose tissue-derived cells may form, these cells may be useful in a variety of clinical ...

  13. Improved UTE-based attenuation correction for cranial PET-MR using dynamic magnetic field monitoring

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Aitken, A. P.; Giese, D.; Tsoumpas, C.

    2014-01-15

    Purpose: Ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI has been proposed as a way to produce segmented attenuation maps for PET, as it provides contrast between bone, air, and soft tissue. However, UTE sequences require samples to be acquired during rapidly changing gradient fields, which makes the resulting images prone to eddy current artifacts. In this work it is demonstrated that this can lead to misclassification of tissues in segmented attenuation maps (AC maps) and that these effects can be corrected for by measuring the true k-space trajectories using a magnetic field camera. Methods: The k-space trajectories during a dual echo UTEmore » sequence were measured using a dynamic magnetic field camera. UTE images were reconstructed using nominal trajectories and again using the measured trajectories. A numerical phantom was used to demonstrate the effect of reconstructing with incorrect trajectories. Images of an ovine leg phantom were reconstructed and segmented and the resulting attenuation maps were compared to a segmented map derived from a CT scan of the same phantom, using the Dice similarity measure. The feasibility of the proposed method was demonstrated inin vivo cranial imaging in five healthy volunteers. Simulated PET data were generated for one volunteer to show the impact of misclassifications on the PET reconstruction. Results: Images of the numerical phantom exhibited blurring and edge artifacts on the bone–tissue and air–tissue interfaces when nominal k-space trajectories were used, leading to misclassification of soft tissue as bone and misclassification of bone as air. Images of the tissue phantom and thein vivo cranial images exhibited the same artifacts. The artifacts were greatly reduced when the measured trajectories were used. For the tissue phantom, the Dice coefficient for bone in MR relative to CT was 0.616 using the nominal trajectories and 0.814 using the measured trajectories. The Dice coefficients for soft tissue were 0.933 and 0.934 for the nominal and measured cases, respectively. For air the corresponding figures were 0.991 and 0.993. Compared to an unattenuated reference image, the mean error in simulated PET uptake in the brain was 9.16% when AC maps derived from nominal trajectories was used, with errors in the SUV{sub max} for simulated lesions in the range of 7.17%–12.19%. Corresponding figures when AC maps derived from measured trajectories were used were 0.34% (mean error) and −0.21% to +1.81% (lesions). Conclusions: Eddy current artifacts in UTE imaging can be corrected for by measuring the true k-space trajectories during a calibration scan and using them in subsequent image reconstructions. This improves the accuracy of segmented PET attenuation maps derived from UTE sequences and subsequent PET reconstruction.« less

  14. Crosslinkable hydrogels derived from cartilage, meniscus, and tendon tissue.

    PubMed

    Visser, Jetze; Levett, Peter A; te Moller, Nikae C R; Besems, Jeremy; Boere, Kristel W M; van Rijen, Mattie H P; de Grauw, Janny C; Dhert, Wouter J A; van Weeren, P René; Malda, Jos

    2015-04-01

    Decellularized tissues have proven to be versatile matrices for the engineering of tissues and organs. These matrices usually consist of collagens, matrix-specific proteins, and a set of largely undefined growth factors and signaling molecules. Although several decellularized tissues have found their way to clinical applications, their use in the engineering of cartilage tissue has only been explored to a limited extent. We set out to generate hydrogels from several tissue-derived matrices, as hydrogels are the current preferred cell carriers for cartilage repair. Equine cartilage, meniscus, and tendon tissue was harvested, decellularized, enzymatically digested, and functionalized with methacrylamide groups. After photo-cross-linking, these tissue digests were mechanically characterized. Next, gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA) hydrogel was functionalized with these methacrylated tissue digests. Equine chondrocytes and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) (both from three donors) were encapsulated and cultured in vitro up to 6 weeks. Gene expression (COL1A1, COL2A1, ACAN, MMP-3, MMP-13, and MMP-14), cartilage-specific matrix formation, and hydrogel stiffness were analyzed after culture. The cartilage, meniscus, and tendon digests were successfully photo-cross-linked into hydrogels. The addition of the tissue-derived matrices to GelMA affected chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs, although no consequent improvement was demonstrated. For chondrocytes, the tissue-derived matrix gels performed worse compared to GelMA alone. This work demonstrates for the first time that native tissues can be processed into crosslinkable hydrogels for the engineering of tissues. Moreover, the differentiation of encapsulated cells can be influenced in these stable, decellularized matrix hydrogels.

  15. Quantification of 18F-fluorocholine kinetics in patients with prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Verwer, Eline E; Oprea-Lager, Daniela E; van den Eertwegh, Alfons J M; van Moorselaar, Reindert J A; Windhorst, Albert D; Schwarte, Lothar A; Hendrikse, N Harry; Schuit, Robert C; Hoekstra, Otto S; Lammertsma, Adriaan A; Boellaard, Ronald

    2015-03-01

    Choline kinase is upregulated in prostate cancer, resulting in increased (18)F-fluoromethylcholine uptake. This study used pharmacokinetic modeling to validate the use of simplified methods for quantification of (18)F-fluoromethylcholine uptake in a routine clinical setting. Forty-minute dynamic PET/CT scans were acquired after injection of 204 ± 9 MBq of (18)F-fluoromethylcholine, from 8 patients with histologically proven metastasized prostate cancer. Plasma input functions were obtained using continuous arterial blood-sampling as well as using image-derived methods. Manual arterial blood samples were used for calibration and correction for plasma-to-blood ratio and metabolites. Time-activity curves were derived from volumes of interest in all visually detectable lymph node metastases. (18)F-fluoromethylcholine kinetics were studied by nonlinear regression fitting of several single- and 2-tissue plasma input models to the time-activity curves. Model selection was based on the Akaike information criterion and measures of robustness. In addition, the performance of several simplified methods, such as standardized uptake value (SUV), was assessed. Best fits were obtained using an irreversible compartment model with blood volume parameter. Parent fractions were 0.12 ± 0.4 after 20 min, necessitating individual metabolite corrections. Correspondence between venous and arterial parent fractions was low as determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.61). Results for image-derived input functions that were obtained from volumes of interest in blood-pool structures distant from tissues of high (18)F-fluoromethylcholine uptake yielded good correlation to those for the blood-sampling input functions (R(2) = 0.83). SUV showed poor correlation to parameters derived from full quantitative kinetic analysis (R(2) < 0.34). In contrast, lesion activity concentration normalized to the integral of the blood activity concentration over time (SUVAUC) showed good correlation (R(2) = 0.92 for metabolite-corrected plasma; 0.65 for whole-blood activity concentrations). SUV cannot be used to quantify (18)F-fluoromethylcholine uptake. A clinical compromise could be SUVAUC derived from 2 consecutive static PET scans, one centered on a large blood-pool structure during 0-30 min after injection to obtain the blood activity concentrations and the other a whole-body scan at 30 min after injection to obtain lymph node activity concentrations. © 2015 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

  16. Quantitative photoacoustic assessment of ex-vivo lymph nodes of colorectal cancer patients

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sampathkumar, Ashwin; Mamou, Jonathan; Saegusa-Beercroft, Emi; Chitnis, Parag V.; Machi, Junji; Feleppa, Ernest J.

    2015-03-01

    Staging of cancers and selection of appropriate treatment requires histological examination of multiple dissected lymph nodes (LNs) per patient, so that a staggering number of nodes require histopathological examination, and the finite resources of pathology facilities create a severe processing bottleneck. Histologically examining the entire 3D volume of every dissected node is not feasible, and therefore, only the central region of each node is examined histologically, which results in severe sampling limitations. In this work, we assess the feasibility of using quantitative photoacoustics (QPA) to overcome the limitations imposed by current procedures and eliminate the resulting under sampling in node assessments. QPA is emerging as a new hybrid modality that assesses tissue properties and classifies tissue type based on multiple estimates derived from spectrum analysis of photoacoustic (PA) radiofrequency (RF) data and from statistical analysis of envelope-signal data derived from the RF signals. Our study seeks to use QPA to distinguish cancerous from non-cancerous regions of dissected LNs and hence serve as a reliable means of imaging and detecting small but clinically significant cancerous foci that would be missed by current methods. Dissected lymph nodes were placed in a water bath and PA signals were generated using a wavelength-tunable (680-950 nm) laser. A 26-MHz, f-2 transducer was used to sense the PA signals. We present an overview of our experimental setup; provide a statistical analysis of multi-wavelength classification parameters (mid-band fit, slope, intercept) obtained from the PA signal spectrum generated in the LNs; and compare QPA performance with our established quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques in distinguishing metastatic from non-cancerous tissue in dissected LNs. QPA-QUS methods offer a novel general means of tissue typing and evaluation in a broad range of disease-assessment applications, e.g., cardiac, intravascular, musculoskeletal, endocrine-gland, etc.

  17. Washout of heme-containing proteins dramatically improves tetrazolium-based infarct staining.

    PubMed

    Pitts, Kelly R; Stiko, Ann; Buetow, Bernard; Lott, Fred; Guo, Ping; Virca, Duke; Toombs, Christopher F

    2007-01-01

    Methods to determine infarct size following ischemia-reperfusion injury include gross staining with triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and perfusion of colored dyes to demarcate the non-ischemic zone. Infarcted tissue (INF) can typically appear a mottled tan to brownish color, making a border between INF and TTC-positive tissue difficult to discern. Previous work in our lab indicated that following TTC staining, prolonged washing of thick sections dramatically sharpened this boundary. Adult rats underwent 30 min ischemia via LAD ligation and reperfusion/recovery over 24 h. Hearts were then harvested, thick-sectioned, and stained with TTC. Stained sections were stored in PBS at 4 degrees C for up to 3 weeks. Histology on thin sections from infarcted hearts fixed directly after harvest revealed extensive hemorrhage within the INF. However, this hemorrhage is washed out when hearts are stored in PBS for 3 weeks. SDS-PAGE of PBS samples taken at 1, 2, and 3 weeks showed a low molecular weight band appearing over time. Peptide sequencing revealed the presence of several proteins including the heme-containing proteins (HCPs) hemoglobin, cytochrome c, and myoglobin. The loss of HCPs from thick sections to PBS corresponded with the blanching of the previously mottled INF within each section. HPLC analysis of these samples confirmed the loss of HCPs contributes to INF whitening. Further, analysis of infarct size values derived from heart slices with or without HCPs showed a significant decrease in measurement error when values were derived from slices without HCPs. These data suggest that HCPs in the heart tissue contribute to the non-uniform and discolored appearance of the INF, and that washout of these proteins produces an INF more easily distinguished from neighboring non-infarcted tissue. This method greatly reduces the error associated with infarct measurements and improves the analysis of the effects of drug treatments and other interventions designed to impact ischemia reperfusion injury.

  18. Frozen and fresh ovarian tissue require different culture media to promote in vitro development of bovine preantral follicles.

    PubMed

    Castro, Simone Vieira; Carvalho, Adeline Andrade; Silva, Cleidson Manoel Gomes; Santos, Francielli Weber; Campello, Cláudio Cabral; de Figueiredo, José Ricardo; Rodrigues, Ana Paula Ribeiro

    2014-10-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different media in the in vitro culture of bovine preantral follicles that were used either fresh or following slow freezing treatment. Frozen and fresh noncultured or cultured ovarian fragments were processed for histological, viability, and cell proliferation analyses. For cryopreservation, a solution containing 1.5 M ethylene glycol was frozen in a programmable biological freezer. After thawing, a portion of the samples was destined for frozen controls. The remainder were cultured in vitro for 5 days in three media: α-MEM, McCoy, or M199. Samples from these culture media were collected on days 1 and 5 for quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and for hormonal assays. In fresh-cultured tissues, the percentage of morphologically normal follicles was significantly higher when cultured in M199 compared to that in the other media. In frozen-cultured tissues, McCoy medium was significantly superior to the other media, and was the only treatment that helped in maintaining the viability similar to fresh and frozen controls. Upon quantification of the nucleolus organizer region, we observed greater proliferation of granulosa cells in the frozen-cultured tissues with McCoy medium, and lesser proliferation in fresh-cultured tissues only with α-MEM. In frozen-cultured tissues, ROS levels were highest at day 1 and progressively reduced during culture, independent of the media used. In conclusion, under the conditions used in this study, the M199 and McCoy media are recommended for the culture of follicles derived from fresh and frozen ovarian tissues, respectively.

  19. Transfer of inner cell mass cells derived from bovine nuclear transfer embryos into the trophoblast of bovine in vitro-produced embryos.

    PubMed

    Murakami, M; Ferguson, C E; Perez, O; Boediono, A; Paccamonti, D; Bondioli, K R; Godke, R A

    2006-01-01

    Presence of placental tissues from more normal noncloned embryos could reduce the pregnancy failure of somatic cloning in cattle. In this study, inner cell mass (ICM) cells of in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos was replaced with those of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos to reconstruct bovine blastocysts with ICM and trophoblast cells from NT and IVP embryos, respectively. A total of 65 of these reconstructed embryos were nonsurgically transferred to 20 recipient beef females. Of those, two females were diagnosed pregnant by ultrasonography on day 30 of gestation. One pregnancy was lost at 60-90 days of gestation, and the other recipient cow remained pregnant at day 240 of gestation; however, this female died on day 252 of gestation. Gross pathology of the internal organs of the recipient female, a large fetus, and a large placental tissue mass suggested the massive size of the fetus and placental tissue were likely involved in terminating the life of the recipient female. Biopsy samples were harvested from the skin of the dead recipient cow, the fetus and from cotyledonary tissue. Microsatellite DNA analysis of these samples revealed that the genotype of the fetus was the same as that of the NT donor cells and different from that of the recipient cow. Correspondingly, neither the fetus nor recipient cow had the same genotype with that of the fetal cotyledonary tissue. These results present the first known documented case of a bovine somatic NT pregnancy with nonclone placental tissues after transfer of a blastocyst reconstructed by a microsurgical method to exchange of ICM cells and trophoblast tissue between NT and IVP blastocysts.

  20. Bioanalytical and chemical sensors using living taste, olfactory, and neural cells and tissues: a short review.

    PubMed

    Wu, Chunsheng; Lillehoj, Peter B; Wang, Ping

    2015-11-07

    Biosensors utilizing living tissues and cells have recently gained significant attention as functional devices for chemical sensing and biochemical analysis. These devices integrate biological components (i.e. single cells, cell networks, tissues) with micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensors and transducers. Various types of cells and tissues derived from natural and bioengineered sources have been used as recognition and sensing elements, which are generally characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. This review summarizes the state of the art in tissue- and cell-based biosensing platforms with an emphasis on those using taste, olfactory, and neural cells and tissues. Many of these devices employ unique integration strategies and sensing schemes based on sensitive transducers including microelectrode arrays (MEAs), field effect transistors (FETs), and light-addressable potentiometric sensors (LAPSs). Several groups have coupled these hybrid biosensors with microfluidics which offers added benefits of small sample volumes and enhanced automation. While this technology is currently limited to lab settings due to the limited stability of living biological components, further research to enhance their robustness will enable these devices to be employed in field and clinical settings.

  1. Neural Stem Cells Derived Directly from Adipose Tissue.

    PubMed

    Petersen, Eric D; Zenchak, Jessica R; Lossia, Olivia V; Hochgeschwender, Ute

    2018-05-01

    Neural stem cells (NSCs) are characterized as self-renewing cell populations with the ability to differentiate into the multiple tissue types of the central nervous system. These cells can differentiate into mature neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. This category of stem cells has been shown to be a promisingly effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal injury. Most treatment studies with NSCs in animal models use embryonic brain-derived NSCs. This approach presents both ethical and feasibility issues for translation to human patients. Adult tissue is a more practical source of stem cells for transplantation therapies in humans. Some adult tissues such as adipose tissue and bone marrow contain a wide variety of stem cell populations, some of which have been shown to be similar to embryonic stem cells, possessing many pluripotent properties. Of these stem cell populations, some are able to respond to neuronal growth factors and can be expanded in vitro, forming neurospheres analogous to cells harvested from embryonic brain tissue. In this study, we describe a method for the collection and culture of cells from adipose tissue that directly, without going through intermediates such as mesenchymal stem cells, results in a population of NSCs that are able to be expanded in vitro and be differentiated into functional neuronal cells. These adipose-derived NSCs display a similar phenotype to those directly derived from embryonic brain. When differentiated into neurons, cells derived from adipose tissue have spontaneous spiking activity with network characteristics similar to that of neuronal cultures.

  2. Monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages drive lung fibrosis and persist in the lung over the life span

    PubMed Central

    Morales-Nebreda, Luisa; Cuda, Carla M.; Walter, James M.; Chen, Ching-I; Anekalla, Kishore R.; Joshi, Nikita; Williams, Kinola J.N.; Abdala-Valencia, Hiam; Yacoub, Tyrone J.; Chi, Monica; Gates, Khalilah; Homan, Philip J.; Soberanes, Saul; Dominguez, Salina; Saber, Rana; Hinchcliff, Monique; Marshall, Stacy A.; Bharat, Ankit; Berdnikovs, Sergejs; Bhorade, Sangeeta M.; Balch, William E.; Chandel, Navdeep S.; Jain, Manu; Ridge, Karen M.; Bagheri, Neda; Shilatifard, Ali

    2017-01-01

    Little is known about the relative importance of monocyte and tissue-resident macrophages in the development of lung fibrosis. We show that specific genetic deletion of monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages after their recruitment to the lung ameliorated lung fibrosis, whereas tissue-resident alveolar macrophages did not contribute to fibrosis. Using transcriptomic profiling of flow-sorted cells, we found that monocyte to alveolar macrophage differentiation unfolds continuously over the course of fibrosis and its resolution. During the fibrotic phase, monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages differ significantly from tissue-resident alveolar macrophages in their expression of profibrotic genes. A population of monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages persisted in the lung for one year after the resolution of fibrosis, where they became increasingly similar to tissue-resident alveolar macrophages. Human homologues of profibrotic genes expressed by mouse monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages during fibrosis were up-regulated in human alveolar macrophages from fibrotic compared with normal lungs. Our findings suggest that selectively targeting alveolar macrophage differentiation within the lung may ameliorate fibrosis without the adverse consequences associated with global monocyte or tissue-resident alveolar macrophage depletion. PMID:28694385

  3. Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Delivery for Adipose Tissue Engineering: Current Status and Potential Applications in a Tissue Engineering Chamber Model.

    PubMed

    Zhan, Weiqing; Tan, Shaun S; Lu, Feng

    2016-08-01

    In reconstructive surgery, there is a clinical need for adequate implants to repair soft tissue defects caused by traumatic injury, tumor resection, or congenital abnormalities. Adipose tissue engineering may provide answers to this increasing demand. This study comprehensively reviews current approaches to adipose tissue engineering, detailing different cell carriers under investigation, with a special focus on the application of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). ASCs act as building blocks for new tissue growth and as modulators of the host response. Recent studies have also demonstrated that the implantation of a hollow protected chamber, combined with a vascular pedicle within the fat flaps provides blood supply and enables the growth of large-volume of engineered soft tissue. Conceptually, it would be of value to co-regulate this unique chamber model with adipose-derived stem cells to obtain a greater volume of soft tissue constructs for clinical use. Our review provides a cogent update on these advances and details the generation of possible fat substitutes.

  4. Determination of bone and tissue concentrations of teicoplanin mixed with hydroxyapatite cement to repair cortical defects.

    PubMed

    Eggenreich, K; Zeipper, U; Schwendenwein, E; Hadju, S; Kaltenecker, G; Laslo, I; Lang, S; Roschger, P; Vecsei, V; Wintersteiger, R

    2002-01-01

    A highly specific and sensitive isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the determination of the major component of teicoplanin in tissue is reported. Comparing fluorescamine and o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) as derivatizing agents, the derivative formed with the latter exhibits superior fluorescence intensity allowing detection of femtomole quantities. Pretreatment for tissue samples is by solid-phase extraction which uses Bakerbond PolarP C(18) cartridges and gives effective clean up from endogenous by-products. Linearity was given from 0.6 to 100 ng per injection. The coefficient of variation did not exceed 5.8% for both interday and intraday assays. It was found that when bone defects are repaired with a hydroxyapatite-teicoplanin mixture, the antibiotic does not degrade, even when it is in the cement for several months. The stability of teicoplanin in bone cement was determined fluorodensitometrically.

  5. Use of the temporal median and trimmed mean mitigates effects of respiratory motion in multiple-acquisition abdominal diffusion imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jerome, N. P.; Orton, M. R.; d'Arcy, J. A.; Feiweier, T.; Tunariu, N.; Koh, D.-M.; Leach, M. O.; Collins, D. J.

    2015-01-01

    Respiratory motion commonly confounds abdominal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, where averaging of successive samples at different parts of the respiratory cycle, performed in the scanner, manifests the motion as blurring of tissue boundaries and structural features and can introduce bias into calculated diffusion metrics. Storing multiple averages separately allows processing using metrics other than the mean; in this prospective volunteer study, median and trimmed mean values of signal intensity for each voxel over repeated averages and diffusion-weighting directions are shown to give images with sharper tissue boundaries and structural features for moving tissues, while not compromising non-moving structures. Expert visual scoring of derived diffusion maps is significantly higher for the median than for the mean, with modest improvement from the trimmed mean. Diffusion metrics derived from mono- and bi-exponential diffusion models are comparable for non-moving structures, demonstrating a lack of introduced bias from using the median. The use of the median is a simple and computationally inexpensive alternative to complex and expensive registration algorithms, requiring only additional data storage (and no additional scanning time) while returning visually superior images that will facilitate the appropriate placement of regions-of-interest when analysing abdominal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images, for assessment of disease characteristics and treatment response.

  6. Use of the temporal median and trimmed mean mitigates effects of respiratory motion in multiple-acquisition abdominal diffusion imaging.

    PubMed

    Jerome, N P; Orton, M R; d'Arcy, J A; Feiweier, T; Tunariu, N; Koh, D-M; Leach, M O; Collins, D J

    2015-01-21

    Respiratory motion commonly confounds abdominal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, where averaging of successive samples at different parts of the respiratory cycle, performed in the scanner, manifests the motion as blurring of tissue boundaries and structural features and can introduce bias into calculated diffusion metrics. Storing multiple averages separately allows processing using metrics other than the mean; in this prospective volunteer study, median and trimmed mean values of signal intensity for each voxel over repeated averages and diffusion-weighting directions are shown to give images with sharper tissue boundaries and structural features for moving tissues, while not compromising non-moving structures. Expert visual scoring of derived diffusion maps is significantly higher for the median than for the mean, with modest improvement from the trimmed mean. Diffusion metrics derived from mono- and bi-exponential diffusion models are comparable for non-moving structures, demonstrating a lack of introduced bias from using the median. The use of the median is a simple and computationally inexpensive alternative to complex and expensive registration algorithms, requiring only additional data storage (and no additional scanning time) while returning visually superior images that will facilitate the appropriate placement of regions-of-interest when analysing abdominal diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images, for assessment of disease characteristics and treatment response.

  7. Isolation of human genomic DNA for genetic analysis from premature neonates: a comparison between newborn dried blood spots, whole blood and umbilical cord tissue

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Genotyping requires biological sample collection that must be reliable, convenient and acceptable for patients and clinicians. Finding the most optimal procedure of sample collection for premature neonates who have a very limited blood volume is a particular challenge. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the use of umbilical cord (UC) tissue and newborn dried blood spot (DBS)-extracted genomic DNA (gDNA) as an alternative to venous blood-derived gDNA from premature neonates for molecular genetic analysis. All samples were obtained from premature newborn infants between 24-32 weeks of gestation. Paired blood and UC samples were collected from 31 study participants. gDNA was extracted from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant-treated blood samples (~500 μl) and newborn DBSs (n = 723) using QIAamp DNA Micro kit (Qiagen Ltd., Crawley, UK); and from UC using Qiagen DNAeasy Blood and Tissue kit (Qiagen Ltd., Crawley, UK). gDNA was quantified and purity confirmed by measuring the A260:A280 ratio. PCR amplification and pyrosequencing was carried out to determine suitability of the gDNA for molecular genetic analysis. Minor allele frequency of two unrelated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was calculated using the entire cohort. Results Both whole blood samples and UC tissue provided good quality and yield of gDNA, which was considerably less from newborn DBS. The gDNA purity was also reduced after 3 years of storage of the newborn DBS. PCR amplification of three unrelated genes resulted in clear products in all whole blood and UC samples and 86%-100% of newborn DBS. Genotyping using pyrosequencing showed 100% concordance in the paired UC and whole blood samples. Minor allele frequencies of the two SNPs indicated that no maternal gDNA contamination occurred in the genotyping of the UC samples. Conclusions gDNAs from all three sources are suitable for standard PCR and pyrosequencing assays. Given that UC provide good quality and quantity gDNA with 100% concordance in the genetic analysis with whole blood, it can replace blood sampling from premature infants. This is likely to reduce the stress and potential side effects associated with invasive sample collection and thus, greatly facilitate participant recruitment for genetic studies. PMID:24168095

  8. Estimation of phenotypic variability in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of common bean under drought stress using 15N natural abundance in grain.

    PubMed

    Polania, Jose; Poschenrieder, Charlotte; Rao, Idupulapati; Beebe, Stephen

    2016-09-01

    Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume, cultivated by small farmers and is usually exposed to unfavorable conditions with minimum use of inputs. Drought and low soil fertility, especially phosphorus and nitrogen (N) deficiencies, are major limitations to bean yield in smallholder systems. Beans can derive part of their required N from the atmosphere through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Drought stress severely limits SNF ability of plants. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) test and validate the use of 15 N natural abundance in grain to quantify phenotypic differences in SNF ability for its implementation in breeding programs of common bean with bush growth habit aiming to improve SNF, and (ii) quantify phenotypic differences in SNF under drought to identify superior genotypes that could serve as parents. Field studies were conducted at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia using a set of 36 bean genotypes belonging to the Middle American gene pool for evaluation in two seasons with two levels of water supply (irrigated and drought stress). We used 15 N natural abundance method to compare SNF ability estimated from shoot tissue sampled at mid-pod filling growth stage vs. grain tissue sampled at harvest. Our results showed positive and significant correlation between nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) estimated using shoot tissue at mid-pod filling and %Ndfa estimated using grain tissue at harvest. Both methods showed phenotypic variability in SNF ability under both drought and irrigated conditions and a significant reduction in SNF ability was observed under drought stress. We suggest that the method of estimating Ndfa using grain tissue (Ndfa-G) could be applied in bean breeding programs to improve SNF ability. Using this method of Ndfa-G, we identified four bean lines (RCB 593, SEA 15, NCB 226 and BFS 29) that combine greater SNF ability with greater grain yield under drought stress and these could serve as potential parents to further improve SNF ability of common bean.

  9. Derivation and validation of simple anthropometric equations to predict adipose tissue mass and total fat mass with MRI as the reference method

    PubMed Central

    Al-Gindan, Yasmin Y.; Hankey, Catherine R.; Govan, Lindsay; Gallagher, Dympna; Heymsfield, Steven B.; Lean, Michael E. J.

    2017-01-01

    The reference organ-level body composition measurement method is MRI. Practical estimations of total adipose tissue mass (TATM), total adipose tissue fat mass (TATFM) and total body fat are valuable for epidemiology, but validated prediction equations based on MRI are not currently available. We aimed to derive and validate new anthropometric equations to estimate MRI-measured TATM/TATFM/total body fat and compare them with existing prediction equations using older methods. The derivation sample included 416 participants (222 women), aged between 18 and 88 years with BMI between 15·9 and 40·8 (kg/m2). The validation sample included 204 participants (110 women), aged between 18 and 86 years with BMI between 15·7 and 36·4 (kg/m2). Both samples included mixed ethnic/racial groups. All the participants underwent whole-body MRI to quantify TATM (dependent variable) and anthropometry (independent variables). Prediction equations developed using stepwise multiple regression were further investigated for agreement and bias before validation in separate data sets. Simplest equations with optimal R2 and Bland–Altman plots demonstrated good agreement without bias in the validation analyses: men: TATM (kg) = 0·198 weight (kg) + 0·478 waist (cm) − 0·147 height (cm) − 12·8 (validation: R2 0·79, CV = 20 %, standard error of the estimate (SEE)=3·8 kg) and women: TATM (kg)=0·789 weight (kg) + 0·0786 age (years) − 0·342 height (cm) + 24·5 (validation: R2 0·84, CV = 13 %, SEE = 3·0 kg). Published anthropometric prediction equations, based on MRI and computed tomographic scans, correlated strongly with MRI-measured TATM: (R2 0·70 – 0·82). Estimated TATFM correlated well with published prediction equations for total body fat based on underwater weighing (R2 0·70–0·80), with mean bias of 2·5–4·9 kg, correctable with log-transformation in most equations. In conclusion, new equations, using simple anthropometric measurements, estimated MRI-measured TATM with correlations and agreements suitable for use in groups and populations across a wide range of fatness. PMID:26435103

  10. Skeletal tissue engineering using mesenchymal or embryonic stem cells: clinical and experimental data.

    PubMed

    Gamie, Zakareya; MacFarlane, Robert J; Tomkinson, Alicia; Moniakis, Alexandros; Tran, Gui Tong; Gamie, Yehya; Mantalaris, Athanasios; Tsiridis, Eleftherios

    2014-11-01

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be obtained from a wide variety of tissues for bone tissue engineering such as bone marrow, adipose, birth-associated, peripheral blood, periosteum, dental and muscle. MSCs from human fetal bone marrow and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are also promising cell sources. In vitro, in vivo and clinical evidence was collected using MEDLINE® (1950 to January 2014), EMBASE (1980 to January 2014) and Google Scholar (1980 to January 2014) databases. Enhanced results have been found when combining bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) with recently developed scaffolds such as glass ceramics and starch-based polymeric scaffolds. Preclinical studies investigating adipose tissue-derived stem cells and umbilical cord tissue-derived stem cells suggest that they are likely to become promising alternatives. Stem cells derived from periosteum and dental tissues such as the periodontal ligament have an osteogenic potential similar to BMMSCs. Stem cells from human fetal bone marrow have demonstrated superior proliferation and osteogenic differentiation than perinatal and postnatal tissues. Despite ethical concerns and potential for teratoma formation, developments have also been made for the use of ESCs in terms of culture and ideal scaffold.

  11. Evidence-based alternatives for autogenous grafts around teeth: outcomes, attachment, and stability.

    PubMed

    McGuire, Michael K

    2014-06-01

    Although the use of autogenous harvested tissues has proven to be the gold standard for soft tissue augmentation procedures involving root coverage or generation of keratinized tissue, harvest site morbidity and limited supply have prompted clinicians to seek graft alternatives. Using a hierarchy of evidence, the author reviews both clinical and patient-reported results for harvest graft substitutes and, considering his own research experience, reviews autogenous graft substitute outcomes, attachment, and stability over time. Overall, when the goal is keratinized-tissue generation, living cellular constructs and xenogeneic collagen matrices have provided acceptable clinical results, but with better esthetics and patient preference than autogenous free gingival grafts. For root coverage therapy, enamel matrix derivatives, platelet-derived growth factors, and xenogeneic collagen matrices have provided acceptable results with equivalent esthetics to autogenous connective tissue grafts, while also being preferred by patients. Longterm results for enamel matrix derivatives, platelet-derived growth factors, and xenogeneic collagen matrices indicate root coverage can be maintained over time. In the author's hands, xenogeneic collagen matrices have been the only harvest graft alternatives that can be used either covered or uncovered by soft tissue.

  12. Evaluating intra- and inter- sample variability in Electron Spin Resonance dating of fossil teeth: an example from Cuesta de la Bajada site (Spain).

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Duval, Mathieu; Grün, Rainer; Shao, Qingfeng; Martin, Loïc; Arnold, Lee J.

    2017-04-01

    Over the last decades, technological improvements have progressively enabled to significantly decrease the amount of material required for dating analyses. In particular, the combined use of laser ablation (LA) with ICP-MS opened new possibilities for high resolution in situ U-series analyses of fossil teeth. With this technique it is now possible to directly visualise the spatial distribution of U and Th isotopes in dental tissues. Moreover, the combination of LA-ICP-MS with Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) enables an increased sampling resolution, and offers the possibility to produce several ages for different areas within a given fossil tooth. To test the potential of this new approach, several fossil teeth were collected from the Middle Palaeolithic site of Cuesta de la Bajada (Teruel, Spain). Each tooth was divided into several subsamples, providing thus several combined US-ESR age results per tooth. For each subsample, ESR, high-resolution laser ablation and solution ICP-MS U-series analyses were systematically performed. Relative beta dose rate contributions from the different tissues and the sediment were also adjusted using DosiVox software and compared with those derived from the standard approach. The results of this work give some interesting insight into the intra- and inter- sample variability that may exist at a given site. The consistency of the final US-ESR age estimates obtained on teeth are also evaluated by comparison with the (semi)-independent results derived from ESR and Luminescence dating of optically bleached quartz grains collected from the same excavation area.

  13. Quantitative determination of carcinogenic mycotoxins in human and animal biological matrices and animal-derived foods using multi-mycotoxin and analyte-specific high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric methods.

    PubMed

    Cao, Xiaoqin; Li, Xiaofei; Li, Jian; Niu, Yunhui; Shi, Lu; Fang, Zhenfeng; Zhang, Tao; Ding, Hong

    2018-01-15

    A sensitive and reliable multi-mycotoxin-based method was developed to identify and quantify several carcinogenic mycotoxins in human blood and urine, as well as edible animal tissues, including muscle and liver tissue from swine and chickens, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). For the toxicokinetic studies with individual mycotoxins, highly sensitive analyte-specific LC-MS/MS methods were developed for rat plasma and urine. Sample purification consisted of a rapid 'dilute and shoot' approach in urine samples, a simple 'dilute, evaporate and shoot' approach in plasma samples and a 'QuEChERS' procedure in edible animal tissues. The multi-mycotoxin and analyte-specific methods were validated in-house: The limits of detection (LOD) for the multi-mycotoxin and analyte-specific methods ranged from 0.02 to 0.41 μg/kg (μg/L) and 0.01 to 0.19 μg/L, respectively, and limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.10 to 1.02 μg/kg (μg/L) and 0.09 to 0.47 μg/L, respectively. Apparent recoveries of the samples spiked with 0.25 to 4 μg/kg (μg/L) ranged from 60.1% to 109.8% with relative standard deviations below 15%. The methods were successfully applied to real samples. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study carried out using a small group of patients from the Chinese population with hepatocellular carcinoma to assess their exposure to carcinogenic mycotoxins using biomarkers. Finally, the multi-mycotoxin method is a useful analytical method for assessing exposure to mycotoxins edible in animal tissues. The analyte-specific methods could be useful during toxicokinetic and toxicological studies. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  14. Comparative disposition of the nephrotoxicant N-(3, 5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide and the non-nephrotoxicant N-(3, 5-difluorophenyl)succinimide in Fischer 344 rats.

    PubMed

    Henesey, C M; Kellner-Weibel, G L; Tarloff, J B; Harvison, P J

    1999-06-01

    Disposition of the nephrotoxicant N-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)succinimide (NDPS) was compared with that of a nontoxic analog, N-(3, 5-difluorophenyl)succinimide (DFPS). Male Fischer 344 rats were administered 0.2 or 0.6 mmol/kg [14C]NDPS or [14C]DFPS (i.p. in corn oil). Plasma concentrations were determined from blood samples obtained through the carotid artery. Urine samples were analyzed for metabolite content by HPLC. Rats were sacrificed at 3 h (DFPS) or 6 h (NDPS) and tissue radiolabel content and covalent binding were determined. [14C]NDPS-derived plasma radioactivity levels were 6- to 21-fold higher and peaked later than those from [14C]DFPS. Six hours after dosing, NDPS was 40% eliminated in the urine compared with approximately 90% for DFPS. By 48 h, only 67% of the NDPS dose was eliminated in urine. In contrast, DFPS excretion was virtually complete within 24 h. NDPS underwent oxidative metabolism to a slightly greater extent than DFPS. Distribution of [14C]NDPS-derived radioactivity into the kidneys was 3- to 6-fold higher than that into the liver or heart, and was more extensive than with [14C]DFPS. NDPS also covalently bound to plasma, renal, and hepatic proteins to a greater extent than DFPS. In summary, NDPS achieves higher tissue and plasma concentrations, covalently binds to a greater extent, and is eliminated more slowly than DFPS. Differences in the lipid solubility of NDPS metabolites and DFPS metabolites may help explain these results. The overall greater tissue exposure of NDPS and its metabolites may contribute to differential toxicity of these analogs.

  15. Suppression of SRC Signaling Is Effective in Reducing Synergy between Glioblastoma and Stromal Cells.

    PubMed

    Calgani, Alessia; Vignaroli, Giulia; Zamperini, Claudio; Coniglio, Federica; Festuccia, Claudio; Di Cesare, Ernesto; Gravina, Giovanni Luca; Mattei, Claudia; Vitale, Flora; Schenone, Silvia; Botta, Maurizio; Angelucci, Adriano

    2016-07-01

    Glioblastoma cells efficiently interact with and infiltrate the surrounding normal tissue, rendering surgical resection and adjuvant chemo/radiotherapy ineffective. New therapeutic targets, able to interfere with glioblastoma's capacity to synergize with normal brain tissue, are currently under investigation. The compound Si306, a pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivative, selected for its favorable activity against SRC, was tested in vitro and in vivo on glioblastoma cell lines. In vivo, combination treatment with Si306 and radiotherapy was strongly active in reducing U-87 xenograft growth with respect to control and single treatments. The histology revealed a significant difference in the stromal compartment of tumoral tissue derived from control or radiotherapy-treated samples with respect to Si306-treated samples, showing in the latter a reduced presence of collagen and α-SMA-positive cells. This effect was paralleled in vitro by the capacity of Si306 to interfere with myofibroblastic differentiation of normal fibroblasts induced by U-87 cells. In the presence of Si306, TGF-β released by U-87 cells, mainly in hypoxia, was ineffective in upregulating α-SMA and β-PDGFR in fibroblasts. Si306 efficiently reached the brain and significantly prolonged the survival of mice orthotopically injected with U-87 cells. Drugs that target SRC could represent an effective therapeutic strategy in glioblastoma, able to block positive paracrine loop with stromal cells based on the β-PDGFR axis and the formation of a tumor-promoting microenvironment. This approach could be important in combination with conventional treatments in the effort to reduce tumor resistance to therapy. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(7); 1535-44. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

  16. Are there attacking points in the eicosanoid cascade for chemotherapeutic options in benign meningiomas?

    PubMed

    Pfister, Christina; Ritz, Rainer; Pfrommer, Heike; Bornemann, Antje; Tatagiba, Marcos S; Roser, Florian

    2007-01-01

    The current treatment for recurrent or malignant meningiomas with adjuvant therapies has not been satisfactory, and there is an intense interest in evaluating new molecular markers to act as therapeutic targets. Enzymes of the arachidonic acid (AA) cascade such as cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 or 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) are upregulated in a number of epithelial tumors, but to date there are hardly any data about the expression of these markers in meningiomas. To find possible targets for chemotherapeutic intervention, the authors evaluated the expression of AA derivatives at different molecular levels in meningiomas. One hundred and twenty-four meningioma surgical specimens and normal human cortical tissue samples were immunohistochemically and cytochemically stained for COX-2, COX-1, 5-LO, and prostaglandin E receptor 4 (PTGER4). In addition, Western blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses were performed to detect the presence of eicosanoids in vivo and in vitro. Sixty (63%) of 95 benign meningiomas, 21 (88%) of 24 atypical meningiomas, all five malignant meningiomas, and all normal human cortex samples displayed high COX-2 immunoreactivity. All cultured specimens and IOMM-Lee cells stained positive for COX-2, COX-1, 5-LO, and PTGER4. The PCR analysis demonstrated no changes in eicosanoid expression among meningiomas of different World Health Organization grades and in normal human cortical and dura mater tissue. Eicosanoid derivatives COX-1, COX-2, 5-LO, and PTGER4 enzymes show a high universal expression in meningiomas but are not upregulated in normal human cortex and dura tissue. This finding of the ubiquitous presence of these enzymes in meningiomas offers an excellent baseline for testing upcoming chemotherapeutic treatments.

  17. Kindler syndrome protein Kindlin-1 is mainly expressed in adult tissues originating from ectoderm/endoderm.

    PubMed

    Zhan, Jun; Yang, Mei; Zhang, Jing; Guo, YongQing; Liu, Wei; Zhang, HongQuan

    2015-05-01

    Mutations of integrin-interacting protein Kindlin-1 cause Kindler syndrome and deregulation of Kindlin-1 is implicated in human cancers. The Kindlin-1-related diseases are confined in limited tissue types. However, Kindlin-1 tissue distribution and the dogma that governs Kindlin-1 expression in normal human body are elusive. This study examined Kindlin-1 expression in normal human adult organs, human and mouse embryonic organs by immunohistochemical analyses. We identified a general principle that the level of Kindlin-1 expression in tissues is tightly correlated with the corresponding germ layers from which these tissues originate. We compared the expression of Kindlin-1 with Kindlin-2 and found that Kindlin-1 is highly expressed in epithelial tissues derived from ectoderm and endoderm, whereas Kindlin-2 is mainly expressed in mesoderm-derived tissues. Likewise, Kindlin-1 was also found highly expressed in endoderm/ectoderm-derived tissues in human and mouse embryos. Our findings indicate that Kindlin-1 may play an importance role in the development of endoderm/ectoderm related tissues.

  18. Effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on migrant shorebirds using rocky intertidal habitats of Prince William Sound, Alaska, during spring, 1989. Exxon Valdez oil spill state/federal natural resource damage assessment final report

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Martin, P.D.

    1993-12-01

    A minimum of a few 10,000`s of surfbirds (Aphriza virgata) and black turnstones (Arenaria melanocephala) used rocky intertidal habitats of southwestern Prince William sound in spring 1989. Virtually all the shorebirds were found using shorelines, primarily on northern Montague Island, subjectively classified in the field as lightly oiled or unoiled. Surfbirds and black turnstones preyed mainly on herring eggs, blue mussels, and barnacles. Samples of these prey items from oiled areas contained petroleum-derived hydrocarbons, as did at some of the samples from the relatively clean portions of Montague Island. The results of chemical analysis of a small sample of shorebirdmore » liver tissues provided only limited support for the hypothesis that shorebirds had ingested significant quantities of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. Surfbirds and black turnstones probably escaped significant population impacts as a result of the EVOs because shorelines which received heavy use by these species were largely spared contamination.« less

  19. Comprehensive Molecular Profiling of African-American Prostate Cancer to Inform on Prognosis and Disease Biology

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2016-10-01

    prostate cancer through sequencing xenografts and tissue samples. Qualify novel drivers of AR- prostate cancer through in vitro models. Develop novel...ability of RNASEH2A to modulate radio-sensitivity in prostate cancer cell lines and xenograft models. 3: Investigate RNASEH2A as a marker of radio...lung cancer clinical management. List of the Specific Aims: Aim 1: To establish patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models of pre-neoplastic lesions

  20. Determination of xylazine and 2,6-xylidine in animal tissues by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Zheng, Xiaochun; Mi, Xiaoxia; Li, Sicong; Chen, Gang

    2013-06-01

    Xylazine is a potent α2-adrenergic agonist used in veterinary medicine for sedation, analgesia, muscle relaxation, and so on. Its residue in animal-derived food may cause the food safety problem. Moreover, the metabolite 2,6-xylidine was reported to be a genotoxic and carcinogenic compound. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a high sensitive method for analyzing xylazine and metabolite residue in animal products. Here, we described a LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of xylazine and 2,6-xylidine in 4 animal tissues: liver, meat, kidney, and fat. The samples were extracted by acetonitrile, and further clean up by hexane. The analysis was performed on a C18 reversed-phase column and API 5000 Triple Quadrupole mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization interface operating in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode. For all of the investigated sample matrix, the limit of detection (limit of quantitation) for xylazine and 2,6-xylidine were 0.06 (0.2) and 1.5 (5) μg/kg, respectively, the recoveries were between 63.5% and 90.8%. The precision was within the range of required criteria for method development. The presented method is sensitive and reproducible, and thus suitable for accurate quantification of xylazine and metabolite residue in animal-derived food products. © 2013 Institute of Food Technologists®

  1. Clinical Significance of SASH1 Expression in Glioma

    PubMed Central

    Yang, Liu; Zhang, Haitao; Yao, Qi; Yan, Yingying; Wu, Ronghua; Liu, Mei

    2015-01-01

    Objective. SAM and SH3 domain containing 1 (SASH1) is a recently discovered tumor suppressor gene. The role of SASH1 in glioma has not yet been described. We investigated SASH1 expression in glioma cases to determine its clinical significance on glioma pathogenesis and prognosis. Methods. We produced tissue microarrays using 121 patient-derived glioma samples and 30 patient-derived nontumor cerebral samples. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to evaluate SASH1 expression. We used Fisher's exact tests to determine relationships between SASH1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics; Cox regression analysis to evaluate the independency of different SASH1 expression; Kaplan-Meier analysis to determine any correlation of SASH1 expression with survival rate. Results. SASH1 expression was closely correlated with the WHO glioma grade. Of the 121 cases, 66.9% with low SASH1 expression were mostly grade III-IV cases, whereas 33.1% with high SASH1 expression were mostly grades I-II. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between SASH1 expression and postoperative survival. Conclusions. SASH1 was widely expressed in normal and low-grade glioma tissues. SASH1 expression strongly correlated with glioma grades, showing higher expression at a lower grade, which decreased significantly as grade increased. Furthermore, SASH1 expression was positively correlated with better postoperative survival in patients with glioma. PMID:26424902

  2. Effects of b-value and number of gradient directions on diffusion MRI measures obtained with Q-ball imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schilling, Kurt G.; Nath, Vishwesh; Blaber, Justin; Harrigan, Robert L.; Ding, Zhaohua; Anderson, Adam W.; Landman, Bennett A.

    2017-02-01

    High-angular-resolution diffusion-weighted imaging (HARDI) MRI acquisitions have become common for use with higher order models of diffusion. Despite successes in resolving complex fiber configurations and probing microstructural properties of brain tissue, there is no common consensus on the optimal b-value and number of diffusion directions to use for these HARDI methods. While this question has been addressed by analysis of the diffusion-weighted signal directly, it is unclear how this translates to the information and metrics derived from the HARDI models themselves. Using a high angular resolution data set acquired at a range of b-values, and repeated 11 times on a single subject, we study how the b-value and number of diffusion directions impacts the reproducibility and precision of metrics derived from Q-ball imaging, a popular HARDI technique. We find that Q-ball metrics associated with tissue microstructure and white matter fiber orientation are sensitive to both the number of diffusion directions and the spherical harmonic representation of the Q-ball, and often are biased when under sampled. These results can advise researchers on appropriate acquisition and processing schemes, particularly when it comes to optimizing the number of diffusion directions needed for metrics derived from Q-ball imaging.

  3. Biomimetic hybrid porous scaffolds immobilized with platelet derived growth factor-BB promote cellularization and vascularization in tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Murali, Ragothaman; Ponrasu, Thangavel; Cheirmadurai, Kalirajan; Thanikaivelan, Palanisamy

    2016-02-01

    Development of hybrid scaffolds with synergistic combination of growth factor is a promising approach to promote early in vivo wound repair and tissue regeneration. Here, we show the rapid wound healing in Wistar albino rats using biomimetic collagen-poly(dialdehyde) guar gum based hybrid porous scaffolds covalently immobilized with platelet derived growth factor-BB. The immobilized platelet derived growth factor in the hybrid scaffolds not only enhance the total protein, collagen, hexosamine, and uronic acid contents in the granulation tissue but also provide stronger tissues. The wound closure analysis reveal that the complete epithelialization period is 15.4 ± 0.9 days for collagen-poly(dialdehyde) guar gum-platelet derived growth factor hybrid scaffolds, whereas it is significantly higher for control, collagen, collagen- poly(dialdehyde) guar gum and povidine-iodine treated groups. Further, the histological evaluation shows that the immobilized platelet derived growth factor in the hybrid scaffolds induced a more robust cellular and vascular response in the implanted site. Hence, we demonstrate that the collagen-poly(dialdehyde) guar gum hybrid scaffolds loaded with platelet derived growth factor stimulates chemotactic effects in the implanted site to promote rapid tissue regeneration and wound repair without the assistance of antibacterial agents. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. Uninduced adipose-derived stem cells repair the defect of full-thickness hyaline cartilage.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hai-Ning; Li, Lei; Leng, Ping; Wang, Ying-Zhen; Lv, Cheng-Yu

    2009-04-01

    To testify the effect of the stem cells derived from the widely distributed fat tissue on repairing full-thickness hyaline cartilage defects. Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were derived from adipose tissue and cultured in vitro. Twenty-seven New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups randomly. The cultured ADSCs mixed with calcium alginate gel were used to fill the full-thickness hyaline cartilage defects created at the patellafemoral joint, and the defects repaired with gel or without treatment served as control groups. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks, the reconstructed tissue was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically. Histological analysis and qualitative scoring were also performed to detect the outcome. Full thickness hyaline cartilage defects were repaired completely with ADSCs-derived tissue. The result was better in ADSCs group than the control ones. The microstructure of reconstructed tissue with ADSCs was similar to that of hyaline cartilage and contained more cells and regular matrix fibers, being better than other groups. Plenty of collagen fibers around cells could be seen under transmission electron microscopy. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in comparison with other groups at each time point (t equal to 4.360, P less than 0.01). These results indicate that stem cells derived from mature adipose without induction possess the ability to repair cartilage defects.

  5. Determination of josamycin residues in porcine tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography with pre-column derivatization and spectrofluorimetric detection.

    PubMed

    Leroy, P; Decolin, D; Nicolas, A; Archimbault, P

    1994-12-01

    A simple, selective and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method has been developed for the measurement of josamycin residues in four porcine tissues (i.e., muscle, liver, kidney and fat). The sample preparation consisted of a homogenization step in an acetonitrile-10 mmol l-1 phosphate buffer mixture, pH 6.0 (35 + 65), centrifugation and a liquid-liquid extractive clean-up of the resulting supernatant with isooctane. Pre-column derivatization of josamycin was performed using cyclohexa-1,3-dione in ammonium acetate buffer, pH 5.0 (90 degrees C for 2 h). The derivative was chromatographed in an isocratic reversed-phase HPLC system. A LiChrospher RP 18 end-capped (5 microns) column was eluted with an acetonitrile-methanol-10 mmol l-1 phosphate buffer mixture, pH 6.0 (45 + 5 + 50). The capacity factor of the josamycin derivative was 17.5. Detection was achieved using spectrofluorimetry (lambda ex = 375 nm; lambda em = 450 nm). The structure of the derivative was assessed by using mass spectrometry. Full selectivity was obtained in the HPLC system versus other macrolide antibiotics (tylosin, spiramycin and erythromycin), aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde) and endogenous compounds. Linearity and repeatability were tested. Correlation coefficients, for calibration curves in the range of 0.1-3.2 micrograms g-1, were greater than 0.999 for all tissues and the relative standard deviation (S(r)) was 4.9% (1.6 micrograms g-1; n = 6); recovery was higher than 88%.

  6. Tissue distribution, metabolism and excretion of 3, 3′-dichloro-4′-sulfooxy-biphenyl in the rat

    PubMed Central

    Grimm, Fabian A.; He, Xianran; Teesch, Lynn M.; Lehmler, Hans-Joachim; Robertson, Larry W.; Duffel, Michael W.

    2015-01-01

    Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with lower numbers of chlorine atoms exhibit a greater susceptibility to metabolism than their higher-chlorinated counterparts. Following initial hydroxylation of these lower chlorinated PCBs, metabolic sulfation to form PCB sulfates is increasingly recognized as an important component of their toxicology. Since procedures for the quantitative analysis of PCB sulfates in tissue samples have not been previously available, we have now developed an efficient, LC-ESI-MS/MS based, protocol for the quantitative analysis of 4-PCB 11 sulfate in biological samples. This procedure was used to determine the distribution of 4-PCB 11 sulfate in liver, kidney, lung, and brain, as well as its excretion profile, following its intravenous administration to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Following initial uptake of 4-PCB 11 sulfate, its concentration in these tissues and serum declined within the first hour following injection. Although biliary secretion was detected, analysis of 24 hour collections of urine and feces revealed recovery of less than 4% of the administered 4-PCB 11 sulfate. High-resolution LC-MS analysis of bile, urine, and feces showed metabolic products derived from 4-PCB 11 sulfate. Thus, 4-PCB 11 sulfate at this dose was not directly excreted in the urine, but was, instead, re-distributed to tissues and/or subjected to further metabolism. PMID:26046945

  7. Deciphering membrane-associated molecular processes in target tissue of autoimmune uveitis by label-free quantitative mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Hauck, Stefanie M; Dietter, Johannes; Kramer, Roxane L; Hofmaier, Florian; Zipplies, Johanna K; Amann, Barbara; Feuchtinger, Annette; Deeg, Cornelia A; Ueffing, Marius

    2010-10-01

    Autoimmune uveitis is a blinding disease presenting with autoantibodies against eye-specific proteins as well as autoagressive T cells invading and attacking the immune-privileged target tissue retina. The molecular events enabling T cells to invade and attack the tissue have remained elusive. Changes in membrane protein expression patterns between diseased and healthy stages are especially interesting because initiating events of disease will most likely occur at membranes. Since disease progression is accompanied with a break-down of the blood-retinal barrier, serum-derived proteins mask the potential target tissue-related changes. To overcome this limitation, we used membrane-enriched fractions derived from retinas of the only available spontaneous animal model for the disease equine recurrent uveitis, and compared expression levels by a label-free LC-MSMS-based strategy to healthy control samples. We could readily identify a total of 893 equine proteins with 57% attributed to the Gene Ontology project term "membrane." Of these, 179 proteins were found differentially expressed in equine recurrent uveitis tissue. Pathway enrichment analyses indicated an increase in proteins related to antigen processing and presentation, TNF receptor signaling, integrin cell surface interactions and focal adhesions. Additionally, loss of retina-specific proteins reflecting decrease of vision was observed as well as an increase in Müller glial cell-specific proteins indicating glial reactivity. Selected protein candidates (caveolin 1, integrin alpha 1 and focal adhesion kinase) were validated by immunohistochemistry and tissue staining pattern pointed to a significant increase of these proteins at the level of the outer limiting membrane which is part of the outer blood-retinal barrier. Taken together, the membrane enrichment in combination with LC-MSMS-based label-free quantification greatly increased the sensitivity of the comparative tissue profiling and resulted in detection of novel molecular pathways related to equine recurrent uveitis.

  8. The case for applying tissue engineering methodologies to instruct human organoid morphogenesis.

    PubMed

    Marti-Figueroa, Carlos R; Ashton, Randolph S

    2017-05-01

    Three-dimensional organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derivatives have become widely used in vitro models for studying development and disease. Their ability to recapitulate facets of normal human development during in vitro morphogenesis produces tissue structures with unprecedented biomimicry. Current organoid derivation protocols primarily rely on spontaneous morphogenesis processes to occur within 3-D spherical cell aggregates with minimal to no exogenous control. This yields organoids containing microscale regions of biomimetic tissues, but at the macroscale (i.e. 100's of microns to millimeters), the organoids' morphology, cytoarchitecture, and cellular composition are non-biomimetic and variable. The current lack of control over in vitro organoid morphogenesis at the microscale induces aberrations at the macroscale, which impedes realization of the technology's potential to reproducibly form anatomically correct human tissue units that could serve as optimal human in vitro models and even transplants. Here, we review tissue engineering methodologies that could be used to develop powerful approaches for instructing multiscale, 3-D human organoid morphogenesis. Such technological mergers are critically needed to harness organoid morphogenesis as a tool for engineering functional human tissues with biomimetic anatomy and physiology. Human PSC-derived 3-D organoids are revolutionizing the biomedical sciences. They enable the study of development and disease within patient-specific genetic backgrounds and unprecedented biomimetic tissue microenvironments. However, their uncontrolled, spontaneous morphogenesis at the microscale yields inconsistences in macroscale organoid morphology, cytoarchitecture, and cellular composition that limits their standardization and application. Integration of tissue engineering methods with organoid derivation protocols could allow us to harness their potential by instructing standardized in vitro morphogenesis to generate organoids with biomimicry at all scales. Such advancements would enable the use of organoids as a basis for 'next-generation' tissue engineering of functional, anatomically mimetic human tissues and potentially novel organ transplants. Here, we discuss critical aspects of organoid morphogenesis where application of innovative tissue engineering methodologies would yield significant advancement towards this goal. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  9. Comparative experimental pharmacokinetics of benzimidazole derivatives.

    PubMed

    Sergeeva, S A; Gulyaeva, I L

    2008-12-01

    Comparative study of experimental kinetics of distribution of benzimidazole derivatives (bemithyl, etomerzole, and thietazole) in organs and tissues was carried out after single and course treatment. The drugs intensely passed into organs and tissues from the blood after treatment by all protocols. Specific features of drug distribution were detected; for example, splenic tissue selectively accumulated thietazole during course treatment.

  10. Enhanced risk profiling of implanted defibrillator shocks with circulating SCN5A mRNA splicing variants: a pilot trial

    PubMed Central

    Gao, Ge; Brahmanandam, Vikram; Raicu, Mihai; Gu, Lianzhi; Zhou, Li; Kasturirangan, Srinivasan; Shah, Anish; Negi, Smita I.; Wood, Melissa R.; Desai, Ankit A.; Tatooles, Antone; Schwartz, Alan; Dudley, Samuel C.

    2014-01-01

    Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the association of SCN5A cardiac sodium (Na+) channel mRNA splice variants in white blood cells (WBCs) with risk of arrhythmias in heart failure (HF). Background HF is associated with upregulation of two cardiac SCN5A mRNA splice variants. that encode prematurely truncated, nonfunctional Na+ channels. Since circulating WBCs demonstrate similar SCN5A splicing patterns, we hypothesized that these WBC-derived splice variants might further stratify HF patients at risk for arrhythmias. Methods Simultaneously obtained myocardial core samples and WBCs were compared for SCN5A variants C (VC) and D (VD). Circulating variant levels were compared between HF patients divided into three groups: HF without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), HF with an ICD without appropriate intervention, and HF with an ICD with appropriate intervention. Results Myocardial tissue-derived SCN5A variant expression levels strongly correlated with circulating WBC samples for both VC and VD variants (r = 0.78 and 0.75, respectively). After controlling for covariates, HF patients who had received an appropriate ICD intervention had higher expression levels of both WBC-derived SCN5A variants compared to HF patients with ICDs who had not (OR= 3.25 (95% CI 1.64–6.45; p=0.001)). Receiver operating characteristics analysis revealed that circulating SCN5A variants levels were highly associated with the risk for appropriate ICD intervention (area under the curve ≥ 0.97). Conclusions Circulating expression levels of SCN5A variants were strongly associated with myocardial tissue levels. Furthermore, circulating variant levels were correlative with arrhythmic risk as measured by ICD events in a HF population within one year. PMID:24703920

  11. Quantification of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) at sites of human prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Brennen, W Nathaniel; Chen, Shuangling; Denmeade, Samuel R; Isaacs, John T

    2013-01-01

    Circulating bone marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BM-MSCs) have an innate tropism for tumor tissue in response to the inflammatory microenvironment present in malignant lesions. The prostate is bombarded by numerous infectious and inflammatory insults over a lifetime. Chronic inflammation is associated with CXCL12, CCL5, and CCL2, which are highly overexpressed in prostate cancer. Among other cell types, these chemoattractant stimuli recruit BM-MSCs to the tumor. MSCs are minimally defined as plastic-adhering cells characterized by the expression of CD90, CD73, and CD105 in the absence of hematopoietic markers, which can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. MSCs are immunoprivileged and have been implicated in tumorigenesis through multiple mechanisms, including promoting proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis, in addition to the generation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. We have demonstrated that MSCs represent 0.01-1.1% of the total cells present in core biopsies from primary human prostatectomies. Importantly, these analyses were performed on samples prior to expansion in tissue culture. MSCs in these prostatectomy samples are FAP-, CD90-, CD73-, and CD105-positive, and CD14-, CD20-, CD34-, CD45-, and HLA-DR-negative. Additionally, like BM-MSCs, these prostate cancer-derived stromal cells (PrCSCs) were shown to differentiate into osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes. In contrast to primary prostate cancer-derived epithelial cells, fluorescently-labeled PrCSCs and BM-MSCs were both shown to home to CWR22RH prostate cancer xenografts following IV injection. These studies demonstrate that not only are MSCs present in sites of prostate cancer where they may contribute to carcinogenesis, but these cells may also potentially be used to deliver cytotoxic or imaging agents for therapeutic and/or diagnostic purposes.

  12. Distribution of methylone in four postmortem cases.

    PubMed

    Cawrse, Brian M; Levine, Barry; Jufer, Rebecca A; Fowler, David R; Vorce, Shawn P; Dickson, Amber J; Holler, Justin M

    2012-07-01

    Drugs derived from amphetamine, methamphetamine and their methylenedioxy- analogues, although being sold as plant food or bath salts, are being used as legal alternatives to scheduled amphetamine stimulants. These products often contain methylone, mephedrone and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV)--three amphetamine derivatives shown to have strong pharmacological effects. Four postmortem cases were analyzed for methylone, mephedrone and MDPV, with drug levels quantitated in multiple biological matrices. All four cases had detectable levels of methylone, with heart blood concentrations of 0.740, 0.118, 0.060 and 1.12 mg/L. Analysis of several tissue samples shows that methylone does not sequester in a particular tissue type after death. The average liver-to-blood ratio was 2.68. Two cases also had MDPV present, but insufficient data were collected to formulate a hypothesis on postmortem sequestration or redistribution. Two different extraction methods, as well as analysis of derivatized and underivatized methylone, show that the drug is suitable for analysis in either method. The cases are believed to show one instance of chronic methylone use, with a urine concentration of 38 mg/L.

  13. Long-term Persistence of Innate Lymphoid Cells in the Gut After Intestinal Transplantation.

    PubMed

    Weiner, Joshua; Zuber, Julien; Shonts, Brittany; Yang, Suxiao; Fu, Jianing; Martinez, Mercedes; Farber, Donna L; Kato, Tomoaki; Sykes, Megan

    2017-10-01

    Little is known about innate lymphoid cell (ILC) populations in the human gut, and the turnover of these cells and their subsets after transplantation has not been described. Intestinal samples were taken from 4 isolated intestine and 3 multivisceral transplant recipients at the time of any operative resection, such as stoma closure or revision. ILCs were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. The target population was defined as being negative for lineage markers and double-positive for CD45/CD127. Cells were further stained to define ILC subsets and a donor-specific or recipient-specific HLA marker to analyze chimerism. Donor-derived ILCs were found to persist greater than 8 years after transplantation. Additionally, the percentage of cells thought to be lymphoid tissue inducer cells among donor ILCs was far higher than that among recipient ILCs. Our findings demonstrate that donor-derived ILCs persist long-term after transplantation and support the notion that human lymphoid tissue inducer cells may form in the fetus and persist throughout life, as hypothesized in rodents. Correlation between chimerism and rejection, graft failure, and patient survival requires further study.

  14. Image-based metrology of porous tissue engineering scaffolds

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rajagopalan, Srinivasan; Robb, Richard A.

    2006-03-01

    Tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary effort aimed at the repair and regeneration of biological tissues through the application and control of cells, porous scaffolds and growth factors. The regeneration of specific tissues guided by tissue analogous substrates is dependent on diverse scaffold architectural indices that can be derived quantitatively from the microCT and microMR images of the scaffolds. However, the randomness of pore-solid distributions in conventional stochastic scaffolds presents unique computational challenges. As a result, image-based characterization of scaffolds has been predominantly qualitative. In this paper, we discuss quantitative image-based techniques that can be used to compute the metrological indices of porous tissue engineering scaffolds. While bulk averaged quantities such as porosity and surface are derived directly from the optimal pore-solid delineations, the spatially distributed geometric indices are derived from the medial axis representations of the pore network. The computational framework proposed (to the best of our knowledge for the first time in tissue engineering) in this paper might have profound implications towards unraveling the symbiotic structure-function relationship of porous tissue engineering scaffolds.

  15. Hyaluronan Benzyl Ester as a Scaffold for Tissue Engineering

    PubMed Central

    Vindigni, Vincenzo; Cortivo, Roberta; Iacobellis, Laura; Abatangelo, Giovanni; Zavan, Barbara

    2009-01-01

    Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field focused on in vitro reconstruction of mammalian tissues. In order to allow a similar three-dimensional organization of in vitro cultured cells, biocompatible scaffolds are needed. This need has provided immense momentum for research on “smart scaffolds” for use in cell culture. One of the most promising materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is a hyaluronan derivative: a benzyl ester of hyaluronan (HYAFF®). HYAFF® can be processed to obtain several types of devices such as tubes, membranes, non-woven fabrics, gauzes, and sponges. All these scaffolds are highly biocompatible. In the human body they do not elicit any adverse reactions and are resorbed by the host tissues. Human hepatocytes, dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes, chondrocytes, Schwann cells, bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells have been successfully cultured in these meshes. The same scaffolds, in tube meshes, has been applied for vascular tissue engineering that has emerged as a promising technology for the design of an ideal, responsive, living conduit with properties similar to that of native tissue. PMID:19742179

  16. Comparison of EGFR signaling pathway somatic DNA mutations derived from peripheral blood and corresponding tumor tissue of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer using liquidchip technology.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Hui; Liu, Deruo; Li, Shanqing; Zheng, Yongqing; Yang, Xinjie; Li, Xi; Zhang, Quan; Qin, Na; Lu, Jialin; Ren-Heidenreich, Lifen; Yang, Huiyi; Wu, Yuhua; Zhang, Xinyong; Nong, Jingying; Sun, Yifen; Zhang, Shucai

    2013-11-01

    Somatic DNA mutations affecting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway are known to predict responsiveness to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancers. We evaluated a sensitive liquidchip platform for detecting EGFR, KRAS (alias Ki-ras), proto-oncogene B-Raf, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase CA mutations in plasma samples, which were highly correlated with matched tumor tissues from 86 patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancers. Either EGFR exon 19 or 21 mutations were detected in 36 patients: 23 of whom had identical mutations in both their blood and tissue samples; whereas mutations in the remaining 13 were found only in their tumor samples. These EGFR mutations occurred at a significantly higher frequency in females, never-smokers, and in patients with adenocarcinomas (P ≤ 0.001). The EGFR exon 20 T790M mutation was detected in only one of the paired samples [100% (95% CI, 96% to 100%) agreement]. For KRAS, proto-oncogene B-Raf, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase CA mutations, the overall agreements were 97% (95% CI, 90% to 99%), 98% (95% CI, 92% to 99%), and 97% (95% CI, 90% to 99%), respectively, and these were not associated with age, sex, smoking history, or histopathologic type. In conclusion, mutations detected in plasma correlated strongly with mutation profiles in each respective tumor sample, suggesting that this liquidchip platform may offer a rapid and noninvasive method for predicting tumor responsiveness to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancers. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Investigative Pathology and the Association for Molecular Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. γH2AX assay in ex vivo irradiated tumour specimens: A novel method to determine tumour radiation sensitivity in patient-derived material.

    PubMed

    Menegakis, Apostolos; von Neubeck, Cläre; Yaromina, Ala; Thames, Howard; Hering, Sandra; Hennenlotter, Joerg; Scharpf, Marcus; Noell, Susan; Krause, Mechthild; Zips, Daniel; Baumann, Michael

    2015-09-01

    To establish a clinically applicable protocol for quantification of residual γH2AX foci in ex vivo irradiated tumour samples and to apply this method in a proof-of-concept feasibility study to patient-derived tumour specimens. Evaluation of γH2AX foci formation and disappearance in excised FaDu tumour specimens after (a) different incubation times in culture medium, 4Gy irradiation and fixation after 24h (cell recovery), (b) 10h medium incubation, 4Gy irradiation and fixation after various time points (double strand break repair kinetics), and (c) 10h medium incubation, irradiation with graded single radiation doses and fixation after 24h (dose-response). The optimised protocol was applied to patient-derived samples of seminoma, prostate cancer and glioblastoma multiforme. Post excision or biopsy, tumour tissues showed stable radiation-induced γH2AX foci values in oxic cells after >6h of recovery in medium. Kinetics of foci disappearance indicated a plateau of residual foci after >12h following ex vivo irradiation. Fitting the dose-response of residual γH2AX foci yielded slopes comparable with in situ irradiation of FaDu tumours. Significant differences in the slopes of ex vivo irradiated patient-derived tumour samples were found. A novel clinically applicable method to quantify residual γH2AX foci in ex vivo irradiated tumour samples was established. The first clinical results suggest that this method allows to distinguish between radiosensitive and radioresistant tumour types. These findings support further translational evaluation of this assay to individualise radiation therapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Goni, M.A.; Hedges, J.I.

    Long chain (C{sub 16}-C{sub 18}) hydroxy fatty acids are obtained among the nonlignin-derived reaction products from the CuO oxidation of a variety of geochemical samples. In order to investigate the origin of these acids, the CuO reaction products of isolated cuticles and whole leaves were investigated. The reaction products from the CuO oxidation of purified apple (Malus pumila) cuticle include 16-hydroxyhexadecanoic acid, 10,16-dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid, 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadec-12-enoic acid, and 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic acid as major components. The distribution of these cutin-derived CuO reaction products is similar to the monomer compositions deduced from traditional methods of cutin analysis. Oxidation of whole English Holly (Ilex aquifolium)more » leaves yields cutin-derived acidic reaction products (in addition to lignin-derived phenols) similar to those obtained from oxidation of the corresponding isolated cuticles, indicating that CuO oxidation of bulk plant tissue is a viable procedure of cutin analysis in geochemical applications.« less

  19. In vivo characterization of the integration and vascularization of a silk-derived surgical scaffold.

    PubMed

    Kijanska, Monika; Marmaras, Anastasios; Hegglin, Alicia; Kurtcuoglu, Vartan; Giovanoli, Pietro; Lindenblatt, Nicole

    2016-08-01

    The application of acellular matrices, biomaterials, and polymeric scaffolds in reconstructive surgery facilitates postsurgical tissue remodeling and is increasingly used clinically in order to improve tissue healing and implant coverage. This study presents an in vivo investigation of the integration of the knitted, silk-derived surgical scaffold, SERI(®) with regard to angiogenesis and wound healing. SERI(®) Surgical Scaffold was implanted into a full-thickness skin defect in male C57BL/6J mice (n = 45) via the dorsal skinfold chamber (DSC). Skin tissue samples were collected for histology on days 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, and 21 (n = 5 per time point) post implantation. Immunohistochemistry was performed for various angiogenic and inflammatory markers, as well as collagen deposition (CD31, VEGF, CD3, CD45, Desmin, and Sirius red). Vascular corrosion casting was used to assess the neovasculature within the silk and was visualized with scanning electron microscopy. We observed both early and late stages of inflammation during the healing process characterized by the infiltration of regenerating tissue by different subsets of leukocytes. Histological analysis displayed capillary-containing granulation tissue with full scaffold integration. In addition, collagen deposition within the scaffold and full skin defect was significantly increased over time. Qualitative analysis of the regenerated vasculature through corrosion casting and scanning electron microscopy revealed a complex, angiogenic network of capillaries originating from the wound bed. Based on these findings, SERI(®) displays the potential to be a promising resorbable bioengineered material for use in reconstructive surgery. Copyright © 2016 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Regeneration of the periodontium using enamel matrix derivative in combination with an injectable bone cement.

    PubMed

    Oortgiesen, Daniël A W; Meijer, Gert J; Bronckers, Antonius L J J; Walboomers, X Frank; Jansen, John A

    2013-03-01

    Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) has proven to enhance periodontal regeneration; however, its effect is mainly restricted to the soft periodontal tissues. Therefore, to stimulate not only the soft tissues, but also the hard tissues, in this study EMD is combined with an injectable calcium phosphate cement (CaP; bone graft material). The aim was to evaluate histologically the healing of a macroporous CaP in combination with EMD. Intrabony, three-wall periodontal defects (2 × 2 × 1.7 mm) were created mesial of the first upper molar in 15 rats (30 defects). Defects were randomly treated according to one of the three following strategies: EMD, calcium phosphate cement and EMD, or left empty. The animals were killed after 12 weeks, and retrieved samples were processed for histology and histomorphometry. Empty defects showed a reparative type of healing without periodontal ligament or bone regeneration. As measured with on a histological grading scale for periodontal regeneration, the experimental groups (EMD and CaP/EMD) scored equally, both threefold higher compared with empty defects. However, most bone formation was measured in the CaP/EMD group; addition of CAP to EMD significantly enhanced bone formation with 50 % compared with EMD alone. Within the limits of this animal study, the adjunctive use of EMD in combination with an injectable cement, although it did not affect epithelial downgrowth, appeared to be a promising treatment modality for regeneration of bone and ligament tissues in the periodontium. The adjunctive use of EMD in combination with an injectable cement appears to be a promising treatment modality for regeneration of the bone and ligament tissues in the periodontium.

  1. Distinction of brain tissue, low grade and high grade glioma with time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

    PubMed Central

    Yong, William H.; Butte, Pramod V.; Pikul, Brian K.; Jo, Javier A.; Fang, Qiyin; Papaioannou, Thanassis; Black, Keith L.; Marcu, Laura

    2010-01-01

    Neuropathology frozen section diagnoses are difficult in part because of the small tissue samples and the paucity of adjunctive rapid intraoperative stains. This study aims to explore the use of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy as a rapid adjunctive tool for the diagnosis of glioma specimens and for distinction of glioma from normal tissues intraoperatively. Ten low grade gliomas, 15 high grade gliomas without necrosis, 6 high grade gliomas with necrosis and/or radiation effect, and 14 histologically uninvolved “normal” brain specimens are spectroscopicaly analyzed and contrasted. Tissue autofluorescence was induced with a pulsed Nitrogen laser (337 nm, 1.2 ns) and the transient intensity decay profiles were recorded in the 370-500 nm spectral range with a fast digitized (0.2 ns time resolution). Spectral intensities and time-dependent parameters derived from the time-resolved spectra of each site were used for tissue characterization. A linear discriminant analysis diagnostic algorithm was used for tissue classification. Both low and high grade gliomas can be distinguished from histologically uninvolved cerebral cortex and white matter with high accuracy (above 90%). In addition, the presence or absence of treatment effect and/or necrosis can be identified in high grade gliomas. Taking advantage of tissue autofluorescence, this technique facilitates a direct and rapid investigation of surgically obtained tissue. PMID:16368511

  2. Spectroscopic analysis of normal and neoplastic (WI-FTC) thyroid tissue.

    PubMed

    Depciuch, Joanna; Stanek-Widera, Agata; Lange, Dariusz; Biskup-Frużyńska, Magdalena; Stanek-Tarkowska, Jadwiga; Czarny, Wojciech; Cebulski, Jozef

    2018-06-07

    Thyroid cancer holds the first place of the malignant tumors of the endocrine system. One of the less common thyroid cancers is follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), which is very difficult to diagnose because it gives the same image as adenoma, which is benign. Certainty of the diagnosis is gained only when FTC gives metastases. Therefore, it was decided to compare normal and neoplastic (FTC) thyroid tissues with Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The obtained FTIR spectra and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allowed us to conclude that there are differences in the FTIR spectrum between normal tissues and those affected by cancer. In addition, the results indicate that there is a decrease in the number of functional groups that build cellular and tissue structures in tumoral tissues. The shifts of wave numbers corresponding to the protein and lipid function group vibrations, as well as the calculated second derivative of the FTIR spectra showed the structural changes in neoplastic tissues. Moreover, the deconvolution of the amide I massif indicates that in cancerous tissues the prevailing secondary structure is β-sheet structure, while in normal tissues it is α-helix. The obtained results allow us to conclude that infrared spectroscopy, in addition to providing information on the composition of tested samples, can be an excellent diagnostic tool contributing to understanding the FTC substrate. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  3. Pyrosequencing reveals the microbial communities in the Red Sea sponge Carteriospongia foliascens and their impressive shifts in abnormal tissues.

    PubMed

    Gao, Zhao-Ming; Wang, Yong; Lee, On On; Tian, Ren-Mao; Wong, Yue Him; Bougouffa, Salim; Batang, Zenon; Al-Suwailem, Abdulaziz; Lafi, Feras F; Bajic, Vladimir B; Qian, Pei-Yuan

    2014-10-01

    Abnormality and disease in sponges have been widely reported, yet how sponge-associated microbes respond correspondingly remains inconclusive. Here, individuals of the sponge Carteriospongia foliascens under abnormal status were collected from the Rabigh Bay along the Red Sea coast. Microbial communities in both healthy and abnormal sponge tissues and adjacent seawater were compared to check the influences of these abnormalities on sponge-associated microbes. In healthy tissues, we revealed low microbial diversity with less than 100 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) per sample. Cyanobacteria, affiliated mainly with the sponge-specific species "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum," were the dominant bacteria, followed by Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria. Intraspecies dynamics of microbial communities in healthy tissues were observed among sponge individuals, and potential anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria were found. In comparison with healthy tissues and the adjacent seawater, abnormal tissues showed dramatic increase in microbial diversity and decrease in the abundance of sponge-specific microbial clusters. The dominated cyanobacterial species Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum decreased and shifted to unspecific cyanobacterial clades. OTUs that showed high similarity to sequences derived from diseased corals, such as Leptolyngbya sp., were found to be abundant in abnormal tissues. Heterotrophic Planctomycetes were also specifically enriched in abnormal tissues. Overall, we revealed the microbial communities of the cyanobacteria-rich sponge, C. foliascens, and their impressive shifts under abnormality.

  4. Rinsing paired-agent model (RPAM) to quantify cell-surface receptor concentrations in topical staining applications of thick tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Xu, Xiaochun; Wang, Yu; Xiang, Jialing; Liu, Jonathan T. C.; Tichauer, Kenneth M.

    2017-06-01

    Conventional molecular assessment of tissue through histology, if adapted to fresh thicker samples, has the potential to enhance cancer detection in surgical margins and monitoring of 3D cell culture molecular environments. However, in thicker samples, substantial background staining is common despite repeated rinsing, which can significantly reduce image contrast. Recently, ‘paired-agent’ methods—which employ co-administration of a control (untargeted) imaging agent—have been applied to thick-sample staining applications to account for background staining. To date, these methods have included (1) a simple ratiometric method that is relatively insensitive to noise in the data but has accuracy that is dependent on the staining protocol and the characteristics of the sample; and (2) a complex paired-agent kinetic modeling method that is more accurate but is more noise-sensitive and requires a precise serial rinsing protocol. Here, a new simplified mathematical model—the rinsing paired-agent model (RPAM)—is derived and tested that offers a good balance between the previous models, is adaptable to arbitrary rinsing-imaging protocols, and does not require calibration of the imaging system. RPAM is evaluated against previous models and is validated by comparison to estimated concentrations of targeted biomarkers on the surface of 3D cell culture and tumor xenograft models. This work supports the use of RPAM as a preferable model to quantitatively analyze targeted biomarker concentrations in topically stained thick tissues, as it was found to match the accuracy of the complex paired-agent kinetic model while retaining the low noise-sensitivity characteristics of the ratiometric method.

  5. Imaging whole mouse brains with a dual resolution serial swept-source optical coherence tomography scanner

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lefebvre, Joël.; Castonguay, Alexandre; Lesage, Frédéric

    2018-02-01

    High resolution imaging of whole rodent brains using serial OCT scanners is a promising method to investigate microstructural changes in tissue related to the evolution of neuropathologies. Although micron to sub-micron sampling resolution can be obtained by using high numerical aperture objectives and dynamic focusing, such an imaging system is not adapted to whole brain imaging. This is due to the large amount of data it generates and the significant computational resources required for reconstructing such volumes. To address this limitation, a dual resolution serial OCT scanner was developed. The optical setup consists in a swept-source OCT made of two sample and reference arms, each arm being coupled with different microscope objectives (3X / 40X). Motorized flip mirrors were used to switch between each OCT arm, thus allowing low and high resolution acquisitions within the same sample. The low resolution OCT volumes acquired with the 3X arm were stitched together, providing a 3D map of the whole mouse brain. This brain can be registered to an OCT brain template to enable neurological structures localization. The high resolution volumes acquired with the 40X arm were also stitched together to create local high resolution 3D maps of the tissue microstructure. The 40X data can be acquired at any arbitrary location in the sample, thus limiting storage-heavy high resolution data to application restricted to specific regions of interest. By providing dual-resolution OCT data, this setup can be used to validate diffusion MRI with tissue microstructure derived metrics measured at any location in ex vivo brains.

  6. Tissue-specific composite cell aggregates drive periodontium tissue regeneration by reconstructing a regenerative microenvironment.

    PubMed

    Zhu, Bin; Liu, Wenjia; Zhang, Hao; Zhao, Xicong; Duan, Yan; Li, Dehua; Jin, Yan

    2017-06-01

    Periodontitis is the most common cause of periodontium destruction. Regeneration of damaged tissue is the expected treatment goal. However, the regeneration of a functional periodontal ligament (PDL) insertion remains a difficulty, due to complicated factors. Recently, periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have been shown to participate in PDL regeneration, both pathologically and physiologically. Besides, interactions affect the biofunctions of different derived cells during the regenerative process. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to discuss the different derived composite cell aggregate (CA) systems of PDLSCs and BMMSCs (iliac-derived or jaw-derived) for periodontium regeneration under regenerative microenvironment reconstruction. Our results showed although all three mono-MSC CAs were compacted and the cells arranged regularly in them, jaw-derived BMMSC (JBMMSC) CAs secreted more extracellular matrix than the others. Furthermore, PDLSC/JBMMSC compound CAs highly expressed ALP, Col-I, fibronectin, integrin-β1 and periostin, suggesting that their biofunction is more appropriate for periodontal structure regeneration. Inspiringly, PDLSC/JBMMSC compound CAs regenerated more functional PDL-like tissue insertions in both nude mice ectopic and minipig orthotopic transplantation. The results indicated that the different derived CAs of PDLSCs/JBMMSCs provided an appropriate regenerative microenvironment facilitating a more stable and regular regeneration of functional periodontium tissue. This method may provide a possible strategy to solve periodontium defects in periodontitis and powerful experimental evidence for clinical applications in the future. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  7. Dietary carotenoids in normal and pathological tissues of corpus uteri.

    PubMed

    Czeczuga-Semeniuk, Ewa; Wołczyński, Sławomir

    2008-01-01

    Carotenoids and retinyl esters are the source of vitamin A in the human body and its natural derivatives takes part in the regulation of cell replication and differentiation in the human endometrium, may induce the leiomyoma growth and has a role in differentiation of endometrial adenocarcinoma. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the presence of carotenoids in tissues from the normal uterus and from various tumors of the uterine corpus, as well as to compare the total content, major carotenoids and % of carotenoids belonging to the provitamin A group between the tissues examined. Using three independent methods of chromatography (CC, TLC, HPLC) we analysed 140 human samples. We identified 13 carotenoids belonging to the eg. provitamin A group and epoxy carotenoids. In all the samples beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, violaxanthin and mutatoxanthin were isolated. In normal tissues, the mean carotenoid content was the highest in the follicular phase endometrium (9.9 microg/g), while the highest percentage of carotenoids belonging to provitamin A group was found in the luteal phase (18.2%). In the pathological group, the highest mean values were demonstrated for epithelial lesions (8.0 microg/g), and within this group - in endometrioid adenocarcinoma (10.8 microg/g). In both groups, violaxanthin, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein epoxide and mutatoxanthin were the predominant carotenoids. We have demonstrated that all uterine tissues show a concentration of beta-carotene and beta-cryptoxanthin, being the source of vitamin A. The highest total values of carotenoids obtained in the group of endometrioid adenocarcinoma seem to confirm certain enzymatic defects in carotenoid metabolism in the course of the neoplastic process or some metabolic modifications. The finding of astaxanthin - the major antioxidant among carotenoids - in 63% of tissues examined is also significant.

  8. Successful isolation of viable adipose-derived stem cells from human adipose tissue subject to long-term cryopreservation: positive implications for adult stem cell-based therapeutics in patients of advanced age.

    PubMed

    Devitt, Sean M; Carter, Cynthia M; Dierov, Raia; Weiss, Scott; Gersch, Robert P; Percec, Ivona

    2015-01-01

    We examined cell isolation, viability, and growth in adipose-derived stem cells harvested from whole adipose tissue subject to different cryopreservation lengths (2-1159 days) from patients of varying ages (26-62 years). Subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue was excised during abdominoplasties and was cryopreserved. The viability and number of adipose-derived stem cells isolated were measured after initial isolation and after 9, 18, and 28 days of growth. Data were analyzed with respect to cryopreservation duration and patient age. Significantly more viable cells were initially isolated from tissue cryopreserved <1 year than from tissue cryopreserved >2 years, irrespective of patient age. However, this difference did not persist with continued growth and there were no significant differences in cell viability or growth at subsequent time points with respect to cryopreservation duration or patient age. Mesenchymal stem cell markers were maintained in all cohorts tested throughout the duration of the study. Consequently, longer cryopreservation negatively impacts initial live adipose-derived stem cell isolation; however, this effect is neutralized with continued cell growth. Patient age does not significantly impact stem cell isolation, viability, or growth. Cryopreservation of adipose tissue is an effective long-term banking method for isolation of adipose-derived stem cells in patients of varying ages.

  9. Involvement of Macrophages in the Pathogenesis of Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy and Efficacy of Human iPS Cell-Derived Macrophages in Its Treatment

    PubMed Central

    Komohara, Yoshihiro; Takamatsu, Koutaro; Kakuma, Tatsuyuki; Tasaki, Masayoshi; Misumi, Yohei; Ueda, Mitsuharu; Ito, Takaaki; Senju, Satoru; Ando, Yukio

    2016-01-01

    We hypothesized that tissue-resident macrophages in familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP) patients will exhibit qualitative or quantitative abnormalities, that may accelerate transthyretin (TTR)-derived amyloid deposition. To evaluate this, we examined the number and subset of tissue-resident macrophages in heart tissue from amyloid-deposited FAP and control patients. In both FAP and control patients, tissue-resident macrophages in heart tissue were all Iba+/CD163+/CD206+ macrophages. However, the number of macrophages was significantly decreased in FAP patients compared with control patients. Furthermore, the proportion of intracellular TTR in CD14+ monocytes was reduced in peripheral blood compared with healthy donors. Based on these results, we next examined degradation and endocytosis of TTR in human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived myeloid lineage cells (MLs), which function like macrophages. iPS-MLs express CD163 and CD206, and belong to the inhibitory macrophage category. In addition, iPS-MLs degrade both native and aggregated TTR in a cell-dependent manner in vitro. Further, iPS-MLs endocytose aggregated, and especially polymerized, TTR. These results suggest that decreased tissue-localized macrophages disrupt clearance of TTR-derived amyloid deposits, leading to progression of a pathological condition in FAP patients. To improve this situation, clinical application of pluripotent stem cell-derived MLs may be useful as an approach for FAP therapy. PMID:27695122

  10. Method And Apparatus For Examining A Tissue Using The Spectral Wing Emission Therefrom Induced By Visible To Infrared Photoexcitation.

    DOEpatents

    Alfano, Robert R.; Demos, Stavros G.; Zhang, Gang

    2003-12-16

    Method and an apparatus for examining a tissue using the spectral wing emission therefrom induced by visible to infrared photoexcitation. In one aspect, the method is used to characterize the condition of a tissue sample and comprises the steps of (a) photoexciting the tissue sample with substantially monochromatic light having a wavelength of at least 600 nm; and (b) using the resultant far red and near infrared spectral wing emission (SW) emitted from the tissue sample to characterize the condition of the tissue sample. In one embodiment, the substantially monochromatic photoexciting light is a continuous beam of light, and the resultant steady-state far red and near infrared SW emission from the tissue sample is used to characterize the condition of the tissue sample. In another embodiment, the substantially monochromatic photoexciting light is a light pulse, and the resultant time-resolved far red and near infrared SW emission emitted from the tissue sample is used to characterize the condition of the tissue sample. In still another embodiment, the substantially monochromatic photoexciting light is a polarized light pulse, and the parallel and perpendicular components of the resultant polarized time-resolved SW emission emitted from the tissue sample are used to characterize the condition of the tissue sample.

  11. Next-Generation Molecular Histology Using Highly Multiplexed Ion Beam Imaging (MIBI) of Breast Cancer Tissue Specimens for Enhanced Clinical Guidance

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2017-07-01

    panels of MIBI multiplexed in situ detection reagents, and compare the quantitative data to the conventional clinically derived “one at a time” and...Measure standard curves for each analyte against western blots using cell lines and tumor samples. Compare quantitation dynamic ranges to...GSTM1, CD68, BAG1, ER, PGR, BCL2, SCUBE2, ACTB, GAPDH, RPLPO, GUS, TFRC) IIa. Compare hybridization results for mass tagged probe designs from both

  12. Impact of collection season and storage of semen on methylation activity in swine placental and fetal tissues derived from summer or winter breedings

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    DNA methylation patterns in extra-embryonic tissues have been linked to irregular fetal growth and early pregnancy loss. The objective of the current study was to evaluate methylation profiles of placental and fetal tissue collected from pregnancies derived using cooled-extended (ExT) or cryopreserv...

  13. A rapid liquid chromatography determination of free formaldehyde in cod.

    PubMed

    Storey, Joseph M; Andersen, Wendy C; Heise, Andrea; Turnipseed, Sherri B; Lohne, Jack; Thomas, Terri; Madson, Mark

    2015-01-01

    A rapid method for the determination of free formaldehyde in cod is described. It uses a simple water extraction of formaldehyde which is then derivatised with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH) to form a sensitive and specific chromophore for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) detection. Although this formaldehyde derivative has been widely used in past tissue analysis, this paper describes an improved derivatisation procedure. The formation of the DNPH formaldehyde derivative has been shortened to 2 min and a stabilising buffer has been added to the derivative to increase its stability. The average recovery of free formaldehyde in spiked cod was 63% with an RSD of 15% over the range of 25-200 mg kg(-1) (n = 48). The HPLC procedure described here was also compared to a commercial qualitative procedure - a swab test for the determination of free formaldehyde in fish. Several positive samples were compared by both methods.

  14. Bone scaffolds with homogeneous and discrete gradient mechanical properties.

    PubMed

    Jelen, C; Mattei, G; Montemurro, F; De Maria, C; Mattioli-Belmonte, M; Vozzi, G

    2013-01-01

    Bone TE uses a scaffold either to induce bone formation from surrounding tissue or to act as a carrier or template for implanted bone cells or other agents. We prepared different bone tissue constructs based on collagen, gelatin and hydroxyapatite using genipin as cross-linking agent. The fabricated construct did not present a release neither of collagen neither of genipin over its toxic level in the surrounding aqueous environment. Each scaffold has been mechanically characterized with compression, swelling and creep tests, and their respective viscoelastic mechanical models were derived. Mechanical characterization showed a practically elastic behavior of all samples and that compressive elastic modulus basically increases as content of HA increases, and it is strongly dependent on porosity and water content. Moreover, by considering that gradients in cellular and extracellular architecture as well as in mechanical properties are readily apparent in native tissues, we developed discrete functionally graded scaffolds (discrete FGSs) in order to mimic the graded structure of bone tissue. These new structures were mechanically characterized showing a marked anisotropy as the native bone tissue. Results obtained have shown FGSs could represent valid bone substitutes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Structural and rheological characterization of hyaluronic acid-based scaffolds for adipose tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Borzacchiello, Assunta; Mayol, Laura; Ramires, Piera A; Pastorello, Andrea; Di Bartolo, Chiara; Ambrosio, Luigi; Milella, Evelina

    2007-10-01

    In this study the attention has been focused on the ester derivative of hyaluronic acid (HA), HYAFF11, as a potential three-dimensional scaffold in adipose tissue engineering. Different HYAFF11 sponges having different pore sizes, coated or not coated with HA, have been studied from a rheological and morphological point of view in order to correlate their structure to the macroscopic and degradation properties both in vitro and in vivo, using rat model. The in vitro results indicate that the HYAFF11 sponges possess proper structural and mechanical properties to be used as scaffolds for adipose tissue engineering and, among all the analysed samples, uncoated HYAFF11 large-pore sponges showed a longer lasting mechanical stability. From the in vivo results, it was observed that the elastic modulus of scaffolds seeded with preadipocytes, the biohybrid constructs, and explanted after 3 months of implantation in autologous rat model are over one order of magnitude higher than the corresponding values for the native tissue. These results could suggest that the implanted scaffolds can be invaded and populated by different cells, not only adipocytes, that can produce new matrix having different properties from that of adipose tissue.

  16. Comparison of three methods for the derivation of a biologic scaffold composed of adipose tissue extracellular matrix.

    PubMed

    Brown, Bryan N; Freund, John M; Han, Li; Rubin, J Peter; Reing, Janet E; Jeffries, Eric M; Wolf, Mathew T; Tottey, Stephen; Barnes, Christopher A; Ratner, Buddy D; Badylak, Stephen F

    2011-04-01

    Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based scaffold materials have been used successfully in both preclinical and clinical tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches to tissue reconstruction. Results of numerous studies have shown that ECM scaffolds are capable of supporting the growth and differentiation of multiple cell types in vitro and of acting as inductive templates for constructive tissue remodeling after implantation in vivo. Adipose tissue represents a potentially abundant source of ECM and may represent an ideal substrate for the growth and adipogenic differentiation of stem cells harvested from this tissue. Numerous studies have shown that the methods by which ECM scaffold materials are prepared have a dramatic effect upon both the biochemical and structural properties of the resultant ECM scaffold material as well as the ability of the material to support a positive tissue remodeling outcome after implantation. The objective of the present study was to characterize the adipose ECM material resulting from three methods of decellularization to determine the most effective method for the derivation of an adipose tissue ECM scaffold that was largely free of potentially immunogenic cellular content while retaining tissue-specific structural and functional components as well as the ability to support the growth and adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. The results show that each of the decellularization methods produced an adipose ECM scaffold that was distinct from both a structural and biochemical perspective, emphasizing the importance of the decellularization protocol used to produce adipose ECM scaffolds. Further, the results suggest that the adipose ECM scaffolds produced using the methods described herein are capable of supporting the maintenance and adipogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells and may represent effective substrates for use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine approaches to soft tissue reconstruction.

  17. High resolution time course analysis of gene expression from the liver and pituitary

    PubMed Central

    Hughes, Michael E.; DiTacchio, Luciano; Hayes, Kevin; Pullivarthy, Sandhya R.; Panda, Satchidananda; Hogenesch, John

    2009-01-01

    In both the suprachiasmatic nucleus and peripheral tissues, the circadian oscillator drives rhythmic transcription of downstream target genes. Recently, a number of studies have used DNA microarrays to systematically identify oscillating transcripts in plants, fruit flies, rats and mice. These studies have identified several dozen to many hundred rhythmically expressed genes by sampling tissues every four hours for one, two, or more days. To extend this work, we have performed DNA microarray analysis on RNA derived from the mouse pituitary sampled every hour for two days. COSOPT and Fisher's G-test were employed at a false-discovery rate less than 5% to identify more than 250 genes in the pituitary that oscillate with a 24-hour period length. We found that increasing the frequency of sampling across the circadian day dramatically increased the statistical power of both COSOPT and Fisher's G-test, resulting in considerably more high-confidence identifications of rhythmic transcripts than previously described. Finally, to extend the utility of these data sets, a web-based resource has been constructed at http://wasabi.itmat.upenn.edu/circa/mouse that is freely available to the research community. PMID:18419295

  18. Noninvasive Assessment of Glycosaminoglycan Production in Injectable Tissue-Engineered Cartilage Constructs Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

    PubMed Central

    Ramaswamy, Sharan; Uluer, Mehmet C.; Leen, Stephanie; Bajaj, Preeti; Fishbein, Kenneth W.

    2008-01-01

    Abstract The glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content of engineered cartilage is a determinant of biochemical and mechanical quality. The ability to measure the degree to which GAG content is maintained or increases in an implant is therefore of importance in cartilage repair procedures. The gadolinium exclusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method for estimating matrix fixed charge density (FCD) is ideally suited to this. One promising approach to cartilage repair is use of seeded injectable hydrogels. Accordingly, we assess the reliability of measuring GAG content in such a system ex vivo using MRI. Samples of the photo-polymerizable hydrogel, poly(ethylene oxide) diacrylate, were seeded with bovine chondrocytes (∼2.4 million cells/sample). The FCD of the constructs was determined using MRI after 9, 16, 29, 36, 43, and 50 days of incubation. Values were correlated with the results of biochemical determination of GAG from the same samples. FCD and GAG were found to be statistically significantly correlated (R2 = 0.91, p <0.01). We conclude that MRI-derived FCD measurements of FCD in injectable hydrogels reflect tissue GAG content and that this methodology therefore has potential for in vivo monitoring of such constructs. PMID:18620483

  19. A high throughput mechanical screening device for cartilage tissue engineering.

    PubMed

    Mohanraj, Bhavana; Hou, Chieh; Meloni, Gregory R; Cosgrove, Brian D; Dodge, George R; Mauck, Robert L

    2014-06-27

    Articular cartilage enables efficient and near-frictionless load transmission, but suffers from poor inherent healing capacity. As such, cartilage tissue engineering strategies have focused on mimicking both compositional and mechanical properties of native tissue in order to provide effective repair materials for the treatment of damaged or degenerated joint surfaces. However, given the large number design parameters available (e.g. cell sources, scaffold designs, and growth factors), it is difficult to conduct combinatorial experiments of engineered cartilage. This is particularly exacerbated when mechanical properties are a primary outcome, given the long time required for testing of individual samples. High throughput screening is utilized widely in the pharmaceutical industry to rapidly and cost-effectively assess the effects of thousands of compounds for therapeutic discovery. Here we adapted this approach to develop a high throughput mechanical screening (HTMS) system capable of measuring the mechanical properties of up to 48 materials simultaneously. The HTMS device was validated by testing various biomaterials and engineered cartilage constructs and by comparing the HTMS results to those derived from conventional single sample compression tests. Further evaluation showed that the HTMS system was capable of distinguishing and identifying 'hits', or factors that influence the degree of tissue maturation. Future iterations of this device will focus on reducing data variability, increasing force sensitivity and range, as well as scaling-up to even larger (96-well) formats. This HTMS device provides a novel tool for cartilage tissue engineering, freeing experimental design from the limitations of mechanical testing throughput. © 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  20. Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccination reduces PCV2 in a PCV2 and Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis coinfection model.

    PubMed

    Takada-Iwao, A; Seki, M; Nakanishi, M; Souma, J; Okuda, S; Okuda, Y; Imai, Y; Sato, S

    2013-02-22

    We previously reported that prior porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) infection potentiates the severity of clinical signs, lung lesions, and fecal shedding and tissue dissemination of Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis in infected pigs. Here, we evaluated whether PCV2 vaccination is effective in reducing fecal shedding and tissue dissemination of S. Choleraesuis and improving clinical signs associated with PCV2 and S. Choleraesuis infection in 15 Cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived pigs randomly assigned to 3 groups (n=5/group). The vaccinated and co-infected (VAC-COINF) group received 2 ml of a commercial PCV2 vaccine at age 3 weeks. The VAC-COINF and co-infected (COINF) groups were inoculated intranasally with PCV2 and S. Choleraesuis at 5 and 7 weeks of age, respectively. The CONTROL group pigs received a similar volume of PBS for sham-vaccination and sham-inoculation. PCV2 vaccination clearly reduced PCV2 DNA load in the serum and postmortem tissue samples and decreased PCV2 antigen levels in tissue samples of the VAC-COINF group. After S. Choleraesuis infection, the incidence of several clinical signs increased in the VAC-COINF group compared to that in the COINF group. The microscopic lung lesions and weight gain, fecal shedding and tissue dissemination of S. Choleraesuis except in the spleen were not significantly different in the VAC-COINF and COINF groups. Thus, PCV2 vaccination reduced PCV2 in the S. Choleraesuis and PCV2 coinfection model and the effects on S. Choleraesuis were minimal. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. Engineered living blood vessels: functional endothelia generated from human umbilical cord-derived progenitors.

    PubMed

    Schmidt, Dörthe; Asmis, Lars M; Odermatt, Bernhard; Kelm, Jens; Breymann, Christian; Gössi, Matthias; Genoni, Michele; Zund, Gregor; Hoerstrup, Simon P

    2006-10-01

    Tissue-engineered living blood vessels (TEBV) with growth capacity represent a promising new option for the repair of congenital malformations. We investigate the functionality of TEBV with endothelia generated from human umbilical cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells. Tissue-engineered living blood vessels were generated from human umbilical cord-derived myofibroblasts seeded on biodegradable vascular scaffolds, followed by endothelialization with differentiated cord blood-derived endothelial progenitor cells. During in vitro maturation the TEBV were exposed to physiologic conditioning in a flow bioreactor. For functional assessment, a subgroup of TEBV was stimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Control vessels endothelialized with standard vascular endothelial cells were treated in parallel. Analysis of the TEBV included histology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry (extracellular matrix analysis, DNA), and biomechanical testing. Endothelia were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (CD31, von Willebrand factor, thrombomodulin, tissue factor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase). Histologically, a three-layered tissue organization of the TEBV analogous to native vessels was observed, and biochemistry revealed the major matrix constituents (collagen, proteoglycans) of blood vessels. Biomechanical properties (Young's modulus, 2.03 +/- 0.65 MPa) showed profiles resembling those of native tissue. Endothelial progenitor cells expressed typical endothelial cell markers CD31, von Willebrand factor, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase comparable to standard vascular endothelial cells. Stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha resulted in physiologic upregulation of tissue factor and downregulation of thrombomodulin expression. These results indicate that TEBV with tissue architecture and functional endothelia similar to native blood vessels can be successfully generated from human umbilical cord progenitor cells. Thus, blood-derived progenitor cells obtained before or at birth may enable the clinical realization of tissue engineering constructs for pediatric applications.

  2. Mining the archives: a cross-platform analysis of gene ...

    EPA Pesticide Factsheets

    Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples represent a potentially invaluable resource for genomic research into the molecular basis of disease. However, use of FFPE samples in gene expression studies has been limited by technical challenges resulting from degradation of nucleic acids. Here we evaluated gene expression profiles derived from fresh-frozen (FRO) and FFPE mouse liver tissues using two DNA microarray protocols and two whole transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) library preparation methodologies. The ribo-depletion protocol outperformed the other three methods by having the highest correlations of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and best overlap of pathways between FRO and FFPE groups. We next tested the effect of sample time in formalin (18 hours or 3 weeks) on gene expression profiles. Hierarchical clustering of the datasets indicated that test article treatment, and not preservation method, was the main driver of gene expression profiles. Meta- and pathway analyses indicated that biological responses were generally consistent for 18-hour and 3-week FFPE samples compared to FRO samples. However, clear erosion of signal intensity with time in formalin was evident, and DEG numbers differed by platform and preservation method. Lastly, we investigated the effect of age in FFPE block on genomic profiles. RNA-seq analysis of 8-, 19-, and 26-year-old control blocks using the ribo-depletion protocol resulted in comparable quality metrics, inc

  3. In Situ D-periodic Molecular Structure of Type II Collagen

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Antipova, Olga; Orgel, Joseph P.R.O.

    Collagens are essential components of extracellular matrices in multicellular animals. Fibrillar type II collagen is the most prominent component of articular cartilage and other cartilage-like tissues such as notochord. Its in situ macromolecular and packing structures have not been fully characterized, but an understanding of these attributes may help reveal mechanisms of tissue assembly and degradation (as in osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis). In some tissues such as lamprey notochord, the collagen fibrillar organization is naturally crystalline and may be studied by x-ray diffraction. We used diffraction data from native and derivative notochord tissue samples to solve the axial, D-periodic structuremore » of type II collagen via multiple isomorphous replacement. The electron density maps and heavy atom data revealed the conformation of the nonhelical telopeptides and the overall D-periodic structure of collagen type II in native tissues, data that were further supported by structure prediction and transmission electron microscopy. These results help to explain the observed differences in collagen type I and type II fibrillar architecture and indicate the collagen type II cross-link organization, which is crucial for fibrillogenesis. Transmission electron microscopy data show the close relationship between lamprey and mammalian collagen fibrils, even though the respective larger scale tissue architecture differs.« less

  4. Quantitative shear-wave optical coherence elastography with a programmable phased array ultrasound as the wave source.

    PubMed

    Song, Shaozhen; Le, Nhan Minh; Huang, Zhihong; Shen, Tueng; Wang, Ruikang K

    2015-11-01

    The purpose of this study is to implement a beam-steering ultrasound as the wave source for shear-wave optical coherence elastography (SW-OCE) to achieve an extended range of elastic imaging of the tissue sample. We introduce a linear phased array ultrasound transducer (LPAUT) as the remote and programmable wave source and a phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography (OCT) as the sensitive shear-wave detector. The LPAUT is programmed to launch acoustic radiation force impulses (ARFI) focused at desired locations within the range of OCT imaging, upon which the elasticity map of the entire OCT B-scan cross section is recovered by spatial compounding of the elastic maps derived from each launch of AFRIs. We also propose a directional filter to separate the shear-wave propagation at different directions in order to reduce the effect of tissue heterogeneity on the shear-wave propagation within tissue. The feasibility of this proposed approach is then demonstrated by determining the stiffness of tissue-mimicking phantoms with agarose concentrations of 0.5% and 1% and also by imaging the Young's modulus of retinal and choroidal tissues within a porcine eye ball ex vivo. The approach opens up opportunities to combine medical ultrasound imaging and SW-OCE for high-resolution localized quantitative assessment of tissue biomechanical property.

  5. A ratiometric threshold for determining presence of cancer during fluorescence-guided surgery.

    PubMed

    Warram, Jason M; de Boer, Esther; Moore, Lindsay S; Schmalbach, Cecelia E; Withrow, Kirk P; Carroll, William R; Richman, Joshua S; Morlandt, Anthony B; Brandwein-Gensler, Margaret; Rosenthal, Eben L

    2015-07-01

    Fluorescence-guided imaging to assist in identification of malignant margins has the potential to dramatically improve oncologic surgery. However, a standardized method for quantitative assessment of disease-specific fluorescence has not been investigated. Introduced here is a ratiometric threshold derived from mean fluorescent tissue intensity that can be used to semi-quantitatively delineate tumor from normal tissue. Open-field and a closed-field imaging devices were used to quantify fluorescence in punch biopsy tissues sampled from primary tumors collected during a phase 1 trial evaluating the safety of cetuximab-IRDye800 in patients (n = 11) undergoing surgical intervention for head and neck cancer. Fluorescence ratios were calculated using mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) from punch biopsy normalized by MFI of patient-matched tissues. Ratios were compared to pathological assessment and a ratiometric threshold was established to predict presence of cancer. During open-field imaging using an intraoperative device, the threshold for muscle normalized tumor fluorescence was found to be 2.7, which produced a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 78.6% for delineating disease tissue. The skin-normalized threshold generated greater sensitivity (92.9%) and specificity (81.0%). Successful implementation of a semi-quantitative threshold can provide a scientific methodology for delineating disease from normal tissue during fluorescence-guided resection of cancer. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Effect of solution and post-mortem time on mechanical and histological properties of liver during cold preservation.

    PubMed

    Ayyildiz, Mehmet; Aktas, Ranan Gulhan; Basdogan, Cagatay

    2014-01-01

    In liver transplantation, the donor and recipient are in different locations most of the time, and longer preservation periods are inevitable. Hence, the choice of the preservation solution and the duration of the preservation period are critical for the success of the transplant surgery. In this study, we examine the mechanical and histological properties of the bovine liver tissue stored in Lactated Ringer's (control), HTK and UW solutions as a function of preservation period. The mechanical experiments are conducted with a shear rheometer on cylindrical tissue samples extracted from 3 bovine livers and the change in viscoelastic material properties of the bovine liver is characterized using the fractional derivative Kelvin-Voigt Model. Also, the histological examinations are performed on the same liver samples under a light microscope. The results show that the preservation solution and period have a significant effect on the mechanical and histological properties of the liver tissue. The storage and loss shear moduli, the number of the apoptotic cells, the collagen accumulation, and the sinusoidal dilatation increase, and the glycogen deposition decreases as the preservation period is longer. Based on the statistical analyses, we observe that the liver tissue is preserved well in all three solutions for up to 11 h. After then, UW solution provides a better preservation up to 29 h. However, for preservation periods longer than 29 h, HTK is a more effective preservation solution based on the least amount of change in mechanical properties. On the other hand, the highest correlation between the mechanical and histological properties is observed for the liver samples preserved in UW solution.

  7. The Muscle Metabolome Differs between Healthy and Frail Older Adults.

    PubMed

    Fazelzadeh, Parastoo; Hangelbroek, Roland W J; Tieland, Michael; de Groot, Lisette C P G M; Verdijk, Lex B; van Loon, Luc J C; Smilde, Age K; Alves, Rodrigo D A M; Vervoort, Jacques; Müller, Michael; van Duynhoven, John P M; Boekschoten, Mark V

    2016-02-05

    Populations around the world are aging rapidly. Age-related loss of physiological functions negatively affects quality of life. A major contributor to the frailty syndrome of aging is loss of skeletal muscle. In this study we assessed the skeletal muscle biopsy metabolome of healthy young, healthy older and frail older subjects to determine the effect of age and frailty on the metabolic signature of skeletal muscle tissue. In addition, the effects of prolonged whole-body resistance-type exercise training on the muscle metabolome of older subjects were examined. The baseline metabolome was measured in muscle biopsies collected from 30 young, 66 healthy older subjects, and 43 frail older subjects. Follow-up samples from frail older (24 samples) and healthy older subjects (38 samples) were collected after 6 months of prolonged resistance-type exercise training. Young subjects were included as a reference group. Primary differences in skeletal muscle metabolite levels between young and healthy older subjects were related to mitochondrial function, muscle fiber type, and tissue turnover. Similar differences were observed when comparing frail older subjects with healthy older subjects at baseline. Prolonged resistance-type exercise training resulted in an adaptive response of amino acid metabolism, especially reflected in branched chain amino acids and genes related to tissue remodeling. The effect of exercise training on branched-chain amino acid-derived acylcarnitines in older subjects points to a downward shift in branched-chain amino acid catabolism upon training. We observed only modest correlations between muscle and plasma metabolite levels, which pleads against the use of plasma metabolites as a direct read-out of muscle metabolism and stresses the need for direct assessment of metabolites in muscle tissue biopsies.

  8. Experimentally reduced root-microbe interactions reveal limited plasticity in functional root traits in Acer and Quercus.

    PubMed

    Lee, Mei-Ho; Comas, Louise H; Callahan, Hilary S

    2014-02-01

    Interactions between roots and soil microbes are critical components of below-ground ecology. It is essential to quantify the magnitude of root trait variation both among and within species, including variation due to plasticity. In addition to contextualizing the magnitude of plasticity relative to differences between species, studies of plasticity can ascertain if plasticity is predictable and whether an environmental factor elicits changes in traits that are functionally advantageous. To compare functional traits and trait plasticities in fine root tissues with natural and reduced levels of colonization by microbial symbionts, trimmed and surface-sterilized root segments of 2-year-old Acer rubrum and Quercus rubra seedlings were manipulated. Segments were then replanted into satellite pots filled with control or heat-treated soil, both originally derived from a natural forest. Mycorrhizal colonization was near zero in roots grown in heat-treated soil; roots grown in control soil matched the higher colonization levels observed in unmanipulated root samples collected from field locations. Between-treatment comparisons revealed negligible plasticity for root diameter, branching intensity and nitrogen concentration across both species. Roots from treated soils had decreased tissue density (approx. 10-20 %) and increased specific root length (approx. 10-30 %). In contrast, species differences were significant and greater than treatment effects in traits other than tissue density. Interspecific trait differences were also significant in field samples, which generally resembled greenhouse samples. The combination of experimental and field approaches was useful for contextualizing trait plasticity in comparison with inter- and intra-specific trait variation. Findings that root traits are largely species dependent, with the exception of root tissue density, are discussed in the context of current literature on root trait variation, interactions with symbionts and recent progress in standardization of methods for quantifying root traits.

  9. Increased interleukin-11 levels in thoracic aorta and plasma from patients with acute thoracic aortic dissection.

    PubMed

    Xu, Yao; Ye, Jing; Wang, Menglong; Wang, Yuan; Ji, Qingwei; Huang, Ying; Zeng, Tao; Wang, Zhen; Ye, Di; Jiang, Huimin; Liu, Jianfang; Lin, Yingzhong; Wan, Jun

    2018-06-01

    Interleukin (IL) 11 is closely related to tumor and hematological system diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that IL-11 also participates in cardiovascular diseases, including ischemia-reperfusion mediated heart injury and acute myocardial infarction. This study aimed to investigate whether IL-11 is involved in acute thoracic aortic dissection (TAD). Aortic tissue samples from normal donors and acute TAD patients were collected, and the expression of IL-11 in all aortic tissue was analyzed. In addition, blood samples from patients with chest pain were collected and divided into a non-AD (NAD) group and a TAD group according to the results of computed tomography angiography of the thoracic aorta. The plasma IL-11, IL-17 and interferon (IFN) γ in all blood samples were measured. Compared with aortic tissue of normal controls, IL-11 was significantly increased in aortic tissue of acute TAD patients, especially in the torn section. The IL-11 was derived from aorta macrophages in TAD. In addition, the plasma IL-11, IL-17 and IFN-γ were significantly higher in acute TAD patients than in NAD patients, and the correlation analysis showed that IL-11 levels were positively correlated with levels of IFN-γ, IL-17, glucose, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, white blood cells, C-reactive proteins and D-dimers. Binary logistic regression analyses showed that elevated IL11 in patients who may have diagnostic value of TAD, but less that D-dimer. IL-11 was increased in thoracic aorta and plasma of TAD patients and may be a promising biomarker for diagnosis in patients with TAD. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

  10. Insulin-sensitizing effects on muscle and adipose tissue after dietary fiber intake in men and women with metabolic syndrome.

    PubMed

    Robertson, M Denise; Wright, John W; Loizon, Emmanuelle; Debard, Cyrille; Vidal, Hubert; Shojaee-Moradie, Fariba; Russell-Jones, David; Umpleby, A Margot

    2012-09-01

    Dietary fibers have been associated with a reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in epidemiological studies; however, the precise mechanisms are unknown. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and site of action of an insoluble dietary fiber derived from maize (HAM-RS2) in improving insulin resistance in subjects at increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study was a randomized, controlled crossover, dietary intervention study. The study was conducted at the Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Research, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, United Kingdom. Fifteen men and women with insulin resistance participated in the study. The intervention included 40 g/d HAM-RS2 compared with a matched placebo for 8 wk. After each supplement, participants underwent a two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp study with the addition of glucose tracers; a meal tolerance test; arteriovenous sampling across forearm muscle tissue; and a sc adipose tissue biopsy for assessment of gene expression. There was enhanced uptake of glucose into the forearm muscle measured by arteriovenous sampling (65 ± 15% increase after resistant starch; P < 0.001). Adipose tissue function was also affected, with enhanced fatty acid suppression after HAM-RS2 treatment and an increase in gene expression for hormone sensitive lipase (P = 0.005), perilipin (P = 0.011), lipoprotein lipase (P = 0.014), and adipose triglyceride lipase (P = 0.03) in biopsy samples. There was no effect on the insulin sensitivity of hepatic glucose production or plasma lipids after HAM-RS2. HAM-RS2 improved peripheral but not hepatic insulin resistance and requires further study as an intervention in patients with or at risk for type 2 diabetes.

  11. Ability of the gut microbiota to produce PUFA-derived bacterial metabolites: Proof of concept in germ-free versus conventionalized mice.

    PubMed

    Druart, Céline; Bindels, Laure B; Schmaltz, Robert; Neyrinck, Audrey M; Cani, Patrice D; Walter, Jens; Ramer-Tait, Amanda E; Delzenne, Nathalie M

    2015-08-01

    The gut microbiota is able to modulate host physiology through the production of bioactive metabolites. Our recent studies suggest that changes in gut microbiota composition upon prebiotics supplementation alter tissue levels of PUFA-derived metabolites in mice. However, in vivo evidence that gut microbes produces PUFA-derived metabolites is lacking. This study aimed to decipher the contribution of gut microbes versus that of the host in PUFA-derived metabolite production. To achieve this goal, we compared the proportion of PUFA-derived metabolites and the expression of fatty acid desaturases in germ-free (GF) and conventionalized (CONV) mice fed either a low fat or Western diet. Higher concentrations of PUFA-derived metabolites were found in the colonic contents of conventionalized mice (CONV) mice compared to GF mice. The abundance of these metabolites in host tissues was modulated by dietary treatments but not by microbial status. Although microbial status did significantly influence desaturase expression, no correlations between host enzymes and tissue PUFA-derived metabolite levels were observed. Together, these results highlight the ability of the gut microbiota to produce PUFA-derived metabolites from dietary PUFA. However, microbial production of these metabolites in colonic contents is not necessarily associated with modifications of their concentration in host tissues. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  12. Isolation and culture of primary human pancreatic stellate cells that reflect the context of their tissue of origin.

    PubMed

    Strobel, Oliver; Dadabaeva, Nigora; Felix, Klaus; Hackert, Thilo; Giese, Nathalia A; Jesenofsky, Ralf; Werner, Jens

    2016-02-01

    Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Activated PSCs are the main source of fibrosis in chronic pancreatitis and of desmoplasia in PDAC. The majority of studies on PSC are based on in vitro experiments relying on immortalized cell lines derived from diseased human pancreas or from animal models. These PSCs are usually activated and may not represent the biological context of their tissue of origin. (1) To isolate and culture primary human PSC from different disease contexts with minimal impact on their state of activation. (2) To perform a comparative analysis of phenotypes of PSC derived from different contexts. PSCs were isolated from normal pancreas, chronic pancreatitis, and PDAC using a hybrid method of digestion and outgrowth. To minimize activation by serum compounds, cells were cultured in a low-serum environment (2.5 % fetal bovine serum (FBS)). Expression patterns of commonly used markers for PSC phenotype and activity were compared between primary PSC lines derived from different contexts and correlated to expression in their original tissues. Isolation was successful from 14 of 17 tissues (82 %). Isolated PSC displayed stable viability and phenotype in low-serum environment. Expression profiles of isolated PSC and matched original tissues were closely correlated. PDAC-derived PSC tended to have a higher status of activation if compared to PSC derived from non-cancerous tissues. Primary human PSCs isolated from different contexts and cultured in a low-serum environment maintain a phenotype that reflects the stromal activity present in their tissue of origin.

  13. Effect of substrate choice and tissue type on tissue preparation for spectral histopathology by Raman microspectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Fullwood, Leanne M; Griffiths, Dave; Ashton, Katherine; Dawson, Timothy; Lea, Robert W; Davis, Charles; Bonnier, Franck; Byrne, Hugh J; Baker, Matthew J

    2014-01-21

    Raman spectroscopy is a non-destructive, non-invasive, rapid and economical technique which has the potential to be an excellent method for the diagnosis of cancer and understanding disease progression through retrospective studies of archived tissue samples. Historically, biobanks are generally comprised of formalin fixed paraffin preserved tissue and as a result these specimens are often used in spectroscopic research. Tissue in this state has to be dewaxed prior to Raman analysis to reduce paraffin contributions in the spectra. However, although the procedures are derived from histopathological clinical practice, the efficacy of the dewaxing procedures that are currently employed is questionable. Ineffective removal of paraffin results in corruption of the spectra and previous experiments have shown that the efficacy can depend on the dewaxing medium and processing time. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of commonly used spectroscopic substrates (CaF2, Spectrosil quartz and low-E slides) and the influence of different histological tissue types (normal, cancerous and metastatic) on tissue preparation and to assess their use for spectral histopathology. Results show that CaF2 followed by Spectrosil contribute the least to the spectral background. However, both substrates retain paraffin after dewaxing. Low-E substrates, which exhibit the most intense spectral background, do not retain wax and resulting spectra are not affected by paraffin peaks. We also show a disparity in paraffin retention depending upon the histological identity of the tissue with abnormal tissue retaining more paraffin than normal.

  14. A bioengineered niche promotes in vivo engraftment and maturation of pluripotent stem cell derived human lung organoids.

    PubMed

    Dye, Briana R; Dedhia, Priya H; Miller, Alyssa J; Nagy, Melinda S; White, Eric S; Shea, Lonnie D; Spence, Jason R

    2016-09-28

    Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived tissues often remain developmentally immature in vitro, and become more adult-like in their structure, cellular diversity and function following transplantation into immunocompromised mice. Previously we have demonstrated that hPSC-derived human lung organoids (HLOs) resembled human fetal lung tissue in vitro (Dye et al., 2015). Here we show that HLOs required a bioartificial microporous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) scaffold niche for successful engraftment, long-term survival, and maturation of lung epithelium in vivo. Analysis of scaffold-grown transplanted tissue showed airway-like tissue with enhanced epithelial structure and organization compared to HLOs grown in vitro. By further comparing in vitro and in vivo grown HLOs with fetal and adult human lung tissue, we found that in vivo transplanted HLOs had improved cellular differentiation of secretory lineages that is reflective of differences between fetal and adult tissue, resulting in airway-like structures that were remarkably similar to the native adult human lung.

  15. Differences in glutamate receptors and inflammatory cell numbers are associated with the resolution of pain in human rotator cuff tendinopathy.

    PubMed

    Dean, Benjamin John Floyd; Snelling, Sarah J B; Dakin, Stephanie G; Murphy, Richard J; Javaid, Muhammad Kassim; Carr, Andrew Jonathan

    2015-07-10

    The relationship between peripheral tissue characteristics and pain symptoms in soft tissue inflammation is poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to determine immunohistochemical differences in tissue obtained from patients with persistent pain and patients who had become pain-free after surgical treatment for rotator cuff tendinopathy. The secondary aim was to investigate whether there would be differences in glutaminergic and inflammatory gene expression between disease-derived and healthy control cells in vitro. Supraspinatus tendon biopsies were obtained from nine patients with tendon pain before shoulder surgery and from nine further patients whose pain had resolved completely following shoulder surgery. Histological markers relating to the basic tendon characteristics, inflammation and glutaminergic signalling were quantified by immunohistochemical analysis. Gene expression of glutaminergic and inflammatory markers was determined in tenocyte explants derived from painful rotator cuff tendon tears in a separate cohort of patients and compared to that of explants from healthy control tendons. Dual labelling was performed to identify cell types expressing nociceptive neuromodulators. Tendon samples from patients with persistent pain demonstrated increased levels of metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), kainate receptor 1 (KA1), protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5), CD206 (macrophage marker) and CD45 (pan-leucocyte marker) versus pain-free controls (p <0.05). NMDAR1 co-localised with CD206-positive cells, whereas PGP9.5 and glutamate were predominantly expressed by resident tendon cells. These results were validated by in vitro increases in the expression of mGluR2, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR1), KA1, CD45, CD206 and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) genes (p <0.05) in disease-derived versus control cells. We conclude that differences in glutamate receptors and inflammatory cell numbers are associated with the resolution of shoulder pain in rotator cuff tendinopathy, and that disease-derived cells exhibit a distinctly different neuro-inflammatory gene expression profile to healthy control cells.

  16. Fluorescently labeled chimeric anti-CEA antibody improves detection and resection of human colon cancer in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude mouse model.

    PubMed

    Metildi, Cristina A; Kaushal, Sharmeela; Luiken, George A; Talamini, Mark A; Hoffman, Robert M; Bouvet, Michael

    2014-04-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate a new fluorescently labeled chimeric anti-CEA antibody for improved detection and resection of colon cancer. Frozen tumor and normal human tissue samples were stained with chimeric and mouse antibody-fluorophore conjugates for comparison. Mice with patient-derived orthotopic xenografts (PDOX) of colon cancer underwent fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) or bright-light surgery (BLS) 24 hr after tail vein injection of fluorophore-conjugated chimeric anti-CEA antibody. Resection completeness was assessed using postoperative images. Mice were followed for 6 months for recurrence. The fluorophore conjugation efficiency (dye/mole ratio) improved from 3-4 to >5.5 with the chimeric CEA antibody compared to mouse anti-CEA antibody. CEA-expressing tumors labeled with chimeric CEA antibody provided a brighter fluorescence signal on frozen human tumor tissues (P = 0.046) and demonstrated consistently lower fluorescence signals in normal human tissues compared to mouse antibody. Chimeric CEA antibody accurately labeled PDOX colon cancer in nude mice, enabling improved detection of tumor margins for more effective FGS. The R0 resection rate increased from 86% to 96% with FGS compared to BLS. Improved conjugating efficiency and labeling with chimeric fluorophore-conjugated antibody resulted in better detection and resection of human colon cancer in an orthotopic mouse model. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Repair of full-thickness tendon injury using connective tissue progenitors efficiently derived from human embryonic stem cells and fetal tissues.

    PubMed

    Cohen, Shahar; Leshansky, Lucy; Zussman, Eyal; Burman, Michael; Srouji, Samer; Livne, Erella; Abramov, Natalie; Itskovitz-Eldor, Joseph

    2010-10-01

    The use of stem cells for tissue engineering (TE) encourages scientists to design new platforms in the field of regenerative and reconstructive medicine. Human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have been proposed to be an important cell source for cell-based TE applications as well as an exciting tool for investigating the fundamentals of human development. Here, we describe the efficient derivation of connective tissue progenitors (CTPs) from hESC lines and fetal tissues. The CTPs were significantly expanded and induced to generate tendon tissues in vitro, with ultrastructural characteristics and biomechanical properties typical of mature tendons. We describe a simple method for engineering tendon grafts that can successfully repair injured Achilles tendons and restore the ankle joint extension movement in mice. We also show the CTP's ability to differentiate into bone, cartilage, and fat both in vitro and in vivo. This study offers evidence for the possibility of using stem cell-derived engineered grafts to replace missing tissues, and sets a basic platform for future cell-based TE applications in the fields of orthopedics and reconstructive surgery.

  18. Characterization of the endogenous enzymatic hydrolyses of Petroselinum crispum glycosides: determined by chromatography upon their sugar and flavonoid products.

    PubMed

    Boldizsár, Imre; Füzfai, Zsófia; Molnár-Perl, Ibolya

    2013-06-07

    The behavior of the flavonoid diglycosides, relevant constituents of parsley (Petroselinum crispum) fruit (PFr) and leaf (PLe) samples was characterized upon their enzymatic hydrolyses applying complementary liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (LC-UV) and gas chromatography mass selective (GC-MS) detections. Analyses were performed in quantitative manner, from the same extracts as a function of hydrolysis times. Both in fruit and leaf tissue extracts, in intact and in enzyme hydrolyzed ones, apigenin, chrysoeriol, their glycosides, sugars, sugar alcohols, carboxylic acids and phytosterols, in total 17 constituents were identified and quantified. Based primarily on the selective mass fragmentation properties of the trimethylsilyl (oxime) ether/ester derivatives of constituents, we confirmed several novelties to the field. (i) It was shown for the first time that in parsley tissues different types of glycosidase enzyme are active. In PFr samples, both the stepwise and disaccharide specific endogenous mechanisms were certified, quantifying simultaneously the continuous release of apigenin, chrysoeriol, 2-O-apiosyl-apiose, apiose and glucose. (ii) 2-O-Apiosyl-glucose was demonstrated as disaccharide due to its formation under derivatization conditions from parsley glycosides. (iii) Both in PFr and in PLe samples even the invertase enzyme activity was attainable: sucrose decomposition in both tissues was going on with the same intensity. Three different types of enzymatic glycosidase processes were followed with their specific hydrolysis products by means of HPLC-UV and GC-MS, simultaneously. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. Measurement of the coagulation dynamics of bovine liver using the modified microscopic Beer-Lambert law.

    PubMed

    Terenji, Albert; Willmann, Stefan; Osterholz, Jens; Hering, Peter; Schwarzmaier, Hans-Joachim

    2005-06-01

    During heating, the optical properties of biological tissues change with the coagulation state. In this study, we propose a technique, which uses these changes to monitor the coagulation process during laser-induced interstitial thermotherapy (LITT). Untreated and coagulated (water bath, temperatures between 35 degrees C and 90 degrees C for 20 minutes.) samples of bovine liver tissue were examined using a Nd:YAG (lambda = 1064 nm) frequency-domain reflectance spectrometer. We determined the time integrated intensities (I(DC)) and the phase shifts (Phi) of the photon density waves after migration through the tissue. From these measured quantities, the time of flight (TOF) of the photons and the absorption coefficients of the samples were derived using the modified microscopic Beer-Lambert law. The absorption coefficients of the liver samples decreased significantly with the temperature in the range between 50 degrees C and 70 degrees C. At the same time, the TOF of the investigated photos was found increased indicating an increased scattering. The coagulation dynamics could be well described using the Arrhenius formalism with the activation energy of 106 kJ/mol and the frequency factor of 1.59 x 10(13)/second. Frequency-domain reflectance spectroscopy in combination with the modified microscopic Beer-Lambert (MBL) is suitable to measure heat induced changes in the absorption and scattering properties of bovine liver in vitro. The technique may be used to monitor the coagulation dynamics during local thermo-coagulation in vivo. Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  20. Grip strength and body composition in Turkana pastoralist children and adolescents.

    PubMed

    Little, Michael A

    2017-03-01

    In an earlier study, age changes and sex differences in grip strength were documented for adult Turkana pastoralists of Kenya (Little and Johnson, 1986). The objective here is to characterize age changes and sex differences in grip strength of Turkana children and adolescents in the context of arm lean tissue composition, and in comparison with other African, African-American, and non-Western populations. Anthropometric measurements, derived body composition values, and grip strength measures (maximum voluntary contraction) were taken on a sample of 232 nomadic Turkana pastoralist children (94 boys and 138 girls) aged 3 to 21 years. Relationships were tested between grip strength (in Newtons) and mid-upper arm (brachium) lean tissue cross-sectional areas. Comparisons were made among several different ethnic groups. Turkana children and adolescents had low arm muscle (derived lean tissue) and grip strength values when compared with U.S. NHANES percentile references. Girls' percentile rankings were greater than boys' percentile rankings for muscle and for grip strength. Both boys and girls were intermediate when compared with other non-Western populations and U.S. strength grip reference values. Correlations between grip strength and arm lean tissue areas were highly significant for both boys and girls. The greater relative muscle size and grip strength values of late adolescent girls compared to boys is consistent with an earlier study of adults. The difference is likely to result from greater physical subsistence activity and greater access to food in girls than in boys. Several suggestions are given to explain why Turkana youths have relatively small muscle sizes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. DNA Methylation as a Biomarker for Preeclampsia

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Anderson, Cindy M.; Ralph, Jody L.; Wright, Michelle L.

    Background: Preeclampsia contributes significantly to pregnancy-associated morbidity and mortality as well as future risk of cardiovascular disease in mother and offspring, and preeclampsia in offspring. The lack of reliable methods for early detection limits the opportunities for prevention, diagnosis, and timely treatment. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore distinct DNA methylation patterns associated with preeclampsia in both maternal cells and fetal-derived tissue that represent potential biomarkers to predict future preeclampsia and inheritance in children. Method: A convenience sample of nulliparous women (N = 55) in the first trimester of pregnancy was recruited for this prospective study. Genome-widemore » DNA methylation was quantified in first-trimester maternal peripheral white blood cells and placental chorionic tissue from normotensive women and those with preeclampsia (n = 6/group). Results: Late-onset preeclampsia developed in 12.7% of women. Significant differences in DNA methylation were identified in 207 individual linked cytosine and guanine (CpG) sites in maternal white blood cells collected in the first trimester (132 sites with gain and 75 sites with loss of methylation), which were common to approximately 75% of the differentially methylated CpG sites identified in chorionic tissue of fetal origin. Conclusion: This study is the first to identify maternal epigenetic targets and common targets in fetal-derived tissue that represent putative biomarkers for early detection and heritable risk of preeclampsia. Findings may pave the way for diagnosis of preeclampsia prior to its clinical presentation and acute damaging effects, and the potential for prevention of the detrimental long-term sequelae.« less

  2. Spatial characterization of proteolytic enzyme activity in the foregut region of the adult necrophagous fly, Protophormia terraenovae.

    PubMed

    Rivers, David B; Acca, Gillian; Fink, Marc; Brogan, Rebecca; Schoeffield, Andrew

    2014-08-01

    The spatial distribution of proteolytic enzymes in the adult foregut of Protophormia terraenovae was studied in the context of protein digestion and regurgitation. Based on substrate specificity, pH optima, and use of specific protease inhibitors, all adults tested displayed enzyme activity in the foregut consistent with pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin. Chymotrypsin-like and trypsin-like enzyme activity were detected in all gut fluids and tissues tested, with chymotrypsin displaying the highest activity in saliva and salivary gland tissue, whereas maximal trypsin activity was evident in the crop. Pepsin-like activity was only evident in crop fluids and tissues. The activity of all three enzymes was low or undetectable (pepsin) in the fluids and tissue homogenates derived from the esophagus and cardia of any of the adults assayed. Fed adult females displayed higher enzyme activities than fed males, and the activity of all three enzymes were much more prevalent in fed adults than starved. The pH optimum of the trypsin-like enzyme was between pH 7.0 and 8.0; chymotrypsin was near pH 8.0; and maximal pepsin-like activity occurred between pH 1.0 and 2.0. Regurgitate from fed adult females displayed enzyme activity consistent with the proteolytic enzymes detected in crop gut fluids. Enzymes in regurgitate were not derived from food sources based on assays of bovine liver samples. These latter observations suggest that adult flies release fluids from foregut when encountering dry foods, potentially as a means to initiate extra-oral digestion. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  3. The possible mechanism of preterm birth associated with periodontopathic Porphyromonas gingivalis.

    PubMed

    Hasegawa-Nakamura, K; Tateishi, F; Nakamura, T; Nakajima, Y; Kawamata, K; Douchi, T; Hatae, M; Noguchi, K

    2011-08-01

    Previous studies have shown that Porphyromonas gingivalis is found in the amniotic fluid and placentae of pregnant women with some obstetric diseases. However, the biological effects of P. gingivalis on intrauterine tissues remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of P. gingivalis in chorionic tissues from hospitalized high-risk pregnant women, and the effects of P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide on the production of proinflammatory molecules in human chorion-derived cells. Twenty-three subjects were selected from Japanese hospitalized high-risk pregnant women. The presence of P. gingivalis in chorionic tissues was analyzed by PCR. Cultured chorion-derived cells or Toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2) gene-silenced chorion-derived cells were stimulated with P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide. Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate TLR-2 and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mRNA expression in the cells. Levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 in culture supernatants of the chorion-derived cells were measured by ELISA. P. gingivalis DNA was detected in chorionic tissues from two women with threatened preterm labor, two with multiple pregnancy and two with placenta previa. Stimulation of chorion-derived cells with P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide significantly increased TLR-2 mRNA expression, whereas TLR-4 mRNA expression was not changed. P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induced interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production in chorion-derived cells, but the P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production was reduced in TLR-2 gene-silenced chorion-derived cells. Our results suggest that P. gingivalis can be detected in chorionic tissues of hospitalized high-risk pregnant women, and that P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induces interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production via TLR-2 in chorion-derived cells. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  4. Carotenoids in Adipose Tissue Biology and Obesity.

    PubMed

    Bonet, M Luisa; Canas, Jose A; Ribot, Joan; Palou, Andreu

    2016-01-01

    Cell, animal and human studies dealing with carotenoids and carotenoid derivatives as nutritional regulators of adipose tissue biology with implications for the etiology and management of obesity and obesity-related metabolic diseases are reviewed. Most studied carotenoids in this context are β-carotene, cryptoxanthin, astaxanthin and fucoxanthin, together with β-carotene-derived retinoids and some other apocarotenoids. Studies indicate an impact of these compounds on essential aspects of adipose tissue biology including the control of adipocyte differentiation (adipogenesis), adipocyte metabolism, oxidative stress and the production of adipose tissue-derived regulatory signals and inflammatory mediators. Specific carotenoids and carotenoid derivatives restrain adipogenesis and adipocyte hypertrophy while enhancing fat oxidation and energy dissipation in brown and white adipocytes, and counteract obesity in animal models. Intake, blood levels and adipocyte content of carotenoids are reduced in human obesity. Specifically designed human intervention studies in the field, though still sparse, indicate a beneficial effect of carotenoid supplementation in the accrual of abdominal adiposity. In summary, studies support a role of specific carotenoids and carotenoid derivatives in the prevention of excess adiposity, and suggest that carotenoid requirements may be dependent on body composition.

  5. Extracellular matrix-derived hydrogels for dental stem cell delivery.

    PubMed

    Viswanath, Aiswarya; Vanacker, Julie; Germain, Loïc; Leprince, Julian G; Diogenes, Anibal; Shakesheff, Kevin M; White, Lisa J; des Rieux, Anne

    2017-01-01

    Decellularized mammalian extracellular matrices (ECM) have been widely accepted as an ideal substrate for repair and remodelling of numerous tissues in clinical and pre-clinical studies. Recent studies have demonstrated the ability of ECM scaffolds derived from site-specific homologous tissues to direct cell differentiation. The present study investigated the suitability of hydrogels derived from different source tissues: bone, spinal cord and dentine, as suitable carriers to deliver human apical papilla derived mesenchymal stem cells (SCAP) for spinal cord regeneration. Bone, spinal cord, and dentine ECM hydrogels exhibited distinct structural, mechanical, and biological characteristics. All three hydrogels supported SCAP viability and proliferation. However, only spinal cord and bone derived hydrogels promoted the expression of neural lineage markers. The specific environment of ECM scaffolds significantly affected the differentiation of SCAP to a neural lineage, with stronger responses observed with spinal cord ECM hydrogels, suggesting that site-specific tissues are more likely to facilitate optimal stem cell behavior for constructive spinal cord regeneration. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 319-328, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Optimal iodine staining of cardiac tissue for X-ray computed tomography.

    PubMed

    Butters, Timothy D; Castro, Simon J; Lowe, Tristan; Zhang, Yanmin; Lei, Ming; Withers, Philip J; Zhang, Henggui

    2014-01-01

    X-ray computed tomography (XCT) has been shown to be an effective imaging technique for a variety of materials. Due to the relatively low differential attenuation of X-rays in biological tissue, a high density contrast agent is often required to obtain optimal contrast. The contrast agent, iodine potassium iodide ([Formula: see text]), has been used in several biological studies to augment the use of XCT scanning. Recently I2KI was used in XCT scans of animal hearts to study cardiac structure and to generate 3D anatomical computer models. However, to date there has been no thorough study into the optimal use of I2KI as a contrast agent in cardiac muscle with respect to the staining times required, which has been shown to impact significantly upon the quality of results. In this study we address this issue by systematically scanning samples at various stages of the staining process. To achieve this, mouse hearts were stained for up to 58 hours and scanned at regular intervals of 6-7 hours throughout this process. Optimal staining was found to depend upon the thickness of the tissue; a simple empirical exponential relationship was derived to allow calculation of the required staining time for cardiac samples of an arbitrary size.

  7. Design and formulation of functional pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac microtissues

    PubMed Central

    Thavandiran, Nimalan; Dubois, Nicole; Mikryukov, Alexander; Massé, Stéphane; Beca, Bogdan; Simmons, Craig A.; Deshpande, Vikram S.; McGarry, J. Patrick; Chen, Christopher S.; Nanthakumar, Kumaraswamy; Keller, Gordon M.; Radisic, Milica; Zandstra, Peter W.

    2013-01-01

    Access to robust and information-rich human cardiac tissue models would accelerate drug-based strategies for treating heart disease. Despite significant effort, the generation of high-fidelity adult-like human cardiac tissue analogs remains challenging. We used computational modeling of tissue contraction and assembly mechanics in conjunction with microfabricated constraints to guide the design of aligned and functional 3D human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiac microtissues that we term cardiac microwires (CMWs). Miniaturization of the platform circumvented the need for tissue vascularization and enabled higher-throughput image-based analysis of CMW drug responsiveness. CMW tissue properties could be tuned using electromechanical stimuli and cell composition. Specifically, controlling self-assembly of 3D tissues in aligned collagen, and pacing with point stimulation electrodes, were found to promote cardiac maturation-associated gene expression and in vivo-like electrical signal propagation. Furthermore, screening a range of hPSC-derived cardiac cell ratios identified that 75% NKX2 Homeobox 5 (NKX2-5)+ cardiomyocytes and 25% Cluster of Differentiation 90 OR (CD90)+ nonmyocytes optimized tissue remodeling dynamics and yielded enhanced structural and functional properties. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of the optimized platform in a tachycardic model of arrhythmogenesis, an aspect of cardiac electrophysiology not previously recapitulated in 3D in vitro hPSC-derived cardiac microtissue models. The design criteria identified with our CMW platform should accelerate the development of predictive in vitro assays of human heart tissue function. PMID:24255110

  8. 3D culture of human pluripotent stem cells in RGD-alginate hydrogel improves retinal tissue development.

    PubMed

    Hunt, Nicola C; Hallam, Dean; Karimi, Ayesha; Mellough, Carla B; Chen, Jinju; Steel, David H W; Lako, Majlinda

    2017-02-01

    No treatments exist to effectively treat many retinal diseases. Retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and neural retina can be generated from human embryonic stem cells/induced pluripotent stem cells (hESCs/hiPSCs). The efficacy of current protocols is, however, limited. It was hypothesised that generation of laminated neural retina and/or RPE from hiPSCs/hESCs could be enhanced by three dimensional (3D) culture in hydrogels. hiPSC- and hESC-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) were encapsulated in 0.5% RGD-alginate; 1% RGD-alginate; hyaluronic acid (HA) or HA/gelatin hydrogels and maintained until day 45. Compared with controls (no gel), 0.5% RGD-alginate increased: the percentage of EBs with pigmented RPE foci; the percentage EBs with optic vesicles (OVs) and pigmented RPE simultaneously; the area covered by RPE; frequency of RPE cells (CRALBP+); expression of RPE markers (TYR and RPE65) and the retinal ganglion cell marker, MATH5. Furthermore, 0.5% RGD-alginate hydrogel encapsulation did not adversely affect the expression of other neural retina markers (PROX1, CRX, RCVRN, AP2α or VSX2) as determined by qRT-PCR, or the percentage of VSX2 positive cells as determined by flow cytometry. 1% RGD-alginate increased the percentage of EBs with OVs and/or RPE, but did not significantly influence any other measures of retinal differentiation. HA-based hydrogels had no significant effect on retinal tissue development. The results indicated that derivation of retinal tissue from hESCs/hiPSCs can be enhanced by culture in 0.5% RGD-alginate hydrogel. This RGD-alginate scaffold may be useful for derivation, transport and transplantation of neural retina and RPE, and may also enhance formation of other pigmented, neural or epithelial tissue. The burden of retinal disease is ever growing with the increasing age of the world-wide population. Transplantation of retinal tissue derived from human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is considered a promising treatment. However, derivation of retinal tissue from PSCs using defined media is a lengthy process and often variable between different cell lines. This study indicated that alginate hydrogels enhanced retinal tissue development from PSCs, whereas hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels did not. This is the first study to show that 3D culture with a biomaterial scaffold can improve retinal tissue derivation from PSCs. These findings indicate potential for the clinical application of alginate hydrogels for the derivation and subsequent transplantation retinal tissue. This work may also have implications for the derivation of other pigmented, neural or epithelial tissue. Crown Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. Ginsenoside Rg1 and platelet-rich fibrin enhance human breast adipose-derived stem cells function for soft tissue regeneration

    PubMed Central

    Li, Hong-Mian; Peng, Qi-Liu; Huang, Min-Hong; Li, De-Quan; Liang, Yi-Dan; Chi, Gang-Yi; Li, De-Hui; Yu, Bing-Chao; Huang, Ji-Rong

    2016-01-01

    Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can be used to repair soft tissue defects, wounds, burns, and scars and to regenerate various damaged tissues. The cell differentiation capacity of ASCs is crucial for engineered adipose tissue regeneration in reconstructive and plastic surgery. We previously reported that ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1 or Rg1) promotes proliferation and differentiation of ASCs in vitro and in vivio. Here we show that both G-Rg1 and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) improve the proliferation, differentiation, and soft tissue regeneration capacity of human breast adipose-derived stem cells (HBASCs) on collagen type I sponge scaffolds in vitro and in vivo. Three months after transplantation, tissue wet weight, adipocyte number, intracellular lipid, microvessel density, and gene and protein expression of VEGF, HIF-1α, and PPARγ were higher in both G-Rg1- and PRF-treated HBASCs than in control grafts. More extensive new adipose tissue formation was evident after treatment with G-Rg1 or PRF. In summary, G-Rg1 and/or PRF co-administration improves the function of HBASCs for soft tissue regeneration engineering. PMID:27191987

  10. Autopsy tissues as biological monitors of human exposure to environmental pollutants. A case study: Concentrations of metals and PCDD/Fs in subjects living near a hazardous waste incinerator.

    PubMed

    Domingo, José L; García, Francisco; Nadal, Martí; Schuhmacher, Marta

    2017-04-01

    Human biomonitoring is of tremendous importance to prevent potential adverse effects derived from human exposure to chemicals. Blood and urine are among the biological monitors more frequently used. However, biological matrices such as breast milk, hair, nails, saliva, feces, teeth, and expired air are also often used. In addition, and focused mainly on long-term exposure, adipose tissue and other human tissues like bone, liver, brain or kidney, are also used as biological monitors of certain substances, especially for long-term biomonitoring. However, for this kind of tissues sampling is always a limiting factor. In this paper, we have examined the role of autopsy tissues as biological monitors of human exposure to environmental pollutants. For it, we have used a case study conducted near a hazardous waste incinerator (HWI) in Catalonia (Spain), in which the concentrations of metals and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), have been periodically determined in autopsy tissues of subjects living in the area under potential influence of the facility. This case study does not show advantages -in comparison to other appropriate biomonitors such as blood- in using autopsy tissues in the monitoring of long-term exposure to metals and PCDD/Fs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  11. Future role of MR elastography in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

    PubMed

    Othman, Shadi F; Xu, Huihui; Mao, Jeremy J

    2015-05-01

    Tissue engineering (TE) has been introduced for more than 25 years without a boom in clinical trials. More than 70 TE-related start-up companies spent more than $600 million/year, with only two FDA-approved tissue-engineered products. Given the modest performance in clinically approved organs, TE is a tenaciously promising field. The TE community is advocating the application of clinically driven methodologies in large animal models enabling clinical translation. This challenge is hindered by the scarcity of tissue biopsies and the absence of standardized evaluation tools, but can be negated through non-invasive assessment of growth and integration, with reduced sample size and low cost. Solving this issue will speed the transition to cost-efficient clinical studies. In this paper we: (a) introduce magnetic resonance elastography to the tissue-engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) community; (b) review recent MRE applications in TERM; and (c) discuss future directions of MRE in TERM. We have used MRE to study engineered tissues both in vitro and in vivo, where the mechanical properties of mesenchymally derived constructs were progressively monitored before and after tissues were implanted in mouse models. This study represents a stepping stone toward the applications of MRE in directing clinical trials with low cost and likely expediting the translation to more relevantly large animal models and clinical trials. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  12. Characterization of cell cultures derived from Lutzomyia spinicrassa (Diptera: Psychodidae) and their susceptibility to infection with Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

    PubMed

    Zapata Lesmes, Angela Cristina; Cárdenas Castro, Estrella; Bello, Felio

    2005-12-01

    The sand fly Lutzomyia spinicrassa (Morales, Osorno-Mesa, Osorno & de Hoyos, 1969) is a vector of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, an etiological agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia. The present article describes, for the first time, the morphological, karyotypical, and isozymatic characteristics of cell cultures derived from L. Spinicrassa embryonic tissues as well as the interaction of L. Braziliensis with these cell cultures. L. Spinicrassa embryonated eggs and neonate larvae were taken for tissue explants. These were seeded in Grace, L-15, Grace/L-15, MM/VP12, and MK/VP12 culture media. The pH range in these media was 6.7 to 6.9 and the cultures were incubated at 28 degrees C. The MHOM/CO/86/CL250 strain of L. Braziliensis was used for experimental infection of cell cultures of L. Spinicrassa. Cell growth was achieved in L-15 medium and a confluent monolayer was obtained 180 days after the embryonated eggs were explanted. The cell morphology of the primary cell cultures was initially heterogeneous, but in the confluent monolayer of these cell cultures and in the subcultures the predominant cell types were later fibroblast-like and epithelial-like. Cultured cells were predominantly diploid (2n=8); however, significant percentages of aneuploids were also recorded. The cell culture isozyme patterns of L. Spinicrassa coincided with pupae samples from the same species. Promastigote forms of L. Braziliensis could invade cells and transform into amastigote-like forms inside them. The characteristics of cell cultures derived from L. Spinicrassa embryonic tissues were determined. These cultures emerge as a new model to study the life-cycle of L. Braziliensis.

  13. Identification and Characterization of a Dendritic Cell Precursor in Parenchymal Lung Tissue.

    PubMed

    von Garnier, Christophe; Blank, Fabian; Rothen-Rutishauser, Barbara; Goethert, Joachim R; Holt, Patrick G; Stumbles, Philip A; Strickland, Deborah H

    2017-03-01

    The pulmonary parenchymal and mucosal microenvironments are constantly exposed to the external environment and thus require continuous surveillance to maintain steady-state immunological homeostasis. This is achieved by a mobile network of pulmonary dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages (mø) that constantly sample and process microenvironmental antigens into signals that can initiate or dampen inflammation, either locally or after onward migration to draining lymph nodes. The constant steady-state turnover of pulmonary DC and mø requires replenishment from bone marrow precursors; however, the nature of the pulmonary precursor cell (PC) remains unclear, although recent studies suggest that subsets of pulmonary DC may derive from circulating monocytic precursors. In the current study, we describe a population of cells in steady-state mouse lung tissue that has the surface phenotypic and ultrastructural characteristics of a common DC progenitor. Irradiation and reconstitution studies confirmed the bone marrow origins of this PC and showed that it had rapid depletion and reconstitution kinetics that were similar to those of DC, with a 50% repopulation by donor-derived cells by Days 7-9 after reconstitution. This was significantly faster than the rates observed for mø, which showed 50% repopulation by donor-derived cells beyond Days 16-21 after reconstitution. Purified PC gained antigen-presenting function and a cell surface phenotype similar to that of pulmonary DC after maturation in vitro, with light and electron microscopy confirming a myeloid DC morphology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to describe a PC for DC in lung tissue; the findings have implications for the restoration of pulmonary immunological homeostasis after bone marrow transplant.

  14. Investigation of the "true" extraction recovery of analytes from multiple types of tissues and its impact on tissue bioanalysis using two model compounds.

    PubMed

    Yuan, Long; Ma, Li; Dillon, Lisa; Fancher, R Marcus; Sun, Huadong; Zhu, Mingshe; Lehman-McKeeman, Lois; Aubry, Anne-Françoise; Ji, Qin C

    2016-11-16

    LC-MS/MS has been widely applied to the quantitative analysis of tissue samples. However, one key remaining issue is that the extraction recovery of analyte from spiked tissue calibration standard and quality control samples (QCs) may not accurately represent the "true" recovery of analyte from incurred tissue samples. This may affect the accuracy of LC-MS/MS tissue bioanalysis. Here, we investigated whether the recovery determined using tissue QCs by LC-MS/MS can accurately represent the "true" recovery from incurred tissue samples using two model compounds: BMS-986104, a S1P 1 receptor modulator drug candidate, and its phosphate metabolite, BMS-986104-P. We first developed a novel acid and surfactant assisted protein precipitation method for the extraction of BMS-986104 and BMS-986104-P from rat tissues, and determined their recoveries using tissue QCs by LC-MS/MS. We then used radioactive incurred samples from rats dosed with 3 H-labeled BMS-986104 to determine the absolute total radioactivity recovery in six different tissues. The recoveries determined using tissue QCs and incurred samples matched with each other very well. The results demonstrated that, in this assay, tissue QCs accurately represented the incurred tissue samples to determine the "true" recovery, and LC-MS/MS assay was accurate for tissue bioanalysis. Another aspect we investigated is how the tissue QCs should be prepared to better represent the incurred tissue samples. We compared two different QC preparation methods (analyte spiked in tissue homogenates or in intact tissues) and demonstrated that the two methods had no significant difference when a good sample preparation was in place. The developed assay showed excellent accuracy and precision, and was successfully applied to the quantitative determination of BMS-986104 and BMS-986104-P in tissues in a rat toxicology study. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Differential diagnosis of lung carcinoma with three-dimensional quantitative molecular vibrational imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gao, Liang; Hammoudi, Ahmad A.; Li, Fuhai; Thrall, Michael J.; Cagle, Philip T.; Chen, Yuanxin; Yang, Jian; Xia, Xiaofeng; Fan, Yubo; Massoud, Yehia; Wang, Zhiyong; Wong, Stephen T. C.

    2012-06-01

    The advent of molecularly targeted therapies requires effective identification of the various cell types of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). Currently, cell type diagnosis is performed using small biopsies or cytology specimens that are often insufficient for molecular testing after morphologic analysis. Thus, the ability to rapidly recognize different cancer cell types, with minimal tissue consumption, would accelerate diagnosis and preserve tissue samples for subsequent molecular testing in targeted therapy. We report a label-free molecular vibrational imaging framework enabling three-dimensional (3-D) image acquisition and quantitative analysis of cellular structures for identification of NSCLC cell types. This diagnostic imaging system employs superpixel-based 3-D nuclear segmentation for extracting such disease-related features as nuclear shape, volume, and cell-cell distance. These features are used to characterize cancer cell types using machine learning. Using fresh unstained tissue samples derived from cell lines grown in a mouse model, the platform showed greater than 97% accuracy for diagnosis of NSCLC cell types within a few minutes. As an adjunct to subsequent histology tests, our novel system would allow fast delineation of cancer cell types with minimum tissue consumption, potentially facilitating on-the-spot diagnosis, while preserving specimens for additional tests. Furthermore, 3-D measurements of cellular structure permit evaluation closer to the native state of cells, creating an alternative to traditional 2-D histology specimen evaluation, potentially increasing accuracy in diagnosing cell type of lung carcinomas.

  16. Identifying clinically relevant drug resistance genes in drug-induced resistant cancer cell lines and post-chemotherapy tissues.

    PubMed

    Tong, Mengsha; Zheng, Weicheng; Lu, Xingrong; Ao, Lu; Li, Xiangyu; Guan, Qingzhou; Cai, Hao; Li, Mengyao; Yan, Haidan; Guo, You; Chi, Pan; Guo, Zheng

    2015-12-01

    Until recently, few molecular signatures of drug resistance identified in drug-induced resistant cancer cell models can be translated into clinical practice. Here, we defined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pre-chemotherapy colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue samples of non-responders and responders for 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin-based therapy as clinically relevant drug resistance genes (CRG5-FU/L-OHP). Taking CRG5-FU/L-OHP as reference, we evaluated the clinical relevance of several types of genes derived from HCT116 CRC cells with resistance to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, respectively. The results revealed that DEGs between parental and resistant cells, when both were treated with the corresponding drug for a certain time, were significantly consistent with the CRG5-FU/L-OHP as well as the DEGs between the post-chemotherapy CRC specimens of responders and non-responders. This study suggests a novel strategy to extract clinically relevant drug resistance genes from both drug-induced resistant cell models and post-chemotherapy cancer tissue specimens.

  17. Newborn screening in Victoria: a case study of tissue banking regulation.

    PubMed

    Lawson, Charles

    2008-12-01

    The regulation of human tissue collections is increasingly important in maintaining public trust (and legitimacy) for critical practices and resources directed to public health programs and research. This article examines the governance arrangements applying to VCGS Ltd (under its various incarnations as "Genetic Health Services Victoria", "VCGS Pathology", and so on) and the existing collection of population-wide blood samples maintained on newborn screening cards (or Guthrie cards) in Victoria. The analyses reveal a complex web of regulations (and possibly even no regulation) and the limited role of significant statutory schemes that are generally assumed to apply to human tissue collections and the data and information derived from those materials. The article argues that, without a clear regulatory framework (and in particular meaningful consent), there is likely to be a decline in public trust (and legitimacy) with a consequent decreased participation in what is a public health program with immediate and quantifiable benefits and a valuable research resource for the future.

  18. A potential dating technique using 228Th/228Ra ratio for tracing the chronosequence of elemental concentrations in plants.

    PubMed

    Chao, J H; Niu, H; Chiu, C Y; Lin, C

    2007-06-01

    We propose a radiometric method based on measurement of the radioactivity of the naturally occurring radionuclides (228)Ra and 228)Th and the derived (228)Th/(228)Ra ratios in plant samples to estimate plant age and the corresponding nutritional conditions in a field-growing fern, Dicranopteris linearis. Plant age (tissue age) was associated with the (228)Th/(228)Ra ratio in fronds, which implies the accumulation time of immobile elements in the plant tissue or the life span of the fronds. Results indicated that the accumulation of alkaline earth elements in D. linearis is relatively constant with increased age, while the K concentration is reversed with age because of translocation among plant tissues. Estimation of dating uncertainty based on measurement conditions revealed that the radiometric technique can be applied to trace chronosequential changes of elemental concentrations and environmental pollutants in plants with ages of less than 10-15 years.

  19. Photothermal imaging of skeletal muscle mitochondria.

    PubMed

    Tomimatsu, Toru; Miyazaki, Jun; Kano, Yutaka; Kobayashi, Takayoshi

    2017-06-01

    The morphology and topology of mitochondria provide useful information about the physiological function of skeletal muscle. Previous studies of skeletal muscle mitochondria are based on observation with transmission, scanning electron microscopy or fluorescence microscopy. In contrast, photothermal (PT) microscopy has advantages over the above commonly used microscopic techniques because of no requirement for complex sample preparation by fixation or fluorescent-dye staining. Here, we employed the PT technique using a simple diode laser to visualize skeletal muscle mitochondria in unstained and stained tissues. The fine mitochondrial network structures in muscle fibers could be imaged with the PT imaging system, even in unstained tissues. PT imaging of tissues stained with toluidine blue revealed the structures of subsarcolemmal (SS) and intermyofibrillar (IMF) mitochondria and the swelling behavior of mitochondria in damaged muscle fibers with sufficient image quality. PT image analyses based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) and Grey-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) were performed to derive the characteristic size of mitochondria and to discriminate the image patterns of normal and damaged fibers.

  20. [Clinicopathologic study of sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma and its contrast with olfactory neuroblastoma].

    PubMed

    Li, Xue; Liu, Hong-Gang; Xie, Xin-Ji; Han, Yi-Ding; Li, Ming

    2008-07-01

    To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of sinonasal teratocarcinosarcoma (SNTCS) and olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), and to discuss the histogenesis and possible relationship between SNTCS and ONB. Seven cases of SNTCS and 34 cases of ONB were retrieved from the pathological archives together with one case each of malignant teratoma and immature embryonic tissue at 8 weeks were collected from Beijing Tongren Hospital. The clinicopathologic features were analyzed and immunohistochemical staining was performed on paraffin sections. Six of the SNTCS patients were male and one was female. The patients age range was 25 to 69 years (mean age 46). Four cases were initial presentation and three were recurrences. Histologically, the tumor shows multiple tissue components derived from three germ layers. There were mixture of teratoma-like tissue and carcinosarcoma. The components include fetal clear cell squamous epithelium derived from ectoderm. Glandular and tubular structures and ciliated columnar epithelium derived from endoderm. Fibroblasts, striated muscle, smooth muscle, cartilage and osteoid matrix derived from mesoderm. The carcinoma component exhibited mostly adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, whereas the sarcoma component mostly exhibited rhabdomyosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and fibrosarcoma. In addition, carcinoid, and primitive mesenchymal tissue and the ONB component were also seen. The morphological characteristics of SNTCS comprised fetal clear cell squamous epithelium, carcinosarcoma and the ONB component. By immunohistochemistry, the epithelial component and cells with epithelium differentiation were positive for cytokeratin (pan) and EMA. The ONB component was positive for Syn, NSE, CD99, NF and CgA to different degrees. Neurofibril bundles were positive for S-100, and Flexner-Wintersteiner rosettes expressed cytokeratin (pan) and EMA. The spindle cells expressed vimentin, SMA, desmin, myosin and myoglobin. The primitive mesenchymal tissue expressed vimentin, and the mucoid materials and glycogen were positive for PAS. GFAP was negative in all cases. The 34 cases of ONB, included 18 men and 16 women, the age ranged from 12 to 72 years (mean 42.8 years). Microscopically, the tumor shows epithelial nests, net of angioma-like fibrous connective tissues, small round and spindle cells, glandular, squamous-like cells, and cells of rhabdomyoblastic differentiation, Homer-Wright and Flexner rosette, bundles of neurofibrils, etc. NSE and CgA were expressed in small cells. S-100 protein was positive in the areas of bunches of neurofibril. Cytokeratin (pan) was positive in epithelial cells. Myoglobin was positive in the cells of rhabdomyoblastic differentiation. The single case of immature malignant teratoma exhibited primitive nerve tissue, but fetal clear cell squamous epithelium was not found. In the immature embryonic tissue, rudimentary organs were formed, with fetal clear cell squamous epithelium lining present on the nasal and oral cavities surface. SNTCS is a rare and aggressive malignant neoplasm. Most of ONB are low-grade malignant tumors. Morphological differences are the most important basis to make differentiate SNTCS from ONB. As SNTCS may demonstrate a multiplicity of structures and pleomorphism, inadequate sampling at biopsy, therefore, may lead to errors in diagnosis. No evidence show that SNTCS are derived from germ cells and sinonasal teratoid carcinosarcoma may be a more proper name. SNTCS probably arises from primitive totipotential cells of olfactory/sinonasal membrane, and the relationship between SNTCS and ONB needs further study.

  1. PET-based compartmental modeling of (124)I-A33 antibody: quantitative characterization of patient-specific tumor targeting in colorectal cancer.

    PubMed

    Zanzonico, Pat; Carrasquillo, Jorge A; Pandit-Taskar, Neeta; O'Donoghue, Joseph A; Humm, John L; Smith-Jones, Peter; Ruan, Shutian; Divgi, Chaitanya; Scott, Andrew M; Kemeny, Nancy E; Fong, Yuman; Wong, Douglas; Scheinberg, David; Ritter, Gerd; Jungbluth, Achem; Old, Lloyd J; Larson, Steven M

    2015-10-01

    The molecular specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed against tumor antigens has proven effective for targeted therapy of human cancers, as shown by a growing list of successful antibody-based drug products. We describe a novel, nonlinear compartmental model using PET-derived data to determine the "best-fit" parameters and model-derived quantities for optimizing biodistribution of intravenously injected (124)I-labeled antitumor antibodies. As an example of this paradigm, quantitative image and kinetic analyses of anti-A33 humanized mAb (also known as "A33") were performed in 11 colorectal cancer patients. Serial whole-body PET scans of (124)I-labeled A33 and blood samples were acquired and the resulting tissue time-activity data for each patient were fit to a nonlinear compartmental model using the SAAM II computer code. Excellent agreement was observed between fitted and measured parameters of tumor uptake, "off-target" uptake in bowel mucosa, blood clearance, tumor antigen levels, and percent antigen occupancy. This approach should be generally applicable to antibody-antigen systems in human tumors for which the masses of antigen-expressing tumor and of normal tissues can be estimated and for which antibody kinetics can be measured with PET. Ultimately, based on each patient's resulting "best-fit" nonlinear model, a patient-specific optimum mAb dose (in micromoles, for example) may be derived.

  2. Viability and neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from the umbilical cord following perinatal asphyxia.

    PubMed

    Aly, H; Mohsen, L; Badrawi, N; Gabr, H; Ali, Z; Akmal, D

    2012-09-01

    Hypoxia-ischemia is the leading cause of neurological handicaps in newborns worldwide. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) collected from fresh cord blood of asphyxiated newborns have the potential to regenerate damaged neural tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the capacity for MSCs to differentiate into neural tissue that could subsequently be used for autologous transplantation. We collected cord blood samples from full-term newborns with perinatal hypoxemia (n=27), healthy newborns (n=14) and non-hypoxic premature neonates (n=14). Mononuclear cells were separated, counted, and then analyzed by flow cytometry to assess various stem cell populations. MSCs were isolated by plastic adherence and characterized by morphology. Cells underwent immunophenotyping and trilineage differentiation potential. They were then cultured in conditions favoring neural differentiation. Neural lineage commitment was detected using immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, tubulin III and oligodendrocyte marker O4 antibodies. Mononuclear cell count and viability did not differ among the three groups of infants. Neural differentiation was best demonstrated in the cells derived from hypoxia-ischemia term neonates, of which 69% had complete and 31% had partial neural differentiation. Cells derived from preterm neonates had the least amount of neural differentiation, whereas partial differentiation was observed in only 12%. These findings support the potential utilization of umbilical cord stem cells as a source for autologous transplant in asphyxiated neonates.

  3. Concise Review: The Periosteum: Tapping into a Reservoir of Clinically Useful Progenitor Cells

    PubMed Central

    Chang, Hana

    2012-01-01

    Elucidation of the periosteum and its regenerative potential has become a hot topic in orthopedics. Yet few review articles address the unique features of periosteum-derived cells, particularly in light of translational therapies and engineering solutions inspired by the periosteum's remarkable regenerative capacity. This review strives to define periosteum-derived cells in light of cumulative research in the field; in addition, it addresses clinical translation of current insights, hurdles to advancement, and open questions in the field. First, we examine the periosteal niche and its inhabitant cells and the key characteristics of these cells in the context of mesenchymal stem cells and their relevance for clinical translation. We compare periosteum-derived cells with those derived from the marrow niche in in vivo studies, addressing commonalities as well as features unique to periosteum cells that make them potentially ideal candidates for clinical application. Thereafter, we review the differentiation and tissue-building properties of periosteum cells in vitro, evaluating their efficacy in comparison with marrow-derived cells. Finally, we address a new concept of banking periosteum and periosteum-derived cells as a novel alternative to currently available autogenic umbilical blood and perinatal tissue sources of stem cells for today's population of aging adults who were “born too early” to bank their own perinatal tissues. Elucidating similarities and differences inherent to multipotent cells from distinct tissue niches and their differentiation and tissue regeneration capacities will facilitate the use of such cells and their translation to regenerative medicine. PMID:23197852

  4. Principles, Techniques, and Applications of Tissue Microfluidics

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Wade, Lawrence A.; Kartalov, Emil P.; Shibata, Darryl; Taylor, Clive

    2011-01-01

    The principle of tissue microfluidics and its resultant techniques has been applied to cell analysis. Building microfluidics to suit a particular tissue sample would allow the rapid, reliable, inexpensive, highly parallelized, selective extraction of chosen regions of tissue for purposes of further biochemical analysis. Furthermore, the applicability of the techniques ranges beyond the described pathology application. For example, they would also allow the posing and successful answering of new sets of questions in many areas of fundamental research. The proposed integration of microfluidic techniques and tissue slice samples is called tissue microfluidics because it molds the microfluidic architectures in accordance with each particular structure of each specific tissue sample. Thus, microfluidics can be built around the tissues, following the tissue structure, or alternatively, the microfluidics can be adapted to the specific geometry of particular tissues. By contrast, the traditional approach is that microfluidic devices are structured in accordance with engineering considerations, while the biological components in applied devices are forced to comply with these engineering presets. The proposed principles represent a paradigm shift in microfluidic technology in three important ways: Microfluidic devices are to be directly integrated with, onto, or around tissue samples, in contrast to the conventional method of off-chip sample extraction followed by sample insertion in microfluidic devices. Architectural and operational principles of microfluidic devices are to be subordinated to suit specific tissue structure and needs, in contrast to the conventional method of building devices according to fluidic function alone and without regard to tissue structure. Sample acquisition from tissue is to be performed on-chip and is to be integrated with the diagnostic measurement within the same device, in contrast to the conventional method of off-chip sample prep and subsequent insertion into a diagnostic device. A more advanced form of tissue integration with microfluidics is tissue encapsulation, wherein the sample is completely encapsulated within a microfluidic device, to allow for full surface access. The immediate applications of these approaches lie with diagnostics of tissue slices and biopsy samples e.g. for cancer but the approaches would also be very useful in comparative genomics and other areas of fundamental research involving heterogeneous tissue samples.

  5. Glycerolized Reticular Dermis as a New Human Acellular Dermal Matrix: An Exploratory Study

    PubMed Central

    Ferrando, Pietro Maria; Balmativola, Davide; Cambieri, Irene; Scalzo, Maria Stella; Bergallo, Massimiliano; Annaratone, Laura; Casarin, Stefania; Fumagalli, Mara; Stella, Maurizio; Sapino, Anna; Castagnoli, Carlotta

    2016-01-01

    Human Acellular Dermal Matrices (HADM) are employed in various reconstructive surgery procedures as scaffolds for autologous tissue regeneration. The aim of this project was to develop a new type of HADM for clinical use, composed of glycerolized reticular dermis decellularized through incubation and tilting in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium (DMEM). This manufacturing method was compared with a decellularization procedure already described in the literature, based on the use of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), on samples from 28 donors. Cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay and microbiological monitoring was performed on all samples processed after each step. Two surgeons evaluated the biomechanical characteristics of grafts of increasing thickness. The effects of the different decellularization protocols were assessed by means of histological examination and immunohistochemistry, and residual DNA after decellularization was quantified using a real-time TaqMan MGB probe. Finally, we compared the results of DMEM based decellularization protocol on reticular dermis derived samples with the results of the same protocol applied on papillary dermis derived grafts. Our experimental results indicated that the use of glycerolized reticular dermis after 5 weeks of treatment with DMEM results in an HADM with good handling and biocompatibility properties. PMID:26918526

  6. Gene expression of stem cells at different stages of ontological human development.

    PubMed

    Allegra, Adolfo; Altomare, Roberta; Curcio, Patrizia; Santoro, Alessandra; Lo Monte, Attilio I; Mazzola, Sergio; Marino, Angelo

    2013-10-01

    To compare multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from chorionic villi (CV), amniotic fluid (AF) and placenta, with regard to their phenotype and gene expression, in order to understand if MSCs derived from different extra-embryonic tissues, at different stages of human ontological development, present distinct stemness characteristics. MSCs obtained from 30 samples of CV, 30 of AF and 10 placentas (obtained from elective caesarean sections) were compared. MSCs at second confluence cultures were characterized by immunophenotypic analysis with flow cytometry using FACS CANTO II. The expression of the genes Oct-4 (Octamer-binding transcription factor 4, also known as POU5F1), Sox-2 (SRY box-containing factor 2), Nanog, Rex-1 (Zfp-42) and Pax-6 (Paired Box Protein-6), was analyzed. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed by ABI Prism 7700, after RNA isolation and retro-transcription in cDNA. Statistical analysis was performed using non-parametric test Kruskal-Wallis (XLSTAT 2011) and confirmed by REST software, to estimate fold changes between samples. Each gene was defined differentially expressed if p-value was <0.05. Cells from all samples were negative for haematopoietic antigens CD45, CD34, CD117 and CD33 and positive for the typical MSCs antigens CD13, CD73 and CD90. Nevertheless, MSCs from AF and placentas showed different fluorescence intensity, reflecting the heterogeneity of these tissues. The gene expression of OCT-4, SOX-2, NANOG was not significantly different among the three groups. In AF, REX-1 and PAX-6 showed a higher expression in comparison to CV. MSCs of different extra-embryonic tissues showed no differences in immunophenotype when collected from second confluence cultures. The expression of OCT-4, NANOG and SOX-2 was not significantly different, demonstrating that all fetal sources are suitable for obtaining MSCs. These results open new possibilities for the clinical use of MSCs derived from easily accessible sources, in order to develop new protocols for clinical and experimental research. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Gamma Radiation Sterilization Reduces the High-cycle Fatigue Life of Allograft Bone.

    PubMed

    Islam, Anowarul; Chapin, Katherine; Moore, Emily; Ford, Joel; Rimnac, Clare; Akkus, Ozan

    2016-03-01

    Sterilization by gamma radiation impairs the mechanical properties of bone allografts. Previous work related to radiation-induced embrittlement of bone tissue has been limited mostly to monotonic testing which does not necessarily predict the high-cycle fatigue life of allografts in vivo. We designed a custom rotating-bending fatigue device to answer the following questions: (1) Does gamma radiation sterilization affect the high-cycle fatigue behavior of cortical bone; and (2) how does the fatigue life change with cyclic stress level? The high-cycle fatigue behavior of human cortical bone specimens was examined at stress levels related to physiologic levels using a custom-designed rotating-bending fatigue device. Test specimens were distributed among two treatment groups (n = 6/group); control and irradiated. Samples were tested until failure at stress levels of 25, 35, and 45 MPa. At 25 MPa, 83% of control samples survived 30 million cycles (run-out) whereas 83% of irradiated samples survived only 0.5 million cycles. At 35 MPa, irradiated samples showed an approximately 19-fold reduction in fatigue life compared with control samples (12.2 × 10(6) ± 12.3 × 10(6) versus 6.38 × 10(5) ± 6.81 × 10(5); p = 0.046), and in the case of 45 MPa, this reduction was approximately 17.5-fold (7.31 × 10(5) ± 6.39 × 10(5) versus 4.17 × 10(4) ± 1.91 × 10(4); p = 0.025). Equations to estimate high-cycle fatigue life of irradiated and control cortical bone allograft at a certain stress level were derived. Gamma radiation sterilization severely impairs the high cycle fatigue life of structural allograft bone tissues, more so than the decline that has been reported for monotonic mechanical properties. Therefore, clinicians need to be conservative in the expectation of the fatigue life of structural allograft bone tissues. Methods to preserve the fatigue strength of nonirradiated allograft bone tissue are needed. As opposed to what monotonic tests might suggest, the cyclic fatigue life of radiation-sterilized structural allografts is likely severely compromised relative to the nonirradiated condition and therefore should be taken into consideration. Methods to reduce the effect of irradiation or to recover structural allograft bone tissue fatigue strength are important to pursue.

  8. Heterogeneity of proangiogenic features in mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord, and placenta.

    PubMed

    Du, Wen Jing; Chi, Ying; Yang, Zhou Xin; Li, Zong Jin; Cui, Jun Jie; Song, Bao Quan; Li, Xue; Yang, Shao Guang; Han, Zhi Bo; Han, Zhong Chao

    2016-11-10

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely proven effective for therapeutic angiogenesis in ischemia animal models as well as clinical vascular diseases. Because of the invasive method, limited resources, and aging problems of adult tissue-derived MSCs, more perinatal tissue-derived MSCs have been isolated and studied as promising substitutable MSCs for cell transplantation. However, fewer studies have comparatively studied the angiogenic efficacy of MSCs derived from different tissues sources. Here, we evaluated whether the in-situ environment would affect the angiogenic potential of MSCs. We harvested MSCs from adult bone marrow (BMSCs), adipose tissue (AMSCs), perinatal umbilical cord (UMSCs), and placental chorionic villi (PMSCs), and studied their "MSC identity" by flow cytometry and in-vitro trilineage differentiation assay. Then we comparatively studied their endothelial differentiation capabilities and paracrine actions side by side in vitro. Our data showed that UMSCs and PMSCs fitted well with the minimum standard of MSCs as well as BMSCs and AMSCs. Interestingly, we found that MSCs regardless of their tissue origins could develop similar endothelial-relevant functions in vitro, including producing eNOS and uptaking ac-LDL during endothelial differentiation in spite of their feeble expression of endothelial-related genes and proteins. Additionally, we surprisingly found that BMSCs and PMSCs could directly form tubular structures in vitro on Matrigel and their conditioned medium showed significant proangiogenic bioactivities on endothelial cells in vitro compared with those of AMSCs and UMSCs. Besides, several angiogenic genes were upregulated in BMSCs and PMSCs in comparison with AMSCs and UMSCs. Moreover, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay further confirmed that BMSCs secreted much more VEGF, and PMSCs secreted much more HGF and PGE2. Our study demonstrated the heterogeneous proangiogenic properties of MSCs derived from different tissue origins, and the in vivo isolated environment might contribute to these differences. Our study suggested that MSCs derived from bone marrow and placental chorionic villi might be preferred in clinical application for therapeutic angiogenesis.

  9. Reconstruction of an input function from a dynamic PET water image using multiple tissue curves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kudomi, Nobuyuki; Maeda, Yukito; Yamamoto, Yuka; Nishiyama, Yoshihiro

    2016-08-01

    Quantification of cerebral blood flow (CBF) is important for the understanding of normal and pathologic brain physiology. When CBF is assessed using PET with {{\\text{H}}2} 15O or C15O2, its calculation requires an arterial input function, which generally requires invasive arterial blood sampling. The aim of the present study was to develop a new technique to reconstruct an image derived input function (IDIF) from a dynamic {{\\text{H}}2} 15O PET image as a completely non-invasive approach. Our technique consisted of using a formula to express the input using tissue curve with rate constant parameter. For multiple tissue curves extracted from the dynamic image, the rate constants were estimated so as to minimize the sum of the differences of the reproduced inputs expressed by the extracted tissue curves. The estimated rates were used to express the inputs and the mean of the estimated inputs was used as an IDIF. The method was tested in human subjects (n  =  29) and was compared to the blood sampling method. Simulation studies were performed to examine the magnitude of potential biases in CBF and to optimize the number of multiple tissue curves used for the input reconstruction. In the PET study, the estimated IDIFs were well reproduced against the measured ones. The difference between the calculated CBF values obtained using the two methods was small as around  <8% and the calculated CBF values showed a tight correlation (r  =  0.97). The simulation showed that errors associated with the assumed parameters were  <10%, and that the optimal number of tissue curves to be used was around 500. Our results demonstrate that IDIF can be reconstructed directly from tissue curves obtained through {{\\text{H}}2} 15O PET imaging. This suggests the possibility of using a completely non-invasive technique to assess CBF in patho-physiological studies.

  10. Stable isotope signatures and trophic-step fractionation factors of fish tissues collected as non-lethal surrogates of dorsal muscle.

    PubMed

    Busst, Georgina M A; Bašić, Tea; Britton, J Robert

    2015-08-30

    Dorsal white muscle is the standard tissue analysed in fish trophic studies using stable isotope analyses. As muscle is usually collected destructively, fin tissues and scales are often used as non-lethal surrogates; we examined the utility of scales and fin tissue as muscle surrogates. The muscle, fin and scale δ(15) N and δ(13) C values from 10 cyprinid fish species determined with an elemental analyser coupled with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer were compared. The fish comprised (1) samples from the wild, and (2) samples from tank aquaria, using six species held for 120 days and fed a single food resource. Relationships between muscle, fin and scale isotope ratios were examined for each species and for the entire dataset, with the efficacy of four methods of predicting muscle isotope ratios from fin and scale values being tested. The fractionation factors between the three tissues of the laboratory fishes and their food resource were then calculated and applied to Bayesian mixing models to assess their effect on fish diet predictions. The isotopic data of the three tissues per species were distinct, but were significantly related, enabling estimations of muscle values from the two surrogates. Species-specific equations provided the least erroneous corrections of scale and fin isotope ratios (errors < 0.6‰). The fractionation factors for δ(15) N values were in the range obtained for other species, but were often higher for δ(13) C values. Their application to data from two fish populations in the mixing models resulted in significant alterations in diet predictions. Scales and fin tissue are strong surrogates of dorsal muscle in food web studies as they can provide estimates of muscle values within an acceptable level of error when species-specific methods are used. Their derived fractionation factors can also be applied to models predicting fish diet composition from δ(15) N and δ(13) C values. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  11. Development of a highly sensitive and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of phenylethanolamine A in tissue and feed samples and confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

    PubMed

    Cao, Biyun; He, Guangzhao; Yang, Hong; Chang, Huafang; Li, Shuqun; Deng, Anping

    2013-10-15

    Phenylethanolamine A (PA) is a new emerged β-adrenergic agonist illegally used as feed additives for growth promotion. In this study, a highly sensitive and specific indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of PA in tissue and feed samples was developed and confirmed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). By reduction of nitryl group to amino group, the PA derivative was synthesized and coupled to carrier proteins with diazobenzidine method. The antisera obtained from four immunized rabbits were characterized in terms of sensitivity and specificity. All antisera displayed high sensitivity with IC50 values lower than 0.48 ng mL(-1). The most sensitive ELISA was established with IC50 and limit of detection (LOD) values of 0.049 ng mL(-1) and 0.003 ng mL(-1), respectively. The cross-reactivity (CR) values of the antisera with three frequently used β-adrenergic agonists (clenbuterol, salbutamol and ractopamine) were lesser than 0.39%; there was no CR of the antisera with other six compounds including two structurally related substances (isoproterenol, phenylephrine). To investigate the accuracy and precision of the assay, swine kidney, liver, meat and feed samples were fortified with PA at different content and analyzed by ELISA. Acceptable recovery rates of 92.2-113.7% and intra-assay coefficients of variation of 3.8-10.9% (n=3) were achieved. Seven spiked samples were simultaneously analyzed by ELISA and LC-MS/MS. There was a high correlation coefficient of 0.9956 (n=7) between the two methods. The proposed ELISA proven to be a feasible quantitative/screening method for PA analysis in tissue and feed samples with the properties of high sensitivity and specificity, high sample throughput and low expensive. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. Solid Phase Micro-extraction (SPME) with In Situ Transesterification: An Easy Method for the Detection of Non-volatile Fatty Acid Derivatives on the Insect Cuticle.

    PubMed

    Kühbandner, Stephan; Ruther, Joachim

    2015-06-01

    Triacylglycerides (TAGs) and other non-volatile fatty acid derivatives (NFADs) occur in large amounts in the internal tissues of insects, but their presence on the insect cuticle is controversially discussed. Most studies investigating cuticular lipids of insects involve solvent extraction, which implies the risk of extracting lipids from internal tissues. Here, we present a new method that overcomes this problem. The method employs solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) to sample NFADs by rubbing the SPME fiber over the insect cuticle. Subsequently, the sampled NFADs are transesterified in situ with trimethyl sulfonium hydroxide (TMSH) into more volatile fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs), which can be analyzed by standard GC/MS. We performed two types of control experiments to enable significant conclusions: (1) to rule out contamination of the GC/MS system with NFADs, and (2) to exclude the presence of free fatty acids on the insect cuticle, which would also furnish FAMEs after TMSH treatment, and thus might simulate the presence of NFADs. In combination with these two essential control experiments, the described SPME technique can be used to detect TAGs and/or other NFADs on the insect cuticle. We analyzed six insect species from four insect orders with our method and compared the results with conventional solvent extraction followed by ex situ transesterification. Several fatty acids typically found as constituents of TAGs were detected by the SPME method on the cuticle of all species analyzed. A comparison of the two methods revealed differences in the fatty acid compositions of the samples. Saturated fatty acids showed by trend higher relative abundances when sampled with the SPME method, while several minor FAMEs were detected only in the solvent extracts. Our study suggests that TAGs and maybe other NFADs are far more common on the insect cuticle than usually thought.

  13. Update on Controls for Isolation and Quantification Methodology of Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Adipose Tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    PubMed Central

    Franquesa, Marcella; Hoogduijn, Martin J.; Ripoll, Elia; Luk, Franka; Salih, Mahdi; Betjes, Michiel G. H.; Torras, Juan; Baan, Carla C.; Grinyó, Josep M.; Merino, Ana Maria

    2014-01-01

    The research field on extracellular vesicles (EV) has rapidly expanded in recent years due to the therapeutic potential of EV. Adipose tissue human mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) may be a suitable source for therapeutic EV. A major limitation in the field is the lack of standardization of the challenging techniques to isolate and characterize EV. The aim of our study was to incorporate new controls for the detection and quantification of EV derived from ASC and to analyze the applicability and limitations of the available techniques. ASC were cultured in medium supplemented with 5% of vesicles-free fetal bovine serum. The EV were isolated from conditioned medium by differential centrifugation with size filtration (0.2 μm). As a control, non-conditioned culture medium was used (control medium). To detect EV, electron microscopy, conventional flow cytometry, and western blot were used. The quantification of the EV was by total protein quantification, ExoELISA immunoassay, and Nanosight. Cytokines and growth factors in the EV samples were measured by multiplex bead array kit. The EV were detected by electron microscope. Total protein measurement was not useful to quantify EV as the control medium showed similar protein contents as the EV samples. The ExoELISA kits had technical troubles and it was not possible to quantify the concentration of exosomes in the samples. The use of Nanosight enabled quantification and size determination of the EV. It is, however, not possible to distinguish protein aggregates from EV with this method. The technologies for quantification and characterization of the EV need to be improved. In addition, we detected protein contaminants in the EV samples, which make it difficult to determine the real effect of EV in experimental models. It will be crucial in the future to optimize design novel methods for purification and characterization of EV. PMID:25374572

  14. Testing an aflatoxin B1 gene signature in rat archival tissues.

    PubMed

    Merrick, B Alex; Auerbach, Scott S; Stockton, Patricia S; Foley, Julie F; Malarkey, David E; Sills, Robert C; Irwin, Richard D; Tice, Raymond R

    2012-05-21

    Archival tissues from laboratory studies represent a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between genomic changes and agent-induced disease. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of qPCR for detecting genomic changes in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues by determining if a subset of 14 genes from a 90-gene signature derived from microarray data and associated with eventual tumor development could be detected in archival liver, kidney, and lung of rats exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) for 90 days in feed at 1 ppm. These tissues originated from the same rats used in the microarray study. The 14 genes evaluated were Adam8, Cdh13, Ddit4l, Mybl2, Akr7a3, Akr7a2, Fhit, Wwox, Abcb1b, Abcc3, Cxcl1, Gsta5, Grin2c, and the C8orf46 homologue. The qPCR FFPE liver results were compared to the original liver microarray data and to qPCR results using RNA from fresh frozen liver. Archival liver paraffin blocks yielded 30 to 50 μg of degraded RNA that ranged in size from 0.1 to 4 kB. qPCR results from FFPE and fresh frozen liver samples were positively correlated (p ≤ 0.05) by regression analysis and showed good agreement in direction and proportion of change with microarray data for 11 of 14 genes. All 14 transcripts could be amplified from FFPE kidney RNA except the glutamate receptor gene Grin2c; however, only Abcb1b was significantly upregulated from control. Abundant constitutive transcripts, S18 and β-actin, could be amplified from lung FFPE samples, but the narrow RNA size range (25-500 bp length) prevented consistent detection of target transcripts. Overall, a discrete gene signature derived from prior transcript profiling and representing cell cycle progression, DNA damage response, and xenosensor and detoxication pathways was successfully applied to archival liver and kidney by qPCR and indicated that gene expression changes in response to subchronic AFB1 exposure occurred predominantly in the liver, the primary target for AFB1-induced tumors. We conclude that an evaluation of gene signatures in archival tissues can be an important toxicological tool for evaluating critical molecular events associated with chemical exposures.

  15. Bioengineering Human Myocardium on Native Extracellular Matrix

    PubMed Central

    Guyette, Jacques P.; Charest, Jonathan M; Mills, Robert W; Jank, Bernhard J.; Moser, Philipp T.; Gilpin, Sarah E.; Gershlak, Joshua R.; Okamoto, Tatsuya; Gonzalez, Gabriel; Milan, David J.; Gaudette, Glenn R.; Ott, Harald C.

    2015-01-01

    Rationale More than 25 million individuals suffer from heart failure worldwide, with nearly 4,000 patients currently awaiting heart transplantation in the United States. Donor organ shortage and allograft rejection remain major limitations with only about 2,500 hearts transplanted each year. As a theoretical alternative to allotransplantation, patient-derived bioartificial myocardium could provide functional support and ultimately impact the treatment of heart failure. Objective The objective of this study is to translate previous work to human scale and clinically relevant cells, for the bioengineering of functional myocardial tissue based on the combination of human cardiac matrix and human iPS-derived cardiac myocytes. Methods and Results To provide a clinically relevant tissue scaffold, we translated perfusion-decellularization to human scale and obtained biocompatible human acellular cardiac scaffolds with preserved extracellular matrix composition, architecture, and perfusable coronary vasculature. We then repopulated this native human cardiac matrix with cardiac myocytes derived from non-transgenic human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and generated tissues of increasing three-dimensional complexity. We maintained such cardiac tissue constructs in culture for 120 days to demonstrate definitive sarcomeric structure, cell and matrix deformation, contractile force, and electrical conduction. To show that functional myocardial tissue of human scale can be built on this platform, we then partially recellularized human whole heart scaffolds with human iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes. Under biomimetic culture, the seeded constructs developed force-generating human myocardial tissue, showed electrical conductivity, left ventricular pressure development, and metabolic function. Conclusions Native cardiac extracellular matrix scaffolds maintain matrix components and structure to support the seeding and engraftment of human iPS-derived cardiac myocytes, and enable the bioengineering of functional human myocardial-like tissue of multiple complexities. PMID:26503464

  16. Novel synthesis strategies for natural polymer and composite biomaterials as potential scaffolds for tissue engineering

    PubMed Central

    Ko, Hsu-Feng; Sfeir, Charles; Kumta, Prashant N.

    2010-01-01

    Recent developments in tissue engineering approaches frequently revolve around the use of three-dimensional scaffolds to function as the template for cellular activities to repair, rebuild and regenerate damaged or lost tissues. While there are several biomaterials to select as three-dimensional scaffolds, it is generally agreed that a biomaterial to be used in tissue engineering needs to possess certain material characteristics such as biocompatibility, suitable surface chemistry, interconnected porosity, desired mechanical properties and biodegradability. The use of naturally derived polymers as three-dimensional scaffolds has been gaining widespread attention owing to their favourable attributes of biocompatibility, low cost and ease of processing. This paper discusses the synthesis of various polysaccharide-based, naturally derived polymers, and the potential of using these biomaterials to serve as tissue engineering three-dimensional scaffolds is also evaluated. In this study, naturally derived polymers, specifically cellulose, chitosan, alginate and agarose, and their composites, are examined. Single-component scaffolds of plain cellulose, plain chitosan and plain alginate as well as composite scaffolds of cellulose–alginate, cellulose–agarose, cellulose–chitosan, chitosan–alginate and chitosan–agarose are synthesized, and their suitability as tissue engineering scaffolds is assessed. It is shown that naturally derived polymers in the form of hydrogels can be synthesized, and the lyophilization technique is used to synthesize various composites comprising these natural polymers. The composite scaffolds appear to be sponge-like after lyophilization. Scanning electron microscopy is used to demonstrate the formation of an interconnected porous network within the polymeric scaffold following lyophilization. It is also established that HeLa cells attach and proliferate well on scaffolds of cellulose, chitosan or alginate. The synthesis protocols reported in this study can therefore be used to manufacture naturally derived polymer-based scaffolds as potential biomaterials for various tissue engineering applications. PMID:20308112

  17. Molecular risk assessment of BIG 1-98 participants by expression profiling using RNA from archival tissue

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background The purpose of the work reported here is to test reliable molecular profiles using routinely processed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from participants of the clinical trial BIG 1-98 with a median follow-up of 60 months. Methods RNA from fresh frozen (FF) and FFPE tumor samples of 82 patients were used for quality control, and independent FFPE tissues of 342 postmenopausal participants of BIG 1-98 with ER-positive cancer were analyzed by measuring prospectively selected genes and computing scores representing the functions of the estrogen receptor (eight genes, ER_8), the progesterone receptor (five genes, PGR_5), Her2 (two genes, HER2_2), and proliferation (ten genes, PRO_10) by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) on TaqMan Low Density Arrays. Molecular scores were computed for each category and ER_8, PGR_5, HER2_2, and PRO_10 scores were combined into a RISK_25 score. Results Pearson correlation coefficients between FF- and FFPE-derived scores were at least 0.94 and high concordance was observed between molecular scores and immunohistochemical data. The HER2_2, PGR_5, PRO_10 and RISK_25 scores were significant predictors of disease free-survival (DFS) in univariate Cox proportional hazard regression. PRO_10 and RISK_25 scores predicted DFS in patients with histological grade II breast cancer and in lymph node positive disease. The PRO_10 and PGR_5 scores were independent predictors of DFS in multivariate Cox regression models incorporating clinical risk indicators; PRO_10 outperformed Ki-67 labeling index in multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. Conclusions Scores representing the endocrine responsiveness and proliferation status of breast cancers were developed from gene expression analyses based on RNA derived from FFPE tissues. The validation of the molecular scores with tumor samples of participants of the BIG 1-98 trial demonstrates that such scores can serve as independent prognostic factors to estimate disease free survival (DFS) in postmenopausal patients with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer. Trial Registration Current Controlled Trials: NCT00004205 PMID:20144231

  18. Elevated expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 is associated with bladder cancer pathogenesis.

    PubMed

    Wu, Gong-Jin; Bao, Jun-Sheng; Yue, Zhong-Jin; Zeng, Fan-Chang; Cen, Song; Tang, Zheng-Yan; Kang, Xin-Li

    2018-01-01

    This study investigated the association between abnormal matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression and bladder cancer (BC) development. In a retrospective analysis, this study used tissue samples derived from 92 patients pathologically diagnosed with BC (experimental group), who were hospitalized between September 2012 and June 2014 at the Urinary Surgery of Department of Urology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital. As controls (control group), 63 normal pericancerous bladder mucosal tissues (3 cm distant form edge of BC foci) with confirmed pathology were selected from the same time period. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect MMP-9 protein expression in the tissues and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to measure MMP-9 protein levels in tissue samples of patients and control subjects. Finally, a meta-analysis was conducted to understand the overall impact of MMP-9 on BC pathogenesis. STATA 12.0 software (Stata Corp, College Station, TX, USA) was used for all statistical analyses. The MMP-9 positive expression rate in tissue samples and MMP-9 levels were significantly greater in the experimental group compared to the control group (both P < 0.001). The frequency of MMP-9 positive status showed statistically significant differences between G1 (low-grade) and G3 (high-grade) (P < 0.001), between G2 and G3 (P < 0.05), and between G1/G2 and G3 (P = 0.001). Our meta-analysis findings provided further evidence that MMP-9 positive expression status and MMP-9 levels in the experimental group were significantly higher than the control group (positive expressions: Odds ratio [OR] = 18.59, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 11.63-29.71, P < 0.001; expression levels: Standard mean difference = 1.51, 95%CI = 0.63-2.39, P = 0.001). The positive expression status of MMP-9 was notably lower in G1/G2 compared to G3 (OR = 0.24, 95%CI = 0.15-0.36, P < 0.001). Our study demonstrated that both positive expression status in tumor tissue and expression levels of MMP-9 are significantly elevated in BC patients and correlate with disease progression. Thus, MMP-9 can serve as a biomarker to determine the degree of BC malignancy.

  19. Comparison of cellular responses of mesenchymal stem cells derived from bone marrow and synovium on combined silk scaffolds.

    PubMed

    Liu, Haifeng; Wei, Xing; Ding, Xili; Li, Xiaoming; Zhou, Gang; Li, Ping; Fan, Yubo

    2015-01-01

    As a brand new member in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) families, synovium-derived mesenchymal stem cells (SMSCs) have been increasingly regarded as a promising therapeutic cell species for musculoskeletal regeneration. However, there are few reports mentioning ligamentogenesis of SMSCs and especially null for their engineering use towards ligament regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the cellular responses of MSCs derived from bone marrow and synovium on combined silk scaffolds that can be used to determine the cell source most appropriate for tissue-engineered ligament. Rabbit SMSCs and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated and cultured in vitro for two weeks after seeding on the combined silk scaffolds. Samples were studied and compared for their cellular morphology, proliferation, collagen production, gene, and protein expression of ligament-related extracellular matrix (ECM) markers. In addition, the two cell types were transfected with green fluorescent protein to evaluate their fate after implantation in an intraarticular environment of the knee joint. After 14 days of culturing, SMSCs showed a significant increase in proliferation as compared with BMSCs. The transcript and protein expression levels of ligament-related ECM markers in SMSCs were significantly higher than those in BMSCs. Moreover, 6 weeks postoperatively, more viable cells were presented in SMSC-loaded constructs than in BMSC-loaded constructs. Therefore, based on the cellular response in vitro and in vivo, SMSCs may represent a more suitable cell source than BMSCs for further study and development of tissue-engineered ligament. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Isolation and Characterization of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells From Facet Joints and Interspinous Ligaments.

    PubMed

    Kristjánsson, Baldur; Limthongkul, Worawat; Yingsakmongkol, Wicharn; Thantiworasit, Pattarawat; Jirathanathornnukul, Napaphat; Honsawek, Sittisak

    2016-01-01

    A descriptive in vitro study on isolation and differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the facet joints and interspinous ligaments. To isolate cells from the facet joints and interspinous ligaments and investigate their surface marker profile and differentiation potentials. Lumbar spinal canal stenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament are progressive conditions characterized by the hypertrophy and ossification of ligaments and joints within the spinal canal. MSCs are believed to play a role in the advancement of these diseases and the existence of MSCs has been demonstrated within the ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these cells could also be found within facet joints and interspinous ligaments. Samples were harvested from 10 patients undergoing spinal surgery. The MSCs from facet joints and interspinous ligaments were isolated using direct tissue explant technique. Cell surface antigen profilings were performed via flow cytometry. Their lineage differentiation potentials were analyzed. The facet joints and interspinous ligaments-derived MSCs have the tri-lineage potential to be differentiated into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic cells under appropriate inductions. Flow cytometry analysis revealed both cell lines expressed MSCs markers. Both facet joints and interspinous ligaments-derived MSCs expressed marker genes for osteoblasts, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. The facet joints and interspinous ligaments may provide alternative sources of MSCs for tissue engineering applications. The facet joints and interspinous ligaments-derived MSCs are part of the microenvironment of the human ligaments of the spinal column and might play a crucial role in the development and progression of degenerative spine conditions.

  1. Improvement of adipose tissue-derived cells by low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

    PubMed

    Priglinger, Eleni; Schuh, Christina M A P; Steffenhagen, Carolin; Wurzer, Christoph; Maier, Julia; Nuernberger, Sylvia; Holnthoner, Wolfgang; Fuchs, Christiane; Suessner, Susanne; Rünzler, Dominik; Redl, Heinz; Wolbank, Susanne

    2017-09-01

    Cell-based therapies with autologous adipose tissue-derived cells have shown great potential in several clinical studies in the last decades. The majority of these studies have been using the stromal vascular fraction (SVF), a heterogeneous mixture of fibroblasts, lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, endothelial progenitor cells, pericytes and adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASC) among others. Although possible clinical applications of autologous adipose tissue-derived cells are manifold, they are limited by insufficient uniformity in cell identity and regenerative potency. In our experimental set-up, low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) was performed on freshly obtained human adipose tissue and isolated adipose tissue SVF cells aiming to equalize and enhance stem cell properties and functionality. After ESWT on adipose tissue we could achieve higher cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels compared with ESWT on the isolated SVF as well as the control. ESWT on adipose tissue resulted in a significantly higher expression of single mesenchymal and vascular marker compared with untreated control. Analysis of SVF protein secretome revealed a significant enhancement in insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and placental growth factor (PLGF) after ESWT on adipose tissue. Summarizing we could show that ESWT on adipose tissue enhanced the cellular ATP content and modified the expression of single mesenchymal and vascular marker, and thus potentially provides a more regenerative cell population. Because the effectiveness of autologous cell therapy is dependent on the therapeutic potency of the patient's cells, this technology might raise the number of patients eligible for autologous cell transplantation. Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. Comparative study of adipose-derived stem cells and bone marrow-derived stem cells in similar microenvironmental conditions

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Guneta, Vipra; Tan, Nguan Soon; KK Research Centre, KK Women's and Children Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which were first isolated from the bone marrow, are now being extracted from various other tissues in the body, including the adipose tissue. The current study presents systematic evidence of how the adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Bm-MSCs) behave when cultured in specific pro-adipogenic microenvironments. The cells were first characterized and identified as MSCs in terms of their morphology, phenotypic expression, self-renewal capabilities and multi-lineage potential. Subsequently, the proliferation and gene expression profiles of the cell populations cultured on two-dimensional (2D) adipose tissue extracellular matrix (ECM)-coated tissue culture plastic (TCP)more » and in three-dimensional (3D) AlgiMatrix® microenvironments were analyzed. Overall, it was found that adipogenesis was triggered in both cell populations due to the presence of adipose tissue ECM. However, in 3D microenvironments, ASCs and Bm-MSCs were predisposed to the adipogenic and osteogenic lineages respectively. Overall, findings from this study will contribute to ongoing efforts in adipose tissue engineering as well as provide new insights into the role of the ECM and cues provided by the immediate microenvironment for stem cell differentiation. - Highlights: • Native adipose tissue ECM coated on 2D TCP triggers adipogenesis in both ASCs and Bm-MSCs. • A 3D microenvironment with similar stiffness to adipose tissue induces adipogenic differentiation of ASCs. • ASCs cultured in 3D alginate scaffolds exhibit predisposition to adipogenesis. • Bm-MSCs cultured in 3D alginate scaffolds exhibit predisposition to osteogenesis. • The native microenvironment of the cells affects their differentiation behaviour in vitro.« less

  3. Expression of Msx-1 is suppressed in bisphosphonate associated osteonecrosis related jaw tissue-etiopathology considerations respecting jaw developmental biology-related unique features

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Background Bone-destructive disease treatments include bisphosphonates and antibodies against the osteoclast differentiator, RANKL (aRANKL); however, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a frequent side-effect. Current models fail to explain the restriction of bisphosphonate (BP)-related and denosumab (anti-RANKL antibody)-related ONJ to jaws. Msx-1 is exclusively expressed in craniofacial structures and pivotal to cranial neural crest (CNC)-derived periodontal tissue remodeling. We hypothesised that Msx-1 expression might be impaired in bisphosphonate-related ONJ. The study aim was to elucidate Msx-1 and RANKL-associated signal transduction (BMP-2/4, RANKL) in ONJ-altered and healthy periodontal tissue. Methods Twenty ONJ and twenty non-BP exposed periodontal samples were processed for RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. An automated staining-based alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase method was used to measure the stained cells:total cell-number ratio (labelling index, Bonferroni adjustment). Real-time RT-PCR was performed on ONJ-affected and healthy jaw periodontal samples (n = 20 each) to quantitatively compare Msx-1, BMP-2, RANKL, and GAPDH mRNA levels. Results Semi-quantitative assessment of the ratio of stained cells showed decreased Msx-1 and RANKL and increased BMP-2/4 (all p < 0.05) expression in ONJ-adjacent periodontal tissue. ONJ tissue also exhibited decreased relative gene expression for Msx-1 (p < 0.03) and RANKL (p < 0.03) and increased BMP-2/4 expression (p < 0.02) compared to control. Conclusions These results explain the sclerotic and osteopetrotic changes of periodontal tissue following BP application and substantiate clinical findings of BP-related impaired remodeling specific to periodontal tissue. RANKL suppression substantiated the clinical finding of impaired bone remodelling in BP- and aRANKL-induced ONJ-affected bone structures. Msx-1 suppression in ONJ-adjacent periodontal tissue suggested a bisphosphonate-related impairment in cellular differentiation that occurred exclusively jaw remodelling. Further research on developmental biology-related unique features of jaw bone structures will help to elucidate pathologies restricted to maxillofacial tissue. PMID:20942943

  4. Expression of Msx-1 is suppressed in bisphosphonate associated osteonecrosis related jaw tissue-etiopathology considerations respecting jaw developmental biology-related unique features.

    PubMed

    Wehrhan, Falk; Hyckel, Peter; Ries, Jutta; Stockmann, Phillip; Nkenke, Emeka; Schlegel, Karl A; Neukam, Friedrich W; Amann, Kerstin

    2010-10-13

    Bone-destructive disease treatments include bisphosphonates and antibodies against the osteoclast differentiator, RANKL (aRANKL); however, osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is a frequent side-effect. Current models fail to explain the restriction of bisphosphonate (BP)-related and denosumab (anti-RANKL antibody)-related ONJ to jaws. Msx-1 is exclusively expressed in craniofacial structures and pivotal to cranial neural crest (CNC)-derived periodontal tissue remodeling. We hypothesised that Msx-1 expression might be impaired in bisphosphonate-related ONJ. The study aim was to elucidate Msx-1 and RANKL-associated signal transduction (BMP-2/4, RANKL) in ONJ-altered and healthy periodontal tissue. Twenty ONJ and twenty non-BP exposed periodontal samples were processed for RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. An automated staining-based alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase method was used to measure the stained cells:total cell-number ratio (labelling index, Bonferroni adjustment). Real-time RT-PCR was performed on ONJ-affected and healthy jaw periodontal samples (n = 20 each) to quantitatively compare Msx-1, BMP-2, RANKL, and GAPDH mRNA levels. Semi-quantitative assessment of the ratio of stained cells showed decreased Msx-1 and RANKL and increased BMP-2/4 (all p < 0.05) expression in ONJ-adjacent periodontal tissue. ONJ tissue also exhibited decreased relative gene expression for Msx-1 (p < 0.03) and RANKL (p < 0.03) and increased BMP-2/4 expression (p < 0.02) compared to control. These results explain the sclerotic and osteopetrotic changes of periodontal tissue following BP application and substantiate clinical findings of BP-related impaired remodeling specific to periodontal tissue. RANKL suppression substantiated the clinical finding of impaired bone remodelling in BP- and aRANKL-induced ONJ-affected bone structures. Msx-1 suppression in ONJ-adjacent periodontal tissue suggested a bisphosphonate-related impairment in cellular differentiation that occurred exclusively jaw remodelling. Further research on developmental biology-related unique features of jaw bone structures will help to elucidate pathologies restricted to maxillofacial tissue.

  5. Cardiac mesenchymal progenitors from postmortem cardiac tissues retained cellular characterization.

    PubMed

    Kami, D; Kitani, T; Nakata, M; Gojo, S

    2014-05-01

    Currently, cells for transplantation in regenerative medicine are derived from either autologous or allogeneic tissue. The former has the drawbacks that the quality of donor cells may depend on the condition of the patient, while the quantity of the cells may also be limited. To solve these problems, we investigated the potential of allogeneic cardiac mesenchymal progenitors (CMPs) derived from postmortem hearts, which may be immunologically privileged similar to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal progenitors. We examined whether viable CMPs could be isolated from C57/B6 murine cardiac tissues harvested at 24 hours postmortem. After 2- to 3-week propagation with a high dose of basic fibroblast growth factor, we performed cellular characteristics analyses, which included proliferation and differentiation property flow cytometry and microarray analyses. Postmortem CMPs had a longer lag phase after seeding than CMPs obtained from living tissues, but otherwise had similar characteristics in all the analyses. In addition, global gene expression analysis by microarray showed that cells derived from postmortem and living tissues had similar characteristics. These results indicate that allogeneic postmortem CMPs have potential for cell transplantation because they circumvent the issue of both the quality and quantity of donor cells. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Cell-assisted lipotransfer in the clinical treatment of facial soft tissue deformity

    PubMed Central

    Ma, Li; Wen, Huicai; Jian, Xueping; Liao, Huaiwei; Sui, Yunpeng; Liu, Yanping; Xu, Guizhen

    2015-01-01

    Cosmetic surgeons have experimented with a variety of substances to improve soft tissue deformities of the face. Autologous fat grafting provides significant advantages over other modalities because it leaves no scar, is easy to use and is well tolerated by most patients. Autologous fat grafting has become one of the most popular techniques in the field of facial plastic surgery. Unfortunately, there are still two major problems affecting survival rate and development: revascularization after transplantion; and cell reservation proliferation and survival. Since Zuk and Yosra developed a technology based on adipose-derived stem cells and cell-assisted lipotrophy, researchers have hoped that this technology would promote the survival and reduce the absorption of grafted fat cells. Autologous adipose-derived stem cells may have great potential in skin repair applications, aged skin rejuvenation and other aging-related skin lesion treatments. Recently, the study of adipose-derived stem cells has gained increased attention. More researchers have started to adopt this technology in the clinical treatment of facial soft tissue deformity. The present article reviews the history of facial soft tissue augmentation and the advent of adipose-derived stem cells in the area of the clinical treatment of facial soft tissue deformity. PMID:26361629

  7. A comparison of protein profiles of cervical tissue homogenate, exfoliated cells from cervix and serum in normal and cervical malignancy conditions.

    PubMed

    Bhat, Sujatha; Kartha, Vasudevan Bhaskaran; Rai, Lavanya; Chidangil, Santhosh

    2015-01-01

    Cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women, progresses silently over long periods before producing any clinical manifestation. Research in early detection of this condition using proteomic techniques is of very recent origin. We used high-performance liquid chromatography combined with laser-induced fluorescence method in our lab to record the protein profiles of tissue homogenate, cell lysate and serum samples of normal and different stages of malignant conditions of the cervix. Information on protein markers in the protein profiles was derived using various data processing methods including curve resolution. The variations in relative intensities of different peaks with respect to peak height, width and area under the curve from different sample types were compared to get information regarding the concentration of the various proteins and their significance in the induction and metastasis of cervical cancer. The method can be used in diagnosis, follow-up with respect to the progression, remission and effective therapy, in cervical malignancy. © The Author [2014]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

  8. Establishing Early Functional Perfusion and Structure in Tissue Engineered Cardiac Constructs

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Bo; Patnaik, Sourav S.; Brazile, Bryn; Butler, J. Ryan; Claude, Andrew; Zhang, Ge; Guan, Jianjun; Hong, Yi; Liao, Jun

    2016-01-01

    Myocardial infarction (MI) causes massive heart muscle death and remains a leading cause of death in the world. Cardiac tissue engineering aims to replace the infarcted tissues with functional engineered heart muscles or revitalize the infarcted heart by delivering cells, bioactive factors, and/or biomaterials. One major challenge of cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration is the establishment of functional perfusion and structure to achieve timely angiogenesis and effective vascularization, which are essential to the survival of thick implants and the integration of repaired tissue with host heart. In this paper, we review four major approaches to promoting angiogenesis and vascularization in cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration: delivery of pro-angiogenic factors/molecules, direct cell implantation/cell sheet grafting, fabrication of prevascularized cardiac constructs, and the use of bioreactors to promote angiogenesis and vascularization. We further provide a detailed review and discussion on the early perfusion design in nature-derived biomaterials, synthetic biodegradable polymers, tissue-derived acellular scaffolds/whole hearts, and hydrogel derived from extracellular matrix. A better understanding of the current approaches and their advantages, limitations, and hurdles could be useful for developing better materials for future clinical applications. PMID:27480586

  9. Tracking of adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells using two magnetic nanoparticle types

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kasten, Annika; Siegmund, Birte J.; Grüttner, Cordula; Kühn, Jens-Peter; Frerich, Bernhard

    2015-04-01

    Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is to be considered as an emerging detection technique for cell tracking experiments to evaluate the fate of transplanted progenitor cells and develop successful cell therapies for tissue engineering. Adipose tissue engineering using adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells has been advocated for the cure of soft tissue defects or for persistent soft tissue augmentation. Adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells were differentiated into the adipogenic lineage and labeled with two different types of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in varying concentrations which resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction of gene expression of adipogenic differentiation markers, adiponectin and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), whereas the metabolic activity was not altered. As a result, only low nanoparticle concentrations for labeling were used for in vivo experiments. Cells were seeded onto collagen scaffolds and subcutaneously implanted into severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. At 24 h as well as 28 days after implantation, MRI analyses were performed visualizing nanoparticle-labeled cells using T2-weighted sequences. The quantification of absolute volume of the scaffolds revealed a decrease of volume over time in all experimental groups. The distribution of nanoparticle-labeled cells within the scaffolds varied likewise over time.

  10. Uncultivated stromal vascular fraction is equivalent to adipose-derived stem and stromal cells on porous polyurethrane scaffolds forming adipose tissue in vivo.

    PubMed

    Griessl, Michael; Buchberger, Anna-Maria; Regn, Sybille; Kreutzer, Kilian; Storck, Katharina

    2018-06-01

    To find an alternative approach to contemporary techniques in tissue augmentation and reconstruction, tissue engineering strategies aim to involve adipose-derived stem and stromal cells (ASCs) harboring a strong differentiation potential into various tissue types such as bone, cartilage, and fat. Animal research. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF) was used directly as a cell source to provide a potential alternative to contemporary ASC-based adipose tissue engineering. Seeded in TissuCol fibrin, we applied ASCs or SVF cells to porous, degradable polyurethane (PU) scaffolds. We successfully demonstrated the in vivo generation of volume-stable, well-vascularized PU-based constructs containing host-derived mature fat pads. Seeded human stem cells served as modulators of host-cell migration rather than differentiating themselves. We further demonstrated that preliminary culture of SVF cells was not necessary. Our results bring adipose tissue engineering, together with automated processing devices, closer to clinical applicability. The time-consuming and cost-intensive culture and induction of the ASCs is not necessary. NA. Laryngoscope, 128:E206-E213, 2018. © 2018 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  11. Establishing Early Functional Perfusion and Structure in Tissue Engineered Cardiac Constructs.

    PubMed

    Wang, Bo; Patnaik, Sourav S; Brazile, Bryn; Butler, J Ryan; Claude, Andrew; Zhang, Ge; Guan, Jianjun; Hong, Yi; Liao, Jun

    2015-01-01

    Myocardial infarction (MI) causes massive heart muscle death and remains a leading cause of death in the world. Cardiac tissue engineering aims to replace the infarcted tissues with functional engineered heart muscles or revitalize the infarcted heart by delivering cells, bioactive factors, and/or biomaterials. One major challenge of cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration is the establishment of functional perfusion and structure to achieve timely angiogenesis and effective vascularization, which are essential to the survival of thick implants and the integration of repaired tissue with host heart. In this paper, we review four major approaches to promoting angiogenesis and vascularization in cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration: delivery of pro-angiogenic factors/molecules, direct cell implantation/cell sheet grafting, fabrication of prevascularized cardiac constructs, and the use of bioreactors to promote angiogenesis and vascularization. We further provide a detailed review and discussion on the early perfusion design in nature-derived biomaterials, synthetic biodegradable polymers, tissue-derived acellular scaffolds/whole hearts, and hydrogel derived from extracellular matrix. A better understanding of the current approaches and their advantages, limitations, and hurdles could be useful for developing better materials for future clinical applications.

  12. A bioengineered niche promotes in vivo engraftment and maturation of pluripotent stem cell derived human lung organoids

    PubMed Central

    Dye, Briana R; Dedhia, Priya H; Miller, Alyssa J; Nagy, Melinda S; White, Eric S; Shea, Lonnie D; Spence, Jason R

    2016-01-01

    Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived tissues often remain developmentally immature in vitro, and become more adult-like in their structure, cellular diversity and function following transplantation into immunocompromised mice. Previously we have demonstrated that hPSC-derived human lung organoids (HLOs) resembled human fetal lung tissue in vitro (Dye et al., 2015). Here we show that HLOs required a bioartificial microporous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) scaffold niche for successful engraftment, long-term survival, and maturation of lung epithelium in vivo. Analysis of scaffold-grown transplanted tissue showed airway-like tissue with enhanced epithelial structure and organization compared to HLOs grown in vitro. By further comparing in vitro and in vivo grown HLOs with fetal and adult human lung tissue, we found that in vivo transplanted HLOs had improved cellular differentiation of secretory lineages that is reflective of differences between fetal and adult tissue, resulting in airway-like structures that were remarkably similar to the native adult human lung. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.19732.001 PMID:27677847

  13. Methylated site display (MSD)-AFLP, a sensitive and affordable method for analysis of CpG methylation profiles.

    PubMed

    Aiba, Toshiki; Saito, Toshiyuki; Hayashi, Akiko; Sato, Shinji; Yunokawa, Harunobu; Maruyama, Toru; Fujibuchi, Wataru; Kurita, Hisaka; Tohyama, Chiharu; Ohsako, Seiichiroh

    2017-03-09

    It has been pointed out that environmental factors or chemicals can cause diseases that are developmental in origin. To detect abnormal epigenetic alterations in DNA methylation, convenient and cost-effective methods are required for such research, in which multiple samples are processed simultaneously. We here present methylated site display (MSD), a unique technique for the preparation of DNA libraries. By combining it with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis, we developed a new method, MSD-AFLP. Methylated site display libraries consist of only DNAs derived from DNA fragments that are CpG methylated at the 5' end in the original genomic DNA sample. To test the effectiveness of this method, CpG methylation levels in liver, kidney, and hippocampal tissues of mice were compared to examine if MSD-AFLP can detect subtle differences in the levels of tissue-specific differentially methylated CpGs. As a result, many CpG sites suspected to be tissue-specific differentially methylated were detected. Nucleotide sequences adjacent to these methyl-CpG sites were identified and we determined the methylation level by methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease (MSRE)-PCR analysis to confirm the accuracy of AFLP analysis. The differences of the methylation level among tissues were almost identical among these methods. By MSD-AFLP analysis, we detected many CpGs showing less than 5% statistically significant tissue-specific difference and less than 10% degree of variability. Additionally, MSD-AFLP analysis could be used to identify CpG methylation sites in other organisms including humans. MSD-AFLP analysis can potentially be used to measure slight changes in CpG methylation level. Regarding the remarkable precision, sensitivity, and throughput of MSD-AFLP analysis studies, this method will be advantageous in a variety of epigenetics-based research.

  14. A Molecular Clock Infers Heterogeneous Tissue Age Among Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus

    PubMed Central

    Wong, Chao-Jen; Hazelton, William D.; Kaz, Andrew M.; Willis, Joseph E.; Grady, William M.; Luebeck, E. Georg

    2016-01-01

    Biomarkers that drift differentially with age between normal and premalignant tissues, such as Barrett’s esophagus (BE), have the potential to improve the assessment of a patient’s cancer risk by providing quantitative information about how long a patient has lived with the precursor (i.e., dwell time). In the case of BE, which is a metaplastic precursor to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), such biomarkers would be particularly useful because EAC risk may change with BE dwell time and it is generally not known how long a patient has lived with BE when a patient is first diagnosed with this condition. In this study we first describe a statistical analysis of DNA methylation data (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) derived from tissue samples from 50 BE patients to identify and validate a set of 67 CpG dinucleotides in 51 CpG islands that undergo age-related methylomic drift. Next, we describe how this information can be used to estimate a patient’s BE dwell time. We introduce a Bayesian model that incorporates longitudinal methylomic drift rates, patient age, and methylation data from individually paired BE and normal squamous tissue samples to estimate patient-specific BE onset times. Our application of the model to 30 sporadic BE patients’ methylomic profiles first exposes a wide heterogeneity in patient-specific BE onset times. Furthermore, independent application of this method to a cohort of 22 familial BE (FBE) patients reveals significantly earlier mean BE onset times. Our analysis supports the conjecture that differential methylomic drift occurs in BE (relative to normal squamous tissue) and hence allows quantitative estimation of the time that a BE patient has lived with BE. PMID:27168458

  15. Monitoring corneal crosslinking using phase-decorrelation OCT (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blackburn, Brecken J.; Gu, Shi; Jenkins, Michael W.; Rollins, Andrew M.

    2017-02-01

    Viscosity is often a critical characteristic of biological fluids such as blood and mucus. However, traditional rheology is often inadequate when only small quantities of sample are available. A robust method to measure viscosity of microquantities of biological samples could lead to a better understanding and diagnosis of diseases. Here, we present a method to measure viscosity by observing particle Brownian motion within a sample. M-mode optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging, obtained with a phase-sensitive 47 kHz spectral domain system, yields a viscosity measurement from multiple 200-1000 microsecond frames. This very short period of continuous acquisition, as compared to laser speckle decorrelation, decreases sensitivity to bulk motion, thereby potentially enabling in vivo and in situ applications. The theory linking g(1) first-order image autocorrelation to viscosity is derived from first principles of Brownian motion and the Stokes-Einstein relation. To improve precision, multiple windows acquired over 500 milliseconds are analyzed and the resulting linear fit parameters are averaged. Verification experiments were performed with 200 µL samples of glycerol and water with polystyrene microbeads. Lateral bulk motion up to 2 mm/s was tolerated and accurate viscosity measurements were obtained to a depth of 400 µm or more. Additionally, the method measured a significant decrease of the apparent diffusion constant of soft tissue after formalin fixation, suggesting potential for mapping tissue stiffness over a volume.

  16. THz near-field imaging of biological tissues employing synchrotron radiation (Invited Paper)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schade, Ulrich; Holldack, Karsten; Martin, Michael C.; Fried, Daniel

    2005-04-01

    Terahertz scanning near-field infrared microscopy (SNIM) below 1 THz is demonstrated. The near-field technique benefits from the broadband and highly brilliant coherent synchrotron radiation (CSR) from an electron storage ring and from a detection method based on locking on to the intrinsic time structure of the synchrotron radiation. The scanning microscope utilizes conical waveguides as near-field probes with apertures smaller than the wavelength. Different cone approaches have been investigated to obtain maximum transmittance. Together with a Martin-Puplett spectrometer the set-up enables spectroscopic mapping of the transmittance of samples well below the diffraction limit. Spatial resolution down to about λ/40 at 2 wavenumbers (0.06 THz) is derived from the transmittance spectra of the near-field probes. The potential of the technique is exemplified by imaging biological samples. Strongly absorbing living leaves have been imaged in transmittance with a spatial resolution of 130 μm at about 12 wavenumbers (0.36 THz). The THz near-field images reveal distinct structural differences of leaves from different plants investigated. The technique presented also allows spectral imaging of bulky organic tissues. Human teeth samples of various thicknesses have been imaged between 2 and 20 wavenumbers (between 0.06 and 0.6 THz). Regions of enamel and dentin within tooth samples are spatially and spectrally resolved, and buried caries lesions are imaged through both the outer enamel and into the underlying dentin.

  17. Malondialdehyde-Derived Epitopes In Human Skin Result From Acute Exposure To Solar UV And Occur In Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer Tissue

    PubMed Central

    Williams, Joshua D.; Bermudez, Yira; Park, Sophia L.; Stratton, Steven P.; Uchida, Koji; Hurst, Craig A.; Wondrak, Georg T.

    2014-01-01

    Cutaneous exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a causative factor in photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. In human skin, oxidative stress is widely considered a key mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of acute and chronic UVR exposure. The lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulates in tissue under conditions of increased oxidative stress, and the occurrence of MDA-derived protein epitopes, including dihydropyridine-lysine (DHP), has recently been substantiated in human skin. Here we demonstrate for the first time that acute exposure to sub-apoptogenic doses of solar simulated UV light (SSL) causes the formation of free MDA and protein-bound MDA-derived epitopes in cultured human HaCaT keratinocytes and healthy human skin. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that acute exposure to SSL is sufficient to cause an almost twenty-fold increase in general MDA- and specific DHP-epitope content in human skin. When compared to dose-matched solar simulated UVA, complete SSL was more efficient generating both free MDA and MDA-derived epitopes. Subsequent tissue microarray (TMA) analysis revealed the prevalence of MDA- and DHP-epitopes in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). In squamous cell carcinoma tissue, both MDA- and DHP-epitopes were increased more than three-fold as compared to adjacent normal tissue. Taken together, these date demonstrate the occurrence of MDA-derived epitopes in both solar UVR-exposed healthy human skin and NMSC TMA tissue; however, the potential utility of these epitopes as novel biomarkers of cutaneous photodamage and a functional role in the process of skin photocarcinogenesis remain to be explored. PMID:24584085

  18. Gingival Tissue Inflammation Promotes Increased Matrix Metalloproteinase-12 Production by CD200Rlow Monocyte-Derived Cells in Periodontitis.

    PubMed

    Björnfot Holmström, Sofia; Clark, Reuben; Zwicker, Stephanie; Bureik, Daniela; Kvedaraite, Egle; Bernasconi, Eric; Nguyen Hoang, Anh Thu; Johannsen, Gunnar; Marsland, Benjamin J; Boström, Elisabeth A; Svensson, Mattias

    2017-12-15

    Irreversible tissue recession in chronic inflammatory diseases is associated with dysregulated immune activation and production of tissue degradative enzymes. In this study, we identified elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-12 in gingival tissue of patients with the chronic inflammatory disease periodontitis (PD). The source of MMP12 was cells of monocyte origin as determined by the expression of CD14, CD68, and CD64. These MMP12-producing cells showed reduced surface levels of the coinhibitory molecule CD200R. Similarly, establishing a multicellular three-dimensional model of human oral mucosa with induced inflammation promoted MMP12 production and reduced CD200R surface expression by monocyte-derived cells. MMP12 production by monocyte-derived cells was induced by CSF2 rather than the cyclooxygenase-2 pathway, and treatment of monocyte-derived cells with a CD200R ligand reduced CSF2-induced MMP12 production. Further, MMP12-mediated degradation of the extracellular matrix proteins tropoelastin and fibronectin in the tissue model coincided with a loss of Ki-67, a protein strictly associated with cell proliferation. Reduced amounts of tropoelastin were confirmed in gingival tissue from PD patients. Thus, this novel association of the CD200/CD200R pathway with MMP12 production by monocyte-derived cells may play a key role in PD progression and will be important to take into consideration in the development of future strategies to diagnose, treat, and prevent PD. Copyright © 2017 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.

  19. Survey of the Heritability and Sparse Architecture of Gene Expression Traits across Human Tissues.

    PubMed

    Wheeler, Heather E; Shah, Kaanan P; Brenner, Jonathon; Garcia, Tzintzuni; Aquino-Michaels, Keston; Cox, Nancy J; Nicolae, Dan L; Im, Hae Kyung

    2016-11-01

    Understanding the genetic architecture of gene expression traits is key to elucidating the underlying mechanisms of complex traits. Here, for the first time, we perform a systematic survey of the heritability and the distribution of effect sizes across all representative tissues in the human body. We find that local h2 can be relatively well characterized with 59% of expressed genes showing significant h2 (FDR < 0.1) in the DGN whole blood cohort. However, current sample sizes (n ≤ 922) do not allow us to compute distal h2. Bayesian Sparse Linear Mixed Model (BSLMM) analysis provides strong evidence that the genetic contribution to local expression traits is dominated by a handful of genetic variants rather than by the collective contribution of a large number of variants each of modest size. In other words, the local architecture of gene expression traits is sparse rather than polygenic across all 40 tissues (from DGN and GTEx) examined. This result is confirmed by the sparsity of optimal performing gene expression predictors via elastic net modeling. To further explore the tissue context specificity, we decompose the expression traits into cross-tissue and tissue-specific components using a novel Orthogonal Tissue Decomposition (OTD) approach. Through a series of simulations we show that the cross-tissue and tissue-specific components are identifiable via OTD. Heritability and sparsity estimates of these derived expression phenotypes show similar characteristics to the original traits. Consistent properties relative to prior GTEx multi-tissue analysis results suggest that these traits reflect the expected biology. Finally, we apply this knowledge to develop prediction models of gene expression traits for all tissues. The prediction models, heritability, and prediction performance R2 for original and decomposed expression phenotypes are made publicly available (https://github.com/hakyimlab/PrediXcan).

  20. Adipose tissue metabolic and inflammatory responses to a mixed meal in lean, overweight and obese men.

    PubMed

    Travers, Rebecca L; Motta, Alexandre C; Betts, James A; Thompson, Dylan

    2017-02-01

    Most of what we know about adipose tissue is restricted to observations derived after an overnight fast. However, humans spend the majority of waking hours in a postprandial (fed) state, and it is unclear whether increasing adiposity impacts adipose tissue responses to feeding. The aim of this research was to investigate postprandial responses in adipose tissue across varying degrees of adiposity. Thirty males aged 35-55 years with waist circumference 81-118 cm were divided equally into groups categorized as either lean, overweight or obese. Participants consumed a meal and insulinaemic, glycaemic and lipidaemic responses were monitored over 6 h. Subcutaneous adipose tissue samples were obtained at baseline and after 6 h to examine changes in gene expression and adipose tissue secretion of various adipokines. Following consumption of the meal, insulin and glucose responses were higher with increased adiposity (total AUC effects of group; p = 0.058 and p = 0.027, respectively). At 6 h, significant time effects reflected increases in IL-6 (F = 14.7, p = 0.001) and MCP-1 (F = 10.7, p = 0.003) and reduction in IRS2 adipose tissue gene expression (F = 24.6, p < 0.001), all independent of adiposity. Ex vivo adipokine secretion from adipose tissue explants remained largely unchanged after feeding. Increased systemic measures of postprandial metabolism with greater adiposity do not translate into increased inflammatory responses within adipose tissue. Instead, postprandial adipose tissue changes may represent a normal response to feeding or a (relatively) normalized response with increased adiposity due to either similar net exposure (i.e. per g of adipose) or reduced adipose tissue responsiveness.

  1. Immunohistochemical examination of effects of kefir, koumiss and commercial probiotic capsules on platelet derived growth factor-c and platelet derived growth factor receptor-alpha expression in mouse liver and kidney.

    PubMed

    Bakir, B; Sari, E K; Aydin, B D; Yildiz, S E

    2015-04-01

    We investigated using immunohistochemistry the effects of kefir, koumiss and commercial probiotic capsules on the expression of platelet derived growth factor-c (PDGF-C) and platelet derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFR-α) in mouse liver and kidney. Mice were assigned to four groups: group 1 was given commercial probiotic capsules, group 2 was given kefir, group 3 was given koumiss and group 4 was untreated. After oral administration for 15 days, body weights were recorded and liver and kidney tissue samples were obtained. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to examine histology. PDGF-C and PDGFR-α in liver and kidney were localized using the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase complex method (ABC). We found that the weights of the mice in the kefir, koumiss and commercial probiotic capsules groups increased compared to the control group. No differences in liver and kidney histology were observed in any of the experimental groups. Kefir, koumiss and the commercial probiotic preparation increased PDGF-C and PDGFR-α expression.

  2. The binuclear form of dinitrosyl iron complexes with thiol-containing ligands in animal tissues.

    PubMed

    Mikoyan, Vasak D; Burgova, Evgeniya N; Borodulin, Rostislav R; Vanin, Anatoly F

    2017-01-30

    It has been established that treatment of mice with sodium nitrite, S-nitrosoglutathione and the water-soluble nitroglycerine derivative isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) as NO donors initiates in vivo synthesis of significant amounts of EPR-silent binuclear dinitrosyl iron complexes (B-DNIC) with thiol-containing ligands in the liver and other tissues of experimental mice. This effect is especially apparent if NO donors are administered to mice simultaneously with the Fe 2+ -citrate complex. Similar results were obtained in experiments on isolated liver and other mouse tissues treated with gaseous NО in vitro and during stimulation of endogenous NO synthesis in the presence of inducible NO synthase. B-DNIC appeared in mouse tissues after in vitro treatment of tissue samples with an aqueous solution of diethyldithiocarbamate (DETC), which resulted in the transfer of iron-mononitrosyl fragments from B-DNIC to the thiocarbonyl group of DETC and the formation of EPR-detectable mononitrosyl iron complexes (MNIC) with DETC. EPR-Active MNIC with N-methyl-d-glucamine dithiocarbamate (MGD) were synthesized in a similar way. MNIC-MGD were also formed in the reaction of water-soluble MGD-Fe 2+ complexes with sodium nitrite, S-nitrosoglutathione and ISDN. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

  3. Tissue-specific patterns of lignification are disturbed in the brown midrib2 mutant of maize (Zea mays L.).

    PubMed

    Vermerris, W; Boon, J J

    2001-02-01

    Despite recent progress, several aspects of lignin biosynthesis, including variation in lignin composition between species and between tissues within a given species, are still poorly understood. The analysis of mutants affected in cell wall biosynthesis may help increase the understanding of these processes. We have analyzed the maize brown midrib2 (bm2) mutant, one of the four bm mutants of maize, using pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). Vascular tissues from the leaf blade and leaf sheath from different parts of the plant were investigated and compared to the corresponding samples from a wild-type plant of the same genetic background (inbred line A619). Multivariate analysis revealed that the bm2 mutant had reduced amounts of di- and trimeric lignin derivatives, notably species with m/z 272 and m/z 330, and that the ratio of guaiacyl residues to polysaccharides was reduced in the bm2 mutant. In addition, differences in cell wall composition between different parts of the plant (blade versus sheath, young versus old tissue) were much less pronounced in the bm2 mutant. These changes suggest that the functional Bm2 gene is important for the establishment of tissue-specific cell wall composition.

  4. hPSC-derived lung and intestinal organoids as models of human fetal tissue

    PubMed Central

    Aurora, Megan; Spence, Jason R.

    2016-01-01

    In vitro human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) derived tissues are excellent models to study certain aspects of normal human development. Current research in the field of hPSC derived tissues reveals these models to be inherently fetal-like on both a morphological and gene expression level. In this review we briefly discuss current methods for differentiating lung and intestinal tissue from hPSCs into individual 3-dimensional units called organoids. We discuss how these methods mirror what is known about in vivo signaling pathways of the developing embryo. Additionally, we will review how the inherent immaturity of these models lends them to be particularly valuable in the study of immature human tissues in the clinical setting of premature birth. Human lung organoids (HLOs) and human intestinal organoids (HIOs) not only model normal development, but can also be utilized to study several important diseases of prematurity such as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). PMID:27287882

  5. Lung Motion Model Validation Experiments, Free-Breathing Tissue Densitometry, and Ventilation Mapping using Fast Helical CT Imaging

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dou, Hsiang-Tai

    The uncertainties due to respiratory motion present significant challenges to accurate characterization of cancerous tissues both in terms of imaging and treatment. Currently available clinical lung imaging techniques are subject to inferior image quality and incorrect motion estimation, with consequences that can systematically impact the downstream treatment delivery and outcome. The main objective of this thesis is the development of the techniques of fast helical computed tomography (CT) imaging and deformable image registration for the radiotherapy applications in accurate breathing motion modeling, lung tissue density modeling and ventilation imaging. Fast helical CT scanning was performed on 64-slice CT scanner using the shortest available gantry rotation time and largest pitch value such that scanning of the thorax region amounts to just two seconds, which is less than typical breathing cycle in humans. The scanning was conducted under free breathing condition. Any portion of the lung anatomy undergoing such scanning protocol would be irradiated for only a quarter second, effectively removing any motion induced image artifacts. The resulting CT data were pristine volumetric images that record the lung tissue position and density in a fraction of the breathing cycle. Following our developed protocol, multiple fast helical CT scans were acquired to sample the tissue positions in different breathing states. To measure the tissue displacement, deformable image registration was performed that registers the non-reference images to the reference one. In modeling breathing motion, external breathing surrogate signal was recorded synchronously with the CT image slices. This allowed for the tissue-specific displacement to be modeled as parametrization of the recorded breathing signal using the 5D lung motion model. To assess the accuracy of the motion model in describing tissue position change, the model was used to simulate the original high-pitch helical CT scan geometries, employed as ground truth data. Image similarity between the simulated and ground truth scans was evaluated. The model validation experiments were conducted in a patient cohort of seventeen patients to assess the model robustness and inter-patient variation. The model error averaged over multiple tracked positions from several breathing cycles was found to be on the order of one millimeter. In modeling the density change under free breathing condition, the determinant of Jacobian matrix from the registration-derived deformation vector field yielded volume change information of the lung tissues. Correlation of the Jacobian values to the corresponding voxel Housfield units (HU) reveals that the density variation for the majority of lung tissues can be very well described by mass conservation relationship. Different tissue types were identified and separately modeled. Large trials of validation experiments were performed. The averaged deviation between the modeled and the reference lung density was 30 HU, which was estimated to be the background CT noise level. In characterizing the lung ventilation function, a novel method was developed to determine the extent of lung tissue volume change. Information on volume change was derived from the deformable image registration of the fast helical CT images in terms of Jacobian values with respect to a reference image. Assuming the multiple volume change measurements are independently and identically distributed, statistical formulation was derived to model ventilation distribution of each lung voxels and empirical minimum and maximum probability distribution of the Jacobian values was computed. Ventilation characteristic was evaluated as the difference of the expectation value from these extremal distributions. The resulting ventilation map was compared with an independently obtained ventilation image derived directly from the lung intensities and good correlation was found using statistical test. In addition, dynamic ventilation characterization was investigated by estimating the voxel-specific ventilation distribution. Ventilation maps were generated at different percentile levels using the tissue volume expansion metrics.

  6. Porous decellularized tissue engineered hypertrophic cartilage as a scaffold for large bone defect healing.

    PubMed

    Cunniffe, Gráinne M; Vinardell, Tatiana; Murphy, J Mary; Thompson, Emmet M; Matsiko, Amos; O'Brien, Fergal J; Kelly, Daniel J

    2015-09-01

    Clinical translation of tissue engineered therapeutics is hampered by the significant logistical and regulatory challenges associated with such products, prompting increased interest in the use of decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) to enhance endogenous regeneration. Most bones develop and heal by endochondral ossification, the replacement of a hypertrophic cartilaginous intermediary with bone. The hypothesis of this study is that a porous scaffold derived from decellularized tissue engineered hypertrophic cartilage will retain the necessary signals to instruct host cells to accelerate endogenous bone regeneration. Cartilage tissue (CT) and hypertrophic cartilage tissue (HT) were engineered using human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, decellularized and the remaining ECM was freeze-dried to generate porous scaffolds. When implanted subcutaneously in nude mice, only the decellularized HT-derived scaffolds were found to induce vascularization and de novo mineral accumulation. Furthermore, when implanted into critically-sized femoral defects, full bridging was observed in half of the defects treated with HT scaffolds, while no evidence of such bridging was found in empty controls. Host cells which had migrated throughout the scaffold were capable of producing new bone tissue, in contrast to fibrous tissue formation within empty controls. These results demonstrate the capacity of decellularized engineered tissues as 'off-the-shelf' implants to promote tissue regeneration. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  7. Silk fibroin/chitosan thin film promotes osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Li, Da-Wei; He, Jin; He, Feng-Li; Liu, Ya-Li; Liu, Yang-Yang; Ye, Ya-Jing; Deng, Xudong; Yin, Da-Chuan

    2018-04-01

    As a biodegradable polymer thin film, silk fibroin/chitosan composite film overcomes the defects of pure silk fibroin and chitosan films, respectively, and shows remarkable biocompatibility, appropriate hydrophilicity and mechanical properties. Silk fibroin/chitosan thin film can be used not only as metal implant coating for bone injury repair, but also as tissue engineering scaffold for skin, cornea, adipose, and other soft tissue injury repair. However, the biocompatibility of silk fibroin/chitosan thin film for mesenchymal stem cells, a kind of important seed cell of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, is rarely reported. In this study, silk fibroin/chitosan film was prepared by solvent casting method, and the rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were cultured on the silk fibroin/chitosan thin film. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were induced, respectively. The proliferation ability, osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation abilities of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells were systematically compared between silk fibroin/chitosan thin film and polystyrene tissue culture plates. The results showed that silk fibroin/chitosan thin film not only provided a comparable environment for the growth and proliferation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells but also promoted their osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation. This work provided information of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells behavior on silk fibroin/chitosan thin film and extended the application of silk fibroin/chitosan thin film. Based on the results, we suggested that the silk fibroin/chitosan thin film could be a promising material for tissue engineering of bone, cartilage, adipose, and skin.

  8. Adipose tissue stem cells in regenerative medicine

    PubMed Central

    Miana, Vanesa Verónica; González, Elio A Prieto

    2018-01-01

    Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are mesenchymal cells with the capacity for self-renewal and multipotential differentiation. This multipotentiality allows them to become adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, osteoblasts and neurocytes among other cell lineages. Stem cells and, in particular, adipose tissue-derived cells, play a key role in reconstructive or tissue engineering medicine as they have already proven effective in developing new treatments. The purpose of this work is to review the applications of ADSCs in various areas of regenerative medicine, as well as some of the risks associated with treatment with ADSCs in neoplastic disease. PMID:29662535

  9. Impaired Local Production of Proresolving Lipid Mediators in Obesity and 17-HDHA as a Potential Treatment for Obesity-Associated Inflammation

    PubMed Central

    Neuhofer, Angelika; Zeyda, Maximilian; Mascher, Daniel; Itariu, Bianca K.; Murano, Incoronata; Leitner, Lukas; Hochbrugger, Eva E.; Fraisl, Peter; Cinti, Saverio; Serhan, Charles N.; Stulnig, Thomas M.

    2013-01-01

    Obesity-induced chronic low-grade inflammation originates from adipose tissue and is crucial for obesity-driven metabolic deterioration, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Chronic inflammation may be a consequence of a failure to actively resolve inflammation and could result from a lack of local specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins and protectins, which derive from the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We assessed obesity-induced changes of n-3–derived SPMs in adipose tissue and the effects of dietary EPA/DHA thereon. Moreover, we treated obese mice with SPM precursors and investigated the effects on inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. Obesity significantly decreased DHA-derived 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA, resolvin D1 precursor) and protectin D1 (PD1) levels in murine adipose tissue. Dietary EPA/DHA treatment restored endogenous biosynthesis of n-3–derived lipid mediators in obesity while attenuating adipose tissue inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity. Notably, 17-HDHA treatment reduced adipose tissue expression of inflammatory cytokines, increased adiponectin expression, and improved glucose tolerance parallel to insulin sensitivity in obese mice. These findings indicate that impaired biosynthesis of certain SPM and SPM precursors, including 17-HDHA and PD1, contributes to adipose tissue inflammation in obesity and suggest 17-HDHA as a novel treatment option for obesity-associated complications. PMID:23349501

  10. Impaired local production of proresolving lipid mediators in obesity and 17-HDHA as a potential treatment for obesity-associated inflammation.

    PubMed

    Neuhofer, Angelika; Zeyda, Maximilian; Mascher, Daniel; Itariu, Bianca K; Murano, Incoronata; Leitner, Lukas; Hochbrugger, Eva E; Fraisl, Peter; Cinti, Saverio; Serhan, Charles N; Stulnig, Thomas M

    2013-06-01

    Obesity-induced chronic low-grade inflammation originates from adipose tissue and is crucial for obesity-driven metabolic deterioration, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Chronic inflammation may be a consequence of a failure to actively resolve inflammation and could result from a lack of local specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins and protectins, which derive from the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We assessed obesity-induced changes of n-3-derived SPMs in adipose tissue and the effects of dietary EPA/DHA thereon. Moreover, we treated obese mice with SPM precursors and investigated the effects on inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. Obesity significantly decreased DHA-derived 17-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (17-HDHA, resolvin D1 precursor) and protectin D1 (PD1) levels in murine adipose tissue. Dietary EPA/DHA treatment restored endogenous biosynthesis of n-3-derived lipid mediators in obesity while attenuating adipose tissue inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity. Notably, 17-HDHA treatment reduced adipose tissue expression of inflammatory cytokines, increased adiponectin expression, and improved glucose tolerance parallel to insulin sensitivity in obese mice. These findings indicate that impaired biosynthesis of certain SPM and SPM precursors, including 17-HDHA and PD1, contributes to adipose tissue inflammation in obesity and suggest 17-HDHA as a novel treatment option for obesity-associated complications.

  11. Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Derived from Human Umbilical Cord as a Scaffold for Neural Tissue Repair and Its Comparison with Extracellular Matrix from Porcine Tissues.

    PubMed

    Kočí, Zuzana; Výborný, Karel; Dubišová, Jana; Vacková, Irena; Jäger, Aleš; Lunov, Oleg; Jiráková, Klára; Kubinová, Šárka

    2017-06-01

    Extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels prepared by tissue decellularization have been reported as natural injectable materials suitable for neural tissue repair. In this study, we prepared ECM hydrogel derived from human umbilical cord (UC) and evaluated its composition and mechanical and biological properties in comparison with the previously described ECM hydrogels derived from porcine urinary bladder (UB), brain, and spinal cord. The ECM hydrogels did not differ from each other in the concentration of collagen, while the highest content of glycosaminoglycans as well as the shortest gelation time was found for UC-ECM. The elastic modulus was then found to be the highest for UB-ECM. In spite of a different origin, topography, and composition, all ECM hydrogels similarly promoted the migration of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and differentiation of neural stem cells, as well as axonal outgrowth in vitro. However, only UC-ECM significantly improved proliferation of tissue-specific UC-derived MSCs when compared with the other ECMs. Injection of UC-ECM hydrogels into a photothrombotic cortical ischemic lesion in rats proved its in vivo gelation and infiltration with host macrophages. In summary, this study proposes UC-ECM hydrogel as an easily accessible biomaterial of human origin, which has the potential for neural as well as other soft tissue reconstruction.

  12. Rotating three-dimensional dynamic culture of adult human bone marrow-derived cells for tissue engineering of hyaline cartilage.

    PubMed

    Sakai, Shinsuke; Mishima, Hajime; Ishii, Tomoo; Akaogi, Hiroshi; Yoshioka, Tomokazu; Ohyabu, Yoshimi; Chang, Fei; Ochiai, Naoyuki; Uemura, Toshimasa

    2009-04-01

    The method of constructing cartilage tissue from bone marrow-derived cells in vitro is considered a valuable technique for hyaline cartilage regenerative medicine. Using a rotating wall vessel (RWV) bioreactor developed in a NASA space experiment, we attempted to efficiently construct hyaline cartilage tissue from human bone marrow-derived cells without using a scaffold. Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from the iliac crest of nine patients during orthopedic operation. After their proliferation in monolayer culture, the adherent cells were cultured in the RWV bioreactor with chondrogenic medium for 2 weeks. Cells from the same source were cultured in pellet culture as controls. Histological and immunohistological evaluations (collagen type I and II) and quantification of glycosaminoglycan were performed on formed tissues and compared. The engineered constructs obtained using the RWV bioreactor showed strong features of hyaline cartilage in terms of their morphology as determined by histological and immunohistological evaluations. The glycosaminoglycan contents per microg DNA of the tissues were 10.01 +/- 3.49 microg/microg DNA in the case of the RWV bioreactor and 6.27 +/- 3.41 microg/microg DNA in the case of the pellet culture, and their difference was significant. The RWV bioreactor could provide an excellent environment for three-dimensional cartilage tissue architecture that can promote the chondrogenic differentiation of adult human bone marrow-derived cells.

  13. A Ratiometric Threshold for Determining Presence of Cancer During Fluorescence-guided Surgery

    PubMed Central

    Warram, Jason M; de Boer, Esther; Moore, Lindsay S.; Schmalbach, Cecelia E; Withrow, Kirk P; Carroll, William R; Richman, Joshua S; Morlandt, Anthony B; Brandwein-Gensler, Margaret; Rosenthal, Eben L

    2015-01-01

    Background&Objective Fluorescence-guided imaging to assist in identification of malignant margins has the potential to dramatically improve oncologic surgery. However a standardized method for quantitative assessment of disease-specific fluorescence has not been investigated. Introduced here is a ratiometric threshold derived from mean fluorescent tissue intensity that can be used to semi-quantitatively delineate tumor from normal tissue. Methods Open-field and a closed-field imaging devices were used to quantify fluorescence in punch biopsy tissues sampled from primary tumors collected during a phase 1 trial evaluating the safety of cetuximab-IRDye800 in patients (n=11) undergoing surgical intervention for head and neck cancer. Fluorescence ratios were calculated using mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) from punch biopsy normalized by MFI of patient-matched tissues. Ratios were compared to pathological assessment and a ratiometric threshold was established to predict presence of cancer. Results During open-field imaging using an intraoperative device, the threshold for muscle normalized tumor fluorescence was found to be 2.7, which produced a sensitivity of 90.5% and specificity of 78.6% for delineating disease tissue. The skin-normalized threshold generated greater sensitivity (92.9%) and specificity (81.0%). Conclusion Successful implementation of a semi-quantitative threshold can provide a scientific methodology for delineating disease from normal tissue during fluorescence-guided resection of cancer. PMID:26074273

  14. Qualitative screening of veterinary anti-microbial agents in tissues, milk, and eggs of food-producing animals using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

    PubMed

    Chen, Dongmei; Yu, Jie; Tao, Yanfei; Pan, Yuanhu; Xie, Shuyu; Huang, Lingli; Peng, Dapeng; Wang, Xu; Wang, Yulian; Liu, Zhenli; Yuan, Zonghui

    2016-04-01

    A method for the analysis of 120 drugs in animal derived food was developed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These analytes belong to 12 families of veterinary anti-microbial agents (quinolones, macrolides, β-lactams, nitroimidazoles, sulfonamides, lincomycines, chloramphenicols, quinoxalines, tetracyclines, polypeptides, and antibacterial synergists) as well as other compounds not assigned to a particular drug family. The animal derived food samples include muscle and liver of swine, bovine, sheep, and chicken, as well as hen eggs and dairy milk. The sample preparation included ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with acetonitrile-water and a final clean-up with auto solid-phase extraction (SPE) on HLB cartridges. The detection and quantification of 120 anti-microbial agents was performed using LC-MS/MS in positive and negative ion mode. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column using acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of all drugs in food-producing animals were 0.5-3.0μg/kg and 1.5-10.0μg/kg, respectively. The developed method was successfully utilized to monitor real samples, which demonstrated that it is a simple, fast, and robust method, and could be used as a regulatory to screen for the presence of residues from veterinary anti-microbial drugs in animal-derived foods. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  15. Preliminary results of in vitro propagation of Guayule

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dastoor, M. N.; Schubert, W. W.; Petersen, G. R.

    1981-01-01

    Guayule, Parthenium argentatum Gray, was first established in tissue culture by Bonner and Arreguin (1950) as a means to study the effects of various chemicals and extracts on rubber production. The propagation of whole guayule plants from tissue culture, however, has not been accomplished. The reported investigation is concerned with such an objective. In an attempt to stimulate rubber production in Guayule, Yokoyama et al. (1977) sprayed juvenile plants with 2-(3,4-dichloro-phenoxy)triethylamine (TEA derivative). This treatment resulted in increased isoprenoid levels in the plant tissue. In the current investigation, experiments were conducted to study the effect of TEA derivative on in vitro cultures. It was found that a suppression of callus formation occurs at a 10 mg/L concentration of TEA derivative with a resultant increase of shoot formation. Lower and higher concentrations of TEA derivative promote callus formation.

  16. Alkyl Phenols and Diethylhexyl Phthalate in Tissues of Sheep Grazing Pastures Fertilized with Sewage Sludge or Inorganic Fertilizer

    PubMed Central

    Rhind, Stewart M.; Kyle, Carol E.; Telfer, Gillian; Duff, Elizabeth I.; Smith, Alistair

    2005-01-01

    We studied selected tissues from ewes and their lambs that were grazing pastures fertilized with either sewage sludge (treated) or inorganic fertilizer (control) and determined concentrations of alkylphenols and phthalates in these tissues. Mean tissue concentrations of alkylphenols were relatively low (< 10–400 μg/kg) in all animals and tissues. Phthalates were detected in tissues of both control and treated animals at relatively high concentrations (> 20,000 μg/kg in many tissue samples). The use of sludge as a fertilizer was not associated with consistently increased concentrations of either alkylphenols or phthalates in the tissues of animals grazing treated pastures relative to levels in control animal tissues. Concentrations of the two classes of chemicals differed but were of a similar order of magnitude in liver and muscle as well as in fat. Concentrations of each class of compound were broadly similar in tissues derived from ewes and lambs. Although there were significant differences (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) between years (cohorts) in mean tissue concentrations of both nonylphenol (NP) and phthalate in each of the tissues from both ewes and lambs, the differences were not attributable to either the age (6 months or 5 years) of the animal or the duration of exposure to treatments. Octylphenol concentrations were generally undetectable. There was no consistent cumulative outcome of prolonged exposure on the tissue concentrations of either class of pollutant in any ewe tissue. Mean tissue concentrations of phthalate were higher (p < 0.001) in the liver and kidney fat of male compared with female lambs. We suggest that the addition of sewage sludge to pasture is unlikely to cause large increases in tissue concentrations of NP and phthalates in sheep and other animals with broadly similar diets and digestive systems (i.e., domestic ruminants) grazing such pasture. PMID:15811823

  17. A Simple and Reproducible Method to Prepare Membrane Samples from Freshly Isolated Rat Brain Microvessels.

    PubMed

    Brzica, Hrvoje; Abdullahi, Wazir; Reilly, Bianca G; Ronaldson, Patrick T

    2018-05-07

    The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a dynamic barrier tissue that responds to various pathophysiological and pharmacological stimuli. Such changes resulting from these stimuli can greatly modulate drug delivery to the brain and, by extension, cause considerable challenges in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Many BBB changes that affect pharmacotherapy, involve proteins that are localized and expressed at the level of endothelial cells. Indeed, such knowledge on BBB physiology in health and disease has sparked considerable interest in the study of these membrane proteins. From a basic science research standpoint, this implies a requirement for a simple but robust and reproducible method for isolation of microvessels from brain tissue harvested from experimental animals. In order to prepare membrane samples from freshly isolated microvessels, it is essential that sample preparations be enriched in endothelial cells but limited in the presence of other cell types of the neurovascular unit (i.e., astrocytes, microglia, neurons, pericytes). An added benefit is the ability to prepare samples from individual animals in order to capture the true variability of protein expression in an experimental population. In this manuscript, details regarding a method that is utilized for isolation of rat brain microvessels and preparation of membrane samples are provided. Microvessel enrichment, from samples derived, is achieved by using four centrifugation steps where dextran is included in the sample buffer. This protocol can easily be adapted by other laboratories for their own specific applications. Samples generated from this protocol have been shown to yield robust experimental data from protein analysis experiments that can greatly aid the understanding of BBB responses to physiological, pathophysiological, and pharmacological stimuli.

  18. Differences in placental telomere length suggest a link between racial disparities in birth outcomes and cellular aging.

    PubMed

    Jones, Christopher W; Gambala, Cecilia; Esteves, Kyle C; Wallace, Maeve; Schlesinger, Reid; O'Quinn, Marguerite; Kidd, Laura; Theall, Katherine P; Drury, Stacy S

    2017-03-01

    Health disparities begin early in life and persist across the life course. Despite current efforts, black women exhibit greater risk for pregnancy complications and negative perinatal outcomes compared with white women. The placenta, which is a complex multi-tissue organ, serves as the primary transducer of bidirectional information between the mother and fetus. Altered placental function is linked to multiple racially disparate pregnancy complications; however, little is known about racial differences in molecular factors within the placenta. Several pregnancy complications, which include preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction, exhibit racial disparities and are associated with shorter placental telomere length, which is an indicator of cellular stress and aging. Cellular senescence and telomere dynamics are linked to the molecular mechanisms that are associated with the onset of labor and parturition. Further, racial differences in telomere length are found in a range of different peripheral tissues. Together these factors suggest that exploration of racial differences in telomere length of the placenta may provide novel mechanistic insight into racial disparities in birth outcomes. This study examined whether telomere length measured in 4 distinct fetally derived tissues were significantly different between black and white women. The study had 2 hypotheses: (1) that telomere length that is measured in different placental tissue types would be correlated and (2) that across all sampled tissues telomere length would differ by race. In a prospective study, placental tissue samples were collected from the amnion, chorion, villus, and umbilical cord from black and white singleton pregnancies (N=46). Telomere length was determined with the use of monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in each placental tissue. Demographic and pregnancy-related data were also collected. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample overall and among black and white women separately. The overall impact of race was assessed by multilevel mixed-effects linear regression models that included empirically relevant covariates. Telomere length was correlated significantly across all placental tissues. Pairwise analyses of placental tissue telomere length revealed significantly longer telomere length in the amnion compared with the chorion (t=-2.06; P=.043). Overall telomere length measured in placenta samples from black mothers were significantly shorter than those from white mothers (β=-0.09; P=.04). Controlling for relevant maternal and infant characteristics strengthened the significance of the observed racial differences (β=-0.12; P=.02). Within tissue analyses revealed that the greatest difference by race was found in chorionic telomere length (t=-2.81; P=.007). These findings provide the first evidence of racial differences in placental telomere length. Telomere length was significantly shorter in placental samples from black mothers compared with white mothers. Given previous studies that have reported that telomere length, cellular senescence, and telomere dynamics are molecular factors that contribute to the rupture of the amniotic sac, onset of labor, and parturition, our findings of shorter telomere length in placentas from black mothers suggest that accelerated cellular aging across placental tissues may be relevant to the increased risk of preterm delivery in black pregnancies. Our results suggest that racial differences in cellular aging in the placenta contribute to the earliest roots of health disparities. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  19. Adrenal GIPR expression and chromosome 19q13 microduplications in GIP-dependent Cushing's syndrome.

    PubMed

    Lecoq, Anne-Lise; Stratakis, Constantine A; Viengchareun, Say; Chaligné, Ronan; Tosca, Lucie; Deméocq, Vianney; Hage, Mirella; Berthon, Annabel; Faucz, Fabio R; Hanna, Patrick; Boyer, Hadrien-Gaël; Servant, Nicolas; Salenave, Sylvie; Tachdjian, Gérard; Adam, Clovis; Benhamo, Vanessa; Clauser, Eric; Guiochon-Mantel, Anne; Young, Jacques; Lombès, Marc; Bourdeau, Isabelle; Maiter, Dominique; Tabarin, Antoine; Bertherat, Jérôme; Lefebvre, Hervé; de Herder, Wouter; Louiset, Estelle; Lacroix, André; Chanson, Philippe; Bouligand, Jérôme; Kamenický, Peter

    2017-09-21

    GIP-dependent Cushing's syndrome is caused by ectopic expression of glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) in cortisol-producing adrenal adenomas or in bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasias. Molecular mechanisms leading to ectopic GIPR expression in adrenal tissue are not known. Here we performed molecular analyses on adrenocortical adenomas and bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasias obtained from 14 patients with GIP-dependent adrenal Cushing's syndrome and one patient with GIP-dependent aldosteronism. GIPR expression in all adenoma and hyperplasia samples occurred through transcriptional activation of a single allele of the GIPR gene. While no abnormality was detected in proximal GIPR promoter methylation, we identified somatic duplications in chromosome region 19q13.32 containing the GIPR locus in the adrenocortical lesions derived from 3 patients. In 2 adenoma samples, the duplicated 19q13.32 region was rearranged with other chromosome regions, whereas a single tissue sample with hyperplasia had a 19q duplication only. We demonstrated that juxtaposition with cis-acting regulatory sequences such as glucocorticoid response elements in the newly identified genomic environment drives abnormal expression of the translocated GIPR allele in adenoma cells. Altogether, our results provide insight into the molecular pathogenesis of GIP-dependent Cushing's syndrome, occurring through monoallelic transcriptional activation of GIPR driven in some adrenal lesions by structural variations.

  20. Comparative analysis of the immunomodulatory capacities of human bone marrow- and adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stromal cells from the same donor.

    PubMed

    Valencia, Jaris; Blanco, Belén; Yáñez, Rosa; Vázquez, Miriam; Herrero Sánchez, Carmen; Fernández-García, María; Rodríguez Serrano, Concepción; Pescador, David; Blanco, Juan F; Hernando-Rodríguez, Miriam; Sánchez-Guijo, Fermín; Lamana, María Luisa; Segovia, José Carlos; Vicente, Ángeles; Del Cañizo, Consuelo; Zapata, Agustín G

    2016-10-01

    The immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), together with their tissue regenerative potential, make them interesting candidates for clinical application. In the current study, we analyzed the in vitro immunomodulatory effects of MSCs derived from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) and from adipose tissue (AT-MSCs) obtained from the same donor on both innate and acquired immunity cells. BM-MSCs and AT-MSCs were expanded to fourth or fifth passage and co-cultured with T cells, monocytes or natural killer (NK) cells isolated from human peripheral blood and stimulated in vitro. The possible differing impact of MSCs obtained from distinct sources on phenotype, cell proliferation and differentiation, cytokine production and function of these immune cells was comparatively analyzed. BM-MSCs and AT-MSCs induced a similar decrease in NK-cell proliferation, cytokine secretion and expression of both activating receptors and cytotoxic molecules. However, only BM-MSCs significantly reduced NK-cell cytotoxic activity, although both MSC populations showed the same susceptibility to NK-cell-mediated lysis. AT-MSCs were more potent in inhibiting dendritic-cell (DC) differentiation than BM-MSC, but both MSC populations similarly reduced the ability of DCs to induce CD4(+) T-cell proliferation and cytokine production. BM-MSCs and AT-MSCs induced a similar decrease in T-cell proliferation and production of inflammatory cytokines after activation. AT-MSCs and BM-MSCs from the same donor had similar immunomodulatory capacity on both innate and acquired immunity cells. Thus, other variables, such as accessibility of samples or the frequency of MSCs in the tissue should be considered to select the source of MSC for cell therapy. Copyright © 2016 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  1. Modelling glioma invasion using 3D bioprinting and scaffold-free 3D culture.

    PubMed

    van Pel, Derek M; Harada, Kaori; Song, Dandan; Naus, Christian C; Sin, Wun Chey

    2018-06-16

    Glioma is a highly aggressive form of brain cancer, with some subtypes having 5-year survival rates of less than 5%. Tumour cell invasion into the surrounding parenchyma seems to be the primary driver of these poor outcomes, as most gliomas recur within 2 cm of the original surgically-resected tumour. Many current approaches to the development of anticancer therapy attempt to target genetic weaknesses in a particular cancer, but may not take into account the microenvironment experienced by a tumour and the patient-specific genetic differences in susceptibility to treatment. Here we demonstrate the use of complementary approaches, 3D bioprinting and scaffold-free 3D tissue culture, to examine the invasion of glioma cells into neural-like tissue with 3D confocal microscopy. We found that, while both approaches were successful, the use of 3D tissue culture for organoid development offers the advantage of broad accessibility. As a proof-of-concept of our approach, we developed a system in which we could model the invasion of human glioma cells into mouse neural progenitor cell-derived spheroids. We show that we can follow invasion of human tumour cells using cell-tracking dyes and 3D laser scanning confocal microscopy, both in real time and in fixed samples. We validated these results using conventional cryosectioning. Our scaffold-free 3D approach has broad applicability, as we were easily able to examine invasion using different neural progenitor cell lines, thus mimicking differences that might be observed in patient brain tissue. These results, once applied to iPSC-derived cerebral organoids that incorporate the somatic genetic variability of patients, offer the promise of truly personalized treatments for brain cancer.

  2. Microvessel Density Evaluation of the Effect of Enamel Matrix Derivative on Soft Tissue After Implant Placement: A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Guimarães, George Furtado; de Araújo, Vera Cavalcanti; Nery, James Carlos; Peruzzo, Daiane Cristina; Soares, Andresa Borges

    2015-01-01

    Enamel matrix derivative (EMD) is commonly used in periodontal therapy and has been used successfully for periodontal regeneration. In addition, this material has a possible angiogenic effect that has been associated with enhanced wound healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of EMD on microvessel density (angiogenesis) on the soft tissues surrounding newly placed implants after 14 days. Five patients were selected, each requiring at least one implant on each side of the maxilla, in a split-mouth experimental design. The implants were placed in a two-stage procedure. Each side was then randomized as test or control. On the test side, 0.1 mL of EMD was topically applied to the soft tissues surrounding the implants, while the control side did not receive any treatment. Second-stage surgery was performed after 14 days. A 6-mm punch biopsy was performed for each implant, with the samples subsequently prepared for histology and immunohistochemistry. Quantitative vascularization analysis was performed, which involved counting three areas or "hotspots" containing vessels strongly positive for CD34 and CD105, a pan-endothelial and new vessel marker, respectively. There was no significant difference between test and control groups when evaluating the formation of new blood vessels. The total number of blood vessels, however, was significantly higher in the group treated with EMD (test group). Within the limits of the present study, it can be concluded that topical application of EMD on the soft tissues surrounding newly placed implants resulted in an increased number of blood vessels at 14 days, suggesting that EMD may play a beneficial role in this aspect of wound healing.

  3. Immunophenotypical characterization of canine mesenchymal stem cells from perivisceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue by a species-specific panel of antibodies.

    PubMed

    Ivanovska, Ana; Grolli, Stefano; Borghetti, Paolo; Ravanetti, Francesca; Conti, Virna; De Angelis, Elena; Macchi, Francesca; Ramoni, Roberto; Martelli, Paolo; Gazza, Ferdinando; Cacchioli, Antonio

    2017-10-01

    Immunophenotypical characterization of mesenchymal stem cells is fundamental for the design and execution of sound experimental and clinical studies. The scarce availability of species-specific antibodies for canine antigens has hampered the immunophenotypical characterization of canine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). The aim of this study was to select a panel of species-specific direct antibodies readily useful for canine mesenchymal stem cells characterization. They were isolated from perivisceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples collected during regular surgeries from 8 dogs. Single color flow cytometric analysis of mesenchymal stem cells (P3) deriving from subcutaneous and perivisceral adipose tissue with a panel of 7 direct anti-canine antibodies revealed two largely homogenous cell populations with a similar pattern: CD29 + , CD44 + , CD73 + , CD90 + , CD34 - , CD45 - and MHC-II - with no statistically significant differences among them. Antibody reactivity was demonstrated on canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The similarities are reinforced by their in vitro cell morphology, trilineage differentiation ability and RT-PCR analysis (CD90 + , CD73 + , CD105 + , CD44 + , CD13 + , CD29 + , Oct-4 + gene and CD31 - and CD45 - expression). Our results report for the first time a comparison between the immunophenotypic profile of canine MSC deriving from perivisceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. The substantial equivalence between the two populations has practical implication on clinical applications, giving the opportunity to choose the source depending on the patient needs. The results contribute to routine characterization of MSC populations grown in vitro, a mandatory process for the definition of solid and reproducible laboratory and therapeutic procedures. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Chronic inflammation is a feature of Achilles tendinopathy and rupture.

    PubMed

    Dakin, Stephanie Georgina; Newton, Julia; Martinez, Fernando O; Hedley, Robert; Gwilym, Stephen; Jones, Natasha; Reid, Hamish A B; Wood, Simon; Wells, Graham; Appleton, Louise; Wheway, Kim; Watkins, Bridget; Carr, Andrew Jonathan

    2018-03-01

    Recent investigation of human tissue and cells from positional tendons such as the rotator cuff has clarified the importance of inflammation in the development and progression of tendon disease. These mechanisms remain poorly understood in disease of energy-storing tendons such as the Achilles. Using tissue biopsies from patients, we investigated if inflammation is a feature of Achilles tendinopathy and rupture. We studied Achilles tendon biopsies from symptomatic patients with either mid-portion tendinopathy or rupture for evidence of abnormal inflammatory signatures. Tendon-derived stromal cells from healthy hamstring and diseased Achilles were cultured to determine the effects of cytokine treatment on expression of inflammatory markers. Tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles highly expressed CD14+ and CD68+ cells and showed a complex inflammation signature, involving NF-κB, interferon and STAT-6 activation pathways. Interferon markers IRF1 and IRF5 were highly expressed in tendinopathic samples. Achilles ruptures showed increased PTGS2 and interleukin-8 expression. Tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles tissues expressed stromal fibroblast activation markers podoplanin and CD106. Tendon cells isolated from diseased Achilles showed increased expression of pro-inflammatory and stromal fibroblast activation markers after cytokine stimulation compared with healthy hamstring tendon cells. Tissue and cells derived from tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles tendons show evidence of chronic (non-resolving) inflammation. The energy-storing Achilles shares common cellular and molecular inflammatory mechanisms with functionally distinct rotator cuff positional tendons. Differences seen in the profile of ruptured Achilles are likely to be attributable to a superimposed phase of acute inflammation and neo-vascularisation. Strategies that target chronic inflammation are of potential therapeutic benefit for patients with Achilles tendon disease. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2018. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

  5. Chronic inflammation is a feature of Achilles tendinopathy and rupture

    PubMed Central

    Newton, Julia; Martinez, Fernando O; Hedley, Robert; Gwilym, Stephen; Jones, Natasha; Reid, Hamish A B; Wood, Simon; Wells, Graham; Appleton, Louise; Wheway, Kim; Watkins, Bridget; Carr, Andrew Jonathan

    2018-01-01

    Background Recent investigation of human tissue and cells from positional tendons such as the rotator cuff has clarified the importance of inflammation in the development and progression of tendon disease. These mechanisms remain poorly understood in disease of energy-storing tendons such as the Achilles. Using tissue biopsies from patients, we investigated if inflammation is a feature of Achilles tendinopathy and rupture. Methods We studied Achilles tendon biopsies from symptomatic patients with either mid-portion tendinopathy or rupture for evidence of abnormal inflammatory signatures. Tendon-derived stromal cells from healthy hamstring and diseased Achilles were cultured to determine the effects of cytokine treatment on expression of inflammatory markers. Results Tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles highly expressed CD14+ and CD68+ cells and showed a complex inflammation signature, involving NF-κB, interferon and STAT-6 activation pathways. Interferon markers IRF1 and IRF5 were highly expressed in tendinopathic samples. Achilles ruptures showed increased PTGS2 and interleukin-8 expression. Tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles tissues expressed stromal fibroblast activation markers podoplanin and CD106. Tendon cells isolated from diseased Achilles showed increased expression of pro-inflammatory and stromal fibroblast activation markers after cytokine stimulation compared with healthy hamstring tendon cells. Conclusions Tissue and cells derived from tendinopathic and ruptured Achilles tendons show evidence of chronic (non-resolving) inflammation. The energy-storing Achilles shares common cellular and molecular inflammatory mechanisms with functionally distinct rotator cuff positional tendons. Differences seen in the profile of ruptured Achilles are likely to be attributable to a superimposed phase of acute inflammation and neo-vascularisation. Strategies that target chronic inflammation are of potential therapeutic benefit for patients with Achilles tendon disease. PMID:29118051

  6. Tissue-engineered skin preserving the potential of epithelial cells to differentiate into hair after grafting.

    PubMed

    Larouche, Danielle; Cuffley, Kristine; Paquet, Claudie; Germain, Lucie

    2011-03-01

    The aim of this study was to evaluate whether tissue-engineered skin produced in vitro was able to sustain growth of hair follicles in vitro and after grafting. Different tissues were designed. Dissociated newborn mouse keratinocytes or newborn mouse hair buds (HBs) were added onto dermal constructs consisting of a tissue-engineered cell-derived matrix elaborated from either newborn mouse or adult human fibroblasts cultured with ascorbic acid. After 7-21 days of maturation at the air-liquid interface, no hair was noticed in vitro. Epidermal differentiation was observed in all tissue-engineered skin. However, human fibroblast-derived tissue-engineered dermis (hD) promoted a thicker epidermis than mouse fibroblast-derived tissue-engineered dermis (mD). In association with mD, HBs developed epithelial cyst-like inclusions presenting outer root sheath-like attributes. In contrast, epidermoid cyst-like inclusions lined by a stratified squamous epithelium were present in tissues composed of HBs and hD. After grafting, pilo-sebaceous units formed and hair grew in skin elaborated from HBs cultured 10-26 days submerged in culture medium in association with mD. However, the number of normal hair follicles decreased with longer culture time. This hair-forming capacity after grafting was not observed in tissues composed of hD overlaid with HBs. These results demonstrate that epithelial stem cells can be kept in vitro in a permissive tissue-engineered dermal environment without losing their potential to induce hair growth after grafting.

  7. Influence of dialysis modality on plasma and tissue concentrations of pentosidine in patients with end-stage renal disease.

    PubMed

    Friedlander, M A; Wu, Y C; Schulak, J A; Monnier, V M; Hricik, D E

    1995-03-01

    Plasma and tissue concentrations of pentose-derived glycation end-products ("pentosidine") are elevated in diabetic patients with normal renal function and in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. To determine the influence of dialysis modality and other clinical variables on the accumulation of pentosidine, we used high-performance liquid chromatography to measure this advanced glycation end-product in plasma, skin, and peritoneal samples obtained from 65 hemodialysis and 45 peritoneal dialysis patients. Plasma pentosidine levels were significantly lower in peritoneal dialysis patients. Concentrations of pentosidine in skin were similar in the two groups. In contrast, peritoneal concentrations of pentosidine were significantly higher in the patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis. Our results demonstrate that dialysis modality influences the plasma and tissue distribution of pentosidine. Compared with hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis is associated with lower levels of this glycation end-product in plasma, but with higher levels in the peritoneum. The mechanisms accounting for lower circulating levels of pentosidine in peritoneal dialysis patients remain to be determined. Higher levels in peritoneal tissues may reflect chronic exposure to the high concentrations of glucose in peritoneal dialysate.

  8. In vitro cholesteatoma growth and secretion of cytokines.

    PubMed

    Helgaland, Tore; Engelen, Bart; Olsnes, Carla; Aarstad, Hans Jørgen; Vassbotn, Flemming S

    2010-07-01

    Our results show a significant difference between skin and cholesteatoma biology in vitro. Cholesteatoma disease is a process of destruction characterized by uncontrolled growth of squamous epithelial cells in the middle ear or temporal bone. The pathophysiology behind the cholesteatoma development is controversial, and the mechanisms driving the cholesteatoma growth, migration and destructive properties is still unclear. We aimed to provide a method to study the effect of various compounds on cholesteatoma and skin tissue growth, as well as to further investigate the biological differences between normal skin and cholesteatoma tissue. We have established a method to study cholesteatoma biopsy tissue in vitro. Cholesteatoma tissues from patients undergoing surgery for chronic otitis were grown in culture medium and compared to growth patterns and behaviour of normal retroauricular skin. Conditioned medium was analysed for various secreted cytokines. We found a radial outgrowth of keratinocyte epithelium from the circular biopsies. After 5 days of culture we found a significant growth of both cholesteatoma and skin-derived cells. Cholesteatoma samples showed higher growth rate as compared with skin control cultures from the same patient. Moreover, the cholesteatoma cells showed higher production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin (IL)-6 as compared with normal skin.

  9. Optimized approaches for quantification of drug transporters in tissues and cells by MRM proteomics.

    PubMed

    Prasad, Bhagwat; Unadkat, Jashvant D

    2014-07-01

    Drug transporter expression in tissues (in vivo) usually differs from that in cell lines used to measure transporter activity (in vitro). Therefore, quantification of transporter expression in tissues and cell lines is important to develop scaling factor for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of transporter-mediated drug disposition. Since traditional immunoquantification methods are semiquantitative, targeted proteomics is now emerging as a superior method to quantify proteins, including membrane transporters. This superiority is derived from the selectivity, precision, accuracy, and speed of analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Moreover, LC-MS/MS proteomics has broader applicability because it does not require selective antibodies for individual proteins. There are a number of recent research and review papers that discuss the use of LC-MS/MS for transporter quantification. Here, we have compiled from the literature various elements of MRM proteomics to provide a comprehensive systematic strategy to quantify drug transporters. This review emphasizes practical aspects and challenges in surrogate peptide selection, peptide qualification, peptide synthesis and characterization, membrane protein isolation, protein digestion, sample preparation, LC-MS/MS parameter optimization, method validation, and sample analysis. In particular, bioinformatic tools used in method development and sample analysis are discussed in detail. Various pre-analytical and analytical sources of variability that should be considered during transporter quantification are highlighted. All these steps are illustrated using P-glycoprotein (P-gp) as a case example. Greater use of quantitative transporter proteomics will lead to a better understanding of the role of drug transporters in drug disposition.

  10. Biomarkers of the Hedgehog/Smoothened pathway in healthy volunteers

    PubMed Central

    Kadam, Sunil K; Patel, Bharvin K R; Jones, Emma; Nguyen, Tuan S; Verma, Lalit K; Landschulz, Katherine T; Stepaniants, Sergey; Li, Bin; Brandt, John T; Brail, Leslie H

    2012-01-01

    The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is involved in oncogenic transformation and tumor maintenance. The primary objective of this study was to select surrogate tissue to measure messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of Hh pathway genes for measurement of pharmacodynamic effect. Expression of Hh pathway specific genes was measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and global gene expression using Affymetrix U133 microarrays. Correlations were made between the expression of specific genes determined by qRT-PCR and normalized microarray data. Gene ontology analysis using microarray data for a broader set of Hh pathway genes was performed to identify additional Hh pathway-related markers in the surrogate tissue. RNA extracted from blood, hair follicle, and skin obtained from healthy subjects was analyzed by qRT-PCR for 31 genes, whereas 8 samples were analyzed for a 7-gene subset. Twelve sample sets, each with ≤500 ng total RNA derived from hair, skin, and blood, were analyzed using Affymetrix U133 microarrays. Transcripts for several Hh pathway genes were undetectable in blood using qRT-PCR. Skin was the most desirable matrix, followed by hair follicle. Whether processed by robust multiarray average or microarray suite 5 (MAS5), expression patterns of individual samples showed co-clustered signals; both normalization methods were equally effective for unsupervised analysis. The MAS5- normalized probe sets appeared better suited for supervised analysis. This work provides the basis for selection of a surrogate tissue and an expression analysis-based approach to evaluate pathway-related genes as markers of pharmacodynamic effect with novel inhibitors of the Hh pathway. PMID:22611475

  11. Molecular Characterization of the Human Stomach Microbiota in Gastric Cancer Patients.

    PubMed

    Yu, Guoqin; Torres, Javier; Hu, Nan; Medrano-Guzman, Rafael; Herrera-Goepfert, Roberto; Humphrys, Michael S; Wang, Lemin; Wang, Chaoyu; Ding, Ti; Ravel, Jacques; Taylor, Philip R; Abnet, Christian C; Goldstein, Alisa M

    2017-01-01

    Helicobacter pylori ( Hp ) is the primary cause of gastric cancer but we know little of its relative abundance and other microbes in the stomach, especially at the time of gastric cancer diagnosis. Here we characterized the taxonomic and derived functional profiles of gastric microbiota in two different sets of gastric cancer patients, and compared them with microbial profiles in other body sites. Paired non-malignant and tumor tissues were sampled from 160 gastric cancer patients with 80 from China and 80 from Mexico. The 16S rRNA gene V3-V4 region was sequenced using MiSeq platform for taxonomic profiles. PICRUSt was used to predict functional profiles. Human Microbiome Project was used for comparison. We showed that Hp is the most abundant member of gastric microbiota in both Chinese and Mexican samples (51 and 24%, respectively), followed by oral-associated bacteria. Taxonomic (phylum-level) profiles of stomach microbiota resembled oral microbiota, especially when the Helicobacter reads were removed. The functional profiles of stomach microbiota, however, were distinct from those found in other body sites and had higher inter-subject dissimilarity. Gastric microbiota composition did not differ by Hp colonization status or stomach anatomic sites, but did differ between paired non-malignant and tumor tissues in either Chinese or Mexican samples. Our study showed that Hp is the dominant member of the non-malignant gastric tissue microbiota in many gastric cancer patients. Our results provide insights on the gastric microbiota composition and function in gastric cancer patients, which may have important clinical implications.

  12. Molecular Characterization of the Human Stomach Microbiota in Gastric Cancer Patients

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Guoqin; Torres, Javier; Hu, Nan; Medrano-Guzman, Rafael; Herrera-Goepfert, Roberto; Humphrys, Michael S.; Wang, Lemin; Wang, Chaoyu; Ding, Ti; Ravel, Jacques; Taylor, Philip R.; Abnet, Christian C.; Goldstein, Alisa M.

    2017-01-01

    Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is the primary cause of gastric cancer but we know little of its relative abundance and other microbes in the stomach, especially at the time of gastric cancer diagnosis. Here we characterized the taxonomic and derived functional profiles of gastric microbiota in two different sets of gastric cancer patients, and compared them with microbial profiles in other body sites. Paired non-malignant and tumor tissues were sampled from 160 gastric cancer patients with 80 from China and 80 from Mexico. The 16S rRNA gene V3–V4 region was sequenced using MiSeq platform for taxonomic profiles. PICRUSt was used to predict functional profiles. Human Microbiome Project was used for comparison. We showed that Hp is the most abundant member of gastric microbiota in both Chinese and Mexican samples (51 and 24%, respectively), followed by oral-associated bacteria. Taxonomic (phylum-level) profiles of stomach microbiota resembled oral microbiota, especially when the Helicobacter reads were removed. The functional profiles of stomach microbiota, however, were distinct from those found in other body sites and had higher inter-subject dissimilarity. Gastric microbiota composition did not differ by Hp colonization status or stomach anatomic sites, but did differ between paired non-malignant and tumor tissues in either Chinese or Mexican samples. Our study showed that Hp is the dominant member of the non-malignant gastric tissue microbiota in many gastric cancer patients. Our results provide insights on the gastric microbiota composition and function in gastric cancer patients, which may have important clinical implications. PMID:28730144

  13. [Advances in the research of natural polymeric materials and their derivatives in the manufacture of scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering].

    PubMed

    Li, Ran; Wang, Hong; Leng, Chongyan; Wang, Kuan; Xie, Ying

    2016-05-01

    Natural polymeric materials and their derivatives are organic macromolecular compounds which exist in plants, animals, and micro-organisms. They have been widely used in the preparation of scaffolds for skin tissue engineering recently because of their good histocompatibility and degradability, and low immunogenicity. With the improvement of the preparation technics, composite materials are more commonly used to make scaffolds for dermal tissue engineering. This article summarizes the classification and research status of the commonly used natural polymer materials, their derivatives, and composite scaffold materials, as well as makes a prospect of the research trends of dermal scaffold in the future.

  14. In vitro bone formation using muscle-derived cells: a new paradigm for bone tissue engineering using polymer-bone morphogenetic protein matrices.

    PubMed

    Lu, Helen H; Kofron, Michelle D; El-Amin, Saadiq F; Attawia, Mohammed A; Laurencin, Cato T

    2003-06-13

    Over 800,000 bone grafting procedures are performed in the United States annually, creating a demand for viable alternatives to autogenous bone, the grafting standard in osseous repair. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of a BMP-polymer matrix in inducing the expression of the osteoblastic phenotype and in vitro bone formation by muscle-derived cells. Specifically, we evaluated the ability of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7), delivered from a poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLAGA) matrix, to induce the differentiation of cells derived from rabbit skeletal muscle into osteoblast-like cells and subsequently form mineralized tissue. Results confirmed that muscle-derived cells attached and proliferated on the PLAGA substrates. BMP-7 released from PLAGA induced the muscle-derived cells to increase bone marker expression and form mineralized cultures. These results demonstrate the efficacy of a BMP-polymer matrix in inducing the expression of the osteoblastic phenotype by muscle-derived cells and present a new paradigm for bone tissue engineering.

  15. Enamel Matrix Derivative has No Effect on the Chondrogenic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Groeneveldt, Lisanne C.; Knuth, Callie; Witte-Bouma, Janneke

    2014-09-02

    Background: Treatment of large bone defects due to trauma, tumor resection, or congenital abnormalities is challenging. Bone tissue engineering using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represents a promising treatment option. However, the quantity and quality of engineered bone tissue are not sufficient to fill large bone defects. The aim of this study was to determine if the addition of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) improves in vitro chondrogenic priming of MSCs to ultimately improve in vivo MSC mediated endochondral bone formation. Methods: MSCs were chondrogenically differentiated in 2.0 × 10{sup 5} cell pellets in medium supplemented with TGFβ3 in the absence ormore » presence of 1, 10, or 100 μg/mL EMD. Samples were analyzed for gene expression of RUNX2, Col II, Col X, and Sox9. Protein and glycoaminoglycan (GAG) production were also investigated via DMB assays, histology, and immunohistochemistry. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation capacity were also assessed. Results: The addition of EMD did not negatively affect chondrogenic differentiation of adult human MSCs. EMD did not appear to alter GAG production or expression of chondrogenic genes. Osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation were also unaffected though a trend toward decreased adipogenic gene expression was observed. Conclusion: EMD does not affect chondrogenic differentiation of adult human MSCs. As such the use of EMD in combination with chondrogenically primed MSCs for periodontal bone tissue repair is unlikely to have negative effects on MSC differentiation.« less

  16. Expression of drebrin, an actin binding protein, in basal cell carcinoma, trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma.

    PubMed

    Mizutani, Yoko; Iwamoto, Ikuko; Kanoh, Hiroyuki; Seishima, Mariko; Nagata, Koh-ichi

    2014-06-01

    Drebrin, an F-actin binding protein, is known to play important roles in cell migration, synaptogenesis and neural plasticity. Although drebrin was long thought to be specific for neuronal cells, its expression has recently been reported in non-neuronal cells. As for skin-derived cells, drebrin was shown to be enriched at adhering junctions (AJs) in cultured primary keratinocytes and also be highly expressed in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cells. Since BCC and two types of benign neoplasm, trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma, are considered to derive from the same origin, follicular germinative cells, it is sometimes difficult to morphologically distinguish BCC from trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma. In this study, we performed immunohistochemical staining of drebrin in BCC, trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma, to examine whether drebrin could serve as a biomarker for BCC diagnosis. In western blotting, drebrin was detected highly and moderately in the lysates from a squamous cell carcinoma cell line, DJM-1, and normal human epidermis, respectively. In immunofluorescence analyses, drebrin was colocalized with markers of AJs and tight junctions in DJM-1 cells and detected at cell-cell junction areas of human normal epidermis tissue. We then examined the distribution patterns of drebrin in BCC, trichoblastoma and trichoepithelioma. In BCC tissues, intense and homogeneous drebrin expression was observed mainly at tumor cell-cell boundaries. In contrast, drebrin was stained only weakly and non-homogeneously in trichoblastoma and trichoepthelioma tissue samples. For differential diagnosis of BCC, drebrin may be a novel and useful marker.

  17. Effect of Adipose Tissue-Derived Osteogenic and Endothelial Cells on Bone Allograft Osteogenesis and Vascularization in Critical-Sized Calvarial Defects

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-05-10

    1% peni - cillin/streptomycin, and 50 ng/mL recombinant rat VEGF-C (Promocell, Heidelberg, Germany). The media were changed every other day for 8...various animal models that have demonstrated an enhanced osteogenic effect after treating bone allografts with adipose tissue or bone marrow-derived... enhanced 1560 CORNEJO ET AL. performance of bone allografts using osteogenic differentiated adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials 32, 8880

  18. Kojyl cinnamate ester derivatives promote adiponectin production during adipogenesis in human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

    PubMed

    Rho, Ho Sik; Hong, Soo Hyun; Park, Jongho; Jung, Hyo-Il; Park, Young-Ho; Lee, John Hwan; Shin, Song Seok; Noh, Minsoo

    2014-05-01

    The subcutaneous fat tissue mass gradually decreases with age, and its regulation is a strategy to develop anti-aging compounds to ameliorate the photo-aging of human skin. The adipogenesis of human adipose tissue-mesenchymal stem cells (hAT-MSCs) can be used as a model to discover novel anti-aging compounds. Cinnamomum cassia methanol extracts were identified as adipogenesis-promoting agents by natural product library screening. Cinnamates, the major chemical components of Cinnamomum cassia extracts, promoted adipogenesis in hAT-MSCs. We synthesized kojyl cinnamate ester derivatives to improve the pharmacological activity of cinnamates. Structure-activity studies of kojyl cinnamate derivatives showed that both the α,β-unsaturated carbonyl ester group and the kojic acid moiety play core roles in promoting adiponectin production during adipogenesis in hAT-MSCs. We conclude that kojyl cinnamate ester derivatives provide novel pharmacophores that can regulate adipogenesis in hAT-MSCs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue express and secrete functional alpha2hsglycoprotein (fetuin a) especially in obesity.

    PubMed

    Pérez-Sotelo, Diego; Roca-Rivada, Arturo; Larrosa-García, María; Castelao, Cecilia; Baamonde, Iván; Baltar, Javier; Crujeiras, Ana Belen; Seoane, Luisa María; Casanueva, Felipe F; Pardo, María

    2017-02-01

    The secretion of the hepatokine alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein/Fetuin A, implicated in pathological processes including systemic insulin resistance, by adipose tissue has been recently described. Thus, we have recently identified its presence in white adipose tissue secretomes by mass spectrometry. However, the secretion pattern and function of adipose-derived alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein are poorly understood. The aim of this study is to evaluate the expression and secretion of total and active phosphorylated alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein by adipose tissue from visceral and subcutaneous localizations in animals at different physiological and nutritional status including anorexia and obesity. Alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein expression and secretion in visceral adipose tissue and subcutaneous adipose tissue explants from animals under fasting and exercise training, at pathological situations such as anorexia and obesity, and from human obese individuals were assayed by immunoblotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We reveal that visceral adipose tissue expresses and secretes more alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein than subcutaneous adipose tissue, and that this secretion is diminished after fasting and exercise training. Visceral adipose tissue from anorectic animals showed reduced alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein secretion; on the contrary, alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein is over-secreted by visceral adipose tissue in the occurrence of obesity. While secretion of active-PhophoSer321α2HSG by visceral adipose tissue is independent of body mass index, we found that the fraction of active-alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein secreted by subcutaneous adipose tissue increments significantly in situations of obesity. Functional studies show that the inhibition of adipose-derived alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein increases insulin sensitivity in differentiated adipocytes. In conclusion, visceral adipose tissue secretes more alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein than subcutaneous adipose tissue and this secretion is more sensitive to nutritional and physiological changes. The over-secretion of alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein by visceral adipose tissue, the increased secretion of the active phosphorylated form by subcutaneous adipose tissuein obese animals, and the adipose-derived alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein capacity to inhibit the insulin pathway suggest the participation of adipose-derived alpha-2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein in the deleterious effects of obesity.

  20. Regeneration of articular cartilage by adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells: perspectives from stem cell biology and molecular medicine.

    PubMed

    Wu, Ling; Cai, Xiaoxiao; Zhang, Shu; Karperien, Marcel; Lin, Yunfeng

    2013-05-01

    Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) have been discovered for more than a decade. Due to the large numbers of cells that can be harvested with relatively little donor morbidity, they are considered to be an attractive alternative to bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. Consequently, isolation and differentiation of ASCs draw great attention in the research of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Cartilage defects cause big therapeutic problems because of their low self-repair capacity. Application of ASCs in cartilage regeneration gives hope to treat cartilage defects with autologous stem cells. In recent years, a lot of studies have been performed to test the possibility of using ASCs to re-construct damaged cartilage tissue. In this article, we have reviewed the most up-to-date articles utilizing ASCs for cartilage regeneration in basic and translational research. Our topic covers differentiation of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes, increased cartilage formation by co-culture of ASCs with chondrocytes and enhancing chondrogenic differentiation of ASCs by gene manipulation. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Menstrual blood closely resembles the uterine immune micro-environment and is clearly distinct from peripheral blood.

    PubMed

    van der Molen, R G; Schutten, J H F; van Cranenbroek, B; ter Meer, M; Donckers, J; Scholten, R R; van der Heijden, O W H; Spaanderman, M E A; Joosten, I

    2014-02-01

    Is menstrual blood a suitable source of endometrial derived lymphocytes? Mononuclear cells isolated from menstrual samples (menstrual blood mononuclear cells (MMC)) are clearly distinct from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and show a strong resemblance with biopsy-derived endometrial mononuclear cells. A critical event in the onset of pregnancy is the implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall. The immune cell composition in the endometrium at the time of implantation is considered pivotal for success. Despite advancing knowledge on the composition of the immune cell population in the uterus, the role of endometrial immune cells in reproductive disorders is still not fully resolved, mainly due to the fact that this type of research requires invasive techniques. Here, we collected menstrual fluid and validated this unique non-invasive technique to obtain and study the endometrium-derived immune cells which would be present around the time of implantation. Five healthy non-pregnant females with regular menstruation cycles and not using oral contraceptives collected their menstrual blood using a menstrual cup in five consecutive cycles. Sampling took place over the first 3 days of menses, with 12 h intervals. Peripheral blood samples, taken before and after each menstruation, were obtained for comparative analysis. MMC and PBMC samples were characterized for the different lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry, with emphasis on NK cells and T cells. Next, the functional capacity of the MMC-derived NK cells was determined by measuring intracellular production of IFN-γ, granzyme B and perforin after culture in the presence of IL-2 and IL-15. In support of their endometrial origin, MMC samples contained the typical composition of mononuclear cells expected of endometrial tissue, were phenotypically similar to the reported phenotype for biopsy-derived endometrial cells, and were distinct from PBMC. Increased percentages of NK cells and decreased percentages of T cells were found in MMC when compared with PBMC from the same female. The MMC-derived NK cells were pre-dominantly CD56(bright)/CD16(-), in contrast to the primarily CD56(dim)/CD16(+) peripheral blood NK cells. MMC-derived NK cells expressed CD103, indicating their mucosal origin. In addition, the pattern of natural cytotoxicity receptor (NCR) expression in MMC-derived NK cells was comparable with that in endometrial biopsy-derived NK cells. Compared with PBMC, the NKp30 expression was decreased, while the percentage of NKp44 positive cells was increased in MMC samples. CXCR3 and CXCR4 were hardly expressed by MMC-derived NK cells, indicating that these cells are not of PBMC origin. NK cells from MMC samples were functional as shown by their capacity to produce IFN-γ, granzyme B and perforin, upon stimulation with IL-2 and IL-15. MMC-derived T cells revealed an increased expression of CD103, CD69 and CXCR4 compared with PBMC-derived T cells. Importantly, MMC collection using a menstrual cup proved highly reliable and reproducible between women and between cycles. Based on the parameters we studied, MMC appear similar to biopsy-derived endometrial mononuclear cells. However, sampling is not done at the exact same time in the menstrual cycle, and thus we cannot exclude some, as yet undetected, differences. Also, it should be considered that for some women, the use of the menstrual cup may be unpleasant. Menstrual blood may be a source of endometrial cells and may create new opportunities to study uterine immunological cells in fertility issues. No external funding was obtained for the present study. None of the authors have any conflict of interest to declare. NA.

  2. Effect of allo- and xenotransplantation of embryonic nervous tissue and umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells on structural and functional state of cerebral cortex of albino rats in posttraumatic period.

    PubMed

    Ereniev, S I; Semchenko, V V; Sysheva, E V; Bogdashin, I V; Shapovalova, V V; Khizhnyak, A S; Gasanenko, L N

    2005-11-01

    Comparative study of the structural and functional state of cerebral cortex of adult albino rats after intracerebral allo- and xenotransplantation of embryonic nervous tissue and intravenous injection of umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells at different terms after diffuse-focal cerebral trauma revealed the best cerebroprotective effect on day 7 of posttraumatic period in animals receiving embryonic nervous tissue.

  3. Nitric oxide increases Wnt-induced secreted protein-1 (WISP-1/CCN4) expression and function in colitis.

    PubMed

    Wang, Hongying; Zhang, Rui; Wen, Shoubin; McCafferty, Donna-Marie; Beck, Paul L; MacNaughton, Wallace K

    2009-04-01

    Nitric oxide (NO) derived from the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) is an important and complex mediator of inflammation in the intestine. Wnt-inducible secreted protein (WISP)-1 (CCN4), a member of the connective tissue growth factor family, is involved in tissue repair. We sought to determine the relationship between iNOS and WISP-1 in colitis. By analyzing human colonic biopsy samples, we showed that the expression of mRNA for both iNOS and WISP-1 was significantly higher in ulcerative colitis samples compared with control tissue. The upregulation of WISP-1 was positively correlated with iNOS expression in two models of colitis, induced by intrarectal trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) or occurring spontaneously in IL-10 deficient mice. Loss of iNOS, studied using iNOS(-/-) mice in both TNBS-induced and IL-10(-/-) colitis models, significantly attenuated the colitis-related WISP-1 increase. In human colonic epithelial cell lines, the NO donor, DETA-NONOate, elevated WISP-1 mRNA and protein expression through a beta-catenin and CREB-dependent, but Wnt-1-independent, pathway. In addition, NO-induced WISP-1 directly induced secretion of soluble collagen in colonic fibroblast cells. NO increases WISP-1 expression both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a new role for iNOS and NO in colitis.

  4. The challenge of on-tissue digestion for MALDI MSI- a comparison of different protocols to improve imaging experiments.

    PubMed

    Diehl, Hanna C; Beine, Birte; Elm, Julian; Trede, Dennis; Ahrens, Maike; Eisenacher, Martin; Marcus, Katrin; Meyer, Helmut E; Henkel, Corinna

    2015-03-01

    Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) has become a powerful and successful tool in the context of biomarker detection especially in recent years. This emerging technique is based on the combination of histological information of a tissue and its corresponding spatial resolved mass spectrometric information. The identification of differentially expressed protein peaks between samples is still the method's bottleneck. Therefore, peptide MSI compared to protein MSI is closer to the final goal of identification since peptides are easier to measure than proteins. Nevertheless, the processing of peptide imaging samples is challenging due to experimental complexity. To address this issue, a method development study for peptide MSI using cryoconserved and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) rat brain tissue is provided. Different digestion times, matrices, and proteases were tested to define an optimal workflow for peptide MSI. All practical experiments were done in triplicates and analyzed by the SCiLS Lab software, using structures derived from myelin basic protein (MBP) peaks, principal component analysis (PCA) and probabilistic latent semantic analysis (pLSA) to rate the experiments' quality. Blinded experimental evaluation in case of defining countable structures in the datasets was performed by three individuals. Such an extensive method development for peptide matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging experiments has not been performed so far, and the resulting problems and consequences were analyzed and discussed.

  5. Simultaneous detection of molecular oxygen and water vapor in the tissue optical window using tunable diode laser spectroscopy.

    PubMed

    Persson, Linda; Lewander, Märta; Andersson, Mats; Svanberg, Katarina; Svanberg, Sune

    2008-04-20

    We report on a dual-diode laser spectroscopic system for simultaneous detection of two gases. The technique is demonstrated by performing gas measurements on absorbing samples such as an air distance, and on absorbing and scattering porous samples such as human tissue. In the latter it is possible to derive the concentration of one gas by normalizing to a second gas of known concentration. This is possible if the scattering and absorption of the bulk material is equal or similar for the two wavelengths used, resulting in a common effective pathlength. Two pigtailed diode lasers are operated in a wavelength modulation scheme to detect molecular oxygen ~760 nm and water vapor ~935 nm within the tissue optical window (600 nm to 1.3 mum). Different modulation frequencies are used to distinguish between the two wavelengths. No crosstalk can be observed between the gas contents measured in the two gas channels. The system is made compact by using a computer board and performing software-based lock-in detection. The noise floor obtained corresponds to an absorption fraction of approximately 6x10(-5) for both oxygen and water vapor, yielding a minimum detection limit of ~2 mm for both gases in ambient air. The power of the technique is illustrated by the preliminary results of a clinical trial, nonintrusively investigating gas in human sinuses.

  6. Determination of oxytetracycline residues in cattle meat marketed in the Kilosa district, Tanzania.

    PubMed

    Kimera, Zuhura I; Mdegela, Robinson H; Mhaiki, Consolatha J N; Karimuribo, Esron D; Mabiki, Faith; Nonga, Hezron E; Mwesongo, James

    2015-11-27

    Oxytetracycline is used to treat various diseases in cattle. However, its use may be associated with unacceptable residue levels in food. Oxytetracycline residues in tissues from indigenous cattle were determined in a cross-sectional study conducted in the Kilosa district, Tanzania, between November 2012 and April 2013. A total of 60 tissue samples, including muscle, liver and kidney, were collected from slaughterhouses and butchers and analysed for oxytetracycline using high-performance liquid chromatography. Oxytetracycline residues were found in 71.1% of the samples, of which 68.3% were above acceptable regulatory levels. The mean concentration of oxytetracycline across tissues was 3401.1 μg/kg ± 879.3 μg/kg; concentrations in muscle, liver and kidney were 2604.1 μg/kg ± 703.7 μg/kg, 3434.4 μg/kg ± 606.4 μg/kg and 3533.1 μg/kg ± 803.6 μg/kg, respectively. High levels of oxytetracycline residue in meat from indigenous cattle may pose a health threat to consumers in Kilosa. The findings possibly reflect a general lack of implementation of recommended withdrawal periods, ignorance about drug use and lack of extension services. Strict regulation of the use of antimicrobial drugs in the livestock industry and associated testing of animal-derived food sources prior to marketing are required.

  7. Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantification of tigecycline in rat brain tissues.

    PubMed

    Munyeza, Chiedza F; Shobo, Adeola; Baijnath, Sooraj; Bratkowska, Dominika; Naiker, Suhashni; Bester, Linda A; Singh, Sanil D; Maguire, Glenn E M; Kruger, Hendrik G; Naicker, Tricia; Govender, Thavendran

    2016-06-01

    Tigecycline (TIG), a derivative of minocycline, is the first in the novel class of glycylcyclines and is currently indicated for the treatment of complicated skin structure and intra-abdominal infections. A selective, accurate and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of TIG in rat brain tissues. Sample preparation was based on protein precipitation and solid phase extraction using Supel-Select HLB (30 mg/1 mL) cartridges. The samples were separated on a YMC Triart C18 column (150 mm x 3.0 mm. 3.0 µm) using gradient elution. Positive electrospray ionization (ESI+) was used for the detection mechanism with the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated over the concentration range of 150-1200 ng/mL for rat brain tissue. The precision and accuracy for all brain analyses were within the acceptable limit. The mean extraction recovery in rat brain was 83.6%. This validated method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in female Sprague Dawley rats, which were given a dose of 25 mg/kg TIG intraperitoneally at various time-points. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  8. Cryopreservation of Viable Human Lung Tissue for Versatile Post-thaw Analyses and Culture

    PubMed Central

    Baatz, John E.; Newton, Danforth A.; Riemer, Ellen C.; Denlinger, Chadrick E.; Jones, E. Ellen; Drake, Richard R.; Spyropoulos, Demetri D.

    2018-01-01

    Clinical trials are currently used to test therapeutic efficacies for lung cancer, infections and diseases. Animal models are also used as surrogates for human disease. Both approaches are expensive and time-consuming. The utility of human biospecimens as models is limited by specialized tissue processing methods that preserve subclasses of analytes (e.g. RNA, protein, morphology) at the expense of others. We present a rapid and reproducible method for the cryopreservation of viable lung tissue from patients undergoing lobectomy or transplant. This method involves the pseudo-diaphragmatic expansion of pieces of fresh lung tissue with cryoprotectant formulation (pseudo-diaphragmatic expansion-cryoprotectant perfusion or PDX-CP) followed by controlled-rate freezing in cryovials. Expansion-perfusion rates, volumes and cryoprotectant formulation were optimized to maintain tissue architecture, decrease crystal formation and increase long-term cell viability. Rates of expansion of 4 cc/min or less and volumes ranging from 0.8–1.2 × tissue volume were well-tolerated by lung tissue obtained from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, showing minimal differences compared to standard histopathology. Morphology was greatly improved by the PDX-CP procedure compared to simple fixation. Fresh versus post-thawed lung tissue showed minimal differences in histology, RNA integrity numbers and post-translational modified protein integrity (2-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis). It was possible to derive numerous cell types, including alveolar epithelial cells, fibroblasts and stem cells, from the tissue for at least three months after cryopreservation. This new method should provide a uniform, cost-effective approach to the banking of biospecimens, with versatility to be amenable to any post-acquisition process applicable to fresh tissue samples. PMID:24982205

  9. Diet-tissue discrimination factors and turnover of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in tissues of an adult predatory coral reef fish, Plectropomus leopardus.

    PubMed

    Matley, J K; Fisk, A T; Tobin, A J; Heupel, M R; Simpfendorfer, C A

    2016-01-15

    Stable isotope ratios (δ(13)C and δ(15)N values) provide a unique perspective into the ecology of animals because the isotope ratio values of consumers reflect the values in food. Despite the value of stable isotopes in ecological studies, the lack of species-specific experimentally derived diet-tissue discrimination factors (DTDFs) and turnover rates limits their application at a broad scale. Furthermore, most aquatic feeding experiments use temperate, fast-growing fish species and few have considered medium- to large-sized adults with low growth rates from tropical ecosystems. A controlled-diet stable isotope feeding trial was conducted over a 196-day period for the adult predatory reef fish leopard coralgrouper (Plectropomus leopardus). This study calculated δ(13)C and δ(15)N DTDFs and turnover rates in five tissues (liver, plasma, red blood cells (RBC), fin, and muscle) using a continuous flow isotope ratio mass spectrometer equipped with an elemental analyzer. In addition, the effect of chemical lipid extraction (LE) on stable isotope values was examined for each tissue. Turnover was mainly influenced by metabolism (as opposed to growth) with LE δ(15)N half-life values lowest in fin (37 days) and plasma (66 days), and highest in RBC (88 days) and muscle (126 days). The diet-tissue discrimination factors for δ(15)N values in all tissues (Δ(15)N: -0.15 to 1.84‰) were typically lower than commonly reported literature values. Lipid extraction altered both δ(15) N and δ(13)C values compared with untreated samples; however, for the δ(15)N values, the differences were small (mean δ(15)N(LE-Bulk) <0.46‰ in all tissues). This study informs future interpretation of stable isotope data for medium- to large-sized fish and demonstrates that DTDFs developed for temperate fish species, particularly for δ(15)N values, may not apply to tropical species. Sampling of muscle and/or RBC is recommended for a relatively long-term representation of feeding habits, while plasma and/or fin should be used for a more recent indication of diet. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

  10. Next generation sequencing techniques in liquid biopsy: focus on non-small cell lung cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Malapelle, Umberto; Pisapia, Pasquale; Rocco, Danilo; Smeraglio, Riccardo; di Spirito, Maria; Bellevicine, Claudio; Troncone, Giancarlo

    2016-10-01

    The advent of genomic based personalized medicine has led to multiple advances in the molecular characterization of many tumor types, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC is diagnosed in most cases on small tissue samples that may be not always sufficient for EGFR mutational assessment to select patients for first and second generations' tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) therapy. In patients without tissue availability at presentation, the analysis of cell free DNA (cfDNA) derived from liquid biopsy samples, in particular from plasma, represent an established alternative to provide EGFR mutational testing for treatment decision making. In addition, a new paradigm for TKIs resistance management was recently approved by Food and Drug Administration, supporting the liquid biopsy based genotyping prior to tissue based genotyping for the detection of T790M mutation to select patients for third generation TKIs. In these settings, real time PCR (RT-PCR) and digital PCR 'targeted' methods, which detect known mutations by specific probes, have extensively been adopted. Taking into account the restricted reference range and the limited multiplexing power of these targeted methods, the performance of liquid biopsy analyses may be further improved by next generation sequencing (NGS). While most tissue based NGS genotyping is well established, liquid biopsy NGS application is challenging, requiring a careful validation of the whole process, from blood collection to variant calling. Here we review this evolving field, highlighting those methodological points that are crucial to accurately select NSCLC patients for TKIs treatment administration by NGS on cfDNA.

  11. Content Heavy Metal Pb, Cd In Perna viridis And Sediments In Semarang Bay

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Suprapto, D.; Suryanti, S.; Latifah, N.

    2018-02-01

    Waste disposal from human activities, generally contain heavy metals such as Pb and Cd which derived from industrial activities. The aims of the study were to know the concentration of Pb and Cd heavy metals contained in Perna viridis tissue, sediment and water at Semarang Bay. This study was conducted in May 2017 at Semarang Bay. - Samples were collected using purposive sampling method. The heavy metal content in the water and clam was observed using- APHA method and was analyzed using AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). The results showed that concentration of heavy metal of Pb in the water was 0.00-50.5mg/L and the Cd content was of 26.9-51.7 mg/L, whereas the concentration of Pb in the sediment is 445.5-2.053.0mg/L and Cd 963.3-2,150.0 mg/L. Pb content in soft tissue of Perna viridis - is 67.1-1.933.9 mg/L and the concentration of Cd was 203.5-5.787.3 mg/L. The analysis of Pb and Cd in seawater, sediment and soft tissue of Perna viridis according to Enviroment Ministerial decree (KepMenLH ) number 51 of 2004 and applied by NOAA 1999 does not exceed the quality standard, that meant that the Perna viridis has been contaminated by metal Pb it is controversial with the above sentence and Cd. It concluded that the metal content of Pb and Cd in Perna viridis tissue exceeds the quality standard, so it is not suitable to be consumed, especially in high quantity

  12. Rapid and accurate peripheral nerve detection using multipoint Raman imaging (Conference Presentation)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kumamoto, Yasuaki; Minamikawa, Takeo; Kawamura, Akinori; Matsumura, Junichi; Tsuda, Yuichiro; Ukon, Juichiro; Harada, Yoshinori; Tanaka, Hideo; Takamatsu, Tetsuro

    2017-02-01

    Nerve-sparing surgery is essential to avoid functional deficits of the limbs and organs. Raman scattering, a label-free, minimally invasive, and accurate modality, is one of the best candidate technologies to detect nerves for nerve-sparing surgery. However, Raman scattering imaging is too time-consuming to be employed in surgery. Here we present a rapid and accurate nerve visualization method using a multipoint Raman imaging technique that has enabled simultaneous spectra measurement from different locations (n=32) of a sample. Five sec is sufficient for measuring n=32 spectra with good S/N from a given tissue. Principal component regression discriminant analysis discriminated spectra obtained from peripheral nerves (n=863 from n=161 myelinated nerves) and connective tissue (n=828 from n=121 tendons) with sensitivity and specificity of 88.3% and 94.8%, respectively. To compensate the spatial information of a multipoint-Raman-derived tissue discrimination image that is too sparse to visualize nerve arrangement, we used morphological information obtained from a bright-field image. When merged with the sparse tissue discrimination image, a morphological image of a sample shows what portion of Raman measurement points in arbitrary structure is determined as nerve. Setting a nerve detection criterion on the portion of "nerve" points in the structure as 40% or more, myelinated nerves (n=161) and tendons (n=121) were discriminated with sensitivity and specificity of 97.5%. The presented technique utilizing a sparse multipoint Raman image and a bright-field image has enabled rapid, safe, and accurate detection of peripheral nerves.

  13. Fabrication of Extracellular Matrix-derived Foams and Microcarriers as Tissue-specific Cell Culture and Delivery Platforms.

    PubMed

    Kornmuller, Anna; Brown, Cody F C; Yu, Claire; Flynn, Lauren E

    2017-04-11

    Cell function is mediated by interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has complex tissue-specific composition and architecture. The focus of this article is on the methods for fabricating ECM-derived porous foams and microcarriers for use as biologically-relevant substrates in advanced 3D in vitro cell culture models or as pro-regenerative scaffolds and cell delivery systems for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Using decellularized tissues or purified insoluble collagen as a starting material, the techniques can be applied to synthesize a broad array of tissue-specific bioscaffolds with customizable geometries. The approach involves mechanical processing and mild enzymatic digestion to yield an ECM suspension that is used to fabricate the three-dimensional foams or microcarriers through controlled freezing and lyophilization procedures. These pure ECM-derived scaffolds are highly porous, yet stable without the need for chemical crosslinking agents or other additives that may negatively impact cell function. The scaffold properties can be tuned to some extent by varying factors such as the ECM suspension concentration, mechanical processing methods, or synthesis conditions. In general, the scaffolds are robust and easy to handle, and can be processed as tissues for most standard biological assays, providing a versatile and user-friendly 3D cell culture platform that mimics the native ECM composition. Overall, these straightforward methods for fabricating customized ECM-derived foams and microcarriers may be of interest to both biologists and biomedical engineers as tissue-specific cell-instructive platforms for in vitro and in vivo applications.

  14. Spontaneous myogenic differentiation of Flk-1-positive cells from adult pancreas and other nonmuscle tissues.

    PubMed

    Di Rocco, Giuliana; Tritarelli, Alessandra; Toietta, Gabriele; Gatto, Ilaria; Iachininoto, Maria Grazia; Pagani, Francesca; Mangoni, Antonella; Straino, Stefania; Capogrossi, Maurizio C

    2008-02-01

    At the embryonic or fetal stages, autonomously myogenic cells (AMCs), i.e., cells able to spontaneously differentiate into skeletal myotubes, have been identified from several different sites other than skeletal muscle, including the vascular compartment. However, in the adult animal, AMCs from skeletal muscle-devoid tissues have been described in only two cases. One is represented by thymic myoid cells, a restricted population of committed myogenic progenitors of unknown derivation present in the thymic medulla; the other is represented by a small subset of adipose tissue-associated cells, which we recently identified. In the present study we report, for the first time, the presence of spontaneously differentiating myogenic precursors in the pancreas and in other skeletal muscle-devoid organs such as spleen and stomach, as well as in the periaortic tissue of adult mice. Immunomagnetic selection procedures indicate that AMCs derive from Flk-1(+) progenitors. Individual clones of myogenic cells from nonmuscle organs are morphologically and functionally indistinguishable from skeletal muscle-derived primary myoblasts. Moreover, they can be induced to proliferate in vitro and are able to participate in muscle regeneration in vivo. Thus, we provide evidence that fully competent myogenic progenitors can be derived from the Flk-1(+) compartment of several adult tissues that are embryologically unrelated to skeletal muscle.

  15. Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Reparative Potential in Ischemic Heart Disease.

    PubMed

    Badimon, Lina; Oñate, Blanca; Vilahur, Gemma

    2015-07-01

    Adipose tissue has long been considered an energy storage and endocrine organ; however, in recent decades, this tissue has also been considered an abundant source of mesenchymal cells. Adipose-derived stem cells are easily obtained, show a strong capacity for ex vivo expansion and differentiation to other cell types, release a large variety of angiogenic factors, and have immunomodulatory properties. Thus, adipose tissue is currently the focus of considerable interest in the field of regenerative medicine. In the context of coronary heart disease, numerous experimental studies have supported the safety and efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells in the setting of myocardial infarction. These results have encouraged the clinical use of these stem cells, possibly prematurely. Indeed, the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, coronary disease, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, alter and reduce the functionality of adipose-derived stem cells, putting in doubt the efficacy of their autologous implantation. In the present article, white adipose tissue is described, the stem cells found in this tissue are characterized, and the use of these cells is discussed according to the preclinical and clinical trials performed so far. Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  16. Malondialdehyde-derived epitopes in human skin result from acute exposure to solar UV and occur in nonmelanoma skin cancer tissue.

    PubMed

    Williams, Joshua D; Bermudez, Yira; Park, Sophia L; Stratton, Steven P; Uchida, Koji; Hurst, Craig A; Wondrak, Georg T

    2014-03-05

    Cutaneous exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a causative factor in photoaging and photocarcinogenesis. In human skin, oxidative stress is widely considered a key mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of acute and chronic UVR exposure. The lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulates in tissue under conditions of increased oxidative stress, and the occurrence of MDA-derived protein epitopes, including dihydropyridine-lysine (DHP), has recently been substantiated in human skin. Here we demonstrate for the first time that acute exposure to sub-apoptogenic doses of solar simulated UV light (SSL) causes the formation of free MDA and protein-bound MDA-derived epitopes in cultured human HaCaT keratinocytes and healthy human skin. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that acute exposure to SSL is sufficient to cause an almost twenty-fold increase in general MDA- and specific DHP-epitope content in human skin. When compared to dose-matched solar simulated UVA, complete SSL was more efficient generating both free MDA and MDA-derived epitopes. Subsequent tissue microarray (TMA) analysis revealed the prevalence of MDA- and DHP-epitopes in nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). In squamous cell carcinoma tissue, both MDA- and DHP-epitopes were increased more than threefold as compared to adjacent normal tissue. Taken together, these date demonstrate the occurrence of MDA-derived epitopes in both solar UVR-exposed healthy human skin and NMSC TMA tissue; however, the potential utility of these epitopes as novel biomarkers of cutaneous photodamage and a functional role in the process of skin photocarcinogenesis remain to be explored. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. First Identification of Resident and Circulating Fibrocytes in Dupuytren’s Disease Shown to Be Inhibited by Serum Amyloid P and Xiapex

    PubMed Central

    Iqbal, Syed Amir; Hayton, Michael John; Watson, James Stewart; Szczypa, Piotr; Bayat, Ardeshir

    2014-01-01

    Dupuytren’s disease (DD) is a common progressive fibroproliferative disorder causing permanent digital contracture. Proliferative myofibroblasts are thought to be the cells responsible for DD initiation and recurrence, although their source remains unknown. DD tissue has also been shown to harbor mesenchymal and hematopoietic stem cells. Fibrocytes are circulating cells that show characteristics of fibroblasts and they express surface markers for both hematopoietic and mesenchymal stromal cells. Fibrocytes differentiate from peripheral CD14+ mononuclear cells, which can be inhibited by serum amyloid P (SAP). In this study we have demonstrated the presence of fibrocytes in DD blood and tissue, moreover we have evaluated the effects of SAP and Xiapex (Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum) on fibrocytes derived from DD. H&E staining showed typical Spindle shaped morphology of fibrocytes. FACS analysis based on a unique combination of 3 markers, revealed the increased presence of fibrocytes in blood and tissue of DD patients. Additionally, immunohistology of DD nodule and cord tissue showed the presence of collagen 1+/CD34+ cells. No difference in plasma SAP levels was observed between DD and control. Higher concentrations of SAP significantly inhibited fibrocytes differentiated from DD derived monocytes compared to control. DD fascia derived fibrocytes showed resistance to growth inhibition by SAP, particularly nodule derived fibrocytes showed robust growth even at higher SAP concentrations compared to control. DD derived fibrocytes were positive for typical fibrocyte dual markers, i.e. Collagen 1/LSP-1 and collagen 1/CD34. Xiapex was more effective in inhibiting the growth of nodule derived cells compared to commercially available collagenase A. Our results show for the first time the increased presence of fibrocytes in DD patient’s blood and disease tissue compared to control tissue. Additionally, we evaluate the response of these fibrocytes to SAP and Xiapex therapy. PMID:24933153

  18. Survival of Skin Graft between Transgenic Cloned Dogs and Non-Transgenic Cloned Dogs

    PubMed Central

    Kim, Geon A; Oh, Hyun Ju; Kim, Min Jung; Jo, Young Kwang; Choi, Jin; Park, Jung Eun; Park, Eun Jung; Lim, Sang Hyun; Yoon, Byung Il; Kang, Sung Keun; Jang, Goo; Lee, Byeong Chun

    2014-01-01

    Whereas it has been assumed that genetically modified tissues or cells derived from somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) should be accepted by a host of the same species, their immune compatibility has not been extensively explored. To identify acceptance of SCNT-derived cells or tissues, skin grafts were performed between cloned dogs that were identical except for their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes and foreign gene. We showed here that differences in mtDNA haplotypes and genetic modification did not elicit immune responses in these dogs: 1) skin tissues from genetically-modified cloned dogs were successfully transplanted into genetically-modified cloned dogs with different mtDNA haplotype under three successive grafts over 63 days; and 2) non-transgenic cloned tissues were accepted into transgenic cloned syngeneic recipients with different mtDNA haplotypes and vice versa under two successive grafts over 63 days. In addition, expression of the inserted gene was maintained, being functional without eliciting graft rejection. In conclusion, these results show that transplanting genetically-modified tissues into normal, syngeneic or genetically-modified recipient dogs with different mtDNA haplotypes do not elicit skin graft rejection or affect expression of the inserted gene. Therefore, therapeutically valuable tissue derived from SCNT with genetic modification might be used safely in clinical applications for patients with diseased tissues. PMID:25372489

  19. A general method to correct PET data for tissue metabolites using a dual-scan approach.

    PubMed

    Gunn, R N; Yap, J T; Wells, P; Osman, S; Price, P; Jones, T; Cunningham, V J

    2000-04-01

    This article presents and analyses a general method of correcting for the presence of radiolabeled metabolites from a parent radiotracer in tissue during PET scanning. The method is based on a dual-scan approach, i.e., parent scan together with an independent supplementary scan in which the radiolabeled metabolite of interest itself is administered. The method corrects for the presence of systemically derived radiolabeled metabolite delivered to the tissues of interest through the blood. Data from the supplementary scan are analyzed to obtain the tissue impulse response function for the metabolite. The time course of the radiolabeled metabolite in plasma in the parent scan is convolved with its tissue impulse response function to derive a correction term. This is not a simple subtraction technique but 1 that takes account of the different time-activity curves of the radiolabeled metabolite in the 2 scans. The method, its implications, and its limitations are discussed with respect to [11C]thymidine and its principal metabolite 11CO2. The general method, based on a dual-scan approach, can be used to correct for radiolabeled metabolites in tissues of interest during PET scanning. The correction accounts for radiolabeled metabolites that are derived systemically and delivered to the tissues of interest through the blood.

  20. Implantation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Tracheal Epithelial Cells.

    PubMed

    Ikeda, Masakazu; Imaizumi, Mitsuyoshi; Yoshie, Susumu; Nakamura, Ryosuke; Otsuki, Koshi; Murono, Shigeyuki; Omori, Koichi

    2017-07-01

    Compared with using autologous tissue, the use of artificial materials in the regeneration of tracheal defects is minimally invasive. However, this technique requires early epithelialization on the inner side of the artificial trachea. After differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), tracheal epithelial tissues may be used to produce artificial tracheas. Herein, we aimed to demonstrate that after differentiation from fluorescent protein-labeled iPSCs, tracheal epithelial tissues survived in nude rats with tracheal defects. Red fluorescent tdTomato protein was electroporated into mouse iPSCs to produce tdTomato-labeled iPSCs. Embryoid bodies derived from these iPSCs were then cultured in differentiation medium supplemented with growth factors, followed by culture on air-liquid interfaces for further differentiation into tracheal epithelium. The cells were implanted with artificial tracheas into nude rats with tracheal defects on day 26 of cultivation. On day 7 after implantation, the tracheas were exposed and examined histologically. Tracheal epithelial tissue derived from tdTomato-labeled iPSCs survived in the tracheal defects. Moreover, immunochemical analyses showed that differentiated tissues had epithelial structures similar to those of proximal tracheal tissues. After differentiation from iPSCs, tracheal epithelial tissues survived in rat bodies, warranting the use of iPSCs for epithelial regeneration in tracheal defects.

  1. Retinoic Acid Is Present in the Postnatal Rat Olfactory Organ and Persists in Vitamin A–Depleted Neural Tissue1–3

    PubMed Central

    Asson-Batres, Mary Ann; Smith, W. Bradford; Clark, Gale

    2009-01-01

    Vitamin A (VA), all-trans-retinol (at-ROL), and its derivative, all-trans-retinoic acid (at-RA), are required for neuron development. The effects of these retinoids are dependent upon the nutritional status of the rat and tissue-specific dynamics of retinoid access and utilization. The purpose of this study was to determine the status of at-ROL and at-RA in the peripheral olfactory organ of postnatal rats fed a normal diet and rats fed a VA-deficient (VAD) diet. Extracted retinoids were analyzed by HPLC. Resolved sample peaks were identified by comparing their elution times and spectra with those of authentic standards. Mean at-RA and at-ROL concentrations of 23 pmol/g olfactory tissue and 0.13 nmol/g, respectively, were recovered from olfactory tissue. The ratio of at-RA:at-ROL in olfactory was ∼2 times that in testis and 200 times that in liver. at-ROL was depleted from the liver and olfactory organ of rats fed a VAD diet from birth to 70 d of age. Surprisingly, at-RA was still present in olfactory tissue from these rats. At 90 d of age, the VAD rats were frankly deficient and at-RA was no longer detectable in olfactory tissue. The comparatively high ratio of at-RA:at-ROL in the peripheral olfactory organ and the persistence of at-RA in at-ROL-depleted tissues strongly suggests that maintenance of local stores of at-RA is functionally relevant in this tissue. PMID:19403718

  2. The Diagnostic Accuracy of Incisional Biopsy in the Oral Cavity.

    PubMed

    Chen, Sara; Forman, Michael; Sadow, Peter M; August, Meredith

    2016-05-01

    To determine the accuracy of incisional biopsy examination to diagnose oral lesions. This retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the concordance rate between incisional biopsy examination and definitive resection diagnosis for different oral lesions. The study sample was derived from the population of patients who presented to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA) from January 2005 through December 2012. Inclusion criteria were the diagnosis of an oral lesion from an incisional biopsy examination, subsequent diagnosis from the definitive resection of the same lesion, and complete clinical and pathologic patient records. The predictor variables were the origin and size of the lesion. The primary outcome variable was concordance between the provisional incisional biopsy diagnosis and definitive pathologic resection diagnosis. The secondary outcome variable was type of biopsy error for the discordant cases. Incisional biopsy errors were assessed and grouped into 5 categories: 1) sampling error; 2) insufficient tissue for diagnosis; 3) presence of inflammation making diagnosis difficult; 4) artifact; and 5) pathologist discordance. A total of 272 patients met the inclusion criteria. The study sample had a mean age of 47.4 years and 55.7% were women. Of these cases, 242 (88.9%) were concordant when comparing the biopsy and final resection pathology reports. At histologic evaluation, 60.0% of discordant findings were attributed to sampling error, 23.3% to pathologist discrepancy, 13.3% to insufficient tissue provided in the biopsy specimen, and 3.4% to inflammation obscuring diagnosis. Overall, concordant cases had a larger average biopsy volume (1.53 cm(3)) than discordant cases (0.42 cm(3)). The data collected indicate an 88.9% diagnostic concordance with final pathologic results for incisional oral biopsy diagnoses. Sixty percent of discordance was attributed to sampling error when sampled tissue was not representative of the lesion in toto. Multiple-site biopsy specimens and larger-volume samples allowed for a more accurate diagnosis. Copyright © 2016 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. A fat option for the pig: Hepatocytic differentiated mesenchymal stem cells for translational research

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Brückner, Sandra, E-mail: sandra.brueckner@medizin.uni-leipzig.de; Tautenhahn, Hans-Michael, E-mail: hans-michael.tautenhahn@medizin.uni-leipzig.de; TRM, Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 55, Leipzig D-04103

    Study background: Extended liver resection is the only curative treatment option of liver cancer. Yet, the residual liver may not accomplish the high metabolic and regenerative capacity needed, which frequently leads to acute liver failure. Because of their anti-inflammatory and -apoptotic as well as pro-proliferative features, mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells might provide functional and regenerative compensation. Clinical translation of basic research requires pre-clinical approval in large animals. Therefore, we characterized porcine mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from adipose tissue and bone marrow and their hepatocyte differentiation potential for future assessment of functional liver support after surgical intervention inmore » the pig model. Methods: Mesenchymal surface antigens and multi-lineage differentiation potential of porcine MSC isolated by collagenase digestion either from bone marrow or adipose tissue (subcutaneous/visceral) were assessed by flow cytometry. Morphology and functional properties (urea-, glycogen synthesis and cytochrome P450 activity) were determined during culture under differentiation conditions and compared with primary porcine hepatocytes. Results: MSC from porcine adipose tissue and from bone marrow express the typical mesenchymal markers CD44, CD29, CD90 and CD105 but not haematopoietic markers. MSC from both sources displayed differentiation into the osteogenic as well as adipogenic lineage. After hepatocyte differentiation, expression of CD105 decreased significantly and cells adopted the typical polygonal morphology of hepatocytes. Glycogen storage was comparable in adipose tissue- and bone marrow-derived cells. Urea synthesis was about 35% lower in visceral than in subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived MSC. Cytochrome P450 activity increased significantly during differentiation and was twice as high in hepatocyte-like cells generated from bone marrow as from adipose tissue. Conclusion: The hepatocyte differentiation of porcine adipose tissue-derived MSC was shown for the first time yielding hepatocyte-like cells with specific functions similar in bone marrow and subcutaneous adipose tissue-derived MSC. That makes them good pre-clinical candidates for supportive approaches after liver resection in the pig. - Highlights: • First time to show hepatocytic differentiation of porcine adipose tissue-derived MSC. • Hepatocytic-differentiated MSC display metabolic qualities of primary hepatocytes. • Metabolic potency varies between differentiated MSC from different tissues. • MSC are good candidates for pre-clinical evaluation of stem cell-based therapies.« less

  4. Infrared mapping resolves soft tissue preservation in 50 million year-old reptile skin.

    PubMed

    Edwards, N P; Barden, H E; van Dongen, B E; Manning, P L; Larson, P L; Bergmann, U; Sellers, W I; Wogelius, R A

    2011-11-07

    Non-destructive Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) mapping of Eocene aged fossil reptile skin shows that biological control on the distribution of endogenous organic components within fossilized soft tissue can be resolved. Mapped organic functional units within this approximately 50 Myr old specimen from the Green River Formation (USA) include amide and sulphur compounds. These compounds are most probably derived from the original beta keratin present in the skin because fossil leaf- and other non-skin-derived organic matter from the same geological formation do not show intense amide or thiol absorption bands. Maps and spectra from the fossil are directly comparable to extant reptile skin. Furthermore, infrared results are corroborated by several additional quantitative methods including Synchrotron Rapid Scanning X-Ray Fluorescence (SRS-XRF) and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). All results combine to clearly show that the organic compound inventory of the fossil skin is different from the embedding sedimentary matrix and fossil plant material. A new taphonomic model involving ternary complexation between keratin-derived organic molecules, divalent trace metals and silicate surfaces is presented to explain the survival of the observed compounds. X-ray diffraction shows that suitable minerals for complex formation are present. Previously, this study would only have been possible with major destructive sampling. Non-destructive FTIR imaging methods are thus shown to be a valuable tool for understanding the taphonomy of high-fidelity preservation, and furthermore, may provide insight into the biochemistry of extinct organisms.

  5. Infrared mapping resolves soft tissue preservation in 50 million year-old reptile skin

    PubMed Central

    Edwards, N. P.; Barden, H. E.; van Dongen, B. E.; Manning, P. L.; Larson, P. L.; Bergmann, U.; Sellers, W. I.; Wogelius, R. A.

    2011-01-01

    Non-destructive Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) mapping of Eocene aged fossil reptile skin shows that biological control on the distribution of endogenous organic components within fossilized soft tissue can be resolved. Mapped organic functional units within this approximately 50 Myr old specimen from the Green River Formation (USA) include amide and sulphur compounds. These compounds are most probably derived from the original beta keratin present in the skin because fossil leaf- and other non-skin-derived organic matter from the same geological formation do not show intense amide or thiol absorption bands. Maps and spectra from the fossil are directly comparable to extant reptile skin. Furthermore, infrared results are corroborated by several additional quantitative methods including Synchrotron Rapid Scanning X-Ray Fluorescence (SRS-XRF) and Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). All results combine to clearly show that the organic compound inventory of the fossil skin is different from the embedding sedimentary matrix and fossil plant material. A new taphonomic model involving ternary complexation between keratin-derived organic molecules, divalent trace metals and silicate surfaces is presented to explain the survival of the observed compounds. X-ray diffraction shows that suitable minerals for complex formation are present. Previously, this study would only have been possible with major destructive sampling. Non-destructive FTIR imaging methods are thus shown to be a valuable tool for understanding the taphonomy of high-fidelity preservation, and furthermore, may provide insight into the biochemistry of extinct organisms. PMID:21429928

  6. Trace-Element Concentrations in Tissues of Aquatic Organisms from Rivers and Streams of the United States, 1992-1999

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    DeWeese, Lawrence R.; Stephens, Verlin C.; Short, Terry M.; Dubrovsky, Neil M.

    2007-01-01

    The U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program collected tissue samples from a variety of aquatic organisms during 1992-1999 within 47 study units across the United States. These tissue samples were collected to determine the occurrence and distribution of 20 major and minor trace elements in aquatic organisms. This report presents the tissue trace-element concentration data, sample summaries, and concentration statistics for 1,457 tissue samples representing 76 species or groups of fish, aquatic invertebrates, and plants were collected at 824 sampling sites.

  7. Image-derived input function with factor analysis and a-priori information.

    PubMed

    Simončič, Urban; Zanotti-Fregonara, Paolo

    2015-02-01

    Quantitative PET studies often require the cumbersome and invasive procedure of arterial cannulation to measure the input function. This study sought to minimize the number of necessary blood samples by developing a factor-analysis-based image-derived input function (IDIF) methodology for dynamic PET brain studies. IDIF estimation was performed as follows: (a) carotid and background regions were segmented manually on an early PET time frame; (b) blood-weighted and tissue-weighted time-activity curves (TACs) were extracted with factor analysis; (c) factor analysis results were denoised and scaled using the voxels with the highest blood signal; (d) using population data and one blood sample at 40 min, whole-blood TAC was estimated from postprocessed factor analysis results; and (e) the parent concentration was finally estimated by correcting the whole-blood curve with measured radiometabolite concentrations. The methodology was tested using data from 10 healthy individuals imaged with [(11)C](R)-rolipram. The accuracy of IDIFs was assessed against full arterial sampling by comparing the area under the curve of the input functions and by calculating the total distribution volume (VT). The shape of the image-derived whole-blood TAC matched the reference arterial curves well, and the whole-blood area under the curves were accurately estimated (mean error 1.0±4.3%). The relative Logan-V(T) error was -4.1±6.4%. Compartmental modeling and spectral analysis gave less accurate V(T) results compared with Logan. A factor-analysis-based IDIF for [(11)C](R)-rolipram brain PET studies that relies on a single blood sample and population data can be used for accurate quantification of Logan-V(T) values.

  8. Establishment of primary cell cultures from fish calcified tissues

    PubMed Central

    Marques, Cátia L.; Rafael, Marta S.; Cancela, M. Leonor

    2007-01-01

    Fishes have been recently recognized as a suitable model organism to study vertebrate physiological processes, in particular skeletal development and tissue mineralization. However, there is a lack of well characterized in vitro cell systems derived from fish calcified tissues. We describe here a protocol that was successfully used to develop the first calcified tissue-derived cell cultures of fish origin. Vertebra and branchial arches collected from young gilthead seabreams were fragmented then submitted to the combined action of collagenase and trypsin to efficiently release cells embedded in the collagenous extracellular matrix. Primary cultures were maintained under standard conditions and spontaneously transformed to form continuous cell lines suitable for studying mechanisms of tissue mineralization in seabream. This simple and inexpensive protocol is also applicable to other calcified tissues and species by adjusting parameters to each particular case. PMID:19002990

  9. Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells for musculoskeletal repair in veterinary medicine

    PubMed Central

    Arnhold, Stefan; Wenisch, Sabine

    2015-01-01

    Adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) are mesenchymal stem cells which can be obtained from different adipose tissue sources within the body. It is an abundant cell pool, which is easy accessible and the cells can be obtained in large numbers, cultivated and expanded in vitro and prepared for tissue engineering approaches, especially for skeletal tissue repair. In the recent years this cell population has attracted a great amount of attention among researchers in human as well as in veterinary medicine. In the meantime ASCs have been well characterized and their use in regenerative medicine is very well established. This review focuses on the characterization of ASCs for their use for tissue engineering approaches especially in veterinary medicine and also highlights a selection of clinical trials on the basis of ASCs as the relevant cell source. PMID:25973326

  10. Adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells for musculoskeletal repair in veterinary medicine.

    PubMed

    Arnhold, Stefan; Wenisch, Sabine

    2015-01-01

    Adipose tissue derived stem cells (ASCs) are mesenchymal stem cells which can be obtained from different adipose tissue sources within the body. It is an abundant cell pool, which is easy accessible and the cells can be obtained in large numbers, cultivated and expanded in vitro and prepared for tissue engineering approaches, especially for skeletal tissue repair. In the recent years this cell population has attracted a great amount of attention among researchers in human as well as in veterinary medicine. In the meantime ASCs have been well characterized and their use in regenerative medicine is very well established. This review focuses on the characterization of ASCs for their use for tissue engineering approaches especially in veterinary medicine and also highlights a selection of clinical trials on the basis of ASCs as the relevant cell source.

  11. Extraction and Assembly of Tissue-Derived Gels for Cell Culture and Tissue Engineering

    PubMed Central

    Uriel, Shiri; Labay, Edwardine; Francis-Sedlak, Megan; Moya, Monica L.; Weichselbaum, Ralph R.; Ervin, Natalia; Cankova, Zdravka

    2009-01-01

    Interactions with the extracellular matrix (ECM) play an important role in regulating cell function. Cells cultured in, or on, three-dimensional ECM recapitulate similar features to those found in vivo that are not present in traditional two-dimensional culture. In addition, both natural and synthetic materials containing ECM components have shown promise in a number of tissue engineering applications. Current materials available for cell culture and tissue engineering do not adequately reflect the diversity of ECM composition between tissues. In this paper, a method is presented for extracting solutions of proteins and glycoproteins from soft tissues and inducing assembly of these proteins into gels. The extracts contain ECM proteins specific to the tissue source with low levels of intracellular molecules. Gels formed from the tissue-derived extracts have nanostructure similar to ECM in vivo and can be used to culture cells as both a thin substrate coating and a thick gel. This technique could be used to assemble hydrogels with varying composition depending upon the tissue source, hydrogels for three-dimensional culture, as scaffolds for tissue engineering therapies, and to study cell–matrix interactions. PMID:19115821

  12. Extension of depth-resolved reconstruction of attenuation coefficients in optical coherence tomography for slim samples

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hohmann, Martin; Lengenfelder, B.; Kanawade, R.; Klämpfl, F.; Schmidt, Michael

    2015-12-01

    Coherent light propagating through turbid media is attenuated due to scattering and absorption. The decrease of the intensity of the coherent light is described by the attenuation coefficient. The measured decay of the coherent light through turbid media with optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used to reconstruct the attenuation coefficient. Since most of the OCT systems work in the near-infrared region, they are the optical window from 800-1400 nm in tissue. Hence, the most part of the attenuation coefficient is caused due to the scattering. Therefore, deriving the attenuation coefficient is one way to get an approximation of the scattering coefficient which is difficult to access even up to day. Moreover, OCT measurements are one of the few possibilities to derive physical properties with micrometre resolution of the media under investigation.

  13. Paritaprevir and Ritonavir Liver Concentrations in Rats as Assessed by Different Liver Sampling Techniques

    PubMed Central

    Venuto, Charles S.; Markatou, Marianthi; Woolwine-Cunningham, Yvonne; Furlage, Rosemary; Ocque, Andrew J.; DiFrancesco, Robin; Dumas, Emily O.; Wallace, Paul K.; Morse, Gene D.

    2017-01-01

    ABSTRACT The liver is crucial to pharmacology, yet substantial knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of its basic pharmacologic processes. An improved understanding for humans requires reliable and reproducible liver sampling methods. We compared liver concentrations of paritaprevir and ritonavir in rats by using samples collected by fine-needle aspiration (FNA), core needle biopsy (CNB), and surgical resection. Thirteen Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated, nine of which received paritaprevir/ritonavir at 30/20 mg/kg of body weight by oral gavage daily for 4 or 5 days. Drug concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on samples collected via FNA (21G needle) with 1, 3, or 5 passes (FNA1, FNA3, and FNA5); via CNB (16G needle); and via surgical resection. Drug concentrations in plasma were also assessed. Analyses included noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis and use of Bland-Altman techniques. All liver tissue samples had higher paritaprevir and ritonavir concentrations than those in plasma. Resected samples, considered the benchmark measure, resulted in estimations of the highest values for the pharmacokinetic parameters of exposure (maximum concentration of drug in serum [Cmax] and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC0–24]) for paritaprevir and ritonavir. Bland-Altman analyses showed that the best agreement occurred between tissue resection and CNB, with 15% bias, followed by FNA3 and FNA5, with 18% bias, and FNA1 and FNA3, with a 22% bias for paritaprevir. Paritaprevir and ritonavir are highly concentrated in rat liver. Further research is needed to validate FNA sampling for humans, with the possible derivation and application of correction factors for drug concentration measurements. PMID:28264852

  14. Paritaprevir and Ritonavir Liver Concentrations in Rats as Assessed by Different Liver Sampling Techniques.

    PubMed

    Venuto, Charles S; Markatou, Marianthi; Woolwine-Cunningham, Yvonne; Furlage, Rosemary; Ocque, Andrew J; DiFrancesco, Robin; Dumas, Emily O; Wallace, Paul K; Morse, Gene D; Talal, Andrew H

    2017-05-01

    The liver is crucial to pharmacology, yet substantial knowledge gaps exist in the understanding of its basic pharmacologic processes. An improved understanding for humans requires reliable and reproducible liver sampling methods. We compared liver concentrations of paritaprevir and ritonavir in rats by using samples collected by fine-needle aspiration (FNA), core needle biopsy (CNB), and surgical resection. Thirteen Sprague-Dawley rats were evaluated, nine of which received paritaprevir/ritonavir at 30/20 mg/kg of body weight by oral gavage daily for 4 or 5 days. Drug concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry on samples collected via FNA (21G needle) with 1, 3, or 5 passes (FNA 1 , FNA 3 , and FNA 5 ); via CNB (16G needle); and via surgical resection. Drug concentrations in plasma were also assessed. Analyses included noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis and use of Bland-Altman techniques. All liver tissue samples had higher paritaprevir and ritonavir concentrations than those in plasma. Resected samples, considered the benchmark measure, resulted in estimations of the highest values for the pharmacokinetic parameters of exposure (maximum concentration of drug in serum [ C max ] and area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h [AUC 0-24 ]) for paritaprevir and ritonavir. Bland-Altman analyses showed that the best agreement occurred between tissue resection and CNB, with 15% bias, followed by FNA 3 and FNA 5 , with 18% bias, and FNA 1 and FNA 3 , with a 22% bias for paritaprevir. Paritaprevir and ritonavir are highly concentrated in rat liver. Further research is needed to validate FNA sampling for humans, with the possible derivation and application of correction factors for drug concentration measurements. Copyright © 2017 American Society for Microbiology.

  15. Pathologic bone tissues in a Turkey vulture and a nonavian dinosaur: implications for interpreting endosteal bone and radial fibrolamellar bone in fossil dinosaurs.

    PubMed

    Chinsamy, Anusuya; Tumarkin-Deratzian, Allison

    2009-09-01

    We report on similar pathological bone microstructure in an extant turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) and a nonavian dinosaur from Transylvania. Both these individuals exhibit distinctive periosteal reactive bone deposition accompanied by endosteal bone deposits in the medullary cavity. Our findings have direct implications on the two novel bone tissues recently described among nonavian dinosaurs, radial fibrolamellar bone tissue and medullary bone tissue. On the basis of the observed morphology of the periosteal reactive bone in the turkey vulture and the Transylvanian dinosaur, we propose that the radial fibrolamellar bone tissues observed in mature dinosaurs may have had a pathological origin. Our analysis also shows that on the basis of origin, location, and morphology, pathologically derived endosteal bone tissue can be similar to medullary bone tissues described in nonavian dinosaurs. As such, we caution the interpretation of all endosteally derived bone tissue as homologous to avian medullary bone. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  16. Quantification of HCV RNA in Liver Tissue by bDNA Assay.

    PubMed

    Dailey, P J; Collins, M L; Urdea, M S; Wilber, J C

    1999-01-01

    With this statement, Sherlock and Dooley have described two of the three major challenges involved in quantitatively measuring any analyte in tissue samples: the distribution of the analyte in the tissue; and the standard of reference, or denominator, with which to make comparisons between tissue samples. The third challenge for quantitative measurement of an analyte in tissue is to ensure reproducible and quantitative recovery of the analyte on extraction from tissue samples. This chapter describes a method that can be used to measure HCV RNA quantitatively in liver biopsy and tissue samples using the bDNA assay. All three of these challenges-distribution, denominator, and recovery-apply to the measurement of HCV RNA in liver biopsies.

  17. Wound Healing and Angiogenesis through Combined Use of a Vascularized Tissue Flap and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells in a Rat Hindlimb Irradiated Ischemia Model.

    PubMed

    Yoshida, Shuhei; Yoshimoto, Hiroshi; Hirano, Akiyoshi; Akita, Sadanori

    2016-05-01

    Treatment of critical limb ischemia is sometimes difficult because of the patient's condition, and some novel approaches are needed. The hindlimbs of Sprague-Dawley rats, after 20-Gy x-ray irradiation and surgical occlusion, were divided into four groups: with a superficial fascial flap, 5.0 × 10 adipose-derived stromal/stem cells, and both combined. The rats were tested for laser tissue blood flow, immunohistologic blood vessel density, and foot paw punch hole wound healing. Green fluorescent protein-tagged Sprague-Dawley rats were used for further investigation by cell tracking for 2 weeks. Laser tissue blood flow demonstrated a significant increase in the combined treatment of flap and adipose-derived stem cells at both 1 and 2 weeks. There were no significant differences between the treatment groups treated with flaps alone and those treated with adipose-derived stem cells alone. Wound healing was significantly increased following combined treatment at 1 week, and there was no wound by 2 weeks except for the no-flap and no-adipose-derived stem cell group. The number of vessels depicted by von Willebrand factor showed a significant increase in the combined treatment group, at both 1 week and 2 weeks. In the cell tracking group, at 2 weeks, the green fluorescent protein-tagged adipose-derived stem cells were significantly more positive in the no-flap group than in the flap group. Adipose-derived stem cells may be a potent cell source in irradiated and occluded limbs by enhancing tissue blood flow and blood vessel density. Adipose-derived stem cells may play an important role in some difficult ischemic conditions in terms of wound healing.

  18. Prostate Cancer Pathology Resource Network

    DTIC Science & Technology

    2012-07-01

    microarrays (TMAs), serum, plasma , buffy coat, prostatic fluid, and derived specimens (DNA and RNA); these specimens are linked to clinical and...research community. The specimens in the PCBN include tissues from prostatectomies, serum, plasma , buffy coat, prostatic fluid, derived specimens such...prostatectomy, seminal vesicles), body fluids (serum, plasma , buffy coat, prostatic fluid; most can be matched to tumor and benign tissue), and

  19. ON BENZO[A]PYRENE DERIVED DNA ADDUCTS FORMED IN LUNG TISSUE OF MICE

    EPA Science Inventory

    On Benzo [a] pyrene Derived DNA Adducts Formed in Lung Tissue of Mice
    The previously identified major DNA adducts of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in vitro and in vivo are the stable and unstable adducts formed by reaction of the bay-region diol epoxide of BP (BPDE) and BP radical catio...

  20. Adipose Tissue-Derived Pericytes for Cartilage Tissue Engineering.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Jinxin; Du, Chunyan; Guo, Weimin; Li, Pan; Liu, Shuyun; Yuan, Zhiguo; Yang, Jianhua; Sun, Xun; Yin, Heyong; Guo, Quanyi; Zhou, Chenfu

    2017-01-01

    Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising alternative source for cartilage tissue engineering. However, MSC culture is labor-intensive, so these cells cannot be applied immediately to regenerate cartilage for clinical purposes. Risks during the ex vivo expansion of MSCs, such as infection and immunogenicity, can be a bottleneck in their use in clinical tissue engineering. As a novel stem cell source, pericytes are generally considered to be the origin of MSCs. Pericytes do not have to undergo time-consuming ex vivo expansion because they are uncultured cells. Adipose tissue is another optimal stem cell reservoir. Because adipose tissue is well vascularized, a considerable number of pericytes are located around blood vessels in this accessible and dispensable tissue, and autologous pericytes can be applied immediately for cartilage regeneration. Thus, we suggest that adipose tissue-derived pericytes are promising seed cells for cartilage regeneration. Many studies have been performed to develop isolation methods for the adipose tissuederived stromal vascular fraction (AT-SVF) using lipoaspiration and sorting pericytes from AT-SVF. These methods are useful for sorting a large number of viable pericytes for clinical therapy after being combined with automatic isolation using an SVF device and automatic magnetic-activated cell sorting. These tools should help to develop one-step surgery for repairing cartilage damage. However, the use of adipose tissue-derived pericytes as a cell source for cartilage tissue engineering has not drawn sufficient attention and preclinical studies are needed to improve cell purity, to increase sorting efficiency, and to assess safety issues of clinical applications. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

  1. Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis for brain tissue identification.

    PubMed

    Samsuwan, Jarunya; Muangsub, Tachapol; Yanatatsaneejit, Pattamawadee; Mutirangura, Apiwat; Kitkumthorn, Nakarin

    2018-05-01

    According to the tissue-specific methylation database (doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.09.060), methylation at CpG locus cg03096975 in EML2 has been preliminarily proven to be specific to brain tissue. In this study, we enlarged sample size and developed a technique for identifying brain tissue in aged samples. Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis-for EML2 (COBRA-EML2) technique was established and validated in various organ samples obtained from 108 autopsies. In addition, this technique was also tested for its reliability, minimal DNA concentration detected, and use in aged samples and in samples obtained from specific brain compartments and spinal cord. COBRA-EML2 displayed 100% sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing brain tissue from other tissues, showed high reliability, was capable of detecting minimal DNA concentration (0.015ng/μl), could be used for identifying brain tissue in aged samples. In summary, COBRA-EML2 is a technique to identify brain tissue. This analysis is useful in criminal cases since it can identify the vital organ tissues from small samples acquired from criminal scenes. The results from this analysis can be counted as a medical and forensic marker supporting criminal investigations, and as one of the evidences in court rulings. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  2. Identifying clinically relevant drug resistance genes in drug-induced resistant cancer cell lines and post- chemotherapy tissues

    PubMed Central

    Tong, Mengsha; Zheng, Weicheng; Lu, Xingrong; Ao, Lu; Li, Xiangyu; Guan, Qingzhou; Cai, Hao; Li, Mengyao; Yan, Haidan; Guo, You; Chi, Pan; Guo, Zheng

    2015-01-01

    Until recently, few molecular signatures of drug resistance identified in drug-induced resistant cancer cell models can be translated into clinical practice. Here, we defined differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between pre-chemotherapy colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue samples of non-responders and responders for 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin-based therapy as clinically relevant drug resistance genes (CRG5-FU/L-OHP). Taking CRG5-FU/L-OHP as reference, we evaluated the clinical relevance of several types of genes derived from HCT116 CRC cells with resistance to 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin, respectively. The results revealed that DEGs between parental and resistant cells, when both were treated with the corresponding drug for a certain time, were significantly consistent with the CRG5-FU/L-OHP as well as the DEGs between the post-chemotherapy CRC specimens of responders and non-responders. This study suggests a novel strategy to extract clinically relevant drug resistance genes from both drug-induced resistant cell models and post-chemotherapy cancer tissue specimens. PMID:26515599

  3. Production of monoclonal antibody against clonazepam for immunoassay of benzodiazepine drugs in swine tissues.

    PubMed

    Shan, Wen C; Cui, Ya L; He, Xin; Zhang, Lei; Liu, Jing; Wang, Jian P

    2015-01-01

    The objective of the present study was to produce a generic monoclonal antibody for immunoassay of residues of benzodiazepine drugs in swine tissues. Clonazepam was used to synthesize a hapten that was coupled to bovine serum albumin as an immunogen for the production of monoclonal antibody. Results showed that the obtained monoclonal antibody was able to recognize five benzodiazepine drugs simultaneously (clonazepam, flunitrazepam nitrazepam, diazepam, and oxazepam). The cross-reactivities were in the range of 24-100% and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.2-1.5 ng mL(-1) depending on the drug. Then a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to determine the residues of five benzodiazepines in swine tissues (muscle, liver and kidney). The recoveries of five analytes from the fortified blank samples were in the range of 74.5-96.5% with coefficients of variation lower than 16.7%. Therefore, this immunoassay could be used as a rapid and simple method for the screening of residues of five benzodiazepine drugs in animal-derived foods.

  4. Correlation of MLH1 and MGMT methylation levels between peripheral blood leukocytes and colorectal tissue DNA samples in colorectal cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Li, Xia; Wang, Yibaina; Zhang, Zuoming; Yao, Xiaoping; Ge, Jie; Zhao, Yashuang

    2013-11-01

    CpG island methylation in the promoter regions of the DNA mismatch repair gene mutator L homologue 1 ( MLH1 ) and DNA repair gene O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase ( MGMT ) genes has been shown to occur in the leukocytes of peripheral blood and colorectal tissue. However, it is unclear whether the methylation levels in the blood leukocytes and colorectal tissue are correlated. The present study analyzed and compared the levels of MGMT and MLH1 gene methylation in the leukocytes of peripheral blood and colorectal tissues obtained from patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). The methylation levels of MGMT and MLH1 were examined using methylation-sensitive high-resolution melting (MS-HRM) analysis. A total of 44 patients with CRC were selected based on the MLH1 and MGMT gene methylation levels in the leukocytes of the peripheral blood. Corresponding colorectal tumor and normal tissues were obtained from each patient and the DNA methylation levels were determined. The correlation coefficients were evaluated using Spearman's rank test. Agreement was determined by generalized κ-statistics. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (r) for the methylation levels of the MGMT and MLH1 genes in the leukocytes of the peripheral blood and normal colorectal tissue were 0.475 and 0.362, respectively (P=0.001 and 0.016, respectively). The agreement of the MGMT and MLH1 gene methylation levels in the leukocytes of the peripheral blood and normal colorectal tissue were graded as fair and poor (κ=0.299 and 0.126, respectively). The methylation levels of MGMT and MLH1 were moderately and weakly correlated between the patient-matched leukocytes and the normal colorectal tissue, respectively. Blood-derived DNA methylation measurements may not always represent the levels of normal colorectal tissue methylation.

  5. PTEN loss and chromosome 8 alterations in Gleason grade 3 prostate cancer cores predicts the presence of un-sampled grade 4 tumor: implications for active surveillance.

    PubMed

    Trock, Bruce J; Fedor, Helen; Gurel, Bora; Jenkins, Robert B; Knudsen, B S; Fine, Samson W; Said, Jonathan W; Carter, H Ballentine; Lotan, Tamara L; De Marzo, Angelo M

    2016-07-01

    Men who enter active surveillance because their biopsy exhibits only Gleason grade 3 (G3) frequently have higher grade tumor missed by biopsy. Thus, biomarkers are needed that, when measured on G3 tissue, can predict the presence of higher grade tumor in the whole prostate. We evaluated whether PTEN loss, chromosome 8q gain (MYC) and/or 8p loss (LPL) measured only on G3 cores is associated with un-sampled G4 tumor. A tissue microarray was constructed of prostatectomy tissue from patients whose prostates exhibited only Gleason score 3+3, only 3+4 or only 4+3 tumor (n=50 per group). Cores sampled only from areas of G3 were evaluated for PTEN loss by immunohistochemistry, and PTEN deletion, LPL/8p loss and MYC/8q gain by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Biomarker results were compared between Gleason score 6 vs 7 tumors using conditional logistic regression. PTEN protein loss, odds ratio=4.99, P=0.033; MYC/8q gain, odds ratio=5.36, P=0.010; and LPL/8p loss, odds ratio=3.96, P=0.003 were significantly more common in G3 cores derived from Gleason 7 vs Gleason 6 tumors. PTEN gene deletion was not statistically significant. Associations were stronger comparing Gleason 4+3 vs 6 than for Gleason 3+4 vs 6. MYC/8q gain, LPL/8p loss and PTEN protein loss measured in G3 tissue microarray cores strongly differentiate whether the core comes from a Gleason 6 or Gleason 7 tumor. If validated to predict upgrading from G3 biopsy to prostatectomy these biomarkers could reduce the likelihood of enrolling high-risk men and facilitate safe patient selection for active surveillance.

  6. Experimentally reduced root–microbe interactions reveal limited plasticity in functional root traits in Acer and Quercus

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Mei-Ho; Comas, Louise H.; Callahan, Hilary S.

    2014-01-01

    Background and Aims Interactions between roots and soil microbes are critical components of below-ground ecology. It is essential to quantify the magnitude of root trait variation both among and within species, including variation due to plasticity. In addition to contextualizing the magnitude of plasticity relative to differences between species, studies of plasticity can ascertain if plasticity is predictable and whether an environmental factor elicits changes in traits that are functionally advantageous. Methods To compare functional traits and trait plasticities in fine root tissues with natural and reduced levels of colonization by microbial symbionts, trimmed and surface-sterilized root segments of 2-year-old Acer rubrum and Quercus rubra seedlings were manipulated. Segments were then replanted into satellite pots filled with control or heat-treated soil, both originally derived from a natural forest. Mycorrhizal colonization was near zero in roots grown in heat-treated soil; roots grown in control soil matched the higher colonization levels observed in unmanipulated root samples collected from field locations. Key Results Between-treatment comparisons revealed negligible plasticity for root diameter, branching intensity and nitrogen concentration across both species. Roots from treated soils had decreased tissue density (approx. 10–20 %) and increased specific root length (approx. 10–30 %). In contrast, species differences were significant and greater than treatment effects in traits other than tissue density. Interspecific trait differences were also significant in field samples, which generally resembled greenhouse samples. Conclusions The combination of experimental and field approaches was useful for contextualizing trait plasticity in comparison with inter- and intra-specific trait variation. Findings that root traits are largely species dependent, with the exception of root tissue density, are discussed in the context of current literature on root trait variation, interactions with symbionts and recent progress in standardization of methods for quantifying root traits. PMID:24363335

  7. Tissue spray ionization mass spectrometry for rapid recognition of human lung squamous cell carcinoma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wei, Yiping; Chen, Liru; Zhou, Wei; Chingin, Konstantin; Ouyang, Yongzhong; Zhu, Tenggao; Wen, Hua; Ding, Jianhua; Xu, Jianjun; Chen, Huanwen

    2015-05-01

    Tissue spray ionization mass spectrometry (TSI-MS) directly on small tissue samples has been shown to provide highly specific molecular information. In this study, we apply this method to the analysis of 38 pairs of human lung squamous cell carcinoma tissue (cancer) and adjacent normal lung tissue (normal). The main components of pulmonary surfactants, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC, m/z 757.47), phosphatidylcholine (POPC, m/z 782.52), oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (DOPC, m/z 808.49), and arachidonic acid stearoyl phosphatidylcholine (SAPC, m/z 832.43), were identified using high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Monte Carlo sampling partial least squares linear discriminant analysis (PLS-LDA) was used to distinguish full-mass-range mass spectra of cancer samples from the mass spectra of normal tissues. With 5 principal components and 30 - 40 Monte Carlo samplings, the accuracy of cancer identification in matched tissue samples reached 94.42%. Classification of a tissue sample required less than 1 min, which is much faster than the analysis of frozen sections. The rapid, in situ diagnosis with minimal sample consumption provided by TSI-MS is advantageous for surgeons. TSI-MS allows them to make more informed decisions during surgery.

  8. Graphene and its nanostructure derivatives for use in bone tissue engineering: Recent advances.

    PubMed

    Shadjou, Nasrin; Hasanzadeh, Mohammad

    2016-05-01

    Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine represent areas of increasing interest because of the major progress in cell and organ transplantation, as well as advances in materials science and engineering. Tissue-engineered bone constructs have the potential to alleviate the demand arising from the shortage of suitable autograft and allograft materials for augmenting bone healing. Graphene and its derivatives have attracted much interest for applications in bone tissue engineering. For this purpose, this review focuses on more recent advances in tissue engineering based on graphene-biomaterials from 2013 to May 2015. The purpose of this article was to give a general description of studies of nanostructured graphene derivatives for bone tissue engineering. In this review, we highlight how graphene family nanomaterials are being exploited for bone tissue engineering. Firstly, the main requirements for bone tissue engineering were discussed. Then, the mechanism by which graphene based materials promote new bone formation was explained, following which the current research status of main types of nanostructured scaffolds for bone tissue engineering was reviewed and discussed. In addition, graphene-based bioactive glass, as a potential drug/growth factor carrier, was reviewed which includes the composition-structure-drug delivery relationship and the functional effect on the tissue-stimulation properties. Also, the effect of structural and textural properties of graphene based materials on development of new biomaterials for production of bone implants and bone cements were discussed. Finally, the present review intends to provide the reader an overview of the current state of the graphene based biomaterials in bone tissue engineering, its limitations and hopes as well as the future research trends for this exciting field of science. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Blood as a surrogate marker for tissue-specific DNA methylation and changes due to folate depletion in post-partum female mice.

    PubMed

    McKay, Jill A; Xie, Long; Harris, Sarah; Wong, Yi K; Ford, Dianne; Mathers, John C

    2011-07-01

    DNA methylation patterns are tissue specific and may influence tissue-specific gene regulation. Human studies investigating DNA methylation in relation to environmental factors primarily use blood-derived DNA as a surrogate for DNA from target tissues. It is therefore important to know if DNA methylation changes in blood in response to environmental changes reflect those in target tissues. Folate intake can influence DNA methylation, via altered methyl donor supply. Previously, manipulations of maternal folate intake during pregnancy altered the patterns of DNA methylation in offspring but, to our knowledge, the consequences for maternal DNA methylation are unknown. Given the increased requirement for folate during pregnancy, mothers may be susceptible to aberrant DNA methylation due to folate depletion. Female mice were fed folate-adequate (2 mg folic acid/kg diet) or folate-deplete (0.4 mg folic acid/kg diet) diets prior to mating and during pregnancy and lactation. Following weaning, dams were killed and DNA methylation was assessed by pyrosequencing® in blood, liver, and kidney at the Esr1, Igf2 differentially methylated region (DMR)1, Igf2 DMR2, Slc39a4CGI1, and Slc39a4CGI2 loci. We observed tissue-specific differences in methylation at all loci. Folate depletion reduced Igf2 DMR1 and Slc39a4CGI1 methylation across all tissues and altered Igf2 DMR2 methylation in a tissue-specific manner (p<0.05). Blood-derived DNA methylation measurements may not always reflect methylation within other tissues. Further measurements of blood-derived and tissue-specific methylation patterns are warranted to understand the complexity of tissue-specific responses to altered nutritional exposure. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

  10. Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium isolates from extrapulmonary specimens obtained from patients in Mexico

    PubMed Central

    Alvarado-Esquivel, Cosme; García-Corral, Nora; Carrero-Dominguez, David; Enciso-Moreno, José Antonio; Gurrola-Morales, Teodoro; Portillo-Gómez, Leopoldo; Rossau, Rudi; Mijs, Wouter

    2009-01-01

    Background Little information is available on the molecular epidemiology in Mexico of Mycobacterium species infecting extrapulmonary sites in humans. This study used molecular methods to determine the Mycobacterium species present in tissues and body fluids in specimens obtained from patients in Mexico with extrapulmonary disease. Methods Bacterial or tissue specimens from patients with clinical or histological diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis were studied. DNA extracts from 30 bacterial cultures grown in Löwenstein Jensen medium and 42 paraffin-embedded tissues were prepared. Bacteria were cultured from urine, cerebrospinal fluid, pericardial fluid, gastric aspirate, or synovial fluid samples. Tissues samples were from lymph nodes, skin, brain, vagina, and peritoneum. The DNA extracts were analyzed by PCR and by line probe assay (INNO-LiPA MYCOBACTERIA v2. Innogenetics NV, Gent, Belgium) in order to identify the Mycobacterium species present. DNA samples positive for M. tuberculosis complex were further analyzed by PCR and line probe assay (INNO-LiPA Rif.TB, Innogenetics NV, Gent, Belgium) to detect mutations in the rpoB gene associated with rifampicin resistance. Results Of the 72 DNA extracts, 26 (36.1%) and 23 (31.9%) tested positive for Mycobacterium species by PCR or line probe assay, respectively. In tissues, M. tuberculosis complex and M. genus were found in lymph nodes, and M. genus was found in brain and vagina specimens. In body fluids, M. tuberculosis complex was found in synovial fluid. M. gordonae, M. smegmatis, M. kansasii, M. genus, M. fortuitum/M. peregrinum complex and M. tuberculosis complex were found in urine. M. chelonae/M. abscessus was found in pericardial fluid and M. kansasii was found in gastric aspirate. Two of M. tuberculosis complex isolates were also PCR and LiPA positive for the rpoB gene. These two isolates were from lymph nodes and were sensitive to rifampicin. Conclusion 1) We describe the Mycobacterium species diversity in specimens derived from extrapulmonary sites in symptomatic patients in Mexico; 2) Nontuberculous mycobacteria were found in a considerable number of patients; 3) Genotypic rifampicin resistance in M. tuberculosis complex infections in lymph nodes was not found. PMID:19272158

  11. Characterization of lens based photoacoustic imaging system.

    PubMed

    Francis, Kalloor Joseph; Chinni, Bhargava; Channappayya, Sumohana S; Pachamuthu, Rajalakshmi; Dogra, Vikram S; Rao, Navalgund

    2017-12-01

    Some of the challenges in translating photoacoustic (PA) imaging to clinical applications includes limited view of the target tissue, low signal to noise ratio and the high cost of developing real-time systems. Acoustic lens based PA imaging systems, also known as PA cameras are a potential alternative to conventional imaging systems in these scenarios. The 3D focusing action of lens enables real-time C-scan imaging with a 2D transducer array. In this paper, we model the underlying physics in a PA camera in the mathematical framework of an imaging system and derive a closed form expression for the point spread function (PSF). Experimental verification follows including the details on how to design and fabricate the lens inexpensively. The system PSF is evaluated over a 3D volume that can be imaged by this PA camera. Its utility is demonstrated by imaging phantom and an ex vivo human prostate tissue sample.

  12. Textural analysis of optical coherence tomography skin images: quantitative differentiation between healthy and cancerous tissues

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Adabi, Saba; Conforto, Silvia; Hosseinzadeh, Matin; Noe, Shahryar; Daveluy, Steven; Mehregan, Darius; Nasiriavanaki, Mohammadreza

    2017-02-01

    Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) offers real-time high-resolution three-dimensional images of tissue microstructures. In this study, we used OCT skin images acquired from ten volunteers, neither of whom had any skin conditions addressing the features of their anatomic location. OCT segmented images are analyzed based on their optical properties (attenuation coefficient) and textural image features e.g., contrast, correlation, homogeneity, energy, entropy, etc. Utilizing the information and referring to their clinical insight, we aim to make a comprehensive computational model for the healthy skin. The derived parameters represent the OCT microstructural morphology and might provide biological information for generating an atlas of normal skin from different anatomic sites of human skin and may allow for identification of cell microstructural changes in cancer patients. We then compared the parameters of healthy samples with those of abnormal skin and classified them using a linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) with 82% accuracy.

  13. Application of ribonucleoside vanadyl complex (RVC) for developing a multifunctional tissue preservative solution

    PubMed Central

    Yu, Cheng-Chia; Chen, Chin-Chuan

    2018-01-01

    The quality of biological samples greatly affects the accuracy of scientific results. However, RNA in cryopreserved tissues gradually degrades during storage, leading to errors in the results of subsequent experiments. A suitable sample preservative solution can prolong storage and enhance the research value of samples. Here, we developed a sample preservative solution using the properties of the ribonucleoside vanadyl complex (RVC) and compared its effects on RNA and DNA quality, protein activity, and tissue morphology with the commercially available and widely used RNAlater® Stabilization Solution. The results showed that both the RVC-based preservative solution and RNAlater can effectively delay RNA degradation in tissue samples stored at 4°C or −80°C compared with samples stored without any preservative solution. In contrast to RNAlater, the RVC-based preservative solution did not result in damage to the tissue morphology or a loss of protein activity. Additionally, the RVC-based preservative solution did not affect the RNA and genomic DNA contents of the tissue samples or the results of subsequent experimental analyses. An RVC-based reagent can be used as a multifunctional yet relatively inexpensive tissue preservative solution to provide a comprehensive and cost-effective method for preserving samples for tissue banks. PMID:29538436

  14. Histopathology, microbiology and the inflammatory process associated with Sarcoptes scabiei infection in the Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica.

    PubMed

    Espinosa, José; Ráez-Bravo, Arián; López-Olvera, Jorge R; Pérez, Jesús M; Lavín, Santiago; Tvarijonaviciute, Asta; Cano-Manuel, Francisco J; Fandos, Paulino; Soriguer, Ramón C; Granados, José Enrique; Romero, Diego; Velarde, Roser

    2017-12-04

    Sarcoptic mange has been identified as the most significant infectious disease affecting the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Despite several studies on the effects of mange on ibex, the pathological and clinical picture derived from sarcoptic mange infestation is still poorly understood. To further knowledge of sarcoptic mange pathology, samples from ibex were evaluated from histological, microbiological and serological perspectives. Samples of skin, non-dermal tissues and blood were collected from 54 ibex (25 experimentally infected, 15 naturally infected and 14 healthy). Skin biopsies were examined at different stages of the disease for quantitative cellular, structural and vascular changes. Sixteen different non-dermal tissues of each ibex were taken for histological study. Acetylcholinesterase and serum amyloid A protein levels were evaluated from blood samples from ibex with different lesional grade. Samples of mangy skin, suppurative lesions and internal organs were characterized microbiologically by culture. Bacterial colonies were identified by a desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry system (MALDI TOF/TOF). The histological study of the skin lesions revealed serious acanthosis, hyperkeratosis, rete ridges, spongiotic oedema, serocellular and eosinophilic crusts, exocytosis foci, apoptotic cells and sebaceous gland hyperplasia. The cellular response in the dermis was consistent with type I and type IV hypersensitivity responses. The most prominent histological findings in non-dermal tissues were lymphoid hyperplasia, leukocytosis, congestion and the presence of amyloid deposits. The increase in serum concentrations of acetylcholinesterase and amyloid A protein correlated positively with the establishment of the inflammatory response in mangy skin and the presence of systemic amyloidosis. A wide variety of bacterial agents were isolated and the simultaneous presence of these in mangy skin, lymph nodes and internal organs such as lungs, liver, spleen and kidney was compatible with a septicaemic pattern of infection. The alteration of biomarkers of inflammation and its implication in the pathogenesis of the disease and development of lesions in non-dermal tissues and septicaemic processes are serious conditioners for the survival of the mangy ibex. This severe clinical picture could be an important factor when considering the decision to eliminate animals that exceed a certain disease threshold from a population.

  15. Assessment of bacterial diversity in the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus through tag-encoded pyrosequencing.

    PubMed

    Andreotti, Renato; Pérez de León, Adalberto A; Dowd, Scot E; Guerrero, Felix D; Bendele, Kylie G; Scoles, Glen A

    2011-01-06

    Ticks are regarded as the most relevant vectors of disease-causing pathogens in domestic and wild animals. The cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, hinders livestock production in tropical and subtropical parts of the world where it is endemic. Tick microbiomes remain largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to explore the R. microplus microbiome by applying the bacterial 16S tag-encoded FLX-titanium amplicon pyrosequencing (bTEFAP) technique to characterize its bacterial diversity. Pyrosequencing was performed on adult males and females, eggs, and gut and ovary tissues from adult females derived from samples of R. microplus collected during outbreaks in southern Texas. Raw data from bTEFAP were screened and trimmed based upon quality scores and binned into individual sample collections. Bacteria identified to the species level include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus sciuri, Serratia marcescens, Corynebacterium glutamicum, and Finegoldia magna. One hundred twenty-one bacterial genera were detected in all the life stages and tissues sampled. The total number of genera identified by tick sample comprised: 53 in adult males, 61 in adult females, 11 in gut tissue, 7 in ovarian tissue, and 54 in the eggs. Notable genera detected in the cattle tick include Wolbachia, Coxiella, and Borrelia. The molecular approach applied in this study allowed us to assess the relative abundance of the microbiota associated with R. microplus. This report represents the first survey of the bacteriome in the cattle tick using non-culture based molecular approaches. Comparisons of our results with previous bacterial surveys provide an indication of geographic variation in the assemblages of bacteria associated with R. microplus. Additional reports on the identification of new bacterial species maintained in nature by R. microplus that may be pathogenic to its vertebrate hosts are expected as our understanding of its microbiota expands. Increased awareness of the role R. microplus can play in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria will enhance our ability to mitigate its economic impact on animal agriculture globally. This recognition should be included as part of analyses to assess the risk for re-invasion of areas like the United States of America where R. microplus was eradicated.

  16. DNA methylation analysis from saliva samples for epidemiological studies.

    PubMed

    Nishitani, Shota; Parets, Sasha E; Haas, Brian W; Smith, Alicia K

    2018-06-18

    Saliva is a non-invasive, easily accessible tissue, which is regularly collected in large epidemiological studies to examine genetic questions. Recently, it is becoming more common to use saliva to assess DNA methylation. However, DNA extracted from saliva is a mixture of both bacterial and human DNA derived from epithelial and immune cells in the mouth. Thus, there are unique challenges to using salivary DNA in methylation studies that can influence data quality. This study assesses: (1) quantification of human DNA after extraction; (2) delineation of human and bacterial DNA; (3) bisulfite conversion (BSC); (4) quantification of BSC DNA; (5) PCR amplification of BSC DNA from saliva and; (6) quantitation of DNA methylation with a targeted assay. The framework proposed will allow saliva samples to be more widely used in targeted epigenetic studies.

  17. System and method for controlling depth of imaging in tissues using fluorescence microscopy under ultraviolet excitation following staining with fluorescing agents

    DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

    Demos, Stavros; Levenson, Richard

    The present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing tissue specimens. In one implementation the method involves obtaining a tissue sample and exposing the sample to one or more fluorophores as contrast agents to enhance contrast of subcellular compartments of the tissue sample. The tissue sample is illuminated by an ultraviolet (UV) light having a wavelength between about 200 nm to about 400 nm, with the wavelength being selected to result in penetration to only a specified depth below a surface of the tissue sample. Inter-image operations between images acquired under different imaging parameters allow for improvement of the imagemore » quality via removal of unwanted image components. A microscope may be used to image the tissue sample and provide the image to an image acquisition system that makes use of a camera. The image acquisition system may create a corresponding image that is transmitted to a display system for processing and display.« less

  18. [Recent advance in tendon tissue engineering using scaffolding biomaterials].

    PubMed

    Lu, Jingtong; Xiang, Zhou

    2013-04-01

    An ideal biologically derived that tissue engineering material of tendon has biological activities and functions, so that it may lead to a perfect effect in histological reparation and reconstruction. In addition, the tissue engineering material can avoid disease transmission, be provided from variety of sources and be weak in immune responses. Generally, there are two kinds biologically derived material, i. e. natural biomaterials and purified biomaterials. In this review, researches about the effect, capability and relevant preparation methods, enhancing strategies and the development in the future are discussed.

  19. Whole-body to tissue concentration ratios for use in biota dose assessments for animals.

    PubMed

    Yankovich, Tamara L; Beresford, Nicholas A; Wood, Michael D; Aono, Tasuo; Andersson, Pål; Barnett, Catherine L; Bennett, Pamela; Brown, Justin E; Fesenko, Sergey; Fesenko, J; Hosseini, Ali; Howard, Brenda J; Johansen, Mathew P; Phaneuf, Marcel M; Tagami, Keiko; Takata, Hyoe; Twining, John R; Uchida, Shigeo

    2010-11-01

    Environmental monitoring programs often measure contaminant concentrations in animal tissues consumed by humans (e.g., muscle). By comparison, demonstration of the protection of biota from the potential effects of radionuclides involves a comparison of whole-body doses to radiological dose benchmarks. Consequently, methods for deriving whole-body concentration ratios based on tissue-specific data are required to make best use of the available information. This paper provides a series of look-up tables with whole-body:tissue-specific concentration ratios for non-human biota. Focus was placed on relatively broad animal categories (including molluscs, crustaceans, freshwater fishes, marine fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals) and commonly measured tissues (specifically, bone, muscle, liver and kidney). Depending upon organism, whole-body to tissue concentration ratios were derived for between 12 and 47 elements. The whole-body to tissue concentration ratios can be used to estimate whole-body concentrations from tissue-specific measurements. However, we recommend that any given whole-body to tissue concentration ratio should not be used if the value falls between 0.75 and 1.5. Instead, a value of one should be assumed.

  20. Investigation of real tissue water equivalent path lengths using an efficient dose extinction method

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhang, Rongxiao; Baer, Esther; Jee, Kyung-Wook; Sharp, Gregory C.; Flanz, Jay; Lu, Hsiao-Ming

    2017-07-01

    For proton therapy, an accurate conversion of CT HU to relative stopping power (RSP) is essential. Validation of the conversion based on real tissue samples is more direct than the current practice solely based on tissue substitutes and can potentially address variations over the population. Based on a novel dose extinction method, we measured water equivalent path lengths (WEPL) on animal tissue samples to evaluate the accuracy of CT HU to RSP conversion and potential variations over a population. A broad proton beam delivered a spread out Bragg peak to the samples sandwiched between a water tank and a 2D ion-chamber detector. WEPLs of the samples were determined from the transmission dose profiles measured as a function of the water level in the tank. Tissue substitute inserts and Lucite blocks with known WEPLs were used to validate the accuracy. A large number of real tissue samples were measured. Variations of WEPL over different batches of tissue samples were also investigated. The measured WEPLs were compared with those computed from CT scans with the Stoichiometric calibration method. WEPLs were determined within  ±0.5% percentage deviation (% std/mean) and  ±0.5% error for most of the tissue surrogate inserts and the calibration blocks. For biological tissue samples, percentage deviations were within  ±0.3%. No considerable difference (<1%) in WEPL was observed for the same type of tissue from different sources. The differences between measured WEPLs and those calculated from CT were within 1%, except for some bony tissues. Depending on the sample size, each dose extinction measurement took around 5 min to produce ~1000 WEPL values to be compared with calculations. This dose extinction system measures WEPL efficiently and accurately, which allows the validation of CT HU to RSP conversions based on the WEPL measured for a large number of samples and real tissues.

Top