High-resolution optical coherence tomography as a non-destructive monitoring tool for the engineering of skin equivalents

BACKGROUND: Three dimensional skin equivalents are widely used in dermatopharmacological and toxicological studies and as autologous transplants in wound healing. In pharmacology, there is tremendous need for monitoring the response of engineered skin equivalents to external treatment. Transplantation of skin equivalents for wound healing requires careful verification of their quality prior to transplantation. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-contact, non-destructive imaging technique for living tissues offering the potential to fulfill these needs. This work presents an analysis of OCT for high-resolution monitoring of skin equivalents at different stages during the culture process. METHODS: We developed a high-resolution OCT imaging setup based on a commercially available OCT system. A broadband femtosecond laser light source replaces the original superluminescence diode. Tomograms of living skin equivalents were recorded with an axial resolution of 3 mum and correlated with histology and immunofluorescence images. Comparison with standard low-resolution OCT is presented to emphasize the advantages of high-resolution OCT for this application. RESULTS: OCT is particularly able to distinguish between different layers of skin equivalents including stratum corneum, epidermal and dermal layer as well as the basement membrane zone. The high-resolution OCT scans correlate closely with two key benchmarks, histology and immunofluorescence imaging. CONCLUSIONS: This study clearly demonstrates the benefits of high-resolution OCT for identifying living tissue structure and morphology. Compared with the current gold standard histology, OCT offers non-destructive tissue imaging, enabling high-resolution evaluation of living tissue morphology and structure as it evolves.     

Characteristics of rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines derived from uterine carcinosarcomas

 Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is occasionally found in the female genital tract, and mostly appears as one of the heterologous mesenchymal components in uterine carcinosarcoma designated as malignant mixed müllerian tumour (MMMT). We examined the biological properties of a pure rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell line designated FU-MMT-3, which was newly established from a surgical specimen taken from a patient with uterine MMMT. We also evaluated c-myc and MYCN gene amplification in three RMS cell lines (including FU-MMT-3) derived from three MMMTs by Southern blot analysis. FU-MMT-3 cells were propagated continuously for 57 serial passages over a 2-year period in vitro. FU-MMT-3 was able to produce tumours demonstrating pure RMS in athymic nude mice. Cytogenetically, FU-MMT-3 showed a triploidy pattern, with complex karyotypic abnormalities including trisomy of chromosome 8. All three RMS cell lines, including FU-MMT-3, showed amplification of the c-myc gene (approximately fourfold to eightfold), while no cell lines demonstrated MYCN gene amplification. FU-MMT-3 is considered to provide a useful system for the study of the biological behaviour of RMS in MMMTs. Extra copies of chromosome 8 and c-myc gene amplification may be associated with the rhabdomyoblastic differentiation in MMMT. Received: 7 January 1997 / Accepted: 2 May 1997     

Pulsed electromagnetic fields alter phenotypic expression in chondroblasts in tissue culture

We hypothesize that pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) alter phenotypic expression of chondroblasts by promoting the production of alkaline phosphatase (AP) and altering the structure of proteoglycans. Chondroblasts from the hypertrophic zone of tibial epiphyses (HC), sternum (SC), and skin fibroblasts (F) were cultured from 16 day chick embryos. Cultures were randomly designated control (C) or experimental (E). E received PEMF for 24 h in a 6 h on, 6 h rest sequence. The controls were in the same incubator shielded by Mu metal. Assays for AP activity were performed and normalized to protein content. Proteoglycan synthesis assay involved labeling with 35S fractionating in a 5% to 20% surcrose gradient determining total protein and chondroitin sulfate content. PEMF showed no change of AP activity on F. A high AP basal activity was found in HC, but was not increased above the control. PEMF increased AP in the SC samples (E/C ratio). The sucrose gradient data showed a shift in peaks for SC only altering the ratio of carbohydrate to protein for the SC. Analysis of carbohydrate and protein indicated that the effect was decreased synthesis or degradation of protein. We conclude that PEMF alters the phenotypic expression of sternal chondroblasts in our in vitro system.     

兔动静脉短路环法诱导组织工程骨支架材料血管生成的初步研究

Objective To compare the effects of 2 vascular carriers, arteriovenous loop and arteri-ovenous bundle, on inducing angiogenesis in coral scaffold of vascularized tissue-engineered bone in animal models.Methods Thirty-six adult male New Zealand rabbits were randomized into 2 even groups.In group A, an arteriovenous loop (AVL) was formed by microsurgical anastomosis at the proximal ends between the femoral poptiteal artery and vein, and placed in the circular side groove of the coral block (6 mm × 8 mm × 10 mm) .In group B, flow-through vessels bundles of both femoral artery and vein were placed in the side grooves of the coral block.All the implants in 2 groups were wrapped by a micro-porous expand-ed-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane, and fixed subcutaneously by suturing.Evaluation methods included gross morphological observations, histological examinations, India ink perfusion and vascular casting after 2, 4, 6 weeks.The density of blood vessels was analyzed by the statistical software SPSS 10.0.Results All the corals were encased by newly formed fibrovascular tissues in 2 groups.Ink-stained vessels distributed the surfaces and side grooves, and invaded the interspaces of corals.The degree of vascularization increased over the course of experiment.Blood vessel density demonstrated a significant continuous increase between 2 and 6 weeks after implantation in group A.The mean value of blood vessel density in group A (2 weeks 276.60±4.67, 4 weeks 517.20±10.66, 6 weeks 707.00 ±11.87) was significantly higher than in group B (2 weeks 153.60 ±7.16, 4 weeks 269.40±6.80, 6 weeks 279.20±6.53) (P <0.01).Vascular casting showed that in group A, significant blood vessels sprouted from all areas of the loop, espe-cially at the entrance of the arteriovenous pediele where the small tubes were densely interconnected.In group B, however, no blood vessels sprouted from the arteriovenous bundles and only some small vessels grew from the entrance and exit.Conclusions A vascularized coral model can be constructed by inserting an ar-teriovenous loop or an arteriovenous bundle, useful in vascular bone tissue engineering.The former, however, have stronger abilities to induce angiogenesis than the latter.     

微粒骨膜-三维支架修复大面积关节软骨缺损

目的 探讨微粒骨膜-三维支架修复大面积关节软骨缺损的有效性和可行性.方法 于兔股骨滑车关节面制作直径4.5 mm深达软骨下骨板的全层软骨缺损模型,缺损处随机行自体微粒骨膜-纤维蛋白混凝物、单纯纤维蛋白"浇铸"移植.分别于术后3 h、4 d及1、2、4、8、12、24周取材,行大体观察、苏木素.伊红(HE)、Masson及藏红花(safranin-0)染色组织学检查,并进行组织学评分半定量分析.结果 微粒骨膜.三维支架制备简便.微粒骨膜被均匀种植于纤维蛋白三维支架中,可随意"浇铸"充填骨软骨缺损,移植物不易脱落,手术1次完成.术后微粒骨膜在缺损空间内全方位迅速增殖、分化、分泌基质完成缺损骨软骨修复.新生软骨具有与周围正常软骨基本一致的厚度、细胞形态及排列、基质胶原及蛋白多糖染色,且与周边软骨及软骨下骨结合良好.术后4、8、12及24周,两组组织学评分差异有统计学意义(P<0.05).结论 该方法能简单高效地构建工程化组织复合体,随意浇铸充填软骨缺损,完成较大面积关节软骨缺损的生物性修复.     

A Tissue-Engineered Artificial Bile Duct Grown to Resemble The Native Bile Duct

The aim of this study was to fabricate an artificial bile duct for the development of a new treatment for biliary diseases. Eighteen hybrid pigs were implanted with a bile duct organoid unit (BDOU) made of a bioabsorbable polymer. Twelve of the transplanted BDOUs had been seeded with autologous bone marrow cells (BMCs) in advance. Six animals, the controls, were grafted with the scaffold alone with no BMCs seeded. The common bile duct was cut, the hepatic cut end of the native common bile duct was anastomosed to the BDOU and the other end was anastomosed to the duodenum. The controls underwent a similar operation. The neo-bile duct was removed at pre-determined time points and investigated histologically. All 18 recipient pigs survived until their sacrifice at 6 weeks, 10 weeks or 6 months. Histological examination revealed incomplete epithelialization of the neo-bile duct at 6 weeks and 10 weeks after transplantation. At 6 months, the organoid exhibited a morphology almost identical to that of the native common bile duct. No differences were found between the controls and BMC-seeded pigs. These results show that the artificial bile duct thus fabricated can serve as a substitute for the native bile duct.     

微量沙眼衣原体组织培养法的建立及临床应用

建立了微量沙眼衣原体组织培养法，并应用于不同人群的生殖道标本的沙眼衣原体培养。结果生殖道沙眼衣原体培养的阳性率：男性尿道炎患者１４７％（９／６１）；正常孕妇３３％（７／２１０）；急性和亚急性盆腔炎女性患者６７％（７／１０４）；性病门诊患者１８２％（４９／２６９）。由于９６孔培养板及倒置荧光显微镜的应用，微量培养法试剂用量少、过程简化；自制的抗沙眼衣原体单克隆抗体大大降低了培养后的染色成本，适用于大宗标本。     

Principles for reconstruction of traumatic ear defects

Summary Traumatic defects of the auricle are quite common. The eventual success of the repair is considerably influenced by the initial treatment. The different parts of the auricle require different approaches. This paper presents our methods for repairing damage to the cartilaginous frame using autologous ear cartilage grafts, and local flaps from the mastoid region to cover soft tissue defects.     

组织工程化肌腱研究进展

对组织工程化肌腱领域中目前研究的主要成果进行综述，着重阐述了肌腱细胞外基质替代物、肌腱细胞生物学性质及肌腱细胞与细胞外基质材料复合研究中的主要问题。认为，研制适于肌腱细胞生长、粘附和发挥功能的细胞外基质材料；建立生长、增殖可调控的肌腱细胞系；在模拟体内力学条件下，进行肌腱细胞三维培养，将是研究具有特定修复功能的组织工程化肌腱的重要问题。     

Postmortem Diagnosis of Acute Megakaryocytic Leukemia Usefulness of lmmunohistochemistry and Tissue Hemogram

An autopsy case of acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AMKL) is presented. The bone marrow was hypercellular with proliferation of three lineages, especially megakaryocytes. Immunohistochemical examination revealed many platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GP IIb/IIIa)- positive blast cells in bone marrow. The proportion of the blasts was 26.4% by tissue hemogram. GP IIb/IIIa-positive blasts and megakaryoblasts were deposited massively in lymph nodes. lmmunohistochemistry against GP IIb/IIIa and tissue hemograms by paraffin section are needed to diagnose AMKL by postmortem examination, since the identification of ultra-structural platelet peroxidase in autopsy materials is difficult.