Quality of life after involuntary psychiatric admission.

Studies seeking predictors of outcomes after involuntary admission, including quality of life (QoL), are limited and results inconsistent. We aimed to describe QoL 3 months after involuntary psychiatric admission and to investigate associated factors. One hundred and fifty-three involuntarily admitted inpatients were assessed for a range of sociodemographic and clinical variables. Structured scales included the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the MacArthur Admission Experience Survey, the Heinrichs Quality of Life Scale and the World Health Organisation Quality of Life Brief Assessment (WHOQOL-BREF, n = 124). The mean total score on the Heinrichs QoL scale at 3 months was 69.3 (SD = 24.1). Predictors of higher 3 month QoL after involuntary admission in a multiple regression model (adjusted R2 = 0.37, F = 7.1 (14, 138), p ≤0.001) were less severe negative symptoms on the BPRS at baseline (B = -4.56, p < 0.001), improvement in negative symptom scores between baseline and follow up (B = 4.58, p < 0.001) and higher current social class (B = -14.31, p = 0.001). Events during involuntary admission, such as being subject to coercive experiences, were not significantly associated with QoL after admission. The results suggest that a core determinant of service users' QoL after involuntary admission is negative symptom severity and change over time.

An open-source musculoskeletal model of the lumbar spine and lower limbs: a validation for movements of the lumbar spine.

Musculoskeletal models of the lumbar spine have been developed with varying levels of detail for a wide range of clinical applications. Providing consistency is ensured throughout the modelling approach, these models can be combined with other computational models and be used in predictive modelling studies to investigate bone health deterioration and the associated fracture risk. To provide precise physiological loading conditions for such predictive modelling studies, a new full-body musculoskeletal model including a detailed and consistent representation of the lower limbs and the lumbar spine was developed. The model was assessed against in vivo measurements from the literature for a range of spine movements representative of daily living activities. Comparison between model estimations and electromyography recordings was also made for a range of lifting tasks. This new musculoskeletal model will provide a comprehensive physiological mechanical environment for future predictive finite element modelling studies on bone structural adaptation. It is freely available on https://simtk.org/projects/llsm/.

Development of a registration framework to validate MRI with histology for prostate focal therapy.

PURPOSE: Focal therapy has been proposed as an alternative method to whole-gland treatment for prostate cancer when aiming to reduce treatment side effects. The authors recently validated a radiobiological model which takes into account tumor location and tumor characteristics including tumor cell density, Gleason score, and hypoxia in order to plan optimal dose distributions for focal therapy. The authors propose that this model can be informed using multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) and in this study present a registration framework developed to map prostate mpMRI and histology data, where histology will provide the "ground truth" data regarding tumor location and biology. The authors aim to apply this framework to a growing database to develop a prostate biological atlas which will enable MRI based planning for prostate focal therapy treatment. METHODS: Six patients scheduled for routine radical prostatectomy were used in this proof-of-concept study. Each patient underwent mpMRI scanning prior to surgery, after which the excised prostate specimen was formalin fixed and mounted in agarose gel in a custom designed sectioning box. T2-weighted MRI of the specimen in the sectioning box was acquired, after which 5 mm sections of the prostate were cut and histology sections were microtomed. A number of image processing and registration steps were used to register histology images with ex vivo MRI and deformable image registration (DIR) was applied to 3D T2w images to align the in vivo and ex vivo MRI data. Dice coefficient metrics and corresponding feature points from two independent annotators were selected in order to assess the DIR accuracy. RESULTS: Images from all six patients were registered, providing histology and in vivo MRI in the ex vivo MRI frame of reference for each patient. Results demonstrated that their DIR methodology to register in vivo and ex vivo 3D T2w MRI improved accuracy in comparison with an initial manual alignment for prostates containing features which were readily visible on MRI. The average estimated uncertainty between in vivo MRI and histology was 3.3 mm, which included an average error of 3.1 mm between in vivo and ex vivo MRI after applying DIR. The mean dice coefficient for the prostate contour between in vivo and ex vivo MRI increased from 0.83 before DIR to 0.93 after DIR. CONCLUSIONS: The authors have developed a registration framework for mapping in vivo MRI data of the prostate with histology by implementing a number of processing steps and ex vivo MRI of the prostate specimen. Validation of DIR was challenging, particularly in prostates with few or mostly linear rather than spherical shaped features. Refinement of their MR imaging protocols to improve the data quality is currently underway which may improve registration accuracy. Additional mpMRI sequences will be registered within this framework to quantify prostate tumor location and biology.

Co-prescribing of linezolid and serotonergic agents in a general hospital setting.

BACKGROUND: Co-prescription of linezolid and serotonergic agents (SSRIs, SNRIs, NaSSA, TCAs) can lead to serotonin syndrome, this study seeks to identify prescribing practise of these agents. METHODS: Study of all general hospital inpatients prescribed intravenous linezolid in a 3-month period, using drug charts and clinical notes. RESULTS: Co-prescription occurred in 20% with SSRIs most frequently concurrently used. There were no cases of serotonin syndrome. There was no evidence in clinical notes of vigilance for potential interaction. CONCLUSION: Co-prescription is common; awareness of potentially serious interaction is not evident in current practice.

Investigation of individual and group variability in estrous cycle characteristics in female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at the Oregon Zoo.

Evaluating ovarian cycle activity through longitudinal progestagen monitoring is important for optimizing breeding management of captive elephants and understanding impact of life events (births, deaths, and transfers) on reproductive function. This study summarized serum progestagen profiles for eight Asian mainland elephants (Elephas maximus indicus) and one Bornean elephant (E. maximus borneensis) at the Oregon Zoo over a 20-yr interval, and represents the longest longitudinal dataset evaluated to date. Estrous cycle characteristics were more varied than previously reported for this species, with an overall duration of 12 to 19 wk, luteal phase duration of 4 to 15 wk, and follicular phase duration of 2 to 12 wk. In general, there was more cycle variability across than within individual elephants. Compared with other elephants in the group, the Borneo female exhibited consistently longer cycle lengths, higher progestagen concentrations, and greater cycle variability; however, it is not known if this represents a subspecies or an individual difference. Cycle durations did not appear to change over time or with age, and the first pubertal cycle was similar to subsequent cycles. Variability in duration of the follicular phase was greater than that of the luteal phase. In addition, there was a significant negative relationship between luteal and follicular phase durations, suggesting a possible regulatory role of the follicular phase in maintaining a relatively consistent cycle duration within individuals. Overall, we found these elephants to be highly resilient in that major life events (births, deaths, and changes in herd structure) had minimal effect on cycle dynamics over time. In conclusion, the higher range in cycle phase characteristics is likely because of the larger number of elephants studied and longer duration of longitudinal monitoring, and may be more representative of the captive population as a whole. Furthermore, identification of significant interanimal variability suggests that understanding the complexities of herd reproductive characteristics could facilitate development of more effective institution-specific breeding management strategies.

In vitro study of biofilm formation and effectiveness of antimicrobial treatment on various dental material surfaces.

Elevated proportions of Candida albicans in biofilms formed on dentures are associated with stomatitis whereas Streptococcus mutans accumulation on restorative materials can cause secondary caries. Candida albicans, S. mutans, saliva-derived and C. albicans/saliva-derived mixed biofilms were grown on different materials including acrylic denture, porcelain, hydroxyapatite (HA), and polystyrene. The resulting biomass was analysed by three-dimensional image quantification and assessment of colony-forming units. The efficacy of biofilm treatment with a dissolved denture cleansing tablet (Polident(®)) was also evaluated by colony counting. Biofilms formed on HA exhibited the most striking differences in biomass accumulation: biofilms comprising salivary bacteria accrued the highest total biomass whereas C. albicans biofilm formation was greatly reduced on the HA surface compared with other materials, including the acrylic denture surface. These results substantiate clinical findings that acrylic dentures can comprise a reservoir for C. albicans, which renders patients more susceptible to C. albicans infections and stomatitis. Additionally, treatment efficacy of the same type of biofilms varied significantly depending on the surface. Although single-species biofilms formed on polystyrene surfaces exhibited the highest susceptibility to the treatment, the most surviving cells were recovered from HA surfaces for all types of biofilms tested. This study demonstrates that the nature of a surface influences biofilm characteristics including biomass accumulation and susceptibility to antimicrobial treatments. Such treatments should therefore be evaluated on the surfaces colonized by the target pathogen(s).

Alkaline phosphatase as an indicator of true ejaculation in the rhinoceros.

The objective was to determine if seminal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) can serve as an indicator of true ejaculation in the rhinoceros. Concentrations of ALP activity were determined in seminal fractions collected from African black rhinos (Diceros bicornis), an African white rhino (Ceratotherium simum), and an Indian rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) during electroejaculation. In addition, seminal fractions collected during penile massage of a Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) were assessed. Correlations between ALP activity and sperm concentration, fraction pH, and fraction osmolality were evaluated in the Indian rhino and black rhino. Concentrations of ALP activity in rhino ejaculate fractions ranged from < 5 to 11,780 U/L and were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with sperm concentration for both Indian rhino (r = 0.995) and black rhino (r = 0.697), but did not exhibit a strong correlation with either pH or osmolality (P > 0.05). Data were insufficient for establishing meaningful correlation coefficients in the Sumatran rhino and white rhino, but preliminary results were in accordance with findings in the Indian rhino and black rhino. We concluded that ALP was present in rhinoceros semen, likely originated from the epididymides and/or testes, and could serve as a useful tool for assessing the production of ejaculatory versus pre-ejaculatory fluid in the rhinoceros.

The effect of gadodiamide on cancer cell lines.

AIM: Recent literature suggests that some human cancer cell lines possess a calcium cation receptor. Human myeloma cell lines have demonstrated stimulated cell proliferation by the gadolinium cation through this receptor, and osteosarcoma cell lines possess the same cation receptor. Although enhanced MRI is a very useful diagnostic tool for the treatment of sarcoma in the orthopedic area, incorporating the use of MRI contrast agents based on gadolinium raises the possibility of the stimulation of cancer cell growth. METHODS: Human myeloma (RPMI 8226), osteosarcoma (Saos-2) and rat osteosarcoma (UMR-106) cell lines were exposed to various concentrations of common MRI contrast agent gadodiamide Omniscan (5 microM, 50 microM, 500 microM, 5 mM, 50 mM) in a culture medium. The response of the cells was then assessed by measuring cell proliferation and DNA synthesis. RESULTS: Treatment with 5 microM to 5 mM gadodiamide did not stimulate cell proliferation; only cells exposed to 50 mM gadodiamide showed suppressed proliferation rates. CONCLUSIONS: Since intravenously injected gadodiamide is diluted from 500 microM to 1 mM by patient blood flow at enhanced MRI examinations, the results of the present study suggest that gadodiamide has not effect on these types of cancer cells.

Effects of the antifouling compound, Irgarol 1051, on a simulated estuarine salt marsh ecosystem.

Toxicity effects of the antifouling compound, Irgarol 1051, were examined using a simulated estuarine salt marsh ecosystem. The 35 day mesocosm exposure incorporated tidal flux and contained seawater, sediments, marsh grass, and estuarine biota. Irgarol (10.0 microg/l) caused a significant reduction in phytoplankton biomass and primary productivity. HPLC pigment analysis indicated significant effects of irgarol on both phytoplankton and periphyton community composition, with decreased concentrations of pigments representative of diatom species. There was also a significant decrease in dissolved oxygen levels in the 10.0 microg/l irgarol treatment. Growth of the hard shell clam was significantly reduced in the 1.0 and 10.0 microg/l irgarol treatments. The effects observed occurred at irgarol concentrations greater than those typically measured in the environment. Prolonged exposure, the accumulation of irgarol in sediments, plant, or animal tissues, and the interaction of irgarol with other chemicals in the environment; however, could increase risk.

Toxicity of the antimicrobial compound triclosan and formation of the metabolite methyl-triclosan in estuarine systems.

Triclosan, a commonly used antimicrobial compound, has been measured in aquatic systems worldwide. This study exposed marine species to triclosan to examine effects primarily on survival and to investigate the formation of the degradation product, methyl-triclosan, in the estuarine environment. Acute toxicity was assessed using the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the phytoplankton species Dunaliella tertiolecta, and three life stages of the grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio. P. pugio larvae were more sensitive to triclosan than adult shrimp or embryos. Acute aqueous toxicity values (96 h LC50) were 305 microg/L for adult shrimp, 154 microg/L for larvae, and 651 microg/L for embryos. The presence of sediment decreased triclosan toxicity in adult shrimp (24 h LC50s were 620 microg/L with sediment, and 482 microg/L without sediment). The bacterium was more sensitive to triclosan than the grass shrimp, with a 15 min aqueous IC50 value of 53 microg/L and a 15 min spiked sediment IC50 value of 616 microg/kg. The phytoplankton species was the most sensitive species tested, with a 96 h EC50 value of 3.55 microg/L. Adult grass shrimp were found to accumulate methyl-triclosan after a 14-day exposure to 100 microg/L triclosan, indicating formation of this metabolite in a seawater environment and its potential to bioaccumulate in higher organisms. Triclosan was detected in limited surface water sampling of Charleston Harbor, SC at a maximum concentration of 0.001 microg/L, substantially lower than the determined toxicity values. These findings suggest triclosan poses low acute toxicity risk to estuarine organisms; however, the potential for chronic, sublethal, and metabolite effects should be investigated.

Oblique sagittal view of the anterior cruciate ligament: comparison of coronal vs. axial planes as localizing sequences.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether oblique sagittal T2-weighted images of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are better prescribed off axial or coronal localizing images. Thirty-one patients underwent two sets of oblique sagittal T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequences to evaluate the ACL. One oblique was prescribed from a coronal localizing sequence, while the other was prescribed off an axial series. Objective (average number of images to demonstrate ACL) and subjective (radiologist's confidence level) evaluations of both sequences were performed independently of the other and then comparatively by two radiologists. The coronally prescribed sagittal oblique was subjectively preferred in 18 patients, the axially prescribed oblique was preferred in one patient, and both sequences were felt to be equivalent in 12 patients. In 13 intact ligaments, the average number of images clearly demonstrating the entire length of the ACL was 1.77 on the coronally prescribed sequence and 1.31 on the axially prescribed images. Oblique sagittal images prescribed off a coronal localizer are both subjectively and objectively more effective than axially prescribed sagittal obliques in evaluating the ACL.

T. Dale Stewart: remembrances of a scholar and colleague.

T. Dale Stewart's contributions had a considerable influence on the development and early evolution of the field of forensic anthropology. This composition provides a perception of Stewart from the viewpoint of an advanced graduate student and then a young colleague. It explains, in part, the quiet leadership and assistance that Stewart provided at various professional and familiar levels to one individual and is indicative of the broad effect that Stewart had on generations of students and professionals in anthropology, osteology and forensic anthropology.

Determination of the in situ bactericidal activity of an essential oil mouthrinse using a vital stain method.

BACKGROUND: Recent research has indicated that bacteria within a biofilm may undergo changes in susceptibility to antimicrobial agents when compared to planktonic forms. This study was conducted to determine the bactericidal effect of an essential oil-containing mouthrinse (Listerine Antiseptic) on dental plaque bacteria in situ. METHODS: 1-day-old plaque in 17 subjects was sampled at baseline from the buccal surfaces of diagonally contralateral maxillary and mandibular bicuspids and 1st molars. Subjects were then randomly assigned either an essential oil mouthrinse or a sterile saline negative control and rinsed under supervision with 20 ml for 30 s. 30 min later, plaque was sampled from the remaining contralateral posterior teeth. Subjects repeated these procedures with their respective alternate rinse after 1 week. Pooled plaque samples from each subject at each sampling period were stained with a commercially-available fluorescent stain which fluoresces live and dead bacteria green and red, respectively. The stained plaque specimens were analyzed using computerized image analysis. A separate in vitro study was conducted to determine the relationship between the % red stain per sample and bacterial viability. RESULTS: Analysis of vital stained plaque specimens indicated that following rinsing with the essential oil mouthrinse, 78.7% of bacteria were dead compared to 27.9% following rinsing with the negative control (p<0.001). The in vitro findings demonstrated that the % red stain per sample is reflective of actual bacterial kill. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the findings of previous in vitro and in vivo studies which demonstrated the essential oil mouthrinse to have significant biocidal activity against oral micro-organisms. These studies all support the primacy of a bactericidal mechanism in producing the plaque and gingivitis reductions observed in numerous clinical trials conducted on the essential oil mouthrinse.

A comparison of the microvascular response in the healing wound in the spontaneously hypertensive and non-hypertensive rat.

BACKGROUND: In the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat (SHR), there is a significantly greater blood flow at the paw but not at the back than in the non-hypertensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat. We wanted to assess the effect of this higher blood flow on wound healing at the paw. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We characterized the microvascular composition of wounds at the back and paw of 9 SHR rats and 10 WKY rats using a quantitative imaging program. Blood flow was compared using laser Doppler technology. RESULTS: The blood flow response to wounding at the back was identical in the SHR and WKY rats. There was an immediate sharp increase in flow at the center of the wound. Blood flow reached a peak at 3 days and then decreased somewhat by day 7, but still remained five-fold higher than the prewound baseline values. There was also a two-fold increase at the back wound perimeter. There were no differences in microvascular composition at the back between the SHR and WKY rats. In contrast, there was an immediate enormous increase in blood flow at paw wound center in the SHR rats. Flow increased to 75 ml/min/100 gm by 24 h then fell back sharply. Blood flow at the paw in the WKY rats changed very little over the 7 days post wounding. At 3 days, the flow was about twice as high in the SHR than in the WKY wound, but, by day 7, flow was similar in the two rat strains. At the SHR wound perimeter, there was a small increase in flow which was sustained through day 7. Although the microvascular composition at the paw wound center was similar in the SHR and WKY rats, there was a notable difference at the paw perimeter. At baseline, there was a slightly greater capillary density in the SHR paw (32 +/- 1 per mm3) than the WKY paw (25 +/- 8 per mm3). At 7 days after wounding, there was a substantial increase in capillary number in the SHR rats (48 +/- 8 per mm3) as compared to baseline (p = 0.05). In contrast, there was no significant difference in capillary number in the WKY paw wound perimeter (20 +/- 3 per mm3) as compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: There is a substantial difference in wound blood flow response between the hypertensive and the non-hypertensive rat. At the back, the blood flow effects of wounding are similar, but, at the paw, the SHR rat shows a dramatic transient increase in flow in the early phases of wound healing. There is apparently no capability to upmodulate microvascular resistance in response to increased pressure at this early stage of wound healing. However, within several days, the granulation tissue microvasculature becomes capable of controlling the effects of raised pressure in the SHR rat. In the SHR paw wound perimeter, there are significantly more capillaries than in the WKY rat. It is possible that greater capillary proliferation in the SHR rat results from higher blood flow in the early phase of wounding. The contrast between the WKY rat and the SHR rat serves to further illustrate the complexity of blood flow regulation which occurs during wound healing.

The active form of the ferric heme in neutrophil cytochrome b(558) is low-spin in the reconstituted cell-free system in the presence of amphophil.

The spin state of the heme in superoxide (O(2)(.)(-))-producing cytochrome b(558) purified from pig neutrophils was examined by means of room-temperature magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) under physiological conditions. Cytochrome b(558) with varying amounts of low-spin and high-spin heme was prepared by either pH adjustment or heat treatment, and the O(2)(.)(-)-forming activity in a cell-free system was found to correlate with the low-spin heme content. The possibility that the O(2)(.)(-)-forming activity results from a transient high-spin ferric heme form that is induced during activation by anionic amphophils has also been investigated. EPR spectra of cytochrome b(558) activated by either arachidonic acid or myristic acid, showed that a transient high-spin ferric species accounting for approximately 50% of the heme appeared in the presence of arachidonic acid, but not in the presence of myristic acid. Hence the appearance of a transient high-spin ferric heme species on activation with an amphophil does not afford a common activation mechanism in the NADPH oxidase system. The EPR results for cytochrome b(558) activated with arachidonic acid showed that the transient high-spin ferric heme can bind cyanide. However, the high-spin ferric heme does not contribute to the O(2)(.)(-) production of cytochrome b(558) in cell-free assays in the presence of cyanide.

Comparative antimicrobial activity of an essential oil and an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride mouthrinse in vitro.

Although laboratory studies are not necessarily predictive of clinical activity; they can help to elucidate mechanisms underlying clinical activity when the latter has been established. In a recent clinical study, an essential oil mouthrinse (Listerine Antiseptic) was shown to be significantly more effective than an amine fluoride/stannous fluoride mouthrinse (Meridol) in inhibiting supragingival plaque formation. This paper reports the results of laboratory studies comparing the antimicrobial effectiveness of these 2 mouthrinses using a kill kinetics assay and a plaque biofilm kill assay. In both assays, the essential oil mouthrinse was considerably more effective than the amine fluoride/stannous fluoride mouthrinse. These findings are consistent with the results of the clinical trial and may help to explain the observed differences in clinical activity.

A comparison of the cutaneous microvascular properties of the spontaneously hypertensive rat and the Wistar-Kyoto rat.

The Spontaneously Hypertensive rat (SHR) and its non-hypertensive companion strain, the Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat, provide an excellent comparative model to permit study of the differential properties of cutaneous microvascular beds. We explored the possibility that chronically elevated vascular pressures in the SHR rat might affect the microvascular constitution of the skin. We measured skin blood flow at the back and at the paw of a group of 20-week-old WKY rats and a contrast group of SHR rats. We then performed skin biopsies at these two locations and used the NIH Image program to count and measure the size of capillaries, arterioles, and venules. We also determined microvascular density as percentage of total tissue area. At basal temperature, skin blood flow was similar in the two rat strains at both the back and paw. Heat induced vasodilatation resulted in a 50% increase in blood flow at the back, reaching the same level in the two rat groups. However, at the paw site, thermal stimulation resulted in significantly greater flow (39.3 +/- 3.1 ml/100 gm tissue per min) in the SHR rats than the WKY rats (28.6 +/- 1.9 ml/100 gm tissue per min, P < 0.05). The ratio of systemic arterial pressure to skin blood flow was computed as an index of vascular resistance to flow. At basal temperature, this index was 50% greater for the SHR rats at both skin sites. At 44 degrees C, the resistance index decreased at both sites in both rat groups but was still approximately 50% higher at the back of the SHR than the WKY rats. In contrast, the resistance index at 44 degrees C at the paw site fell to the same level in both the SHR and WKY rats. There were twice as many capillaries at the back of the WKY rats than at the back of the SHR rats (9.2 +/- 2.0 per mm2 vs. 4.7 +/- 1.2 per mm2, P < 0.05). Expressed as a percentage of total tissue area, the capillary density at the back in the WKY rats was 0.064 +/- 0.010% as compared to 0.034 +/- 0.008% in the SHR rats (P < 0.05). There were five times more arterioles at the paw compared to the back in both rat groups with no significant difference between the groups. We measured the diameter of the lumen and the thickness of the wall of each arteriole and computed their ratio as an index of possible media hypertrophy. There were minimal differences seen in these parameters between the two rat groups at the back and paw sites. The venular density was significantly higher at the paw than at the back in both rat groups with no significant difference between them. Reduced capillary density at the back of the SHR rats may be a developmental adaptation to high blood pressure. Such a reduction in the pathways of blood flow may help account for increased flow resistance at that site, independent of arteriolar vasoconstriction.

Three-dimensional collagen gel culture promotes osteoblastic phenotype in bone marrow derived cells.

When calvarial cells or osteogenic cell lines were cultured in type I collagen gel, calcification was observed early and diffusely compared to monolayer culture. Bone marrow derived cells were cultured in three-dimensional type I collagen gel to investigate whether the cells can differentiate into osteogenic cells. In terms of efficient induction of osteogenic differentiation, we compared collagen gel culture to type I collagen coated dish culture and collagen-free plastic dish culture by morphology, alkaline phosphatase activity, and mRNA expression for type I collagen and osteopontin. Bone marrow derived primary cells formed colonies consisting of fibroblastic cells positively expressing alkaline phosphatase activity. Mineral deposition was observed in both primary and the 3rd passaged cells cultured in collagen gel, whereas the 3rd passaged cells on plastic dishes failed to be mineralized. Cells in collagen gel showed higher alkaline phosphatase activity than those in the other two methods suggesting that three-dimensional collagen network stimulated osteoblastic differentiation effectively. The expression level for type I collagen mRNA of the cells in collagen gel was three times higher in the 3rd passaged cells, and was slightly decreased in primary cells compared to the other two methods. The osteopontin mRNA expression of the cells in collagen gel was four times higher in the 3rd passaged cell culture but lower in primary cell cultures. These results suggested that collagen gel culture might be a useful environment for osteogenic induction of passaged cells derived from bone marrow.