Positive outcomes following Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) in the treatment of retropatellar chondral lesions: a retrospective analysis of a patient registry.

BACKGROUND: The patellofemoral joint is a challenging environment for treating chondral defects. Among the surgical options for the treatment of chondral defects, the single-stage Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) procedure uses a porcine collagen I/III membrane to enhance bone-marrow stimulation. However, longer term outcomes data are rare for this specific indication. In order to provide real-world information, an ongoing registry has been established to record patient data and outcomes when AMIC is used to treat chondral and osteochondral lesions. METHODS: Patient data were retrieved from an ongoing, prospective, multisite registry of patients who had undergone AMIC treatment of chondral defects. We identified 64 patients who had undergone AMIC for patellofemoral chondral defects and for whom pre-operative and at least 1 post-operative score were available were included in this retrospective data analysis. Outcomes were assessed via the KOOS, VAS pain, and the Lysholm scores. Outcomes at the post-operative time-points were analysed using a factorial ANOVA with post-hoc testing while linear regression was used to assess associations between the change in the Lysholm score and lesion size. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in Lysholm, VAS pain, and KOOS scores from pre-operative to the 1st year post-operative (p < 0.001), and this was maintained during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The forces exerted on the patellofemoral joint make this a challenging scenario for chondral repair. Our data demonstrates that the AMIC procedure with a collagen I/III membrane is an effective treatment for retropatellar cartilage lesions, and provides reliable results, with decreased pain and improved function. Importantly, these improvements were maintained through the follow-up period.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy as Migraine Intervention: a Randomized Waitlist Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Based on promising effects seen in a pilot study evaluating a generic mindfulness-based program for migraine, we developed a migraine-specific adaptation of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) program. The aim of this study was to evaluate this program for feasibility and effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial. METHOD: Fifty-four patients suffering from migraine were randomly allocated to either waitlist or the adapted MBCT. Outcomes were migraine-related parameters as well as variables of psychological functioning and coping. Assessment took place at baseline and post-intervention, for the intervention group also at follow-up (7 months). The effects of the intervention were analyzed by the use of ANCOVAs and linear mixed models. RESULTS: With respect to migraine parameters we did not find a significant group difference in the primary outcome (headache-related impairment), but the intervention resulted in a significant reduction of headache frequency (p = .04). In the analysis of secondary outcomes, MBCT showed superiority in four out of eight psychological parameters (perceived stress, anxiety, rumination, catastrophizing) with small to medium effect sizes. The intervention proved to be feasible and participants reported high degrees of contentment and achievement of personal goals. CONCLUSIONS: The migraine-specific MBCT program did not result in improvements with regard to headache-related impairment but showed a reduction in headache frequency as well as improved psychological functioning in secondary outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered in the German Trial Registry "Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien" (ID: DRKS00007477), which is a WHO-listed primary trial register.

TROPHY registry - status report.

INTRODUCTION: The TROPHY registry has been established to conduct an international multicenter prospective data collection on the surgical management of neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)-related hydrocephalus to possibly contribute to future guidelines. The registry allows comparing the techniques established to treat hydrocephalus, such as external ventricular drainage (EVD), ventricular access device (VAD), ventricular subgaleal shunt (VSGS), and neuroendoscopic lavage (NEL). This first status report of the registry presents the results of the standard of care survey of participating centers assessed upon online registration. METHODS: On the standard of treatment forms, each center indicated the institutional protocol of interventions performed for neonatal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (nPHH) for a time period of 2 years (Y1 and Y2) before starting the active participation in the registry. In addition, the amount of patients enrolled so far and allocated to a treatment approach are reported. RESULTS: According to the standard of treatment forms completed by 56 registered centers, fewer EVDs (Y1 55% Y2 46%) were used while more centers have implemented NEL (Y1 39%; Y2 52%) to treat nPHH. VAD (Y1 66%; Y2 66%) and VSGS (Y1 42%; Y2 41%) were used at a consistent rate during the 2 years. The majority of the centers used at least two different techniques to treat nPHH (43%), while 27% used only one technique, 21% used three, and 7% used even four different techniques. Patient data of 110 infants treated surgically between 9/2018 and 2/2021 (13% EVD, 15% VAD, 30% VSGS, and 43% NEL) were contributed by 29 centers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the varying strategies used for the treatment of nPHH. The international TROPHY registry has entered into a phase of growing patient recruitment. Further evaluation will be performed and published according to the registry protocol.

Synthetic anti-endotoxin peptides interfere with Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, their adhesion and biofilm formation on titanium.

AIMS: Implant-associated infections arise from the formation of bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to be treated with conventional antibiotics. Therefore, there is a need for new implant functionalizations, which inhibit biofilm formation. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effect of synthetic peptides to assess their applicability for this purpose. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two synthetic anti-endotoxin peptides, Pep19-2.5 and Pep19-4LF (Aspidasept I and II) were tested against both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus oralis) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans) bacteria associated with implant infections. Their activity was evaluated against different states of biofilm formation on the implant material titanium using CFU, live/dead fluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. Both peptides inhibited planktonic bacteria growth, impacted initial bacterial adhesion, reduced biofilm volume and increased the proportion of dead cells. Additionally, cytotoxicity analyses showed that neither peptide harmed human gingival fibroblasts nor osteoblasts at lower concentrations. CONCLUSION: A concentration-dependent antibacterial activity of both peptides against biofilms of four clinically relevant bacteria could be demonstrated. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results of this study serve as a promising basis for the improvement of these peptides in order to finally achieve a peptide-equipped antibacterial implant surface.

Mid-term outcome of arthroscopic AMIC for the treatment of articular cartilage defects in the knee joint is equivalent to mini-open procedures.

INTRODUCTION: We present the first retrospective study that compares two various autologous matrix-induced chondrogenesis (AMIC) surgical interventions to repair grade III-IV cartilage defects in the knee. Patients who underwent minimally invasive (arthroscopy) or open (mini-arthrotomy) AMIC were followed up to 2 years to investigate if minimally invasive AMIC is superior to open procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall n = 50 patients with focal and contained grade III-IV articular cartilage defects in the knee joint were followed in a consecutive cohort study. 20 patients were treated arthroscopically (female 7, male 13; age: mean 38.2 years, range 18-70 years; BMI: mean 27.0, range 18.7-34.7; defect size: mean 3.1 cm2, range 1.0-6.0 cm2), and 30 patients via mini-arthrotomy (female 13, male 17; age: mean 34.4 years, range 14-53 years, BMI: mean 23.9, range 18.4-28.7; defect size: mean 3.4 cm2, range 1.5-12.0 cm2). The primary defect localization was the medial femoral condyle. RESULTS: AMIC led to a significant improvement of VAS pain, KOOS and Lysholm scoring for up to 2 years compared to pre-op. Outcome analysis revealed no significant differences between the two different surgical approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that mini-open AMIC is equivalent to the arthroscopic procedure. The anticipatory hypothesis that minimally invasive approaches bring greater patient benefit per se could not be confirmed. Therefore, we recommend to perform AMIC where indicated and suggest that the surgeon's personal skills profile guide the choice of surgical approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

A prospective ecological risk assessment of high-efficiency III-V/silicon tandem solar cells.

III-V/Silicon tandem solar cells offer one of the most promising avenues for high-efficiency, high-stability photovoltaics. However, a key concern is the potential environmental release of group III-V elements, especially arsenic. To inform long-term policies on the energy transition and energy security, we develop and implement a framework that fully integrates future PV demand scenarios with dynamic stock, emission, and fate models in a probabilistic ecological risk assessment. We examine three geographical scales: local (including a floating utility-scale PV and waste treatment), regional (city-wide), and continental (Europe). Our probabilistic assessment considers a wide range of possible values for over one hundred uncertain technical, environmental, and regulatory parameters. We find that III-V/silicon PV integration in energy grids at all scales presents low-to-negligible risks to soil and freshwater organisms. Risks are further abated if recycling of III-V materials is considered at the panels' end-of-life.

Outcome of Autologous Matrix Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) in cartilage knee surgery: data of the AMIC Registry.

INTRODUCTION: Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) is an innovative treatment for localized full-thickness cartilage defects combining the well-known microfracturing with collagen I/III scaffold. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the medium-term results of this enhanced microfracture technique for the treatment of chondral lesions of the knee. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients treated with AMIC (Chondro-Gide, Geistlich Pharma, Switzerland) were followed using the AMIC Registry, an internet-based tool to longitudinally track changes in function and symptoms by the Lysholm score and VAS. RESULTS: A series of 57 patients was enrolled. The average age of patients (19 females, 38 males) was 37.3 years (range 17-61 years). The mean defect size of the chondral lesions was 3.4 cm(2) (range 1.0-12.0 cm(2)). All defects were classified as grade III (n = 20) or IV (n = 37) according to the Outerbridge classification. Defects were localized at the medial (n = 32) or lateral (n = 6) condyle, at the trochlea (n = 4) and at the patella (n = 15). The follow-up period was 2 years. The majority of patients were satisfied with the postoperative outcome, reporting a significant decrease of pain (mean VAS preop = 7.0; 1 year postop = 2.7; 2 years postop = 2.0). Significant improvement of the mean Lysholm score was observed as early as 1 year after AMIC and further increased values were noted up to 2 years postoperatively (preop. 50.1, 1 year postop. 79.9, 2 year postop. 85.2). CONCLUSIONS: AMIC is an effective and safe method of treating symptomatic chondral defects of the knee. However, further studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine if the grafted area will maintain structural and functional integrity over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, Level IV.

Mid-term results of Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis for treatment of focal cartilage defects in the knee.

Articular cartilage defects heal poorly. Autologous Matrix-Induced Chondrogenesis (AMIC) is an innovative treatment for localized full-thickness cartilage defects combining the well-known microfracturing with collagen scaffold and fibrin glue. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the medium-term results of this enhanced microfracture technique for the treatment of chondral lesions of the knee. Thirty-two chondral lesions in 27 patients were treated with AMIC. Within the context of clinical follow-up, these patients were evaluated for up to 5 years after the intervention. Five different scores (Meyer score, Tegner score, Lysholm score, ICRS score, Cincinnati score) as well as radiographs were used for outcome analysis. Articular resurfacing was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The average age of patients (11 females, 16 males; mean body mass index 26, range 20-32) was 37 years (range 16-50 years). The mean defect size of the chondral lesions was 4.2 cm(2) (range 1.3-8.8 cm(2)). All defects were classified as grade IV according to the Outerbridge classification. The follow-up period was between 24 and 62 months with a mean of 37 months. Twenty out of 23 individuals (87%) questioned were subjectively highly satisfied with the results after surgery. Significant improvement (P < 0.05) of all scores was observed as early as 12 months after AMIC, and further increased values were notable up to 24 months postoperatively. MRI analysis showed moderate to complete filling with a normal to incidentally hyperintense signal in most cases. Results did not show a clinical impact of patient's age at the time of operation, body mass index and number of previous operations (n.s.). In contrast, males showed significant higher values in the ICRS score compared to their female counterparts. AMIC is an effective and safe method of treating symptomatic full-thickness chondral defects of the knee in appropriately selected cases. However, further studies with long-term follow-up are needed to determine whether the grafted area will maintain structural and functional integrity over time.

The structure of arthropod hemocyanins.

Hemocyanins are large multi-subunit copper proteins that transport oxygen in many arthropods and molluscs. Comparison of the amino acid sequence data for seven different subunits of arthropod hemocyanins from crustaceans and chelicerates shows many highly conserved residues and extensive regions of near identity. This correspondence can be matched closely with the three domain structure established by x-ray crystallography for spiny lobster hemocyanin. The degree of identity is particularly striking in the second domain of the subunit that contains the six histidines which ligate the two oxygen-binding copper atoms. The polypeptide architecture of spiny lobster hemocyanin appears to be the same in all arthropods. This structure must therefore be at least as old as the estimated time of divergence of crustaceans and chelicerates, about 540 to 600 million years ago.

A comparison of the mechanical performance characteristics of seven drug-eluting stent systems.

OBJECTIVES: Mechanical properties of drug eluting stents (DES) will be measured to provide comparable numerical data to assess deliverability, and thus clinical performance. BACKGROUND: DES are routinely used in coronary interventions to reduce the rates of restenosis and target vessel revascularizations. Current research is primarily concerned with issues related to late stent thrombosis. However, mechanical properties of DES are a critical determinant of deliverability, and consequently the ultimate arbiter of their clinical performance. METHODS: Mechanical properties (pushability, trackability, crossability) were measured under standardized in-vitro conditions. The vessel models were derived from typical vessel anatomy but adapted to the individual tests. Additionally, profile and bending forces of the stent segment of the delivery system were measured. Seven different commercially available balloon-expandable coronary DES systems were included. All stents were 3.0 mm diameter with a stent length from 14 to 18 mm. RESULTS: The pushability expressed as the ratio of distal force at a specific proximal push force (4N) ranged between 38.66 and 18.53%. The trackability as the mean track-forces ranged from 0.551 N to 1.137 N. One stent system could not pass this test. The mean crossing forces at a 1.4 mm stenosis model ranged from 0.038 N up to 0.103 N. The mean crimped stent profiles ranged from 1.055 mm to 1.198 mm and the bending stiffness of the crimped stent was 17.22 to 47.20 Nmm2. CONCLUSION: Better understanding of mechanical properties of DES shall improve tactile skills of the interventionists during PCI and to improve criteria for DES selection in specific clinical settings.

Experimental middle ear surgery in rabbits: a new approach for reconstructing the ossicular chain.

This experimental animal study aimed at evaluating a new prosthesis to replace the ossicular chain; we developed a new technique for surgical implantation into the middle ear of rabbits. The rabbit middle ear is, owing to the relative anatomical dimensions involved, an ideal environment for implantation procedures involving the ossicles, as the surgical conditions are similar to those of the human middle ear. This study included a total of 34 approximately six-month-old female white rabbits (New Zealand) weighing between 3.2 and 4.4 kg. The implants used were constructed of ceramic materials (titania, TiO(2)) of various pore sizes. Directly prior to implanting the total ossicular reconstruction prostheses (TORPs), as well as at 28, 84 and 300 days after implantation, electric response audiometry was used to determine the hearing thresholds of the animals (bone conduction; click stimulus nHL). An erbium:YAG laser was used to excise the original ossicular chain. Following implantation, we were unable to detect any stenosis of the outer ear canal or perforation of the tympanic membrane. The conductive hearing threshold was in the range of 4.21 +/- 6.68 dB nHL (n = 131). The hearing level showed no significant difference before and after surgery (P < 0.05).

Disfunción inmunológica en enfermedad de Alzheimer; proinflamatoria en etapas iniciales y regulatoria, y exhausta en etapas avanzadas / Immune dysfunction in disease Alzheimer's; proinflammatory in stages initial and regulatory, and exhaustive in advanced stages

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia worldwide and a source of important population morbidity and mortality. It is estimate that its prevalence will increase dramatically in the upcoming years. The classical clinical presentation of AD is an amnesic hippocampal syndrome, and Mild Cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered the initial stage between normal cognition and dementia. The most accepted pathogenesis establishes amyloid beta (Ab) deposition in brain parenchyma as the initial mechanism, followed by the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau finally leading to the loss of synapses and neurons. Recently, the study of AD pathogenesis is focusing on immune mechanisms as main actors of disease development. Microglia is the macrophagic resident cell in the central nervous system (CNS), and initiates the inflammatory response and Ab phagocytosis, interacting with other glia and recruiting diverse immune cells to the CNS. The role of the adaptive immune system, and, especially T lymphocytes' role, is still controversial. We hypothesize that the pathogenesis of AD is dynamic; with a preponderant proinflammatory activity initially, but later on, the persistent presence of Ab due to the lack of its proper elimination leads to a phenomena of lymphocyte dysfunction and immunological tolerance that have a deleterious role at advanced stages of the disease. (AU)

Verapamil and aspirin modulate platelet-mediated vasomotion in arterial segments with intact or disrupted endothelium.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to examine the effects of verapamil and aspirin, which decrease thromboxane A2 and serotonin release, on the modulation of vascular tone by platelets. BACKGROUND: Aggregating platelets cause constriction of de-endothelialized arterial segments through thromboxane A2 and serotonin release. These cells cause relaxation of arterial segments with intact endothelium through release of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor. METHODS: Healthy subjects were given either no drug, verapamil or aspirin for > or = 5 days before their platelets were obtained. The effects of platelets obtained from subjects before and after treatment with aspirin or verapamil on the tone of rat aortic rings were determined. RESULTS: As expected, control platelets (before verapamil or aspirin treatment) induced concentration-dependent relaxation of rat aortic rings with intact endothelium and a concentration-dependent contraction of de-endothelialized rings. Verapamil treatment enhanced (p < 0.02) the platelet-mediated relaxation in rings with intact endothelium and abolished platelet-mediated constriction (p < 0.01) in the de-endothelialized rings. Aspirin treatment also abolished (p < 0.05) platelet-mediated constriction of the de-endothelialized rings. The de-endothelialized rings contracted normally in response to the synthetic thromboxane A2 analogue U46,619, as well as to serotonin, indicating that the vascular smooth muscle response to thromboxane A2 and serotonin was intact. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for the modulation of platelet-mediated vasoconstriction of de-endothelialized arterial segments by prior treatment of subjects with verapamil or aspirin. In clinical syndromes characterized by endothelial dysfunction or disruption, treatment with verapamil or aspirin may modify platelet-vessel wall interactions.

Presence of genetic alterations in microdissected stroma of human colon and breast cancers.

We show by laser-assisted microdissection that frequent genetic alterations in non-hereditary invasive human colon and breast cancers (loss of heterozygosity and TP53 mutations) occur not only in the neoplastic epithelial cells, but also in the adjacent fibroblastic tumor stroma and that both components can share clonal features. Tumor cell-mesenchyme transitions are among the possible explanations for these findings.

Migration pattern, morphology and viability of cells suspended in or sealed with fibrin glue: a histomorphologic study.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the migration pattern, morphology and viability of cells suspended in five different fibrin glues. Besides this, the behaviour of chondrocytes seeded on porous matrices comprising different collagen types sealed with fibrin glue was investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In an experiment A, cell suspension (0.5x10(6) cells) was incubated with different fibrin glues. Experiment B was set up to evaluate chondrocytes migration either through a collagen I/III (Chondro-Gide, Geistlich Biomaterials, Switzerland) or collagen II matrix sealed with different fibrin glues in a perfusion chamber system. Analysis were performed by lightmicroscopy (Mayer's hematoxylin-eosin; Masson-Goldner; TUNEL test) and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. All fibrin glues were measured for TGF-beta 1 and 2 with a specific ELISA. RESULTS: After incubation of cell suspension in autologous fibrin glue, the morphology of cells is chondrocyte-like. Spindly, process-bearing cells were seen in commercial fibrin glue. Cells suspended in commercial fibrin glue revealed a significant higher percentage of TUNEL positive cells compared to fibrin tissue adhesives mixed with autologous serum (p=0.006). The TGF-beta 1 and 2 concentration was significantly higher in partial autologous fibrin sealant (PAF) compared to their commercial counterparts (p=0.001). Cells seeded on the collagen I/III matrix retained their chondrocytic morphology, while in the type II collagen matrix the chondrocytes displayed a fibroblastic phenotype. The ratio of TUNEL positive cells for the collagen I/III matrix was significantly surpassed by the values, when a collagen II matrix was used (p=0.008). No ingrowth of cells was seen in any of the experimental conditions. CONCLUSION: Partial autologous fibrin glue and collagen I/III matrices are favourable in respect to migration pattern, morphology and viability, but definitive conclusions can only be drawn after in vivo studies. This will be addressed in future animal studies.

Concurrent nitroglycerin therapy impairs tissue-type plasminogen activator-induced thrombolysis in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Nitroglycerin given with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) has been shown to decrease the thrombolytic effect of t-PA in animal models of coronary artery thrombosis. The present study was conducted to determine whether such an interaction between nitroglycerin and t-PA occurs in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing thrombolytic treatment. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were treated with t-PA plus saline solution (group 1; n = 11) or t-PA plus nitroglycerin (group 2; n = 36). Stable coronary artery reperfusion assessed by continuous ST-segment monitoring in 2 electrocardiographic leads, and release of creatine kinase occurred in 91% of group 1 patients and in 44% of group 2 patients (95% confidence interval, 14% to 82%; p < 0.02). Plasma levels of t-PA antigen were consistently (p < 0.005) higher in group 1 than in group 2 patients up to 6 hours after t-PA infusion. Conversely, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were slightly higher in group 2 than in group 1 patients. These observations indicate that nitroglycerin given with t-PA significantly decreases the plasma t-PA antigen concentrations and impairs the thrombolytic effect of t-PA in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

The utility of the 13C-galactose breath test as a measure of liver function.

BACKGROUND: The 13C-galactose breath test has been reported to be an accurate, non-invasive method for the assessment of liver function. AIMS: To determine the optimal doses of labelled and unlabelled carrier galactose necessary to perform the 13C-galactose breath test, to assess the utility of the 13C-galactose breath test in distinguishing between normal subjects and those with liver cirrhosis and to determine whether the 13C-galactose breath test can stratify patients with cirrhosis based on their Child-Pugh score. METHODS: Twenty-three control subjects and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis received fixed doses of unlabelled carrier galactose and labelled 13C-galactose. Breath samples were collected just before and at 30-min intervals up to 4 h after the ingestion of unlabelled carrier galactose and labelled 13C-galactose. Each sample was analysed for its 13CO2 content. RESULTS: Doses of 25 g/m2 of unlabelled carrier galactose and 100 mg of 13C-galactose had the greatest sensitivity (93%; 95% confidence interval, 76-99%) and specificity (87%; 95% confidence interval, 65-97%) for distinguishing between normal subjects and cirrhotics when the test was performed 2 h after ingestion. The 13C-galactose breath test was also able to distinguish between class A and class B or C cirrhotics. CONCLUSION: The 13C-galactose breath test is a useful non-invasive tool for distinguishing between healthy subjects and patients with liver cirrhosis and between cirrhotics with well-compensated liver disease and those with decompensated liver disease.

Regional cerebral blood flow in peritumoral brain edema during dexamethasone treatment: a xenon-enhanced computed tomographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Regional cerebral flood flow (rCBF) in peritumoral brain edema is assumed to be decreased because of increased interstitial pressure. Impaired blood flow might lead to local hypoxia, altered metabolism, and disturbed ion homeostasis, thus causing neurological sequelae. Steroid treatment is thought to positively influence the sequelae of brain edema. We aimed to determine the rCBF in peritumoral edema in humans receiving dexamethasone treatment and the relationship of rCBF to global CBF. METHODS: We measured rCBF in 11 patients with untreated anaplastic gliomas or glioblastomas that were World Health Organization Grade III or IV restricted to one hemisphere with significant peritumoral edema who were receiving a standard dose of dexamethasone. rCBF was determined using stable xenon-enhanced computed tomography in a stereotactic frame. Edema was defined both by means of actual histology (stereotactic biopsies) and by imaging criteria. RESULTS: rCBF in peritumoral edema was decreased by 32% as compared with contralateral normal white matter. In each patient, this reduction was linearly related to blood flow in nonaffected white matter and cortex. The flow ratio in the different compartments was 1 (edema):1.5 (contralateral white matter):2.7 (contralateral cortex). Absolute perfusion values in contralateral cortex (means +/- standard deviations) (29.9+/-7.1 ml/100 g/min) and contralateral white matter (16.1+/-3.7 ml/100 g/min) were significantly decreased as well. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that rCBF in peritumoral brain edema during steroid treatment is still decreased and is in a range in which it may cause neurological sequelae. Also, global CBF was decreased in all patients.

Semipreparative isolation of collagen types I, II, III and V by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electroelution.

A simple method for the isolation of alpha-chains of different collagen types was developed. The procedure involves sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by electroelution of separated and defixed collagen alpha-chains. Collagen types I, II, III and V from different porcine tissues were recovered in high quantity (> 95%) and purity (> 98%) as evidenced by amino acid analysis. The procedure can be used for sample quantities smaller than required for conventional methods e.g. chromatographic procedures.

Invasive properties of serous human epithelial ovarian tumors are related to Ets-1, MMP-1 and MMP-9 expression.

The invasive potential of serous epithelial ovarian tumors is the main factor determining their biological behaviour. In contrast to invasive serous ovarian carcinomas serous borderline tumors generally present without stromal invasion and without or non-invading peritoneal implants. Little is known about the reasons underlying these differences. In the present study we found that two matrix-degrading metalloproteinases, collagenases 1 and 4 (MMPs 1 and 9), as well as the Ets-1 transcription factor are expressed at very low levels in serous benign cystadenomas, upregulated in the fibroblastic stroma, but not in the epithelium of borderline tumors and most strongly expressed in both stromal and epithelial tumor cells of serous invasive carcinomas. Since expression of Ets-1 and of MMPs 1 and 9 are topographically related, a transcriptional regulation of both proteases by Ets-1 is suggested. Upregulation of MMPs 1 and 9 within fibroblastic stromal cells of borderline tumors might be related to matrix remodelling and additional expression of both enzymes by the neoplastic cells of invasive carcinomas could then allow invasive propagation. The different expression patterns might supports the view, that no transition of serous borderline tumors into invasive carcinomas occurs.