Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018 Nov 20;91:10-17. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics and Theory of Mechanisms, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Ignacego Łukasiewicza 7/9, 50-371 Wrocław, Poland.

Background: Damage to the spinal cord is one of the most debilitating pathologies with considerable health, economic and social impact. Improved prevention, treatment and rehabilitation after spinal cord injury (SCI) requires the complex biomechanics of the spinal cord with all its structural elements and the injury mechanism to be understood. This comprehensive understanding will also allow development of models and tools enabling better diagnosis, surgical treatment with increased safety and efficacy and possible development of regenerative therapies. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Clinical and Translational Epidemiology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Obesity promotes intestinal inflammation and might contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. We examined the association between obesity and risk of microscopic colitis in a prospective cohort study.

Methods: We collected data from 192,101 women enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) (from 1986 through 2014) or NHSII (from 1991 through 2015). Read More

Int J Biol Macromol 2018 Dec 5. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of, China. Electronic address:

Cell therapy with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is a potential method for many disease treatments, including keloid. In the present study, an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) modified hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) hydrogel (HBC-RGD) was developed to enhance the adhesion and proliferation of BMSCs within the hydrogel. The successful synthesis of HBC-RGD was confirmed by FTIR and H NMR. Read More

Hernia 2018 Nov 30. Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Biotube Co., Ltd, 2-13-11 Shinkawa, Chuo, Tokyo, 104-0033, Japan.

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of biosheet, an in-body tissue-engineered collagenous membrane, as a novel repair material for abdominal wall defects in a beagle model.

Methods: Biosheets were prepared by embedding molds into subcutaneous pouches in two beagle dogs for 2 months, with subsequent storage in 70% ethanol. The obtained biosheets (thickness 0. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Dec 4;8(1):17620. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, İzmir Katip Çelebi University, İzmir, 35620, Turkey.

Optimization of nanofiber (NF) surface properties is critical to achieve an adequate cellular response. Here, the impact of conjugation of biomimetic aspartic acid (ASP) and glutamic acid (GLU) templated peptides with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun NF on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) was evaluated. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) was used to functionalize the NF surface and thus to mediate the conjugation. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2018 Nov 27;54:10-14. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Deptt. of Pathology, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India. Electronic address:

Introduction: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare neoplasm of mesenchymal origin that occurs most often in the visceral pleura. It rarely occurs in the central nervous system (CNS). If they occur intracranially, they are extra-axially located and develop from the meninges. Read More

Drug Dev Ind Pharm 2018 Dec 4:1-29. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

a Department of Chinese Medicine , Guangdong Pharmaceutical University of China , Guangzhou , Guangdong , China.

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of anti-VEGF antibody-modified Paeonol liposome gels (PAE-BEV-lip gels) in the prevention and treatment of Hypertrophic Scars (HSs). Systematic optimization of the encapsulation process of anti-VEGF antibody-modified Paeonol liposomes (PAE-BEV-lips) was performed using Box-Behnken design with the optimized parameters as follows: SPC concentration of 7.36 mg·mL; SPC-Chol-PAE:pNP-PEG-DOPE:BVE-PEG-DOPE ratio of 14:5:4:0. Read More

Phys Med Biol 2018 Dec 4;63(23):235023. Epub 2018 Dec 4.

Center for Industrial and Medical Ultrasound, Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is rapidly advancing as an alternative therapy for non-invasively treating specific cancers and other pathological tissues through thermal ablation. A new type of HIFU therapy-boiling histotripsy (BH)-aims at mechanical fractionation of into subcellular fragments, with a range of accompanying thermal effects that can be tuned from none to substantial depending on the requirements of the application. The degree of mechanical tissue damage induced by BH has been shown to depend on the tissue type, with collagenous structures being most resistant, and cellular structures being most sensitive. Read More

Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Unit of Gastroenterology, Molinette-SGAS Hospital, Turin, Italy -

Microscopic colitis (MC) is diagnosed in presence of microscopic alterations of colonic mucosa, in patients without macroscopic lesions who referred for chronic diarrhea. The two types of MC are lymphocytic colitis (LC) and collagenous colitis (CC), but it is unclear whether these are the different expression of one unique disease or if they are distinct conditions. Today, although MC represents a consistent health problem, being responsible for a large part of gastroenterological consultations for diarrhea, it remains often underestimated. Read More

Physiol Rep 2018 Nov;6(22):e13930

Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Immune components can bridge inflammatory triggers to metabolic dysfunction. Scavenger receptors sense lipoproteins, but it is not clear how different scavenger receptors alter carbohydrate metabolism during obesity. Macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1) and macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) are scavenger receptors that have been implicated in lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular disease. Read More

Int Urogynecol J 2018 Nov 27. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Urogynecology and Vaginal Surgery within the Discipline of Gynecology at the ABC Medical School, Santo André, SP, Brazil.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Pelvic organ prolapse has a multifactorial etiology. There is increasing evidence that genetic factors greatly impact its development. This study aimed to evaluate the possible relation of the collagenous polymorphism -1997 G/T with genital prolapse in Brazilian women. Read More

Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2019 Jan;35(1):42-50

Faculty of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine & Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.

Purpose Of Review: Eosinophilic colitis is a rare condition, with a prevalence rate in the USA of 2-3/100 000 persons (0.003%), but diagnosed in 0.1% of biopsies in those colonoscoped for diarrhoea. Read More

J Orthop Res 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

Department of Bioengineering.

The purpose of this study was to develop a microplate assay for quantifying denatured collagen by measuring the fluorescence of carboxyfluorescein bound collagen hybridizing peptides (F-CHP). We have shown that F-CHP binds selectively with denatured collagen, and that mechanical overload of tendon fascicles causes collagen denaturation. Proteinase K was used to homogenize tissue samples after F-CHP staining, allowing fluorescence measurement using a microplate reader. Read More

Int Endod J 2018 Nov 26. Epub 2018 Nov 26.

School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Aim: To investigate pulp responses after pulpotomy and EDTA conditioning of pulp chamber dentinal walls with or without the placement of a collagenous scaffold in the experimental model of miniature swine teeth.

Methodology: Forty-two fully developed permanent premolars and molars of healthy miniature swines were used. After preparation of pulp exposures through Class I cavities, the tissue of the pulp chamber was completely removed. Read More

Acta Biomater 2018 Nov 22. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

The extracellular matrix of fascia-like tissues is a resilient network of collagenous fibers that withstand the forces of daily life. When overstretched, the matrix may tear, with serious consequences like pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Synthetic implants can provide mechanical support and evoke a host response that induces new matrix production, thus reinforcing the fascia. Read More

Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2018 Nov 23. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.

Bone ultrastructure at sub-lamellar length scale is a key structural unit in bone that bridges nano- and microscale hierarchies of the tissue. Despite its influence on bulk response of bone, the mechanical behavior of bone at ultrastructural level remains poorly understood. To fill this gap, in this study, a two-dimensional cohesive finite element model of bone at sub-lamellar level was proposed and analyzed under tensile and compressive loading conditions. Read More

J Proteomics 2018 Nov 20. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Biology & Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.

Proteomic analyses of ancient remains are increasing, with great potential to recover phylogenetic information on extinct animals beyond the reach of ancient DNA, but its limitations remain unclear. Here we carry out LC-MS/MS sequence analysis of a ~3.5 million year old specimen along with the younger Pleistocene remains of the Yukon giant camel (c. Read More

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 2018 Nov 21. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Interventional Radiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.

Aim: Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal ablative option in patients unsuitable for standard thermal ablation, due to its potential to preserve collagenous structures (vessels and ducts) and a reduced susceptibility to heat sink effects. In this series from two large tertiary referral hepatobiliary centres, we aim to assess the safety/outcomes of hepatic IRE.

Materials And Methods: Bi-institutional retrospective, longitudinal follow-up series of IRE for primary hepatic malignancy; [hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 20), cholangiocarcinoma (n = 3)] and secondary metastatic disease; colorectal (n = 28), neuroendocrine (n = 1), pancreatic (n = 1), breast (n = 1), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST, n = 1) and malignant thymoma (n = 1). Read More

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin 2018 Nov 17:1-16. Epub 2018 Nov 17.

a Scientific Computational Research Center , Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Low Center for Industrial Innocation , Troy , NY , USA.

A general multi-scale strategy is presented for modeling the mechanical environment of a group of neurons that were embedded within a collagenous matrix. The results of the multi-scale simulation are used to estimate the local strains that arise in neurons when the extracellular matrix is deformed. The distribution of local strains was found to depend strongly on the configuration of the embedded neurons relative to the loading direction, reflecting the anisotropic mechanical behavior of the neurons. Read More

Acta Biomater 2018 Nov 13. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Biomaterials, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden.

Complex physical and chemical interactions take place in the interface between the implant surface and bone. Various descriptions of the ultrastructural arrangement to various implant design features, ranging from solid and macroporous geometries to surface modifications on the micron-, submicron-, and nano- levels, have been put forward. Here, the current knowledge regarding structural organisation of the bone-implant interface is reviewed with a focus on solid devices, mainly metal (or alloy) intended for permanent anchorage in bone. Read More

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol 2018 Nov 16. Epub 2018 Nov 16.

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Introduction: Breast and chest wall desmoid tumours can cause debilitating symptoms and deformity. The mutilating effects of surgical treatment have prompted a shift to medical treatments and even to a wait-and-see approach. This study sought to highlight specific characteristics of breast and chest wall desmoid tumours on long-term follow-up by sequential MRI scans. Read More

IUCrJ 2018 Nov 10;5(Pt 6):765-779. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), Jaume Roig 11, 46010 Valencia, Spain.

Basement membranes are extracellular structures of epithelia and endothelia that have collagen IV scaffolds of triple α-chain helical protomers that associate end-to-end, forming networks. The molecular mechanisms by which the noncollagenous C-terminal domains of α-chains direct the selection and assembly of the α1α2α1 and α3α4α5 hetero-oligomers found remain obscure. Autoantibodies against the noncollagenous domains of the α3α4α5 hexamer or mutations therein cause Goodpasture's or Alport's syndromes, respectively. Read More

J Funct Biomater 2018 Nov 13;9(4). Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Department of Congenital Heart Disease, 13353 Berlin, Germany.

Many congenital heart defects and degenerative valve diseases require replacement of heart valves in children and young adults. Transcatheter xenografts degenerate over time. Tissue engineering might help to overcome this limitation by providing valves with ability for self-repair. Read More

J Pathol 2018 Nov 14. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine.

Immunoglobulins consist of two antigen-binding regions (Fab) and one constant region (Fc). Protein A and protein G are bacterial proteins used for the purification of IgG by virtue of their high affinities for Fc fragment. Rheumatoid factors are autoantibodies against IgG Fc fragments, which are present in the body under physiological conditions. Read More

Biomed Mater 2018 Nov 13;14(1):015008. Epub 2018 Nov 13.

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Research Center for New Technologies in Life Science Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

In bone tissue engineering, the intrinsic hydrophobicity and surface smoothness of three-dimensional (3D)-printed poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffolds hamper cell attachment, proliferation and differentiation. This intrinsic hydrophobicity of poly(ε-caprolactone) can be overcome by surface modifications, such as surface chemical modification or immobilization of biologically active molecules on the surface. Moreover, surface chemical modification may alter surface smoothness. Read More

Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2018 Nov;53(11):789-792

Department of Prosthodontics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.

The use of various biomimetic methods to achieve remineralization of demineralized dentin and the formation of an organic matrix-inorganic mineral complex with a certain mechanical strength has been a research hotspot in recent years in the field of stomatology, and it also provides a new idea for the restoration of dentin defect. Dentin biomineralization is a process that simulates the mineralization of biological tissue in nature in which the remineralization of dentin collagen is induced and regulated by organic macromolecules. This review summarizes the process of remineralization of decalcified dentin regulated by non-collagenous protein analogues . Read More

Bone 2018 Nov 9. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Certain avian tendons have been studied previously as a model system for normal mineralization of vertebrates in general. In this regard, the gastrocnemius tendon in the legs of turkeys mineralizes in a well-defined temporal and spatial manner such that changes in the initial and subsequent events of mineral formation can be associated with time and specific locations in the tissue. In the present investigation, these parameters and mineral deposition have been correlated with the expression of several genes and the synthesis and secretion of their related extracellular matrix proteins by the composite tenocytes of the tendon. Read More

J Biophotonics 2018 Nov 11:e201800250. Epub 2018 Nov 11.

Institute of Applied Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Moderate heating of such collagenous tissues as cornea and cartilages by infra-red laser (IR laser) irradiation is an emerging technology for nondestructive modification of the tissue shape and microstructure for a variety of applications in ophthalmology, otolaryngology and so on. Postirradiation high-resolution microscopic examination indicates the appearance of microscopic either spheroidal or crack-like narrow pores depending on the tissue type and irradiation regime. Such examinations usually require special tissue preparation (eg, staining, drying that affect microstructure themselves) and are mostly suitable for studying individual pores, whereas evaluation of their averaged parameters, especially in situ, is challenging. Read More

NPJ Regen Med 2018 7;3:21. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

The cellular events that contribute to tissue healing of non-sterile wounds to the skin and ischaemic injury to internal organs such as the heart share remarkable similarities despite the differences between these injury types and organs. In adult vertebrates, both injuries are characterised by a complex series of overlapping events involving multiple different cell types and cellular interactions. In adult mammals both tissue-healing processes ultimately lead to the permanent formation of a fibrotic, collagenous scar, which can have varying effects on tissue function depending on the site and magnitude of damage. Read More

Cell Metab 2018 Nov 5. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Pathology & Immunology, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. Electronic address:

Lipoproteins trapped in arteries drive atherosclerosis. Extravascular low-density lipoprotein undergoes receptor uptake, whereas high-density lipoprotein (HDL) interacts with cells to acquire cholesterol and then recirculates to plasma. We developed photoactivatable apoA-I to understand how HDL passage through tissue is regulated. Read More

Bioanalysis 2018 Dec 6;10(23):1919-1932. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Department of Clinical Biochemistry & Metabolic Medicine, Liverpool Clinical Laboratories, Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, L7 8XP, UK.

Aim: Alkaptonuria is a disorder of tyrosine metabolism where elevated circulating homogentisic acid causes progressive dysfunction of collagenous tissues. Logistical, financial and patient experience concerns with collection and transport of specimens to central laboratories makes evaluation of microsampling attractive.

Methodology: Volumetric absorptive microsampling devices were evaluated for accuracy, precision and drying time. Read More

Genetics 2018 Nov 8. Epub 2018 Nov 8.

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

The body's external surfaces and the insides of biological tubes, like the vascular system, are lined by a lipid, glycoprotein-, and glycosaminoglycan-rich apical extracellular matrix (aECM). aECMs are the body's first line of defense against infectious agents and promote tissue integrity and morphogenesis, but are poorly described relative to basement membranes and stromal ECMs. While some aECM components, such as zona pellucida domain (ZP) proteins, have been identified, little is known regarding the overall composition of the aECM or the mechanisms by which different aECM components work together to shape epithelial tissues. Read More

Int J Oral Sci 2018 Nov 5;10(4):31. Epub 2018 Nov 5.

Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, USA.

Phosphophoryn (PP) and dentin sialoprotein (DSP) are the most dominant non-collagenous proteins in dentin. PP is an extremely acidic protein that can function as a mineral nucleator for dentin mineralization. DSP was first identified in 1981, yet its functional significance is still controversial. Read More

J Biomech 2018 Nov 18;81:155-160. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland; Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, School of Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. Electronic address:

Collagen is the predominant load bearing component in many soft tissues including arterial tissue and is therefore critical in determining the mechanical integrity of such tissues. Degradation of collagen fibres is hypothesized to be a strain dependent process whereby the rate of degradation is affected by the magnitude of strain applied to the collagen fibres. The aim of this study is to investigate the ability of small angle light scattering (SALS) imaging to identify strain dependent degradation of collagen fibres in arterial tissue ex vivo, and determine whether a strain induced protection mechanism exists in arterial tissue as observed in pure collagen and other collagenous tissues. Read More

Toxicol Lett 2018 Nov 2;301:64-72. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China. Electronic address:

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is linked to fibrosis following exposure to silica. The scavenger receptor, macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) plays an important role in silica-induced inflammation, however, the effect of MARCO on silica-induced fibrosis has not been identified. We hypothesized that MARCO would regulate EMT and be involved in the development of silicosis. Read More

Sci Rep 2018 Nov 2;8(1):16243. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, PROBE Lab, Departments of Mechanical Science and Engineering and Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, 61801, USA.

We present the results of polarimetric analysis of collagen on varying pathologies of breast tissues using second-harmonic patterned polarization-analyzed reflection confocal (SPPARC) microscopy. Experiments are conducted on a breast tissue microarray having benign tissues (BT), malignant invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), and benign stroma adjacent to the malignant tissues (called the benign adjacent tissue, or BAT). Stroma in BAT and ILC exhibit the largest parameter differences. Read More

Eur J Pediatr Surg 2018 Nov 2. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Introduction:  Tracheal reconstruction for long-segment stenosis remains challenging. We investigate the usefulness of BIOTUBE, an in-body tissue-engineered collagenous tube with a biodegradable stent, as a novel tracheal scaffold in a beagle model.

Materials And Methods:  We prepared BIOTUBEs by embedding specially designed molds, including biodegradable stents, into subcutaneous pouches in beagles. Read More

J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018 Oct 19;90:256-263. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

LEM3, CNRS, University of Lorraine, France.

We investigate the capacity of tendons to bear substantial loads by exploiting their hierarchical structure and the viscous nature of their subunits. We model and analyze two successive tendon scales: the fibril and fiber subunits. We present a novel method for bridging intra-scale experimental observations by combining a homogenization analysis technique with a Bayesian inference method. Read More

Acta Biomater 2019 Jan 29;83:199-210. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada; Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Thompson Engineering Building, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada. Electronic address:

There is a substantial need for new strategies to stimulate cutaneous tissue repair in the treatment of chronic wounds. To address this challenge, our team is developing modular biomaterials termed "bead foams", comprised of porous beads synthesized exclusively of extracellular matrix (ECM) and assembled into a cohesive three-dimensional (3-D) network. In the current study, bead foams were fabricated from human decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) or commercially-sourced bovine tendon collagen (COL) to explore the effects of ECM composition on human wound edge dermal fibroblasts (weDF) sourced from chronic wound tissues. Read More

Praxis (Bern 1994) 2018;107(22):1195-1199

2 Zentrum für Gastroenterologie Hepatologie, Zürich-Altstetten.

Microscopic colitis (MC) is still an underestimated cause of chronic, non-bloody watery diarrhea. It is typically manifested in elderly patients with a female predominance. The incidence of microscopic colitis has been increasing. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Oct 27;2018. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Oral Surgery, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (DF) is a rare benign soft tissue with spindle-to-stellate-shaped fibroblasts and myofibroblasts embedded in a prominent collagenous background. DF, mainly affecting subcutaneous and muscle tissue, very rarely occurs in the oral cavity. Hitherto, only one case of DF on the tongue has been reported. Read More

Semin Diagn Pathol 2018 Nov 16;35(6):370-380. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Pathology, St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton, CA 92835, United States. Electronic address:

The alimentary tract serves as host to a large number of diseases. In the non-neoplastic group of disorders, conventional histochemistry continues to play an important diagnostic role. It is particularly important in recognizing specific infectious diseases, such as Helicobacter gastritis, Whipple disease, intestinal tuberculosis and other forms of mycobacteriosis, malakoplakia, intestinal spirochetosis, fungal enteritides, amebiasis, cryptosporidiosis, isosporiasis, and microsporidiosis. Read More

Biol Bull 2018 Oct 24;235(2):91-101. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

The diploblastic cnidarian body plan comprising the epidermis and gastrodermis has remained largely unchanged since it evolved roughly 600 Ma. The origin of muscle from the mesoderm in triploblastic lineages is a central evolutionary question in higher animals. Triploblasts have three embryonic germ layers: the endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm, which develop into organs, muscle, and skin, respectively. Read More

Vasc Med 2018 Oct 24:1358863X18803162. Epub 2018 Oct 24.

2 Dermatology, University Hospital Rennes.

Cytometry A 2018 Oct 21. Epub 2018 Oct 21.

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota.

Most studies using intrinsic NAD(P)H as biomarkers for energy metabolism and mitochondrial anomalies have been conducted in routine two-dimensional (2D) cell culture formats. Cellular metabolism and cell behavior, however, can be significantly different in 2D cultures from that in vivo. As a result, there are emerging interests in integrating noninvasive, quantitative imaging techniques of NAD(P)H with in vivo-like three-dimensional (3D) models. Read More

Biomed Opt Express 2018 Aug 30;9(8):3923-3936. Epub 2018 Jul 30.

Center for Microcopy-Microanalysis and Information Processing, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.

Quantitative second harmonic generation microscopy was used to investigate collagen organization in the fibrillar capsules of human benign and malignant thyroid nodules. We demonstrate that the combination of texture analysis and second harmonic generation images of collagen can be used to differentiate between capsules surrounding the thyroid follicular adenoma and papillary carcinoma nodules. Our findings indicate that second harmonic generation microscopy can provide quantitative information about the collagenous capsule surrounding both the thyroid and thyroid nodules, which may complement traditional histopathological examination. Read More

An Pediatr (Barc) 2018 Oct 15. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Unidad de Gastroenterología, Hepatología y Nutrición Pediátrica, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, España.

J R Soc Interface 2018 Oct 17;15(147). Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Formation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) within collagen fibrils, as found in bone, dentine and cementum, is thought to be mediated by proteins rich in aspartate (Asp) and glutamate such as osteopontin and bone sialoprotein, respectively. Indeed polyaspartate (pAsp), a homopolymer analogue of such proteins, has been shown to induce intrafibrillar mineralization of collagen from solutions of calcium and phosphate that are supersaturated with respect to HAP. To elucidate the role of pAsp in mineralization of collagen, we explored the effect of pAsp chain length on HAP deposition in demineralized mouse periodontal tissue sections. Read More

J Crohns Colitis 2018 Oct 17. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: Evidence for second line therapy in patients with microscopic colitis (MC) failing budesonide is scarce, although anti-tumor necrosing factors (anti-TNFs), methotrexate and azathioprine have been reported to be effective in small cohort studies. Vedolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting α4β7-integrin, prevents homing of T-cells to the gut. We evaluated clinical remission with vedolizumab in budesonide-refractory MC patients. Read More

Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 2018 Jun 28;7(2):97-105. Epub 2018 Apr 28.

National Toxicology Program Laboratory (NTPL), National Toxicology Program (NTP), Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors of women in the USA and worldwide, yet the biological nature and pathogenesis of these tumors remain largely unknown. This review presents our view of the stages in the life cycle of a subset of uterine fibroid myocytes, introduces hypothetical concepts and morphological data to explain these changes, and relates these changes in individual myocytes to the phases of fibroid tumor development.

Recent Findings: The observations gained from light and electron microscopic, immunohistochemical, and morphometric studies in our laboratory have led to the hypothesis that fibroid changes over time may relate to the excessive production of collagen by phenotypically transformed myocytes. Read More