The use of a cultured autologous keratinocyte sheet has become a recognized method for the coverage of extensive bums during recent years. The disadvantages of these sheet grafts are a long time-lag until keratinocyte sheets are available, the fragility and difficulty in handling of grafts, an unpredictable take rate and extremely high costs. In this study we investigated the transplantation of cultured keratinocytes as single cells suspended in autologous fibrin glue. In a rat model with standardized full thickness wounds, this new transplantation technique was evaluated and compared directly to the conventional keratinocyte sheet grafting technique. After transplantation, wounds were evaluated for the degree of epithelial coverage, and then microscopic structures were evaluated under light and electron microscopy. The results were as follows: 1) The fibrinogen solution prepared from autologous blood had 12 times more fibrinogen compared to the original blood. 2) After transplantation of cultured keratinocyt-es in fibrin glue, the degree of epithelial coverage was 79% at 2 weeks, which was comparable to 17% for cultured keratinocyte sheet graft 3) Typical basement membrane structures were consistently found at 2 weeks after transplantation of keratinocytes in fibrin glue. 4) Rete ridges were found at 4 weeks after transplantation of keratinocytes in fibrin glue. In conclusion, the transplantation technique of keratinocytes in fibrin glue is available earlier than sheet grafts, it transfers actively proliferating cells and it simplifies the grafting procedure. As well, this technique leads to an earlier epithelial covering and an earlier restoration of the dermo-epidermal junction than sheet grafting.
Basement Membrane ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Fibrinogen ; Keratinocytes* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Models, Animal ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.

The use of artificial skins for full thickness wounds is an accepted technique, but unfortunately the take rate is low and the aesthetical result is not acceptable. The freeze-drying treatment of allogenic tissues can destroy cells with preserving the structural organization of extracellular matrices, permitting allogenic transplantation. In this study we investigated a new method to process the allogenic skin for transplantable allogenic dermis and this dermis was evaluated in a full thickness wound model. The results are as followings; 1. After treatment with NaCl and SDS solution and then with freeze-drying method, the allogenic dermis shows acellular dermal matrix with preserved normal extracellular matrix. 2. This allogenic dermis became completely incorporated into the wound without evidence of rejection or replacement by scar tissue. 3. The take rate of thin autografts overlying the allogenic dermis that were applied simultaneously was comparable to take rate of autograft alone. 4. The reduction in secondary contraction by allogenic dermis treated wounds was significant. 5. After grafting with cultured keratinocytes, the degree of epithelial coverage was 70% at 2 weeks. In conclusion, the allogenic dermis processed with our method displayed lack of antigenicity, and rapid revascularization. This allogenic dermis can permit simultaneous engraftment of an overlying STSG or cultured kerationocytes, reduce secondary contraction and improve cosmesis of full thickness wounds.
Acellular Dermis ; Autografts ; Cicatrix ; Dermis* ; Extracellular Matrix ; Keratinocytes ; Skin ; Skin, Artificial ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries*

Neomorphogenesis of cartilage using chondrocyte-polymer constructs is a potential source for development of cartilage reconstruction. Current tissue engineering techniques of neocartilage rely on in vivo implantation of polymer-chondrocyte constructs. The purpose of this study was to find a way to bioengineer cartilage in vitro by entrapping chondrocytes in a molded autologous fibrin glue. Chondrocytes isolated from the cartilage of rabbit joints were combined with fibrinogen extracted by a single cryoprecipitation of autologous plasma, and they were then polymerized with thrombin to create a fibrin glue with a final cell density of 2.5x10(6) cells/ml. The collagen for a control study was used as a polymer. The polymer-chondrocyte constructs were cultured for 4 weeks and the fibrin-chondrocyte constructs molded in the shape of a human ear were cultured for 6 weeks in vitro. Morphometric, histochemical, and histomorphometric analysis including glycosaminoglycan quantitation confirmed the following results: 1) Highly-concentrated autologous fibrinogen was easily extracted by a single cryoprecipition of autologous olasma. 2) The fibrin-chondrocyte constructs demonstrated the presence of actively proliferating chondrocytes with the production of cartilaginous matrix(collagen and glycosaminoglycan) at 1 week after culture, as well as gross and histologic evidence similar to those of normal cartilage at 3-4 weeks after culture. 3) The collagen-chondrocyte constructs demonstrated lower degrees of hardness and transparency, as well as a lower density of cells and glycosaminoglycan during the culture period. 4) Neocartilage generated from fibrin-chondrocyte constructs in the shape of a human ear nearly retained their original configuration and size without degeneration for 6 weeks of culture in vitro. This study demonstrated a novel method for bioengineering the molded cartilage in vitro using autologous fibrin glue as a matrix scaffold. The generated cartilage showed gross and histologic evidence similar to those of normal cartilage, retaining the original gross dimension. With further refinement, this may be a new application of tissue engineering for the reconstruction of cartilage.
Bioengineering ; Cartilage* ; Cell Count ; Chondrocytes* ; Collagen ; Ear ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Fibrinogen ; Fungi ; Hardness ; Humans ; Joints ; Plasma ; Polymers ; Thrombin ; Tissue Engineering*

The result of artificial skins made with collagen is poor after grafting over the full thickness wounds due to their rapid degradation by enzymatic cleavage. This study is an in vivo study of an artificial skin made with a biodegradable polymer, which can better address the problem of the collagenous artificial dermis. To investigate the availability of a biodegradable polymer for an artificial dermis and to get an information about the optimal degradation rate of a polymer for an artificial dermis, we made an artificial dermis by seeding of fibroblasts within the vicryl mesh and made a bilayer artificial skin by covering the artificial dermis with cultured keratinocytes. And these artificial dermis and artificial skin were evaluated in a full thickness wound model. The results are as followings: 1. The artificial dermis was available for grafting for 1 week culture of vicryl mesh-fibroblast. 2. The artificial dermis retarded the contraction of full thickness wounds. 3. The artificial dermis generated the granulation tissue and accepted the STSG completely. 4. The generated tissue from the artificial dermis had incorporated into the surrounding tissue by 4 weeks postgrafting. 5. Vicryl in the artificial dermis became to biodegrade from the culture period and absorbed completely by 5 weeks. 6. The epidermal portion was poorly differntiated during in vitro culture period. In conclusion, the polymer-fibroblast graft can retard the wound contraction and generate a new tissue permitting a useful dermal replacement. And to get more optimal results, another polymer which has slower biodegradation rate than vicryl should be used for the artificial dermis and the epidermal portion should be differentiated after in vivo grafting.
Collagen ; Dermis* ; Fibroblasts ; Granulation Tissue ; Keratinocytes ; Polyglactin 910 ; Polymers ; Skin, Artificial ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

To evaluate the cardiac functions we examed the M-mode echocardiography with measurements of blood pressure, heart rate and body surface area in 55 normal Korean adults(male 30 persons, female 25 persons) of mean age, 41.7+/-12.3 years. (1) Interventricular septal thickness is 9.5+/-1.7mm and left ventricular posterior wall thickness are 8.6+/-1.5mm at end-diatole, 14.0+/-2.1mm at end-systole. (2) Diastolic and systolic left ventricular internal dimensions are 49.1+/-4.8mm and 31.3+/-5.0mm, respectively. (3) Left ventricular mass by Penn Convention method is 174.4+/-52.1g and left ventricular mass index is 103.2+/-28.8g/m2. (4) Relative wall thickness is 0.35+/-0.06. (5) Left ventricular volumes by Teichholz's method are 114.9+/-27.6ml at diastole and 40.2+/-17.2ml at systole. Therefore, stroke volume is 74.7+/-16.9ml and stroke volume index is 44.5+/-10.7 ml/m2. (6) Cardiac output is 4944+/-1058 ml/min and cardiac index is 2951+/-666 ml/min/m2. (7) Total peripheral resistance is 1454+/-356 dynes-sec-cm(-5) and total peripheral resistance index is 2472+/-623 dynes-sec-cm(-5).m2. (8) Fractional shortening is 36.5+/-6.0% and pressure-volume ratio is 3.27+/-1.19 mmHg/ml. (9) End-systolic wall stress is 61.3+/-19.7x10(3) dynes=cm2. (10) Atrial emptying index is 0.66+/-0.18.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Surface Area ; Cardiac Output ; Diastole ; Echocardiography* ; Female ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Stroke Volume ; Systole ; Vascular Resistance

PURPOSE: Kissing contusion between the posterolateral tibial plateau and lateral femoral condyle is frequently found in association with a tear of the anterior cruciate liagment (ACL). The purpose of this study was to determine which ligamentous and meniscal tears are associated with kissing contusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the findings depicted by 323 consecutive MR images of the knee and confirmed at arthroscopy. For the diagnosis of disruption, ligaments, medial menisci (MM) and lateral menisci (LM) were evaluated using accepted criteria. We compared the prevalence and location of meniscal and ligamentous tears between group I (44 knees with kissing contusion) and group II (279 knees without kissing contusion). For statistical analysis the chi-square test was used. RESULTS: ACLs were torn in all 44 knees (100%) with kissing contusion, and 78 (28%) of 279 without kissing contusion. There were ten medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears (23%) in group I, and 17 MCL tears (6%), five lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tears (2%) and ten posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tears (4%) in group II. In group I, meniscal tears were found in 22 MM (50%) and in 19 LM (43%), while in group II, they occurred in 128 MM (46%) and 128 LM (46%). In group I, 17 (77%) of 22 MM tears and 13 (68%) of 19 LM tears were located in the posterior horn, while in group II, the corresponding figures were 97/128 (76%) and 60 of 128 (47%). The differing prevalence of ACL and MCL tears between the groups was statistically significant (p<0.05), but differences in the prevalence and location of meniscal tears were not (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Although kissing contusion was a highly specific sign of ACL tears, its presence was also significant among MCL tears. There was no signifficant difference in meniscal tears with or without kissing contusion.
Animals ; Arthroscopy ; Collateral Ligaments ; Contusions* ; Diagnosis ; Horns ; Knee ; Lateral Ligament, Ankle ; Ligaments* ; Menisci, Tibial ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies

Thirty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with cadmium chloride solution ranging from 0.2 to 3.2mg CdCl2/kg by intravenous single injection. At 48 hours after administration of cadmium, total cadmium, MT bound cadmium and histopathologic finding in liver, kidney, lung, heart, testis, metallothionein in liver, kidney and total cadmium in blood were examined. Tissue cadmium concentration was highest in liver, followed by in kidney, heart, lung and testis. Cadmium bound to metallothionein(MT-Cd) and ratio of MT-Cd to total cadmium were increased in liver and kidney dependently of cadmium exposure dose, but not significantly changed in other organs. On histopathologic finding, the most susceptible organ was heart in considering cadmium exposed dose, but testis in considering cadmium concentration. Blood cadmium concentration was increased with dose-dependent pattern, and significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration, so that we may estimate tissue cadmium concentration by measurement of blood cadmium concentration. Metallothionein in liver and kidney was increased with dose-dependent pattern, higher in liver than in kidney, and was significantly correlated with tissue cadmium concentration. However, metallothionein induction efficiency of tissue cadmium(microgram MT/microgram Cd) was greater in liver than in kidney, and reverse to tissue concentration or exposed dose of cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Metallothionein* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testis

No abstract available.
Fibroblasts* ; Skin*

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node*