A 12-year-old castrated Toy Poodle was referred to the Kangwon National University Animal Hospital with an oligotrophic nonunion fracture in the distal 1/3 of the left radius and an intact ulna. After fixation by a locking plate and screws, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem-cell sheets expressing bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) were transplanted to the fracture site to enhance the healing activity. The fracture was healed at 9 weeks after surgery. In the present case, the mesenchymal stem-cell sheets expressing BMP-7 promoted bone regeneration and healing in a nonunion fracture.
Animals ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 ; Bone Regeneration ; Child ; Dogs ; Fractures, Ununited ; Gangwon-do ; Hospitals, Animal ; Humans ; Play and Playthings* ; Radius ; Ulna

This study was performed to investigate histopathologically the effect of amniotic membrane graft (AMG)on haze in deep stromal wound of cornea. The excimer laser phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK)was used to create the wound model of 150 micrometerdepth, 6.0 mmdiameter area in 72 white rabbitsbilaterally.Each eye was randomized to three groups: control (topical antibiotic alone), contact lens application and AMG. Corneal haze,the number of anterior stromal keratocytes and thickness of the regenerated stroma were evaluated after treatments in corneal wound, and also the morphological changes of anterior stroma connected with corneal haze were analyzed. The score of corneal haze in AMG group was significantly lower than those in the others at postoperative 3 days, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks. The anterior stromal keratocytes in AMG group significantly remained more than those in the others at postoperative 3 days. The number of keratocytes and thickness of regenerated stromal tissue in wound area of AMG group were statistically lower as compared with those of the other groups at postoperative 4 weeks. The architecture of stromal lamella was most reg-ular in AMG group. Transmission electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the cells in anterior stroma were the active fibroblastic cells with prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum at postoperative 8 weeks. These findings indicate that corneal haze is closely connected with proliferation of corneal stroma , suggesting that AMG on deep corneal stromal wound reduces corneal haze by preventing proliferation of abnormal collagen and fibroblasts at the anterior stroma of the wound area.
Amnion* ; Collagen ; Cornea ; Corneal Stroma ; Endoplasmic Reticulum, Rough ; Fibroblasts ; Lasers, Excimer ; Transplants ; Wounds and Injuries

To evaluate the effect of amniotic membrane on corneal wound healing, using the VISX 193-nanometer excimer laser, the wound model of 150 micrometer depth, 6.0 mmdiameter area was created in 30 white rabbits (60 eyes). The treatment of corneal wound was categorized into three groups :topicalantibiotics alone (control), therapeutic contact lens application and amniotic membrane graft. The area of epithelial defect, proliferation of epithelial cells and inflammatory cell infiltration were evaluated during the entire observation period. Epithelial healing rates calculated by radius regression in control, contact lens and amniotic membrane groups were 42.5 micrometer/hr, 33.4 micrometer/hr and 53.4micrometer/hr respectively thus the effect of amniotic membrane was significantly outstanding (P<0.05). The epithelium was healed almost within 72 hours in eyes of amniotic membrane group but significantly delayed in contact lens group. The number of inflammatory cells in stroma were significantly lower in amniotic membrane group than others. The number of PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) immunoreactive cells has increased in amniotic membrane group than other groups and regionally at basal cell layer of limbus comparing to wound margin at first, third days after treatment. In view of the above findings, amniotic membrane on corneal wound accelerates the process of wound healing, with minimal complications.
Amnion* ; Cornea* ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Lasers, Excimer ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Rabbits ; Radius ; Transplants ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

Forty canine patients with a presumptive diagnosis of the intervertebral disc herniation at the thoracolumbar region were imaged. A neurological examination was performed and all patients were classified under four grades by the examination. The degrees of attenuation of the herniated disc material were measured in Housefield units (HU) in each image. The ratio of the area to herniated disc material and the height to disc material were measured. The clinical grade was correlated with the area ratio of the herniated disc material to the spinal cord, but not correlated with the height ratio of that. In the patients with epidural hemorrhage at surgery, HUs of the herniated disc material was lower than those with no epidural hemorrhage at surgery. Non-contrast computed tomography scans of the spine can be useful in diagnosing acute intervertebral disc disease in chondrodystrophoid breeds, evaluating patient status and identifying concurrent epidural hemorrhage.
Animals ; Dog Diseases/*pathology/radiography ; Dogs ; Intervertebral Disk Displacement/radiography/*veterinary ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Thoracic Vertebrae/*pathology/radiography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods/standards/*veterinary

BACKGROUND: It is important that hospitals conduct disaster drills to ensure prompt response in case of a pandemic and thereby prevent a biological disaster. METHODS: In a university hospital of Seoul, a drill was arranged by the members of the drill preparation team who were a part of the response team for infection control of novel influenza A (H1N1). The drill preparation team designed the scenario for the drill, made plans to resolve the potential problems that could occur during that scenario, and organized a survey team and a survey methodology. The scenario consisted of 2 modules: (1) for an intensive care unit and (2) for an emergency care center. The surveyors and field participants were evaluated after the drill exercise. RESULTS: This drill was conducted to improve the response to outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The drill event showed that the communication among the members responsible for the infection control was effective. However, the drill revealed certain drawbacks in the process; this drawbacks involved availability of adequate quarantine space, education on using personal protective equipments, assignment of medical and nonmedical staff, management of visitors, and installment of air-conditioners, heaters, and ventilation units in the areas with H1N1 outbreak. CONCLUSION: This drill helped to improve the process of infection control and overcome the drawbacks in the current process, and thereby helped in achieving positive outcome during the actual pandemic situation when the number of hospital visits and admissions because of H1N1 pandemic had rapidly increased. Although disaster plans and drills are not actively performed, the drill for infection control is essential because the risk for an outbreak of a new infectious disease is increasing.
Communicable Diseases ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Dietary Sucrose ; Disasters ; Disease Outbreaks ; Emergency Medical Services ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Influenza, Human ; Intensive Care Units ; Mandrillus ; Pandemics ; Quarantine ; Ventilation

Composite biological and synthetic grafts with progenitor cells offer an alternative approach to auto- or allografts for fracture repair. This study was conducted to evaluate osteogenesis of autologous serum-derived albumin (ASA) scaffolds seeded with canine adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) in a canine segmental bone defect model. ASA scaffold was prepared with canine serum using cross-linking and freeze-drying procedures. Beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) was mixed at the cross-linking stage. Ad-MSCs were seeded into the scaffold and incubated for one day before implantation. After 16 weeks, the grafts were harvested for histological analysis. The dogs were divided into five groups: control, ASA scaffolds with and without Ad-MSCs, and ASA scaffolds including beta-TCP with and without Ad-MSCs. ASA scaffolds with Ad-MSCs had a significantly larger area of increased opacity at the proximal and distal host cortex-implant interfaces in radiographs 16 weeks after implantation compared to the groups with beta-TCP (p < 0.05). Histomorphometric analysis showed that ASA scaffolds with Ad-MSCs had significantly greater new bone formation than other groups (p < 0.05). These results suggest that Ad-MSCs seeded into ASA scaffolds enhanced osteogenesis in the bone defect model, but that beta-TCP in the ASA scaffold might prevent penetration of the cells required for bone healing.
Allografts ; Animals ; Dogs ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Osteogenesis* ; Stem Cells ; Transplants

PURPOSE: We explored whether a gender difference was evident in terms of the associations of snoring with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels in a healthy population without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 2706 males and 4080 females who participated in the baseline survey of the Namwon Study. In terms of self-reported snoring frequency, participants were classified as non-snorers or occasional (1–3 days/week), frequent (4–6 days/week), or constant (7 days/week) snorers. Participants with DM, defined as a fasting blood glucose level ≥126 mg/dL and/or use of insulin or hypoglycemic medication, were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: In females, the fully adjusted mean (95% confidence interval) HbA1c levels in non-snorers and in occasional, frequent, and constant snorers were 5.53% (5.47–5.59%), 5.53% (5.47–5.59%), 5.57% (5.49–5.64%), and 5.57% (5.51–5.64%), respectively, reflecting a dose-response relationship (p trend=0.004). Compared with female non-snorers, the risk of an elevated HbA1c level (top quintile, ≥5.9%) in constant snorers remained significant (odds ratio 1.30, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.66) after full adjustment. In addition, in females, a significant linear trend in HbA1c level odds ratio by increased snoring frequency was apparent (p trend=0.019 in model 3). In contrast, no significant association between snoring frequency and HbA1c level was identified in males. No significant association between snoring frequency and HOMA-IR was detected in either gender. CONCLUSION: We discovered a gender-specific association between snoring and HbA1c level in a healthy, community-dwelling population free of DM.
Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* ; Fasting ; Female ; Hemoglobin A ; Humans ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Jeollabuk-do ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Snoring* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Molecular mechanisms governing peritonitis caused by the presence of aseptic gauze have remained unclear. To identify the genes involved, sterile gauze-exposed omentum was collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h intervals, and analyzed by differential display RT(reverse transcription)-PCR. Among over 1,200 bands, 230 bands were found differentially expressed. These bands represented the fragment sizes of approximately 200 to 1,500 bp. The eight fragments were expressed differentially in the treatment group but not in the control. The sequences of two bands were similar to those of genes associated with the inflammatory process and a band was related to repair and regeneration process. Another one was related with spermatogonia and the rest four were unknown. Additionally, amplicons corresponding to the full-length sequences of two inflammatory gene fragments were synthesized by rapid amplification of cDNA end PCR. One showed 99% similarity to the major histocompatibility complex class II dog leukocyte antigen-DR beta chain and the other was canis familiaris proteasome beta type 3. Results of the present study suggested that sterile gauze induced the differential expression of genes in the omentum involved in inflammation and healing process.
Animals ; *Bandages ; Base Sequence ; DNA, Complementary/analysis ; Dogs/*genetics/metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling/veterinary ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/*genetics/metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Omentum/*metabolism ; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; *Wound Healing

A model that provides reproducible, submaximal yet sufficient spinal cord injury is needed to allow experiments leading to development of therapeutic techniques and prediction of clinical outcome to be conducted. This study describes an experimental model for spinal cord injury that uses three different volumes of balloon inflation and durations of compression to create a controlled gradation outcome in adult dogs. Twenty-seven mongrel dogs were used for this study. A 3-french embolectomy catheter was inserted into the epidural space through a left hemilaminectomy hole at the L4 vertebral arch. Balloons were then inflated with 50, 100, or 150 microliter of a contrast agent at the L1 level for 6, 12, or 24 h and spinal canal occlusion (SCO) measured using computed tomography. Olby score was used to evaluate the extent of spinal cord injury and a histopathologic examination was conducted 1 week after surgery. The SCO of the 50, 100, and 150 microliter inflations was 22-46%, 51-70%, and 75-89%, respectively (p < 0.05). Olby scores were diminished significantly by a combination of the level of SCO and duration of inflation in all groups. Olby scores in the groups of 150 microliter-12 h, 150 microliter-24 h, and 100 microliter-24 h were 0.5, 0, and 1.7, respectively. Based on these results, a SCO > 50% for 24 h, and > 75% for 12 h induces paraplegia up to a week after spinal cord injury.
Animals ; Balloon Dilatation/*methods ; *Disease Models, Animal ; *Dogs ; Epidural Space/injuries ; Spinal Cord Compression/*etiology/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Alternative sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for replacing bone marrow (BM) have been extensively investigated in the field of bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of canine MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT), BM, umbilical cord blood (UCB), and Wharton's jelly (WJ) using in vitro culture techniques and in vivo orthotopic implantation assays. After canine MSCs were isolated from various tissues, the proliferation and osteogenic potential along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production were measured and compared in vitro. For the in vivo assay, MSCs derived from each type of tissue were mixed with beta-tricalcium phosphate and implanted into segmental bone defects in dogs. Among the different types of MSCs, AT-MSCs had a higher proliferation potential and BM-MSCs produced the most VEGF. AT-MSCs and UCB-MSCs showed greater in vitro osteogenic potential compared to the other cells. Radiographic and histological analyses showed that all tested MSCs had similar osteogenic capacities, and the level of new bone formation was much higher with implants containing MSCs than cell-free implants. These results indicate that AT-MSCs, UCB-MSCs, and WJ-MSCs can potentially be used in place of BM-MSCs for clinical bone engineering procedures.
Adipocytes, White/cytology/physiology ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials/metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Bone Diseases/*therapy ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology/physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium/metabolism ; Calcium Phosphates/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Dogs ; Female ; Fetal Blood/cytology/physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; *Osteogenesis ; Polyesters/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism