Confocal imaging protocols for live/dead staining in three-dimensional carriers

In tissue engineering, a variety of methods are commonly used to evaluate survival of cells inside tissues or three-dimensional (3D) carriers. Among these methods confocal laser scanning microscopy opened accessibility of 3D tissue using live cell imaging into the tissue or 3D scaffolds. However, although this technique is ideally applied to 3D tissue or scaffolds with thickness up to several millimetres, this application is surprisingly rare and scans are often done on slices with thickness <20 μm. Here, we present novel protocols for the staining of 3D tissue (e.g. intervertebral disc tissue) and scaffolds, such as fibrin gels or alginate beads.

Feed-related selenium poisoning in swine

The following case report describes a selenium toxicosis in a pig-fattening farm of two finisher groups. The diseased animals partly showed ataxia and paresis or intense lameness in connection with band-like ablation of the epidermis at the coronary band. Some of them suffered from alopecia. Foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease were excluded by serological tests. Dissection revealed a multifocal bilateral symmetric poliomyelomalacia. Histological changes in the claws ranged from severe cell-decay in the germinative layer to distinctive decay of the stratum corneum. Due to damage of the claw epidermis the corium was partly exposed. Feed analysis revealed 100-fold increased selenium content in the finishing premix from the feed mill and as a result 20- to 60-fold increased selenium values in feed samples from the farm-made finisher mixture. Selenium concentration in the blood of diseased animals was 4- to 10-fold higher than normal values, which confirmed the tentative diagnosis of a selenium toxicosis.