Effect of bone graft density on in vitro cell behavior with enamel matrix derivative

OBJECTIVES Bone replacement grafting materials play an important role in regenerative dentistry. Despite a large array of tested bone-grafting materials, little information is available comparing the effects of bone graft density on in vitro cell behavior. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to compare the effects of cells seeded on bone grafts at low and high density in vitro for osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The response of osteoblasts to the presence of a growth factor (enamel matrix derivative, (EMD)) in combination with low (8 mg per well) or high (100 mg per well) bone grafts (BG; natural bone mineral, Bio-Oss®) density, was studied and compared for osteoblast cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation as assessed by real-time PCR. Standard tissue culture plastic was used as a control with and without EMD. RESULTS The present study demonstrates that in vitro testing of bone-grafting materials is largely influenced by bone graft seeding density. Osteoblast adhesion was up to 50 % lower when cells were seeded on high-density BG when compared to low-density BG and control tissue culture plastic. Furthermore, proliferation was affected in a similar manner whereby cell proliferation on high-density BG (100 mg/well) was significantly increased when compared to that on low-density BG (8 mg/well). In contrast, cell differentiation was significantly increased on high-density BG as assessed by real-time PCR for markers collagen 1 (Col 1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OC) as well as alizarin red staining. The effects of EMD on osteoblast adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation further demonstrated that the bone graft seeding density largely controls in vitro results. EMD significantly increased cell attachment only on high-density BG, whereas EMD was able to further stimulate cell proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts on control culture plastic and low-density BG when compared to high-density BG. CONCLUSION The results from the present study demonstrate that the in vitro conditions largely influence cell behavior of osteoblasts seeded on bone grafts and in vitro testing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE These results also illustrate the necessity for careful selection of bone graft seeding density to optimize in vitro testing and provide the clinician with a more accurate description of the osteopromotive potential of bone grafts.

Activating enhancer binding protein 2 epsilon (AP-2ε)-deficient mice exhibit increased matrix metalloproteinase 13 expression and progressive osteoarthritis development.

INTRODUCTION The transcription factor activating enhancer binding protein 2 epsilon (AP-2ε) was recently shown to be expressed during chondrogenesis as well as in articular chondrocytes of humans and mice. Furthermore, expression of AP-2ε was found to be upregulated in affected cartilage of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). Despite these findings, adult mice deficient for AP-2ε (Tfap2e(-/-)) do not exhibit an obviously abnormal cartilaginous phenotype. We therefore analyzed embryogenesis of Tfap2e(-/-) mice to elucidate potential transient abnormalities that provide information on the influence of AP-2ε on skeletal development. In a second part, we aimed to define potential influences of AP-2ε on articular cartilage function and gene expression, as well as on OA progression, in adult mice. METHODS Murine embryonic development was accessed via in situ hybridization, measurement of skeletal parameters and micromass differentiation of mesenchymal cells. To reveal discrepancies in articular cartilage of adult wild-type (WT) and Tfap2e(-/-) mice, light and electron microscopy, in vitro culture of cartilage explants, and quantification of gene expression via real-time PCR were performed. OA was induced via surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus in both genotypes, and disease progression was monitored on histological and molecular levels. RESULTS Only minor differences between WT and embryos deficient for AP-2ε were observed, suggesting that redundancy mechanisms effectively compensate for the loss of AP-2ε during skeletal development. Surprisingly, though, we found matrix metalloproteinase 13 (Mmp13), a major mediator of cartilage destruction, to be significantly upregulated in articular cartilage of adult Tfap2e(-/-) mice. This finding was further confirmed by increased Mmp13 activity and extracellular matrix degradation in Tfap2e(-/-) cartilage explants. OA progression was significantly enhanced in the Tfap2e(-/-) mice, which provided evidence for in vivo relevance. This finding is most likely attributable to the increased basal Mmp13 expression level in Tfap2e(-/-) articular chondrocytes that results in a significantly higher total Mmp13 expression rate during OA as compared with the WT. CONCLUSIONS We reveal a novel role of AP-2ε in the regulation of gene expression in articular chondrocytes, as well as in OA development, through modulation of Mmp13 expression and activity.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 as a prognosticator in malignant glioma

The overall purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the promoter region polymorphism (-2607 1G/2G) of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) polymorphism and outcome in brain tumor patients diagnosed with a primary brain tumor between 1994 and 2000 at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The MMP-1 polymorphism was genotyped for all brain tumor patients who participated in the Family Brain Tumor Study and for whom blood samples were available. Relevant covariates were abstracted from medical records for all cases from the original protocol, including information on demographics, tumor histology, therapy and outcome was obtained. The hypothesis was that brain tumor patients with the 2G allele have a poorer prognosis and shorter survival than brain tumor patients with the 1G allele. ^ Experimental Design: Genetic variants for the MMP-1 enzyme were determined by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. Comparison was made between the overall survival for cases with the 2G polymorphism and overall survival for cases with the 1G polymorphism using multivariable Cox Proportional-Hazard analysis, controlling for age, sex, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), extent of surgery, tumor histology and treatment received. Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional-Hazard analyses were utilized to assess if the MMP-1 polymorphisms were related to overall survival. Results: Overall survival was not statistically significantly different between the 2G allele brain tumor patients and the 1G allele patients and there was no statistically significant difference between tumor types. ^ Conclusions: No association was found between MMP-1 polymorphisms and survival in patients with malignant gliomas. ^

(Table 2) Varimax factor matrix of planktonic foraminifera at DSDP Hole 72-517

Quaternary sediments were recovered at all four Sites at Leg 72. Planktonic foraminifers were abundant and well preserved, especially in the holes shielded from Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) influence. The fauna belonged to the subtropical province marked by Globigerinoides ruber and to a lesser extent by Globorotalia inflata. Thirty planktonic foraminiferal species were distinguished, and a detailed study of the Site 517 stratigraphy was made. The Quaternary sequence of the Rio Grande Rise was subdivided slightly differently from the Bolli and Premoli Suva (1973) pattern. Five subzones were identified but some difficulties arose when a precise correlation became necessary in the subzones of the tropical provinces. Correlations could nevertheless be made, particularly with respect to the earliest Quaternary. Quaternary faunal data have been dated by isotopic stratigraphy (Vergnaud Grazzini et al.,1983) and partially contradict results previously published for this part of the Atlantic (Williams and Ledbetter, 1979). By studying the occurrence of planktonic foraminifers, we obtained more information about hydrologic variations during the Quaternary sequence of Hole 517; two broad periods were recognized. Finally, we identified the interaction between the Brazil Current and the subtropical convergence

Information content: assessing meso-scale structures in complex networks

We propose a novel measure to assess the presence of meso-scale structures in complex networks. This measure is based on the identi?cation of regular patterns in the adjacency matrix of the network, and on the calculation of the quantity of information lost when pairs of nodes are iteratively merged. We show how this measure is able to quantify several meso-scale structures, like the presence of modularity, bipartite and core-periphery con?gurations, or motifs. Results corresponding to a large set of real networks are used to validate its ability to detect non-trivial topological patterns.

A new dominance intensity method to deal with ordinal information about a DM's preferences within MAVT

Dominance measuring methods are a new approach to deal with complex decision-making problems with imprecise information. These methods are based on the computation of pairwise dominance values and exploit the information in the dominance matrix in dirent ways to derive measures of dominance intensity and rank the alternatives under consideration. In this paper we propose a new dominance measuring method to deal with ordinal information about decision-maker preferences in both weights and component utilities. It takes advantage of the centroid of the polytope delimited by ordinal information and builds triangular fuzzy numbers whose distances to the crisp value 0 constitute the basis for the de?nition of a dominance intensity measure. Monte Carlo simulation techniques have been used to compare the performance of this method with other existing approaches.

Automatic quantification of matrix cracking and fiber rotation by X-ray computed tomography in shear-deformed carbon fiber-reinforced laminates

The deformation and damage mechanisms of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates deformed in shear were studied by means of X-ray computed tomography. In particular, the evolution of matrix cracking, interply delamination and fiber rotation was ascertained as a function of the applied strain. In order to provide quantitative information, an algorithm was developed to automatically determine the crack density and the fiber orientation from the tomograms. The investigation provided new insights about the complex interaction between the different damage mechanisms (i.e. matrix cracking and interply delamination) as a function of the applied strain, ply thickness and ply location within the laminate as well as quantitative data about the evolution of matrix cracking and fiber rotation during deformation

Dominance measuring methods within MAVT/MAUT with imprecise information concerning decision-makers'preferences

Dominance measuring methods are an approach for dealing with complex decision-making problems with imprecise information within multi-attribute value/utility theory. These methods are based on the computation of pairwise dominance values and exploit the information in the dominance matrix in different ways to derive measures of dominance intensity and rank the alternatives under consideration. In this paper we review dominance measuring methods proposed in the literature for dealing with imprecise information (intervals, ordinal information or fuzzy numbers) about decision-makers? preferences and their performance in comparison with other existing approaches, like SMAA and SMAA-II or Sarabando and Dias? method.

Genomic and cDNA sequence analysis of the cell matrix adhesion regulator gene

The cell matrix adhesion regulator (CMAR) gene has been suggested to be a signal transduction molecule influencing cell adhesion to collagen and, through this, possibly involved in tumor suppression. The originally reported CMAR cDNA was 464 bp long with a tyrosine phosphorylation site at the extreme 3′ end, which mutagenesis studies had shown to be central to the function of this gene. Since the discovery of a 4-bp insertion polymorphism within the originally reported coding region, further sequence information has been obtained. The cDNA has been extended 5′ by ≈2 kb revealing a 559-bp region showing strong homology to the proposed 5′ untranslated sequence of a murine protein kinase receptor family member, variant in kinase (vik). CMAR genomic sequencing has shown the presence of an intron, the intron/exon boundary lying within this region of homology. An RNA transcript for CMAR of ≈2.5 kb has also been identified. The data suggest complex mechanisms for control of expression of two closely associated genes, CMAR and the vik- associated sequence.

bioNMF: a versatile tool for non-negative matrix factorization in biology

Medical imaging has become an absolutely essential diagnostic tool for clinical practices; at present, pathologies can be detected with an earliness never before known. Its use has not only been relegated to the field of radiology but also, increasingly, to computer-based imaging processes prior to surgery. Motion analysis, in particular, plays an important role in analyzing activities or behaviors of live objects in medicine. This short paper presents several low-cost hardware implementation approaches for the new generation of tablets and/or smartphones for estimating motion compensation and segmentation in medical images. These systems have been optimized for breast cancer diagnosis using magnetic resonance imaging technology with several advantages over traditional X-ray mammography, for example, obtaining patient information during a short period. This paper also addresses the challenge of offering a medical tool that runs on widespread portable devices, both on tablets and/or smartphones to aid in patient diagnostics.

A Model to Visualize Information in a Complex Streets’ Network

his paper discusses a process to graphically view and analyze information obtained from a network of urban streets, using an algorithm that establishes a ranking of importance of the nodes of the network itself. The basis of this process is to quantify the network information obtained by assigning numerical values to each node, representing numerically the information. These values are used to construct a data matrix that allows us to apply a classification algorithm of nodes in a network in order of importance. From this numerical ranking of the nodes, the process finish with the graphical visualization of the network. An example is shown to illustrate the whole process.

Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the representation of GM surfaces (using the NRTL model) and curves, including tie-lines and Hessian matrix

A single and very easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI- MATLAB) based on the topological information contained in the Gibbs energy of mixing function has been developed as a friendly tool to check the coherence of NRTL parameters obtained in a correlation data procedure. Thus, the analysis of the GM/RT surface, the GM/RT for the binaries and the GM/RT in planes containing the tie lines should be necessary to validate the obtained parameters for the different models for correlating phase equlibrium data.

Hardware/software interface for the Stereo-matrix display.

Contract US AEC AT(11-1)1469.

Scantrix: a scanned LED matrix display /

Bibliography: p. 35.

Matrix methods to analyze long-range transport of air pollutants.

"DOE/EV-0127."