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Biomedical subjects

Eileen Ingham

Publications and source records attributed to Eileen Ingham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Biocompatibility and recellularization potential of an acellular porcine heart valve matrix.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Tissue-engineered heart valves have the potential to overcome the limitations of present heart valve replacements. The study aim was to investigate the biocompatibility and recellularization potential of an acellular porcine valve matrix. METHODS: Acellular porcine valve matrix contact and extract cytotoxicity was tested against porcine fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (SMC). Porcine cells were incubated with decellularized aortic valve leaflets and aortic wall, and then assessed for changes in morphology and contact inhibition of growth. Soluble tissue extracts were prepared from decellularized leaflets and aortic wall, and assessed for their effect on the viability of cultured porcine cells. Acellular leaflets were seeded with either fibroblasts or SMC at 1 x 10(3) to 1 x 10(6) cells/cm2 for 24 h, or 5 x 10(4) cells/cm2 for 1-4 weeks. Cell attachment onto, and migration into, the acellular matrix was assessed by scanning electron microscopy and histology. RESULTS: No contact inhibition of growth, or changes in fibroblast or SMC morphology, were observed following contact with the acellular valve matrix. No soluble extract cytotoxicity was found. Intermediate cell-seeding densities (2.5 x 10(4) to 7.5 x 10(4) cells/cm2) of both cell types produced confluent cell attachment; at the lowest concentration (1 x 10(3) cells/cm2) cell attachment was sparse, and at the highest (1 x 10(6) cells/cm2) it was multilayered. The SMC migrated throughout the leaflet matrix over four weeks, but there was no fibroblast migration into the matrix. CONCLUSION: The absence of contact and extract cytotoxicity indicated that the acellular valve matrix was biocompatible in vitro. The failure of porcine fibroblasts to grow on, or infiltrate into, the matrix suggested that the SMC may be the preferred cell type for future leaflet recellularization studies in the development of a tissue-engineered heart valve replacement.

Animals↗

In-vitro assessment of the functional performance of the decellularized intact porcine aortic root.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE STUDY: Tissue-engineered heart valves offer the potential to deliver a heart valve replacement that will develop with the young patient. The present authors' approach is to use decellularized aortic heart valves reseeded in vitro or in vivo with the patient's own cells. It has been reported that treatment of porcine aortic valve leaflets with 0.1% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in hypotonic buffer produced complete leaflet acellularity without affecting tissue strength. The present study aim was to investigate the effect of an additional treatment incorporating 1.25% (w/v) trypsin and 0.1% (w/v) SDS on the biomechanics and hydrodynamics of the aortic root. This treatment has been shown to produce decellularization of both the aorta and valve leaflets. METHODS: Fresh porcine aortic roots were treated to reduce the thickness of their aortic wall, and incubated in hypotonic buffer for 24 h. The leaflets were masked with agarose gel, and the aorta was treated with 1.25% (w/v) trypsin for 4 h at 37 degrees C. The trypsin and agarose were removed and the roots incubated with 0.1% (w/v) SDS in hypotonic buffer for 24 h. Fresh and treated circumferential and axial aortic specimens were subjected to uniaxial tensile testing, while intact porcine aortic roots were subjected to dilation and pulsatile flow testing. RESULTS: Decellularized aortic wall specimens demonstrated significantly decreased elastin phase slope and increased transition strain compared to the fresh control. However, the treatment did not impair tissue strength. Decellularized intact roots presented complete leaflet competence under systemic pressures, increased dilation and effective orifice areas, reduced pressure gradients, physiological leaflet kinematics and reduced leaflet deformation. CONCLUSION: The excellent leaflet kinematics and hydrodynamic performance of the decellularized roots, coupled with the excellent biomechanical characteristics of their aortic wall, form a promising platform for the creation of an acellular valve scaffold with adequate mechanical strength and functionality to accommodate dynamic cell repopulation in vitro or in vivo. This approach can be used for both allogeneic and xenogeneic tissue matrices.

Animals↗

Tissue engineering of cardiac valves: re-seeding of acellular porcine aortic valve matrices with human mesenchymal progenitor cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Tissue-engineered heart valves have the potential to overcome the limitations of present heart valve replacements. This study investigated the potential for re-seeding an acellular porcine heart valve matrix using human mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPC). METHODS: MPC were isolated from the bone marrow of patients undergoing hip replacement operations. Putative MPC were then cultured in several differentiation media in order to determine the multipotential differentiation capacity of the cells. The MPC were also characterized by FACS analysis. Cells at passage 8 were then seeded at between 1 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(5) cells/cm2 onto a decellularized porcine aortic valve matrix, and recellularization of the matrix was assessed. The phenotype of the re-seeded cells and re-seeded cell density was then determined by histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Putative MPC were successfully isolated and differentiated into cells of the adipogenic, neurogenic, and myogenic lineages. FACS analysis showed the cells to have a similar phenotype to those isolated by others (CD45-, CD13+, D7FIB+, CD105+, CD10+/-, LNGFR+/-, CD55+, BMP- and AP+/-). Cells seeded onto an acellular valve matrix penetrated the center of the tissue after four weeks to 2% of homograft cell density. Phenotypic analysis of the cells in the re-seeded matrix revealed the cells to have a similar phenotype to native valve interstitial cells (vimentin+, alpha-smooth muscle actin+, heavy chain myosin slow-, desmin-). However, re-seeded cells also expressed osteogenic markers (alkaline phosphatase, osteonectin, and osteopontin). CONCLUSION: This study has shown, for the first time, that human MPC have the capacity to infiltrate an acellular porcine valve matrix under static conditions in vitro. Future studies will comprise culture under pulsatile flow in a physiological heart valve bioreactor to maintain the desired cell phenotype and increase cell density.

Animals↗

Metal-on-metal bearing wear with different swing phase loads.

There is currently much discussion about the most clinically relevant testing methods for evaluating total hip replacements. This study examined the effect of different swing phase loads, including microseparation, on the wear, friction, and wear particles of metal-on-metal (MOM) hip replacements. MOM hip replacements were tested for 5 million cycles with the use of a hip simulator; prostheses were tested with a low (100-N) and ISO (280-N) swing phase load, and under microseparation conditions. Increasing the swing phase load from 100 to 280 N in the same hip simulator increased the wear of the MOM hip replacements by over tenfold. Introducing microseparation into the gait cycle increased wear further, and stripe wear was observed on the femoral heads, accompanied by corresponding rim damage on the acetabular cups. No significant difference in wear particle size was observed between wear particles produced by low load and microseparation hip simulator conditions. Introducing microseparation into the hip simulator gait cycle increased the wear of MOM prostheses. Joint laxity and separation may lead to increased wear rates of MOM prostheses in vivo. Additionally elevated positive swing phase loads may also increase wear. Variable swing phase load conditions in vivo may contribute to variations in clinical wear rates.

Chromium Alloys↗

Assessment of a microplate method for determining the post-antibiotic effect in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVES: The post-antibiotic effect (PAE) is an important parameter of antibiotic action that is widely used as a predictor of pharmacodynamic activity. Traditionally, PAE has been determined by a labour-intensive method involving determination of viable cell numbers. New methods using spectrophotometric procedures could offer significant advantages for PAE determinations, particularly in terms of speed. A number of such methods have been described in the literature, but extensive comparison with the classical procedure for determining PAEs has not been carried out. We have now compared PAE values obtained using a rapid microplate method with those achieved by the classical viable count procedure. METHODS: We determined PAE values for a variety of antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli following exposure to 5 x MIC drug concentrations for 60 min in Mueller-Hinton Broth (MHB). The duration of the PAE was obtained by following the recovery of bacterial growth in antibiotic-free MHB measured either as colony forming units on Mueller-Hinton agar, or as culture absorbance (600 nm) in a microplate reader. RESULTS: For bacteriolytic agents there was poor correlation between the two methods for both S. aureus (R2=0.096) and E. coli (R2=0.5456). However, when PAEs for bacteriostatic agents and non-lytic bactericidal agents were compared, correlation between the two methods was high for both S. aureus (R2=0.7529) and E. coli (R2=0.7687). CONCLUSIONS: The spectrophotometric microplate method for determining PAEs may be a suitable alternative to the classical method for those antibiotics that do not induce bacterial cell lysis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Comparative wear under different conditions of surface-engineered metal-on-metal bearings for total hip arthroplasty.

Metal-on-metal hip arthroplasties have demonstrated low wear rates. However, the ion release and toxicity of the metal wear particles remains a concern. Modifying the surface of metal bearings with thick chromium nitride (CrN) coatings has the potential to further reduce wear and ion release, and improve the biocompatibility of wear particles produced. The aim of this study was to investigate the application of surface engineering technology to modify metal-on-metal (MOM) bearings to reduce wear and improve the functional biocompatibility of metal-on-metal prostheses. CrN-on-CrN bearings had lower wear rates in comparison to metal-on-metal bearings, particularly under adverse loading conditions. CrN-on-CrN bearings produced similar nanometer-sized particles to metal-on-metal bearings, however, CrN wear particles were less cytotoxic when cocultured with macrophage and fibroblast cells.

Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip↗

The influence of molecular weight, crosslinking and counterface roughness on TNF-alpha production by macrophages in response to ultra high molecular weight polyethylene particles.

The response of murine macrophages to clinically relevant polyethylene wear particles generated from different polyethylenes at various time points and volumetric doses in vitro was evaluated. Clinically relevant ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) wear debris was generated in vitro in a lubricant of RPMI 1640 supplemented with 25% (v/v) foetal calf serum using a multi-directional pin-on-plate wear rig under sterile conditions. Wear debris was cultured with C3H murine peritoneal macrophages at various particle volume (microm(3)): cell number ratios. The secretion of TNF-alpha was determined by ELISA. Initially the effect of molecular weight of UHMWPE was considered. Higher molecular weight GUR415HP was shown to have a lower wear rate than the lower molecular weight GUR1120, however a greater volume of the wear debris produced by the high molecular weight GUR415HP was in the 0.1-1.0 microm size range. Wear debris from GUR415HP produced significant levels of TNF-alpha at a concentration of 1 microm(3)/cell while at least 10 microm(3)/cell of GUR1120 wear debris per cell was needed to produce significant levels of TNF-alpha. Secondly the effects of crosslinking GUR1050 was examined when worn against a scratched counterface. The wear rate of the material was shown to decrease as the level of crosslinking increased. However the materials crosslinked with 5 and 10 Mrad of gamma irradiation produced higher percentages of 0.1-1.0 microm size wear particles than the non-crosslinked material. While the crosslinked material was able to stimulate cells to produce significantly elevated TNF-alpha levels at a particle concentration of just 0.1 microm(3)/cell only concentrations of 10 microm(3)/cell and above of the non-crosslinked wear debris were stimulatory. When the counterface was changed from scratched to smooth the wear rate for all three GUR1050 materials was further reduced. For the first time nanometre size wear particles were observed from polyethylene which reduced the percentage mass of debris in the 0.1-1.0 microm size range. For all three materials on the smooth counterface only concentrations of 50 microm(3)/cell and above were stimulatory. This study has demonstrated that molecular weight, crosslinking and counterface roughness are important factors in determining the biological activity of polyethylene.

Animals↗

Wear, debris, and biologic activity of cross-linked polyethylene in the knee: benefits and potential concerns.

Cross-linked polyethylene currently is being introduced in knee prostheses. The wear rates, wear debris, and biologic reactivity of non cross-linked, moderately cross-linked, and highly cross-linked polyethylene have been compared in multidirectional wear tests and knee simulators. Multidirectional pin-on-plate wear studies of noncross-linked, moderately cross-linked (5 Mrad), and highly cross-linked (10 Mrad) polyethylene showed a 75% reduction in wear with the highly cross-linked material under kinematics found in the hip, but only a 33% reduction under wear in kinematics representative of the knee. In knee simulator studies, with the fixed-bearing press-fit, condylar Sigma cruciate-retaining knee under high kinematic input conditions, the wear of 5 Mrad moderately cross-linked polyethylene was 13 +/- 4 mm per 1 million cycles, which was lower (p < 0.05) than the wear of clinically used, gamma vacuum foil GUR 1020 polyethylene (23 +/- 6 mm/1 million cycles). For the low-contact stress mobile-bearing knee, the wear of moderately cross-linked polyethylene was 2 +/- 1 mm per 1 million cycles, which was lower (p < 0.05) than GVF GUR 1020 polyethylene (5 +/- 2 mm/1 million cycles). The wear debris isolated from the fixed-bearing knees showed the moderately cross-linked material had a larger percentage volume of particles smaller than 1 mum in size, compared with GVF GUR 1020 polyethylene. Direct cell culture studies of wear debris generated in sterile wear simulators using multidirectional motion showed a increase (p < 0.05) in tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels and reactivity for GUR 1050 cross-linked polyethylene debris compared with an equivalent volume of noncross-linked GUR 1050 polyethylene. The use of cross-linked polyethylene in the knee reduces the volumetric wear rate. However, the clinical significance of reduced fracture toughness, elevated wear in abrasive conditions, and the elevated tumor necrosis factor-alpha release from smaller more reactive particles warrant further investigation.

Analysis of Variance↗

Role of the hprT-ftsH locus in Staphylococcus aureus.

The roles of two adjacent genes in the Staphylococcus aureus chromosome with functions in starvation survival and the response to stressful conditions have been characterized. One of these, hprT, encoding a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase homologue, was initially identified in a transposon mutagenesis screen. Mutation of hprT affects starvation survival in amino-acid-limiting conditions and the ability of S. aureus to grow in high-salt concentrations. Downstream of hprT is ftsH, which encodes a membrane-bound, ATP- and Zn(2+)-dependent 'AAA'-type protease. Mutation of ftsH in S. aureus leads to pleiotropic defects including slower growth, sensitivity to salt, acid, methyl viologen and potassium tellurite stresses, and reduced survival in amino-acid- or phosphate-limiting conditions. Both hprT-lacZ and ftsH-lacZ gene fusions are expressed maximally in the post-exponential phase of growth. Although secretion of exoproteins is not affected, an ftsH mutant is attenuated in a murine skin lesion model of pathogenicity.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

The hyaluronate lyase of Staphylococcus aureus - a virulence factor?

The hyaluronate lyase (HL) gene of Staphylococcus aureus 8325-4 (hysA) was inactivated in vitro with the insertion of the erythromycin determinant, ermC, from plasmid pE194. The hysA : : ermC mutation was introduced into S. aureus via a temperature-sensitive shuttle vector, where it underwent homologous recombination with the wild-type (w.t.) allele. The insertion of ermC in the chromosomal hysA locus was confirmed by Southern blot hybridization and the loss of HL activity was demonstrated macroscopically by a plate assay. The importance of HL for pathogenicity was assessed by comparing the virulence of the HL(-) mutant strain to that of the w.t. in an established mouse abscess model of S. aureus infection. A significantly higher cell recovery was obtained from lesions infected with the w.t. strain compared to the lesions infected with the HL(-) strain (P =0.01). Although the lesion areas from both groups were not significantly different (P=0.9) they were of different morphology. A colorimetric assay was used to measure HL activity from culture supernatants of the S. aureus 8325-4 strains w.t., WA250 (agr) and PC1839 (sar) grown in a chemically defined medium. HL activity reached a maximum in the w.t. strain during mid-exponential phase (t=5 h) and while it showed a 16-fold decrease in the agr mutant it increased 35-fold in the sar mutant background. These results strongly suggest that HL is a virulence factor which is important in the early stages of subcutaneous infections.

Abscess↗

Analysis of mupirocin resistance and fitness in Staphylococcus aureus by molecular genetic and structural modeling techniques.

Chromosomal resistance to mupirocin in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus arises from V(588)F or V(631)F mutations in isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IRS). Whether these are the only IRS mutations that confer mupirocin resistance or simply those that survive in the clinic is unknown. Mupirocin-resistant mutants of S. aureus 8325-4 were therefore generated to examine their ileS genotypes and the in vitro and in vivo fitness costs associated with them before and after compensatory evolution. Most spontaneous first-step mupirocin-resistant mutants carried V(588)F or V(631)F mutations in IRS, but a new mutation (G(593)V) was also identified. Second-step mutants carried combinations of previously identified IRS mutations (e.g., V(588)F/V(631)F and G(593)V/V(631)F), but additional combinations also occurred involving novel mutations (R(816)C, H(67)Q, and F(563)L). First-step mupirocin-resistant mutants were not associated with substantial fitness costs, a finding that is consistent with the occurrence of V(588)F or V(631)F mutations in the IRS of clinical strains. Second-step mutants were unfit, but fitness could be restored by subculture in the absence of mupirocin. In most cases, this was the result of compensatory mutations that also suppressed mupirocin resistance (e.g., A(196)V, E(190)K, and E(195)K), despite retention of the original mutations conferring resistance. Structural explanations for mupirocin resistance and loss of fitness were obtained by molecular modeling of mutated IRS enzymes, which provided data on mupirocin binding and interaction with the isoleucyl-AMP reactive intermediate.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PheP, a putative amino acid permease of Staphylococcus aureus, contributes to survival in vivo and during starvation.

PheP, a putative amino acid permease in Staphylococcus aureus, contributes to starvation survival under glucose-limiting conditions and virulence. A pheP mutation led to poor growth after microaerobic or anaerobic incubation on pig serum agar, which was recovered by phenylalanine addition. Genetic complementation of pheP restored growth and starvation survival.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗

Flushing an i.v. line: a simple but potentially costly procedure for both patient and health unit.

This observational study investigated the intravenous (i.v.) medication administration technique of Registered Nurses (n = 47) using the injection port of a concurrent intravenous infusion. Study findings showed that the majority of nurses adhered to the most common although debatable recommended guideline in stopping the concurrent infusion and slowly administering the medication in the syringe over 3-5 minutes, prior to flushing the line quickly. Nurses failed to account for the dead space in the i.v. line when calculating the administration rate for pre and post medication flush. Similarly, the benefits of continuing the concurrent infusion when administering intravenous medication were not taken into consideration. Based upon these study findings, we recommend changes to procedural guidelines for i.v. medication.

Clinical Competence↗

Long-term wear of ceramic matrix composite materials for hip prostheses under severe swing phase microseparation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term wear performance of alumina matrix composite (AMC) heads against alumina matrix composite inserts and alumina matrix composite heads against alumina (Al) inserts with the use of a hip-joint simulator incorporating severe swing phase joint microseparation. The wear of AMC on Al produced an average wear rate of 0.61 mm3/million cycles over the 5-million-cycle test duration. The wear of AMC on AMC produced an average wear rate of 0.16 mm3/million cycles over the 5-million-cycle test duration. Both the AMC on alumina and AMC on AMC produced significantly lower wear than previously tested HIPed alumina, where an average wear rate of 1.84 mm3/million cycles was reported over 5 million cycles. The wear mechanisms and wear debris of AMC on AMC and AMC on Al were similar to those observed in previous alumina retrieval studies with stripe wear caused by intragranular fracture and wear debris consisting of predominantly uniform 10-20-nm-sized particles and a few irregular particles up to 3 microm in size.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Comparison of the response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to challenge with particles of three bone cements in vitro.

This study compared the effects of different sizes of three clinically relevant endotoxin free bone cement particles on primary human macrophage TNF-alpha production in vitro. The bone cements used were CMW original, CMW1RO and Palacos R. The cement wear debris was generated aseptically and then sequentially filtered to produce the size ranges 0.1-1 microm, 0.1-10 microm, 1-10 microm and >10 microm. The debris was cultured with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells at particle volume (microm(3)) per cell ratios of 100:1, 10:1 and 1:1. TNF-alpha production was determined by ELISA and cell viability by MTT conversion. CMW1RO particles induced increased TNF-alpha production by PBMNCs when tested in the size range 0.1-1 microm, and also to a lesser degree in the sizes 0.1-10 microm and 1-10 microm at the particle volume (microm(3)) to cell number ratios of 100:1 and 10:1. The increase in TNF-alpha production induced by Palacos R debris was only observed with the particle size ranges less than 10 microm at the ratio of 100:1. This study demonstrated that bone cement particles are capable of inducing raised TNF-alpha production in vitro. This is dependent upon cement particle size, volume and cement particle type, with cement particles containing radio-opaque additives being the most active.

Cell Adhesion↗

Severe wear and fracture of zirconia heads against alumina inserts in hip simulator studies with microseparation.

The wear of zirconia femoral heads against alumina acetabular inserts with swing-phase microseparation was investigated in a hip joint simulator. Under mild microseparation conditions, the wear was very low, with an average wear rate of 0.05 mm(3)/million cycles reported over 5 million cycles of testing. However, under severe microseparation conditions representative of greater joint laxity, the wear rate of zirconia against alumina increased by 2 orders of magnitude, producing severe wear and, in one case, femoral head fracture. The adverse results of this study indicate that the combination of a zirconia femoral head articulating against an alumina acetabular insert is not recommended for clinical use. The results further raise concerns over the suitability of conventional simulators in evaluating the wear of ceramic hip prostheses.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Role and regulation of the superoxide dismutases of Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus has two superoxide dismutases (SODs), encoded by the sodA and sodM genes, which inactivate harmful superoxide radicals () encountered during host infection or generated from aerobic metabolism. The transcriptional start sites have been mapped and expression analysis on reporter fusions in both genes has been carried out. Under standard growth conditions, manganese (Mn), a mineral superoxide scavenger, elevated total SOD activity but had no effect on the transcription of either gene. Transcription of sodA and sodM was most strongly induced by either internally or externally generated, respectively. Sensitivity to internally generated was linked with SodA deficiency. Mn supplementation completely rescued a sodA mutant when challenged by internally generated, and this was growth-phase-dependent. Sensitivity to externally generated stress was only observed in a sodA sodM mutant and was Mn-independent. In a mouse abscess model of infection, isogenic sodA, sodM and sodA sodM mutants had reduced virulence compared to the parental strain, showing the importance of the enzymic scavenging system for the survival of the pathogen.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Cement particles containing radio-opacifiers stimulate pro-osteolytic cytokine production from a human monocytic cell line.

Proponents of the biological theory of aseptic loosening have in recent years tended to concentrate on the production and distribution of particulate ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) debris around the potential joint space. However, mechanical loading of cemented implants with the differing elastic moduli of metal stems, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cement and bone can result in relative micromotion, implying the potential for production of metal and PMMA particles from the stem-cement interface by fretting wear. In order to investigate the production and biological reactivity of debris from this interface, PMMA and metal particulate debris was produced by sliding wear of PMMA pins containing barium sulphate and zirconium dioxide against a Vaquasheened stainless steel counterface. This debris was characterised by SEM, energy-dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX) and image analysis, then added to cell cultures of a human monocytic cell line, U937, and stimulation of proosteolytic cytokines measured by ELISA. Large quantities of PMMA cement debris were generated by the sliding wear of PMMA pins against Vaquasheened stainless steel plates in the method developed for this study. Both cements stimulated the release of pro-osteolytic TNFalpha from the U937 monocytic cell line, in a dose-dependent fashion. There was a trend towards greater TNFalpha release with Palacos cement than CMW cement at the same dose. Palacos particles also caused significant release of IL-6, another pro-osteolytic cytokine, while CMW did not. The particulate cement debris produced did not stimulate the release of GM-CSF or IL1beta from the U937 cells. These results may explain the cytokine pathway responsible for bone resorption caused by particulate PMMA debris. Radio-opaque additives are of value in surgical practice and clinical studies to quantify the relevance of these in vitro findings are required before the use of cement containing radio-opacifier is constrained.

Biocompatible Materials↗