German Red Cross

About: German Red Cross is a healthcare organization based out in Berlin, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Transplantation & Mesenchymal stem cell. The organization has 653 authors who have published 1146 publications receiving 40111 citations. The organization is also known as: Deutsches Rotes Kreuz & DRK.

Funneling before and after anti-incontinence surgery—a prognostic indicator? Part 2: tension-free vaginal tape

Abstract: Does the presence of pre- and postoperative funneling of the proximal urethra affect the outcome of tension-free vaginal tape (TVT)? This prospective study of 191 women with proven primary genuine stress urinary incontinence treated by TVT insertion and assessed by pre- and postoperative introital ultrasound aims to answer that question. At 36-month follow-up, the cure rate was 89.5% (Kaplan–Meier estimator). At 6-month follow-up, 6.3% of the women had urge symptoms and 0.5% de novo urge incontinence. The cure rate in preoperative funneling was 77.5% as opposed to 96.6% in the group without funneling (P<0.0001). The funneling rate significantly decreased from 37.2% preoperatively to 17.3% immediately postoperatively (P<0.0001). The continence rate was 57.5% in persistent postoperative funneling vs 96.2% in the group without postoperative funneling (P<0.0001). The complication rate was not higher in the group with persistent postoperative funneling. The TVT procedure significantly reduces bladder neck funneling. Both preoperative and persistent postoperative funneling are associated with an increased probability of therapeutic failure or recurrence.

Polymicrogyria in fetal alcohol syndrome.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Intrauterine exposure to alcohol may result in a distinct pattern of craniofacial abnormalities and central nervous system dysfunction, designated fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). The spectrum of malformations of the brain associated with maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy is much broader than the relatively uniform clinical phenotype of FAS. Among these malformations the most striking abnormalities involve the impairment of neuronal cell migration. However, polymicrogyria (PMG) has so far been reported only once in a human autopsy study of a child with FAS. CASE: A 16-year-old girl with confirmed maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and full phenotype of FAS presented after two generalized epileptic seizures for neurologic assessment. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral PMG in the superior frontal gyrus with asymmetric distribution. History, clinical features, and genetic investigations provided no evidence for any of the known genetic or acquired causes of PMG. Therefore, we propose that prenatal alcohol exposure is the cause of PMG in this patient rather than a mere coincidence. CONCLUSION: Our observation represents only the second patient of PMG in FAS and confirms the phenotypic variability of cerebral malformations associated with maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy. In patients with clinical features of FAS and neurologic deficits or seizures neuroimaging is recommended. Furthermore, FAS should be considered as a differential diagnosis for PMG. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Potential of electrospun cationic BSA fibers to guide osteogenic MSC differentiation via surface charge and fibrous topography

Abstract: Large or complex bone fractures often need clinical treatments for sufficient bone repair. New treatment strategies have pursued the idea of using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in combination with osteoinductive materials to guide differentiation of MSCs into bone cells ensuring complete bone regeneration. To overcome the challenge of developing such materials, fundamental studies are needed to analyze and understand the MSC behavior on modified surfaces of applicable materials for bone healing. For this purpose, we developed a fibrous scaffold resembling the bone/bone marrow extracellular matrix (ECM) based on protein without addition of synthetic polymers. With this biomimetic in vitro model we identified the fibrous structure as well as the charge of the material to be responsible for its effects on MSC differentiation. Positive charge was introduced via cationization that additionally supported the stability of the scaffold in cell culture, and acted as nucleation point for mineralization during osteogenesis. Furthermore, we revealed enhanced focal adhesion formation and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs cultured on positively charged protein fibers. This pure protein-based and chemically modifiable, fibrous ECM model allows the investigation of MSC behavior on biomimetic materials to unfold new vistas how to direct cells’ differentiation for the development of new bone regenerating strategies.

Biological differences between native and cultured mesenchymal stem cells: implications for therapies.

Abstract: We describe the current knowledge of the surface marker phenotype of native bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) in humans and in mouse models, highlighting similarities in the MSC marker "signature" between the two species The chapter proceeds to discuss the published literature pertaining to native MSC topography and their interactions with hematopoietic stem cells and their progeny, as well as with blood vessels and nerve endings Additionally, the chapter describes phenotypic and functional "drifts" that occur in MSC preparations as they are taken out of their native bone marrow microenvironment and induced to proliferate in vitro (in the presence of animal or human serum) We propose that the understanding of the biology of MSCs in their native niches in the bone marrow could lead to future developments in the treatment of hematological diseases such as multiple myeloma Additionally, this knowledge would assist in the development of more "natural" MSC culture conditions, best preserving MSC functionality including their homing potential in order to optimize MSC transplantation in the context of graft-versus-host and other diseases

Human monoclonal antibodies for the immunological characterization of a highly conserved protein domain of the hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E1.

Abstract: Although both envelope glycoproteins of the hepatitis C virus, E1 and E2/NS1, show a high degree of sequence variation, the E1 protein includes a well conserved domain, which may be functionally important. We have analysed the human B cell response to a peptide fragment from amino acid residues 314-330 (EP3) covering the central conserved sequence of this domain. Anti-hepatitis C virus-positive blood donors were screened for anti-EP3 antibodies with an ELISA based on immobilized peptide. Thirty out of 92 (32%) RIBA-confirmed donors displayed a significant antibody response to EP3. From three of these blood donors we established four anti-EP3-producing heterohybridoma cell lines: Ul/F30 and Ul/F31 produced IgM-kappa, whereas Ul/F32 and Ul/F33 secreted the isotypes IgG1-lambda and IgG1-kappa, respectively. Epitope analysis with overlapping nonapeptides suggests the existence of different antigenic determinants within the EP3 fragment. Although both IgG antibodies Ul/F32 and Ul/F33 have dissociation constants to the peptide of approximately 10(-9) M, binding to recombinant E1 protein expressed in COS-7 cells was different. Only Ul/F33 detected envelope protein of approximately 24-35 kD in Western blot. This human MoAb will be useful for further investigations on the hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E1.