Oxygen consumption,acidification and migration capacity of human primary osteoblasts within a three-dimensional tantalum scaffold

A major clinical problem within synthetic, large-scaled scaffolds is the insufficient nutrient supply resulting in inhomogeneous cell proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to analyse pH value, oxygen consumption and migration of human osteoblasts within a 3D tantalum scaffold, clinically used for larger bone defects. After 24 h the oxygen concentration within the scaffold decreased significantly and remained low during incubation. Monitoring of the pH value inside the tantalum scaffold showed a slightly acidification under static culture conditions. However, cell migration within the 3D scaffold was detected. Hence, in clinical application it can be assumed that porous tantalum scaffolds can be settled by osteoblasts under critical oxygen and nutrient supply. In general, monitoring of cell migration, oxygen consumption and acidification can be a suitable instrument for creating advanced 3D bone scaffolds.     

Novel Anti-Neuroinflammatory Properties of a Thiosemicarbazone–Pyridylhydrazone Copper(II) Complex

Neuroinflammation has a major role in several brain disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet at present there are no effective anti-neuroinflammatory therapeutics available. Copper(II) complexes of bis(thiosemicarbazones) (Cu^II(gtsm) and Cu^II(atsm)) have broad therapeutic actions in preclinical models of neurodegeneration, with Cu^II(atsm) demonstrating beneficial outcomes on neuroinflammatory markers in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that copper(II) complexes could be harnessed as a new approach to modulate immune function in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the anti-neuroinflammatory action of several low-molecular-weight, charge-neutral and lipophilic copper(II) complexes. Our analysis revealed that one compound, a thiosemicarbazone–pyridylhydrazone copper(II) complex (CuL⁵), delivered copper into cells in vitro and increased the concentration of copper in the brain in vivo. In a primary murine microglia culture, CuL⁵ was shown to decrease secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine macrophage chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnf), increase expression of metallothionein (Mt1), and modulate expression of Alzheimer’s disease-associated risk genes, Trem2 and Cd33. CuL⁵ also improved the phagocytic function of microglia in vitro. In 5xFAD model AD mice, treatment with CuL⁵ led to an improved performance in a spatial working memory test, while, interestingly, increased accumulation of amyloid plaques in treated mice. These findings demonstrate that CuL⁵ can induce anti-neuroinflammatory effects in vitro and provide selective benefit in vivo. The outcomes provide further support for the development of copper-based compounds to modulate neuroinflammation in brain diseases.     

Differential Cellular Balance of Olfactory and Vomeronasal Epithelia in a Transgenic BACHD Rat Model of Huntington’s Disease

Background. For neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease (HD), early diagnosis is essential to treat patients and delay symptoms. Impaired olfaction, as observed as an early symptom in Parkinson´s disease, may also constitute a key symptom in HD. However, there are few reports on olfactory deficits in HD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate, in a transgenic rat model of HD: (1) whether general olfactory impairment exists and (2) whether there are disease-specific dynamics of olfactory dysfunction when the vomeronasal (VNE) and main olfactory epithelium (MOE) are compared. Methods. We used male rats of transgenic line 22 (TG22) of the bacterial artificial chromosome Huntington disease model (BACHD), aged 3 days or 6 months. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and macrophage activity were examined with immunohistochemistry in the VNE and MOE. Results. No differences were observed in cellular parameters in the VNE between the groups. However, the MOE of the 6-month-old HD animals showed a significantly increased number of mature olfactory receptor neurons. Other cellular parameters were not affected. Conclusions. The results obtained in the TG22 line suggest a relative stability in the VNE, whereas the MOE seems at least temporarily affected.     

Pulmonary exposure to single-walled carbon nanotubes does not affect the early immune response against Toxoplasma gondii

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) trigger pronounced inflammation and fibrosis in the lungs of mice following administration via pharyngeal aspiration or inhalation. Human exposure to SWCNT in an occupational setting may occur in conjunction with infections and this could yield enhanced or suppressed responses to the offending agent. Here, we studied whether the sequential exposure to SWCNT via pharyngeal aspiration and infection of mice with the ubiquitous intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii would impact on the immune response of the host against the parasite. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were pre-exposed by pharyngeal administration of SWCNT (80 + 80 mug/mouse) for two consecutive days followed by intravenous injection with either 1x103 or 1x104 green fluorescence protein and luciferase-expressing T. gondii tachyzoites. The dissemination of T. gondii was monitored by in vivo bioluminescence imaging in real time for 7 days and by plaque formation. The inflammatory response was analysed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and by assessment of morphological changes and immune responses in lung and spleen. RESULTS: There were no differences in parasite distribution between mice only inoculated with T. gondii or those mice pre-exposed for 2 days to SWCNT before parasite inoculum. Lung and spleen histology and inflammation markers in BAL fluid reflected the effects of SWCNT exposure and T. gondii injection, respectively. We also noted that CD11c positive dendritic cells but not F4/80 positive macrophages retained SWCNT in the lungs 9 days after pharyngeal aspiration. However, co-localization of T. gondii with CD11c or F4/80 positive cells could not be observed in lungs or spleen. Pre-exposure to SWCNT did not affect the splenocyte response to T. gondii. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data indicate that pre-exposure to SWCNT does not enhance or suppress the early immune response to T. gondii in mice.     

Process development for the assembly of microsystems with hot melt adhesives

In the assembly of microsystems, a reliable, precise, and fast joining process remains an open challenge. An approach using hot melt adhesives to join these micro parts is investigated within this article. A relevant issue with hot melt adhesives is introducing heat into the assembly process. This heat management can be achieved using either an active or passive concept. These concepts and their influence on process design are discussed. The realization of active heat management within a gripper is discussed in detail. Experimental results from an exemplary process show the applicability of the hybrid assembly process using hot melt adhesives.     

Ultrastructure of biofilms formed on barley kernels during maltingwith and without starter culture

Malted barley is a major raw material of beer, as well as distilled spirits and several food products. In the malting process, dry barley kernels are steeped in water which initiates germination and invigorates microbial growth on the kernels. In the present study, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used to visualize the microbial community within the tissues of barley kernels before and after the steeping, with and without Lactobacillus plantarum E76 added as a starter culture. The results show that the community of 10⁸ cfu g⁻¹ on dry, stored barley kernels increased 5–10 fold during the steeping forming a dense biofilm of bacteria and fungi with slimy exopolymeric matrix. FESEM revealed that crevices between the outer epidermis and the testa of sound barley kernels were heavily colonized with microbes, whereas there were only few microbes on the outer surface of the husks, in the aleurone layer or in the endosperm underneath an intact testa layer. The microbes frequently possessed appendages forming bridging them to the kernel and the individual microbial cells to each other. The L. plantarum added to the steeping water reduced the amount of exopolymeric matrix in the biofilm and improved the wort filterability.     

Key Properties of Ni?Mn?Ga Based Single Crystals Grown with the SLARE Technique

Magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs), exhibit large strains and hence are materials, which could substitute giant magnetostrictive and piezoelectrical materials in actuating devices. The actuation stress needed to induce the strain is much lower than in other actuator materials. Since the strain can be induced without phase transformation by a magnetic field, the development of actuators with high working frequencies is possible. However, for reasonable applications, large strains have to be induced with small magnetic fields. Up to now repeatable magnetically induced strains of 5–10% in magnetic fields of less than 500 mT have been achieved only in single crystals. The production of Ni? Mn? Ga based single crystals is difficult and time consuming. The crystal quality is affected by porosity and impurities. With the Bridgeman based method called Slag Remelting and Encapsulation (SLARE) single crystalline ingots of Ni? Mn? Ga, Ni? Mn? Ga? Fe, and Ni? Mn? Ga? Co of high quality were grown and characterized. The results show that MSMA properties depend on the position within the single crystalline rods due to a composition gradient. The influence of surface treatment demonstrates that the decrease of surface roughness leads to a decrease of twinning stress. MSMAs with twinning stresses above 1 MPa show a magnetic field induced strain (MFIS) when tilting is not restricted by constraints. Softer samples can adapt to constraints much better and show large MFIS. Substituting Ni by Fe and Co, shifted the phase transitions successfully to higher temperatures. Ni? Mn? Ga alloyed with up to 6 at.% Co showed three different martensite structures: a non‐modulated tetragonal structure, a modulated tetragonal structure, showing the same behavior as Ni? Mn? Ga with identical structures and a non‐modulated orthorhombic structure with a stress–strain‐behavior explainable by the double twinning mechanism.