CT evaluation of HU bone density of the vertebrae in dogs with spine compression

Bone mineral density (BMD) is defined as the mineral concentration in bone. BMD is directly related to bone strength and is a useful predictor of osteoporotic fracture; it is therefore used to diagnose and monitor osteoporosis in humans. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if there are changes in the adjacent vertebral body (cranial and caudal) consistency in case of disk protrusion or IVDD. The result show changes of the HU of the vertebral body of the vertebrae situated cranial and caudal of the protrusion site, but there is no statistical correlation between the disk protrusion or IVDD and those changes

Evaluation of Keratin/Bacterial Cellulose Based Scaffolds as Potential Burned Wound Dressing

The study presents the preparation and characterization of new scaffolds based on bacterial cellulose and keratin hydrogel which were seeded with adipose stem cells. The bacterial cellulose was obtained by developing an Acetobacter xylinum culture and was visualized using SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and elementally determined through EDAX (dispersive X-ray analysis) tests. Keratin species (β–keratose and γ-keratose) was extracted by hydrolytic degradation from non-dyed human hair. SEM, EDAX and conductometric titration tests were performed for physical–chemical and morphological evaluation. Cytocompatibility tests performed in vitro confirmed the material non-toxic effect on cells. The scaffolds, with and without stem cells, were grafted on the burned wounds on the rabbit’s dorsal region and the grafts were monitored for 21 days after the application on the wounds. The clinical monitoring of the grafts and the histopathological examination demonstrated the regenerative potential of the bacterial cellulose–keratin scaffolds, under the test conditions