Scaffold mean pore size influences mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenic differentiation and matrix deposition.

Recent investigations into micro-architecture of scaffolds has revealed that mean pore sizes are cell-type specific and influence cellular shape, differentiation, and extracellular matrix secretion. In this context, the overall goal of this study was to investigate whether scaffold mean pore sizes affect mesenchymal stem cell initial attachment, chondrogenic gene expression, and cartilage-like matrix deposition. Collagen-hyaluronic acid (CHyA) scaffolds, recently developed in our laboratory for in vitro chondrogenesis, were fabricated with three distinct mean pore sizes (94, 130, and 300 μm) by altering the freeze-drying technique used. It was evident that scaffolds with the largest mean pore sizes (300 μm) stimulated significantly higher cell proliferation, chondrogenic gene expression, cartilage-like matrix deposition, and resulting bulk compressive modulus after in vitro culture, relative to scaffolds with smaller mean pore sizes (94, 130 μm). Taken together, these findings demonstrate the importance of scaffold micro-architecture in the development of advanced tissue engineering strategies for articular cartilage defect repair

The Characteristics of Catholic Schools: Comparative Perspectives from the USA and Queensland, Australia

The faith-based identity of Catholic schools is increasingly problematic in a secularised society where the numbers of teachers belonging to religious orders are diminishing rapidly. Teachers’ views regarding the characteristics of Catholic schools are an important aspect of the identity of such schools. The authors locate Catholic schools in the USA and Queensland, Australia, in their respective contexts and compare teachers’ ratings of the importance of eleven given characteristics of Catholic schools as seen by 3,389 teachers in USA Catholic schools and 2,287 teachers in Queensland Catholic schools. When the mean ratings for each jurisdiction were statistically correlated, USA teachers were much more likely to rate these given characteristics as essential and the resulting χ² and associated Odds Ratio values indicated very statistically significant jurisdictional differences. Some tentative explanations are suggested including the differing political contexts, the conditions of teachers’ employment and the support structures for the spiritual and faith formation of teachers in the respective jurisdictions

Labour Input Associated With Grassland Management on Irish Dairy Farms

The issues of labour and work organisation (working hours, working conditions) must be seriously addressed on Irish dairy farms if dairy farming is to have a viable future. The objective of this study was to quantify the annual labour input per cow on Irish dairy farms, with a specific focus on the task of grassland management, and to establish monthly patterns of labour utilisation over a two-year period for a range of herd sizes

Addition of hyaluronic acid improves cellular infiltration and promotes early-stage chondrogenesis in a collagen-based scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering.

The response of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to a matrix largely depends on the composition as well as the extrinsic mechanical and morphological properties of the substrate to which they adhere to. Collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) scaffolds have been extensively used in a range of tissue engineering applications with great success. This is due in part to the presence of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in complementing the biofunctionality of collagen. In this context, the overall goal of this study was to investigate the effect of two GAG types: chondroitin sulphate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HyA) on the mechanical and morphological characteristics of collagen-based scaffolds and subsequently on the differentiation of rat MSCs in vitro. Morphological characterisation revealed that the incorporation of HyA resulted in a significant reduction in scaffold mean pore size (93.9 μm) relative to collagen-CS (CCS) scaffolds (136.2 μm). In addition, the collagen-HyA (CHyA) scaffolds exhibited greater levels of MSC infiltration in comparison to the CCS scaffolds. Moreover, these CHyA scaffolds showed significant acceleration of early stage gene expression of SOX-9 (approximately 60-fold higher,

Development of a collagen calcium-phosphate scaffold as a novel bone graft substitute.

Previous investigations have shown that collagen shows excellent biological performance as a scaffold for tissue engineering. As a primary constituent of bone and cartilage, it demonstrates excellent cell adhesion and proliferation. However, in bone tissue engineering, it has insufficient mechanical properties for implantation in a load-bearing defect. The objective of this preliminary study was to investigate the possibility of developing a collagen/calcium-phosphate composite scaffold which would combine the biological performance and the high porosity of a collagen scaffold with the high mechanical stiffness of a calcium-phosphate scaffold. Collagen scaffolds were produced by a lyophilisation process from a collagen slurry. The scaffolds were soaked for different exposure times in solutions of 0.1 M, 0.5 M or 1.0 M NaNH4HPO4 followed by 0.1 M, 0.5 M or 1.0 M CaCl2. Mechanical tests of each scaffold were performed on a uniaxial testing system. Young\u27s moduli were determined from stress-strain curves. The pore structure and porosity of the scaffolds were investigated using micro-computed tomography. A pure collagen scaffold served as a control. All scaffolds showed a significantly increased compressive stiffness relative to the pure collagen scaffolds. The exposure to the 0.5 M solutions showed significantly superior results compared to the other groups. Analysis of the pore structure indicated a decrease in the overall porosity of the composite scaffolds relative to the controls. Regarding mechanical stiffness and porosity, scaffolds after 1 hour exposure to the 0.5 M solutions showed the best properties for bone tissue engineering. Further work will involve producing a scaffold with a more homogeneous calcium phosphate distribution

Multi-layered collagen-based scaffolds for osteochondral defect repair in rabbits.

INTRODUCTION: Identification of a suitable treatment for osteochondral repair presents a major challenge due to existing limitations and an urgent clinical need remains for an off-the-shelf, low cost, one-step approach. A biomimetic approach, where the biomaterial itself encourages cellular infiltration from the underlying bone marrow and provides physical and chemical cues to direct these cells to regenerate the damaged tissue, provides a potential solution. To meet this need, a multi-layer collagen-based osteochondral defect repair scaffold has been developed in our group. AIM: The objective of this study was to assess the in vivo response to this scaffold and determine its ability to direct regenerative responses in each layer in order to repair osteochondral tissue in a critical-sized defect in a rabbit knee. METHODS: Multi-layer scaffolds, consisting of a bone layer composed of type I collagen (bovine source) and hydroxyapatite (HA), an intermediate layer composed of type I and type II collagen and HA; and a superficial layer composed of type I and type II collagen (porcine source) and hyaluronic acid (HyA), were implanted into critical size (3 × 5 mm) osteochondral defects created in the medial femoral condyle of the knee joint of New Zealand white rabbits and compared to an empty control group. Repair was assessed macroscopically, histologically and using micro-CT analysis at 12 weeks post implantation. RESULTS: Analysis of repair tissue demonstrated an enhanced macroscopic appearance in the multi-layer scaffold group compared to the empty group. In addition, diffuse host cellular infiltration in the scaffold group resulted in tissue regeneration with a zonal organisation, with repair of the subchondral bone, formation of an overlying cartilaginous layer and evidence of an intermediate tidemark. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the potential of this biomimetic multi-layered scaffold to support and guide the host reparative response in the treatment of osteochondral defects. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Osteochondral defects, involving cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone, frequently occur in young active patients due to disease or injury. While some treatment options are available, success is limited and patients often eventually require joint replacement. To address this clinical need, a multi-layer collagen-based osteochondral defect repair scaffold designed to direct host-stem cell mediated tissue formation within each region, has been developed in our group. The present study investigates the in vivo response to this scaffold in a critical-sized defect in a rabbit knee. Results shows the scaffolds ability to guide the host reparative response leading to tissue regeneration with a zonal organisation, repair of the subchondral bone, formation of an overlying cartilaginous layer and evidence of an intermediate tidemark

A biomimetic multi-layered collagen-based scaffold for osteochondral repair.

Cartilage and osteochondral defects pose a significant challenge in orthopedics. Tissue engineering has shown promise as a potential method for the treatment of such defects; however, a long-lasting repair strategy has yet to be realized. This study focuses on the development of a layered construct for osteochondral repair, fabricated through a novel \u22iterative layering\u22 freeze-drying technique. The process involved repeated steps of layer addition followed by freeze-drying, enabling control over material composition, pore size and substrate stiffness in each region of the construct, while also achieving a seamlessly integrated layer structure. The novel construct developed mimics the inherent gradient structure of healthy osteochondral tissue: a bone layer composed of type I collagen and hydroxyapatite (HA), an intermediate layer composed of type I collagen, type II collagen and HA and a cartilaginous region composed of type I collagen, type II collagen and hyaluronic acid. The material properties were designed to provide the biological cues required to encourage infiltration of host cells from the bone marrow while the biomechanical properties were designed to provide an environment optimized to promote differentiation of these cells towards the required lineage in each region. This novel osteochondral graft was shown to have a seamlessly integrated layer structure, high levels of porosity (\u3e97%), a homogeneous pore structure and a high degree of pore interconnectivity. Moreover, homogeneous cellular distribution throughout the entire construct was evident following in vitro culture, demonstrating the potential of this multi-layered scaffold as an advanced strategy for osteochondral defect repair

The BASES Expert Statement on Exercise, Immunity, and Infection

This article was published in the Journal of Sports Sciences [© Taylor & Francis] and the definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.627371An individual's level of physical activity influences their risk of infection, most likely by affecting immune function. Regular moderate exercise reduces the risk of infection compared with a sedentary lifestyle, but very prolonged bouts of exercise and periods of intensified training are associated with an increased risk of infection. There are several lifestyle, nutritional, and training strategies that can be adopted to limit the extent of exercise-induced immunodepression and minimize the risk of infection. This expert statement provides a background summarizing the evidence together with extensive conclusions and practical guidelines