bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Conditioned Medium on Fibroblast Tension Generation and Migration
Authors: Kshetri Pratiksha , Brennan Robert E , Vaughan Melville B 
Published: November 2023

Chronic wounds are often characterized by persistent inflammation. These wounds provide a favorable environment for bacteria to establish an infection, which may lead to the formation of a biofilm that can delay the healing process. Although the occurrence of biofilms in chronic wounds is known, the role of these biofilms in chronic wound pathogenesis is still unclear. Chronic wounds may be affected directly by the biofilm or through interaction with secreted products of the biofilm bacteria. Our goal was to investigate the Staphylococcus aureus biofilm extract effects in collagen lattice tension generation on fibroblasts. The control and TGF‐beta treated lattices were cultured in presence or absence of S. aureus biofilm conditioned medium. The mature control lattices showed the greatest contraction followed by biofilm with less contraction. The reduction of contraction was correlated with less number of proliferated and differentiated myofibroblasts in biofilm‐conditioned treated lattices. Tension generation is one of the important factors in wound closing by myofibroblasts; cell migration is another important aspect of wound healing. We also hypothesized that the biofilm conditioned medium of S. aureus would affect the migration of fibroblasts. The quantitative analysis of two‐dimensional cell migration was conducted using silicone elastomer mask migration assay. Cells were cultured in the presence or absence of biofilm conditioned medium and the migratory response was measured with the image of cell free area invaded by fibroblasts at T0, T24, T48 and T72 hrs. The percentage of area invaded by fibroblasts in control at T48 was found to be 62.04 whereas the percentage of area invaded for biofilm‐treated cells was 58.05. In conclusion, fibroblast tension generation and migration behavior was inhibited by the biofilm conditioned medium. The future goal is to investigate the mechanism behind the inhibition properties of biofilm conditioned media on fibroblasts.Support or Funding Information3M Corporation and UCO Office of Research and Grants
Investigation of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Fibroblast Biomarkers for Cell Characterization by Immunohistochemistry
Authors: Lerma Tanya , Guttmann Geoffrey D. 
Published: November 2023

Approximately 200,000 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur in the United States per year. This ligament is also the most commonly injured ligament of the knee joint. Surgical reconstruction using autografts from the patient is the main method of treatment to date; however, cadaver tendon allografts may also be used. A less invasive and more promising method for repair is ligament engineering. Growth factors, a proper matrix, and suitable cells, are a few of the necessary components of a ligament construct.A common protocol to engineer a ligament is to use ACL fibroblasts and to seed them into a matrix or scaffold that allows the creation of a similar tissue. However, to date no successful construct has been engineered. In order for an engineered construct to be successful and resemble a human ACL, an understanding of the cellular components of the ACL fibroblasts is necessary. The existence and role of the cellular components in the human ACL allows for the ligament to maintain its mechanical. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate every aspect of this tissue, including using reliable biomarkers to properly characterize human ACL fibroblasts. In this study, we aim to establish a combination of biomarkers specific to these fibroblasts using the method of immunohistochemistry.The central hypothesis of this study is that the biomarkers of interest, vimentin, fibronectin, alpha‐smooth muscle actin(α‐SMA), Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1), and collagen III will be a suitable and reliable combination of markers to characterize anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) fibroblasts because 100% of the cells are expected to stain positive for these biomarkers by the method of immunohistochemistry.Our results indicate that none of the biomarkers were detected in cells at a rate of 100%. Fibronectin and collagen III abundance in the ECM made it difficult to determine specific production by an isolated fibroblast. However, both biomarkers were detected in abundance by fluorescence intensity. FGFR1 and vimentin stained positive in over 50% of cells, but less than 95%. Alpha‐SMA was more variable due to two of the ligaments having 0% of cells stain positive for this biomarker. However, samples that did show expression of alpha‐SMA stained over 46% of cells.
Olive Oil Administration Improves Cutaneous Wound Healing of Pressure Ulcers in Mice
Authors: Alto Costa Andréa Monte , Donnato‐Trancoso Aline , Romana‐Souza Bruna 
Published: November 2023

Chronic lesions, as pressure ulcers, present high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and exacerbate inflammatory response, which impair cutaneous wound healing. Olive oil has anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant proprieties and its administration in chronically stressed mice may improve the cutaneous wound healing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of olive oil administration on cutaneous wound healing of pressure ulcers in mice. For this, male mice were daily treated with olive oil (1.5 g/kg) until euthanasia. One day after the beginning of treatment, two cycles of ischemia–reperfusion by external application of two magnetic plates were performed in skin to induce pressure ulcer formation. All experimental animal work was approved by the Ethical Committee for Animal Use of State University of Rio de Janeiro (CEUA/044/2014). The olive oil administration increased the wound contraction 7 days after ulceration when compared to control (water‐treated) group. The re‐epithelialization was increased by olive oil administration when compared to control group 7 and 14 days after ulceration. The ROS levels on wound area was increased 3 days after ulceration, but decreased 7 days, in olive oil‐treated group when compared to control group. The olive oil administration reduced the levels of lipid hydroperoxides when compared to control group. In conclusion, the administration of olive oil accelerates ROS synthesis and wound closure of pressure ulcer in mice.Support or Funding InformationFinancial support: Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation for Research Support in the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ).
Investigation of Blood Cell Populations in the Development and Regeneration of a Colonial Ascidian
Authors: Houck Tyler , Boyd Megan , Balde Erick , Keeling Elena 
Published: November 2023

Botrylloides violaceus is a colonial marine ascidian capable of undergoing whole body regeneration after removal of all tissues except the peripheral vasculature. As chordates, colonial ascidians are more closely related to vertebrates than other model organisms for whole body regeneration. There is evidence that one or more populations of stem cells are present in the circulating blood of B. violaceus; these cells may also be involved in asexual reproduction by budding. We are studying changes in blood composition during development and regeneration. Hemoblasts, a type of undifferentiated blood cell, have been implicated as stem cells in botryllid ascidians and are therefore of special interest. Comparisons of blood composition at several developmental stages are in progress. Preliminary data suggest that hemoblast composition of B. violaceus blood is stable during the regenerative process. Further, we show dramatically higher relative amounts of hemoblasts in the blood of B. violaceus compared to reported amounts in related species. This high percentage of hemoblasts may be associated with the readiness of B. violaceus to undergo regeneration at any stage of its life cycle.Support or Funding InformationCSU Council on Ocean Affairs, Science & Technology (COAST); Biological Sciences Department, California Polytechnic State University
Potential Mechanisms of Action for Exogenous Ketone Enhancement of Ischemic Wound Healing in Young and Aged Fischer Rats
Authors: Kesl Shannon L , Wu Mack , Gould Lisa J , D'Agostino Dominic P 
Published: November 2023

Chronic wounds represent an under‐acknowledged socioeconomic epidemic, affecting 1.8 million new patients per year and costing the US health care system upwards of $25 billion annually. This substantial cost is rapidly growing due to a disproportionate occurrence in the ever‐aging population. Ketone bodies, including β‐Hydroxybutyrate (βHB), are naturally occurring energy substrates. We previously reported that oral ketone supplementation without dietary restriction enhanced wound closure and increased blood flow in young and aged Fischer 344 rats. We hypothesized that exogenous ketone supplementation promoted wound healing via enhancement of physiological factors such as increasing proliferation, advancing migration, reducing ROS production, and resolving inflammation. Experiments in vitro with young and aged primary human dermal fibroblasts supplemented with 5mM βHB for 72 hours ahead of an oxidative stimulus (100μM tert‐butyl‐hydrogen peroxide) resulted in significantly decreased cellular ROS production, enhanced cell migration, and augmented cellular proliferation (p<0.05). Additionally, peri‐wound tissue lysates were isolated from 1,3 Butanediol (BD), βHB NA+/K+ salt mixed with MCT oil in a 1:1 ratio (BMS+MCT), and standard diet (SD) fed rats on day three and day seven post‐wounding. Ketone administration during wound healing elicited changes in inflammatory cytokines including a significant elevation in epidermal growth factor (EGF) at day 7 of wound healing compared to control (p<0.05). BMS+MCT supplementation in aged rats significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor‐ alpha (TNF‐α) levels on day 7 of wound healing compared to controls (p<0.05). Furthermore, ketone supplementation significantly reduced leptin levels in both young and aged rats. Harvested wound tissue demonstrated a change in immunofluorescence of the pro‐inflammatory (IRF‐5 labeled, M1) to anti‐inflammatory (CD206 labeled, M2) macrophage ratio and immunohistochemistry labeled CD31 blood vessel density markers compared to controls. We conclude that ketone supplementation in vivo and in vitro modifies systemic physiology to enhance wound closure.Support or Funding InformationThis study was supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Grant N000140610105 (DPD), Scivation Inc, and a Morsani College of Medicine Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology departmental grant.
Trabecular mapping of the human distal femur: Leveraging geometric morphometrics for studies of bone microstructure
Authors: Sylvester Adam David 
Published: November 2023

Trabecular microstructure of limb bone epiphyses have been used to elucidate the relationship between skeletal form and locomotor behaviors among mammals. Such studies have often relied on the analysis of a single volume of interest (VOI) placed within the trabecular structure. Trabecular structure likely varies across continuous regions of bone and a single VOI will miss this variation, and much of the functional signal will be lost.Here I present a method for evaluating variation in bone microstructure across articular surfaces by leveraging sliding landmarks to sample multiple VOIs. 1007 sliding semi‐landmarks were distributed across the articular surface of 10 human distal femora using standard geometric morphometric procedures. Landmarks were then used to locate the positions of 1007 VOIs in the trabecular structure immediately deep to the cortical shell. VOIs were extracted and trabecular properties were measured for each VOI using BoneJ. Two questions are addressed: 1) are microstructural variables homogeneous across the articular surface? and 2) if microstructure is not homogeneous, are values of microstructural variables patterned on the condyles in a way that reflects human walking?Results suggest that trabecular microstructural variables are not homogenous across human femoral condyles. Bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness were greatest on the most inferior portions of the condyles, suggesting these areas reflect loading of the joint during normal walking. The technique presented here may have applications for reconstructing locomotion behavior of extinct animals as well as evaluating bone strength in clinical practice.
Cranial Index and Pattern of Head Shapes in Children Aged 0 – 36 months from Sokoto, Nigeria
Authors: Musa Muhammad A , Zagga Abdullahi Daudu , Danfulani Mohammed , Hamid Ahmed , Usman Jibrin Danjuma , Abdulhameed Aliu , Dahiru Mohammed 
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the pattern of head shapes in children with normal brain development using cranial index values. Head Length (HL), Head Width (HW) and Cranial Index (CI) of 210 normal growing children (100 males and 110 females) aged 0 – 36 months old seen at the Institute of Child Health Center, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto over the period of six months were determined using internationally accepted landmarks and procedures. The pattern of head shapes was investigated using the cranial index values obtained from the study participants. The overall mean and standard deviation values for head length, head width and cranial index were 13.79±1.79 cm, 10.95±1.39 cm and 79.49±3.42 respectively. A statistically significant increase (p = 0.0203) was observed in the head width of males when compared to that of females. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference observed in the mean head length and mean cranial index values between the sexes. The dominant head shape type observed in males was Mesocephaly (31.90%) and Brachycephaly (26.19%) in females while the least observed head shape pattern was Hyperbrachycephaly (1.42%) in males and Dolicocephaly (0.47%) in females. The head measurements, cranial index and pattern of head shapes evaluated in this study are good indicators of skull and brain growth, thus can be of clinical importance in determining the timing and etiology of brain insults, especially in the first three years of life.Support or Funding InformationNil
Mean ± SD of Head Measurements and Cranial Index of Study Participants.

Head Measurements
N
Minimum Value
Maximum Value
Age Range (months)
Mean ± SD

Head Length (cm)
210
10.50
17.20
0–36
13.79±1.79

Head Width (cm)
210
8.30
14.30
0–36
10.95±1.39

Cranial Index (%)
210
68.39
89.29
0–36
79.49±3.42

Keys:
N ‐ Number of Study Participants
SD ‐ Standard Deviation

Comparison between the Overall Mean ± SD of Head Measurements and Cranial Index in Relation to Sex.

Head Measurements
N
Males (N = 100)
Females (N = 110)
p‐value

Head Length (cm)
210
14.30±1.53
13.33±1.89
6.0560

Head Width (cm)
210
11.18±1.15
10.73±1.55
0.0203*

Cranial Index (%)
210
78.26±3.15
80.61±3.27
2 9992

Keys:
N ‐ Number of Study Participant
Statistically significant difference between sexes
cm ‐ Centimeter
% ‐ Percentage
Production Of Interleukin 1 Beta In Primary, Serum‐Free Cultures Of Human Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes
Authors: Lozano‐Torres Xiomara , Buckley Andrea Lynn , Miller Lawrence , Bundens Grace , Datillo Victoria , Milton LaBraya , Behling Kathryn , Chmielewski Sarah , Cho Ellen , Selim Abdulhafez , George‐Weinstein Mindy , D'Angelo Marina 
Published: November 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by a loss of cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) and an increase of cytokine production in the synovial joint. Notably, Interleukin‐1 beta (IL‐1β), elevated in OA cartilage, induces a number of responses from chondrocytes, including release and activation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Enhanced degradation of the ECM, a hallmark of OA pathology, is likely due, in part, to increased cytokine production.In this study, osteoarthritic human chondrocytes isolated from total knee arthroplasty were reared in three‐dimensional, serum‐free, alginate cultures. The sides of least and greatest pathology of the femoral condyles and tibial plateau were determined by gross inspection in the surgery suite and histological assessment. Medial and lateral cells isolated from femoral condyles and tibial plateau were cultured separately. Chondrocytes were plated at 2.5×106 cells per ml of alginate and incubated in 2 milliliters of serum‐free medium for five days. Conditioned media was collected on days 2 and 5 of culture, concentrated by centrifugation and IL‐1β measured by immunoassay.IL‐1β production was detected in medial and lateral chondrocyte cultures; however, the concentration of this cytokine was highest in the cultures established from the region of greatest pathology. Collagens type I and II degradation products were also increased in cultures of cells from the side of greatest pathology. These results demonstrate a correlation between elevated levels of IL‐1 β, collagen degradation and extent of pathology in primary cultures that maintain the phenotype of human articular chondrocytes. This culture system provides a platform with which to further define the feedback loop between chondrocyte produced cytokines and MMPs in OA.Support or Funding InformationCenter for Chronic Disorders of Aging Pilot Grant, PCOM
THE ANATOMY OF PEDIATRIC LAPAROSCOPIC AND THORACOSCOPIC PROCEDURES ‐ NEWER CONCEPTS AND PROCEDURES
Authors: Ghosh Tamojit 
Published: November 2023

Laparoscopic procedures in pediatric surgery can be be divided grossly into abdominal and thoracic procedures. The basic procedures in laparoscopy require an understanding of body wall surface and muscle anatomy. Laparoscopic pediatric procedures have revolutionized the treatment of tracheo‐oesophageal fistulas with oesophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, anorectal malformations, appendicitis, hirschsrpung disease and inguinal hernias.Abdominal laparoscopy requires gas insufflation, the use of surface ports in various sites and and a keen understanding of upper and lower abdominal anatomy. Iatrogenic abdominal injuries include vascular trauma, retroperitoneal heamorrhage, bladder injuries and stomach injuries especially when it is overinflated. Most procedures use a camera port with 2 or more ports for instrumentation. Lower abdominal laparoscopies have a risk of hernias, damage to the inferior epigastric blood vessels and bowel damage. A detailed knowledge of the abdominal body wall musculature and underlying vascular structures is required. The anatomy reinforcing single port laparoscopy procedures is presented in this work too. Transuterine and cul‐de‐sac approaches are revisited and explained.Thoracospic pediatric surgical procedures have a risk of injury to the lung, pleura and thoracic wall vasculature. Newer anatomical approaches through the posterior thoracic wall ports are also proposed and explained.To correct spinal and vertebral defects newer sites of laparoscopic port entry are proposed with an eye to access and maximum utilization of small working space in such procedures.Support or Funding InformationFunding received from the Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia and the Indian Institute of Morphology, Kolkata.
An expansion of the anatomy of the anterolateral ligament of the knee: Morphological variation and an alternate dissection approach
Authors: Parker Matthew F , Smith Heather F 
Published: November 2023

In 2013, Claes and colleagues documented and described in detail the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee, demonstrating its existence in 97% of their cadaveric samples (40 out of 41). In this study, we sought to further examine the anatomy of this ligament, document its morphological variation in an additional sample of cadaveric knees, and assess the feasibility of its dissection in preserved cadaveric specimens.We dissected the knee joints of 53 (26m/27f) preserved cadaveric knees (paired, when possible), and documented the presence/absence, course, and morphological characteristics of the ALL, as well as collected quantitative data on its length and width. The majority of specimens in our sample (51 out of 53 = 96%) were found to possess a discrete ALL. In our sample, we found support for the hypothesis that the primary function of the ALL is to limit internal (medial) rotation of the tibia. However, we discovered noticeable variation in the insertion of the ligament compared to the originally described pattern. Most notably, it was often found to insert more laterally than has been previously described, closer to the fibular head. This variant would likely result in decreased rotational stability of the knee in individuals with this pattern of insertion. A paired‐samples t‐test revealed highly significant differences between the length of the ALL at extension compared to 90 degrees flexion (p < 0.001), supporting the idea that the ALL is active during knee flexion.In addition, the originally described dissection technique for identifying and following the ALL requires flexion of the knee, a state which is often not possible in stiff, preserved cadavers. We confirmed the feasibility of an alternate dissection technique in which the quadriceps femoris tendon is incised, for use on specimens in which flexion of the undissected knee is not possible. This technique would be useful for dissection of preserved cadavers used in gross anatomy laboratories, and we discuss the applications of such an approach in student‐led dissections.Support or Funding InformationThis research was supported by Midwestern University faculty start‐up funds to HFS.
Case Report of a Bilateral Absence of the Semimembranosus Muscle
Authors: Morrison Nina , Hervey Shane , Runyeon Jon 
Published: November 2023

Bilateral absence of the semimembranosus muscle was discovered during a routine dissection of a 62‐year‐old Caucasian male cadaver. The origination of the semimembranosus muscle is from the posterior superior lateral quadrant of the ischial tuberosity of the pelvis and its insertion is into the posterior surface of the medial condyle of the tibia[2]. Semitendinosus and biceps femoris muscles were observed bilaterally in the posterior compartment of the thigh. The dissection presented hypertrophy in the remaining hamstring muscles—the semitendinosus and biceps femoris. Congenital absence of skeletal muscle in the lower extremity is rare, as few have been reported previously in the literature [1, 2, 3]. Knowledge of muscle variation is important to not only anatomists, but also many types of clinicians when diagnosing and treating patients.Support or Funding InformationDepartment of Human PhysiologyUniversity of Oregon