Thesis--University of Oklahoma. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-55).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet , 2008. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on December 22, 2006). The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. "May 2006" Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Os cistos dos ossos maxilares sÃo classificados como odontogÃnicos e nÃo odontogÃnicos. Dentre os odontogÃnicos inflamatÃrios, destaca-se o cisto radicular, e entre os de desenvolvimento, o dentÃgero. Estes cistos e suas variantes apresentam etiopatogÃnese e comportamento biolÃgico diferentes, mas sÃo igualmente lÃticos. A atividade proliferativa do epitÃlio de revestimento, dos componentes da membrana basal e da matriz extracelular, possivelmente, interferem nos mecanismos de crescimento, constituindo alvos de pesquisas. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a relaÃÃo do infiltrado inflamatÃrio mononuclear com a expressÃo de marcadores de proliferaÃÃo (Ki 67) e das proteÃnas da membrana basal e matriz extracelular nos cistos radiculares. Trata-se de um estudo retrospectivo e observacional tendo sido realizado um levantamento dos casos catalogados no ServiÃo de Biopsia do Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Legal (FAMED) e no LaboratÃrio de Patologia Bucal (FFOE) (UFC). ApÃs a revisÃo histolÃgica, os grupos foram divididos em cisto radicular intensamente inflamado (CRII) (n=17), cisto radicular levemente inflamado(CRLI)(n=.9) e cisto dentÃgero (CD) (n= 9). A presenÃa e intensidade do infiltrado inflamatÃrio histiolinfoplasmocitÃrio e preservaÃÃo do epitÃlio de revestimento foram os parÃmetros utilizados para seleÃÃo dos casos. Os espÃcimes foram submetidos à reaÃÃo de imuno-histoquÃmica por estreptoavidina biotina, utilizando-se os anticorpos Ki 67 (DakoÂ, 1:50), anti-colÃgeno IV (DBSÂ, 1:40) e anti-laminina (DBSÂ, 1:20). A expressÃo de Ki 67 foi mais intensa no grupo CRLI, quando comparada ao grupo CRII e CD. A expressÃo de colÃgeno tipo IV na membrana basal foi significante no grupo CRLI, quando comparada com o grupo CRII e CD. Jà a imunomarcaÃÃo de matriz extracelular variou de ausente a fraca nos grupos CRII e CRLI, enquanto no CD se exibiu de forma fraca a moderada, sendo esta diferenÃa significativa. A expressÃo de laminina em membrana basal nos grupos CRII e CD foi negativa e no grupo dos CRLI foi fraca e pontual. Concluiu-se que a presenÃa e a intensidade do conteÃdo inflamatÃrio na parede dos cistos radiculares parecem modificar a expressÃo dos fatores de proliferaÃÃo no epitÃlio de revestimento, e colÃgeno tipo IV e laminina na membrana basal, mas nÃo interferem no comportamento do colÃgeno IV da matriz extracelular nos cistos radiculares. A expressÃo de componentes da membrana basal (laminina e colÃgeno tipo IV) à maior nos cistos radiculares com leve infiltrado inflamatÃrio. / Jawbone cysts are classified as odontogenic and non-odontogenic cysts. The radicular cyst is the most common odontogenic cyst of inflammatory origin, whereas the detigerous cyst is the most common type of developmental odontogenic cyst. These cysts and their variations have different etiopathogenesis and biological behavior, but are equally lytic. The proliferation activity of the epithelial lining and the components of the basement membrane and extracellular matrix constitute targets of research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and the expression of proliferative immunomarkers (Ki 67), and proteins of basement membrane and extracellular matrix in radicular cysts. In this retrospective observational study, all cases of jawbone cysts that had been recorded in the files of the Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine (FAMED), and of the Laboratory of Oral Pathology (FFOE) of the Federal University of Cearà (UFC) and reviewed. After histological revision, the groups were divided into heavily inflamed radicular cysts (HIRC) (n=17), slightly inflamed radicular cysts (SIRC) (n=9) and dentigerous cysts (DC) (n=9). The presence and intensity of the lymphoplasmacytic inflammatory infiltrate and the preservation of the epithelial lining were the parameters used to select the cases. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed using the standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method. The primary antibodies used in this study included Ki 67 (DakoÂ, 1:50), Anti-Collagen Type IV (DBSÂ, 1:40) and Anti- Laminin (DBSÂ, 1:20).The immunoexpression of Ki-67 was more intense in the SIRC group compared to the HIRC group and DC. Likewise, the immunoexpression of Anti-Collagem Type IV in the basement membrane of the SIRC group presented a statistically significant difference compared to the HIRC group and DC . The expression of laminin in the basement membrane and in group HIRC and DC was negative and the group of SIRC was weak and punctual. It was concluded that presence and severity of inflammatory content wall of radicular cysts appear to modify the expression of proliferation factors in the coating epithelium and collagen type IV and laminin in the basement membrane but not modific with the behavior of extracellular matrix in radicular cyst. The expression of basement membrane components (laminin and collage type IV) is higher in radicular cyst with mild inflammatory infiltrade.

Osteoporose é a doença osteometabólica mais comum na população idosa. É definida como redução difusa da qualidade óssea que surge por um desbalanço entre a reabsorção e a formação óssea. Vários fatores etiológicos acontecem juntos levando à redução das proteínas ósseas, entre eles: deficiência hormonal, senilidade, subnutrição e imobilização. Um fator etiológico que, além dos processos de mutação, leva a alteração da estrutura do colágeno no processo de envelhecimento é o ageing, que se caracterizado por mudanças estruturais na matriz extracelular e virtualmente atinge todos os tecidos e sistemas orgânicos. Mudanças nas ligações cruzadas têm sido considerada como o papel principal do ageing e essas ocorrem através de 2 principais maneiras: a primeira é um processo enzimático pela ação da lisil oxidase e a segunda é um processo não-enzimático e recebe o nome de glicação. Essa última envolve reação da glicose com arginina (Arg) e lisina (Lys) sendo a principal causa de disfunção dos tecidos colágeno na idade avançada. No ageing há hidroxilação da lisina (Lys) levando modificação nas ligações cruzadas, o que gera uma estrutura de colágeno alterada. Além disso, a alteração em especial da arginina (Arg) afeta a crucial interação célula-matriz envolvendo motifs como o RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp), o que altera a mineralização e remodelagem óssea. Essas modificações envolvendo o intervalo 70-110 do período D do colágeno tipo I, que corresponde a interface overlap:gap tem uma séria repercussão, pois segundo o modelo de mineralização, qualquer variação de carga nesse local afeta a interação com a fosfoforina, uma proteína ácida que parece ser o gatilho para o processo de mineralização da dentina, e que também, de alguma forma, deve ocorrer no tecido ósseo. Assim, em um colágeno bioquimicamente modificado pelas reações do ageing leva, entre outras coisas, a uma alteração na mineralização, e essa alteração seria mais um fator a ser considerado no estudo da osteoporose. / Osteoporosis is the most commom osteometabolic disease in the elderly. It´s definied like difuse reduction of bone density that arouses from a delicate debalance between bone reabsorption and formation. Several etiologic factors happens together and they result in the reduction of bone proteins, like hormonal deficiency, senility, bad nutrition and imobilization. Another etiologic factor that causes the collagen struture modification in old age it\'s ageing, characterized for structure modification on extracelular matrix and virtually affect all tissue and organic system. Modification on cross-link have been considered like main reason of ageing and these modifications occur through two main ways: the first one is an enzimatic process for the lysil oxidase action and the second is a non-enzimatic process denominated glycation. The last process involve the glucose reaction with arginine (Arg) and lysine (Lys) being the main cause of the collagen tissue disfunction in advanced age. In ageing process there is a lysine (Lys) hidroxilation modification the cross-link what results a fragilized collagen structure. Besides, the special modification of arginine (Arg) affects the crucial interaction of the cell matrix involving motifs like RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp), around the interval 70-110 of period collagen type I, that corresponds to the interface overlap:gap has a serious repercussion, because according to the mineralization standard, which charge alteration in this place affects the interaction with phosphoforin an acid protein that seems to be the responsible of mineralization process. In this manners, in a biochemically modified collagen causes, among other things, to a mineralization alteration, and it has its consequences on osteoporosis.

Atresia de vias biliares (AVB) é uma hepatopatia colestática específica da criança, de etiologia desconhecida, com evolução para fibrose hepática precoce. AVB é a principal causa de cirrose na infância e principal indicação de transplante hepático pediátrico (Tx). Compreender os fatores envolvidos na progressão da fibrose é fundamental para estabelecer tratamentos efetivos nas hepatopatias crônicas. Identificar padrões histopatológicos associados ao prognóstico da AVB permitiria melhor planejamento dos centros de transplante e adequado aconselhamento familiar. OBJETIVO: Estabelecer padrões de marcadores histopatológicos e de imunofluorescência para colágenos em biópsias hepáticas iniciais e finais de pacientes com AVB submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico. Correlacionar esses marcadores com o prognóstico da doença, definido com base no tempo de evolução até realização do Tx. MÉTODO: Avaliação histológica de alterações biliares e fibrose hepática e histomorfometria da fibrose marcada por picrossírius e da deposição dos colágenos tipos I, III, IV e V marcados por imunofluorescência indireta (IF), em biópsias hepáticas iniciais e finais de 36 pacientes com AVB submetidos à hepatoportoenterostomia de Kasai (KPE) e ao Tx nos últimos 20 anos em nossa instituição. RESULTADOS: A mediana das idades de realização da KPE foi de 12,5 semanas (6-20) e do Tx foi de 27 meses (6-120). Reação ductular e malformação de placa ductal foram mais intensas nas biópsias iniciais (p < 0,05), enquanto fibrose hepática e ductopenia apresentaram padrão progressivo (p < 0,001), sem correlações com a idade de realização da KPE nem com o tempo de evolução até Tx. A morfometria da fibrose hepática marcada pelo picrossírius nas biópsias iniciais apresentou correlação positiva com a idade da KPE (p = 0,01), mas não com a idade do Tx (p = 0,24). A deposição perissinusoidal dos colágenos dos tipos III e V foi mais intensa nas biópsias iniciais (p < 0,01), enquanto os colágenos dos tipos I e IV apresentaram padrão de deposição progressiva (p < 0,01). Pacientes com maior deposição perissinusoidal de colágeno tipo I nas biópsias iniciais apresentaram curva de tempo de evolução até Tx sugerindo pior prognóstico (p = 0,04). CONCLUSÃO: Marcadores histopatológicos de alterações biliares, fibrose hepática e deposição de colágenos apresentaram características evolutivas distintas nas fases inicial e final da AVB, sem correlação com o tempo de evolução até Tx. A morfometria da deposição perissinusoidal de colágeno tipo I em biopsias iniciais marcadas por IF pode ser correlacionada ao tempo de evolução até Tx em pacientes com AVB operada / Biliary atresia (BA) is a specific cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology that affects children and progresses to early hepatic fibrosis. BA is the main indication of pediatric liver transplantation (LTx). Understanding the factors involved in the progress of fibrosis is essential to establish effective treatment to chronic liver disease. Histopathological markers in liver biopsies could be useful to predict progression to end stage disease and to make it possible to improve planning in transplantation centers and parental orientation. OBJECTIVE: To establish histopathological or immunohistochemical markers in initial or final liver biopsies of BA patients and correlate those markers with prognosis, as defined by progression time lapse until LTx. METHOD: Histological analysis of multiple parameters of biliary alterations and morphometrical assessment of liver fibrosis were performed, besides indirect immunofluorescence assays (IF) for type I, III, IV and V collagens in initial and final liver biopsies of 36 patients with BA submitted to Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy (KPE) and LTx in the last 20 years in a single center. RESULTS: The median of the ages at KPE was 12.5 weeks (6-20) and at LTx was 27 months (6-120). Ductular reaction and ductal plate malformation were more severe in the initial biopsies (p < 0.05), while ductopenia and liver fibrosis were more severe in final biopsies (p < 0.001), though without correlation with age at KPE nor with progression time lapse until LTx. Morphometrical assessment of liver fibrosis marked by picrosirius red in initial biopsies demonstrated positive correlation with age at KPE (p = 0.01) but not with age at LTx (p = 0.24). The perisinusoidal deposition of type III and V collagens was more extended in the initial biopsies (p < 0.01), while type I and IV collagens deposition indicated progression (p < 0.01). Patients with large amounts of perisinusoidal type I collagen in the initial biopsies had worse progression time curve until LTx (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Biliary alterations, liver fibrosis and collagens deposition demonstrated distinctive progression findings in the initial or final phases of the BA, without prognostic correlation. Morphometrical assessment of perisinusoidal deposition of type I collagen by IF in the initial biopsies can be correlated with progression time until LTx in patients with post-surgical BA

Abstract This study was undertaken to identify mechanisms of adhesion of intraocular lenses (IOLs) to the capsular bag after cataract surgery and IOL implantation. It was also done to challenge the sandwich theory presented for posterior capsular opacification (PCO): If the IOL is made of a bioactive material it would allow a single lens epithelial cell layer to bond both to the IOL and the posterior capsule at the same time. This would produce a sandwich pattern including the IOL, the cell monolayer and the posterior capsule. The sealed sandwich structure would prevent further epithelial ingrowth. The degree of bioactivity of the IOL could explain the basic difference in the incidence of PCO and capsulotomy rates with different IOL materials. The sandwich theory was put forward on the basis of a search for a keratoprosthesis material, which would allow maximal adhesion of the prosthesis to corneal tissue. Titanium and glass-ceramic coated titanium were found to develop better adhesion than poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The adhesion of PMMA to the corneal stromal tissue was loose, and down growth of corneal epithelial cells was seen around the prosthesis. The differences between various IOL materials were first tested with rabbit corneal tissue cultures. There was better adhesion of corneal tissue to soft, hydrophobic acrylate than to PMMA, heparin surface modified (HSM)-PMMA, silicone or hydrogel IOLs. To assess differences in protein adhesion to IOL surfaces, different IOLs were incubated for 24 hours with radioactive iodine labeled fibronectin. Soft hydrophobic acrylate (AcrySof®) showed the highest binding of fibronectin, and the differences relative to all the other materials were significant (p &lt; 0.01-0.001), except to PMMA (p = 0.31). The sandwich theory and the results with rabbit corneal tissue cultures and the protein adhesion study in vitro were evaluated against the results found in pseudophakic autopsy eyes. Altogether, 70 autopsy eyes were analyzed. From 38 autopsy eyes containing PMMA, silicone, soft hydrophobic acrylate or hydrogel IOLs histological sections were prepared from the capsular bag and immunohistochemical analyses were performed for fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin and collagen type IV. A total of 152 specimens were analyzed. From 32 autopsy eyes containing IOLs made of PMMA, silicone, acrylate or hydrogel, IOLs were explanted from the capsular bag and immunohistochemical analysis was done on both sides of the IOLs for fibronectin, vitronectin, laminin or collagen type IV. Soft hydrophobic acrylate IOLs had significantly more adhesion of fibronectin to their surfaces than PMMA or silicone IOLs. Also, more vitronectin was attached to acrylate IOLs than to the other IOL materials. Silicone IOLs had more collagen type IV adhesion in comparison to the other IOL materials studied. In histologic sections a sandwich-like structure (anterior or posterior capsule-fibronectin-one cell layer-fibronectin-IOL surface) was seen significantly more often in eyes with acrylate IOLs than in PMMA, silicone or hydrogel IOL eyes. These studies support the sandwich theory for posterior capsule opacification after cataract surgery with IOLs. The results suggest that fibronectin may be the major extracellular protein responsible for the attachment of acrylate IOLs to the capsular bag. This may represent a true bioactive bond between the IOL and the lens epithelial cells, and between the IOL and the capsular bag. This may explain the reason for clinical observations of less posterior capsular opacification and lower capsulotomy rates with the soft hydrophobic acrylate material of AcrySof® IOLs compared to the other IOL materials studied.

Abstract Collagen XVIII is a basement membrane proteoglycan, which has three variant N-termini. These variants are coded by two promoters; promoter 1 directs the synthesis of a short variant and promoter 2 directs the synthesis of two longer variants, of which the middle variant is generated from the longest by splicing. The longest variant contains a cysteine-rich domain in its N-terminus, which shows homology to the frizzled receptors of the Wnt molecules and can inhibit Wnt/beta-catenin signalling in vitro. The C-terminal domain of collagen XVIII, endostatin, is an inhibitor of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Lack of collagen XVIII accelerates cutanous wound healing and wound angiogenesis. Overexpression of endostatin leads to delayed wound healing and the presence of morphologically abnormal wound capillaries. Moreover, endostatin overexpression leads to delayed formation of the wound epidermal basement membrane and impaired maturation of hemidesmosomes. Endostatin treatment decreases osteoblast proliferation in vitro. Moreover, osteoblast proliferation and mineralization of the matrix by osteoblasts are inhibited when cells are treated with endostatin together with VEGF. In vivo, lack of collagen XVIII leads to delayed formation of secondary ossification centers in mouse femurs, whereas overexpression of endostatin leads to a slower growth of bone length. However, both of these changes are transient and mild, suggesting that collagen XVIII/endostatin is not essential for skeletal development. The growth of hair follicles is delayed in the mice overexpressing endostatin. This delay in growth is preceded by an impaired hair follicle associated angiogenesis. Lack of collagen XVIII causes an accelerated onset of the first hair cycle. A similar change can be seen in mice lacking the long variants of collagen XVIII. Lack of the short variant causes mild acceleration in the catagen of the first cycle, and anagen is also significantly accelerated in these mice. The long variants were located in the bulge region, which contains the hair follicle stem cells, and in the basement membrane surrounding the dermal papilla. As it is known that several Wnt-inhibitors are upregulated in the bulge, our results suggest that the longest variant of collagen XVIII may have a role as a regulator of Wnt-signalling in hair follicles.

Yes / There is a clinical need for novel graft materials for the repair of peripheral nerve defects. A decellularisation process has been developed for porcine peripheral nerves, yielding a material with potentially significant advantages over other devices currently being used clinically (such as autografts and nerve guidance conduits). Grafts derived from xenogeneic tissues should undergo sterilisation prior to clinical use. It has been reported that sterilisation methods may adversely affect the properties of decellularised tissues, and therefore potentially negatively impact on the ability to promote tissue regeneration. In this study, decellularised nerves were produced and sterilised by treatment with 0.1% (v/v) PAA, gamma radiation (25-28 kGy) or E Beam (33-37 kGy). The effect of sterilisation on the decellularised nerves was determined by cytotoxicity testing, histological staining, hydroxyproline assays, uniaxial tensile testing, antibody labelling for collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin in the basal lamina, and differential scanning calorimetry. This study concluded that decellularised nerves retained biocompatibility following sterilisation. However, sterilisation affected the mechanical properties (PAA, gamma radiation), endoneurial structure and basement membrane composition (PAA) of decellularised nerves. No such alterations were observed following E Beam treatment, suggesting that this method may be preferable for the sterilisation of decellularised porcine peripheral nerves.