published_or_final_version / abstract / Orthopaedics and Traumatology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Western Australia, 2004.

by Zhang Chun. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-197). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstract in Chinese and English.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) hold great promise for treatment of degenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The ability of ESCs to differentiate to all somatic cell types suggests that they may serve as a robust cell source for production of differentiated cells for regenerative medicine and other cell-based therapeutics. In order for ESCs to be used effectively in clinical settings, efficient and reproducible differentiation to targeted cell types must be demonstrated. The overall objective of this project was to engineer microenvironmental control over differentiating ESCs through the formation of embryoid bodies (EBs) uniform in size and shape, and through the incorporation of morphogen-containing polymer microspheres within the interior of EBs. The central hypothesis was that morphogen delivery through incorporated polymer microspheres within a uniform population of EBs will induce controlled and uniform differentiation of ESCs. Rotary suspension culture was developed in order to efficiently produce uniform EBs in high yield. Compared to static suspension culture, rotary suspension significantly improved the production of differentiating cells and EBs over the course of 7 days, while simultaneously improving the homogeneity of EB size and shape compared to both hanging drop and static EBs. The diffusive transport properties of EBs formed via rotary suspension were investigated using a fluorescent, cell permeable dye to model the movement of small morphogenic molecules within EBs. Confocal microscopy, cryosections and EB dissociation all demonstrated that the dye was not able to fully penetrate EB, and that the larger EBs at later time points (7 days) retarded dye movement to a greater extent than earlier EBs (days 2 and 4). Polymer microspheres capable of encapsulating morphogenic factors were incorporated into EBs in order to overcome the diffusional limitations of traditional soluble delivery. The size of microspheres, microsphere coating, microsphere to cell ratio, and rotary mixing speed were all observed to influence incorporation within EBs. The use of microsphere-mediated delivery within EBs to direct cell differentiation was examined. Microsphere-mediated delivery of retinoic acid (RA) induced formation of uniquely cystic spheroids with a visceral endoderm layer enveloping a pseudo-stratified columnar epithelium, and with spatial localization of transcriptional profiles similar to the early primitive streak stage of mouse development. Continued differentiation of RA MS EBs in defined media conditions was assessed. Gene expression demonstrated that regular serum enhanced endoderm induction, serum-free media supported ectoderm differentiation, while mesoderm was most prominent in untreated EBs in full serum. In summary, this work has realized a unique approach for stem cell differentiation through modification of the internal microenvironment of ESC spheroids. This novel inside-out method toward engineering EBs demonstrated that the mode of morphogen delivery significantly affected the course of differentiation. These studies provide the basis for ongoing work, which will utilize the choice of microsphere material, coating, and morphogen in order to uniquely study mechanisms of ESC differentiation and achieve unparalleled engineering of the EB microenvironment.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the elderly worldwide. Due to the inadequacy of current pharmacotherapies, novel molecular targets must be sought as potential therapeutic candidates. Furthermore, there is a need for more efficient and cost-effective animal models of this pathology in order to accelerate in vivo investigations. / Our laboratory is in possession of human choroidal neovascular membranes which we examined for expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. This expression was characterized in retinal pigment epithelial, vascular endothelial, and fibroblast cells and correlated with patient age. We also looked at the feasibility of creating a rabbit laser-injury model to adequately mimic human neovascular AMD. / Our results suggest that anti-COX-2 therapies may be beneficial to some patients with neovascular AMD. Moreover, there is strong potential for the development of clinically relevant choroidal neovascularization in rabbits using the laser-injury technique. This approach may yield a novel, cost-effective AMD model.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-07-19Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T18:01:12Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000735679_20140819.pdf: 19190 bytes, checksum: aaac2e72d601000e44e2887709dc91eb (MD5) Bitstreams deleted on 2014-08-22T14:57:09Z: 000735679.pdf,Bitstream added on 2014-08-22T15:02:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000735679.pdf: 1127906 bytes, checksum: 39d05c2b84cb87260be1e3e5ece89511 (MD5) / Estudo da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, no domínio do tempo, realizado em 48 cães de diferentes raças de pequeno a médio porte, com degeneração mixomatosa crônica da valva mitral, estadiados em classes de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC) proposta pela ISACHC. Os animais apresentaram sinais clínicos de: tosse, cansaço, dispneia no grupo classe 2, em ordem de prevalência. No exame eletrocardiográfico os cães perdem arritmia sinusal respiratória, passando para ritmo sinusal, junto podem apresentar: aumento da onda P em duração e amplitude, complexo QRS em duração e amplitude da onda R quando desenvolvem esta doença valvular e aumentam de classe. Os cães com DMVM em estádios de ICC moderados (classe 2) em comparação com estágios iniciais (classe 1a e classe 1b) da doença apresentaram maiores valores ecocardiográficos: relação AE/Ao, DIVEd/Ao, DIVEs/Ao, ESIVs/Ao, EPPVEd/Ao, EPPVEs/Ao, FE%,FEC%, PVE e PVA mitral. O presente estudo mostrou que a insuficiência cardíaca em cães com DMVM, tinha diminuído os valores de NN médio (NNm), SDNN, SDNNindex e pNN50%. Inferindo uma diminuição da participação do sistema nervoso parassimpático e um aumento da participação do sistema nervoso simpático. Além disso, foi observado um aumento da FC média e aumento número de complexos QRS (NQRS) que também são indicadores de maior participação do sistema simpático. Determinou-se um predomínio das arritmias ventriculares nos três grupos, com semelhante proporção das arritmias supraventricular no grupo clínico. As arritmias tanto ventriculares como as arritmias supraventriculares foram de caráter isolado nos grupos pré-clínicos e de caráter complexo no grupo clínico. As correlações obtidas no exame Holter foram correlação positiva entre: NNm v/s NQRS na classe 2, classe 1b e classe 1a (r= 0,978, r= 0,932, r= 0,962); NNm v/s pNN50% na classe 2 e classe ... / Study of heart rate variability in the time domain, performed in 48 dogs of different breeds of small to medium sized, with chronic myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, aged in heart failure classes (CHF) proposed by ISACHC. The animals showed clinical signs of: cough, fatigue, dyspnea group class 2, in order of prevalence. Electrocardiographic examination in dogs lose respiratory sinus arrhythmia, going to sinus rhythm, with display: increase in p wave duration and amplitude, QRS duration and in R wave amplitude when developing this valvular disease and increase class. Dogs with MMVD in stages of ICC moderate (class 2) compared with early stages (class 1a and class 1b) of the disease had higher echocardiographic values: Relations LA/Ao, DIVEd/Ao, DIVEs/Ao, ESIVs/Ao, EPPVEd/Ao, EPPVEs/Ao, FE%,FEC%, PVE e PVA mitral. The present study showed that heart failure in dogs with MMVD, had decreased values of NN medium (NNM), SDNN, SDNNindex and pNN50%. Implying a decrease in the participation of the parasympathetic nervous system and an increase in the participation of the sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, we observed an increase in mean HR and increased QRS complexes (NQRS) which are also indicators of increased participation of the sympathetic system. We determined the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in the three groups, with a similar proportion of supraventricular arrhythmias in the clinical group. Both ventricular arrhythmias and supraventricular arrhythmias were isolated character in the pre-clinical and complex character in the clinical group. Especially supraventricular arrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias may manifest themselves throughout the progression of the disease, initial ventricular arrhythmias, with further increase supraventricular arrhythmias as a consequence of atrial dilation. The correlations obtained in Holter examination were, positive correlation ...

Orientador: Aparecido Antonio Camacho / Banca: Marlos Gonçalves Sousa / Banca: Tatiana Champion / Resumo: Estudo da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, no domínio do tempo, realizado em 48 cães de diferentes raças de pequeno a médio porte, com degeneração mixomatosa crônica da valva mitral, estadiados em classes de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC) proposta pela ISACHC. Os animais apresentaram sinais clínicos de: tosse, cansaço, dispneia no grupo classe 2, em ordem de prevalência. No exame eletrocardiográfico os cães perdem arritmia sinusal respiratória, passando para ritmo sinusal, junto podem apresentar: aumento da onda P em duração e amplitude, complexo QRS em duração e amplitude da onda R quando desenvolvem esta doença valvular e aumentam de classe. Os cães com DMVM em estádios de ICC moderados (classe 2) em comparação com estágios iniciais (classe 1a e classe 1b) da doença apresentaram maiores valores ecocardiográficos: relação AE/Ao, DIVEd/Ao, DIVEs/Ao, ESIVs/Ao, EPPVEd/Ao, EPPVEs/Ao, FE%,FEC%, PVE e PVA mitral. O presente estudo mostrou que a insuficiência cardíaca em cães com DMVM, tinha diminuído os valores de NN médio (NNm), SDNN, SDNNindex e pNN50%. Inferindo uma diminuição da participação do sistema nervoso parassimpático e um aumento da participação do sistema nervoso simpático. Além disso, foi observado um aumento da FC média e aumento número de complexos QRS (NQRS) que também são indicadores de maior participação do sistema simpático. Determinou-se um predomínio das arritmias ventriculares nos três grupos, com semelhante proporção das arritmias supraventricular no grupo clínico. As arritmias tanto ventriculares como as arritmias supraventriculares foram de caráter isolado nos grupos pré-clínicos e de caráter complexo no grupo clínico. As correlações obtidas no exame Holter foram correlação positiva entre: NNm v/s NQRS na classe 2, classe 1b e classe 1a (r= 0,978, r= 0,932, r= 0,962); NNm v/s pNN50% na classe 2 e classe ... / Abstract: Study of heart rate variability in the time domain, performed in 48 dogs of different breeds of small to medium sized, with chronic myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve, aged in heart failure classes (CHF) proposed by ISACHC. The animals showed clinical signs of: cough, fatigue, dyspnea group class 2, in order of prevalence. Electrocardiographic examination in dogs lose respiratory sinus arrhythmia, going to sinus rhythm, with display: increase in p wave duration and amplitude, QRS duration and in R wave amplitude when developing this valvular disease and increase class. Dogs with MMVD in stages of ICC moderate (class 2) compared with early stages (class 1a and class 1b) of the disease had higher echocardiographic values: Relations LA/Ao, DIVEd/Ao, DIVEs/Ao, ESIVs/Ao, EPPVEd/Ao, EPPVEs/Ao, FE%,FEC%, PVE e PVA mitral. The present study showed that heart failure in dogs with MMVD, had decreased values of NN medium (NNM), SDNN, SDNNindex and pNN50%. Implying a decrease in the participation of the parasympathetic nervous system and an increase in the participation of the sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, we observed an increase in mean HR and increased QRS complexes (NQRS) which are also indicators of increased participation of the sympathetic system. We determined the prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias in the three groups, with a similar proportion of supraventricular arrhythmias in the clinical group. Both ventricular arrhythmias and supraventricular arrhythmias were isolated character in the pre-clinical and complex character in the clinical group. Especially supraventricular arrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias may manifest themselves throughout the progression of the disease, initial ventricular arrhythmias, with further increase supraventricular arrhythmias as a consequence of atrial dilation. The correlations obtained in Holter examination were, positive correlation ... / Mestre

No description available.

Stem and progenitor cells are an attractive cell source for the treatment of degenerative diseases due to their potential to differentiate into multiple cell types and provide large cell yields. Thus far, however, clinical applications have been limited due to inefficient differentiation into desired cell types with sufficient yields for adequate tissue repair and regeneration. The ability to spontaneously aggregate in suspension makes embryonic stem cells (ESCs) amenable to large-scale culture techniques for the production of large yields of differentiating cell spheroids (termed embryoid bodies or EBs); however, the introduction of hydrodynamic conditions may alter differentiation profiles within EBs and should be methodically examined. The work presented here employs a novel, laboratory-scale hydrodynamic culture model to systematically interrogate the effects of ESC culture hydrodynamics on cardiomyocyte differentiation through the modulation of a developmentally-relevant signaling pathway. The fluidic environment was defined using computational fluid dynamic modeling, and the effects of hydrodynamic conditions on EB formation, morphology and structure were assessed. Additionally, EB differentiation was examined through gene and protein expression, and indicated that hydrodynamic conditions modulate differentiation patterns, particularly cardiogenic lineage development. This work illustrates that mixing conditions can modulate common signaling pathways active in ESC differentiation and suggests that differentiation may be regulated via bioprocessing parameters and bioreactor design.