BACKGROUND:Serum protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular secreted glycoprotein that performs several cellular functions and has been implicated in tumorigenesis in a variety of tumor types. The chemotherapeutic agent nanoparticle albumin-encapsulated (NAB)-paclitaxel has been postulated to exploit SPARC expression to target neoplastic cells. SPARC's role, and potentially the role of NAB-paclitaxel, in the highly heterogeneous class of soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) has not been investigated. Our objective was to explore the pattern of SPARC expression and its prognostic significance in STS.METHODS:27 tissue specimens representing various STS histologies were stained for SPARC expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Staining intensity was scored blindly. Survival was determined from patients' medical records and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank with respect to SPARC expression level.RESULTS:Elevated SPARC expression was observed in 15/27 (56%) specimens. Overall patient survival segregated strongly based on levels of SPARC expression. Patients who expressed low-to-moderate levels of SPARC exhibited median survival of 22.1months, while the median survival of patients with moderate-to-high expression levels was 4.4months (log rank / p=0.0016).CONCLUSIONS:SPARC expression is elevated in a significant proportion of STS specimens analyzed in this study, but it does not appear to correlate with specific STS histologies. Given our limited sample size, we cannot draw definitive conclusions regarding association of SPARC with STS subtype. Overall survival segregates strongly by degree of SPARC expression, with elevated expression being adverse. If validated in a larger study, our results suggest that trials in STS with agents potentially targeting SPARC, such as NAB-paclitaxel, should be stratified by SPARC expression level.

Digital Image Elasto Tomography (DIET) is a non-invasive elastographic breast cancer screening technology, relying on image-based measurement of surface vibrations induced on a breast by mechanical actuation. Knowledge of frequency response characteristics of a breast prior to imaging is critical to maximize the imaging signal and diagnostic capability of the system. A non-invasive image based modal analysis system that is designed to be able to robustly and rapidly identify resonant frequencies in soft tissue is presented in this thesis. A feasibility analysis reveals that three images per oscillation cycle are sufficient to capture the relative motion behavior at a given frequency. Moreover, the analysis suggests that 2D motion analysis is able to give an accurate estimation of the response at a particular frequency. Thus, a sweep over critical frequency ranges can be performed prior to imaging to determine critical imaging settings of the DIET system to maximize diagnositc performance. Based on feasibility simulations, a modal analysis system is presented that is based on the existing DIET digital imaging system. A frequency spectrum plot that comprises responses gathered from more than 30 different frequencies can be obtained in about 6 minutes. Preliminary results obtained from both phantom and human trials indicate that distinctive resonant frequencies can be obtained with the modal analysis system. Due to inhomogeneous properties of human breast tissues, different imaging location appear to pick up different resonances. However, there has been very limited clinical data for validating such behavior. Overall, a modal analysis system for soft tissue has been developed in this thesis. The system was first evaluated in simulation, then implemented in hardware and software, and finally successfully validated in silicone phantoms as well as human breasts.

The skeletal and dental changes associated with rapid maxillary expansion (RME) are well documented. Effects on the soft tissues and the potential impact on facial esthetics have not been well researched. The purpose of this study was to evaluate immediate changes in facial soft tissues as a result of RME by comparing threedimensional digital photogrammetric images before and after RME treatment. The 3dMDface System was used to obtain photographic images of 21 patients (mean age = 11.8 years) before and after RME treatment for transverse maxillary deficiency. A control group of 13 patients (mean age = 12.7 years) also had two images taken at a similar time interval. Mean expansion was 6.5 mm in the RME patients. Intercanthal distance, nose width, and intercommissural width changed significantly in the RME patients from T0 to T1 (P = 0.011, P = 0.050, and P = 0.003, respectively). Intercommissural width, however, was the only measure that significantly changed as compared with the control group (P = 0.041). Changes in intercanthal distance and nose width were significantly related to the amount of expansion achieved (R2 = 0.428, P = 0.0013 and R2 = 0.501, P = 0.0003, respectively).

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of facial convexity on the perception of social attributes in a young adult population. Nine models were asked to pose for a 3 dimensional photograph that was then modified to represent ideal, retrognathic, and prognathic facial convexity angles. Survey evaluators were shown digital videos of models with ideal and non-ideal profiles and asked to rate their perception of the following 4 social attributes: intelligence, athleticism, popularity, and leadership ability using a visual analog scale. Results gathered from 271 evaluators showed that the model images with ideal facial convexity angles were rated higher on average than the same model images with retrognathic and prognathic profiles. The differences in ratings between ideal and non-ideal profiles were significant for intelligence (P = 0.0009), athleticism (P = 0.0002), and leadership ability (P = 0.0008). Differences in perceived popularity (P = 0.2169) showed no significant differences among facial convexities.

Timely reperfusion after a myocardial infarction is necessary to salvage the ischemic region; however, reperfusion itself is a major contributor to the final tissue damage. Currently, there is no clinically relevant therapy available to reduce ischemia-reperfusion injury. While many drugs have shown promise in reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury in preclinical studies, none of these drugs have demonstrated benefit in large clinical trials. Part of the failure to translate therapies can be attributed to the reliance on small animal models for preclinical studies. While animal models encapsulate the complexity of the systemic in vivo environment, they do not fully recapitulate human cardiac physiology. In this thesis, we utilized cardiac tissue engineering methods in conjunction with cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, to establish a biomimetic human tissue-engineered model of ischemia-reperfusion injury. The resulting cardiac constructs were subjected to simulated ischemia or ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro. We demonstrated that the presence of reperfusion injury can be detected and distinguished from ischemic injury. Furthermore, we demonstrated that we were able to detect changes in reperfusion injury in our model following ischemic preconditioning, modification of reperfusion conditions, and addition of cardioprotective therapeutics. This work establishes the utility of the human tissue model in studying ischemia-reperfusion injury and the potential of the human tissue platform to help translate therapeutic strategies into the clinical setting.

Lam Yuk Lan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-167). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.v / PUBLICATIONS --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ix / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xiii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.xiv / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xvi / Chapter Section 1: --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Cell-free circulating DNA --- p.1 / DNA and Man --- p.2 / Cell-free Circulating DNA in Plasma and Serum --- p.4 / The Discovery and Early Development --- p.4 / Clinical Implications --- p.5 / Cancers --- p.5 / Prenatal diagnosis --- p.11 / Pregnancy abnormalities --- p.14 / Organ transplantation --- p.15 / Trauma and post-traumatic complications --- p.15 / "Origin, Mechanisms and Characteristics" --- p.16 / Methods of Analysis --- p.22 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Trauma and Organ Failure --- p.25 / Trauma and Society --- p.25 / The Problem of Organ Failure --- p.26 / Definitions --- p.27 / Pathogenesis --- p.228 / Inflammation --- p.29 / Predictions --- p.30 / Trauma Scoring Systems --- p.31 / Abbreviated Injury Scale --- p.32 / Injury Severity Score --- p.32 / Other scoring systems --- p.33 / Definition of Trauma --- p.33 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Stroke --- p.35 / The Burden of Stroke --- p.35 / What is a Stroke ？ --- p.36 / The Causes --- p.40 / Pathophysiology --- p.41 / Diagnosis and Tests --- p.42 / Assessments and prognosis --- p.44 / Biochemical Markers --- p.47 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Aims of the study --- p.48 / Chapter Section 2: --- Materials and Methods --- p.50 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Methods of analysis on cell-free circulating DNA --- p.51 / Materials --- p.51 / DNA Extraction from the Plasma Samples --- p.51 / Real-time Quantitative PCR --- p.52 / Methods --- p.54 / DNA Extraction from the Plasma Samples --- p.54 / Real-time Quantitative PCR --- p.56 / Principle --- p.56 / The β-globin TaqMan Assay --- p.59 / Calibration of the β-globin TaqMan System --- p.62 / Contamination Control --- p.64 / Chapter Section 3: --- Cell-free circulating DNA after trauma --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Cell-free circulating DNA concentration as a prognostic marker in patients after trauma --- p.66 / Introduction --- p.66 / Methods --- p.68 / Results --- p.71 / Discussion --- p.84 / Chapter Chapter 7: --- Temporal changes of cell-free circulating DNA after trauma --- p.89 / Introduction --- p.89 / Methods --- p.90 / Results --- p.92 / Discussion --- p.106 / Chapter Section 4: --- Cell-free circulating DNA concentration after stroke --- p.109 / Chapter Chapter 8: --- Cell-free circulating DNA concentration in patients with stroke --- p.110 / Introduction --- p.110 / Methods --- p.111 / Results --- p.115 / Discussion --- p.129 / Chapter Chapter 9: --- Daily changes of cell-free circulating DNA concentration after stroke --- p.132 / Introduction --- p.132 / Methods --- p.132 / Results --- p.133 / Discussion --- p.137 / Chapter Section 5: --- Conclusion and future perspectives --- p.139 / Chapter Chapter 10: --- Conclusion and Future Perspectives --- p.140 / Conclusion --- p.140 / Future perspectives --- p.145 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.147 / APPENDIX 1: Goriśةmultiple organ failure score --- p.168 / "APPENDIX 2: Definitions and criteria for ARDS, ALI and MODS" --- p.170 / APPENDIX 3: Computed axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging --- p.172 / APPENDIX 4: Glasgow Coma Scale --- p.173 / APPENDIX 5: Post-Stroke Modified Rankin Scale --- p.174

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 161-175).

Αναπτύχθηκε διάταξη μέτρησης μηχανικών ιδιοτήτων μαλακών ιστών κυλινδρικού σχήματος. Η διάταξη αποτελείται από: 1. Υδατόλουτρο μέσα στο οποίο ανάρτάται ο μαλακός ιστός. 2. Συσκευή μεταβολής της πίεσης στο εσωτερικό του αυλού του ιστού. 3. Αισθητήρες πίεσης στον αυλό, μηχανικής τάσης στα άκρα και μέτρησης διαμέτρου του ιστού. 4. Πρόγραμμα ελέγχου της διάταξης και διεξαγωγής πειραμάτων σε περιβάλλον LabView. 5. Συλλογή προγραμμάτων επεξεργασίας των μετρήσεων στο περιβάλλον Origin. / A device for the measurement of the mechanical properties of tubular soft tissue was developed. The device is composed of: 1. A bath within which the tissue is fixed. 2. Syringe pump to control the pressure inside the lumen of the tissue. 3. Lumen pressure sensor, axial force sensor and tissue diameter meter. 4. Program for the control of the device and the execution of experiments created in LabView. 5. Colection of programs to process the data within the Origin environment.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D. in Biomedical Engineering)--Vanderbilt University, Aug. 2002. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.