In vitro cultures with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) have previously been shown to differentially modulate the growth of immature bovine articular cartilage. IGF-1 stimulates expansive growth yet decreases compressive moduli and increases compressive Poisson's ratios, whereas TGF-β1 maintains tissue size, increases compressive moduli, and decrea...

Recently, we demonstrated that mechanical stress results in rapid phosphorylation or activation of platelet-derived growth factor receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) followed by activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and AP-1 transcription factors (Hu, Y., Bock, G., Wick, G., and Xu, Q. (1998) FASEB J. 12, 1135-1142). Herein, we provide evidence that VSMC response...

BACKGROUND One of the main challenges in skin flap surgery is tissue ischemia and following necrosis. The present study compares the effects of fibroblast growth factors 1 and 2 on increasing cutaneous vasculature, improving ischemia, and preventing distal necrosis in ischemic skin flaps in rat model. METHODS Thirty rats were allocated into 3 groups (n=10) and 2×8 cm dorsal rando...

background: angiogenesis gene therapy has long been sought as a novel alternative treatment for restoring the blood flow and improving the contractile function of the ischemic heart in selected clinical settings. angiogenic fibroblast growth factor-1 (fgf-1) is a promising candidate for developing a promising gene therapy protocol due to its multipotent ability to stimulate endothelial cell (ec...

Two Latin square design experiments investigated the relationship between hydrogen sulphide concentration in the rumen headspace gas of dairy cows and the early stages of protein degradation in the rumen. In Expt 1, three protein sources differing in rumen N (nitrogen) degradability (maize gluten feed (MGF); sunflower meal (SFM); and soyabean meal (SBM)) were used, whereas in Expt 2 four differ...

INTRODUCTION: Mid-substance and avulsion ruptures of cruciate and collateral ligaments are common knee injuries that require surgical repair and can often lead to a series of complex biomechanical, microarchitectural and extracellular matrix compositional changes that can induce osteoarthritis in 50% or more of affected patients. Rehabilitation time, compromised quality of the dense fibrous con...

1. Abstract 2. Introduction 2.1. Clinical need for vascular tissue engineering 2.1.1.Cardiovascular disease 2.1.2. End stage renal disease 3.1.3. Need for a new graft material 2.2. Current issues in vascular tissue engineering 2.2.1. Cell source 2.2.2. Scaffolds 2.2.3. Mechanical stimulation 2.2.4. Biochemical stimulation 3. Cellular constituents for vascular tissue engineering 3.1. Terminally ...