Joseph L. Wagner

Hypothermic storage and cryopreservation of cartilage. An experimental study.

Osteochondral autografts of femoral condyles in dogs were frozen at different cooling velocities after exposure to either glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide to determine the freezing regimen best suited for preservation of intact cartilage. Autografts were also subjected to hypothermic storage in tissue culture media for ascertainment of how long they can be stored under these conditions. Autografts maintained in vitro under various conditions of storage were examined after transplantation. Autografts were chosen for this portion of the investigation in order to study the effects of storage uncomplicated by immunologic interactions. No differences were found between the cryoprotective actions of glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide. The freezing rate that produced the least damage in the cartilage was 2 degrees/min. Cartilage survived ten days of hypothermic storage in tissue culture medium. Allografts frozen by the standard method of glycerolization and cooling at 1 degree/min were also studied. These showed eventual loss of chondrocytes and conversion of hyaline cartilage to fibrocartilage.

Allogeneic uterus transplantation in baboons: surgical technique and challenges to long-term graft survival.

The authos declare no funding or conflicts of interest. Address correspondence to: James Fernandez, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland OH, 9500 Euclid Ave, A90, Cleveland, OH, 44195. E-mail: fernandezj2@ccf.org Received 21 May 2014. Accepted 22 May 2014. Copyright * 2014 by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins ISSN: 0041-1337/14/9805-e50 DOI: 10.1097/TP.0000000000000320

Effects of ketamine sedation on glucose clearance, insulin secretion and counterregulatory hormone production in baboons (Papio hamadryas)

Since the effects of ketamine sedation seem to differ between subspecies of baboons, we assessed the endocrine response to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) in 12 hamadryas baboons. The first phase insulin secretion, basal insulin, and glucose levels, as well as the glucose clearance, were significantly lower in sedated baboons as compared to fully awake animals. Glucagon and Cortisol were significantly higher, while growth hormone was lower during ketamine sedation. Papio hamadryas appears to be a promising pre‐clinical model for the study of endocrine replacement therapy in insulin‐dependent diabetes. However, the data obtained must be interpreted with the knowledge that the anesthetic employed to allow for testing of the animals does have an effect on the parameters described in this report.

Healing of fractures with freeze-dried cortical bone plates: comparison with compression plating

The healing of fractures of the radius with internal fixation by stainless-steel compression plates was compared with fractures fixed with freeze-dried bone-plate allografts. Fractures fixed with metallic plates gained slightly less than half the biomechanical strength of the contralateral control bone and healed without noticeable external callus formation. Bone-plated fractures regained three-fourths of the biomechanical strength of controls and healed by forming an external callus. Bone-plate allografts were eventually incorporated in the host bone. Allograft plates were vascularized and remodeled into cancellous bone in the process of incorporation in the host bones.

A refined technique for feeding newborn rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Nursery-reared infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) have a relatively high risk of aspiration pneumonia because they are typically fed using kitten bottles or syringes or by gavage. These feeding techniques also have the disadvantage of making it difficult to determine how much formula an infant actually consumes. To address these concerns, the authors developed a refined feeding device for infant macaques. Use of this device resulted in no cases of aspiration pneumonia or other feeding-related health complications. The authors conclude that the refined device is a safe and effective way to feed infant macaques.