183 results about "Epitheliocyte" patented technology

The invention provides implants suitable for use as an artificial cornea, and methods for making and using such implants. Artificial corneas having features of the invention may be two-phase artificial corneas, or may be three phase artificial corneas. These artificial corneas have a flexible, optically clear central core and a hydrophilic, porous skirt, both of which are biocompatible and allow for tissue integration. A three-phase artificial cornea will further have an interface region between the core and skirt. The artificial corneas have a high degree of ocular tolerance, and allow for tissue integration into the skirt and for epithelial cell growth over the surface of the prosthesis. The use of biocompatible material avoids the risk of disease transmission inherent with corneal transplants, and acts to minimize post-operative inflammation and so to reduce the chance or severity of tissue necrosis following implantation of the synthetic cornea onto a host eye.

A corneal appliance that is placed over an eye has a lens body and epithelial cells secured over the lens body. The epithelial cells of the appliance may be derived from cultured cells, including stem cells, such as limbal stem cells, or epithelial cell lines, or may include at least a portion of the epithelium of the eye on which the appliance is placed. The corneal appliance may have a cellular attachment element between the lens body and the epithelial cells to facilitate attachment of the epithelial cells over the lens body. The corneal appliance is intended to be used on a deepithelialized eye, which may be an eye that has had the epithelium fully or partially removed. The corneal appliance may be used to improve vision. Methods of producing the corneal appliance and of improving vision are also disclosed.

A cultured skin and a grafting cultured skin sheet are provided, each of which is a cultured reconstructive skin with a high take rate using cells collectable from cells originated from tissue included in an umbilical cord such as tissue included in an umbilical cord originated from a human fetus. The grafting cultured skin stratified sheet is prepared by placing an epithelium sheet on the top surface of a cultured dermis. The cultured dermis includes as components a cultured skin containing cells originated from a tissue included in an umbilical cord, such as umbilical cells, more concretely, umbilical fibroblast cells, being separated and cultured, preferably in a collagen nonwoven fabric. On the other hand, the epithelium sheet is prepared by culturing and stratifying the umbilical cord epithelium cells.

Methods and systems are provided that use clinical information, molecular information and computer-generated morphometric information in a predictive model for predicting the occurrence (e.g., recurrence) of a medical condition, for example, cancer. In an embodiment, a model that predicts prostate cancer recurrence is provided, where the model is based on features including seminal vesicle involvement, surgical margin involvement, lymph node status, androgen receptor (AR) staining index of tumor, a morphometric measurement of epithelial nuclei, and at least one morphometric measurement of stroma. In another embodiment, a model that predicts clinical failure post prostatectomy is provided, wherein the model is based on features including biopsy Gleason score, lymph node involvement, prostatectomy Gleason score, a morphometric measurement of epithelial cytoplasm, a morphometric measurement of epithelial nuclei, a morphometric measurement of stroma, and intensity of androgen receptor (AR) in racemase (AMACR)-positive epithelial cells.

Novel ultrasound methods comprising administering to a patient a targeted vesicle composition which comprises vesicles comprising a lipid, protein or polymer, encapsulating a gas, in combination with a targeting ligand, and scanning the patient using ultrasound. The scanning may comprise exposing the patient to a first type of ultrasound energy and then interrogating the patient using a second type of ultrasound energy. The targeting ligand preferably targets tissues, cells or receptors, including myocardial cells, endothelial cells, epithelial cells, tumor cells and the glycoprotein GPIIbIIIa receptor. The methods may be used to detect a thrombus, enhancement of an old or echogenic thrombus, low concentrations of vesicles and vesicles targeted to tissues, cells or receptors.

The invention generally provides compositions and methods for promoting and enhancing wound closure and healing. Specifically, the invention provides a biologic composition which comprises a support layer which serves as transport scaffold, for example made of gelatin, which is coated or impregnated with a bio-adhesive molecule such as rose bengal or glyceraldehyde. The composition can also comprise an artificial or biological matrix, optionally processed (i.e. cleaned and coated with extracellular matrix proteins) to enhance cell attachment and survival. The composition can further comprise a monolayer of epithelial, endothelial cells or mesenchymal cells. The invention provides methods for using the compositions for treating wounds due to disease, trauma or surgery. Specific methods for treating ocular wounds are provided.

A cancer test having prognostic utility in predicting time to disease progression, overall survival, and response to therapy in patients with MBC based upon the presence and number of CTC's. The Cell Spotter® System is used to enumerate CTC's in blood. The system immunomagnetically concentrates epithelial cells, fluorescently labels the cells and identifies and quantifies CTC's. The absolute number of CTC's detected in the peripheral blood tumor load is, in part, a factor in prediction of survival, time to progression, and response to therapy. The mean time to survival of patients depended upon a threshold number of 5 CTC's per 7.5 ml of blood. Detection of CTC's in metastatic cancer represents a novel prognostic factor in patients with metastatic cancers, suggests a biological role for the presence of tumor cells in the blood, and indicates that the detection of CTC's could be considered an appropriate surrogate marker for prospective therapeutic clinical trials.

Methods and systems are provided for determining a condition of an organ, or epithelial or stromal tissue, for example in the human breast. The methods incorporate sonophoresis, the application of ultrasonic energy, in order to condition tissue for testing and enhance test measurements. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure surface and transepithelial electropotential and impedance of breast tissue at one or more locations and at several frequencies, particularly very low frequencies. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. Pressure, drugs and other agents can optionally be applied for enhanced diagnosis. Tissue condition is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

A method of isolating epithelial cells from a human skin tissue or internal organ tissue using trypsin and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) simultaneously with the application of magnetic stirring, a method of preconditioning isolated biological cells by the application of physical stimulus, i.e., strain, are provided. Epithelial cells can be isolated by the method with increased yield, colony forming efficiency (CFE), and colony size. Also, the increased percentage of stem cells in isolated cells is advantageous in therapeutic tissue implantation by autologous or allogeneic transplantation. In skin cells preconditioned by the application of strain, cell division is facilitated, and the secretion of extracellular matrix components and growth factors and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are improved. When preconditioned cells are implanted by autologous or allogeneic transplantation to heal a damaged tissue, the improved cell adhesion, mobility, and viability provides a biological adjustment effect against a variety of stresses or physical stimuli which the cells would undergo after implantation, with improved capability of integration into host tissue, thereby markedly improving the probability of success in skin grafting.

The present invention relates to methods of modulating epithelial stem cell lineage by regulating the expression of Lef1 or a BMP inhibitor and / or the stability of β-catenin or the expression of a Wnt; regulating the expression or activity of GATA-3; or regulating BMPR1A activity either at the level of receptor expression or at the level of pathway activation. Methods of regulating E-cadherin, GATA-3, BMPR1A and HK1-hair keratin and methods of identifying agents which modulate the epithelial stem cell lineage are further provided. Such agents are useful for inhibiting or stimulating inner root sheath development or hair follicle formation.

This relates to a lens made of donor corneal tissue suitable for use as a contact lens or an implanted lens, to a method of preparing that lens, and to a technique of placing the lens on the eye. The lens is made of donor corneal tissue that is acellularized by removing native epithelium and keratocytes. These cells optionally are replaced with human epithelium and keratocytes to form a lens that has a structural anatomy similar to human cornea. The ocular lens may be used to correct conditions such as astigmatism, myopia, aphakia, and presbyopia.

A method and system for determining a condition of a selected region of epithelial and stromal tissue, for example in the human breast. A plurality of electrodes are used to measure surface and transepithelial electropotential of breast tissue as well as surface electropotential and impedance at one or more locations and at several defined frequencies, particularly very low frequencies. An agent may be introduced into the region of tissue to enhance electrophysiological characteristics. Measurements made at ambient and varying suction and / or positive pressure applied to the epithelial tissue and / or positive pressure conditions applied to the breast are also used as a diagnostic tool. Tissue condition is determined based on the electropotential and impedance profile at different depths of the epithelium, stroma, tissue, or organ, together with an estimate of the functional changes in the epithelium due to altered ion transport and electrophysiological properties of the tissue. Devices for practicing the disclosed methods are also provided.

The present invention provides an artificial corneal implant having an optically clear central core and a porous, hydrophilic, biocompatible skirt peripheral to the central core. In one embodiment, the central core is made of an interpenetrating double network hydrogel and the skirt is made of poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA). In another embodiment, both the central core and the skirt are made of interpenetrating double network hydrogels. The artificial corneal implant may also have an interdiffusion zone in which the skirt component is interpenetrated with the core component, or vice versa. In a preferred embodiment, biomolecules are linked to the skirt, central core or both. These biomolecules may be any type of biomolecule, but are preferably biomolecules that support epithelial and / or fibroblast cell survival and growth. Preferably, the biomolecules are linked in a spatially selective manner. The present invention also provides a method of making an artificial corneal implant using photolithography.

This invention provides pharmaceutical compositions containing lipoxin compounds and therapeutic uses for the compounds in treating or preventing a disease or condition associated with columnar epithelial inflammation. The invention also discloses methods for screening for compounds useful in preventing columnar epithelial inflammation.

The present invention comprises artificial tissue constructs that serve as in vitro models of mammalian lung tissue. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise functionally equivalent in vitro tissue scaffolds that enable immunophysiological function of the lung. The constructs can serve as novel platforms for the study of lung diseases (e.g., interstitial lung diseases, fibrosis, influenza, RSV) as well as smoke- and smoking-related diseases. The artificial tissue constructs of the present invention comprise the two components of alveolar tissue, epithelial and endothelial cell layers.

The present invention discloses a kind of artificial tissue engineering biological cornea. The present invention utilizes homogeneous and xenogenous or heterogeneous cornea substrate as carrier, which may be preprocessed, and plants and cultures cells on it to constitute engineering biological cornea. The cornea constituted with the carrier has very low immunogenicity, unchanged thickness and diopter after transplantation, grown autogenous nerve, mostly restored cornea aesthesia, firmly adhered epithelium and normal connection between the cells and between the cell and the substrate membrane.

The invention provides an intelligent identification method for epithelial cells in a leucorrhea microscopic image. The method comprises the step that an image is photographed by a microscope; image processing is carried out, wherein the step of image processing comprises the steps of gray processing, binarization processing, morphological processing, filling and etching; communication area marking is carried out on the acquired image; the minimum value of the length and the width of the circumscribed rectangle of communication areas is greater than 85, and the maximum value is greater than 130 in communication areas are kept as the areas of suspected epithelial cells, wherein the area of the communication areas is greater than 4600 and the circumference is greater than 550; image processing is carried out on the suspected areas again; the eigenvalue of the maximum communication area is calculated and is compared with the eigenvalue of the epithelial cells; a BP neural network is input into a reserved area conforming to features; and epithelial cells are judged. According to the invention, a detection result can be accurately and quickly acquired; the influence of low efficiency and low precision of manual operation is eliminated; and the method has an important academic value and broad prospects for creating considerable social and economic benefits.

The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

A method for measuring of histamine in an epidermis comprising applying an adhesive article to an epithelium of a mammal; allowing for adherence of epithelial cells to the adhesive article; removing the adhesive article from the epithelium of the mammal; preparing the adhesive article using standard laboratory methods for extraction; extracting histamine from the epithelial cells adhered to said adhesive article; measuring histamine from the epithelial cells adhered to said adhesive article; determining the amount of histamine in the epithelial cells as compared to a baseline sample. Further, a method of objectively measuring the perception of itch in mammals and wherein there is a reduction in histamine from a baseline level which is directly proportional to a reduction in an itch perception.

A method of isolating epithelial cells from a human skin tissue or internal organ tissue using trypsin and ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) simultaneously with the application of magnetic stirring, a method of preconditioning isolated biological cells by the application of physical stimulus, i.e., strain, are provided. Epithelial cells can be isolated by the method with increased yield, colony forming efficiency (CFE), and colony size. Also, the increased percentage of stem cells in isolated cells is advantageous in therapeutic tissue implantation by autologous or allogeneic transplantation. In skin cells preconditioned by the application of strain, cell division is facilitated, and the secretion of extracellular matrix components and growth factors and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are improved. When preconditioned cells are implanted by autologous or allogeneic transplantation to heal a damaged tissue, the improved cell adhesion, mobility, and viability provides a biological adjustment effect against a variety of stresses or physical stimuli which the cells would undergo after implantation, with improved capability of integration into host tissue, thereby markedly improving the probability of success in skin grafting.

Methods and devices are disclosed for selective delivery of therapeutic substances to specific histologic or microanatomic areas of organs. Introduction of the therapeutic substance into a hollow organ space (such as an hepatobiliary duct or the gallbladder lumen) at a controlled pressure, volume or rate allows the substance to reach a predetermined cellular layer (such as the ephithelium or sub-epithelial space). The volume or flow rate of the substance can be controlled so that the intralumenal pressure reaches a predetermined threshold level beyond which subsequent subepithelial delivery of the substance occurs. Alternatively, a lower pressure is selected that does not exceed the threshold level, so that delivery occurs substantially only to the epithelial layer. Such site specific delivery of therapeutic agents permits localized delivery of substances (for example to the interstitial tissue of an organ) in concentrations that may otherwise produce systemic toxicity. Occlusion of venous or lymphatic drainage from the organ can also help prevent systemic administration of therapeutic substances, and increase selective delivery to superficial epithelial cellular layers. Delivery of genetic vectors can also be better targeted to cells where gene expression is desired. The access device comprises a cannula with a wall piercing tracar within the lumen. Two axially spaced inflatable balloons engage the wall securing the cannula and sealing the puncture site. A catheter equipped with an occlusion balloon is guided through the cannula to the location where the therapeutic substance is to be delivered.

The invention discloses a decellularized heterogeneous corneal stromal carrier and its preparation method and application. The carrier is an animal lamellar cornea from which epithelial cells and stromal cells have been removed through hypertonic solution combined with enzyme digestion. The preparation method of the carrier is as follows: firstly, take Fresh animal eyeballs are aseptically operated under an operating microscope, and the lamellar cornea with a thickness of 150 μm to 400 μm is drilled with a graduated trephine drill with a diameter of 5 mm to 12 mm, and then removed under the combined action of hypertonic solution and trypsin / pancreatin substitute The cells are finally dehydrated and dried to obtain the decellularized heterogeneous corneal stroma carrier, which is stored for future use. The decellularized heterogeneous corneal stroma carrier can be used as a corneal transplant donor to directly perform therapeutic corneal transplantation, and can also be used as an artificial biological corneal scaffold to construct a full-layer or lamellar artificial biological cornea. The decellularized heterogeneous corneal stroma carrier prepared by the invention has the following characteristics: the collagen is neatly arranged, similar to normal corneal tissue, and has good transparency after rehydration.

The invention relates to a preparation method of tissue engineering skin containing appendant organs. In the invention, the preparation method comprises the following steps of: inoculating amniotic mesenchyme stem cells, amniotic mesenchyme stem cells induced to the directions of hair papillae, amniotic epithelial cells and amniotic epithelial cells induced to the directions of the epithelia of the sweat gland into a gel solution, then inoculating the amniotic epithelial cells and the amniotic epithelial cells induced by keratinocyte in a warp direction on the surface of a structure of the hair follicle and the sweat gland after culturing by a dermal layer by induced culture forming the structure of the hair follicle and the sweat gland, and obtaining the tissue engineering skin with the structure of the hair follicle and the sweat gland after culturing. The skin has elasticity, toughness, vigorous cellular metabolism, strong multiplication capacity, sufficient secretion of extracellular matrices, tight linkage of the cuticular layer, the inophragma and the cells of the dermal layer and little possibility of falling off, enhances the success rate of transplantation, can promote the healing of a wound surface, enhances the effects of restoration and replacement and has the function of regulating the immunological rejection of a receptor; by the contained structure of the hair follicle and the sweat gland, the function of the skin is more complete; the adopted amniotic tissues are postpartum wastes and have extensive source, strong cell multiplication capability and multiplepassage frequency; and the invention is beneficial to the mass production of seed cells and lowers the industrialization cost.

The invention relates to the generation of inner ear sensory epithelial cells through the manipulation of the expression level or function of the genes and / or proteins involved in the retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway, particularly retinoblastoma family members, such as Rb1. Methods for generating inner ear sensory epithelial cells and for restoring hearing or balance in a subject, therefore, are provided. The invention further relates to cell lines of inner ear sensory epithelial cells, such as progenitor, supporting or hair cells, where the expression level or function of the retinoblastoma genes and / or retinoblastoma proteins has been manipulated. In addition to these methods, compositions of agents for use in or the cells produced by such methods provided are also included. Finally, the invention also relates to methods and compositions for the generation of inner ear sensory epithelial cells through the manipulation of Isl-1 alone or in combination with the manipulation of retinoblastoma gene and / or retinoblastoma protein.

The invention discloses a placenta stem cell bank construction method and a placenta tissue resuscitation method, and relates to placenta stem cell bank construction methods. The placenta stem cell bank construction method comprises the following steps: after non-bacterial cleaning treatment to placenta tissues of at least three parts, the steps of tissue peeling, further sterilizing, shearing to be thin, protecting using a refrigerant, programmed freezing, cryogenic temperature temporary storage, long term storage with nitrogen canisters, and the like are carried out, and the placenta tissue with biological activities can be preserved for a long term. The placenta tissue preserved through the method can be used for the construction of a stem cell bank, resuscitation, enzymic digestion, cultivation, expansion, quality inspection and the like are performed after selective tissue part resuscitation according to required cell types, so as to obtain placenta amniotic membrance epithelial cells, placenta amniotic membrance mesenchyme, placenta chorion mesenchymal stem cell, placenta decidua serotina mesenchymal stem cells and the like. The method provided by the invention has the advantages that operation steps are simplified, manual intervention errors are reduced, the efficiency is improved, more stem cell resources are preserved, and a basis is provided for further personalized stem cell customization.

Gene expression profiling and hierarchial clustering analysis readily distinguish normal ovarian epithelial cells from primary ovarian serous papillary carcinomas. Laminin, tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 and 2 (TROP-1 / Ep-CAM; TROP-2), claudin 3, claudin 4, ladinin 1, S100A2, SERPIN2 (PAI-2), CD24, lipocalin 2, osteopontin, kallikrein 6 (protease M), kallikrein 10, matriptase and stratifin were found among the most highly overexpressed genes in ovarian serous papillary carcinomas, whereas transforming growth factor beta receptor III, platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha, SEMACAP3, ras homolog gene family, member I (ARHI), thrombospondin 2 and disabled-2 / differentially expressed in ovarian carcinoma 2 (Dab2 / DOC2) were significantly down-regulated. Therapeutic strategy targeting TROP-1 / Ep-CAM by monoclonal chimeric / humanized antibodies may be beneficial in patients harboring chemotherapy-resistant ovarian serous papillary carcinomas.