A scanning electron microscopic study of in vivo tissue engineered respiratory epithelium in sheep

Normal tracheal mucociliary clearance is the key to maintaining the health and defense of respiratory airway. Therefore the present of cilia and mucous blanket are important for tracheal epithelium to function effectively. In the present study, we prepared a tissue engineered respiratory epithelium construct (TEREC) made of autologous respiratory epithelium cells, fibroblast and fibrin from sheep owns blood which replaced a created tracheal mucosal defect. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed encouraging result where immature cilia were present on the surface of TEREC. This result indicates that engineered respiratory epithelium was able to function as normal tissue.

Haptoglobin type distribution among Filipino residents of Manila area

Among 293 Filipinos the respective haptoglobin type distribution for the 0-0, 1-1, 2-1, and 2-2 types were 0.68, 13.99, 48.12, and 37.20 percent. The estimated Hp gene frequency for this group is 0.38. This value is higher than those reported for other southeast Asian ethnic groups and resembles the value for Caucasians. It is suggested that detailed haptoglobin studies among individual Filipino ethnic groups will provide useful anthropological data. (Summary)