Marte Meo as a port of entry to parental sensitivity - a three-case study.

BACKGROUND: Early parent- child relations play an important role in children's development. Therapeutic intervention towards infants and toddlers at high-risk intends to prevent mental health problems. In this work, the parent-child-dyad is crucial. The video interaction guidance method, Marte Meo, is one among different methods used in attachment-based treatment in an outpatient infant mental health clinic. Parental sensitivity towards infants and toddlers needs is considered significant in developing secure attachment. Secure attachment is further considered decisive for mental health and the extent to which children are at risk of developing mental health problems. Different treatment methods aim at strengthening parents' sensitivity. This study's purpose was to gain further understanding about parent's experiences with Marte Meo - therapy and highlight the importance for parental sensitivity. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional phenomenological hermeneutical study. Four biological parents of three infants and toddlers aged 0-20 months who received Marte Meo- therapy in a clinical context were selected. Data was collected using semi structured interviews. RESULTS: This article presents the study's key-finding; we suggest that sensitivity increases. The key components of this are: watching edited video interaction in a therapeutic context, emotional activation, mutuality, self-esteem / self-confidence and reflective function. These are further elaborated and discussed. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that Marte Meo contributes to facilitate development-supportive interaction, strengthen parental sensitivity, emotional availability, reflective functioning and coping - experience.

Multipotent adult progenitor cell-loaded demineralized bone matrix for bone tissue engineering.

Multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) from bone marrow have been shown to be capable of forming bone, cartilage and other connective tissues. In addition, MAPCs differentiate into lineages that are different from their germ layers of origin. Previous studies showed the ability of MAPCs to improve cardiac function and control allogenic-reactive responses associated with acute graft versus host disease. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of MAPCs to produce bone matrix on demineralized bone allograft substrates. Specifically, MAPCs expressed alkaline phosphatase, produced extracellular matrix proteins and deposited calcium-containing mineral on demineralized bone matrices. Furthermore, the addition of MAPCs on demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffolds enhanced osteoinductivity of the carrier in a rat ectopic pouch model. These results demonstrated the potential of MAPCs as a new approach for bone repair in tissue-engineering applications.

Local antibiotic delivery with demineralized bone matrix.

A method of care for these infected nonunions is prolonged intravenous systemic antibiotic treatment and implantation of methyl methacrylate antibiotic carrier beads to delivery high local doses of antibiotics. This method requires a second surgery to remove the beads once the infection has cleared. Recent studies have investigated the use of biodegradable materials that have been impregnated with antibiotics as tools to treat bone infections. In the present study, human demineralized bone matrix (DBM) was investigated for its ability to be loaded with an antibiotic. The data presented herein demonstrates that this osteoinductive and biodegradable material can be loaded with gentamicin and release clinically relevant levels of the drug for at least 13 days in vitro. This study also demonstrates that the antibiotic loaded onto the graft has no adverse effects on the osteoinductive nature of the DBM as measured in vitro and in vivo. This bone void filler may represent a promising option for local antibiotic delivery in orthopedic applications.

Local antibiotic delivery with bovine cancellous chips.

Infected bone defects and osteomyelitis are encountered frequently in trauma cases. Currently, the standard of care for osteomyelitis cases is prolonged systemic antibiotic therapy and implantation of antibiotic carrier beads. However, this method requires a secondary surgery to remove the beads after the infection has cleared. In the present study a common bone void filler was investigated for its ability to be infused with an antibiotic. This study demonstrates that the xenograft material tested can be loaded with gentamicin and release clinically relevant levels of the drug for at least 14 days in vitro allowing for the inhibition of bacterial growth on the graft. This study also demonstrates that the levels of gentamicin released did not have an adverse effect on primary osteoblast cell proliferation or ability to generate alkaline phosphatase. This bone void filler may represent a viable alternative to current methods of local antibiotic delivery in orthopedic applications.

Human adipose-derived side population stem cells cultured on demineralized bone matrix for bone tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND: Tissue engineering of new bone relies on the combination and application of osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic elements. Natural scaffolds, such as demineralized bone matrix (DBM), contain collagenous networks with growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein-2. Stem cells from readily available sources, including discarded adipose tissue, have the propensity to differentiate into bone. The present study examines a multi-component technique consisting of a novel side population of adipose stem cells cultured on DBM for tissue engineering applications. METHODS: Adipose-derived side population stem cells were cultured on DBM for up to 14 days. Cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, extracellular matrix protein production, and calcium-containing mineral deposit formation were assayed. Ectopic bone formation in a rat model was also evaluated. RESULTS: Side population stem cells attached to and proliferated on DBM while generating markers of new bone formation. When these cell/substrate composites were implanted into an ectopic model, newly formed bone was 30% greater than that of DBM alone. CONCLUSIONS: Novel populations of adipose-derived stem cells cultured on DBM compose a system that develops new bone matrix in vitro and in vivo. This strategy provides a novel approach using naturally occurring materials for bone repair in tissue engineering applications.

Osteoconductivity and osteoinductivity of Puros(R) DBM putty.

Bone graft substitutes have been developed due to the limited supply and morbidity associated with using autogenous graft material. Allogeneic demineralized bone matrix (DBM) has been used extensively as a clinical graft material because of its inherent osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties. Differential enhancement of these properties may optimize the performance of these products for various orthopedic and craniofacial applications. Commercially available bone paste products consist of formulations that combine DBM with a carrier to facilitate handling and containment. In the present study, we present results of a comprehensive in vitro and in vivo characterization of a 100% human DBM putty product, Puros DBM Putty. Results indicate the DBM particles are completely dispersed in the putty. Data are presented showing the porosity of and cell attachment to Puros DBM Putty, thereby demonstrating the osteoconductive properties of this DBM. Puros DBM Putty was also shown to be osteoinductive in the rat ectopic pouch model. We demonstrate here for the first time that Puros DBM Putty maintains its activity to markedly stimulate or induce bone formation over the entire period of its shelf life. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the 100% human allograft derived Puros DBM Putty could be an effective bone graft substitute.