ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) is a possible treatment for patients suffering with pain after meniscectomy. Here, peracetic acid (PAA) sterilised meniscus transplants were investigated on whether they would provide an adequate alternative to fresh-frozen transplants in their viscoelastic and mechanical properties. METHODS: In this analysis, 31 menisci donors (26 male and 5 female) were included. The average donor age was 49.87 years, ranging from 32 to 65 years. Menisci of matched pairs of knees underwent chemical sterilisation while counterparts were left fresh-frozen. Stiffness and load to failure were determined via suture retention. Further menisci were analysed while attached to the tibial bone block using a novel test device to mimic physiological load distribution. Meniscus relaxation, stiffness and failure loads were determined. Histology and biphasic properties of the menisci were examined and results were analysed using paired t-tests. RESULTS: A novel custom built test device allowed the application of physiological loads for suture retention testing and revealed no significant differences between PAA sterilised (14.85 ± 4.46 N/mm, 50.49 ± 17.01 N) and fresh-frozen (18.26 ± 4.46 N/mm, 59.49 ± 21.07 N) regarding stiffness and failure load, respectively. Furthermore, initial 200 N loading showed significantly higher strain in sterilised menisci (18.87 ± 1.56) compared to fresh frozen (13.81 ± 1.04). Load relaxation experiments demonstrated significantly lower relaxation for sterilised menisci (77.71 ± 1.62) compared to fresh-frozen (89.11 ± 1.00, p-value < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Peracetic acid sterilised human menisci performed equally to fresh-frozen counterparts in a suture retention test and in physiological failure testing providing an adequate alternative. However, meniscus relaxation, biphasic properties and strain were shown to be significantly different between the groups. A common problem of MAT is graft extrusion or shrinkage, therefore the parameters measured here should be considered and may influence meniscus extrusion after transplantation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: n/a (experimental study).
ABSTRACT
Cancer heterogeneity and microenvironmental aspects within a tumor are considered key factors influencing resistance of carcinoma cells to distinct chemotherapeutical agents. We evaluated a high concentration of metformin in combination with gemcitabine on a syngeneic orthotopic mouse model using 6606PDA cells. We observed reduced tumor size and reduced cancer cell proliferation after three weeks of chemotherapy with either compound and noticed an additive effect between gemcitabine and metformin on tumor weight. Interestingly, distinct areas of the carcinoma responded differently to either compound. Metformin inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells close to the desmoplastic reaction, whereas gemcitabine inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells mainly 360-570 µm distant to the desmoplastic reaction. Indeed, co-culture of pancreatic stellate cells with 6606PDA, 7265PDA or MIA PaCa-2 cells increased gemcitabine resistance. Metformin resistance, however, was increased by high glucose concentration in the medium. Other factors such as hypoxia or the pH of the medium had no influence on gemcitabine or metformin induced inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. These data demonstrate a spatial heterogeneity in drug resistance within pancreatic adenocarcinomas and that microenvironmental aspects such as supply of glucose and the presence of pancreatic stellate cells regulate cancer cell sensitivity towards metformin or gemcitabine.
