Laser sintered porous polycaprolacone scaffolds loaded with hyaluronic acid and gelatin-grafted thermoresponsive hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering.

The aim of this study is to evaluate a soft/hard bi-phase scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocyte proliferation, glycoaminoglycan production and total collagen content are compared between laser-sintered porous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with and without a thermoresponsive hydrogel grafted with hyaluronic acid and gelatin. The in vitro results show that scaffolds loaded with hydrogel have a higher initial chondrocyte attachment than PCL scaffolds. At day 21 and 28, scaffolds loaded with hydrogel have a significantly higher glycosaminoglycan (GAG) production than PCL scaffolds alone, and total collagen content including collagen type II in the hydrogel-loaded group is three times higher than the group without hydrogel. It is concluded that the laser-sintered porous PCL scaffold has good cytocompatibility, and that the hydrogel phase is able to enhance initial chondrocytes attachment as well as GAG and collagen production of chondrocytes. This study suggests that a soft/hard bi-phase scaffold may be used for cartilage tissue engineering to enhance in vitro chondrogenesis.

Solitary necrotic nodule with larval infestation in the liver on F-18 FDG PET/CT.

We present the case of a 64-year-old woman who suffered from occasional right upper abdominal pain for several months. Both abdominal ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a hepatic mass of indeterminate nature. F-18 FDG PET/CT showed a solitary hypermetabolic mass in the liver; a malignancy was therefore suspected. Her hepatic tumor was resected; it was a solitary necrotic nodule with larval infestation but no evidence of malignancy.