This study evaluated the ability of Schwann cell transplants to enhance the recovery of function in injured nerves and compared the results to those produced by sural nerve grafts. Schwann cells were isolated from sciatic nerves, prelabeled with gold fluorescent dye admixed with collagen gel, and placed in resorbable collagen tubes. Twenty-four adult rats underwent severing of the bilateral sciatic nerves, with a 10-mm gap between the nerve stumps. The rats were then divided into two groups. A collagen tube with implanted Schwann cells was implanted in one leg of the Group I rats, and the contralateral leg served as a control and was repaired with a collagen tube filled with collagen gel only. The Group II animals received conduits packed with labeled Schwann cells in one leg to bridge the 10-mm gap; the contralateral leg was repaired with an autogenous sural nerve graft. Recovery of function was assessed physiologically and morphologically. Nerve conduction velocity and nerve action potential amplitude measurements showed that the Schwann cell implants induced return of function comparable to that of the sural nerve grafts. Morphological assessments of myelination suggested a tendency toward greater numbers of myelinated axons in Schwann cell implants than in sural nerve grafts. Anatomical analyses of gold fluorescent dye showed both high viability of prelabeled Schwann cells at 120 days after transplantation and migration as far as 30 mm away from the implant site.

582 undergraduates were asked to write down their favorite color and choose a number from 0 to 9. The color blue and the number seven were chosen most frequently by both sexes and races, supporting Simon's (1971) “blue-seven” phenomenon. Compared with women, men chose red and blue more frequently. Women showed a preference for yellow, purple, black, and less frequent colors more often than men. White subjects chose blue and green more often than black subjects, while black subjects showed a preference for red, purple, black, and less frequent colors. There was little relationship between color preferences and scores on the Luscher Color Test.

Rat sciatic nerve regeneration through three synthetic neural prostheses was compared with regeneration through nerve allografts. The synthetic prostheses were either nonpermeable nonabsorbable (Silastic), permeable absorbable (polyglactin mesh), or permeable nonabsorbable (polypropylene mesh). Animals were evaluated at 10, 24, and 90 days. Functional analysis of nerve regeneration was performed by noninvasive methods: electromyography and walking tracks. Nerve tissue was examined with routine histologic and immunofluorescent techniques. A compressive neuropathy developed with the use of the Silastic implant. A neutrophilic inflammatory infiltrate was consistently associated with implantation of the polyglactin mesh. A strong connective tissue response was noted around the polypropylene mesh. Early recovery of nerve function was seen with the Silastic implants, however, overall nerve function was best in the nerve allograft and polypropylene mesh groups. Polyglactin implantation increases the local inflammatory response and should not be used for nerve anastomoses. If Silastic entubulation is used, it should be removed between 24 and 90 days.

The mechanism(s) through which fruits, vegetables and whole grains favorably affect health is not well established. Employing an anthocyanin-rich grape as a model, we examined the ability of an agnostic analytical approach employing gene expression microarrays, to generate novel testable hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of action of potentially healthful foods and food components. C57Bl/6 mice were divided into two groups and fed a proatherogenic diet with or without a semi-purified anthocyanin extract (70% anthocyanins) incorporated at a level of 0.1 mg/ml into the drinking water. After six weeks, compared to control mice, mice supplemented with anthocyanins tended to gain more weight and have increased adipose tissue mass, although these effects did not achieve statistical significance. Anthocyanin supplemented mice had significantly reduced relative liver weights and heart weights. Serum lipids and inflammatory cytokines were not different between the groups. Gene expression microarray analysis of the liver and skeletal muscle identified a number molecular pathways significantly affected by anthocyanin treatment. Two distinct clusters emerged. The first cluster included down-regulated pathways in both muscle and liver involving cellular defense while the second included hepatic genes involved in energy metabolism. From these data three hypotheses were developed for future investigation.

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