Role of macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 in acute inflammation after lung contusion.

Lung contusion (LC), commonly observed in patients with thoracic trauma is a leading risk factor for development of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. Previously, we have shown that CC chemokine ligand (CCL)-2, a monotactic chemokine abundant in the lungs, is significantly elevated in LC. This study investigated the nature of protection afforded by CCL-2 in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome during LC, using rats and CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 2 knockout (CCR2(-/-)) mice.

Multi-channeled biodegradable polymer/CultiSpher composite nerve guides.

Innovative methods to fabricate porous, biodegradable conduits were developed to produce nerve guides with multiple longitudinally aligned channels. The geometry of the nerve guide's channels was designed to be appropriate for harboring neurite extension. Both the coated mandrel and mandrel adhesion techniques permit flexibility in the number of channels, channel organization, and channel diameters.