Poly(lactic acid) (PLA)‐block‐poly(norbornene) (PNB) copolymers which bear photocrosslinkable cinnamate side‐chains are synthesized by combining the ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of norbornenes with the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of lactides. Highly porous 3D scaffolds with tunable pore sizes ranging from 20 to 300 µm are fabricated through liquid–solid phase separation. Scaffolds with an average pore size around 250 µm, which are under investigation as bone grafting materials, are reproducibly obtained from freeze‐drying 5% w/v benzene solutions of PLA‐b‐PNB copolymers at −10 °C. As a demonstration of the impact of photocrosslinking of cinnamate side‐chains, scaffolds are exposed to UV radiation for 8 h, resulting in a 33% increase in the compressive modulus of the polymeric scaffold. The foams and the methodology described herein represent a new strategy toward polymeric scaffolds with potential for use in regenerative medicine applications.

In recent years, genomics has increased the understanding of many diseases. Proteomics is a rapidly growing research area that encompasses both genetic and environmental factors. The protein composition represents the functional status of a biological compartment. The five approaches presented here resulted in the detection of disease‐associated proteins. Calgranulin B was upregulated in colorectal cancer, and hepatoma‐derived aldose reductase‐like protein was reexpressed in a rat model during hepatocarcinogenesis. In these two investigations, attention was focused on one protein, obviously differing in amount, directly after two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE). Additional methods, such as enzyme activity measurements and immunohistochemistry, confirmed the disease association of the two candidates resulting from 2‐DE subtractive analysis. The following three investigations take advantage of the holistic potential of the 2‐DE approach. The comparison of 2‐DE patterns from dilated cardiomyopathy patients with those of controls revealed 25 statistically significant intensity differences, from which 12 were identified by amino acid analysis, Edman degradation or matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS). A human myocardial 2‐DE database was constructed, containing 3300 protein spots and 150 identified protein species. The number of identified proteins was limited by the capacity of our group, rather than by the principle of feasibility. Another field where proteomics proves to be a valuable tool in identifying proteins of importance for diagnosis is proteome analysis of pathogenic microorganisms such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis). Sera from patients with early or late symptoms of Lyme borreliosis contained antibodies of various classes against about 80 antigens each, containing the already described antigens OspA, B and C, flagellin, p83/100, and p39. Similarly, antibody reactivity to seven different marker antigens of T. gondii allowed differentiation between acute and latent toxoplasmosis, an important diagnostic tool in both pregnancy and immunosuppressed patients.

In recent years, genomics has increased the understanding of many diseases. Proteomics is a rapidly growing research area that encompasses both genetic and environmental factors. The protein composition represents the functional status of a biological compartment. The five approaches presented here resulted in the detection of disease‐associated proteins. Calgranulin B was upregulated in colorectal cancer, and hepatoma‐derived aldose reductase‐like protein was reexpressed in a rat model during hepatocarcinogenesis. In these two investigations, attention was focused on one protein, obviously differing in amount, directly after two‐dimensional electrophoresis (2‐DE). Additional methods, such as enzyme activity measurements and immunohistochemistry, confirmed the disease association of the two candidates resulting from 2‐DE subtractive analysis. The following three investigations take advantage of the holistic potential of the 2‐DE approach. The comparison of 2‐DE patterns from dilated cardiomyopathy patients with those of controls revealed 25 statistically significant intensity differences, from which 12 were identified by amino acid analysis, Edman degradation or matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry (MALDI‐MS). A human myocardial 2‐DE database was constructed, containing 3300 protein spots and 150 identified protein species. The number of identified proteins was limited by the capacity of our group, rather than by the principle of feasibility. Another field where proteomics proves to be a valuable tool in identifying proteins of importance for diagnosis is proteome analysis of pathogenic microorganisms such as Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) and Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis). Sera from patients with early or late symptoms of Lyme borreliosis contained antibodies of various classes against about 80 antigens each, containing the already described antigens OspA, B and C, flagellin, p83/100, and p39. Similarly, antibody reactivity to seven different marker antigens of T. gondii allowed differentiation between acute and latent toxoplasmosis, an important diagnostic tool in both pregnancy and immunosuppressed patients.

No abstract

The expression of calcium-binding protein S100A9 was investigated in 23 matched sets of colorectal carcinoma and normal colon mucosa using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We found that, from a group of 23 patients, the level of S100A9 protein, in comparison with matched normal colon mucosa, was significantly increased in malignant tissues of 16 patients (70%). Furthermore, an additional protein, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) as S100A8, exhibited an increased expression in the same specimens of malignant tissues as the S100A9 protein. The immunohistological analysis revealed the accumulation of S100A9 positive cells, macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes along the invasive margin of colorectal carcinoma. The S100A8 protein was found to be produced in the same location. The possible participation of both proteins and, especially, its heterodimeric complex calprotectin in colorectal carcinoma regression could be taken into account.