Predicting employees' well‐being using work–family conflict and job strain models

The present study examined the effects of two models of work–family conflict (WFC) and job‐strain on the job‐related and context‐free well‐being of employees. The participants of the study consisted of Iranian employees from a variety of organizations. The effects of three dimensions of the job‐strain model and six forms of WFC on affective well‐being were assessed. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the number of working hours, strain‐based work interfering with family life (WIF) along with job characteristic variables (i.e. supervisory support, job demands and job control) all make a significant contribution to the prediction of job‐related well‐being. On the other hand, strain‐based WIF and family interfering with work (FIW) significantly predicted context‐free well‐being. Implications are drawn and recommendations made regarding future research and interventions in the workplace. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Donor cornea transfer from Optisol GS to organ culture storage: a two‐step procedure to increase donor tissue lifespan

Purpose: Storage time for donor corneas in Optisol GS is limited compared to Eye Bank Organ Culture (EBOC). We here examine the epithelium on donor corneoscleral rims after primary storage in Optisol GS and subsequent incubation in EBOC. Methods: Morphology was monitored by light and electron microscopy, expression of phenotypic and genotypic markers by immunohistochemistry and RT‐PCR and changes in oxidative lipid and DNA damage by ELISA and COMET assay. Results: A prominent loss of cells was observed after storage in Optisol GS. After maintenance in EBOC, spreading apical cells were Occludin⁺, while the staining for E‐cadherin and Connexin‐43 was less intense. There were an upregulation of Occludin and a downregulation of E‐cadherin and Connexin‐43. Eye Bank Organ Culture was associated with an ongoing proliferative activity and a downregulation of putative progenitor/stem cell marker ABCG2 and p63. Staining for 8‐OHdG and Caspase‐3 did not increase, while levels of malondialdehyde and number of DNA strand breaks and oxidized bases increased. Conclusions: This dual procedure should be pursued as an option to increase the storage time and the pool of available donor corneas. The observed downregulation of markers associated with stemness during EBOC is relevant considering the potential use of donor epithelium in the treatment of ocular surface disorders.     

Chondrogenesis in a hyaluronic acid scaffold: comparison between chondrocytes and MSC from bone marrow and adipose tissue

Treatment of focal lesions of the articular cartilage of the knee using chondrocytes in a hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffold is already being investigated in clinical trials. An alternative may be to use mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We have compared articular chondrocytes with MSC from human bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AT), all cultured in HA scaffolds, for their ability to express genes and synthesize proteins associated with chondrogenesis. The cells were expanded in monolayer cultures. After seeding into the scaffold, the chondrocytes were maintained in medium, while the two MSC populations were given a chondrogenic differentiation medium. Chondrogenesis was assessed by real-time RT-PCR for chondrocyte-associated genes, by immunohistochemistry and by ELISA for collagens in the supernatant. Redifferentiation of the dedifferentiated chondrocytes in the HA scaffold was shown by a modest increase in type II collagen mRNA (COL2A1) and reduction in COL1A1. BM-MSC expressed 600-fold higher levels of COL2A1 than chondrocytes after 3 weeks in the scaffold. The levels of aggrecan (AGC1) and COL1A1 were similar for chondrocyte and BM-MSC scaffold cultures, while COL10A1 was higher in the BM-MSC. AT-MSC expressed levels of COL2A1 and COL1A1 similar to chondrocytes, but less AGC1 and COL10A1. Surprisingly, little collagen II protein was observed in the scaffold. Instead, collagen II was found in the culture medium. Chondrogenesis in HA scaffolds was more efficient using BM-MSC than AT-MSC or chondrocytes. Some of the secreted collagen II escaped entrapment in the extracellular space and was detected in the culture medium.     

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in a hyaluronan scaffold for treatment of an osteochondral defect in a rabbit model

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of using mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in a hyaluronan scaffold for repair of an osteochondral defect in rabbit knee. Bone marrow was harvested from the posterior iliac crest in 11 New Zealand White rabbits. MSC were isolated and cultured in autologous serum for 28 days and transferred to a hyaluronan scaffold 24 h prior to implantation. A 4 mm diameter and 1.5 mm deep defect was created in the medial femoral condyle of both knees and the scaffold with MSC was implanted in one knee while an empty scaffold was implanted in the contra-lateral knee. After 24 weeks the rabbits were killed and histological sections were subjected to semiquantitative and quantitative evaluation by observers blinded regarding treatment modality. High degree of filling was obtained, but there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments. However, there was a tendency for a better quality of repair in the MSC treated knees. No hypertrophy was observed by either method. MSC in a hyaluronan scaffold may be a promising treatment approach, but further studies are needed to determine the best combination of scaffold and cells.     

Clinical transplantation of ex vivo expanded autologous limbal epithelial cells using a culture medium with human serum as single supplement: a retrospective case series

Purpose: Presently, our clinic is the only centre in Scandinavia that offers patients with corneal surface pathology including limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) transplantation of ex vivo expanded limbal epithelial cells (LECs). We here present clinical data of the first nine patients with LSCD who were transplanted with autologous LECs expanded in medium completely free of any animal‐derived products and non‐human/recombinant growth factors (including Cholera Toxin), and with autologous human serum as the only growth supplement. Methods: We conducted a noncomparative retrospective study of patients with LSCD at our centre between 2009 and 2011. The diagnosis was based on history and clinical signs. A biopsy was taken from healthy limbus, and the epithelium was expanded on amniotic membrane (AM) in medium containing autologous serum and subsequently transplanted to the affected eye. Results: Successful outcome was defined as relief of pain and photophobia and/or improved best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and/or reestablishment of a stable corneal epithelium and regression of corneal vascularization. Five of the nine transplanted patients (55.6%) had an improvement in either subjective symptoms or objective findings (11‐ to 28‐month follow‐up). Conclusions: Our clinical study shows that patients with LSCD can be treated successfully with transplantation of LECs expanded ex vivo in a medium with autologous serum as the only growth supplement. The use of this novel culture system, which is devoid of animal‐derived products and non‐human/recombinant growth factors (including Cholera Toxin), reduces the risks of inter‐species disease transmission and host immune responses to xenogenic proteins, both obvious advantages for the patient.