Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most serious disorders in clinics, and the high disability rate and functional deficits are common issues in patients. Transplantation of bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) into the injured spinal cord is emerging as a novel method in the therapeutics of SCI; however, its application is limited by the poor survival rate of the transplanted cells and low differentiation rate into neurons. Our laboratory recently reported that electrical stimulation (ES) dramatically improves the survival rate of transplanted BMSCs and increases spinal cord functions in animals with spinal cord injury. In this paper, we asked whether implanted electro-acupuncture (iEA) can advance the beneficial effects from the ES treatment in animals with spinal cord injury. We showed that BMSCs transplantation alone resulted in significant functional recovery in animals. Interestingly, iEA with BMSCs treatment induced a significantly higher functional improvement in locomotor functions and SSEP compared to the BMSCs treatment alone. Additionally, we used molecular biology techniques and showed that BMSCs transplantation with iEA treatment significantly increased the number of surviving BMSCs compared to the BMSCs alone group. In conclusion, our experiment showed that the approach of coupling iEA electric stimulation and BMSCs transplantation remarkably promotes functional improvements in animals with spinal cord injury and holds promising potential to treat spinal cord injury in humans.
: Background: Primary osteoarthritis (OA) is a polygenic disease. To investigate the gene expression profile of cartilage and synovium from osteoarthritis and healthy rats using cDNA microarray is beneficial to recognize the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and provide evidence for gene therapy of osteoarthritis. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the gene expression profile of the cartilage and synovium of chronic arthritis and healthy rats through cDNA microarray assay, and identify the differentially expressed genes. This study may be helpful for understanding the role of differentially expressed genes in osteoarthritis and the gene polymorphism of osteoarthritis. Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group and osteoarthritis group (n = 12 per group). The synovial and cartilage were obtained and total RNA was extracted. cDNA microarray assay was performed to identify the differentially expressed genes, and cluster analysis was conducted. Results and Conclusion: A total of 82 differentially expressed genes were identified, among which 27 were up-regulated and 55 down-regulated. Gene microarray assay is effective to identify differentially expressed genes and may find out novel osteoarthritis associated genes. Multiple genes are involved in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. The differentially expressed genes provide important information for further studies on the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and gene therapy of osteoarthritis.
The temperature effects on enzyme activity at the conditions with and without inhibition, operation, and storage were investigated for free esterase and immobilized chicken liver esterase with three methods (adsorption, adsorption-microcapsule, and adsorption-crosslinking) used in a calorimetric biosensor. The results indicated that the temperature had significant effects on the enzyme activity by means of catalytic reaction, irreversible denaturation, mass transfer, and structure deformation of resin. Among all the esterase, the adsorption-crosslinking immobilized esterase had the best performances of enzyme activity retention ratio (EARR), above 96% in operation and 90% in storage on condition of maintaining its response to dichlorvos.
This study aims to examine the contribution of PEG-conjugated hemoglobin combined with cisplatin to the expression of HIF-1α and MDR1 in a tumor xenograft model. Cervical carcinoma models were assigned to 4 groups and treated respectively: group 1(control); group 2, cisplatin; group 3, PEG-Hb; group 4 cisplatin plus PEG-Hb. 4 weeks later, tumor volume and MVD was significantly decreased in group 4 compared with other groups. Lower expression of HIF-1α and MDR1 were detected in group4. Taken together, our data indicated that PEG-Hb plus cisplatin can promote tumor tissue oxygenation and enhance the chemotherapy sensitivity. HIF-1α regulated MDR1 pathway correlated with this process.
To investigate whether polymerized human placenta hemoglobin (PolyPHb) improved hemodynamic parameter recovery and cardiac function after hemorrhagic shock, a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 30 mmHg was maintained for 60min. Then, all the rats were randomly resuscitated with hetastarch (HES), shed blood (Whole Blood), or PolyPHb (PolyPHb). The MAP was greatly improved by PolyPHb, but it was still lower than that of the Whole Blood group. Meanwhile, the cardiac function and enzyme releases in the PolyPHb group were similar to the HES group. Therefore, our findings suggest that PolyPHb moderately improved hemodynamic recovery and provided little cardioprotective effect in hemorrhagic shock.
The goal of this study was to investigate whether hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) attenuated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced kidney injury. Male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham group, I/R group, and HBOC group (injection of 0.1 gHb/kg PolyPHb). The ischemia was induced by bilateral renal pedicle cross-clamping for 45min. Then the clamp was released to allow 24h reperfusion. Without increasing blood pressure, PolyPHb reduced the blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in plasma and attenuated the tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-8 in kidney tissue. Therefore, our findings suggest that PolyPHb could reduce kidney injury after I/R injury, and this effect was probably associated with the depressed inflammatory response.
We prepared the sirolimus liposome by rapid expansion of supercritical solution (RESS) technology of supercritical fluid, and studied the effects of temperature, pressure, and equilibrium time on the average particle size and envelop rate of liposome. The conditions of the minimal average particle size of liposome were 328K of temperature (35MPa), 35MPa of pressure (333K), and 50 minutes of equilibrium (343K) time, respectively. The conditions of the maximal envelop rate of liposome were 333K of temperature (30MPa), 35MPa of pressure (343K), and 50 minutes of equilibrium (323K) time, respectively.
Objective: To evaluate whether garlicin can attenuate reperfusion no-reflow in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: Twenty-two swine were used: six in a sham-operation group, and eight each in the control and garlicin groups. The distal part of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) in the latter two groups was occluded by a dilated balloon for 2 hr, then reperfused for 3 hr. Garlicin (1.88mg/kg) was injected just before reperfusion until reperfusion for 1 hr in the garlicin group. Hemodynamic data were examined before AMI, 2 hr after occlusion, and 3 hr after reperfusion. Myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) and pathological staining were performed to evaluate the myocardial no-reflow area (NRA). Serum proinflammatory cytokines and endothelin (ET)-1 were examined by radioimmunoassay. Results: Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) significantly improved in the garlicin group after reperfusion compared with the control group and also 2hr after AMI (p<0.05 for both). MCE and pathological staining both showed garlicin attenuated reperfusion NRA after AMI (p<0.05, p<0.01). Garlicin not only decreased serum interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha after reperfusion (p<0.05 for both), but also ET-1 level (p<0.01). Conclusion: Garlicin attenuated reperfusion no-reflow in our catheter-based porcrine model of AMI, possibly through decreasing serum proinflammatory cytokines and ET-1.
Polyhemoglobin-superoxide dismutase-catalase-carbonic anhydrase (PolyHb-SOD-CAT-CA) is a therapeutic antioxidant that also transports both oxygen and carbon dioxide. This is formed by crosslinking Hb with SOD, CAT, and CA using glutaraldehyde. Crosslinking stroma-free Hb from red blood cell (RBC) reduces CA activity to 55%. Addition of more CA resulted in a preparation with the same CA activity as RBC. PolyHb in the complex acts as a buffer to prevent large pH changes as carbon dioxide is converted to carbonic acid. We then prepare and optimize a novel PolyHb-SOD-CAT-CA, a therapeutic antioxidant that also transports both oxygen and carbon dioxide.
We report the application of Vitamin D3 (VD(3)) in nanoparticles of oleoyl alginate ester (OAE)(OAE-VD(3)). The internalization of fluorescent OAE-VD(3) by Caco-2 cells was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that incorporation into OAE nanoparticles resulted in increased absorption of VD(3). Its application in the treatment of rickets was assayed using a model of nutritionally induced vitamin D-deficiency rickets. The results showed that the encapsulated VD(3) had better efficacy than that of the free drug in vivo. Our studies provide evidence that OAE nanoparticles are valuable as nutraceutical delivery vehicles to enhance the absorption of VD(3).
After peripheral nerve injury, axons often project sprouts from the node of Ranvier proximal to the damage site. It is well known that one parent axon can sprout and maintain several regenerating axons. If enough endoneurial tubes in the distal stump are present for the regenerating axons to grow along, then the number of mature myelinated nerve fibers in the distal stump will be greater than the number in the proximal stump. "Multiple regeneration" is used to describe this phenomenon in the peripheral nerve. According to previous studies, a prominent nerve containing many axons can be repaired by the multiple regenerating axons sprouting from another nerve that contains fewer axons. Most peripheral nerves contain a mixture of myelinated motor and sensory axons as well as unmyelinated sensory and autonomic axons. In this study, a multiple regeneration animal model was developed by bridging the proximal common peroneal nerve with the distal common peroneal nerve and the tibial nerve. Differences in the multiple regeneration ratio of motor and sensory nerves were evaluated using histomorphometry one month after ablating the dorsal root ganglion (DRGs) and ventral roots, respectively. The results suggest that the motor nerves have a significantly larger multiple regeneration ratio than the sensory nerves at two different time points.
During the process of peripheral nerve regeneration, a single neuron can regenerate and maintain more than one collateral in a regenerative distal stump. Furthermore, some of the new shoots can mature gradually through remyelination and grow into the remote target organ to play a physiological function. Our study found that when neonatal nerve fibers are subjected to a second injury, the regenerative distal stump can regenerate and maintain more than one collateral in the second regenerative distal stump. The neonatal nerve contributed to the functional recovery of the nerve, but the restoration of nerve function was not complete.
With advances in technical methodology, the grafting of biocompatible conduits may become a viable alternative for the reconstruction of nerve gaps. In this study, electrospinning was used to fabricate nerve conduits (NCs) from poly(L-lactide-coglycolide)-silk fibroin. Conduits or autograft nerves were employed to bridge 10 mm defects in the sciatic nerves of Sprague-Dawley rats. Six weeks after the operation, morphological and functional assessment showed that nerve conduits from PLGA-silk fibroin grafts promoted the regeneration of peripheral nerves. The effects were similar to those obtained using nerve autografts. This method offers a promising alternative to the use of nerve autografts.
OBJECTIVES:To investigate the cardioprotective effect of polymerized human placenta hemoglobin (PolyPHb) for acute myocardial ischemia rat heart.METHODS:Myocardial infarcts (MI) model was set up in SD rats by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LDA). The rats were divided randomly into 3 groups with each group of 20 rats: (A) the control group with the administration of Ringer's lactated solution at a dose of 2.5ml/kg); (B) PolyPHb group, PolyPHb solution at a dose of 0.16g Hb/kg and (C), PolyPHb+CAT+SOD group, PolyPHb solution at a dose of 0.16g Hb/kg and catalase (CAT) solution and superoxide dismutase (SOD) solution at a dose of 1681 U/kg and 528000 U/kg, respectively. Each rat received treatments via caudal vein, once a day for 7 days. Qualitative evaluations were made based on the reading of cardiac troponin T (cTnT), the myocardial infarction size (MIS) derived from the staining of myocardium tissue, and the pathological changes in infarct area. The ischemia changes of cardiomyocytes were determined by haematoxylin - basic fuchsin - picric acid (HBFP) staining and the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay (TUNEL).RESULTS:Compared to the control group, PolyPHb greatly decreased the cTnT (p < 0.05), MIS (p < 0.05), and the size of myocardial ischemia (p < 0.05). PolyPHb + CAT + SOD decreased the △ST change (P < 0.05), cTnT (P < 0.01), MIS (p < 0.05), the pathological scores (p < 0.01), the size of myocardial ischemia (p < 0.01), and the apoptosis level (p < 0.01).CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrated that adding PolyPHb improves cardiac functional recovery and reduces myocardial infarction of rat heart.
Trypsin was immobilized by covalent binding to glutaraldehyde-activated silica with and without a spacer arm; 1,6-diaminohexane and polyethyleneglycol as well. The addition of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) to the immobilization media increased the activity of immobilized trypsin in organic solvents, whilst free trypsin activity disappeared under the same conditions. Thermal, pH, storage, and operational stabilities of the free and immobilized enzyme were found to be better than the free enzyme. Furthermore, use of immobilized enzyme for protein fragmentation was achieved by solid-phase, on-line, protein digestion in organic solvents. Reaction times were reduced to a few minutes and the sample handling was minimized.
It is necessary to remove residual leukocytes to prevent the blood transfusion-related adverse reactions. This paper describes a facile approach for the surface modification of commercial PBT nonwoven fabrics (PBTNF), used for blood filtration, followed by immobilizing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). The whole blood filtration results revealed that the five types of PBTNF-PVPs' leucocytes retention rates and erythrocyte recovery rates increased to 96% and 92% compared with the untreated PBTNF. The blood compatibilities results indicated that PVP modified PBTNFs have good blood compatibility, suggesting that PVP-modified PBTNF is a very promising blood filter for selective removal of leukocytes.
In this paper, a novel amperometric choline biosensor with immobilization of choline oxidase on electrochemically polymerized polypyrrole-polyvinylsulphonate (PPy-PVS) film has been accomplished via the entrapment technique. The effects of pH and temperature were investigated and optimum parameters were found to be 9.0 and 60 °C, respectively. There are two linear parts in the region between 1.0 × 10 (-7) - 1.0 × 10 (-6)M (R(2) = 0.997) and 1.0 × 10 (-5) - 1.0 × 10 (-3) M (R(2) = 0.986). The storage stability and operation stability of the enzyme electrode were also studied.
The simultaneous production production of superoxide (SOD) and catalase (CAT) from Rhodotorula glutinis was studied. The effects of temperature, initial medium pH, and carbon source on the enzyme activities were investigated. Temperature and carbon sources were found to have significant effects on the enzyme activities. 10°C provided the highest specific CAT and SOD activities as 22.6 U/mg protein and 170 U/mg protein, respectively. Glycerol was found to be the best carbon source for enzyme activities, providing 113 U/mg protein for CAT and 125 U/mg protein for SOD, which were also the highest activities obtained in the present study.
