[A Systematic Review of the Literature Related to Elevating the Head of the Bed for Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Applications in Patients After Esophageal Cancer Surgery].

BACKGROUND: Acid regurgitation typically worsens during nighttime sleep, which influences the quality of life of patients and potentially causes pathological changes. As much as 80% of esophageal cancer patients experience acid regurgitation following esophagectomy and reconstruction surgery. Thus, improving this symptom is important to improving the quality of life of these patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of elevating the head of the bed for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). METHODS: A systematic review was used. Electronic databases including CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and PubMed/MEDLINE were retrieved for relevant articles that were published prior to June 2015. Keywords included "elevating the head of the bed/bed position/body position", "flat", "reflux", and the MeSh term "gastroesophageal reflux". A total of 37 articles that matched the search criteria were extracted. After screening the topics and deleting repetitions, three randomized controlled studies and one quasi-experimental designed study were selected. RESULTS: Results of this systemic review revealed that elevating the head of the bed for patients with GERD reduced the duration of exposure of the the esophagus to an acid environment. Furthermore, patients perceived that this intervention not only improved symptoms such as regurgitation and burn sensation without medication but also relieved symptoms better than taking medications alone. CONCLUSIONS: The reviewed studies support that elevating the head of the bed is an easy and effective way to alleviate the symptoms of acid regurgitation. A height of elevation of 20 to 28 cm is recommended in the literature. The slope of the elevated bed must also be considered. Elevating the head of the bed may be useful for improving acid regurgitation among esophageal cancer patients after surgery. A randomized controlled study may be used to validate this effect in the future.

A scenario-based web app to facilitate patient education in lung tumor patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: Development and usability testing.

Background: Patient education (PE) is essential for improving patients' knowledge, anxiety, and satisfaction, and supporting their postoperative recovery. However, the advantages of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS)-smaller incisions and faster recovery-can result in shorter hospital stays, making PE more challenging to implement effectively. Multimedia PE can potentially enhance PE, but its effectiveness for patients undergoing VATS is unclear. Objective: This study developed a scenario-based PE web app for lung tumor patients undergoing VATS (SPE-VATS) to facilitate the PE process and evaluated its usability through a clinical trial. Methods: The SPE-VATS provided the experimental group (EG: 32 participants) with interactive scenario, query guidance, diagnostic analysis, experience sharing, and active reminder, while the control group (CG: 32 participants) used pamphlets and videos. The usability of SPE-VATS in terms of postoperative anxiety reduction and patient satisfaction with the app was evaluated using self-reported questionnaires based on the state-trait anxiety inventory, technology acceptance model, system usability scale, and task load index. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in postoperative anxiety reduction between the EG and CG, possibly because 90% of the participants underwent a low-risk surgical type, and VATS is known to be advantageous in alleviating surgical anxiety. However, females and higher educated EG participants showed a non-significant but favorable reduction than their CG counterparts. Moreover, the EG was highly satisfied with the app (rated 4.2 to 4.4 out of 5.0), with no significant gender and education level difference. They particularly valued the interactive scenario, experience sharing, and diagnostic analysis features of SPE-VATS. Conclusions: The SPE-VATS demonstrated its usability and high patient satisfaction, particularly for female and higher educated patients. Low-risk patient predominance and VATS's advantages may explain non-significant postoperative anxiety reduction, warranting further studies on high-risk patients to evaluate the impact of SPE-VATS on clinical practice.

Elevated Urinary Hepcidin Level and Hypoferremia in Infants with Febrile Urinary Tract Infection: A Prospective Cohort Study.

To evaluate the kinetics of serum and urinary hepcidin levels along with anemia-related parameters during the infection course of infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI), we enrolled febrile infants aged one to four months in this prospective study. Febrile patients with UTI were allocated into Escherichia coli (E. coli) or non-E. coli groups according to urine culture results. Septic workup, blood hepcidin, iron profile, urinalysis, and urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio were collected upon admission and 3 days after antibiotic treatment. In total, 118 infants were included. On admission, the febrile UTI group showed a significant reduction in serum iron level and a significant elevation of urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio compared to the febrile control counterpart. Moreover, urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio had the highest odds ratio, 2.01, in logistics regression analysis. After 3 days of antibiotic treatment, hemoglobin and the urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio were significantly decreased. Patients with an E. coli UTI had a significantly decreased urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio after 3 days of antibiotics treatment, whereas the non-E. coli group showed insignificant changes. Our study suggested that the urinary hepcidin-creatinine ratio elevated during acute febrile urinary tract infection and significantly decreased after 3 days of antibiotics treatment, especially in E. coli UTI.

Effect of Head-of-Bed Elevation on Nocturnal Reflux Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer Patients With Esophagectomy and Reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Studies revealed the symptom of gastroesophageal reflux (GE reflux) disturb patients following esophageal reconstruction. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of head-of-bed elevation by using the wedge-shaped pillow (WSP) on the reflux symptoms of patients with esophageal cancer following esophagectomy and reconstruction. METHODS: Fourteen patients with nocturnal reflux symptoms following esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups. A 2-week crossover trial was performed using 2 sequences (drug only and drug plus WSP). The WSP was designed with a height of 20 cm, a length of 62 cm, and an elevation angle of 20 degrees and used with fabricated from memory foam. After 2 weeks, all of the patients received combined drug and WSP intervention for 3 months. Reflux symptoms were measured by Dysfunction After Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery for Cancer and examined by endoscopic observations prior to intervention and follow-up for 3 months. RESULT: The average reflux symptom score for the combined drug and WSP treatment in the beginning 2 weeks was lower than that for the drug-only sequence. The severity of esophagitis was improved in 46.1%, and 38.5% showed a stabilization after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Combined drug and WSP treatment may be beneficial in improving GE reflux symptoms. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nursing care professionals would suggest patients find a similar WSP to elevate the head of the bed to reduce the severity of nocturnal reflux symptoms after esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction.

Profile of Urinary Cytokines in Kawasaki Disease: Non-Invasive Markers.

This cohort study aimed to investigate urinary cytokines expression to help identify a less invasive method of cytokine detection for Kawasaki disease (KD). Patients with confirmed KD were recruited. Patients with fever or urinary tract infection (UTI) were enrolled as control groups. Urinary samples were collected before and 3 days after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment. The levels of cytokines were detected by MILLPLEX® MAP human multiplex assay. All cytokines, i.e., epidermal growth factor (EGF), interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-33, interferon-gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1ß, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) except monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 were significantly higher in the KD group, compared with the fever-control (FC) group, whereas the expressions of IFN-γ, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A, IL-33, MCP-1, MIP-1ß, and TNF-α were significantly lower in the urine of KD patients, as compared with the UTI group. The expressions of EGF, IFN-γ, IL-8, IL-13, and IL-17A were higher in the urine of KD patients than in the FC group, whereas the level of IL-1ß was lower in KD than in the UTI group after age adjustment by logistic regression. Levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IP-10, and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the pre-IVIG urine of KD patients than in the post-IVIG treatment group. Additionally, urine IL-4 and blood C-reactive protein were higher in the KD group with coronary artery lesion (CAL) than in the non-CAL group. Results of this study provide a new view of urinary cytokine expression in the disease progress of KD, which may help clinicians to predict and prevent morbidity early and non-invasively.

A thioredoxin NbTRXh2 from Nicotiana benthamiana negatively regulates the movement of Bamboo mosaic virus.

An up-regulated gene derived from Bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV)-infected Nicotiana benthamiana plants was cloned and characterized in this study. BaMV is a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA virus. This gene product, designated as NbTRXh2, was matched with sequences of thioredoxin h proteins, a group of small proteins with a conserved active-site motif WCXPC conferring disulfide reductase activity. To examine how NbTRXh2 is involved in the infection cycle of BaMV, we used the virus-induced gene silencing technique to knock down NbTRXh2 expression in N. benthamiana and inoculated the plants with BaMV. We observed that, compared with control plants, BaMV coat protein accumulation increased in knockdown plants at 5 days post-inoculation (dpi). Furthermore, BaMV coat protein accumulation did not differ significantly between NbTRXh2-knockdown and control protoplasts at 24 hpi. The BaMV infection foci in NbTRXh2-knockdown plants were larger than those in control plants. In addition, BaMV coat protein accumulation decreased when NbTRXh2 was transiently expressed in plants. These results suggest that NbTRXh2 plays a role in restricting BaMV accumulation. Moreover, confocal microscopy results showed that NbTRXh2-OFP (NbTRXh2 fused with orange fluorescent protein) localized at the plasma membrane, similar to AtTRXh9, a homologue in Arabidopsis. The expression of the mutant that did not target the substrates failed to reduce BaMV accumulation. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that the viral movement protein TGBp2 could be the target of NbTRXh2. Overall, the functional role of NbTRXh2 in reducing the disulfide bonds of targeting factors, encoded either by the host or virus (TGBp2), is crucial in restricting BaMV movement.

MicroRNA-142-3p and let-7g Negatively Regulates Augmented IL-6 Production in Neonatal Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes.

Neonatal PMN are qualitatively impaired in functions, yet they frequently reveal augmented inflammatory reactions during sepsis. Here, we hypothesized that PMN from newborns produce more IL-6 than those from adults under LPS stimulation, in which transcriptional or posttranscriptional regulation is involved in the altered expression. We found that neonatal PMN produced significantly higher IL-6 mRNA and protein than adult PMN. The higher IL-6 expression was not related to transcriptional but posttranscriptional regulation as the IL-6 expression was affected by the addition of cycloheximide but not actinomycin. To examine whether miRNA was involved in the IL-6 regulation of neonatal PMN, we surveyed differential displays of miRNAs that could potentially regulate IL-6 expression before and after LPS stimulation. Four miRNAs: hsa-miR-26a, hsa-miR-26b, hsa-miR-142-3p and hsa-let 7g decreased or increased after LPS treatment for 4 h. Further validation by qRT-PCR identified miR-26b, miR-142-3p and let-7g significantly changed in neonatal PMN after LPS stimulation. The functional verification by transfection of miR-142-3p and let-7g precursors into neonatal PMN significantly repressed the IL-6 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that miR-142-3p and let-7g negatively regulate IL-6 expression in neonatal PMN. Modulation of miRNA expression may be used to regulate IL-6 production in newborns with altered inflammatory reactions.

The structural and sorptive characteristics of high-surface-area carbonaceous material (HSACM) in soils.

The structural and sorptive characteristics of the high-surface-area carbonaceous material (HSACM) isolated from soils were investigated. The HSACM contents in soils were first identified by the organic petrology method. A novel isolation method using acid demineralization, base extraction, and ZnBr(2) floatation sequential steps was developed to extract the HSACM from soil. The differences in structural and sorptive characteristics with the HSACM and the intact soil were investigated using nitrogen adsorption isotherms and trichloroethylene (TCE) sorption isotherms at low concentrations (0 to about 2 mg/L) both with and without tetrachloroethylene (PCE) as the cosolute. It was found that HSACM possesses a much higher specific surface area and pore volume as well as a smaller pore size than the original soil. Moreover, the sorption of TCE to HSACM is noticeably more nonlinear and competitive than to the original soil. A small amount of highly adsorptive HSACM is largely responsible for the nonlinear soil sorption of a single solute at very low concentrations.

Organic compound distribution between nonionic surfactant solution and natural solids: applicability of a solution property parameter.

A solution property parameter phi was defined to examine the distribution characteristics of organic compounds between the solids and four nonionic surfactant solutions. The studied compounds consisted of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene) and chlorinated pesticides (lindane, alpha-BHC, and heptachlor epoxide), which span several orders of magnitude in terms of water solubility (Sw). The solid samples were composed of a very low organic matter clay (Ca-montmorillonite), and a high organic matter natural soil (Shamou Mountain soil). The surfactants tested included two alkyl chain surfactants and two containing aromatic group surfactants with added concentrations both below and above their critical micelle concentration (CMC). By observing the Kom or Ksf variation, the result indicates, besides the Sw of the organic compounds, the distribution coefficient is regarded as a function of the soil organic matter (SOM) constituents, and the chemical structure of the organic compounds. Also, it can be found the greater phi values represent the higher releasing ratios of the organic compounds from the contaminated soil to groundwater. For the relatively higher Sw compounds, such as BTEX, all of the phi values are close to 1. The phi values for the relatively lower Sw compounds are far greater than 1, and increase with the increasing affinity of the compounds to the surfactants.

Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 modulates glucocorticoid attenuation of osteogenic activities and bone mass.

Prolonged glucocorticoid treatment is known to cause osteoporosis or aseptic necrosis. Secreted frizzled-related proteins 1 (SFRP1) and low-density lipoprotein-related protein 5 (LRP5), a Wnt protein antagonist and a coreceptor, have been found to regulate skeletogenesis. Whereas recent studies have reported that excess glucocorticoid promotes bone loss, the biological role of SFRP1 and LRP5 in regulating glucocorticoid attenuation of bone formation is not fully understood. We showed that a supraphysiological level of glucocorticoid enhanced SFRP1 but not LRP5 expression of primary mesenchymal cell cultures in vitro and osteoblasts at metaphyseal trabecular endosteum and chondrocytes at calcified cartilage in vivo. Glucocorticoid augmentation of SFRP1 expression was transcriptionally mediated. The inhibitory action of glucocorticoid on osteogenic differentiation appeared to be regulated by SFRP1 mediation of beta-catenin destabilization because knocking down SFRP1 by RNA interference abrogated the supraphysiological level of glucocorticoid attenuation of osteogenesis. Recombinant human SFRP1 reduced the promoting effect of physiological level of glucocorticoid on cytosolic beta-catenin accumulation, runt-related transcription factor-2 activation, and osteogenic activities. Glucocorticoid and recombinant human SFRP1 significantly increased osteochondral cell apoptosis associated with reduced mineral density, biomechanical properties, trabecular bone volume, and midshaft cortical bone areas in rat femurs. These findings suggest that SFRP1 modulates glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Regulation of Wnt/SFRP signal transduction can be used in the future as an alternative strategy for the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis.

The influences of solid-phase organic constituents on the partition of aliphatic and aromatic organic contaminants.

The influence of natural organic matter (NOM) constituents on contaminant distribution coefficients was evaluated by determining the Koc values of aromatic and aliphatic organic compounds (solutes) with clays modified with both aromatic- and aliphatic-rich organic constituents. The studied compounds consisted of naphthalene, phenanthrene, n-pentane, and 2,3,4-trimethylmethane; the solid samples comprised two clays with little organic content, kaolinite and Ca-montmorillonite. Two aliphatic surfactants and three aromatic dyes, sorbed to the clays, served as reference NOM constituents. For solutes of comparable water solubilities, the organic-carbon normalized distribution coefficients (Koc) of the aliphatic solutes between sorbed aliphatic organic matter and aqueous solution slightly exceed those of the aromatic solutes. By contrast, the aromatic solutes exhibited higher Koc values than did the aliphatic compounds with sorbed aromatic-rich organic matter. The difference in Koc values could be attributed to either comparable solubility parameters or the difference in the chemical structure between nonionic organic solutes and specific components of the simulated NOM. The much higher Koc values observed for the aromatic solutes indicate that the NOM composition is a major factor determining the NOC environmental distribution.

An alternative method for predicting organic solute volatilization rates under gas and liquid turbulence.

A method for predicting organic compound volatilization rates under turbulent liquid and gas conditions is developed. The reference compounds are classified according to their physico-chemical properties. The mass transfer coefficient (K(OL)) ratios for organic solutes to the reference compounds are constant for a wide range of environmental conditions, including liquid or air turbulence, or both at once. The obtained results indicate that when the environmental conditions are the same the determination of the volatilization rates is strongly dependent on the solute properties and the chemical structure. The presented method can more effectively estimate the volatilization rates of the solutes than the traditional one under various environmental conditions especially for low volatility solutes. The advantages and disadvantages of the traditional method are also discussed.

Nitric oxide donor increases osteoprotegerin production and osteoclastogenesis inhibitory activity in bone marrow stromal cells from ovariectomized rats.

Nitric oxide (NO) has emerged as a potent regulator useful in alleviating estrogen deficiency bone loss. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) play important roles in regulating osteoclastogenesis. Although recent studies have reported NO donor attenuation of bone loss, the effect of NO donor on OPG and RANKL expression of osteogenic stromal cells and bone microenvironment in ovariectomized rats is not fully understood. Here, we showed that optimal NO donor treatment [2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine; 15 microm] increased OPG, but not RANKL, levels in bone marrow stromal cells from ovariectomized rats. NO donor augmentation of OPG synthesis was transcriptionally mediated. The stimulatory action of NO donor on OPG expression appeared to be regulated by tyrosine kinase-dependent activation of Cbfa1/Runx2 binding to the OPG promoter, because cell cultures pretreated with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (herbimycin A), but not with protein kinase A inhibitor (calphostain C) or protein kinase C inhibitor [(Rp)-cAMP] significantly reduced NO-augmented Runx2 activation and OPG levels. Conditioned medium from NO donor-treated cells inhibited macrophage-colony-stimulating factor and RANKL-induced osteoclast formation of macrophage-colony-stimulating factor-dependent bone marrow macrophages. Neutralization with anti-OPG antibodies abolished the inhibitory effect of conditioned medium on osteoclastogenesis. Immunohistochemical observation also showed that 2,2'-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine increased OPG expression of osteochondral cells located at metaphyseal endosteum and calcified cartilage of proximal femurs in ovariectomized rats. These findings suggest that NO donor can be an alternative pharmacological strategy for regulating bone resorption.

Pertussis toxin-sensitive Galphai protein and ERK-dependent pathways mediate ultrasound promotion of osteogenic transcription in human osteoblasts.

Bone cells respond to mechanical stimulation via mechanoreceptors and convert biophysical stimulation into biochemical signals that alter gene expression and cellular adaptation. Pulsed acoustic energy treatment raises membrane potential and induces osteogenic activity. How membrane-bound osteoblast mechanoreceptors convert physical ultrasound (US) stimuli into osteogenic responses is not fully understood. We demonstrated that low-intensity pulsed US treatment (200-micros pulse, 1 kHz, 30 mW/cm2) elevated Cbfa1/Runx2 mRNA expression and progressively promoted osteocalcin mRNA expression in human osteoblasts. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX), but not with cholera toxin, suppressed US-augmented osteogenic transcription. This indicated that Gi proteins, but not Gs proteins, were involved in US promotion of osteogenic transcription. Further studies demonstrated US treatment could rapidly increase PTX-sensitive Galphai protein levels and subsequently enhanced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). PTX pretreatment significantly reduced US promotion of ERK activation. Moreover, inhibition of ERK activity by PD98059 suppressed US augmentation of Cbfa1/Runx2 and osteocalcin mRNA expression. Membranous Galphai proteins and cytosolic ERK pathways acted as potent mechanosensitive signals in the response of osteoblasts to pulsed US stimulation.

Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase in shock wave-promoted bone formation of segmental defect in rats.

Extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) have recently been used in bone repair. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase are found to act as important mediators for osteogenic factor and mechanical-stimulated proliferation and differentiation of bone-forming cells. A previous study reported that ESW promoted healing of segmental defects in rats by inducing bone morphogenetic proteins (Bone 32 (2003) 387-396) and stimulating osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, we found that ERK and p38 activation was involved in ESW-augmented bone regeneration of segmental defects. ESW treatment (0.16 mJ/mm2, 1 Hz, 500 impulses) rapidly promoted [3H]-thymidine uptake in 1 day and progressively increased alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen I, II, and osteocalcin synthesis in callus organ culture within 14 days after treatment. Results of [gamma-32P]-phosphotransferase activity assay showed that ERK and p38 in calluses were rapidly activated 1 day and 7 days after ESW treatment, respectively. Histological observation showed that segmental defects subjected to ESW treatment underwent typical bone formation (mesenchymal cell aggregation, hypertrophic cartilage, and endochondral/intramembrane ossification). Intensive bone formation coincided with evident expression of phosphorylated ERK and p38. Moreover, expression of phosphorylated ERK persisted in mesenchymal, chondral, and osteoblastic cells at newly developed bone and cartilage, and the expression of activated p38 was evident on chondral cells located at hypertrophic cartilage. Our findings suggest that mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) regulate the stimulation of biophysical ESW, triggering mitogenic and osteogenic responses in the defects. ERK phosphorylation is active throughout the period of ESW-induced bone regeneration. p38 activation most likely plays an important role in signaling cartilage formation in callus.

Nitrosoglutathione improves blood perfusion and flap survival by suppressing iNOS but protecting eNOS expression in the flap vessels after ischemia/reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on the microcirculation and free tissue survival remain controversial. With the use of a rat inferior epigastric artery flap as an ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R) model, we investigated whether exogenous NO donation regulates endogenous NO synthase (NOS) expression in the flap vessels and promotes flap survival. METHODS: Thirty minutes before flap reperfusion, normal saline (1 ml), nitrosoglutathione (GSNO 0.2, 0.6, 3 mg/kg), or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 450 mg/kg), was injected intravenously into 20 rats. Total plasma NOx (NO(2)-/NO(3)-) was measured to reflect NO production. Immunohistochemical staining was investigated for the endothelin-1 (ET-1) and NOS isoforms expression on the flap vessels. NOS isoforms expression was evaluated by Western blot. Laser-Doppler flowmetry monitored flap perfusion. Survival areas were assessed by gross examination at 7 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Flap ischemia at 12 hours followed by reperfusion resulted in endothelial cell damage, as demonstrated by induction of iNOS and ET-1 expression in the flap vessels. An optimal dose of nitrosoglutathione (0.6 mg GSNO/kg) significantly increased plasma NOx levels (P=.027) and improved flap perfusion by laser Doppler measurement (P=.014), and increased the flap viability area (P<.001). Additionally, it selectively suppressed iNOS induction, but enhanced eNOS expression and decreased ET-1 deposition in the flap vessels. In contrast, an NOS inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, inhibited both iNOS and eNOS expression in the flap vessels, decreased endogenous NOx production, and compromised flap viability. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that intravenous administration of exogenous GSNO can appropriately donate NO to suppress iNOS induction and enhance eNOS expression in pedicle vessels, resulting in better blood perfusion and a higher flap survival after I/R injury.

Extracorporeal shock waves promote healing of collagenase-induced Achilles tendinitis and increase TGF-beta1 and IGF-I expression.

Extracorporeal shock waves (ESW) have recently been used in resolving tendinitis. However, mechanisms by which ESW promote tendon repair is not fully understood. In this study, we reported that an optimal ESW treatment promoted healing of Achilles tendintis by inducing TGF-beta1 and IGF-I. Rats with the collagenease-induced Achilles tendinitis were given a single ESW treatment (0.16 mJ/mm(2) energy flux density) with 0, 200, 500 and 1000 impulses. Achilles tendons were subjected to biomechanical (load to failure and stiffness), biochemical properties (DNA, glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline content) and histological assessment. ESW with 200 impulses restored biomechanical and biochemical characteristics of healing tendons 12 weeks after treatment. However, ESW treatments with 500 and 1000 impulses elicited inhibitory effects on tendinitis repair. Histological observation demonstrated that ESW treatment resolved edema, swelling, and inflammatory cell infiltration in injured tendons. Lesion site underwent intensive tenocyte proliferation, neovascularization and progressive tendon tissue regeneration. Tenocytes at the hypertrophied cellular tissue and newly developed tendon tissue expressed strong proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) after ESW treatment, suggesting that physical ESW could increase the mitogenic responses of tendons. Moreover, the proliferation of tenocytes adjunct to hypertrophied cell aggregate and newly formed tendon tissue coincided with intensive TGF-beta1 and IGF-I expression. Increasing TGF-beta1 expression was noted in the early stage of tendon repair, and elevated IGF-I expression was persisted throughout the healing period. Together, low-energy shock wave effectively promoted tendon healing. TGF-beta1 and IGF-I played important roles in mediating ESW-stimulated cell proliferation and tissue regeneration of tendon.

The effect of surfactants on the distribution of organic compounds in the soil solid/water system.

The efficiency of soil remediation by surfactant washing was evaluated via the measured distribution coefficients of a number of nonpolar compounds in several soil-water mixtures. The studied compounds (contaminants) are BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene) and three chlorinated pesticides (lindane, alpha-BHC, and heptachlor epoxide), which span several orders of magnitude in water solubility (S(w)). A peat, and two natural soils were used that comprise a wide range in soil organic matter (SOM) content. The surfactants tested included cationic, anionic and nonionic types, with concentrations up to five to six times the critical micelle concentration (CMC). The K(d)(*)/K(d), values were used to evaluate the remediation efficiency under various operation conditions. For relatively water soluble BTEX compounds, the surfactant adsorption on the soil surface is the deciding factor on contaminant desorption from soil. For the less-soluble pesticides, surfactant micelles in solution influence the contaminant desorption more. The contaminants partitioning to SOM or adsorbed surfactants lowers the desorption efficiency. Anionic surfactants are found to be a better choice on soil remediation because they do not form admicelle on soil surface that enhances the SOM content. Cationic surfactant, which adsorb onto soil surfaces, leads to poor remediation efficiency. An improper selection of surfactant would result in inefficiency in soil remediation by surfactant washing.

miRNA-125b regulates TNF-α production in CD14+ neonatal monocytes via post-transcriptional regulation.

Neonates, although deficient in cell immunity, frequently reveal sepsis with augmented proinflammatory reactions. Here, we found that neonatal monocytes produced significantly higher TNF-α mRNA and protein than adult monocytes. Assessment of the transcriptional factor found no significant difference of NF-κB p65 level between neonatal and adult monocytes. Addition of Act D to access the half-life of TNF-α mRNA revealed no significant difference of the LPS-induced TNF-α mRNA half-life between them, whereas CHX increased neonatal TNF-α mRNA significantly. This suggests that a post-transcriptional mechanism involves the augmentation of TNF-α production by neonatal monocytes. To examine whether miRNA was involved in the post-transcriptional regulation, differential displays of miRNA array between neonatal and adult MNCs were performed, along with the discovery of hsa-miR-103, hsa-miR-125b, hsa-miR-130a, hsa-miR-454-3p, and hsa-miR-542-3p, which were greater than a twofold decrease or increase after LPS treatment for 4 h. The functional validation identified that miR-125b decreased significantly in association with higher TNF-α expression by neonatal monocytes after LPS stimulation. Transfection of the miR-125b precursor into neonatal monocytes significantly repressed the TNF-α mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that miR-125b negatively regulates TNF-α expression in neonatal monocytes. Modulation of miRNA expression may be used to regulate TNF-α production in newborns with altered proinflammatory reactions.

Suppressed TGF-beta1 expression is correlated with up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-13 in keloid regression after flashlamp pulsed-dye laser treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Flashlamp pulsed-dye lasers (PDLs) has shown effectiveness in the treatment of keloids. In this study, we investigated whether PDL treatments decreased transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-induction and up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in keloid regression. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Keloid tissues obtained from 10 patients with intra-lesional or punch biopsies before and 7 days after PDL treatments [fluence per pulse was 10-18 J/cm2 (mean 14.0 J/cm2)]. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of TGF-beta1 and MMP-1 and MMP-13 expressions in keloid tissue was performed. Western blot analysis of MMP-1 and MMP-13 expressions in extracellular matrix was evaluated. RESULTS: IHC staining indicated that expression of TGF-beta1 was significantly reduced in keloid tissues after PDL irradiation. MMP-13 but not MMP-1 expression on IHC staining significantly increased in extracellular matrix of keloid tissues after PDL treatment. Western blot analysis also showed MMP-13 but not MMP-1 significant increased in keloid tissues after PDL treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Regression of keloids regressed after PDL treatments are associated with down-regulation of TGF-beta1 expression and up-regulation of MMP-13 activity.