Cu-Co Co-Doped Microporous Coating on Titanium with Osteogenic and Antibacterial Properties.

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used in bone surgery by virtue of their excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility; however, complications such as loosening and sinking have been reported post-implantation. Herein we deposited a copper-cobalt (Cu-Co) co-doped titanium dioxide (TUO) coating on the surface of Ti implants by microarc oxidation. The osteogenic and antimicrobial properties of the coating were evaluated by in vitro experiments, and we also assessed ß-catenin expression levels on different sample surfaces. Our results revealed that the coating promoted the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of MG63 osteoblasts, and TUO coating promoted ß-catenin expression; moreover, the proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited. To summarize, we report that Cu-Co co-doping can enhance the osteogenic and antibacterial activities of orthopedic Ti implants, leading to potentially improved clinical performance.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Ameliorates Streptozotocin-induced Cognitive and Synaptic Plasticity Deficits by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Preserving AKT and ERK Activities.

Progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment are the main clinical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, there is no effective drug available for the treatment of AD. Previous studies have demonstrated that the cognitive impairment of AD is associated with oxidative stress and the inhibition of AKT and ERK phosphorylation. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been shown to have strong antioxidant effect and can protect the nervous system from oxidative stress damage. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of GSPE on the cognitive and synaptic impairments of AD using a sporadic AD rat model induced by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (ICV-STZ). Rats were treated with GSPE (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg every day) by intragastrical (ig.) administration for continuous 7 weeks, and ICV-STZ (3 mg/kg) was performed on the first day and third day of week 5. Learning and memory abilities were assessed by the Morris water maze (MWM) test at week 8. After behavioral test, hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) was recorded, and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutases (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and the protein expression of AKT and ERK were measured in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats. Our study revealed that ICV-STZ significantly impaired the working learning ability and hippocampal LTP of rats, significantly increased the levels of MDA, and decreased the activity of SOD and GSH in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. In contrast, GSPE treatment prevented the impairment of cognitive function and hippocampal LTP induced by ICV-STZ, decreased the level of MDA, and increased the level of SOD and GSH. Furthermore, Western blot results showed that GSPE treatment could prevent the loss of AKT and ERK activities in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex induced by ICV-STZ. Our findings demonstrate that GSPE treatment could ameliorate the impairment of cognitive ability and hippocampal synaptic plasticity in a rat model of sporadic AD by inhibiting oxidative stress and preserving AKT and ERK activities. Therefore, GSPE may be an effective agent for the treatment of cognitive deficits associated with sporadic AD.

Chronic administration tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside promotes hippocampal memory and synaptic plasticity and activates ERKs, CaMKII and SIRT1/miR-134 in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Polygonum multiflorum Thunb is a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-aging effect. 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (TSG) is generally considered as the main active component in Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. However, the effect of TSG on memory in adult is unclear till now. AIM OF STUDY: 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-ß-D-glucoside (TSG) is a polyphenols compound from Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic administration of TSG on hippocampal memory in normal mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Behavioral test, electrophysiology and golgi staining were used to evaluate the effect of TSG on hippocampus-dependent memory and synaptic plasticity. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of ERK1/2, CaMKII, and SIRT1. Real-time quantitative PCR was explored to measure miR-134. RESULTS: It was found that TSG enhanced hippocampus-dependent contextual fear memory and novel object recognition, facilitated hippocampal LTP and increased dendrite spine density in the CA1 region of hippocampus. TSG obviously promoted the phosphorylations of ERK1/2, CaMKII, CREB and the expression of BDNF in the hippocampus, with upregulation of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and downregulation of miR-134. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic administration of TSG promotes hippocampal memory in normal mice, suggesting that supplementary of TSG might serve as an enhancement of memory.