Biphasic photobiomodulation of inflammation in mouse models of common wounds, infected wounds, and diabetic wounds.

Bidirectional photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy is an active research area. However, most studies have focused on its dependence on optical parameters rather than on its tissue-dependent effects. We constructed mouse models of wounds in three inflammatory states (normal, low, and high levels of inflammations) to assess the bidirectional regulatory effect of PBM on inflammation. Mice were divided into three groups to prepare common wounds, diabetic wounds, and bacteria-infected wounds. The same PBM protocol was used to regularly irradiate the wounds over a 14 d period. PBM promoted healing of all three kinds of wounds, but the inflammatory manifestations in each were significantly different. In common wounds, PBM slightly increased the aggregation of inflammatory cells and expression of IL-6 but had no effect on the inflammatory score. For wounds in a high level of inflammation caused by infection, PBM significantly increased TNF-α expression in the first 3 d of treatment but quickly eliminated inflammation after the acute phase. For the diabetic wounds in a low level of inflammation, PBM intervention significantly increased inflammation scores and prevented neutrophils from falling below baseline levels at the end of the 14 d observation period. Under fixed optical conditions, PBM has a bidirectional (pro- or anti-inflammatory) effect on inflammation, depending on the immune state of the target organism and the presence of inflammatory stimulants. Our results provide a basis for the formulation of clinical guidelines for PBM application.

Protective Effects of Apocynum venetum Against Pirarubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity.

Pirarubicin (THP) is an anthracycline antibiotic, frequently used for the treatment of various human cancers. Unfortunately, the clinical effectiveness of THP is limited by its dose-related cardiotoxicity. Apocynum leaf extract is an extract of the dried leaves of Apocynum venetum L. (a member of the Apocynaceae family, AVLE) that has many positive effects on the cardiovascular system and is widely consumed as tea in China. In this study we established a cardiactoxicity rat model, which showed that pretreatment with AVLE attenuated THP-induced myocardial histopathological injury, electrocardiogram abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction. AVLE also significantly reduced serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cardiac troponin (CTnT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); and increased serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Treatment with AVLE or dexrazoxane (DZR) resulted in an increase Cytochrome C (cytc) in the mitochondria and reduced Cytc and cleaved-caspase-3 levels (p<0.05) in cytoplasm. We also found that AVLE significantly reduced voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), adenosine nucleotide transporter 1 (ANT1), and cyclophilin D (CYPD) mRNA expression (p<0.05). Furthermore, AVLE appeared to exert therapeutic effects in a dose-dependent manner. Our study suggests the anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties of AVLE may be responsible for the observed cardioprotective effects.

[Changes of hypothalamus and peripheral orphanin in fetal rats with intrauterine ischemia and hypoxia].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of orphanin in the perinatal ischemia-hypoxia. METHODS: The concentration of hypothalamus and peripheral orphanin were measured by radioimmunoassay. Animal model of perinatal ischemia-hypoxia was set up by ligating uterine vessels. All the rats were delivered by cesarean section and scored according to respiration, heart beat, skin color, muscle tone and reflex after delivery. RESULTS: (1) The levels of orphanin in hypothalamus and peripheral blood in group B were (114 +/- 21) pg/g and (58 +/- 11) ng/L respectively. In group A, the were (71 +/- 14) pg/g and (31 +/- 7) ng/L respectively, the levels of orphanin in group B increased significantly when compared with the group A (P < 0.05). In control group, the levels of orphanin were (48 +/- 9) pg/g and (19 +/- 4) ng/L. The levels of orphanin in group A and B were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (2) The Apgar scores in groups A and B were significantly decreased than that in control group (P < 0.01). The group A pups had significantly better scores than the group B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The perinatal ischemia and hypoxia was associated with orphanin, the changes of orphanin levels may play an important role in the pathophysiological changes in perinatal ischemia and hypoxia.