[Changes in plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion characteristics before and after combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum].

In this study, UPLC-MS/MS was adopted to determine the contents of five ephedrine alkaloids (Norephedrine, Norpseudoephedrine, Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Methylephedrine) in plasma and urine in rats after the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and calculate relevant pharmacokinetic parameters, in order to discuss the effect of the combined administration of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum on plasma pharmacokinetics and urinary excretion characteristics. According to the results, after being combined with Gypsum, the five ephedrine alkaloids showed similar pharmacokinetic changes, such as shortened t(max), accelerated absorption rate, but reduced AUC(0-t) and V(z)/F, which may be related to the increase in urine excretion. Besides, Gypsum was added to enhance C(max) of Pseudoephedrine and prolong MRT(0-t) of Methylephedrine, so as to enhance the anti-asthmatic effect of Ephedrae Herba and resist the toxic effect of Norephedrine and Ephedrine. This study proved the scientific compatibility of Ephedrae Herba-Gypsum Fibrosum and provided a reference for studies on the prescription compatibility regularity and relevant practices.

A rat osteoporotic spine model for the evaluation of bioresorbable bone cements.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: As the aging population increases, the rising prevalence of osteoporosis-related spine fractures will have a dramatic impact on health care. At present, mainstay treatment relies on systemic medications intended to prevent diminishing bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mass. However, an adjunctive treatment strategy is to target specific areas of the skeletal system that are prone to clinically significant osteoporotic fractures. We term this strategy the "local treatment of osteoporosis" or osteoplasty. Potential use of osteoplasty involves the percutaneous injection of bioresorbable and bioactive bone cements into bones at risk of sustaining osteoporotic fractures. Calcium sulfate (CaSO(4)) is among the candidate bioresorbable bone cements with the material attributes desirable for potential application with osteoplasty, yet previous studies on the osteoconductive properties of CaSO(4) have been limited to animal models exhibiting normal bone biology and architecture. However, osteoporotic bone physiology may potentially interfere with the material properties of common osteoconductive biomaterials, such as that of CaSO(4). To further test this hypothesis, a suitable animal model is needed to evaluate the in vivo behavior of potential biomaterials in osteoporotic bone. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the caudal (proximal tail) rat vertebral body as an appropriate system for the in vivo evaluation of bone cement performance in the osteoporotic spine. STUDY DESIGN: (1) Micro-computed tomography radiomorphometry study and (2) biomechanical vertebral compression analysis. METHODS: Female Sprague Dawley rats were ovarectomized (OVX) at age 8 weeks and subsequently maintained on a low-calcium diet for 3 months. Normal nonovarectomized female rats (NL) of similar age and size were maintained on regular rodent feed. Micro-CT analysis was performed on both the lumbar and caudal vertebrae (levels 5-7) of both groups. The following bone radiomorphometric parameters were determined: bone mineral density (BMD), average cortical thickness (ACT), average trabecular thickness (TbTh), and average trabecular spacing (TbSp). Strength and stiffness of both NL and OVX vertebral bodies were assessed under axial compression at 0.1 mm/s, whereas displacement (mm) and force (N) were measured at 10 Hz until completion to failure. After the implantation of an injectable form of CaSO(4) bone cement into caudal vertebrae, radiomorphometric analysis of cement volume, based on its unique CT absorption profile, was performed over the 8-week time period, as well as the subsequent bone response of both NL and OVX caudal vertebrae to CaSO4. RESULTS: OVX caudal vertebrae showed an 18% decrease in BMD, a 28% decrease in diaphyseal ACT, a 55% decrease in TbTh, and a 2.4-fold increase in TbSp compared with NL (p<.05). Additionally, lumbar vertebrae exhibited a 21% decrease in BMD, a 24% decrease in anterior body ACT, a 48% decrease in TbTh, and a 4.7-fold increase in TbSp (p<.05). Failure testing of OVX caudal vertebral bodies revealed a 29% decrease in strength and a 60% decrease in stiffness compared with NL (p<.01). After implantation into OVX caudal vertebrae, CaSO(4) cement exhibited a 50% decrease in initial cement volume at 2 weeks and complete resorption by 4 weeks, whereas CaSO(4) injected into NL vertebrae exhibited a 79% decrease in initial cement volume at 4 weeks, trace amounts at 6 weeks, and complete resorption by 8 weeks. At 8 weeks, NL vertebrae implanted with CaSO(4) cement exhibited increased cortical bone thickness compared with NL sham vertebrae. This CaSO(4) cement-mediated bone augmentation was altered in osteoporotic vertebrae that exhibited porous irregular cortical bone not noted in cement-treated NL vertebrae or OVX sham vertebrae. CONCLUSIONS: Future investigation of potential biomaterials intended for the local treatment of osteoporosis will require their study within an appropriate osteoporosis animal model. The OVX rat caudal spine exhibits pathologic bone changes consistent with the osteoporosis phenotype, including decreased BMD, diminished trabecular network density, cortical thinning, and decreased mechanical strength. These derangements in bone microarchitecture and physiology may contribute toward the accelerated cement resorption and altered bone response to CaSO4 observed in this study. Important advantages of the OVX rat caudal spine are the rapid and minimally invasive surgical exposure of the vertebral body and the ease of cement injection. We propose that the OVX rat caudal spine represents a valuable and cost-effective tool in the armamentarium of investigators evaluating biomaterials designed for implantation into the osteoporotic spine.

Uptake of iron by a vegetable; kaiware daikon (Japanese radish sprout).

Uptake of iron and several other minerals into kaiware daikon (Japanese radish sprout) was investigated by changing their supplementary conditions. The supplementation of calcium sulfate (0.1% (w/v), 230 ppm as calcium ion) and iron (III) chloride (0.1% (w/v), 200 ppm as iron ion) in hydroponics promoted the growth of kaiware daikon ca. 1.0-1.5 cm longer than the control group of no additions, while magnesium sulfate (0.1% (w/ v), 100 ppm as magnesium ion) did not affect the length of sprouts so much, but caused their leaves to grow a little wider. Mineral contents in the sprout were maximal when it was added, at ca. 0.1% (w/v), to the hydroponic solution. In tests regarding iron (II) ion supplementation, the color of the kaiware daikon seeds changed from brownish to black and the sprout did not grow well. In contrast, the iron (III) ion did not affect their color and promoted growth of the sprout. When the seeds were soaked in an iron (II) sulfate (75 ppm) or an ammonium iron (III) citrate (180 ppm) solution for 24 h prior to germination, the resulting kaiware daikon contained a few times higher the amount of iron than commercially available ones.

Efeito da expansäo do gesso na montagem dos modelos no articulador / Effect of gypsum expansion on the setting-up of the models in the articulador

Os autores estudaram as alteraçöes da posiçäo do pino incisal, esferas condilares e espaço inter-rebordos, por força da expansäo de presa do gesso utilizado na moldagem dos modelos no articulador T. T. Nesta pesquisa, foram realizados oito experimentos diferentes, sendo que as variáveis submetidas ao estudo foram: montagem alternada e simultânea; modelo seco e úmido; corpo de fixaçäo em forma de taça e de cilindro. Com base nos resultados encontrados, concluiu-se que: houve afastamento do pino incisal em todos os experimentos; verificou-se o afastamento das esferas condilares apenas em alguns dos experimentos; näo houve alteraçäo no espaço inter-rebordos; os modelos hidratados provocaram maiores alteraçöes do que os modelos secos; as formas do corpo de fixaçäo influíram pouco na magnitude das alteraçöes

Stimulation of bone healing by transforming growth factor-beta 1 released from polymeric or ceramic implants.

The ability to transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), to stimulate bone healing was evaluated in a rat critical calvarial defect model. Both a low dose and a high dose of TGF-beta 1 were incorporated into two different types of implants: one made from a composite of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLPG) (50:50) and demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and the other from calcium sulfate (CaSO 4). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the CaSO 4 implants were more porous than the PLPG/DBM samples. Both types of implants released biologically active TGF-beta 1 for over 300 h in vitro. The samples were implanted in a 9-mm diameter rat calvarial defect for 6 weeks along with contralateral control implants containing no TGF-beta 1. Microradiography and histological analysis were used to assess the bone healing in the defects. Microradiography revealed that the greatest amount of calcified bone (67.5%) was present in in the CaSO 4 implants containing a high dose of TGF-beta 1 while minimal new bone formation occurred in the PLPG/DBM implants. Histologically, the PLPG/DBM implants exhibited an inflammatory response with little mineralization or bone formation. The defects containing the PLPG/DBM implants consisted of a connective tissue stroma with large void spaces. Giant cells and numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes were present throughout the implants. In contrast, the CaSO 4 implants had only a few inflammatory cells and the presence of mineralization and true bone was a more consistent feature. These preliminary studies show that TGF-beta 1 is capable of inducing new bone formation. Furthermore, the materials used to deliver the growth factor can play a significant role in the bone healing process.

Distribution of selenium-binding proteins in different tissues of the mouse and rat.

The distribution of selenium-binding proteins in specific tissues of mice and rats was examined by electrophoretic and immunologic techniques. Major selenium-binding proteins of 58K and 26K daltons were present in whole blood, erythrocytes, liver, duodenum, mammary tumors, kidney, testis, ovary and pancreas by electrophoretic analysis. By Western immunoblot it was evident that the 58K protein in plasma did not cross-react with the cellular 58 K protein. Furthermore, muscle did not exhibit any immunologically recognizable 58K protein. The antibody raised against mouse liver 58K recognized a similar protein in rat liver, kidney and testis. The 58K selenium-binding protein appeared to be concentrated in tissues enriched in G1 and the effect of hydroxyurea on selenium-binding protein levels suggested the 58K selenium-binding protein appeared to be made predominantly during the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Evidence is also presented that whole blood contains selenium bound to hemoglobin which supports prior evidence by other investigators. These results further support the evidence for tissue selenium-binding proteins other than glutathione peroxidase and document the immunological specificity and reactivity of a new antibody against a selenium-binding protein.