Reconstruction of Segmental Bone Defect in Canine Tibia Model Utilizing Bi-Phasic Scaffold: Pilot Study.

The reunion and restoration of large segmental bone defects pose significant clinical challenges. Conventional strategies primarily involve the combination of bone scaffolds with seeded cells and/or growth factors to regulate osteogenesis and angiogenesis. However, these therapies face inherent issues related to immunogenicity, tumorigenesis, bioactivity, and off-the-shelf transplantation. The biogenic micro-environment created by implanted bone grafts plays a crucial role in initiating the bone regeneration cascade. To address this, a highly porous bi-phasic ceramic synthetic bone graft, composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) and alumina (Al), was developed. This graft was employed to repair critical segmental defects, involving the creation of a 2 cm segmental defect in a canine tibia. The assessment of bone regeneration within the synthetic bone graft post-healing was conducted using scintigraphy, micro-CT, histology, and dynamic histomorphometry. The technique yielded pore sizes in the range of 230-430 µm as primary pores, 40-70 µm as secondary inner microchannels, and 200-400 nm as tertiary submicron surface holes. These three components are designed to mimic trabecular bone networks and to provide body fluid adsorption, diffusion, a nutritional supply, communication around the cells, and cell anchorage. The overall porosity was measured at 82.61 ± 1.28%. Both micro-CT imaging and histological analysis provided substantial evidence of robust bone formation and the successful reunion of the critical defect. Furthermore, an histology revealed the presence of vascularization within the newly formed bone area, clearly demonstrating trabecular and cortical bone formation at the 8-week mark post-implantation.

Drug Development from Natural Products Based on the Pathogenic Mechanism of Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pulmonary system associated with many wheeze-to-sleep apnea complications that may lead to death. In 2019, approximately 262 million patients suffered from asthma, and 455 thousand died from the disease worldwide. It is a more severe health problem in children and older adults, and as the aging of society intensifies, the problem will continue to worsen. Asthma inducers can be classified as indoor and outdoor allergens and can cause asthma due to their repeated invasion. There are several theories about asthma occurrence, such as the imbalance between Th1 and Th2, inflammation in the pulmonary system, and the abnormal apoptosis/cell proliferation of cells related to asthma. Although there are many medications for asthma, as it is an incurable disease, the purpose of the drugs is only to suppress the symptoms. The current drugs can be divided into relievers and controllers; however, as they have many adverse effects, such as immune suppression, growth retardation, promotion of cataracts, hyperactivity, and convulsions, developing new asthma drugs is necessary. Although natural products can have adverse effects, the development of asthma drugs from natural products may be beneficial, as some have anti-asthmatic effects such as immune modulation, anti-inflammation, and/or apoptosis modulation.

Gintonin Alleviates HCl/Ethanol- and Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Mice.

Gintonin, newly extracted from ginseng, is a glycoprotein that acts as an exogenous lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) receptor ligand. This study aimed to demonstrate the in vivo preventive effects of gintonin on gastric damage. ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups: a normal group (received saline, 0.1 mL/10 g, p.o.); a control group (administered 0.3 M HCl/ethanol, 0.1 mL/10 g, p.o.) or indomethacin (30 mg/kg, p.o.); gintonin at two different doses (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, p.o.) with either 0.3 M HCl/ethanol or indomethacin; and a positive control (Ranitidine, 40 mg/kg, p.o.). After gastric ulcer induction, the gastric tissue was examined to calculate the ulcer index. The expression of gastric damage markers, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and LPA2 and LPA5 receptors, were measured by Western blotting. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1), Evans blue, and occludin levels in gastric tissues were measured using immunofluorescence analysis. Both HCl/ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers showed increased TNF-α, IL-6, Evans blue permeation, and PECAM-1, and decreased COX-2, PGE2, occludin, and LPA5 receptor expression levels. However, oral administration of gintonin alleviated the gastric ulcer index induced by HCl/ethanol and indomethacin in a dose-dependent manner. Gintonin suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 expression, but increased COX-2 expression and PGE2 levels in mouse gastric tissues. Gintonin intake also increased LPA5 receptor expression in mouse gastric tissues. These results indicate that gintonin can play a role in gastric protection against gastric damage induced by HCl/ethanol or indomethacin.

Socheongryongtang suppresses COPD-related changes in the pulmonary system through both cytokines and chemokines in a LPS COPD model.

Context: Socheongryongtang is a traditional Korean medical prescription used to treat pulmonary diseases.Objective: This study investigated the therapeutic mechanism of socheongryongtang for pulmonary diseases.Materials and methods: Seventy BALB/c mice were used: control, 0.8 mg/kg/study LPS intranasal instillation, 1 mg/kg/day Spiriva oral administration for five days, two socheongryongtang groups (150 or 1500 mg/kg/day orally treatment for five days). To illuminate the anti-COPD mechanism, several factors were evaluated such as WBC and differential counts in BALF and IgE in serum, morphological changes, and changes of COPD-related cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-ß) and chemokines (CXCL1, CCL-2, CCR2) in the lung. In order to confirm the statistical significance, all results were compared under p < 0.01 and p < 0.05.Results: LPS induced a high level of WBC, neutrophils and eosinophils in our in vivo study. Additionally, COPD related cytokines and chemokines such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-ß, CXCL1, CCL-2 and CCR2 were induced by LPS. Compared to the LPS treatment group, socheongryongtang significantly controlled the level of WBC, neutrophils and eosinophils as well as the level of IgE. It effectively down-regulated the morphological changes, such as fibrosis near bronchoalveolar spaces, small airway destruction (emphysema), etc. It also inhibited the levels of COPD-related cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, TGF-ß) and chemokines (CXCL1, CCL-2, CCR2) compared to the LPS treatment group. In particular, socheongryongtang significantly down-regulated the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and CCR2.Conclusions: Socheongryongtang controlled COPD, but as it has been used as a prescription for respiratory disease, we should additionally evaluate the therapeutic effects against various pulmonary diseases.

Effects of Harvest Time on Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Activities of Panax ginseng Berry Extracts.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) has long been used as a traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Generally, the harvest time and age of ginseng have been regarded as important factors determining the efficacy of ginseng. However, most studies have mainly focused on the root of ginseng, while studies on other parts of ginseng such as its berry have been relatively limited. Thus, the aim of this study iss to determine effects of harvest time on yields, phenolics/ginsenosides contents, and the antioxidant/anti-elastase activities of ethanol extracts of three- and four-year-old ginseng berry. In both three- and fourfour-year-old ginseng berry extracts, antioxidant and anti-elastase activities tended to increase as berries ripen from the first week to the last week of July. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis has revealed that contents of ginsenosides except Rg1 tend to be the highest in fourfour-year-old ginseng berries harvested in early July. These results indicate that biological activities and ginsenoside profiles of ginseng berry extracts depend on their age and harvest time in July, suggesting the importance of harvest time in the development of functional foods and medicinal products containing ginseng berry extracts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the influence of harvest time on the biological activity and ginsenoside contents of ginseng berry extracts.

Analysis of the Active Constituents and Evaluation of the Biological Effects of Quercus acuta Thunb. (Fagaceae) Extracts.

We evaluated the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of hexnane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol, ethanol, and water extracts of the Quercus acuta leaf. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and total phenolic content. Antibacterial activity was assessed against general infectious pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant clinical isolates. The methanolic extract showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content, while the reducing power was the highest in the water extract. The ethyl acetate extract showed the best antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Additionally, it displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus KCTC1928, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Salmonella typhimurium KCTC 1925, Escherichia coli KCTC 1923, and eight MRSA strains. These results present basic information for the possible uses of the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts from Q. acuta leaf in the treatment of diseases that are caused by oxidative imbalance and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Six active compounds, including vitamin E, which are known to possess antioxidant and antibacterial activity, were identified from the extracts. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the chemical profiling and antibacterial effects of the various QA leaf extracts, suggesting their potential use in food therapy or alternative medicine.

Transformation of Escherichia coli and protein expression using lipoplex mimicry.

We investigated a "one-step" method for transformation of and protein expression in Escherichia coli (E. coli) using a complex of n-stearylamine, a cationic lipid, and plasmid DNA, which mimics lipoplex-based approaches. When E. coli cells were treated with the cationic lipid-plasmid complex, the transformation efficiencies were in the range of approximately 2-3 × 10(6) colony-forming units. Further increase in the efficiency was obtained by co-treatment with calcium chloride (or rubidium chloride) and the complexes. Moreover, after DNA transfer, E. coli cells successfully expressed plasmid-encoded proteins such as cytochrome P450s and glutathione-S-transferase without overnight incubation of the cells to form colonies, an indispensable step in other bacterial transformation methods. In this study, we provide a simple method for E. coli transformation, which does not require the preparation of competent cells. The present method also shortens the overall procedures for transformation and gene expression in E. coli by omitting the colony-forming step.

Cargo-Free Nanoparticles Containing Cationic Lipids Induce Reactive Oxygen Species and Cell Death in HepG2 Cells.

Nanoparticles (NPs) containing cationic monovalent lipids such as 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) and N-(1-[2,3-dioleyloxy]propyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA), have been widely used for the delivery of nucleic acid such as small-interfering RNA and polypeptide to cells as cancer therapies and vaccine development. Several previous reports have suggested that cationic liposomes induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS-mediated toxicity in cells. Here, we systematically investigated the effects of DOTAP- or DOTMA-containing NPs without any cargo on the human carcinoma cells, HepG2. Treatment with NPs containing DOTAP or DOTMA increased the production of cellular ROS, such as H2O2 and lipid peroxidation, in HepG2 cells and concomitantly decreased cell viability. These effects were dependent on the lipid concentration, surface density of cationic lipids, and particle size of NPs. However, neutral NPs consisting of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-phosphocholine did not elicit the effective ROS generation or cell death regardless of the lipid concentration and particle size. The present study suggests that DOTAP- and DOTMA-NPs are able to induce cancer cell death through production of ROS in the absence of any therapeutic cancer reagents. These results also provide a rational background for the design of delivery systems using cationic lipid-based NP formulations.

HPLC Analysis, Optimization of Extraction Conditions and Biological Evaluation of Corylopsis coreana Uyeki Flos.

A method for the separation and quantification of three flavonoids and one isocoumarin by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been developed and validated. Four constituents present in a crude ethanolic extract of the flowers of Coryloposis coreana Uyeki, were analyzed. Bergenin, quercetin, quercitrin and isosalipurposide were used as calibration standards. In the present study, an excellent linearity was obtained with an r² higher than 0.999. The chromatographic peaks showed good resolution. In combination with other validation data, including precision, specificity, and accuracy, this method demonstrated good reliability and sensitivity, and can be conveniently used for the quantification of bergenin, quercetin, quercitrin and isosalipurposide in the crude ethanolic extract of C. coreana Uyeki flos. Furthermore, the plant extracts were analyzed with HPLC to determine the four constituents and compositional differences in the extracts obtained under different extraction conditions. Several extracts of them which was dependent on the ethanol percentage of solvent were also analyzed for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. One hundred % ethanolic extract from C. coreana Uyeki flos showed the best antimicrobial activity against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain. Eighty % ethanolic extract showed the best antioxidant activity and phenolic content. Taken of all, these results suggest that the flower of C. coreana Uyeki flos may be a useful source for the cure and/or prevention of septic arthritis, and the validated method was useful for the quality control of C. coreana Uyeki.

The Effect of Thymosin ß4 for Osteoblast Adhesion on Titanium Surface.

Titanium (Ti) is the most widely used implant material in dentistry and orthopedics but the release of metal ions from Ti implants results in increased bone resorption by enhancing the production of inflammatory cytokines from the macrophages and facilitating osteoclast differentiation. Thymosin ß4 (Tß4) has several biological activities, such as promoting wound healing, angiogenesis, cell proliferation and migration in mammalian cells. This study examined the role of Tß4 in osteoblasts via focal adhesions (FAs) and ERK1/2 signaling related to cell adhesion and proliferation for cell survival on the Ti surface. As a result, cell adhesion and proliferation increased in the Tß4 treated cells (Tß4/MC3T3-E1) but was significantly lower in the Tß4 knock-down cells by Tß4-siRNA (si-Tß4/MC3T3-E1) than that of the untreated cells. The levels of FAK phosphorylation, paxillin expression, and paxillin localization were higher in the Tß4/IMC3T3-E1 cells than that of the untreated cells but lower in the si-Tß4/MC3T3-E1 cells. In addition, the levels of cell proliferation, Grb2 and Ras protein expression and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 were higher in the Tß4/MC3T3-E1 cells than in the untreated cells but lower in the si-Tß4/IMC3T3-E1 cells. These results suggest that Tß4 might be a good nanomolecule that promotes osteoblast survival by facilitating adhesion and proliferation on the Ti surface.

Affinity purification of recombinant human cytochrome P450s 3A4 and 1A2 using mixed micelle systems.

Recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP or P450) enzymes are useful for drug metabolism research and thereby many expression and purification systems have been developed. Here, we provide a method for the purification of human P450s 3A4 and 1A2 expressed in Escherichia coli using mixed micelles containing anionic phospholipids. This method does not require any protein-tagging system for protein isolation and has a further advantage that the purification is concomitantly conducted with reconstitution of the enzymes into a phospholipid environment, which is crucial for the catalytic activity assay of P450 enzyme. This method may also be applied to high-throughput catalytic assays of the enzymes because the purification procedures can be undertaken in a 96-well plate.

Capillary action: enrichment of retention and habitation of cells via micro-channeled scaffolds for massive bone defect regeneration.

The development of a biomaterial substitute that can promote bone regeneration in massive defects has remained as a significant clinical challenge even using bone marrow cells or growth factors. Without an active, thriving cell population present throughout and stable anchored to the construct, exceptional bone regeneration does not occur. An engineered micro-channel structures scaffold within each trabecular has been designed to overcome some current limitations involving the cultivation and habitation of cells in large, volumetric scaffolds to repair massive skeletal defect. We created a scaffold with a superior fluid retention capacity that also may absorb bone marrow cells and provide growth factor-containing body fluids such as blood clots and/or serum under physiological conditions. The scaffold is composed of 3 basic structures (1) porous trabecular network (300-400 µm) similar to that of human trabecular bones, (2) micro-size channels (25-70 µm) within each trabecular septum which mimic intra-osseous channels such as Haversian canals and Volkmann's canals with body fluid access, diffusion, nutritional supply and gas exchange, and (3) nano-size pores (100-400 nm) on the surface of each septum that allow immobilized cells to anchor. Combinatorial effects of these internal structures result in a host-adapting construct that enhances cell retention and habitation throughout the 3 cm-height and 4 cm-length bridge-shaped scaffold.

Ameliorative effects of pine bark extract on spermatotoxicity by α-chlorohydrin in rats.

We investigated the protective effects of pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®, PYC, Horphag Research Ltd., Route de Belis, France) against α-chlorohydrin (ACH)-induced spermatotoxicity in rats. Rats were orally administered ACH (30 mg/kg/day) with or without PYC (20 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Administration of ACH significantly decreased sperm motility. α-Chlorohydrin also caused histopathological alterations and apoptotic changes in caput epididymides. An increased malondialdehyde concentration and decreased glutathione content, as well as catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were also found. In contrast, PYC treatment significantly prevented ACH-induced spermatotoxicity, including decreased sperm motility, histopathological lesions, and apoptotic changes in the caput epididymis. Pycnogenol® also had an antioxidant benefit by decreasing malondialdehyde and increasing levels of the antioxidant glutathione and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes catalase and peroxidase in epididymal tissues. These results indicate that PYC treatment attenuated ACH-induced spermatotoxicity through antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects.

Ginseng Berry Juice (GBJ) Regulates the Inflammation in Acute Ulcerative Mouse Models and the Major Bioactive Substances Are Ginsenosides Rb3, Rc, Rd, and Re.

Panax ginseng fruit is known to have various biological effects owing to its large amount of saponins such as ginsenosides. In the present study, ginseng berry juice was confirmed to be effective against acute inflammation. Ginseng berry juice was used for analysis of active constituents, antioxidant efficacy, and in vivo inflammation. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used for analysis of ginsenosides. In an HCl/ethanol-induced acute gastric injury model, microscopic, immunofluorescent, and immunohistochemical techniques were used for analysis of inhibition of gastric injury and mechanism study. In a mouse model of acute gastritis induced with HCl/ethanol, ginseng berry juice (GBJ, 250 mg/kg) showed similar gastric injury inhibitory effects as cabbage water extract (CB, 500 mg/kg, P.O). GBJ dose-dependently modulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Interleukin-13 (IL-13). GBJ inhibited the activation of Nuclear Factor kappa bB (NF-κB) and suppressed the expressions of cyclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin 2 (PGE2). The anti-inflammatory effect of GBJ is attributed to ginsenosides which have anti-inflammatory effects. Productivity as an effective food source for acute gastritis was analyzed and showed that GBJ was superior to CB. In addition, as a functional food for suppressing acute ulcerative symptoms, it was thought that the efficacy of gastric protection products would be higher if GBJ were produced in the form of juice rather than through various extraction methods.

Therapeutic treatments for diabetes mellitus-induced liver injury by regulating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that affects all systems in the body, including the liver. Numerous studies have reported that chronic DM etiology and pathogenesis complications implicate oxidative stress, generating reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anions and free radicals. In addition, pro-inflammatory reactions are also underlying functions closely related to oxidative stress that further exacerbate pathological DM states. The liver is especially susceptible to hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and the related inflammation. Thus, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation therapies are promising strategies for treating liver damage. This review summarizes therapeutic treatments attenuating the generation of oxidative stress and pro-inflammation, which also cause DM-induced liver injury. Although the treatments have several impediments to be solved, these remedies may have clinically important implications under the absence of effective drugs for the damaged liver in DM patients.

Partial Purification and Biochemical Evaluation of Protease Fraction (MA-1) from Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii and Its Fibrinolytic Effect.

The antioxidative proteolytic fraction, MA-1, was partially purified from Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii. MA-1 was purified to homogeneity using a two-step procedure, which resulted in an 89-fold increase in specific activity and 42.5% recovery. SDS-PAGE revealed two proteins with a molecular weight of 48 kDa. The zymography results revealed proteolytic activity based on the MA-1 band. MA-1 was found to be stable in the presence of Na+, Ca2+, Fe3+, K+, and Mg2+. MA-1 was also stable in methanol, ethanol, and acetone, and its enzyme activity increased by 15% in SDS. MA-1 was inhibited by ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid or ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid and exerted the highest specificity for the substrate, MeO-Suc-Arg-Pro-Tyr-pNA, for chymotrypsin. Accordingly, MA-1 belongs to the family of chymotrypsin-like metalloproteins. The optimum temperature was 40 °C and stability was stable in the range of 20 to 35 °C. The optimum pH and stability were pH 5.5 and pH 4-11. MA-1 exhibited stronger fibrinolytic activity than plasmin. MA-1 hydrolyzed the Aα, Bß, and γ chains of fibrinogen within 2 h. MA-1 exhibited an antithrombotic effect in animal models. MA-1 was devoid of hemorrhagic activity at a dose of 80,000 U/kg. Overall, our results show that M. aitchisonii produces an acid-tolerant and antioxidative chymotrypsin-like fibrinolytic enzyme, and M. aitchisonii containing MA-1 could be a beneficial functional material for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and possible complications.

Chlorogenic acid attenuates pro-inflammatory response in the blood of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Chlorogenic acid (CGA) has been shown to reduce pro-inflammation by scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species. In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of CGA was expanded to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The inter-relationships among oxidative stress, pro-inflammation, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A enzymes were also investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of STZ-diabetic rats. RESULTS: The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, increased by approximately 3.4- and 2.9-fold, respectively, and the albumin concentration decreased in the serum of STZ-induced diabetic rats compared to normal rats. The C-reactive protein (CRP) values also increased by about 3.8-fold higher, indicating that STZ induced an inflammation in the blood of STZ-diabetic rats. The expression levels and catalytic activities of CYP1A enzymes were elevated by approximately 2.2-2.5- and 4.3-6.7-fold, respectively, in the PBMC of STZ-treated rats. A decrease in the amount of PBMC-bound albumin was also observed. In contrast, the levels of cytokines and CRP in serum and the activities of CYP1A enzymes in PBMC were significantly reduced in CGA-treated diabetic rats in a CGA concentration-dependent manner. In addition, STZ-mediated elevation of ROS in serum and PBMC was decreased by the CGA administration. However, the CGA treatment did not change the enhanced blood glucose level and expression of CYP1A enzymes by STZ. STZ-mediated decrease in the levels of serum and PBMC-bound albumin was not also restored by the CGA administration. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that CGA could be used to treat type 1 diabetes-induced inflammation.

Cryptotanshinone reverses reproductive and metabolic disturbances in prenatally androgenized rats via regulation of ovarian signaling mechanisms and androgen synthesis.

This trial explores 1) prenatally androgenized (PNA) rats as a model of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and 2) reproductive and metabolic effects of cryptotanshinone in PNA ovaries. On days 16-18 of pregnancy, 10 rats were injected with testosterone propionate (PNA mothers) and 10 with sesame oil (control mothers). At age 3 mo, 12 female offspring from each group were randomly assigned to receive saline and 12 cryptotanshinone treatment during 2 wk. Before treatment, compared with the 24 controls, the 24 PNA rats had 1) disrupted estrous cycles, 2) higher 17-hydroxyprogesterone (P = 0.030), androstenedione (P = 0.016), testosterone and insulin (P values = 0.000), and glucose (P = 0.047) levels, and 3) higher areas under the curve (AUC) for glucose (AUC-Glu, P = 0.025) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, P = 0.008). After treatment, compared with vehicle-treated PNA rats, cryptotanshinone-treated PNA rats had 1) improved estrous cycles (P = 0.045), 2) reduced 17-hydroxyprogesterone (P = 0.041), androstenedione (P = 0.038), testosterone (P = 0.003), glucose (P = 0.036), and insulin (P = 0.041) levels, and 3) lower AUC-Glu (P = 0.045) and HOMA-IR (P = 0.024). Western blot showed that cryptotanshinone reversed the altered protein expressions of insulin receptor substrate-1 and -2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase p85α, glucose transporter-4, ERK-1, and 17α-hydroxylase within PNA ovaries. We conclude that PNA model rats exhibit reproductive and metabolic phenotypes of human PCOS and that regulation of key molecules in insulin signaling and androgen synthesis within PNA ovaries may explain cryptotanshinone's therapeutic effects.

Respiratory and Systemic Toxicity of Inhaled Artificial Asian Sand Dust in Pigs.

Air pollution, particularly caused by Asian sand dust (ASD) and particulate matter (PM), has become one of the leading threats to public health. However, the majority of studies have primarily focused on epidemiological assessment, and in vivo toxicities of certain air pollutants have been poorly elucidated in medium/large-size laboratory animals. To investigate the impact of ASD in domestic animals, 16 Landrace pigs were exposed to an artificial ASD sandstorm for 6 h. All animals were divided in four cages, and a commercial yellow soil was used for generating artificial mineralogical particles. Blood samples were collected, and necropsies were performed before exposure and 6, 12, 24, and 72 h after exposure. Complete blood cell count and the levels of serum biochemical enzymes, blood gas, electrolytes, and a variety of inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. In addition, histopathological examination was conducted. Various test results proved acute lower airway disorders with systemic inflammation in pigs. To our knowledge, this study is the first to describe experimental research in domestic animals concerning the damage caused by artificial ASD exposure. The results of this study suggest that ASD has importance in terms of not only public health but also of ultimate economic losses in the pork industry.

Multiple Porous Synthetic Bone Graft Comprising EngineeredMicro-Channel for Drug Carrier and Bone Regeneration.

Due to high demand but limited supply, there has been an increase in the need to replace autologous bone grafts with alternatives that fulfill osteogenic requirements. In this study, two different types of bone grafts were tested for their drug carrying abilities along with their osteogenic properties. Two different types of alendronate-loaded bone grafts, Bio-Oss (bovine bone graft) and InRoad (biphasic synthetic bone graft) were observed to see how different concentrations of alendronate would affect the sustained release to enhance osteogenesis. In this study, defected ovariectomize-induced osteoporotic rat calvarias were observed for 28 days with three different concentrations of alendronate (0 mg, 1 mg, 5 mg) for both Bio-Oss and InRoad. A higher concentration (5 mg) allowed for a more controlled and sustained release throughout the 28-day comparison to those of lower concentrations (0 mg, 1 mg). When comparing Bio-Oss and InRoad through histology and Micro-CT, InRoad showed higher enhancement in osteogenesis. Through this study, it was observed that alendronate not only brings out robust osteogenesis with InRoad bone grafts, but also enhances bone regeneration in an alendronate-concentration-dependent manner. The combination of higher concentration of alendronate and multiple porous bone graft containing internal micro-channel structure of InRoad resulted in higher osteogenesis with a sustained release of alendronate.