hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 expressed in implanted BMSCs synergistically promote the repairing of segmental bone defects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of co-expressing hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 in BMSCs (bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells) on the repairing process of radial segmental defects in rats. METHODS: BMSCs were infected with a high titer recombinant adenovirus carrying hTGF-ßl and/or hBMP-2 genes. Expression of exogenous genes in BMSCs was confirmed by RT-PCR and ELISA assays. In vitro effects of exogenous genes were assessed by MTT and ALP activity tests. A left radial defect model was created using 120 SD rats. Genetically modified or unmodified BMSCs were implanted with collagen sponge scaffolds into the 5-mm radial defect. The bone repair process was systematically monitored and evaluated by X-ray examinations, gross anatomic examinations, histological analyses, and biomechanical tests. RESULTS: Expression of hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 showed synergistic effects on promoting BMSC proliferation and enhancing ALP activity in vitro. Bone repair assays showed that hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 promoted the production of chondrocytes and osteoblasts. Implanted BMSCs transfected with both hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 led to the best bone repair outcome. CONCLUSION: hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 can synergistically improve the bone repair process. Our results suggest a potential clinical value of combining hBMP-2 and hTGF-ß1 in repairing bone defects.

A novel hybrid sensor array based on the polyphenol oxidase and its nanozymes combined with the machine learning based dual output model to identify tea polyphenols and Chinese teas.

A novel sensor array was developed based on the enzyme/nanozyme hybridization for the identification of tea polyphenols (TPs) and Chinese teas. The enzyme/nanozyme with polyphenol oxidase activity can catalyze the reaction between TPs and 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) to produce differences in color, and the sensor array was thus constructed to accurately identify TPs mixed in different species, concentrations, or ratios. In addition, a machine learning based dual output model was further used to effectively predict the classes and concentrations of unknown samples. Therefore, the qualitative and quantitative detection of TPs can be realized continuously and quickly. Furthermore, the sensor array combining the machine learning based dual output model was also utilized for the identification of Chinese teas. The method can distinguish the six teas series in China, and then precisely differentiate the more specific tea varieties. This study provides an efficient and facile strategy for the identification of teas and tea products.

Application of Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion Combined with Bridge-Locking Cage in Adjacent Segment Disease After Lumbar Fusion.

OBJECTIVE: Adjacent segment disease (ASD) is considered any abnormal process that develops in the mobile segment next to spinal fusion, accompanied by related symptoms. To evaluate the efficacy and complications of oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) combined with bridge-locking fusion on ASD after lumbar fusion. METHODS: A total of 35 ASD patients who required re-operation after lumbar fusion in our hospital from March 2014 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed, among which 13 cases (seven males and six females; 62.3 ± 11.3 years old) received the treatment of OLIF + bridge-locking cage internal fixation (OLIF group), and 22 cases (14 males and eight females; 52.3 ± 17.8 years old) received the treatment of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) + pedicle screw fixation (TLIF group). The comparison of the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and length of hospital stay between the two groups of patients was performed using the t-test. The comparison of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at different time points before and after the operation was performed using analysis of variance for repeated measurement data. The fusion rate and postoperative complications of the two groups of patients were also evaluated. RESULTS: The operation time of patients in the OLIF group (55.4 ± 12.4 min) was significantly shorter than that of patients in the TLIF group (94.3 ± 22.9 min) (P < 0.05), the length of stay of patients in the OLIF group (7.4 ± 2.3 day) was significantly shorter than that of patients in the TLIF group (12.4 ± 3.2 day) (P < 0.05); the intraoperative blood loss (62.2 ± 30.1 mL) and postoperative drainage (47.3 ± 22.4 mL) of patients in the OLIF group were significantly less than those of patients in the TLIF group with intraoperative blood loss (363.4 ± 120.2 mL) and postoperative drainage (285.5 ± 57.8 mL) (all Ps < 0.05). Besides, the VAS and ODI scores of the two groups of patients were improved 3 months after the operation and at the last follow-up (all Ps < 0.05). Three patients in the OLIF group developed complications such as hip flexion weakness and fusion cage sink, with an incidence of 23.1%. Three patients in the TLIF group developed complications including wound infection and intraoperative nerve injury, with an incidence of 22.7%. CONCLUSION: The combination of OLIF and bridge-locking cage may be a safe and effective therapy for ASD patients after lumbar fusion operation.

Therapeutic efficacy of TACE 125I seed implantation and its combination with intra-tumor injection of cisplatin for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with either 125I seed implantation or 125I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 100 patients with HCC were analyzed. The control group (n = 50) received TACE combined with 125I seed implantation therapy. The therapy group (n = 50) was treated with an intra-tumor injection of cisplatin along with TACE and 125I seed implantation therapy. After treatment, routine blood, liver and kidney function, tumor volume, T lymphocyte subset count (CD3, CD4, and CD8), implanted metastases, and survival were studied. RESULTS: The tumor volume decreased by 27.4% on average in the control group, and by 38.6% in the therapy group. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level decreased in all cases, and it was significantly lower in the therapy group than in the control group. Remote metastasis was observed in both groups (7 in the control group and 3 in the therapy group). No significant difference in routine blood, liver and kidney function, and T-lymphocyte subset counts were found between the two groups. Eight patients died of metastases in the control group and 2 in the therapy group at 1-year follow-up (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TACE combined with either 125I seed implantation or 125I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin was effective for the treatment of HCC. Of the 2 combination therapies, TACE combined with 125I seed implantation and intra-tumor injection of cisplatin was more effective for the treatment of HCC.

Resveratrol promotes axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury through activating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by autonomic dysreflexia, chronic pain, sensory and motor deficits. Resveratrol has shown potential neuroprotective function in several neurodegenerative diseases' models. However, if resveratrol could improve the function recovery after SCI and the further mechanism have not been investigated. METHODS: SCI rat model was established through laminectomy at lamina T9-10 aseptically. Basso, beattie and bresnahan (BBB) and inclined plane score, sensory recovery, spinal cord content, and inflammatory factors were measured. The levels of GAP43, NF421, GFAP, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 were measured using immunohistochemical staining. Tunel staining was applied to detect apoptosis level. RESULTS: Resveratrol significantly improved the function recovery, promoted axonal regeneration, suppressed apoptosis after SCI. The activation of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway was achieved by resveratrol. XAV939 significantly reversed the influence of resveratrol on function recovery, axonal regeneration, apoptosis after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol could promote the function recovery and axonal regeneration, improve histological damage, inhibit apoptosis level after SCI through regulating Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. This research expanded the regulatory mechanism of resveratrol in SCI injury.

Surgical management for sciatic nerve injury.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize surgical treatments and their corresponding curative effects on sciatic nerve injuries. METHODS: Surgical treatments on sciatic nerve injury were performed in 28 patients from January 1990 to July 2000. The treatments included neurolysis, neurolysis plus partial nerve anastomosis, nerve anastomosis and nerve transplantation. The curative effect was evaluated according to Sunderland criteria. RESULTS: Of 28 cases, 22 patients were followed up with a follow-up period of 13 months to 5 years (average 30 months). Of 22 nerves, 7 were excellent, 5 good, 7 fair and 3 poor, with an excellence rate of 54.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The fair results of sciatic nerve injury are related to its structural character. Surgical exploration should be performed if nerve function does not recover 3 months after primary operation and if Tinel's sign and electromyogram show no signs of nerve regeneration. Electrophysiological monitoring in the operation is useful in electing surgical methods and predicting the results of nerve anastomosis.

Use of a self-designed bladder controller for restoring bladder function in paraplegic dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of a self-designed bladder controller for restoring micturition function in paraplegic dogs. METHODS: The spinal cords of 4 dogs were transected above the cone. Electrodes were implanted in S2 bilaterally and connected to the subcutaneous receivers for external activation. Microsurgical technique was employed to perform dorsal rhizotomy of S1-3 intradurally. The dogs were stimulated daily to observe micturition. Urodynamic testing and vesicography were performed. RESULTS: All the dogs acquired micturition under the control of electric stimulation, with urine volume 80-140 ml per time. The mode of micturition was post-stimulus voiding. Vesicography revealed that the bladder was filled well and the bladder neck was open in the micturition course of electric stimulation. Residual urine volume was 15-20 ml. Urodynamic testing found that the bladder pressure and intraurethral pressure increased simultaneously, but when the intraurethral pressure was greater than the bladder pressure, no micturition occurred. The pressure decreased to baseline rapidly and the bladder pressure decreased slowly between two bursts. Micturition occurred when the bladder pressure was greater than the intraurethral pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The self-designed bladder controller together with a sacral deafferentation procedure can restore micturition function of paraplegic dogs.

[Bladder controller in bladder function reconstruction of paraplegic dogs].

OBJECTIVE: To observe whether bladder controller can restore bladder function in paraplegic dogs. METHODS: Four dogs were studied after their T(10) spinal cord was transected. Electrodes implanted around S(2) bilaterally were connected to subcutaneous recievers. Microsurgical techniques were employed in dorsal rhizotomy at S(1 - 3) intradural segment. After daily stimulation, the results of bladder controller were evaluated by micturition and vesicography. RESULTS: Micturition was given under electrical stimulation with a urine volume of 80 - 140 ml per time. The mode of micturition was post-stimulus voiding. Vesicography showed that the bladder was filled and bladder neck was open in the micturition course of electric stimulation. Residual urine volume was 15 - 20 ml. CONCLUSION: Bladder controller together with a sacral deafferentation procedure can restore bladder function of paraplegic dogs.

[Research on carboxymethyl chitosan acting as the adjuvant for implantable degradable microspheres].

As a kind of biomaterial, carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) has excellent biodegradable and bioacceptable capabilities using. This study was aimed to probe into the feasibility of CMC to prepare the implantable sustained release Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride (CPX) microspheres(MS), and to go further into the pharmaceutic technology, the morphology and the characteristics of in vitro release of the microspheres. First, we prepared the microspheres by emulsification and cross-linking technology. Then, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectrum (IR) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) were used to detect the structure and morphology of the MS. The in vitro release of CPX/CMC-MS and the CPX content of the MS were detected through continuous-flow releasing system. We found that the structure and morphology of the MS were affected by the conditions of preparation such as emulsification and cross-linking temperature, ionic strength and stirring speed, that the releasing time of CPX was more than 7 days, and that the releasing behaviors of the microspheres conformed to the Higuchi model. So we drew the conclusions that CMC could be used as a kind of absorbable and implantable adjuvant for sustained release, the technology of emulsification and cross-linking was proved to be feasible, stable and simple.

Improvement of antibiotic productivity by knock-out of dauW in Streptomyces coeruleobidus.

Daunorubicin (DNR) is an important anthracycline antibiotic. Its biosynthesis pathway has been well understood, however, the regulation of DNR biosynthesis needs further investigations. An ORF cloned between drrB and dnrX from the genome of a DNR producer, Streptomyces coeruleobidus DM, was named dauW and designated as an orthologous gene with dnrW and drrD. Several plasmids were constructed for over-expression and/or disruption of dauW in DM. Complete disruption of dauW can significantly increase the yield of DNR. We also found that the transcription level of dnrI, a major regulatory protein in the biosynthesis of DNR, and the self-resistance level were improved in dauW knock-out mutant. These results suggested that dauW may be a down-regulatory gene for DNR biosynthesis. Antibiotics productivity in S. coeruleobidus could be improved via regulation of the transcription of dnrI, a SARP regulator. The production of DNR in a high-producer and the yield of epi-DNR in an engineering strain were also increased by disruption of dauW.

[Clinical study on chitosan in prevention of knee adhesion after patellar operation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effect of chitosan in prevention of knee dysfunction due to adhesion after operation for patellar fracture. METHODS: From March to October 1999, 40 cases of patellar fracture were treated by internal fixation, with intra-articular injection of 2% chitosan in only 24 cases after fixation and with no chitosan injection in 16 cases (control group). The function of the knee joint, including extension and flexion, was evaluated 1 month and 1 year after operation respectively. RESULTS: One month after operation, the knees with chitosan injection could actively move in the average range of 104 degrees +/- 23 degrees, and the knees in the control group could move in the average range of 72 degrees +/- 16 degrees, which showed significant difference between two groups (P < 0.01); 1 year after operation, the range of movement of the knees with injection was 165 degrees +/- 38 degrees on average, and that of the knees in the control group was 110 degrees +/- 31 degrees, which also indicated significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Medical chitosan could effectively prevent or reduce the post-operative adhesion of knee joint after patellar operation.