Effect of Pulsed and Continuous Ultrasound Therapy on the Degree of Collateral Axonal Branching at the Lesion Site,Polyinnervation of Motor End Plates,and Recovery of Motor Function after Facial Nerve Reconstruction

The aim of the present study is to test whether ultrasound therapy of muscles denervated by nerve injury would improve the quality of their reinnervation by reduction of the collateral axonal branching at the lesion site and poly-innervation degree at the neuromuscular junctions. After transection and suture of the buccal branch of the facial nerve, pulsed or continuous type of ultrasound therapy was applied to the paralyzed whisker pad muscles of rats in the course of 2 months. Instead of reduction, we found a significant increase in the collateral axonal branching after continuous ultrasound therapy when compared to the branching determined after pulsed or sham ultrasound therapy. Both types of ultrasound therapy also failed to reduce the proportion of polyinnervated end plates in the reinnervated facial muscles. Accordingly, continuous ultrasound therapy failed to restore any parameter of the motor performance of the vibrissal hairs. Application of pulsed ultrasound therapy promoted slight improvements of the functional parameters angular velocity and acceleration. The inhomogeneous structural and functional results achieved after both types of ultrasound therapy let us conclude that further studies are required to evaluate its effects on peripheral nerve regeneration. Anat Rec, 302:1314–1324, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

甲状腺激素对小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生及神经电生理功能的影响

目的： 探讨甲状腺激素对小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生及神经电生理功能的影响。方法： 将64只小鼠随机分为4组,即假手术组、模型组、甲状腺素组、甲状腺素+LY组,每组16只。除假手术组外,其余组均建立面神经损伤模型。术后苏醒开始干预,甲状腺素组于损伤处皮下注射50 μg/kg中性甲状腺素溶液,甲状腺素+LY组在甲状腺素组基础上腹腔注射600 μg/kg PI3K/AKT通路抑制剂LY294002,假手术组和模型组于损伤处注射生理盐水,每天1次,持续2周。干预结束后进行神经电生理检测,锇酸染色进行再生轴突计数,Western免疫印迹法检测面神经组织中p-AKT、NGF、BDNF蛋白的表达。采用SPSS 21.0软件包对数据进行统计学分析。结果： 假手术组正常神经髓鞘外未见新生轴突。与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组再生轴突数均升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。与假手术组相比,模型组运动神经传导速度（MNCV）和波幅降低,潜伏期延长（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组MNCV、波幅升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组潜伏期缩短,甲状腺素组显著短于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。与假手术组相比,模型组p-AKT、NGF、BDNF蛋白相对表达量显著升高（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组p-AKT蛋白相对表达量显著升高,甲状腺素+LY组显著降低（P<0.05）;与模型组相比,甲状腺素组和甲状腺素+LY组NGF、BDNF蛋白相对表达量升高,甲状腺素组显著高于甲状腺素+LY组（P<0.05）。结论： 甲状腺激素可有效促进小鼠面神经损伤轴突再生,改善神经电生理功能,其机制可能是通过促进AKT磷酸化而发挥调控作用。     

The role of dark adaptation in understanding early AMD

The main aim of the paper is to discuss current knowledge on how Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) affects Dark Adaptation (DA). The paper is divided into three parts. Firstly, we outline some of the molecular mechanisms that control DA. Secondly, we review the psychophysical issues and the corresponding analytical techniques. Finally, we characterise the link between slowed DA and the morphological abnormalities in early AMD.Historically, DA has been regarded as too cumbersome for widespread clinical application. Yet the technique is extremely useful; it is widely accepted that the psychophysically obtained slope of the second rod-mediated phase of the dark adaptation function is an accurate assay of photoreceptor pigment regeneration kinetics. Technological developments have prompted new ways of generating the DA curve, but analytical problems remain. A simple potential solution to these, based on the application of a novel fast mathematical algorithm, is presented. This allows the calculation of the parameters of the DA curve in real time.Improving current management of AMD will depend on identifying a satisfactory endpoint for evaluating future therapeutic strategies. This must be implemented before the onset of severe disease. Morphological changes progress too slowly to act as a satisfactory endpoint for new therapies whereas functional changes, such as those seen in DA, may have more potential in this regard. It is important to recognise, however, that the functional changes are not confined to rods and that building a mathematical model of the DA curve enables the separation of rod and cone dysfunction and allows more versatility in terms of the range of disease severity that can be monitored. Examples are presented that show how analysing the DA curve into its constituent components can improve our understanding of the morphological changes in early AMD.     

Regeneration in anamniotes was replaced by regengrow and scarring in amniotes after land colonization and the evolution of terrestrial biological cycles

An evolutionary hypothesis explaining failure of regeneration among vertebrates is presented. Regeneration derives from postembryonic processes present during the life cycles of fish and amphibians that include larval and metamorphic phases with broad organ reorganizations. Developmental programs imprinted in their genomes are re-utilized with variations also in adults for regeneration. When vertebrates colonized land adopting the amniotic egg, some genes driving larval changes, and metamorphosis were lost and new genes evolved, further limiting regeneration. These included neural inhibitors for maintaining complex nervous systems, behavior and various levels of intelligence, and adaptive immune cells. The latter, that in anamniotes are executioners of metamorphic reorganization, became intolerant to embryonic-oncofetal-antigens impeding organ regeneration, a process that requires de-differentiation of adult cells and/or expansion of stem cells where these early antigens are formed. The evolution of terrestrial lifecycles produced vertebrates with complex bodies but no longer capable to regenerate their organs, mainly repaired by regengrow. Efforts of regenerative medicine to improve healing in humans should determine the diverse developmental pathways evolved between anamniotes and amniotes before attempting genetic manipulations such as the introduction of “anamniote regenerative genes” in amniotes. This operation may determine alteration in amniote developmental programs leading to teratomes, cancer, or death.     

Apelin-13 inhibits apoptosis and excessive autophagy in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Apelin-13 is a novel endogenous ligand for an angiotensin-like orphan G-protein coupled receptor, and it may be neuroprotective against cerebral ischemia injury. However, the precise mechanisms of the effects of apelin-13 remain to be elucidated. To investigate the effects of apelin-13 on apoptosis and autophagy in models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, a rat model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion. Apelin-13(50 μg/kg) was injected into the right ventricle as a treatment. In addition, an SH-SY5 Y cell model was established by oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, with cells first cultured in sugar-free medium with 95% N2 and 5% CO2 for 4 hours and then cultured in a normal environment with sugar-containing medium for 5 hours. This SH-SY5 Y cell model was treated with 10–7 M apelin-13 for 5 hours. Results showed that apelin-13 protected against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Apelin-13 treatment alleviated neuronal apoptosis by increasing the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and significantly decreasing cleaved caspase-3 expression. In addition, apelin-13 significantly inhibited excessive autophagy by regulating the expression of LC3 B, p62, and Beclin1. Furthermore, the expression of Bcl-2 and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3 K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR) pathway was markedly increased. Both LY294002(20 μM) and rapamycin(500 nM), which are inhibitors of the PI3 K/Akt/mTOR pathway, significantly attenuated the inhibition of autophagy and apoptosis caused by apelin-13. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that Bcl-2 upregulation and mTOR signaling pathway activation lead to the inhibition of apoptosis and excessive autophagy. These effects are involved in apelin-13-induced neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, both in vivo and in vitro. The study was approved by the Animal Ethical and Welfare Committee of Jining Medical University, China(approval No. 2018-JS-001) in February 2018.     

仿生矿化后的丝素电纺复合支架体内成骨性能的实验研究

目的探讨仿生矿化后的丝素电纺复合支架体内修复颅骨缺损的能力。方法利用静电纺丝技术制备丝素电纺支架(非矿化组),通过模拟体液(SBF)浸泡法对支架仿生矿化(矿化组),扫描电镜观察其微观形貌。18只8周龄的雄性SD大鼠购自南京医科大学动物实验中心,采用随机数字表示法分为3组,分别为矿化组、非矿化组和对照组,每组6只。构建SD大鼠颅骨缺损模型,在直径为5 mm的骨缺损区分别植入矿化组及非矿化组支架,对照组不作处理,分别于术后4、8周取材,通过微计算机断层扫描技术(micro-CT)、苏木精-伊红(HE)及马松染色(Masson染色)比较评估不同支架的体内骨再生情况。应用GraphPad Prism 8统计软件分析,采用单因素方差分析。结果扫描电镜结果显示仿生矿化后的丝素电纺支架表面形成明显的羟基磷灰石矿化层。动物实验结果显示,术后4周和8周,通过对CT三维重建、HE及Masson染色的观察以及对骨体积分数(BV/TV),骨小梁数(Tb.N),骨小梁厚度(TB.Th)和骨小梁间隙(TB.Sp)定量指标的分析结果显示,在矿化组和非矿化组均能观察到新骨的形成,且矿化组的修复效果均优于非矿化组,差异有统计学意义[矿化组、非矿化组及对照组BV/TV在4周时分别为(22.880±2.324)、(12.600±1.965)、(4.967±1.580)%,F=61.838,P<0.05,8周时分别为(45.770±4.433)、(29.400±4.086)、(19.310±2.272)%,F=38.686,P<0.05;Tb.N在4周时分别为(0.029±0.001)、(0.019±0.003)、(0.008±0.003)mm-1,F=52.890,P<0.05,8周时分别为(0.053±0.002)、(0.037±0.003)、(0.023±0.001)mm-1,F=171.433,P<0.05;TB.Sp在4周时分别为(10.810±0.179)、(11.350±0.098)、(11.730±0.163)μm,F=27.655,P<0.05,8周时分别为(8.792±0.175)、(10.060±0.339)、(11.150±0.275)μm,F=56.807,P<0.05]。结论仿生矿化后的丝素电纺复合支架能有效促进骨再生,有望用于骨组织工程。     

Synthetic polymeric barrier membrane associated with blood coagulum,human allograft,or bovine bone substitute for ridge preservation: a randomized,controlled, clinical and histological trial

During the normal healing process, an extraction site may lose significant bone volume, making implant placement problematic. Quantitative evaluations of the amount of bone maintained by socket preservation with various materials are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate, both clinically and histologically, the extent of alveolar bone preservation by blood coagulum (BC) and the potential additional benefits of bone allograft material (AL) versus the state-of-the-art bovine bone mineral (BB), covered by a polyethylene glycol (PEG) barrier, in extraction socket grafting procedures. Adult patients (n = 32) with single-rooted teeth indicated for extraction were treated (45 sites). After atraumatic extraction, the sockets were filled with BC, AL, or BB and covered with a synthetic PEG barrier membrane. Changes in bone height and width were measured clinically and the amount of bone formed and residual graft particles were measured histologically after 6 months. Changes in ridge width at 6 months were ?1.5 mm for AL versus ?2.5 mm for BB and ?2.3 mm for BC. New bone formation amounted to 47.8%, 33.3%, and 28.2% at BC-, AL-, and BB-treated sites, respectively. Using AL with the PEG barrier preserved the ridge width at 6 months better than BB or BC and resulted in similar amounts of bone histologically to BB.     

Modelling human pathology of traumatic brain injury in animal models

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a head impact with a force exceeding regular exposure from normal body movement which the brain normally can accommodate. People affected include, but are not restricted to, sport athletes in American football, ice hockey, boxing as well as military personnel. Both single and repetitive exposures may affect the brain acutely and can lead to chronic neurodegenerative changes including chronic traumatic encephalopathy associated with the development of dementia. The changes in the brain following TBI include neuroinflammation, white matter lesions, and axonal damage as well as hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of tau protein. Even though the human brain gross anatomy is different from rodents implicating different energy transfer upon impact, especially rotational forces, animal models of TBI are important tools to investigate the changes that occur upon TBI at molecular and cellular levels. Importantly, such models may help to increase the knowledge of how the pathologies develop, including the spreading of tau pathologies, and how to diagnose the severity of the TBI in the clinic. In addition, animal models are helpful in the development of novel biomarkers and can also be used to test potential disease‐modifying compounds in a preclinical setting.