江西省锐尖山香圆亲缘关系与群体结构的ISSR分析

目的:利用简单序列重复区间扩增多态性(ISSR)分子标记技术对江西省锐尖山香圆进行亲缘关系和遗传结构分析,为该药材资源的保护和利用提供理论依据。方法:采集江西省4个县6个采样地的22份锐尖山香圆叶片样本,利用试剂盒法提取基因组DNA。利用64条通用ISSR分子标记引物进行聚合酶链式反应(PCR)扩增,运用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)方法检测条带。选择NTsys 2. 10e软件,采用非加权配对算术平均法(UPGMA)计算遗传相似系数并聚类分析。利用Structure 2. 1软件分析群体遗传结构。结果:有48条ISSR引物扩增后获得了产物,多态性条带百分率处于45. 45%～100%。UPGMA聚类分析表明4个县的锐尖山香圆资源不能按照行政区域划分分别聚为一类,群体遗传结构分析表明22份锐尖山香圆群体可以划分为3个类群。结论:江西省锐尖山香圆群体间存在着基因交流,会影响该药材不同地理来源种质资源的遗传结构组成。     

The effects of dynamic compressive loading on human mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis in the stiff layer of a bilayer hydrogel

Bilayer hydrogels with a soft cartilage‐like layer and a stiff bone‐like layer embedded with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are promising for osteochondral tissue engineering. The goals of this work were to evaluate the effects of dynamic compressive loading (2.5% applied strain, 1 Hz) on osteogenesis in the stiff layer and spatially map local mechanical responses (strain, stress, hydrostatic pressure, and fluid velocity). A bilayer hydrogel was fabricated from soft (24 kPa) and stiff (124 kPa) poly (ethylene glycol) hydrogels. With hMSCs embedded in the stiff layer, osteogenesis was delayed under loading evident by lower OSX and OPN expressions, alkaline phosphatase activity, and collagen content. At Day 28, mineral deposits were present throughout the stiff layer without loading but localized centrally and near the interface under loading. Local strains mapped by particle tracking showed substantial equivalent strain (~1.5%) transferring to the stiff layer. When hMSCs were cultured in stiff single‐layer hydrogels subjected to similar strains, mineralization was inhibited. Finite element analysis revealed that hydrostatic pressures ≥~600 Pa correlated to regions lacking mineralization in both hydrogels. Fluid velocities were low (~1–10 nm/s) in the hydrogels with no apparent correlation to mineralization. Mineralization was recovered by inhibiting ERK1/2, indicating cell‐mediated inhibition. These findings suggest that high strains (~1.5%) combined with higher hydrostatic pressures negatively impact osteogenesis, but in a manner that depends on the magnitude of each mechanical response. This work highlights the importance of local mechanical responses in mediating osteogenesis of hMSCs in bilayer hydrogels being studied for osteochondral tissue engineering.     

Stimuli-responsive graphene-incorporated multifunctional chitosan for drug delivery applications: a review

Introduction: Recently, the use of chitosan (CS) in the drug delivery has reached an acceptable maturity. Graphene-based drug delivery is also increasing rapidly due to its unique physical, mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. Therefore, the combination of CS and graphene can provide a promising carrier for the loading and controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Area covered: In this review, we will outline the advantages of this new drug delivery system (DDS) in association with CS and graphene alone and will list the various forms of these carriers, which have been studied in recent years as DDSs. Finally, we will discuss the application of this hybrid composite in other fields.

Expert opinion: The introducing the GO amends the mechanical characteristics of CS, which is a major problem in the use of CS-based carriers in drug delivery due to burst release in a CS-based controlled release system through the poor mechanical strength of CS. Many related research on this area are still not fully unstated and occasionally they seem inconsistent in spite of the intent to be complementary. Therefore, a sensitive review may be needed to understand the role of graphene in CS/graphene carriers for future drug delivery applications.     

Chitosan-Gelatin Hydrogel Crosslinked With Oxidized Sucrose for the Ocular Delivery of Timolol Maleate

Ocular hypertension due to increased intraocular pressure is a major risk factor for the development of glaucoma. Rapid clearance and low ocular bioavailability are drawbacks of conventional ocular treatments. This requires frequent and long-term application of antiglaucoma drugs which in turn cause local side effects and are a major cause of therapeutic failure due to loss of persistence in using glaucoma therapy. In this study, a semisynthetic, biocompatible, oxidized sucrose crosslinker was developed and used in the formulation of chitosan-gelatin hydrogel for the sustained release of timolol to control ocular hypertension. The swelling properties of the hydrogel showed a strong relationship with the oxidized sucrose concentration. Mucoadhesive properties of the hydrogel were studied and the in vitro release profiles demonstrated that crosslinking with oxidized sucrose reduced the release rate of the entrapped timolol. The results of both in vitro and in vivo studies supported that the formulated hydrogel maintained the release and in turn the efficacy of timolol for a longer period of time compared to the conventional eye drops. This is expected to reduce the frequency of drug application onto the eye surface and in turn enhances patients’ convenience. In conclusion, the developed formulation represents a promising platform for an effective and compliant treatment of ocular hypertension.     

Preparation and in vitro evaluation of melatonin-loaded HA/PVA gel formulations

Melatonin-loaded hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) gels were prepared by using freeze–thaw technique and an emulsion method followed by freeze–thaw technique to produce a new synergistic system for topical application. Freeze–thaw hydrogels and emulgels were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, rheology and swelling tests. The porous structure of the hydrogels was shown by scanning electron microscopy observations and thermal properties were tested by differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Bioadhesion and in vitro release characterization of formulations were performed by texture profile analysis and dialysis bag method, respectively. The pore size of both formulations was ranging from 900?nm to 30?μm. Melatonin showed a good compatibility with the polymeric matrices as the pores were smaller for the drug-loaded systems. In vitro release studies showed that the release was improved by emulgel formulations. After 24?h, the release percentage was found to be 13.240%?±?1.094 and 15.192%?±?2.270 for hydrogel and emulgel, respectively. Emulgels had better bioadhesion properties than simple freeze–thaw samples. As a conclusion, regarding the in vitro characterization studies HA and PVA hydrogel and emulgel formulations and their lyophilized forms could be promising systems for topical application of melatonin.     

Reference antigen-free and antibody-free LTD-IDMS assay for influenza H7N9 vaccine in vitro potency determination

Influenza vaccines are the most effective intervention to prevent the substantial public health burden of seasonal and pandemic influenza. Hemagglutinin (HA), as the main antigen in inactivated influenza vaccines (IIVs), elicits functional neutralizing antibodies and largely determines IIV effectiveness. HA potency has been evaluated by single-radial immunodiffusion (SRID), the standard in vitro potency assay for IIVs, to predict vaccine immunogenicity with a correlation to protective efficacy. We previously reported that limited trypsin digestion (LTD) selectively degraded stressed HA, so that an otherwise conformationally insensitive biophysical quantification technique could specifically quantify trypsin-resistant, immunologically active HA. Here, we demonstrate that isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), a method capable of quantifying the absolute HA concentration without reference antigen use, can be further expanded by adding LTD followed with precipitation to selectively quantify the active HA. We test the LTD-IDMS assay on H7N9 vaccines stressed by low pH, raised temperature, or freeze/thaw cycles. This method, unlike SRID, has no requirement for strain-specific reference antigens or antibodies and can generate potency values that correlate with SRID. Thus, LTD-IDMS is a promising alternative in vitro potency assay for influenza vaccines to complement and potentially replace SRID in a pandemic when strain specific reagents may not be readily available.     

Potential function of TGF-β isoforms in maturation-stage ameloblasts

Objectives

To investigate potential functions of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) isoforms in maturation-stage ameloblasts during amelogenesis.

Saliva electrophoretic protein profiles in infants: changes with age and impact of teeth eruption and diet transition

Objective

The objective of this study was to describe the changes in salivary protein profiles in infants between the ages of 3 and 6 months, and to evaluate the impact of teeth eruption and introduction of solid foods on such profiles.

Design

73 infants were followed longitudinally at 3 and 6 months of age. Their whole saliva proteins were separated by SDS–PAGE electrophoresis and semi-quantified by image analysis. Amylase activity was also measured on a sub-sample of the population (n = 42 infants). Bands which abundance was significantly different between the two ages according to paired comparisons were identified by mass spectrometry techniques.

Results

Out of 21 bands, 13 were significantly different between 3 and 6 months of age. Two short variants of amylase increased in abundance with age, as did amylase activity. Other changes possibly translated developmental physiological events, for example maturation of the adaptive immune system. The balance between S-type cystatins and cystatins A and B was modified, in favour of S-type cystatins at 6 months of age. Teeth eruption resulted in an increase in albumin abundance, whilst introduction of solid foods was associated with higher levels of β-2 microglobulin and S-type cystatins.

Conclusions

Salivary profiles were modified substantially between the ages of 3 and 6 months. Both teeth eruption and diet had an impact on abundance changes for some proteins, revealing dynamic interactions between saliva proteome, oral physiology and diet.     

可注射水凝胶治疗眼科疾病的研究进展

眼部结构的特殊性使眼科疾病的治疗面临很多阻碍。水凝胶作为一种具备多维应用潜能的高分子材料,有着可控的力学性能及生物性能,是组织工程、生物工程等领域的研究热点。水凝胶良好的透明性、安全性、兼容性也提示了水凝胶在眼科领域广阔的研究前景。目前已应用于眼科的水凝胶有人工泪液、药物载体、黏附剂等。本综述介绍了可注射水凝胶在制作、性能及应用方面的特点,概述了可注射水凝胶作为药物载体、组织黏附剂、空间填充剂以及细胞载体在眼科疾病中的应用进展及挑战,特别介绍了可注射水凝胶近年来在角膜外伤、青光眼、白内障、视网膜脱离及年龄相关性黄斑变性等疾病治疗方面的研究。