Characterization of knitted polymeric scaffolds for potential use in ligament tissue engineering

Different scaffolds have been designed for ligament tissue engineering. Knitted scaffolds of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) yarns and co-polymeric yarns of PLLA and poly(glycolic acid) (PLGA) were characterized in the current study. The knitted scaffolds were immersed in medium for 20 weeks, before mass loss, molecular weight, pH value change in medium were tested; changes in mechanical properties were evaluated at different time points. Results showed that the knitted scaffolds had 44% porosity. There was no significant pH value change during degradation, while there was obvious mass loss at initial 4 week, as well as smooth molecular weight drop of PLLA. PLGA degraded more quickly, while PLLA kept its integrity for at least 20 weeks. Young's modulus increased while tensile strength and strain at break decreased with degradation time; however, all of them could maintain the basic requirements for ACL reconstruction. It showed that the knitted polymeric structures could serve as potential scaffolds for tissue-engineered ligaments.     

Expression and changes of HSP70 in the rat forebrain subjected to gamma knife (100Gy) irradiation targeted on the caudate putamen and survived for different times

Forebrain heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) immunohistochemical reactivity was investigated in rats subjected to gamma knife irradiation focusing on the right caudate putamen nucleus. The forebrain sections of all experimental animals were processed with anti-HSP70 antiserum and then by avidin-biotin peroxidase complex immunohistochemistry after gamma ray irradiation with a dose of 100Gy and they each survived for different times (from 30 min to 30 days). Some neurons, glial cells, and endothelial cells were HSP70-like immunoreactivity (HSP70-LI) positive. HSP70-LI was mainly distributed in the target area of irradiation, as well as in non-target regions, e.g. the cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, etc. The expression and change of HSP70-LI from 3 h to 30 days after irradiation followed the following rules: (1) Within 3 to 24 h, the dilated vessels with HSP70-LI endothelial cells were found at first, and a few lightly stained HSP70-LI neurons and glias were observed in the target and non-target regions; (2) In 3-7 days, darkly stained HSP70-LI neurons and glias were apparently increased and formed an expression peak. From 14 to 30 days, HSP70-LI cells were distinctly decreased and became weakly stained or negative. These results suggested that although the irradiation target of the gamma knife was localized, the response to irradiation occurred extensively.     

不同浓度的臭氧对实验兔骨骼肌病理学的影响

目的 观察两种浓度的臭氧(03)对实验兔骨骼肌组织的病理变化的影响,以评估臭氧对肌纤维的氧化程度.方法 10只实验兔随机分为A、B两组.随机选择一侧大腿肌肉注射臭氧-氧气混合气体,A组为浓度50μg/ml,B组为浓度30μg/ml两组分别注射5 ml气体.注射臭氧后0.5、2 h和2周后分别对臭氧注射点、旁开1 cm和2 cm取活检组织行病理学光镜检查,对侧大腿相对应部位取活检作空白对照.结果 与空白对照组比较,病理光镜下显示A、B两组注射臭氧后0.5 h注射点、旁开1 cm见肌细胞肿胀,间隙变窄或不清,肌细胞边界不清,横纹紊乱,部分肌细胞坏死溶解,空泡变性;2 h后注射点、旁开1 cm处在肌细胞坏死溶解的基础上出现了肌细胞间隙和血管内炎症细胞浸润;2周后注射点、旁开1 cm切片显示肌细胞明显萎缩,大量纤维组织增生,部分伴有玻璃样变.上述3个时点的注射点旁开2 cm病理切片均未见异常.结论 两种浓度的臭氧肌肉注射后会产生程度相当的肌细胞损害,范围半径约2 cm,可能对炎性肌细胞或肌纤维化组织起治疗作用,2周后纤维组织损伤修复.     

Heparins as essential antioxidants

Chronically inflamed tissues contain significant concentrations of oxygen radicals, possibly generated by transition metal species such as Fe(II) and Cu(I). In addition, the pH of such tissues may well be lower than that of normal counterpart tissues. In this communication, the effect of variation of pH on the antioxidant activity of caeruloplasmin (a copper-containing acute-phase protein possessing important ferroxidase and other antioxidant activities) and of heparin are reported. Heparin, unlike caeruloplasmin, retains antioxidant activity at low pH. Heparins possess a variety of metal cation-binding chemical groups allowing them to bind damaging Cu(I) and Fe(II) ions and consequently prevent their redox involvement in oxygen radical-generating Fenton reactions. In conclusion, heparins may function as endogenous antioxidants and sequestration and/or oxidation by them, of ions such as Fe(II), may contribute to their effectiveness.

     

A possible cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and other new diseases

An hypothesis is proposed to explain the surge of new diseases appearing in the world. Mass immunization with live viral vaccines increases the probability of genetic recombination between live vaccine viruses and between live vaccine viruses and other viruses. Perhaps this is the reason for origination of new diseases within the last twenty years. Nucleic acid hybridization techniques might be used to test the hypothesis.     

p-Dimethoxy-substituted trans-octahydrobenzo[f]- and -[g]quinolines: synthesis and assessment of dopaminergic agonist effects

The N-n-propyl homologues of the title compounds were prepared for further assessment of the ability of the "p-dimethoxy" moiety to confer dopaminergic agonism upon a variety of ring systems. Both the angularly and the linearly annulated trans-benzoquinoline ring derivatives displayed prominent DA2 dopaminergic effects on the peripheral sympathetic nerve terminal and displayed postjunctional dopamine receptor agonist properties in the striatum. It is speculated that the angular octahydrobenzo[f]quinoline derivative (but not the linear octahydrobenzo[g]quinoline derivative) may owe its dopamine-like effects to metabolic activation phenomena. In contrast, the cis-fused isomer of the angularly annulated benzoquinoline was inactive, as was the simple benzene derivative N,N-di-n-propyl-beta-(2,6-dimethoxyphenyl)ethylamine.     

The POSCH data processing experience

Metadata, the term, may be new but metadata, the concept, is not new. For purposes of this paper, the term metadata is defined as the data used to define, store, retrieve, combine, analyze, and present the data values (the “real” data, so to speak). As clinical research studies get larger, it becomes desirable to use automated managers of the metadata. The Program on the Surgical Control of the Hyperlipidemias (POSCH), a national multiclinic clinical trial, manages most of its metadata manually but has been experimenting with ways to more fully automate them. Its Information Management System (IMS) is described with special emphasis on how it manages the metadata. The case is presented for further automation and standardization of metadata in large clinical research studies so that costs can be contained and smaller increments of “progress” can be measured. The concept of a Metadatabase Management System (MDBMS) is developed and illustrated using POSCH.     

Pharmacokinetics of vindesine bolus and infusion

Summary The pharmacokinetics of vindesine were investigated during treatment of 15 patients with progressive malignancies refractory to conventional treatment. Patients were administered one of three IV dose schedules: 3.0 mg/m² bolus injection, 1.2 mg/m²/day infusion for 5 days, or 2.0 mg/m²/day infusion for 2 days. Concentrations of the drug in the serum and urine were determined by radioimmunoassay. Serum concentrations were highest (5×10^-7 M) in patients receiving a bolus injection, but fell to nondetectable levels by 48 h in four of five patients (terminal t_1/2 15.0±9.4 h). Compared with bolus injection, 1.2-to 1.4-fold greater areas under the blood concentration curve were observed during infusions of 2.0 mg/m² and 1.2 mg/m². Whereas steady-state concentrations (1×10^-8 M) were maintained throughout the infusion of 1.2 mg/m²/day progressively increasing serum levels were observed during the infusion of 2.0 mg/m²/day. Serum concentrations fell rapidly following discontinuation of the 2.0-mg/m² infusion, but were somewhat more sustained in the 1.2-mg/m² infusion group. The average urinary excretion was similar for each dose-schedule (8%–11% of the total dose). The pharmacokinetics of vindesine are influenced by variations in dose schedule.     

Study of the mechanism of essential garlic oil inhibiting lnterleukin-1 α-induced monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells

Objective  

To observe the effects of essential garlic oil (EGO) on vascular cell adhesive molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression of endothelial cells and monocyte-endothelial cell adhesion rate induced by interleukin-l_α(IL-l_α).