REPAIR AND RECOVERY FOLLOWING SPINAL CORD INJURY IN A NEONATAL MARSUPIAL (MONODELPHIS DOMESTICA)

1. Repair and recovery following spinal cord injury (complete spinal cord crush) has been studied in vitro in neonatal opossum (Monodelphis domestica), fetal rat and in vivo in neonatal opossum. 2. Crush injury of the cultured spinal cord of isolated entire central nervous system (CNS) of neonatal opossum (P4–10) or fetal rats (E15–E16) was followed by profuse growth of fibres and recovery of conduction of impulses through the crush. Previous studies of injured immature mammalian spinal cord have described fibre growth occurring only around the lesion, unless implanted with fetal CNS. 3. The period during which successful growth occurred in response to a crush is developmentally regulated. No such growth was obtained after P12 in spinal cords crushed in vitro at the level of C7–8. 4. In vivo, in the neonatal (P4–8) marsupial opossum, growth of fibres through, and restoration of, impulse conduction across the crush was apparent 1–2 weeks after injury. With longer periods of time after crushing a considerable degree of normal locomotor function developed. 5. By the time the operated animals reached adulthood, the morphological structure of the spinal cord, both in the region of the crush and on either side of the site of the lesion, appeared grossly normal. 6. The results are discussed in relation to the eventual longterm possibility of devising effective treatments for patients with spinal cord injuries.     

In vitro antibacterial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds against multiple drug-resistant isolates of Shigella spp. and isolates of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli

The antibacterial activity of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds was studied against 37 isolates of Shigella dysenteriae 1, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei and Shigella boydii and 10 strains of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli. Most of the strains were clinically resistant to ampicillin, co-trimoxazole and tetracycline. All the strains tested showed promising sensitivity to the volatile oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the volatile oil for Shigella, Vibrio and Escherichia strains tested was between 50–400 μg/mL.     

Dorsal root ganglia cocultured with macrophages: an in vitro model to study experimental demyelination

The present investigation introduces an in vitro model to study macrophage properties during demyelination. Rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were cultured for obtaining myelinated peripheral nerve fibers. These cultures were exposed to non-resident macrophages. In untreated control cultures, there was no indication of myelin removal by the added macrophages. DRG were exposed to enzymatically generated oxygen radicals using the xanthin/xanthin oxidase or the glucose/glucose oxidase system. Assessment of Schwann cell viability and ultrastructural morphology revealed different patterns of cell cytotoxicity and morphological changes in different experiments. High concentrations caused complete tissue necrosis of the DRG, while low concentrations did not affect either cell viability or ultrastructural morphology. Under intermediate experimental conditions, oxygen radicals caused non-lethal Schwann cell damage leading to Schwann cell retraction and myelin sheath rejection. Myelin lamellae were disrupted and decompacted. These changes were followed by a selective macrophage attack on myelin sheats, resulting in demyelination. Axons, Schwann cells and sensory ganglion cells survived this attack. The specificity of the oxygen radical effects was tested in experiments using the oxygen radical scavengers catalase and superoxide dismutase. Catalase prevented the described effects on cell morphology and subsequently blocked demyelination by non-resident macrophages.Supported by a grant from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (Br 1274/1-1)     

An alkylpolyglucoside surfactant as a prospective pharmaceutical excipient for topical formulations: The influence of oil polarity on the colloidal structure and hydrocortisone in vitro/in vivo permeation

There is a growing need for research into new skin- and environment-friendly surfactants. This paper focuses on a natural surfactant of an alkylpolyglucoside type, which can form both thermotropic and lyotropic liquid-crystalline phases. The aim of this study was to relate some physicochemical properties (characterised by polarisation and transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis and rheology) of the three formulations based on cetearyl glucoside and cetearyl alcohol, to the results of in vitro and in vivo bioavailability of hydrocortisone (HC). The three formulations contained oils of different polarity (medium chain triglycerides: MG, isopropyl myristate: IPM and light liquid paraffin: LP), respectively. In vitro permeation was followed through the artificial skin constructs (ASC), while the parameters measured in vivo were erythema index: EI (using instrumental human skin blanching assay), transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and stratum corneum hydration (SCH). The vehicles based on cetearyl glucoside and cetearyl alcohol showed a complex colloidal structure of lamellar liquid-crystalline and lamellar gel-crystalline type, depending on oil polarity. Rheological profile of the vehicle was directly related to the in vitro profile of the HC permeation. In vivo results suggested that the vehicle with MG retarded the HC permeation, whereas less polar IPM and non-polar LP enhanced it. It is suggested that the enhancement is achieved either by a direct interaction with lipid lamellae of the SC or indirectly by improving skin hydration.

There were no adverse effects during in vivo study, which indicates a good safety profile of this alkylpolyglucoside surfactant.     

Erb:YAG and Hol:YAG laser ablation of meniscus and intervertebral discs.

Erb:YAG and Hol:YAG laser ablation rates of fibrocartilage and nucleus pulposus were measured in vitro simulating clinical conditions. After ablation macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the ablation site was investigated. Hol:YAG and Erb:YAG laser mean ablation rates increased almost linearly with rising energies, showing higher total ablation rates for the Hol:YAG laser due to its higher achievable energy density. At comparable energy densities the Erb:YAG laser appears to be more effective with respect to the corresponding ablation rates. Consequently, the ablational threshold proved to be lower for the Erb:YAG laser. Whereas during Hol:YAG laser ablation, some smoke formation and considerable tissue shrinking occurred, these effects could not be observed during Erb:YAG laser ablation. Consequently macroscopic and microscopic inspection showed some thermal damage after Hol:YAG and only minimal alterations after Erb:YAG laser ablation. Adjacent thermal damage was determined and proved to be lower for the Erb:YAG laser. In our opinion the characteristics of each laser system provide certain advantages for special clinical indications.     

根管细菌渗漏体外模型的建立

目的：建立检测微细菌培养模型，以用于评价根管充填封闭情况。方法：牙根的冠根两端各连接一细菌培养储室，冠方储室置1mL无菌培养基并接种0．1mL菌液，根方储室起始为无菌培养基。每隔3d将冠方储室中菌液吸出1mL，并注入1mL新鲜BHI培养基，共90d。当根尖储室中培养基发生浑浊即为细菌渗漏发生，记录细菌渗漏发生时的天数。选择18个直根管前牙，其中牙胶充填组6个，用冷牙胶侧方加压充填技术充填；空管组6个，根管只预备不充填；根管密封组6个，根管充填并严密封闭根管口和根尖孔。用设计的模型检测密封状况。结果：全部空管组6个样本在1d内根方储室中出现浑浊；根管密封组6个样本的根方储室在90d内均未发生浑浊。牙胶充填组有2个样本分别在44d和46d发生浑浊。结论：此模型方法简单易行且实用有效，具有一定的临床相关性和可行性。     

Effects of antisense mediated inhibition of cathepsin K on human osteoclasts obtained from peripheral blood.

Cathepsin K is a cystein protease that displays a proteolytic activity against Type I collagen and is abundantly and selectively expressed in osteoclasts where it plays a critical role in bone degradation. Its direct role in bone tissue has been defined by knock-out mice studies and inhibiting strategies in animals models. However, direct proof of cathepsin K function in human osteoclast model in vitro is lacking. The aim of this study is to analyze cathepsin K expression and localization in human osteoclasts obtained from peripheral blood and to examine cathepsin K function in these cells by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (AS-ODN) strategy. AS-ODN was added to the culture of osteoclast precursors induced to differentiate by RANKL and M-CSF. AS-ODN treatment produced a significant down-regulation of cathepsin K mRNA (>80%) and protein expression, as verified respectively by Real-time PCR and by immunocytochemistry or Western blot. The cathepsin K inhibition caused an impairment of resorption activity as evaluated by a pit formation assay ( p = 0.045) and by electron microscopy, while the acidification process was unaffected. We demonstrated that antisense strategies against cathepsin K are selectively effective to inhibit resorption activity in human osteoclasts, like in animal models.     

用多次酶消化法体外培养的大鼠成骨细胞及其鉴定

目的 针对目前体外培养成骨细胞方法的不足,建立一种理想的原代培养成骨细胞的方法,为骨替代材料的研究提供成骨细胞.方法 本实验用新生1～2天大鼠颅盖骨,采用多次酶消化法进行细胞体外培养.倒置显微镜观察细胞形态,并对其碱性磷酸酶（ALP）活性及矿化能力进行鉴定.结果 所培养细胞具有成骨细胞的形态学特征及体内成骨细胞的生物学行为.结论 本实验体外培养成骨细胞的方法切实可行,可为骨替代材料的研究提供种子细胞,也可为骨细胞生物学和骨组织工程的研究提供一种客观而有效的实验手段.     

慢性粒细胞白血病骨髓细胞体外培养净化作用实验研究

目的 :采用 FISH方法直接在干细胞水平对慢性粒细胞白血病 (CML )患者自体骨髓体外培养前后的间期细胞进行 bcr/abl融合基因检测 ,从而探讨 CML 骨髓细胞体外培养对自体骨髓移植物的净化作用。方法 :分离初治的慢性期 Ph+ CML 7例骨髓单个核细胞 (MNCs) ,体外培养 10 d,用免疫磁珠 (MACS)富集培养前后的 CD34+ 细胞 ,通过流式细胞仪检测培养前后 MNCs中 CD34+ 干细胞比例 ,然后用 FISH方法检测其中 bcr/abl融合基因 ,同时分别用正常人细胞及 K5 6 2细胞株作阴性及阳性对照。结果 :(1) 7例患者骨髓细胞培养前后 CD34+ 细胞中 bcr/abl融合基因平均检出率分别为 85 .3%± 4 .9%和 78%± 5 .1% ,有统计学意义 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,(2 )培养前培养体系中 CD34+ 细胞数量为 (6 .0 6 0± 1.5 6 4 )× 10 5个 ,培养后体系中的 CD34+细胞数量为 (5 .974± 1.4 2 4 )× 10 5个 ,两者无明显差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。 (3)在对照组中假阳性率为 2 .5 % ,假阴性率为 2 %。结论 :自体骨髓细胞体外培养对 CML 病人的骨髓肿瘤细胞有一定程度的净化作用 ;FISH技术直接在干细胞水平检测 bcr/abl融合基因 ,且能定量分析 ,较传统方法更适合对骨髓净化进行评价 ,为骨髓净化提供了一种更方便、可靠的评定方法