BACKGROUND: High molecular materials have been proved to enhance the mechanical properties of calcium phosphate bone cement, as well as attenuate the injectability of composite materials. It thereby influences the clinical application of composite materials.OBJECTIVE: To observe the compressive strength and injectability of silk fihroin compound calcium phosphate bone cement, to evaluate the effect of silk fibroin on calcium phosphate, and to investigate the feasibility of applying silk fibroin as an injectable hone substitute to repair hone defects.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: Controlled study was performed in the central laboratory of Analysis and Testing Center, Soochow University from September to December in 2007.MATERIALS: Calcium phosphate cement was purchased from Shanghai Rebone Biomaterials Co., Ltd; silk fibroin was offered by Institute of Material & Engineering, Soochow University.METHODS: Six groups were set with different mass fractions (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) of silk fibroin, which were mixed with bone cement at a certain liquid/solid ratio of 0.4 mL/g to prepare the calcium phosphate composite. The calcium phosphate cement without silk fibroin was served as control group.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The compressive strength and injectability were determined. The characteristic microstructure was observed using scanning electron microscope.RESULTS: The compressive strength increased firstly and then decreased with the addition of silk fibroin. The compressive strength of the experimental groups was remarkably higher than the control group when the silk fibroin content was 1%-2.5% (P<0.05). The injectability of the paste diminished with the addition of silk fibroin, which was statistically different when the silk fibroin content was 1.5%-3% (P<0.05). Scanning electron microscope result revealed that the silk fihroin penetrated throughout calcium phosphate crystals, which were tightly connected.CONCLUSION: Silk fibroin can improve the compressive strength of silk fibroin/calcium phosphate cement composites without significant influence of manipulation, and can widen the application field of calcium phosphate bone substitute.

Objective To evaluate the effect of pretreatment with botulinum toxin A injected intrath?ecally or locally at the incision site on the neurokinin?1 ( NK?1) receptor internalization in the spinal dorsal horn in a rat model of incisional pain. Methods Male Sprague?Dawley rats, weighing 280-300 g, aged 6-8 weeks, were used in the study. The experiment was performed in two parts. ExperimentⅠ Twenty?seven rats with no sign of nerve injury at day 7 after successful catheterization were selected and divided into 3 groups (n=9 each) using a random number table: control group (C1 group), incisional pain group (IP1 group) and intrathecal botulinum toxin A group (BoNT∕A1 group). At 24 h before operation, botulinum tox?in A 0.5 U ( in 10μl of normal saline) was injected intrathecally in group BoNT∕A1, and normal saline 10μl was injected intrathecally in group IP1. ExperimentⅡ Twenty?seven rats were selected and divided into 3 groups (n=9 each) using a random number table: control group (group C2), incisional pain group (IP2 group) and locally injected botulinum toxin A at the incision site group (BoNT∕A2 group). At 24 h before op?eration, botulinum toxin A 2 U ( in 0.4 ml of normal saline) was injected subcutaneously at the incision site and into the plantar surface, and normal saline 0.4 ml was injected subcutaneously at the incision site and into the plantar surface in group IP2. Six rats in each group were selected, and the cumulative pain score (CPS) was recorded, and the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold ( MWT) in the right hindpaw was measured be?fore administration, before operation, and at 3 h and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation. At 3 h after opera?tion, 3 rats in each group were selected and sacrificed, and the lumbar segment ( L4,5 ) of the spinal cord was removed for determination of the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn by immunofluores?cence. Results ExperimentⅠ Compared with group C1, the CPS was significantly increased at 3 h and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation, the MWT was significantly decreased at 3 h and 1 and 3 days after opera?tion, and the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly up?regulated in group IP1, and the CPS was significantly increased at 3 h and 1, 3 and 5 days after operation, the MWT was sig?nificantly decreased at 3 h after operation ( P<0.05) , and no significant change was found in the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn in group BoNT∕A1 (P>0.05). Compared with group IP1, the CPS was significantly decreased, and the MWT was significantly increased at 3 h and 1, 3, and 5 days after oper?ation, and the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly down?regulated in group BoNT∕A1 (P<0.05). ExperimentⅡ Compared with group C2, the CPS was significantly increased at 3 h and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation, the MWT was significantly decreased at 3 h and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation, and the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly up?regu?lated in group IP2, and the CPS was significantly increased at 3 h and 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after operation, the MWT was significantly decreased at 3 h after operation ( P<0.05) , and no significant change was found in the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn in group BoNT∕A2 ( P>0.05) . Compared with group IP2, the CPS was significantly decreased at 3 h and 1, 3, and 5 days after operation, the MWT was signifi?cantly increased at 3 h and 1 and 3 days after operation, and the expression of NK?1 receptors in the spinal dorsal horn was significantly down?regulated in group BoNT∕A2 (P<0.05). Conclusion Pretreatment with botulinum toxin A injected intrathecally or locally at the incision site can inhibit the internalization of NK?1 re?ceptors in the spinal dorsal horn in a rat model of incisional pain.

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in assessment of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout mice feeding with western diet.Methods Sixteen ApoE knockout mice in 8 weeks age were selected,then divided into two groups.One group was fed with west diet as high-fat group,and another group was fed with normal diet as control group.Intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque area in the aortic root were assessed by UBM in two groups after 8 weeks and 16 weeks.And the measurements of UBM were compared with results of histopathology and blood-fat.ResultsThicken wall and plaque could be find in aortic root in control group and high-fat diet group byUBM.IMT and plaque area in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜ 0.05).The IMT and plaque area in UBM were good correlation with histopathology ( rwas 0.81 and 0.70 respectively).The triglyceride(TC) and total cholesterol in high-fat diet group was significantly higher than those of control group ( P ＜0.05),and IMT in UBM were increased with the elevated level of TC,there was a positive correlation between IMT and TC( r =0.528).ConclusionsWestern diet can accelerate the process in formation of atherosclerotic plaque in ApoE knockout mice.UBM can be used to observe this prograss noninvasively in vivo mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level and bone metabolism-related cytokines in women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 703 healthy Chinese women, aged 20-80 years, was conducted. Serum FSH, osteoprotegerin (OPG), leptin, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), and transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF-β2) were detected. RESULTS: Serum FSH was positively correlated with OPG (r=0.447, P<0.01) and TGF-β2 (r=0.344, P<0.01), and negatively correlated with TGF-β1 (r=-0.374, P<0.01). After adjustment of age, a negative correlation was found between FSH and leptin (r=-0.265, P<0.01). The multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that serum FSH was a negative determinant factor of TGF-β1, and 22.6% changes in TGF-β1 was determined by FSH. FSH was, however, a positive determinant factor of OPG and TGF-β2, and 9.9% and 1.1% of the effect on OPG and TGF-β2 was performed by FSH, respectively. Serum FSH almost had no effect on leptin. CONCLUSION Serum FSH level in adult women is related to bone metabolism-related cytokines, such as TGF-β1, OPG, and TGF-β2.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Osteoprotegerin ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta2 ; blood ; Young Adult

Objective:To investigate and compare the effects of water extracts of Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria ma-nillensis Lesson on the angiogenesis of Tg (kdrl:mCherry) zebrafish. Methods:The zebrafish embryos 6-8 hours after fertilization (6-8hpf) were transferred to the culture medium containing Whitmania pigra Whitman or Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson extract at different concentrations, and the culture medium containing the drugs was replaced every 24 h. And then, at 72 hpf, the larvalmorphology and intersegmental vessels were observed under a microscope. The hatchability of 48-and 72-hpf embryos, and the number of intersegmen-tal vessels and the heart rate of 72-hpf juveniles were measured. Results:Compared with the control group, when the concentration of Whitmania pigra Whitmanis was higher than 30μg· ml-1 , and the concentration of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson was higher than 20μg· ml-1, the number of intersegmental vessels was significantly reduced (P<0. 01). Compared with the control group, at 48 hpf, when the concentration of the drug groups was higher than 40 μg· ml-1 , the hatchability of the two groups significantly decreased ( P<0. 01);at 72 hpf, the hatchability of Whitmania pigra Whitman decreased significantly at the concentration of 100 μg·ml-1 (P<0.01), while the hatchability of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson decreased significantly at the concentration of 80 μg· ml-1(P <0. 01). There was no obvious yolk sac edema, pericardial edema and spine curvature in the two groups. The heart rate decreased sig-nificantly (P<0. 01), while was still within the normal range. Conclusion:Both Whitmania pigra Whitman and Hirudinaria manillen-sis Lesson have notable anti-angiogenic activity, and the anti-angiogenesis activity of Hirudinaria manillensis Lesson is stronger. They both have effects on the development of zebrafish embryos, while the toxicity is not obvious.

Objective To evaluate the different change in atherosclerosis between apolipoprotein E knockout ( ApoE-/-) mice and low density lipoprotein receptor knockout ( LDL-R-/-) mice in different diet by vivo ultrasound biomicroscopy(UBM) . Methods Thirty-two 8 weeks age ApoE-/- mice and twenty-eight 20 weeks age LDL-R-/- mice were selected ,and each mouse model were divided into four groups randomly according to weight . Two groups of each model were fed with normal diet for 8 weeks and 16 weeks respectively as general groups ,and two other groups were fed with west diet as high-fat groups . Intima-media thickness ( IM T ) in the aortic root of all groups were assessed by Vevo 770 UBM , and all measurementsofUBMwerecomparedwithhistopathologyandblood-fat.Results ①Thickenwallor plaque in aortic root showed by UBM and histopathology could be found in ApoE-/- mice in all diet conditions ,but the changes in LDL-R-/- mice only could be found in high-fat diet conditions;② IM T of ApoE-/- mice measured in histopathology were significantly higher than LDL-R-/- mice in all diet condition ( P<0 .05) ,but in UBM ,the IMT of ApoE-/- mice showed significantly higher than that of LDL-R-/- mice only in general diet groups and 8 weeks high-fat diet group ( P <0 .05) ;③In blood-fat ,the total cholesterol ( TC) in ApoE-/- mice were significantly higher than that of LDL-R-/- mice in all diet conditions ( P <0 .05) . But triglyceride ( TG) was higher only in general diet when it was compared between ApoE-/- mice and LDL-R-/- mice . Conclusions It is recommend to select ApoE-/- mice as animal model in atherosclerosis study rather than LDL-R-/- mice ,because the higher serum TC and higher susceptible of atherosclerosis in ApoE-/- mice . The west diet is necessary if LDL-R-/- mice was used to atherosclerosis study .

Objective To predict the core targets and action pathways of Hedysari Radix based on UPLC-MS/MS and network pharmacology methods,and to verify the results of network pharmacology by molecular docking and molecular dynamics techniques.This article aims to investigate immune regulation mechanism of effective components absorbed into blood from Hedysari Radix.Methods Qualitative quantification of effective components absorbed into blood from Hedysari Radix were operated by using UPLC-MS/MS technique.The corresponding targets of effective components absorbed into blood from Hedysari Radix were screened by TCMSP and HERB databases.Targets of immune-related disease were obtained through DisGeNET,OMIM,TTD,and MalaCards databases.The network of"components absorbed into blood from Hedysari Radix-immune-related diseases"was then constructed.GO and KEGG enrichment analysis and mapped the PPI network were performed.Molecular docking and molecular dynamics techniques were applied for validation.Results A total of 8 prototype components absorbed into blood,synergistically acting on 101 targets,were identified by UPLC-MS/MS.They mediated 538 biological processes including immune response,positive regulation of gene expression,receptor binding,and cytokine activity.Meanuhile,116 signaling pathways,such as HIF-1,Toll-like receptor,JAK-STAT,T cell receptor,PI3K-Akt,and FoxO etc.were involved.The core targets were MAPK14,PTGS2,MMP9,PPARG,CCND1,etc..The results of molecular docking showed that formononetin and calycosin had strong docking binding activity with MAPK14.And molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrated that the binding between MAPK14 and formononetin or calycosin had good structural stability and binding affinity.Conclusion The results of serum pharmacochemistry,network pharmacology and molecular dynamics were verified to reveal the material basis and mechanism of Hedysari Radix in regulating immunity.The aim of this study is to provide scientific basis for its immunomodulatory mechanism.

To evaluate the relationship between atherosclerosis and hemodynamic of coronary artery in mice detecting by ultrasound bio‐microscopy flow imaging . Methods Double 14 20‐week‐old LDL‐R‐/‐and C57BL/6 male mice were selected ,and randomly divided into two groups in each genotype according to weight . Each two groups were fed to 28 weeks or 36 weeks age respectively with west diet . Coronary artery hemodynamics in these mice were assessed in vivo by Vevo ?2100 ultrasound imaging system ,then the intima‐media thickness( IM T ) of aorta in histopathology were analyzed . T he differences of coronary artery hemodynamic parameters such as maximum velocity ( Vmax ) ,mean velocity ( Vmean) and velocity time integral ( V T I) were compared between mice of different genotypes of the same week and mice of different weeks of the same genotype . And the relationship between coronary artery hemodynamic in ultrasound and aortic IM T in histopathology were analyzed . Results ① All coronary hemodynamic parameters in LDL‐R‐/‐ mice were significantly lower than those of wild‐type mice except the Vmax between two 28‐week‐old genotypes group at the same weeks of age of different genotypes ( all P ＜0 .05) . But there was no significant difference in coronary artery hemodynamic parameters between mice of the same genotype at different weeks of age( P ＞0 .05) . ②T he histopathological measurements of aortic IM T in LDL‐R‐/‐mice were significantly higher than those of wild type mice ( all P ＜ 0 .05 ) ,and those of 36‐week‐old mice were significantly higher than those of 28‐week‐old mice ( all P ＜ 0 .05 ) . ③ All coronary hemodynamic parameters such as Vmax ,Vmean and V TI were negatively correlated with pathological measurements of aortic IM T ( r ＝ －0 .532 , －0 .423 , －0 .524 ; all P ＜ 0 .05 ) . Conclusions The parameters of coronary artery hemodynamics obtained by ultrasound bio‐microscopy are well correlated with the pathological results of atherosclerosis . Ultrasound bio‐microscopic flow imaging can be used as a new method to evaluate the degree of atherosclerosis in mice by detecting the hemodynamic parameters of coronary artery .