Lysostaphin is highly effective on eliminating methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In order to achieve controlled release of lysostaphin, a biocompatible drug carrier is needed. Hydroxyapatite/chitosan (HA/CS) composites were chosen to carry lysostaphin and sample composites with different weight ratios of HA to CS, including 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 40/60, were prepared. Multiple analyses were performed to determine the structural and physicochemical properties of the composites, including scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We immersed HA/CS composites loaded with 1 wt% lysostaphin to test in vitro release activity and cultured MC3T3-E1 cells to carry out biocompatibility test. The result of the release behavior of the composites revealed that the controlled release of lysostaphin from 60/40 HA/CS composites was the highest release rate of (87.4 ± 2.8)%, which lasted for 120 hours. In biocompatibility testing, MC3T3-E1 cells were able to proliferate on the surface of these composites, and the extract liquid from the composites could increase the growth of the cells. These results demonstrate the controlled release of lysostaphin from HA/CS composites and their biocompatibility, suggesting the potential application of these composites to bone injury and infection applications.
3T3 Cells ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; Chitosan ; chemistry ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Durapatite ; chemistry ; Lysostaphin ; pharmacology ; Materials Testing ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Mice ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; X-Ray Diffraction

Studying effects of 50 Hz sinusoidal electromagnetic fields (SEMFs) with different intensities on peak bone mass (PBM) of rats may provide a theoretical basis for application of electromagnetic clinical field. 30 female SD rats, 6 weeks of age, were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, 0.1 mT electromagnetic field group (EMFs) and 0.6 mT EMFs. The EMFs groups were treated for 3 h/day. After 8 weeks, we examined their bone mineral densities (BMD) , measured their bone biomechanical properties, and made serum levels of osteocalcin (OC), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b), and histomorphometry. It was found that the BMD (P < 0.01), maximum mechanical load (P < 0.01) in the 0.1 mT group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and Yield strength (P < 0.05), the analyses of serum bone turnover markers and histomorphometric parameters were better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). However, the 0.6 mT group did not have significantly difference comparing with that in the control group. This study proved that 50 Hz 0.1 mT SEMFs can increased BMD, bone strength, and bone tissue microstructure. Therefore, 50 Hz 0.1 mT SEMFs can improve peak bone mass of rats.
Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone and Bones ; physiology ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Female ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

This study is to investigate effects of genistein on rat femoral bone metabolic in vitro. Rat femoral tissues was isolated and randomly divided into two groups including control group and genistein (1 x 10(-5) mol x(-1)) group. Determinations of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium content and osteoprotegerin (OPG), type I-collagen (Collagen-I), RANKL, Runx-2 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) mRNA expression were done by real-time PCR. The results showed that 1 x 10(-5) mol x L(-1) genistein could increase the activity of ALP and contents of Ca, regulate bone metabolism activity of OPG, RANKL, BMP-2, Collagen-I and Runx-2 mRNA expression level. Genistein can significantly modulate bone metabolism related gene expression level of rat femoral tissue in vitro, and can increase calcium content and the activity of ALP.

Aim To compare the pharmacological ac-tivity of icariin( ICA) and genistien ( GEN) against os-teoporosis after oral administration with them to growing rats and ovariectomized rats. Methods 25 mg·kg-1 icariin and 10 mg · kg-1 genistein ( equal in molar concentration) were administered to one-month-old fe-male SD rats every day for three months. Treatments at the same dosage were administered to the 6-month-old ovariectomized SD rats every day for three months. Their effects were compared on bone mineral density and biomechanical properties of femurs and vertebrae, serum levels of osteocalcin and tartaric acid phospha-tase 5b ( TRACP 5b) and histomorphometry. Results The results showed that, in young rats, icariin treat-ment significantly increased bone mineral density, the maximum mechanical loads of femurs and vertebrae as well as the bone qualities ( serum markers and microar-chitecture ) , whereas genistein treatment had little effects compared with the non-treatment control. How-ever, genistein treatment was more efficacious than icariin in preventing bone loss and deterioration of bone microarchitecture in ovariectomized rats. Conclusion Our data suggest that, since icariin has a higher os-teogenic activity but lower estrogenic activity, it has been found to be more efficacious than genistein in peak bone mass accrual only in young rats. In the ovariectimized rats, however, as the main force to pre-vent bone loss is the estrogenic activity, genistein has been found to be more efficacious than icariin in reduc-ing bone loss.

Objective To investigate the evaluation of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), and the relationship with the pulmonary function test and BODE index.Methods 32 COPD patients and 22 normal controls were examined by pulmonary function test (PFT) and HRCT. The data of two groups were compared.Results The volume and pixel index (PI) in forced expiration were higher in the COPD group than those in the control group ( P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in Vin between two groups ( P>0.05). In the COPD group, Vex and Vin were negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC ( P<0.05) respectively. There were no correlation between Vin, Vex and FEV1% pre in the COPD patients ( P>0.05) respectively. Vin and Vex were not correlated with BODE index (all P>0.05) respectively. The ratio of Vex/Vin was positively correlated with BODE index ( P<0.05), and not correlated with FEV1/FVC ( P>0.05). PI910ex was positively correlated with BODE index ( P<0.01), and negatively correlated with FEV1%pre, FEV1/FVC (all P<0.05) respectively.Conclusion The pulmonary function of COPD patients can be evaluated by HRCT, especially by PI910ex.

Objective To observe the effect of carvedilol on the expression of Cx43 in rabbits with myocardial infarction and its association with ventricular arrhythmia.Method Thirty-six rabbits were randomly divided into three groups in equal number(n=12),namely,myocardial infarction(MI)group,carvedilol group and sham MI group.Rabbits of carvedilol group were administered with carvedilol 5 mg kg~(-1)?d~(-1)after MI induced,while no carvedilol was administered to the MI group.The following observations were made:(1)Cx43 density of the epicardial border zone measured by quantitative immnuoconfocal laser scanning,and(2)cx43 protein expression analyzed by western blot.Results(1)Under immunoconfocal laser microscope,the relative density of Cx43 was(0.16?0.06)% in the infarction group and was(0.32?0.11)% in the sham MI group [(0.68?0.15)%,both P

OBJECTIVETo compare the ability of osthole (OST) and genistein (GEN) in enhancing bone peak bone mass of rats to prevent osteoporosis.

METHODSThirty-six female one-month-old SD rats of (125 +/- 3) g body weight were randomly divided into three groups, 12 rats in each group, one group was orally administered osthole at 9 mg x kg(-1) d(-1), one group was given genistein at 10 mg x kg(-1) d(-1) and another was given equal quantity of distilled water as the control. The body weight was monitored weekly and the bone mineral density (BMD) of total body was measured every month. All rats were sacrificed after three months, the femoral bone mineral density, the serum levels of osteocalcin (OC) and anti-tartaric acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP 5b) were measured by Elisa. The bone microarchitectures were analyzed with micro-CT and the bone biomechanics properties were tested with universal material machine.

RESULTSNo significant differences were observed between O-treated or GEN group and the control for the food-intake and body weight during three months. However, the rats treated with OST had significant higher BMD for both total body and femur than the control and GEN group. The O-treated rats also had higher level of serum OC and lower level of TRACP 5b. Besides, they owned bigger bone volume/tissue volume, trabecular thickness, trabecular number but smaller trabecular spacing. In the three point bending tests of femurs,they were found to have larger maximum load, the young's modulus and structural model index (SMI).

CONCLUSIONOrally administered osthole could efficiently increase the peak bone mass of rats,which provide new ideas for preventing osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Coumarins ; pharmacology ; Female ; Femur ; diagnostic imaging ; drug effects ; pathology ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteocalcin ; blood ; Radiography ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase

Objective To study the changes of trans-diaphragmatic pressure (Ptra) and its correlation with esophageal pressure (Peso) through ARDS piglet model.Methods Five piglets were enrolled in the study.Peso,gastric pressure (Pgas) and intra-thoracic pressure (Pint) was monitored through balloon inserted.The data before ARDS serve as control.ARDS was produced in the piglets through saline lavage.The pressure were observed and the Ptra were calculated.The pressure changes and correlation between Ptra and Peso were analyzed as well.Linear regression with the coefficient of determination and t-test were used as appropriate.Significance was assumed for P ＜ 0.05.Results Peso,Pgas and Pint before ARDS were 7.3 ± 1.9,25.5 ± 2.4,- 1.23 ± 0.21 cmH2O,Ptra was 18.2 ± 1.6 cmH2O.While after ARDS,the data were 4.7 ± 1.4,31.1 ± 3.1 and - 1.79 ± 0.28 cmH2O,and Ptra was 26.4 ± 2.1 cmH2 O,and all these changes were obviously ( P ＜ 0.05 ).The correlation between Pint and Peso,Pint and Ptra (A) and Ptra ( B ) were 0.93 ± 0.025,0.88 ± 0.023 and 0.87 ± 0.37 before ARDS.After ARDS,the correlation changed to be 0.82 ±0.21,0.81 ±0.20 and 0.78 ±0.31.Although a bit decreased,the correlation was still positive (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusions There existed good correlations between Peso and Ptra as well as between Pint and Peso before or after ARDS.Ptra was increased obviously after ARDS,which could lead to respiratory muscle fatigue.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of advanced glycosylation end products (AGE) on cell cycle of epidermal keratinocyte and its possible signal pathway.

METHODS150 mg/L AGE-human serum albumin (AGE-HSA) was prepared in vitro. Primary cultured keratinocytes in logarithmic growth phase were harvested and divided randomly into: A group [with treatment of defined keratinocyte-SFM (DK-SFM) serum-free medium], B group (with treatment of DK-SFM medium including 150 mg/L AGE-HSA), C group (with DK-SFM medium after treatment of U0126) and group D (with D K-SFM medium including 150 mg/L AGE-HSA after treatment of U0126). Cell cycle distributions were analyzed by flow cytometer. The protein levels of cyclin D1, cyclin B1, CDK4 and p44/42 MAPK were measured by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with those of A group, the percentage of S-phase and G2/M-phase keratinocytes were decreased obviously in B group, the percentages of G2/M -phase keratinocytes showed the same tendency in C and D groups [(9.7 +/- 1.1)% , (9.8 +/- 0.7)%, respectively, P <0.05]. Compared with that of A group, the expression of cyclin D1 were decreased significantly in other groups, among which a weak expression was showed in D group. There was no obvious difference between A and B groups in CDK4, or cyclin B1 and p44/42 MAPK protein levels ,which were significantly higher than those in C and D groups.

CONCLUSIONAGEs inhibit the progress of cell cycle of keratinocytes by downregulation of cyclin D1 expression.

Animals ; Cell Cycle ; Cyclin D1 ; metabolism ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Acute gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common and important complication of sepsis. As no exiting formal definition and classification of gastrointestinal dysfunction, most of the treatment strategies for gastrointestinal dysfunction are not based on clinical evidence, but on their own clinical experience. Experts of traditional Chinese medicine, integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine and Western medicine from various disciplines in Shanghai are organized by the Shanghai Society of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine and the Emergency Department Branch of Shanghai Physicians Association. After repeated discussion, literature search and formulation of the outline, we developed consensus on gastrointestinal dysfunction secondary to sepsis with integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine by consulting extensively on clinical experts in the fields of emergency medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, infectious medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and holding several expert forums and consultation meetings. This clinical expert consensus focused on acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) classification and inducer of sepsis. In this consensus, the common symptoms, diagnosis, classifications, treatment strategies and suggestions of acute gastrointestinal injury or dysfunction secondary to sepsis were explored from the aspect of both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine.