OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of repairing rabbit radial defects with polyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping technology loaded with bovine bone morphogenetic protein (bBMP), and find new carriers for growth factors.

METHODSPolyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping technology loaded with and without bovine BMP were used to repair the 15 mm radial defect in rabbit. Then the results of radiography, histology, scaffolds degrade rates and bone mineral density (BMD) were appraised to examine the effects at the 12th week.

RESULTSAt the 12th week postoperatively, all defects treated with bBMP were radiographically repaired. No radius implanted polyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds without bBMP showed radiographic and histological union. At experimental groups, longitudinal alignment of lamellar structure was observed histologically at the 12th week, indicating that remodeling of regenerated bone was complete in different degree. Of the three experimental groups, the bony regeneration and remodeling of callus in poly lactide-co-glycolide/tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/TCP) group was the best. The BMD values were beyond 70% of normal value at the 12th week while the PLGA/TCP scaffolds group was the highest, and no abnormalities were observed in the surrounding soft tissue in all groups.

CONCLUSIONSPolyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping technology loaded with bovine BMP can repair a 15 mm radial defect of rabbit. As for the results, the PLGA/TCP scaffold is ideal and better than poly L-lactide-co-D, L-lactide (PDLLA/TCP) scaffold, but the ploy L-lactic acid (PLLA/TCP) is not so good for its low degradation rates.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Bone Regeneration ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Phosphates ; therapeutic use ; Polyesters ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Radiography ; Radius ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of Acticoat (nanocrystalline silver dressing) for the treatment of residual burn wounds.

METHODSNinety-eight patients with 166 residual burn wounds were enrolled in the multi-center randomized clinical trials. In addition to the routine treatment, Acticoat was applied onto the wounds of the trial group once a day if there was much exudation from the wound, or the dressing change was made every other two days when the wounds were clean. Silver sulfadiazine (SD-Ag) was used in the control group of patients. The healing time was observed up to 20 days. The healing rate on the 15th day after treatment was taken as the percentage of healing.

RESULTSThe average healing time was (12 +/- 5) days after the application of Acticoat, which was significantly shorter than that in control wounds with SD-Ag (16 +/- 6) days, (P = 0.005 < 0.01). The total effective rate of the wounds for trial was 97.05%, which was higher than that in control (94.17%) group, but there was no statistically significant difference. The bacterial clearing rate of the Acticoat group on the 6th and 12th post treatment day was 21.7% and 43.5% respectively, which was significantly higher than that in control group. No side-effect was observed in the two groups during the study.

CONCLUSIONActicoat with nanocrystalline silver can promote the healing of residual burn wounds effectively.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bandages ; Burns ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nanoparticles ; Polyesters ; therapeutic use ; Polyethylenes ; therapeutic use ; Silver Sulfadiazine ; therapeutic use ; Single-Blind Method ; Skin, Artificial ; Wound Healing

Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; surgery ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Lactic Acid ; chemistry ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Sirolimus ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the capability of the bone regeneration of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate/sol-gel bioactive glass (PHBV/SGBG) composite porous scaffold.

METHODSPHBV/ SGBG composite porous scaffold was implanted into the segmental radial bone defect of the New Zealand white rabbits, PHBV/hydroxylapatite (PHBV/HA) as experimental control. The degradability, biocompatibility, and bone regeneration capability of the implants were evaluated through radiological, histological, computerized graphic, and biomechanical analysis.

RESULTSThe new bone formation occurred as early as 4 weeks after implantation of PHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold. The defect was filled with new bone 8 weeks after the implantation, and was completely repaired 12 weeks after operation. The new bone had normal bone structure and the medullar cavity regenerated. The biomechanical study showed that the anti-compression force of radial specimen in PHBV/SGBG groups was significantly higher than in PHBV/ HA groups (P < 0.05), but no significant difference existed between PHBV/SGBG group and autograft bone group (P>0.05). The PHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold degraded no sooner than 4 weeks after the implantation and most of scaffold was absorbed after 12 weeks. The proportion of the scaffold to new bone decreased from 60% by week 4 to 8% by week 12.

CONCLUSIONSPHBV/SGBG composite porous scaffold is a degradable bone substitute. It can achieve early bone generation and complete repair. It can be used as an ideal scaffold for tissue-engineering bone.

Animals ; Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; physiology ; Male ; Osteoblasts ; pathology ; Polyesters ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Radius ; pathology ; surgery ; Radius Fractures ; pathology ; surgery

The present preliminary study was to observe the feasibility of the use of polylactic acid gel (PLA-G) in modified radical mastectomy and the ability of the PLA-G in the prevention of flap adhesion after operation. Sixty-eight patients were diagnosed with breast cancer, and received modified radical mastectomy from Jan. 2004 to Dec. 2006. The patients were divided randomly into a treatment group and a control group (with 34 cases each). The PLA-G was used under the surface of the auxiliary operative wound in the treatment group, and nothing was used in the control group. The wound healing, the wound complication, the amount of drainage solution, the indwelling time of the drainage tube and the auxiliary skin adhesion were evaluated after operation in both groups. There were no statistical difference on wound healing between the first intension (29:27) and the second intention (5:7), and the wound dehiscence after taking the stitches out (0:0) between the two intensions, the hematoma (0:1) and the effusion of the wound (5:6), and the flap necrosis (1:2) between two groups. There were also no statistical difference on the amount of drainage solution per day (6 +/- 3) and indwelling time of the drainage tube (6 +/- 4) after operation between the two groups (P > 0.5). After the operation, the case load with no flap adhesion in the treatment group was significant higher compared with the control group (22:8). The case load with complete acquired skin flap adhesion in the treatment group was visibly lower than in the control group (3:19), which proved that there was a significant statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). This study suggested that the using of PLA-G in the breast cancer modified radical mastectomy could prevent skin flap adhesion without any harmful effects in the wound healing.
Breast Neoplasms ; surgery ; Drainage ; Female ; Gels ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Necrosis ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; therapeutic use ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Adhesions ; prevention & control ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the repairing effect of the rabbits radial defects of by polyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid forming technology loaded with bovine BMP, and find a new carrier for growth factor.

METHODSPolyester/Tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping (RP) technology loaded with and without bovine BMP were used to repair the 15 mm radial defect of rabbit. Then results of radiography, histology, scaffolds degrade rates and bone density were appraised to examine the repairing effects of the scaffolds at 12 weeks.

RESULTSAt 12 weeks, all defects treated with bBMP were radiographically repaired. No radii implanted polyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds alone showed radiographic and historical union. At experimental groups, longitudinal alignment of lamellar structure was observed histologically at 12 weeks, indicating that remodeling of regenerated bone almost completed, the scaffolds degradation rates were different by 12 weeks, and no abnormalities were observed in the surrounding soft tissue in all groups.

CONCLUSIONPolyester/tricalcium phosphate scaffolds prepared by rapid prototyping technology loaded with bovine BMP can repair the rabbits radical defects. As for the effects, the poly (L-lactic-co-glycolide)/tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/TCP) scaffold are ideal and better than poly (L-lacide-co-D, L-lactide)/tricalcium phosphate (PDLLA/TCP) scaffold, but the poly (L-lactic acid)/tricalcium phosphate (PLLA/TCP) is not so good for its low degradation rates.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Phosphates ; Lactic Acid ; Male ; Polyesters ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Rabbits ; Radius ; injuries ; pathology ; surgery ; Tissue Engineering ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of intraperitoneally injected epirubicin (EPI)-loaded poly (d, l)-lactic acid (PLA) microspheres (MS) alone or combined with free epirubicin (FEPI) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in mice.

METHODSMice that were transplanted with H22 ascites HCC were randomized into seven groups, which were intraperitoneally injected with blank microspheres, normal saline, three different doses of microspheres (9, 18, and 36 mg/kg EPI) , FEPI (9 mg/kg) , and the combination (microspheres with EPI 4.5 mg/kg + FEPI 4.5 mg/kg). The survival time of all animals was recorded. The rates of increase in life span of all the treatment groups were calculated.

RESULTSEPI-PLA-MS significantly prolonged the survival time of HCC mice in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximal tolerated dose (MTD) of 18 - 36 mg/kg. The combination group had the highest average survival time, median survival time, and rate of increase in life span, which were (40.0 +/- 16.9) days, 33.5 days, and 222.58%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONEPI-PLA-MS combined with FEPI is highly effective in treating HCC in mice when intraperitoneally injected.

Animals ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Epirubicin ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Infusions, Parenteral ; Lactic Acid ; Liver Neoplasms, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Microspheres ; Polyesters ; Polymers

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of artificial bone composite of bicoral, rhBMP-2 and PLA in repairing calvarial critical-size defects.

METHODSCalvarial defects in 24 rabbits were surgically made and then half of the defects were repaired with the artificial composite bone. Another half of them were repaired with bicoral/PLA composite and served as controls. Four rabbits in each group were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12 weeks after operation, respectively. The treatment effects were evaluated with scanning electron microscopy and mechanical strength testing.

RESULTSNew bone was observed not only in the periphery, but also inside the artificial bone in both groups, but earlier and more new bone formation was observed in treatment group compared with control group. The mechanical strength test showed that the artificial bone in two groups, which had same mechanical strength before implantation, had significant different mechanical strength after operation. The strength of the artificial composite bone was higher than that of controls and was same with normal rabbit calvarial bone.

CONCLUSIONThe artificial composite bone possess a highly repairing ability, and the healing in bone defects may be accomplished by both osteoinductive and osteoconductive mechanism. The material may be used as a good substitute for bone grafting.

Animals ; Anthozoa ; Biocompatible Materials ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Bone Regeneration ; drug effects ; Bone Substitutes ; therapeutic use ; Implants, Experimental ; Lactic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Skull ; injuries ; surgery ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and clinical results of applying poly-DL-lactic acid (PDLLA) biomembranes in cleft palate repair.

METHODS68 cleft palate patients were divided into study group and control group. The traditional surgical method was used to control group to close the soft cleft palate, and the PDLLA biomembrane was used to study group and implanted into the surgical gap between the periosteum and bone at the hard palate, and fixed with suture. The duration, blood loss at operation, post-operative complication, wound healing and recovery were recorded and compared to conventional cleft palate repair.

RESULTSOperations were successfully completed on all 34 patients. Wound healing of soft palate and uvula was uneventful with no incidence of fistula or dehiscence. The primary healing on tissue defect of hard palate occurred in 29 patients, secondary healing occurred in 3 patients, permanent fistula between the oral cavity and the nasal cavity occurred in only one patients, and 3 patients left over fistula on alveolar process. Compared to traditional cleft palate repair, blood loss and incidence of fistula on alveolar process were decreased; the average surgical time was 89.25 minutes and was not prolonged; and there was no significant increase in post-operative complication.

CONCLUSIONHard cleft palate repair with PDLLA biomembranes is safe, simple and practical with good clinical results and is beneficial to minimize the bad influences towards the development and growth for maxilla of cleft palate patients.

Absorbable Implants ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cleft Palate ; surgery ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; methods ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Maxillofacial Development ; Palate, Hard ; surgery ; Polyesters ; Polymers ; therapeutic use ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures

Alternative sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for replacing bone marrow (BM) have been extensively investigated in the field of bone tissue engineering. The purpose of this study was to compare the osteogenic potential of canine MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AT), BM, umbilical cord blood (UCB), and Wharton's jelly (WJ) using in vitro culture techniques and in vivo orthotopic implantation assays. After canine MSCs were isolated from various tissues, the proliferation and osteogenic potential along with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production were measured and compared in vitro. For the in vivo assay, MSCs derived from each type of tissue were mixed with beta-tricalcium phosphate and implanted into segmental bone defects in dogs. Among the different types of MSCs, AT-MSCs had a higher proliferation potential and BM-MSCs produced the most VEGF. AT-MSCs and UCB-MSCs showed greater in vitro osteogenic potential compared to the other cells. Radiographic and histological analyses showed that all tested MSCs had similar osteogenic capacities, and the level of new bone formation was much higher with implants containing MSCs than cell-free implants. These results indicate that AT-MSCs, UCB-MSCs, and WJ-MSCs can potentially be used in place of BM-MSCs for clinical bone engineering procedures.
Adipocytes, White/cytology/physiology ; Alkaline Phosphatase/metabolism ; Animals ; Biocompatible Materials/metabolism/*therapeutic use ; Bone Diseases/*therapy ; Bone Marrow Cells/cytology/physiology ; Calcification, Physiologic ; Calcium/metabolism ; Calcium Phosphates/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Cell Proliferation ; Dogs ; Female ; Fetal Blood/cytology/physiology ; Flow Cytometry ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells/cytology/*metabolism ; *Osteogenesis ; Polyesters/metabolism/therapeutic use ; Tissue Engineering/*methods ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism