PURPOSE: The relative movements of the stem-cement interface and the cement-bone interface were measured in the cadaver femur with stems of different surface roughness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A stem which have polished surface and a stem which have roughen surface were used in the experiments, and their materials and shapes were virtually same. We inserted 5 stems of each type to the cadaver femur, that is overall 10 femur, and applied cyclic load to the femoral head of the stem to mimic the walking loads. The cyclic relative motions of stem-cement interface and cement-bone interface were measured by custom-made sensors. RESULT: Stem-cement interface motion was 13 micrometer for the stem with polished surface and 4.5 micrometer for the stem with rough stem. It showed interface motion of 5 micrometer for the bone-cement interface for overall cases. CONCLUSION: The relative interface motion of the stem-cement interface is affected by the surface roughness of the stem. But for the bone-cement interface, it cannot be said that the surface roughness of the stem affects the interface motion.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Cadaver ; Femur ; Head ; Walking

The present study was undertaken to find out the role of NO on cataractogenesis in the experimenally-induced uveitis(EIU) model. Nitrite and nitrate, stable oxidative products of nitric oxide(NO), were measured in the aqueous humor and the progression of inflammations and lens opacities were evaluated with slit lamp biomicroscope. Immunoperoxidase staining and immunofluorescent staining for inducible NO synthase(iNOS) and peroxynitrite were performed to confirm the site of production of NO and peroxynitrite. The grades of inflammation were peaked at 24 hours inflammation was gradually decreased after 48 hours and lens opacity after 72 hours. These changes returned to the baseline level by one week after LPS injection. Similarly, NO concentration in aqueous humor was peaked at 24 hours. And it was then decreased after 48 hours and returned to the baseline level by one week. These inflammatory signs and lens opacities were significantly decreased in NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester(L-NAME) administrated group. Inflammatory cells in anterior chamber, iris, and ciliary body expressed highly iNOS which was coincide with peroxynitrite immunolocalization. Therefore, these results suggest that cataract formation in EIU is related to the NO production in aqueous humor. Furthermore, lipid peroxidation by peroxynitrite is possibly related with cataractogenesis in EIU. But, we need a further evaluation to seek the relationship between cataractogenesis and increased nitric oxide concentration, combined with studies of other biochemical changes in anterior chamber and lens.
Anterior Chamber ; Aqueous Humor ; Cataract* ; Ciliary Body ; Inflammation ; Iris ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitroarginine ; Peroxynitrous Acid ; Uveitis*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity is a risk factor of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. Estrogen deprivation has been suggested to cause alteration of lipid metabolism thereby creating a cellular microenvironment favoring tumor growth. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of estrogen depletion in combination with excess energy supply on breast tumor development. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ovariectomized (OVX) or sham-operated C3H/HeN mice at 4 wks were provided with either a normal diet or a high-fat diet (HD) for 16 weeks. Breast tumors were induced by administration of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene once a week for six consecutive weeks. RESULTS: Study results showed higher serum concentrations of free fatty acids and insulin in the OVX+HD group compared to other groups. The average tumor volume was significantly larger in OVX+HD animals than in other groups. Expressions of mammary tumor insulin receptor and mammalian target of rapamycin proteins as well as the ratio of pAKT/AKT were significantly increased, while pAMPK/AMPK was decreased in OVX+HD animals compared to the sham-operated groups. Higher relative expression of liver fatty acid synthase mRNA was observed in OVX+HD mice compared with other groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that excess energy supply affects the accelerated mammary tumor growth in estrogen deprived mice.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cellular Microenvironment ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat ; Estrogens* ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; Mice* ; Obesity ; Postmenopause ; Receptor, Insulin ; Risk Factors ; RNA, Messenger ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ; Tumor Burden

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipose Tissue, White ; Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Diet, High-Fat ; Flavonoids ; Glucose ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Metabolic Diseases ; Mice ; Obesity ; PPAR gamma ; RNA, Messenger ; Scutellaria baicalensis ; Swimming ; Transcription Factors ; Weights and Measures