The purpose of this study was to develop a novel polymer cuff for the local delivery of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) to inhibit neointimal formation in vivo. The polymer cuff was fabricated by incorporating the ALA into poly-(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone) 40:60 (PLC), with or without methoxy polyethylene glycol (MethoxyPEG). The release kinetics of ALA and in vitro degradation by hydrolysis were analyzed by HPLC and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), respectively. In vivo evaluation of the effect of the ALA-containing polymer cuff was carried out using a rat femoral artery cuff injury model. At 24 h, 48% or 87% of the ALA was released from PCL cuffs with or without MethoxyPEG. FE-SEM results indicated that ALA was blended homogenously in the PLC with MethoxyPEG, whereas ALA was distributed on the surface of the PLC cuff without MethoxyPEG. The PLC cuff with MethoxyPEG showed prolonged and controlled release of ALA in PBS, in contrast to the PLC cuff without MethoxyPEG. Both ALA-containing polymer cuffs had a significant effect on the inhibition of neointimal formation in rat femoral artery. Novel ALA-containing polymer cuffs made of PLC were found to be biocompatible and effective in inhibiting neointimal formation in vivo. Polymer cuffs containing MethoxyPEG allowed the release of ALA for one additional week, and the rate of drug release from the PLC could be controlled by changing the composition of the polymer. These findings demonstrate that polymer cuffs may be an easy tool for the evaluation of anti-restenotic agents in animal models.
Animals ; Coronary Restenosis/*therapy ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Polyesters/*administration & dosage/*chemical synthesis ; Polyethylene Glycols/chemical synthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Surface Properties

Recent global warming trends may have a significant impact on vector-borne viral diseases, possibly affecting vector population dynamics and disease transmission. This study measured levels of hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibodies against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and neutralizing antibodies against Akabane virus (AKAV) and Aino virus (AINV) for Thoroughbred horses in Korea. Blood samples were collected from 989 racehorses in several provinces, between October 2005 and March 2007. Sera were tested using either an HI assay or a virus neutralization test. Approximately half (49.7%; 492/989) of the horses tested were antibody-positive for JEV. The HI titer against JEV was significantly correlated with racehorse age (p < 0.05). Horses with an HI antibody titer of 1: 160 or higher accounted for 3.9% of the animals tested, indicating that vectors transmitting arthropod- borne viruses bit relatively few horses. In contrast, 3.8% (19/497) and 19.5% (97/497) of horse sera collected in March 2007 were positive against AKAV and AINV, respectively. The presence of antibodies against AKAV and AINV may indicate the multiplication of AKAV and AINV in these horses.
Aging ; Animals ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese/*isolation & purification ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests/veterinary ; Horse Diseases/blood/*epidemiology ; Horses ; Korea/epidemiology ; Orthobunyavirus/*isolation & purification ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

OBJECTIVE: Although increased expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (AGE) in osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported, little is known concerning the role of AGEs in the pathogenesis of OA. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of AGEs on the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expressions and activities in human OA chondrocytes METHODS: OA chondrocytes were treated with increasing doses of AGE-bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA). The expressions of MMPs were determined by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblot analysis. The activities of MMPs were evaluated by both gelatin and casein zymography assays. In addition, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was employed to investigate the DNA binding activity of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) by AGE-BSA treatment. RESULTS: The productions of MMP-1, -3, and -13 were significantly elevated by AGE-BSA in a dose dependent manner. The elevated activities of MMP-1, -3, and -13, and TNF-alpha by AGE-BSA were also observed. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was markedly increased by AGE-BSA treatment implicating possible involvement of NF-kappaB mediated pathway in the AGE-BSA induced MMP-1, -3, and -13, and TNF-alpha productions in OA chondrocytes. Taken together, this study demonstrates the stimulatory effect of AGE-BSA on the productions of MMPs and TNF-alpha and suggests the possible involvement of NF-kappaB mediated pathway in OA chondrocytes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that AGE may play a role in pathogenesis of OA.
Caseins ; Chondrocytes* ; DNA ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gelatin ; Glycosylation End Products, Advanced* ; Humans* ; Matrix Metalloproteinases* ; NF-kappa B ; Osteoarthritis ; Serum Albumin ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha