Fibrinolysis as a target to enhance osteoporotic fracture healing by vibration therapy in a metaphyseal fracture model.

Aims: Fibrinolysis plays a key transition step from haematoma formation to angiogenesis and fracture healing. Low-magnitude high-frequency vibration (LMHFV) is a non-invasive biophysical modality proven to enhance fibrinolytic factors. This study investigates the effect of LMHFV on fibrinolysis in a clinically relevant animal model to accelerate osteoporotic fracture healing.

Inflammatory response in postmenopausal osteoporotic fracture healing.

A balanced inflammatory response is important for successful fracture healing. The response of osteoporotic fracture healing is deranged and an altered inflammatory response can be one underlying cause. The objectives of this review were to compare the inflammatory responses between normal and osteoporotic fractures and to examine the potential effects on different healing outcomes.

Enhancement of osteoporotic fracture healing by vibration treatment: The role of osteocytes.

The prevalence of osteoporotic fracture is high due to global aging problem. Delayed and impaired healing in osteoporotic fractures increase the socioeconomic burden significantly. Through intensive animal and clinical research in recent years, the pathogenesis of osteoporotic fracture healing is unveiled, including decreased inflammatory response, reduced mesenchymal stem cells and deteriorated angiogenesis, etc.

The acceptability of using a lottery to allocate research funding: a survey of applicants.

Background: The Health Research Council of New Zealand is the first major government funding agency to use a lottery to allocate research funding for their Explorer Grant scheme. This is a somewhat controversial approach because, despite the documented problems of peer review, many researchers believe that funding should be allocated solely using peer review, and peer review is used almost ubiquitously by funding agencies around the world. Given the rarity of alternative funding schemes, there is interest in hearing from the first cohort of researchers to ever experience a lottery.

Application of image analysis in the fungal fermentation of Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30.

Trichoderma reesei was grown in a stirred-tank bioreactor (STB) and a reciprocating plate bioreactor (RPB) at four different agitation speeds. A semiautomatic image analysis protocol that was developed to characterize the mycelium morphology during the fermentation process based on four morphological types (unbranched, branched, entangled, and clumped microorganisms) was applied to study the effect of agitation on the morphology of T. reesei.

Design of a novel Couette flow bioreactor to study the growth of fungal microorganism.

Cultivations using Trichoderma reesei Rut C-30 were performed in a 5-l Couette flow bioreactor (CFB) which was designed and built to perform experiments in batch and continuous modes. Process parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH and temperature were measured and controlled without disturbing the shear profile inside the bioreactor. Effect of shear on the growth, protein production and morphology was studied by performing runs at 100, 200, 300 and 400 rpm.

MRI-compatible transurethral ultrasound system for the treatment of localized prostate cancer using rotational control.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided transurethral ultrasound therapy is a potential minimally invasive treatment for localized prostate cancer offering precise targeting of tissue within the gland, short treatment times, and the capability to quantify the spatial heating pattern delivered during therapy. A significant challenge in MRI-guided ultrasound therapy is the design and construction of MRI-compatible equipment capable of operation in a closed-bore MR imager. We describe a prototype system developed for MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound therapy and characterize the performance of the different components including the heating applicator design, rotational motor, and radio frequency electronics.

Elderly burn prevention: a novel epidemiological approach.

Objective: To develop burn prevention strategies for the elderly population in Hong Kong using a novel epidemiological approach.

Methods: Medical records of all patients aged 60 or above who were admitted to our hospital in a 6-year period were reviewed and demographic data, injury characteristics, details of management and outcome were obtained. Selected interviews were undertaken to determine the exact mechanisms of injury and further details of the medical and social background.

Conformal thermal therapy using planar ultrasound transducers and adaptive closed-loop MR temperature control: demonstration in gel phantoms and ex vivo tissues.

MRI-guided transurethral ultrasound therapy offers a minimally invasive approach for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Integrating a multi-element planar transducer with active MR temperature feedback can enable three-dimensional conformal thermal therapy of a target region within the prostate gland while sparing surrounding normal tissues. Continuous measurement of the temperature distribution in tissue enables dynamic compensation for unknown changes in blood flow and tissue properties during treatment.

Blood glucose monitor: an alternative off-line method to measure glucose concentration during fermentations with Trichoderma reesei.

Two home, blood-glucose monitoring meters, OneTouch Ultra and Ascensia Contour, were used to determine the glucose concentration during fermentations of Trichoderma reesei in both flasks and bioreactors. The results, when compared to those given by the 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid reducing sugar assay, HPLC and YSI 2700 SELECT Biochemistry analyzer, showed that the glucose meters are a quick, reliable and economical alternative method for frequent glucose concentration measurement during fermentation. For T.

Broad neutralization and complement-mediated lysis of HIV-1 by PEHRG214, a novel caprine anti-HIV-1 polyclonal antibody.

Objectives: To assess the potency, breadth of action, and mechanism of action of the polyclonal goat anti-HIV antibody, PEHRG214.

Design: Typical human antibody responses to HIV-1 infection are unable to neutralize virus efficiently, clear the infection, or prevent disease progression. However, more potent neutralizing antibodies may be capable of playing a pivotal role in controlling HIV replication in vivo.

The biphasic response of porcine tendon to recombinant porcine growth hormone.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of recombinant porcine growth hormone (rpGH) administration on the growth and maturational changes of the calcanean tendon in male pigs. Twenty-four orchidectomized crossbred (Duroc X Large White X Landrace) pigs were randomly assigned to 2 months of rpGH-treatment (2mo-rpGH), 3 months of rpGH-treatment (3mo-rpGH), or saline-treated control (Control) groups. Saline or rpGH (10mg/mL given as a constant dose throughout the experiment) was administered twice weekly via 1 mL intramuscular injections.

A passive immunotherapy, (PE)HRG214, in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: a phase I study.

(PE)HRG214 (HRG) is a polyclonal antibody preparation produced by immunization of goats with purified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antigens. In this phase I study, HRG was administered intravenously as a single dose (1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 mg/kg) to 18 HIV-1-infected patients with CD4 cell counts >/=50 cells/microL and virus loads >/=500 copies/mL. The most frequent adverse event was a transient rash, which appeared to be both dose- and CD4 cell count-dependent.

Student-patient communication during physiotherapy treatment.

Some communication skills adopted by 30 Australian and 27 Hong Kong final year physiotherapy students were observed by their clinical supervisor, while delivering treatment to an acute post-surgical patient in their country of origin. In each case, patient and student were racially similar and verbal communication was in their first language. The results showed that Australian students used more explanation, eye contact, verbal reinforcement, facial expression, variation of tone and response with interest, compared with Hong Kong students.

Distribution of prolactin receptor immunoreactivity in ovine skin and changes during the wool follicle growth cycle.

Prolactin is believed to mediate seasonal cues entraining seasonal reproductive and hair follicle growth cycles. Prolactin receptor binding activity and prolactin receptor gene expression in mammalian skin have recently been described. In this report, prolactin receptor immunoreactivity is identified in sheep skin using a monoclonal antibody against the rat liver prolactin receptor.

Inhibitory effect of increased photoperiod on wool follicle growth.

The relationships between circulating prolactin (PRL), wool follicle growth and daylength were investigated in 24 New Zealand Wiltshire ewes housed indoors from September 1989 to May 1991. Twelve control (C) ewes were maintained under natural photoperiod. Two other groups were held in short days (SD; 8 h light: 16 h darkness) commencing from the winter solstice (22 June 1990) for either three (group SD3, n = 7) or six (group SD6, n = 5) months before reversion to natural daylength.

Localisation of receptors for prolactin in ovine skin.

Although prolactin (PRL) receptors are found in many mammalian tissues, specific PRL binding to mammalian skin has not been demonstrated. In view of the temporal relationships observed between photoperiod, circulating PRL and pelage replacement in seasonally responsive mammals, we sought to provide evidence of PRL receptors in ovine skin. Cryosections of skin from New Zealand Wiltshire ewes were incubated with radiolabelled human GH (125I-hGH) and ovine PRL (125I-oPRL) in the presence and absence of excess unlabelled hormones (hGH, oPRL or ovine GH (oGH)).

Fiber growth initiation in hair follicles of goats treated with melatonin.

The sequence of structural changes in goat hair follicles was investigated using melatonin implants to advance and synchronize spring hair growth. Ten pasture fed cashmere wethers each received a controlled release formulation of 70 mg of melatonin on September 1 1989, and showed plasma melatonin elevated above physiological levels over 14 days post-treatment (914 +/- 154 pg/ml [mean +/- SEM] on day 14). In ten untreated animals, daytime plasma melatonin was 19.

Computer reconstructions of human embryonic craniofacial morphology showing changes in relations between the face and brain during primary palate formation.

During early development of the human facial region, the craniofacial complex undergoes extensive morphogenetic change. The purpose of this study was to generate computer reconstructions of serially-sectioned embryos in order to illustrate major changes in spatial relations that occur between cranial and facial tissues. Five human embryos of stages 16 to 18 from the Carnegie Embryology Collection, which were used in the frontal morphometric study, were selected to illustrate phases of morphogenesis.

Identification of neurohypophysial peptides in the ovaries of several mammalian and nonmammalian species.

Ovarian tissue from a variety of mammalian and nonmammalian species were extracted in acid. All extracts contained both oxytocin- and vasopressin-like immunoreactivites as determined by radioimmunoassay. Analysis by high performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of oxytocin in all ovarian extracts examined.

Arginine vasopressin and oxytocin in the porcine corpus luteum.

The relationship between ovarian oxytocin (OT), vasopressin and progesterone, was determined in porcine corpora lutea collected at various stages of the estrous cycle. Fractionation by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of extracts from mid-cycle corpora lutea showed the presence of arginine vasopressin-like (AVP) material, but not lysine vasopressin-like (LVP) activity. The tissue content of progesterone reached maximal amounts at mid-luteal phase, and decreased rapidly at the end of the cycle.

Levels of oxytocin-like activity and progesterone in follicular fluid from in vitro fertilization cycles.

Oxytocin-like immunoreactivity, estradiol, and progesterone were measured in follicular fluid collected during oocyte collection in an in vitro fertilization program in which clomiphene citrate was used to stimulate follicular development. Follicles which yielded morphologically normal embryos after fertilization of the oocyte had oxytocin concentrations ranging from less than 10 to 600 ng/liter. Oxytocin concentrations did not differ between follicles from 12 pregnancy cycles (median, 169; N = 21) and follicles from 12 nonpregnancy cycles (median, 110; N = 18).

HPLC separation of vasopressin-like hormones in chicken neurohypophysial extracts.

HPLC techniques were used to identify peptides that possess vasopressin-like immunoreactivity in the chicken neurohypophysis. The presence of arginine vasotocin (AVT) was confirmed together with arginine vasopressin (AVP). That the presence of AVP may be confined to the chicken, and not other avian species, was concluded from the absence of the hormone in the neurohypophysis of the duck and turkey.

Isolation and properties of sheep neurohypophysial nerve terminals.

Nerve terminals were isolated from sheep posterior pituitary lobes using a collagenase digestion technique. Freshly dispersed terminals, and terminals cultured for up to 3 days were examined by immunofluorescence microscopy. Immunohistochemical results suggested the presence of immunoreactive-neurophysin, -oxytocin and -vasopressin in membrane-bound structures.