Sigma-1 receptor knockout disturbs gut microbiota, remodels serum metabolome, and exacerbates isoprenaline-induced heart failure.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is usually the end stage of the continuum of various cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanism underlying the progression and development of HF remains poorly understood. The sigma-1 receptor (Sigmar1) is a non-opioid transmembrane receptor implicated in many diseases, including HF.

Research on pharyngeal bacterial flora in transoral atlantoaxial operation and the postoperative follow-up study.

Objectives: To study the changes of bacterial flora after a series of preoperative oral disinfection and the postoperative recovery of nerve function of patients with craniovertebral junction disorders who were treated with transoral approach operations.

Methods: This research analyzed 20 cases collected from October 2009 to May 2010. All these patients were with CVJ disorders, including 8 males and 12 females, aged 2 to 66 (38.

Characterization and cytocompatibility of 3D porous biomimetic scaffold derived from rabbit nucleus pulposus tissue in vitro.

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the most important causes of lower back pain. Tissue engineering provides a new method for the experimental treatment of degenerative disc diseases. This study aims to develop a natural, acellular, 3D interconnected porous scaffold derived from the extracellular matrix (ECM) of nucleus pulposus.

Long-term antibacterial composite via alginate aerogel sustained release of antibiotics and Cu used for bone tissue bacteria infection.

Bone related-bacterial diseases including wound infections and osteomyelitis (OM) remain a serious problem accompanied with amputation in most severe cases. In this work, we report an exceptional effective antibacterial alginate aerogel, which consists of tigecycline (TGC) and octahedral Cu crystal as an organo-inorganic synergy platform for antibacterial and local infection therapy applications. The alginate aerogel could greatly prolong the release of copper ions and maintain effective antibacterial concentration over 18 days.

Biomechanical testing of a unique built-in expandable anterior spinal internal fixation system.

Background: Expandable screws have greater pullout strength than conventional screws. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical stability provided by a new built-in expandable anterior spinal fixation system with that of 2 commonly used anterior fixation systems, the Z-Plate and the Kaneda, in a porcine partial vertebral corpectomy model.

Methods: Eighteen porcine thoracolumbar spine specimens were randomly divided into 3 groups of 6 each.

Osteogenic activity of silver-loaded coral hydroxyapatite and its investigation in vivo.

In this study, the scaffolds based on mineralized silver-loaded coral hydroxyapatites (SLCHAs) were developed for bone regeneration in the radius of rabbit with a 15-mm infective segmental defect model for the first time. The SLCHAs were achieved by surface adsorption and ion-exchange reaction between Ca(2+) of coral hydroxyapatite (CHA) and Ag(+) of silver nitrate with different concentration at room temperature. Release experiment in vitro, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer were applied to exhibit that the scaffold showed some features of natural bone both in main component and hierarchical microstructure.

[Repair of radius bone defect with the nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/calcium alginate].

Objective: To explore the osteogenic potential of the nano-hydroxyapatite/collagen/calcium alginate composite implanted in animals.

Methods: Eighteen 3-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were adopted to prepare 15 mm segmental defect model at the middle part of radius. Rabbit models were randomly divided into experimental group and blank control group.

[In vitro drug release from a mitomycin C delivery system and its effect against scar tissue adhesion in vivo].

Objective: To develop a chitosan (CH)/polyethylene glycols succinate acid (PEG-SA)-mediated mitomycin C (MMC) delivery system and investigate its drug release characteristics in vitro and its effect against scar tissue adhesion in vivo.

Methods: Mitomycin C loading in the composite CH/PEG-SA/MMC films was determined using ultraviolet. The freeze-dried films were dispersed in 1 ml PBS (pH7.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of central slip rupture in the finger extensor mechanism of the proximal interphalangeal joint].

Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of ultrasonographic diagnosis for central slip rupture of the finger extensor tendon mechanism of the proximal interphalangeal joint.

Methods: Sixty-seven consecutive patients with injuries to the proximal interphalangeal joint underwent ultrasonic examination with a linear 5-10 MHz hockey stick-shaped scanner head. Meanwhile three methods of physical examination were applied to assess the injury, and the results of ultrasonic detection and physical examinations were compared with surgical findings.

Effect of aminoguanidine on the recovery of rat hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury.

Objective: To study the effects of aminoguanidine (AG), the inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on the recovery of rat hindlimb motor function after spinal cord injury and explore the possible mechanism.

Methods: Thirty rat models of spinal cord compression injury were established according to Nystrom's method. AG therapy was administered for 4 times at 1 h before and 8, 24, 36 h after the injury, and 24 h after the completion of the therapy, spectrophotography was performed to measure the content of NO and activity of NOS in the injured spinal cord, followed by flow cytometry for determining the apoptotic rate 48 h later.

[Role of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the apoptosis and p-p38 MAPK signal transduction in rat neurons after spinal cord injury].

Objective: To study the role of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODN) of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) on the apoptosis and p-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) signal transduction of the neurons after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Antisense and non-sense oligodeoxynucleotides of iNOS were designed and synthesized, and injected into the subarachnoid space 12 h before the compressive injury was given to the rat spinal cord. Reverse transcription-PCR and flow-cytometry were used to examine the iNOS mRNA expression and the apoptosis of the neurons within the injured spinal cord.