Bone Recuperation After rhBMP-2 Insertion in Alcoholic Animals-Experimental Study.

Background: Alcoholism affects bone repair and this study evaluated the recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2)/collagen sponge association aiming to improve the bone healing process. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of alcoholism and its effect on the repair of bone defects (BD) performed on rat calvaria after the application of rhBMP-2, either pure or combined with a collagen matrix, using radiographic, histological and immunohistochemical methods.

Methods: We used 80 rats divided into two groups and these into 4 subgroups, each with a waiting period for sacrifice of four and six weeks after the BD (5mm).

An in situ gelling liquid crystalline system based on monoglycerides and polyethylenimine for local delivery of siRNAs.

The development of delivery systems able to complex and release siRNA into the cytosol is essential for therapeutic use of siRNA. Among the delivery systems, local delivery has advantages over systemic administration. In this study, we developed and characterized non-viral carriers to deliver siRNA locally, based on polyethylenimine (PEI) as gene carrier, and a self-assembling drug delivery system that forms a gel in situ.

Properties of the tibialis anterior muscle after treatment with laser therapy and natural latex protein following sciatic nerve crush.

Introduction: In this study we evaluated the characteristics of the tibialis anterior muscle after sciatic nerve crush and treatment with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or the protein from natural latex (P1).

Methods: We studied the following 6 groups of male Wistar rats: control (CG); exposed nerve (EG); injured nerve (IG); injured nerve with LLLT (LG); injured nerve with P1 (PG); and injured nerve with P1 and LLLT (LPG).

Results: After 4 weeks, muscle morphology showed improvement in the treated groups; after 8 weeks, the treated groups resembled controls, especially the PG.

Self-assembling gelling formulation based on a crystalline-phase liquid as a non-viral vector for siRNA delivery.

Liquid crystalline systems (LCSs) form interesting drug delivery systems. These include in situ gelling delivery systems, which present several advantages for use as self-assembling systems for local drug delivery. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize in situ gelling delivery systems for local siRNA delivery.

Application of a low-level laser therapy and the purified protein from natural latex (Hevea brasiliensis) in the controlled crush injury of the sciatic nerve of rats: a morphological, quantitative, and ultrastructural study.

This study analyzed the effects of a low-level laser therapy (LLLT, 15 J/cm(2), 780 nm wavelength) and the natural latex protein (P1, 0.1%) in sciatic nerve after crush injury (15 Kgf, axonotmesis) in rats. Sixty rats (male, 250 g) were allocated into the 6 groups (n = 10): CG-control group; EG-nerve exposed; IG-injured nerve without treatment; LG-crushed nerve treated with LLLT; PG-injured nerve treated with P1; and LPG-injured nerve treated with LLLT and P1.