Effect of Morinda officinalis capsule on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

Aim: To explore the therapeutic effects of Morinda officinalis capsules (MOP) on osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats.

Methods: Six-month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were induced for postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) by bilateral ovariectomy and divided into seven groups as follows: sham-operated group, ovariectomized (OVX) control group, OVX treated with xianlinggubao (XLGB) (270 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹), OVX treated with alendronate sodium (ALN) (3 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹), and OVX treated with Morinda officinalis capsule (MOP) of graded doses (90, 270 and 810 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) groups. Oral treatments were administered daily on the 4(th) week after ovariectomy and lasted for 12 weeks.

Comparative study of the relative signal intensity on DWI, FLAIR, and T2 images in identifying the onset time of stroke in an embolic canine model.

In acute stroke magnetic resonance imaging, many attempts have been made to identify the onset time of ischemic events using the simply quantitative judgment of relative signal intensity (rSI) from various MR images. However, no uniform opinion has been achieved broadly till now. The controversy might derive from the potential patients' selection bias of clinical retrospective study, the discrepant MR parameters, and the various sample sizes among different studies.

Drug-in-cyclodextrin-in-liposomes: a promising delivery system for hydrophobic drugs.

Introduction: Recently, the entrapment of hydrophobic drugs in the form of water-soluble drug-cyclodextrin (CD) complex in liposomes has been investigated as a new strategy to combine the relative advantages of CDs and liposomes into one system, namely drug-in-CD-in-liposome (DCL) systems.

Areas Covered: For DCLs preparation, an overall understanding of the interaction between CDs and lipid components of liposomes is necessary and valuable. The present article reviews the preparation, characterization and application of DCLs, especially as antitumor or transdermal carriers.

[Detection of EGFR and K-ras mutations in non-small cell lung cancer using cytological specimens].

Objective: To validate the feasibility for detecting EGFR and k-ras mutations using cytological specimens.

Methods: Cytological specimens including fine-needle aspiration (FNA), pleural effusion (PLE) and fiberoptic bronchoscopic (FOB) brushing were collected from patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC ) from January 2011 to July 2011 at the Department of Cytology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CHCAMS). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out to amplify EGFR exons 18-21 and k-ras codons 12-13, and then the PCR products sequencing and analysis were performed.

[Study on preparation of quercetin nanostructured lipid carriers and their physicochemical properties].

Objective: To prepare quercetin nanostuctured lipid carriers (QT-NLC), and detect their physicochemical properties.

Method: QT-NLC was prepared by emulsification ultrasonic dispersion method, and the optimum prescription was screened out by orthogonal design. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe QT-NLC morphology.

An endovascular canine stroke model: middle cerebral artery occlusion with autologous clots followed by ipsilateral internal carotid artery blockade.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and the main reason for long-term disability. An appropriate animal model of stroke is urgently required for understanding the exact pathophysiological mechanism of stroke and testing any new therapeutic regimen. Our work aimed to establish a canine stroke model occluding the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and blocking the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA), and to assess the infarct lesions by magnetic resonance imaging.

Skin permeation behavior of elastic liposomes: role of formulation ingredients.

Introduction: With the incorporation of edge activators into the lipid bilayer structure, elasticity properties are given to liposomes. Regardless of the debate over the precise permeation mechanism of elastic liposomes, these vesicles have been proven to enhance drug permeation into or through skin in most cases.

Areas Covered: This article provides an overview of the formulation ingredients of elastic liposomes and their relationship with skin permeation behavior.

In vivo MR imaging of intraarterially delivered magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells in a canine stroke model.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of intraarterial (IA) delivery and in vivo MR imaging of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a canine stroke model.

Methodology: MSCs harvested from beagles' bone marrow were labeled with home-synthesized SPIO. Adult beagle dogs (n = 12) were subjected to left proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion by autologous thrombus, followed by two-hour left internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion with 5 French vertebral catheter.

Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging for assessing lacunar infarction after proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion in a canine model.

Background: A new lacunar infarction model was recently established in beagle dogs through proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion by thrombus. This study aimed to characterize the model by multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to investigate its potential role for the future stroke research.

Methods: The left proximal MCA was embolized with an autologous thrombus in six beagles.

CT/fluorescence dual-modal nanoemulsion platform for investigating atherosclerotic plaques.

Macrophages have become widely recognized as a key target for atherosclerosis imaging, since they contribute significantly to the progression of atherosclerosis. Dual-modal imaging contrast agents with unique X-ray computed tomography (CT) and optical imaging capabilities have great potential in disease diagnosis because of complementary combination of the high spatial resolution of CT with the high sensitivity of optical imaging. Here, a kind of quantum dots (QDs)-iodinated oil nanoemulsion of 80 nm was developed as a CT/fluorescence dual-modal contrast agent.

Biological treatment of steroidal drug industrial effluent and electricity generation in the microbial fuel cells.

The single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were used to treat steroidal drug production wastewater (SPW) and generate electricity simultaneously. The results indicated that the maximum COD removal efficiency reached 82%, total nitrogen and sulfate removal rate approached 62.47% and 26.

[Electricity generation from lactate using microbial fuel cell and the distribution characteristics of anode microbial community].

Objective: Two-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were set up to understand the electrogenic capacity of MFCs fed with lactic acid to investigate the distribution characteristics of microflora in the anode biofilm, supernatant, and sediment.

Methods: Using lactic acid as a carbon source in the anode, we explored the MFCs start-up process and the efficiency of electricity production, and also investigated the spatial distribution of microbial communities using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) techniques.

Results: The results indicate that the MFCs reached the highest voltage, 0.

A novel embolic stroke model resembling lacunar infarction following proximal middle cerebral artery occlusion in beagle dogs.

It is estimated that lacunar infarcts account for 25% of all ischemic strokes, but its exact etiology is still on debating. The existing controversies include whether the embolisms can indeed cause lacunar stroke in humans or animal models. We hypothesized that lacunar infarction can be induced by the proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) segmental occlusion involving the orifices of lenticulostriate arteries in animal models, which have abundant distal cerebral collateral anastomosis.

Prognostic significance of MCM7 expression in the bronchial brushings of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Purpose: To identify potential biomarkers for the prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by using bronchial brushing specimens.

Methods: The expression of MCM7, Ki67 and EGFR was evaluated in 494 NSCLC tissues and 174 bronchial brushings using immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical techniques. Associations between protein expression and clinico-pathologic parameters were assessed, and the impact on overall survival (OS) was analyzed.

[Expression of EGFR, survivn and hnRNPA2/B1 in bronchial brushing cytology specimens and their significance in diagnosis of lung cancer].

Objective: To study the expression of EGFR, survivn and hnRNPA2/B1 proteins in ThinPrep bronchial brushing cytology specimens and their significance in diagnosis of lung cancer.

Methods: The protein expression of EGFR, survivn and hnRNPA2/B1 was detected by immunocytochemistry (ICC) in the specimens from 110 cases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), 32 cases of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and 37 cases of non-neoplastic lung lesions. The relationship between EGFR, survivn and hnRNPA2/B1 protein expression and clinical characteristics of the patients was analyzed using SPSS 16.

Local delivery of antimicrobial peptides using self-organized TiO2 nanotube arrays for peri-implant infections.

Peri-implant infections have been reported as one of the major complications that lead to the failure of orthopedic implants. An ideal solution to the peri-implant infection is to locally deliver antimicrobial agents through the implant surface. The rising problem of infections caused by multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria makes traditional antibiotics less desirable for the prevention of peri-implant infections.

Preparation and properties of calcium phosphate cements incorporated gelatin microspheres and calcium sulfate dihydrate as controlled local drug delivery system.

To develop high macroporous and degradable bone cements which can be used as the substitute of bone repairing and drug carriers, cross-linked gelatin microspheres (GMs) and calcium sulfate dihydrate (CSD) powder were incorporated into calcium phosphate bone cement (CPC) to induce macropores, adjust drug release and control setting time of α-TCP-liquid mixtures after degradation of GMs and dissolution of CSD. In this study, CSD was introduced into CPC/10GMs composites to offset the prolonged setting time caused by the incorporation of GMs, and gentamicin sulphate (GS) was chosen as the model drug entrapped within the GMs. The effects of CSD amount on the cement properties, drug release ability and final macroporosity after GMs degradation were studied in comparison with CPC/GMs cements.

Curcumin inhibits melanogenesis in human melanocytes.

Plant derived compounds, as potentially safe and effective skin lightening agents (SLAs), have attracted great attention from many researchers. Curcumin is a plant-derived polyphenol, which has been reported to suppress melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells. However, little is known about whether curcumin affects melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes.

Apigenin attenuates dopamine-induced apoptosis in melanocytes via oxidative stress-related p38, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase and Akt signaling.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that the occurrence of oxidative stress leads to melanocyte degeneration in vitiligo. Elevated level of dopamine (DA), an initiator of oxidative stress, reportedly is found in patients with vitiligo and induces melanocyte death in vitro. DA-treated melanocytes have been used as a model to search for antioxidants for treating vitiligo.

Alternate deposition of oriented calcite and amino acid layer on calcite substrates.

Material synthesis inspired by novel nacre architecture and mechanism is popular and has attracted more and more attention. In this paper, iso-oriented calcite tablets/layers and amino acid layers were formed alternately on calcite wafers. It is interesting that the neonatal calcite tablets/layers have the same crystal orientation with their inorganic substrates through amino acid layers.

[Relationship between the biological behavior of nasal cavity or sinonasal inverted papilloma and infection of human papillomavirus].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the prognosis of nasal inverted papilloma (NIP) and infection of human papillomavirus (HPV).

Methods: The paraffin-embedded tissue slides of 67 cases of NIP in nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses and of 10 cases of benign nasal polyps (as controls) underwent HE staining and in hybridization in situ (HIS) to detect the expression of 28 types of HPV and positive sites thereof. The 67 NIP patients, 45 males and 12 females, with the onset age of 55.

[Relationship between prognosis of nasal inverted papilloma and human papillomavirus types].

Objective: To detected HPV human papillomavirus DNA and HPV types in NIP nasal inverted papilloma, to inquire into the infection of HPV in the pathogenesis of NIP, and the relationship of HPV with the prognosis of NIP.

Methods: Twenty-eight cases of NIP were divided into 3 groups: no recurrence group (group 1), recurrence group (group 2), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arising in NIP group (malignancy group, group 3). Ten cases of benign nasal polyps were used as control group.