Enhanced healing of rat calvarial defects with sulfated chitosan-coated calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite/bone morphogenetic protein 2 scaffolds.

Calcium phosphate cements (CPCs), which are widely used in bone regeneration, possess good biocompatibility and osteoconductivity and have been demonstrated to be candidate carriers for bone growth factors. However, limited release of growth factors from CPCs and slow degradation of the materials are not desirable for certain clinical applications. Previous studies have shown that calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHA) from CPCs presents more rapid degradation rate than CPCs.

The prevalence and clinical-demographic correlates of diabetes mellitus in chronic schizophrenic patients receiving clozapine.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and correlates of diabetes in a large sample of Chinese patients with schizophrenia on long-term clozapine treatment, because this population previously has received little systematic study.

Methods: Two hundred and six inpatients meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition schizophrenia criteria were recruited in a cross-sectional naturalistic study, and compared with 615 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, education, and body mass index (BMI). The patient's psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).

[Effects of exogenous CaCl2 on the functions of flue-cured tobacco seedlings leaf photosystem II under drought stress].

Taking chlorophyll a fluorescence transient OJIP as the probe, this paper studied the effects of foliar spraying 10 mmol x L(-1) of CaCl2 on the functions of photosystem II (PS II) in tobacco seedling leaves under drought stress. Drought stress decreased the conversion efficiency of PS II primary light energy (F(v)/F(m)) and electron transport rate (ETR), and inhibited the primal process of photosynthesis, resulting in an obvious photoinhibition. After the spraying of CaCl2, the decrement of quantum yield for electron transport (phiE(o)) under drought stress was obviously lower, and the increment of electron transport efficiency of per reaction center (ET(o)/RC) was obviously higher, compared with those after the spraying of water.

Comparison of microRNA profiles of human periodontal diseased and healthy gingival tissues.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been demonstrated to play an important role in regulation of the immunoinflammatory response; however, the function of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to explore the properties of miRNAs in periodontal inflammation by comparing miRNA profiles of inflamed and healthy gingival tissues. Gingival tissues were obtained from 10 periodontitis patients and 10 healthy subjects.

[Isolation, cultivation and induced-mineralization of dental pulp cells from goat deciduous teeth in vitro].

Purpose: To isolate and cultivate dental cells from goat deciduous teeth ,and explore changes of its biological characters before and after induced-mineralization.

Methods: Pulp cells were cultivated with modified tissue block enzymolytic method, cell lineage in the second passage with SAB methods was checked out. Induced-mineralized cultivation was adopted in the fourth passage, some examinations were used to compare with normal cultivated cells: cell proliferative capality, mineralized ability test, cell morphology change, protein(OCN) expression level, related osteogenic genes(ALP,COL-I,OCN,OPN) expression.

[Detection of drug-human serum albumin binding ratios of two Chinese medicinal ingredients by high performance affinity chromatography].

The interaction of two Chinese medicinal ingredients and human serum albumin (HSA) has been investigated by high performance affinity chromatography (HPAC). HSA bounded silica-based stationary phase was prepared based on the "click chemistry" strategy, and packed in a column (named as HSA column). The drug-HSA binding ratio was calculated from the difference of the drug's retention times on the HSA column and silica column (blank column).

Proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells on akermanite and β-TCP bioceramics.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of akermanite as compared to β-TCP on attachment, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and actin filament labeling were used to reveal attachment and growth of hPDLCs seeded on β-TCP and akermanite ceramic. Cell proliferation was tested by lactic acid production and MTT analysis, while osteogenic differentiation was assayed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on markers of osteopontin (OPN), dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein-1 (DMP-1), and osteocalcin (OCN), and further detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis (ELISA) analysis for OCN expression.

Sciatic nerve regeneration in rats by a promising electrospun collagen/poly(ε-caprolactone) nerve conduit with tailored degradation rate.

Background: To cope with the limitations faced by autograft acquisitions particularly for multiple nerve injuries, artificial nerve conduit has been introduced by researchers as a substitute for autologous nerve graft for the easy specification and availability for mass production. In order to best mimic the structures and components of autologous nerve, great efforts have been made to improve the designation of nerve conduits either from materials or fabrication techniques. Electrospinning is an easy and versatile technique that has recently been used to fabricate fibrous tissue-engineered scaffolds which have great similarity to the extracellular matrix on fiber structure.

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation of peptides using reversed-phase/weak cation-exchange mixed-mode column in first dimension.

Selection of a first-dimensional separation method is very important in proteomic studies performed with two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC), since reversed-phase chromatography (RPLC) is usually chosen as the second-dimensional separation method in most studies. In this paper, we assess the potential use of mixed-mode reversed-phase/weak cation-exchange (RP/WCX) chromatography in 2D-LC proteomic studies. First, a new RP/WCX mixed-mode stationary phase (named C18WCX) was synthesized based on the polar-copolymerized approach, and a C18WCX column with separation efficiency comparative to conventional C18 columns was developed.

Importance of the CCR5-CCL5 axis for mucosal Trypanosoma cruzi protection and B cell activation.

Trypanosoma cruzi is an intracellular parasite and the causative agent of Chagas disease. Previous work has shown that the chemokine receptor CCR5 plays a role in systemic T. cruzi protection.

LvBMP-2 gene-modified BMSCs combined with calcium phosphate cement scaffolds for the repair of calvarial defects in rats.

The study aims to evaluate the effect of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) expressing bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) mediated by lentiviral (Lv) gene transduction combined with calcium phosphate cement (CPC) scaffolds for the repair of critical size calvarial defects in rats. BMSCs derived from Fisher 344 rats were transduced with LvBMP-2 or lentivirus encoding enhanced green fluorescent protein (LvEGFP) in vitro. Obvious osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the LvBMP-2 group was demonstrated by alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining.

Maxillary sinus floor elevation using BMP-2 and Nell-1 gene-modified bone marrow stromal cells and TCP in rabbits.

This study evaluated the synergistic osteogenic effect of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) and Nel-like molecule-1 (Nell-1) genes in a rabbit maxillary sinus floor elevation model. Bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) were cultured and transduced with AdEGFP, AdNell-1, AdBMP-2, or AdNell-1 + AdBMP-2 overexpression virus. These gene-modified autologous bMSCs were then combined with a β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) granule scaffold and used to elevate the maxillary sinus floor in rabbits.

[Study on the chemical constituents of Phlomis younghusbandii].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Phlomis younghusbandii.

Methods: Column chromatography was used in the isolation procedure. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectral data

Results: Eight compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as barlerin (1), sesamoside (2), phloyoside II (3), salidroside (4), shanzhiside methyl ester (5), acteoside (6), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (7), daucosterol (8).

Anti-ageing effects of protocatechuic acid from Alpinia on spleen and liver antioxidative system of senescent mice.

The effects of Alpinia protocatechuic acid (PCA) on spleen and liver antioxidant system in aged rats have been studied. Alpinia PCA, a phenolic compound, was first isolated from the dried fruits of Alpinia Oxyphylla Miq. in our laboratory.

Long-term outcome of cryopreserved bone-derived osteoblasts for bone regeneration in vivo.

Cryopreserved bone-derived osteoblasts (CBOs) have been considered as a promising cell source for bone regeneration. Previous studies have demonstrated that CBOs had good proliferation and osteogenicity. However, the long-term outcome of CBOs in vivo still remains unknown.

[Experimental study of subcutaneous osteogenesis by bone marrow stromal cells with A-PCPC in Beagle dogs].

Purpose: To study the osteogenic capability of the construct combined dog's bone stromal cells with active porous calcium phosphate cement (A-PCPC) in nude mice in vivo.

Methods: Isolated bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were expanded and osteogenically induced in vitro. Their osteogenic phenotype was evaluated by cytochemistry.

Maintenance of phenotype and function of cryopreserved bone-derived cells.

The emerging fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine require large numbers of cells for therapy. Although the properties of cells obtained from a variety of fresh tissues have been delineated, the knowledge regarding cryopreserved grafts-derived cells remains elusive. Previous studies have shown that living cells could be isolated from cryopreserved bone grafts.

Application of matrix solid-phase dispersion methodology to the extraction of endogenous peptides from porcine hypothalamus samples for MS and LC-MS analysis.

In this study, we investigated a novel application of matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) methodology for the extraction of endogenous peptides from porcine hypothalamus tissue samples. Several experimental factors of the MSPD procedure were examined. Finally, silica-based octadecyl was chosen as dispersing material and blended with 0.

A new method for chemical identification based on orthogonal parallel liquid chromatography separation and accurate molecular weight confirmation.

Recent advances in the theory and application of orthogonal LC separation have allowed for the establishment of a more effective method for the chemical identification of target compounds in complex samples, especially structurally similar compounds. In this study, a new chemical identification method based on orthogonal parallel separation and accurate molecular weight confirmation was developed. An orthogonal separation system consisting of an XTerra MS C(18) column, a home-made Click OEG column, and a Click CD column was established for separation and identification.

Evaluation of 99mTc-glucarate as a breast cancer imaging agent in a xenograft animal model.

Introduction: The use of [(99m)Tc]glucarate has been reported as an infarct-avid agent with the potential for very early detection of myocardial infarction. [(99m)Tc]Glucarate has also been postulated as an agent for non-invasive detection of tumors. The aim of our study was to develop a Glucarate kit and evaluate [(99m)Tc]glucarate as a potential cancer imaging agent in female SCID mice bearing human MDA-MB-435 breast tumors.

An ectopic study of apatite-coated silk fibroin scaffolds seeded with AdBMP-2-modified canine bMSCs.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate ectopic new bone formation effects of apatite-coated silk fibroin scaffolds (mSS) seeded with adenovirus-mediated bone morphogenic protein-2 gene (AdBMP-2) transduced canine bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) in nude mice. In this study, bMSCs derived from canine were cultured and transduced with AdBMP-2 adenovirus-mediated enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (AdEGFP) in vitro. Osteogenic differentiation of bMSCs was determined by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity analysis, and the transcript levels for BMP-2, osteopontin (OPN), osteocalcin (OCN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) genes via real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis.

Silence of HIN-1 expression through methylation of its gene promoter in gastric cancer.

Aim: To clarify the role of high in normal-1 (HIN-1) gene promoter methylation during gastric cancer development.

Methods: Gastric cancer cell lines and tissue specimens were analyzed for expression of HIN-1 mRNA and protein using the semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The methylation of the HIN-1 gene promoter was detected in gastric carcinoma cells and tissues using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Current status of cleaning and disinfection for gastrointestinal endoscopy in China: a survey of 122 endoscopy units.

Background: Adequate compliance with the existing guidelines for cleaning and disinfection of gastrointestinal endoscopes and accessories is necessary to obtain high-level disinfection and prevent pathogen transmission.

Aim: To investigate cleaning and disinfection practice in China.

Methods: A questionnaire with 21 questions concerning gastrointestinal endoscopy reprocessing was sent by e-mail to 189 endoscopy units in China.