Evaluation of porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites for repair of lumbar vertebra defect in dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of porous gradient composites with hydroxyapatite/zirconia and autologous iliac in repair of lumbar vertebra body defects in dogs.

Methods: (1) New porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites were prepared using foam immersion, gradient compound and high temperature sintering; (2) A total of 18 adult beagle dogs, aged five to eight months and weighted 10-13 kg, were randomly assigned into two subgroups, which were implanted with new porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites (subgroup A in 12) or autologous iliac bone (subgroup B in 6); (3) The post-operative data were analyzed and compared between the subgroups to repair the vertebral body defect by roentgenoscopy, morphology and biomechanics.

Results: The porosity of new porous gradient hydroxyapatite/zirconia composites is at 25 poles per inch, and the size of pores is at between 150 and 300 µm.

4‑Phenylbutyrate protects rat skin flaps against ischemia‑reperfusion injury and apoptosis by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.

4‑phenylbutyrate (4‑PBA) is a low molecular weight fatty acid, which has been demonstrated to regulate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress‑induced cell apoptosis has an important role in skin flap ischemia; however, a pharmacological approach for treating ischemia‑induced ER dysfunction has yet to be reported. In the present study, the effects of 4‑PBA‑induced ER stress inhibition on ischemia‑reperfusion injury were investigated in the skin flap of rats, and transcriptional regulation was examined.

Curculigoside regulates proliferation, differentiation, and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in dexamethasone-induced rat calvarial osteoblasts.

Background: Curculigoside (CCG), one of the main bioactive phenolic compounds isolated from the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides Gaertn., is reported to prevent bone loss in ovariectomized rats. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown.

Culture and characterization of rat hair follicle stem cells.

The purpose of this study was to establish methods for isolation, culture, expansion, and characterization of rat hair follicle stem cells (rHFSCs). Hair follicles were harvested from 1-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats and digested with dispase and collagenase IV. The bulge of the hair follicle was dissected under a microscope and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 supplemented with KnockOut™ Serum Replacement serum substitute, penicillin-streptomycin, L-glutamine, non-essential amino acids, epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, polyhydric alcohol, and hydrocortisone.

Anti-apoptotic signal transduction mechanism of electroacupuncture in acute spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) can be caused by a variety of pathogenic factors. In China, acupuncture is widely used to treat SCI. We previously found that acupuncture can reduce apoptosis and promote repair after SCI.

Short- and long-term effects of vertebroplastic bone cement on cancellous bone.

Vertebroplasty using poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is the most common method to treat osteoporotic vertebral fractures. However, several questions of interest remain to be clarified, including how does PMMA affect the cement-bone interface area and surrounding bone tissue, can damaged bone tissues be repaired, how will PMMA change the bone interface over the long-term, and what happens to PMMA itself? The purpose of this study is to investigate these concerns and provide a basis for clinical evaluation. We made bone defects in the lumbar vertebrae of New Zealand rabbits as a model of osteoporosis and injected them with bone cement.

A brief analysis of traditional chinese medical elongated needle therapy on acute spinal cord injury and its mechanism.

Acute spinal cord injury is one of the most common and complicated diseases among human spinal injury. We aimed to explore the effect of point-through-point acupuncture therapy with elongated needles on acute spinal cord injury in rabbits and its possible mechanism. Adult rabbits were randomly divided into a model group, elongated needle therapy group, and blank group.

Study on the genotoxicity of HA/ZrO2 composite particles in vitro.

To evaluate the genotoxicity of the HA/ZrO2 composite particles by using the micronucleus test (MNT) in vitro. HA/ZrO2 composite particles prepared by sintering at high temperature and pressure, that used powder of HA and ZrO2 of different proportions, were compared with pure HA particles and pure ZrO2 particles. The effect of the composite particles on cell proliferation of rabbit mesenchymal stem cells, and its the genotoxicity to rabbit mesenchymal stem cells were detected by MNT method.

Effects of a proteasome inhibitor on the NF-κB signalling pathway in experimental osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 on the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65, inhibitor (I)-κB, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β in the cartilage and synovial tissues of rats with osteoarthritis (OA), and to investigate the role that the ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS) plays in the OA process.

Method: A total of 144 adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) + MG-132 (ACLT/M), ACLT + dimethylsulfoxide (ACLT/D), sham surgery (Sham), and naïve + MG-132 (naïve/M). Pathological morphology was undertaken.