A measurement system based on the image processing technology and developed by LabVIEW was designed to quickly obtain the range of motion (ROM) of spine. NI-Vision module was used to pre-process the original images and calculate the angles of marked needles in order to get ROM data. Six human cadaveric thoracic spine segments T7-T10 were selected to carry out 6 kinds of loads, including left/right lateral bending, flexion, extension, cis/counterclockwise torsion. The system was used to measure the ROM of segment T8-T9 under the loads from 1 N·m to 5 N·m. The experimental results showed that the system is able to measure the ROM of the spine accurately and quickly, which provides a simple and reliable tool for spine biomechanics investigators.
ObjectiveTo review the biological characteristics of self-assembling peptide nanofiber scaffold (SAPNS) and its potential to induce bone repair. MethodsThe literature regarding SAPNS and its application in bone repair was extensively analyzed and reviewed. ResultsSAPNS is derived from natural amino acids, and has the properties of good biocompatibility and non-toxic degradation products. Their microenvironment highly mimics the natural extracellular matrix, and controlled release of growth factors as well as modification with functional motifs can substantially improve their bioactivity. Many studies on cell composite culture and bone defect repair of animal models reveal that SAPNS has the ability to promote the function of bone cells (e.g. adherence, proliferation, and differentiation) in vitro, and enhance new bone tissue formation in vivo. ConclusionSAPNS may be an ideal material for bone repair, but its biologically mechanical properties need further improvement.
ObjectiveTo investigate the protective effects of carboxymethylated chitosan (CMCS) on oxidative stress induced apoptosis of Schwann cells (SCs), and the expressions of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and gl ial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in oxidative stress induced SCs. MethodsTwenty-four 3-5 days old Sprague Dawley rats (weighing 25-30 g, male or female) were involved in this study. The bilateral sciatic nerves of rats were harvested and SCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The purity of SCs was identified by immunofluorescence staining of S-100. SCs were treated with different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 0.01, 0.10, and 1.00 mmol/L) for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours to establ ish the apoptotic model. The cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry analysis were used to detect the cell viabil ity and apoptosis induced by H2O2, and the optimal concentration and time for the apoptotic model of SCs were determined. The 2nd passage SCs were divided into 5 groups and were treated with PBS (control), with 1.00 mmol/L H2O2, with 1.00 mmol/L H2O2+50 μg/mL CMCS, with 1.00 mmol/L H2O2+100 μg/mL CMCS, and with 1.00 mmol/L H2O2+200 μg/mL CMCS, respectively. After cultured for 24 hours, the cell viabil ity was assessed by CCK-8, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis, the expressions of mRNA and protein of BDNF and GDNF were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot. ResultsThe immunofluorescence staining of S-100 indicated the positive rate was more than 95%. CCK-8 and flow cytometry results showed that H2O2 can inhibit the proliferation of SCs and induce the SCs apoptosis with dose dependent manner, the effect was the most significant at 1.00 mmol/L H2O2 for 24 hours; after addition of CMCS, SCs exhibited the increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis in a dose dependent manner. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis showed that 1.00 mmol/L H2O2 can significantly inhibit BDNF and GDNF expression in SCs when compared with control group (P<0.05), 50-200 μg/mL CMCS can reverse the oxidative stress-induced BDNF and GDNF expression in SCs in a dose dependent manner, showing significant difference compared with control group and 1.00 mmol/L H2O2 induced group (P<0.05). There were significant differences among different CMCS treated groups (P<0.05). ConclusionCMCS has the protective stress on oxidative stress induced apoptosis of SCs, and may promote the BDNF and GDNF expressions of neurotrophic factors in oxidative stress induced SCs.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the association between-174G/C polymorphism in interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MethodsWe electronically searched PubMed, EMbase, CBM, WanFang Data, CNKI and VIP for case-control studies on the correlation between IL-6 gene-174G/C polymorphism and the risk of COPD. Two reviewers independently screened the studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and extracted data. Then meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsA total of 5 studies involving 487 COPD cases and 786 controls were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that, there was no significant association between IL-6 gene SNP-174G/C and risks of COPD:GC+CC vs. GG:OR=1.01, 95%CI 0.76 to 1.34, P=0.95; CC vs. GC+GG:OR=1.04, 95%CI 0.70 to 1.54, P=0.85:CC vs. GG:OR=1.05, 95%CI 0.69 to 1.61, P=0.81; GC vs. GG:OR=1.00, 95%CI 0.74 to 1.35, P=0.99; C vs. G:OR=1.02, 95%CI 0.83 to 1.24, P=0.88. ConclusionIL-6-174G/C gene polymorphism may not be a risk factor that causes COPD.
ObjectiveTo investigate The role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in pancreatitis-associated adrenal cells' apoptosis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). MethodsForty Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (SO group) and SAP group by random number method, the SAP group was divided into 3, 6, 12, and 24 h 4 subgroups, 8 rats in each group. SAP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into the bilipancreatic duct. At 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after operation, serum amylase and lipase was measured, adrenal injury was evaluated by histological examination, apoptosis of the adrenal cells was observed by TUNEL method, and expressions of TNF-α and Caspase-3 protein were detected by Western blot. ResultsThe levels of serum AMY and LIP, histopathological scores of pancreatic tissues and adrenal tissues at each time point after operation in SAP group increased significantly than SO group (P < 0.05). With the duration extension of SAP, the apoptosis index of adrenal cells in SAP group progressively heightened, and were higher than those in the SO group (P < 0.05). And the expressions of TNF-α and Caspase-3 protein in adrenal tissues of SAP group gradually increased, at 24 h this data slightly decreased, but still higher than SO group (P < 0.05). ConclusionTNF-α may be involved in the pathogenesis of adrenal injury in SAP rats by activate the protein expression of Caspase-3.