Impaired fracture healing in macrophage migration inhibitory factor-deficient mice

This study investigated the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in fracture repair using MIF gene-deficient mice (MIF KO). Fracture healing was delayed in MIF KO, and this was mainly due to the delay in the mineralization of osteoid within the fracture callus.

INTRODUCTION

We previously reported that the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was up-regulated during the fracture healing process in rats. However, its role in the pathophysiology of this process remained unclear. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of MIF in the fracture healing process using MIF gene-deficient mice (MIF KO).

METHODS

Bone repair in wild-type mice (WT) and MIF KO (n = 70, respectively) was investigated using a tibia fracture model. Radiographic, biomechanical, histological, bone histomorphometric, and molecular analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Post-fracture biomechanical testing showed that maximum load and stiffness were significantly lower in MIF KO than in WT on day 42. However, similar levels were observed between the two groups on day 84. Bone histomorphometric analysis revealed significantly higher osteoid volume, a lower mineral apposition rate, and smaller numbers of osteoclasts in the MIF KO callus compared to the WT callus. The messenger ribonucleic acid expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, membranous type 1-MMP, cathepsin K, and tissue nonspecific alkaline phosphatase were found to be significantly suppressed in the MIF KO callus.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study suggest that delayed fracture healing in MIF KO was mainly attributable to a delay in osteoid mineralization.

Feasibility of fibrin glue versus endoclips to close the transgastric peritoneal access site in NOTES in a survival porcine study

INTRODUCTION

Safe peritoneal access and gastric closure are the most important concerns in clinical applications of NOTES. Our past study demonstrated usefulness of the submucosal tunnel technique for safe peritoneal access and closure with endoclips. However, such closure is sometimes difficult and time-consuming. This study investigated the feasibility of fibrin glue for submucosal tunnel closure in a NOTES porcine model.

METHODS

In 10 female pigs each weighing 40 kg, transgastric peritoneoscopy was performed through a 60 mm-long submucosal tunnel created using the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique. After transgastric peritoneoscopy for 30 min, the submucosal tunnel was closed with endoclips in five pigs and fibrin glue in five pigs. After a 7 d follow-up period, the pigs were euthanized for post-mortem examination. Outcome measures included (a) technical feasibility of closure with endoclips versus fibrin glue, (b) clinical monitoring for 7 d, (c) follow-up necropsy at 7 d, and (d) histopathologic examination of the peritoneal access site.

RESULTS

Transgastric peritoneoscopy with submucosal tunnel technique was successful in all pigs. Mean time required to close the mucosal incision site with fibrin glue was 1.6 ± 0.5 versus 19 ± 18.7 min with endoclips. All pigs survived well without complications. Necropsy revealed no peritonitis. There were no differences in transgastric peritoneal access sites between endoclips and fibrin glue. Histopathologic examination of the submucosal tunnel demonstrated wound healing with transmural fibrosis. No adverse effects from fibrin glue were noted.

CONCLUSION

Compared with endoclips, the application of fibrin glue is easy and simple in the closure of transgastric peritoneal access in NOTES.

Transfection of human HGF plasmid DNA improves limb salvage in Buerger's disease patients with critical limb ischemia

AIM

Hepatocyte growth factor is a potent angiogenic agent. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA encoding the human hepatocyte growth factor gene in Japanese patients with Buerger's disease and critical limb ischemia.

METHODS

An open-label clinical study was performed at eight hospitals in Japan from May 2004 to April 2008. Ten patients were enrolled. They had Buerger's disease with ischemic ulcers, were not candidates for revascularization, and were unresponsive to conventional drug therapy. Treatment consisted of 8 injections (total dose: 4 mg) of hepatocyte growth factor plasmid, which were administered into the calf muscles and/or distal thigh muscles of the ischemic limbs under ultrasound guidance. Administration was done twice at an interval of 4 weeks. If there was no improvement after 2 doses, a 3rd dose could be administered. The response to treatment was evaluated from the reduction of ischemic ulcer size.

RESULTS

The size of ischemic ulcers showed a decrease in 6/9 (66.7%) patients and the ulcers healed completely in 5/9 (55.6%) patients after gene therapy. Major amputation was not required. There were no deaths and no major safety concerns.

CONCLUSION

Hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy is safe and effective for critical limb ischemia in patients with Buerger's disease.

A survey on diarrhea and convenience of intake associated with a single-dose extended release formulation of azithromycin

The development of a single-dose extended release formulation of azithromycin (AZ-SR) improves the adherence. However, gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea are frequent adverse drug reactions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the incidence of patient-reported in a diarrhea and the convenience of intake of AZ-SR in an Asian population. To assess the incidence of diarrhea and convenience of intake, patient-reported in a questionnaire about the incidence, onset, duration and severity of diarrhea, shape of stool, and patients' impression on taste. The drug was prepared and used in common with the hospital pharmacy and the community pharmacy. AZ-SR was prescribed in 96 outpatients, among whom 81 patients received the medicine and the questionnaire at the hospital pharmacy or one of five neighboring community pharmacies. The recovery of the questionnaire was 40.7%. Diarrhea occurred in 18 of 33 patients (54.5%), which was more frequent than in earlier reports, although the symptom was mild (grade 1-2) and occurred in most cases within 2 days. Approximately one third of patients reported inconvenience in taking the formulation in respect of the ease (36.4%), amount (42.4%), and unpleasant bitter taste (36.4%). We report here the importance of collaboration between hospital pharmacists and community pharmacists in providing accurate drug information, including the incidence of diarrhea, to patients receiving AZ-SR.

Remote access laparoscopic (REAL) surgery: a novel approach for single-port surgery without a visible scar

INTRODUCTION

Single-port laparoscopic surgery usually uses the transumbilical approach. However, the transumbilical incision may be associated with a high frequency of wound-related complications, including trocar site hernia and infection. Therefore, we developed remote access laparoscopic (REAL) surgery, a new access technique for single-port surgery within the pubic hairline. This study reports on a technique developed at our institution and describes our preliminary results.

MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Ten patients with cholecystolithiasis underwent REAL surgery. A single 2.5-cm transverse incision was made medially within the pubic hairline area, and a SILS Port was inserted. A 5-mm flexible endoscope and an articulating grasper or a long laparoscopic grasper were used. Dissection of the gallbladder was achieved with laparoscopic ultrasonic shears just as in the conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy. All procedures were successfully performed without conversion to conventional laparoscopic technique. There were no postoperative complications, and outpatient evaluation showed a clean scar within the pubic hair area in all patients.

DISCUSSION

Our early experience shows that REAL surgery is feasible and safe. This novel access technique can preserve the native umbilicus and provides an invisible scar that is concealed within the pubic hair.

Endothelial progenitors encapsulated in bioartificial niches are insulated from systemic cytotoxicity and are angiogenesis competent

Intrinsic stem cells (SC) participate in tissue remodeling and regeneration in various diseases and following toxic insults. Failure of tissue regeneration is in part attributed to lack of SC protection from toxic stress of noxious stimuli, thus prompting intense research efforts to develop strategies for SC protection and functional preservation for in vivo delivery. One strategy is creation of artificial SC niches in an attempt to mimic the requirements of endogenous SC niches by generating scaffolds with properties of extracellular matrix. Here, we investigated the use of hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels as an artificial SC niche and examined regenerative capabilities of encapsulated embryonic endothelial progenitor cells (eEPC) in three different in vivo models. Hydrogel-encapsulated eEPC demonstrated improved resistance to toxic insult (adriamycin) in vitro, thus prompting in vivo studies. Implantation of HA hydrogels containing eEPC to mice with adriamycin nephropathy or renal ischemia resulted in eEPC mobilization to injured kidneys (and to a lesser extent to the spleen) and improvement of renal function, which was equal or superior to adoptively transferred EPC by intravenous infusion. In mice with hindlimb ischemia, EPC encapsulated in HA hydrogels dramatically accelerated the recovery of collateral circulation with the efficacy superior to intravenous infusion of EPC. In conclusion, HA hydrogels protect eEPC against adriamycin cytotoxicity and implantation of eEPC encapsulated in HA hydrogels supports renal regeneration in ischemic and cytotoxic (adriamycin) nephropathy and neovascularization of ischemic hindlimb, thus establishing their functional competence and superior capabilities to deliver stem cells stored in and released from this bioartificial niche.

Prevalence of infiltrative lymphocytic mural folliculitis in equine inflammatory skin diseases

Infiltrative lymphocytic mural folliculitis (ILMF) is a histopathological reaction pattern reported to occur in a small number of equine inflammatory dermatoses. However, the prevalence of ILMF in a variety of equine dermatoses has not been reported. Skin biopsy specimens from 250 horses with inflammatory dermatoses and from 27 horses with physically healthy skin were therefore evaluated. ILMF was present in 82% of the diseased skin specimens examined. ILMF was not seen in physically healthy skin. It appears that ILMF is frequently seen in a wide variety of equine inflammatory dermatoses and therefore is of little diagnostic significance. However, ILMF is not seen in physically healthy equine skin and the presence of lymphocytes in equine hair follicle epithelium should therefore be considered abnormal.

Atomic alignment effects for the formation of excimers RgX* (B, C) in the reaction of oriented Rg ((3)P2, M(J) = 2) (Rg = Xe, Kr, Ar) + halogen(X)-containing molecules

Atomic alignment effects for the formation of excimers, RgX* (B, Omega = 1/2) and RgX* (C, Omega = 3/2), in the reaction of Rg ((3)P(2)) (Rg = Xe, Kr, Ar) with halogen (X)-containing molecules (RX) (CH(3)I, CF(3)I, CF(3)Br, NF(3), CHBr(3), CHCl(3), CCl(3)F, and CCl(4)) have been measured by using an oriented Rg ((3)P(2), M(J) = 2) atomic beam at a collision energy of approximately 0.07 eV. The emission intensities for RgX* (B, C) have been measured as a function of the magnetic orientation field direction in the collision frame. The reactant (RX) dependence of the atomic alignment effect is extremely different between the RgX* (B) and the RgX* (C) channels. For RgX* (C), an analogous atomic alignment effect is commonly observed despite the difference of RX and Rg. In contrast, for RgX* (B), the atomic alignment effect shows a diverse dependence on RX and Rg.

Steric effect in the energy transfer reaction of oriented Kr (3P2, MJ = 2) + CO

Atomic alignment effect for the formations of CO (a' (3)Sigma(+)) and CO (d (3)Delta) in the energy transfer reaction of oriented Kr ((3)P(2), M(J) = 2) + CO has been measured at a collision energy of 0.07 eV. The emission intensities of CO (a' (3)Sigma(+)) and CO (d (3)Delta) were similarly highly enhanced when the electron angular momentum of Kr ((3)P(2)) is aligned perpendicular to the relative velocity vector. We observed the analogous atomic alignment effect between the CO (a' (3)Sigma(+)) and CO (d (3)Delta) formations. That is, the |M(J)'| = 2 magnetic substate in the collision frame is significantly less reactive than the other M(J)' states. In addition, the large difference of the cross section (sigma(Sigma)/sigma(Pi) approximately 2.0) between the Sigma- and Pi-configuration of the unpaired 4p orbital of Kr ((3)P(2)) is recognized.

Postobstructive regeneration of kidney is derailed when surge in renal stem cells during course of unilateral ureteral obstruction is halted

Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), a model of tubulointerstitial scarring (TIS), has a propensity toward regeneration of renal parenchyma after release of obstruction (RUUO). No information exists on the contribution of stem cells to this process. We performed UUO in FVB/N mice, reversed it after 10 days, and examined kidneys 3 wk after RUUO. UUO resulted in attenuation of renal parenchyma. FACS analysis of endothelial progenitor (EPC), mesenchymal stem (MSC) and hematopoietic stem (HSC) cells obtained from UUO kidneys by collagenase-dispersed single-cell suspension showed significant increase in EPC, MSC, and HSC compared with control. After RUUO cortical parenchyma was nearly restored, and TIS score improved by 3 wk. This reversal process was associated with return of stem cells toward baseline level. When animals were chronically treated with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor at a dose that did not induce hypertension but resulted in endothelial dysfunction, TIS scores were not different from control UUO, but EPC number in the kidney decreased significantly; however, parenchymal regeneration in these mice was similar to control. Blockade of CXCR4-mediated engraftment resulted in dramatic worsening of UUO and RUUO. Similar results were obtained in caveolin-1-deficient but not -overexpressing mice, reflecting the fact that activation of CXCR4 occurs in caveolae. The present data show increase in EPC, HSC, and MSC population during UUO and a tendency for these cells to decrease to control level during RUUO. These processes are minimally affected by chronic NOS inhibition. Blockade of CXCR4-stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) interaction by AMD3100 or caveolin-1 deficiency significantly reduced the UUO-associated surge in stem cells and prevented parenchymal regeneration after RUUO. We conclude that the surge in stem cell accumulation during UUO is a prerequisite for regeneration of renal parenchyma.