Fluorescent Visualisation of Oxytocin in the Hypothalamo-neurohypophysial/-spinal Pathways After Chronic Inflammation in Oxytocin-Monomeric Red Fluorescent Protein 1 Transgenic Rats

Oxytocin (OXT) is a well-known neurohypophysial hormone that is synthesised in the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of the hypothalamus. The projection of magnocellular neurosecretory cells, which synthesise OXT and arginine vasopressin in the PVN and SON, to the posterior pituitary plays an essential role in mammalian labour and lactation through its peripheral action. However, previous studies have shown that parvocellular OXTergic cells in the PVN, which project to the medulla and spinal cord, are involved in various physiological functions (e.g. sensory modulation and autonomic). In the present study, we examined OXT expression in the PVN, SON and spinal cord after chronic inflammation from adjuvant arthritis (AA). We used transgenic rats that express OXT and the monomeric red fluorescent protein 1 (mRFP1) fusion gene to visualise both the magnocellular and parvocellular OXTergic pathways. OXT-mRFP1 fluorescence intensity was significantly increased in the PVN, SON, dorsal horn of the spinal cord and posterior pituitary in AA rats. The levels of OXT-mRFP1 mRNA were significantly increased in the PVN and SON of AA rats. These results suggested that OXT was up-regulated in both hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory cells and parvocellular cells by chronic inflammation, and also that OXT in the PVN-spinal pathway may be involved in sensory modulation. OXT-mRFP1 transgenic rats are a very useful model for visualising the OXTergic pathways from vesicles in a single cell to terminals in in vitro preparations.

Fracture of a persistent olecranon physis in an adult

A persistent olecranon physis is relatively rare; a fracture through the persistent olecranon physis in an adult is particularly rare. Little is known about the pathology of this disease. We report a case of a 36-year-old man presenting with right elbow pain after he had slipped and hit his elbow, with a history of a persistent symptomatic olecranon physis when he was a junior high school baseball player. He had been diagnosed with a fracture through a persistent olecranon physis by another doctor. Ten weeks after the injury, an iliac autograft was inserted and internal fixation was achieved with Kirschner wires and a figure-of-eight tension band in our hospital. Histologically, a fracture passed through the persistent physis cartilage and degeneration of the remnant of the physis was observed. The remnant of the physis at the olecranon side had not been replaced by new bone, though the physis at the distal ulnar was nearly replaced by new bone. The patient returned to work without experiencing pain or limitation in the range of motion 6 months after the operation. Radiographic evidence of bone union was seen after removal of internal fixation at the 13-month follow-up.

Ridge augmentation using recombinant human fibroblast growth factor-2 with biodegradable gelatin sponges incorporating β-tricalcium phosphate: a preclinical study in dogs

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) regulates the proliferation and differentiation of osteogenic cells, resulting in the promotion of bone formation. Biodegradable gelatin sponges incorporating β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) have been reported as a scaffold, which has the ability to control growth factor release, offering sufficient mechanical strength and efficient migration of mesenchymal cells. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the combined use of recombinant human FGF-2 (rhFGF-2) and gelatin/β-TCP sponge on ridge augmentation in dogs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Six male beagle dogs were used in this study. Twelve wk after tooth extraction, bilateral 10 × 5 mm (width × depth) saddle-type defects were created 3 mm apart from the mesial side of the maxillary canine. At the experimental sites, the defects were filled with gelatin/β-TCP sponge infiltrated with 0.3% rhFGF-2, whereas gelatin/β-TCP sponge infiltrated with saline was applied to the control sites. Eight wk after surgery, qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed.

RESULTS

There were no signs of clinical inflammation at 8 wk after surgery. Histometric measurements revealed that new bone height at the experimental sites (2.98 ± 0.65 mm) was significantly greater than that at the control sites (1.56 ± 0.66 mm; p = 0.004). The total tissue height was greater at the experimental sites (6.62 ± 0.66 mm) than that at the control sites (5.95 ± 0.74 mm), although there was no statistical significant difference (p = 0.051). Cast model measurements revealed that the residual defect height at the experimental sites (2.31 ± 0.50 mm) was significantly smaller than that at the control sites (3.51 ± 0.78 mm; p = 0.012).

CONCLUSION

The combined use of rhFGF-2 and gelatin/β-TCP sponge promotes ridge augmentation in canine saddle-type bone defects.

Synthesis and characterization of novel thin film nanocomposite reverse osmosis membranes with improved organic fouling properties for water desalination

Incorporation of HNTs into PA layer improved not only the structural and separation characteristics of composite membrane but also its antifouling properties.

Temporal effect of inertial cavitation with and without microbubbles on surface deformation of agarose S gel in the presence of 1-MHz focused ultrasound

Sonoporation has the potential to deliver extraneous molecules into a target tissue non-invasively. There have been numerous investigations of cell membrane permeabilization induced by microbubbles, but very few studies have been carried out to investigate sonoporation by inertial cavitation, especially from a temporal perspective. In the present paper, we show the temporal variations in nano/micro-pit formations following the collapse of inertial cavitation bubbles, with and without Sonazoid® microbubbles. Using agarose S gel as a target material, erosion experiments were conducted in the presence of 1-MHz focused ultrasound applied for various exposure times, Tex (0.002-60 s). Conventional microscopy was used to measure temporal variations in micrometer-scale pit numbers, and atomic force microscopy utilized to detect surface roughness on a nanometer scale. The results demonstrated that nanometer-scale erosion was predominantly caused by Sonazoid® microbubbles and C4F10 gas bubbles for 0.002 s<Tex<1 s, while the number of micrometer-scale pits, caused mainly by inertial cavitation bubbles such as C4F10 gas bubbles and vapor bubbles, increased exponentially with increasing Tex in the range 0.1 s<Tex<10 s. The results of the present study suggest that cavitation-induced sonoporation can produce various pore sizes in membranes, enabling the delivery of external molecules of differing sizes into cells or tissues.

Performance of silicon rubber coated polyetherimide hollow fibers for CO2 removal via a membrane contactor

This study focuses on the effect of a silicon rubber coating technique on the hollow fiber membrane contactor for the purpose of CO₂ removal.

Effect of hydrophobic montmorillonite (MMT) on PVDF and PEI hollow fiber membranes in gas–liquid contacting process: a comparative study

Porous polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyetherimide (PEI) hollow fiber mixed matrix membranes are successfully fabricated for CO₂ absorption via membrane contactor.

Carbon dioxide stripping through water by porous PVDF/montmorillonite hollow fiber mixed matrix membranes in a membrane contactor

Hydrophobic montmorillonite-filled polyvinylideneflouride hollow fiber mixed matrix membranes were fabricated via wet phase inversion method to meet the requirements of stripping process through membrane contactor at elevated temperatures.

Performance studies of PEI/SPEI blend ultra-filtration membranes via surface modification using cSMM additives

Sulfonated poly(ether imide) and charged surface modifying macromolecules were synthesized, characterized and blended into a casting solution of poly(ether imide) in different amounts to develop surface modified ultra-filtration membranes by means of improved hydrophilicity.

A porous polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane in a gas humidification process

Porous PES hollow fiber membrane was fabricated and characterized in terms of pore size, porosity and wettability and used in humidification process. The membrane showed high performance compared to the commercial and in-house made membranes.

Hydrocarbon degradation and separation of bilge water via a novel TiO2-HNTs/PVDF-based photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR)

This paper focuses on the potential of a novel flat sheet nanocomposite titanium dioxide (TiO₂)-halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane as a photocatalytic separator in the photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR).

Acid-vacuo heat treated low cost banana stems fiber for efficient biosorption of Hg(ii)

HCl treatment on Banana Stem Fiber (BSF) increased the cellulose accessibility. Prior to the biosorption process, the biosorbent was activated in vacuo at 373 K. The activation improved the maximum Hg(ii) biosorption capacity from 28 to 372 mg g⁻¹.