Local administration of prostaglandin E1 combined with silicone chamber improves peripheral nerve regeneration

Integrating LC-MS and HS-GC-MS for the metabolite characterization of the Chinese medicinal plant Platostoma palustre under different processing methods

Platostoma palustre (or Mesona chinensis Benth) is an important medicinal and edible plant in China and Southeast Asian countries. To study the effects of different processing methods on the quality, nutrition, and flavor of P. palustre, we adopted the LC-MS and HS-GC-MS to compare the influences of tedding (S), sweating (M), and drying (H) on the metabolites and volatile substances of P. palustre. Biochemical determinations revealed that the M treatment could promote the accumulation of the contents of total sugar, soluble sugar, and total pectin compared with the H and S treatments but decrease the total flavonoid contents. LC-MS and HS-GC-MS uncovered 98 differential metabolites and 27 differential volatile substances among the three treatments, respectively. Overall, the M treatment facilitated the stabilization and improvement of the quality of polysaccharides and volatile substances, while the H treatment could promote the level of amino acids in P. palustre. The current study provided a theoretical reference for establishing standardized processing methods and sustaining the quality stability of P. palustre in future.

A novel prostaglandin E receptor 4 (EP4) small molecule antagonist induces articular cartilage regeneration

Articular cartilage repair and regeneration is an unmet clinical need because of the poor self-regeneration capacity of the tissue. In this study, we found that the expression of prostaglandin E receptor 4 (PTGER4 or EP4) was largely increased in the injured articular cartilage in both humans and mice. In microfracture (MF) surgery-induced cartilage defect (CD) and destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery-induced CD mouse models, cartilage-specific deletion of EP4 remarkably promoted tissue regeneration by enhancing chondrogenesis and cartilage anabolism, and suppressing cartilage catabolism and hypertrophy. Importantly, knocking out EP4 in cartilage enhanced stable mature articular cartilage formation instead of fibrocartilage, and reduced joint pain. In addition, we identified a novel selective EP4 antagonist HL-43 for promoting chondrocyte differentiation and anabolism with low toxicity and desirable bioavailability. HL-43 enhanced cartilage anabolism, suppressed catabolism, prevented fibrocartilage formation, and reduced joint pain in multiple pre-clinical animal models including the MF surgery-induced CD rat model, the DMM surgery-induced CD mouse model, and an aging-induced CD mouse model. Furthermore, HL-43 promoted chondrocyte differentiation and extracellular matrix (ECM) generation, and inhibited matrix degradation in human articular cartilage explants. At the molecular level, we found that HL-43/EP4 regulated cartilage anabolism through the cAMP/PKA/CREB/Sox9 signaling. Together, our findings demonstrate that EP4 can act as a promising therapeutic target for cartilage regeneration and the novel EP4 antagonist HL-43 has the clinical potential to be used for cartilage repair and regeneration.

A pilot study: Alternative biomaterials in critical sized bone defect treatment

BACKGROUND

Critical-sized bone defects are a significant challenge with limited effective reconstructive options. The Masquelet Technique (MT) offers a solution to help restore form and function. Although this technique has produced promising results; a clear mechanism has not been determined. Theories include that the induced membrane has osteogenic potential or the membrane acts as a physical barrier to prevent fibrous tissue ingrowth. We hypothesize the induced membrane acts primarily as a physical barrier and that a synthetic non-biological membrane will allow a comparable amount of bone volume in the defect site.

METHODS

Ten New Zealand rabbit forelimbs (n=10) were divided into three study groups. A critical sized defect of 3.5cm in the ulna was created. In the control group, a traditional MT was performed (n=4). The experimental arm varied by replacement of the PMMA with a non-porous (n=3) or porous (150um) (n=3) polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane filled with allograft. Micro-CT analysis was done to compare bone volume to tissue volume ratios (BV/TV). Defect sections were examined histologically with alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and von kossa (VK) staining.

RESULTS

MicroCT analysis comparing BV/TV between the control and experimental arms showed no difference. BV/TV of the MT was 7.77%±2.34 compared to porous 9.12%±3.66 and nonporous 9.76%±1.57 PTFE membranes (p1=0.761, p2=0.572, respectively). Histological sections from both samples stained for ALP and TRAP displayed osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity. There was a higher amount of ALP and TRAP positively stained cells near the native bone ends in comparison to the center of the defect, in both sample types.

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

Replacing the induced membrane from the MT with a synthetic PTFE membrane illustrated that the membrane acts primarily as a functional barrier. Compared to the induced membrane, the PTFE membrane was able to display similar osteointegrative properties. These results allow for future optimization of the technique with the potential to further streamline towards a single stage procedure.

The effect of a platelet-rich fibrin conduit on neurosensory recovery following inferior alveolar nerve lateralization: a preliminary clinical study

This retrospective study aimed to assess the recovery of neurosensory dysfunction following modified inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) lateralization surgery compared to the conventional approach. Data from two groups of patients who underwent IAN lateralization in 2014 were included in this study. In one group, platelet-rich fibrin was placed over the IAN and this was protected with a collagen membrane conduit; the other group underwent the conventional IAN lateralization procedure. Implants were placed immediately. Neurosensory dysfunction was evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months post-surgery. Demographic, neurosensory disturbance (NSD), subjective two-point discrimination test (TPD), and static light touch test (SLT) data were obtained. Twenty-three IAN lateralization procedures with the placement of 51 implants were performed in 14 patients. At the 6-month follow-up, the number of patients experiencing normal sensation was greater in the modified surgery group, but the 12-month follow-up results were the same in the two groups. More precise sensation was observed with the TPD in the modified group at 6 months, and the modified group demonstrated better SLT scores at 6 months. Although the two groups had comparable results at the 12-month follow-up, it was observed that the modified technique accelerated neural healing within 6 months and reduced the length of the discomfort period.

Biomaterial-Stabilized Soft Tissue Healing for Healing of Critical-Sized Bone Defects: the Masquelet Technique

Critical-sized bone defects present a significant burden to the medical community due to their challenging treatment. However, a successful limb-salvaging technique, the Masquelet Technique (MT), has significantly improved the prognosis of many segmental bone defects in helping to restore form and function. Although the Masquelet Technique has proven to be clinically effective, the physiology of the healing it induces is not well understood. Multiple modifiable factors have been implicated by various surgical and research teams, but no single factor has been proven to be critical to the success of the Masquelet Technique. In this review the most recent clinical and experimental evidence that supports and helps to decipher the traditional Masquelet, as well as the modifiable factors and their effect on the success of the technique are discussed. In addition, future developments for the integration of the traditional Masquelet Technique with the use of alternative biomaterials to increase the effectiveness and expand the clinical applicability of the Masquelet Technique are reviewed.

Therapeutic effects of lipo-prostaglandin E1 on angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemic stroke in rats

Previous studies have demonstrated that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has a neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia. However, it remains unknown whether PGE1 promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis after ischemic stroke. In this study, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to permanently distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Rats were treated with lipo-prostaglandin E1(lipo-PGE1, 10 μg/kg/d) or the same volume of 0.9% saline starting 24 hours after MCAO daily for 6 consecutive days. All rats were injected 5'-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU, 50 mg/kg) intraperitoneally every 12 hours for 3 consecutive days before being sacrificed. At 7 and 14 days after MCAO or sham-operation, rats were sacrificed. Post-stroke neurological outcome, infarction volume, angiogenesis and neurogenesis were evaluated. Treatment with lipo-PGE1 significantly increased the vascular density in the peri-infarct areas at 7 and 14 days after MCAO. The lipo-PGE1 treatment significantly enhanced the proliferation and migration of endogenous neural stem cells in the ipsilateral subventricular zone. The neural stem cells associated with blood vessels closely within a neurovascular niche in lipo-PGE1-treated rats after stroke. The lipo-PGE1 treatment also significantly improved the neurological recovery after MCAO. These results indicate that treatment with lipo-PGE1 promotes post-stroke angiogenesis, neurogenesis and their interaction, which would contribute to neurological recovery after cerebral infarction. Our study provides novel experimental evidences for the neuroprotective roles of PGE1 in ischemic stroke.