Creation of Chitosan-Based Nanocapsule-in-Nanofiber Structures for Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Drug Co-Delivery and Their Dressing Applications in Diabetic Wounds

Nanofiber meshes (NFMs) loaded with therapeutic agents are very often employed to treat hard-to-heal wounds such as diabetic wounds. However, most of the NFMs have limited capability to load multiple or hydrophilicity distinctive-therapeutic agents. The therapy strategy is therefore significantly hampered. To tackle the innate drawback associated with the drug loading versatility, a chitosan-based nanocapsule-in-nanofiber (NC-in-NF) structural NFM system is developed for simultaneous loading of hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Oleic acid-modified chitosan is first converted into NCs by the developed mini-emulsion interfacial cross-linking procedure, followed by loading a hydrophobic anti-inflammatory agent Curcumin (Cur) into the NCs. Sequentially, the Cur-loaded NCs are successfully introduced into reductant-responsive maleoyl functional chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol NFMs containing a hydrophilic antibiotic Tetracycline hydrochloride. Having a co-loading capability for hydrophilicity distinctive agents, biocompatibility, and a controlled release property, the resulting NFMs have demonstrated the efficacy on promoting wound healing either in normal or diabetic rats.

Correlation between IL-3 and IL-13 gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients and rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to examine the association between polymorphisms in the interleukin-3 and -13 (IL-3 and IL-13) genes and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this hospital-based case-control study, we analyzed the IL-3 rs2073506 G/A, IL-3 rs40401 C/T, and IL-13 rs1800925 C/T polymorphisms in 615 RA patients and 839 controls from a Chinese Han population. Genotyping was performed using a custom-by-design 48-Plex single nucleotide polymorphism scanTM kit. Our results indicated that the IL-3 rs2073506 G/A, IL-3 rs40401 C/T, and IL-13 rs1800925 C/T polymorphisms were not associated with RA. However, stratification analyses suggested that the IL-13 rs1800925 CT and CT/CC genotypes increased the risk of RA in patients with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) <25.00. To sum up, these findings suggest that the IL-13 rs1800925 C/T polymorphism may be associated with increased risk of RA in ESR <25.00 patients. Future studies with larger sample sizes and inclusion of other ethnic populations must be conducted to confirm the findings of this study.

Osteoprotegerin polymorphisms in Chinese Han patients with rheumatoid arthritis

In order to investigate the association between osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied OPG rs3102735 T/C and rs2073618 G/C polymorphisms in a Chinese Han population comprising 574 patients with RA and 804 controls. Genotyping by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was conducted. Our data indicated that OPG rs3102735 T/C and rs2073618 G/C polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of RA. However, among older patients (≥55 years), patients with the OPG rs3102735 TC (TC vs TT: OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.49‑0.96, P = 0.029) and TC/CC (TC+CC vs TT: OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.49‑0.96, P = 0.026) genotypes showed a significantly lower risk of RA than patients with the TT genotype, while patients with the OPG rs2073618 GC (GC vs GG: OR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.13‑2.07, P = 0.006) and GC/CC (GC+CC vs GG: OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.07‑1.92, P = 0.015) genotypes showed a significantly higher risk of RA than patients with the GG genotype. We also found a significantly increased risk of RA associated with the OPG rs2073618 GC (GC vs GG: OR = 1.44, 95%CI = 1.07‑1.93, P = 0.018) and GC/CC (GC+CC vs GG: OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.04‑1.86, P = 0.024) genotypes among functional class III+IV patients. Our results were obtained from only a moderate-sized sample and, thus, a larger study with a more diverse ethnic population is needed to confirm these results.

Electronic structure inheritance and pressure-induced polyamorphism in lanthanide-based metallic glasses

We report that a series of lanthanide-based bulk metallic glasses show a pressure-induced polyamorphic phase transition observed by in situ angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction under high pressures. The transition started from a low-density state at lower pressures, and went through continuous densification ending with a high-density state at higher pressures. We demonstrate that, under high pressure, this new type of polyamorphism in densely packed metallic glasses is inherited from its lanthanide-solvent constituent and related to the electronic structure of 4f electrons. The found electronic structure inheritance could provide the guidance for designing new metallic glasses with unique functional physical properties.

Salivary flow rates in patients with head and neck cancer 0.5 to 25 years after radiotherapy

In this clinical study at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates were obtained from 47 patients with head and neck cancer who had received mantle, unilateral facial, or bilateral facial field radiotherapy from 0.5 to 25 years earlier. The magnitude of salivary flow rate reduction compared with a healthy control group was primarily related to the radiation dosage and the amount of salivary gland tissue included in the irradiated fields. Flow rates were lower for women in all groups, but these differences were not statistically significant.

Autoradiographic localization of substance P ligand binding sites and distribution of immunoreactive neurons in the periaqueductal gray of the rat

The autoradiographic localization of substance P (SP) binding sites and the distribution of SP immunoreactive (SP-ir) neurons in the periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rat were studied. The autoradiograms revealed an uneven distribution of specific SP binding sites in the PAG. Throughout the rostrocaudal extent, the densest ligand binding sites were observed in the medial PAG adjacent to the aqueduct, and extended into the dorsal medullary region and to the dorsal raphe nucleus midline region. The distribution of binding sites were denser in the dorsal PAG than the ventral half. In the cuneiform nucleus, a lesser and a denser binding site were observed in the medial and lateral halves respectively. Optical density readings of autoradiograms also supported the differences between these areas. The distribution of SP-ir neurons was also found uneven. In the rostral PAG, SP-ir neurons were found in the entire dorsoventral region. In the caudal PAG, SP-ir neurons were found as 3 clusters: in the dorsomedial, dorsolateral and ventrolateral regions. The present study revealed more SP-ir neurons in the PAG than previously reported.

Nuclear origins of brainstem reticulocortical systems in the rat

Stereotaxic injections of 5% Fast Blue or 1% horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin conjugate (HRP-WGA) were made into various cytoarchitectonic or functional regions of the cerebral cortex of anesthetized adult albino or hooded rats. Sections through the brainstems of these animals were then scrutinized for the presence of retrogradely labeled neurons. The data generated by this study indicate that at least 33 distinct nuclei or subnuclei within the brainstem reticular formation of the rat project directly to the cerebral cortex. More than half of these ascending reticulocortical systems are probably aminergic. The strongest reticulocortical projections emanate from presumed aminergic reticular-cell groups located at isthmic levels: specifically, the rostral serotonin-containing cell groups, as well as the noradrenergic locus coeruleus. However, relatively strong direct reticulocortical projections also originate from lower medullary cell groups which are probably catecholaminergic. Moderately strong reticulocortical projections emanate from cholinergic cell groups located at isthmic levels (the pars compacta of the pedunculopontine nucleus and the X area of Sakai). The most surprising finding in this study was that the classic isodendritic, nonaminergic central core of the brainstem gives rise to direct reticulocortical projections. The ventromedial areas of the medullary brainstem reticular formation give rise to the strongest nonaminergic ascending reticular projections, but all levels of the classic isodendritic reticular core give rise to direct reticulocortical projections. As a whole, cortically projecting reticular neurons are mostly small (10-25 microns in greatest diameter) or medium sized (26-35 microns in greatest diameter) neurons. Previous studies have shown that many of the cortically projecting reticular nuclei also project to the spinal cord, and within these nuclei, reticulocortical neurons often strongly resemble their reticulospinal counterparts with respect to details of neuronal morphology. This in turn suggests that some reticulocortical neurons may also project to spinal levels.

Spinal neurons which project to the periaqueductal gray and the medullary reticular formation via axon collaterals: a double-label fluorescence study in the rat

Fluorescent retrograde double-labeling methods were used in which Fast blue and Nuclear yellow or Diamidino yellow dihydrochloride were injected into the midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) and medullary reticular formation (MRF). Double-labeled neurons were most frequently observed in the lateral part of lamina V, in laminae VII, VIII and X and in the lateral cervical and lateral spinal nuclei. The data demonstrate that some spinal neurons project to both the PAG and the MRF via axon collaterals.

Spinal neuronal collaterals to the intralaminar thalamic nuclei and periaqueductal gray

The existence of spinal neuron collaterals projecting to the intralaminar thalamic nuclei (ILN) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG) was determined in the rat using double-labeling, fluorescent, retrograde axoplasmic transport techniques. Distinctively double-labeled neurons, although not numerous, were found in the entire extent of the spinal cord. More double-labeled neurons were observed in the lumbosacral enlargement than in other cord segments. The laminar origin of the ILN and PAG projecting neurons were found primarily in the contralateral reticular portion of V, medial VII and the nucleus of dorsolateral funiculus. In addition, ipsilateral lateral cervical and central cervical nuclei also exhibited double-labeled neurons. This finding suggests that the pathway of medial thalamus projecting to the paleospinothalamic tract is very complex because the tract has triple connections, i.e. direct, collateral and indirect.

Laminar origins of spinal projection neurons to the periaqueductal gray of the rat

Attempts were made to determine the cells of origin of the spinal projections to the PAG using retrograde axoplasmic transport techniques of HRP and fluorescent markers. Following injections limited to the lateroventral subnucleus of the PAG, labels were transported to the contralateral laminae I, III, V, VII and X primarily. A striking number of labeled neurons were found in the lumbosacral region. Discussion followed on the possible dichotomic axonal projections of the labeled spinal neurons.

Neurons of the periaqueductal gray matter as revealed by Golgi study

Neurons of the periaqueductal gray matter of the normal adult cat are classified into seven general types, Ia, Ib, II, IIIa, IIIb, IIIc, and IIId, based on the Golgi-Cox impregnated materials. Types Ia and Ib are spindle shaped bipolar neurons with one straight dendritic process forming varicosities and short stemmed spines. Type Ia is small in size and Ib is larger. The axon of each neuron emerges from another pole and projects beyond the PAG region. Occasionally it may share the origin with a dendrite or a tuft of dendrites. Type II, triangular shaped, had an apical dendrite that traverses a long distance within the PAG and an axon emerging from the basal portion and projecting beyond the PAG. Type IIIa, b, c, and d are pleomorphic multipolar neurons. Type IIIa has a rhomboid-shaped soma and dichotomically branching dendrites. Type IIIb has a spheroidal soma and short axons that terminate within the PAG. Type IIIc has a piriform soma and spiny dendrites that ramify perfusely and an axon which terminates within the PAG. Type IIId has the largest soma of all these neurons and the structure resembles an undifferentiated motor neuron of the CNS. Axons of the types IIIa and IIId are projecting in nature. Type Ia is found exclusively in the area immediately surrounding the aqueduct, the nucleus medialis. Types IIIc and IIId are found exclusively in the lateral region of the PAG which corresponds to the nucleus lateralis while the remaining cell types are found mostly in nuclei lateralis and dorsalis.

Intranuclear bodies in neurons of the periaqueductal gray matter in the cat

The nucleoplasm of neurons in the nucleus lateralis of the periqueductal gray matter in the cat contains fibrillar structures which have no limiting membranes. These intranuclear bodies are associated with neither the nucleolus nor the nuclear membrane and have two characteristic forms. The first, the rodlet, is a compact bundle of fibrils 2 to 8 nm in diameter. It is usually elongated in shape although it appears spherical when sectioned transversely. This rod-like structure appears to correspond to Roncoroni's rodlet or the accessory body of Cajal in light microscopy. The second and more commonly observed form is a long slender bundle of five rows of parallel fibrils. Although similar intranuclear structures have frequently been observed in the highly differentiated neurons of the sympathetic ganglia and the retina, this is the first report of their pbesence in the undifferentiated neurons of the isodendritic core of the brainstem.