[In vivo osteogenic evaluation of titanium implants with strontium loaded nanotubes]

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo osteogenic activity of titanium implants with strontium loaded TiO₂ nanotubes (NTSr). Methods: The strontium loaded titanium nanotubes were formed on pure titanium implants through anodization and hydrothermal treatment, and the unmodified titanium (Control) and sheer TiO₂ nanotubes (NT) were set to be control groups and treatment group. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to evaluate the Sr release at 28 days. Field emission scanning electron microscopes (FE-SEM) was used to view the micro-topography, atomic force microscope was used to exam the surface roughness, and nano-indenter was used to evaluate the hardness of three groups (n=3). Three groups of implant samples were inserted into the distal femoral metaphysis of New Zealand rabbits (n=4 at each time point). After 4 weeks and 12 weeks, samples were harvested. Micro-CT scanning, immunofluorescent and histological examinations were carried out. Results: The strontium ions could be released slowly for at least 28 days [the Sr concentration at 28 Day was (2.6±1.5) ng/ml]. NTSr coating exhibited a nanoscale tube array (the diameter was about 70 nm), and the surface roughness of implant was increased with the nanobube coating [Control (34.8±5.3) nm, NT (66.2±4.3) nm, NTSr (85.7±10.6) nm, F=37.59, P<0.001]. The surface roughness (Ra) of NT and NTSr groups was higher than the control group (P<0.05). Comparing to Control implants, NTSr implants exhibited a better osteogenic ability [the bone volume/total volume (BV/TV) value was Control (24.7±1.1)% vs. NTSr (37.7±1.9)% at 4 weeks (P<0.05), and Control (40.7±0.9)% vs. NTSr (51.9±2.1)% at 12 weeks (P<0.05)]. The fluorescent examination revealed that NTSr coating can also accelerated the generation of new bone tissue (bone tissue area% labelled by alizarin red at day 7 was Control (19.2±2.9)% vs. NT (35.4±3.7)% vs. NTSr (40.9±0.9)% (F=42.74, P<0.01). The results in the NT and NTSr group were statistically higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusions: The strontium loaded TiO₂ nanotubes can enhance new bone formation around titanium implants.

Effects of a tailored inhaler use education program for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

OBJECTIVES

This study compared the effects of a tailored inhaler use education program with routine clinical practice in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients treated with inhalers.

METHODS

The participants included 59 patients from a ≥900-bed university hospital in J city. Participants were divided into two groups and received either the tailored inhaler use education program (n = 29) or routine clinical care (n = 30). Disease knowledge and correct inhaler use were assessed using a questionnaire and observational checklists at admission and discharge. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Disease knowledge (asthmaz = -2.69, p = .007; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease z = -6.08, p < .001) and correct inhaler use (z = -5.51, p < .001) were significantly higher in the tailored inhaler use education program group compared to the control group.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses play a pivotal role in educating patients. Our results indicate that nurses are needed to identify diseases and inhaler types and to provide patients with individually tailored education that includes demonstration and feedback.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

One-on-one health literacy education tailored to inhaler type and patient age shows promise for chronic disease interventions provided by nurses, physicians, and pharmacists--all the parties involved in patient care.

Effect of retinoic acid on renal development in newborn mice treated with an angiogenesis inhibitor

BACKGROUND

A mouse model of impaired renal development was developed and the effect of retinoic acid (RA) was investigated in this animal model.

METHODS

An angiogenesis inhibitor (SU1498) was injected s.c. into day 3 C57BL/6 newborn mice to create a model of arrested renal development. RA (2 mg/kg) was injected i.p. for 10 days. Morphometry and immunohistochemistry were done.

RESULTS

Mice injected with SU1498 demonstrated deranged renal development in tubular structure and glomerular tuft area. Cortical thickness and area of glomerular tuft were significantly decreased after vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, and were significantly restored by RA. The length of capillary loops/glomerulus, the number of podocytes/glomerulus, and density of peritubular capillaries on CD31 immunostaining were significantly decreased by VEGF blocking and recovered by RA.

CONCLUSIONS

VEGF plays a major role in renal development, and RA reverses the inhibited development caused by an angiogenesis inhibitor.

Cordyceps sinensis and its fractions stimulate MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cell steroidogenesis

The effects of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and its extracted fractions on steroidogenesis in MA-10 cells were determined. Different concentrations of CS and 3 fractions of CS (F1, a water-soluble polysaccharide; F2, a water-soluble protein; and F3, a poorly water-soluble polysaccharide and protein) were added to MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells with or without human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), and the production of steroid and the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) were examined. The results showed that CS alone (2-10 mg/mL) stimulated MA-10 cell progesterone production in a dose-dependent relationship. Fractions F1 and F3 (2-10 mg/mL) also had significant (P < .05) stimulatory effects on MA-10 cell steroidogenesis with a dose-dependent relationship. However, fraction F2 did not have an effect on MA-10 cells. CS and F3, but not F1, significantly induced more steroid production in hCG-stimulated MA-10 cells (P < .05). As a temporal relationship, F1 and F3 (2 mg/mL) maximally stimulated progesterone production between 1 and 3 hours after stimulation in MA-10 cells. In addition, CS and F3 significantly enhanced MA-10 cell StAR protein expression, which indicates that CS and F3 may use a cyclic adenosine monophosphate signal transduction pathway to activate MA-10 Leydig cell steroidogenesis in a manner to that of luteinizing hormone.