Fracture healing on non-union fracture model promoted by non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma

Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma (NTAPP) is attracting widespread interest for use in medical applications. The tissue repair capacity of NTAPP has been reported in various fields; however, little is known about its effect on fracture healing. Non-union or delayed union after a fracture is a clinical challenge. In this study, we aimed to investigate how NTAPP irradiation promotes fracture healing in a non-union fracture model and its underlying mechanism, in vitro and in vivo. For the in vivo study, we created normal and non-union fracture models in LEW/SsNSlc rats to investigate the effects of NTAPP. To create a fracture, a transverse osteotomy was performed in the middle of the femoral shaft. To induce the non-union fracture model, the periosteum surrounding the fracture site was cauterized after a normal fracture model was created. The normal fracture model showed no significant difference in bone healing between the control and NTAPP-treated groups. The non-union fracture model demonstrated that the NTAPP-treated group showed consistent improvement in fracture healing. Histological and biomechanical assessments confirmed the fracture healing. The in vitro study using pre-osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells demonstrated that NTAPP irradiation under specific conditions did not reduce cell proliferation but did enhance osteoblastic differentiation. Overall, these results suggest that NTAPP is a novel approach to the treatment of bone fractures.

In vivo study on the healing of bone defect treated with non-thermal atmospheric pressure gas discharge plasma

Medical treatment using non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (NTAPP) is rapidly gaining recognition. NTAPP is thought to be a new therapeutic method because it could generate highly reactive species in an ambient atmosphere which could be exposed to biological targets (e.g., cells and tissues). If plasma-generated reactive species could stimulate bone regeneration, NTAPP can provide a new treatment opportunity in regenerative medicine. Here, we investigated the impact of NTAPP on bone regeneration using a large bone defect in New Zealand White rabbits and a simple atmospheric pressure plasma (helium microplasma jet). We observed the recovery progress of the large bone defects by X-ray imaging over eight weeks after surgery. The X-ray results showed a clear difference in the occupancy of the new bone of the large bone defect among groups with different plasma treatment times, whereas the new bone occupancy was not substantial in the untreated control group. According to the results of micro-computed tomography analysis at eight weeks, the most successful bone regeneration was achieved using a plasma treatment time of 10 min, wherein the new bone volume was 1.51 times larger than that in the plasma untreated control group. Using H&E and Masson trichrome stains, nucleated cells were uniformly observed, and no inclusion was confirmed, respectively, in the groups of plasma treatment. We concluded the critical large bone defect were filled with new bone. Overall, these results suggest that NTAPP is promising for fracture treatment.

[Influence of preoperative antithrombotic therapy on clinicopathological parameters in patients with lung cancer]

Cancer is known to promote its own development/proliferation and protect itself against attacks from immune system cells by activating the blood coagulation system. However, antithrombotic therapy inhibits the blood coagulation system. We investigated the blood coagulation system-mediated influence of preoperative antithrombotic therapy on the clinicopathological parameters of lung cancer. In patients who underwent antithrombotic therapy, there was a significant association between prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR and positive findings on a thoracic lavage cytodiagnosis (p = 0.02). In these patients, the proportion of those with positive findings on a thoracic lavage cytodiagnosis was significantly higher than in those who did not undergo antithrombotic therapy (P = 0.0003). These results suggest that cancer progression is promoted by antithrombotic therapy through the inhibition of the blood coagulation system.

[Association between hemostasis/coagulation-system parameters and clinicopathological factors in patients with primary lung cancer]

Previous studies have gradually clarified the relationship between cancer and blood coagulation disorder and its mechanism. Various studies have also reported the association between lung cancer and coagulation disorder. However, it is rare to measure most hemostasis/coagulation-system test parameters in clinical practice. In this study, we investigated the association of hemostasis/coagulation-system test parameters, such as the prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), bleeding time, and platelet count, which are routinely measured as preoperative examination parameters in patients with lung cancer, with the histopathologically evaluated stage of lung cancer. Although the mean values of hemostasis/coagulation-system parameters in all subjects were within the normal ranges, there were significant changes with respect to the clinico-pathological factors, showing a specific tendency. In patients in whom the histopathological stage was advanced, the APTT was prolonged, or the platelet count was increased.

A-Si:H Deposited by Direct Photo-Cvd Using a Microwave-Excited Xe Lamp

A-Si:H films were deposited by direct decomposition of Si2H6 using vacuum ultra-violet light (147nm) emitted from a microwave-excited Xe resonance lamp. The substrate temperature was varied between 200 and 300 °C . The hydrogen content in the films is estimated to be comparable or lower than that in high-quality glow discharge (GD) films based on results from infrared absorption measurements and hydrogen effusion measurements. Hydrogen atoms are incorporated in the form of Si-H bonds (2000 cm−1 mode), and Si-Hn bonds of the 2090 mode In a unit volume was one or two order less than that of Si-H bonds (2000 cm−1 mode). In spite of the lower hydrogen content, the defect density was lower than that of GD films. The mobility gap of the photo-CVD film was closer to the optical gap. For both n- and p-type doping, the dark conductivity increased with the dopant gas composition monotonously, and reached the order of 10−3 S/cm.

Fabrication of vertically aligned diamond whiskers from highly boron-doped diamond by oxygen plasma etching

Conductive diamond whiskers were fabricated by maskless oxygen plasma etching on highly boron-doped diamond substrates. The effects of the etching conditions and the boron concentration in diamond on the whisker morphology and overall substrate coverage were investigated. High boron-doping levels (greater than 8.4 × 10(20) cm(-3)) are crucial for the formation of the nanosized, densely packed whiskers with diameter of ca. 20 nm, length of ca. 200 nm, and density of ca. 3.8 × 10(10) cm(-2) under optimal oxygen plasma etching conditions (10 min at a chamber pressure of 20 Pa). Confocal Raman mapping and scanning electron microscopy illustrate that the boron distribution in the diamond surface region is consistent with the distribution of whisker sites. The boron dopant atoms in the diamond appear to lead to the initial fine column formation. This simple method could provide a facile, cost-effective means for the preparation of conductive nanostructured diamond materials for electrochemical applications as well as electron emission devices.

Activated peripheral CD8 lymphocytes express CD4 in vivo and are targets for infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

There is increasing evidence that CD8 lymphocytes may represent targets for infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vivo whose destruction may contribute to the loss of immune function underlying AIDS. HIV-1 may infect thymic precursor cells destined to become CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes and contribute to the numerical decline in both subsets on disease progression. There is also evidence for the induction of CD4 expression and susceptibility to infection by HIV-1 of CD8 lymphocytes activated in vitro. To investigate the relationship between CD8 activation and infection by HIV-1 in vivo, activated subsets of CD8 lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of HIV-seropositive individuals were investigated for CD4 expression and HIV infection. Activated CD8 lymphocytes were identified by expression of CD69, CD71, and the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, the beta-chain of CD8, and the RO isoform of CD45. CD4(+) and CD4(-) CD8 lymphocytes, CD4 lymphocytes, other T cells, and non-T cells were purified using paramagnetic beads, and proviral sequences were quantified by PCR using primers from the long terminal repeat region. Frequencies of activated CD8 lymphocytes were higher in HIV-infected study subjects than in seronegative controls, and they frequently coexpressed CD4 (mean frequencies on CD69(+), CD71(+), and HLA class II(+) cells of 23, 37, and 8%, respectively, compared with 1 to 2% for nonactivated CD8 lymphocytes). The level of CD4 expression of the double-positive population approached that of mature CD4 lymphocytes. That CD4 expression renders CD8 cell susceptible to infection was indicated by their high frequency of infection in vivo; infected CD4(+) CD8 lymphocytes accounted for between 3 and 72% of the total proviral load in PBMCs from five of the eight study subjects investigated, despite these cells representing a small component of the PBMC population (<3%). Combined, these findings provide evidence that antigenic stimulation of CD8 lymphocytes in vivo induces CD4 expression that renders them susceptible to HIV infection and destruction. The specific targeting of responding CD8 lymphocytes may provide a functional explanation for the previously observed impairment of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) function disproportionate to their numerical decline in AIDS and for the deletion of specific clones of CTLs responding to HIV antigens.

Anterior mediastinal bronchogenic cyst: demonstration of complicating malignancy by CT and MRI

A case is presented of anterior mediastinal bronchogenic cyst associated with adenocarcinoma arising from the cyst wall. The presence of a solid component in the lower portion of the mass was suspected from CT and confirmed by MRI.

The importance of peripheral blood leukocytes and macrophage infiltration on bronchial wall wound healing in rats treated preoperatively with anticancer agents

Preoperative chemotherapy is commonly used for small cell lung cancer or advanced non-small cell lung cancer. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of preoperative antineoplastic agents on the postoperative would healing of bronchial anastomoses in a rat model. Cisplatin (CDDP), doxorubicin (ADM), or cyclophosphamide (CPA) was administered either 3 days preoperatively (experiment 1) or 7 days preoperatively (experiment 2). Wound healing was assessed on postoperative days (POD) 3, 5, and 7 after anastomosis of the bronchus, by examining the bursting strength and hydroxyproline tissue content. In experiment 1, significant impairment of wound healing was seen on POD 3 in the CPA-treated rats, but no significant changes were seen in the other groups. Severe leukopenia and marked reduction of macrophage infiltration into the wound were also observed in the CPA-treated rats. The impairment of wound healing coincided with the time of leukopenia and reduced macrophage infiltration into the wounds. In experiment 2, induction chemotherapy did not impair wound healing. Our experimental results suggest that preoperative chemotherapy producing mild leukopenia, or when followed by a sufficient interval to allow for the recovery of myelosuppression, did not impair wound healing of the bronchial anastomoses. The findings of this study also showed that the depletion of macrophages at the anastomotic site is one of the most important causes of impaired wound healing.

Infection of the CD45RA+ (naive) subset of peripheral CD8+ lymphocytes by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in vivo

To investigate the mechanism and functional significance of infection of CD8+ lymphocytes by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in vivo, we determined frequencies of infection, proviral conformation, and genetic relationships between HIV-1 variants infecting naive (CD45RA+) and memory (CD45RO+) peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes. Infection of CD3+ CD8+ CD45RA+ cells was detected in 9 of 16 study subjects at frequencies ranging from 30 to 1,400 proviral copies/10(6) cells, more frequently than CD3+ CD8+ lymphocytes expressing the RO isoform of CD45 (n = 2, 70 and 260 copies /10(6) cells). In agreement with previous studies, there was no evidence for a similar preferential infection of CD4+ naive lymphocytes. Proviral sequences in both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte subsets were complete, as assessed by quantitation using primers from the long terminal repeat region spanning the tRNA primer binding site. In six of the seven study subjects investigated, variants infecting CD8+ lymphocytes were partially or completely genetically distinct in the V3 region from those recovered from CD4+ lymphocytes and showed a greater degree of compartmentalization than observed between naive and memory subsets of CD4+ lymphocytes. In two study subjects, arginine substitutions at position 306, associated with use of the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4, were preferentially found in CD4 lymphocytes. These population differences may have originated through different times of infection rather than necessarily indicating a difference in their biological properties. The preferential distribution of HIV-1 in naive CD8+ lymphocytes indeed suggests that infection occurred early in T-lymphocyte ontogeny, such as during maturation in the thymus. Destruction of cells destined to become CD8+ lymphocytes may be a major factor in the decline in CD8+ lymphocyte frequencies and function on disease progression and may contribute directly to the observed immunodeficiency in AIDS.

Interaction of citrus juices with pranidipine, a new 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in healthy subjects

OBJECTIVES

The study was conducted to investigate whether oral co-administration with citrus juices significantly affects the pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics of pranidipine, a new 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in healthy male subjects. Grapefruit juice and orange juice, which were both commercially available, were used in this study.

METHODS

Sixteen healthy male Japanese subjects participated in this study and were divided into two groups for grapefruit juice and orange juice treatment. The study followed an open-labelled crossover design, comparing the effects of a single oral dose of 2 mg pranidipine taken together with 250 ml citrus juice or 250 ml water. Serum pharmacokinetics of pranidipine, adverse reactions, blood pressure, heart rate, 12-lead ECG, haematology, clinical chemistry and urinalysis were measured throughout the study.

RESULTS

For grapefruit juice, mean Cmax and AUC0-24 h were significantly higher than those of water (P=0.0003 and 0.0005, respectively, ANOVA) with the ratios of log transformed values being 1.50 and 1.74, respectively. There were no differences in tmax and t1/2 between the juice and water treatments. A significant increase in heart rate (P=0.0240, ANOVA with repeated measurements) was observed in the juice treatment whereas there were no significant differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the two treatments. For orange juice, a small decrease in mean Cmax was observed compared with water (P=0.0218, ANOVA) with the ratio being 0.86, but there was no significant difference in AUC0-24h between the two treatments. No marked differences were observed in tmax and t1/2. Oral pranidipine administration with orange juice did not affect heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures or other parameters for safety evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral co-administration with grapefruit juice and pranidipine was associated with increased bioavailability and changed the pharmacodynamics of pranidipine, particularly with regard to heart rate. Orange juice intake with pranidipine did not markedly affect the pharmacokinetics and no clinically significant changes were observed in the pharmacodynamics and safety evaluation.

Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in bronchial epithelium after lung transplantation in the rat

BACKGROUND

The normal, mature airway epithelium in experimental animals has a very slow cell turnover and minimal proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as an index of bronchial cell proliferation in the Brown Norway to Lewis rat pulmonary allograft model with or without immunosuppression.

METHODS

Brown Norway left lungs were transplanted into Lewis recipients. Some recipients were treated with a high dose of cyclosporine and FK506. Lewis-to-Lewis donor-recipient combination was performed as a control. Lungs were excised on postoperative days 3 and 5. Routinely processed, paraffin-embedded sections were prepared and stained by PCNA. Counts of PCNA-positive cells in the perivascular cellular infiltrate and bronchial surface epithelium were compared with the histologic grade of rejection.

RESULTS

The PCNA index (percent of nuclei immunostaining for PCNA) in bronchial surface epithelium was significantly higher in allografts (21.0% +/- 3.1% at 3 days, 31.4% +/- 9.8 % at 5 days, p < 0.05) than in isografts (5.4% +/- 3.0% at 3 days, 4.7% +/- 4.6% at 5 days). The PCNA index was also greater in the perivascular infiltrates of rejecting lungs (23.9% +/- 3.7% at 3 days, 29.1% +/- 6.6% at 5 days). However, in the cyclosporine- and FK506-treated groups, the PCNA index in bronchial surface epithelium was suppressed to less than 5% at 3 and 5 days. Even at 50 days after transplantation, PCNA-positive cells were rare in bronchial epithelium of FK506-treated grafts.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchial epithelium in isografts has a relatively low rate of proliferation. In rejection, allografts have a very rapid cell turnover and proliferation. Proliferating epithelium may be a consequence of immune events or it may contribute to the pathogenesis of those events.

[A case report: multiple liver metastasis of gastric cancer responding to intraarterial infusion of MTX and 5-FU]

In a 63-year-old male patient with gastric cancer having multiple liver metastases, the metastatic lesions responded well to postoperative staggered intraarterial infusion therapy with MTX and 5-FU. The intraarterial infusion therapy was administered once a week. A total of 5 courses of this therapy produced marked regression of liver metastases and remarkable necrosis. The effect was thus rated as PR. The patient is healthy and has been successfully rehabilitated. His dose is oral 5-FU (200 mg x 2).