ABSTRACT
Objective@#To investigate the effect of early-stage training combined with the ultrashort wave therapy on the functional recovery of rats after a spinal cord injury, and to observe the expression of aquaporin protein-4 (AQP-4) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP).@*Methods@#Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats had spinal cord injury (SCI) induced using the modified Allen′s method. After successful modeling, 40 were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a control group, an ultrashort wave group, a treadmill group and a combined group, each of 8. Motor function in their hind limbs was evaluated 4 weeks after the operation using BBB scoring. GFAP and AQP-4 immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the integral optical density (IOD) of the protein expression.@*Results@#The average BBB score of the sham operation group was 21, while the other four groups averages were all less than 1 on the 1st day after the operation. They gradually increased with time, and by 4 weeks the increases were significant. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the average BBB scores of the treadmill and the combined groups were significantly higher. Compared with the ultrashort wave group, the average BBB score of the treadmill group was higher after 4 weeks, and the combined group′s average was significantly higher at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the SCI modeling, the average AQP-4 IOD and GFAP IOD levels of the ultrashort wave group, the treadmill group and the combined group were lower than that of the control group, while the average AQP-4 and GFAP IOD levels of the combined group were significantly lower than those of the ultrashort wave group. Compared with the treadmill group, the combined group had a significantly lower average GFAP level.@*Conclusions@#Both treadmill training and ultrashort wave treatment promote motor function recovery after a spinal cord injury. The mechanism may be related to downregulation of AQP-4 and GFAP expression at the injured site. Combining the two treatments gives better effects.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of early-stage training combined with the ultrashort wave therapy on the functional recovery of rats after a spinal cord injury, and to observe the expression of aquaporin pro-tein-4 ( AQP-4) and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAP ) . Methods Fifty female Sprague-Dawley rats had spinal cord injury ( SCI) induced using the modified Allen's method. After successful modeling, 40 were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a control group, an ultrashort wave group, a treadmill group and a combined group, each of 8. Motor function in their hind limbs was evaluated 4 weeks after the operation using BBB scoring. GFAP and AQP-4 immunohistochemical staining were used to determine the integral optical density ( IOD) of the protein expres-sion. Results The average BBB score of the sham operation group was 21, while the other four groups averages were all less than 1 on the 1st day after the operation. They gradually increased with time, and by 4 weeks the increa-ses were significant. Compared with the control group at the same time point, the average BBB scores of the treadmill and the combined groups were significantly higher. Compared with the ultrashort wave group, the average BBB score of the treadmill group was higher after 4 weeks, and the combined group's average was significantly higher at 2, 3 and 4 weeks after the operation. Four weeks after the SCI modeling, the average AQP-4 IOD and GFAP IOD levels of the ultrashort wave group, the treadmill group and the combined group were lower than that of the control group, while the average AQP-4 and GFAP IOD levels of the combined group were significantly lower than those of the ultrashort wave group. Compared with the treadmill group, the combined group had a significantly lower average GFAP level. Conclusions Both treadmill training and ultrashort wave treatment promote motor function recovery after a spinal cord injury. The mechanism may be related to downregulation of AQP-4 and GFAP expression at the injured site. Combining the two treatments gives better effects.
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BACKGROUND:Implant related problems such as loosening,dislocation and infection often come along with joint replacement.Nanotechnology provides a new insight into the preparation of joint replacement implants.OBJECTIVE:To elaborate the research progress of nanotechnology in improving joint replacement implants.METHODS:The first author used the computer to retrieve PubMed databases using the key words of joint replacement,artificial implant,nanotechnology,nano-materials,nanoscales,biocompatibility in English,to find relevant literature on nanotechnology and joint replacement implants.All data were primarily screened to exclude repeated and irrelevant articles,and finally 51 articles related to the study were retained.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Through reviewing these 51 articles,we make a detailed introduction about some of the biological responses that occur with nano-materials,and some of the biocompatibility problems that have been raised in relation to materials,as well as the ways that have been employed to improve biocompatibility of nano structured materials.But the long-term effect of nanotechnology on the human body is still worthy of further research in medicine or related fields.
ABSTRACT
Therapeutic HIV vaccine was considered as a hopeful curative method for AIDS patients. However, there is still no suitable HIV animal model for vaccine study since the difference in the immune system between human and animals. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined immunization strategy with multiple vector vaccines in macaque models. Plasmid DNA, recombinant Ad5 and MVA vaccines which expressing SIV gag and env genes were constructed. Sequential and repeated immune strategy were applied to immunize mice with these three vaccines. Cellular immune responses in mice immunized with these three vaccines were measured by ELISPOT test in vitro and CTL assay in vivo. The results were analyzed and compared with different antigen combination, order of vaccines and intervals to choose a suitable immunization strategy for macaque immunization in future. It indicated that strong SIV-Gag/Env-specific cellular immune responses were induced by these three vector vaccines. It laid a foundation for evaluating the therapeutic effect of combined immunization strategy with multiple vector vaccines in SIV infected macaque models.