Dexmedetomidine inhibits the NF-κB pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome to attenuate papain-induced osteoarthritis in rats.

Context: Dexmedetomidine (Dex) has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, its role on osteoarthritis (OA) has not been explored. Objective: This study investigates the effect of Dex on OA rat model induced by papain. Materials and methods: The OA Wistar rat model was induced by intraluminal injection of 20 mL of papain mixed solution (4% papain 0.2 mL mixed with 0.03 mol L-1 l-cysteine 0.1 mL) into the right knee joint. Two weeks after papain injection, OA rats were treated by intra-articular injection of Dex (5, 10, or 20 µg kg-1) into the right knee (once a day, continuously for 4 weeks). Articular cartilage tissue was obtained after Dex treatment was completed. Results: The gait behavior scores (2.83 ± 0.49), PWMT (15.2 ± 1.78) and PTWL (14.81 ± 0.92) in H-DEX group were higher than that of OA group, while Mankin score (5.5 ± 0.81) was decreased (p < 0.05). Compared with the OA group, the IL-1ß (153.11 ± 16.05 pg mg-1), IL-18 (3.71 ± 0.7 pg mg-1), IL-6 (14.15 ± 1.94 pg/mg) and TNF-α (40.45 ± 10.28 pg mg-1) levels in H-DEX group were decreased (p < 0.05). MMP-13, NLRP3, and caspase-1 p10 expression in Dex groups were significantly lower than that of OA group (p < 0.05), while collagen II was increased (p < 0.05). p65 in the nucleus of Dex groups was significantly down-regulated than that of OA group (p < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusions: Dex can improve pain symptoms and cartilage tissue damage of OA rats, which may be related to its inhibition of the activation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome.

Investigation of absorption and scattering characteristics of kiwifruit tissue using a single integrating sphere system.

For a quantitative understanding of light interaction with fruit tissue, it is critical to obtain two fundamental parameters: the absorption coefficient and the scattering coefficient of the tissue. This study was to investigate the optical properties of kiwifruit tissue at the wavelength of 632.8 nm. The total reflectance and total transmittance of kiwifruit tissue from three parts (including the flesh part, the seed part, and the seed-base part) were measured using a single integrating sphere system. Based on the measured spectral signals, the absorption coefficient µa and the reduced scattering coefficient µs' of kiwifruit tissue were calculated using the inverse adding-doubling (IAD) method. Phantoms made from Intralipid 20% and India ink as well as a Biomimic solid phantom were used for system validation. The mean values of µa and µs' of different parts of the kiwifruit were 0.031-0.308 mm(-1) and 0.120-0.946 mm(-1), respectively. The results showed significant differences among the µa and µs' of the three parts of the kiwifruit. The results of this study confirmed the importance of studying the optical properties for a quantitative understanding of light interaction with fruit tissue. Further investigation of fruit optical properties will be extended to a broader spectral region and different kinds of fruits.

Postoperative Regulatory T-Cells and Natural Killer Cells in Stage I Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Underwent Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy or Thoracotomy.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory T-cells (Treg) play key roles in suppressing cell-mediated immunity in cancer patients. Little is known about perioperative Treg fluctuations in nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) lobectomy, as a minimal invasive procedure for treating NSCLC, may have relatively less impact on the patient's immune system. This study aimed to observe perioperative dynamics of circulating Treg and natural killer (NK) cell levels in NSCLC patients who underwent major lobectomy by VATS or thoracotomy. METHODS: Totally, 98 consecutive patients with stage I NSCLC were recruited and assigned into VATS or thoracotomy groups. Peripheral blood samples were taken on 1-day prior to operation, postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, 7, 30, and 90. Circulating Treg and NK cell counts were assayed by flow cytometry, defined as CD4 + CD25 + CD127 low cells in CD4 + lymphocytes and CD56 + 16 + CD3- cells within CD45 + leukocytes respectively. With SPSS software version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., USA), differences between VATS and thoracotomy groups were determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and differences between preoperative baseline and PODs in each group were evaluated by one-way ANOVA Dunnett t-test. RESULTS: In both groups, postoperative Treg percentages were lower than preoperative status. No statistical difference was found between VATS and thoracotomy groups on PODs 1, 3, 7, and 30. On POD 90, Treg percentage in VATS group was significantly lower than in thoracotomy group (5.26 ± 2.75 vs. 6.99 ± 3.60, P = 0.012). However, a higher level of NK was found on all PODs except on POD 90 in VATS group, comparing to thoracotomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Lower Treg level on POD 90 and higher NK levels on PODs 1, 3, 7, 30 in VATS group might imply better preserved cell-mediated immune function in NSCLC patients, than those in thoracotomy group.

Reverse engineering of free-form surface based on the closed-loop theory.

To seek better methods of measurement and more accurate model of reconstruction in the field of reverse engineering has been the focus of researchers. Based on this, a new method of adaptive measurement, real-time reconstruction, and online evaluation of free-form surface was presented in this paper. The coordinates and vectors of the prediction points are calculated according to a Bézier curve which is fitted by measured points. Final measured point cloud distribution is in agreement with the geometric characteristics of the free-form surfaces. Fitting the point cloud to a surface model by the nonuniform B-spline method, extracting some check points from the surface models based on grids and a feature on the surface, review the location of these check points on the surface with CMM and evaluate the model, and then update the surface model to meet the accuracy. Integrated measurement, reconstruction, and evaluation, with the closed-loop reverse process, established an accurate model. The results of example show that the measuring points are distributed over the surface according to curvature, and the reconstruction model can be completely expressed with micron level. Meanwhile, measurement, reconstruction and evaluation are integrated in forms of closed-loop reverse system.

[Dynamic change of apoptosis of alveolar cells in ischemia-reperfusion induced pulmonary injury: an experimental study with rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the dynamic changes of alveolar apoptosis in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induced pulmonary injury, and to evaluate the roles of these two cell death styles, apoptosis and necrosis, in the progress of lung function deterioration in pulmonary IR injury. METHODS: Fifty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were made ischemia/reperfusion models by ischemia and reperfusion in situ in single lung. Thirty-six of the 54 rats in the experimental group were re-divided into 6 equal subgroups to undergo detection of partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) of blood in left atrium, detection of lung tissue wet weight/dry weight ratio, histology of lung by light microscope, examination of ultrastructural changes of cells by transmission electron microscopy, and quantitative detection of apoptotic cells in the right middle lobe by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) 0 h, 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 6 h, and 12 h respectively after the reperfusion (subgroups R0, R(0.5), R1, R2, R6, and R12). Another 18 rats in the experimental group were re-divided into 3 subgroups of 6 rats to undergo insertion of venous catheter into the main pulmonary artery via right ventricle to perfuse trypan blue so as to evaluate the cell death degree. The death index was observed under light microscope and the necrosis index was indirectly calculated by the equation: death index = apoptotic index + necrosis index. Thirty-six rats underwent sham operation. Twelve rats were used as preoperative blank controls. RESULTS: Proliferation of alveolar type II, but not alveolar type I cell, accompanied by ultrastructural morphological changes were seen 1 h, 2 h, and 6 h after reperfusion, the most prominently 2 h after reperfusion. Apoptotic index was elevated since 1 h after reperfusion, and peaked 2 h after reperfusion. Statistical analysis indicated that, compared with apoptotic index, the necrotic index was of more prominent correlation with blood oxygen partial pressure and wet/dry weight ratio. CONCLUSION: Alveolar apoptosis occurs in the early stage of reperfusion, and becomes the most prominent 2 h after reperfusion. Most apoptotic cells are alveolar type II cells. In the two styles of cell death in pulmonary IR injury, alveolar necrosis is more prominently correlated with progress of lung function deterioration.