A pilot study on the effect of formulation and individual muscle mass on vitamin C absorption in randomized clinical study.

The current study investigated that the vitamin C absorption in plasma depends on the individual muscle mass and the formulation including drinks (Vita 500), capsules, and tablets by using a randomized and double-blind clinical study. The volunteers were divided into two groups that depended on their muscle mass, including those whose muscle mass was greater than 40% ( ≥ $ \ge $ 40%) and less than 40% muscle mass (<40%). Levels of vitamin C in blood plasma was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography by ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The existing HPLC method was modified according to lab conditions but maintained a constantly low pH sample reduction procedure. The analytical method validated stability, linearity, recovery, reliability, and accuracy. The vitamin C absorption was the highest at 120 min after ingesting Vita 500 (21.47 ± 15.99 µmol/L). It was higher in the group that has more than 40% muscle mass compared to other formulations, such as tablets and capsules. The results from the current study indicate that vitamin C formulations differently affect the vitamin C absorption, and its effect depends on the muscle mass. As the results, liquid type vitamin C formulations could enhance vitamin C absorption, which resulted in an improvement of vitamin C absorption according to muscle mass. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this study may recommend using vitamin C supplementation as liquid type. It may also provide evidence that people with higher muscle mass can absorb vitamin C more efficiently.

Steamed Ginger May Enhance Insulin Secretion through KATP Channel Closure in Pancreatic ß-Cells Potentially by Increasing 1-Dehydro-6-Gingerdione Content.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and its active compounds (gingerols, shogaols and paradols) have been reported as having beneficial functions for several diseases, including diabetes. In this study, we revealed that the steaming process could enhance the anti-diabetic potential of ginger. To confirm the anti-diabetic effect of steamed ginger extract (GG03), we assessed pancreatic islets impaired by alloxan in zebrafish and demonstrated anti-hyperglycemic efficacy in a mouse model. The EC50 values of ginger extract (GE) and GG03 showed that the efficacy of GG03 was greater than that of GE. In addition, LC50 values demonstrated that GG03 had lower toxicity than GE, and the comparison of the Therapeutic Index (TI) proved that GG03 is a safer functional food. Furthermore, our data showed that GG03 significantly lowered hyperglycemia in a diabetic mouse model. HPLC was performed to confirm the change in the composition of steamed ginger. Interestingly, GG03 showed a 375% increase in 1-dehydro-6-gingerdione (GD) compared with GE. GD has not yet been studied much pharmacologically. Thus, we identified the protective effects of GD in the damaged pancreatic islets of diabetic zebrafish. We further assessed whether the anti-diabetic mechanism of action of GG03 and GD involves insulin secretion. Our results suggest that GG03 and GD might stimulate insulin secretion by the closure of KATP channels in pancreatic ß-cells.

Effects of different rhBMP-2 release profiles in defect areas around dental implants on bone regeneration.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of different rhBMP-2 release profiles in defect areas around dental implants on osseointegration and bone regeneration. Four beagle dogs (13-15 kg) were used. The defect was 3 mm deep and there was a 1 mm gap around the implant. Each of the four implants was installed on the right and left mandibular alveolar ridges. After the implants were placed, experimental groups were applied to the surrounding defect area (n = 8 in each group, the control group was not treated). The inject group was injected with rhBMP-2 solution directly. In the gel group, rhBMP-2 mixed with a hydrogel matrix was applied. In the particle-gel group, rhBMP-2-embedded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)(PLGA) microparticles mixed with hydrogel matrix were applied to maintain consistent release. Sequential fluorescent labeling and histological analysis were performed to evaluate the new bone formation and osseointegration in the defect area. In the control group, larger marginal bone loss was detected as compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The gel group showed significantly higher levels of BIC in the buccal and lingual defect areas compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). New-bone percentages in the inject and gel groups formed more new bone than in the particle-gel and control groups (P < 0.05). Despite the limitations of this study, the use of only hydrogel, which allows early release of rhBMP-2 followed by consistent extended release, showed better bone formation and osseointegration than simple injection or PLGA microparticles with hydrogel matrix.

Entrapment of protein using electrosprayed poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres with a porous structure for sustained release.

The entrapment of a protein in porous poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) microspheres is demonstrated through the closure of their outer surface pores for sustained delivery of the protein. The porous PLGA microspheres with less than 10 µm in size are prepared by electrospraying. Aqueous solutions containing fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran or bovine serum albumin (BSA) are penetrated into the inner pores as a result of vacuum treatment, and the outer surface pores of the porous PLGA microspheres are then closed using a solvent (dimethyl sulfoxide) to ensure entrapment of the macromolecules. Confocal microscopy images confirm the presence of a large amount of the macromolecules inside the porous structure. Circular dichroism spectroscopy and release analysis reveal that BSA is entrapped without denaturation and released in a sustained manner for a period of over 2 months, respectively.

Uniform tricalcium phosphate beads with an open porous structure for tissue engineering.

Uniform tricalcium phosphate (TCP) porous beads with micro and macro pore sizes were fabricated using a simple fluidic device. For micro-porous TCP beads, an aqueous gelatin mixture containing TCP powder was introduced as the discontinuous phase into the fluidic device, where a toluene phase served as the continuous phase. The resulting aqueous TCP droplets were instantly frozen at -20°C and freeze-dried, followed by calcination at 1200°C. An oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O) emulsion templating method was employed to fabricate macro-porous TCP beads. An oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion was introduced into the fluidic device as the discontinuous phase with all other experimental conditions the same as for the micro-porous TCP beads. Uniform macro-porous TCP beads with a highly porous structure were finally obtained after freeze-drying and calcination. Large pore size and good interconnectivity of the macro-porous TCP beads were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and porosimetry. In addition, penetration of host tissue into the macro-pores of the TCP beads was demonstrated by subcutaneously implanting the two types of porous TCP beads into mice and histologically analyzing stained sections at 1-4 weeks post implantation. The macro-porous TCP beads with a highly open porous structure could potentially be used as an injectable material for bone tissue engineering.

A facile method for the preparation of monodisperse beads with uniform pore sizes for cell culture.

This paper describes a facile method for the preparation of porous gelatin beads with uniform pore sizes using a simple fluidic device and their application as supporting materials for cell culture. An aqueous gelatin droplet containing many uniform toluene droplets, produced in the fluidic device, is dropped into liquid nitrogen for instant freezing and the small toluene droplets evolve into pores in the gelatin beads after removal of toluene and then freeze-drying. The porous gelatin beads exhibit a uniform pore size and monodisperse diameter as well as large open pores at the surface. Fluorescence microscopy images of fibroblast-loaded gelatin beads confirm the attachment and proliferation of the cells throughout the porous gelatin beads.