Efficacy of a novel membrane comprising a copolymer of L-lactic acid and glycolic acid in osteoblasts in vitro.

In guided bone regeneration (GBR), a barrier membrane is applied to provide a space for bone regeneration to promote cell adhesion, cell proliferation, and bone regeneration by inducing cell migration to the surface of the bone-deficient site. We prepared a non-woven absorbable membrane for GBR comprised of a copolymer of L-lactic acid and glycolic acid (PLLGA) using the dry spinning method. A thin and dense membrane comprising unsintered hydroxyapatite (uHA) and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) was used for comparison. Osteoblast TMS-12 cells were seeded onto the membranes, and cell adhesion and proliferation rates were examined. Calcification levels were quantified by Alizarin Red S staining after cell culture in calcification induction medium. Osteoblastic gene expression was examined by RT-PCR. Cell adhesion and proliferation rates and calcification on PLLGA membranes were significantly higher than those on uHA/PLLA membranes. PLLGA membranes upregulated osteogenic gene expression compared to on uHA/PLLA membranes. Non-woven PLLGA membranes may be useful in GBR for promoting bone formation and maturation.

Anomalous Orange Light-Emitting (Sr,Ba)2SiO4:Eu(2+) Phosphors for Warm White LEDs.

Phosphors with sufficient red emission component are necessary for warm white light-emitting diodes. In this work on (Sr,Ba)2(1-x)Eu2xSiO4 phosphors, (Sr,Ba)1.5Eu0.5SiO4 achieved 75% of an internal quantum efficiency under excitation by blue light. Surprisingly, the (Sr,Ba)1.5Eu0.5SiO4 exhibited orange emission, against the well-known traditional green-yellow emission of (Sr,Ba)2SiO4:Eu(2+). Moreover, the concentration quenching of Eu(2+) in (Sr,Ba)2SiO4 was abnormally unobvious. With the help of calculations based on the density functional theory, it was discovered that the distinct local environment of luminescence centers rather than usual explanation such as self-absorption or intensified crystal field splitting, is responsible to the interesting red shifts in excitation and emission spectra. The refinement analysis based on X-ray diffraction revealed that the unequal distribution of Eu(2+) to two crystallographic sites caused low concentration of Eu(2+) at the 9-coordination site, inhibiting the concentration quenching. The (Sr,Ba)1.5Eu0.5SiO4 phosphor has warmer emission than the commercial Y3Al5O12:Ce(3+). This study also promotes research on the effect of site occupancy and the local environment of luminescence centers.

Classification of recipient veins in microsurgical flap reconstructions of the lower extremities.

It is difficult to cure severe open fractures of the lower extremities due to the frequent occurrence of severe damage to soft tissues or blood vessels, as well as bone defects, and concomitant infection, such as osteomyelitis. If appropriate treatment is not performed, long-term complications, such as nonunion of the bone, intractable ulcers, or other disorders, may arise. Between 1993 and 2010, we reviewed the records of 27 patients, and 28 limbs were treated. A total of 31 free-tissue transfers were performed on these 28 limbs. In this study, we classified the degree of damage based on the operative appearance of the condition of the recipient vein. A state that was normal or near-normal was described as type I-normal. A vein that was buried under a scar, but was comparatively easy to detach and retained a moderate adventitia was classified as type II-moderate. A vein with close adhesion between the wall and the scar that was not easy to detach was described as type III-severe. We also examined the relationships between recipient vein type and each of the following: (1) concomitant injury, (2) bone reconstruction, (3) preoperative infection, (4) length of time from injury to reconstruction, (5) eventual reoperation, and (6) flap necrosis. The results showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between recipient vein type and each of the following: bone reconstruction, preoperative infection, eventual reoperation, and flap necrosis. The selection of recipient vein is a factor that greatly affects the outcome of reconstruction of open fractures of the lower extremities. It is important to preoperatively estimate the condition of recipient vein even though it is difficult to preoperatively assess the condition. In some cases, only recipient veins in poor condition can be found intraoperatively on the affected leg. Under such circumstances, a cross-leg flap or a vein graft should be performed without hesitation to use recipient veins in a better condition.

[Evaluation of the symptoms, adherence and satisfaction after pharmaceutical care at asthma clinic for outpatient].

In the present study, we investigated whether counseling at an outpatient asthma clinic improved asthma symptoms, adherence and patient satisfaction: The asthma control test (ACT) and asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) were used to assess subjective symptoms, 10-item version of the drug attitude inventory (DAI-10) was used to determine medication adherence, and 8-item Japanese version of the client satisfaction questionnaire (CSQ-8J) was used to ascertain patient satisfaction. All scores of inhalation technique, PEF (peak expiratory flow) value/predicted PEF value (%), ACT, ACQ and DAI-10 in 26 patients with asthma increased after counseling at the outpatient asthma clinic compared to those before counseling. The average CSQ-8J score of 28 points (highest possible score: 32 points) indicated that the patients were satisfied with services provided by this clinic. These results indicate that counseling provided by pharmacists at the outpatient clinic is a valuable way improving subjective symptoms, lung function and medication adherence. These results also indicate that counseling at the asthma clinic by pharmacists improves the quality of life of patients with asthma.

[Pharmacy students' participation in medicinal education for children].

Over recent years, use of self-medication by patients to help prevent and treat their own medical conditions has become increasingly widespread. However, despite provision of warnings and the taking of precautions, health hazards due to medication have occurred and continue to occur. In order to ward off such incidents, it is necessary for both children and adults to be educated about appropriate drug use. And, it is desirable that pharmacy students participate in this medicinal education as a means of affirming what they have learned and improving their communication skills at an early stage in their professional development. In 2008, we held medicinal education classes for pupils and parents at three elementary schools in Aichi Prefecture with the aim of promoting appropriate drug use. Each class comprised of two parts: an introductory lecture in quiz form, lasting about 30 minutes, and a 30-minute participatory group experiment. Subsequently, the activities carried out in both parts were evaluated across 6 items and 3 items respectively, and scored from Satisfied to Unsatisfied (4-step scale) by the pupils and their parents. We also conducted a questionnaire survey on this activity to the pharmacy students. We achieved successful results, gaining high Satisfied levels (better than 90%) in all items. This activity benefited both the children and the pharmacy students. It not only provided education for the general public regarding the appropriate drug use, but is also helping to foster the development in Japan of well-trained future pharmacists.