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BackgroundTo examine the effects of the addition of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into bilayer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds on the reconstruction of osteochondral defects in a rabbit model.Material/MethodsPorous PLGA scaffolds were prepared in a bilayered manner to reflect the structure of chondral and subchondral bone. Bone defects, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness, were created in both knee joints in 18 healthy New Zealand white rabbits, aged between 120–180 days old. Rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: rabbits with bone defects implanted with bilayer PLGA scaffolds (PLGA group) (N=6); or with bilayer PLGA and autologous PRP (PLGA/PRP group) (N=6); and the untreated group (control group) (N=6). The gross morphology, histology, and immunohistochemistry for the expression of collagen type II and aggrecan were observed at 12 weeks after surgery and compared using a scoring system. Micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging and relative expression of specific genes were also assessed.ResultsThe platelet concentrations in the PRP samples were found to be 4.9 times greater than that of whole blood samples. The total score on gross appearance and histology was greatest in the PLGA/PRP group, as was the expression of collagen II and aggrecan of the neo-tissue. Micro-CT imaging showed that more subchondral bone was formed in the PLGA/PRP group.ConclusionsBilayer PLGA scaffolds loaded with autologous PRP improve the reconstruction of osteochondral defects in the rabbit model.

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The effects of 70% methanol extract (EA-ext) from Evodiae Fructus (EA) consisting of dried fruits of Evodia rutaecarpa var. bodinieri (Rutaceae) on nociceptive responses were investigated. Oral administration of 50 or 200 mg/kg EA-ext had the same antinociceptive effect on writhing responses as induced by acetic acid. Its major alkaloidal constituents, evodiamine and rutaecarpine also had the antinociceptive effect. EA-ext significantly decreased the frequency of licking behavior within a unit of time at the late phase without affecting that of the early phase in the formalin test. EA-ext also increased nociceptive threshold of the inflamed paw without increasing that in the non-inflamed paw in the Randall-Selitto test. Although EA-ext inhibited the rise of vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and the increase of paw edema induced by carrageenin, it was ineffective on nociceptive response in the hot plate test and on locomotor activity. These results suggest that EA possesses antinociceptive effects and its mode of action may be mediated by anti-inflammatory action, and that the antinociceptive constituents are only partially attributable to alkaloidal components mentioned above.

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Neuropeptide Y (NPY) exhibits a critical but poorly understood regulatory signaling function and has been shown to promote proliferation, vascularization and migration in several types of cells and tissues. However, little is known about the specific role of NPY in the proliferation and apoptosis of bone marrow stromal cells (also known as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, BMSCs), which contain a subpopulation of multipotent skeletal stem cells. Based on BrdU incorporation tests, Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, we showed that NPY significantly promoted the proliferation of BMSCs in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximal effect observed at a concentration of 10M for pro-proliferative and 10M for anti-apoptotic activities. Furthermore, NPY significantly increased the percentage of cells in S and G2/M phases. In addition, NPY exhibited a protective effect after 24h of serum starvation as illustrated by a reduction in the apoptosis rate, degree of nuclear condensation, and expression of apoptosis markers, including caspase-3, caspase-9 and Bax mRNA expression. NPY also increased the mRNA and protein expression levels of canonical Wnt signaling pathway proteins, including β-catenin and c-myc, during the induced proliferative and anti-apoptotic processes. However, the proliferative and anti-apoptotic activities of NPY were partially blocked by both PD160170 (1μM) and DKK1 (0.2μg/mL). These compounds also blocked the mRNA and protein expression of β-catenin, p-GSK-3β and c-myc. Therefore, the results of the present study demonstrated that NPY exerts a proliferative and protective effect on BMSCs in a dose- and time-dependent manner in vitro, and importantly, these effects may be mediated via its Y1 receptor and involved in activation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.

This paper examines total factor efficiency and productivity performance by taking into account local government debt (LGD) in 31 Chinese provincial regions for the period 2000–2013. The results show that neglecting LGD may overstate economic performance in Chinese provinces. The eastern region shows better performance in single factor efficiency and total factor efficiency than the non‐eastern regions. The western region shows the worst total factor performance. The north‐eastern region is the only region that has experienced a decline in total factor performance. The state‐dominated, investment‐driven development model may help technological progress across Chinese regions but could lead to significant factor misallocation. We argue that biases towards more state‐dominated investment and land supply in less productive western, central and north‐eastern regions, at the expense of investment and land supply in more productive eastern regions, have contributed to the recent slowdown in economic growth in China. Therefore, further market‐oriented reforms in factor markets should be considered in the future.

The effects of 70% methanolic extract (CC-ext) from Cinnamomi Cortex on acute and chronic inflammation were investigated. CC-ext inhibited the rise in vascular permeability induced by acetic acid and the increase of paw edema induced by carrageenin in mice. It was ineffective on edema derived by histamine or bradykinin, and exhibited only weak inhibitory effect on the edema derived by serotonin. CC-ext also showed inhibitory effects on the prekallikrein enzyme activity and ear edema induced by arachidonic acid. It also had an inhibitory effect on cotton pellet-induced granuloma but showed no atrophying action against the adrenal or thymus glands. Little effect was shown on secondary lesions in the development of adjuvant-induced arthritis (the arthritis reappeared from 11 to 27 d after injection of the adjuvant). These results suggest that some active component having an inhibitory effect on acute inflammation is contained in Cinnamomi Cortex.