Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Jipei Dilong Ointment on Acute Soft Tissue Injury in Rats

[Objectives]This study was conducted to observe the therapeutic effect of Jipei Dilong Ointment on rats with acute soft tissue injury caused by heavy objects and to explore its action mechanism.[Methods]Thirty six rats were randomly divided into six groups(control group,model group,high-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-H),medium-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-M),low-dose Jipei Dilong Ointment group(JP-L)and diclofenac group).Except for the Control group,other groups were subjected to modeling of acute soft tissue injury by the weight impact method.All administration was performed once a day for nine consecutive days.The local appearance score and activity disorder score were determined after soft tissue injury in rats.HE staining was used to detect the pathological changes of injured soft tissues in rats.RT-PCR was used to detect the relative mRNA expressions of Bax,Bcl-2,MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in injured soft tissues of rats.Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of MMP-9,TIMP-1,TLR4,MyD88 and NF-κB p65 in injured soft tissues of rats.Results were statistically analyzed.[Results]Compared with the model group,Jipei Dilong Ointment could significantly improve the appearance symptoms such as swelling and ecchymosis in the injured area and the movement function of the affected limb(P<0.05).It could also improve the infiltration of inflammatory cells and widening of the intermuscular space caused by injury.Among them,the JP-H group and the diclofenac group had more significant curative effects.After 9 d of administration,each administration group could significantly up-regulate the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax mRNA expression level(P<0.05 or P<0.01),and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 mRNA expression level showed a downward trend(P>0.05).The expression level of NF-κB p65 protein in each administration group was significantly decreased(P<0.01).The protein expression levels of TLR4 and MyD88 and the ratio of MMP-9/TIMP-1 protein expression level in each administration group decreased to varying degrees.Among them,the JP-H group and diclofenac group significantly decreased(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Jipei Dilong Ointment has the functions of relieving pain,swelling and inflammation.It could improve the local appearance,functional activity and tissue morphology of affected limbs in rats,and has a therapeutic effect on acute soft tissue injury in rats.Its mechanism of action might be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway and the regulation of Bcl-2/Bax and MMP-9/TIMP-1 balance.

Chitosan hydrogel encapsulated with LL-37 peptide promotes deep tissue injury healing in a mouse model

Background:LL-37 peptide is a member of the human cathelicidin family,and has been shown to promote the healing of pressure ulcers.However,the low stability of this peptide within the wound environment limits its clinical use.Chitosan(CS)hydrogel is commonly used as a base material for wound dressing material.Methods:CS hydrogel(2.5%w/v)was encapsulated with LL-37.Cytotoxicity of the product was examined in cultured NIH3 T3 fibroblasts.Effects on immune response was examined by measuring tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)release from RAW 264.7 macrophages upon exposure to lipopolysaccharides.Antibacterial activity was assessed using Staphylococcus aureus.Potential effect on pressure ulcers was examined using a mouse model.Briefly,adult male C57 BL/6 mice were subjected to skin pressure using magnets under a 12/12 h schedule for 21 days.Mice were randomized to receive naked LL-37(20μg),chitosan gel containing 20μg LL-37(LL-37/CS hydrogel)or hydrogel alone under the ulcer bed(n=6).A group of mice receiving no intervention was also included as a control.Results:LL-37/CS hydrogel did not affect NIH3 T3 cell viability.At a concentration of 1–5μg/ml,LL-37/CS inhibited TNF-αrelease from macrophage.At 5μg/ml,LL-37/CS inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.The area of the pressure ulcers was significantly lower in mice receiving LL-37/CS hydrogel in comparison to all other 3 groups on days 11(84.24%±0.25%),13(56.22%±3.91%)and 15(48.12%±0.28%).Histological examination on days 15 and 21 showed increased epithelial thickness and density of newly-formed capillary with naked LL-37 and more so with LL-37/CS.The expression of key macromolecules in the process of angiogenesis(i.e.,hypoxia inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)and vascular endothelial growth factor-A(VEGF-A))in wound tissue was increased at both the mRNA and protein levels.Conclusion:Chitosan hydrogel encapsulated with LL-37 is biocompatible and could promote the healing of pressure ulcers.

Mechanism of Olibanum and Myrrha for the Acute Soft Tissue Injury Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective The objective of this study was to screen the therapeutic target of olibanum and myrrha on acute soft tissue injury(ASTI)by network pharmacology and to clarify their mechanisms.Methods The main chemical constituents and the targets of olibanum and myrrha were obtained by using traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform database.The disease targets of ASTI were searched by GeneCards.The intersection targets of herbs and diseases were selected for protein interaction analysis,protein–protein interaction network was constructed,and potential protein functional modules in the network were explored.A compound–target–disease network was constructed using Cytoscape3.8.2 software.The targets were analyzed by gene ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis based on the Metascape database.Results The core active components of olibanum and myrrha were quercetin,β-sitosterol,and stigmasterol.The core targets were PGR,NCOA2,PTGS2,PRKCA,and NR3C2.Pathways in cancer,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications might play a potential role in olibanum and myrrha in the treatment of ASTI.Conclusion Olibanum and myrrha have the characteristics of multiple components,multiple targets,and overall regulation in the treatment of ASTI.

TREATMENT OF SOFT TISSUE INJURY BY PUNCTURING CLEFT-POINTS

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture of "Xi" (Cleft) points in treatment of soft tissue injury. Methods: 335 cases of soft tissue injury patients were divided into Cleft point group (264 cases) and Ashi point group (control group, 71 cases) randomly. In Cleft point group, the 16 Cleft points were used in combination with Ahshi points. In control group, only local Ahshi points were punctured. The treatment was conducted once every day, with 5 sessions being a therapeutic course. After 2 courses of treatment, the therapeutic effect was analyzed. Results: Results showed that the therapeutic effect of cleft point group was significantly better than that of control group (P<0.05), particularly in treatment of acute soft tissue. Conclusion: Cleft point acupuncture has a better therapeutic effect in treatment of soft tissue injury in comparison with Ashi point.

Experience on diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injury by acupuncture and moxibustion

Several problems about acupuncture and moxibustion for treatment of soft tissue injury are probed in the present paper. The author holds that for treatment of soft tissue injury with acupuncture and moxibustion, firstly, must clarify the lesion location, so as to understand pathogenic characteristics and select the best acupuncture forcing point; secondly, must distinguish different stages of the disease, so as to select the best proper acupuncture stimulation method according to different pathological mechanisms in acute and chronic stages. Finally, the author analyzes different stimulation characteristics and indications according to own experience on clinical commonly-used several acupuncture and moxibustion stimulation methods such as filiform needle, acupoint injection, micro-needle therapy including ear acupuncture, abdomen acupuncture, eye acupuncture and so on, and blood-letting puncturing and cupping, fire needle and small needle-knife, and puts forward own treatment points of view.

Roles of the fibroblast growth factor signal transduction system in tissue injury repair

Following injury,tissue autonomously initiates a complex repair process,resulting in either partial recovery or regeneration of tissue architecture and function in most organisms.Both the repair and regeneration processes are highly coordinated by a hierarchy of interplay among signal transduction pathways initiated by different growth factors,cytokines and other signaling molecules under normal conditions.However,under chronic traumatic or pathological conditions,the reparative or regenerative process of most tissues in different organs can lose control to different extents,leading to random,incomplete or even flawed cell and tissue reconstitution and thus often partial restoration of the original structure and function,accompanied by the development of fibrosis,scarring or even pathogenesis that could cause organ failure and death of the organism.Ample evidence suggests that the various combinatorial fibroblast growth factor(FGF)and receptor signal transduction systems play prominent roles in injury repair and the remodeling of adult tissues in addition to embryonic development and regulation of metabolic homeostasis.In this review,we attempt to provide a brief update on our current understanding of the roles,the underlying mechanisms and clinical application of FGFs in tissue injury repair.

Etiology, Prevalence, and Management of Oral and Maxillofacial Soft Tissue Injuries in Children at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana

Background: Maxillofacial injury may vary from simple soft tissue lacerations to complex fractures of the orofacial region. Soft tissue injuries, whether isolated or in combination with other injuries, form part of the frequent traumatic craniofacial injuries seen at the emergency department. The force of impact and the injury type is directly related to the severity of the injury sustained. This study aimed to analyze the etiological factors, prevalence, and management of oral and maxillofacial soft tissue injuries at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Methods: This was a prospective study that involved children presenting with oral and maxillofacial injuries at the Accident and Emergency Department and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi between the period of April to October 2020 (6 months). Patient selection was by convenience sampling targeting all children with injuries who met the inclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria were children below the age of 18 years whose parents or caregivers consent to participation. Children with maxillofacial injuries as a result of burns were excluded from the study. Results: During the study period a total of 134 children were reviewed with oral and maxillofacial injuries at KATH. Of these, 107 (78.9%) were recorded cases of orofacial soft tissue injuries. There were 63 (58.9%) males and 44 (41.1%) females and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. The age range of patients studied was 8 months – 17 years, with mean age ± SD being 9.5 ± 5.3 years. Road Traffic Crash (50.5%) was the most common etiology of which Motor cycle crash constituted 24.3% and Pedestrian knockdown was 19.6%. Falls (42.1%) were the next most common etiology. The lips (19.8%) and the forehead (18.5%) were the most frequently injured sites on the face whiles the tongue (3.3%) had the most injuries intraorally. Laceration (45.7%) was the most frequent injury reviewed, followed by abrasions (35.8%). Most of the soft tissue injuries underwent primary closure (56.3%). A complication rate of 21.2% was recorded in this study and hypertrophic scarring (11.3%) was the most observed.

Repairing peripheral nerve injury using tissue engineering techniques

Each year approximately 360,000 people in the United States suffer a peripheral nerve injury （PNI）, which is a leading source of lifelong disability （Kelsey et al., 1997; Noble et al., 1998）. The most frequent cause of PNIs is motor vehicle accidents, while gunshot wounds, stabbings, and birth trauma are also common factors. Patients suffering from disabilities as a result of their PNIs are also burdensome to the healthcare system, with aver- age hospital stays of 28 days each year （Kelsey et al., 1997; Noble et al., 1998）.

Effects of regenerated tissue extracts after liver injury on the proliferation,differentiation,migration and invasion of SK-HEP1 cells

Objective: To study the effects of regenerated tissue extracts after liver injury on the proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion of SK-HEP1 cells. Methods: Regenerated tissue extracts after liver injury were used to induce SK-HEP1 cells after enrichment, their effects on the proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion of SK-HEPI cells were observed through in vitro cell culture, MTT, flow cytometry and transwell assays. Results:In response to the action of regenerated tissue extracts after liver injury, SK-HEP1 cells were blocked in G_0/G_1 phase, their growth rate was distinctly reduced. The number of SK-HEP1^(-fj)colonies decreased. The migration ability of SK-HEPI cells showed a decreased trend on day7 and day 11 after induction. SK-HEPl's invasion ability clearly decreased on days 7 and11 after induction, especially on day 7. Conclusions: To a certain extent, regenerated tissue extracts after liver injury can inhibit the proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion of hepatoma cells, showing an important potential of being a differentiating agent for the treatment of liver cancer.

Effect of ketamine on aquaporin-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis in brain tissues following brain injury in rats

BACKGROUND： Aquaporin-4 （AQP-4） is closely related to the formation of brain edema. Neuronal apoptosis plays an important part in the conversion of swelled neuron following traumatic brain injury. At present, the studies on the protective effect of ketamine on brain have involved in its effect on aquaporin-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis in the brain tissues following brain injury in rats. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of ketamine on AQP-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis in the brain tissue following rat brain injury, and analyze the time-dependence of ketamine in the treatment of brain injury.DESIGN： Randomized grouping design, controlled animal tria SETTING ： Department of Anesthesiology, the Medical School Hospital of Qingdao University MATERIALS： Totally 150 rats of clean grade, aged 3 months, were involved and randomized into control group and ketamine-treated group, with 75 rats in each. Each group was divided into 5 subgroups separately at 6,12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after injury, with 15 rats at each time point. Main instruments and reagents： homemade beat machine, ketamine hydrochloride （Hengrui Pharmaceutical Factory, Jiangsu）, rabbit anti-rat AQP-4 polyclonal antibody, SABC immunohistochemical reagent kit and TUNEL reagent kit （Boster Co.,Ltd., Wuhan）. METHODS： This trial was carried out in the Institute of Cerebrovascular Disease, Medical College of Qingdao University during March 2005 to February 2006. A weight-dropping rat model of brain injury was created with Feeney method. The rats in the ketamine-treated group were intraperitoneally administered with 50 g/L ketamine （120 mg/kg） one hour after injury, but ketamine was replaced by normal saline in the control group. In each subgroup, the water content of cerebral hemisphere was measured in 5 rats chosen randomly. The left 10 rats in each subgroup were transcardiacally perfused with ketamine, then the brain tissue was made into paraffin sections and stained by haematoxylin and eosin. Neuronal morphology was observed. AQP-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis were measured with immunohistochemical method and TUNEL method respectively. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Water content in brain tissue, neuronal morphology, the number of AQP-4 positive neurons and TUNEL positive neurons in rats of two groups at each time point after injury. RESULTS： Totally 150 rats entered the stage of result analysis. （1） Water content of brain tissue： The water content of brain tissue at each time point after injury in the ketamine-treated group was lower than that in the control group. There were very significant differences in water content at 12 and 24 hours after injury respectively between ketamine-treated group and control group [（77.34±2.35）% vs. （82.31 ±1.48）%; （78.01 ±2.21 ）% vs. （83.86±2.37）%, t=-4.001 6,4.036 7, both P 〈 0.01]. （2） Neuronal morphology： Pathological changes in traumatic region and peripheral region of injury in the ketamine-treated group were significantly lessened, and necrotic and apoptotic cells in the ketamine-treated group were also significantly reduced as compared with control group. （3） AQP-4 expression： AQP-4 positive neurons at each time point in the ketamine-treated group were significantly less than those in the control group. There were very significant differences in AQP-4 expression at 12 and 24 hours after injury between ketamine-treated group and control group [（34.17±4.74） /visual field vs. （43.42±5.65） /visual field;（40.83±3.17） /visual field vs. （58.88±6.23） /visual field,t=3.966 3,8.165 7, both P〈 0.01]. （4） Neuronal apoptosis： TUNEL positive neurons at each time point in the ketamine-treated group were less than those in the control group. There were very significant differences in the neuronal apoptosis at 12 and 24 hours after injury between ketamine-treated group and control group [（26.25±3.04） /visual field vs. （32.75±4.39） /visual field; （29.33± 4.02） /visual field vs. （39.83±5.61） /visual field,t=-3.849 3,5.169 2,both P 〈 0.01]. CONCLUSION： Ketamine can reduce brain edema, AQP-4 expression and neuronal apoptosis following brain injury in rats, and has obvious therapeutic effect on brain injury, especially at 12 and 24 hours after injury.

Effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury

To study the effect of mild hypothermia on glucose metabolism and glycerol of brain tissue in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI).Methods All 33 patients with sTBI(GCS≤8) were randomly divided into hypothermic group and control group.Microdialysis catheters were inserted into the cerebral cortex of perilesion,relative normal brain tissue and subcutaneous tissue of abdomen in order to analyze the concentrations of lactate/pyruvate (L/P),lactate/glucose (L/G) and the glycerol(Gly) in extracellular fluid (ECF).Results In comparison with the control group,the concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and that of L/P in ECF of the “normal brain tissue” were significantly decreased in the hypothermic group.In control group,concentration of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery were higher than those in relative normal brain.In the hypothermic group,L/P concentration in periphery was higher than that in relative normal brain.Conclusion Mild hypothermia protects brain by decreasing concentrations of L/G,L/P and Gly in periphery and L/P concentration in “normal brain tissue”.The energy crisis and membrane phospholipid breakage in periphery are easier to happen after TBI,where mild hypothermia exerts significant protgective role.12 refs,3 tabs.

Is it time to put traditional cold therapy in rehabilitation of soft-tissue injuries out to pasture?

Cold therapy has been used regularly as an immediate treatment to induce analgesia following acute soft-tissue injuries,however,a prolonged ice application has proved to delay the start of the healing and lengthen the recovery process.Hyperbaric gaseous cryotherapy,also known as neurocryostimulation,has shown the ability to overcome most of the limitations of traditional cold therapy,and meanwhile promotes the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects well,but the current existing studies have shown conflicting results on its effects.Traditional cold therapy still has beneficial effect especially when injuries are severe and swelling is the limiting factor for recovery after soft-tissue injuries,and therefore no need to be entirely put out to pasture in the rehabilitation practice.Strong randomized controlled trials with good methodological quality are still needed in the future to evaluate the effects of different cryotherapy modalities.

Terrorist attacks in the largest metropolitan city of Pakistan: Profile of soft tissue and skeletal injuries from a single trauma center

BACKGROUND: Pakistan has been hugely struck with massive bomb explosions(car and suicide bombs) resulting in multiple casualties in the past few years. The aim of this study is to present the patterns of skeletal and soft tissue injuries and to review the outcome of the victims who presented to our hospital.METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review from January 2008 to December 2012. The medical record numbers of patients were obtained from the hospital Health Information and Management Sciences(HIMS) as per the ICD-9 coding.RESULTS: During the study period, more than 100 suicide and implanted bomb blast attacks took place in the public proceedings, government offices, residential areas and other places of the city. Altogether 262 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 31±14 years. The shrapnel inflicted wounds were present on to the upper limb in 24 patients and the lower limb in 50.CONCLUSION: Long bone fractures were the most common skeletal injuries. The fractures were complicated by penetrating fragments and nails which result in post operative infections and prolonged hospital stay.

Extracellular vesicle activities regulating macrophage- and tissue-mediated injury and repair responses

Macrophages are typically identified as classically activated(M1) macrophages and alternatively activated(M2) macrophages,which respectively exhibit pro-and anti-inflammatory phenotypes,and the balance between these two subtypes plays a critical role in the regulation of tissue inflammation,injury,and repair processes.Recent studies indicate that tissue cells and macrophages interact via the release of small extracellular vesicles(EVs) in processes where EVs released by stressed tissue cells can promote the activation and polarization of adjacent macrophages which can in turn release EVs and factors that can promote cell stress and tissue inflammation and injury and vice versa.This review discusses the roles of such EVs in resulating such interactions to influence tissue inflammation and injury in a number of acute and chronic inflammatory disease conditions,and the potential applications,advantage and concerns for using EV-based therapeutic approaches to treat such conditions,including their potential role of drug carriers for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy as a complementary treatment for radiation proctitis:Useless or useful?-A literature review

Radiotherapy(RT)is the backbone of multimodality treatment of more than half of cancer cases.Despite new modern RT techniques,late complications may occur such as radiation proctitis(RP).The natural history of RP is unpredictable.Minor symptoms may resolve spontaneously or require conservative treatment.On the other hand,for similar and uncomplicated clinical contexts,symptoms may persist and can even be refractory to the progressive increase in treatment measures.Over the last decades,an enormous therapeutic armamentarium has been considered in RP,including hyperbaric oxygen therapy(HBOT).Currently,the evidence regarding the impact of HBOT on RP and its benefits is conflicting.Additional prospective and randomised studies are necessary to validate HBOT’s effectiveness in the‘real world’clinical practice.This article reviewed the relevant literature on pathophysiology,clinical presentation,different classifications and discuss RP management including a proposal for a therapeutic algorithm with a focus on HBOT.

Minimally invasive treatment of forearm double fracture in adult using Acumed forearm intramedullary nail: A case report

BACKGROUND Currently,open reduction internal fixation is the conventional surgical method for treatment of double ulna and radius fracture.However,open reduction is associated with a high risk of complications.This case of forearm double fracture involved a patient treated using an Acumed intramedullary nail.The patient experienced good follow-up outcomes.The Acumed forearm intramedullary nail enables early functional exercise and hastens healing of the fracture.Few studies have reported on the use of this approach for the treatment of fractures.CASE SUMMARY A 23-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital after 5 h of pain,swelling,and limited activity of left forearm caused by a careless fall.Physical examination showed stable basic vital signs,swelling of the left forearm,and severe pain when pressing on the injured part of the forearm.Further,friction was felt at the broken end of the bone;the skin was not punctured.Movement of the left hand was normal,and the left radial artery pulse was normal.Three-dimensional computed tomography examination showed an ulna fracture of the left forearm and comminuted fracture of the radius.The fracture was located in the upper third of the radius,with significant displacement on the fracture side.Clinical diagnosis further confirmed the left radius comminuted fracture and ulna fracture.After analyzing the fracture pattern,age,and other patient characteristics,we chose an Acumed nail for treatment and achieved good follow-up outcomes.CONCLUSION Acumed forearm intramedullary nail for fixation of ulna and radius fracture reduced complication risk and resulted in good follow-up outcomes.

Simulation of the Impact Between Head and Seat Head Restraint During REC Under Consideration of the Multiphase and Nonlinear Features

The impact process between car driver＇s head and seat head restraint during a car rear end collision is simulated, where the multiphase and nonlinear features of the human brain tissues and the foam material of the seat head restraint are considered. Using the FEM-software I,S-DYNA, the brain tissue deformation caused by a ear REC is calculated. The purpose of this work is to supply references for improving the design of the head protective devices. The results show that the maximum shear strain appears near the boundaries of different phases and there is a great shear strain gradient in the brain tissues.

Soft tissue compartment bleed-the iceberg phenomenon:a case report

Introduction:Hemorrhage control is the essence of trauma care.Conventional teaching is 1 on the floor(ie,external bleeding)and 4 more(thoracic cavity,abdomen,retroperitoneum,and long bones).In this case report,we present a unique case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment leading to shock.This case triggered to consider the soft tissue compartment as the sixth potential bleeding site in trauma patients in hemorrhagic shock.Case presentation:We present the case with concealed bleeding into the soft tissue compartment posing a challenge in management.On presentation,he had a pulse rate of 117 beats/min,a blood pressure of 90/60mmHg,and a Glasgow Coma Scale(GCS)score of 9.During resuscitation,the patient's blood pressure dropped to 70/46 mmHg with a GCS of 7 of 15.He was then intubated and reevaluated.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the torso revealed a right scapular fracture with a large soft tissue hematoma along the right side of the neck and chest wall,extending up to the right lumbar region.Conclusion:We suggest that the soft tissue compartment is the sixth potential site of internal bleeding in trauma patients,which should not be overlooked after having ruled out the other 5 sites.

A partition-type tubular scaffold loaded with PDGF-releasing microspheres for spinal cord repair facilitates the directional migration and growth of cells

The best tissue-engineered spinal cord grafts not only match the structural characteristics of the spinal cord but also allow the seed cells to grow and function in situ.Platelet-derived growth factor（PDGF） has been shown to promote the migration of bone marrow stromal cells;however,cytokines need to be released at a steady rate to maintain a stable concentration in vivo.Therefore,new methods are needed to maintain an optimal concentration of cytokines over an extended period of time to effectively promote seed cell localization,proliferation and differentiation.In the present study,a partition-type tubular scaffold matching the anatomical features of the thoracic 8–10 spinal cord of the rat was fabricated using chitosan and then subsequently loaded with chitosan-encapsulated PDGF-BB microspheres（PDGF-MSs）.The PDGF-MS-containing scaffold was then examined in vitro for sustained-release capacity,biocompatibility,and its effect on neural progenitor cells differentiated in vitro from multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring cells（MUSE-NPCs）.We found that pre-freezing for 2 hours at-20°C significantly increased the yield of partition-type tubular scaffolds,and 30 μL of 25% glutaraldehyde ensured optimal crosslinking of PDGF-MSs.The resulting PDGF-MSs cumulatively released 52% of the PDGF-BB at 4 weeks in vitro without burst release.The PDGF-MS-containing tubular scaffold showed suitable biocompatibility towards MUSE-NPCs and could promote the directional migration and growth of these cells.These findings indicate that the combination of a partition-type tubular scaffold,PDGF-MSs and MUSENPCs may be a promising model for the fabrication of tissue-engineered spinal cord grafts.

The promise of stem cell-based therapeutics in ophthalmology

The promising role of cellular therapies in the preservation and restoration of visual function has prompted intensive efforts to characterize embryonic, adult, and induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative purposes. Three main approaches to the use of stem cells have been described： sustained drug delivery, immunomodulation, and differentiation into various ocular structures. Studies of the differentiation capacity of all three types of stem cells into epithelial, neural, glial and vascular phenotypes have reached proof-of-concept in culture, but the correction of vision is still in the early developmental stages, and the requirements for effective in vivo implementation are still unclear. We present an overview of some of the preclinical findings on stem-cell rescue and regeneration of the cornea and retina in acute injury and degenerative disorders.