Objective To develop a diclofenac sodium-loaded gelatin scaffold with anti-inflammatory activity and provide a new avenue for alleviating the inflammatory response and enhancing cartilage regeneration in vivo. Methods Diclofenac sodium was homogeneously mixed with gelatin to prepare a diclofenac sodium-loaded porous gelatin scaffold by freeze-drying method as the experimental group, and a pristine porous gelatin scaffold was served as a control group. The general morphology of the scaffold was observed, the pore size of the scaffold was measured by scanning electron microscopy, the porosity of the scaffold was calculated by drainage method, the loading of diclofenac sodium into the gelatin scaffold was detected by fourier transform infrared spectrometer and X-ray diffraction examinations, and the release kinetics of diclofenac sodium from gelatin scaffold was tested using an in vitro release assay. The two scaffolds were co-cultured with lipopolysaccharide-predisposed RAW264.7 in vitro, and the expressions of interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay, and Western blot, to detect the in vitro anti-inflammatory effect of the drug-loaded scaffold. Thereafter, the second generation chondrocytes of New Zealand white rabbits were inoculated on the two groups of scaffolds for in vitro culture, and the cytocompatibility of the scaffold was tested by live/dead staining and cell counting kit 8 assay, the feasibility of in vitro cartilage regeneration of the scaffold was evaluated via gross observation, HE staining, Safranin-O staining, and immunohistochemical collagen type Ⅱ staining, as well as biochemical quantitative analyses. Finally, the two groups of chondrocyte-scaffolds were implanted subcutaneously into New Zealand white rabbits, and after 4 weeks, the general observation, HE staining, safranin O staining, immunohistochemical collagen type Ⅱ staining, and biochemical quantitative analyses were performed to verify the cartilage regeneration in vivo, and the expression of inflammation-related genes CD3 and CD68 was detected by RT-PCR to comprehensively evaluate the anti-inflammatory performance of the scaffolds in vivo. Results The two scaffolds exhibited similar gross, microporous structure, pore size, and porosity, showing no significant difference (P>0.05). Diclofenac sodium was successfully loaded into gelatin scaffold. Data from in vitro anti-inflammatory assay suggested that diclofenac sodium-loaded gelatin scaffold showed alleviated gene and protein expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α when compared with gelatin scaffold (P<0.05). The evaluation of cartilage regeneration in vitro showed that the number of living cells increased significantly with the extension of culture time, and there was no significant difference between the two groups at each time point (P>0.05). White cartilage-like tissue was regenerated from the scaffolds in both groups, histological observation showed typical cartilage lacuna structure and specific cartilage extracellular matrix secretion. There was no significant difference in the content of cartilage-specific glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen type Ⅱ between the two groups (P>0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the samples in the experimental group had porcelain white cartilage like morphology, histologic staining showed obvious cartilage lacuna structure and cartilage specific extracellular matrix, the contents of GAG and collagen type Ⅱ were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the protein and mRNA expressions of CD3 and CD68 were significantly lower than those in the control group, with significant differences (P<0.05). ConclusionThe diclofenac sodium-loaded gelatin scaffold presents suitable pore size, porosity, and cytocompatibility, as well as exhibited satisfactory anti-inflammatory ability, providing a reliable scheme for alleviating the inflammatory reaction of regenerated cartilage tissue after in vivo implantation and promoting cartilage regeneration in vivo.
Objective To prepare a novel hyaluronic acid methacrylate (HAMA) hydrogel microspheres loaded polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-diclofenac sodium (POSS-DS) patricles, then investigate its physicochemical characteristics and in vitro and in vivo biological properties. Methods Using sulfhydryl POSS (POSS-SH) as a nano-construction platform, polyethylene glycol and DS were chemically linked through the “click chemistry” method to construct functional nanoparticle POSS-DS. The composition was analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the morphology was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. In order to achieve drug sustained release, POSS-DS was encapsulated in HAMA, and hybrid hydrogel microspheres were prepared by microfluidic technology, namely HAMA@POSS-DS. The morphology of the hybrid hydrogel microspheres was characterized by optical microscope and scanning electron microscope. The in vitro degradation and drug release efficiency were observed. Cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) and live/dead staining were used to detect the effect on chondrocyte proliferation. Moreover, a chondrocyte inflammation model was constructed and cultured with HAMA@POSS-DS. The relevant inflammatory indicators, including collagen type Ⅱ, aggrecan (AGG), matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), recombinant A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin 5 (Adamts5), and recombinant tachykinin precursor 1 (TAC1) were detected by immunofluorescence staining and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, with normal cultured chondrocytes and the chondrocyte inflammation model without treatment as control group and blank group respectively to further evaluate their anti-inflammatory activity. Finally, by constructing a rat model of knee osteoarthritis, the effectiveness of HAMA@POSS-DS on osteoarthritis was evaluated by X-ray film and Micro-CT examination. Results The overall particle size of POSS-DS nanoparticles was uniform with a diameter of about 100 nm. HAMA@POSS-DS hydrogel microspheres were opaque spheres with a diameter of about 100 μm and a spherical porous structure. The degradation period was 9 weeks, during which the loaded POSS-DS nanoparticles were slowly released. CCK-8 and live/dead staining showed no obvious cytotoxicity at HAMA@POSS-DS, and POSS-DS released by HAMA@POSS-DS significantly promoted cell proliferation (P<0.05). In the chondrocyte anti-inflammatory experiment, the relative expression of collagen type Ⅱ mRNA in HAMA@POSS-DS group was significantly higher than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05). The relative expression level of AGG mRNA was significantly higher than that of blank group (P<0.05). The relative expressions of MMP-13, Adamts5, and TAC1 mRNA in HAMA@POSS-DS group were significantly lower than those in blank group (P<0.05). In vivo experiments showed that the joint space width decreased after operation in rats with osteoarthritis, but HAMA@POSS-DS delayed the process of joint space narrowing and significantly improved the periarticular osteophytosis (P<0.05). Conclusion HAMA@POSS-DS can effectively regulate the local inflammatory microenvironment and significantly promote chondrocyte proliferation, which is conducive to promoting cartilage regeneration and repair in osteoarthritis.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
MethodsWe electronically searched databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 5, 2015), EMbase, CNKI, CBM, VIP and WanFang Data from inception to 14 June 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TCM therapies for KOA. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then network meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 and WinBUGS 1.4.3 softwares.
ResultsA total of 56 RCTs involving 7256 patients were included, in which 19 different treatment strategies were investigated. All were short-term efficacy studies. Our work yielded 33 direct and 138 indirect comparisons, among which 76 were demonstrated statistically significant. The result of meta-analysis showed that, the TCM-based therapy group had lower complication rates, compared with the NSAIDs group. TCM internal application+acupuncture+fumigation, internal application+fumigation+moxibustion, acupuncture+massage, TCM extra-apply+massage, massage+fumigation+moxibustion, and massage+fumigation were the top six in terms of treatment effect. NSAIDs ranked 18th.
ConclusionThe safety and effectiveness of TCM therapies are generally better than NSAIDs except moxibustion, particularly more remarkable for the top six TCM therapies. TCM comprehensive therapies are superior over mono-modality therapies. Due to the limitation of the present studies, the long-term efficacy of TCM therapies needs further investigation, and our findings also need to be verified by large-scale and well-designed RCTs.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on tennis elbow.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, VIP, CNKI and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on NSAIDs for tennis elbow from inception to May 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included studies, then, meta-analysis was performed by using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of 8 RCTs involving 595 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that there were no significant differences in the therapeutic effect between NSAIDs and the placebo group (RR=1.10, 95%CI 0.89 to 1.35, P=0.39) or non-placebo control group (RR=0.88, 95%CI 0.77 to 1.00, P=0.06). Compared with non-placebo control group, NSAIDs group had lower VAS score difference (MD=?1.41, 95%CI ?2.28 to ?0.53, P=0.002).ConclusionsCurrent evidence shows that the effect of NSAIDs on tennis elbow is still uncertain. The improvement of symptoms with NSAIDs may be superior to placebo, but inferior to other treatment methods. Due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are required to be verified by more high-quality studies.
Objective To summarize the research progress in antitumor mechanism of non-steroidal anti-inflam-matory drugs. Methods The domestic and international published literatures about antitumor mechanism of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in recent years were reviewed. Results The antitumor mechanism of non-steroidal anti-inflam-matory drugs was multistrata and multidigit. Conclusion Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to prevent the development of colorectal cancer and also be a adjuvant therapy after radical operation for colorectal cancer.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expression regulation of inflammation cytokines interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in rats with sciatic nerve defect following olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) transplantation.
MethodsThe primary OEC for cell culture and identification was dissociated from the olfactory bulb of the green fluorescent protein-Sprague Dawley (GFP-SD) rat. One hundred SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, and the right sciatic nerve defect (10 mm in length) model was made, then repaired with poly (lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). The mixture of equivalent cultured GFP-OEC and extracellular matrix (ECM) was injected into both ends of PLGA nerve conduit in the experimental group (n=55), and the mixture of DMEM and ECM in the control group (n=45). The general situation of rats was observed after operation. At 6 hours, 1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks, the inflammatory cytokines were detected by Western blot. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks, the survival of GFP-OEC was observed in the experimental group. At 9 weeks, HE staining was used to observe the morphology of nerve tissue, and the sensory and motor function and the electrophysiological index were detected.
ResultsThe cultured primary cells were GFP-OECs by immunofluorescence staining. Compared with the control group, the experimental group showed significantly increased expression level of IL-4 at 2-6 weeks (P < 0.05), significantly decreased expression level of IL-6 and TNF-α at 3 days and 1 week (P < 0.05) and significantly increased expression level of IL-13 at 1 day and 3-6 weeks (P < 0.05) by Western blot detection. At 2, 4, and 6 weeks, the surviving GFP-OEC of regenerative nerve end was observed in the experimental group under the fluorescence microscope. At 9 weeks, regenerative nerve tissue was loose, and cell morphology was irregular in the experimental group, while the regenerative nerve tissue had vesicular voids and the cell number decreased significantly in the control group. At 9 weeks, the functional recovery of sciatic nerve in the experimental group was better than that of the control group, showing significant difference in the lateral foot retraction time, sciatic nerve function index, muscle action potential latency, and the amplitude of compound muscle action potential (P < 0.05).
ConclusionOEC can promote the anti-inflammation cytokines expression of IL-4 and IL-13 and inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokines expression of IL-6 and TNF-α, which can improve the local inflammatory microenvironment of sciatic nerve and effectively promote the structure and function recovery of sciatic nerve.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of etofenamate gel (foscavir+tramadoli hydrochloridum+gabapentin) in the treatment of acute herpes zoster.
MethodsForty patients with acute herpes zoster neuralgia treated between January 2013 and June 2014 were randomly divided into two groups:control group and treatment group, with 20 in each. The patients had a visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score of seven or higher. Patients in the control group accepted conventional treatment, while those in the treatment group were treated with conventional treatment combined with etofenamate gel. Two weeks after treatment, VAS score, quality of life and sleep score, and the degree of improvement in skin paresthesia were evaluated and compared between the two groups.
ResultsThe VAS score decreased significantly in both the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05), and the decrease in the treatment group was significantly more obvious (P < 0.05). The quality of life, sleep score and the degree of improvement in skin paresthesia were ameliorated significantly after treatment (P < 0.05), and the amelioration in the treatment group was significantly greater (P < 0.05).
ConclusionThe early application of Ordofen can strengthen analgesia effect of the conventional treatment, improve the quality of life and sleep, and reduce skin paresthesia.
ObjectiveTo compare the effect of bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution and fluorometholone following sub-bowmans keratomileusis (SBK) from the aspects of subjective visual perception, ophthalmic signs and intraocular pressure.
MethodsFifty myopic patients (94 eyes) who underwent SBK from April to May 2013 were divided into two groups according to the different postoperative drug treatment. Patients in group A were treated with bromfenac sodium hydrate (51 eyes), and patients in group B were treated with fluorometholone (43 eyes). To compare the effects of two kinds of drugs after SBK, results of the routine examination were recorded including uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), refractive status, visual symptoms and signs, intraocular pressure (IOP) and Haze under Corneal Epithelium (HAZE) on pre-operational and postoperative day 1, 7, and 30.
ResultsOn the 30th day, IOP in group A and group B were (9.88±2.34) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) and (11.00±2.27) mm Hg, respectively, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences at other time points. There was no statistically significant difference in UCVA, refractive status, visual symptoms and signs, and corneal epithelial staining between the two groups (on day 1, 7, and 30).
ConclusionBromfenac sodium and fluorometholone have the same effect in the control of postoperative visual acuity and ophthalmic inflammation. Bromfenac sodium has greater advantages in IOP control. Therefore, bromfenac sodium can substitute fluorometholone in resisting inflammation after SBK.
ObjectiveTo develop an anti-inflammatory poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold by loading xanthohumol, and investigate its anti-inflammatory and cartilage regeneration effects in goats. Methods The PLGA porous scaffolds were prepared by pore-causing agent leaching method, and then placed in xanthohumol solution for 24 hours to prepare xanthohumol-PLGA scaffolds (hereinafter referred to as drug-loaded scaffolds). The PLGA scaffolds and drug-loaded scaffolds were taken for general observation, the pore diameter of the scaffolds was measured by scanning electron microscope, the porosity was calculated by the drainage method, and the loading of xanthohumol on the scaffolds was verified by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. Then the two scaffolds were co-cultured with RAW264.7 macrophages induced by lipopolysaccharide for 24 hours, and the expressions of inflammatory factors [interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)] were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties in vitro of two scaffolds. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was obtained from bone marrow of a 6-month-old female healthy goat, cultured by adherent method, and passaged in vitro. The second passage cells were seeded on two scaffolds to construct BMSCs-scaffolds, and the cytocompatibility of scaffolds was observed by live/dead cell staining and cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay. The BMSCs-scaffolds were cultured in vitro for 6 weeks, aiming to verify its feasibility of generating cartilage in vitro by gross observation, histological staining, collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemical staining, and biochemical analysis. Finally, the two kinds of BMSCs-scaffolds cultured in vitro for 6 weeks were implanted into the goat subcutaneously, respectively. After 4 weeks, gross observation, histological staining, collagen type Ⅱ immunohistochemical staining, biochemical analysis, and RT-PCR were performed to comprehensively evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect in vivo and promotion of cartilage regeneration of the drug-loaded scaffolds. Results The prepared drug-loaded scaffold had a white porous structure with abundant, continuous, and uniform pore structures. Compared with the PLGA scaffold, there was no significant difference in pore size and porosity (P>0.05). FTIR spectrometer analysis showed that xanthohumol was successfully loaded to PLGA scaffolds. The in vitro results demonstrated that the gene and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in drug-loaded scaffold significantly decreased than those in PLGA scaffold (P<0.05). With the prolongation of culture, the number of live cells increased significantly, and there was no significant difference between the two scaffolds (P>0.05). The in vitro cartilage regeneration test indicated that the BMSCs-drug-loaded scaffolds displayed smooth and translucent appearance with yellow color after 6 weeks in vitro culture, and could basically maintained its original shape. The histological and immunohistochemical stainings revealed that the scaffolds displayed typical lacunar structure and cartilage-specific extracellular matrix. In addition, quantitative data revealed that the contents of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen type Ⅱ were not significantly different from BMSCs-PLGA scaffolds (P>0.05). The evaluation of cartilage regeneration in vivo showed that the BMSCs-drug-loaded scaffolds basically maintained their pre-implantation shape and size at 4 weeks after implantation in goat, while the BMSCs-PLGA scaffolds were severely deformed. The BMSCs-drug-loaded scaffolds had typical cartilage lacuna structure and cartilage specific extracellular matrix, and no obvious inflammatory cells infiltration; while the BMSCs-PLGA scaffolds had a messy fibrous structure, showing obvious inflammatory response. The contents of cartilage-specific GAG and collagen type Ⅱ in BMSCs-drug-loaded scaffolds were significantly higher than those in BMSCs-PLGA scaffolds (P<0.05); the relative gene expressions of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly lower than those in BMSCs-PLGA scaffolds (P<0.05). ConclusionThe drug-loaded scaffolds have suitable pore size, porosity, cytocompatibility, and good anti-inflammatory properties, and can promote cartilage regeneration after implantation with BMSCs in goats.