Enhancement of albumin expression in bone tissues with healing rat fractures

The characterization of 66 kDa protein molecule, a major protein component which is produced from femoral-diaphyseal tissues with fracture healing (Igarashi and Yamaguchi [2002] Int. J. Mol. Med. 9:503-508), was investigated. Weaning rats were killed at 7 and 14 days after femoral fracture. When the femoral-diaphyseal tissues with fracture healing were cultured for 48 h in a serum-free medium, many proteins in the bone tissues were released into the medium. Analysis with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that a protein molecule of approximately 66 kDa was markedly increased in culture medium from bone tissues with fracture healing. N-terminal sequencing of 66 kDa protein indicated that its N-terminus was identical to that of rat albumin. Western blot analysis of medium 66 kDa protein showed expression of albumin. This expression was significantly enhanced by fracture healing. The expression of albumin was seen in the diaphyseal (cortical bone) and metaphyseal (trabecular bone) tissues of rat femur. When the femoral-diaphyseal tissues obtained at 7 days after femoral fracture were cultured in a serum-free medium containing either vehicle, parathyroid hormone (1-34) (10(-7) M), insulin-like growth factor-I (10(-8) M) or zinc acexamate (10(-4) M), medium albumin was significantly increased in the presence of those bone-stimulating factors. The addition of albumin (0.5 or 1.0 mg/ml of medium) caused a significant increase in calcium and deoxyribonucleic acid contents in the femoral-diaphyseal and -metaphyseal tissues obtained from normal rats in vitro. The present study demonstrates that fracture healing induces a remarkable production of albumin which is a major protein component produced from femoral-diaphyseal tissues of rats, and that albumin has an anabolic effect on bone components.     

Fracture healing as a post-natal developmental process: molecular,spatial, and temporal aspects of its regulation

Fracture healing is a specialized post-natal repair process that recapitulates aspects of embryological skeletal development. While many of the molecular mechanisms that control cellular differentiation and growth during embryogenesis recur during fracture healing, these processes take place in a post-natal environment that is unique and distinct from those which exist during embryogenesis. This Prospect Article will highlight a number of central biological processes that are believed to be crucial in the embryonic differentiation and growth of skeletal tissues and review the functional role of these processes during fracture healing. Specific aspects of fracture healing that will be considered in relation to embryological development are: (1) the anatomic structure of the fracture callus as it evolves during healing; (2) the origins of stem cells and morphogenetic signals that facilitate the repair process; (3) the role of the biomechanical environment in controlling cellular differentiation during repair; (4) the role of three key groups of soluble factors, pro-inflammatory cytokines, the TGF-beta superfamily, and angiogenic factors, during repair; and (5) the relationship of the genetic components that control bone mass and remodeling to the mechanisms that control skeletal tissue repair in response to fracture.     

Are gap junction membrane plaques implicated in intercellular vesicle transfer?

Gap junction channels are concentrated in specialised plaques of plasma membrane where cells are in close apposition. In this communication evidence is provided showing that these specialised regions of membrane also provide a site for vesicular transfer between cells. Vesicle distribution in eye lenses was found to generally reflect the reported distribution of gap junction membrane plaques. In certain areas of the lens gap junction membrane plaques and vesicles could be seen to form combined, complex structures. Ultrastructure of the vesicle and gap junction membrane plaque complexes was consistent with the vesicles moving through membrane plaques from one lens fibre cell to the next. To investigate whether transport of substances was consistent with intercellular vesicle transfer, transport of various markers was investigated. Time course experiments showing the rate of uptake of various markers into the lens did not show dramatic differences for molecules smaller or larger then gap junction pores formed by connexons. While considered as a primary intercellular transport mechanism in the lens, connexon pores were not the sole agent mediating the observed transport. Other reported mechanisms of intercellular transport in the lens can only account for the movement of relatively small molecules. Vesicular transport may therefore be a major form of transport into the outer lens layers for larger molecules. Implicit in these observations is a new hypothesis for intercellular vesicle movement via gap junction membrane plaques. Intercellular vesicle movement could possibly provide a path for large molecules associated with intact vesicles to be transported into the eye lens tissue.     

Tight Junctions of the Blood–Brain Barrier

1. The blood–brain barrier is essential for the maintainance and regulation of the neural microenvironment. The blood–brain barrier endothelial cells comprise an extremely low rate of transcytotic vesicles and a restrictive paracellular diffusion barrier. The latter is realized by the tight junctions between the endothelial cells of the brain microvasculature, which are subject of this review. Morphologically, blood–brain barrier-tight junctions are more similar to epithelial tight junctions than to endothelial tight junctions in peripheral blood vessels.2. Although blood–brain barrier-tight junctions share many characteristics with epithelial tight junctions, there are also essential differences. However, in contrast to tight junctions in epithelial systems, structural and functional characteristics of tight junctions in endothelial cells are highly sensitive to ambient factors.3. Many ubiquitous molecular constituents of tight junctions have been identified and characterized including claudins, occludin, ZO-1, ZO-2, ZO-3, cingulin, and 7H6. Signaling pathways involved in tight junction regulation comprise, among others, G-proteins, serine, threonine, and tyrosine kinases, extra- and intracellular calcium levels, cAMP levels, proteases, and TNF. Common to most of these pathways is the modulation of cytoskeletal elements which may define blood–brain barrier characteristics. Additionally, cross-talk between components of the tight junction– and the cadherin–catenin system suggests a close functional interdependence of the two cell–cell contact systems.4. Recent studies were able to elucidate crucial aspects of the molecular basis of tight junction regulation. An integration of new results into previous morphological work is the central intention of this review.     

地塞米松复合罗哌卡因臂丛神经阻滞对儿童肱骨髁上骨折患儿术后镇痛的影响

摘要 目的：探讨地塞米松复合罗哌卡因臂丛神经阻滞（BPB）对儿童肱骨髁上骨折患儿术后镇痛效果的影响。方法：择期行肱骨髁上骨折手术的患儿140例，随机分组为对照组70例与试验组70例。麻醉后两组均于超声引导下实施BPB，其中对照组予以0.25%罗哌卡因药液，试验组予以0.25%罗哌卡因、0.1 mg/kg地塞米松所组成的混合药液。记录两组患儿痛觉阻滞时间；于患儿苏醒后10 min、术后2 h、术后6 h、术后12 h及术后24 h，采用FLACC评分对患儿疼痛程度进行评估；记录两组患儿术后24 h内镇痛药物使用情况；记录两组患儿术后首次下床活动时间和术后住院时间；记录两组术后24 h内不良反应发生情况。结果：与对照组相比，试验组痛觉阻滞时间显著延长（P<0.05）。与对照组相比，试验组术后2~24 h的疼痛评分均显著降低（P<0.05）。试验组术后24 h布洛芬混悬液使用次数显著少于对照组（P<0.05），曲马多使用率显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。与对照组相比，试验组下床活动时间提前（P<0.05），术后住院时间缩短（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：地塞米松复合罗哌卡因行BPB能够为肱骨髁上骨折患儿提供良好术后镇痛效果，利于患儿术后恢复。     

Influence of the Cytoplasmic Domains of Aquaporin-4 on Water Conduction and Array Formation

Phosphorylation of Ser180 in cytoplasmic loop D has been shown to reduce the water permeability of aquaporin (AQP) 4, the predominant water channel in the brain. However, when the structure of the S180D mutant (AQP4M23S180D), which was generated to mimic phosphorylated Ser180, was determined to 2.8 Å resolution using electron diffraction patterns, it showed no significant differences from the structure of the wild-type channel. High-resolution density maps usually do not resolve protein regions that are only partially ordered, but these can sometimes be seen in lower-resolution density maps calculated from electron micrographs. We therefore used images of two-dimensional crystals and determined the structure of AQP4M23S180D at 10 Å resolution. The features of the 10-Å density map are consistent with those of the previously determined atomic model; in particular, there were no indications of any obstruction near the cytoplasmic pore entrance. In addition, water conductance measurements, both in vitro and in vivo, show the same water permeability for wild-type and mutant AQP4M23, suggesting that the S180D mutation neither reduces water conduction through a conformational change nor reduces water conduction by interacting with a protein that would obstruct the cytoplasmic channel entrance. Finally, the 10-Å map shows a cytoplasmic density in between four adjacent tetramers that most likely represents the association of four N termini. This finding supports the critical role of the N terminus of AQP4 in the stabilization of orthogonal arrays, as well as their interference through lipid modification of cysteine residues in the longer N-terminal isoform.     

The control of fracture healing and its therapeutic targeting: Improving upon nature

Fracture repair is a complex process involving timed cellular recruitment, gene expression, and synthesis of compounds that regenerate native tissue to restore the mechanical integrity, and thus function of injured bone. While the majority of fractures heal without complication, this takes time and a subset of patients (～10%) experience healing delays, extending their morbidity and treatment costs. Consequently, there is a need for efficacious therapeutics for the intervention of fracture healing. Recent studies into the molecular control of fracture repair and advances in the understanding of the skeleton as a whole have resulted in the identification of numerous novel targets and compounds for such intervention. These include traditional agents such bone morphogenetic proteins and other growth factors, but also relatively newer compounds such as parathyroid hormone and modulators of the Wnt signaling pathway. These agents, along with others, are discussed in the current article in terms of their investigative status and potential for clinical implementation. Hopefully, these agents, as well as others yet to be discovered, will demonstrate sufficient clinical utility for successful intervention of fracture healing. This may have significant implications for the duration of morbidity and costs associated with traumatic bone fractures. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 302–311, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

复杂胫骨平台骨折18例治疗方法探讨

目的探讨复杂胫骨平台骨折的治疗方法和临床疗效。方法自2006年1月至2008年6月,笔者对复杂胫骨平台骨折进行了手术治疗并获随访的病例共18例,所有病例术前均予X线、CT、MRI检查,并按Schatzker分型：IV型IO例,V型12例,VI型6例。结果平均随访8个半月,均获骨性愈合,无螺钉松动、断裂。根据Merchant标准综合评分：优12例,良4例,可2例。优良率83.3%。结论在良好复位,有效稳固的支撑固定下早期功能锻炼,不仅有利于骨折愈合,还对关节功能的最大恢复起着重要作用。     

LISS-DF近端螺钉不同固定方式的有限元分析

目的研究LISS-DF治疗股骨远端骨折近端螺钉不同固定方式对应力分布规律的影响,寻找符合生物力学原理的固定方式,为临床应用提供理论依据。方法在ANSYS9.0软件中建立LISS-DF钢板固定股骨远端骨折（AO/OTA33-A3型）的实体模型和有限元模型。在近端螺钉不同单、双皮质固定方式下,通过模拟生理应力做轴向加载实验并进行有限元计算和分析。结果1、3孔单2、4孔双皮质固定时,近端螺钉最大应力值在不同固定方式中最小为24.21975Mpa,位移值为0.131424um与其它固定方式相当且均较小,说明该固定方式可以取得较好的力学效果。结论近端螺钉靠近骨折端处双皮质固定,其余螺钉间隔单双皮质固定时,可以减少应力集中现象,得到更好的把持力,使固定更牢固,从而降低固定失败的风险性。     

生长激素-海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊促进骨折愈合的组织学研究

目的:观察生长激素-海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊促进兔挠骨骨折愈合的作用。方法:实验将新西兰兔80只,在制备新西兰兔右桡骨中段3mm骨缺损模型的基础上,随机分成四组:口服生长激素-海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊组、皮下注射生长激素组、口服空微胶囊组和生理盐水对照组。实验组口服生长激素-海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊和皮下注射生长激素,对照组口服空微胶囊。并于术后9、17、30、42d定期HE染色和地衣红染色观察各组的骨折愈合情况。结果:本实验HE染色结果表明,由于在骨缺损部位成纤维细胞产生的大量胶原纤维为基质,形成透明软骨及成骨细胞,骨小梁生长的基础,连接骨痂形成和骨髓腔贯通。而观察到生长激素微胶囊组各期提前生长及改建提前的形态。地衣红染色图像结果分析及直方图的分析表明:生长激素微胶囊组胶原纤维产生促进骨小梁提前形成,进而骨折处骨性骨痂的提前愈合和髓腔的提前贯通。结论:生长激素-海藻酸钠-壳聚糖微胶囊口服能促进骨折修复愈合。