Graphene oxide reinforced doped dicalcium phosphate bone cements for bone tissue regenerations

Artificial bone cements have widespread applications in orthopedic and dental surgeries. Nevertheless, there is a need to develop novel materials for artificial bone cements due to limitations like short-service life, weak interaction and attachment with living hard tissue, and the inability to facilitate bone regeneration of calcified tissues rather than replacing them. In the present research, a novel combination of lanthanum (La3+) ions doped dicalcium phosphate (DCP) (La-DCP) and 1.5–3.5 wt.% of graphene oxide (GO) doped La-DCP bone cement materials were successfully synthesized and reported for the first time. Acid/base interaction between La-β-tricalcium phosphate (La-βTCP) and monocalcium phosphate monohydrate (MCPM) in the presence of water was the basis for making the La-DCP cements. The synthesized cements were characterized using the XRD, FTIR, FESEM, UV–Vis and TGA techniques. Produced material had La-DCP as in the monetite phase, and La-DCP particles were formed in agglomerates of irregular shapes. The presence of GO enhanced the growth rate of monetite particles, significantly decreased the setting time of the La-DCP bone cement, enhanced mechanical properties and enhanced the adsorption capacity of La-DCP. In vitro studies showed that synthesized GO/La-DCP bone cements were biocompatible, and the proliferation and differentiation properties of human osteosarcoma (Saos-2) cells were significantly improved with the addition of GO. In summary, the synthesized GO/La-DCP bone cement materials, which exhibit good biocompatibility and mechanical properties, have the potential to be employed in bone defect healing

Cervical Spine Dysmorphism: Report Of Two Unusual Cases Of Craniovertebral Junction

Craniocervical junction anomalies are rare and their classification is considerably complex. Here we report two unusual cases of cervical spine dysmorphism presenting with the absence of posterior vertebral elements which are also accompanied with Wildervanck syndrome and hydrocephalus. The first case was a 17-year-old female who presented with short stature, broad neck, coarse voice, deafness as well as bilateral lateral gaze paresis. Cervical computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the absence of posterior vertebral elements of cervical spine including partial agenesis of suboccipital bone, rotational deformity of cervical column, Chiari abnormality and cystic cavitation of cervical spinal cord. Additionally dextrocardia, which has not been defined as a feature of Wildervanck syndrome yet, was a marked feature of chest X-ray. The second case was a 32-year-old male presenting with complaints of gait disturbance, dysphonia, severe neck pain, short stature and scoliosis. Cervical X-ray, CT and MRI revealed severe basilar invagination, absence of dorsal elements of first two cervical vertebrae and hydrocephalus. Despite the absence of whole posterior cervical vertebral elements and even occipital bone, basilar invagination was not a predominant feature in the first case. We conclude that presence of a stable ligamentous structure only in anterior cervical column may have contributed to the strength of craniocervical junction and explains the absence of basilar invagination for Case 1.WoSScopu

Posterior Endoscope-Assisted Diskectomy Is an Effective Technique for Cervical Soft Disk Herniation

Objective To evaluate the clinicoradiologic conditions of patients with a herniated cervical disk who were treated with percutaneous endoscope-assisted cervical diskectomy. Materials and Methods The medical data of 27 patients (16 men and 11 women; mean age: 40.9 years) who were operated on with the posterior endoscope-assisted cervical diskectomy method were reviewed retrospectively. The mean follow-up was 35.1 months, and the patients were assessed with combined preoperative and postoperative visual analog scale (VAS), Prolo Functional Economic Outcome Rating scale, MacNab scale, and clinical imaging. Results The mean preoperative VAS level was 8.6 (range: 7-10), and mean Prolo score was 2.5 (range: 2-5). A postoperative assessment performed 1 week postsurgery found a mean VAS level of 2.1 (range: 0-4). At the final examination, the mean VAS level was 0.81 (range: 0-3), and the mean Prolo score was 4.5 (range: 3-5). The final MacNab scale scores were 62.9%, excellent; 25.9%, good; 7.4%, moderate; and 3.7%, poor. Conclusion Percutaneous endoscope-assisted cervical diskectomy is a suitable and effective treatment method for soft cervical disk herniation.WOS:0006051921000012-s2.0-85099240347PubMed: 3340653

Supplementary figure - Supplemental material for Silicate-doped nano-hydroxyapatite/graphene oxide composite reinforced fibrous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

<p>Supplemental material, Supplementary figure for Silicate-doped nano-hydroxyapatite/graphene oxide composite reinforced fibrous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering by Ali Deniz Dalgic, Ammar Zeidan Alshemary, Ayşen Tezcaner, Dilek Keskin and Zafer Evis in Journal of Biomaterials Applications</p

Biochemical and Histopathological Effects of Catechin on Experimental Peripheral Nerve Injuries

AIM: Catechin is a type of polyphenol, along with epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG). This study aims to investigate the effect of EGCG, a major metabolite of catechin, which is the principle bioactive compound in green tea, on rats with peripheral nerve injury. MATERIAL and METHODS: A total of 74 rats were divided into six groups, namely the control, the trauma, the normal saline, a 25mg/kg EGCG, a 50mg/kg EGCG and a daily consumption group (10mg/kg EGCG was given intraperitoneally for 14 days before the trauma). Except the first group, the other groups underwent a 1-minute sciatic nerve compression by clip with 50gr/cm(2) pressure. Nerve samples were obtained at 28 day after trauma for the biochemical and histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Our study showed that the Daily consumption, 25mg/kg EGCG and 50mg/kg EGCG groups demonstrated statistically significant decreased lipid peroxidation levels and particularly daily consumption, and the 25mg/kg EGCG group showed a favourable reduction of degeneration and edema histologically. CONCLUSION:This study shows that Catechin and its derivatives have a protective effect on peripheral nerve injury

Neuroprotective effects of tetracyclines on blunt head trauma: An experimental study on rats

Background: Prevention of primary damage caused by head trauma may be avoided with protective measures and techniques which is a public health concern. Experimental and clinical studies about treatment of head trauma were all centered to prevent secondary damage caused by physiopathological changes following primary injury. Neuroprotective features of tetracyclines were the focus of several experimental studies in the last decade. In the present study we aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of tetracycline in an experimental model of blunt brain injury in rats. Materials and Methods: 32 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 8). Head trauma was not performed in control group (group 1, craniectomy only). In the second group, head trauma and craniectomy were performed. Intraperitoneal saline was used in addition to trauma and craniectomy for treatment in group 3 whereas intraperitoneal tetracycline and saline were used for treatment in group 4. Results: When histological examinations performed by transmission electron microscopy were evaluated, injury at ultrastructural level was demonstrated to be less pronounced in tetracycline group with decreased lipid peroxidation levels. Conclusion: In accordance with these findings, we conclude that systemic tetracycline administration is effective in reduction of secondary brain damage and brain edema and thus it may be considered as a therapeutic option

Investigation of the effect of ghrelin on bone fracture healing in rats

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Australia, LtdGhrelin is known to have effects on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts and improvement of bone mineral density in rats. However, no experimental research on ghrelin's effects on fracture healing has been reported. In this context, the effect of ghrelin on the union of femoral shaft fractures was examined in this study by evaluating whether ghrelin will directly contribute to fracture healing. Forty male Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups as control and experimental (ghrelin treated) and standard closed shaft fractures were created in the left femurs of all rats. Daily ghrelin injections were applied to the experimental groups and equal numbers of rats were killed after 14 and 28 days following fracture formation. Tissue samples were examined with radiological, biomechanical, biochemical and histological analyses. Densitometry study showed that bone mineral density was improved after 28 days of ghrelin treatment compared to control. On histological examination, at the end of the 14 and 28 days of recovery, significant union was observed in the ghrelin-treated group. The ghrelin-treated group had higher breaking strength and stiffness at the end of 28 days of recovery. Biochemically, ALP levels were found to be higher in the ghrelin-treated group at the end of 28 days of recovery. Results showed that ghrelin directly contributes to fracture healing and it is promising to consider the effect of ghrelin on fracture healing in human studies with pharmacological applications

Gender-related clinical and management differences in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction

Aim Gender-related differences have been described in the clinical characteristics and management of patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, published data are conflictive in this regard

Adherence to guideline-directed medical and device Therapy in outpAtients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: The ATA study

Objective: Despite recommendations from heart failure guidelines on the use of pharmacologic and device therapy in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), important inconsistencies in guideline adherence persist in practice. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to guideline-directed medical and device therapy for the treatment of patients with chronic HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction <= 40%)