The role of peptides in bone healing and regeneration: A systematic review

Background: Bone tissue engineering and the research surrounding peptides has expanded significantly over the last few decades. Several peptides have been shown to support and stimulate the bone healing response and have been proposed as therapeutic vehicles for clinical use. The aim of this comprehensive review is to present the clinical and experimental studies analysing the potential role of peptides for bone healing and bone regeneration. Methods: A systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines was conducted. Articles presenting peptides capable of exerting an upregulatory effect on osteoprogenitor cells and bone healing were included in the study. Results: Based on the available literature, a significant amount of experimental in vitro and in vivo evidence exists. Several peptides were found to upregulate the bone healing response in experimental models and could act as potential candidates for future clinical applications. However, from the available peptides that reached the level of clinical trials, the presented results are limited. Conclusion: Further research is desirable to shed more light into the processes governing the osteoprogenitor cellular responses. With further advances in the field of biomimetic materials and scaffolds, new treatment modalities for bone repair will emerge

Softening behaviour of Fe-6.5%Si steel during warm deformation process

To investigate the softening behaviour during warm deformation process, thermal compression experiment of Fe-6.5%Si silicon steel was conducted. To study the relationship between stress and strain at different strain rate, the investigation of the microstructure, hardness as well as ordered phase constituent of the rolled parts was carried out, respectively. At strain less than or equal to 0.3, micro-hardness was observed to increase with increasing strain. For strain greater than 0.3, the micro-hardness decreased with increasing strain. Indentation morphology of Vickers hardness reveals that the sink-in deformation occurs as the steel has a higher strain-hardening exponent, while pile-up deformation takes place at a lower strain-hardening exponent. Brittle B2 (FeSi) and DO3 (Fe3Si) ordered phases exists in Fe-6.5%Si steel. With the increasing strain, the diffraction spot strength of B2 and DO3 ordered phase is decreased, resulting in the softening behaviour of the Fe-6.5%Si steel during warm deformation process

Determining an Appropriate Time to Start Prophylactic Treatment with Intranasal Corticosteroids in Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

: Prophylactic treatment with intranasal corticosteroids is effective for pollen-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis. However, the appropriate time to start this treatment remains unclear. We performed a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Starting on February 1, 2014, patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis received either fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) for 8 weeks (Group A: n = 24), placebo nasal spray for 2 weeks followed by FFNS for 6 weeks (Group B: n = 23), or placebo for 4 weeks followed by FFNS for 4 weeks (Group C: n = 23). The primary endpoint was comparison of the total naso-ocular symptom score (TSS). Secondary endpoints including the increment cost effective ratio (ICER) were also determined. Continuous pollen dispersion began on the 24th of February. Therefore, Group A and Group B received 3-weeks and 1-week of prophylactic treatment, respectively, whereas Group C received post-onset treatment. During the peak pollen-dispersal period, significant differences in TSS were seen between the groups, particularly between Group A and C. The ICER of Group B vs. Group C was lower than that of Group A vs. Group C. These results suggest that long-term prophylactic treatment with FFNS is clinically the most potent treatment, whereas short-term prophylactic treatment is cost effective for pollen-induced allergic rhinitis