Sponge Treatment Research Articles

303. VACUUM-STENT TREATMENT FOR TRANSMURAL DEFECTS IN THE UPPER GASTRO-INTESTINAL TRACT: CASE SERIES AND NEW INSIGHTS IN A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTER

Abstract Background Transmural defects in the upper gastro-intestinal (GI) tract are associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT) has recently been established as promising endoscopic treatment option for such defects and is most often applied using endoscopically placed vacuum-sponges. The vacuum-stent is a novel device to apply EVT, combining the advantages of negative pressure wound therapy and an intraluminal stent, allowing for oral intake. Methods The aim of this prospective cohort study is to describe the experiences of, and lessons learned by a tertiary referral center with EVT experience since 2018, regarding the vacuum-stent for transmural defects in the upper GI tract. All patients treated with a vacuum-stent between November 2022 and October 2023 were included. Outcome measures included successful defect closure, reasons of treatment failure, adverse events and strictures. Results 31 patients were included. Baseline characteristics and outcomes are displayed in Table 1. Success rates of combined vacuum-stent and –sponge treatment and vacuum-stent treatment alone were respectively 83% and 78%. In this cohort, some notable reasons of failure were observed: a defect too close to the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), inadequate vacuum on the esophago-jejunal anastomosis, a carcinoma at a persisting perforated ulcer, and adverse events. Two adverse events occurred (6%): two patients developed a secondary defect at the site of the proximal vacuum-stent flange, of whom one had a cervical anastomosis with a narrow proximal esophagus and one Boerhaave syndrome. Three out of four patients with a severe structure had underwent a McKeown esophagectomy. Conclusion The vacuum-stent is a valuable treatment option for AL after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy, Boerhaave syndrome and iatrogenic defects with success rates of 78-83%. Treating cervical anastomotic leaks is not recommended by us, due to the narrow lumen of the proximal esophagus, the proximity of the UES and high risk of severe strictures. Furthermore, caution is recommended in case of a narrow esophagus. In our experience, vacuum-stent and –sponge treatment complement each other and might be indicated in different situations. Sharing experiences on the topic is important to assess the best techniques and indications, to be able to reach the full potential of the vacuum-stent and further increase the success rate.

Effect of Additional Progesterone Treatment During Intravaginal Progesterone Priming in AnestrousEwes

Oestrus induction with intravaginal progesterone is the most preferred method in anoestrus sheep. In previous studies it was argued that the decrease in the progesterone level before the sponge is removed reduces the efficiency. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that additional progesterone treatment during the progesterone priming in anestrous ewes could increase the reproductive efficiency of the induction. The study conducted on 261 Kangal sheep, which were pregnant in autumn and gave birth in spring and breastfed their lambs for about 60-75 days. All animals included in the study were randomly divided into 3 different groups as P-7 (n = 86), P-8 (n = 80) and control (n = 95). At the beginning of the study a progesterone impregnated sponge was placed to all ewes (Day 0). During sponge treatment, an injection of progesterone was given to P-7 and P-8 group 7 and 8 days after the was sponge placed, respectively. As for control group, no additional progesterone was given during sponge treatment. All groups received 500 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin at the sponge withdrawal. Ram was introduced to all ewes the 10th days of the study. There was no difference between the groups in terms of estrus rate (P = 0.28), pregnancy rate (P = 0.32) and multiple pregnancy rates (P = 0.38) (P = 0.28). We considered that the main reason for unexpected low progesterone concentration at the end of the treatment might be the result of high feed intake and metabolic rate. On the other hand, this additional dose could be caused by an excessive increase in progesterone levels in the sheep, which could be the reason for the decrease in reproductive parameters. Additional progesterone support during progesteronebased synchronization yielded acceptable results. However, progesterone can be administered in injection form in the earlier days of synchronization or before sponge insertion to obtain better results.

Mathematical Simulation and Numerical Computation of the Temperature Profiles in the Peripherals of Human Brain during the Tepid Sponge Treatment to Fever.

Background Fever is one of the frequently occurring diseases in human beings, and the body is said to have befallen in fever if the arterial or internal body temperature rises to 38°C. The patient who suffers from fever is either given paracetamol or tepid sponging or both. Objective This paper is aimed at studying the effects of the tepid sponge in normalizing the high temperature of the human body during fever. Among the various available methods for tepid sponging, the impact of holding a cool wet cloth on the forehead for reducing the fever is analyzed and pictured graphically. Method For analyzing the effects of tepid sponge on the temperature distribution of the domain consisting of scalp, skull, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a cool wet cloth is brought in contact with the skin allowing the heat to transfer from the brain to the wet cloth through these layers. The heat transfer in living biological tissues is different from ordinary heat transfer in other nonliving materials. Therefore, a model based on the bioheat equation has been constructed. The model has been solved by numerical methods for both steady- and unsteady-state cases. The domain, which consists of the scalp, skull, and CSF layers of the human head, has been discretized into four equal parts along the axes of the three-dimensional coordinate system. The forward difference and forward time centered space approximations were employed for numerical temperature distribution results at the nodal points. Results The effects of tepid sponge in reducing the body temperature with fever at 38°C, 39.5°C, and 41°C have been numerically calculated, and the results were pictured graphically. For transient cases, the corresponding calculations have been carried out at times t = 2 minutes, 4 minutes, and 6 minutes. Conclusion Among all the available remedies to fever, tepid sponging has shown a significant effect in controlling fever.

Study of double-bonded carboxymethyl chitosan/cysteamine-modified chondroitin sulfate composite dressing for hemostatic application

Stanching severe traumatic bleeding requires hemostatic materials that can provide rapid and efficient hemostasis. However, most currently available hemostatic agents exhibit low efficiency and poor biocompatibility. In this study, a novel carboxymethyl chitosan modified with methacrylic anhydride (double-bonded carboxymethyl chitosan)/cysteamine-modified chondroitin sulfate (Me-CMC/CSS) rapid hemostatic dressing was developed using thiol-ene click chemistry. The freeze-dried Me-CMC/CSS dressings absorbed water rapidly and transformed into soft hydrogels that could seal wounds, achieving good hemostasis. The relative blood clotting index of the optimal Me-CMC/CSS dressing was decreased by 53% (p < 0.001) and 29% compared with a pure Me-CMC dressing and a commercial hemostatic gelatin sponge, respectively. In a rat liver hemorrhage model, the Me-CMC/CSS dressing stopped bleeding rapidly, and the total blood loss was significantly decreased by 92% (p < 0.0001) compared with the untreated group and was lower than that with gelatin sponge treatment. The Me-CMC/CSS dressing also exhibited a higher ability to adhere to platelets than the gelatin sponge. Furthermore, the Me-CMC/CSS dressing exhibited good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. The results indicate that the composite dressings can be potentially applied as rapid hemostatic materials.

Biomimetic sponges improve functional muscle recovery following composite trauma.

There is a dearth of therapies that are safe and effective for the treatment of volumetric muscle loss (VML), defined as the surgical or traumatic loss of muscle tissue, resulting in functional impairment. To address this gap in orthopedic care, we developed a porous sponge-like scaffold composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins (e.g., gelatin, collagen, and laminin-111) and an immunosuppressant drug, FK-506. While the majority of VML injuries occur in orthopedic trauma cases, preclinical models typically study muscle injuries in isolation without a concomitant bone fracture. The goal of this study was to investigate the extent to which FK506 loaded biomimetic sponges support functional muscle regeneration and fracture healing in a composite trauma model involving VML injury to the tibialis anterior muscle and osteotomy (OST) to the tibia. In this model, implantation of the FK-506 loaded biomimetic sponges limited the extent of inflammation while increasing the total number of myofibers, mean myofiber cross-sectional area, myosin-to-collagen ratio, and peak isometric torque compared to untreated VML+OST muscles on Day 28. Although all tibia fractures were bridged by Day 28 post-injury, fracture healing was impaired in response to an adjacent VML injury. Sponge treatment increased bone callus volume, yet the bridged mineralized bone volume was not significantly different. Taken together, these results suggest that biomimetic sponges primarily benefitted muscle repair and may provide a promising therapy for traumatized muscle.

Naturally Formed Chitinous Skeleton Isolated from the Marine Demosponge Aplysina fistularis as a 3D Scaffold for Tissue Engineering.

Tissue engineering (TE) is a field of regenerative medicine that has been experiencing a special boom in recent years. Among various materials used as components of 3D scaffolds, naturally formed chitinous materials seem to be especially attractive because of their abundance, non-toxic and eco-friendly character. In this study, chitinous skeleton isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina fistularis (phylum: Porifera) was used for the first time as a support for the cultivation of murine fibroblasts (Balb/3T3), human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF), human keratinocyte (HaCaT), and human neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Characterization techniques such as ATR FTIR, TGA, and μCT, clearly indicate that an interconnected macro-porous, thermostable, pure α-chitin scaffold was obtained after alkali–acid treatment of air-dried marine sponge. The biocompatibility of the naturally formed chitin scaffolds was confirmed by cell attachment and proliferation determined by various microscopic methods (e.g., SEM, TEM, digital microscopy) and specific staining. Our observations show that fibroblasts and keratinocytes form clusters on scaffolds that resemble a skin structure, including the occurrence of desmosomes in keratinocyte cells. The results obtained here suggest that the chitinous scaffold from the marine sponge A. fistularis is a promising biomaterial for future research about tissues regeneration.

Biomimetic sponges improve muscle structure and function following volumetric muscle loss.

Skeletal muscle is inept in regenerating after traumatic injuries such as volumetric muscle loss (VML) due to significant loss of various cellular and acellular components. Currently, there are no approved therapies for the treatment of muscle tissue following trauma. In this study, biomimetic sponges composed of gelatin, collagen, laminin-111, and FK-506 were used for the treatment of VML in a rodent model. We observed that biomimetic sponge treatment improved muscle structure and function while modulating inflammation and limiting the extent of fibrotic tissue deposition. Specifically, sponge treatment increased the total number of myofibers, type 2B fiber cross-sectional area, myosin: collagen ratio, myofibers with central nuclei, and peak isometric torque compared to untreated VML injured muscles. As an acellular scaffold, biomimetic sponges may provide a promising clinical therapy for VML.

Safety of Silk-elastin Sponges in Patients with Chronic Skin Ulcers: A Phase I/II, Single-center, Open-label, Single-arm Clinical Trial.

Background:Although traditional wound dressings such as collagen scaffolds promote granulation tissue formation, the efficacy of these dressings in chronic wounds is limited because of high susceptibility to bacterial growth. Biomaterials that can be applied to chronic wounds should have an anti-bacterial function. We previously reported that administering a silk-elastin solution that forms moisturizing hydrogels to wound surfaces of diabetic mice reduced bacterial growth and promoted granulation tissue formation compared with control or carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels. We hypothesized that silk-elastin promotes wound healing in human chronic wounds by suppressing bacterial growth.Methods:An open-label, clinical case series was conducted with a prospective, single-arm design at Kyoto University Hospital in Kyoto, Japan. In this study, 6 patients with chronic skin ulcers of any origin (2 < ulcer area (cm2) < 25) on their lower extremities were included; patients with critical ischemia were excluded. Silk-elastin sponges were applied and covered with a polyurethane film without changing the dressing for 14 days. Inflammation triggered treatment discontinuation due to fear of infection. The primary study endpoint was adverse events, including inflammation and infection.Results:Poor hydrogel formation, possibly due to continuous exudation, was observed. No serious adverse events were noted. Two patients discontinued treatment on day 6 and day 7, respectively, due to inflammation, but they were not infected. The other 4 patients completed the 14-day silk-elastin sponge treatment without infection.Conclusion:Silk-elastin sponge is safe for chronic skin ulcers, and its ability to promote wound healing should be determined by confirmatory clinical trials.

Multifunctional polyurethane sponge coatings with excellent flame retardant, antibacterial, compressible, and recyclable properties

Polyurethane (PU) sponge has a wide range of applications in our daily life. Unfortunately, the PU sponge is highly flammable and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, thereby threatening human health and life. To date, it remains a challenge to improve the flame retardant and antibacterial properties of PU sponge simultaneously without destroying its inherent elasticity and flexibility. Here we report a novel composite coating on the PU sponge using bioderived phytic acid and sodium lignosulfonate via a facile soaking method. Compared to the pristine sponge, the coated PU sponge can reach a 32% reduction in peak heat release rate during cone calorimeter test, and prevent melt dripping after being ignited by a butane torch and the flame can be self-extinguished after the torch is removed. The resultant composite coating also demonstrates a killing rate of 99% against Staphylococcus aureus. Meanwhile, the coated PU sponge can retain the inherent elasticity and flexibility even after 500 cycles of compression. Furthermore, the coating materials are easily recyclable, which provide a useful reference for multifunctional treatment of sponge and cyclic utilization of resources.

Superhydrophobic Treatment of Polyurethane Sponge and Its Application in Oil-water Separation

The superhydrophobicity of the polyurethane sponge was realized by attaching the complex of copper and mercaptan on the outer surface of the polyurethane sponge. As a special case, the complex of 1-dodecanthiol and copper chloride was intensively investigated in this study, with emphasis on the influences of concentration, temperature and residence time on the reaction. SEM and EDS were used to analyze the surface structure and elemental composition of the sponge. The superhydrophobicity of the sponge are contributed by the rough treatment on sponge surface. It is found that a large number of long carbon chains appear on the surface reduces the surface energy. The wettability of the surface was determined by a contact angle meter. The material demonstrates great oil-water separation performance and high repeatability in superhydrophobicity during the the separation process of oil and water before first 39 times.

Metal removal, partitioning and phase distributions in the wastewater and sludge: Performance evaluation of conventional, upflow anaerobic sludge blanket and downflow hanging sponge treatment systems

Metals pollution pose a serious problem to environmental and human health, if not effectively removed from wastewater using different state-of-the-art treatment technologies. This study investigated the phase distribution of copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd) in wastewater and sludge samples collected from domestic wastewater treatment plant (DWTP), upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), and downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor systems. Sludge from the UASB and DHS contained predominantly reducible fractions of Zn and Cd and oxidizable fractions of Cu, Cr, and Pb. A characteristic bioavailability sequence was Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd, with significant differences in dissolved fractions among operational modes. Metal concentrations (solid fractions) were substantially high in the DWTP water, and in UASB and DHS systems (dissolved fractions). Pb, Cr and Cd were strongly associated with the solid phase in the final polishing units (FPU) of the DHS system after treatment, indicating binding and removal (∼75–90%) of metals with particulates. MINTEQA2 calculations indicated that Zn was the most readily available metal in free form in all of the systems, with a general order of ZnDWTP > ZnUASB-DHS > PbDWTP > CdUASB-DHS > PbUASB-DHS > CuDWTP > CuUASB-DHS. Overall, metals in the UASB-DHS showed higher binding potential with coexisting ions, mainly anions like carbonates, hydroxyls, and bicarbonates. Non-anion fractions were more prevalent in DWTP samples. Sorption coefficients indicated that metal bioavailability decreases during the treatment in sludge samples, but increases in case of the wastewater samples, which means the treatment process affects metal phase distribution. In general, the selection of wastewater treatment processes should not be solely based on total metal removal efficiency, but also on their potential to promote the most desirable phase distributions.

A novel method for removing heavy metals from composting system: The combination of functional bacteria and adsorbent materials

The aim of this study was to remove heavy metals from composting system using a novel method combined functional bacteria with adsorbent materials. Four types of adsorbent materials were selected in this study. Results showed that Cr had significant removal efficiency, especially in sponge treatment (19.09%) and cotton treatment (26.36%). In addition, a significant movement of heavy metals from the outside to adsorbent column was also observed. RDA results indicated that bands 1, 2, 10, 18, 19 and 20 had negative correlations with six types of heavy metals, which contributed to the removal of heavy metals. Structural equation models further confirmed functional bacteria can directly affect the removal of Cu, Cd and Cr. In addition, it can also indirectly remove Pb and Cr by changing native bacteria. In summary, this study suggested the combination of functional bacteria and adsorbent materials was effective to remove heavy metals from composting system.

MicroRNA-155 Mediates Obesity-Induced Renal Inflammation and Dysfunction.

Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to obesity-related renal damage. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-155 is closely associated with hyperglycemia-induced nephropathy, but whether renal miR-155 participates in the inflammatory response and development of obesity-related nephropathy is unknown. In present study, we investigated the pathophysiological role of renal miR-155 in palmitic acid (PA)-treated endothelial cell and high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mouse models by specific miR-155 sponge. Mice fed with HFD exhibited higher levels of renal miR-155, which positively correlated with urine microalbumin and blood urea nitrogen. In vitro study, mouse renal vascular endothelial cells stimulated with PA also showed higher miR-155 levels, accompanied with increased inflammatory response. Suppression of renal miR-155 effectively attenuated HFD-induced renal structural damages and dysfunction. MiR-155 sponge treatment also significantly decreased NF-κB signaling and downstream gene expression in vitro and in vivo. The obesity-increased macrophage infiltration and lipotoxicity was decreased in mouse kidney after miR-155 sponge treatment. Mechanistically, miR-155 directly targeted 3'-UTR of SHIP1/INPP5D and suppressed its expression in vitro and in vivo, whereas silence of SHIP1/INPP5D abolished the renal protective benefits of miR-155 sponge in obese mice. Taken together, present findings for the first time provided evidence for the potential role of miR-155 in obesity-related nephropathy and clarified that SHIP1/NF-κB signaling was a potential molecular mechanism.

Exosomal microRNA-29a mediates cardiac dysfunction and mitochondrial inactivity in obesity-related cardiomyopathy.

Present study aims to explore the pathophysiological role of microRNA (miR)-29a in the process of obesity-related cardiomyopathy in human subjects and mice. The expression level of circulating exosomal miR-29a was measured in 37 lean and 30 obese human subjects, and correlated with cardiac parameters. The effects of miR-29a on mitochondrial activity and cardiac function were investigated by treatment of miR-29a sponge in primary mouse cardiomyocytes and diet-induced obesity-related cardiomyopathy in mice. The increased circulating miR-29a level was closely associated with impaired human cardiac function, including ejection fraction (r = -0.2663, p < 0.05) and NT-proBNP levels (r = 0.4270, p < 0.001). Exosomes from obese human plasma mediated cardiomyocyte mitochondrial inactivity, but pre-treatment with miR-29a sponge attenuated the exosomal miR-29a-induced reduction of ATP production (p < 0.001), basal oxygen consumption (p < 0.01) and mitochondrial complex I activity (p < 0.01). In vivo mouse study, high fat diet damaged cardiac function, normal structure, and mitochondrial activity, whereas miR-29a sponge improved the cardiac status. Present study uncovered the correlation between circulating miR-29a and cardiac parameters in human subjects, and provided solid evidence of the therapeutic application of miR-29a sponge in combating obesity-mediated cardiac dysfunction.

Effect of PMSG administration in combination with vaginal sponge on estrous occurrence and litter size of Javanese sheep

AbstractThe use of vaginal sponge in estrous synchronization has been a popular method to uniform estrous cycle of small ruminants. In order to increase the litter size, the use of the sponge is combined with PMSG. Therefore the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of PMSG in combination with vaginal sponge on estrous response and litter size of Javanese local sheep. The study was conducted in Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Padjadjaran University, Indonesia with 32 non-pregnant local sheep. All these sheep was divided into four groups of treatment, i.e: 1) group of sheep was subjected to vaginal sponge (VS) treatment containing 30 mg Medroxyprogesterone acetat (MAP) inserted in the vagina for 14 days; 2) group of sheep was subjected to the 30 mg MAP in VS plus 300 IU PMSG injection -1 d before VS removal; 3) group of sheep was subjected to the 30 mg MAP in VS plus 300 IU PMSG injection at the day of VS removal; 4) group of sheep was subjected to the 30 mg MAP in VS plus 300 IU PMSG injection +1 d after VS removal. The result showed that all treatment groups had 100% of estrous response. However, the occurrence of estrous time varied among group after VS removal. Group 1 (G1) and G4 tend to have estrous occurrence at day 3 after VS removal by 55% and 75% response, respectively. Whilst, G2 and G3 tend to have estrous occurrence respectively at day 1 (62,5%) and day 2 (50%) after VS removal. A 100% of pregnancy rate occurs in G2 and G4, while G1 and G3 have a 88,9% and 87,5%, respectively. No significant effects of the treatments on the ewes litter size. In conclusion, the use of PMSG administration 24 h prior, after, or at sponge withdrawal increase a tighter synchrony of oestrous and pregnancy rate, but has no effect on the increasing of litter size in Javanese local sheep.Keywords: Vaginal sponge, PMSG, estrous response, pregnancy rate, litter size, sheep

Range expansion of a fouling species indirectly impacts local species interactions.

We investigated how recent changes in the distribution and abundance of a fouling organism affected the strength of interactions between a commercially important foundation species and a common predator. Increases in the abundance of boring sponges that bioerode the calcified shells of oysters and other shelled organisms have been attributed to increased salinization of estuarine ecosystems. We tested the hypothesis that fouling by boring sponges will change the interaction strength between oysters and a common predator (stone crabs). We generated five oyster density treatments crossed with two sponge treatments (sponge and no sponge). We contrasted the interaction strength between stone crabs and fouled and non-fouled oysters by comparing the parameters of fitted functional response curves based on Rogers random predation model. We found that fouled oysters suffered higher predation from stone crabs, and that the increased predation risk stemmed from a reduction in the handling time needed to consume the fouled oysters. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the effects of abiotic changes on both the composition of ecological communities, and on the strengths of direct and indirect interactions among species. Global climate change is altering local ecosystems in complex ways, and the success of restoration, management, and mitigation strategies for important species requires a better appreciation for how these effects cascade through ecosystems.

Use of Gelatin Sponge Affects Postoperative Morbidity In Cesarean Section Patients.

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the effects of use of a local hemostatic gelatin sponge (GS) on postoperative morbidity in patients undergoing cesarean section (CS).Material/MethodsThe records of 318 patients who underwent CS surgery were retrospectively evaluated. Group 1 consisted of 59 patients with gelatin sponge (GS) applied, and Group 2 consisted of 259 patients with no GS applied. The groups were compared for time to the first flatus, nausea and vomiting, requirement for anti-emetic drugs, development of postoperative ileus, and the length of hospitalization.ResultsThe patients in Group 1 and Group 2 were statistically similar in mean age, gravida, parity, and body mass index (BMI) (p=0.352, p=0.275, p=0.458, and p=0.814, respectively). No significant difference was determined in the number of patients with nausea, vomiting, anti-emetic drug use, febrile morbidity, and postoperative ileus (p=0.063, p=0.436, p=328, p=0.632, and p=0.179, respectively). Time to the first flatus and length of hospitalization were significantly longer in Group 2 (p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively).ConclusionsDelay in recovery of bowel motility may be due to the local hypersensitivity reaction caused by GS and/or dislocation of this local hemostat. Women who receive gelatin sponge treatment during CS should be monitored closely for the recovery of postoperative intestinal motility.

Adenovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer of microRNA-21 Sponge Inhibits Neointimal Hyperplasia in Rat Vein Grafts.

Background:Vein graft failure due to neointimal hyperplasia remains an important and unresolved complication of cardiovascular surgery. microRNA-21 (miR-21) plays a major role in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and phenotype transformation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine whether adenovirus-mediated miR-21 sponge gene therapy was able to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in rat vein grafts.Methods:Adenovirus-mediated miR-21 sponge was used to inhibit VSMC proliferation in vitro and neointimal formation in vivo. To improve efficiency of delivery gene transfer to the vein grafts, 20% poloxamer F-127 gel was used to increase virus contact time and 0.25% trypsin to increase virus penetration. Morphometric analyses and cellular proliferation were assessed for neointimal hyperplasia and VSMC proliferation.Results:miR-21 sponge can significantly decrease the expression of miR-21 and proliferation in cultured VSMCs. Cellular proliferation rates were significantly reduced in miR-21 sponge-treated grafts compared with controls at 28 days after bypass surgery (14.6±9.4 vs 34.9±10.8%, P=0.0032). miR-21 sponge gene transfer therapy reduced the intimal/media area ratio in vein grafts compared with the controls (1.38±0.08 vs. 0.6±0.10, P<0.0001). miR-21 sponge treatment also improved vein graft hemodynamics. We further identified that phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a potential target gene that was involved in the miR-21-mediated effect on neointimal hyperplasia in vein grafts.Conclusions:Adenovirus-mediated miR-21 sponge gene therapy effectively reduced neointimal formation in vein grafts. These results suggest that there is potential for miR-21 sponge to be used to prevent vein graft failure.

MicroRNA-221 sponge therapy attenuates neointimal hyperplasia and improves blood flows in vein grafts

BackgroundVein graft failure due to neointimal hyperplasia remains an important and unresolved problem of cardiovascular surgery. MicroRNA-221 (miR-221) has been shown to play a major role in regulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and phenotype transformation. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine whether adenovirus mediated miR-221 sponge gene therapy could inhibit vein graft neointimal hyperplasia. MethodsAdenovirus encoding miR-221 sponge (Ad-miR-221-SP) was used to inhibit VSMC proliferation in vitro and neointimal formation in vivo. Expression of miRNA-221 was evaluated in cultured VSMC and in rat vein graft models following transduction with Ad-miR-221-SP, Ad-Control-SP (without miR-221 antisense binding sites), or Ad-GFP (control). To accelerate the transfer of miR-221 sponge gene to the vein grafts, 20% poloxamer F-127 gel was used to extend virus contact time and 0.25% trypsin to increase virus penetration. ResultsmiR-221 sponges can significantly decrease the expression of miR-221 and proliferation in cultured VSMC. Cellular proliferation rates were significantly reduced in miR-221 sponge treated grafts as compared with controls at 6weeks after bypass surgery (19.8% versus 43.6%, P=0.0028). miR-221 sponge gene transfer reduced the neointimal area (210.75±24.13 versus 67.01±12.02, P<0.0001), neointimal thickness (171.86±27.87 versus 64.13±16.23, P<0.0001) and neointima/media ratio (0.74±0.21 versus 1.95±0.25, P<0.0001) in vein grafts versus controls. miR-21 sponge treatment was also improved hemodynamics in vein grafts. We have further identified that p27 (Kip1) is a potential target gene of miR-221 in vein grafts. ConclusionmiR-221 sponge therapy can significantly reduce miR-221 activity and inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in vein grafts. Locally adventitial delivery of adenoviruses mediated miRNA sponges may be promising gene therapies to prevent vein graft failure.

Functionalized porous carbon with appropriate pore size distribution and open hole texture prepared by H2O2 and EDTA-2Na treatment of loofa sponge and its excellent performance for supercapacitors

Functionalized porous carbon with an appropriate pore size distribution and open hole texture was prepared via the H2O2 and EDTA-2Na treatment of loofa sponge followed by carbonization and KOH-activation. The product was employed as a supercapacitor electrode.