METHODS: Upper limb tendons were harvested with consent from patients with crush injuries and non-replantable amputations. These tendons (both extensor and flexor) measuring 1 cm are sutured to either side of a 0.5 cm synthetic tendon strip and cultured in growth medium. At 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, samples were fixed into paraffin blocks, cut and stained with haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome.
RESULTS: Minimal tendon ingrowth were seen in the first 2 weeks of incubation. However at 4 weeks, the cell ingrowth were seen migrating towards the junction between the tendon and the synthetic scaffold. This ingrowth continued to expand at 6 weeks and up to 8 weeks. At this point, the demarcation between human tendon and synthetic scaffold was indistinct.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that tendon ingrowth composed of collagen matrix were able to proliferate into a synthetic scaffold in vitro.
METHODS: HCAECs were stimulated for 24 hours (h) with 200 µg/ml of Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and different concentrations of NSO (55, 110, 220, 440 µg/ml) or TQ (4.5, 9.0, 18.0, 36.0 µm). The effects of NSO and TQ on gene and protein expressions were measured using multiplex gene assay and ELISA assay, respectively. Rose Bengal assay was used to analyse monocyte binding activity.
RESULTS: NSO and TQ significantly reduced ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene and protein expressions. TQ showed significant reduction activity of the biomarkers in dose dependent manner. HCAECs pre-treated with NSO and TQ for 24 h significantly lowered monocytes adherence compared to non-treated HCAECs.
CONCLUSIONS: NSO and TQ supplementation have anti-atherogenic properties and inhibit monocytes' adherence to HCAECs via down-regulation of ICAM-1 expression. NSO could potentially be incorporated in standard treatment regimens to prevent atherosclerosis and its related complications.