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Background: Platelet derived growth factors (PDGF)‐D and the expression of its receptor increase in neoplastic progression of cancer. Co‐silencing of growth factor and receptor can be suggested as an important strategy for effective cancer therapy. In the present study, we hypothesized that suppression of PDGF‐D signaling pathway with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting both PDGF‐D and PDGF receptor (PDGFR)‐β is a promising strategy for anticancer therapy. Methods: Chitosan nanoplexes containing dual and single siRNA were prepared at different weight ratios and controlled by gel retardation assay. Characterization, cellular uptake, gene silencing and invasion studies were performed. The effect of nanoplexes on breast tumor growth, PDGF expression and apoptosis was investigated. Results: We have shown that downregulation of PDGF‐D and PDGFR‐β with chitosan/siRNA nanoplex formulations reduced proliferation and invasion in breast cancer cells. In the in vivo breast tumor model, it was determined that the intratumoral administration of chitosan/siPDGF‐D/siPDGFR‐β nanoplexes markedly decreased the tumor volume and PDGF‐D and PDGFR‐β mRNA and protein expression levels and increased apoptosis. Conclusions: According to the results obtained, we evaluated the effect of PDGF‐D and PDGFR‐β on breast tumor development and showed that RNAi‐mediated inhibition of this pathway formulated with chitosan nanoplexes can be considered as a new breast cancer therapy strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive glass has been demonstrated as a biocompatible bone substitute. However bone healing process can be prolonged due to late resorption of the material. Adipose derived stem cells (ASC) have osteogenic differentiation potential and hence can be a cell source for bone regeneration. The aim of this study was to test whether combination of bioactive glass with ASCs would enhance bone regeneration. Following creation of critical sized defects on the calvaria of 32 Wistar rats, the animals were randomly divided into four groups: Group C (control): Defects were left untreated; Group G: Defects were covered with autologous bone graft; Group BG: Defects were filled with bioactive glass; Group BG/ASC: Defects were filled with bioactive glass seeded with ASCs. The defect size was significantly greater in Group C compared to all other groups. Bone density was significantly lower in Group C compared to Group G and Group BG/ASC. Bone regeneration score of Group C was significantly lower than other groups. Group BG/ASC demonstrated lamellar bone and havers canal formation. The results of this study demonstrated that bioactive glass implanted with ASC is a biocompatible construct stimulating radiologically and histologically evident bone regeneration similar to autologous bone grafting. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 1002-1008, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the increased number of new motor endplates induced by botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injection before nerve injury would be reinnervated after nerve repair, resulting in greater force generation. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 3 groups: (1) controls; (2) a group with saline solution injection; and (3) a group with BTX-A injection into gastrocnemius muscle (BTX group). Thirty-six days after the injections the left sciatic nerve was divided and coapted in all groups. Eight weeks later, muscle forces were measured, and histological samples were collected. Results: No differences in the number of innervated endplates were found between the groups, but the number of denervated endplates was higher in the BTX group, as was the muscle tissue degeneration score. The BTX group showed distal muscle force measurements of up to 25.8% less compared with the control group. Conclusion: Although BTX-A injection increases the number of motor endplates, they are not functional. Muscle Nerve 52:412-418, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]