Characterization of cultured human ligamentum flavum cells in lumbar spine stenosis

To investigate the pathogenesis of the degenerative changes of the ligamentum flavum occurring in lumbar spine stenosis, yellow ligament cells from patients with lumbar spine stenosis were cultured for the first time and subjected to biochemical, histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Stenotic ligamentum flavum (SLF) cells were seen to express high levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and to produce a matrix rich in type I and III collagen, fibronectin and osteonectin. The matrix mineralized only following beta-glycerophosphate (betaGP) and ascorbic acid supplementation. Stimulation with human parathyroid hormone (PTH) increased intracellular cAMP concentration. These findings indicate that there was significant evidence of osteoblast-like activity in these cells. SLF cells also stained for S100 protein, type II and type X collagen, and co-localized type II collagen and ALP labelling, reflecting the presence of hypertrophic chondrocyte-like cells. Cultures from control patients showed neither osteoblastic nor chondrocytic features: they expressed type I and type III collagen and fibronectin, but did not stain for osteonectin, nor were bone-like calcifications observed in presence or absence of betaGP. Normal ligamentum flavum (NLF) cells did not synthesized S100 protein or type II or type X collagen, and showed a weaker response to PTH stimulation. Our data demonstrated the presence of hypertrophic chondrocytes with an osteoblast-like activity in the ligamentum flavum of patients with spinal stenosis suggesting that they could have a role in the pathophysiology of the heterotopic ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF) in lumbar spine stenosi

Antimicrobial and antioxidant capacity of biodegradable gelatin film forming solutions incorporated with different essential oils

0000-0002-8833-996XWOS: 000425315300033Biodegradable film forming solutions prepared by gelatin (4% w/v) and different concentrations of thyme, orange, sage, peppermint and clove essential oils (EOs) were investigated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Total phenolic contents and the antioxidant activity of EOs and gelatin film forming solutions incorporated with EOs were determined by Folin-Ciocalteau and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assays, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of gelatin film forming solutions incorporated with different EOs were tested on yeast Candida albicans, Gram (+) bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Gram (-) bacteria Escherichia coli. Among the EOs studied, thyme and clove EOs showed the highest values in total phenolic content (279,797 and 251,663 mg/L gallic acid) while sage EO had the lowest total phenolic content (14,533 mg/L gallic acid). Total phenolic content of the gelatin film forming solution combined with EOs increased proportional to the EO concentration. Antioxidant capacities of the EOs were found to be high which is supposed to be directly related to the active chemical substances of the EOs. The antioxidant properties of the tested EOs were correlated with total phenolic content. EOs showed potential antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms. Antimicrobial capacity of the combination of gelatin film forming solution with EOs increased depending on the EO concentration. The study results revealed out that biological activities of biodegradable gelatin film forming solution may be effectively enhanced by using herbal essential oils that have strong biochemical properties