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Tissue response to intraperitoneal implants of polyethylene oxide-modified polyethylene terephthalate.

Polyethylene terephthalate films surface modified with polyethylene oxide of mol wt 18,500 g/mol (18.5 k) by a previously described technique, were implanted in the peritoneal cavity of mice, along with their respective untreated controls, for periods of 1-28 d. The implants were retrieved and examined for tissue reactivity and cellular adherence. The control polyethylene terephthalate surfaces showed an initial inflammatory reaction followed by an extensive fibrotic response with a mean thickness of 60 microns at 28 d. By contrast, polyethylene oxide-modified polyethylene terephthalate showed only a mild inflammatory response and no fibrotic encapsulation throughout the implantation period: at 28 d a cellular monolayer was observed. Apparently either the polyethylene oxide-modified surface was stimulating less inflammation, which was in turn stimulating less fibroblastic overgrowth, or the cellular adhesion to the polyethylene oxide-modified surface was too weak to support cellular multilayers.

Animals

Diet-dependent effects of an environmentally relevant dose of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate on white adipose tissue and systemic insulin resistance in mice.

As human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (NPs) is unavoidable, it remains unclear whether dietary composition can modulate their health impacts. To address this, we investigated the metabolic effects of two common yet understudied polymers, polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in mice with either healthy or energy-dense diet. C57BL/6 J male mice were exposed to an environmentally relevant dose of PE or PET (100 nm, 25 mg/kg BW/day) for 29 weeks under either a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD). The metabolic consequence of NP exposure was highly diet-dependent. In ND-fed mice, PE and PET reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, with PET inducing metabolic changes that toward a lipodystrophy-like state. Conversely, in HFD-fed mice, both polymers impaired systemic insulin sensitivity. Regardless of diet, PE and PET promoted immunoglobin G (IgG) accumulation in epididymal WAT, with PE-exposed lean mice exhibited the most robust IgG elevation, WAT fibrosis and impaired adipogenesis. These findings demonstrate that chronic, environmentally relevant PE or PET exposure disrupts metabolic health in male mice under both dietary contexts. While dietary composition dictates the specific metabolic phenotype, it does not prevent adverse outcomes. This complicates lifestyle-based mitigation strategies and underscores the urgent need for environmental source controls.

Insulin Sensitivity

Comparison of alumina-polyethylene and metal-polyethylene in clinical trials.

The dimensional changes of hip sockets of Müller-type total endoprostheses is the subject of this article. Regular anteroposterior roentgenographs of the pelvis were taken to determine the orientation of the center of the prosthetic head in relation to the wire marker of the polyethylene cup. Three different materials used for the femoral balls and matched with polyethylene as socket material were investigated, and the results of the displacement of the ball into the socket were compared. Both creep and wear contribute to the dimensional changes of the hip sockets; the proportional amount of each mechanism is not known. Data from laboratory examinations suggest a relatively high rate of creep in the first six months after implantation. With longer periods, the dimensional changes are predominately caused by wear. In the beginning of joint function, measurements show a high rate of the yearly dimensional changes. The head shifts up to 0.5 mm per year and diminishes after five years to rates of 0.1-0.2 mm, respectively. All dimensional changes that exceed a shift of the head of 0.2 mm per year are considered to be unfavorable and to contribute to loosening of the implants. Using metallic balls (Protasul-2), 64% had a wear rate of less than 0.2 mm; of those using Prostasul-10, 77% had lower rates than 0.2 mm. In patients where ceramic balls were implanted, the displacement rate was below 0.2 mm per year in 95%. Therefore, ceramic seems to be the most favorable material.

Aluminum Oxide

Polyethylene glycol-induced mammalian cell hybridization: effect of polyethylene glycol molecular weight and concentration.

The effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weight and concentration on mammalian cell hybridization were studied. The peak hybridization-inducing activity with all grades of PEG from 400-6000 was found to occur in the concentration range of 50-55%. However, changes in concentration were seen to have different quantitative effects with different grades of PEG. For monolayer fusions, PEG 1000 at 50% seems to be the optimal combination of PEG molecular weight and concentration, in terms of both efficiency of hybridization and relative insensitivity to dilution effects.

Cell Fusion

Blood plasma/implant interfaces FT--IR studies of adsorption on polyethylene and heparin-treated polyethylene surfaces.

Described is an attenuated total reflection (ATR), Fourier Transform infrared (FT--IR) technique useful for studying the adsorption of blood plasma proteins onto polymer surfaces. This technique had the advantage of employing whole blood plasma and has detected differences between the species adsorbed onto heparin-treated polymers as compared to the species adsorbed on untreated polymers. Differences detected consist of 1) changes in conformation and/or composition of proteins adsorbed on treated and untreated polymers, and 2) changes in amounts of carbohydrate-containing materials on the treated and untreated polymer surfaces. The advantages of FT-IR are its extreme sensitivity and its ability to work with highly complex systems such as whole blood plasma. These abilities should be of great value for providing direct molecular level information concerning protein adsorption from intact blood systems.

Adsorption

Polyethylene transformation by a psychrotolerant Rhodococcus strain assessed by transcriptomics and 13C-isotope tracing.

Polyethylene is increasingly accumulating in nature, including remote places like the Arctic. While abiotic processes fragment polyethylene in situ, biotic transformation by microorganisms is assumed to occur. However, the enzymes and pathways involved remain poorly characterized. In this study, we used an in-house biobank from cold environments to screen for potential bacteria capable of degrading polyethylene by screening the strains in silico using the database PlasticDB and in vivo using a fluorescence-based assay. Using transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to identify genes in promising candidate strains that encode extracellular enzymes potentially capable of degrading PE, we selected a Rhodococcus erythropolis strain and two of its enzymes: a hypothetical protein (Hypr1) and a lipase family protein (Lip2). Expressing the candidate genes heterologously in Escherichia coli resulted in positive results in the fluorescence-based assay for polyethylene transformation. Applying 13C-labelled polyethylene for assessing and estimating polyethylene transformation and carbon assimilation, we found that R. erythropolis and both untransformed and recombinant E. coli extracellularly transformed the initially added polyethylene after 70 days. In addition, untransformed E. coli and R. erythropolis converted small, but significant amounts of polyethylene-derived carbon to carbon dioxide. The 13C-label was also traced into the bacterial biomass of R. erythropolis. Overall, our results provide evidence for biotic transformation of untreated polyethylene and suggests a hypothetical protein and a lipase family protein as two novel enzyme candidates associated with PE transformation.

Rhodococcus

Polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and catalase attenuate increased blood-brain barrier permeability after ischemia in piglets.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transport of urea across the blood-brain barrier is increased during postischemic cerebral reperfusion in the piglet. Ischemia/reperfusion also has been observed to increase apparent superoxide anion generation on the surface of the brain. The present study was designed to address the hypothesis that the increased transfer of urea into the brain after ischemia/reperfusion could be due to superoxide anion-induced alterations in blood-brain barrier permeability. METHODS: Blood-to-brain transfer of carbon-14-labeled urea was measured in four groups (n = 7 each) of newborn pigs: 1) control (no ischemia, no pretreatment), 2) pretreatment with polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (1,000 IU/kg) and polyethylene glycol catalase (10,000 IU/kg i.v.) but no ischemia, 3) no pretreatment and 20 minutes of ischemia followed by 2 hours of reperfusion, and 4) pretreatment with polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and polyethylene glycol catalase in addition to ischemia/reperfusion. The following brain regions were investigated: cerebrum, caudate, midbrain, pons, medulla, and cerebellum. RESULTS: Polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase inhibited generation of superoxide anion by the brain during reperfusion after ischemia. Regional transfer of [14C]urea from blood to brain increased at 2 hours' reperfusion. This ischemia-induced increase in blood-to-brain transfer of [14C]urea was attenuated by pretreatment with polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and polyethylene glycol catalase: e.g., cerebrum Kin was 28 +/- 2 in the control group, 26 +/- 3 in the pretreated/no ischemia group, 67 +/- 5 in the untreated/ischemia group, and 40 +/- 2 ml.g-1.s-1.10(6) in the pretreated/ischemia group. After ischemia/reperfusion, cerebral blood flow was unchanged by pretreatment with polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and polyethylene glycol catalase. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that production of a partially reduced species of oxygen contributes to the increased urea transfer across the blood-brain barrier after ischemia in the newborn pig.

Animals

Brain and tissue distribution of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the distribution of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and various organs. METHODS: Distribution of iodine-125-labeled polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase was determined in three groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats: a normotensive sham control group (n = 9) and groups given 125I-labeled polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase either 30 minutes before (n = 10) or 30 minutes after (n = 7) norepinephrine-induced hypertensive injury. RESULTS: In the first 30 minutes after intravenous administration, polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase plasma activity declined to 70% of the initial value and then decreased negligibly between 30 and 90 minutes. Levels of 125I-labeled polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase in normotensive animals were low in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid and highest in kidney. Brain levels of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase were elevated only in those rats that received it before hypertensive injury; however, cerebrospinal fluid levels were elevated in animals receiving the drug either before or after hypertensive injury. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the blood-brain barrier becomes more permeable to polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase only during the hypertensive period but that the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier sustains more permanent injury. We suggest that the therapeutic effectiveness of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase in hypertensive brain injury is due to its action in the vascular wall or to its extracellular activity in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Animals

Polyethylene wear in unicondylar knee prostheses. 106 retrieved Marmor, PCA, and St Georg tibial components compared.

106 unicondylar knee replacement tibial components were retrieved and analyzed for the amount and type of polyethylene wear. Three different designs were retrieved which had essentially the same femorotibial conformity. Each design showed a characteristic failure pattern. The polyethylene of PCA tibial components showed serious delamination after only short durations, as a result of heat pressing. St Georg sledge prostheses showed some delamination after 4 years' duration due to sub-surface cracks which were initiated by fusion defects in the polyethylene; metal backing of the components did not affect delamination of this prosthesis. The Marmor designs showed the least wear, with shiny depressions and surface pitting; no delamination was observed in the Marmor prosthesis. Molecular weight determination by gel permeation chromatography and analysis of crystallinity using Fourier transformation infra-red spectroscopy demonstrated that St George polyethylene had higher molecular weight and crystallinity than Marmor polyethylene. In some of the components investigated, crystallinity and molecular weight of the polyethylene were reduced under the wear track when compared with the unworn polyethylene. Since fusion defects may cause delamination of polyethylene we urge manufacturers to reduce the number of such defects.

Corrosion

Surface-immobilized polyethylene oxide for bacterial repellence.

Polyethylene terephthalate films were surface-modified with polyethylene oxide (18,500 g/mol) using a solution technique described previously. These films were investigated for their resistance to bacterial adhesion. Three bacterial strains most commonly associated with implant infections, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were cultured in tryptic soya broth, human plasma and human serum on the polymeric substrates. Significant reductions (between 70 and 95%) in adherent bacteria were observed on the polyethylene oxide-modified substrates compared to the untreated control polyethylene terephthalate. Surface modification with polyethylene oxide may reduce the risk of implant-associated infections. Plasma fibrinogen was observed to play an important role in the adhesion of all three of these species on both the polyethylene oxide-modified and control polyethylene terephthalate materials.

Bacterial Adhesion

Cryoprotection of purified rat kidney transamidinase by polyethylene glycol.

Polyethylene glycol is a water-soluble polymer which is widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries. In this study, it is shown that polyethylene glycol is an effective cryoprotectant of rat kidney transamidinase purified from both the mitochondria and cytosol. Much of the activity is lost when the purified enzyme is frozen and thawed in sodium-potassium phosphate buffer in the absence of cryoprotectants. Polyethylene glycols with molecular weights of 4000 to 10,000 were effective cryoprotectants. However, polyethylene glycols with a molecular weight of 1000 or lower inhibited the purified enzyme. A concentration of only 0.01% polyethylene glycol 4000, 8000, or 10,000 was required for complete cryoprotection. In addition to polyethylene glycol, 0.5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was required in the phosphate buffer for complete cryoprotection. The stabilization of purified transamidinase by polyethylene glycol will facilitate characterization experiments designed to compare the properties of the mitochondrial and cytosolic isozymes.

Amidinotransferases

Polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase attenuates reperfusion injury when administered twenty-four hours before ischemia.

Covalent linkage of polyethylene glycol to superoxide dismutase prolongs the serum half-life of the enzyme and may facilitate intracellular access. We tested the myocardial protective effect of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase administered once, 24 hours before ischemia. Because hearts were studied ex vivo in a crystalloid perfused system, cardioprotection could be ascribed to intramyocardial or membrane-bound polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase accumulation. Thirty isolated rabbit hearts from the four following groups were studied: (1) control: untreated rabbits (n = 7); (2) PEG-control: 24-hour intravenous preinfusion of methoxypolyethylene glycol 5000 (5 mg/kg) to examine the effect of polyethylene glycol alone, without conjugation to superoxide dismutase (n = 8); (3) PEG-SOD 10,000: 24-hour preinfusion of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (10,000 U/kg) (n = 8); (4) PEG-SOD 30,000: 24-hour preinfusion of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (30,000 U/kg) (n = 7). After measurement of baseline function with use of an intraventricular balloon, hearts were subjected to normothermic ischemia until a 4 mm Hg rise in intracavitary pressure was observed. Function was assessed at 15-minute intervals throughout reperfusion and expressed as percent return of developed pressure. After 60 minutes of reperfusion, recovery of function was greater for the PEG-SOD 30,000 group (85.6% +/- 2.6%) when compared with either the untreated or PEG-control group (68.9% +/- 2.3% and 71.4% +/- 2.0%, respectively). A similar difference was seen throughout reperfusion. Although an improved return of function was shown in the lower dose PEG-SOD 10,000 group, the margin of difference when compared with any of the control groups was determined to be insignificant at all times of reperfusion and at 60 minutes (75.9% +/- 3.2%). These data demonstrate that high, but not low, doses of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase significantly reduce reperfusion injury when administered 24 hours before initiation of global ischemia. Moreover, since the perfusate was superoxide dismutase free, this effect was most likely intramyocardial or membrane bound and therefore might be added to protection afforded by circulating superoxide dismutase.

Animals

Characterization of hydrogen bonding between selected barbiturates and polyethylene glycol 4000 by IR spectral analysis.

Several barbiturates and primidone were equilibrated with polyethylene glycol 4000 in pyridine. IR spectral properties of these samples indicate that seven disubstituted barbiturates complex with polyethylene glycol 4000 while five disubstituted barbiturates and two trisubstituted barbiturates as well as primidone do not. Forces responsible for complexation of barbiturates with polyethylene glycol 4000, as inferred from spectral data, consist of hydrogen bonds formed between N1 and N3 hydrogens of the barbiturate ring and two oxygen atoms of the --O--CH2CH2--O--moiety. Also, there appear to be three configurations of intermolecular hydrogen bonding sites between disubstituted barbiturates. Several factors affect the barbiturate-polyethylene glycol 4000 interaction, including the nature of the solvent, C5 substituents, the number of hydrogen bonds formed between reactants, and the 2-carbonyl group of the barbiturate ring. Complexes of polyethylene glycol 4000 with phenobarbital, butabarbital, and cyclobarbital are stable in water at 26 degrees or below, but complexes of polyethylene glycol 4000 with butethal, cyclopentenyl allylbarbituric acid, pentobarbital, and probarbital are not.

Barbiturates

Randomised trial of self-expanding metal stents versus polyethylene stents for distal malignant biliary obstruction.

Self-expanding metal stents are claimed to prolong biliary-stent patency, although no formal comparative trial between plastic and expandable stents has been done. In a prospective randomised trial, we assigned 105 patients with irresectable distal bile-duct malignancy to receive either a metal stent (49) or a straight polyethylene stent (56). Median patency of the first stent was significantly prolonged in patients with a metal stent compared with those with a polyethylene stent (273 vs 126 days; p = 0.006). The major cause of stent dysfunction was tumour ingrowth in the metal-stent group and sludge deposition in the polyethylene-stent group. Treatment after any occlusion included placement of a polyethylene stent. In the metal-stent group none of 14 second stents occluded, whereas 11 of 23 (48%) second stents clogged in the polyethylene-stent group (p = 0.002). Overall median survival was 149 days and did not differ significantly between treatment groups. Incremental cost-effectiveness analysis showed that initial placement of a metal stent results in a 28% decrease of endoscopic procedures. Self-expanding metal stents have a longer patency than polyethylene stents and offer adequate palliation in patients with irresectable malignant distal bile-duct obstruction.

Aged

Effects of spermine on water absorption, polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability and collagenase activity in rat descending colon in vivo.

1. The effects of spermine in the concentration range 0-10 mmol/l on (a) the fluid absorption, (b) the polyethylene glycol permeability, (c) the release of collagenase activity activity into the lumen and (d) the histological appearance of rat descending colon were examined. 2. Spermine (5 mmol/l) decreased fluid absorption from 48.83 +/- 2.98 (n = 7) to 23.98 +/- 2.32 (n = 6) microliters h-1 cm-2 (P < 0.01); polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability was increased from 0.030 +/- 0.001 (n = 7) to 0.047 +/- 0.003 (n = 6) cm/h (P < 0.01) and luminal collagenase activity increased from a negligible control value to 250 +/- 39 (n = 6) units/ml (P < 0.001). Spermine also caused oedema formation within the mucosal interstitial fluid, without inducing an overt breakdown of the mucosa at the luminal surface. 3. Polyamine-free dialysed seminal plasma had no effect on polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability, although it still caused a significant decrease in colonic fluid absorption from 48.83 +/- 2.98 (n = 7) (control) to 31.41 +/- 2.08 (n = 5) microliters h-1 cm-2 (P < 0.01). 4. Low-molecular-mass heparin (600 units/ml) prevented the spermine (5 mmol/l)- and whole-semen-induced increase in colonic polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability and reduced the effect of semen on fluid absorption by 63% (P < 0.001) and that of spermine by 56% (P < 0.01). 5. The Zn2+ chelator and collagenase inhibitor o-phenanthroline reduced the effect of spermine on fluid absorption and polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability by 100% (P < 0.001) and on interstitial oedema formation. o-Phenanthroline also reduced the effects of whole semen on fluid absorption (by 70%, P < 0.01) and on polyethylene glycol 4000 permeability by 95%, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Short report: comparison of two orally administered bowel preparations for colonoscopy--polyethylene glycol and sodium picosulphate.

Fifty-nine consecutive patients admitted for colonoscopy were randomized to receive polyethylene glycol or sodium picosulphate. Patients expressed their opinion in a questionnaire and the endoscopists, blinded to the preparation, assessed the cleanliness of different segments of the colon. There was no statistically significant difference in the taste-acceptability of the preparations, frequency of nausea, abdominal pain, peri-anal soreness or sleep disturbance between the two groups. Polyethylene glycol caused vomiting in 13% of patients while this was absent in those who received sodium picosulphate (P less than 0.05). The average number of stools passed was 12.4 in the polyethylene glycol and 8.6 in the sodium picosulphate groups; mean difference 3.8 (95% C.I. 0.7-6.9) with P less than 0.02. The overall cleanliness of the colon was better in the polyethylene glycol group (P = 0.002) as judged by the blinded colonoscopist. There was less delay (P = 0.06) and more completed colonoscopies (P = 0.01) in this group. Polyethylene glycol was a better preparation in all segments of the colon except the rectum. We conclude that polyethylene glycol is the choice of the colonoscopist and should be given to all patients; sodium picosulphate would be a good alternative if patients are intolerant. If a limited colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy is intended, sodium picosulphate may be preferred because of its acceptable efficacy and slightly advantageous side-effect profile.

Abdominal Pain

Release of membrane constituents following polyethylene glycol treatment of HEp-2 cells.

HEp-2 cell monolayers were treated with 40% polyethylene glycol for 5 min which resulted in fusion during the subsequent incubation period. A loss of cell membrane components was detected in the polyethylene glycol-treated as well as phosphate buffer/saline-treated control cells, however the polyethylene glycol-treated cells released nearly twice the amount of [14C]acetate-labeled material and [3H]glycerol-labeled lipids into culture fluids than the control cells. It was further detected that the polyethylene glycol-treated cells released only approximately half the amount of protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid as the control cells. These results suggest that polyethylene glycol exerts a differential mode of action against cell surface components and causes the treated cells to release membrane components rich in lipids but relatively low in protein and carbohydrate-containing components.

Animals