BACKGROUND:The poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) osteochondral scaffold which has been constructed in previous experiments has good biocompatibility and biodegradability and generates non-toxic degradation products.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the vascularization of rabbit renal microvascular endothelial cels co-cultured with poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) osteochondral scaffold.
METHODS:The poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) osteochondral scaffold having a three-layer structure (layer of bone/bone and cartilage interface layer/layer of cartilage) was prepared by solvent casting/particle leaching method. The renal microvascular endothelial cels at passage 3 were seeded onto the scaffold of bone layer. The proliferation of the renal microvascular endothelial cels growing on the scaffolds was examined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method, the growth of cels in the scaffold was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining under electron microscope after 10 days.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The integrated osteochondral scaffold had a clear appearance of three-layer structure, which had closed connections between the three layers. Porous bone layer was visible as wel as uniform and interlinked pores, and the porosity was 78%. The renal microvascular endothelial cels seeded onto the scaffold proliferated wel and presented a three-dimensional growth after 10 days of co-culture, but there were no cels on the interface layer. Cels which adhered and grew between the pores of the bone layer were observed through hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cels showed a luminal-like structure growing on the scaffold with the porous structure, but they did not grow into the interface layer of bone and cartilage.

BACKGROUND:Many experiments have demonstrated that tissue engineering scaffolds prepared by polymer materials alone or biomaterials cannot meet the requirement of tissue engineering research.
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate biological characteristics and cel affinity of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate)/col agen composite scaffold.
METHODS:Tissue engineering scaffolds were prepared by combination of poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) and col agen at different proportions (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%and 10%) using solvent casting/particulate leaching method. Inner structure and apertures were observed by scanning electron microscope, and the porosity was determined by liquid displacement method. Rabbit chondrocytes were co-cultured with poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate)/col agen composite scaffold and poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) scaffold. Growth curve of cel s was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cel adhesion on the scaffolds was observed by scanning electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The pore size and porosity of the composite scaffold were about 200μm and (85±2)%, respectively. The cel affinity dynamical y increased with the increasing of proportion of col agen. Compared with the poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate) scaffold, the poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyoctanoate)/col agen composite scaffolds are better to improve cel adhesion and proliferation, with favorable cel ular affinity.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and adverse effect of herceptin combined with docetaxel in patients with localized advanced breast cancer. Methods 16 patients with localized advanced breast cancer were treated with herceptin (8 mg/kg in the first cycle and 6 mg/kg from 2 to 4 cycles,d1) and docetaxel (75 mg/m2 ,d2) for 4 cycles. Three weeks were taken as a cycle. Following chemotherapy, the patients underwent improved radical operation of breast cancer or radical operation of preserving breast. Results The overall response rate (oRR) was 87.5%. The complete clinical remission rate (cCR) was 56. 3%. The complete pathologic remission rate (pCR) was 25.0%. The mainly adverse effects were bone marrow depression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Conclusion The regimen of herceptin combined with docetaxel is effective and can be well-tolerated by patients with localized advanced breast cancer. It shows promising prospect in clinical application.

BACKGROUND: After internal fixation is applied to femoral shaft fracture with medial cortical defect, the fixation device is often bended and broken due to the stress on it. So far, reliable methods have not been found to solve this problem in clinic.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biomechanical stability of the allograft bone plate after a bony defect of the medial cortex is reconstructed with allograft bone plate.DESIGN: A randomized controlled experimental study.SETTING: This trial was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedics, the 175 Hospital of Chinese PLA, and Laboratory of Biomechanics, First Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: This trial was conducted in Laboratory of Medical Biomechanics, First Military Medical University. MTS858 Biomix biomaterial testing machine was used to simulate model of femoral shaft fracture on 3male adult femurs donated voluntarily by their relatives, aged 23, 24 and 28years old.INTERVENTIONS: The fracture model of medial cortical defect was made in the femurs. Different kinds of fixation were applied and the results were compared between fixated femurs and the normal ones. The fixations included steel plate fixation(fixation for group 1 ), steel plate with allograft bone plate fixation(fixation for group 2), steel plate with allograft bone plate fixation and reduction of the medial cortical fragment(fixation for group 3).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The vertical compression displacement under 500 N load, three-point bending strength under 10 N and anti-torsional angle under 300 N load are all measured.RESULTS: The vertical compression displacement and three-point bending strength of the control group were insignificantly different from those of the fixation group 3 ( P ＞ 0.05), but significantly different from those of the fixation group 1 and 2 ( P ＜ 0.05). The anti-torsional angle of the control group was significantly different from that of the three fixation groups( P ＜ 0. 05) . The result of fixation in fixation group 1 was the worst, better in fixation group 2and the best in fixation group 3.CONCLUSION: When there is a medial cortical defect in the femur, reconstruction with a bone plate can recover the integrity of the femoral medial cortex, and the successful rate of the plate internal fixation is increased.

OBJECTIVETo detect mutations of the NF1 gene in two sporadic cases with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and explore their molecular mechanisms.

METHODSClinical data of the two patients was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Specific primers were designed to exclude pseudogenes. PCR was performed to amplify all coding exons of the NF1 gene. PCR products were directly sequenced.

RESULTSTwo novel mutations of the NF1 gene (c.1019-1020delCT in exon 9 and c.7189G to A in exon 48) were respectively identified in the two patients but not among their unaffected parents or 100 healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONMutations of the NF1 gene may have predisposed to the NF1 in the two patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a sporadic case with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from the patient, his unaffected parents and 100 healthy controls. The NF1 gene was detected by PCR and direct sequencing. RESULTS: The patient was found to carry a novel nonsense variant c.4339C>T (p.Q1447X) in exon 33 of the NF1 gene. The same variant was not found in his unaffected parents and the 100 healthy controls. CONCLUSION The c.4339C>T (p.Q1447X) variant probably underlies the pathogenesis of NF1 in this patient.

Objective:To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of a fractional CO 2 laser and a 1 064 nm, Q-switched Nd∶YAG laser therapy in the treatment of xanthelasma palpebrarum. Methods:From October 2020 to October 2021, 30 patients (5 males and 25 females) with bilateralxanthelasma palpebrarum of the eyelid were enrolled in the Department of Dermatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University. The age ranged from 38 to 67 (51±7) years. One side was randomly treated with fractional CO 2 laser as the fractional group, and the other side was treated with Q-switch 1 064 nm Nd∶YAG laser as the Q-switch group. The treatment was given every 28 days for 4 times. Before treatment and 1 month after the last treatment, the general pictures were taken to compare the clinical effect. Skin ultrasound was used to measure the difference of tumor thickness before and after treatment. The incidence of adverse reactions, such as local scar, hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation after inflammation, were recorded. Results:Under general photos, there was statistically significant difference in efficacy scores between the two groups before and after treatment ( Z=-3.082, P<0.05). By comparison of tumor thickness under skin ultrasound, the difference between the two groups before and after treatment was statistically significant ( t=21.60, P<0.05; t=17.29, P<0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups before treatment ( t=0.46, P=0.650), but there was statistically significant difference between the two groups after treatment ( t=8.41, P<0.001). No serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups. Conclusions:Fractional CO 2 laser or Q-switch 1 064 nm Nd∶YAG laser can safely and effectively improve xanthelasma palpebrarum, in which the effect of fractional CO 2 laser is much better.