BACKGROUND:Mkx (Mohawk, transcription factor) is one of the crucial factors in tendon formation, development and differentiation.
OBJECTIVE:To summarize the molecular structure, distribution and function of Mkx and its research process in the signaling pathways during tendon differentiation.
METHODS:The first author retrieved the databases of CqVip, CNKI and Medline from1990 to 2016 using the keywords of“Mkx, Mohawk, Irxl, tendon, tendon differentiation, tissue engineering, TGFβ, stem cel”in Chinese and English, respectively. The articles related to research process of Mkx in tendon tissue engineering were retrieved, and a total of 55 literatures were enrol ed final y.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Mkx that expresses in various mesoderm-derived tissues plays an important role in the formation and development of tendon and tissue-engineered tendon formation. Although Mkx does not directly act on Scx (Scleraxis), it can regulate the differentiation of tendon progenitor cel s via transforming growth factor-β2 signaling pathway. Cel s from different species and different cel lines as wel as various cytokines for certain make different effects on Mkx involved in tendon tissue engineering.

Objective To investigate the expression of angiogenin in human hair follicle and evaluate its effect on hair growth. Methods Intact anagen hair follicles were isolated from human occipital scalp ob- tained from brain surgery. Some isolated human hair follicles were directly subjected to RT-PCR and im- munohistochcmical method for the detection of the mRNA expression and protein distribution of angiogenin in, respectively; some were cultured and incubated with angiogenin (0-200 ng/mL), and the measurement of hair follicle length was performed before and after 6-day culture. Human dermal papilla cells were isolated from the remaining hair follicles, cultured, and treated with angiogenin ranging from 0 to 200 ng/mL for 48 hours, then, MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation, and flow cytometry to analyze the cell cy- cle. Results RT-PCR showed the mRNA expression of angiogenin in human hair follicles, and angiogenin protein was observed with immunohistochemistry at the hair papilla and dermal sheath. The angiogenin (25-200 ng/mL) stimulated the growth of human hair follicles in a dose-dependent manner in vitro (P < 0.05 ). Also, as flow eytometry revealed, the treatment with 12.5-200 ng/mL of angiogenin significantly pro- moted the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (P<0.05), and increased the percentage of cells in S phase as well as cell proliferation index (both P<0.05). Conclusion Angiogenin may be a novel stimulus for hair growth.

Objective To investigate the brain glucose metabolism in different stage of mixed-type multiple system atrophy (MSA).Methods Forty-six MSA patients with cerebellar or Parkinsonian symptoms and 18 healthy controls with similar age as patients were included.According to the disease duration,the patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (≤ 12 months,n=14),group 2 (13-24 months,n=13),group 3 (≥ 25 months,n =19).All patients and controls underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT brain imaging.To compare metabolic distributions between different groups,SPM 8 software and two-sample t test were used for image data analysis.When P＜0.005,the result was considered statistically significant.Results At the level of P＜0.005,the hypometabolism in group 1 (all t＞3.49) was identified in the frontal lobe,lateral temporal lobe,insula lobe,anterior cingulate cortex,caudate nucleus and anterior cerebellar hemisphere.The regions of hypometabolism extended to posterolateral putamen and part of posterior cerebellar hemisphere in group 2 (all t＞3.21).In group 3,the whole parts of putamen and cerebellar hemisphere were involved as hypometabolism (all t＞4.08).In addition to the hypometabolism regions,there were also stabled hypermetabolism regions mainly in the parietal lobe,medial temporal lobe and the thalamus in all patient groups (all t＞3.27 in group 1,all t＞3.02 in group 2,all t＞3.30 in group 3).Conclusions Disease duration is closely related to the FDG metabolism in the MSA patients.Frontal lobe,lateral temporal lobe,anterior cingulate cortex and caudate nucleus can be involved at early stage of the disease.Putaminal hypometabolism begins in its posterolateral part.Cerebellar hypometabolism occurs early at its anterior part.Besides,thalamus shows hypermetabolism in the whole duration.18F-FDG metabolic changes of brain can reflect the development of mixed-type MSA.

Objective To investigate the level of serum CA125 in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma(NHL) and its clinical value.Methods All the data of this study was collected from the first affiliated hospital of China Medical University,during September 2004 to March 2006.Serum CA125 levels were measured in 42 patients with NHL.The association with gender,clinical stages,B symptoms,effusions,International Prognostic Score(IPI),serum LDH(lactate dehydrogenase),beta 2 microglobulin(?2-MG) levels and response to treatment was evaluated.Results High level of CA125 was found to be obviously correlated with B symptoms,effusions,IPI score,serum LDH(P

Objective To investigate the expression and function of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and Smad2 in liver fibrosis of biliary atresia (BA). Methods Liver biopsy specimens were collected from autopsy (normal group, n=5), congenital biliary dilatation (CBD group, n=10), BA patients underwent Kasai procedure (early hepatic fibrosis group, n=19) and liver transplantation (transplantation group, n=11). The first three groups were collected from January 2010 to July 2014 in Tianjin Children’s Hospital, and the last group was collected from January 2013 to January 2014 in Tianjin First Central Hospital. The hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain were used to observe the degree of liver fibrosis of four groups. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to observe expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2 in liver tissues of these samples. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test the quantitative mRNA of TGF-β1 and Smad2 in these samples. Results Results of HE showed that no fibrosis in autopsy group, mild fiber cell hyperplasia in CBD group, severe fibrosis in Kasai group and significant pseudolobule in transplantation group. Results of IHC showed that TGF-β1 was expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, bile duct cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils. The average optical density of TGF-β1 was the highest in Kasai group compared with that of other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Smad2 expression in cytoplasm of hepatocytes, bile duct cells and lymphocytes between four groups (P>0.05). Results of qRT-PCR showed that both TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad2 mRNA were the highest in early hepatic fibrosis group than those of CBD group and transplantation group (P<0.017). Conclusion In early stage of BA, TGF-β1 and Smad2 promote liver fibrosis until the formation of P-P,P-C desmosome structure. However, with BA fibrosis becomes more serious, the pro-fibrogenic function of TGF-β1 and Smad2 becomes less.

Objective To select an efficient method to inhibit telomerase activity, antisenseoligodeoxynucleotide and plasmid-vector mediated RNAi against hTERT were used to inhibit telomerase activity. The inhibiting effects of the two methods were compared. Methods Against hTERT mRNA, siRNA and oligodeoxynucleotide were designed and transfected into K562 cells by liposome. Effective and specific siRNA strands were selected and then plasmid was constructed and transfected into K562 cells; followed by analysis of the results. Results hTERT mRNA were detected after the three chemo-synthesized strands were transfected. It was found that si-hTERT-1 and si-hTERT-2 were effective, but si-hTERT-3 had no effect. The inhibiting effect of hTERT mRNA lasted only 48 h and disappeared at 72 h. Two siRNA strands were sieved and plasmids were constructed and transfected into K562 cells. In the P-1 group, hTERT mRNA was 0.39±0.13 at 48 h, 0.57±0.32 at 72 h. In the P-2 group, hTERTmRNA was 0.55±0.20 at 48 h, 0.88±0.23 at 72 h.In the P-1 group, the relative telomerase activity was 0.42±0.07 at 48 h, 0.31±0.08 at 72 h. In the P-2 group was 0.49±0.27 at 48 h, 0.39±0.03 at 72 h. The best concentration of siRNA was 100 μmol/L. The best concentration of ASODN was 0.6 μ mol/L. hTERTmRNA was 0.42±0.16 at 24 h, 0.71±0.18 at 48 h. Relative telomerase activity was 0.52±0.002 at 24 h, 0.482±0.018 at 48 h. Conclusion Both ASODN and RNAi targeting hTERT can inhibit the expression of hTERT mRNA, and then inhibit telomerase activity. The inhibiting effect is closely relative to the targeting site. The inhibiting effect of RNAi is better than that of ASODN. RNAi has better efficiency and lasts for a longer time. Plasmid mediated RNAi has better inhibiting effect than the chemo-synthesized siRNA.

BACKGROUND: The traditional treatment for skin donor site wound was focus on anti-infection and wound protection, which roof a long time for healing. Studies demonstrated that recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) has accelerated effect or epidermal regeneration. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of rhEGF on wound healing of skin donor site. METHODS: A total of 32 cases needs wound healing by skin grafting were collected, including 18 males and 14 females. The 32 skin graft donor site wounds were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, the absorbent gauze was sprinkle soaked with rhEGF (15 mL/ramus, 2 000 IU/mL) and covered the donor site, twice per day. In the control group, donor site was covered by physiological saline gauze and wrapped with dressing, twice per day. After 48 hours, semi-exposed therapy was performed. The healing time of wounds, the systemic and local adverse reactions of patients and blood routine examination and renal function detection prior to and after treatment were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The healing time of wound in the rhEGF treatment group was shorter than that in the control group with significant differences (P < 0.01). No Adverse events or side effects were observed in the rhEGF treatment group. rhEGF can shorten wound healing time, reduce scar hyperplasia, and accelerate epithelization at the graft donor.

Objective To analyze the expression of purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R) on different cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and to investigate its correlation with inflammatory cytokines in patients with SLE.Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect surface expression of P2X7R on lymphocytes,CD4+ cells,and CD19+ cell in 29 SLE patients and 28 healthy human controls to compare the difference between the SLE patients and the controls in P2X7R expression.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect P2X7R-related serum cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level.T test,Wilcoxon rank sum test,Spearman's correlation analysis were used for statitical analysis.Results ① SLE patients had significantly higher expression of P2X7R on CD4+,CD8+ lymphocytes compared to controls [CD4+ cells∶ 2.21(3.55) vs 0.89(1.15),Z=-1.527,P=0.015； CD19+ cells∶ 11.53(20.01) vs 6.66 (6.27),Z=-2.091,P=0.037]； ② The levels of three cytokines in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in control.The positive relationship between P2X7R expression in lymphocytes with the serum IL-6 level was found in SLE patients (r=0.449,P=0.015)；③ Patients with arthritis showed significantly higher expression of P2X7R on lym-phocytes compared to patients without arthritis (Z=-2.772,P=0.006).The expression of P2X7R on lymphocytes and CD19+ cell was significantly positively correlated with the SLEDAI score.Positive correlation with anti-β2GP Ⅰ in lymphocyteswas also found.Conclusion P2X7R may mediate the release of inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of SLE,and may participate the development of arthritis,lupus nephritis and NPSLE in SLE patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of optic nerve in the estimation of optic nerve changes of primary chronic angle-closure glaucoma (PCACG).Methods Twenty-five patients with PCACG including monocular involvement in 4 patients and binocular involvement in 21 patients and involving 46 eyes in which 24 right eyes and 22 1eft eyes,and 20 normal volunteers were enrolled.Conventional MRI and DTI were performed on all subjects using Magnetom Tim 3.0 T MRI.Fractional anisotropy( FA),mean diffusivity ( MD),axial diffusivities ( λ ∥ ) and radial diffusivities ( λ ⊥ )were measured and then compared between patients group and control group and between left eyes and right eyes.Two independent samples t-test and paired t-test were used.ResultsOn conventional MRI,thinner optic nerve with vaginal cavity widened slightly was found in 8 optic nerves of 6 patients.The value of FA,λ∥,λ⊥ and MD of 24 right optic nerves in patient group was(0.27 ± 0.09) × 10-3,(2.30 ±0.26) × 10 - 3,( 1.55 ± 0.35 ) × 10 - 3,and ( 1.80 ± 0.31 ) × 10 - 3 mm2/s respectively and that of 22 left optic nerves was (0.24 ± 0.09) × 10-3,(2.25 ± 0.41) × 10-3,(1.61 ± 0.46) × 10-3,and (1.82 ±0.47) × 10-3mm2/s respectively.The FA of optic nerve in patient group was lower than that of control group (P ＜0.05 ),while the meanλ∥,λ ⊥ and MD values was obviously higher than control group (P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference between right and left optic nerves in patient gro up ( P ＞0.05).ConclusionsDTI could detect abnormality and provide information about the pathological process of optic nerve in patients with PCACG.