BACKGROUND:Our previous studies have shown that a soft substrate has a significant effect on morphology and cytoskeleton of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of polyacrylamide gels as soft substrates with different elastic moduli on the chondrogenic differentiation of human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels.
METHODS:The synovium was harvested from patients with osteoarthritis under sterile conditions, and primary human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels were separated using limiting dilution assay. The flow cytometry and multi-directional differentiation experiments were used to identify the cel surface markers and function of the human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels, respectively. The polyacrylamide gels with the elastic modulus of 0.4, 6, 30 kPa, which were made using various amounts of acrylamide and bis-acrylamide, were used to culture human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels under induction with transforming growth factor-β1 for 7 and 14 days. RT-PCR was used to test the expression of chondrogenic genes, type II colagen gene and cartilage acidic protein 1. The 6-wel cel culture plates served as controls.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels showed different cel morphology in the different elastic modulus of polyacrylamide gels. The expression of type II colagen gene and cartilage acidic protein 1 were affected by the different elastic modulus of polyacrylamide gels and culture time, and there was an interaction between these two factors. At 7 days of induction, the expression of cartilage acidic protein 1 gene on 6 kPa polyacrylamide gels was the highest (F=44.350,P=0.000); meanwhile, the expression of type II colagen gene on 0.4 kPa polyacrylamide gels was the highest (F=6.384,P=0.005). These findings indicate that polyacrylamide gels with lower elastic modulus are superior to routine culture plates to promote the chondrogenic differentiation of human synovial-derived mesenchymal stem cels.

Objective To observe the prevalence of hyperuricemia(HUA)among obese children,and to ex-plore the association between uric acid(UA)levels and cardiometabolic risk factors,acanthosis nigricans and non - al-cohol fatty liver disease(NAFLD). Methods By using representative sampling method,1 753 obese children aged 6 -17 years old from 18 schools in 3 districts of Beijing(Xicheng,Haidian,Miyun)were selected to participate in the clini-cal examinations,including anthropometric measurements(height,weight)and blood pressure. Serum biochemical pa-rameters were assessed,including fasting plasma glucose(FPG),total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG),high - densi-ty lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL - C),low - density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL - C)and UA. Acanthosis nigricans and B - model ultrasonography of the liver were conducted. Results The prevalence of hypertension,impaired fasting glu-cose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD among these 1 753 obese children was 33. 6%(589 cases), 66. 5%(1 156 cases),54. 3%(943 cases),23. 3%(408 cases),and 17. 0%(298 cases),respectively. The preva-lence of HUA was 40. 70%(714 / 1 753 cases),with 50. 17%(581 / 1 158 cases)in boys and 22. 34%(133 / 595 ca-ses)in girls. There was a significant increase in body mass index,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure, FPG,TG and LDL - C with the increase of UA,but there was a decrease in HLD - C with the increase of UA(all P ﹤0. 05). In boys,the adjusted odds ratios( OR)and 95% CI of the highest quartile of UA for hypertension,impaired fasting glucose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD were 1. 16(0. 77 - 1. 74),1. 34(0. 90 - 1. 99),1. 29 (0. 89 - 1. 87),1. 89(1. 17 - 3. 04),and 1. 71(1. 03 - 2. 84),respectively;in girls,the adjusted OR and 95% CI of the highest quartile of UA for hypertension,impaired fas-ting glucose,dyslipidemia,acanthosis nigricans,and NAFLD was 0. 70(0. 40 - 1. 24),0. 60(0. 40 - 1. 00),1. 69(1. 04 - 2. 70),1. 67(0. 80 - 3. 49),and 1. 33(0. 48 - 3. 66),re-spectively. Conclusions The prevalence of HUA is relatively high in obese children and there is a strong association between UA and some car-diovascular metabolic disorders,acanthosis nigricans and NAFLD.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of α-Zearalanol(α-ZAL) on lipometabolism and hemorheology in ovariectomized(OVX) hyperlipidemia rabbits.Methods44 adult virgin female rabbits were divided into 5 groups,group A: normal control;group B: sham+CHO;group C: OVX+CHO;group D: OVX+CHO+17βE_2;group E: OVX+CHO+α-ZAL.Cholesterol(CHO) was fed to rabbits for 12 weeks.Before and after feeding CHO,the serum lipid(TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C) were measured;Blood viscosity,plasma viscosity,aggregation index of RBC(AIRC) and fibrinogen were also assayed respectively.ResultsThe serum levels of TC,TG and LDL-C in group B and E were significantly decreased compared with those in group C(P<0.05);the level of blood viscosity,plasma viscosity and AIRC platelet aggregation rate in group D and E were also significantly decreased compared with those in group C(P<0.05).Conclusionα-ZAL can improve vascular function through the adjustment of lipometabolism and hemorheology.

AIM: To investigate the effect of 17? estradiol (17?E 2)on atherosclerosis and hemorrheology in ovariectomized (OVX) rabbits. METHODS: Thirty four female rabbits were divided into 4 groups, group A: normal control; group B: sham+CHO; group C: OVX+CHO; group D: OVX+CHO+17? E 2. Cholesterol(CHO) was fed to rabbits for 12 weeks, before and after feeding CHO, the serum lipid (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1, ApoB) and area of aortic atherosclerotic plaques were measured. Blood viscosity, plasma viscosity (?p), aggregation index of RBC (AIRC) and fibrinogen were also determined, respectively. RESULTS: ① The ratio of area of aortic atherosclerotic plaque to total area of aortic intima was 0.02?0.003 (in group A), 0.42?0.15 (group B), 0.67?0.23 (group C), and 0.12?0 11 (group D), respectively. In group D, the ratio of aortic atherosclerotic plaque was markedly decreased compared with group C ( P

Objective To investigate genetic polymorphisms of HPRTB, DXS6803 and DXS6809 STR loci in Tianjin Han female population, and to provide experimental data in the prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidies accurately and rapidly. Methods A total of 150 blood samples were collected in Tianjin Han population. QF-PCR and capillary electrophoresis were used in this study. The relevant data were analyzed by ABI Prism GeneMapper v3.0 software. Two homozygotes were se?lected from each locus for sequencing. The frequencies of the genotypes were checked using Chi-square test to verify Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium. Data of genetic polymorphisms were calculated by PowerStatsV12 software. Results A total of 150 samples were successfully amplified in 24 hours. The 10, 6 and 10 alleles and 22, 12 and 29 genotypes were found respec?tively in HPRTB, DXS6803 and DXS6809 loci. The most common alleles were 14, 13 and 14. The higher frequencies of gen?otypes were 14-14, 12-13 and 13-14. No significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed in these three STR loci (χ2=10.554, 5.783 and 15.355, respectively, P>0.05). Values of He were 0.748, 0.649 and 0.806 for these three STR loci respectively. Values of Ho were 0.607, 0.700 and 0.713 respectively. Values of PIC were 0.706, 0.599 and 0.775 respectively. Values of PD were 0.894, 0.814 and 0.931 respectively. And values of PE were 0.299, 0.428 and 0.449 respectively. Conclusion HPRTB, DXS6803 and DXS6809 STR loci were highly polymorphic, which are favorable genetic markers on chromosome X and can be used in rapid prenatal genetic diagnosis.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinically and biologically heterogeneous disease. Given the heterogeneity of ARDS due to the wide range of etiological, clinical, and molecular manifestations, the current scientific consensus is that ARDS is not a single disease, but rather a set of diseases that require further research to properly classify and identify. Metabonomics, as a rapidly developing field of systems biology, has made many breakthroughs in science and medicine as an interdisciplinary platform. Metabonomics provides an important opportunity for the discovery and analysis of biomarkers in the diagnosis of ARDS, which is expected to reveal the biological process behind ARDS and show great potential in solving the heterogeneity and severity assessment of ARDS. This review focuses on the literature of ARDS metabonomics and summarizes the progress of ARDS metabonomics research and the main obstacles.

Objective : To investigate the prevalence and distribution of skeletal malocclusion and axial inclination of the maxillary central incisors in short root anomaly (SRA) patients in Kunming city, to provide some reference and guidance for SRA patients′ clinical diagnosis and treatment and prevention in SRA patients. Methods: A total of 1 000 cases were randomly selected from the CBCT database of patients admitted to the author′s hospital from January 2011 to July 2019, and a retrospective analysis was performed. A total of 27 patients with SRA were diagnosed (SRA group).The control group, consisted of 100 randomly selected patients from non-SRA patients. According to the clinical data and cephalometric data, skeletal malocclusion was divided into three subgroups: Class I skeletal malocclusion, Class II skeletal malocclusion and Class Ⅲ skeletal malocclusion. Additionally, the axial inclination of the central incisors was divided into three subgroups: the lingual inclination group, labial inclination group and normal inclination group. The two groups each according to sex, skeletal malocclusion and types of axial inclination of the maxillary central incisors were discussed. Results : The prevalence rate of SRA in the selected population was 2.7%, and the prevalence of SRA in females was 3.67% (21/572) , which was higher than that in males by 1.4% (6/428), and was significantly different between sexes (χ2=4.562, P=0.033). There was a significant difference between SRA patients and control group in terms of skeletal malocclusion (χ2=8.710, P=0.013). Class Ⅲ skeletal malocclusion was the main type of skeletal malocclusion in SRA. There was a significant difference between SRA patients and control group in terms of the axial inclination of the maxillary central incisors (χ2=16.75,P<0.001). Lingual inclination of the maxillary central incisors was the main type of axial inclination of the maxillary central incisors in SRA. Conclusion There is a certain correlation between class Ⅲ skeletal malocclusion and lingual inclination of the maxillary central incisors and SRA, and the root-crown ratio and root shape of these patients should be evaluated before orthodontics are implemented.

Objective:To explore the clinical effects of axillary propeller flaps in reconstructing the axillary fold scar contracture.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. From July 2016 to January 2020, 11 patients with anterior axillary fold or anterior and posterior axillary fold scar contractures after burns were admitted to Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, including 7 males and 4 females, aged 8 to 48 years. The lesions involved unilateral axilla in 9 cases and bilateral axilla in 2 cases, with the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder ranging from 25 to 100°. The axillary fold contracture scars were excised and released, resulting in wound of 8 cm×5 cm-24 cm×20 cm. According to the condition of the residual normal skin in axilla, 2, 3, and 4-leaf propeller flaps with area of 5 cm×3 cm-24 cm×10 cm were designed to repair the wounds after scar excision and release. The donor site wound was closed by suturing directly, and the residual wound that could not be completely sutured was transplanted with free full-thickness skin grafts from the inner thigh or abdomen. The application of 2, 3, and 4-leaf propeller flaps, the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder immediately after operation, and the survival of the flaps and skin grafts after operation were recorded. The recurrence of scar contracture, the appearance of the flaps, the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder, and the functional recovery of the affected shoulder joint and upper arm were observed through a follow-up.Results:Among the 13 axillary propeller flaps transplanted in the 11 patients in this group, there were 9 double-leaf propeller flaps, two 3-leaf propeller flaps, and two 4-leaf propeller flaps. The joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder reached 110-165° immediately after operation. All the flaps survived after operation. Nine flap donor sites were repaired with free skin grafts, with skin grafts survived in 7 flap donor sites after operation. Scar erosion in incision and small area of skin graft necrosis developed in 2 flap donor sites. One of the wounds was debrided and repaired by transplantation of split-thickness skin grafts from inner thigh, and the other wound was healed after dressing changes. A follow-up of 6 to 24 months was conducted after surgery, and all the patients had no recurrence of axillary scar contracture; the color of the flap matched the receiving area; the elasticity of flap was good; the joint abduction angle of the affected shoulder reached 120-165°, and the joint pronation and supination, upper arm lifting and circular rotation of the affected shoulder were all good.Conclusions:Reconstruction of the axillary fold scar contracture with axillary propeller flaps has good result, with better flap appearance and recovery of the shoulder joint activity and upper arm function after operation.