BACKGROUND: Basso, beattie and bresnahan (BBB) score and tilt table test are associated with the height of spinal cord injury degree in study of spinal cord models. OBJECTIVE: To establish modified complete spinal cord transected rat models, and to observe effects of BBB score and tilt table test on function following human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The observation control experiments were performed at the Key Laboratory of Tissue Construction and Detection of Guangdong Province from April 2007 to July 2008. MATERIALS: Cord blood was collected from healthy puerperants after full-term delivery. Fifty SPF healthy adult female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into group A (sham operation) (n=10), group B (spinal cord transection and phosphate buffered saline, PBS injection) (n=20), group C (spinal cord transection and hMSCs transplantation) (n=20). METHODS: Human umbilical cord blood stem cells were harvested and cultured in vitro. After incising rat dural sac, arachnoid membrane, spinal cord, bilateral wall and ventral dura mater of spinal cord were completely incised in the dural mate of spinal cord to establish complete spinal cord transected rat models. Vertebral plates were only opened in the group A. Rats in the group C were injected with human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (6?109 -7?109L-1) at two broken ends of fractured spinal cord. Phosphate buffer saline was injected into rats in the group B. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: At 12 weeks after surgery, a behavioral testing was performed every 2 weeks upon each hindlimb for all animals by using the BBB scoring system and tilt table test. RESULTS: No significant difference in hindlimb motor function was detected in the group A. From the second weeks after surgery, motor function of hindlimbs was gradually recovered in the groups B and C. BBB scoring system and tilt table test showed a consistent increasing tendency in a positive correlation. From the fourth week after surgery, significant difference in tilt table test was detected between rats with BBB score

Objective To study the possibility of inducing human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) to differentiate into neuron-like cells by lithium chloride(LiCl) in vitro.Methods Human umbilical cord blood was collected from mature neonates.All samples were obtained sterilely with 20 U/ml heparin.The cord mononuclear cells were isolated with lymphocyte separation medium(density 1.077 g/ml), then purified by wall sticking screening and expanded with slight sugar DIEM containing 15% FBS.The third passage of the expanded MSCs were pre-inducted with DIEM containing 15% FBS and 20 ng/ml bFGF for 24 hours, then induced with DIEM without serum but 3 mol/L LiCl for 6 days in group A.The MSCs were induced with DIEM containing 3 mol/L Licl for 7 days in group B.The MSCs were normally cultured with DIEM containing 15% FBS in group C.The morphological changes of the cells were observed under phase contrast microscope.The neuron specific markers containing neuron specific enolase(NSE), microtubule associated protein2(MAP2) and glial fibrillary acid protein(GFAP) were evaluated by indirect immunocyto-chemistry staining.Results After inducted for 3 days, morphological changes were observed obviously in group A and B.6 days later, the differentiated cells showed typical neuronal morphology.The expression of NSE and MAP2 were positive for the majority cells in group A and B, and that of group A[(73.6 ± 7.8)%, 75.5 ± 8.5)% respectively]were obviously higher than group B[(31.0 ± 4.3)%,(33.5 ± 5.0)% respectively], few expressed GFAP in both groups.Conclusion The combination of LiCl and growth factor may induce the human umbilical cord blood MSCs into neuron-like cells in vitro.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of acupuncture-moxibustion on chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) and explore the methods of acupoint selection along meridian for transplanted-kidney-related diseases.

METHODSA total of 180 patients of CAN were randomized into a syndrome differentiation group, a spleen-meridian group, a kidney-meridian group and a control group, 45 cases in each one. A total of 33 cases dropped out before the end of the study, including 8 cases in the syndrome differentiation group, 12 cases in the spleen-meridian group, 13 cases in the kidney-meridian group and no case in the control group. Patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine; based on this, patients in other three groups were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion. In the syndrome differentiation group, Qihai (CV 6), Hegu (LI 4), Guanyuan (CV 4), Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23), etc. were selected for qi deficiency of lung and kidney; Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), etc. were selected for deficiency of qi and yin; Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Ququan (LR 8), etc. were selected for yin deficiency of liver and kidney; Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Mingmen (GV 4), Guanyuanshu (BL 26), etc. were selected for yang deficiency of spleen and kidney. In addition, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Diji (SP 8), Yinlingquan (SP 9), Xuehai (SP 10), etc. were added in the spleen-meridian group; Taixi (KI 3), Zhaohai (KI 6), Fuliu (KI 7), Ciliao (BL 32), etc: were added in the kidney-meridian group. Serum creatinine (Scr), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and 24-hour urinary protein before and after the treatment were com- pared among the four groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, 24-hour urinary protein in the acupuncture-moxibustion groups and control group were all reduced (all P < 0.05); compared before treatment, the Scr in the spleen-meridian group was significantly reduced (P < 0.05); the difference of Ccr before and after treatment was insignificant in all the groups (all P > 0.05). Compared with the control group, 24-hour urinary protein in spleen-meridian group could relieve or recover the damage of transplant kidney induced by CAN. A new interlink may be established between the transplanted kidneys and the spleen meridians, indicating that transplanted kidney-related diseases can be treated by selecting acupoints of spleen meridian.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Allografts ; physiopathology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; etiology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Homologous ; adverse effects

Objective To evaluate the effect of conversion from mycophenolic acid (MPA) to mizoribine (MZR) in renal transplant recipients with gastrointestinal tract (GI) symptoms.Methods A total of 355 renal transplant recipients with GI symptoms caused by MPA administration were enrolled from April 2015 to March 2017 in 25 different renal transplant centers in China.The symptomatic improvement of GI before (baseline) and after conversion to MZR (1,2,4 weeks) was assessed by each item of GI symptoms indication.In addition,the efficacy and safety of the conversion therapy during 12 months were determined.Results Patients showed improvement in GI symptoms including diarrhea,abdominal pain,abdominal distention and stomachache after conversion to MZR 1,2,4 weeks (P＜0.05).In patients with different severity of diarrhea,conversion to MZR therapy significantly improved diarrhea (P＜0.05).During 12 months,no patient experienced clinical immune rejection.We did not observe any infections,leucopenia and other serious side effects.Conclusion MZR could markedly improve GI symptoms caused by MPA administration in renal transplant recipients.