Objective To track superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled pancreatic islet cells in rats using 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to detect the survival and rejection of grafts after transplantation. Methods Twenty male Wistar rats and 5 male Lewis rats were included in the study. SPIO-labeled pancreatic islet cells were tracked using a GE 3.0T Signa Excite MRI scanner with an animal coil. The images of SPIO-labeled islet cells in rats after transplantation were compared with those of the unlabeled ones. FSE T2WI sequence and GRE T2*WI sequence were used for the detection. The sensitivity of images for detection of grafts was also compared. SPIO-labeled pancreatic islet cells isolated from Wistar and Lewis rats were transplanted into the liver of Wistar rats. Afterwards, the survival and rejection of islet cells were observed sequentially in these two growps. The rats in the syngeneic group were sacrificed 3 months post-transplantation, while the rats in the allogeneic group were sacrificed 3 weeks post-transplantation. MRI of the grafts were correlated with the pathological results. Results SPIO-labeled pancreatic islet cells were seen on MRI as distinct homogenous, hypointense spots in the liver. GRE T2*WI were more sensitive to the detection of SPIO-labeled islet cells than FSE T2WI. The relative count of hypointense spots in the syngeneic group were (90.03±9.52)%, (92.87±18.21)% and (86.25±24.81)%, respectively at 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks after transplantation, while the relative count in the allogeneic group were (41.40±15.41)%, (33.41±14.01)% and (23.58±16.78)%, respectively. The difference between these counts was statistically significant (P<0.01). Iron particles were detected only in the SPIO-labeled cells. Three months post-transplantation, the grafts were found well-preserved in the liver of the rats of the syngeneic group, while only a few grafts were found in that of the allogeneic group. Conclusions MRI can be used to track SPIO-labeled islet cells in vivo, and has significant value in detecting the survival and rejection of grafts after transplantation in rats.

OBJECTIVETo prepare sodium alginate-nanohydroxyapatite composite material and to explore its feasibility as a bone repair material.

METHODSSodium alginate-nanohydroxyapatite composite material was prepared using chemical cross-linking and freeze-drying technology. The composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and its porosity was measured by liquid displacement method. The fifth passage of bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSCs) were incubated on the composite material and then growth was observed by inverted microscope and SEM. BMSCs were cultured with liquid extracts of the material, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was used to calculate the relative growth rate (RGR) on 1, 3, 5 d and to evaluate the cytotoxicity. Fresh dog blood was added into the liquid extracts to conduct hemolysis test, the spectrophotometer was used to determine the optical density (OD) and to calculate the hemolysis rate.

RESULTSSodium alginate-nanohydroxyapatite composite material displayed porosity, the porous pore rate was (88.6 +/- 4.5)%. BMSCs showed full stretching and vigorous growth under inverted microscope and SEM. BMSCs cultured with liquid extracts of the material had good activities. The toxicity of composite material was graded as 1. Hemolysis test results showed that the hemolysis rate of the composite material was 1.28%, thus meeting the requirement of medical biomaterials.

CONCLUSIONThe composite material fabricated in this study has high porosity and good biocompatibility.

Alginates ; Biocompatible Materials ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Porosity ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

Aim To study the effect of resveratrol on the expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK, and to investigate its possible mechanism of resveratrol on the metastasis-associated ability of human highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM cells line. Methods MTT assay was used to examine cytotoxicity of resveratrol on HO-8910PM cells after 24 h treatment; The expression of FAK protein and the level of phosphorylated FAK were assessed by Western blotting analysis. Results MTT assay showed that resveratrol had weak cytotoxicity on HO-8910PM cells after 24 h treatment, its IC50 value was 163.40?2.48 ?mol?L-1. The expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK decreased obviously in HO-8910PM cells treated with 25~100 ?mol?L-1 resveratrol for 24 h. Conclusion The mechanism of resveratrol inhibiting the metastasis-associated ability of human highly metastatic ovarian carcinoma HO-8910PM cells line involves the expression of FAK and the level of phosphorylated FAK.

Aim To observe the effects of activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 ( ALDH2 ) by ethanol on testis injury of type 2 diabetic rats. Methods Type 2 diabetic rats model were established by high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin ( STZ ) injec-tions. After the success of modeling, the rats were ran-domly divided into 3 groups ( n =6 ): normal control group (NC), type 2 diabetes group (T2DM) and eth-anol+type 2 diabetes group (EtOH+T2DM). Rats of EtOH + T2DM were treated with low-dose ethanol, then rats of NC and T2 DM were given normal diet for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks, the levels of the fasting blood glucose ( FBG ) , glycosylated hemoglobin ( HbA1 c ) and testosterone were tested, and the ratio of testis weight to body weight ( TW/BW ) was calculated. Morphological changes of testis tissue were observed by optical microscope. The levels of ALDH2 mRNA and transforming growth factorβ1 ( TGF-β1 ) mRNA in tes-tis tissue were measured. The expression of TGF-β1 in testis tissue was observed by immunohistochemical stai-ning, then the positive rate of TGF-β1 was calculated. Results Compared with NC, the levels of FBG, HbA1 c and TW/BW increased significantly and the level of testosterone decreased significantly in T2DM. The morphological observation showed that some semi-niferous tubules atrophied, spermatogenic cells de-creased and arrangemented loosely, Leydig cells de-creased in testicular interstitial. The level of ALDH2 mRNA in testis tissue decreased significantly, and the level of TGF-β1 mRNA and the positive rate of TGF-β1 in testis tissue increased significantly. However, compared with T2DM, the levels of FBG, HbA1c and TW/BW decreased, and the level of testosterone in-creased and the damage of testis tissue was attenuated in EtOH+T2DM. The level of ALDH2 mRNA in testis tissue increased significantly, and the level TGF-β1 mRNA and the positive rate of TGF-β1 in testis tissue decreased significantly. Conclusion Activating AL-DH2 can protect testis in type 2 diabetic rats, which may be related to the downregulation of TGF-β1 ex-pression.

Objective To explore the effect of speech therapy on articulation disorder of indifferent kinds of children with cerebral palsy(CP).Methods 49 CP children with articulation disorder were divided into the common group(n=21)and family rehabilitation group(n=28).All children in the two groups were treated with systemic speech therapy,but those in the family rehabilitation group were added with family rehabilitation.The changes of articulation disorder of children in two groups before and after treatment were observed.Results After treatment,all children got improvement,but the effect of children with spastic type was superior to those with other CP types.The efficiency rate of the family rehabilitation group was 39.3%,that of the common group was 14.3%,there was a significant difference between two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The children with different CP type have different therapeutic effects for articulation disorder,the family rehabilitation can improve the therapeutic effect.

Objective To evaluate the predictive value of Wells score combined with D-dimer in the diagnosis of acute pulmonary embolism.Methods A total of 540 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism admitted from 2008 to 2011 were enrolled for study.The diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) was confirmed by using computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA).These patients were divided into two groups:PE group and non-PE group.Comparative analysis was carried out in demographics,underlying diseases,chief complaints,physical signs,venous thrombosis risk factors,laboratory findings and Wells scores between the two groups.Results Of 502 patients selected into this study,there were 246 in PE group and 256 in Non-PE group.The incidence rates of history of recent surgery or bed-ridden,recent fracture of pelvis or lower limb,symptoms of hemoptysis,transient disturbance of consciousness,signs of unilateral lower limb swelling,hypoxia and hypocapnia of arterial blood gas analysis,elevated levels of D dimer,high Wells score in PE group were significantly higher than those in non-PE group (P ＜ 0.05).And there were no statistical difference in other variables found between the two groups.The areas under the ROC curve of Wells score,D-dimer and the combination of the two were 0.775 (95％ CI:0.719-0.831),0.802 (95 ％ CI:0.751-0.853) and 0.899 (95 ％ CI:0.834-0.964),respectively.And the area under the ROC curve of the combination of the two was greater than that of separated application (P ＜ 0.05).When the cut-off value of Wells score was 5 and D-dimer was 1 724 μg/L,the weighted maximum sensitivity and specificity were reached,and these cut-off values were higher than above determined values,the reliability of the diagnosis of PE was obviously increased,and those were lower than these cut-off values,the reliability of excluding PE was also increased.Conclusions Wells score combined with D-dimer showed a higher value in predicting acute pulmonary embolismthan than their separated application.

Objective To investigate the alterations of connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and its distribution at different stages of myocardial infarction (MI) in rats after transplantation of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).Methods Wistar rats were ligated on the left anterior descending coronary artery to make MI models.They were injected with allogenic MSCs,which were induced by 5-aza and labelled by DAPI,during the second operation after 7 days of MI.In subgroups,MSCs were detected by fluorescence microscope.Cx43 expression and GJ distribu-tion were examined by immunohistochemistry after 4,8 or 12 weeks respectively.Results MSCs differentiated into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which were capable of pulsing spontaneously,expressing cTnT and forming myofilament in vitro.Transplanted MSCs can survive in MI host and upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.No change of Cx43 was seen at infarcted zones.Conclusion MSCs have the plasticity of differentiating into cardiac muscle cell-like cells which can continuously upregulate Cx43 expression and normalize Cx43 distribution at ischemic zones after 4,8 and 12w.

Objective To compare the skills level before and after pediatric advanced life support course and analyze the effect of the training. Methods The pediatric advanced life support was used as the textbook. The skills were got through attending theory classes, watching demonstrations and taking part in the simulator training. The questionnaires were filled strictly and the data was analysed. Results The test scores were increased after the training (P＜0. 01). There were only 8.7% of the trainees had used the rescue equipments and 61.3% had never seen the rescue equipments before training. More than 80% of the trainees were satisfied with the training about the utility and novelty. Conclusion pediatric advanced life support course can successfully deliver a large number of healthcare providers with international unique pediatric emergency treatment skills ,and raise the participants abilities of rescuing critical children.

In this study we performed Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI), two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D- STI) and three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI) on enrolled healthy, overweight and obese groups (34 subjects in each group), respectively, to analyze cardiac structure and its function. Compared with healthy group, global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain(GAS) and global radial strain (GRS) decreased progressively (P < 0.05). The ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow velocity to global early diastolic strain rate of left ventricle (E/e'sr) (r = 0.466, P < 0.001), GLS (r = 0.502, P < 0. 001), GCS (r = 0.426, P < 0.001), GAS (r = 0.535, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.554, P < 0.001) were correlated with body mass index (BMI). E/e'sr (r = 0.37, P = 0.003), GLS (r = 0.455, P < 0.001), GCS (r = 0.282, P = 0.02), GAS (r = 0.412, P < 0.001) and GRS (r = -0.471, P < 0.001) were correlated with free fatty acid (FFA). Stepwise multiple linear regression revealed that BMI was independently correlated with E/e'sr, GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. Waist to hip ratio (WHR) was independently correlated with GLS, GCS, GAS and GRS. FFA was independently correlated with E/e'sr (P < 0.05). The study showed that cardiac structure changed and impaired left ventricular global systolic and diastolic function in overweight and obes population. Moreover, BMI, WHR and FFA may be independent influence factors of cardiac function in overweight and obese population.
Body Mass Index ; Case-Control Studies ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; physiopathology ; Overweight ; physiopathology ; Reproducibility of Results ; Ventricular Function, Left

BACKGROUND:Cell transplantation can repair damaged myocardial tissue.However,whether transplaned cells and host cells formed an effective electricity and mechanical couple or whether reconstruction of connexin (Cx) and arrhythmia formed,are still unclear.OBJECTIVE:It is hypothesized that arrhythmia can be treated by changing Cx levels and intervening abnormal GJ channel.Moreover,to explore the effects of bone marrow mesenchyma stem cells (MSCs) on the expression of Cx43 and Cx45 in rata with myocardial infarction.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The randomized controlled animal study was performed at the Experimental Center,Guangxi Medical University from January 2008 to May 2009.MATERIALS:A total of 180 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups:normal control,sham operation,myocardial infarction,and MSCs,with 45 animals in each group.Each group was then divided into 3 subgroups (n=15) according to 4 weeks,8 weeks and 12 weeks post-transplantation.Additional 20 healthy,Wistar rats,aged 1 month,were selected to harvest MSCs.METHODS:The third passage of MSCs was induced by 5-aza like cardiomyocytes for 4 weeks,labeled with DAPI at 2 hours before transplantation.Models of acute myocardial infarction were established in all groups except sham operation group.At day 7 after model preparation,2×10~(10) /L MSCs were infused into the edge and center of myocardial infarcted region by multipoint injection.Rats in the myocardial infarction group were subjected to an equal volume of saline as wall as those in the normal control and sham operation groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The mRNA expressions of Cx43,Cx45 were assayed by fluorescence quantitative PCR.RESULTS:The mRNA expression of Cx43 among each groups had no difference at weeks 4,8 and 12 after intervention in the normal areas.Compared to the normal areas,Cx43 mRNA reduced significantly at ischamic zone in the myocardial infarction group and MSCs group (P＜0.01),with notably increased of Cx45 mRNA expression (P＜0.01).Compared to myocardial infarction group,Cx43 mRNA expression was statistically higher in the MSCs group at the same points (P ＜ 0.01),and the Cx45 mRNA dramatically declined (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION:Acute myocardial infarction reduces the mRNA expression of Cx43 and increases the Cx45 mRNA expression.The exogenous cells transplantation can upturn the mRNA expression of Cx43 in the border-zone of the infarcted area,and down-regulate the Cx45 mRNA expression in the border-zone of the infarcted area.