BACKGROUND:Previous studies have confirmed that ethanol can promote adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), and up-regulate the expression of PPARγ and aP2 in the tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) signaling pathway. As a member of the ZIP protein family, Zrt/Irt-like protein 1 (ZIP1) is closely related to bone metabolism and osteogenic differentiation.OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of BMSCs transfected by ZIP1 on TNF-α signaling pathway in the process of adipogenic differentiation.METHODS:The BMSCs from rabbits were isolated and cultured under different concentrations of alcohol (0.03, 0.09,0.15, 0.21 mol/L), followed by transfection by ZIP1 siRNA and ZIP1 expression vector.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After culture in alcohol, the expression levels of aP2 and PPARγ proteins were both significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the level of triglyceride was increased in all alcohol groups except for 0.03 mol/L alcohol group (P < 0.05). After siRNA transfection, the expression levels of aP2 and PPARγ as well as the level of triglyceride were increased significantly in all the alcohol groups (P < 0.05); however, ZIP1 transfection decreased the expression levels of aP2 and PPARγ proteins (P < 0.05). To conclude, ZIP1 siRNA could promote the adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs through the activation of TNF-α signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing number of patients undergoing knee arthroplasty in China, the complications caused by the mismatch of prosthesis with anatomical parameters arouse extensive attentions.OBJECTIVE: To measure the anatomical parameters of the knee joints in healthy Zhuang ethnic group from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, using three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction technology, thus providing reference for the design and placement of the hip prosthesis.METHODS: Sixty-eight individuals, including 30 females and 38 males, were selected from 217 healthy people undergoing CT examination. All data were imported into Mimics 15.0 software used for 3D reconstruction, and then the knee parameters were then measured and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in the parameters of the bilateral femur and tibia (P > 0.05). The femoral parameters had significant differences between genders (P < 0.05). The width of tibial platform, sagittal length of lateral tibial platform, distance between medial tibial plateau and fibular head, and posterior slope of tibial plateau showed no significant differences between genders (P > 0.05), while there were significant differences in the width of medial/lateral tibial platform, and sagittal length of medial tibial platform between genders (P < 0.05). The sagittal length of medial femoral condyle was negatively correlated with age, and all femoral parameters were positively correlated with height; while only the width of medial and lateral tibial platform were positively correlated with height. To conclude, 3D reconstruction technology is available for research on the morphology of the knee joint in the Zhuang ethnic group from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which provides references for prosthesis design and research appropriate for the Zhuang ethnic group.

To summarized the experiences from our basic experimental and clinical research on peritoneal dialysis. In the past 16 years, peritoneal fibrosis rat models and rabbit models of peritonitis were first established successfully in our laboratory in China. Peritoneal mesothelial cells were also separated and identificated. Besides, we assessed the biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluid and analyzed the molecular mechanism of peritoneal mesothelial cell injury. We demonstrated the key role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis, as well as their regulation of molecular mechanism. Furthermore, we transfected the plasmids encoding TGF-beta1-shRNA or pCTGF-shRNA into peritoneal cells and tissues by nanocarrier technologies. In clinical research, the positioning of peritoneal dialysis catheters, peritoneal dialysis treatment modalities and the prevention and treatment of its complications were studied. The characteristics and mechanism of solute transport in peritoneal dialysis was also explored.
Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; therapy ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; adverse effects ; Peritoneum ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Adhesions ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism