BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that trehalose possesses protective effects on cyropreserved sternum. But the mechanism of action remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of trehalose on bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression in cryopreserved sternum. METHODS: Four groups of freshly prepared solution were used: low-potassium dextran (LPD), LPD + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), LPD + trehalose, LPD + DMSO + trehalose. Rat sternum was cut and then immediately cryopreserved in the tubes containing each group of solution. Fresh rat sternum tissue and 4 groups of samples cryopreserved for 120 days were taken and bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression in fresh and cryopreserved sternum was detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: bcl-2 mRNA expression in the LPD + trehalose group was significantly higher, but bax mRNA expression was significantly lower, than in the LPD, LPD + DMSO groups (both P < 0.01). LPD + DMSO + trehalose group showed highest bcl-2 mRNA expression and lowest bax mRNA expression, which were basically similar to fresh bone tissue (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that trehalose may protect cell activity in cryopreserved sternum by enhancing bcl-2 mRNA expression and inhibiting bax mRNA expression, and trehalose together with DMSO shows better protective effects.

Objectives: To explore the role of liver in the process of severe acute pancreatitis. Methods:Comparing the survival time, the endotoxin level of plasma and ascites , the IL-6 level of serum and ascites, the platelet granule membrane protein-140 (GMP-140) level of plasma and the histology change of lung between control group, portocaval shunting group(PC), acute necrotic pancreatitis (ANP) group and acute necrotic pancreatitis immediately after portocaval shunt(PC+ANP) group of rats. Measuring the serum IL-6 of control group, portocaval shunt control group (injecting normal saline through caval vein, PCJ), ascites injecting group (AJ) and ascites injecting portocaval shunt group (PC+AJ). Results: The survival time of PC+ANP group was much shorter than those of the other groups, and its plasma endotoxin , serum IL-6 and plasma GMP-140 levels were higher than those of the other groups (P

Objective To explore the diagnosis and surgical treatment of pulmonary sequestration.Methods 12 patients of pulmonary sequestration were retrospectively studied.Results Between January 2002 and December 2005 12 patients with pulmonary sequestration were operated in our department.8 patients were diagnosed preoperatively by chest enhanced CT which showed an abnormal feeding artery.4 patients were misdiagnosed.10 cases of intralobar were performed lobectomy,2 cases of extralobar were resected the separated lung tissue.No death occurred in our group.Conclusion Enhanced CT scan is a major diagnostic method of pulmonary sequestration and operation can obtain excellent results.

Objective To investigate the effects of peri-operative enteral nutrition (EN) and antibiotics on intestinal flora balance in patients with esophageal carcinoma.Methods Sixty patients were randomly divided into six groups:Group B,treated with antibiotics for 3 days and supported with EN before and after operation; Group C,treated with antibiotics for 3 days and supported with parenteral nutrition (PN) before operation and EN after operation ; Group D,treated with antibiotics for 3 days and supported with PN before and after operation ; Group E,treated with antibiotics for 7 days and supported with EN before and after operation; Group F,treated with antibiotics for 7 days and supported with PN before operation and EN after operation ; and Group G,treated with antibiotics for 7 days and supported with PN before and after operation.The first stool after surgery was obtained and tested for Bacteroides,Bifidobacterium,Lactobacillus,Escherichia coli,and Enterococcus.Ten healthy adults were enrolled as the blank control group.The numbers of the flora and ratio of Bifidobacteria to Enterococci (B/E) were compared.Complications such as incision infections,lung infections,and anastomotic fistula were recorded.Results The numbers of Bifidobacterium [(10.59 ± 0.39) vs.(10.88 ± 0.10) lg10n/ml,P =0.186),Lactobacillus [(8.59±0.31) vs.(8.72 ±0.22) lg10n/ml,P=0.534],Escherichia coli [(8.43 ±0.50) vs.(8.67 ±0.24) lg10n/ml,P=0.266],Enterococcus [(7.40 ±0.61) vs.(7.78 ±0.16) lg10n/ml,P =0.111],and B/E value [(1.2589 ± 0.0644) vs.(1.2560 ± 0.0330),P =0.825] in the Group B were not significantly different from the blank control group.The numbers of Bacteroids [(11.08 ± 0.48),P =0.139 ; (9.23 ± 0.42),P =0.000; (10.80±0.26),P=0.004; (10.24±0.45),P=0.000; (8.05±0.53),P=0.000vs.(11.36±0.48) lg10n/ml],Bifidobacterium [(10.19 ±0.49),P=0.062; (9.00 ±0.52),P=0.000; (9.31 ±0.45),P=0.000; (8.47±0.56),P=0.000; (6.99 ±0.56),P =0.000 vs.(10.59±0.39) lg10n/ml],Lactobacillus [(7.99 ± 0.58),P =0.006 ; (6.84 ± 0.47),P =0.000 ; (7.72 ± 0.35),P =0.000 ; (6.93 ±0.43),P =0.000; (5.93 ±0.76),P=0.000 vs.(8.59 ±0.31) lg10n/ml],Escherichia coli [(8.19 ±0.43),P=0.258; (7.93±0.60),P=0.020; (7.47±0.43),P=0.000; (6.90±0.42),P=0.000; (6.58±0.57),P =0.000 vs.(8.43 ± 0.50) lg10n/ml],and Enterococcus [(6.90 ± 0.54),P =0.037 ; (5.89 ± 0.68),P =0.000; (6.20±0.52),P=0.000; (5.91 ±0.39),P=0.000; (5.14±0.58),P=0.000 vs.(7.40±0.61) lg10n/ml] of groups C,D,E,F,and G decreased compared with those of the Group B.The values of B/Ein the D and G groups decreased significantly when compared to the blank control group (1.1433 ±0.1350,P =0.025 ; 1.0706 ± 0.1413,P =0.000 vs.1.2560 ± 0.0330).The incidences of pulmonary infections (x2 =3.647,P =0.601) and anastomotic leak (x2 =5.000,P =0.416) among all groups were not significantly different.Conclusions EN applied 3 days before surgery and after surgery is beneficial for maintaining the balance of intestinal flora.Long-term administration of antibiotics may cause dysbacteriosis and even increase complications.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic joint disease caused by various factors. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) therapy is an increasingly promising therapeutic option for osteoarthritis. However, the chronic inflammation of knee joint can severely impede the therapeutic effects of transplanted cells. Gelatin microspheres (GMs) are degradable biomaterial that have various porosities for cell adhesion and cell–cell interaction. Excellent elasticity and deformability of GMs make it an excellent injectable vehicle for cell delivery. METHODS: We created Wharton’s jelly derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs)-GMs complexes and assessed the effects of GMs on cell activity, proliferation and chondrogenesis. Then, WJMSCs loaded in GMs were transplanted in the joint of osteoarthritis mice. After four weeks, joint tissue was collected for histological analysis. Overexpressing-luciferase WJMSCs were performed to explore cell retention in mice. RESULTS: In vitro experiments demonstrated that WJMSCs loaded with GMs maintained cell viability and proliferative potential. Moreover, GMs enhanced the chondrogenesis differentiation of WJMSCs while alleviated cell hypertrophy. In KOA mice model, transplantation of WJMSCs-GMs complexes promoted cartilage regeneration and cartilage matrix formation, contributing to the treatment of KOA. Compared with other groups, in WJMSCs+GMs group, there were fewer cartilage defects and with a more integrated tibia structure. Tracking results of stable-overexpressing luciferase WJMSCs demonstrated that GMs significantly extended the retention time of WJMSCs in knee joint cavity. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that GMs facilitate WJMSCs mediated knee osteoarthritis healing in mice by promoting cartilage regeneration and prolonging cell retention. It might potentially provide an optimal strategy for the biomaterial-stem cell based therapy for knee osteoarthritis.