BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are capable of differentiating into a variety of lineages, including bone, cartilage, or fat, depending on the inducing stimuli, specific growth and differentiation factors.Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) produced by gene engineering has an obvious osteoinductive activity and can induce undifferentiated mesenchymal cells into cartilage and bone irreversibly, resulting in new bone formation. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) modulates chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of bFGF and rhBMP-2 on the differentiation and proliferation of cultured rabbit mesenchymal stem cell in order to find out an optimal way of osteogenesis instead of conventional osteogenic supplements (OS).DESIGN: A randomized and controlled trial.SETTING: General Institute of Orthopaedic Oncology, Tangdu Hospital,Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: The subjects were rabbit mesenchymal stem cells cultured by the author.METHODS: This experiment was conducted at the Center of Orthopaedic Surgery, General Institute of Orthopaedic Oncology, Tangdu Hospital,Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA from June 2004 to December 2004. ①Rabbit MSCs cultured in vitro were treated with different growth factor (100 μg/L rhBMP-2, 100 μg/L bFGF, 10 μg/L rhBMP-2and 100 μg/L bFGF and OS; ②The proliferation and differentiation of MSCs were observed through activity of MTT, expression of alkaline phosphatase(ALP), and von Kossa staining.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: the rate of proliferation and the activity of ALP.RESULTS: ①rhBMP-2 could promote the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs, especially the cell differentiation; ②bFGF could stimulate the proliferation , the cellular proliferation rate increased 100% as compared with control group, and has no effect on differentiation of MSCs , but it could enhance effect on the cell proliferation of rhBMP-2.CONCLUSION: bFGF and rhBMP-2 are effective induction factors for MSCs. Both of them can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs in vitro. bFGF and rhBMP-2 exerted a synergetic action in speeding up the pace of osteoinduction and osteogenesis and can be used to differentiate seed cells for tissue engineering bone.

Objective To detect the change of interleukin-18 (IL-18) level in the serum of patients with acute leukemia (AL) in children, and explore the clinical significance of IL-18. Methods The level of IL-18 was measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) in 45 patients with AL in children. Results The leverof IL-18 in pre-treatment AL group was 719.35±358.21pg/mL and significantly higher than that of normal-control group [(311.80±146.64)pg/mL P <0.01]. Mter treatment, the level of IL-18 was 401.14±180.78 pg/mL in post-treatment complete remission group, which was significantly lower than that of pre-treatment group(P <0.01). The level of IL-18 in non-remission group was higher than those of normal control and CR group (P<0.01);while pre-treatment group the difference was not significant (P >0.05). According to the clinical sub-group with risk factors in pre-treatment AL, the level of IL-18 in high risk(HR) and middle risk(MR) group was significantly higher than low risk(LR) group (P<0.05). The level of IL-18 in T-ALL group was significantly higher than that in B-ALL group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-18 in pre-treatment AL were markedly correlated to the count of blast cells in bone marrow (r=0.411, P=0.005). Conclusion The level of IL-18 in the patients of childhood AL was in a high expression, and related to the clinical treating effect and the count of blast cells in bone marrow, which would be taken as an index of treating effect. The level of IL-18 was closely related to the clinical risk factors in pre-treatment AL.

Objective:To establish a method of inducing dendritic cells(DC)from the hematopoitic stem cells of rats in vitro,and to identify the phenotype and fusion of DC. Methods:DC obtained from SD rat bone marrow hematopoitic stem cells were propagated in vitro under the condition of rGM CSF、rIL 4 and nrhTNF ?.DC were purified by monoclonal antibody OX62 and magnetic beads.Then DC harvested 12 d later were identified by morphological features,surface antigen expressions and the ability to atimulate T cells. Results:After culture and induction,DC displayed typical morphology with elongated dendritic processes viewed by inversion microscope as well as electron microscope.DC expressed high level surface antigens,including OX62 62.19%;MHCⅠ 70.40%;MHCⅡ 78.28%;CD80 55.58%; CD86 68.38%, The results of mixed lymphocyte reaction(MLR)showed that DC had the ability to stimulate vigorous proliferation of allo T cells. Conclusion:Matue DC could be generated from rat bone marrow hematopoitic stem cells,which presents the feasibility for further clinical application of DC in the immunotherapy of cancers.

To investigate the cognition and attitude towards ethical,legal,medical,social issues caused by associated reproductive technology (ART) among adults in Heilongjiang Province,and to provide scientific basis for evaluating ART and formulating related policies.A total of 220 residents from Harbin,Qiqihar,and Daqing in Heilongjiang Province were invited to the present study.The cognition and attitude towards ART was investigated using a self-designed questionnaire.Adults in Heilongjiang Province had generally high cognition level of informed consent,ethical review,legal protection and social cognition,etc.But there was still a large ambiguity of detailed issues such as the function of ethical review,treatment abandoning,the potential risks and so on.It should strengthen the function of Institutional Review Board,continuously improve the mechanism of risk assessment and supervision,carry out health education and health promotion,establish a multi-disciplinary cooperation team,and reach a consensus among professionals,government policy makers and public representatives,so as to facilitate the healthy development of ART.

Objective A prospective randomized controlled trial was carried out to explore the best time of In-domethacin suppositories administration for the prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis in high-risk groups. Methods 81 patients were enrolled in the study finally. Patients were randomized into group A (100 mg rectal Indomethacin suppositories was administrated immediately after ERCP), group B (100 mg rectal Indomethacin suppositories was administrated half an hour after ERCP) and group C (ERCP alone group, which did not give Indomethacin supposito-ries). The level of serum amylase, urine amylase, serum CRP, serum IL-6, serum TNF-α were measured before, 3 h, 24 h and 48 h after ERCP, and the incidence of PEP and hyperamylasemia were analyzed. Results There was 1 case (4.00%) of PEP in group A, 2 cases (5.41%) of PEP in group B and 5 cases (26.31%) of PEP in group C;the incidences of PEP of group A and group B were significant lower than that in group C (P < 0.05). There was 1 case (4.00%) of hyperamylasemia in group A, 5 cases (13.51 %) of hyperamylasemia in group B and 6 cases (31.6 %) of hyperamylasemia in group C, and the incidences of hyperamylasemia of group A and group B were significant lower than that in group C ( P< 0.05). Conclusion Administration of 100 mg Indomethacin suppositories immediately or half an hour after ERCP can effectively reduce the incidence of PEP and hyperamylasemia.

Objective To determine which parameters of reverse remodeling of left ventricular could become the effective indexes in evaluating the short-term therapeutic effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT)in heart failure(HF)patients.Methods CRT was performed in 26 HF patients with dysfunctions of wall motion.Serial echocardiography was practiced at baseline,one and three months after CRT.The parameters including left atrial end-diastolic diameter(LADD),left ventrieular end-diastolic diameter(LVDD),end-diastolic volume (LVEDV),end-systolic volume(LVESV),ejection fraction(LVEF)were measured and compared before and after CRT therapy.Results At one and three months after CRT,respectively,CRT was associated with reduced LADD,LVDD,LVEDV,LVESV and improved LVEF and filling time compared with those at baseline.Moreover,all these parameters had better correlations with the activities of these patients.Conclusions LADD,LVDD,LVEDV,LVESV and LVEF could become the effective indexes in evaluating the short-term effect of CRT in HF patients.The reduced diameters and volumes of left atria and left ventricle are more sensitive parameters than the improved LVEF.

This paper aims to raise concerns about the modification of bovine hemoglobin with the use of SC-mPEG as modifying reagent. The yield rates of SC-mPEG-BHB under dissimilar conditions are studied, and more important, a series of methods used to characterize the SC-mPEG-BHB mixtures are built. The best reactive system has been confirmed, i.e., at 4 degrees C, pH9; SC-mPEG and BHB are mixed according to the proportion of 60:1 and be submitted to reaction for 2 h.
Animals ; Blood Substitutes ; chemical synthesis ; Cattle ; Hemoglobins ; chemistry ; classification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; classification

Objective To investigate the development of early myocardial perfusion with myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) combined with dipyridamole stress echocardiography in diabetic rats . Methods The diabetes mellitus (DM) group comprised 40 male diabetic rats ,induced with streptozotocin . The control group comprised 40 normal male rats ,comparable body weights with the DM group .The DM group was divided into four subgroups (0 week ,2 weeks ,4 weeks and 8 weeks after diabetic model established) and the control group was also divided into four subgroups matched with the DM group .Each rat was performed with conventional echocardiography ,MCE at baseline and after dipyridamole stress .The reserve parameters were compared between the control group and the DM group .In addition ,the differences among four subgroups in the control group and the DM group were compared ,respectively .Results MCE demonstrated that the 4 weeks and 8 weeks DM subgroup had lower myocardial blood velocity reserve and myocardial blood flow reserve than the control subgroup .The myocardial blood volume reserve was reduced in the 8 weeks DM subgroup ,too .Conclusions The impairment of myocardial perfusion in the DM rats are detected earlier with the MCE combined with dipyridamole stress .

Objective To investigate the clinical application of wave intensity (WI) technique in assessing the short-term effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy(CRT). Methods Sixteen patients with congestive heart failure treated with CRT were chosen. Before the implantation of CRT pacemaker and 1 week, 1 month,3 month after it,the diameters and volumes of left ventricle(LV) in the end-diastole and the end-systole were measured by echocardiography. LV ejection fractions(LVEF) were calculated by Simpson's way,and the variation ratio of left ventricular end-systolic volume(△ESV) was assessed each time after the CRT. The maximal rate of LV pressure rise (LVdP/dtmax) was assessed in the continuous-wave Doppler spectrum of mitral regurgitation. The magnitude of W1, and the length of R-W1 interval as well as W1-W2interval were recorded by WI technique applied on the left carotid artery of each patient. Results Compared to the data before CRT,W1 and W1-W2 interval were significantly higher in different period after CRT (P ＜0. 01). This result was conformed with echocardiographic remodeling data and LV systolic function.Conclusions WI provides a potential usage in conveniently and effectively assessing the CRT effects in short-term.

Objective To explore the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) on autotaxin (ATX) expression and its significance. Methods The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector of HBx ,pcD-NA3.1(+)-HBx,and the recombinant luciferase reporter gene vector of ATX promoter,pGL3-ATX,were con-structed and used to co-transfect HepG2 cells to examine the effect of HBx on the activity of ATX promoter. The sta-ble cell expressing HBx,HepG2.HBx,was constructed,and Western blot(WB)was used to detect the effect of HBx on ATX expression. Results The luciferase activity of pcDNA3.1(+)-HBx and pGL3-ATX group was 1.47 times as that of the empty vector cDNA3.1(+)and pGL3-ATX group(P<0.000). WB detection showed that the expression of ATX protein was increased in HepG2.HBx cells,and 1.75 times as that of HepG2 cells(P<0.05). Conclusion HBx can activate ATX promoter and up-regulate ATX expression ,thus suggests that HBV infection might enhance ATX/LPA signaling.