AIM: To explore transdifferentiation potential of Sca-1 + cells from murine fetal liver. METHODS: 2?10 3 of Sca-1 + cells from male murine fetal liver were transfused into female mouse irradiated lethally with ? ray from 60 Co source (10 Gy) via tail vein. Two months later, FISH and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the situation for transdifferentiating of the donor cells (male cells) in tissues of female recipient mouse. RESULTS: The renal tubular epitheliocyte-like and neurocyte-like cells with Y chromosome were found on the sections of renal and brain tissues from female recipient mice. These cells have phenotype characteristics of RCA+/CD - 45 F - 4/80 and NueN +/CD -45 F - 4/80, respectively. CONCLUSION: The evidence is provided for Sca-1 + cells from murine fetal liver to transdifferentiate into both renal and brain tissue cells.

Objective To investigate the changes in serum leptin and adiponectin levels and their significance in patients with chronic hepa-titis B virus (HBV)infection.Methods One hundred and twenty -five patients with chronic HBV infection (44 HBeAg -positive cases, 31 HBeAg -negative cases of chronic hepatitis B,23 chronic HBV carriers,and 27 inactive HBsAg carriers)were recruited in the present study.Fifty -five healthy people served as the control group.Blood samples were collected at 8 to 9 AMof the next morning after overnight fasting.Blood glucose,blood lipids,renal and liver function parameters,fasting insulin,serum HBV markers,and HBV DNA concentration were determined,and HOMA -IR was calculated.Serum levels of leptin and adiponectin were measured by ELISA.Continuous data were expressed as mean ±SD,and Student′s t -test,analysis of variance,linear regression analysis,and multiple regression analysis were ap-plied in the analysis of all experimental data.Results There were no significant differences in serum levels of leptin and adiponectin be-tween patients with chronic HBV infection and the control group (P =0.480;P =0.321),even after stratification by gender (males:P =0.210 /0.895;females:P =0.404 /0.066).After patients with chronic HBV infection were divided into subgroups by HBeAg status,HBV DNA,or ALT level,there were no significant differences in serum levels of leptin and adiponectin between groups (leptin:P =0.820 /0.296 /0.212;adiponectin:P =0.268 /0.760 /0.224).Conclusion For patients with chronic HBV infection,infection status and viral replication level are not significantly correlated with serum levels of leptin and adiponectin.

Objective:To explore the relationship between periodontitis and coronary heart disease (CHD)by meas-uring changes of serum inflammatory cytokine levels.Methods:A total of 197 patients from our hospital were en-rolled,including CHD + periodontitis group (123 cases),pure CHD group (CHD group,39 cases)and pure peri-odontitis group (periodontitis group,35 cases).Another 45 healthy subjects were enrolled as healthy control group. Concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-6 (IL-6),serum amyloid-a (SAA),high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP)and plasma fibrinogen (Fg)were measured in all groups,and levels of above inflammatory cytokines were compared among four groups.Results:Compared with healthy control group,there were significant rise in levels of above inflammatory cytokines in CHD + periodontitis group (P<0.01 all),Com-pared with CHD group or periodontitis group,there were significant rise in levels of hsCRP [(6.52±2.03)mg/L, (4.34±1.76)mg/L vs.(9.21±2.65)mg/L],IL-6 [(65.32±21.01)ng/L,(65.12±12.34)ng/L vs.(85.76± 25.96)ng/L]and TNF-α[(9.75±3.74)ng/L,(9.34±4.55)ng/L vs.(13.46±8.12)ng/L],SAA [(2.25±1.2) pg/ml,(2.22 ±1.02)pg/ml vs. (2.85±1.45)pg/ml],P<0.05 all in CHD + periodontitis group;there were no significant difference in all serum inflammatory cytokine levels between CHD group and periodontitis group (P>0.05 all).Conclusion:Serum inflammatory cytokine levels significant rise in palients with periodontitis,it is related with coronary heart disease.

In recent years,the basic research on liver fibrosis has been progressed rapidly.This article briefly reviews the cellular and molecular mechanisms of liver fibrosis,including the origin of myofibroblasts,immune regulation,autophagy,and epigenetic regulation,and introduces several new therapeutic targets.More and more evidences show that successful removal of causes is the most important antifibrotic therapy.At present,although the antifibrotic drugs acting on different targets have been emerging,most of them are still in the early stage of research and development,and well-designed clinical trials are needed to confirm their clinical efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the value of left ventricular Tei index for diagnosis of congestive heart failure(CHF)in elderly patients. Methods One hundred and thirty-eight elderly patients suggestive of CHF and 30 healthy middle-aged individuals were enrolled, Tei index, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and early to late diastolic mitral flow velocity ratio (E/A) were echocardiographically detected. Tei index in elderly patients with and without CHF, and healthy middle-aged individuals was determined, and then the diagnostic value of the above 3 parameters for CHF in elderly patients were evaluated. Results Tei index was singnificantly increased in patients with CHF compared with patients without CHF (0.77?0.14 vs 0.45?0.10,P

Objective To investigate the change and clinical value of serum procalcitonin (PCT ) in the patients with severe dia‐betic foot .Methods The serum PCT level was detected before treatment and at 1 ,2 weeks of treatment in 86 patients with severe diabetic foot .Results With the infection severity aggravating before treatment ,the elevation of PCT was more significant .The PCT level after 1 week treatment showed a decreasing trend ,but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0 .05);in the patients with Wagner grade 3-5 ,the PCT level after 2 week treatment showed a obvious decreasing trend ,moreover the difference was sta‐tistically significant(P<0 .05) .Conclusion PCT could serve as one of sensitive indexes to judge the outcome in the patients with diabetic foot .

Objective To study the effects of atorvastatin on expression of lysyl oxidase(LOX) in myocardial tissue of rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and its mechanism.Methods Thirty DCM SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:DCM group,treatment group (atorvastain 2 mg · kg-1 · d-1 by gastric gavage) and β-aminopropionitrile group(β-aminopropionitrile 80 mg · kg-1 · d-1 by gastric gavage),10 cases in each group.Other 10 SD rats were selected as the control group.At the end of week 8,the rats were killed for extracting the myocardial tissue RNA and protein.Expression levels of LOX,MMP-2 and NF-κB mRNAs and proteins in myocardial tissue of DCM rats were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results The expression levels of LOX,MMP-2 and NF-κB mRNAs and proteins in the DCM group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P＜0.01),and compared with the DCM group,the expression of BAPN LOX,MMP-2 and NF-κB mRNA and proteins in the treatment group were significantly deceased (P＜0.01).Conclusion Atorvastatin can reverse the expression of LOX in myocardial tissue of DCM rat,and then may regulate the expression of MMP-2 and NF-κB.

Objective To analyze the results and indications of anterior, posterior or combined surgery for thoracolumbar burst fractures. Methods A retrospective review of surgically managed thoracolumbar burst fractures from 1998 to 2003 was performed. There were 76 males and 13 females, and the age of the patients were from 17 to 51 years with an average of 36.8 years. The fractures were located at T11 in 10, T12 in 21, L1 in 29, L2 in 18 and L3 in 11. According to Magerl classification, type A fractures were 68, and type C were 21. Of the 89 patients, 41 received posterior surgeries, 40 anterior surgeries, and 8 combined anterior and posterior surgeries. Operative notes, preoperative and postoperative neurological status, radiographs, CT scans, and follow-up records were reviewed. Results All of the 89 cases had successful surgery. Seventy-eight patients were followed-up for 6 to 48 months (average 12 months). Neurological status improved at least 1 ASIA grade in all of the 65 patients who had preoperative incomplete paraplegia. In the posterior surgeries, pedicle screws broken in 2 cases, deep infection in 1 case which was cured after debridement. The correction of anterior vertebral body height and Cobb's angle averaged 9.4 mm and 14.8? postoperatively, and the correction loss averaged 0.5 mm and 7.5? respectively at 6 months after surgery. And the correction loss was most evident at the above disc spaces, then the below disc spaces. In the anterior surgeries, leakage of cerebrospinal fluid in 2 cases which cured with dressing change, the other cured after debridement, implant removal and posterior fixation. The spinal canal was enlarged, and the spine recovered normal curvature. No evident correction loss, pseudoarthrosis or implant failure was noted at follow-up. Conclusion The choice of anterior, posterior or combined surgery for thoracolumbar burst fractures depends on neurological status and column stability. The vertebral compression, canal encroachment, posterior column stability and concomitant displacement should be considered in the choice of appreciate surgical approach.

Objective To evaluate clinical features and mortality of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) in the aged patients. Methods Clinical data of 108 patients diagnosed with PBC was reviewed. The diagnosis of PBC was made according to the 2000 practice guidelines of American Association for the study of liver Diseases (AASLD). Elderly patients (≥60 years) were compared in terms of clinical, biochemical, immunological features and mortality with younger patients (0.05). After a median follow-up of 36 months, the mortality ratio for liver diseases was higher in the elderly than in younger group (21.4% vs 2.5%, ~P

liver.Combined informational analysis showed that the presenting frequency of the cells containing Y chromosome was consistent with the irradiative sensitivity of the organ.CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the capability of differentiation of Sca-1 positive cells from murine fetal liver was potentially connected to the extent of damage in these organs when transferred in vivo.