BACKGROUND:Loose bodies in the knee are found to survive for a long term and maintain certain histophysiological properties of cartilage tissue. Therefore, a bold hypothesis is proposed that the joint cavity may be a preferred environment for chondrocyte growth and development, supporting the concept of “intracavitary culture and intracavitary transplantation”.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the trait difference of chondrogenic culture with alogenic decalcified bone matrix and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels in the joint cavity orin vitro versus cartilage in the same cavity.
METHODS:There were three groups in this experiment: inin vitro culture group, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from newborn rabbits undergoing chondrogenic culture were co-cultured with decalcified bone matrix from adult rabbitsin vitro; in intracavitary culture group, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels from newborn rabbits undergoing chondrogenic culture were co-cultured with decalcified bone matrix from adult rabbits in the joint cavity; normal cartilage in the same cavity served as control group.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) After 12 weeks of culture, in the in vitro culture group, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed a smal amount of chondrocytes proliferated, with blue-stained nuclei; toluidine blue staining showed chondrocytes arranged disorderly, surrounded by a smal amount of matrix; Masson staining showed a smal positive area and irregular cellarrangement; type II colagen immunohistochemistry staining showed a few of yelow particles in the cytoplasm and extracelular matrix. (2) After 12 weeks of culture, in the intracavitary culture group, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed proliferation of chondrocytes with blue-stained nuclei; toluidine blue staining showed cluster-shaped arrangement of chondrocytes surrounded by the matrix with lacuna formation; Masson staining showed there were many positive cels with blue-stained matrix that arranged in a certain stress direction; immunohistochemical identification of type II colagen was positive, and brown-yelow stained particles could be discerned in the extracelular matrix. These findings indicate that tissue-engineered cartilage can be generated by co-culture of alogenic decalcified bone matrix and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels in the joint cavity orin vitro, and the cartilage cultured in the joint cavity is more close to normal cartilage than that cultured in vitro.

Objective: To study the treatment of complicated and giant carotid body tumor. Methods: A giant carotid body tumor was dissected 2 years ago. The external carotid artery was embolized by means of catheterization before surgical intervention, and techniques of internal shunting and autogenous blood transfusion was used during the operation. Results: The tumor was resected completely without cerebral vessel disorders and major cephalic nerve injuries. Conclusion: The application of radial intervention of external carotid artery, shunting of internal carotid artery and autogenous blood transfusion are helpful to the treatment of giant and re operative carotid body tumor.

Smoke water and distillation liquid were used to treat the seeds of Trichosathes kirilowii and to study the effects of smoke water and distillation liquid on the seed germination and seedling growth of T. kirilowii. The results showed that germination rate, germination index and germination vigor of T. kirilowii all were significantly improved with the treatment of SW and DL treatment. The activity of α-amylase were significantly increased with the treatment of SW and DL at 1:2,000. SW and DL treatment showed no significant effects on the activity of SOD. The activity of POD were markedly enhanced under the treatment of SW (1:000) and DL (1:2,000). CAT activity were increased with the treatment of SW and DL at 1:2,000 while were inhibited by SW and DL at 1:500. Seedling height and root length were increased with the treatment of SW and DL (1:1,000, 1:2,000). SW and DL treaments improved the content of chlorophyll, and moreover with the concentration of SW and DL, the stimulatory were also increased. This work demonstrated that smoke water and diatillation liquid at 1:2,000 could stimulate the seed germination and seedling growth of T. kirilowii, and it provided the references for the study of seed germination technology.
Agriculture ; instrumentation ; methods ; Distillation ; Germination ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Seeds ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Smoke ; analysis ; Trichosanthes ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Water ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanisms of Qianjing Decoction in the treatment of oligoasthenospermia (OAS).

METHODSWe randomly divided 100 SPF male rats into five groups of equal number: normal, model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing. OAS models were established in the animals followed by intragastrical administration of normal saline, ornidazole, Huangjingzanyu Capsules (200 mg per kg body weight per day), levocarnitine (100 mg per kg body weight per day), and Qianjing Decoction (10 g per kg body weight per day), respectively, qd, for 4 successive weeks. Then, we detected the concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm, obtained the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), α-glucosidase, and fructose in the epididymis, and determined the mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in the epididymal tissue of the rats by real-time PCR.

RESULTSThe concentration and motility of the epididymal sperm in the model, Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qianging groups were (35.34 ± 4.22) x 10(6)/ml and (40.04 ± 7.05)%, (48.12 ± 5.56) x 10(6)/ml and (62.46 ± 7.12)%, (47.14 ± 4.87) x 10(6)/ml and (63.23 ± 6.34)%, and (50.25 ± 5.08) x 10(6)/ml and (66.34 ± 7.58)%, respectively, all significantly lower than in the normal group ([53.05 ± 4.55] x 10(6)/ml and [70.20 ± 8.54]%) (P < 0.05), but remarkably higher in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups than in the model rats (P < 0.05). Compared with the thinned epididymal lumen walls, decreased sperm count, and disorderly and loose arrangement of the lumens in the OAS models, the rats in the Huangjingzanyu, levocarnitine, and Qiangjing groups showed evidently thicker epididymal lumen walls, with the lumens full of sperm cells and arranged regularly and compactly, similar to those of the normal rats. The levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly lower but that of MDA markedly higher in the model rats ([84.12 ± 23.25], [10.56 ± 3.02], and [14.04 ± 2.06] nmol/mg) than in the normal group ([110.04 ± 19.56], [17.25 ± 3.56], and [8.87 ± 1.35] nmol/mg) (P < 0.05), while the former two indexes remarkably higher and the latter one significantly lower in the animals treated with Qiangjing Decoction ([120.56 ± 23.68], [16.34 ± 3.12], and [8.45 ± 1.56] nmol/mg), Huangjingzanyu Capsules ([115.34 ± 21.35], [15.23 ± 3.67], and [8.33 ± 1.54] nmol/mg), and levocarnitine ([116.67 ± 22.67], [15.35 ± 3.45], and [8.05 ± 1.78] nmol/mg) than in the models (P < 0.05). The levels of fructose, LDH and α-glucosidase were decreased markedly in the OAS models ([100.22 ± 12.12] mg/[ ml x g], [322 ± 46.13] U/[ ml x g], and [10.48 ± 2.33] U/[ml x g]) as compared with the normal rats ([128.12 ± 13.45] mg/[ml x g], [428 ± 35.12] U/[ml x g], and [15.34 ± 3.12] U/[ ml x g]) (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the rats treated with Qiangjing ([130.23 ± 13.67] mg/[ml x g] [455 ± 51.50] U/[ml x g], and [18.56 ± 4.67] U/[ml x g]), Huangjingzanyu ([124.16 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [ 419 ± 43.14] U/[ml x g], and [17.64 ± 4.08] U/[ml x g]), and levocarnitine ([123.34 ± 14.02] mg/[ml x g], [430 ± 31.80] U/ [ml x g], and [16.85 ± 5.55] U/[ml x g]) than in the models (P < 0.05). The Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly reduced in the models as compared with the normal rats (P < 0.05) but remarkably increased in the Huangingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05). The SDH mRNA expression was significantly lower in the model than in the normal rats (P < 0.05) but markedly elevated in the Huangjingzanyu, Qiangjing and levocarnitine groups as compared with the model and normal animals (P < 0.05), remarkably higher in the Qiangjing than in the Huangjingzanyu group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONOrnidazole induces OAS in rats, which is closely associated with excessive oxidation and energy metabolism dysfunction. Qiangjing Decoction can improve and even reverse ornidazole-induced OAS in rats as well as improve the ultrastructure of their testicular and epididymal tissues. Antioxidation and improvement of energy metabolism are probably the action mechanisms of Qiangjing Decoction in the treatment of OAS.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; Asthenozoospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Carnitine ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Energy Metabolism ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oligospermia ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Ornidazole ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; physiology ; Succinate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; alpha-Glucosidases ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of MRA on the abnormal vessels in Moyamoya and cerebral revascularization , and to evaluate PWI in the observation of cerebral hemodynamics before and after cerebral revascularization.Methods Twenty-four patients with Moyamoya disease ascertained by DSA received cerebral revascularization on one side.MRA and PWI were performed for all patients before and after the operation , while DSA was performed after operation in nine patients to compare the images of MRA and DSA by three experienced radiologists.Perfusion parameters in terminal branches of middle cerebral artery ( MCA) on the operative side were compared with those on the contralateral sides and the cerebellum , including cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebral blood volume (CBV), mean transit time (MTT), and delay time ( DT) , as well as relative ratio ( values on the operative side/values on the contralateral side , and values on the operative side/values on the cerebellar region ) of perfusion parameters (rCBF, rCBV, rMTT and rDT) were calculated.Comparisons of the data between different groups were performed using paired Student′s t test.Results MRA was similar to DSA in displaying the internal carotid artery , main branches stenosis, Moyamoya vessels, and cerebral revascularization.DSA was better in displaying collateral vessels than MRA, but primary images of MRA provided anatomic and pathologic information of cerebral parenchyma.After the operations , rCBF (1.30 ±0.27) and rCBV (1.26 ±0.21) of MCA perfusion regions on the operative and the contralateral sides were higher than rCBF (0.73 ±0.15) and rCBV (0.98 ±0.12) before the operation significantly (t=-7.19,-6.64,P<0.05).rMTT (1.06 ±0.20) and rDT (1.07 ± 0.18) after the operation were lower than rMTT(1.53 ±0.34)and rDT (1.40 ±0.26) before the operation (t=5.62,5.40,P<0.05) .In MCA perfusion regions on the operative and cerebellar sides , rCBF(1.93 ± 0.34)and rCBV(2.25 ±0.35)were higher than rCBF(0.88 ±0.18)and rCBV(1.16 ±0.22)(t=-3.04,-3.06,P<0.05) before the operation.rMTT (1.13 ±0.29) and rDT (1.29 ±0.12) were lower than rMTT (1.88 ±0.19 ) and rDT ( 3.29 ±0.47 ) before the operation ( t =4.01, 4.72, P <0.05 ).Conclusions MRA is a safe , reliable method to evaluate abnormal vessels and cerebral revascularization after the operation in moyamoya disease.PWI can detect poor cerebral perfusion , and can be used for assessment of the effect of cerebral revascularization.

ObjectiveTo compare the neonatal outcomes between infants of assisted conception (AC) and natural conception (NC). Methods A prospective case-control study was conducted.Eligible mothers were invited to this study at 28 weeks of gestation and were followed up to delivery.All newborns were examined by pediatricians right after birth.Data including gestational age,birth weight,admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),and presence of any major malformation were collected.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0.Difference between two groups was compared by x2 test. ResultsSix hundred and seventy-three newborns were enrolled into this study,including 325 in AC group and 348 in NC group.There were no differences between the demographic characteristics of the two groups,including maternal age,parents' education,family income and proportion of primipara (P＞0.05).The incidences of twins (32.62％ vs 3.45％,x2 =98.88),preterm birth (30.46％ vs 7.76％,x2=56.92),low birth weight infant (32.31％ vs 8.91％,x2 =57.07)and admission to neonatal intensive care unit (27.38％ vs 8.91％,x2 =39.16) and proportion of cesarean birth (62.77％ vs 21.55％,x2=117.64) in AC group were significantly higher than in NC group (all P＜0.01),except for the incidence of birth defect (4.62％ vs 2.59％,x2=2.01,P＞ 0.05).However,no significant differences was found in the above items when only singletons were compared between the two groups (P＞0.05),except for the cesarean section rate (61.18％ vs 22.03％,x2 =100.93,P＜0.01).There were no difference in any of the above neonatal outcomes when different assisted reproductive technologies applied were compared(in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer,intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen embryo transfer) (P＞0.05).Conclusions Neonatal outcome after assisted conception is a bit worse than natural conception,which might mainly due to the large proportion of multiple pregnancy after assisted conception.In order to improve neonatal outcome after assisted conception,the number of embryos transferred should be limited.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of central cord syndrome without fracture or dislocation and assess the effect of surgical management.Methods Twenty-one cases of central cord syndrome without fracture or dislocation were diagnosed with X-ray radiography,CT and MRI and treated surgically.Spinal cord dysfunction and its recovery rate were evaluated using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) system.Radiological and clinical evaluation was performed for all cases.Pre-and postoperative ASIA scale and score were statistically analyzed.Results All cases sustained cervical spinal cord compression resulting from cervical disc herniation in 18 cases,of which five were accompanied by ligamentum flavum hypertrophy and reductus,developmental cervical spinal canal stenosis in two cases and posterior longitudinal ligament ossification in one case.Neurological dysfunction involved in the upper extremity in 15 cases and upper and lower extremity in six cases.Mean period of follow-up was 13.5months.ASIA scale was improved from C (n =9) and D (n =12) before operation to C (n =1),D (n =6) and E (n =14) in the last follow-up.ASIA score of motor and sensory dysfunction revealed a (84.3 ±12.5)％ and (62.7 ± 14.6)％ improvements,with significant difference as compared with the preoperative one (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Cervical disc herniation is the major factor of spinal cord compression in central cord syndrome without fracture and dislocation.Neurological dysfunction occurs mostly in the upper extremity.Surgery is an effective method to release spinal cord compression and restore neurological function.

Objective To evaluate the mechanism of reduction of protection induced by hypoxic postconditioning (HPO) in diabetic myocardiocytes subjected to hypoxia-reoxygenation (H/R),and the relationship with DJ-1 expression.Methods H9c2 cells cultured in normal culture atmosphere were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=36 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),group H/R,group HPO,plasmid carrying DJ-1 gene transfection group (group D),plasmid carrying DJ-1 gene transfection + H/R group (group DH),and plasmid carrying DJ-1 gene transfection + H/R + HPO group (group DHH).H/R was induced by 4 h of hypoxia followed by 2 h of reoxygenation.H9c2 cells were cultured in high glucose culture medium (30 mmol/L) for 48 h in C,H/R and HPO groups.H/R model was established in H/R and HPO groups.HPO was induced by 3 cycles of 5 min reoxygenation and 5 min hypoxia before the onset of reoxygenation in group HPO.In D,DH and DHH groups,the plasmid carrying DJ-1 gene (pEX-2-EGFP-DJ-1) was transfected into the cells,and then the cells were cultured in high glucose culture medium and subjected to H/R and HPO,respectively.At 2 h of reoxygenation,the cell survival rate was measured using the cell counting kit-8 assay,and the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the supernatant was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,the autophagosomes were examined with a transmission electron microscope,and the expression of DJ-1 and p62 and ratio of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 Ⅱ / Ⅰ (LC3 Ⅱ / Ⅰ) in cells were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with group C,the cell survival rate and DJ-1 expression were significantly decreased,and the LDH activity was significantly increased in H/R and HPO groups (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between H/R and HPO groups (P＞0.05).Compared with group D,the cell survival rate was significantly decreased,and the LDH activity was significantly increased in group DH (P＜0.01).Compared with group DH,the cell survival rate,the number of autophagosomes and LC3 Ⅱ / Ⅰ ratio were significantly increased,and the LDH activity and p62 expression were significantly decreased in group DHH (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the parameters mentioned above between H/R and DH groups (P＞0.05).Conclusion The mechanism of reduction of protection induced by HPO in diabetic myocardiocytes subjected to H/R is related to high glucose-induced inhibition of DJ-1 expression and decrease in autophagy.

Objective To investigate whether IL-24 can inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer in immune-competent mice,which could be mediated by tumor-targeting oncolytic adenovirus (ZD55-IL-24).Methods Crystal violet staining assay was used to evaluate the anti-proliferative influence of ZD55-IL-24 on Panc02.The tumor growth curve,the tumor formation curve,TUNEL assay,cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) killing assay and serum cytokines detection were used to assess anti-tumor efficacy of ZD55-IL-24 for pancreatic cancer in immune-competent mice.Results ZD55-IL-24 significantly inhibited the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.Lower tumor formation and slower tumor growth were identified in ZD55-IL-24 group,compared with ZD55-EGFP group or PBS group.ZD55-IL-24 induced pancreatic cancer cells'apoptosis,and mediated anti-cancer immunity by increasing killing responses of CTL to cancer cells and up-regulating serum γ-IFN and IL-6 levels.Conclusion ZD55-IL-24 can induce anti-tumor immunity and suppress pancreatic cancer growth in immune-competent mice.