Objective: To investigate the effect of serum growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: Our research included 2 groups: AIS group,n=120 patients and Control group,n=60 normal subjects from regular physical examination. The serum levels of GDF-15 were examined within 24 hours of AIS attack by ELISA in both groups, the relationship between GDF-15 and the neurologic impairment was assessed. According to modiifed ranking scale score after 3 months follow-up study, the AIS patients were further divided into 2 sub-groups: Disabled group, the patients with MRS ≥ 2, n=65 and Non-disabled group, the patients with MRS < 2,n=55. The GDF-15 levels were compared between 2 sub-groups. Results: GDF-15 level in AIS group was 1594.00 (1128.00-2411.00) ng/L which was signiifcantly higher than that in Control group 656.00 (507.00-764.00) ng/L,P<0.05. GDF-15 level was positively related to neurologic impairment in AIS patients (r=0.390, P<0.001). Modiifed ranking scale score indicated that after 3 months of follow-up study, GDF-15 level in Disabled group was 2411 (2188-2569) ng/L which was much higher than that in Non-disabled group 1128 (980-1597) ng/L, (Z=-5.684,P<0.001). Conclusion: The serum level of GDF-15 was higher in AIS patients than normal subjects, it was positively related to neurologic impairment, AIS patients with higher GDF-15 would have poor prognosis.

Objective To study the effects of Tongqiao-Huoxue decoction on neuron apoptosis in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and the serum nidogen expression of vascular dementia(VaD) rats and to investigate its mechanism. Methods 40 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group, a TCM group, and a placebo group. VaD rat models were established by Olsson method. After the models were successfully prepared, the rats in the TCM group were fed Tongqiao-Huoxue decoction, the rats in the placebo group were fed distilled water. Morris water maze test was adopted to investigate their learning and memory abilities, TUNEL was used to assay hippocampal CA1 neurons apoptosis, ELISA kits was used to detect Nestin serum levels . Results The neuron apoptosis index in the CA1 region of the hippocampus in the TCM group was(37.01±2.23)%,which was(55.15±1.54)%in the placebo group;the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The serum nidogen was(4.47±0.31)ng/L in the TCM group, which was(3.42±0.43)ng/L in the placebo group;the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). Compared to the VaD group, escape latency in the TCM group in the third, forth, and fifth day was significantly shorter(P<0.05), the number of cross platforms were significantly increased(t=3.521, P=0.000). Conclusion Tong qiao-Huoxue decoction can improve learning and memory impairment in VaD rats, which may be associated with its increasing serum nidogen expression and decreasing the neuron apoptosis in hippocampal CA1.

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification

BACKGROUND:The cell-sheet technology, based on a temperature-responsive culture, has been drawing more and more attention;however, the temperature-responsive culture dish is quite expensive. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a substitutive technique.OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of cell-sheet ulturing using common culture dish, and investigate the chondrogenesis of the cell sheet. METHODS: A piece of nasal septal cartilage was adopted from a patient with deviation of nasal septum to extract primary chondrocytes that were then cultured and amplified. The passage 3 chondrocytes were used to construct ell sheets. Monolayer cell sheet was formed by intensive culturing and allowing the extracellular matrix secretion. Bilayer cell sheet was constructed by seeding passage 2 chondrocytes on the monolayer cell sheet. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scraper, their properties were investigated prior to plantation into nude mice to construct the tissue-engineered cartilage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Both bilayer and monolayer cell sheets with soft tremellose structures showed no significant difference through naked eyes. The newly harvested cell sheets appeared to have good fluidity and gelation. Eight weeks after mplantation into the nude mice, mature cartilage blocks were obtained. Histologically, the cell sheets were thin films composed by layered chondrocytes and extracellular matrix. Glycosaminoglycan formation and type Ⅱ collagen expressions were observed in the cell sheets cultured in vitro. The explanted samples exhibited ature cartilaginous tissue at 8 weeks after implantation. Biochemical analysis showed that the DNA contents of the neocartilages were higher than those of native human costal cartilage, while the contents of glycosaminoglycan and hydroxyproline were similar to native human nasal septal cartilage. To conclude, the hondrocyte cell sheets are likely to be constructed and harvested successfully using common culture dish, and the cell sheets exhibit favourable chondrogenesis.

Objective]To study the feasibility of Cartilage engineering using fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.[Methods]rabbit auricular chondrocytes were isolated and cultured to form cell sheets in flasks. The cell sheets were harvested using cell scrapers,and cut into fragments. The two precursor solutions of Fibrin gel were used to suspend the cell sheet fragments and isolated chondrocytes,and then added into the wells of a 48-well plate to form Gelatinous chondroid disc constructs. After in vitro culture, the constructs were implanted into nude mice. After 8 weeks,the constructs were harvested,and the specimens were evaluated using grossly observing, histological and immunohistochemical observation. [Results]Mature cartilage discs were obtained. The histomorphology of the explanted discs appeared non-uniform cartilaginous tissue comprise of regenerated cartilage islands with different size and irregular shape. Immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that type II collagen highly expressed in the ECM of the cartilage islands. In 1 of the 8 discs,partial ossification was observed.[Conclusion]Fibrin gel is a favourable carrier. Artificial cartilage with stereochemical structure was constructed via combining the fibrin gel and chondrocyte cell sheets.

ObjectiveTo explore the expression of hemopoietin(EPO) mRNA on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats brain tissue and the effect of Tongxinluo on it.Methods The model of rat (MCAO) were perfused with Tongxinluo,the changes of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation related cell factors of EPO mRNA were detected after ischemia-reperfusion injury 3、5、7、14 d by means of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).ResultsEPO mRNA of ischemia-reperfusion models showed expression in different period,the expression enhanced in the third day,reached the highest in the fifth day; the ischemia side EPO mRNA expression enhanced in the third day after give Tongxinluo,in the 5,7 and 14 day,PCR expression gray values were higher than the model group.ConclusionEPO mRNA expression enhanced after cerebral ischemia,this expression can be strengthened by Tongxinluo,and may further induce neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

Objective To investigate the correlations between the hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) content and neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region as well as the spatial memory impairment in a rat model of vascular dementia (VaD).Methods Forty male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into either a VaD group or a sham operation group (n =20 in each group).A VaD model was induced by intermittently clipping common carotid artery.Microdialysis was used to collect dialysis solutions in rat hippocampus.High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis was used to detect the ACh content in the dialysis fluid.Morris water maze test was used to test their learning and memory abilities.TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampal CA1 region.Results Microdialysis analysis showed that the ACh content in the hippocampus in the VaD group was significantly lower than that in the sham operation group (0.442 ± 0.028 μmmol/L vs.1.560 ± 0.092 μ mmol/L; t =51.697,P =0.000).TUNEL staining showed that the apoptosis rate in the hippocampal CA1 region in the VaD group was significantly higher than that in the sham operation group (55.652％ ±2.051％ vs.6.530％ ± 1.872％ ; t =79.114,P=0.000).The escape latencies at different detection time points were prolonged significantly (At day 3:49.713 ± 18.161 s vs.13.322 ± 2.454 s; t =-8.881,P =0.000; at day 4:34.368 ± 7.424 s vs.10.503±1.415 s; t=-14.121,P=0.000; at day 5:30.676± 6.669s vs.7.311± 1.534 s; t=-15.270,P =0.000),and the numbers of cross platform were reduced significantly (3.768 ± 1.072 vs.10.218 ± 1.165; t =18.224,P=0.000).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the ACh contents in the VaD group were negatively correlated with the escape latencies (at day 3:r =-0.476,P =0.034; at day 4:r=-0.700,P=0.001; at day 5:r=-0.693,P=0.001).They were positively correlated with the numbers of cross platform (r =0.689,P =0.001),and negatively correlated with the neuronal apoptosis rates in the hippocampal CA1 region (r =-0.271,P =0.031).Conclusions The decreased ACh content,the increased neuronal apoptosis rate in the rat hippocampal CA1 region in the VaD model may be one of the mechanisms of cognitive impairment in VaD rats.

BACKGROUND:To seek for ideal scaffold materials is still an important task for cartilage tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the application of the AviteneTM microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge in cartilage tissue engineering.METHODS:Rabbit auricular cartilage was harvested via surgical operation,and primary chondrocytes were isolated and amplified.Microfibrillar collagen hemostat sponge was cut into small bricks.The passage 2 chondrocytes were suspended and seeded onto the spongy bricks.After 1 week of in vitro culture,the constructs were then implanted into nude mice.After 8 weeks,the specimens were collected and evaluated using gross,histological and immunohistochamical observation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:During the cell seeding,the scaffold maintained its dimensions.No shrinkage was observed when the cell suspension was added.There was no considerable change in dimensions during the 1-week in vitro culture and at 8 weeks after implantation in nude mice.At 8 weeks post-implantation,mature cartilage blocks were harvested,which were white,translucent,and flexible.Histologically,the constructs appeared to have typical mature cartilaginous tissues,with robust extracellular matrix secretion,in which the microfibrillar collagen was incompletely degraded.We conclude that the microfibrillar collagen is a favorable scaffold material for cartilage tissue engineering.

CMTM family is silenced and down-regulated in several kinds of tumors.Its aberrant expression has a strong association with the development,progression and metastasis of tumors.Thus,CMTM family is potential tumor suppressor genes.Epigenetics mechanism is the essential mechanism of the aberrant expression in this gene family.The discovery of this research gives a new direction to the clinical treatment of tumor.

Objective:To compare the clinical effect of 0.02% atropine eye drops once every two days and 0.01% atropine eye drops once every day in myopia control and adverse reactions in children.Methods:A randomized controlled study was performed.The 231 Han nationality myopic children wearing full-corrected single-vision spectacle lenses enrolled from June 2016 to June 2017 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Eye Hospital were divided into two groups by random number table, with 110 children in the 0.02% atropine group and 121 children in the 0.01% atropine group.The subjects were treated with 0.02% atropine eye drops once every two days or 0.01% atropine eye drops once every day to each eye before bedtime for one year.Ninety-two cases and 101 cases were followed up for one year in the 0.02% and 0.01% atropine group, respectively.The right eyes were selected as experimental eyes, and the spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL), amplitude of accommodation (AMP), pupil diameter (PD), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and corneal curvature were recorded at baseline and 12 months after treatment.Discomfort symptoms were also observed during the 1-year follow-up.The study protocol was approved by an Ethics Committee of The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University (No.2016-35). Written informed consent was obtained from guardians prior to any treatment.Results:After 1 year of treatment, the mean SER change was (-0.46±0.49)D and (-0.48±0.46)D, and the mean AL change was (0.38±0.21)mm and (0.39±0.19)mm, and the mean AMP change was (-1.49±0.29)D and (-1.61±0.26)D, and the mean PD change was (0.72±0.44)mm and (0.70±0.40)mm in the 0.02% atropine group and 0.01% atropine group, respectively.There was no significant difference in the change of SER, AL, AMP, PD between the two groups (all at P>0.05). There were 21 cases (19.1%) in the 0.02% atropine group and 25 cases (20.7%) in the 0.01% atropine group that represented mild photophobia in bright sunlight, which disappeared in 12 and 13 cases during 1-6 months respectively.The photophobia symptoms of the remaining children were alleviated.There existed 5 cases (4.5%) and 6 cases (5.0%) in the two groups that developed mild near blurred vision that lasted no more than 1 month. Conclusions:Compared with 0.01% atropine eye drops once a day, 0.02% atropine once every two days has the same efficacy on controlling myopia progression in children with no more adverse reactions.