BACKGROUND:The production and release of a large amount of inflammatory factors caused by immune system inflammatory response mainly contributes to secondary spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cel transplantation on repair of injured neurological function and expression of inflammatory factors monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 10 in rats with acute spinal cord injury. METHODS: Eighty-one healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equaly divided into sham operation, model and cel transplantation groups, with 27 rats per group. Rats in the latter two groups were subjected to hemisection of the spinal cord to establish acute spinal cord injury models. Rat models in the cel transplantation group received umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cel injection (1×106)via the tail vein. Rat neurological function was evaluated using the BBB score at different time points after spinal cord injury. The expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and interleukin 10 in injured spinal cord tissue was detected using ELISA assay at different time points after spinal cord injury. Migration and neuronal differentiation of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels in the injured spinal cord tissue were determined using immunohistochemical staining method. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the sham operation and model groups, rat neurological function was significantly recovered in the cel transplantation group (P < 0.05). Compared to the model group, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 level in the serum and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 mRNA and protein expression in the injured spinal cord tissue were significantly lower (P < 0.05), but interleukin 10 mRNA and protein expression in the injured spinal cord tissue was significantly higher (P < 0.05), in the cel transplantation group. In the cel transplantation group, umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels could migrate to the injured region and express glial fibrilary acidic protein. These findings suggest that umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels promote rat neurological function recovery by regulating the inflammatory response in the injured spinal cord tissue, which is likely to be one of mechanisms by which transplantation of umbilical cord Wharton’s jely mesenchymal stem cels treats spinal cord injury.

Objective To study the effects of insulin therapy on alterations of learning and memory functions and somatostatin (SS) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in frontal cortex and hippocampus of diabetic rats. Methods The diabetic rat models were produced by injection with 1% streptozotocin, followed by insulin administration. The water maze test was used to verify the changes of learning and memory functions of the rats and radioimmunoassary was carried out to observe the alterations of SS and VIP levels in the cerebral cotex and hippocampus. Results The swimming time of untreated diabetic rats in water maze was prolonged significantly and the successful frequencies decreased significantly in comparison to those of controls. The contents of SS reduced significantly both in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of untreated diabetic rats, while VIP were not changed. The changes in learning and memory functions and SS levels in insulin-treated diabetics were not significantly different from those of controls. Conclusion The cognitive dysfunctions induced by diabetes may be correlated with the decrease of SS and alleviated with insulin administration.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Tangshenkang Granule (TG) containing serum on renal mesangial cells' (RMCs) proliferation and TGF-β1/Smad2/3 pathway in the high glucose condition.

METHODSTwelve SD rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e., the low dose TG group, the middle dose TG group, the high dose TG group, and the blank control group, 3 in each group. After 7-day gastrogavage via portal vein blood, rats were sacrificed and their serum samples were collected. RMCs were cultured in common rat serum and TG containing serum respectively. The proliferation of mesangial cells was determined by methly thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to determine the optimal TG containing serum concentration. Expression levels of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein were determined by real time quantitative PCR and ELISA. Smad2/3 protein expression and phosphorylation were determined by Western blot and immunofluorescence.

RESULTSTG containing serum at different doses could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, TGF-β1 over-expression and Smad2/3 phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONTG containing serum could inhibit high glucose induced RMC cells' proliferation, and its mechanism might be possibly associated with inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; Mesangial Cells ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Serum ; Signal Transduction ; Smad2 Protein ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo obtain seed cells for cartilage repair through constructing recombinant human transforming growth factor beta3 vector (hTGF-beta3) and transfecting it into rat's precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs).

METHODSGene engineering technique was introduced to construct eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1 (+)-hTGF-beta3. PSCs of rats were isolated and purified with method of immunomagnetic microbeads. Then PSCs were cotransfected with plasmid hTGF-beta3 and pcDNA3.1 (+)-enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) by liner polyethyleneimine (PEI). And 48 hours later the transient expression of EGFP was observed under a fluorescence microscope, and the expression of hTGF-beta3 was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe sequences of the recombinants were consistent with that from Genebank. Cotransfection of EGFP provided fast visual confirmation of successful transduction. The hTGF-beta3 mRNA and protein expression could be detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.

CONCLUSIONSThe recombinant plasmid is correctly constructed and successfully transfected into rat's PSCs, which is an important step to treat epiphyseal injury or other osteo-cartilage diseases with transgenic therapy.

Animals ; Cartilage ; cytology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Immunohistochemistry ; Plasmids ; Polyethyleneimine ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Transfection ; methods ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics

Objective To investigate the clinical features of recurrent epileptic seizures and perioperative management principles and methods of neurosurgical patients with recurrent epileptic seizures.Methods The clinical data,reasons for aggravated seizures,seizure characteristics,and treatment methods and results of 9 patients with recurrent epileptic seizures were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of all the 9 patients,3 were combined with glioma,1 with arachnoid cyst,1 with cavernous hemangioma and 1 with encephalomalacia; epilepsy history was noted in 7 patients; frontal lobe epilepsy was noted in 7,and temporal lobe epilepsy in 2.The reasons for seizure aggravation included drug-decrement(n=3),recent-diagnosed brain tumor(n=2)and surgical operation during intracranial electrode implantation(n=1); and unknown reason was noted in the other 3.Epileptic seizure types included partial seizure and secondary generalized seizure; the frequency of seizure ranged from 3 minutes of interval to several hours of interval.Patients given multiple antiepileptic drugs,including oral and parenteral administration,received good seizure-control; and levetiracetam showed good curative effect during the treatment.Conclusion Recurrent seizures show drug refractory,and is hard to control.The AEDs having good curative effect in partial seizure should be combined used in these patients with higher dosage than conventional initial dose; intravenous and intramuscular administration can be used; the seizures should be controlled as soon as posible.Levetiracetam has good curative effect on patients with recurrent seizures for its fast oral-absorption,rapid onset of action and good antiepileptic effect.

BACKGROUNDMicroRNAs (miRNAs) control gene expression by destabilizing target transcripts and inhibiting their translation. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has been described in many human diseases, including schizophrenia. However, the effects on miRNA expression in response to antipsychotic treatment in peripheral circulation have not been thoroughly examined.

METHODSUsing quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), We quantified the expression of seven candidate miRNAs in plasma samples of 40 first-episode schizophrenics before and after antipsychotic treatment. The patients were all treated with risperidone and achieved remission in 1 year.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, the expression levels of miR-365 and miR-520c-3p were significantly down-regulated after 1 year of risperidone treatment (P < 0.001). There were no significant correlations between the clinical symptoms and the expression levels of these two miRNAs (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study analyzed possible circulating miRNAs in response to antipsychotic monotherapy for schizophrenia, the further mechanism need to be confirmed.

Adult ; Antipsychotic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; blood ; Risperidone ; therapeutic use ; Schizophrenia ; drug therapy ; genetics

BACKGROUNDCoronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) and late stent thrombosis remain as important complications of stenting. The inflammation reactions to sirolimus and paclitaxel-eluting stents were investigated in a swine stenosis model induced by interleukin (IL)-1β.

METHODSMini pigs (n = 12; 2-3 months old and weighing 25-30 kg) were subjected to thoracotomy. Segments (10 mm) of the mid left anterior descending coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery were exposed and aseptically wrapped with a cotton mesh soaked with IL-1β (5 µg). After 2 weeks, the animals were anesthetized and quantitative coronary arteriography (QCA) was performed. The stenosis sites were randomized into three groups for stent insertion: a sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) group (Firebird(TM), n = 7), a paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) group (TAXUS(TM), n = 9), and a bare-metal stent (BMS) group (YINYITM, Dalian Yinyi Biomaterials Development Co., Ltd, China, n = 8). The three different stents were randomly implanted into stenosis segments. Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), P-selectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was determined by reverse transcription-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSQCA showed severe stenosis in IL-1β treated segments. The SES and PES groups showed lower 1-month angiographic late lumen loss (LLL) within the stent and the lesion compared with BMS (P < 0.05) by follow-up QCA. The SES showed lower LLL than that of PES in reducing 1-month inflammation lesions in pigs by follow-up QCA ((0.15 ± 0.06) mm vs. (0.33 ± 0.01) mm, P < 0.0001). The neointimal hyperplasia areas in SES and PES showed lower than those of BMS (SES (11.6 ± 1.7) mm(2), PES (27.2 ± 1.6) mm(2) vs. BMS (76.2 ± 1.3) mm(2), P < 0.0001). The mRNA expression of MCP-1 by RT-PCR in SES and PES showed lower than that of BMS at 30 days after stenting (SES 0.20 ± 0.03, PES 0.48 ± 0.49 vs. BMS 0.58 ± 0.07, P < 0.05). Levels of VCAM-1 in SES were significantly lower than those of PES and BMS (SES 0.35 ± 0.08 vs. PES 0.65 ± 0.13, BMS 0.70 ± 0.06, P < 0.05). Histochemical immunostaining of vessel walls showed lower inflammatory chemokine MCP-1 expression in the SES and PES groups compared with BMS.

CONCLUSIONSESs were superior in reducing 1-month angiographic LLL in inflammation lesions in pigs, strongly suggesting that SESs can suppress inflammatory reactions in ISR at multiple points.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; adverse effects ; Animals ; Coronary Restenosis ; prevention & control ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; adverse effects ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Interleukin-1beta ; pharmacology ; Male ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Sirolimus ; administration & dosage ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effect,advantages and disadvantages of endoscopic surgery and open surgery in treating the recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom August 2008 to December 2010,the data of 35 patients with recurrent lumbar disc herniation were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into endoscopic surgery group and open surgery group according to operative methods. Fourteen patients in endoscopic surgery group were treated with transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion by micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) and the other 21 patients in open surgery the group were treated with posterior lumbar interbody fusion by open surgery. All patients were fixed by vertebral pedicle screw. The operation time,volume of bleeding and drainage after operation,analgesic dosage and time in bed after operation were observed. Visual Analogue Scale(VAS),Japanese Orthopedic Association(JOA)and Chinese Oswestry Disability Index(CODI) were used to evaluate the clinical effects before and after operation.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in operation time between two groups(P>0.05). Volume of bleeding and drainage after operation,analgesic dosage and time in bed after operation,VAS score in endoscopic surgery group was less than that of open surgery group (P<0.01). All patients were followed up for 1 year. There was no significant difference in JOA between two groups (P>0.05). CODI in endoscopic surgery group was better than that of open surgery group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth operative methods can obtain good clinical effects,but the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion operation by micro-endoscopic discectomy (MED) has advantage of less traumatic and less pain,better functional recovery,it is a first choice in treating the recurrent lumbar disc herniation.

Adult ; Diskectomy ; methods ; Endoscopy ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

Humans ; Thymoma/surgery* ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Thymus Neoplasms/surgery* ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial

Objective:To analyze the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation treatment for multiple T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)with over 5 years follow-up.Methods:From January 2014 to January 2019,a retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with multiple T1N0M0 PTC who underwent ultrasound-guided thermal ablation.Patients with bilateral or unilateral lobes with isthmus PTC were enrolled in this study and were followed up at 1,3,6,12,24,36,48,and 60 months after ablation.The clinical data,ultrasound characteristics and ablation parameters of recurrent and non-recurrent patients were compared,and the efficacy and influencing factors of thermal ablation for multiple T1N0M0 PTC were analyzed.Results:After over 5 years follow-up,a total of 11 patients(16.18％)relapsed,57 patients(83.82％)did not re-lapse.No lymph node and distant metastasis were found.No significant correlation was detected between the recurrence and clinical features,ultrasound findings and ablation parameters(P＞0.05).Among the patients with recurrence,1 patient underwent observation,2 patients underwent total thyroidectomy,and the other 8 patients successfully underwent secondary ablation,all of which had no obvious adverse reactions.Conclusion:The ablation of multiple PTC in T1N0M0 stage is safe and effective,with a recurrence rate of 16.18％over 5 years follow-up,and ablation has no effect on second treatment for recurrent patients.