OBJECTIVETo investigates the surgical treatment for congenital anophthalmia.

METHODSThe operation was performed in two steps. At first, the orbit was enlarged and the tarsus was reconstructed with cartilage transplantation. At the second step, blepharoptosis was corrected with levator shortening or frontalis muscle suspension.

RESULTSFive cases have been treated successfully with this method and satisfactory results were obtained.

CONCLUSIONOrbit amplification and tarsus reconstruction along with ptosis correction is an effective treatment for anophthalmia both aesthetically and functionally.

Anophthalmos ; surgery ; Blepharoplasty ; Blepharoptosis ; congenital ; surgery ; Cartilage ; transplantation ; Facial Muscles ; surgery ; Humans ; Oculomotor Muscles ; surgery ; Orbit ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

A dual-mode recording system used for synchronous detection of neuroeletrical and neurochemical signals was developed, and a dual-mode synchronous detection experiment was carried out using the instrument. The device comprised 64-channel neuroelectricity recording module with voltage resolution of 0. 3 μV and 4-channel neurochemistry recording module with current resolution of 1 pA. The software had many basic features, including Spike separation and sort, chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, etc. In particular, the software could observe and analyze the dual-mode neural signals synchronously. The performance of the system was demonstrated in the single mode detection experiments. In neuroeletrical experiments, 64-channel simulate neural signals were detected and the signal to noise ratio ( S/N) of Spike recorded from cortex of Sprague-Dawley ( SD ) rat was 6. In the K3 [ Fe ( CN )6 ] and ascorbic acid measurement experiments, the current response of K3 [ Fe ( CN)6 ] in the range of 0. 1-10 mmol/L was obtained by cyclic voltammetry, with a correlation coefficient of 0. 9889, and the current response of ascorbic acid ( concentration:10-800 μmol/L) by chronoamperometry increased linearly with a correlation coefficient of 0. 9841. Based on the rat model of global cerebral ischemia, a dual-mode detection experiment was carried out. In the experiment, the neuroelectrical and neurochemical signals were synchronously recorded in the SD rat primary visual cortex. According to the experimental results, we got the conclusion that the concentration of ascorbic acid negatively related to the Spike firing in the SD rat primary visual cortex.

Objective To provide a theoretical foundation for language rehabilitation by investigating the characteristics of verb impairment in Chinese agrammatism(CA)and exploring its mechanism.Methods Fifteen CA patients and 15 normal subjects(control group)were recruited and evaluated using a standardized aphasia battery in Chinese,the Chinese agrammatism battery,a verb comprehension and production task and a short-term memory task.Results Compared with the control group,verb comprehension and production,as well as working memory were significantly damaged among the CA patients,and it was more difficult for the agrammatic aphasics to produce than to comprehend verbs(P＜0.01).Verbs with a more complex argument structure(in terms of the number and type of arguments)were more difficult for the agrammatie aphasics to produce than those with a less complex argu- ment structure.But the complexity of the argument structure did not influence the agrammatic aphasics'verb compre- hension.Conclusion The semantic entry of a verb,shared by both comprehension and production,was intact,but the verb's grammar entry was impaired.Poor working memory together with the complexity of the argument structure accounted for the impaired verb production of the agrammatic patients.

Objective To investigate the processing characteristics of locative prepositions in patients with Chinese aphasia,and to provide the theoretical evidence for the rehabilitation of aphasia.Methods Twenty aphasic patients caused by left-hemisphere stroke and twenty matched normal controls were studied.Using the locative prepo- sition repeating task(single words,locative preposition phrases and words in sentences),the comprehension task, filling-gap task,the visual-spatial function task and the short-term memory task,we compared the performance be- tween these two groups.Results The aphasic patients had more difficulty in repeating locative prepositions in sen- tences,in comprehension task and filling-gap task,their short term memory was impaired.Both groups did well in re- peating single words and phrases.Conclusion The processing of locative prepositions was impaired in Chinese aphasics.The repetition of locative prepositions was more difficult than that of phrases and single words.The preposi- tions were often omitted.It might be due to the impairment of their short-term memory,or it might have something to do with role they played in the syntactic structure.The latter might also impact the comprehension and filling-gap score.We should make plans before rehabilitation therapy.

This study was aimed to explore the role of human fetal bone marrow stromal cells (FBMSC) in combination with exogenous cytokines in supporting the in vitro expansion of cord blood mononuclear cells and the expression of CXCR4(+) and CD49d(+) in CD34(+) cells. Mononuclear cells (MNC) separated from cord blood (CB) were cultured in a serum-free support culture system with FBMSC or exogenous cytokines or both of them. On day 0, 6, 10 and 14, total cells were counted, CD34(+), CD34(+)CXCR4(+) and CD34(+)CD49d(+) cells were quantitated by FACS, and hematopoietic progenitor cells were assessed by semisolid culture assay. The results showed that after culturing for 14 days, CD34(+) cells, CD34(+)CXCR4(+) cells, CD34(+) CD49d(+) cells and colony forming unit (CFU) were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with other groups, expansion multiple of CD34(+), CD34(+)CXCR4(+), CD34(+)CD49d(+) cells and CFU were higher than that in FBMSC and cytokine group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the culture system used in this study can not only support the expansion of CB MNCs but also increase the number of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells which has chemokine and adhesion capacity. This culture system may be a feasible way for in vitro culture of cord blood cells.
Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Fetus ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Integrin alpha4 ; blood ; Interleukin-3 ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; immunology ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; blood ; Stromal Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Time Factors

Objective To investigate the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) for detection of hepatic artery stenosis(HAS) in recipients following orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT). Methods CEUS was performed in 50 OLT recipients (42 men and 8 women) with abnormal liver function test and/or abnormal findings on color Doppler ultrasound(CDUS). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomographic angiography(CTA) or follow-up CDUS was used as the reference standard. The degree (mild,narrowing rate＜50 %; moderate, narrowing rate 50 % ～ 75 %; severe, narrowing rate＞ 75 % ), location and type (single or multiple) of HAS were evaluated. Moderate and severe stenosis were defined as substantial stenosis. Results CTA or DSA depicted substantial HAS in 39 patients, 8 patients with mild HAS or normal HA were depicted on CTA,and the remaining 3 patients were diagnosed as non-substantial HAS on clinical and CDUS follow-up. CEUS depicted substantial HAS in 38 cases. Moreover,CEUS corrected falsepositive findings on CDUS in 9 of 50 cases(18.0% ). The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of CEUS in diagnosing HAS were 90.0% ,92.3% ,81.8% ,94. 7% and 75.0%,respectively. Conclusions CEUS is able to provide comprehensive information including presence,degree,location and type of HAS, which may facilitate the further interventional procedure or surgical treatment.

AIM: The roles of Cl-channels in regulatory volume decrease (RVD), cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z) were investigated. METHODS: Image analysis of living cells was used to detect the volume changes following exposure to hypotonic solutions. Cell viability was determined by the trypan blue assay. MTT method was applied to detected cell proliferation. The effect of the blocker on the cell cycle distribution was monitored by the flow cytometry. RESULTS: 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid (NPPB) inhibited RVD and cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. NPPB at the concentration of 100 ?mol/L arrested cells in G 1 phase (G 1 population increased from 54% to 71% at 48 h after treatments), but did not significantly alter cell viability. CONCLUSION: Block of chloride channels suppressed cell proliferation by arresting cells in G 1 phase. The results suggest that activation of Cl-channels and RVD is necessary for facilitating cells to proceed to the S phase from G 1 phase and maintaining cell proliferation.

The aim of this study was to detect DNA damage during expansion ex vivo of umbilical cord blood (UCB) hematopoietic cells and explore the optimal harvest time for culture of CB hematopoietic cells. Mononuclear cells (MNCs) separated from UCB were cultured in a serum-free system supplemented with cytokines and colony forming units were assessed by semisolid culture at the same time. On day 0, 7, 14 and 21 cells were collected for single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) analysis and CFUs were also assayed by SCGE, CD34+ cells and CD133+ cells were quantitated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The results showed that the percentage of CD34+ and CD133+ cells was found to be highest after short-term culture (<14 days) and the cord blood DNA damage rate was observed to be less than 5.0% at earlier time points, but at day 21 the DNA damage rate was 28.2%, which was higher than that at day 0 (p=0.000), the tail length of the DNA comet was longer than that at day 0 (p=0.000). The tail lengths of DNA damage on other time points were not significantly different from that at day 0. It is concluded that the DNA damage rate is less than 5.0% after short-term (<14 days) culture of UCB cells ex vivo by using this method. After 14 days DNA damage rate increases significantly. The optimal harvest time of cord blood cells after culture ex vivo would be within 14 days.
Cell Division ; Cells, Cultured ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; DNA Damage ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo explore changes of Clara cell protein (CC16) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) in the serum of patients with silicosis.

METHODThe concentrations of CC16 and SP-D were measured in the serum by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The subjects consisted of 30 healthy volunteers and 90 silica-exposed workers including silica-exposed group, the silicosis of suspects group (0(+)) and the silicosis phase I group, 30 subjects each groups.

RESULTSThe concentrations of CC16 in the serum was significantly decreased in silica-exposed workers compared to controls (P < 0.01); The concentrations of CC16 in the serum were higher in lifelong nonsmokers than the current smokers in control subjects (P < 0.05), but they were no differences between lifelong nonsmokers and current smokers of 90 silica-exposed workers. Compared with control subjects, the levels of SP-D in the serum of silicosis suspects (0(+)) and silicosis phase I groups were significantly elevated (P < 0.01, respectively), which were also higher than silica-exposed group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), Discriminant equations set by CC16 and SP-D were used in diagnosis of silicosis, and the rate of accuracy in healthy volunteers, the silica-exposed group and the silicosis phase I group were 86.7%, 86.7% and 76.7%, respectively, The total rate of correct classification hit 84.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe serum CC16 of long-term silica-exposed workers is decreased, and SP-D is increased gradually.

Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; Uteroglobin ; blood

AIMTo investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor gene transfected MSCs transplantation on cardiac function and fibrosis in rats heart failure model induced by adriamycin.

METHODSMSCs were isolated from SD rats by density gradient centrifugation, purified, and transfected with Ad-hHGF. ELISA were used to detect the protein expression of hHGF in these MSCs. Forty SD rats underwent intraperitoneal injection with adriamycin to induce heart failure model. 8 healthy rats served as control, 24 survival rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 8): Rats in Ad-hHGF transfected MSCs group were injected with Ad-hHGF transfected MSCs 2 weeks after the establishment of the model, rats in MSC group injected with suspension of MSCs only, and model group was injected with cold culture fluid. Heart function was evaluated by a physiological recorder 4 weeks after cell transplantation. Myocardial cell morphology and interstitial collagen were studied by electron microscope and were stained by Sirus red. TGF-beta1 was detected by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTS(1) MSCs could be transfected efficiently by Ad-hHGF, manifested by a higher level of expression in vitro, persisting 14 days at least. (2) Four weeks after the cells transplantion, cardiac necrosis in MSC-hHGF rats was improved when compared with those in the MSCs (P < 0.05) and Model group (P < 0.01). The heart function of the MSC-hHGF rats was greatly improved with an significant increase in LVSP and + dp/dt(max), although LVEDP still highter than that of normal rats. (3) MSC-Ad-hHGF decreased Myocardial collagen content and the level of TGFbeta1 compaired with MSCs transplanted rats (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONTransplantation of HGF gene transfected MSCs improved heart function, decreased myocardial collagen and the level of TGFbeta1.

Animals ; Doxorubicin ; Fibrosis ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Heart Failure ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; genetics ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection