Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) can spontaneously differentiate into neurons and glial cells in the absence of mitogen fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in medium and the spontaneous differentiation of NSCs is mediated partially by endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). This study examined the relationship of FGF-2 and CNTF in the spontaneous differentiation of adult hippocampal progenitor cells (AHPs). AHPs were cultured in the medium containing different concentration of FGF-2 (1-100 ng/mL). Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect the expression of the astrocytic marker GFAP, the neuronal marker Tuj1, the oligodendrocytic marker CNPase and, Nestin, the marker of AHPs. The expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs at early (passage 4) and late stage (passage 22) was also measured by Western blotting. The results showed that FGF-2 increased the expression of Nestin, dramatically inhibited the expression of GFAP and Tuj1 and slightly suppressed the expression of CNPase. FGF-2 down-regulated the expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs at both early (passage 4) and late stage (passage 22). These results suggested that FGF-2 could inhibit the spontaneous differentiation of cultured AHPs by negatively regulating the expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs.

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) can spontaneously differentiate into neurons and glial cells in the absence of mitogen fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) in medium and the spontaneous differentiation of NSCs is mediated partially by endogenous ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). This study examined the relationship of FGF-2 and CNTF in the spontaneous differentiation of adult hippocampal progenitor cells (AHPs). AHPs were cultured in the medium containing different concentration of FGF-2 (1-100 ng/mL). Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were applied to detect the expression of the astrocytic marker GFAP, the neuronal marker Tuj1, the oligodendrocytic marker CNPase and, Nestin, the marker of AHPs. The expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs at early (passage 4) and late stage (passage 22) was also measured by Western blotting. The results showed that FGF-2 increased the expression of Nestin, dramatically inhibited the expression of GFAP and Tuj1 and slightly suppressed the expression of CNPase. FGF-2 down-regulated the expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs at both early (passage 4) and late stage (passage 22). These results suggested that FGF-2 could inhibit the spontaneous differentiation of cultured AHPs by negatively regulating the expression of endogenous CNTF in AHPs.
Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor ; metabolism ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cells ; metabolism ; physiology

Objective    To investigate how to establish stable mice cervical heart transplantation model. Methods    Totally, 40 male C57 mice with the age of 6-8 weeks and weight of 19-24 g were randomly divided into recipients and donors (n=20 in each group). Mice cervical heart transplantation model was established by connecting the ascending aorta of donors to the right cervical common artery of recipients through end to side anastmosis and the pulmonary artery of donors to the right external jugular vein of recipients through end to end anastmosis. Results    More than 95% recipients survived after surgery. Cold ischemia time was 15±5 min, warm ischemia time 23±6 min, and the whole operation took about 55±15 min. The recipients survived more than 30 d with functional heart grafts. Histologically, there was no difference between the heart graft one month after the transplantion and the normal heart. Conclusion    Cervical heart transplantation of mice model is reliable and feasible, which is easy to monitor the survival condition of heart graft by visual examination and palpation, which will benefit the basic research in transplantation field.

Objective    To explore the effect of pulmonary hypertension on the clinical efficacy of Cox Maze Ⅳ procedure in treating atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with valvular heart disease. Methods    The clinical data of 84 patients who received cardiac valve replacement and Cox Maze Ⅳ ablation in our hospital from July 2017 to January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the estimation of pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) by ultrasound, the patients were divided into two groups: a group A (PAP<45 mm Hg, 20 males, 26 females with an average age of 59.1±7.8 years) and a group B (PAP≥45 mm Hg, 15 males and 23 females with an average age of 58.5±8.5 years). The PAP was less than 70 mm Hg in all patients. A systematic follow-up review was performed for 6 months after operation. The recovery and recurrence rate of sinus rhythm after surgical ablation were compared between the two groups, and the efficacy was analyzed. Results    (1) All the patients completed the operation successfully, and there was no statistical difference in the ablation time between the two groups (P>0.05); no patients died of pulmonary infection after the operation, and one patient underwent implantation of a permanent pacemaker due to conduction block. (2) At the end of the operation and 3 months after the operation, the conversion rate of AF in the group A was 91.3% (42 patients) and 82.6% (38 patients), respectively, and in the group B was 89.5% (34 patients) and 73.7% (28 patients), respectively (P>0.05). The conversion rate of AF was 82.6% (38 patients) in the group A and 63.2% (24 patients) in the group B at 6 months after operation (P=0.043). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that PAP≥45 mm Hg had a significant effect on the long-term effect of surgical Maze procedure in treating AF patients with valvular heart disease [P=0.014, OR=5.661, 95%CI (1.429, 22.432)]. Conclusion    PAP may be an influencing factor for the long-term effect of surgical Maze procedure in treating AF patients with valvular heart disease. Although the long-term recurrence rate of AF in the moderate pulmonary hypertension group is higher than that in the group A, the overall effect is still safe and effective; therefore it is still worth promoting in clinical application.

Objective    To assess the early outcome of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with aortic insufficiency. Methods    The patients with aortic valvular disease who underwent transapical TAVR from October 2020 to October 2022 in the Department of Cardiac and Vascular Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University were enrolled in the current retrospective study. The patients with aortic stenosis were assembled in a group A, and the patients with aortic insufficiency were assembled in a group B. The improvements of heart function and complications were assessed for the two groups. Results    A total of 56 patients were enrolled, including 32 males and 24 females with an average age of 73.34±5.10 years. There were 31 patients in the group A and 25 patients in the group B. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in the age, gender, height, weight, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disorder or classification of heart function (P>0.05). Also, there was still no statistical difference in the rate of permanent peacemaker implants, emergent open surgery, valve re-implants, or perivalvular leakage (P>0.05). After TAVR, the left ventricular diastolic diameter, left ventricular ejection fraction, complicated moderated mitral and tricuspid regurgitation were significantly improved in both groups compared with preoperative findings (P<0.05); however, there was no statistical difference in these parameters between groups (P>0.05). Conclusion    Interventional valve (J-Valve) in the treatment of patients with aortic insufficiency through transapical TAVR significantly improves cardiac function and reduces functional valve regurgitation.

Objective To investigate the feasibility and early efficacy of transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) combined with transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair (TEER) in patients with high-risk aortic valve lesions combined with severe mitral regurgitation. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent "one-stop" transapical TAVR+TEER in our hospital from August 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results Five patients were collected, including 3 males and 2 females with a mean age of 66.6±1.8 years. Four patients had aortic valve insufficiency combined with mitral regurgitation and one had aortic valve stenosis and insufficiency combined with mitral regurgitation. All patients successfully completed transapical TAVR+TEER, and the immediate postoperative echocardiographic results revealed that none of them had more than mild perivalvular leakage and mitral regurgitation, and the prosthetic valves were in good position and function. At 1 week postoperatively, echocardiographic results showed 5 patients with no displacement of the prosthetic valve, detachment of the mitral clip, or damage to the leaflets. At 1 month postoperatively, cardiac function was improved to varying degrees in 4 patients, and 1 patient died of multiorgan failure. At 2 months postoperatively, 1 patient died of cerebrovascular accident, and at 3 months postoperatively the echocardiographic results of the remaining 3 patients revealed that there was no more than mild perivalvular leakage or mitral regurgitation, and the patients' postoperative cardiac function and daily life ability were significantly improved. Conclusion In high-risk aortic valve lesions combined with severe mitral regurgitation, "one-stop" transapical TAVR+TEER is feasible with favorable early efficacy and safety.