It is known that extracorporeal shock wave (SW) may promote healing of fracture. A previous study reported that SW promoted human bone marrow stromal cells (hMSCs) towards osteoblasts in vitro. To study the osteogenesis ability of hMSCs treated by shock wave in porous hydroxyapatite (HA) in vivo, primary hMSCs of SW group and control group were cultured in the porous HA for 2 weeks and then implanted into subcutaneous sites of nude mouse. These implants were harvested and prepared for the biochemical analysis of alkaline phosphatase activity by AKP kit, histological analysis of decalcified and undecalcified sections and morphology by scan electric microscope (SEM), as well as osteocalcin mRNA expression by RT- PCR 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation. It showed that cells of SW and control group almost covered the rough surface of HA before implantation and the extracelluar matrix of SW group was abundant by SEM photomicrograph . The histological analysis and SEM photomicrograph showed active bone formation 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation, as well as tetracycline labeling under fluoroscopy analysis in SW group. Alkaline phosphatase in supernatants of the implants detected 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation in SW group was higher than in control group (P

Aortic Valve ; pathology ; Calcinosis ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; pathology ; Heart Valve Diseases ; pathology ; Humans

Objective To detect the gene expression changes between urethra plates from hypospadias patients and foreskins from non-hypospadias patients by microarray and to investigate the underlying mechanisms of hypospadias.Methods Twelve hypospadias patients,aged 6-12 months (mean,8 months),were enrolled as the test group,including 5 moderate and 7 severe hypospadias patients.Six age-matched patients underwent circumcision were enrolled as controls.Samples from hypospaidas patient's urethra plates during hypospadias repair and samples from the foreskins during circumcision were obtained and processed into Tri-Reagent immediately for RNA extraction.Oligonucleotide expression microarrays were used to detect genes expression changes in tissues from patients with and without hypospadias.This microarray analysis incorporated 22 000 genes.The intensity of all genes present was analyzed by one-way ANOVA (P＜0.01) and Tukey's test.Four estrogen responsive genes,CYR61,CTGF,ATF3 and GADD45β,were tested by RT-PCR in 8 controls,8 moderate hypospadias and 8 severe hypospadias as well.Results Ninty-four genes were detected differentially expressed in hypospadias patients compared with phimosis patients.There were 47 genes upregulated in moderate hypospadias compared with controls(P＜0.01),68 genes up-regulated in severe hypospadias compared with controls(P＜0.001),17 genes up-regulated in severe hypospadias compared with moderate hypospadias(P＞0.05).These genes were involved in different cell functions such as growth regulation and signal transduction.CYR61,CTGF,ATF3 and GADD45β,known to be estrogen responsive or to interact with estrogen receptor were found up-regulated in microarray and the up-regulations were confirmed by RT-PCR.Conclusions The up-regulated genes contribute to the development of hypospadias.Up-regulation of estrogen responsive genes may play important roles in the development of hypospadias.

Confronted with similar problems and difficulties in mainland,Taiwan reformed its medical education. The reform included setting up flexible program,formulating objective and detailed rotary guide,making the best of the resources,implementing medical humanities education based on the reality and forming unique cultivation system and mode. These measures can be taken as references for medical education reform in mainland.

OBJECTIVETo improve the anti-tumor effect of dendritic cytoma vaccine (DCV) for finding an effective anti-tumor biotherapy.

METHODSDC vaccine prepared by transfection of adenovirus mediated melanoma-associated antigen gene (gp100) into bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (DC) was used to study the immuno-therapeutic effect and the mechanism of lentinan (LNT) in different dosages, used alone or combined with gp100-DC for treatment of B16 melanoma bearing mice.

RESULTSAfter being treated with LNT combining gp100-DC, the growth of malignant melanoma was inhibited with the tumor-free survival in the experimental animals being 66.7%. The treatment could also significantly enhance the activity of cytotoxicity T lymphocyte (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells, elevate the levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in splenocytes, and histological examination showed that a large amount of inflammatory cells infiltrated inside and around the tumor, and obvious necrosis of tumor cells was found.

CONCLUSIONBy combined use with LNT the anti-tumor immuno-reaction of DCV vaccine could be enhanced effectively.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cancer Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; immunology ; Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Lentinan ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Melanoma, Experimental ; immunology ; pathology ; therapy ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation ; Shiitake Mushrooms ; chemistry ; Survival Analysis ; Transfection ; gp100 Melanoma Antigen

Objective To decrease the incidence of acute rejection in renal allograft recipients by monitoring of cyclosporine A (CsA) concentration at 2-hour after dosing(C2). Methods The CsA C2 and CsA trough concentration(C0) were assayed in renal allograft recipients.All patients were followed up for at least 1 year.The correlation of C0 and C2 monitoring with clinical outcomes was analyzed. Results At 1 week and 1 month post-transplantation,the incidence of acute rejection in patients with C2 in target level was 4.41% and 10.29%, respectively,but the incidence of acute rejection in patients with C2 in lower level was 42.37% and 36.20%,respectively. ConclusionBy reflecting the drug exposure of CsA more accurately,C2 monitoring is beneficial for decreasing the incidence of acute rejection after renal allograft transplantation.

Humans ; Moxibustion ; Depression ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Esophagitis, Peptic

Objective To evaluate the ergotropic effect of bone cement on pedicle screw fixation in treatment of osteopo-rotic thoracolumbar fracture.Methods Fifty-three patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture, admitted from Jun. 2013 to Dec. 2014, were included for treatment by augmentation of pedicle screw fixation with bone cement. All patients underwent pre-operative examination of bone mineral density with T-score ≤-2.5 and augmentation of pedicle screw fixation with injection of 1.5 ml bone cement in adjacent to fractured vertebra. All patients were treated with anti-osteoporosis therapy pre- and post-operation, ob-served and recorded with basic conditions and complications. At pre-operation, one-week post-operation and last follow-up, pain vi-sual analogue scale (VAS) and neurological function score (ASIA) of all patients were recorded, and the compression rats of anterior and posterior edge of fractured vertebra, and compression rats of spinal canal and Cobb angel of all patients were measured.Results All the 53 patients were successfully undergone operation in about 90-140 min with blood loss of about 150-350 ml. No spinal cord or nerve injury, dural tear and obvious leakage of bone cement and screw loosening occurred during operation. All patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months and the neurological function obviously recovered contrasted with pre-operation. X-ray and CT examination at last follow-up showed good fractures healing, good position and non-loosening of internal fixation device and non-leakage of bone cement. At one week post-operation and last follow-up, VAS, compression rats of anterior edge and posterior edge of fractured vertebra, compression rats of spinal canal and Cobb angel were significantly lower than those at pre-operation (P<0.05), but no significant differences existed on these parameters between 1 week post-operation and last follow-up (P>0.05).Conclusions Augmentation of pedicle screw fixation with bone cement can effectively strengthen the initial stability of pedicle screw in osteo-porosis, restore the height of fractured vertebra and reduce the compression of spinal canal, which will help the correction of spinal kyphosis and neurological function recovery. This method can well maintain long-term stability of internal fixation in osteoporosis and height of fractured vertebra, and significantly reduce the risks of long-term screw loosening and vertebral collapse.

Aged, 80 and over ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Prosthesis Failure

OBJECTIVETo setup a quantitative assay for detection of methylation of SNCG CpG island in human tissue samples.

METHODSMethylation status of the 16 tested CpG sites within the CpG island was analyzed by bisulfite-clone-sequencing for 2 gastric carcinoma cell lines, 2 normal gastric mucosa samples, and 2 pairs of primary gastric carcinomas and their corresponding non-neoplastic tissues, respectively.

RESULTSThe methylation of -88 and other four CpG sites was well correlated with the methylation of the overall CpG island. Thus, a combined bisulfite-restriction assay (COBRA) was developed based on the enzyme AciI, which digested the only one GCGG sequence in the PCR products of the methylated CpG island, but not the GTGG in the demethylated one. The digested fragments (144 bp and 85 bp) and undigested fragment (229 bp) could be completely separated by denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). According to the peak areas of these fragments, the proportion of the methylated copies of the SNCG CpG island was calculated easily. The result of the COBRA-DHPLC assay was reproducible and consistent with that of clone-sequencing.

CONCLUSIONA COBRA-DHPLC assay is setup successfully for quantification of methylation of the SNCG CpG island.

Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; CpG Islands ; DNA Methylation ; Humans