BACKGROUND:The umbilical cord blood is rich of mesenchymal stem cells, which can be used as a new source of seed cells in tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE:To compare two methods for culturing, expanding and purifying the mesenchymal stem cells in vitro isolated from the human umbilical cord blood. METHODS:The ful-term birth cord blood of 40 cases was col ected under sterile conditions with heparin anticoagulation. Ficol density gradient centrifugation was used to isolate the mononuclear cells from the umbilical cord blood. The cases were randomly divided into two groups according to the different culture media. Twenty cases of umbilical cord blood were cultured in MesenGro human mesenchymal stem cells culture medium (group A), and the remaining 20 cases of umbilical cord blood were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (group B). The occurrence time of fusiform mesenchymal stem cells and cell colony, culture time and the number of primary cells in the two groups were compared. Cells which grew well were selected to detect the surface markers by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean occurrence time of fusiform mesenchymal stem cells and cell colony, culture time and number of primary cells in group A were better than those in group B (P < 0.01). The strong expression of the surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells (CD73 and CD105) was found by flow cytometry, of which the positive rate was 99.1%. No expression of the surface markers of hematopoietic stem cells (CD45 and CD34) was seen, of which the negative rate was 99.3%. The number, morphology, growth rate and culture time of umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells cultured in MesenGro human mesenchymal stem cells culture medium were better than those cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium. Cells cultured in MesenGro human mesenchymal stem cell culture medium can better express surface markers of mesenchymal stem cells.

BACKGROUND:Nano-hydroxyapatite helps to improve the mechanical properties of bone implants.
OBJECTIVE:To study the clinical effect of nano-hydroxyapatite artificial bone on col apsed fracture of the tibial plateau.
METHODS:Fourteen cases of col apsed fracture of the tibial plateau combined with bone defects from March 2010 to September 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. The bone defect range was from 1.5 cm×1.0 cm to 3.1 cm×4.5 cm. Al patients were treated with nano-hydroxyapatite artificial bone at an implant amount of 5-14 g. Clinical and X-ray observations were applied at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months postoperatively. Hospital for Special Surgery scores were employed for recovery of knee function.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The patients were fol owed up for 12-27 months. Except for one case of a smal amount of wound exudates, no general side effects occurred in 13 cases. X-ray photo showed an integrity interface between nano-hydroxyapatite artificial bone and host bone at 3 months after treatment. Primary healing was obtained in al cases without any complications. Hospital for Special Surgery score was increased to (88.7±4.3) points at 1 year later. These findings indicate that the nano-hydroxyapatite artificial bone has a good biocompatibility and biomechanics, and it may be an ideal artificial bone for repairing col apsed fractures of the tibial plateau.

BACKGROUND:Human hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha can regulate the expression of osteogenic and angiogenic genes, and promote osteogenic activity. OBJECTIVE:To observe the expression of osteogenic genes in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells carrying human hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha slow virus infection. METHODS:Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha was obtained from Hela cells using RT-PCR. Lentivirus expression vector plasmid carrying hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (Lenti-HIF-1α-eGFP) was constructed. 293Ta cells with LentiPac HIV mixed packaging plasmid was packaged, and then lentivirus was obtained. Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and cultured using direct whole bone marrow adherent method. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were identified using flow cytometry. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were infected with slow virus for 1, 4, 7 and 14 days. Bone morphogenetic protein-2, osteocalcin, osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase expression levels were detected in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were effectively infected with Lenti-HIF-1α-eGFP. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR results revealed that bone morphogenetic protein-2, osteocalcin, osteopontin and alkaline phosphatase began to obviously overexpress from 4 days after infection with Lenti-HIF-1α-eGFP until 14 days. Results suggested that hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha could elevate the osteogenic activity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

OBJECTIVE： To explore the ways to improve the efficiency and quality of ethical review in multi-center clinical trial. METHODS： After issuing the policy of Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Approval System and Encouraging the Innovation of Pharmaceutical Medical Devices and Measures for the Administration of Drug Registration （Revised Version）， combined with the practice of our center， the methods to improve the efficiency and quality of ethical review， the possible problems of complete filling system and the way to improve the efficiency and quality of ethical review in multi-center clinical trial were analyzed in our center. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS： Our center adopted a variety of review methods （conference review， rapid review， filing system， etc.）， implemented hierarchical management and differential review process for research projects， and formulated defined rules of filling system operation and other ways to improve the efficiency and quality of review， doubled the review efficiency， increased the number of follow-up review and field visit. In the process of exploration， the ethics committee of our center believes that the complete implementation of the filing system will lead to problems such as the difficulty to evaluate the quality of the ethical review of the leader unit， different research qualifications and conditions of each center， etc. In order to improve the efficiency and quality of the ethical review of multi-center clinical research， the measures are can be adopted， such as improving the quality of the ethical review of the center， strengthening the communication and mutual recognition of the ethics committees of each center， and establishing the preliminary review system of the secretary of the ethics committee， so as to realize the balance of efficiency and quality.

Acute-Phase Proteins ; physiology ; Carrier Proteins ; physiology ; Humans ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; physiology ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; physiology ; Receptors, Immunologic ; physiology ; Receptors, Scavenger ; Sepsis ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Signal Transduction ; Toll-Like Receptors

PURPOSE: High explosives are used to produce blast waves to study their biological effects. The lungs are considered as the critical target organ in blast-effect studies. The degree of lung hemorrhaging is related to both the explosive power and the increased lung weight. We studied the characteristics of the biological effects from an air explosion of a thermobaric bomb in a high-altitude environment and the lethality and lung injury severity of goats in different orientations and distances. METHODS: Goats were placed at 2.5, 3, 4, and 5 m from the explosion center and exposed them to an air blast at an altitude of 4700-meter. A group of them standing oriented to the right side and the other group seated facing the explosion center vertically. The lung injuries were quantified according to the percentage of surface area contused, and using the pathologic severity scale of lung blast injury (PSSLBI) to score the 4 injury categories (slight, moderate, serious and severe) as 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The lung coefficient (lung weight [g]/body weight [kg]) was the indicator of pulmonary edema and was related to lung injury severity. Blast overpressure data were collected using blast test devices placed at matching locations to represent loadings to goats. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 26.0, statistical software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: In total, 127 goats were involved in this study. Right-side-standing goats had a significantly higher mortality rate than those seated vertical-facing (p < 0.05). At the 2.5 m distance, the goat mortality was nearly 100%, whereas at 5 m, all the goats survived. Lung injuries of the right-side-standing goats were 1 - 2 grades more serious than those of seated goats at the same distances, the scores of PSSLBI were significantly higher than the seated vertical-facing goats (p < 0.05). The lung coefficient of the right-side-standing goats were significantly higher than those of seated vertical-facing (p < 0.05). Mortality, PSSLBI, and the lung coefficient results indicated that the right-side-standing goats experienced severer injuries than the seated vertical-facing goats, and the injuries were lessened as the distance increased. The blast overpressure was consistent with these results. CONCLUSION The main killing factors of the thermobaric bomb in the high-altitude environment were blast overpressure, blast wind propulsions and burn. The orientation and distances of the goats significantly affected the blast injury severity. These results may provide a research basis for diagnosing, treating and protecting against injuries from thermobaric explosions.
Animals ; Lung Injury/etiology* ; Blast Injuries ; Goats ; Explosions ; Lung/pathology*

PURPOSEWe once reported blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) in confined space. Here, bTBI was studied again on goats in the open air using 3.0 kg trinitrotoluene.

METHODSThe goats were placed at 2, 4, 6 and 8 m far from explosion center. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) was used as the source of the blast wave and the pressure at each distance was recorded. The systemic physiology, electroencephalogram, serum level of S-100 beta, and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were determined pre and post the exposure. Neuroanatomy and neuropathology were observed 4 h after the exposure.

RESULTSSimple blast waveforms were recorded with parameters of 702.8 kPa-0.442 ms, 148.4 kPa-2.503 ms, 73.9 kPa-3.233 ms, and 41.9 kPa-5.898 ms at 2, 4, 6 and 8 m respectively. Encephalic blast overpressure was on the first time recorded in the literature by us at 104.2 kPa-0.60 ms at 2 m, where mortality and burn rate were 44% and 44%. Gross examination showed that bTBI was mainly manifested as congestive expansion of blood vessels and subarachnoid hemorrhage, which had a total incidence of 25% and 19% in 36 goats. Microscopical observation found that the main pathohistological changes were enlarged perivascular space (21/36, 58%), small hemorrhages (9/36, 25%), vascular dilatation and congestion (8/36, 22%), and less subarachnoid hemorrhage (2/36, 6%). After explosion, serum levels of S-100b and NSE were elevated, and EEG changed into slow frequency with declined amplitude. The results indicated that severity and incidence of bTBI is related to the intensity of blast overpressure.

CONCLUSIONBlast wave can pass through the skull to directly injure brain tissue.

Animals ; Blast Injuries ; complications ; Brain ; pathology ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic ; etiology ; pathology ; Electroencephalography ; Goats ; Male ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; blood ; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit ; blood

BACKGROUND: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is commonly known as an environmental sensor. Polymorphisms in AhR gene have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, the results were controversial. This study was conducted to quantitatively summarize the association between AhR polymorphisms and cancer risk by meta-analysis. METHODS: Relevant reports were searched in four databases (Embase, PubMed, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure). We used pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to evaluate the strength of the association in both standard and cumulative meta-analysis. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis was also performed, and between-study heterogeneity and publication bias were checked. RESULTS: A total of seventeen studies referring to three AhR polymorphisms (rs2066853, rs7796976, and rs2074113) were identified, and 9557 cases and 10038 controls were included. There was no statistically significant association of AhR rs2066853 polymorphism with cancer risk in the overall population, and the negative results were repeated in subgroup analysis by the ethnicity and cancer type. Concerning AhR rs7796976 or rs2074113 polymorphism, no significant correlation was detected. Moreover, these non-significant findings were stable in sensitivity analysis, and the cumulative meta-analysis indicated a trend of no significant link between this three AhR polymorphisms and cancer risk as more data accumulated over time. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis provides evidence that the rs2066853, rs7796976, or rs2074113 polymorphism in AhR gene is not a susceptible predictor of cancer. Further clinical and functional investigation between AhR polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility are needed.
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors/genetics* ; Confidence Intervals ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/genetics* ; Odds Ratio ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics*

ObjectiveTo investigate the status and influencing factors of medication adherence in patients with severe mental disorders in Zhengzhou， so as to provide references for the formulation of prevention and treatment measures for severe mental disorders. MethodsFrom March to June 2021， a stratified multistage cluster sampling method was applied to select 342 patients from the National Information System for Severe Mental Disorders in Zhengzhou. The general demographic data of patients were collected via self-designed questionnaire， and the medication status was investigated， then the influential factors were summarized. The differences in influential factors of medication adherence were compared between the medication adherence group and the medication non-adherence group. Thereafter， Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the factors influencing medication adherence. ResultsA total of 320 patients were included in the final analysis， altogether 76.56% of patients （n=245） complied with medication. The differences between patients in the medication adherence group and those in the medication non-adherence group were statistically significant in terms of residence， occupation， and outpatient chronic disease reimbursement （χ²=14.015， 7.502， 13.106， P<0.05 or 0.01）. In the questionnaire of influential factors on medication adherence， there were statistically significant differences in the scores of lack of insight， stigma and drug-related factors between the two groups （Z=7.588， 2.379， 2.893， P<0.05 or 0.01）. Outpatient chronic disease reimbursement was a protective factor for medication adherence （OR=2.727， 95% CI： 1.320~5.634， P<0.01）， while rural residence （OR=0.465， 95% CI： 0.221~0.977， P<0.05） and lack of insight （OR=0.398， 95% CI： 0.286~0.553， P<0.01） were risk factors for medication adherence. ConclusionPatients with severe mental disorders in Zhengzhou have a high rate of medication adherence， moreover， the outpatient chronic disease reimbursement， lack of insight and residence may be influencing factors for medication adherence in patients with severe mental disorders.

BACKGROUND: Shenyankangfu Tablet (SYKFT) is a Chinese patent medicine that has been used widely to decrease proteinuria and the progression of chronic kidney disease. OBJECTIVE: This trial compared the efficacy and safety of SYKFT, for the control of proteinuria in primary glomerulonephritis patients, against the standard drug, losartan potassium. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTION: This was a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Primary glomerulonephritis patients, aged 18-70 years, with blood pressure ≤ 140/90 mmHg, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 45 mL/min per 1.73 m MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was change in the 24-hour proteinuria level, after 48 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 735 participants were enrolled. The percent decline of urine protein quantification in the SYKFT group after 48 weeks was 8.78% ± 2.56% (P = 0.006) more than that in the losartan 50 mg group, which was 0.51% ± 2.54% (P = 1.000) less than that in the losartan 100 mg group. Compared with the losartan potassium 50 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 50 mg group had a 13.39% ± 2.49% (P < 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein level. Compared with the losartan potassium 100 mg group, the SYKFT plus losartan potassium 100 mg group had a 9.77% ± 2.52% (P = 0.001) greater reduction in urine protein. With a superiority threshold of 15%, neither was statistically significant. eGFR, serum creatinine and serum albumin from the baseline did not change statistically significant. The average change in TCM syndrome score between the patients who took SYKFT (-3.00 [-6.00, -2.00]) and who did not take SYKFT (-2.00 [-5.00, 0]) was statistically significant (P = 0.003). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in any group. CONCLUSION: SYKFT decreased the proteinuria and improved the TCM syndrome scores of primary glomerulonephritis patients, with no change in the rate of decrease in the eGFR. SYKFT plus losartan potassium therapy decreased proteinuria more than losartan potassium therapy alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02063100 on ClinicalTrials.gov.