BACKGROUND:For autoimmune diseases, it is difficult to effectively solve the lack of immunological tolerance in patients by traditional treatments. Mesenchymal stem cells have the biological functions of tissue and organ regeneration and immune regulation. OBJECTIVE:To explore the effects and mechanisms of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells on the development of thymus in nude mice. METHODS:Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells were intraperitoneal y injected into BABL/c nude mice at a dose of 2×106 per mouse. We analyzed the maturation and distribution of thymic epithelial cells in the thymus rudiment of nude mice and the thymopoiesis of this newly developed thymus rudiment;furthermore, we explored the therapeutic effects of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Our data showed wel-organized cortex-medul a structure and an obvious improvement in the maturation of thymic epithelial cells in the rudiment. We further demonstrated the improved thymopoiesis and the enhanced export of mature T cells with the T regulatory cells increase in peripheral blood. Furthermore, we found that human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells could be engrafted in the thymus and express many cytokines, especial y keratinocyte growth factor which is essential for the thymus development. These findings indicate that a new mechanism of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells can provide a proper microenvironment for the reconstitution and functional maturation of thymus in nude mice, and elicit another insight in terms of therapeutic efficacy of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells in many autoimmune diseases.

Objective To investigate the current status of family rehabilitation for children with disability and the unmet needs of habilitation/rehabilitation for their parents. Methods Family Rehabilitation Needs Survey Questionnaire was used to investigate 186 families of the children with disability from 5 rehabilitation institutions in 4 provinces. Results Most families accepted family rehabilitation, including family support, developed rehabilitation scheme, telephone counseling, real-time guidance and appointment for family rehabilitation. Most families would spent 1-2 hours a day for the family rehabilitation, and prefer the rehabilitation of gross motion. However, the rehabilitation agencies played less importance on supports of family rehabilitation. Conclusion The family rehabilitation supports needs to be improved in specification of rehabilitation process, developing rehabilitation scheme and quality control.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of correction of sunken upper eyelid with central orbital fat transposition during upper blepharoplasty.Methods:We performed 58 cases of upper blepharoplasty with sunken upper eyelids during January 2016 and June 2020. The lateral portion of the central orbital fat was dissected and reversed 180 degrees, and then fixed to the medial fat pad. Photographs before and 6 months post-operatively were measured to determine the degree of the upper eyelid depression. The results were compared statistically. At the consultation 6 months postoperatively, the patients were asked to evaluate the results of the operation using the Clients Satisfying Questionnaire, with the grade between 4 (very satisfactory) and 0 (very dissatisfactory).Results:Sunken eyelids were effectively corrected in 41 of the 52 patients, but 11 patients had minimal effect because of the lack of sufficient central fat volume mostly due to the prior blepharoplasty. At 6 months post-operatively, 52 of the 58 patients finished the satisfaction questionnaire. Forty one of the 52 patients were satisfying with the results. The mean score was 3.3+ 0.73. The degree of the upper eyelid depression was (4.9+ 1.1) mm preoperatively and (2.4+ 0.7) mm postoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The central orbital fat transposition is an effective way to correct the sunken upper eyelids during the upper blepharoplasty. The results are satisfactory with full upper eyelids and smooth double eyelids.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) combined with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in differential diagnosis of adrenal adenoma and metastasis. Methods: 120 patients with adrenal adenoma who were examined by enhanced MRI and enhanced CT before operation were collected. According to the pathological examination after operation, they were divided into adrenal adenoma group (86 cases) and adrenal metastasis group (34 cases). The difference of time-density curve between the two groups was compared, and the diagnostic criteria were evaluated by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Dynamic CT and dynamic MRI were mainly type A, followed by type C, B, D and E. Dynamic CT and dynamic MRI were mainly type B, followed by type D/E, type A and type C. There were significant differences in type A, B, C, E dynamic CT and dynamic MRI between the two groups (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in type D dynamic CT and dynamic MRI between the two groups (P>0.05). The AZ value of adrenal adenomas ranged from 0.714 to 0.825 and that of adrenal metastasis ranged from 0.872 to 0.965 at 3-30 minutes delay. Conclusions Dynamic contrast-enhanced CT combined with MRI in patients with adrenal adenoma and metastasis has a time-density difference, 5min has high discriminant value in time lapse.