BACKGROUND:The electrospinning technique has been used to prepare biological scaffolds to simulate nano-fiber structure of extracelular matrix; therefore, widespread attention has been paid to the electrospinning technique in the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. OBJECTIVE: To review the articles about increasing electrospun nanofiber scaffold porosity, enlarging pore diameter, promoting cel infiltration with related technologies, in order to discover the most practical and economical technology. METHODS:The first author retrieved CNKI database, Wanfang database and PubMed with the keywords of “cel infiltration, 3D scaffold, electrospinning” in Chinese and English, respectively. Literature retrieval period was from January 2004 to October 2014. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Electrospinning technology is the most effective method for preparation of nanofiber scaffolds. Electrospinning scaffolds as tissue engineering scaffolds have become an issue of concern in the basic research year by year. However, the internal nano-scale pore of nanofiber scaffolds limits the cels to grow on the surface, so recent research has been focused on highly porous three-dimensional structure which can promote the permeable growth of cels instead of two-dimensional scaffolds. Several techniques have been used, which go from the adjustment of materials and speed of electrospinning to the applications of various kinds of complicated machines. However, the existing researches are stil not mature and stable, the majority of which are applied onlyin vitro as cel implantation or subcutaneous implantation in smal animals. The above-mentioned methods stil need long-term comparative studies to confirm the feasibility in the tissue-engineered repair of organs.

Obej ctive Abnormal proliferation of T cells plays an important role in the development of autoimmune diseases. The article aimed to study the inhibitory effect of small molecule compound BD691 on T cell proliferation and its mechanism. Methods Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the immunomagnetic microbeads,then T cells were ac-tivated with anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs or alloantigen.The inhibitory effect of BD691 on activated T cell proliferation, the cytotoxic effect BD891 on resting T cells and the expression of activated T cells marker CD25 were measured by flow cytometry.Furthermore, ELISA was used to detect the secretion of cytokines associated with T cell differentiation. Results BD691 significantly inhibited the prolif-eration of T cells being stimulated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner, and IC50 values are (8.5 ± 1.5)μmol/L and (7.2 ±1.3)μmol/L, respectively.However, BD691 had no obvious cytotoxic effects on resting T cells and periph-eral blood mononuclear cells, even at a high concentration ( up to 100μmol/L) .In T cells which were not activated by anti-CD3/CD28 mAb, the percentage of CD25+T cells is only 1.6%of the total cells, while the number increased to 68% after activating treatment.Mean-while, in T cells which were activated by 0, 3.3, 10, 30μmol/L BD691, no obvious change of CD25 expression were observed, while immunosuppressant FK506 (0.1μmol/L) significantly decreased the expression of CD25 +T cells (14.9%).In unactivated T cells, 95.6%cells were at G0/G1 phase, while after activation, the percentage of cells at G0/G1 phase reduced to 57.7%.In addition, BD691 inhibited the secretion of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in activated T cells, but had no effects on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Co nclusion BD691 exerts no effects on T cell activation, but it inhibits T cell proliferation by inducing T cell cycling arrest at G0/G1 phase.Moreover, BD691 inhibits the secretion of key cytokines (such as IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-17) closely related to the differ-entiation of Th1 and Th17 cells.The results suggest that BD 691 is a potential lead compound to develop a new immunosuppressant for the inhibition of abnormal proliferation and differentiation of T cells.

Objective Benzothiazole derivative BD960 has immunosuppressive activity after cell -based assays for high-throughput screening.The paper aimed to investigate the involved mechanism of BD960 on T cell proliferation. Methods Human peripheral blood T-lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the immunomagnetic microbeads.Then the T cells were activated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAbs or alloantigen.The effect of BD960 on activa-ted T cell proliferation, the cytotoxic effect BD960 on resting T cells and the expression of activated T cells marker CD25 were measured by flow cytometer.Cytokine levels, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A and IFN-γ, were determined by ELISA. Results BD960 significantly inhibited the proliferation of T cells stimulated by anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAb or alloantigen in a dose-dependent manner.The IC50 value is (2.3 ±0.3)μmol/L or (2.5 ±0.3)μmol/L, respectively.Moreover, BD960 had no obvious cytotoxic effects on rest-ing T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, even at a high concentration ( up to 100μmol/L) .The ratio of CD25 expression on T cell was 69.7%after stimulated by Anti-CD3/CD28 mAbs with 72 h, the concentration (0.625、2.5、10)μmol/L of BD960 also had no potent effects on the ratio, but 0.1μmol/L FK506 could inhibit CD25 expression as low as 9.4%.The G0/G1 phase of activated T cells was 58.5%after stimulated by BD960 with 96 h.BD960 could induce cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in activated T cells with the increase of concentration and RAPA in the concentration of 0.1 μmol/L was 91.5%.In addition, BD960 (0.625、2.5、10)μmol/L could inhibit the secretion of IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in activated T cells with the increase of concentration, without any effects on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10. Conclusion BD960 not only exerts the inhibition on the late stage of T cell activation of cell proliferation but also inhibits the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-17 and IFN-γ, while the mechanism of BD960 on T cell proliferation was not the same as FK506.As a result, BD960 has the potential to be the lead compound to develop a new immunosuppressant.

To investigate the urination-reducing effect and mechanism of Zhuangyao Jianshen Wan (ZYJCW). In this study, SI rats were subcutaneously injected with 150 mg · kg(-1) dose of D-galactose to prepare the sub-acute aging model and randomly divided into the model group, the Suoquan Wan group (1.17 g · kg(-1) · d(-1)), and ZYJCW high, medium and low dose groups (2.39, 1.20, 0.60 g · kg(-1) · d(-1)) , with normal rats in the blank group. They were continuously administered with drugs for eight weeks. The metabolic cage method was adopted to measure the 24 h urine volume and 5 h water load urine volume in rats. The automatic biochemistry analyzer was adopted to detect urine concentrations of Na+, Cl-, K+. The ELISA method was used to determine serum aldosterone (ALD) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The changes in P2X1 and P2X3 mRNA expressions in bladder tissues of rats were detected by RT-PCR. According to the results, both ZYJCW high and medium dose groups showed significant down-regulations in 24 h urine volume and 5 h water load urine volume in (P <0.05, P <0.01), declines in Na+ and Cl- concentrations in urine (P <0.01), notable rises in plasma ALD and ADH contents (P <0.05, P <0.01) and remarkable down-regulations in the P2X1 and P2X3 mRNA expressions in bladder tissues (P <0.01). The ZYJCW low dose group revealed obvious reductions in Na+ and Cl- concentrations in urine (P <0.01). The results indicated that ZYJCW may show the urination-reducing effect by down-regulating the P2X1 and P2X3 mRNA expressions in bladder tissues of rats with diuresis caused by kidney deficiency.
Aging ; physiology ; Animals ; Diuresis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Kidney Diseases ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X1 ; genetics ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 ; genetics ; Urinary Bladder ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the role of procalcitonin (PCT) in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (APN) in children.

METHODSRetrospective analysis was performed on the clinical records of children aged under 3 years who were diagnosed with primary urinary tract infection (UTI) from September 2011 to February 2012. These children were divided into those with upper UTI (UUTI) (APN) and those with lower UTI (LUTI) (non-APN) based on 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan results as a gold standard. The UUTI and LUTI groups were compared in terms of serum levels of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum PCT and CRP.

RESULTSSixty-five children with UTI, including 39 cases of APN and 26 cases of LUTI, were included in this study. The APN cases had significantly higher serum levels of PCT (3.08 ng/mL vs 0.37 ng/Ml; P<0.01) and CRP (6.25 mg/L vs 3.01 mg/L; P<0.01) than the LUTI cases. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PCT level for APN were 84.6% and 88.5%, respectively, with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.873 (95%CI=0.781-0.965) and an optimal threshold point of 1.03 ng/mL. The sensitivity and specificity of serum CRP level for APN were 71.8% and 69.2%, respectively, with an AUC of 0.735 (95%CI=0.612-0.858) and an optimal threshold point of 3.91 mg/L.

CONCLUSIONSAs a result of its high sensitivity and specificity for the disease, serum PCT can be used as a marker in the early diagnosis of APN in children.

C-Reactive Protein ; analysis ; Calcitonin ; blood ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Protein Precursors ; blood ; Pyelonephritis ; blood ; diagnosis ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the osteogenic ability of the three-dimensional interconnected porous titanium(TDIPT) coated with bonelike apatite, by the test of the culture of osteoblast in vitro.

METHODSThe pure TDIPT was prepared by the high temperature insostatic pressing (HIP) and was divided into two groups. One group of TDIPT was dipped into the 1.5 simulated body fluid (1.5 SBF) and developed the TDIPT coated with bone-like apatite (The test group). Another group was control group (pure TDIPT). The porous titanium of the two groups were all made into standard parts (5 mm x 5 mm x 4 mm) and placed into the 24-hole plates. The osteoblasts were extracted from SD rat. After the primary culture and subculture of the osteoblast in vitro, the osteoblasts were inoculated into the samples in the 24-pole plate and cultured continually. MTT Cell Proliferation Assay was done on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th day respectively after inoculating. The ALP activity was tested on the 7th, 14th and 21st day, respectively. The collected data were analyzed by use of the student t test.

RESULTSThe MTT value and the ALP activity increased with the increasing of the culture time in the two group, but those of the test group was more significant than those of the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, the osteoblast tachyauxesis and stable adhesion were observed in test group by SEM at the 7th day after culturing.

CONCLUSIONThe bioactivity of the TDIPT improves significantly after coating with the bone-like apatite onto the surface of the TDIPT.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; physiology ; ultrastructure ; Osteogenesis ; Porosity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Titanium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between blood flow assessed by CT perfusion imaging and characteristics of microvascular ultrastructure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODStwenty-eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer proven surgically and pathologically underwent perfusion CT examination. The patients were divided into a hyper-perfusion group and a hypo-perfusion group by the median value of blood flow, and then the differences of microvascular ultrastructure in the two groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThe median BF value of the 28 patients was 36.40 ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1). Take this median value as the boundary, the group with hypo-perfusion showed a significantly lower BF value than the group with hyper-perfusion [(30.84 ± 4.79) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (49.67 ± 10.89) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = -5.925, P < 0.001]. The group with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly lower BF value than the group without lymph node metastasis [(30.78 ± 5.24) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (50.73 ± 11.16) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = 3.490, P = 0.015]. The maturity of microvessels of the hyper-perfusion group was higher than that of the hypo-perfusion group. Under the electron microscope, the microvessels in the hypo-perfusion group showed a more narrow lumen, poorer integrity of basement membrane, a more close relationship between cancer cells and microvascular wall, and cancer cells were more easily seen in the microvascular lumen.

CONCLUSIONThe blood flow value of CT perfusion imaging may be related with the abnormal microvascular ultrastructure, and may be helpful to the prediction of metastasis risk in NSCLC.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood supply ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Microvessels ; diagnostic imaging ; ultrastructure ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Perfusion Imaging ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radiotherapy is the most common treatment regimen for advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Whether chronomodulated infusion of chemotherapy can reduce its toxicity is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the toxic and therapeutic effects of sinusoidal chronomodulated infusion versus flat intermittent infusion of cisplatin (DDP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by radiotherapy in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. Patients with biopsy-diagnosed untreated stages III and IV NPC (according to the 2002 UICC staging system) were randomized to undergo 2 cycles of sinusoidal chronomodulated infusion (Arm A) or flat intermittent constant rate infusion (Arm B) of DDP and 5-FU followed by radical radiotherapy. Using a "MELODIE" multi-channel programmed pump, the patients were given 12-hour continuous infusions of DDP (20 mg/m2) and 5-FU (750 mg/m2) for 5 days, repeated every 3 weeks for 2 cycles. DDP was administered from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm, and 5-FU was administered from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am each day. Chronomodulated infusion was performed in Arm A, with the peak deliveries of 5-FU at 4:00 am and DDP at 4:00 pm. The patients in Arm B underwent a constant rate of infusion. Radiotherapy was initiated in the fifth week, and both arms were treated with the same radiotherapy techniques and dose fractions. Between June 2004 and June 2006, 125 patients were registered, and 124 were eligible for analysis of response and toxicity. The major toxicity observed during neoadjuvant chemotherapy was neutropenia. The incidence of acute toxicity was similar in both arms. During radiotherapy, the incidence of stomatitis was significantly lower in Arm A than in Arm B (38.1% vs. 59.0%, P = 0.020). No significant differences were observed for other toxicities. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates were 88.9%, 82.4%, and 74.8% for Arm A and 91.8%, 90.2%, and 82.1% for Arm B. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 91.7%, 88.1%, and 85.2% for Arm A and 100%, 94.5%, and 86.9% for Arm B. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rates were 82.5%, 79.1%, and 79.1% for Arm A and 90.2%, 85.2%, and 81.7% for Arm B. Chronochemotherapy significantly reduced stomatitis but was not superior to standard chemotherapy in terms of hematologic toxicities and therapeutic response.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose Fractionation ; Drug Chronotherapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Radiotherapy, High-Energy ; Stomatitis ; etiology ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. RESULTS: Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm³) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal ≥ 30 cm³). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.
Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies* ; DNA* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Nasopharynx ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy* ; Tumor Burden*

PURPOSE: The measuring Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA is an important predictor of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study evaluated the predictive value of pretreatment serum amyloid A (SAA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) comparing with EBV DNA in patients with NPC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an observational study of 419 non-metastatic NPC patients, we prospectively evaluated the prognostic effects of pretreatment SAA, CRP, and EBV DNA on survival. The primary end-point was progress-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: The median level of SAA and CRP was 4.28 mg/L and 1.88 mg/L, respectively. For the high-SAA group (> 4.28 mg/L) versus the low-SAA (≤ 4.28 mg/L) group and the high-CRP group (> 1.88 mg/L) versus the low-CRP (≤ 1.88 mg/L) group, the 5-year PFS was 64.5% versus 73.1% (p=0.013) and 65.2% versus 73.3% (p=0.064), respectively. EBV DNA detection showed a superior predictive result, the 5-year PFS in the EBV DNA ≥ 1,500 copies/mL group was obviously different than the EBV DNA < 1,500 copies/mL group (62.2% versus 77.8%, p < 0.001). Multifactorial Cox regression analysis confirmed that in the PFS, the independent prognostic factors were including EBV DNA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.788; p=0.009), tumour stage (HR, 1.903; p=0.021), and node stage (HR, 1.498; p=0.049), but the SAA and CRP were not included in the independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: The results of SAA and CRP had a certain relationship with the prognosis of NPC, and the prognosis of patients with high level of SAA and CRP were poor. However, the predictive ability of SAA and CRP was lower than that of EBV DNA.
C-Reactive Protein* ; DNA* ; Herpesvirus 4, Human* ; Humans ; Observational Study ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies* ; Serum Amyloid A Protein* ; Survival Analysis