A case of methamphetamine-related cerebral infarction was reported and the relevant databases of CBMdisc and Medline were searched.Among 14 cases of ischemic stroke , the ratio of male:female was 9∶5 and the age range 19-45 years.There were anterior circulation lesions ( n=13,92.8%) and 10 of them (71.3%) had cerebral vascular occlusion or stenosis.And the predominant manifestation was hemiplegia (85.7%);among 34 cases of hemorrhagic stroke ,the ratio of male: female was 12∶5 and the age range 16-60 years.And 28 cases (82%) were≤45 years.Cerebral hemorrhage was the most common (85%).The major manifestations were headache ( n =26, 76%) and disturbance of consciousness (n=21,62%).The methamphetamine-related stroke occurs frequently in young males.And ischemic stroke tends to involve anterior circulation and cause hemiplegia.Yet hemorrhagic stroke has extensive attack sites and headache and disturbance of consciousness are quite common.

Recently traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-induced liver injury has been an unresolved critical issue which impacts TCM clinical safety. The premise and key step to reduce or avoid drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is to identify the drug source of liver injury in early stage. Then the timely withdrawal of drug and treatment can be done. However, the current diagnosis of DILI is primarily governed by exclusive method relying on administering history supplied by patients and experience judgment from doctors, which lacks objective and reliable diagnostic indices. It is obvious that diagnosis of TCM-induced liver injury is especially difficult due to the complicated composition of TCM medication, as well the frequent combination of Chinese and Western drugs in clinic. In this paper, we proposed construction of research pattern and method for objective identification of TCM-related DILI based on translational toxicology, which utilizes clinical specimen to find specific biomarkers and characteristic blood-entering constituents, as well the clinical biochemistry and liver biopsy. With integration of diagnosis marker database, bibliographic database, medical record database and clinical specimen database, an integrative diagnosis database for TCM-related DILI can be established, which would make a transformation of clinical identification pattern for TCM-induced liver injury from subjective and exclusive to objective and index-supporting mode. This would be helpful to improve rational uses of TCM and promote sustainable development of TCM industry.
Animals ; Biomarkers, Pharmacological ; metabolism ; Biopsy ; methods ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; Rats

0.05).Conclusions The reduced expression of HLA-G on placenta in ICP patients may alter the maternal-fetal immune response and thus be involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder. Dexamethasone can upregulate the expression of HLA-G on placenta.The 14 bp deletion polymorphism in exon 8 of HLA-G gene might not have a significant influence on the development of ICP.

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Electroporation ; methods ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To study the effect of livin gene-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ( BM-MSCs) transplantation on the cardiac function following acute myocardial infarction in a rat model and the expression of livin , caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9 in the livin gene-modified BM-MSCs.METHODS: The MSCs were obtained by the whole bone marrow culture method , and the apoptosis of the MSCs after infection with adenovirus vector carrying enhanced green fluorescent protein ( EGFP) gene and livin recombinant vector ( rAd-livin) were detected by flow cytometry .The ex-pression of livin, caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9 was detected by Western blot .After permanent left anterior descend-ing artery occlusion , the rats were randomized to receive intramyocardial injection of DMEM without cells ( vehicle group ) , or containing MSCs ( MSCs group ) , MSCs ( EGFP ) ( rAd-control/MSCs group ) or MSCs ( livin ) ( rAd-livin/MSCs group).Left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the maximum in-creased rate of left ventricular pressure ( -dp/dtmax ) and the maximum decline rate of left ventricular pressure ( +dp/dtmax ) were recorded for evaluating the cardiac functions .RESULTS: The apoptosis of rAd-livin/MSCs was significantly decreased as compared with MSCs and rAd-control/MSCs (P<0.05).Meanwhile, the expression of caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9 was significantly downregulated as compared with the other 2 groups ( P<0.05 ) .The cardiac function in rAd-livin/MSCs group was significantly improved as compared with DMEM group , and those in the other 2 groups got the similar results, but the function in rAd-livin/MSCs group was better improved .Meanwhile, the number of surviving cells in rAd-livin/MSCs group was significantly improved as compared with the other 2 groups .CONCLUSION:The apoptosis of MSCs is decreased after rAd-livin transfection, and the expression of caspase-3, caspase-7 and caspase-9 is also significant-ly downregulated while the expression of livin is significantly upregulated .Transplantation of livin-modified BM-MSCs by lentiviral vector results in better prognosis for treating myocardial infarction by enhancing cell survival .

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)on cranial suture under mechanical strain in growing goats.

METHODS10 growing goats were used in this study. A customized distractor was used for distraction of the coronal suture at a rate of 0.4 mm/day for 8 days. The experimental group(5 goats) was injected with autologous MSCs into the distracted region, whereas the control group (5 goats) with injection of physiological saline. All animals were killed at 4 weeks after the end of distraction. Scanning electron microscopy and histological analysis were taken to observe the samples.

RESULTS4 weeks after the end of distraction, the cranial sutures in all animals were separated successfully. The new bone formation at the edge of suture in the experimental group was superior to that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONAutologous MSCs transplantation may promote the cranial suture distraction osteogenesis in the growing goats.

Animals ; Cranial Sutures ; Goats ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Skull

AIMUnderstanding the response of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to mechanical strain and their consequent gene expression patterns will broaden our knowledge of the mechanobiology of distraction osteogenesis.

METHODOLOGYIn this study, a single period of cyclic mechanical stretch (0.5 Hz, 2,000 microepsilon) was performed on rat bone marrow MSCs. Cellular proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was examined. The mRNA expression of six bone-related genes (Ets-1, bFGF, IGF-II, TGF-beta, Cbfa1 and ALP) was detected using real-time quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe results showed that mechanical strain can promote MSCs proliferation, increase ALP activity, and up-regulate the expression of these genes. A significant increase in Ets-1 expression was detected immediately after mechanical stimulation, but Cbfa1 expression became elevated later. The temporal expression pattern of ALP coincided perfectly with Cbfa1.

CONCLUSIONThe results of this study suggest that mechanical strain may act as a stimulator to induce differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts, and that these bone-related genes may play different roles in the response of MSCs to mechanical stimulation.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Animals ; Antigens, Surface ; analysis ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Bone Marrow Cells ; physiology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit ; analysis ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; analysis ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; analysis ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; physiology ; Osteoblasts ; physiology ; Osteogenesis, Distraction ; Pluripotent Stem Cells ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Protein c-ets-1 ; analysis ; Rats ; Stress, Mechanical ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; analysis ; Up-Regulation ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThe purpose of this study is to study the sealing ability and the furcal appearance of repairing subpulpal wall perforation with resinous inlay.

METHODSFifty newly extracted human molars were randomly divided into three experiment groups (group A, group B, group C, 15 teeth each) and one control group (5 teeth). In experiment groups, perforations were made perpendicularly to the center of the pulp chamber floor. Perforations of group A and B were repaired with resinous inlay and sealed by AH Plus sealer and luting glass-ionomer, respectively. Perforations of group C were directly repaired using light-cure composite resin. Perforations were not made in five teeth of control group. The furcal appearances were evaluated under stereomicroscope after repairing. Microleakage was measured by glucose oxidase detection.

RESULTSThe fineness rate of furcal appearances with resinous inlay repairing were 83.3%, while the fineness rate of furcal appearances with light-cure composite resin directly repairing were 46.7%. There were statistics difference between resinous inlay repairing and light-cure composite resin directly repairing (P<0.05). There were statistics difference among the daily microleakage of three experiment groups, group A

CONCLUSIONUsing resinous inlay to repair the subpulpal wall perforation can improve the sealing effect and avoid material overextension. AH Plus can be used as perforation sealant because of its better sealing ability.

Bicuspid ; Composite Resins ; Dental Leakage ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Glass Ionomer Cements ; Humans ; Inlays ; Molar

OBJECTIVETo study the durability of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene artificial heart valve (ePTFE AHV).

METHODSSix ePTFE AHVs were tested for 400 million times against accelerated fatigue using TH-2200 artificial heart valve exosomatic accelerated fatigue instrument. Hydromechanical parameters of fore-and-aft accelerated fatigue test of the 6 AHVs were obtained by TH-1200 artificial heart valve exosomatic pulsatile stream instrument.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONThe mean gradient pressure spanning the valve and the effective orific area of ePTFE AHVs did not undergo significant changes after fore-and-aft the fatigue test, but the regurgitation volume and regurgitation rate of ePTFE AHVs were reduced after the accelerated fatigue test, suggesting good durability of ePTFE AHV.

Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; standards ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; chemistry ; Tensile Strength

BACKGROUNDDifferent strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may have distinct effects on the immune system. The aim of this research was to investigate changes in the immunological function after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in HCC patients.

METHODSA total of 51 consecutive HCC treatment-naïe patients was enrolled in this study and 20 healthy subjects served as controls. The therapeutic strategy was selected according to the tumor stage and general conditions. TACE was performed in 25 cases, TACE plus RFA in 17 and RFA in nine. All the patients underwent routine examinations and peripheral blood was harvested for the detection of lymphocyte subset by flow cytometry 1 day before, and 2 and 4 weeks after the treatment. The serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), ALT and AST were also measured before and 4 weeks after treatment for the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy and liver function impairment.

RESULTSWhen compared with healthy controls, the CD4/CD8 ratio and the number of B cells and natural killer (NK) cells were significantly decreased in HCC patients before treatment (P < 0.05). When compared with before treatment, the CD4+ cells and CD4/CD8 ratio decreased but CD8+ cells increased in the TACE group (P < 0.05); the CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells decreased but CD8+ cells increased in the TACE-RFA group (P < 0.05); the CD3+ cells, CD4+ cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells increased in the RFA group (P < 0.05). Significant differences in the CD3+ cells, CD8+ cells, CD4/CD8 ratio and NK cells were observed among groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, the AFP level decreased and transaminase level increased in all groups (P < 0.05). Differences of pre and post treatment between groups were statistically significant (P = 0.016, 0.025, 0.018 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSImmunity was compromised in HCC patients; TACE and TACE plus RFA lowered immunologic function to a certain extent. RFA improved it accompanied by a protective effect on liver function.

Adult ; Aged ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; immunology ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; biosynthesis