Objective To investigate the changes in morphology and senescence-associated markers of the marrow-derived cardiac stem cells (MCSCs) from rats at different ages and to explore the impacts of age on proliferation, survival and differentiation of MCSCs. Methods With single-cell cloning culture, MCSCs were selected from the bone marrow of young, adult and aged male SD rats respectively. Ultrastructural changes of the cells were viewed under a transmission electron microscope.The senescence-associated changes were examined with SA-β-galactosidase staining and reactive oxygen species(ROS) staining. Distribution of cell cycle of MCSCs from different age groups was evaluated with flow cytometric analysis. Rates of the survived and apoptotic cells were determined by Annexin V/PI double-labeled flow cytometric analysis and Hochest33342 staining. Differentiation of the MCSCs toward cardiomyocytes was induced with BMP-2. Expression of cardiac transcription factors and cardiac specific genes of the cells after induction were examined with RT-PCR. CTnT expression of the cells also be examined with immunocytochemistry. Results The nucleus/plasma ratio of the cells from aged rats decrease and there are some myelin bodies in the cells of aged group. With increasing of age, the MCSCs in S+G2/M phase reduce, while β-galactosidase-positive cells and ROS-positive cells increase. Survival rate of the cells from aged rats is lower than that of the cells from young rats. At four week after induction with BMP-2, expression of Nkx2.5, GATA-4, cTnT mRNA and Cx-43 mRNA of the cells of young group increase significantly. In adult and aged group, expression of the cardiac transcription factors and cardiac specific genes is lower than that of the cells in young group. In immunocytochemical staining, cTnT expression of the cells in young group is stronger after induction with BMP-2. As compared with that of the cells in young group, cTnT expression of the cells in aged group is weak after induction. Conclusion With increasing of age, MCSCs show senescent changes, including their abilities of proliferation, survival and differentiation toward cardiomyocytes decrease.

Objective To report three cases of localized primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) mimicking a hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumor) and to summarize their clinical characteristics and the ways to differentiate them through a literature review.Method The clinical data of three patients with localized PSC mimicking a hilar cholangiocarcinoma were retrospectively analyzed.The characteristics of laboratory tests and imaging examination were reviewed,and therapy and prognosis were discussed.Results The three patients were all diagnosed to have a hilar cholangiocarcinoma preoperatively,but the diagnosis of PSC was confirmed by histopathology post-operatively.All the three patients had elevated CA19-9,2 patients had elevated anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and 2 patients had elevated IgG.All the three patients underwent surgical resection and histopathological study showed chronic inflammation of the hilar bile ducts and cholangitis of the intrahepatic portal area.The three patients were followed up from 7 months to 8 years with no symptoms.Conclusions Localized PSC is rare and it can casily be misdiagnosed as a hilar cholangiocarcinoma.Biopsy before surgery is helpful for the differential diagnosis but it is difficult to get a good biopsy sample.Surgical resection is an effective treatment.

Sepiolite--an inexpensive, resourceful, fibrous yet inoffensive mineral--made DNA transformation rapid, simple and efficient but the mechanism for DNA transformation was still unclear. Through RNA competition test, we proposed the different transforming mechanisms from the previous report. Meanwhile, we optimized the transforming method and could transfer a colony stored at 4 degrees C for a month with plasmid through sepiolite fibers. The cells could be transformed well without competent cells preparation or incubation process. In sum, this was a novel potential transforming method, which could be explored further if the chemical method and electroporation could not be used.
DNA, Bacterial ; chemistry ; genetics ; Electroporation ; methods ; Magnesium Silicates ; chemistry ; Mineral Fibers ; Nanofibers ; chemistry ; Transformation, Bacterial

Objective To analyze the differences between benign and potential malignant small pancreatic cystic lesions.Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological data of asymptomatic patients with pancreatic small cystic lesions and divided them into benign group (including serous cystic neoplasms,lymphoepithelial cyst and pseudocyst) and potential malignant group (including mucinous cystic neoplasms,intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and solid pseudopapillary neoplasms).Comparison of clinical data was made between the two groups.Results 46 patients with pathological results were included (22 cases in benign group and 24 cases in potential malignant group).No difference was detected on demographic data and lab results between the two groups.Compared with benign patients,patients in the potential malignant group were more likely to show thicken wall (P =0.000),mural nodule (P =0.000),solid constituents inside the cyst (P =0.001),wall enhancement (P =0.003) and uneven wall on CT scan (P =0.024).The diagnostic sensitivity,specificity and accuracy of the combination of above mentioned CT features for potential malignant diseases were 91.7％,77.3％ and 84.8％,respectively.Conclusions Pancreatic cystic lesions with thicken wall,mural nodule,wall enhancement,solid parts inside the cyst and uneven wall on CT were more likely of potential malignant entities.

Objective To observe the effect of fast acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) on the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery. Methods In this randomised placebo-controlled single-blind clinical trial, patients received abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery were assigned to a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group received fast acupuncture and the control group received superficial conciliative acupuncture. The acupuncture was taken at both sides of Zusanli (ST36) for 1 minute respectively during 7-8 a.m. and 7-8 p.m..We began from the first postoperative day and stopped when the patients got initial postoperative flatus or stool, or at the end of the fifth postoperative day. Results 37 controlled patients were assigned to the treatment group (18 patients) and the control group (19 patients) randomly. There were no differences on general information between the two groups. The treatment group had stronger feeling than the control group on the comparison of the acupuncture sensation level (5.7 ± 3.0 vs. 2.7 ± 2.2;t=-3.471, P=0.001). For the treatment group, the initial postoperative flatus or stool time is 19 hours earlier than the control group (65.9 ± 18.1 h vs. 85.0 ± 24.5 h; t=2.682, P=0.011). And the treatment group patients’ postoperative abdominal distension is lesser than the control group (P=0.006). Conclusion Fast acupuncture at Zusanli(ST36) can promote the recovery of gastrointestinal function after abdominal non-gastrointestinal surgery, and can also lighten the patients’ postoperative abdominal distension.

Objective To evaluate the risk factors of massive blood loss in resection of giant liver hemangioma.Method The clinical data of 141 patients who underwent giant liver hemangioma resection were retrospectively studied.These data included general physical condition,laboratory tests,radiologic findings,and various surgical parameters.The patients were divided into the massive blood loss group (＞ 1 000 ml,n =27) and the minor blood loss group (≤1 000 ml,n =114).Logistic regression was performed to determine the risk factors of intraoperative massive blood loss.Results The average diameter of the liver hemangioma was significantly greater in the massive blood loss group than that in the minor blood loss group [(21.7 ± 8.5) cm vs.(14.1 ± 5.3) cm,P ＜ 0.05].The incidences of preoperative leukopenia,anemia,thrombocytopenia and prolonged prothrombin time were higher in the massive blood loss group than that in the minor blood loss group (48.1％ vs.16.7％,37.0％ vs.11.4％,25.9％ vs.3.5％,22.2％ vs.3.5％,respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).Hepatic hemangioma with compressed hepatic veins,inferior vena cava and porta hepatis were more frequently found in the massive blood loss group than in the minor blood group (55.6％ vs.14.9％,44.4％ vs.14.0％,55.6％ vs.12.3％,respectively,all P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis demonstrated a diameter of hemangioma greater than 15 cm was a risk factor of intraoperative massive blood loss during surgical resection.Conclusions Giant hepatic hemangioma may cause disorders in the hematological and coagulation systems.Compression of major hepatic vessels raised technical difficulty and risks in surgery.Hemangioma with a diameter greater than 15 cm was recognized as a high-risk factor of intraoperative massive blood loss.

To shorten the cultivation time and reduce the consumption of raw materials for microbial lipid production, oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides AS 2.1389 was cultivated using a two-stage culture mode, in which the cell propagation and lipid accumulation were separated. The yeast cells recovered from the propagation culture were re-suspended in glucose solution for lipid accumulation, through which lipid content over 55% of the dry cell weight was achieved, the longer the propagation stage was, the higher the lipid content. Analysis of the lipid indicated that the long-chain fatty acids with 16 and 18 carbon atoms were major components, suggesting that the lipid can be an alternative feedstock for biodiesel production.
Basidiomycota ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Biofuels ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Fermentation ; Industrial Microbiology ; methods ; Lipids ; biosynthesis

Objective To summarize the experience of surgical treatment of ascending aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. Methods From February 2001 to October 2005, 31 patients including 26 male, 5 female, aged 41.3 years old (range 14-72) received surgical management. Twenty cases were diagnosed as ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic root aneurysm, 8 as Standford A dissection, 3 as Stanford B dissection. Twenty-one patients underwent classic Bentall procedure in which VSD repair was carried out in 1 case, mitral valvoplasty in 2 and mitral valve replacement in 2; Four patients underwent modified Bentall procedure (coronary button technique); Three patients underwent Wheat procedure; The remaining 3 patients with Stanford B dissection underwent graft replacement of descending aorta. Results There was no death during hospital stay that lasted 13-46 d with an average of 16.4 d after operation. The mean clinical follow-up was (21?18.5) months (range 1-63 months). One patient died without describable cause two years later. One patient had ascending aorta-pulmonary artery fistula at color Doppler examination half a year later. One patient was detected rupture of distal anastomoses half a year after operation and underwent stent-graft, SG. Conclusion The surgical treatment of aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections could be carried out safely based on the accurate diagnosis, specific surgical strategy and fine technique.

Objective To analyze the clinical experience of laparoscopic surgery for giant liver hemangiomas.Methods The clinical data of 40 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for giant liver hemangiomas from August 2012 to January 2018 in the China-Japan Friendship Hospital were retrospectively analyzed.The diameters of the liver hemangiomas were more than 10 cm for all the patients.The liver functions of all the patients were Child-Pugh class A.The follow-up was up to the end of February 2018.Results Laparoscopic treatment of giant liver hemangioma was successfully performed in 37 patients.Three patients were converted to open hepatectomy.The mean diameter of the giant liver hemangiomas was (10.8± 1.3) cm (ranged 10.0～15.0 cm).The mean operative time for laparoscopic therapy was (154.7±68.0) min (range 70～ 390 min).The mean intraoperative blood loss was 200 (100 ～ 400) ml.20 patients received autologous blood transfusion.Of these 2 patients received in addition allogeneic blood transfusion.The postoperative hospital stay was (6.9t2.0) days (range 4～14 days).Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (8.1％).Two patients developed postoperative pleural effusion and one pelvic effusion.Two patients responded well to puncture drainage and one to conservation management.There was no postoperative hemorrhage,bile leakage or air embolism.All patients were followed-up and no liver hemangioma recurrence was detected.Conclusion Laparoscopic surgery was a safe and efficacious procedure in selected patients with giant liver hemangioma.

In recent years, liver transplantation in China has developed rapidly, and the demand for donor organs is increasing. Faced with the dilemma of organ shortage, using marginal donors or expanding the criteria for standard donors is one of the practical methods to solve the problem. Compared with static cold storage, ex vivo machine perfusion in the liver transplantation can evaluate and repair the vitality of the grafts. The advantages of machine perfusion have been widely recognized when extended criteria donor organs were transplanted. Ex vivo mechanical perfusion strategies mainly include hypothermic(oxygenated) machine perfusion, normothermic machine perfusion, controlled oxygenated rewarming perfusion and ischemic-free liver transplantation, and different machine perfusion strategies have their own characteristics and advantages. This article reviews the development process and the characteristics of various machine perfusion strategies. The future development and application of machine perfusion were prospected in order to promote the widespread application of this technology.