Objective To investigate the effects of serum from rats with burn injury on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs). Methods Bone marrow was extracted from sacrificed Wistar rats and MSCs were then incubated in F-12 medium in the presence of fetal calf serum (FCS) (group F),normal rat serum (group N),or serum harvested from rats with burn injury(group B). Cells of the fifth passage were harvested to investigate the expression of CK and FⅧ by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Results With immunohistochemical staining,both CK and FⅧ were positive in MSCs of group B and negative in the cells of the other two groups. The flow cytometry analysis showed that the positive rates of CK and FⅧ staining MSCs of group B were higher than that of the other two groups ( P 0.05). Conclusions The serum obtained from rats with burn injury could induce differentiation of MSCs to both epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells,implying that serum after barm injury might promote the MSCs to participate in the process of wound repair.

BACKGROUND: The biliary stents commonly used in clinic are made of plastics and metal, both of which have some irresolvable defects. New type of material characterizing by great biocompatibility and degradation for the making of biliary stents needs to be found and studied.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the biodegradation law and the change in radical force of five different mole-ratios of biliary stents made of poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) in human bile in vitro.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A Completely random design was performed at the Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University between July and December 2006.MATERIALS: Five different mole-ratios of PLGA hiliary stents (90L/10G, 80L/20G, 70L/30G, 60L/40G, and 50L/50G) were provided by Dalgang Biological Science and Technology Co., Ltd., Jinan; Human fresh bile was obtained from the patients who underwent external drainage of bile in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University.METHODS: Thirty-two PLGA biliary stents of each proportion were respectively divided into eight groups, with four stents in each group. All of them were independently submerged into test tubes with 10 mL fresh human bile which were then placed in constant temperature oscillator. The temperature was set at 37 ℃. The bile was changed every day. After incubated for one week to eight weeks, the PLGA biliary stents were respectively taken out of test tubes from the first to the eighth group each week. They were washed with distilled water and dried in calorstat for 24 hours.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Gross morphology, color and integrality of PLGA stents; ② Scanning electron microscope; ③ the mass and the radical force of PLGA stents.RESULTS: ① Five different mole-ratios of PLGA stents followed a similar changing law as to gross morphology: stents remained intact → stents became soft → the surface ofstents became coarse and cracked → stents collapsed → stents were degraded into pieces → stents were completely degraded. ② Before degradation: limpid stereo reticular structure of PLGA; One week after degradation: PLGA was corroded and the reticular structure was decreased; Three weeks after degradation: airspace was gradually disappeared and the reticular structure was further decreased; Five weeks after degradation: airspace and the reticular structure were completely damaged, which was in an indefinite form. ③ The mass loss of each proportion of PLGA stents gradually speeded up along with the time extension. Furthermore, with the content of PGA increasing, the mass loss of the stents became faster. The initial radical force was different among five different mole-ratios of hiliary stents. With the content of PLA increasing, the radical force of the stents became stronger.CONCLUSION: The material of PLGA possesses adjustable biodegradation and good mechanical feature, so it is suitable for preparation of biliary stents.

AIM: To investigate the effect of peribulbar anesthesia on intraocular pressure(IOP)and ocular amplitude pulse(OPA).METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive adult patients with monocular cataract enrolled in this study. IOP and OPA were measured with dynamic contour tonometer(DCT)before and 3, 10 minutes after administration of lidocaine anesthesia. Data were analyzed with software SPSS 11.5.RESULTS: The IOP remained stable in the injected eyes and the non-injected eyes after administration of lidocaine anesthesia. The OPA was significantly decreased after injection of anesthesia agent in the injected eyes. The OPA in the non-injected eyes increased significantly 3 minutes after injection of the anesthesia agent, returning to preinjection level 10 minutes after the injection.CONCLUSION: Peribulbar anesthesia leads to decrease of OPA and shows no effect on IOP in the injected eyes.

Objective To identify the differential serum proteins in patients with hepatic injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism. Methods Six serum samples were collected from patients with liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism and healthy subjects(control gruop) in endemic arsenism area. Twodimensional gel electrophoresis(2-DE) was performed to separate serum proteins, after silver staining, the differential expression of proteins were analyzed and then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE map of serum protein patterns of patients and normal control were established successfully. The results showed that there were an average of (824 ± 31 ) spots and (782 ± 42) spots on 2-DE matching of the patients and control groups and the matching rate was 94.9%(782/824). From these two groups 49 differential protein spots were identified, of which over 3 times the difference in the expression of 30 protein spots were singled out and MALDI-TOF-MS analysis was carried out. Ten proteins were identified. Upregulated expression was observed in alpha-2-macroglobulin, B-cell receptor-associated protein, keratin 1,apolipoprotein A-I, and down-regulated expression was observed in haptoglobin, α2-heremans-schimid-glycoprotein,mitogen-activated protein kinase 4, zinc finger protein 323, ZAP-70 and SP40 in the patient group. Conclusions The well-resolved and reproducible 2-DE serum patterns of patients are established and some differentially expressed proteins are characterized. Whether these proteins of differential expression are serum markers for liver injury resulting from coal-burning type of arsenism need to be further verified.

Objective To establish a molecular technique of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing to identify pathogenic fungi species from the fungal sinusitis tissues. Methods Total 270 sinusitis tissues samples were collected by endoscopic surgery from 2006 to 2008. The histopathology, organize spring clip culturation and ITS region (ITS region region of fungal rRNA, including ITS1-5. 8S rRNA-ITS2) sequencing were employed simultaneously. And then to evaluate the ITS sequencing as the tool for identification of pathogenic fungi directly from clinical samples. Results Of the 270 samples, histopathology positive rate was 80.0% (216/270) , organize spring clip positive rate was 80.0% (216/ 270), fungal culturation positive rate was 53.0% (143/270) , ITS region sequencing positive rate was 63. 0% [ (134 +28 +8)/270], There were 22 species and 6 genera identified by fungal culturation, and 32 species identified by ITS region sequencing. Conclusion ITS region sequencing will become a applicable tool in clinical laboratory in future.

Objective To investigate the effects of narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) on the expression of keratin 17 (K17) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT.Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were irradiated with different doses (0,50,100,200,400 mJ/cm2) of NB-UVB followed by additional culture for 6,12 and 24 hours respectively.To explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of NB-UVB on K17 expression,some HaCaT cells were pretreated with PD98059 (an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) followed by UVB radiation and additional culture as described above.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK 8) was used to evaluate the proliferation of,real time PCR to measure the mRNA expressions of K17 in,and Western blot to determine the protein expression of K17,Erk1/2 and phosphorylated Erk1/2 in,HaCaT ceils.Results Both the proliferation of and K17 expression in HaCaT cells were promoted by NB-UVB radiation at low doses (50,100 mJ/cm2),but inhibited by NB-UVB radiation at high doses (200,400 mJ/cm2).Significant differences were observed for the proliferative activity between HaCaT cells irradiated with NB-UVB at 100 or 400 mJ/cm2 and unirradiated HaCaT ceils at 12 and 24 hours (P ＜ 0.01 or 0.05).The phosphorylation of Erk1/2 was upregulated by NB-UVB radiation at 100 mJ/cm2,but downregulated by that at 400 mJ/cm2,and the upregulation induced by low dose NB-UVB could be suppressed by blocking the Erk 1/2 pathway.Conclusion The effects of NB-UVB radiation on K17 expression may be modulated by the Erk 1/2 pathway.

Objective To investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphisms in nucleotide excision repair gene excision repair cross complementing group 6(ERCC6),xeroderma pigmentosum group A(XPA) and coal-burning-borne-arsenism in Guizhou Province.Method ERCC6 A3368G,ERCC6 C-6530G and XPA A23G gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique(PCR-RFLP) of 205 cases which were chosen as patients with arsenism and 187 residents as control group.Results The distributions of ERCC6 A3368G,ERCC6 C-6530G and XPA A23G in the case group were not statistically significant compared with those of the control group(x2 =3.209,2.963,3.335,all P ＞ 0.05); individuals carrying G allelomorphic gene(AG + GG) had a lower risk than individuals carring A allelomorphic gene(ORadj =0.282,95％CI:0.126-0.628,P =0.002); relationship was not found between single genetic polymorphisms of ERCC6 C-6530G,XPA A23G and coal-burning-borne-arsenism; the risk of arsenism was decreased for individuals carrying the following five genotypes combination:ERCC6 A3368G(AG + GG) genotype and ERCC6 C-6530G CC genotype(ORadj =0.287,95％CI:0.087-0.946,P=0.040); ERCC6 A3368G(AG + GG) genotype and ERCC6 C-6530G(CG + GG) genotype (ORadj =0.226,95％CI:0.077-0.661,P =0.007); ERCC6 A3368G(AG + GG) genotype and XPA A23G AA genotype (ORadj =0.150,95％CI:0.038-0.596,P =0.007); ERCC6 A3368G (AG + GG) genotype and XPA A23G(AG + GG) genotype(ORadj =0.325,95％CI:0.118-0.897,P =0.030) ; ERCC6 C6530G (CG + GG) genotype and XPA A23G AA genotype (ORadj =0.397,95％CI:0.162-0.975,P=0.036).Conclusions Individuals carring ERCC6 A3368G (AG + GG) genotype have a low risk of arsenism.There are five genotypes combination of three gene polymorphisms in two genes,ERCC6 and XPA,which may reduce the risk of coal-burning-borne-arsenism.

The potential of Rhizobium sp. N613 to produce the exopolysaccharide (REPS) was studied in this paper. Using an orthogonal design in a flask-shaker culture system, the fermentation medium and conditions of synthesizing REPS were optimized. Based on these results, the fermentation kinetic parameters were obtained in the batch fermentation with a 10L fermentor. The REPS yield of 11.31g/L was achieved by metabolic regulation during 40 h fed-batch fermentation. Transplanted tumor models of sarcoma 180 in mice were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effect. The result of anti-tumor activities showed that inhibition rate was 53.40%, when dose of REPS was 5mg/kg. These results indicate that REPS has the following properties: the short duration of fermentation, the high yield, the low cost, the effective immunocompetence and thickening. Thus, REPS has the value of development and application.

Objective To evaluate the intervention effect of atorvastatin on the arterial restenosis after intracavitary therapy of the lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Methods One hundred and eighteen patients who undertook intracavitary therapy (including Balloon dilation, Stent implantation and endarterectomy, Stent implantation and thrombectomy) in our hospital from January 2008 to January 2010 were divided into two groups randomly,60 cases into the control group,and 58 cases into the atorvastatin group whom were orally medicated with Atorvastatin 20 mg once daily. Blood lipid, C-reactive protein, Intima-media thickness and the patency rate of lower limb artery of two groups were observed and recorded before treatment and at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks after treatment. Results Success rates of intracavitary therapy were 98. 33% (59/60) and 100. 00% (58/58) in the control and atorvastatin group respectively. The patency rate decreased in different degree with time in both groups,which decreased more significantly in the control group but remained relatively stable in the atorvastatin group. By follow up we found that the patency rate in the control group was significantly lower than that of in the Atorvastatin group(77. 96% vs 94. 82% ,P ＜ 0. 01 )at 24 weeks. Blood lipid, C-reactive protein, Intima-media thickness and the patency rate of lower extremity artery of control group increased in different degrees, but with no statistical significance (P＞ 0. 05 ), while these indices began to decrease in atorvastatin group after 4 weeks of medication and were significantly lower than the control group ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Atorvastatin has effect on preventing the arterial restenosis after intracavitary therapy of the lower extremity atherosclerotic occlusive disease.

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) on Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods: A total of 50 AD patients were randomly allocated into a Western medication (WM) group (n=25) and an acupuncture plus medication (APM) group (n=25). Patients in the WM group took oral huperzine A capsules. In addition to huperzine A capsules, patients in the APM group also received EA at Shenting (GV 24), Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Fengfu (GV 16), Mingmen (GV 4) and Yongquan (KI 1). The needles on the above points were connected to G6805-Ⅱelectric stimulator [3 pairs: Shenting (GV 24) and Baihui (GV 20); Dazhui (GV 14) and Fengfu (GV 16); and bilateral Yongquan (KI 1)]. The needles were retained 25 min. The treatment was done once a day, and 10 times made up a course of treatment. The patients received a total of 3 treatment courses. There was a 3-day interval between two courses. The mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and Hasegawa dementia scale revised (HDS-R) were conducted before and after treatment. The clinical efficacies were evaluated when the treatment was completed. Results: Before treatment, there were no between-group statistical differences in MMSE and HDS-R scores (both P>0.05). After treatment, the MMSE and HDS-R scores in the APM group were significantly higher than those in the WM group (both P<0.05). The total effective rate in the APM group was 88.0%, versus 76.0% in the WM group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: EA is effective for AD and can improve clinical symptoms in AD patients.