Cochlear Implants ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

Aging ; Humans ; Presbycusis ; genetics

China ; Deafness ; genetics ; Humans

Objective To determine pharmacokinetics profiles of sodium alginate dexamethasone in perilymph after trans-round window administration of the sodium alginate dexamethasone gel in vivo.Methods 30 healthy guinea pig were randomly divided into 6 groups.Alg-Dex gel was placed into the niche of the round window of the guinea pig on the right ear.The perilymphetic samples were harvested on day 1,2,3,4 and 5 after administration of Alg-Dex gel respectively.The concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph were assayed with high performance liquid chromatograph(HPLC).Results Concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph on day 1,2,3,4 and 5 after administration of Alg-Dex gel were 0.49?0.06,1.32?0.28,0.65?0.08,0.66?0.05,0.53?0.17 mg/L respectively.Concentrations of dexamethasone in perilymph reached a peak on the second day and maintained 0.61?0.07 mg/L steadily on following days after administration.Conclusion Dexamethasone can be released from the sodium alginate dexamethasone gel persisitently and steadily in vivo.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells ( MDSC) are a bone marrow-derived heterogeneous cell population with immuno-suppressive activity.Although there is convincing evidence that autoimmune diseases are associated with MDSC expansion ,controversies remained regarding the role of MDSCs in controlling autoimmune responses .Recent studies have shown that the expansion of MDSCs , which are capable of inhibiting effector cell function in vitro ,does not always lead to alleviation of autoimmune diseases ,and in some ca-ses paradoxically exacerbates the disease progression .This review summarizes recent insights into the role of MDSCs in the development of autoimmune responses and the potential of using MDSCs for the treatment of autoimmune diseases .

Congenital malformations of the external and middle ear is the common reason of pediatric hearing impairment and cosmic problem. The treatment composes of auricular plastic surgery and auditory reconstruction surgery. The use of BAHA, vibrant sound-bridge and tissue engineering materials can significantly improve the treatment outcomes.
Contraindications ; Ear, External ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Ear, Middle ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the expression levels of RAS-interacting protein 1 (RASIP1) mRNA and protein in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its cell lines,and to analyze the relationship between RASIP1 and tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in 29 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and the corresponding adjacent non-cancer liver tissues (ANLTs),as well as those in the HCC cell lines such as LO2,HEPG2,MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 were detected using real-time PCR and western blot.Results The RASIP1 expression levels decreased significantly in HCC tissues when compared with the corresponding ANLTs; The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in LO2 were significantly higher than those in other HCC cell lines (P ＜ 0.05) ; The expression levels of RASIP1 mRNA and protein in MHCC97-H and HCCLM3 were significantly lower than those in HepG2 (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions HCC tissues had lower expression than those in ANLTs.On analyzing the RASIP1 levels of HCC tissues and its cell lines,we speculated that RASIP1 might suppress recurrence and metastasis of HCC.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Chinese medical (CM) syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and recombinant human tumor necrosis factor receptor II-antibody fusion protein (etanercept) for treating ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

METHODSTotally 35 AS patients were treated with syndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs and etanercept. Reinforcing Shen and strengthening Du channel, activating meridians to stop pain was principle used in syndrome differentiation based treatment. Etanercept was subcutaneously injected, 25 mg each time; twice per week for the first three months and once a week for the latter three months. The clinical efficacy was evaluated after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Meanwhile, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates were also observed. Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), visual analog score (VAS) for spine pain, VAS for night pain, patient global assessment (PGA), VAS for physician global assessment, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, cervical rotation, Schober improved test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with before treatment, BASDAI, BASFI, VAS for spine pain, night pain, physician global assessment, PGA, CM syndrome score, finger-ground distance, thoracic activity, tragus-wall distance, lumbar scoliosis, Schober improved test, ESR, and CRP all decreased after 3 and 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Cervical rotation also decreased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with 3 months of treatment, total effective rate of CM syndrome, ASAS20 and ASAS50 standards arriving rates increased after 6 months of treatment, with statistical difference (P < 0.05). There were statistical differences in all indices mentioned above between after 3 months of treatment and after 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSyndrome differentiation based Chinese herbs combined etanercept could alleviate inflammatory reaction favorably, control the progression of active AS, and improve joint functions.

Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Etanercept ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; prevention & control ; Pain Management ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUND:Subcutaneous fat of human body is a rich reservoir of adipose derived stromal stem cells(ADSCs).ADSCs can proliferate rapidly when being cultured in vitro,and has the capacity of multi-directional differentiation.ADSCs attracted much attention in research of tissue engineered seed cells.OBJECTIVE:To isolate and culture stromal vascular fraction(SVF)cells from rabbit subcutaneous fat in vitro,and to testify whether it has multiple differentiation capacity.METHODS:SVF cells were isolated in vitro from rabbits,and cultured under standard condition.Cellular surface antigens CD44,CD45 and CD29 of passage 3 SVF cells were examined using flow cytometry.Passage 3 SVF calls were induced to differentiate into osteoblasts,chondrocytes,and lipocytes.Oil red staining was used to examine lipocyte induction.Alkaline phosphatase(ALP)staining,alizarin red staining and von Kossa staining were used to examine osteoblast induction.Type Ⅱ collagen immunohistochemical staining and type Ⅱ collagen mRNA RT-PCR were used to examine chondrocyte differentiation.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Primary SVF cells were multi-angular or short spindle-shaped.Passage 3 SVF calls were long spindle-shaped.Flow cytometry showed CD44+,CD29+,CD45.Oil red staining exhibited positive reaction in lipocyte induction group.ALP staining,alizarin red staining and Von kossa staining demonstrated positive reactions in osteoblast induction group.Type Ⅱ Collagen immunohistochemical staining and alcian blue staining have suggested positive reactions at 14 days of chondrogenic induction group.RT-PCR of type Ⅱ collagen mRNA test showed that the product band had strong signal at 14 days of chondrogenic induction group compared with that before induction.Above mentioned results have indicated that SVF cells isolated from rabbit subcutaneous fat have identical surface makers of stem cells,and have the ability to differentiate into lipocytes,ostsoblasts and chondrocytes in vitro by induction,and it could be concluded that the SVF cells were ADSCs.

BACKGROUND: Small intestinal submucosa (SIS) has good compatibility with cells and tissues, and has good degradabUity. It is an ideal scaffold for tissue engineering. Inducing adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) seeded on SIS can construct target tissues, which has the potential to be used in clinical treatment.OBJECTIVE: To prepare decellularized porcina SIS matrix, and testify its biocompatibility with rabbit ADSCs cultured in vitro. METHODS: SIS was processed by enzyme digestion-hypertonic saline decellularization, lyophilized at low temperature, and sterilized by gamma radiation. Paraffin sections were used to observe the effect of decellularization of SIS, and the surface structures of SIS were observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Rabbit ADSCs were isolated and cultured, and passage 3 ADSCs were seeded onto one side or both sides of SIS. After one weak of co-culture, the cell-scaffold composites were observed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: SIS was white and semi-transparent film. Paraffin sections showed no cells on SIS matrix; electron microscopy showed loose weave structure of serosal surface and dense packing structure of mucosal surface. After one week of co-cultivation, plenty of ADSCs were observed on the surface of SIS. In ADSCs seeded onto one side of SIS group, a large number of cells grew on the superior surface, and few even no cells were observed on inferior surface of SIS. When ADSCs were seeded onto both sides of SIS, cells adhered to SIS in paraffin sections. Results show that enzyme digestion-hypartonic saline decellulariation can decellularize SIS completely, and SIS can support ADSCs growth.