BACKGROUND:Adipose-derived stem cels under osteogenic induction can be combined with biodegradable silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite scaffold, which is expected to develop a new biocompatible and osteogenic bone fusion material. OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite composite on the viability and osteogenic properties of adipose-derived stem cels after osteogenic induction. METHODS:Adipose-derived stem cels were obtained from rat’s fat tissue, then adherently cultured, proliferated and passaged in vitro. Passage 3 cels were cultured in conditioned medium for osteogenic induction, and then seeded onto silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite scaffold as experimental group. Adipose-derived stem cels cultured on the cover glasses at the same condition acted as control group. The celular morphology, proliferation and differentiation were assessed respectively by means of phase contrast microscope, MTT assay and alkaline phosphatase activity measurement. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After osteogenic induction, adipose-derived stem cels could adhere to the scaffold material and proliferate on the surface of silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite scaffold normaly. No significant difference was found in cel proliferation and alkaline phosphatase activity between the experimental and control groups (P > 0.05), suggesting the celular activity and function were not affected by the material. These findings indicate that silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite composite material has good cytocompatibility. Subject headings: Silk; Hydroxyapatites; Stem Cels; Adipose Tissue; Biocompatible Materials; Tissue Engineering.

Mid-ventricular hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (MVHOCM) is a rare type of cardiomyopathy thatcan be accompanied by apical aneurysm.We presented here a case report of MVHOCM with cornary artery disease.The sixty-fouryears old man was sent to hospital because of ventricular tachycardia.Large inversion T wave was showed on electrocardiography in the presence of abnormal coronary arteries and normal cardiac enzyme.Echoeardiogmphy showed an hourglass appearance of the leftventricle with an aneurysm in the apex and a pressure gradient between the outflow tract of left ventricle and the middle of the leftventricle was revealed by left-heart catheterization.

Static database can not meet the requirement of web development. The dynamic database which is based on the dynamic memory and management technologies has become the preferred choice. This paper compares five primary methods for web database access, and an example is given to illustrate how ASP.NET access SQL server.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of fasting and postpiandial triglyceride with carotid intima-media thickness among type 2 diabetic patients in southeast China.

METHODSA total of 78 type 2 diabetic patients from southeast China were recruited. All the subjects underwent a standardized mixed-meal test (SMMT) and an oral glucose tolerance test. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by color doppler ultrasound examination.

RESULTSPostprandial triglyceride (PTG) after SMMT increased significantly in type 2 diabetic patients. The carotid IMT in patients with postprandial hypertriglyceridemia was significantly greater than that in patients with postprandial normal-triglyceridemia (0.90 mm vs 0.81 mm, P < 0.05), which remained significant after adjustment for fasting TG and HDL-c levels, and the IMT in patients with fasting hypertriglyceridemia only had tendency to increase compared to patients with fasting normal-triglyceridemia (0.87 mm vs 0.84 mm, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that postprandial hypertriglyceridemia may be an independent risk factor of early atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.

Carotid Arteries ; diagnostic imaging ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; diagnostic imaging ; Eating ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Tunica Intima ; diagnostic imaging ; Tunica Media ; diagnostic imaging ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Extensive liver resection or liver transplantation operated on patients with combined hepatic cirrhosis and other complications correlates with high morbidity and mortality.Child-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system is now widely used in the assessment of liver function.This classification scheme includes three clinical indicators and two biochemical indices;however,it seems difficulty on directly evaluating functional status of hepatocytes.OBJECTIVE: To explore the practicability of bioluminescence adenosine triphosphate (ATP) determination assay to assess the functional reserve of residual hepatocytes,DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING: Case contrast study,which was carried out in the Second Affiliated Hospital,Sun Yat-sen University from January 2005 to March 2006.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two patients who underwent major extra-and intra hepatic surgery including liver transplantation were randomly divided into three groups based on hepatic cirrhosis grading standard,including normal group (n=7),macronodular cirrhosis group (n=9),and micronodular cirrhosis group (n=16).METHODS: Routine examination and biochemical indexes of liver were performed preoperatively,including glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (GOT) and total bilirubin (TBIL).Liver specimens were delivered by aseptic technique during operation and enzymatic digested.Cell suspension was cultured and centrifuged.Hepatocytes were counted and dispensed cell suspension to be used for ATP extraction and measurement.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ATP content,preoperative biochemical parameters of liver function,and correlation between biochemical parameters and ATP content.RESULTS: The ATP content in the macronodular cirrhosis group was significantly higher than that in the micronodular cirrhosis group and normal group (P=0.000 1,0.004).While,the ATP content in the micronodular cirrhosis group was also significantly higher than that in the normal group (P=0.004).ATP content (mole/cell) wassignificantly positively correlated with serum glutamic oxalacetic transarninase (r=-0.609 3,P=0.000 2) and TBIL (r=0.614 5,P=0.000 2).CONCLUSION: ATP assay can directly evaluate functional reserve of liver parenchyma and reflect high operative risk status (HORS) and course of postoperative recovery in major hepatic resection.

Objective To explore the effect and its possible mechanism of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) on bacterial growth in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of newborns with ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).Methods Newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Guangdong Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from June 1,2012 to December 31,2012 were reviewed.The inclusion criteria were:(1)Positive BALF culture results.(2) Requirement of mechanical ventilation with tracheal intubation.(3) Diagnosed as ventilator-associated pneumonia.Two pieces of BALF samples of newborn were collected and randornaly divided into experimental and control group.hUCMSCs were added into the experimental group,while the same volume of conditioned medium was added into the control group.Both groups were incubated for six hours in humidified CO2 incubator at 37 ℃,then,bacterial growth was assessed by colony forming unit (CFU) counts.Levels of the antimicrobial peptides (Cathelicidin/LL-37 and human HBD-2) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot.Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis.Results Among the culture results of 31 newborns,there were Klebsiella pneumoniae (6 cases,19.3％),Stenotrophomonas narrow food aeromonas (6 cases,19.3％),Hemolytic staphylococci (5 cases,16.1％),Escherichia coli (3 cases,9.7％),Bacterial meningitis septicemia Elizabeth Platinum (3 cases,9.7％),Acinetobacter baumannii (3 cases,9.7％),Pseudomonas putida (2 cases,6.4％),Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1 case,3.2％),Staphylococcus aureus (1 case,3.2％) and Enterobacter cloacae (1 ease,3.2％).The CFU counts in experimental group were much less than those in control group [(2.60±0.67) ×104] CFU/ml vs [(1.18±0.32) ×105] CFU/ml,(t=-20.19,P＜0.01).Levels of Cathelicidin/LL-37 and HBD-2 in experimental group were higher than those in control group [Cathelicidin/LL-37:(8.98 ± 3.22) ng/ml vs (3.18 ± 1.57) ng/ml,t =17.79,P ＜ 0.01 ;HBD-2:(379.87±11.74) pg/ml vs (39.89±2.86) pg/ml,t=37.62,P＜0.01].Conclusions hUCMSCs had antimicrobial effect on bacterial growth in BALFs from ventilator associated pneumonia possibly by the secretion of antimicrobial peptides (Cathelicidin/LL-37 and HBD-2).

Objective To review our experience in the diagnosis and management of paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm after liver transplantation. Methods 60 adult patients received liver transplantation from February 2001 to March 2007 in Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The pathophysiologic changes, clinical progress, and management of serious respiratory complications caused by post-transplant paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm were studied. Results Among 60 patients, 40 developed postoperative respiratory complications, and 5 were due to paralysis of the right hemidiaphragm. The 5 patients presented with paradoxical respiration and the ventilator supporting times were 14, 16, 34, 45, and 60 days, respectively. Tracheostomy was performed in 4. These patients developed pneumonia in 5, atelectasis in 4, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in 4, hepatopulmonary syndrome in 4, and pulmonay interstitial edema in 3. Among the 5 patients, 4 patients survived and 1 patient died of ARDS and multiple organs failure 31 days after the transplantation. Conclusions After liver transplantation, strict monitoring of the respiratory function and timely use of a respirator for patients with the paralysis of the hemidiaphragm is very important. For patients with suspicious hemidiaphragm paralysis, tracheostomy should be decisively performed.

Objective To evaluate the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography in assessment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic fibrosis in rats.Methods Models with various degrees of NAFLD severity were conducted in 110 rats by feeding high fat emulsion.The right liver lobe of rat models were processed and embedded in a fabricated gelatin solution to measure the shear wave velocity (SWV) by ARFI.And the other liver lobes were used for histologic assessment.Based on NAFLD activity score (NAS),the final pathologic NAFLD diagnosis were considered as normal group (NAS=0),simple steatosis (SS) group (1≤NAS≤2),borderline (3≤NAS≤4) group and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) group (NAS≥5).The diagnostic accuracy of the SWV parameters in evaluating NAFLD severity and fibrosis stages was studied using ROC curves.Results The difference of SWV values among normal group,SS group,borderline group and NASH group was statistically significant (F=31.53,P＜0.001).Taking SWV≥ 2.54 m/s as the diagnostic standard to differentiate normal rats from rats with SS,and SWV≥2.90 m/s to differentiate SS from NASH in rats,the area under ROC curve (AUC) was 0.922 (95％CI [0.871,0.973],P＜0.001) and 0.882 (95％ CI [0.807,0.956],P＜0.001) respectively.The sensitivity and specificity were 93.5 ％ and 100 ％ for differentiating normal and SS groups,83.3 ％ and 84.2 ％ for differentiating SS and NASH groups.Taking SWV≥3.48 m/s as cutoff to predict fibrosis (≥F2 stage),the AUC was 0.963 (95％CI [0.909,1.000],P＜0.001),the sensitivity was 92.9％ and the specificity was 97.6％.Taking SWV≥3.61 m/s as cutoff to predict severe fibrosis (≥F3 stage),the AUC was 0.997 (95％CI [0.990,1.000],P＜0.001),sensitivity was 100％ and specificity was 98.9％.The same high validity was maintained as in the prediction of cirrhosis (F4 stage) with the cutoff as SWV≥4.50 m/s,and the AUC was 0.993 (95％CI [0.982,1.000],P＜0.001),the sensitivity was 100 ％ and the specificity was 96.8％.Conclusion ARFI elastography is a promising method for differentiating the different severity of NAFLD and staging the degree of hepatic fibrosis with NAFLD in rat models.

OBJECTIVETo detect mutations of the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene in two Chinese X-linked retinitis pigmentosa families.

METHODSFragments of exons 1-19 of the RPGR gene were amplified with intronic primers, using genomic DNA as template. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing. Mutations were identified by comparing DNA sequences of the patients with those of the normal controls.

RESULTSTwo novel mutations, c1536delC and E332X, were identified in exons 12 and 9 of the RPGR gene in both families. Each mutation was the first mutation found in their respective exons. Both mutations were predicted to cause premature termination, which resulted in truncated proteins without normal functions of the RPGR products.

CONCLUSIONSBoth mutations are the genetic basis of the pathogenesis in the respective families. Our data might be helpful in analysing the function of the RPGR protein.

Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Eye Proteins ; Female ; Genetic Linkage ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; X Chromosome

Objective:To investigate the predictive role of relative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal intensity (DWI-rSI) in outcome in patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion cardioembolic stroke and successful recanalization after endovascular therapy (EVT).Methods:Patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion stroke due to cardioembolic embolism underwent EVT and successful recanalization at the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from March 2017 to March 2023 were retrospectively included. According to the modified Rankin Scale score 3 months after procedure, the patients were divided into a good outcome group (0-2 points) and a poor outcome group (3-6 points). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictive factors for poor outcome. Results:A total of 59 patients were enrolled, including 29 males (49.2%), median age of 74 years (interquartile range, 68-80 years). The median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 15 (12-21), and the median DWI Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was 8 (5-9). Thirty-two patients (54.2%) had good outcome, and 27 (45.8%) had poor outcome. Among them, 9 patients (15.3%) died (6 died from cerebral herniation after malignant brain edema, 2 died from complications, and 1 died from severe intracranial hemorrhage after procedure). Twenty-one patients (35.6%) experienced hemorrhagic transformation, including 12 (20.3%) with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. There were significant differences in baseline systolic blood pressure, NIHSS score, DWI-ASPECTS, DWI-rSI, and incidence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage between the good outcome group and the poor outcome group (all P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that baseline systolic blood pressure (odds ratio 0.977, 95% confidence interval 0.919-0.991; P=0.015) and DWI-rSI (odds ratio 11.809, 95% confidence interval 1.932-72.170; P=0.008) were the independent predictors for poor outcome. Conclusion:DWI-rSI can predict the outcome of patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion cardioembolic stroke and successful recanalization after EVT.