Background Human limbal allograft transplantation or limbal autograft transplantation are the primary approaches to the severe corneal-blindness,but their application in clinic were limited because of the defects of donor material.With the development of tissue engineering technology,transplantation of in vitro cultured limbal epithelial stem cells is being an advanced management.Objective The aim of this work was to expand human limbal epithelial stem cells ex vivo under the guidance of confocal microscope and to lay the foundation for fabricating ex vivo cultured cell sheets.Methods Ten eyes of ten patients were examined with the Heidelberg Retina Tomography Ⅲ Rostock Cornea Module(HRT3-RCM)to elucidate the structure of the human corneoscleral limbus and to correlate limbal epithelial dimensions.According to the analysis of the images of limbal epithelia,the limbal tissues provided by Eye Bank of Henan Eye Institute were cut into suitable explants.Then,this study was conducted to expand limbal epithelial stem cells ex vivo on denuded amniotic membrane.The phenotypes of primary cultured cells were evaluated by morphology and immunofluorescent staining with antibodies for limbal epithelial stem cell markers (p63,cytokeratinl9)and differentiation markers(keratin 3,involucrin).This experimental procedure was approved by the Ethic Committee of Henan Provincial People's Hospital.The written informed consent was obtained from subjects before initiation of any examination.Results The palisade morphology of human limbus was imaged clearly on the laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy and many hyperreflective cells were observed in palisade basal cells.The cell-island phenomenon was seen in the basement membrane under the laser scanning in vivo confocal microscopy.The oblique sections of limbus showed many papilla-like epithelial columns below the superficial limbal epithelia.Throughout the experiment duration,the epithelial cells grew well with the migration rates from limbal tissue (68.62± 16.94)％ and the migration time(5.83 ±2.04)days,which depended on the tissue freshness.Compared with the second and forth batch of tissue,the migration rates of the third and sixth batch of tissues were significantly higher(P＜0.05),and the migration time was evidently longer in the forth and sixth batch of tissue compared with the first,second,third and fifth batch(P＜0.05).The positively expressing rates in the cultured corneal stem cells were 4.05％ and 36.52％ for p63,26.07％ and 40.55％ for CK19,57.88％ and 40.81％ for K3,64.66％ and 59.19％ for involucrin.Conclusion Human limbal epithelial stem cells can be successfully and purposefully obtained from the limbal tissue based on the guidance confocal miscroscope.The cultured corneal stem cells can grow well on the denuded amniotic membrane

Acrocephalosyndactylia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Infant

Objective To investigate the prevalence of 16S rRNA methylase gene armA and to analyze their effect on the drug resistance in multi drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter baumannii . Methods A total of 72 Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were collected from the Second Xiangya Hospital from Jan. 2008 to Dec. 2008. The size of inhibitory zone of these strains to gentamycin, tobramycin and amikacin were determinate using Kirby-Bauer( K-B) method. The 16S rRNA methylase genes armA were detected by PCR. PCR products were purified and sequenced. Then we used randomly amplified polymorphic DNA method (RAPD) genotyping technology for the establishment of DNA fingerprinting. In addition, we compared drug sensitivity test with RAPD technology. Results Twenty isolates of 72 strains were armA positive and the resistance rates of the strains with armA gene to gentamycin, tobramycin, amikacin were 90.0% , 90.0% and 90. 0% , respectivily. armA positive stains were divided into 7 types using RAPD technology. A genotype was the advantage type. Conclusion The study showed that 16S rRNA methylases gene armA was prevalent in Acinetobacter baumannii which could lead to resistant to almost all aminoglycosides at a high level. And the main form of armA gene prevalence in our hospital was the spread of the same clone strain inside and outside of clinic department.

Traditional processes are mostly adopted in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation production and the quality of products is mostly controlled by terminal. Potential problems of the production in the process are unpredictable and is relied on experience in most cases. Therefore, it is hard to find the key points affecting the preparation process and quality control. A pattern of research and development of traditional Chinese medicine preparation process based on the idea of Quality by Design (QbD) was proposed after introducing the latest research achievement. Basic theories of micromeritics and rheology were used to characterize the physical property of TCM raw material. TCM preparation process was designed in a more scientific and rational way by studying the correlation among enhancing physical property of raw material, preparation process and product quality of preparation. So factors affecting the quality of TCM production would be found out and problems that might occur in the pilot process could be predicted. It would be a foundation for the R&D and production of TCM preparation as well as support for the "process control" of TCMIs gradually realized in the future.
Drug Compounding ; methods ; standards ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; trends ; Quality Control ; Research ; standards ; trends ; Research Design ; standards ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; instrumentation ; methods ; standards

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of phosphofructokinase 1 and it's enzyme activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma biopsy samples. METHOD: Sixty-one biopsy samples were detected, including 41 tissues from patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma as experimental group and 20 tissues from patients with chronic nasopharyngitis as control group. Phosphofructokinase 1 protein was detected by Western blot and it's enzyme activity was detected. RESULT: It was observed that the expression levels of phosphofructokinase 1 protein and it's enzyme activities in the experimental group were higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01). In the experimental group, the expression levels of phosphofructokinase 1 protein and it's enzyme activities in patients with lymph node metastasis were higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Phosphofructokinase 1 may be a marker in occurrence and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; pathology ; Nasopharyngitis ; Phosphofructokinase-1 ; metabolism

Purpose To evaluate the correlations between high resolution CT (HRCT) findings and IASLC/ATS/ERS pathological classification of ground glass nodule (GGN). Materials and Methods 121 patients with confirmed GGN were selected, and divided into benign group (22 cases), PIL group (21 cases), microinvasive carcinoma group (26 cases) and invasive carcinoma group (52 cases), then the imaging, pathology and prognosis data of patients with pulmonary GGN were reviewed, and the differences among GGN of different pathological types were analyzed.Results Maximum diameter, margin, vacuole sign, solid component, shape and blood vessels through of GGN were significantly different among the four groups (χ2=9.945-31.068,P<0.05). Maximum diameter and margin were significantly different between invasive adenocarcinoma and other groups (P<0.008); vacuole sign of the benign group was significantly different with other groups (P<0.008); the existence of solid component and shape were significantly different between invasive adenocarcinoma and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (P<0.008); there was significant difference of blood vessels through between invasive adenocarcinoma and benign lesions (P<0.008). Among the 121 lesions, no metastasis except one invasive adenocarcinoma case complicated with distant metastasis.Conclusion Maximum diameter of GGN greater than 16.35 mm, with spiculation or lobulation represent invasive adenocarcinoma; vacuole sign within the GGN represent malignancy; with solid component and irregular shape can be used to identify invasive adenocarcinoma from minimally invasive adenocarcinoma; while blood vessels through can be used to identify invasive adenocarcinoma from benign lesions; the prognosis of GGNs is well with only 0.83% probability of distant metastasis.

Background Oxidative stress is thought to be responsible to diabetes-complicated cataract.Our previous study demonstrated that as an iron chelator,deferiprone can protect lens from oxidative damage.Objective This further study aimed to investigate the role of deferiprone on the formation of diabetic-complicated cataract.Methods Forty 6-week-old Wistar rats were included in the study and randomized into 4 groups.Eight of them were used as the normal control group.Diabetes mellitus animal models were established in 22 rats by the carbonhydratediet and fat diet and the intraperitoneal injection of 40 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ).The deferiprone of 50 mg and 100 mg were intragastrically given in 8 model rats respectively after 3 days once a day for 8 weeks.The opacification of lenses was examined under the slit lamp weekly after treatment.The animals were sacrificed and the lenses were obtained at the eighth week of deferiprone injection.The concentrations of water-soluble protein ( WSP),urine-soluble protein (USP) and alkali-soluble protein (ASP) in rat lens suspension were detected by Bradford method.The super oxide dimutese (SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were determined spectrometically using xanthine oxidase,thiobarbituric acid,dithio bis-nitrobenzoic acid.Results No evidently differences were found in the content of the WSP,USP and ASP among the these groups( F=1.73,0.18,0.09,P＞0.05).The contents of MDA in 50 mg deferiprone group and 100 mg deferiprone group were ( 1.05 ± 0.10 ) mmol/g and ( 1.05 ± 0.22 ) mmol/g respectively,showing a significant decline in comparison with diabetic model group (P＜0.05).The SOD and GSH contents in lens were (321.29±16.57) U/mg,(322.07±22.16) U/mg and (7.83±0.65 ) mg/g,(7.70±0.77 ) mg/g respectively in 50 mg deferiprone group and 100 mg deferiprone group and were considerably elevated in comparison with ( 298.70± 14.69 ) U/mg and ( 5.47 ± 1.01 ) mg/g of diabetic model groups ( P＜0.05 ).No significant differences were found in the indexes mentioned above between 50 mg and 100 mg deferiprone groups(P＞0.05).Conclusions Deferiprone can reduce oxidative stress and improve the energy metabolism of the lens in diabetic rats.

Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Cardiac Tamponade/surgery* ; Catheter Ablation/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Radiofrequency Ablation ; Treatment Outcome ; Vena Cava, Superior/surgery*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of phosphocreatine in elderly patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) and its effects on plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

METHODSForty elderly patients with chronic CHF were randomly divided into two groups to receive basic treatment (control group) and additional phosphocreatine treatment (treatment group) with a treatment course of 8 weeks. The patients were evaluated for improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class, symptoms, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the levels of BNP before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter 8 weeks of treatment, the overall efficacy rate was significantly higher in treatment group than in the control group, and LVESD, LVEDD, LVEF and BNP level of the treatment group were significantly lowered in comparison with those of the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPhosphocreatine in addition to the basic treatment can reduce the BNP level and improve the cardiac systolic and diastolic function in elderly patients with chronic CHF.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardiotonic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Phosphocreatine ; therapeutic use ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; physiopathology

Objective To analyze the differential proteomics of ASMC stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 and to investigate the relations of protein profiles of ASMC to asthma and possible targets for the treatment of bronchial asthma.Methods The total proteins of ASMC stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 were separated by immobilized pH gradient(IPG)-based 2-DE and the differentially expressed protein spots were identified by matrix assisted laser desorption-time of flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS). Results The 2-DE detected approximately(840?21)spots on wild IL-13 samples and(892?17)spots on mutant IL-13 samples(n=3)and(685?19)spots matched.Six significantly differential proteins were subjected to MALDI-TOF-MS analysis and three of them were identified as stathmin 1,Ribosomal protein p~0 and NADH dehydrogenase.Conclusions ASMCs stimulated by wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13 present different proteomic profiles that may shed some light on the mechanism for the asthma causing effect of wild IL-13 and mutant IL-13.