OBJECTIVE: Microgravity culture is an emerging cultural technology,which can be used in many fields such as tissue engineering and cell culture,etc. Microgravity bioreactor was used for cell culture in simulated microgravity environment.DATA SOURCE: We search the PubMed database from January 1995 to June 2002, using the key words "microgravity,simulated microgravity,bioreactor, tissue engineering, cell culture, rotating cell culture system" and the language was confined to English.STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria: ① Research of cell culture in simulated microgravity condition. ② Research of tissue engineering of microgravity. ③ Randomized controlled empirical study. ④ Establishment of the simulated microgravity environment. Exclusion criteria: ①Quite obsolete literatures. ② Repeated research.DATA EXTRACTION: A total of 288 articles on reparation of spinal cord injury were collected, according to the inclusion criteria 19 articles were included, and the other 269 articles were excluded because they were repetitive and duplicated researches.DATA SYNTHESIS: ①Cultivation in simulated microgravity had its particular feature and practicability: Shearing force formed by the turbulent flow was avoided; Culture fluid was admixed by rotating; There exists Zero headspace; Anchorage-dependent cell could grow on the carriers; Sufficient oxygenation was provided. ② Cell growth in simulated microgravity environment: cells were prone to aggregate, and much higher cell density was generated. ③ Three-dimensional culture system of animal cells was constructed with microgravity bioreactor to satisfy organ surrogate or requirement of investigation in vitro. ④ Angioid tubiform fabric was generated in the three-dimensional tissue structure constructed with microgravity bioreactor, which was used to generate the blood vessel pipage of tissue engineering. ⑤ Problems needing to solve: Once separated from the microgravity environment, whether the function of three-dimensional structure constructed with microgravity bioreactor can be still remained for long term or not and the structure will be kept invariably or not after transplanted and integrated to parasitifer tissue need further research.CONCLUSION: Technique of simulated microgravity culture is a original tissue culture technology. The central technique is the construction of three-dimensional culture system of animal cells, which can provide a favourable cultural surrounding for the growth and metabolism of mutiplicate cells and tissue blocks, carry out the tissue culture of high density, and keep the specificity of histological differentiation of cultural cells.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of endoscopic intranasal structure reconstruction surgery for rhinogenous headache. Methods 82 cases of rhinogenous headache were given endoscopic intranasal structure reconstruction. Compared VAS scores before and 6 months after treatment, counted the effective rate. Results Among the 82 patients, 69 patients(84. 1%) were cured, 8 cases (9. 8%) were of obvious effect, 5 cases (6. 1%) were invalid, and the total efficiency was 93. 9%. VAS scores of the mucosal contact headache group before treatment were greater than that of the sinus headache group (P<0. 05). Compared with VAS scores before treatment, both of the two groups had lower VAS scores after treatment (P<0. 05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups after treat-ment (P>0. 05). Conclusion Endoscopic surgical operation can remove the extrusion of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses and factors of nasal congestion, and then reconstruct normal anatomical structure of nasal cavity, thus restoring normal function of paranasal sinuses. It has good therapeutic effect on rhinogenic headache.

Objective To investigate the correlation between large platelet ratio (P-LCR) and stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods 152 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation were selected and divided into two groups according to whether accompanying stoke or not. Clinical features of patients and blood test indicator P-LCR were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis. Results In total, 152 subjects, including 47 patients with stoke and 105 patients without stoke,were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that the difference in age, diabetes, hypertension, lipid-lowering therapy and P-LCR between two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age, diabetes and P-LCR were independent risk factors of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Conclusions Age, diabetes and P-LCR are independent risk factors of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVEIn order to get the method for improving the salt resistance of Lycium ruthenium seeds and seedlings under NaCl stress, the seed germination and physiological characteristics of L. ruthenium seedlings was studied.

METHODSeveral physiological indexes of L. ruthenium seeds under NaCl stress, such as the germination rate (Gr), germination vigor (Gv), germination index (Gi), vigor index (Vi), and relative salt damage rate were measured. Other indexes of the seedlings like relative water contents (RWC) , chlorophyll contents, soluble protein contents, electrolyte leakage, the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and peroxidase (POD) were also measured.

RESULTNaCl at lower concentration could promote the seed germination but inhibit the seed germination at higher concentration. After the treatment by CaCl2 at the different concentrations, all germination indexes were increased. With the increase of salt concentration, the relative water contents and the contents of chlorophyll were decreased, the content of MDA and electrolyte leakage were increased. The change trend of POD activity showed the first increase and then decrease with the increase of salt concentration, which was similar to that of the soluble protein. After the treatment by CaCl2, relative water contents, chlorophyll and POD activities were decreased more slowly, and also electrolyte leakage and MDA contents increased slowly.

CONCLUSIONThe CaCl2 could significantly alleviate the damages to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium under NaCl stress, and promote the salt resistance to the seeds and seedlings of L. ruthenium.

Calcium ; pharmacology ; Germination ; drug effects ; Lycium ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Seeds ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology ; Sodium Chloride ; metabolism

Background Corneal biomechanical properties is important in the safety assessment of corneal refractive surgery.Corvis is a new device for measuring corneal biomechanics properties.Objective This study was to observe the correlation among corneal thickness, Corvis intraocular pressure and corneal biomechanical properties with Corvis.Methods A prospective observational study was performed.One hundred and fifty eyes of 75 patients with corneal thickness from 501 μm to 590 μm were divided into three groups according to the corneal thickness:low corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 501 μm to 530 μm), middle corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 531 μm to 560 μm) ,and high corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 561 μm to 590 μm);and 50 eyes of 25 patients for each group.The difference of intraocular pressure, corneal thickness and deformation amplitude (DA) among the three groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the correlation among the groups were analyzed by liner regression.Results The DA in the low corneal thickness group and middle corneal thickness group were significantly higher than that in the high corneal thickness group (P ＜ 0.05).The intraocular pressure was statistically different among the 3 groups (F =9.98, P＜0.05).DA was negatively correlated with intraocular pressure and corneal thickness (r=-0.84,-0.33;both at P＜0.01), with the linear regression DA =1.69-0.04×IOP (F=366.19, t=-19.14,P＜0.01).Conclusions Corneal thickness cannot simply represent the corneal biomechanical properties in the safety assessment of corneal refractive surgery,IOP should be considered.

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in vascular tissues and the relationship between virus and atherosclerogenesis after CMV infecting mice.

METHODS(1) C57 BL/6J Murine model of CMV infection was established by intraperitoneal injection of CMV lethiferous amount. (2) After 12 weeks of CMV infection, the sera, carotids, aorta, hearts and postcaval veins from the mice were collected under euthanasia. The tissues would be used to DNA extraction, PCR and pathological examination. (3) Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in serum were measured with ILELISA.

RESULTS(1) The typical pathologic feature in 2 aorta samples of 6 mice infected by CMV was found and the mice uninfected by CMV did not show any pathologic change. (2) CMV DNA appeared in 6 aorta, 6 postcaval veins, 4 carotids and 4 heart tissues including endocardium, cardiac muscle and coronary artery from the CMV infected mice. CMV DNA was not found in the vascular and heart tissues from 6 mice uninfected by CMV. (3) The ELISA test showed the significant difference (Mann-Witney test of Nonparametric Test, P < 0.05) in serum IL-6 (Median among 25% and 75% percentile: 113.7 pg/ml vs. 49.77 pg/ml) and MCP-1 (Median among 25% and 75% percentile: 128.7 pg/ml vs. 45.36 pg/ml) between CMV infected mice and uninfected mice.

CONCLUSIONCardiovascular cells are CMV latent reservoir in host body and CMV infection and the cytokines induced by CMV infection probably relate to atherosclerogenesis.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Blood Vessels ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Coronary Vessels ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; Cytokines ; immunology ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; pathology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; genetics ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Heart ; virology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Random Allocation

BACKGROUND:The use of mesenchymal stem cels in the field of tissue engineering for osteoarticular injury repair is a very promising tool since these cels are readily expandable and able to differentiate into chondrocytes. Abundant evidence suggests that microRNAs play critical roles in chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cels.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the chondrogenic effect of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels transfected with lentiviral vectors bearing miR-221-3p/222-3p inhibition, thereby provding new strategies for cartilage injury.
METHODS: miRNA microarray technology was applied to detect microRNAs expression profiles at three different stages of chondrogenic differentiation induction after transforming growth factor-β3 treatment and verified by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels were infected with lentivirus bearing miR-221-3p/222-3p inhibition. After co-suppressing the expression of miR-221/222-3p, cel counting kit-8 was used to determine the cel proliferation, the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels towards chondrocytes was verified by type II colagen protein expression through immunohistochemistry and glycosaminoglycan accumulation was also elevated by sarranine O staining. RT-PCR was used to detect type II colagen and aggrecan mRNA expression at 21 days of chondrogenic induction.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression of miR-221-3p/222-3p was inhibited after Lv-miR221-3p/222-3p inhibition co-transfected into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels. microRNA microarray and RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of miR-221-3p/222-3p was declined significantly at the anaphase of chondrogenic differentiation. The expression levels of chondrogenic markers, Aggrecan and type II colagen were significantly increased in the miR-221-3p/222-3p inhibition group and cel proliferation was also inhibited significantly compared with non-transduced cels or transduced with the empty lentiviral vector group. miR-221-3p/222-3p knockdown in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels could inhibit proliferation but promote chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels.

Background Epidemiological surveys showed that the types of bacteria are different in the conjunvical sac from different nationalities,which possibly is associated with living environment.To characterize the types of conjunctival bacteria involved is important for the prevention and treatment of infectious eye diseases.Objective The present survey was to obtain data about bacterial species in the conjunctival sac in the Tibetan minority population aged over 40 years old and compared with the matched Han nationality population.Methods The standardized training and protocol were performed before this survey.A total of 290 eyes of 145 individuals from the Tibetan minority and 346 eyes of 173 subjects from the Han nationality were enrolled in this study in Ganzi Autonomous Prefecture,who had received questionnaire surveys and ophthalmological examinations.The secretion of the inferior palpebral conjunctival sac was embrocated and inoculated and grown on blood plates for 48-72 hours.The bacteria were isolated and identified.This study was approved by the Medical Ethic Committee of the Sichuan People Hospital.Oral informed consent was obtained from the subjects.Results No significant differences were seen in the constituent ratio of the gender as well as the age between the Tibetan minority and Han nationality in this study (x2 =0.987,P=0.3202;t=1.142,P=0.254).There was a significant difference in the proportions of farmers and herdsmen between the two groups(x2 =8.557,P =0.000).The positive rate of bacterial cultivation in Tibetan individuals was 50.74％,showing a statistically significant decrease in comparison with the Han people(60.4％)(x2=6.042,P=0.014).There was no statistical difference in the multiple bacterial species between the two groups (11.0％ in Tibetan,11.6％ in Han people)(x2 =0.0271,P =0.869).The rate of staphylococcus epidemics was 26.6％ in the Tibetan minority and that of Han population was 33.2％,without a significant difference between them (x2 =3.350,P=0.060).No significant difference was seen in the ratio of corynbacterium infection between the two population(15.9％ vs.17.3％)(x2 =0.248,P =0.618).Conclusions The ratio of bacterial cultivation in Tibetans is statistically lower than that of the Han people.The types and distribution of bacteria are similar in the Tibetan and Han nationality.

OBJECTIVETo have a retrospective review of the patients undergoing anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) with clinical and radiological assessment, and observe changing of graft after procedure and assess correlation between graft collapse and recurrence of radiculopathy.

METHODSSixty-seven consecutive patients undergoing ALIF only at L(4 - 5) with autologous iliac crest graft for intervertebral disc prolapse were followed-up for an average of 14 (2.5 - 32) years. The effect of the fusion was examined by the existence of radiolucent lines and bony continuity on plain radiographs and tomographs, or mobility on flexion-extension radiographs. The disc height was also measured. Lower limb radiculopathy was assessed based on the symptom and examination. Paired samples t-test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSSixty-four patients with successful fusion were analyzed (fusion rate: 96%). All measurements in this study were completed by the same author, and the measurement error of more than 2 mm was statistically significant. According to this, graft collapse occurred in 55 patients (86%) and 9 patients (14%) had no graft collapse. In these 55 cases, the original disc height was (12.1 +/- 2.9) mm, increased immediately after the surgery to (16.2 +/- 1.9) mm, however re-narrowed to (12.9 +/- 2.7) mm at the first observation of solid fusion (a mean of 9 months, ranging from 5 to 14 months), which was not significant different compared to the original. There was no significant change in disc height after solid fusion and the disc space at the final follow-up was (12.6 +/- 2.3) mm. There was no radiculopathy observed in 52 cases (95%) during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONDisc space re-narrowing was observed in most cases after single level ALIF of L(4 - 5), however it was rarely less than the initial and unlikely to result in recurrence of radiculopathy.

Adult ; Equipment and Supplies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Low Back Pain ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Lumbosacral Region ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Recurrence ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Spinal Osteophytosis ; surgery ; Time Factors ; Transplantation, Autologous ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the utility of the cross-species screening strategy for investigating key molecule(s) involved in onset and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSHCC-related molecule data from our previous studies and in the literature were collected to establish a cross-species dataset. Tissue samples of HCC, non-HCC surrounding liver (para-HCC), and normal liver that were collected from humans, tree shrews and rats. The genes reported to have the most differential expression in HCC were verified by analyzing the mRNA and protein levels by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively.

RESULTSThe cross-species dataset of HCC-related molecules included four genes: epidermal fatty acid-binding protein (E-FABP), liver (L)-FABP, tyrosine a-ketoglutarate transaminase (TKT), and cytokeratin (CK8). In humans, E-FABP mRNA expression was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) in HCC (0.87+/-0.14 vs. para-HCC: 0.64+/-0.12 and normal liver: 0.67+/-0.07; F=20.910). Similar results were obtained in tree shrew (HCC: 0.87 +/- 0.25 vs. para-HCC: 0.73 +/- 0.19 and normal liver: 0.68+/-0.19; F=3.807) and rat (HCC: 0.97+/-0.22 vs. para-HCC: 0.78+/-0.16 and normal liver: 0.80 +/- 0.13; F=4.482). The Western blotting analyses revealed a similar statistically significant trend.

CONCLUSIONThe cross-species screening strategy for tumor genes may represent a feasible and convenient process of identifying key molecule(s) for human HCC. E-FABP may be a particularly crucial molecule for hepatocarcinogenesis.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Epidermis ; chemistry ; Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rats ; Tupaiidae ; metabolism