Objective To assess the value of MSCT in the evaluation of the anatomy and variation of hepatic veins for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) donors and the significance of vessel variation in surgical operation. Methods A total of 238 subjects who wanted to be the donors of LDLT underwent MSCT plain and enhanced examination, and the hepatic veins were evaluated. Results Among all 238 subjects, according to Nakamura's classification of hepatic veins, 164 were type Ⅰ, 60 were type Ⅱ, 14 were type Ⅲ. The left hepatic vein (LHV) shared a common trunk with the middle one in 167 subjects. Branches of Ⅷ going along the cross section and diameter larger than 5 mm were detected in 105 subjects. The Ⅳ segment veins drained into MHV in 68, into LHV in 7 subjects. Right inferior hepatic vein with diameter larger than 3 mm was found in 108 subjects, while the distance between RHV and IRHV were larger than 4 cm in 55 subjects. Conclusion MSCT can offer details and exact information about the donors pre-operation, and is an important non-invasive method for the evaluation of hepatic veins of potential LDLT donors.

Objective:To study the effects of LPS and TNF-? on the expression of SSeCKS and morphology as well as cytoskeleton of endothelial cell, so as to explore the role of SSeCKS in cell morphology changes.Methods:The cultured Bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells(BPAEC) was induced by LPS, TNF-? and the expression of SSeCKS was detected by in situ hybridization,Western blot and immunohistology. Immunofluorescent staining method with confocal laser-scanning fluorescence microscope was used to observe the effects of LPS and TNF-? on the morphology of endothelial cells and the organisation of SSeCKS as well as cytoskeleton.Results:Firstly, we found that TNF-? could induce the expression of SSeCKS in a concentration and time dependent manner , meanwhile LPS had no effects on SSeCKS expression. Secondly, it was observed that LPS and TNF-? induced reorganization of F-actin and SSeCKS in endothelial cell. Thirdly,PKC inhibitor Ro-31-8220 reversed the effect of LPS,TNF-? on F-actin and SSeCKS in endothelial cells.Conclusion:The results demonstrate that TNF-? could induce endothelial cell to express SSeCKS; PKC plays a role in the reorganization of SSeCKS and F-actin in endothelial cells induced by LPS and TNF-?; the results suggest that the mechanism for reorganization of cytoskeleton induced by LPS, TNF-? be partially related to the SSeCKS of ECs.

Objective To investigate MR imaging features of femoral marrow in treated ?-thalassemia major.Methods MR imaging of the proximal femoral marrow was performed in 35 cases of ?-thalassemia major and 45 age-and sex-matched normal children as control.Coronal images of femoral marrow with the techniques of spin echo and fast field echo(FFE)were obtained.On T_1-weighted imaging the red and yellow femoral marrow were judged and marrow distribution was classified into five groups.The hemosiderosis of marrow was judged on the basis of signal intensity of marrow on FFE imaging.The marrow distribution classification and the hemosiderosis on MR imaging were correlated with clinical features.Results On FFE,marrow hemosiderosis occurred in 15 patients with a marked hypo-intensity signal and was related to the age(P=0.032).On T_1-weighted imaging,the femoral marrow in 35 patients was classified as groupⅢand IV,while the marrow distribution was groupⅠorⅡin all normal children,there was statistically significant difference(P

Objective To investigate the effect of recombinant adenovirus mediatied human endostatin (rAD-GFP-ES)on rats with collagen typeⅡinduced arthritis(CIA),and explore the mechanism of inflamma- tion and cytokines inhibition on rats CIA.Methods The rAD-GFP-ES was amplified and purified.The model of rat CIA was induced by intradermal injection of typeⅡcollagen combined with complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). On the second day after the injection,the therapeutic administration of rAD-GFP-ES(1?10~(11)pfu?kg~(-1)?week~(-1)?4 weeks)were performed to the rats.The mean arthritis index(AI)was scored every week since then.The relative concentrations of ES,IL-I?,TNF-?in sera collected at the fourth week were evaluated by western blotting. Results①The titer of the purified rAD-GFP-ES and rAD-GFP was 6.6?10~(12)pfu/ml and 4.8?10~(12)pfu/ml,re- spectively(A_(260nm)/A_(280nm)＞1.3).②The concentration of ES in sera of the group treated with rAD-GFP-ES was 2.4-lold higher compared to the normal group.③The mean arthritis index of the group treated with rAD-GFP- ES was much lower than that of the model group.The administration of rAD-GFP-ES could significantly de- creas the production of IL-1?and TNF-?in sera.Conclusions①The rAD-GFP-ES is efficiently expressed in vivo.②The rAD-GFP-ES has an inhibitory effect on the arthritis index of rat CIA.③IL-1?and TNF-?are involved in the pathogenesis of RA.The rAD-GFP-ES has an inhibitory effect on the expression of IL-1?and TNF-?in rat CIA.

Objective To reproduce an iron overload (IO) model of murine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), explore the effects of IO on murine BM-MSCs, and elucidate the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this process. Methods Forty male mice (C57BL/6) were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): control group, IO group, Fe+iron-chelation (DFX, 125mg/kg) group and Fe+anti-oxidation (NAC, 40mmol/L) group. BM-MSCs were isolated from compact bone. The levels of iron particles, labile iron pool (LIP) and ROS in BM-MSCs were measured to confirm oxidative stress in the model. Cell proliferation was measured through population double time (DT) and by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8) assay. The osteoblastic differentiation ability of BM-MSCs was assessed by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining and osteogenic differential genes assay. The adipogenic differentiation ability of BM-MSCs was detected by Oil-Red-O staining. Results Compared with control group, iron deposite increased significantly with higher levels of LIP and ROS in BM-MSCs of IO group (P<0.05). In IO group, the BM-MSCs showed a longer double time than that in control group (2.07 ± 0.14d vs 1.03 ± 0.07d), which can be reversed to 1.52 ± 0.07d by DFX or to 1.68 ± 0.03d by NAC (P<0.05). IO inhibited osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of BM-MSCs, which could be attributed to decreased expression of osteogenic gene alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osteocalcin (OSN). The osteoblastic differentiation ability of BM-MSCs in IO group was suppressed by IO-induced ROS upregulation. NAC or DFX treatment could partially attenuate cell injury and inhibit the signaling pathway induced by excessive iron. Conclusion IO may impair the proliferation and differetiation ability of murine BM-MSCs by enhancing the generation of ROS.

Objective To investigate the effects of IL-12 coexpression level on antigen expression and immune responses induced by HBsAg DNA vaccination. Methods DNA vaccine plasmid pHBV carrying codon-optimized preS2-S gene of reference sequence CHN-HBV07-C in China was constructed. Three DNA vaccine plasmids pHBV-12i, pHBV-12l and pHBV-12h were also constructed by subcloning three different IL-12 expression cassettes with various expression strengths to plasmid pHBV, respectively. Expression levels of IL-12 and HBsAg in vaccine plasmid-tranfected 293T cells were measured by quantitative ELISA. DNA vaccines were administered intramuscularly to BALB/c mice and HBsAg-specific cellular immune responses were determined by IFN-γ ELISPOT. HBsAg-specific antibodies were tested by Chemiluminescence Quantitative Immunoassay. Results The HBsAg expression level in 293T cells was 70 ng/ml when transfected by plasmid pHBV without IL-12 expression cassette, and the HBsAg level was 18 ng/ml when transfected by plasmid pHBV-12l carrying low-level IL-12 expression cassette, whereas the HBsAg level was only 6 ng/ml when transfected by plasmid pHBV-12h carrying high-level IL-12 expression cassette.Results of DNA vaccination revealed that HBsAg-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were significantly decreased in mice administering vaccine pHBV-12h carrying high-level IL-12 expression cassette. Although HBsAg-specific antibody responses in mice inoculated with pHBV-12l were also decreased when compared with those in pHBV-vaccinated mice without IL-12 expression, the HBsAg-specific cellular immune responses were significantly increased. Conclusion High-level coexpression of IL-12 may suppress the expression of HBsAg, Whereas modest coexpression of IL-12 significantly enhanced the HBsAg-specific T cell responses induced by DNA vaccination. Therefore, it is so important to balance the expression between adjuvant and antigen to enhance the immune response.

OBJECTIVETo introduce exponent curve model methods in the study of the hepatitis B vaccine antibody level.

METHODSAfter the China made vaccine of hepatitis B DNA recombinant yeast derived vaccine (YDV) had been carried out for 5 years, data on the anti-HBsAg's titer were used to construct an exponent curve model. When the vaccination program had been carried out for 8 years, the predicating results of the model were further tested by observed number.

RESULTSThe exponent curve model was Y = 165.67 exp (-0.019X) and the R(2) was 0.98. After 8 years, the practical observed number became 35 mIU/ml, and the predicating result of the model was 27 mIU/ml, 8 mIU/ml lower than the observed number. When the vaccine had been carried out for 12 years, the predicating results of the model became 10.74 mIU/ml, still higher than 10 mIU/ml but was still in the effective range.

CONCLUSIONAn exponent curve model could be constructed, as long as the data of the antibody's titer was in accordance with the tendency of exponent curve. The model could be used to predict the persistence lever of vaccine antibody under certain conditions. The results showed that after 8 years, the predicting results of the model were reliably lower than the observed number.

Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; immunology ; Vaccines, Synthetic ; immunology

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the application of prognosis evaluation of ulnar nerve injury by 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). METHODS: The metabolites of first dorsal interossei (FDI) of two hands from 12 healthy volunteers and 1 volunteer with complete ulnar nerve injury were detected by 1H-MRS and the data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: For the FDI of healthy adults, the female peaks area of extra-myocellular lipids (EMCL) was higher than the male (P < 0.05); There was no significant difference in Cho, Cr and intra-myocellular lipids (IMCL) between male and female (P > 0.05); There was no significant difference in all the peaks area between the left and right hand (P > 0.05). The EMCL peak of the injury side was higher than that of the healthy side, and the area of FDI was reduced in the volunteer with ulnar nerve injury. CONCLUSION Noninvasive and quantitative detection of 1H-MRS may be valuable for prognosis evaluation of peripheral nerve injury.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries/diagnosis* ; Prognosis ; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy/methods* ; Sex Distribution ; Ulnar Nerve/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo observe and compare perioperative myocardial enzyme changes in 107 patients with congenital (CHD, n = 53), rheumatic (RHD, n = 40) and coronary artery (CAD, n = 14) diseases, and to find whether different diseases can affect the release and recovery of myocardial enzymes after heart operations.

METHODSOn the day before operation and the 1st, 3rd, 5th and the 8th day after operation, the venous blood was taken to measure the release of myocardial enzymes: aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and LDH-1.

RESULTSAll the enzymes measured before operation in three groups were in the normal range; their release increased abruptly on the 1st day postoperatively to 2 - 15 times of those before operation; on the 3rd day, they recovered to some degrees, and on the 8th day they recovered to normal in all groups except LDH and LDH-1 in rh and CAD groups. Because the aortic cross-clamp time (CCT) had a good positive correlation to the release of myocardial enzymes, those patients whose CCT was over 60 minutes in three groups were compared revealing that the CCT was not different between three groups (P < 0.05). The release of CK, CK-MB and AST was significantly higher in CHD60 group than those in CHD60 and CAD60 groups, they recovered afterwards; while the release of DH and LDH-1 was higher in CAD60 group than those in CAD60 and in CHD60 groups from the 1st day to the 8th day postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONSThe release of all the 5 enzymes measured before operation was in normal range in selected CHD, RHD and CAD patients. The release peak and the recovery order of all enzymes were the same in three groups. The release of CK, CK-MB and AST was higher in CHD60 group than those in RHD60 and CAD60 groups on the 1st day. The release of LDH and LDH-1 was higher in RHD60 group than those in CHD60 and CAD60 groups from the 1st day to the 8th day postoperatively. The shorter the CCT is, the less the release of myocardial enzymes. Using the release of LDH and LDH-1 to evaluate the recovery of myocardial injury after open-heart operations was recommended.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Child ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Humans ; Intraoperative Period ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rheumatic Heart Disease ; blood ; enzymology ; surgery ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo isolate and identify human periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) by improved methods and assess the characteristics of PDLSC ex vivo.

METHODSThe periodontal ligament cells were obtained from the healthy impacted third molars and teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes and used to isolate PDLSC by limiting dilution assay. PDLSC were cultured and expanded in alpha-MEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Colony-forming assay, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, osteogenic and adipogenic induction were used to identify PDLSC.

RESULTSThe obtained cells had high colony-forming efficiency and were positive staining for vimentin and negative for pancytokeratin. Flow cytometry revealed that the isolated cells were positive for STRO-1 and CD146 antibodies and most were in the G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. Under specific conditions, they could differentiate to the osteoblast and adipocyte lineages in vitro.

CONCLUSIONLimiting dilution assay is an effective method to isolate PDLSC and the single-cell-derived colonies demonstrate the properties of stem cells in vitro.

Cell Differentiation ; Cell Separation ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Periodontal Ligament ; Stem Cells