BACKGROUND:Extracellular matrix can simulate microenvironment and make the stem cells proliferate maintaining the characteristics of stem cells wel in vitro. OBJECTIVE:To prepare the extracellular matrix from human bone marrow cells and to analyze its microstructure and composition preliminarily. METHODS:Human bone marrow cells of passage 4 were cultured for 14 days, and the induction medium was used during the last 8 days. After decellularization, cells were removed to prepare human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix. The surface morphology of human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix was observed by inverted microscope and scanning electron microscope. Changes of col agen I and biglycan before and after decellularization were observed by immunofluorescence staining. Human periodontal ligament stem cells were seeded onto human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix, fibronectin coated 6-wel plate and normal culture plate to compare the influence of different matrix on cellmorphology and adhesion. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:We obtained intact human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix by chemical combined with physical decellularization. The structure and amount of col agen I and biglycan had not been compromised dramatical y after decellularization. Human periodontal ligament stem cells growing on the human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix developed in accordance with the orbit of the extracellular matrix, differing from the original cellmorphology. There were more human periodontal ligament stem cells adhering to the extracellular matrix during the same time. These findings indicate that effective decellularization can produce intact the extracellular matrix membrane without destroying its microstructure. Extracellular matrix protein is not compromised due to decellularization. The extracellular matrix affects cellmorphology and promotes celladhesion. We can use the extracellular matrix model to simulate stem cellmicroenvironment and thereafter, acquire a large number of adult stem cells with high quality in vitro.

BACKGROUND:Human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix can promote proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells and maintain stem cellproperties.
OBJECTIVE:To preliminarily investigate the effect of human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix on the proliferation of human periodontal ligament stem cells.
METHODS:Human periodontal ligament stem cells and bone marrow cells were separately derived from human periodontal tissue and jaw bone marrow, and human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix was prepared. Human periodontal ligament stem cells were cultured and purified using limited dilution cloning method, and transmission electron microscope was used for ultrastructure observation. Human periodontal ligament stem cells at passage 2 were cultured with human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix and normal culture medium (control group). The cellcounting kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to determine the proliferation potential of human periodontal ligament stem cells cultured on human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the control group, human periodontal ligament stem cells cultured on human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix had a superior capacity of proliferation (P<0.05), and the cells met their morphological and biological characteristics, and grew in good conditions. Human bone marrow cells-derived extracellular matrix is a promising matrix for large-scale expanding human periodontal ligament stem cells for future use in stem cel-based therapy.

Allergic rhinitis (AR), with an increasing uptrend of the prevalence in many developed and developing countries, is a global health problem that affects people of all ages and ethnic groups. However, data on the prevalence of self-reported AR in western China are rare. This study investigated the epidemiological features of self-reported AR in western China. In the cross-sectional, population-based study, a validated questionnaire survey on self-reported AR was carried out in 4 major cities in western China by multistage, stratified and cluster sampling, from January to December 2008. The total prevalence rate was 34.3%, with 32.3% (Chongqing), 34.3% (Chengdu), 37.9% (Urumqi), 30.3% (Nanning), respectively. The prevalence presented to increase with age before 30 years old while decrease with age after 30 years old, and the highest prevalence was in 19-30 years group in Chongqing, Chengdu and Nanning which significantly showed "persistent and moderate-severe" type (P<0.0001); In Urumqi, there wasn't a significant increasing or decreasing trend of prevalence rate with age but with an "intermittent and mild"predominance (P<0.0001). There were no distinct sexual differences in prevalence rates in the 4 cities. The morbidity was positively related to monthly average temperature and sunshine (r=0.76645, P=0.0036; r=0.67303, P=0.0165), but negatively associated with relative humidity (r=-0.64391, P=0.0238) in Urumqi. Interestingly, the monthly morbidity was negatively associate with average temperature, sunshine and precipitation in Nanning (r=-0.81997, P=0.0011; r=-0.60787, P=0.0360; r=-0.59443, P=0.0415). Self-reported AR is becoming common in western China with a rapid development in recent years, affecting about three persons out of ten. The climatic factors may have an indirect impact on the prevalence rate through the effects on the local allergens.

BACKGROUND:Many studies have showed that enough blood supply is an essential condition of bone repair and regeneration. OBJECTIVE:To construct the endothelial progenitor cells/bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (EPCs/BMSCs) composite sheet. METHODS:After isolation and culture, EPCs and BMSCs were co-cultured directly to form EPCs/BMSCs sheet by cellsheet-inducing medium. After 10 days of induction, the sheet was investigated by gross observation, inverted microscope and hematoxylin-eosin staining. The distribution and communication of EPCs and BMSCs during the process of cellsheet induction were observed after the fluorescence labeling separately. Alkaline phosphatase assay and alizarin red staining were applied to examine the ability of osteogenic differentiation of EPCs/BMSCs sheet.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:EPCs/BMSCs sheet was harvested after 10-day induction. Cel-cellcontact between EPCs and BMSCs could be observed during the process of the cellsheet preparation. The harvested sheet was composed of multiple layers of cells and cel-produced extracellular matrix. Alkaline phosphatase assay and alizarin red staining both demonstrated that EPCs/BMSCs sheet had good osteogenic differentiation ability. These results suggested that EPCs/BMSCs sheet can be constructed successful y, and the sheet has strong osteogenic differentiation capability in vitro, providing the foundation for the repair of bone defects.

Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Ascorbic Acid ; pharmacology ; Carbon Disulfide ; adverse effects ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelium, Vascular ; drug effects ; Humans ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Objective:We designed and applied a novel, bionic megaprosthesis for distal femur, which substituted the hinged articulation with an artificial ligament and a constrained tibial insert in order to maintain articular stability and reduce stress and the risks of wearing, loosening and breakage.Methods:We reviewed the cases of distal femoral osteosarcoma in children population who were initially treated in our center during 2019. Twelve cases of bionic distal femoral prosthesis (bionic group) and 21 cases of fixed-hinge distal femoral prosthesis (control group) were included. In the bionic group, there were six female and six male with the mean age as 8.8±2.6 y. One patient had pathological fracture. Staging according to Enneking system included 1 case of stage IIA, 10 cases of stage IIB and 1 case of stage III. In the control group, there were seven female and fourteen male with the mean age as 8.6±2.2 y. Pathological fracture was seen in three cases. Staging included 15 cases of stage IIB and 6 cases of stage III.We investigated the peri-operative safety, oncological outcome, complication profiles and post-operative functional status of the bionic prosthesis by comparing the baseline data, operative data, and oncological and prosthetic outcomes between the two groups.Results:The two groups were comparable in terms of baseline data including gender, age, height, weight and onset duration, and operative data including duration of operation (126.7±27.9 min vs 143.3±38.9 min, P=0.203), intra-operative hemorrhage (162.5±212.3 ml vs 247.6±175.6 ml, P=0.224) and duration of wound drainage (6.3±2.4 d vs 6.4±3.4 d, P=0.908). The mean follow-up duration of bionic group was 16.0±4.7 months, during which time three patients had systemic progression and one of them died of disease. Another patient had local recurrence and subluxation of the prosthesis that was treated by amputation. Subluxation might be related to the huge tumor mass and excessive resection of the quadriceps femoris. As for the control group, the mean follow-up duration was 12.7±4.5 months. Three patients had systemic progression and all patients were still alive by last follow-up. Local recurrence was seen in two patients and was treated by excision. No prosthetic complications were seen in the control group. The averaged range of motion (ROM) was greater in the bionic group than that in the control group (120.6°±13.6° vs 92.0°±7.7°, P<0.05), but the MSTS 93 scores were similar between groups (29.1±0.9 vs 29.5±0.6, P=0.337). Conclusion:Compared with the fixed-hinge distal femoral prosthesis, the bionic prosthesis had good peri-operative safety, did not increase the risks of prosthetic complications, and could achieve a better range of motion and a similar functional status based on the results of short-term follow-up.

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris ( Xcc), causative agent of the black rot disease of cruciferous crops worldwide, produces large amount of extracellular polysaccharide( EPS), which has found wide applications in industry. In order to clone genes involved in EPS biosynthesis, Xcc wild-type strain 8004 was mutagenized with transposon Tn5gus A5, and a number of EPS-defective mutants were isolated. The Tn5gusA5 insertion sites in the mutants were analyzed by using thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR(TAIL-PCR), and the corresponding genes were identified by homology blast to the completely sequenced genome of Xcc 8004 strain. A novel gene, waxE, identified from the EPS-defective mutant 151D09, was found to be disrupted by the insertion of Tn5gusA5 in the open reading frame(ORF) with genome coordinates 4478998bp to 4479819bp.This gene showed 52% similarity to the kdtX gene of Serratia marcescens and 50% to the waaE of Klebsiella pneumoniae at amino acid level, with characteristics of glycostransferase 2 family domain. In order to identify the function of waxE gene, waxE gene deletion mutant of Xcc 8004 was constructed by gene replacement strategy in which waxE gene of genome was replaced by kanamycin resistant gene kan. The waxE gene deletion mutant strain, named Xcc 8570, was confirmed by both PCR and southern analysis. The growth rate of the deletion mutant 8570 in rich medium was not affected, but the EPS yield reduced by 35% as compared with the wildtype strain 8004. The deletion mutant could be completmented in trans with plasmid pLATC8976 harboring an intact waxE gene, and the EPS yield of the mutant was restored. The combined data showed that waxE gene involved in EPS biosynthesis in Xcc.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Southern ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA Transposable Elements ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Xanthomonas campestris ; genetics ; metabolism

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic value of CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: The data of 205 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery was analyzed retrospectively. The association of CAR with the clinical features and prognostic value in gastric cancer was analyzed. The data of this study was combined with previous studies to further determine the prognostic value of CAR in patients with gastric cancer using a metaanalysis method. Results: Cox analysis revealed that preoperative CAR was an independent prognosis indicator in patients with gastric cancer. High expression of CAR indicated a shorter survival time than in those with lower expression. CAR has a higher prognostic value in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival in patients with gastric cancer. CAR showed significant difference regarding the gastric cancer patients’ age, M stage, and clinical stage. The discriminate value of CAR in M stage of gastric cancer was high (area under the curve, 0.809). A meta-analysis combining previous data and our data showed that preoperative CAR demonstrated a significant association with the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Conclusion This study demonstrated that preoperative CAR could serve as an important prognostic indicator in patients with gastric cancer.

Purpose: This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical significance and prognostic value of CRP/albumin ratio (CAR) in patients with gastric cancer. Methods: The data of 205 gastric cancer patients who underwent surgery was analyzed retrospectively. The association of CAR with the clinical features and prognostic value in gastric cancer was analyzed. The data of this study was combined with previous studies to further determine the prognostic value of CAR in patients with gastric cancer using a metaanalysis method. Results: Cox analysis revealed that preoperative CAR was an independent prognosis indicator in patients with gastric cancer. High expression of CAR indicated a shorter survival time than in those with lower expression. CAR has a higher prognostic value in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival in patients with gastric cancer. CAR showed significant difference regarding the gastric cancer patients’ age, M stage, and clinical stage. The discriminate value of CAR in M stage of gastric cancer was high (area under the curve, 0.809). A meta-analysis combining previous data and our data showed that preoperative CAR demonstrated a significant association with the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer. Conclusion This study demonstrated that preoperative CAR could serve as an important prognostic indicator in patients with gastric cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study therapeutic effects of embracing knee and rolling lumbar (EKRL) training on the pain and the function of lumbar of patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine.

METHODSFrom 2006.8 to 2008.1, 150 patients with degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine were randomly divided into the control group, EKRL training group and the combined group. In the control group (n=50), there were 16 females and 34 males, the average age was (58.8 +/- 10.2) years and the average course of diseases was (16.3 +/- 14.9) months. In the EKRL training group (n=50), there were 13 females and 37 males, the average age was (60.1 +/- 8.2) years and the average course of disease was (17.1 +/- 15.3) months. In the combined group (n=50), there were 15 females and 35 males, the average ages was (59.9 +/- 11.4) years and the average course of diseases was (19.8 +/- 17.2) months. The patients in three groups were treated with Meloxicam tablets, EKRL training and two above methods combination respectively. After 3 weeks treatment, the curative effect, the visual analogous scores and the ODI indexes were observed. All the patients were followed up and the duration ranged from 6 to 24 months; the changes of average ODI indexes were observed monthly.

RESULTSAfter 3 weeks treatment, the therapeutic effects in three groups had obvious difference after Ridit analyses: there were significant differences between the combined group and other two groups (P<0.01), but no obvious differences existed in other two groups. Compared with before treatment, the visual analogue scale scores and the ODI indexes in three groups reduced significantly (P<0.01). After treatment, the visual analogue scale scores and the ODI indexes of the combined group had significant differences compared with those of other two groups (P<0.01), but the ODI indexes of other two groups had no obvious differences. After 6 to 24 months following-up, the monthly changes of average ODI indexes of EKRL training and combined groups had obvious differences compared with that of the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONEKRL training is a simple, no expense and effective methods for preventing and treating degenerative osteoarthritis of lumbar spine.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Exercise Therapy ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; prevention & control ; therapy